Scotch College

Should auld acquaintance be forgot …

Farewell Dinner a fitting tribute to Ross Campbell

Words: DAVID KEMP

Members of the Scotch Family, friends from the piping community, and the Pipes and Drums paid tribute to Ross and Robyn Campbell at a magnificent Scottish dinner at Leonda on the Yarra on Tuesday 16 October. Over 225 people attended, sporting a colourful range of kilts and tartan sashes.

Tony Glover, Officer in Charge of the Scotch College Cadet Unit, spread good humour over the evening as Master of Ceremonies, and tried valiantly to contain a full program of tributes to their allotted times.

The Pipes and Drums led by Pipe Major Lachlan McKenzie formed an impressive guard of honour to welcome guests, and then performed inside, in a demonstration of the high quality of playing that Ross Campbell and his dedicated team have taught the boys.

Later in the evening the Old Scotch Collegians’ Pipe Band led by Jonathan Quay (’98) showed that none of the skills the more senior members had learned at Scotch had been lost.

The haggis was piped in and escorted by John and Carey Marshall and their sons, Andrew, Christopher, Graeme and Cameron. Graham Bradbeer, Scotch Chaplain and recently installed Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, addressed the haggis, showing impressive fluency in the Scots language of Robbie Burns.

The toast to Ross Campbell was supported by Colin Dods (’88), who recalled many of the amusing incidents of his time in the band. He concluded: ‘Ross has produced more players who carry on with their piping after school than any other instructor. Added to this, the top civilian bands acknowledge that a Ross Campbell student is generally of superior skill, and equipped to walk straight into any waiting ensemble. Consequently most of his boys are “head-hunted” before they have even left school’.

One of the many highlights of the evening was an announcement by former Pipe Major Will Fowles (’96) – who was overseas, but addressed the evening via Tony Glover – that he was donating an annual $500 prize for leadership to the most outstanding non-office holder in the band. This was warmly greeted, especially by the younger band members. The toast was proposed by Lachlan McKenzie.

In his response, Ross Campbell spoke of his pride in the achievements of the boys, and thanked the parents for their wonderful support of the band over the years. The Marshall family, on behalf of the auxiliary, then presented Ross and Robyn with a magnificent campaign chair and footstool, prepared and covered by Carey Marshall herself.

Ross’ response was immediately followed by the whole body of guests singing ‘Will ye no’ come back again’. Mark Saul, who will succeed Ross as teacher in charge of the Pipes and Drums, played a moving piece he had composed, ‘Farewell to Ross Campbell’ and presented a framed copy of the music to Ross.

The undoubted highlight of the night was to hear Ross himself play some piobaireachd, the traditional music for which the Highland bagpipes were designed. Ross is probably the most decorated and honoured piper of piobaireachd in Australia, and it was a treat for all there to hear the master doing what he is famous for.

Singing of Scottish songs by all the guests, led by Andrew Miller (with Ken Howden on the keyboard), meant that all who were there contributed to the emotion of the evening.

The history of the Pipes and Drums written by Stephen Matthews and David Kemp was launched by John Reid, recording not only Ross Campbell’s 32 years with the band, but the whole history of the band since its formation in 1946. The presence of many band members from pre-Campbell years gave the evening much of the character of a reunion.

Many guests said afterward that it was a privilege to attend such a night, and certainly it will stand out as a highlight of their years at Scotch for Ross and Robyn Campbell.

In closing the night, Tony Glover also paid tribute to Sally McKenzie and her committee for the organisation of the night, and the spectacular decoration of the room, and to Malcolm Lindsay for the DVD presentation. GS