Edinburgh Tattoo gives cherished sword gift to Wellington

A ceremonial broadsword has been presented to the Wellington City in the wake of the record-breaking performances by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Mayor Celia Wade-Brown presented a ceremonial Scottish Officer broadsword bearing the Royal cipher at the full meeting of the Wellington City Council last night.

 

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Rt Hon Donald Wilson gave this sword to Wellington City on the eve of Sunday’s final Royal Edinburgh Tattoo performance at Westpac Stadium. The Mayor said the broadsword is an unending memento of the 2016 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in the Capital. The 2016 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo created history to be remembered as the biggest crowd puller than any show held in the Capital.

Edinburgh Tattoo Chief Executive and producer Brigadier David Allfrey said people of Wellington supported Tattoo warmly. A Scottish Officer’s Broadsword is given to the contingent each year at the Tattoo in Edinburgh who has the most contributions to the Tattoo. The sword is highly demanded and the winner is announced before the March Off in front of Edinburgh Castle at the close of the last performance of the summer.

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Blenheim performer dances at Edinburgh Tattoo in Wellington

After 13 years of dancing in front of a variety of crowds, a young Blenheim woman has performed in an event that has no match. Danielle Pope, 19, was the Blenheim’s only dancer to be chosen to perform at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Wellington over the weekend, and she says she was emotional by the opportunity. She says it is amazing to dance with the Scottish dancers but it can also be challenging.

 

She added their way of dancing is slightly different than ours and it is difficult to match them at times but it is incredible that such a world popular event has visited New Zealand. She shared the feeling saying the overall experience was incredible and in terms of glory and size it was like the Tattoo in Edinburgh which surprised me. The world famous event has visited overseas only three times since its starting more than 60 years ago and the people attended the performances from all over the country and even the world.

Danielle had chance once before of performing in the Edinburgh Tattoo and then she traveled to Scotland. She explained the culture and experience was amazing because the size of the castle and the number of attending people was quite incredible. Danielle who is a pharmaceutical student at Otago University, says dancing removes the stress after a long day of study and classes and I would be lost without it because it is one of my craze.      

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New Zealand Army Band member set to receive top NZDF musical honour

Feilding's Sandra Wheeler has a brain tumor for an year but she has survived and becomes the first civilian woman to win the Terry Moloney Memorial Bugle. She was awarded the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF)Bugle at a small ceremony at her home last weekend where she said you just do what you want to do. Wheeler who is the fifth recipient of the award has a run of 35 years of continuous service to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and NZDF musical services.

 

The Bugle prize that was started by the International Military Music Society is awarded to the Zealand military band member annually who has served military music in a great way. The band was joined by Wheeler on July 1, 1980 and then she never left. The most current success of her was being appointed the RNZAF music services coordinator for Ohakea after leading a long list.

This duty gave the band a new and positive direction because her ties to local bands and schools have brought young talent to the band. She also has taught music for many years at Huntley School. The next job of the New Zealand Army Band is to give performance at Edinburgh Tattoo. The tattoo is set to take place on 5-27 August 2016. It is hoped the band will perform at its climax in the show and spectators will enjoy a lot of the display.

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Edinburgh Tattoo set to boost Wellington economy with $16m

Edinburgh Military Tattoo is expected to inject $16 million as economic benefits into the Wellington region. Great influx of visitors have been attracted by the event to the capital,with accommodation already booked out that has forced people to stay as far away as Levin and Martinborough. Chief executive of Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency, Chris Whelan said the whole region would derive economic benefits adding the four days alone are going to be worth an estimated $16m to the Wellington economy this summer.

He said more than 80,000 spectators have purchased coupons for four performances and accommodation demand has risen across the region. Masterton Copthorne Hotel & Resort manager Michelle Kirkpatrick said the Tattoo has also created great opportunity for the Wairarapa region.Whelan said this is a very successful event for the property and extra six touring groups have chosen to stay at the hotel over the four days and Tattoo weekend was an amazing event where Wellington offered further property investment because there is work already in progress to house the ever growing demand with a Sofitel under development, proposed Rydges Hotel at Wellington Airport and a four star plus Sebel property due to come on board in Lower Hutt in early 2017.

The New Zealand Festival is presenting the Tattoo and Wellington City Council is funding it. This is the second time the Tattoo is staged at Westpac Stadium following a profitable event in 2000 and just the fourth time it is being held overseas in its 65-year history. Tattoo chief executive and producer, Brigadier David Allfrey said it is our belief New Zealand economy would derive $4m from each performance.

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Edinburgh Tattoo set to stage snare player Beth Rennes performance

It is just for the third time when the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo will depart its home arriving in Melbourne this week and a Camberwell drummer will be performing there. Beth Rennes will be joining the performance as part of the Melbourne Highland Pipe Band when Etihad Stadium will be transformed for the international extravaganza for five nights. The Camberwell’s snare player was one of the first members of the band believed to be the oldest continuing band in Victoria to be the part once in a lifetime experience.

Ms Rennes said mum and I used to watch the Edinburgh Tattoo on television and when I heard it was coming to Melbourne, I immediately approached my band director asking if we could participate. She added roughly 20 from the band are going to participate but on the whole there is a cast of more than 1200 performers. Ms Rennes, confessed she is a little bit nervous but there is great excitement because there is a lot of music to learn and I am really proud to be part of it.

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Edinburgh Tattoo offer dancing duo a chance to perform

Two Perth women will rehearsal full for six days before they perform dance in first ever Edinburgh Military Tattoo of Melbourne next month. Mt Hawthorn’s Rebecca Adamson (25) and Helena Valley’s Victoria Goode (19) will jointly perform five shows of Scottish highland dancing at Etihad Stadium from February 12-14. The traditional dance was learned by the women at young age in Kalgoorlie and continued when they shifted to Perth.

Ms Adamson said I studied tap, ballet and jazz when I joined university in Perth and I had to select what to continue but highland dancing provides a lot of opportunities to dance and travel. She added Highland dancing has offered me chances to visit the Netherlands, Switzerland and around Australia. Ms Adamson who is on the international Scottish highland dancing judging panel now, said she would take retirement from competitive dancing after the Melbourne event.

Ms Goode, who wants to continue competitive dancing, said they take training three times a week ahead of competitions and no one does it because it is so unique. She added once I watched Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland and I desired I will dance in it one day. She explained you set a lot of goals for yourself and you are achieving the goals if you are improving every time you dance.

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