Chair’s Message - 2024 agm
27 February 2024
Dear Queensland Branch Members,
At last night’s AGM a new Branch Committee was elected:
Chair – Nick Tomkins
Vice Chair – Jamie Robinson, Nick Partridge
Secretary – Carlie Scott-Hunter
Treasurer – Darin Cook
In addition Camille Layt has been reappointed to the non-executive role of Branch Publicity Officer and Alex McConnell in the non-executive role of Branch Historian. The role of Branch Education Officer remains unfilled. Anyone wishing to fill the Education Officer role should contact the secretary at qld@pipebandsaustralia.com.au.
The incoming Branch Committee would like to again extend their thanks and well wishes to outgoing Chairman Andrew Roach and Secretary Nicolette Cordell for their hard work and contributions to our movement over the last 7 years, as they refocus their priorities on work and life commitments. Andrew has led Pipe Bands Queensland through a tumultuous period at the start of his tenure, to deliver an outstanding 2018 Australian Pipe Band Championships alongside Brisbane Boys College and significantly strengthen our movement in Queensland. Nicolette has contributed her time to the secretary role as a non-playing volunteer, and the pipe band community expresses our gratitude for your contribution. I am also personally thankful that Nick Partridge, Jamie Robinson, Darin Cook, Camille Layt and Alex McConnell have continued in their roles to ensure continuity moving forward.
A key priority of the new Branch Committee will be to extend our engagement and impact to support regional and non-competing bands, with the intent of building value initiatives for these bands to join our Pipe Bands Australia community. Accordingly, moving forward, all our meetings will have online capability and we are keen to have representatives and input from as many bands as possible, and welcome observers from non-member bands to contribute to the conversations guiding our association. Please keep an eye on our website (pipebandsqld.com) and Facebook page (@PipeBandsQld) for information about our next Branch Council meeting. We will also continue the excellent work of the previous Branch Committee and current member bands.
We would also like to extend the best of luck to bands competing over the coming months at our next competition in Warwick, along with the Emmanuel College Highlanders at the University of Queensland attending the Australian Championships in Maryborough, and St Andrew's Pipe Band and City of Ipswich Pipe Band attending the New Zealand Pipe Band Championships in Auckland.
Finally we thank you all for your support of Pipe Bands Queensland as we look forward to what we continue to build together over the coming year.
Regards
Nick Tomkins
Chair – Pipe Bands Queensland
