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| Special Guest Performer - Todd McKenney | ||
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You either loved or hated him as a Judge on ‘Dancing with the Stars’, but this entertainer is the holder of the 2005 Mo Award for the Versatile Variety Performer of the Year. From Nathan Starkey in the movie ‘Strictly Ballroom’, to Peter Allen in the ‘Boy from Oz’, Todd has a vibrant and energetic personality who can enthrall his audience. You will see an enjoyable and entertaining side of Todd at the Commonwealth Bank Police Tattoo in 2008. | |
| International Performing Groups |
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Auckland Police Pipe Band The music tradition of armies has been lost over the centuries, but the Auckland Police Pipe Band continues the tradition of armies and in this case police, march to music. Formed in 1945, the band did not publicly perform until 1948 but gained a reputation for excellence, which saw the Band performing in Hawaii, Washington DC and many local New Zealand events. |
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Estonia Border Guard Orchestra The Estonian Border Guard Orchestra was the first professional Military Orchestra re-established in independent Estonia in 1992. Members were selected from professional musicians and conscripts who had completed musical training. The orchestra’s first public performance was only 13 days after its formation. They have since performed in local Baltic countries, Italy, France and Canada. |
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The Band and Corps of Drums of the Bermuda Regiment As a thread in the deeply woven fabric of Bermuda, this band performs with distinction at Bermudian State and Ceremonial functions. Overseas performances include the Edinburgh Military Tattoo; Bremen Germany and tours of Canada; the Caribbean; Europe; the United States of America; the Far East; Honolulu and now to the Commonwealth Bank International Police Tattoo in Adelaide. We welcome the sunny feel of Bermuda to the shores of Adelaide. |
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Strathclyde Police Pipe Band These excellent ambassadors for the Strathclyde Police commenced their duties in 1883, and the majority of the members are serving police officers with such duties as patrol police to plain clothes duties. They are assisted by Community Guest Musicians, who give of their own time to support the band at competition and at public events. With over 75 various Championship Band titles under their belt, this band has earned its reputation as “one of the best”. |
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| National Performing Groups | ||
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Victoria Police Pipe Band Commencing their duties in 1936, the Victorian Police Pipe Band achieved the title of World Pipe Band Champions in Glasgow in 1998. This Band has performed world wide and will maintain their excellence with their performance at this years Commonwealth Bank Police Tattoo. |
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Queensland Police Pipes and Drums The stirring sounds of the Pipes are well represented by the Queensland Police Pipes & Drums. Having performed at thousands of events from the Edinburgh Military Tattoo to State occasions, Rock Concerts and Kops in Kilts program for school children, one of the highlights of the Queensland Police Pipes & Drums performances was entertaining Her Majesty the Queen at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. |
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Tasmania Police Pipe Band A relatively new band formed in 1969, the Tasmanian Police Pipe Band has performance credentials that many a band would die for. Five Edinburgh Military Tattoos; playing for Her Majesty the Queen on two occasions; Beating the retreat in Hong Kong before the return of the Island and Territories to China; London; Perth; New Zealand; Indonesia; Hawaii and too many more to mention. We welcome them back to the Commonwealth Bank Police Tattoo 2008. |
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Australian Federal Police Pipes and Drums One of the newest Pipes & Drums bands to appear at the Commonwealth Bank Police Tattoo. In 1993 the Band was appointed as the honorary Band to the Australian Federal Police (AFP). In 2006 the AFP affiliation was cemented when Canberra City Pipes and Drums became the official AFP Band and assumed the title of the Australian Federal Police Pipes and Drums while also retaining the Canberra City Pipes and Drums title. They may be new, but their credentials are impressive, having performed in China, Moscow, Norfolk Island and giving local area support including the Australian War Memorial. |
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| South Australia Police | ||
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Band of the South Australia Police No Commonwealth Bank International Police Tattoo would be complete without the presence of our own Band of the South Australia Police. The Band will replicate their performance, of January this year, at the prestigious Music Show of the Nations in Bremen, Germany. Welcome home to our world class performers from Adelaide. |
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Special Task and Rescue Group Excitement and danger abounds when the STAR Group is involved in any operation within the South Australia Police. This highly trained Group with sophisticated equipment is regarded as the pointy end of the spear at dangerous events from Anti Terrorism to siege situations. Their skills will be on display at the 2008 Commonwealth Bank International Police Tattoo. |
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Mounted Operations Unit Everyone loves a police horse! This unit originated in 1838 and has been a feature of the South Australian landscape since then. The now famous and recognizable police greys of this Unit, are perfectly trained and perform calmly with people, machines and music, to the delight of crowds everywhere. |
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Dog Operations Unit The sense of fear in fleeing criminals can be imagined when they realize that they have a bounding German-Shepherd quickly gaining on their escape. These trained police dogs and their handlers are a welcome sight at many a dangerous or serious tracking situation. We will see the lighter side of their training at the 2008 Commonwealth Bank International Police Tattoo. |
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Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Holden Hill & Elizabeth Police Push Bikes SAPOL's bicycle patrols are an effective crime reduction strategy, providing a highly visible police presence within business, recreational and municipal locations throughout metropolitan Adelaide. After being trialled in several Local Service Areas (LSAs) in the late 1990s, the success of the bicycle patrols saw their expansion into all six metropolitan LSAs in January 2001. Since then, they have also been utilised as part of community safety operations at major events, including the recent Tour Down Under. |
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Northern and Southern Service Motor Cycles Operational motor cycle officers from both the North and South Operation areas, are highly trained riders who can adapt their daily used abilities, to entertaining our audience with their precision riding to music. We look forward to their performance again at this year’s Commonwealth Bank International Police Tattoo. |
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| Local Performing Artists | ||
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Calisthenics Association of S.A. Inc With grace, poise, flexibility, and strength, the Senior and Junior members of the South Australian Calisthenic Precision Teams, will provide bright entertainment through dance, body control and colourful costuming. We are delighted to welcome these Teams back to the 2008 Commonwealth Bank Police Tattoo. |
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Adelaide Harmony Choir The Choir, regarded as one of the finest large choirs in Australia, was founded in 1947 by the late Lewis Dawe, MBE, who remained its conductor until his retirement in 1981. Since its inception the Choir has built an enviable reputation in the field of oratorio and concert work. Its repertoire includes oratorios by Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Verdi, Walton, Britten etc. For 35 years the Choir performed at “Carols by Candlelight” and still gives concerts every Christmas to clients and families of both the Mary Potter Hospice and the Julia Farr Centre. The Choir is a totally self-supporting organisation. It does not receive Government support or grants and relies solely on the energies of Choir members to raise funds through fetes, garage sales, afternoon teas, Bridge days, etc. The Choir is to be congratulated on the high standard of work achieved over the past 60+ years, and it is hoped that it will continue to inspire over many more years in the future. |
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Scott’s Highland Dancing School What was once a male-only domain, is now predominately female. The tradition of Scottish Dance competitions was revived during the Victorian era, and Scott’s Highland Dancing continues with this tradition. Formed in 1993 by Samantha Scott, this dance school caters for all age groups and prepares dancers for premier and championship participation. They have performed at the Edinburgh; Sydney and Oman Military Tattoos and we will be delighted by these talented dancers who we welcome to the 2008 Commonwealth Bank International Police Tattoo. |
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Po:rla Tolkun Youth Dance Group Po:rla Tolkun is a young Indigenous children’s dance troupe which was formed out of a school based Aboriginal Homework Centre in December 2006. There are seven students who perform with the group – aged between seven and eleven years of age. The students come from diverse backgrounds, including ties to Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna, Waka Waka, the Northern Territory and the Torres Strait. The name Po:rla Tolkun is Ngarrindjeri, translated as ‘Kids Stomping’. |
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| Singers | ||
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Tenor - Tasso DBouyessis A vocal repertoire encompassing opera, music theatre, oratorio and classical songs, Tasso Bouyessis brings the classical touch to the finale of the Commonwealth Bank Police Tattoo in 2008. Tasso was the winner of the State Opera Aria competition and has performed locally, overseas and toured the world as one of the Australian Three Tenors. |
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Soprano - Rosalind Martin In addition to a degree in clarinet from the University of Adelaide, Rosalind has a first class Honours degree in Voice and was the youngest winner of the Melbourne Sun Aria and awarded a Scholarship to the German Academic Exchange. Rosalind has wide experience as a vocalist with the State Opera; Mecklenburgh Opera; Kent Opera; Glyndebourne Festival Opera and Pimlico Opera. We welcome her voice and talent to the 2008 Commonwealth Bank International Police Tattoo. |
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| Multicultural SA | ||
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Veronica Vargas Dance Flamenco Company The fire and passion of Spain’s Flamenco Dance is embodied in the “Veronica Vargas Dance Flamenco Company” in Adelaide. From the south of Spain, the colour and fire of authentic flamenco music and dance comes to the Commonwealth Bank Police Tattoo in 2008. |
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Polish Folklore Ensemble Tatry “Tatry” is an Adelaide based Polish Folklore Ensemble. With costumes and dances from nearly every region of Poland, this group of young adults brings the history and pageantry of Poland through music and dance, to the 2008 Commonwealth Bank Police Tattoo. |
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Cook Islands Community in South Australia The tropical throb of hot balmy breezes can be felt in the rhythmic drumming and graceful movements of the Cook Islands cultural dancers. The drum beats adapt to the different dance actions which express ancestral meanings. We welcome these Adelaide based Cook Island Dancers and Musicians to the 2008 Commonwealth Bank Police Tattoo. |
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| School Groups | ||
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Port Elliott Primary School We welcome to their first Commonwealth Bank Police Tattoo, Port Elliot Primary School. Located along the Southern Fluerieu Peninsula of South Australia, this Public Primary school comprises of 275 students. Under the direction of Performing Arts Teacher Natalie Bond, a dedicated group of students work towards performing as part of the Junior Rock Eisteddfod Challenge, held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre each year. This years Troupe includes 55 students, from Years 4-7, aged between 9 and 13. |
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St Augustine’s Parish School Whole school performances are relatively new at St Augustine’s. In 2000, Ms Jane Brown worked with the year 6/7 students to develop a performance group to enter Wakakirri, a dance drama performance opportunity open to schools throughout South Australia. This was the foundation for ongoing development in the performance scene at St Augustine’s. A major part of this development has been the appointment of a Music/Drama teacher to work across years Reception to 7. This has lead to an explosion of interest and confidence to have a go. The students have worked tirelessly to prepare the performance to firstly reach the audition and then meet all standards for inclusion. They are thrilled to be part of the 2008 Commonwealth Bank Police Tattoo and hope you enjoy their brief look at Australia’s history and hopes for the future. |
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Klemzig Singing Choir This group will perform to support the Auslan (Australian Sign Language) bilingual program. The Klemzig Primary School provides training for Deaf and hearing impaired Students, who work alongside their hearing peers, with the same level of expectations for the delivery of a highly visual curriculum. A unique and visual entertainment at this year’s Commonwealth Bank International Police Tattoo. |
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