The Clan MacLeod Society of (NSW) Inc. Newsletter June 2010 Chief: Hugh MacLeod of MacLeod Chief of Lewes: Torquil Donald Macleod of Lewes Chief of : Roderick John Macleod of Raasay President: Peter Macleod, 19 Viewpoint Drive, Toukley 2263. Phone (02) 4397 3161 Email: peter.@exemail.com.au Secretary: Mrs Wendy Macleod, 19 Viewpoint Drive, Toukley 2263. Phone (02) 4397 3161 Treasurer: Mr Rod McLeod, 62 Menzies Rd, Eastwood 2122. Ph (02) 9869 2659 email: [email protected] Annual Subscription $28 ($10 for each additional person in IMPORTANT DATES the one home receiving one Clan Magazine & Newsletter, Sat. 3rd July - Aberdeen . i.e. One person $28, Two people $38, Three people $48, Sat. 29th August - Toukley Gathering of the Clans. etc.). Subscriptions are due on 30th June each year. Sat. 11th - Annual Luncheon & AGM. Dear Clansfolk, Australian Celtic Festival at Glen Innes Friday, We have been able to hold the membership fees at the 30th April to Sunday, 2nd May. Stunning weather prevailed same level for our 8th year making your Clan MacLeod the whole weekend, early mornings around 14°C, midday Society Membership one of the greatest bargains around. maybe 23°C. The breeze was light but an occasional puff A renewal form is enclosed and I know our Treasurer combined with a little cloud confirmed what the tree colours would appreciate your early attention to this important part were telling us, autumn is here. We drove up on the Friday of keeping our Society going. Peter arriving about 3.20pm, nice and early. So, I decide to put up AGM Saturday 11th Sept our stall this afternoon to save The meeting is to start be- the rush on Saturday after the tween 1.30 & 2pm. Venue is Street Parade. Just as well, Forestville RSL Club, Melwood because the organisers had Ave, Forestville. We will re- left us off the official list. This serve tables in the Bistro for a was not a problem on the Fri- sit down lunch from 12 noon. day but was on the Saturday You can attend the lunch or the as without the paperwork we meeting, or both. Bistro prices were denied car access. After are reasonable and afternoon some pleading, thankfully, the timing means no night travel- officials allowed us in. ling. We would like to know ap- But, back to Friday. Tonight proximate numbers, so if you we attend a Haggis Dinner are coming could you please at the Glen Innes Services phone one of the office bearers Club. The haggis is piped in at the head of this page. We with all due ceremony and the should see some good Par- addresser tells us that Rob- liament pictures from those Maclean Highland Gathering Wendy Macleod, Leonard McLeod from , Charles Cooke & George Cooke bie Burns wrote ‘The Ode to just back from Skye. a Haggis’ in Old Scots and a Aberdeen Highland Games Saturday 3rd July in Jef- Professor had translated it into English so it could be under- ferson Park, Aberdeen. Last year was an excellent event, stood by non Scots speakers and this was the version he have a look at our September 2009 Newsletter. The day would be reciting. It fell absolutely flat, so when finished he will start with a parade of massed bands and clan represent- threw the piece of paper away exclaiming ‘Enough of that atives then progress to individual band displays, dancing, Rubbish’ and delivered one of the best addresses I have and heavy events. There will be lots of stalls selling Scot- ever heard, the way Burns intended, to rousing cheers and tish & other items and clan stalls (including Clan MacLeod). applause. Entertainment for the night was by ‘Murphy’s Wendy & I won’t be there as this is the day we fly out for Pigs’, a ten piece Celtic band from Brisbane. This was their some European sightseeing before the Clan MacLeod Par- second year and even better than last. liament. Vice President, Neil McLeod will be supervising our Sat. 1st. About 15 assemble for the 9.30 Street stand, Neil is also our Society Genealogy expert. Entry to Parade. Then the mad rush to finish our stall. Straight away the grounds is $15 for adults, $10 for children or concession. we’re busy, we didn’t have time to completely set up before There is an evening Ceilidh but you need to book. More info we were answering questions and handing out information from the website www.aberdeenhighlandgames.com or packs. The rush didn’t last so we took turns to look around phone Charles Cooke on (02) 6545 8141. other stalls. Tonight, we dine at Clan MacLeod at Toukley Gathering of the Clans Sat. 28th August at New Tattersalls Hotel & stay for Glen Innes the same location, Harry Moore Oval in Crossingham St., the entertainment, Pine Rivers Toukley. Entrance is FREE! A street parade from the Touk- Celtic Rock Outfit, excellent. ley CBD starts the festivities. We usually manage to get a Sunday 2nd. No stall today but small group of MacLeods together for the march but would Charles & I are in the Banner welcome some extras to make our clan more impressive. Parade for the Kirking of the Entertainment runs from 10.30am to 4pm including massed & a later Parade to intro- bands, individual band displays, Highland dancing, lots of duce Commissioners for other stalls - including the Clan MacLeod. In the evening there is Clans. Evening saw us again a ceilidh and on Sunday 29th, a Kirkin’ of the Tartan. For fur- at the Services Club to hear a ther details contact Andrea Konemann phone 4397 2226. wind down musical session. MacLeod Centenary Gathering in Edmonton Descendants of John MacLeod (1856 - 1920) will be a major part of a “Back to Edmonton” Centenary Celebration in North Queensland over the 16th to 18th July 2010. John left his ancestral home at Bernera, c.1872 and in 1886 John married Sarah Anne in Cairns. Their 10 children were born on the Atherton Table- land, which will be visited by at- tendees at the reunion. In 1909, the family with their 6 surviving children moved to Edmonton where they built and opened a hotel in 1910 - 100 years ago. A Scottish theme will be embodied in the reunion. For more information contact Rob Spencer, phone (02) 9484 1393 or Gundy BBQ - Sat. 6th March Perfect weather saw email [email protected] Wendy & I arrive around 4pm soon followed by Neil McLeod. At left is John MacLeod, photo- Next came Colin & Marie McLeod and with all Council mem- graphed c.1886. bers who were coming now present we held our brief Council Ancestral home of John MacLeod meeting. At 6.30pm George Cooke was elected chef and on photographed in 2009 went the goodies. Shortly after dark some 14 of us sat down to dinner followed by lovely deserts and fine wines. The night chill never arrived, we enjoyed a beautiful starry night and happy chatter. And, great Scottish music by our own mini Pipe Band, Helen Macpherson of Scone Pipe Band as piper, Charles Cooke on bass drum and George Cooke with side drum. Thank you to Charles, Kerry & George Cooke as Canadian MacLeods at Winter Olympics The hosts for another wonderful Clan MacLeod evening. 2010 Vancouver Olympics saw major involvement of our Three piece band Gundy BBQ British Columbia clansfolk helping as volunteers in many plus one capacities. A great thrill was the winning of a GOLD medal by Carla MacLeod of Alberta playing in Jersey No. 3 in the women’s hockey. More honours to the clan! MacLeod of Raasay Wedding Hannah, daughter of John & Liz Macleod of Raasay, married James Roberts just before last Christmas. Hannah had been living and working in where she met James. The wedding was held in Hobart with the couple flying back to England shortly after Christmas. They plan another celebration in Devon for those family and friends who could not come to Hobart, this is to be just before Parliament so Chief John & Liz will be able to attend this as well. Hannah & James have been living in Welcome to New Members Basel, , where James was working for a major Mr. Jonathan (Jon) MacLeod Smyth of Figtree Pocket Qld pharmaceutical company. Recently while packing to return joined at the Maclean Highland Gathering. Jon’s MacLeod to the UK they attended the three day Fasnacht carnival, forebears came from the beautiful Isle of Raasay. Switzerland’s main festival. They were surprised to see a Mrs. Sheila MacLeod Forbes Green of Forster NSW, Sheila pipe band marching with the other bands and were even was born in and joined our Society at the Celtic more astonished to see they wore MacLeod of Lewis yellow Festival, Glen Innes. . Hannah introduced herself, made known to the bands Bundanoon Highland Gathering Report by South- folk her connection to the Raasay/MacLeod family and she ern VP, Paul Anforth. The 33rd Bundanoon Gathering was & James were made most welcome & joined the festivities. probably the best ever. There were 23 pipe bands making Vale Jessie Katherine Tepper the massed bands hugely impressive. Visitor number were June 16th, 1917 to February 26th, 2010 said to exceed 20,000 making Bundanoon the biggest Scot- Long standing member Jessie Tepper of Geelong, Victo- tish Gathering in Australia. The parade took a full 40 minutes ria, passed away late February. She had good health and to pass. The day was blessed with perfect weather and this bright spirits right to the end. At 92 she was still enjoying would have helped visitor numbers. Paul enjoyed himself so crosswords and watching favourite shows on TV. much he has already booked accommodation for 2011. Her MacLeod grandfather came to Australia from Inver- Clan MacLeod North American Gathering 2012 ness and was a train driver, her father was a shearer. She It’s a long way off, in time and distance, but over a dozen was second child of nine and grew up around Rocky Point, Australians were at the 2008 NAG in Ottawa, so no doubt near Ararat in Victoria. For the past 60 years she lived at some will be going to the next one. Venue is Alexandria, Geelong. Jessie was mother to four children, son Kevin Virginia USA which is close to Washington DC. Exact date is and daughters Lois, Verna and Carolyn. She had numer- yet to be announced but possibly July/August. Will publish ous grandchildren. During the eighties Jessie travelled to more details as they become available. where she very much enjoyed a visit to Castle. Another highlight for her was her attendance at the Clan Parliament 2010 Last chance to Clan MacLeod Bendigo Gathering in 1999. go - see www.clanmacleod.org 106th Maclean Highland Gathering Friday 26th & Sat. 27th March. A change in dates from Easter to the week preceeding enabled Wendy & I to attend this Gathering for the first time. A seven hour drive from Toukley on Thursday 25th saw us arrive at 4pm giving some evening time to look around town. Maclean prides itself as ‘The Scottish Town of Australia’ but we didn’t realise how much the locals had taken this theme on board. The town telegraph poles are painted with different tar- tans for the lower two metres, not just one or two poles but possibly a hundred or more. The main street is lined with Scottish decorated ban- ners, one displays the Selkirk Grace by Robbie Burns, oth- Tamworth Pipe Band at ers have Scottish Arms or crests. School uniforms are Hunt- The Clarence ing MacLean and MacLean of Duart tartan. Maclean High Friday evening and we report to The Clarence Hotel to meet School song is an adaptation of ‘Scotland the Brave’. Shops Charles & George Cooke. Also staying at there are Tam- have Scottish themed displays, a worth Pipe Band who start up a jam session, naturally our local fish shop has the staff in Polo Charles joins in. A pleasant night and more great fun. shirts with a bagpipe playing fish Tamworth Pipe Band under the Judges’ eyes on the back. It’s all good fun! Friday 26th is bright, hot and sunny, so Wendy & I decide to do some sightseeing. First stop is the Scottish Cairn. The Cairn was built in 1988 when Maclean lobbied for, but missed out on, the Scottish Australian Cairn now in Rawson Park, Mosman. They decided to go ahead and build one anyway. Saturday 27th, 8am, we assemble outside The Clarence for Scottish stonemason, George Kerridge, was asked to super- the street parade. We have 8 or 10 marching under the Clan vise the construction. A position in Stanford Park overlooking MacLeod Banner, notably we are joined by Leonard McLeod the town was chosen. The Rev’d Kenneth MacLeod, Chief of and his daughter Gabby and her two daughters. Leonard the Lower Clarence Scottish Association (LCSA) at the time is a Past President of The Clan MacLeod Society of South dedicated the Cairn on 3rd December 1988. In 2004 five Africa and current VP of the Associated Clan MacLeod So- poles were erected near the Cairn with the names and tar- cieties. Leonard is visiting Australia to see three of his four tans of the 14 Chiefs of the LCSA and the dates they took up daughters and to celebrate his birthday. Leonard still lives the position dating back to 1893. The Rev’d Kenneth Mac- near Cape Town but is saddened that all four is there, having been the Chief from 1984 to 1996. of his daughters now live overseas. From the Cairn we continued up the hill to the Pinnacles rock Wendy misses the march to go onto the formation and the town lookout with wide views Showground and start to dress up our stall, acrossthe Lower Clarence River & farmlands. Then so, shortly we are in action. As usual business into town for a closer look at the street banners is brisk to start but by lunchtime has quietened and into the Scottish shop. The rest of the morning somewhat. We had one new member join and saw us drive out to Yamba, Angourie & Brooms several inquiries. One non member lady has Head, neighbouring seaside villages. Straight af- been looking into her MacLeod background ter lunch we were off to the Showground where and discovered a connection with the Mac- we erected our Clan MacLeod Stand ready for Leods of Gesto, hopefully she will join soon. MacLeod of Saturday. Right - Rev’d Kenneth MacLeod’s Pole. Wendy & I took turns to prowl around the vari- Lewis Street Pole Chiefs’ Poles ous Scottish stalls. They had good turnouts & Cairn from commercial stalls such as St. Kilda Retail, White Heath- er and The Scottish Banner but Clan MacLeod were once again the only Clan Society. Pipe Bands were well repre- sented, 16 in all. There was competition for individual pipers and drummers as well as the Maclean’s bands. A Highland Dancing Cairn competition and heavy events featured although we didn’t see these. Individual Pipe Band displays were very popular with the grandstand packed. Massed bands performed at 4.45pm to bring the day to a close. Met up with Charles for dinner at The Clarence where Tamworth Pipe Band again put on a special show for us. Australian Standing Stones at Glen Innes The Some of the Sponsors - No. 4 Clan Fergusson first array of Standing Stones erected in around 3,000 years No. 7 Knox Grammar No. 8 and first ever outside Europe were erected to mark the con- No. 12 Clan MacAlister No. 14 Manx Society tribution made to Australia by peoples of Celtic origin. This No. 16 Clan Johnston(e) No. 19 City of Tamworth year marks 20 years since Glen Innes was selected as site No. 21 No. 25 Highland Society for the Australian Standing Stones. Originator of the idea No. 30 Burns Societies No. 33 Cornish Association was Sydney based Peter Alexander, of the Celtic Council of No. 36 British Airways No. 37 Australia. Peter approached the Scottish Australian Heritage Other sponsors include families with a Celtic background. All Council and the two bodies contacted Municipalities with ac- are named on a bronze plaque overlooking the array. cess to sources of granite stone needed for construction. Ongoing - Some additional features added since opening. From these local authorities, Glen Innes was selected on Crofter’s Cottage, a refreshment & gift shop, open 7 days. 26th August 1990 and responded with a weekend of excite- Excalibur, a stainless sword embedded in granite. Wall of History with stones from all over the Celtic World. ment, ceremony & celebration. The first stone was placed An Irish Stone with an inscription in the old Celtic on Sat. 7th Sept. 1991. The completed array was officially language, one of the first written languages. opened by the Governor-General, Rear Admiral Peter Sin- Significant Local Contribution - The Stones are a great as- clair on 1st Feb. 1992. The ceremony was attended by a set to Glen Innes. As well as the huge annual festival, travel- number of members of the Clan MacLeod Society who de- lers between Sydney & Brisbane often stop off or stay over- cided our Society should Diagram shows the night to visit the Stones, and thus help the local economy. be one of the initial array layout. Picture Condensed from Cruachan, sponsors. Funds were raised Was King Arthur a Scot? below is the Clan ’s Magazine, Autumn 2010. Archaeologists of and our stone dedicated MacLeod Stone the Camelot Research Committee have identified the ruins by the Society’s - No. 20 of Cadbury Castle near Glastonbury as Camelot. founder, the late This has been rejected by American scholar Norma Lorre Bruce D. Goodrich who proposed King Arthur ruled not in England MacLeod, but in Scotland. Her exhaustive literary research pointed to the next Stirling rather than Cadbury Castle as the site of Camelot. year, 1993. Stirling is close to Argyll and Goodrich quotes from papers referred to as ‘Argyll Papers’ - Constantine I (Arthur’s grand- father) came from in 404AD and died 420AD. Arthur inherited the throne in 520AD. His first wife died childless. The second, a daughter of a king of Franks, presented him with a son called ‘Smervimore’, who inherited later. Arthur was quoted in the papers as Arthur IV, of the round table. If King Arthur is of Scottish descent, then the Cruachan’s 3 Central Stones article postulates Clan Campbell can be even more proud of No. 31, the Australis their heritage as history records in early times the Campbells Stone, for all Australians & married into the Scottish Royal Line. Maybe a future article symbolises the link between will claim King Arthur was a Campbell! the old and new worlds. No. 35, Gaelic Stone for Scot- Charles land, Ireland & Isle of Man. No. 28, the Brythonic Stone for Wales, Cornwall & Brittany. Ruth Ian The Southern Cross from above, is formed by Stones 1, 22, 13, 30 & 17. The Celtic Cross is formed by 1, 22, 13 Peter & 30 and the circle of 24 stones. Wendy The Solstices - From the centre of the array look:- Nth East through 7, 6, 5, 8, 9 & 10 for winter solstice dawn. South East to the right of 17 for dawn of summer solstice. Western Australian MacLeod Visitors In mid May West immediately right of No. 35 for winter solstice sunset. we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Ian MacLeod (WA CMS South West to No. 27 for summer solstice sunset. President) and wife Ruth (WA CMS Treasurer) for a couple Building the Array - Expert local bushmen spent 3 months of days. During this time we fitted in a boat trip on Tuggerah scouring the bush within 50kms for suitable stones. These Lake, until the clouds burst, and a drive up the coast to New- had to stand 3.7m above ground which meant an overall castle. Another day saw us tour some wineries of the Hunter length of 5.5m. They found only 3 suitable, so the rest had Valley under the guidance of Charles Cooke. Picture above to be split from larger rocks. Utilising more local skills in shows us enjoying lunch and planning to meet again at Par- rock drilling & splitting and another six months of effort, the liament. Ian was in Sydney to deliver a lecture at the Aus- stones were made. Transportation was another challenge, tralian Maritime Museum then on to Melbourne for another. fortunately another local businessman came forth with heavy Ruth decided to accompany him to catch up with MacLeods equipment, including a 12 tonne forklift, to load and then car- in NSW and their daughter, Kirsteen, in Melbourne. ry the stones on a timber loader. Average stone weight was 17 tonnes, but the heaviest was a massive 38 tonnes. Next Newsletter will carry a report of The Site - Centenial Parklands overlooks the township. Fre- our doings at Clan Parliament and quently, early morning mist creates a magical effect. A good travels around Scotland. For those sealed road allows easy access even for tourist coaches others going - Happy Travels. who often visit and bring welcome revenue to Glen Innes. Peter