Marchers Coming From Aust.

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30977, 5 February 1966, Page 13

Marchers Coming From Aust.

A move to bring three leading Australian senior marching teams on a tour of the South Island next January was one discovery made by Mr R. E. Cairns. Mr Cairns recently returned from Australia where he was instructor-manager of three Christchurch marching teams, Downings Red Robins, Motorways Royal Guards and Blue Star Taxis.

He said that Jayes Travel Service had suggested a tour by the Melbourne Pioneers, and two New South Wales teams. Golden Eagles and Wallsend Sovereigns, along

with the Australian junior champion brass band, the Tuggerah Lakes District Band. The organisation of the tour was being undertaken by Mr A. Dobson, a former secretary of the Australian Girls’ Marching Association and now its publicity officer. Mr Dobson would manage the tour if it eventuated. Mr Cairns, who has toured Australia with his marching teams on two other occasions, in 1958 and 1963. found the standard of marching greatly improved, particularly in New South Wales. He said the best teams would be at least on a par with the New Zealand champions. Six teams in each grade, said Mr Cairns, would

be equal to the top New Zealand standard.

Mr Cairns also said the judging and administration of championships was as good or better than anything in New Zealand and cited the example of the huge championship at The Entrance, near Newcastle, where 100 teams completed their marching in eight hours and a half. To do this, two teams marched simultaneously in the midget and junior grades, on adjacent areas. The same recording was used for both teams and, although the separate leaders blew their whistles in their own time, there was no confusion. Of the Christchurch teams, Mr Cairns said the state chief instructors and judges in New

South Wales and Queensland were very impressed with the teams’ standard, especially as they had been learning the Australian march plan for only three weeks before the tour.

When at Surfers’ Paradise the teams trained on the beach and earned a write-up in the “Gold Coast Bulletin,’’ headed "Sand Marching Squad.'* Mr Cairns said the tour had been a complete success, and, after three trips, he felt there should be an interchange of visits between New Zealand and Australia every two years. So far, the number of touring teams from New Zealand far outweighed Australian teams which have i toured this country.