Along with caber tossing and haggis hurling, thousands turned out over the weekend to watch highland dancers and pipe bands injecting a taste of Scotland into the Aussie backdrop.

The Bellinger River District Pipe Band was among the line up of 20 pipe bands to compete in a talented display of pride and passion.

The band was in competition with some of the countries finest pipe bands, from Brisbane, Tamworth and as far afield at Western Australia for the prestigious Maclean Gathering.

“I thank all bands supporting us in keeping alive our Scottish Culture here in Maclean,” Lower Clarence Scottish Association Chief Peter Smith said.

Into it’s 114^th year, the popular two-day Scottish gathering is held over the Easter long weekend and includes a mix of competitive events and social occasions, including the evening ceilidh (a town dance with folk music and traditional dance) and street pipe band parade.  

The Bellinger River District Pipe Band was established in 1976 and as an all-ages band strives to encourage young people to continue the Scottish culture.

​Over the years the band has come to be considered one of the leading Grade 4 bands, and has won numerous awards in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand. The band also perform at a variety of events and functions, like Australia Day community events, Anzac Day marches, Cancer Council Relay for Life, Coffs Aero Show, sporting events and civic ceremonies.

Five years ago the Bellinger pipe band also formed a folk group called the Fireside Celts to play at social events including folk festivals, ceilidhs, concerts and house hooleys.  

Each month the pipe band perform at the Bellingen Celtic Ceilidh Dance Sessions, the next of which will be held on April 7 at the Bellingen Uniting Church for some Scottish fun and frivolity.