About Mal Edmonstone
My Story
As well as highlighting our current members, we also shine a spot light on and honour our former band members. On this occasion we reflect on past band member Malcolm, (Mal) Edmonstone Mal joined the army as a 15 year old apprentice carpenter in 1957.
At that time the School of Music was a wing of the Army Apprentices School at Balcombe Victoria and Mal then joined the apprentice school band as a drummer/bugler.
On graduation he continued his building trade in the Royal Australian Engineers until completing 21 years of dedicated Service as a regular soldier finishing as a Warrant Officer Class 2, (WO2).
Mal then had a 2 year break during that period as a recruit training instructor in 65-67 where he continued to play drums when requested for graduation rehearsals.
Mal then went straight into the Army Reserve performing the duties of Drum Major Pl Comd of 42 RQR Pipes and Drums and Pl Comd QUR Band serving for 15 years before retiring.
Mal also performed with the Salvation Army Pine Rivers Community as Band Drum Major and was later Drum Major of Ormiston Heritage Pipes & Drums during the time Les Gray was the then Pipe Major.
It was during that time Mal also joined the Pipes and Drums, National Servicemen’s Memorial Band as a tenor drummer. At that time, Dales Whyte was President and sometimes Drum Major and John Arnfield and Ian Millard were joint Pipe Majors.
When the other Drum Majors were not available Mal was asked to step in and quickly became the regular Drum Major. Mal particularly enjoyed leading the band at a number of major street marches and events including the Toowoomba Tattoo.
Mal was also at Maclean New South Wales on many occasions and was one of the 2 Senior Drum Majors either side of the Principal Drum Major when there was up to 30 bands on parade. In November 2009 Mal and the family decided to move Townsville and there became Drum Major of the RSL Pipes & Drums and NQ Scots. During the annual Townsville Tartan Day, Mal continued in the role of Senior Drum Major until 2017 when he decided to retire and become a Drum Major & tenor drum tutor.
My Story Cont.
Mal has currently the distinction of being the Clan Edmonstone High Commissioner for Australasia, attending Highland games/gatherings etc… all over Australia and New Zealand.
Last year Mal travelled to the United States to assist their new Commissioner for North and South Carolina at his first Highland games.
In February 2019, Mal was bestowed the honour to wear the eagle feather as of a result of being granted his own coat of arms by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Mal is keen to continue his participation of Highland gatherings and events after the borders reopen across the country.
