The following stories are excerpts from vignette's supplied to provide a snapshot of Marching Otago's History.

Administration and Other Matters in the 1950's – Les Jackson, 2011.

Don McGee was in the entertainment business and he came to Dunedin from Hastings to manage the Regent Theatre. He was involved in Marching in Hastings and soon became similarly involved in Dunedin by taking over the Blair Athol team. As coach he attended Otago Centre meetings and quickly realised that the Otago administration setup did not conform to the New Zealand Association rules. He pointed this out and as a reward was elected President of the Centre.  In this position he guided the formation of associations in Palmerston, Mosgiel, Balclutha and Dunedin. This not only clarified the administration from team level to national level but opened the way for more people to become involved, thus greatly strengthening the sport in the Otago area.

About this time I attended my first Annual Meeting of the New Zealand Marching Association as an Otago delegate along with Don McGee. The next year I again attended accompanied by Doug McDonald.  Presumably I was by then Otago President and Doug was Chief Judge.   George Silver was also there but I am not sure in what role.

Serious discussion on Marching affairs took place at Conference,traditionally the Saturday evening social function was attended by a government Minister who handed over a cheque to fund the Association’s administration costs for the following year.

On one occasion a group of us were making our way on foot from our hotel to the social venue in pouring rain, but still under the shelter of shop verandas.  A large limousine pulled into the kerb beside us, a door opened and a voice said, “Jump In”.  It was the current Minister of Internal Affairs on his way to present our cheque, and as we were the only ones on the street he assumed we must be headed for the same place. 

Doug McDonald had already proved himself as a leading instructor and judge, was well liked and respected, and was willing take over my position as Chief Judge.  I am not sure of the sequence of events because at some stage I served as President of the Centre and could not have done that job and been chief judge at the same time.  Anyway, it was as President that I received the Centre Colours in a ceremony at the Caledonian Ground.

In mid 2006 when Ola and I celebrated our 60^th anniversary, we decided to attend the next local marching contest to see what the sport was like these days.  When we turned up, we were delighted to find some former colleagues still involved and that we were recognised and made a fuss of.  We also found that although much had changed much had stayed the same, especially the obvious enjoyment of those taking part.

More recently I attended a reunion dinner arranged by former members of the Majorette and Minorette teams.  Ladies Marching had always been promoted as a healthy sport for girls and those attending seemed to be a confirmation of that.  Considering my own age and state of health I reflected that perhaps the sport had been good for me as well.

Minorettes Marching Team, 2014

Coached by Joan Hall and Nelma Marshall, both members of the Majorettes, The Minorettes made their first public appearance in the early 1950’s. Their performance did not include a Display. 

The team resumed the next season with a new instructor Dorothy Hore, another Majorette senior.  Dorothy proved to be a knowledgeable and demanding coach and soon had the team on the road to success, both locally and further afield.  To provide continuity and retain those girls whose age required them to move up a grade Dorothy formed a junior team under the Minorettes banner. This was a very beneficial move and very soon this team was also achieving success.      

Pamela Henderson had come through the ranks of both Minorettes teams and was prepared to take up the challenge of coach. She proved to be no less capable than her predecessor and both teams continued to thrive.                                   

There is little doubt that the team's willingness to travel contributed to their success.  At first, we used our own cars for all journeys, only resorting to buses for longer trips that involved an overnight stay.  Considering the time we spent on the road it seems remarkable that there were only a few minor mishaps and certainly no major ones.  In fact, the only one I recall that might have led to real danger was when a tyre on our bus caught fire en route to Christchurch and we had to commandeer all the liquid on board to put it out. 

When the team won the right to compete in the South Island Championship at Westport, I was one of those who volunteered to get them there. The town was not well equipped to cater for the influx that had descended on it. It wasn't just full - it was over-flowing.  Some lucky folk got real beds, but most were not so lucky. We hadn’t been expecting mattresses on the floor, but that is what we got.  There was one room for the ladies and another for the men, and they were on either side of the staff lounge.  By then we were tired enough not to notice the significance of this. 

Friday night was the staff's party night, and they naturally used the staff lounge. Despite our protests it was not until the early hours that peace finally descended on the place. By then sleep had all but deserted us.  It rained all night and all next morning.  Prospects were not bright, but the show had to go on. 

The Uniform and Fall In sections got under way in the local hall and we emerged to bright sunshine and no sign that it had ever been raining.  The show did go on and was labelled another successful event. 

Invercargill was not renowned for keeping its eating places open outside normal business hours, so I don't know how we came to be looking for a meal one Sunday evening.  We were beginning to think we would have to go hungry when we found a place with a light still on but in the process of being closed for the night. The lady was sympathetic but didn't see how she could help.  Yes, there was food in the larder but no-one to prepare or serve it – the staff had already gone home, and she couldn't cope with a whole bus load by herself. We suggested we could help - in no time we were slicing bread, cutting up lettuces and doing all the other things that preparing a meal requires.  We even cleaned up afterwards and wistfully wondered if our herculean effort might earn us a small discount on the regular price.  No such luck.

Judging and Administration

Marching began as an activity for young women to counter the boredom of working in wartime factories.  Teams were "In House" and most would have been sponsored by company managements.  Post war saw a rapid development of the sport with teams appearing all over the country.  A national body was set up in Wellington to administer the sport and control filtered down though provincial Centres, local Associations, Teams and finally Individuals. When Don McGee arrived from Hawkes Bay and took over Blair Athol, one of our leading teams, helped form local associations in Mosgiel, Balclutha and Palmerston, and the single one in Dunedin became two. 

Fred Garod wanted to see an adequate judging panel established (in Otago).  His first call in pursuit of trainees was to the Minorettes dads.  They were Roy Nelson, Bill Henderson and me.  We were all ex-army and fully familiar with the drill but needed updating on the competitive angle.  Our training was undertaken by Hugh Cameron and Jim Byrne and took place during a few sessions at the then Railways Social Hall in the then Road Services Building.  As the season continued, we gained in confidence and ability, and we were told that we were each to undergo an oral and practical examination for grading purposes.

The examiners were Jim Gilbert from South Canterbury and Southland judge Aubury Proctor.  They just wanted to find out what we knew and how well we could apply that knowledge to the job in hand.  When the results arrived a couple of weeks later we discovered that although some did better than others, nobody failed to graduate.  Everyone was satisfied. Otago now had an officially appointed judging panel. There were still gaps in the team but we had laid the foundation of what would become a very capable panel.  Probably because of the grading I received from that first test I was made centre chief judge.  I hardly knew what that entailed, but everyone was kind and tolerant and I was able to learn 'on the job'. I never regretted taking up the challenge.

I was aware that some senior team leaders and team coaches as well as supporters were interested in becoming judges.  I encouraged them to do so and to keep taking the grading exams until they reached the highest level they could attain.  It was a great personal pleasure when I learned some years later that the young woman I knew as Jan Byrne did just that and reached the top.  

As Chief Judge I accepted that it was my job to supervise the judges and to ensure that all aspects of the competition were fair.  Everyone else accepted that I should also collect and announce the results, which I did. 

One time in Clinton those responsible arrived at the ground with the sound system but no recordings.  A hurried call to Kaitangata brought their brass band to the rescue.  While we waited for them to arrive some judges went AWOL to gather mushrooms for that night's tea.  Being old army lads, they were always ready to take advantage of an opportunity' 

As an A grade judge I was being called on to officiate at South Island competitions.  Usually this meant using my own car to travel to another population centre, and that usually also meant an early start.  About that time I began to realise that I would soon have to choose between sport and work.  I could not sustain both, but I did not  want to simply up and leave marching.  With this in mind I encouraged Doug McDonald to take the role of chief judge. It was a good choice.  This enabled me to serve a term as President and then to retire gracefully. 

Marching was a serious business for all those taking part and I had long thought it would be nice to end the season with a fun day and hardly anything needing to be taken seriously.  My chance came just before I left the sport. Balclutha was the venue and the day was perfect.  I had dreamed up a number of tasks that I thought would test the ingenuity of teams and their supporters and I kept everything secret until the day.  We all had a wonderful time.

A Final Comment

I never regretted the time I spent in Marching.  I met many fine people, some of whom became close and dear friends, and it was there that I learned so much that was useful to me in later years.  I am glad that the sport still prospers, and I hope it will continue to do so, for surely there is no finer sport for young ladies, and even the not so young.         

Shona French - Memories of the 60's

My involvement with marching started in 1958 as a young Midget and because of my love for the Sport I am still involved today as a Coach and an Administrator. I started marching in a Team called Tui's coached by Joyce Nelson.

I was lucky enough to march with my two nieces Shaaron and Carole. I was the youngest of five children and the baby of the family. My eldest sister was married with three children before I was even born. I felt like an only child and was quite shy. Marching offered me so many things that developed my confidence gave me challenges, friends and travelling and to be able to wear a uniform.

Because back in the 1960's there were not so many choices of what girls could do marching was very popular and grew to have a big membership.

After I became too old for Midgets I moved on to Juniors a Team called Grenadiers, then to Glen Avon. This is when my passion really started to develop and I became lifetime friends with my Coach Jan Hoad (nee Byrne.) She taught me so much and at that time my Mum became involved as Chaperon and remained in that role until 1980 when she died. She was affectionally known as Mac.

It was no problem for me to walk or catch a bus to practices two or three times a week. Because I like challenges, I aspired to lead a Team and my wish came true - Jan put me out front as Leader. When Jan got married, she offered me the honour of Coaching. I felt so excited to be given this honour and yes, another challenge. How good could I be?

At this stage I was nearing Senior age and still wanted to march and joined Cameron Highlanders as well as taking on Coaching. Coaching is an onerous position but also to be part of young girls lives was rewarding. I started with nothing to lose but everything to gain. I reached out to as many people I could for help and support and hence another journey began.

As time moved on I joined Windsor Guards Seniors Coached by George Silver, a remarkable man. Now was the time for me to make my own mark and I changed the Junior Team name to Windsor Guards. Another step in Marching History. There is so much more I could add of what marching gave me and so many other girls. It is such a rewarding Sport with so many opportunities and life skills. It becomes an extended family, somewhere to belong, somewhere to grow and develop. I made my mark by winning National Display placings and this inspired me to want more and this has been rewarding over the years by winning more Nationals titles with my daughter Michelle.

Because in the 1960's there were so many Teams and it was so popular in New Zealand and originating in New Zealand we had the opportunity throughout the Country to compete at a level that our Team standard was at the time. As the improvement started to show you were able to compete at an Islands and a Nationals and represent your Association. An honour in itself.

Back in the 60's the way to travel out of town was by bus. I found it so exciting, maybe  the adults didn't, but up really early and home quite late and being with your team mates was the icing.

Another memory was you marched to live Bands, pipes or brass. Sometimes you even got to choose. For me the pipes was my choice, a little slow but quite relaxing. Of course, I had an affinity with the pipe as I used to play in a pipe band.

Discipline was quite a draw card, and I feel even today Marching has a name for being regimented and disciplined. This word discipline goes back a long way from during the war time teams were quite often Coached by those that had been in the Army and returned home to coach a lot of young ladies that worked in businesses and wanted something to do.

I have great passion for the years I have spent in marching and continue to do so even though so much has changed the things that the girls loved in the 60's still remains today.