Pipe band kit-out plan

Alexandra Pipe Band members Patrick Lamont (16, far left) and Debbie Thompson (far right), both of Alexandra, gather with some youth band members (from left) Nick Drummond (15) and Reilly Bell (14), both of Cromwell, Sam Darling (13), of Ettrick, Hugh Cocks (15), of Cromwell, Alex Darling (11), of Ettrick (front), Clayton Buchanan (15), of Cromwell, and Emma Borland (11), of Alexandra. Photo supplied.

The Alexandra youth pipe band, called "Kilt", was formed in February and will make its first public appearance in the Alexandra Blossom Festival parade on September 24. It has 18 members, from Ettrick, Cromwell and Alexandra, ranging in age from 11 to 16.

"Their first public appearance will be the culmination of hundreds of hours of dedicated work on the part of the young pipers and drummers over the last three years," musical director Alastair Forbes, of Roxburgh, said.

"Problem is, each musician needs a uniform in order to parade with the band." Each uniform costs about $2000 and the band had several "cunning marketing schemes on the go", Mr Forbes said. These included raffles and the production of its own "Central Highland" branded shortbread.

To date, the band had raised about a quarter of the money needed for the uniforms, he said.

Youth pipe major Clayton Buchanan (15) , of Cromwell, said some surplus kilts had been bought from another band.