BAGPIPE DREAM

Thirteen years old, West Melton local, Cameron Sharpe absolutely loves to play the bagpipes. He is currently fundraising to support his ambition to attend the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow in August with the St Andrew’s College Juvenile Pipe Band.

Cameron was born in Edinburgh, Scotland but moved ‘home’ to Canterbury when he was three months old. “I guess that may explain why I’ve always wanted to play the pipes since I remember,” said Cameron. “My parents finally caved, and I was allowed to start lessons with Liz Drury (supported by the Ellesmere Pipe Band) when I was eight years old.

“I spent two years moving irrigation K-lines each night after school and during the summer holidays to pay for my first set of pipes. It was worth it!

“I attended Weedons School until Year 6, after which I moved to St Andrew’s College and became a member of the School B Band for my first New Zealand Pipe Band Nationals in Hastings,” Cameron added.

Over the past five years, Cameron has played with the Ellesmere Pipe Band, supporting numerous Selwyn community events and has competed with the Caledonian and St Andrew’s Grade Four Bands, at both National and local events. He has also successfully competed in several solo piping competitions and currently has a ‘C’ Grade classification.

“My aim is to raise $7,000, which is a large goal, but this opportunity is really important to me. It would be an amazing experience to represent both my school and New Zealand at a world competition!

“Obviously, only the best players are selected to compete, so there is always going to be a chance that I may not make the cut this time around. But I have decided to think positively because I need to start now if I’m going to achieve my fundraising goal and get the tunes nailed!

“I have been busy fundraising, and my efforts so far include busking outside Rolleston New World the week before Christmas for an hour each night, providing piping services at both funerals and special occasions over the summer holidays for a small donation and farm work over the summer period. I have raised $1,987 so far and have been touched by the generosity and encouragement people have given me. I am always looking for new busking opportunities and am interested to hear from anybody who would like piping services (age appropriate).

“I have also set up a give-a-little page if anyone would like to donate. (Details are listed below.)

Any surplus funds raised will go to the Ellesmere Pipe Band to continue providing young Selwyn players with the support and guidance that Cameron has benefitted from.

“I will be playing at the opening of the New Zealand Shetland Breeders Show in Ellesmere later this month on behalf of the Ellesmere Pipe Band. I will also be competing with the St Andrew’s Pipe Band in Blenheim in February and at the New Zealand National in Christchurch in March. I will also be continuing to practicing with the aim of being selected, which would be a dream come true,” Cameron concluded.

If you would like to make a donation to help Cameron’s dream become a reality visit: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/ help-me-go-to-scotland-forthe-pipe-band-world