Armidale’s pipe band, founded in 1900, is one of the oldest in the country.

“Some of my family were in a band before that,” band member Geoff Monley said.

“But of course, they don’t have the written proof so they start when they do have the written proof which was 1900.”

John Leslie, Geoff Monley, and Evan Lewis are the band's most senior members, with more than 200 years of piping experience between them.

They all started as teenagers - John in the 40s and Geoff and Evan in the early 50s – and their love for Scottish music and culture is stronger than ever.

“As a 16-year-old, I use to go into the backyard and annoy the neighbours,” Evan said.

“I remember there was a man who lived across the fence who was really annoyed - he was obviously a lowlander.”

Geoff said he was always going to be a piper.

“I knew that I was going to be a piper when I was about six-years-old and so at 16, with my first lot of money, I bought by first pipes,” he said.

After the war, the pipe band flourished as people flocked into community groups.

But as Holden began to release more affordable cars, the band began to struggle.

“Holden cars came out and they were so cheap, so everyone went to the coast on the weekend there was nobody left in town,” Geoff said.

“We all had a cheap Holden … it was amazing.”

The pipers struggled along in the 70s and 80s before a change breathed new life into the band.

“The major thing now is that we have women in the band,” John said.

“The other thing we realised was that the only way the band would succeed was if we owned enough bagpipes for learners.”

When people realised there wasn’t an expense - that made a big difference.

The band now has more than 300,000 worth of equipment and welcomes anyone who would like to learn the pipes.