MOSS Vale man Rob Parker has no Scottish heritage but he has immersed himself in the culture.
The pipe major of the Highlands Pipes and Drums has nurtured his love of the sounds of Scotland for the past 14 years.
He is a formative member of the Highlands Pipes and Drums established in 2000 and he proudly travels with the band members to venues throughout Sydney, the South Coast and the Southern Highlands to share his love of Celtic music.
Mr Parker is the first to admit he is a latecomer as far as playing the bagpipe is concerned.
But he said he had long enjoyed pipe music and revelled in the chance to develop his piping skills since 1995.
He has also travelled to Scotland on three occasions over the past five years to expand his knowledge of Scottish culture.
“I was about 48 and living in Batemans Bay when I started to learn the bag pipes,” he said.
“I struggled to master the technique initially but things began to fall into place when I took on more intensive lessons shortly after semi-retiring and moving to Moss Vale in 1999.”
Mr Parker began to fine-tune his piping skills under the guidance of an expert in the piping field with a similar name, Rod Parker.
“We aren’t related but interestingly we have many similarities - his full name is Rodrick John Parker and mine is Robert John Parker; we both had fathers named Jack and we both play the bagpipes,” he said.
“Rod helped form the Highland Pipes and Drums and was its original pipe major.
“He has since moved to Canberra, but I continue to learn from him - he even teaches me to be a piping teacher.”
In fact, Mr Parker said that teaching others how to play the bagpipes had become especially important in recent years.
“I’m getting to the stage now where one of my greatest enjoyments is to see and nurture the abilities of young people who come through the ranks in the Highland Pipes and Drums,” he said.
“We currently have four talented teenagers playing in the band, with several more prospects.”
Mr Parker is an integral part of the Highland Pipes and Drums as the pipe major leading the charge at various events.
The band is a key attraction of annual Bundanoon is Brigadoon celebrations as well as performing at Mittagong RSL sub-branch events including ANZAC and Remembrance Day ceremonies.
“We have also performed at the Woonona-Bulli RSL Club Anzac Sunday activities for the past two years as well as the annual Steam Festival at Thirlmere,” Mr Parker said.
The band has become an avenue of great opportunities for its members.
It competed in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow in 2006 and members are currently preparing to compete at the championship in Glasgow again in August next year.
“We placed eighth in our heat last time - that’s a pretty good achievement considering we were up against about 130 bands from around the world,” he said.
“The first three bands in our heat went on to take out first, second and third place overall in the fourth grade.”
The next Highlands Pipes and Drums event will be its annual ball at Mittagong RSL Club on July 11.
Tickets are $50 and cover dinner and entertainment.
All interested people are welcome to attend with money raised during the evening to go towards ongoing Highland Pipes and Drums projects.
The band practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Highlands School in Renwick. Competition practise is conducted on Tuesdays from 6pm-7pm while all band members practise on Thursdays from 8pm-10pm.
New members are always welcome.
Details: 0414 429 071.