Agreed GrainReaper.
I drove to Marybrough, got me an essential coffee, then wandered the Main Street looking for a place to view the parade. Saw an older gentleman on a bench and asked if I could join him (what can I say, I'm like that!) he had been coming up to the Gathering for many a year and was worried that the young ones were no longer interested in Bagpipes, heritage and playing in bands.... He was pleasantly surprised at the number of youth in the various pipe bands and this young lad made his morning.
Our delightful conversation ranged from family history through to mining opals in Coober Pedy... See that's why I chat up random gentlemen in the street!