Surf’s (not quite) up for Margaret River bugler

He may not be a surfer, but Perth bugler Ken Topperwien wasn’t going to get away from Margaret River without a board by his side on ANZAC Day.

Topperwien was the man to answer the call last week when the Margaret River RSLreached out to The West Australian in an attempt to find a bugler for their dawn service.

Having volunteered to make the trek south, Inside Cover editor Ben O’Shea and cartoonist Dean Alston were quick to quip the bugler should perform in boardies with a surfboard underhand, in fitting with the town’s surfie culture.

Topperwien did not humour that suggestion, but Margaret River RSL wasn’t going to let it go easily.

After the dawn service wrapped up, Topperwien was presented with a surfboard for his obligatory photo as a tongue-in-cheek response to O’Shea and Alston’s joke.

“I was never a surfer in my young life and don’t feel I’d fill that role very well, so you just got traditional me,” he said.

“I have been doing bugling all over the place for years and been to places where they have had recordings and it is just not the same.

“A live bugler in a situation like this is an absolute must I reckon.”

Mr Topperwien encouraged up-and-coming musicians to take up the mantle so Margaret River can have a local bugler next year.

Margaret River RSL’s Gordon Temby, who put the call out for a bugler, said Margaret River was grateful for Mr Topperwien’s service.

“It adds to the whole ceremony rather than having to use the dreaded CD or recorded music,” he said.

“Having a bugler here really resonates through the crowd, it adds to the ceremony.”

Mr Temby thanked Inside Cover for the assistance in finding a bugler.