Town Talk | The legacy of Dhurringile’s Boys Band

Getting the story together, accurately, has not been an easy task.

There were stories aplenty but determining accuracy has been difficult.

However, when I was shown a photo of the band, I was reminded of this quite extraordinary exercise, and I’ve attempted to put it all together.

The boys, from Scotland, began arriving at the Dhurringile Rural Training Farm in 1950 and, shortly after, three gentlemen — in particular — began working towards the goal of a pipe band.

They were Jock Lawrie, Bob Agnew and Jim Couch.

It was important that the boys retained a connection to their homeland — and had a goal to achieve.

Firstly, they would need instruments on which to learn; then they had to be provided with uniforms — kilts, jackets, plaids and accessories.

I read that 16 outfits were made initially but, in the photo, there are 22 kilted band members plus the drum major, pipe major and manager also in kilts.

I have no idea how much this would have cost in 1951, but I can tell you how much it would cost today.

There would be little change from $100,000.

I can only imagine that many local businesses were involved in financing, but I can’t tell you who they were.

I was told, by one of the ladies I spoke with, that this newspaper was generous and, as a ‘thank you’ gesture, the band wore McPherson tartan.

There is no way for me to verify this; the current boss isn’t old enough!

The Dhurringile Boys Pipe Band was a successful community endeavour.

The boys played at many local shows, Highland gatherings around the state, including Shepparton, and incredibly in the Melbourne Anzac Day parade.

In fact, they were so popular at this parade, they were driven back to the starting place and asked to do it all again.

I’m stretching my memory but I think they also participated in the Blossom Festivals.

With my dance friends, I was involved in Highland dancing exhibitions and competitions from 1953 to 1960 — and the band was at most of the same events.

There are only a few of ‘the boys’ still living locally.

I was told of one in Mooroopna (with whom I had a long conversation, and his story follows).

However, he left the band in 1955 and does not know when it ceased to exist.

I was told that one member now lived in Numurkah, but I was running short of time to attempt contact.

It is important that I mention three gentlemen who worked with the Dhurringile boys and were highly valued: Tom Hastie, Bill Ponting and Alistair Doig.

I am told that Mrs Joyce Couch and Mrs Lawrie made all the kilts, which was a mammoth task.

It takes around seven metres of fabric to be pleated to reflect the tartan.

In other words, the pleated section needs to look exactly the same as the unpleated fabric.

It’s a very difficult task.

The Dhurringile Rural Training Farm closed in 1968.

One hundred boys were at the Dhurringile Mansion over the 18 years, with approximately 50 at any given time.

Jim Forsyth

Jim has a clear memory of arriving at a boys’ home in Edinburgh; it was 1943 and Jim was three and a half years old.

He told me the impact was such that he can still ‘see’ a long room with many, many beds in a row.

It was fortunate that he had his brother with him; Andrew was older — he was five.

As time went by, all the boys were aware that, when they turned 14, they would be sent ‘down the mines’ and none were looking forward to this future.

In 1950, Jim was called into the office and asked, “Would you like to go to Australia?”

He knew nothing of our country, not even where it was — but he answered, “I suppose that would be all right.”

Perhaps, to a 10-year-old, anything would be preferable to the coal mines.

The passenger list of the ship Jim sailed on included his brother and five other boys from the same boys’ home.

He still has this list, in one of several white folders that contain his personal history.

He was among the first group of boys to arrive at Dhurringile Mansion – which was to be Jim’s home for the next five years.

Then the suggestion was made.

Why not teach the boys to play the bagpipes and form a band?

Jim didn’t tell me his response — perhaps it was, “I suppose that would be alright”?

He was a member of the band until he turned 15 when he left to find work.

Due to the location of his farm work, he joined the Benalla Pipe Band, in which he played for the next 19 years.

Jim married Marlene Gill in 1962.

He and brother Andrew had taken a holiday at Lorne, and there they both met their wives.

Jim and Marlene had three children — Darren, Debbie and James.

The boys have made their lives elsewhere but, fortunately, Debbie lives in Shepparton.

Marlene has passed away, leaving Jim alone in their Mooroopna home.

He is now 85 years old, softly spoken, but fully aware of the state of the world — and not a fan of President Trump or Elon Musk.

John MacIntosh Lawrie — known as Jock

Jock’s father was in the Scots Guards, and they lived in barracks at Edinburgh Castle.

He was well known in Scotland, in charge of the combined pipe bands in the Edinburgh Tattoo — and King George V spoke of him as “an old friend”.

The family immigrated to Australia when ‘young Jock’ was 16 years of age.

His father was responsible for starting several pipe bands around Melbourne and country Victoria.

And then came World War II.

Jock was in the 5th Battalion and fought in the Middle East.

After the war, the Lawrie family, including John Snr, moved to Shepparton and the Shepparton Pipe Band came into being.

It appears that Jock was involved in the organisation of the Highland gatherings that took place in Shepparton; many bands gathering together, with dancers, and people throwing the caber.

For anyone with a drop of Scottish blood, including me, these were wonderful events.

I am aware that there are ‘large holes’ in this story.

I thank the daughters of Bob Agnew and Jock Lawrie for their memories, and thoroughly enjoyed my chat with Jim Forsyth.

I heard ‘Toni’ mentioned, but only realised who it was when deadline loomed.

Toni is the daughter of Jim and Joyce Couch and worked for some time at the Kyabram Free Press.

So sorry I missed talking to you, Toni!

You may have been able to fill the holes.

That’s all for now.

I have a lot to catch up with — hopefully next week.

Stay warm, and may it be easy, my friends.

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk, Shepparton News, P.O. Box 204, Shepparton 3631

Phone: Text or call 0409 317 187