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The Sun
Friday June 21, 2019
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Les Whiteside
Katrina Whiteside
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Jimmie gets ready to head to Scotland Continued from page 1. Although Jimmie will be competing alongside the Nelson group, he’ll be representing the local Blenheim and Districts Highland Pipe Band (and, of course, New Zealand). Joining him will be fellow Marlburians, Cathie Hale and Nicole Ecklein, who are both set to play bagpipes. “It was a surprise to be asked because I didn’t think I was that good, but apparently I am,” Jimmie says enthusiastically. “When they asked me I said, ‘Yeah!’ straight away!” Over 220 bands (approximately 8000 pipers and drummers) travel from different countries around the Thirteen-year-old Jimmie at globe to compete at the Springlands School's 125th championships, including the world famous Canadian anniversary in 2011.
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pipe band, Simon Fraser University. Jimmie’s primary role as the side drummer is to support and “compliment the pipers”. He will be one of eight side drummers to play for Nelson’s band. Originally from Nelson, Jimmie moved “over the hill” to sunny Blenheim when he was about nine or ten-years-old. At around the same time, he was introduced to “pipe banding” by his good friend, Brett McKeown, who used to be a local but now lives in Wellington, is also going to Scotland with the Nelson band, and Brett remains close with Jimmie to this day. “He’s the one who really got me into it!” Although Jimmie started out by learning the bag-
pipes, he quickly moved onto drumming because his mouth couldn’t blow properly. “They asked if I wanted to learn the drums, which they thought I could probably pick up a lot quicker,” he says. “So that’s where it started. “Once you learn how to do it, you can’t stop!” When’s he’s not playing the side drums himself, Jimmie teaches people how to play – currently, Jimmie is teaching seven young ones. To him, side drumming is an “exclusive art”. “If you like it, you like it... If you don’t, you don’t,” he says. “From this trip, I hope to take back what I learned and impart the same passion I have for competitive pipe banding.”
Blenheim bus timetable changing 100% LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED IN MARLBOROUGH
Changes to Blenheim’s bus timetable will come into force on Monday, July 1, in an effort to ensure the service runs on time. This change will see Blenheim’s single bus, which currently operates six circuits a day, reduced to four circuits a day. The circuit is divided into two loops servicing north and south routes, but with only a
one minute interval between the two loops the bus is often late. Council finance and information supervisor, David Craig, says recent changes to the Employment Relations Act, which requires minimum rest breaks and meal breaks to be scheduled for bus drivers, also contributed to the decision to reduce the number of bus circuits. “The changes to the timetable
will comply with new legislation and keep buses running on time,” David says. “We hope to carry the same volume of passengers but have more passengers on each of the four circuits.” The new timetable will not affect the trials of new bus routes, including return services to Renwick and Picton, which are currently being developed. The changes to Blenheim’s
bus timetable will be ratified at next week’s council meeting on Thursday. The new services will not affect the trials of new routes, including return services to Renwick and Picton, which were still under tender. For a copy of the new timetable please visit: www.marlborough.govt.nz /services/ parking-roads-and-transport/ blenheim-bus-service
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