General News
20 November, 2025
Local piper makes it into record books
Imagine a lone piper on the misty moors of Scotland, the skirl of the bagpipes, the swirl of the tartan. Multiply that by 374, gather them together in Federation Square in Melbourne, and you have all the makings of a record-breaking event.
Warracknabeal's Julie Pearson travelled to Melbourne to be a part of the event, watched by her daughter and 12-month-old grandson.
"I heard about the record attempt and thought 'I can do this'," she said.
"I hadn't played for a while, and the bagpipes are not something you can just pick up and play, so I got them out and had some practice runs in readiness.
"On the day, I drove to Melbourne to be a part of the record attempt."
The event was organised as a tribute to AC/DC, almost 50 years after the filming of their music video 'It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll)'.
The iconic clip featured Bon Scott alongside bagpipers from the Rats of Tobruk Pipe as they marched along Swanston Street.
On her arrival at Federation Square and wearing the family Cameron Tartan, Ms Pearson had difficulty getting through the thousands of onlookers to join the pipers already gathered.
However, as she approached Federation Square, she heard people say, "Here comes a piper, let her through".
"They were talking about me; the crowd just parted to clear a path for me," she said.
"The atmosphere was amazing, and the experience was even more than I had imagined it would be.
"It seemed as if we all were united as one, even though many of us travelled there alone, we chatted and enjoyed the experience together."
Ms Pearson said that with the majority of pipers wearing their tartan, it was a spectacular sight.
She also said it was good to see some schools participating as part of their music programs.
Seeing herself on the big screen was a high point of the overall experience because it gave her a view of being part of the whole group.
"Tuning up before the record attempt was exciting, but the announcement that we had broken the record was even more surreal," she said.
"It was something I had never imagined I'd do, let alone be part of breaking a record."
While the pipers had time to practise the main song in the lead up to the event, it was the impromptu Amazing Grace that capped off the day for Ms Pearson.
"It wasn't planned, someone at the front just started playing it, and as if by waves, everyone just joined in, and it was amazing," she said.
The previous record for the largest number of pipers was set in Bulgaria in 2012.
"To be a part of the biggest gathering of pipers was a unique experience and I am so glad I did it," she said.
The bagpipes Ms Pearson played held special meaning for her, too.
They had belonged to her grandfather, but he sold them because her father had not shown any interest in learning to play.
However, some years later, when Julie showed an interest in learning, her father tracked down the owner, who kindly sold them back to the family at the same price he had paid.
"I think he wanted to see them come back to our family," she said.
"So not only was I a part of a record-breaking event, but so were my grandfather's bagpipes."
Ms Pearson began her bagpipe journey when she was 15 by joining the Wallup Pipe Band, and she continued to play with them until it disbanded.
"Our Band Major at Wallup was Ian McRae, who turned 103 this year," she said.
"I admire and respect him so much, and I still have wonderful memories of that time with the band."
The bagpipes have been a family affair; one of her sisters played the bagpipes, and her brother played the drums.
She now limits her performing to family events, but has great memories of the recent historic event and her 40-plus years playing the bagpipes.
Ms Pearson's message to anyone considering something they may have thought they'd never do?
"Say yes and keep saying yes, just have a go," she said.
