Band skirls at service of local stalwart

OCEAN Grove bagpiper Marene Turnely has been recognised with one of the Victorian pipe bands community’s highest honours for her more than six decades of involvement in Geelong clubs.

Mrs Turnley won the Sir Rupert Hamer Award for her long association with Geelong’s pipe bands scene that continues today after surviving multiple organisational restructures.

The award is an annual prize from Pipe Bands Victoria in honour of the association’s inaugural chieftain and recognises members’ “significant personal commitment” to their clubs over a long period.

Mrs Turnley started as a 14-year-old with Geelong Ladies Pipe Band in the 1960s and progressed through the ranks from learner to pipe corporal, and assistant secretary on its board, before it disbanded in 2002.

She became a life member in 1983, and highlights during her tenure included performing at half-time of Geelong Cats games at Kardinia Park and at Australian Pipe Band Championships.

The ladies’ band morphed into Geelong RSL Pipes and Drums – of which she became secretary and treasurer – and it remains the only active pipe band in the region.

Mrs Turnely was also a senior member of the Geelong Highland Gathering Association from its formation in 1994 until it wound up in September last year.

Her involvement continues today, most recently on Anzac Day last month when her band was booked for commemorative services at Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and Geelong, and will be part of the local contingent performing at next month’s National Celtic Folk Festival at Portarlington.

Mrs Turnley said the recognition was an unexpected bonus for her long association with Geelong clubs that had earned her lifelong friendships and skills with one of music’s most complex instruments.

“You just do things all your life and just do it for the love of it.

“I certainly wasn’t looking for the recognition, but it was just beautiful to get.

“To learn the pipes is one of the hardest instruments.

“You spend that time trying to be master the pipes, so you’re certainly not just going to give it up just overnight because you’ve mastered it.

“And it was the friendships you make, we had some fantastic people that we got involved with.”