WAPOL Pipe Band in Perth, Western Australia | Band
WAPOL Pipe Band
Locality: Perth, Western Australia
Phone: +61 8 9370 7184
Address: 21 Swan Bank Road 6051 Perth, WA, Australia
Website: http://wapol.com.au
Likes: 8618
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24.01.2022 Following last weeks announcement of our new Pipe Major, the band is also pleased to welcome Sgt. Darren King as the newly appointed Officer In Charge of the Western Australia Police Pipe Band. He is a familiar face to the band, having worked alongside him for the past 5 years in his previous role as the WA Police Parade Sergeant. We have long admired his professionalism and humility in turning graduation ceremonies into the spectacle for those lucky enough to witness. We lo...ok forward to working with this great addition to our leadership. Sgt. King has been a Police Officer with WAPOL for the past 26 years. Having spent the first decade of his career at various general duties Police Stations and traffic offices such as Central, Morley, BAD, and Mandurah, he decided it was time for a change and spent time at specialist positions such as Canine and Coronial Investigation Unit. In 2011, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and worked as a supervisor at Kiara Police Station. He then moved to the Police Recruiting Branch before taking up the position as the WA Police Parade Sergeant at the Police Academy in 2015. Over the past 5 years, I have worked alongside the WA Police Pipe Band in my former role as the WA Police Parade Sergeant. I have always admired the skill and professionalism of the band and thoroughly enjoyed my time working with them at parades and ceremonies. When the opportunity came up to apply for the position as OIC of the band, it was an exciting prospect to lead such a professional and talented outfit. I am incredibly honoured to be the OIC of Australias premier band and look forward to getting out there (post restrictions) and showing the people of Western Australia what the pipe band can offer
23.01.2022 **Good News Story** Late Albany officer Alan Kibblewhites granddaughter sent this article into the band so we thought wed share it. Slight correction to the article, Alan served in Albany from 1961, not 1968.
23.01.2022 Michael visited the band office with Terry the Dinosaur for his Kindy project. Michael was over the moon that the Bands Supervisor, his dad Chris, showed him around. #wapolice #fatherandson #terrythedinosaur
23.01.2022 Can you name the rendition of this classic at the Band's visit to Cockburn Seniors Centre today?
23.01.2022 Spaces are filling up fast for our Youth Development Pipe Band! If you or someone you know is interested in being a part of this project, please register your interest or ask for more information from our Pipe Major at [email protected]
22.01.2022 It was great to see the crowd back out again at the Wandering Fair. Thanks for coming to watch us play!
22.01.2022 Always a pleasure to take part in the Chung Wah Association Chinese New Year Parade. Gong hei fat choy
22.01.2022 The band would like to announce two new appointments to the positions of Pipe Sergeant and Drum Sergeant. Pipe Sergeant Chris MacDonald. Chris grew up in Inverness, Scotland and has been piping since the age of 10. A graduate of the BA Scottish Music (Piping) course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and a former member of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, he is currently in his twelfth year with ScottishPower Pipe Band under Pipe Major Chris Armstrong. He moved t...o Perth to join WAPOL Pipe Band in August 2016, going on to win the Australian Pipe Band Championships and performed at their 50th Anniversary Concert. He has also been guesting at the New Zealand National Pipe Band Championships with the ILT City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band, as well as travelling back to Glasgow each year to play at the World Pipe Band Championships with ScottishPower. He is a keen guitarist and plays in a number of traditional music groups in and around Perth. Chris is very much looking forward to his new role and how he can help steer the future of WAPOL Pipe Band. Drum Sergeant David Johnston. David hails from Newtownards, Northern Ireland and commenced his drumming career at aged 11 with Cleland Memorial Pipe Band, Bangor. After a brief stint with Cottown Pipe Band, David then joined Seven Towers in 2012 before moving to Perth and joining WAPOL in 2013. During this time, he won the Grade 1 Australian Pipe Band Championship title in 2014 and 2016. David has also guested with the Wellington based Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band and competed with the band in both New Zealand and the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow. In 2016 David became Drum Sergeant of Perth Metro Pipe Band and enjoyed a very successful 2018 worlds campaign before relocating to Sydney and taking up the position of Head of Drumming at Knox Grammar School. David has recently returned to WAPOL in a full-time role and has also become a member of ScottishPower. He would like to thank outgoing drum sergeant Gary Potter for his hard work over the last few years and is looking forward to the next chapter working alongside Alisdair and Chris. Newly appointed Pipe Major Alisdair McLaren added: "Id like to welcome Chris and David into the WAPOL leadership team. They bring with them a vast amount of experience into these important roles and I believe that with this, alongside their professionalism and enthusiasm, will help progress the band through the next phase. The band has some exciting new projects on the horizon so I am looking forward to working with Chris, David and the management team on these, maintaining our status on the world stage and as Australias premier Pipe Band."
22.01.2022 Check out the edited highlights of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Australia now on DVD. #wapolicepipeband #communityengagement Western Australia Police Force The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo WA Police Union WA Police Legacy Inc. WA Police Historical Society Inc
21.01.2022 What a day that was and such privilege to be part of. Three different gigs in one day played around Perth to an estimated 150,000 of our community at Perth Festivals Highway to Hell :-) We even bumped into our State Premier The Hon. Mark McGowan and Perths very own comedy legend Ozzy Man Reviews. ... This was also our boss Sgt Ian Stewart APM last ever gig with the band before moving on to a new police role in Perth next week. Well done to Pete Stone and Iain Grandage and everyone else at Perth Festival in making this spectacular event happen. If you have any photos or footage of the band in action please send it to us or tag us or use hashtag #wapolicepipeband Thanks to Caris_ESM for that great first photo. #wapolicepipeband #communityengagement #highwaytohell #pipeband #pipebandsarecool #bagpipes #perthfest #acdc #letthereberock #letthereberoll #bonscott Perth Festival Highway To Hell Festival ABC Perth Western Australia Police Force WA Police Union WA Police Legacy Inc. Western Australia Mark McGowan Canning Bridge Tompkins on Swan Tompkins Park Applecross Fremantle Arts Centre
21.01.2022 Silence on the parade square today at 12:59pm until 100 riders arrived for the Police Ride of Remembrance. We remembered the fallen officers with the Police Ode and a lament.
20.01.2022 Performed the Love Song of Kang Ding today at the Chinese Neighbourhood Watch Group Festival #communityengagement #chineseneighbourhoodwatch #lovesongofkangding
20.01.2022 Following last week's announcement of our new Pipe Major, the band is also pleased to welcome Sgt. Darren King as the newly appointed Officer In Charge of the Western Australia Police Pipe Band. He is a familiar face to the band, having worked alongside him for the past 5 years in his previous role as the WA Police Parade Sergeant. We have long admired his professionalism and humility in turning graduation ceremonies into the spectacle for those lucky enough to witness. We lo...ok forward to working with this great addition to our leadership. Sgt. King has been a Police Officer with WAPOL for the past 26 years. Having spent the first decade of his career at various general duties Police Stations and traffic offices such as Central, Morley, BAD, and Mandurah, he decided it was time for a change and spent time at specialist positions such as Canine and Coronial Investigation Unit. In 2011, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and worked as a supervisor at Kiara Police Station. He then moved to the Police Recruiting Branch before taking up the position as the WA Police Parade Sergeant at the Police Academy in 2015. Over the past 5 years, I have worked alongside the WA Police Pipe Band in my former role as the WA Police Parade Sergeant. I have always admired the skill and professionalism of the band and thoroughly enjoyed my time working with them at parades and ceremonies. When the opportunity came up to apply for the position as OIC of the band, it was an exciting prospect to lead such a professional and talented outfit. I am incredibly honoured to be the OIC of Australias premier band and look forward to getting out there (post restrictions) and showing the people of Western Australia what the pipe band can offer
20.01.2022 Marching on to the Police Graduation last night.
19.01.2022 Well done Armadale District - WA Police Force for a great Git Up Challenge. #communityengagement #gitupchallenge
19.01.2022 An early start for us to catch the first light for a music video. #perth #justanotherdayinwa #bagpipes #perthisok #westernaustralia #pipesanddrums #wapolice
19.01.2022 The Band performs in the largest single police jurisdiction in the world, Western Australia. Pipe Sergeant Chris travelled up to South Hedland for part of his duty.
18.01.2022 Such a great turnout for our guest player practice at the weekend. We are really looking forward to these players guesting with the band at future performances.
18.01.2022 Its our OICs last day at the band... Here is his farewell statement. As some of you may know, my already extended tenure as Officer in Charge and Drum Major of the WA Police Force Pipe Band has now sadly come to end, today was my last day in the band office before I move to Perth Police Complex as the new Community Engagement Coordinator on 9 March.... May I take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all current and past band members, guest players, pipe band community, everyone I have shared a stage with and last but not least, our very loyal supporters of the band. You have all played a major part in making my job such a memorable experience and a period of my life and police career that I will never forget. It has been a huge honour and privilege to have been part of the band and have too many wonderful memories to share in my final post as OIC. My last three band engagements were a Police Recruit Graduation, the Jambo African Festival and then entertaining 150,000 people at the Bon Scott Highway to Hell - AC/DC Festival, which was such a wonderful gig to finish my seven years as Officer in Charge. My last official day as OIC is Sunday 8 March, I then hand over Administrator access to our Facebook and Instagram pages, so unfortunately after that date I will be unable to respond directly to any comments or messages on the band page. I wish all the band members, and whoever the successful applicants of both the current vacant Pipe Major and OIC positions are, all the very best for the future. May the WA Police Force Pipe Band continue on the success for many more years to come. So long and farewell to you all. Yours sincerely Sgt Ian Stewart APM Officer in Charge
18.01.2022 The Western Australia Police Pipe Band (WAPOL) would like to announce the official launch of the Western Australia Police Youth Development Pipe Band. The band will feature both a professional grassroots teaching program as well as a non-competing performance pipe band. This is available for all young people aged under 18 and will provide a safe and unique musical learning experience, both for the benefit of the community of Western Australia and its local piping and drumming...Continue reading
18.01.2022 Leading the anti-domestic violence March That Matters at Juniper Gardens today.
17.01.2022 Great turnout today at the Diwali Festival! #diwali #diwalifestival
17.01.2022 Lest we forget.
17.01.2022 Thank you to everyone for doing their part to help flatten the curve here in WA and across the globe. A special thank you goes out to all the essential workers for selflessly putting themselves out there day after day and in doing so, saving lives. Here at WAPOL Pipe Band weve been working hard behind the scenes, while social distancing, and have some exciting announcements coming soon. In the mean time, here is a video of one of our favourite tunes by legendary fiddle player John McCusker named Wee Michaels March.
16.01.2022 Nominations are open for the 2020 Nine News Police Excellence Awards. Nominate a cop or a team of cops online by clicking here: https://www.police.wa.gov.au//Nine-News-/How-do-I-Nominate
16.01.2022 Robyn McKay is originally from Renfrewshire, near Glasgow. Her piping career began with Johnstone Pipe Band before joining St Laurence OToole Pipe Band at the young age of 14, working her way up the ranks from Juvenile to Grade 1. After travelling to Ireland every month since she was 14, Robyn has developed a love for Irish music and she is a very talented Irish Whistle player as well as being a keen Scottish Step Dancer. Before arriving in WA, she recently graduated from t...he Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with BMus(Hons) Scottish Music - Piping Degree and has also studied music at Cape Breton University, Nova Scotia and Sgoil Chiuil na Gaidhealtachd, also known as Plockton Music School. Robyn is with the band for the next six months and will also be assisting Frontline Services by working at our Mounted Section.
15.01.2022 A week today marks the launch of the WA Police Youth Development Pipe Band. If you know anyone who may be interested, please contact the Pipe Major, Alisdair McLaren via email at [email protected]
15.01.2022 Big thank you to WA Music Company for donating McCallum practice chanters to the WAPOL Youth band. These will go towards kick starting the next generation of pipers here in Western Australia.
15.01.2022 What a day it was, were you one of the 150,000 who came along to watch Perth Festival Highway to Hell Check out this great ABC Perth video to see some of the action. If you have any photos or videos of the band in action, please feel free tag us in or use #wapolicepipeband... #communityengagement Western Australia Police Force ABC Perth #highwaytohell #acdc #bonscott
13.01.2022 Over the past few weeks we have seen quite a few challenges getting uploaded to social media. Whether youre in lockdown/self-isolation or simply working from home, we are all finding it tough to stay motivated and most importantly to keep our hands going. The drummers at WAPOL Pipe Band are trying to stay motivated by challenging ourselves to learn stuff that is out of our comfort zone. This week we challenged ourselves to the learn a DCI warm-up flam exercise by the Santa C...lara Vanguard Drum Corps called Flammus (score attached in the comments). Our challenge for you is that we want to try and put together the worlds largest drum corps. All you need to do is video yourself playing along to our video and upload it with the hashtag #globaldrumcorps. We will then edit them all together into one final video. Lets see how many drummers from around the world we can get playing together. So get sharing and nominating!!!
13.01.2022 The Youth Development Pipe Band commenced tonight with substantial interest.
13.01.2022 Our Throwback Christmas message and having a wee laugh :-) Merry Christmas to you all #wapolicepipeband #merrychristmas Western Australia Police Force WA Police Union WA Police Legacy Inc. WA Police Historical Society Inc #wapol #wapolice #merrychristmas Pipe Bands WA #pipeband #pipebandsarecool
12.01.2022 Action shot at the Bell Tower today. We're shooting a video . Stay tuned. #perth #perthisok #justanotherdayinwa #belltower #belltowertimes #westernaustralia #wa #australia #wapolice #elizabethquay #elizabethquayperth #perthcbd #bagpipes #pipeband #piper #drummer
11.01.2022 Alfred John Morris 28.11.1934 - 18.4.2011 These pipes belonged to Alf. He started learning when he was 12 years old. He was a member of the Kalgoorlie Pipe Band and Esperance Pipe Band. These pipes were his first and only. He always played with pride said Alfs daughter, Gail Morris, of her late father. WAPOL Pipe Band was blessed today with an ultimate act of kindness when Alfs wife, Vera Morris, and Gail donated his pipes to the WA Police Youth Development Pipe Band. We will make sure they are passed down to a learner with pride. Thank you, Vera and Gail!
11.01.2022 Action shot at the Bell Tower today. Were shooting a video . Stay tuned. #perth #perthisok #justanotherdayinwa #belltower #belltowertimes #westernaustralia #wa #australia #wapolice #elizabethquay #elizabethquayperth #perthcbd #bagpipes #pipeband #piper #drummer
10.01.2022 Some of our players helping out to adjudicate the pipers and drummers at the Presbyterian Ladies College Arts Day.
10.01.2022 We always have great fun on stage at the JAMBO Africa Festival 2020, it was a pleasure to be invited back and support such a great community festival. #wapolicepipeband #communityengagement Western Australia Police Force Organisation of African Communities in WA Inc Lotterywest Alcohol.Think Again #jambofestival2020 #jamboafricanfestival Stirling Civic Gardens
10.01.2022 JUST EPIC : The WA Police Pipe Band kicks off the first performance at Highway To Hell Perth Festival!
10.01.2022 It was a busy week for us as we prepared for 4 squads who had their graduations delayed due to COVID earlier this year. They graduate tonight at the WA Police Academy.
09.01.2022 Sound On WAPOL Pipe Band recognises Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2 for Australia Music called VP 75 - LEST WE FORGET, composed by Mark Saul, arranged by WAPOL Pipe Band.
09.01.2022 Rehearsing the Love Song of Kangding with singers, Jun and Julie. Check out the performance this Sunday at the Chinese Neighbourhood Watch Group Festival. We're on at 11am.
08.01.2022 We are pleased to announce that Alisdair McLaren has been appointed as the new Pipe Major of the Western Australia Police Pipe Band. Alisdair brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role, and we are excited to see what the future holds for the band under his leadership. A full biography is attached for those that want to know more about Alisdair. I am very proud and honored to be appointed to the position of Pipe Major of The Western Australia Police Pipe Band. A...s a young piper growing up in Perth, Australia, WAPOL played a key role in my development setting the strong foundations that helped me achieve the many amazing things that I was able to do in Scotland. To now have the opportunity to lead such an important and iconic band is a great responsibility and privilege. I am extremely excited to be back home and looking forward to working with the team and being a part of the next chapter for the band.
08.01.2022 WA Police Youth Development Pipe Band introduction and registration.
07.01.2022 Today the band paraded at the Joondalup Police Academy to celebrate the graduation of 117 new police officers into the WA Police Force. This was a rare event with officers from four squads - Gold, Blue, Silver and Green - graduating at the same time due to delays in their previously scheduled ceremonies because of Covid 19. Leading the band for the first time was our new Officer In Charge, Drum Major Darren King, Pipe Major Alisdair McLaren, Pipe Sergeant Chris MacDonald and Drum Sergeant David Johnston. We also say farewell to one of our pipers today, Robyn McKay, who is leaving the band after a 6 month contract and moving to Queensland to explore the east coast of Australia. The WAPOL team would like to wish Robyn well in her future endeavours and thank her for all her contribution whilst being a member of the team. Good luck!
06.01.2022 Alfred John Morris 28.11.1934 - 18.4.2011 'These pipes belonged to Alf. He started learning when he was 12 years old. He was a member of the Kalgoorlie Pipe Band and Esperance Pipe Band. These pipes were his first and only. He always played with pride' said Alf's daughter, Gail Morris, of her late father. WAPOL Pipe Band was blessed today with an ultimate act of kindness when Alf's wife, Vera Morris, and Gail donated his pipes to the WA Police Youth Development Pipe Band. We will make sure they are passed down to a learner with pride. Thank you, Vera and Gail!
05.01.2022 It's our OIC's last day at the band... Here is his farewell statement. As some of you may know, my already extended tenure as Officer in Charge and Drum Major of the WA Police Force Pipe Band has now sadly come to end, today was my last day in the band office before I move to Perth Police Complex as the new Community Engagement Coordinator on 9 March.... May I take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all current and past band members, guest players, pipe band community, everyone I have shared a stage with and last but not least, our very loyal supporters of the band. You have all played a major part in making my job such a memorable experience and a period of my life and police career that I will never forget. It has been a huge honour and privilege to have been part of the band and have too many wonderful memories to share in my final post as OIC. My last three band engagements were a Police Recruit Graduation, the Jambo African Festival and then entertaining 150,000 people at the Bon Scott Highway to Hell - AC/DC Festival, which was such a wonderful gig to finish my seven years as Officer in Charge. My last official day as OIC is Sunday 8 March, I then hand over Administrator access to our Facebook and Instagram pages, so unfortunately after that date I will be unable to respond directly to any comments or messages on the band page. I wish all the band members, and whoever the successful applicants of both the current vacant Pipe Major and OIC positions are, all the very best for the future. May the WA Police Force Pipe Band continue on the success for many more years to come. So long and farewell to you all. Yours sincerely Sgt Ian Stewart APM Officer in Charge
04.01.2022 The Western Australia Police Pipe Band are looking to recruit local guest pipers and drummers to perform with them on stage at the bands proposed major concert in 2021. The date is still to be confirmed, however, the concert will be recorded live for a new album which will feature a brand new musical repertoire with a modern contemporary feel. The bands new Pipe Major, Alisdair McLaren, states that the purpose of this invitation is to assist with the development of players wi...thin the local community and give them the opportunity to perform with the states premier pipe band outside of the competition arena. Players will not need to deregister from their current bands. This will hopefully improve the individuals musicianship, knowledge, skills and assist players in gaining more confidence in performing which they can then take back to their own local bands. It should be a fantastic experience and will hopefully help with the development of piping and drumming in the state and in bringing the community closer together. If this is something that youd love to be a part of then please get in contact with Alisdair via email at [email protected]
04.01.2022 Today marked the first rehearsal for our new guest players who have come on board recently with the aim of performing with the band at its next major concert in 2021. It was great to see so many enthusiastic players keen on being a part of this journey and we are looking forward to having them in the team, improving skills to take back to the local pipe bands within WA.
04.01.2022 **Good News Story** Late Albany officer Alan Kibblewhite's granddaughter sent this article into the band so we thought we'd share it. Slight correction to the article, Alan served in Albany from 1961, not 1968.
02.01.2022 Pipe Major Al, and Band Officer Dan teaching the annual Willetton Senior High School workshop. Some of the learners are also members of the WAPOL Youth Development Pipe Band.
01.01.2022 We will remember them. We want to share with you this pre-recorded video of one of our lone pipers, so that we can still come together in spirit, if not in person, to pay tribute to the men and women who served and sacrificed their lives for our country. There will be no traditional dawn service on Saturday. Instead, RSLWA is encouraging all Aussies to get creative in a show of mateship this ANZAC Day by standing in quiet contemplation at the end of their driveways, or on t...heir balconies, at 6am on April 25. For more information visit https://www.rslwa.org.au/commemoration/anzac-day/ #rslwamateship #DrivewayDawnService
