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Wapol NewsWapol in the Recording Studio
Wapol have been conducting test recording sessions in a local studio in preparation for the recording of an album which is set to take place early in 2009. Keep checking the Wapol website for more details on this exciting project for Wapol!
 New Pipe Major and Pipe Sergeant appointmentsThe officer in charge of the Western Australia Police Pipe Band today (June 26, 2008) announced that he had appointed Paul Hughes Pipe Major and Ben McLaughlan Pipe Sergeant of Wapol. - "It is with pleasure that I announce the promotions within the Band, appointing Mr Paul Hughes  as Pipe Major and Mr Benjamin McLaughlin as Pipe Sergeant to be effective immediately.
Paul started his piping career with the Royal Air Force at the age of nine where he was taught by his father Ian Hughes. In 1999 Paul was awarded a bursary which enabled him to enroll on a three year course at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow under the tuition of the late Pipe Major Angus MacDonald MBE, Pipe Major Roddy MacLeod MBE and Pipe Major Colin MacLellan. During his three years at the Centre, Paul was also taught and advised by pipers of distinction such as Greg Wilson, William Morrison and Dougie Pincock. These tutors have had a huge influence on his style of playing and composing. Ben  had his first lesson from his father Alex McLaughlin at age 10 in Balclutha, New Zealand. From there he had tuition from a variety of well respected players such as Iain Gold, Syd Beck, Ron Milne, Martin Frewen and Alistair Munro. These tutors helped Ben progress through the New Zealand solo grading system culminating in being regraded to New Zealand’s premier grade (A grade) at the beginning of 2005 at age 17. In that same year Ben also won the Under 21 William Boyle Memorial Competition, which is awarded to the most consistent player under 21 in a number of qualifying events over a year.
The first pipe band Ben joined was the Balclutha Pipe Band where he played until moving north to Christchurch where he enrolled at St Andrew’s College and played with the school band from 2001 to 2005. Ben gained the role of Pipe Major in 2005 and also won the New Zealand Grade 3 Championship that same year. Ben played with the New Zealand Police Pipe Band in 2006, then moving to Perth at the beginning of 2007 to join the Western Australia Police Pipe Band. I am sure you will all join me in congratulating both Paul and Ben on their appointments and wish them well." Brett Bale Sergeant 6076 Officer In Charge Western Australia Police Pipe Band
Swasie Turner back after 33,000 mile wheel chair trek Wapol was proud to perform at Police Headquarters in East Perth to welcome Swasie Turner back to Perth after his fundraising wheelchair push from Augusta in S/W Western Australia.  The band marched Swasie into the grounds of Police Headquarters to meet the Assistant Commissioner to receive a cluster of awards and to say a few words. Later Swasie thanked the band and said that the performances had left a lump in his throat and had made the long trek worthwhile.  The welcome home parade was topped off with Wapol's rendition of Waltzing Matilda and Scotland the Brave. Wapol a hit at Scotland the Brave ConcertWapol performed at the Scotland the Brave concert at the Riverside Theatre, Perth Convention Centre on Saturday the 9th of February See news story here! Taking a very prominent part in the show Wapol's pipers performed a number of solos as well as the drum corps performing a well received Drum Fanfare. It was by all accounts a fun evening and matinee.
Wapol's concerts cancelled.
Alisdair McLaren relinquishes Pipe Major's position
A Concert For Remembrance DayCLAREMONT CONCERT BAND For further details click here!
This year spells the end of an era for the WA Police Pipe Band with their Officer-in-Charge, Sergeant Peter Bannister retiring after 20 years with
the band.
WAPOL Pipe Band march on Red Square(From the Line issue 122) The Western Australia Police Pipe Band was in Moscow last month to attend the first ever International Military Tattoo in Russia.
With over 1,500 performers from some of the world’s best military bands, the WA Police Band, along with the Australian Federal Police and many more international pipe bands, entertained an 8000 strong crowd in what Russian television described as the ‘world’s biggest ever performance by military bands’. The appreciative crowd heard the pipes performing rousing Scottish favourites to Russian melodies and were treated to a display of disciplined marching while the skies above the Kremlin exploded in fireworks. Craig Bailey, who is acting Officer-in-Charge since Peter Bannister retired after the Kremlin Zoria, said the experience had been a memorable one. “Being purportedly the first foreign people to walk out the gatehouse of the Kremlin to thousands of adoring Russian and International fans almost seemed surreal,” he said. “Growing up in Perth I can still recall TV images of the Russian military exercising its power on Red Square. “On a personal note I would like to extend thanks to Peter and the entire band, which looked great and performed admirably. “I am sure that given time many a story will resurface and be retold with good cheer.”
Band member Roy Hamilton, who was interviewed about the event by Russian television, said Russians and tourists alike were clamouring to have their photograph taken with the WA Police Pipe Band. “It was difficult to know what camera to look in to at times as there were so many,” he said. “I think I can speak for most members of the band by saying it was a memorable and enjoyable experience being a very small part of such a huge spectacle.” Commissioner’s Charity Bike RideThe Commissioner’s inaugural Bike Ride for Charity was held on Sunday 7th September and Wapol was there to support the cyclists with musical motivation at the start line, as well as cheering them with tunes as they went over the finish line.  Trip to Dalwallinu, WAWapol headed into rural WA last month on an invite to perform at the Dalwallinu Agricultural Show.
The first stop was a performance at Daliwallinu High School for students and teachers and all were impressed, some never having seen bagpipes before. The following day the band entertained the ‘Dally’ locals on a very sunny Saturday. The locals were very appreciative of the band performing, and made all of the band members feel very welcome. Winter PerformancesThe WA Police Pipe Band is keeping the community’s ears warm during the winter months with a series of public performances around Perth and Fremantle. The city’s school children are also getting some musical education from the band as we continue to visit and perform at schools around Perth. Over the coming weeks we’re visiting schools in Morley, Illawarra, Leederville and Subiaco, as well as performing in Forest Place. State Solo CompetitionsWapol members have been competing successfully over the last few weeks in solo competitions. Iain Westgate recently gained second place in the Western Australia State Solo competitions in the Open Piping Category and Libby O’Brien took out the Open Drumming competition. In the WA Champion of Champions solo competition final on Sunday 27th April, Ben McLaughlin was named Open Champion Piper, with fellow Wapol piper Paul Hughes coming in second. Jamie Forsyth won the Intermediate piping championship. In drumming events, Daniel Bowles was named Open Champion drummer in the snare category and Libby O’Brien placed second, with ex-Wapol member Dougal McConnell gaining third place. Piper Paul Hughes, (who is a man of many talents), also won the Intermediate Snare prize.  Wapol players are proud to represent the band at solo competitions around WA and are constantly striving for success in their individual performances. Anzac DayANZAC Day is one of the biggest performances for the WA Police Pipe Band and is definitely a highlight for all players. Westie meets the Gov!Recently the band played at the opening ceremony of the Australian Bowls Championships at the Manning Bowls Club on a wet Monday morning.
The event was attended by many dignitaries, including the Governor of Western Australia, His Excellency Ken Michael. Wapol in WalpoleWapol traveled around a thousand kilometers over the past weekend (March 15th & 16th) for two performances in regional WA. On Saturday 15th March, the band traveled to Walpole to perform at the Walpole Country Club for an annual golfing event and on Sunday to Harvey for their annual Fair.
After a VERY early alarm clock the next morning, we traveled north to Harvey for their annual Fair, where another admiring crowd greeted the band in the town centre. Talking to a few of the locals they remarked that they were pleased to see us back again as they recalled the band's performances last year. Wapol enjoys performing in regional WA as the crowds are very appreciative, Rural Western Australia is so vast that few people outside of Perth get to see the band perform only on very rare occasions. And with a few members of the band being from overseas, it's always a treat for them to see more of the country as well!
Midland Friendship ConcertSunday 9th March saw a mini band invited to perform at a very special event - the Midland Friendship Concert. This concert was not only for people with intellectual disabilities, but also partly performed by talented musicians who have intellectual disabilities.
Nannup Music FestivalThe band’s trip to Nannup for the Nannup Music Festival on the Labor Day weekend was a successful one and the colourful crowd that gathered to hear the band play was very appreciative. Many of the audience were very keen to chat to the band members after they had performed, which is always good not only on the PR front, but also to simply chew the fat with people that might not know much about pipe bands. It was great to have Duncan and Walter on the trip, not only to boost the pipe corps, but to keep everyone entertained on the bus! It was also excellent to have E.J back in the rear rank after being in recovery after his knee surgery.
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"I've decided to make one of the hardest decisions in my life and make the big move across to Bonnie Scotland. This means that I only have three weeks left here in Perth as I intend to fly out on the 17th October.
