VALE Ronald George Grant

In October 1954, while walking home from work as a boilermaker apprentice at the Launceston Railways Workshops, Ron told the story of how he was approached by a friend of the family and asked if he would like to learn to play the bagpipes. Ron's answer was enthusiastic - "what do I have to do?" 

Be at the army barracks at 7pm Mondays. "This is what I did for 21 months. This included two 2 - week camps plus the odd weekend camp and in barracks tuition". And so was born his love and affection for the pipes. 

Ron was in the CFM Pipe Band – his other duties included first aid, as he was attached to the Medical Corp.XXX In July 1955, Ron joined a civilian band for three years – the St Andrews Caledonian Pipe Band, and in 1958 was invited to help start another band along with about 12 other pipers and drummers. 

"I was with this band (Northern Highlanders) for 7 years – the last two as pipe major". But by 1965 he had rejoined St Andrews, where he remained for a further 32 years – 28 as pipe major. In 1999, Ron was requested by Launceston RSL to provide pipers and drummers so the RSL would have its own pipe band. 

"I was pipe major from inception until I retired from this position in 2012 because of ill health." Ron was a proud and much-appreciated member of the RSL Pipe Band until his death earlier this week.

He played in 5 Tattoos – invited with RSL Pipe Band to appear at ‘Bundanoon is Brigadoon', interchanging year for year with Ingleburn RSL Pipe Band. In January 2001, he was presented at Government House with the Centenary Service Medal, and in 2008, was recognized as Volunteer of the year.

During the late 1960's Ron started teaching pipers and drummers privately at Scotch College. Following amalgamation with Oakburn College, Ron began with the co-ed Scotch Oakburn College in 1982. Ron made a huge contribution to the school and showed a passionate belief in helping young people grow and learn ....eventually tallying up 31 years to coach and support the Scotch Oakburn pipers and drummers on a voluntary basis. 

He was awarded the school’s ‘Community Service Award’ during that time. His patience, dedication and cheeky sense of humour have endeared him to both students and staff during that time. When the school has required pipes and drums for a special occasion Ron has been there to support and mentor the students and when students have been unavailable, Ron himself has come along and piped for school functions. Ron continued to do this despite serious health issues until early this year when his illness no longer allowed him to participate in the same way.

Outside band life and tutoring privately, Ron contributed enormously to the community. It has been said that Ron was happy to turn up with his beloved pipes to the opening of an envelope, if requested, and his passing will leave quite a hole in the programs of many worthy events organisers.

Ron repaired and rejuvenated pipes, and at the request of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, he took from their collection the old pipes of Jock the Piper (James Lamont farmer & dairyman of Braemar near Vermont Road, Tasmania's first settler/piper). Made playable, Jock's Pipes were returned to the Museum, brought out only for special occasions, such as in 2011 at a lecture commemorating the 200th Anniversary of Governor Lachlan Macquarie's first visit to van Dieman's Land. 

This old set of pipes had been played by Jock, James Lamont, for Governor Macquarie's second visit to van Dieman's Land in 1819, and so it was fitting that their restorer, Ron Grant played on his own pipes at the 200th year commemoration at the Government Cottage site in City Park on 8th December 2011.

Over the years, Ron Grant has not only helped and inspired countless students in their personal and musical growth, but he has also nurtured that bagpipe and drum tradition throughout the community. He will be sorely missed, but what a wonderful legacy he has left. Ron George Grant is an exemplar of the ordinary actually being extraordinary and that's something we should all profitably embrace and celebrate.

Lionel Morrell, President Heritage Protection Society (Tasmania) Inc. 

Thankyou to Scotch Oakburn College and Ray Norman for contributions.