THE Scots School has had a $10,000 funding application to support its pipe band at a one-off appearance at the world-renowned Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo rejected by Albury Council.
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The school band, which has been in existence since 1939, has been invited to appear at all 25 performances at the Edinburgh Tattoo in August.
An approach to council for $10,000 to help cover a shortfall of $28,750 was turned down on the casting vote of mayor Kevin Mack last week.
But the council will provide the private school with $5574 of in-kind support to use the Albury Entertainment Centre for a fundraising concert before departing for Scotland.
Deputy mayor Amanda Cohn said the one-off donation could set a dangerous precedent for council.
"There are some children in our area who might never get to a capital city let alone Scotland," she said.
"I'm not sure it is something we want to get into the habit of supporting."
But Cr David Thurley felt the donation was justified.
"It's about uniforms, instruments and performing on a world stage," he said.
"We spend a lot of money trying to advertise Albury-Wodonga and it seems to me that the Edinburgh Tattoo is something that gets massive exposure.
"It would be an excellent opportunity to promote Albury."
Cr Henk van de Ven agreed.
"As far as bang for buck for putting Albury on the world stage I reckon it is pretty good value," he said.
The total trip will cost $120,000 including uniforms, flights and instrument with the average cost of one uniform being $3500.
The uniforms include recognition of "Albury's Own" 2/23rd infantry battalion which was raised on the schoolgrounds when they were formerly the Albury Showgrounds.
The band is the only one of its type invited to the Edinburgh Tattoo which has an estimated television viewing audience of six million people in the United Kingdom and another 200 million worldwide.
The Scots School application was considered as part of council's financial assistance and sponsorship budget totalling $1.37 million in 2017-18.
It forms part of the annual budget which is presently on public exhibition pending final approval on June 13 when the decision could be reversed.
Cr Graham Docksey was an apology at last week's meeting.
The band has 32 players registered with the Australian Pipe Band Association and has performed overseas in Jakarta and New Zealand.
It has also been to Scotland previously before for the world titles.