Scottish Week
Photos courtesy of Scottish Australian Heritage Society
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| Country and Region | Australia — New South Wales |
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| Type of Festival | Dance, Music |
| Location of Festival | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Festival Address Information | The Honorary Secretary |
| Festival Description | High-spirited, highland revellers have their annual fling each year in June as Scottish Australians gather to celebrate a week of the sights, the sounds and the tastes of Scotland! From a celebratory Bannockburn Dinner at Victoria Barracks to a traditional ceiladh with song, dance, food, wine, fun and games; historical tours, a traditional Grand Scottish Ball, a Tartan Day fair at Martin Place and even the traditional Sunday blessing of the tartan… there will be something for everyone, whether Scottish at heart or by clan! Special guest of the fest is visiting Glasgow University professor, author and Discovery Channel personality Prof Edward (Ted) Cowan. His equally learned and entertaining talks will cover Scottish history in Australia, The Scotching of Oz, the Present State of Scotland, and even the Great Scottish Witch-hunt! |
| Festival Dates | June 24 - July 1, 2008 |
| Festival Links |
Festival Story:
Many Scots migrated to Australia as free settlers in the early 1800 and contributed in building the Australia we recognise today. However, most Scottish Australians (some five generations removed from their ‘auld’ ancestors) have been here so long that they have forgotten their heritage—except the need to occasionally drape themselves in tartan!
According to SAHC president Val Smith, Australia has taken much from Scottish pioneers who contribute their own rich texture to Australia’s multicultural life. Says Val: “Too often those we characterise as ‘white Anglo-Saxon’ communities are shy to celebrate their own ethnic identity - but there is much to celebrate!” And so… once a year the Scottish Australian Heritage Council presents Scottish Week. And it takes little encouragement to flush out thousands of ‘undercover’ kilt-wearers!
Festival Events:
Schedule 2008:
- Tuesday 24 June
The Battle of Bannockburn Dinner – Victoria Barracks, Sydney from 6:00pm. Celebrating not only this historical battle victory over the English but also honouring the Australian Scottish Regiments who, kilted out in Tartan, have served Australia since 1868. With guest speaker Edward (Ted) Cowan, Professor of Scottish History from the University of Glasgow and star of the Discovery Channel. With MC Pipe Major William Campbell. Includes a tour of the barracks and highland dress is optional! - Wednesday 25 June
The Great Scottish Witch-hunt — History House, Macquarie Street Sydney from 2:15pm. With Dr Lizanne Henderson of the University of Glasgow, co-author (with Ted Cowan) of “Scottish Fairy Belief”. Exploring the 17th century tension between imported official English attitudes to witchcraft and the revived fervour of Calvinist religion. Includes afternoon tea at this wonderful Heritage-listed National Trust venue.
Callum’s Ceilidh – Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club, West Ryde from 7:30pm. Recreating a Scottish village community cultural entertainment (ceilidh) in a evening of song, bardic recitals and dance. Music provided by the “Ceilidh Collective” with piping, dance, community singing, games, prizes and much more. Should auld aquaintence be forgot! - Thursday 26 June
Scottish History in Parramatta — starting by ferry from Circular Quay at 9:00am. A day tour including rivercat travel, morning tea and lunch. Participants are met at Parramatta by a piper & historian, entertained by aboriginal dancers and a traditional owner welcome, tour the Riverside Theatre, the Heritage Centre and other sites with Scottish Australian significance.
The Scotching of Oz: Scots in Australia – Edmund Barton Chambers, MLC Centre from 7:30pm. Professor Ted Cowan looks at the Scottish contribution and asks why Scottish heritage is regarded differently in Australia. Convened by playwright Malcolm Broun QC and Lorna Barrow. - Friday 27 June
Inspection of The Scotland-Australia Cairn — Rawson Park, Mosman from 12:00 noon. The annual inspection of the Bi-centennial Cairn at Mosman. Presented by the people of Scotland to Australia in 1988, the Cairn (or commemorative stone) is in the traditional form, roughly bell-shaped and built from hundreds of different stones. It stands at the highest point at Rawson Park, overlooking Sydney’s harbour and foreshores. At eventide it is floodlit and creates a landmark visible to passing ships. - Saturday 28 June
The Grand Scottish Ball — Paddington Town Hall. A traditional feast (that goes back to the visit to Edinburgh of King George IV) with a superb three course meal including drinks and entertainment. Highland dress highly recommended! - Sunday 29 June
Kirkin o’ the Tartan – Hunter Baillie Memorial Church Annandale from 10:00am. Traditional service conducted by The Reverend Peter Dunstan, in the classical Gothic church. During the service the ancestral tartan is taken forward to the altar table for blessing. - Monday 30 June
Manly Day Out – starting from Circular Quay wharf 11:30am or 12:00 noon at Manly. Featuring the Manly-Warringah Pipe Band and the Royal Scottish Country dancers “The Present State of Scotland” – L44, MLC Centre Martin Place from 7:30pm. Featuring international author and academic, Glasgow University’s Prof Ted Cowan. - Tuesday 1 July
Tartan Day – Martin Place Amphitheatre from 12:00 noon. Heraldic displays, town crier along with Scottish dancing, pipe bands and the Australian Citizenship ceremonies. Tartan Day commemorates the day when in 1782 the British crown seal confirmed the lifting of the ban on the wearing of the tartan. Includes the Book Launch of “The Scots of Australia” by Malcolm Prentis (more details in separate release).
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