scots news - City of Newcastle RSL Pipe Band

SCOTS NEWS
An Independent MAGAZINE for Scots in Queensland
March 2014
Vol. 3 No. 11
[email protected]
BBC PIPE BAND
COMPETITION AND
HIGHLAND GATHERING
NEWS AND EVENTS
IN SCOTLAND AND AUSTRALIA
HIGHLAND CELTIC
CELEBRATION AT
ORMISTON HOUSE
BAGPIPES BANNED
ON GLASGOW GREEN?
WIN A MARION MARTIN CD
Welcome
COME AND SAY HELLO
IT was lovely to meet some more
Scots News readers at the Queensland
Pops Orchestra’s St Patricks meets
Robbie Burns concert at the Concert
Hall, QPAC last month. We all
enjoyed the concert, and the singalong with Kathleen Procter-Moore.
Winners of tickets to the Caloundra
and Gold Coast concerts were equally
impressed. If you’d like to see
Kathleen perform again this month,
head along to the Highland Celtic
Celebration at Ormiston House. I will
be at the Brisbane Boys College Pipe
Band Competition and Highland
Gathering at Toowong on March 30
so do come along and say hello. I’d
love to meet you.
There’s a new book I’ve discovered,
written by a former prisoner of war
which details the life of a 19-year-old
conscripted from the safety of
Aberdeen who faced beatings and
cruelty at the hands of the enemy in
WWII. It’s a sad story but you may be
interested in having a look (see page 6).
If you know of a book, CD or DVD
that has been written or produced by
a Scot, or is about Scotland, let me
know and I am happy to let our
readers know.
If you want to know where to hire a
piper, buy dance shoes, get advice
about insurance, buy books or find
out about a clan, have a look at the
Goods and Services on page 11. The
page is filling up as advertisers
realise the advantages of letting
fellow Scots know about their
services. Consequently, the quiz has
been moved to page 8.
Until next month - Guid cheerio the
nou.
Carmel
February Competition
TheatreTicket
Winners!
Congratulations to:
.Jess Logan, Sherwood
.Morag Hocknull, Yeronga
.Clare Day, Caloundra
.Bill Bowen, Noosa
.Fiona Brown, Cedar Grove
.Maurie Scott, Southport
Editor’s Welcome
2
Win The Beautiful Songs of Bonnie Scotland CD
2
Highland Celtic Celebration at Ormiston House
3
BBC Pipe Band Competition and Highland Gathering 4
Celtic Blunder
5
Pipers in the Park
5
The Forgotten Highlander
6
Whuppity Scoorie Day
7
How Much Do You KnowAbout Eilean Donan Castle? 8
Bagpipes could be banned from Glasgow Green
8
Peace and Independence Anniversary
9
Letters From Readers
10
Directory of Goods and Services
11
Music, Dancing and Events
12
This month’s Competition
WIN a copy of The Beautiful Songs of Bonnie Scotland CD
compliments of Marion Martin and Scots News
Email [email protected] by Friday March 7,
with your name and address and the answer to the question below.
QUESTION:
“What is the name of ritual practised in Lanark, Scotland
on March 1 each year?
CD features:
Loch Lomond
Flower of Scotland
Mull of Kintyre
Scottish Soldier
Always Argyl
My Ain Folk
Tunes of Glory
Amazing Grace
and more - 18 tracks in all.
St Patrick
meets
Robbie Burns
in a Celtic
Celebration
Scots News editor Carmel McMurdo
Audsley will be at the BBC Pipe Band
Competition at Toowong on March 30.
2
Contents
Winners will be notified by email and CD will be posted.
COPYRIGHT: All stories appearing in Scots News Magazine are subject to copyright laws,
and may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the editor and publisher.
FRONT PAGE PHOTO: Eilean Donan Castle on Loch Duich, Kyle of
Lochalsh, Western Highlands, Scotland. See our quiz on page 8.
Scots News
March, 2014
NEWS AND EVENTS
Highland Celtic Celebration
Scotland in the
Park returns
AFTER a very successful
inaugural event in 2013, Scotland
in the Park will return to Logan in
Brisbane on July 20.
President of Scottish Clans
Congress of Queensland Inc, Ern
Thompson, said that Logan City
Council had agreed to be the major
sponsor again this year.
“After the success of last year’s
event, we were approached by
entertainers to perform on the day
and this year will see the
introduction of Highland Games
and more static displays,” Mr
Thompson said.
Last year around 3,000 people
attended the free event and
organisers are hoping to attract an
even bigger crowd this year.
Anyone interested in performing,
taking a stall or helping to sponsor
the event can contact Ern
Thompson on 3200 9536 or email
[email protected].
FINDING the
right words to say
at your Wedding
Ceremony can be
a
challenge.
Planning
the
Perfect Wedding
C e r e m o n y
p r o v i d e s
inspiration
from choosing a
celebrant to the
ceremony itself.
A chapter has been devoted to adding
some Scottish aspects to your special day.
Available for $4 on kindle - copy and paste
direct link below to take you to amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Planning-PerfectWedding-Ceremony-Commitment-ebook/dp/
B00IH2KLR0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digitaltext&ie=UTF8&qid=1392616325&sr=11&keywords=planning+the+
perfect+wedding+ceremony
Ormiston House was named after a village in Scotland
and celebrates its Scottish origins each year.
THE MORETON Celtic Fiddle
Club (pictured above) will join a
host of performers including the
Ormiston Heritage Pipes and
Drums (pictured below right),
dancers and vocalists at the
annual
Highland
Celtic
Celebration at Ormiston House
Brisbane on Sunday March 30
from 11am to 4pm.
The family day will provide
continuous entertainment, food
stalls, displays and exhibitions. A
range of refreshments will be
available, including devonshire
teas on the verandah. Guests are
welcome to bring their own picnic
and the house will be open for
inspection.
Ormiston House was named by
Captain Louis Hope after a village
on the family estate in Scotland.
Hope (1817 to 1894), a grazier,
sugar planter and miller, was the
seventh son of John Hope, fourth
Earl of Hopetoun. A Captain in
the Coldstream Guards, Louis
Hope came to New South Wales
in 1843, moved north to Moreton
Bay in 1848 and settled at Kilcoy.
In 1850, he purchased 800 acres
of land at Raby Bay which he
named Ormiston.
The Hope family lived at Ormiston
in a ‘very grand manner’ for 20
years. He returned to England
with his family in 1884, but
eventually died in Switzerland in
1894, aged 77 years.
Admission to the Highland Celtic
Celebration is $5 for adults and $1
each for children. Ormiston House
is at 277 Wellington Street,
Ormiston.
For further information visit
www.ormistonhouse.org.au
Join other readers and ‘like’ the Scots News Facebook Page
to get updates between monthly issues of the magazine.
The next time you are using Facebook
just search for ‘Scots News Magazine’
Scots News
March, 2014
3
EVENTS
Competition and Highland Gathering
Aussie pipe bands cross
the ditch to compete
BRISBANE Boys College Pipe
Band Competition and Highland
Gathering will be held on Sunday
March 30 on the two large playing
fields at the rear of the school (P&F
and Miskin Ovals) at Toowong in
Brisbane (enter from Moggill Rd).
Solo Piping and Drumming
competitions will be held in the
morning and the Pipe Band
Competitions will be held in the
afternoon, along with a Highland
Dancing Competition.
As well as watching all the action
of competing bands and Drum
Majors there will be Scottish food
and craft stalls and clan
information.
Enquiries to
[email protected].
TAURANGA in New Zealand is
gearing up for an influx of pipe bands
for the annual Pipe Band
Championships to be held at the
Tauranga Domain on Saturday March
7 and Sunday March 8.
Around 50 pipe bands from all over
New Zealand (and two from Australia)
will compete in music and marching
events, with one of the highlights being
the street march of all bands through
the CBD on Saturday morning, followed
by a Massed Bands street march.
The competing bands will include the
2013 World Champion Juvenile Band
two Grade 1 bands who featured in the
top 12 at the recent world
championships.
Judges will be on hand from Canada,
the UK and Australia to join New
Zealand based judges.
The day begins at 10.30am and ends at 5pm - entry is free
Hurling at Willawong
AS part of the St Patrick’s Day
celebrations this month, the
Queensland Gaelic Football and
Hurling Association will host a
family sports day at Queensland
Gaelic Football Park, 308 Bowhill
Rd, Willawong in Brisbane on
Sunday March 16 from 10.30am.
Enjoy hurling and carmogie (a
variation of hurling) exhibition
games, Gaelic Football matches
with men’s and women’s teams,
Irish dancing and a rousing
performance by Brisbane Irish
band Murphy’s Pigs.
Admission is $10 adults and
children are admitted free.
For further information visit
www.gaelicfootballqld.com.au.
Other events on the St Patrick’s
Day calendar include the Irish Ball
in the Tara Room at the Irish Club,
Brisbane on March 7, Father Ted
Night ‘down with that sort of
thing’ performance on March 9, as
well as a Queensland Irish Choir’s
debut perrformance. The 25th
annual St Patrick’s Day Parade
through Brisbane will take place
on March 15 with around 35,000
revellers dressed in green, after
which the Guinness will flow.
Further information from
www.brisbaneirishfestival.com.au.
Scots News at BBC Pipe Band Competition and Highland
Gathering - come and say hello!
Scots News Magazine editor, Carmel Audsley, will be at the BBC
Pi p e Ban d Com p et i t i on an d H i gh l and Gat her i ng on Sunday
March 30 at BBC College Toowong. Whether you’d like to say
hello, find out about the Scottish Business Network Australia or
buy one of Carmel’s books, she would be happy to see you. If
you have already bought a book, bring it along and Carmel will
sign it for you. Look for the Scots News banner.
4
Look for our Banner
Scots News
March, 2014
NEWS AND EVENTS
LONG TRADITION OF
HIGHLAND GATHERING
IN GEELONG
WITH a significant population of
migrant Scots in Victoria in the
mid-1800s, the first Geelong
Highland Gathering took place in
1857, attracting all the best pipers
and dancers in the area.
The event, organised by the local
Commun Na Feinne Society, was
traditionally held on New Year’s
Day and featured all the popular
Scottish sports as well as piping
and dancing.
It was a highlight of the Victorian
Scottish calendar then, and its
modern counterpart (which as
recommenced in 1958) is just as
eagerly awaited by the Scottish
community in Geelong.
The 2014 Geelong Highland
Gathering will be held on Sunday
March 2 at Deakin University
Waurns Ponds Campus and will
feature the South Pacific Heavy
Games Championships, Pipe Band
Competition, displays of Highland
and Scottish Dancing and a
display by the 42nd Royal
Highland Regiment.
Entertainment includes Scottish
dancing, food and drink stall, clan
information and a presentation by
a large range of Scottish dogs.
For further information visit
www.geelonghighlandgathering.org.au.
Music and comedy
is a CELTIC BLUNDER
AS A spoof on the recent tour of
Irish group Celtic Thunder, a
group of local entertainers have
created a show with comedy and
‘a responsibility to present a
balanced and respectful tribute to
Irish music, past and present’.
Three members of Wickety Wak
(Greg Doolan, Tony Jeffrey and
Rob Rosenlund) have combined
their comedy with two members
of The Four Kinsmen (George
Harvey and Robert Pearson) and
Laura Doolan, to provide a St
Patrick’s Day concert with a twist.
These lads (and lass) can sing
and tell jokes, but can they dance?
Perhaps not, as the show boasts
‘the worst river dance ever
performed’ to the song The Devil
went down to Belfast, but it
promises to be entertaining.
Celtic Blunder will be performed
at Twin Towns on the Gold Coast
on Saturday March 15 at 8pm
(Queensland time). Tickets are
$35. Bookings to 1800 014 014 or
visit www.twintowns.com.au.
The show moves to the Logan
Entertainment Centre on Friday
March 21 at 7.30pm. tickets are
$40 with discounts for concessions
and groups.
Bookings to
loganentertainmentcentre.com.au.
Scots represented at Brisbane multi-cultural event
A FAMILY fun day to promote
multicultural
harmony
and
intercultural understanding and
solidarity, will be held at Robelle
Domain Parklands, Springfield in
Ipswich on Saturday March 15.
The Harmony Day Festival will have
displays and information about many
cultures (including Scottish) and
feature international food, magic show,
multicultural performances, martial
arts display, gladiator arena, lots of
activities for children with face painting
and clowns and various stalls.
Entry is free to the event which starts
at 3pm and concludes at 8pm with a
laser and fireworks spectacular.
For more information about the festival
phone 0410 567 618 or visit
www.worldharmonysociety.org.
Pipers at Sherwood, Bulimba
BRISBANE City Council’s popular Pipers in the Park program continues with
Flavours of Scotland at Sherwood Arboretum, Turner Street, Sherwood featuring
the University of Queensland Pipe Band on Sunday March 9 from 11am. On
Sunday March 30, City of Brisbane Pipe Band brings Celtic Airs to Bulimba
Memorial Park, Oxford Street Bulimba from 11am.
Both concerts are free to attend.
Scots News
March, 2014
5
The long road home to Aberdeen
BOOKS
“I still crave a bowl of rice”
GET A FREE
KINDLE READER!
You could be downloading and reading
books now if you had a kindle reader - and
you can get one FREE by going to
http://www.amazon.com/gp/
feature.html?docId=1000493771
and downloading a free app
for your computer.
Books are available for just a few dollars
and you can start reading straight away!
ALISTAIR Urquhart was a soldier in
the Gordon Highlanders who was
captured by the Japanese in Singapore.
He not only survived working on the
notorious Bridge on the River Kwai,
but was subsequently taken on one of
the Japanese ‘hellships’ which was
torpedoed.
Almost everyone on board died, but
Urquhart was spared and spent five
days alone on a raft in the South China
Sea before being rescued by a whaling
ship. He was taken to Japan and forced
to work in a mine near Nagasaki. Two
months later a nuclear bomb dropped
just ten miles away.
Now in his early nineties, Urquhart
has documented the extraordinary
story of a young man from Aberdeen,
conscripted into the army at 19, who
survived three encounters with death.
“On our liberation, we all signed
undertakings to the British government
that we would not talk about the war
crimes we witnessed or reveal what we
saw in the atomic wasteland of
Nagasaki,” Mr Urquhart said. “Now I
am breaking my silence to bear witness
to the systematic torture and murder of
tens of thousands of allied prisoners.”
Urquhart says that, despite living to a
ripe old age, he has never fully
recovered from the mental and physical
injuries he suffered at the hands of the
enemy.
From Changi, Urquhart was sent north
to work as a slave labourer on the
notorious Burma Road railway. His life
became a circle of pain and deprivation.
“My nose had been broken so often
during beatings that I could not breathe
through it and required surgery. The
tropical diseases that racked my body
gave me pain. I have never been able to
eat properly since those starvation days
and the stripping of my stomach lining
by amoebic dysentry.
“All these years later I still crave a bowl
of rice.”
Alistair Urquart now lives in Broughty
Ferry Dundee and was moved to write
down his personal memoirs after the
death of his wife Mary. Despite
continued health issues, he enjoys
ballroom dancing and running tea
dances.
Forgottern Highlander is available as a
paperback or kindle version from
amazon.co.uk. Copy and paste the link
below to take you directly to the book:
http:/ / www.amazon.co.uk/ Forgotten-Highlander-Incredible-SurvivalDuring/ dp/ 0349122571/
ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=
1392685319&sr=11&keywords=the+forgotten+highlander
“A terrific insight into how things were for my ancestors”
W. Ewing, UK
OURS, YOURS AND MINES
is set among the miners’ rows of
Ayrshire from 1861 to 1913. They
watched their children suffer and die,
without a thought for a better
tomorrow.
FAR ACROSS THE SEA
is set in Scotland from 1913, across
two world wars and the Great
Depression. Everything changes
when a young lad sails from Scotland
for a new life in Australia.
Paperback $20 each (free postage).
Forward with your return address and the name of the person
to whom the book should be inscribed, to:
C Audsley, Scots News, P O Box 387, Kenmore Qld 4069
6
BOTH BOOKS
AVAILABLE on KINDLE and
PAPERBACK from
www.amazon.com and
www.amazon.co.uk
Scots News
March, 2014
NEWS FRAE SCOTLAND
Heavenly dancers best seen in Scotland
WHUPPITY SCOORIE DAY
signals the start of Spring or chases away evil spirits or, who knows?
FOLK in the Royal Burgh of Lanark
practise a ritual on March 1 every year,
despite the fact that no one knows how
it really started.
The children of Lanark run three times
anti-clockwise around the St Nicholas
kirk in the evening at six o’clock when
a bell is rung, swinging balls of paper
on string around their heads. After
three laps there is a scramble for coins
thrown by members of the community
council who host the event.
That’s pretty much it, but Whuppity
Scoorie Day is celebrated as a festival
each year in Lanark and now boasts
art workshops and storytelling until
March 7.
Some local say that the practice, which
is believed to have begun in the early
1900s, is a pagan ritual to chase bad
spirits down to Kirkfieldbank, the
nearest village, and to signal the arrival
of Spring.
It could be that it’s a ritual that marks
days getting longer, allowing curfews
to be lifted and children to play outside
longer.
Others believe it stems from the 17th
century practice of taking prisoners
from the nearby Tolbooth and whipping
them around the kirk before scouring
them of their sins in the River Clyde.
Whuppity Scoorie is one of three
traditions observed in Lanark. The first
is the Het Pint, dating from 1662, when
pensioners may claim a free glass of
mulled wine at the Tolbooth on the
morning of New Year’s Day. Whuppity
Scoorie is the middle ceremony, and in
June there’s Lanimer Day with a parade
and floats on lorries.
Who knows how these traditions get
started and how they evolve over time,
but locals say it brings the community
together and that’s reason enough.
Scots News
March, 2014
IF YOU are visiting Scotland this
month, there is a good chance that you
will see the Northern Lights, according
to Wilderness Scotland.
The company organises packaged
tours, based in the village of Gairloch
on the west coast. They offer forest
exploration, star gazing and searching
the skies for Aurora Borealis which
occurs in an oval doughnut-shaped
area located above the magnetic pole
when solar particles enter the Earth’s
atmosphere and on impact emit burning
gases that produce different coloured
lights. The oval rotates with the sun
and it may grow and shrink in size
considerably in a matter of hours.
The aurora season runs from late
September to late March. Displays are
governed by an 11-year cycle and are at
their most dramatic during times of high
solar activity (currently), but sightings
can be recorded at any time.
Cloudy skies and artificial light can
conceal the lights. The coloured lights
are the effects of oxygen, which
produces green and yellow colours and
nigtrogen which produces a blue
colour.
The name Aurora Borealis comes from
the Roman goddess of the dawn.
In the southern hemisphere a similar
spectacle is known as Aurora Australis.
Aberdeen is a popular viewing spot.
Spectacular displays are also currently
happening in Iceland and Greenland.
New tartan the pride of
Bannockburn
A NEW tartan, to complement other modern tartans such as Pride of
Scotland, Thistle, Heritage of Scotland, Western Isles, Scottish Freedom,
Scotland Forever, Spirit of Scotland and Scottish Spirit has been created
with King Robert the Bruce in mind. The Pride of Bannockburn tartan
takes its inspiration from Bruce’s victory over the English at the Battle
of Bannockburn in June 1314.
The colours that make up the
tartan are green to represent the
highland hills, purple for the
heather, blue for the Bannock Burn
stream and white for the Saltire.
The new tartan is expected to be
on display at the many Battle of
Bannockburn 700th anniversary
celebrations across Scotland.
7
NEWS FRAE SCOTLAND
PLAYING bagpipes on Glasgow
Green (where the World Pipe
Band Championships are held)
could be banned if a new Glasgow
City Council proposal goes ahead.
Letting dogs off leads, playing
organised sport and hanging out
washing could also be outlawed
at Glasgow Green.
Martin Dean from the volunteer
group Friends of Glasgow Green
described the proposal as
‘draconian’.
“What might make sense for one
park, might not for another,” Mr
Dean said. “For example, the rules
about washing. Glasgow Green
has washing lines as part of its
heritage. We get people using
them from time to time, and we
love that. We also get single pipers
every now and then and in the
lead up to the World Pipe Band
Championships, we get people
coming down to practise. That
wouldn’t be allowed (under the
proposed new rules).”
BAGPIPES COULD BE BANNED FROM GLASGOW GREEN
Gatherings of more than 20 people may be banned
Glasgow Green has belonged to
the people of Glasgow since 1450
when it was used for washing,
bleaching linen, grazing, drying
fishing nets and swimming. It has
long been a site for protest and
political action, including
meetings of suffragettes, but
gatherings of more than 20 people
for whatever purpose may also be
banned by the council.
It is believed that an out of control
unofficial Royal Wedding party
held at Kelvingrove in 2011,
which resulted in a riot, was a
factor behind drawing up the
proposal.
Objections to the proposals were
being taken by the Land and
Environmental Services until
February 14. No decision had been
released at time of going to press. Ed.
How much do you know about
Eilean Donan Island and Castle?
1. Where in Scotland is Eilean Donan situated?
2. What is the name of the closest village and how far is it away from the island?
3. When and why was the castle built on the island?
4. How is the castle used today?
5. Name a film that has been shot at Eilean Donan.
6. When was the castle partly destroyed?
7. Where does the name ‘Eilean Donan’ come from?
8. For how long did the castle lay in ruins?
9. When and who restored the castle to its former glory?
10. When was the castle re-opened?
ANSWERS:
1. This small tidal island is in Loch Duich in the western Highlands of Scotland; 2. The village of Dornie is about 1km (0.62 miles) from
the island; 3. In the 13th century as a defence against the Vikings; 4. It is one of the most photographed castles in Scotland and is now
mostly used as a tourist attraction and a film and wedding venue; 5. Scenes were shot there for The Highlander and The World Is Not
Enough ; 6. The castle was partly destroyed in 1719 during the Jacobite uprising; 7. The ‘island of Donnan’ is named after a Celtic saint,
Donnan of Eigg, who was martyred in 617. He is said to have established a church on the island, but no remains have been found;
8. almost 200 years; 9. In 1911 Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the island and restored it; 10. 1932
8
Scots News
March, 2014
ANNIVERSARY
Peace and independence
On March 17, 1328 the Treaty of Edinburgh was signed between
King Robert I and Edward III, recognising Scotland’s
independence and ending the 30 year Wars of Independence.
The original treaty (excerpt translation below) was written in
French, and two copies made (top and bottom) on a single sheet.
After the Scottish and English ambassadors verified that the
copies were the same, it was cut in half across the middle with a
wavy line, so that the two copies could be matched together if
ever questioned. The kings signified their agreement by affixing
their seals to straps that hang from the bottom of the document.
The bottom copy of the two originals now resides in the National
Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh. The treaty lasted only five
years as it was unpopular with many English nobles. In 1333 it
was overturned by Edward III and the second War of Scottish
Independence continued until a lasting peace was established
in 1357.
King Robert the Bruce promised his four-year-old son in marriage
to the six-year-old sister of Edward III in a bid to ensure everlasting
peace between Scotland and England.
PARTIALTRANSLATION FROM THE ORIGINAL FRENCH TEXT
Be it known to all those who shall see these letters that on the seventeenth day of
March 1328… the following matters were discussed and agreed... between the most
excellent Prince, Robert, by the Grace of God, king of Scotland and... the most
excellent prince, Edward, by the grace of God king of England...
Firstly that there be a true, final and perpetual peace between the kings, their
heirs and successors and their realms
and lands and their subjects and
peoples... and for the security and
permanence of that peace it is settled
and agreed that a marriage take
place... between David the son and heir
of the king of Scotland and Joan, the
sister of the king of England, who as yet
are of so tender an age that they cannot
make contract of matrimony…
Item it is treated and accorded that the
said kings, their heirs and successors,
shall be good friends and loyal allies,
and that the one shall aid the other in
suitable manner as good allies: saving
on the part of the king of Scotland the
alliance made between him and the
king of France. But if it happen that the
said king of Scotland… by reason of the said alliance or for any cause whatever
make war upon the said king of England… that the said king of England may make
war on the foresaid king of Scotland…
Item… that the said king of England shall assist in good faith that the processes, if
any are made in the court of Rome and elsewhere by the authority of our Holy
Father the Pope against the said king of Scotland, his realm and his subjects, cleric
or lay, be dismissed; and this to do and accomplish he shall send his special letters
of prayer to the pope and the cardinals.
(Translation taken from A Source Book of Scottish History, i, 160-163, edited by W C
Dickinson, G Donaldson and I A Milne, 1958; Printed in Acts of the Parliaments of
Scotland, i, pp. 124-126)
Scots News
March, 2014
WHEN Alexander III died in 1286,
there was confusion on the succession
of the Scottish crown. In England, King
Edward I supported John Balliol’s
claim for the throne and he was
crowned in 1292. However Edward I
then decided that he should rule
Scotland and Balliol was removed from
the throne and exiled.
In 1296 the English invaded Scotland
and 32 years of unrest between the two
countries followed.
Robert the Bruce had ideas about
claiming the throne and stood against
Edward. Bruce declared himself king
of Scotland and was crowned in 1306.
The Scots, headed by Bruce, defeated
the English at the Battle of
Bannockburn in 1314 and peace was
under discussion.
Despite peace talks held between 1321
and 1324 no satisfactory settlement
could be reached and Edward would
not recognise Bruce as King of Scotland.
As Edward abused a truce that was
signed in 1323, Bruce renewed the
Auld Alliance with France and the
Scots were able to confront and defeat
the English at Stanhope in County
Durham in 1327. Envoys from
England were sent to Scotland to begin
negotiations and the formal treaty was
signed at Holyrood on March 17, 1328.
It was agreed that all appearances of
sovereignty over Scotland, by England,
were renounced. It was also agreed that
the border between Scotland and
England would ‘belong to our dearest
ally and friend, the magnificent prince,
Lord Robert, by God’s grace illustrious
King of Scotland’.
9
LETTERS FROM SCOTS NEWS READERS
FREE READER
THANKS for letting readers
know about being able to
download a free kindle reader
from amazon. I didn’t know
you could do this, and was going
to pay over $100 to buy one so
thanks for the tip. I downloaded
the ‘app’ to my computer - never
thought I’d be downloading an
‘app’, as I scarcely know what it
is! Anyway, thanks again and
you will be pleased to know that
I have downloaded both your
books (and several others) and
looking forward to enjoying
them on my laptop.
Les Rickards, Tewantin
I’m glad you now have a kindle
reader, Les. I didn’t know about
this myself until a few weeks ago,
so I thought I’d pass on the
information to Scots News readers,
to save a wee bawbee. Mony a
mickle makes a muckle! Ed.
[email protected]
CELTIC CONCERT
WARRING CLANS
I GREATLY enjoyed your story
about the warring MacGregors
and Colquhouns and I listened
to the song sung by The Corries
on youtube, as you suggested.
It’s a powerful song and would
make the hairs stand up on the
back of the neck of any
MacDonald descendant.
Davie Anderson, Caboolture
THANKS for letting readers
know about the Queensland
Pops Orchestra’s Celtic Concert.
We didn’t win tickets in Scots
News but happily paid the price
to see the show in Brisbane.
Emily Keith, Geebung
It was a great concert, Emily.
Keep entering our competitions you’ve got to be in it to win it! Ed.
I LOVE A PARADE
This month’s anniversaries in
Scottish history
March 1, 1979 Scots voted in favour of
Devolution, but failed to reach the
required 40 per cent in favour as 36 per
cent of electorate decided not to vote
March 15, 1921 First women jurors in
Glasgow Sheriff Court
March 16, 1309 King Robert the Bruce
convened his first parliament at St
Andrews
March 17, 1328 Treaty of Edinburgh
between King Robert I and Edward III
recognised Scotland’s independence,
ending the 30 years of Wars of
Independence
March 24, 1603 Union of the Crowns of
England and Scotland on the death of
Queen Elizabeth I and succession of King
James VI of Scotland
10
I HAVE always marvelled at the amount of
effort our local Irish community (in Brisbane) puts
into celebrating St Patrick’s Day. Not only do
they have a parade through the middle of the
city, but an entire 10 days is devoted to
recognising Ireland’s patron saint. They are
highly visible with Irish dancing in the Queen
Street Mall and lots of events at the Irish Club,
including a ball, a dinner and a trivia night.
There’s even a family sports day. I’ve been partial
to a green beer on March 17 and everyone gets
into the spirit of the event. The Chinese
community has big celebrations for Chinese New
Year in Fortitude Valley, the Greeks have Paniyiri
at South Brisbane and the Germans have
Oktoberfest at the showgrounds. Do you think
the Scottish community is a bit under-represented
in terms of how visible we are? I’d be interested
in readers thoughts. Kyra Jamieson, Forest Lake
If any readers would like to respond to Kyra, we will
publish your letters. Ed
SCOTS NEWS welcomes
your letters and comments.
Send emails to the editor at
[email protected]
Scots News
March, 2014
DIRECTORY OF GOODS AND SERVICES
PIPER
CLANS
PIPER JOE
AUSSIE-SCOT EVENTS
BUCHANAN
BOOKS
OURS, YOURS AND MINES
Bagpipes for all occasions.
Phone 0412 785 216
Email [email protected]
Visit www.piperjoe.com.au
Contact QldRegent, MarieGibson
Ph0413456542- [email protected]
http://clanbuchanan.spruz.com
Set in the miners’ rows of 19th
century Ayrshire Scotland.
Read reviews and buy the book
at: www.amazon.com
or [email protected]
DANCE SHOES
CLANS
BOOKS
Scottish Country Dance
and Highland Dance Shoes
JOHNSTON/E
Clan Buchanan Oceania (Queensland)
FAR ACROSS THE SEA
http://www.johnston.asn.au/
begins in Scotland in 1913,
progresses through two world
wars and leads to a life in
Australia. www.amazon.com
or [email protected]
EVENTS
CLANS
BOOKS
Historic Boondooma Homestead
presents
SCOTS IN THE BUSH
August 15, 16 and 17
LITTLE
STARBOARD OUT
STARBOARD HOME
(James Senior brand) avail in Brisbane
www.StAndrewsShoesAusNZ.com.au
[email protected]
phone 3209 7006
Clan Johnston/e Association Australia
Contact Qld Commissioner Ron Johnstone
Ph 07 4779 3868 - [email protected]
Ph Buddy or Lynne 07 4168 0168
Clan Little New Zealand and Australia
Contact Bruce Little
Ph 07 4130 5826- [email protected]
www.boondoomahomestead.org.au
http://www.littleclan.net
Scottish football, class division, poverty
and Thatcherism in 20th century UK.
Available: www.writersandebooks.com
INSURANCE
CLANS
BOOKS
MacNICOL
https://clanmacnicol.org/
PLANNING THE PERFECT
WEDDING CEREMONY
Making your wedding special
with words, rituals and traditions.
www.amazon.com
YOUR BUSINESS
CLANS
BUSINESS
Around 4,000 people of
Scottish descent
want to know about your
business.
Find other members
of your clan.
Advertise here for
just $10 per month.
[email protected]
THISTLE INSURANCE
SERVICES Pty Ltd
Income Protection - Trauma - Life
Insurance - Superannuation
Contact: Michael Reid on
0416 177 707 or 07 3376 0859
Clan MacNicol Aust. Inc. (Qld & Northern NSW)
Contact Bob Nicol
Ph 07 3376 7875 - [email protected]
SCOTTISH BUSINESS
NETWORK AUSTRALIA
welcomes business
professionals of Scottish
descent. Membership is free.
www.scotlandhouse.info
We’ve kept our advertising rates low so that they are accessible to everyone.
SCOTS NEWS MAGAZINE is an independently published monthly e-magazine distributed to people of Scottish
descent in Queensland (and by request interstate and overseas to USA, NZ and UK). Since the magazine launched
in May 2011 it has attracted a lot of interest and support from the Scottish community.
Our aim is to build a community of professionals, retailers and trades with a Scottish link
to advertise goods and services that our readers will utilise.
You can advertise your event, clan, pipe band, dance group anything Scottish - from just $10 per month.
Scots News
March, 2014
11
MUSIC, DANCING AND EVENTS
What’s on in March!
Saturday March 1 - Celtic Celebration presented
by the Queensland Pops Orchestra at the Gold Coast
Arts Centre. www.theartscentregc.com.au.
Wednesday March 5 - Royal Scottish Country
Dance Society (Qld) Beginners Class at Mapleton
Community Hall, Obi Obi Rd, Mapleton. Contact 0420
977 170.
Sunday March 9 - Flavours of Scotland, part of
Brisbane City Council’s Bands in the Park program
featuring University of Queensland Pipe Band at
Sherwood Arboretum, Turner Street Sherwood from
11am to 12 noon. Admission free.
Saturday March 15 and Friday March 21 - Celtic
Blunder: Wikety Wak. Visit www.twintowns.com.au
and www.loganentertainmentcentre.com.au
Saturday March 15 - Harmony Day Festival at
Robelle Domain Parklands, Springfield. Free entry.
Sunday March 23 - Gaelic Classes at Brisbane
Square Library, Community Meeting Room (ground
level). Beginners 10am-11.30am, Beyond Beginners
11.30am-1pm, Continuing 1pm-2.30pm. Contact
Diane on 0407 158 781.
Saturday March 29 - Royal Scottish Country Dance
Society Opening Social from 7.30pm to 11pm at St
Phillip’s Hall, Emperor St Annerley.
Sunday March 30 - Celtic Airs, part of Brisbane City
Council’s Bands in the Park program featuring City
of Brisbane Band at Bulimba Memorial Park, Oxford
St, Bulimba from 11am to 12 noon. Admission free.
Sunday March 30 - Highland Celtic Celebration at
Ormisto n
Ho use,
Brisbane.
www.ormistonhouse.org.au
Sunday March 30 - Brisbane Boys College Pipe Band
Contest. Contact [email protected].
What’s coming up!
May 2 to 4 - Gold Coast Renaissance Faire, Pratten
Park, Broadbeach. A theatrical recreation of a 16th
century Elizabethan country fair with performances
including pipe bands and costumed performers such
as William Wallace. www.goldcoastrenfaire.com.
May 10 -Whisky Tasting Extravaganza hosted by
the Scotch Malt Whisky Society from 5pm to 8pm at
United Service Club, Spring Hill. Enquiries to Peter
Johnston 0407 372 243 or [email protected].
May 17 - World Whisky Day
Celtic Thunder: www.ticketek.com.au
May 17 - Townsville
May 18 - Mackay
May 20 - Rockhampton
May 21 - Maryborough
May 23 - Brisbane
May 24 - Gold Coast
July 5 - International Tartay Day
July 23 to August 3 - XX Commonwealth Games
Glasgow
S eptember 1 8 - Scotland’s Indepen dence
Referendum
September 23 to 28 - Ryder Cup at Gleneagles
INTERSTATE
New South Wales:
April 5 - Brigadoon Highland Gathering at
Bundanoon. www.brigadoon.net.au
April 18-19 - Maclean Highland gathering at
Maclean
(over
Easte r
we eken d).
www.macleanhighlandgathering.com.au
Email details of your event to:
[email protected]
by March 20.
Scottish tunes and conversation on the radio
Join Ron Tannock every Thursday night from 7pm to 9.30pm and every second Saturday from 9am to noon for the Sounds of
Ireland (and Scotland), on Burnett River Radio 91.5FM broadcasting to Gayndah and Central Burnett region.
Colin Nightingale hosts Acoustic Harvest every second Thursday night at 8pm on bayFM100.3.
Enjoy ‘A wee bit o’ Scotland on Thursday’ on 4EBFM98.1 from 2.15pm to 4.30pm.
Scottish Program on Global Digital Radio (4EB) each Sunday from 2pm to 3pm.
Triple T 103.9 Townsville Community Radio’s Scottish Program each Sunday from 3pm to 5pm with Don MacDonald.
12
Scots News March, 2014