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School News Agriculture Seniors the HERALD SECTION B Wednesday February 5 1992 E HILLS B Palmer Religion Youth Page Georgetown Girls Pipe Band is alive and well In the 1940s the Georgetown Girls Pipe and Drum Band was at the peak of ts numbers This band photo was taken in 1949 Members were back row left to right Shirley Evelyn Guest Eileen Kerr Ann Luke Doreen Jolley Inez Scott middle row left To right Margaret Mary Cummins Shirley Lol Eleanor Smith Mac front row left to right Jean Dick e Helen McGUI Toots Murphy Teresa Curtis Edna Pauline Nor ton Marjorie Harlow and Helen Shelbourne Photo subm A dedicated champion By STEVEN The Herald Georgetown youth Kato has been involved in judo since before she could read Her years of training and dedication to the sport reaped its highest reward Jan when captured a gold medal at toe Nationals in Winnipeg It was basically a big surprise explained 17 yearold Cara who took the gold in the 56 kg weight class Cara entered the sport of judo at age four said she started the sport because of her father who has been a judo instructor for over years and now runs a class in Brampton where trains My father was teaching classes very often when I was young and at one point I just wanted to see what he was doing It has been said that to be the best you have to beat the best and in Winnipeg this is exactly what she did two opponents from A champions room Georgetown youth cara displays some of the hardware won her and her brother Paul during their years In the sport of judo recently returned from Winnipeg where she took the gold at National Judo Championships Herald Photo Quebec one from Ontario and another from New Brunswick did battle with last champ Sylvie of Quebec in the finals and emerged victorious Also winning a gold from htr fathers class in Brampton was Jackie Hall of who took the honor in the next weight class up from withtwo golds a silver and a bronze said Mr Kato This is great for one ass Cara has competed at the Nationals since she was She took the bronze in her first year but had not placed since Mr Kato explained that com judo starts at age so it was very beneficial to that she started at such a young age The younger a child starts the better it will be for them when they start judo However teachers have to be extremely attentive and careful in order to avoid injuries said Mr Judo has been major part of life for the family for many vears older brother Paul has been training for years and father son and daughter literally have a room full of and medals Along with a heavy schedule of training and competing she trains six hours a week and competes in over a dozen tournament in Canada and the United States each vear also teaches judo to a small group of Hills youngsters on a week at the Odd J Hall She received her teaching cer tificate last May and has been October When asked about the class she said It can be very rewarding if you have the right students Those who want to learn a grade student at Georgetown District High School hopes to study fashion design at college next year She said she quite cure where her love of the sport of judo will take her but she will continue to compete Her next challenge will be At the Senior Nationals in Hamilton in early Mar ch It clear the sport of Judo has given a great work a desire to reach for ex and tremendous self esteem Whatever she ventures into in her future these values will car tatnJy succeed By ISA BOONSTOPPEL POT The Herald One of Georgetown s most unique bands is making a comeback in celebration of its 50th anniversary he Georgetown Girl Band is one of only a few pipe bands across Canada compr only of females They le also one of the few who survived severe drops in membership This year as they celebrate the anniversary of their in carnation they re planning on once more becoming as strong and popular as they were in the s and 70s We re becoming a strong band again says leader Pipe Drum Major Jane Power There has been a decrease in membership lately because bagpipe music t as popular now as it was in the s Back then membership was as high as 30 girls Traditionally membership in pipe bands goes up and down as the popularity of Scottish music ts she added As part of their comeback the band has begun competing at pipe band competitions and made a good showing at the Almonte Highland Games near Ottawa this summer We kept getting comments from people who said they were glad we re back in the circuit said Ms Power Before this competition the band hadn t competed for two years although they had kept up regular performances at local fairs and highland games Currently the band has just enough members to produce a good sound with seven pipers and three drummers They include Jane Power of Georgetown Valerie ningham of Georgetown Margaret Hogget of Streetsville Eleanor Thomson of King City Iris Irwin of Georgetown Melissa Ellis of to Shayne Thomson of Brampton Donna Edwards of and Judith Irwin of Georgetown hey meet every Monday pipers and Thursday drummers at Park Public School in Georgetown to practice the reels marches and strathspeys that make up Scottish pipe music They plan to showcase their talents at their Anniversary celebration Tattoo Sept 25 The next day they host a dinner and highland ball and the Sunday after a lunch and afternoon get together The festivities are being arranged by cochairs Val Cun and Elaine Robinson Ber trand past members of the pipe band They re now working on a history of the band which will be in corporated into a booklet and distributed for sale Also included in the booklet will be old pictures of the band and remembrances from past band members Ms Robinson has special memories from her days as a drummer with the band in tht when it was basically a street band performing in parades almost every weekend he pipe band was an important thing in our lives she remembers It was a real honor to be part of it She remembers the girls in the band had a family type bond were formed in that band that don t change she said Even if haven t seen my former bandmates in 20 years we 11 still have the same friendship It these types of remembrances she and Ms Cunningham want to record for prosperity in the history of the band They re currently researching for the names and ad dresses of former members in structors and supporters to in corporate their ideas in the book A portion of the book will be dedicated to Mary Cummins Pat and Alice Reid who were the founding members of the band Ms Robinson Bertrand said these two girls had a mutual interest in learning to play the pipes and got together to learn Gradually more and more girls took an interest and a band was formed under the tutelage of Mac and Jimmy Valentine According to reports in the Nov 1942 issue of the Hills Herald nine pipers and six drum mers met every Monday in the town hall When trained the Herald noted the band will prove to be one of the best advertisements never had the concept remains the same New members do learn on chanters But the price of bagpipes has gone up Nowadays bagpipes cost ap proximately In another Hills Herald ar tide on July 1943 it was written the Georgetown Girls Pipe Band were a treit boh to the eye and ear on July l when they made their first public appearance at a gala street dance they sponsored This also holds true today Mem bers are splendidly dressed in Scot uniform complete with skirt vest and cap and the music they perform is sweetly Scottish through and through Ms Powers said the band is always looking for new members whether they have any musical background or not Interested girls can call her at Some of the 300 past members of the band may want to attend a general meeting Feb 25 7 m at Knox Presbyterian Church to help organize the anniversary celebrations it t Professional bagpipe player Michael MacDonald of Toronto eyes the fingerwork of Ellis of a member of the Georgetown Girl Pipe Band Ms Ellis is seen here practicing on a chanter an Instrument new members train on before progressing to the bagpipes The band Is celebrating its 50th anniversary and is looking for new members Herald Photo