Ken Tobin, of Hastings, QSM, for services to pipe bands
Mr Ken Tobin has been actively involved in the pipe band community for 72 years.
Mr Tobin was Drum Major of the City of Hastings Pipe Band for 55 years until 2016. He has been on the Pipe Band Committee since 1955 and has competed in 39 National Contests including six with other bands. In 1980 he won the annual New Zealand Drum Majors Championship, which he had been instrumental in establishing in 1975, and has been an instructor at Drum Majors Seminars throughout New Zealand. He was a Centre Delegate seven times to the former Council of the Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands Association. In his roles as Drum Major, and for 40 years as Uniform Custodian, he has achieved success in Street March and Dress events at many contests throughout New Zealand and has won the Centre's annual Drum Majors Championship nine times. As Drum Major of both the City of Hastings Pipe Band and the Hastings Citizens' Brass Band, he has attended 18 ANZAC Dawn Services with the Brass Band and all ANZAC Day Services since 1952 with the Pipe Band. Mr Tobin has organised transport and accommodation for the Band's contest trips for 25 years and has been President of the Band since 2017.