The Scottish Banner Scot Pourri ship set sail, for home in Stornoway. Reads the Banner from front to back Send us your inquiries on life’s little Project’. This meant we had to research our question marks. Ever wanted to know what From the Kyle of Lochalch The Lolaire local area in history, geography, arts, and I never miss reading the Scottish Banner happened to your old pal from home, how sailed, up the stormy. Minch Packed culture, etc. Our school, St. Aloysius, was from front to back. Of special interest to me to make your favourite Scottish meal, or with dear ’s retuning sons, as located in Springburn. This had been a are the columns written by Lady MacGregor wondered about a certain bit of Scottish they covered every inch. This night they thriving community with large locomotive, and Ron Dempsey. My branch of the history? Pose your questions on Scottish thought would never come, had finally and engineering works, co-operative stores, numerous Armstrong clan traces its early related topics to our knowledgeable came tae pass. And in a couple of hours railway junctions, cinemas, swimming member back to Dumfries. As an Armstrong, readership who just may be able to help. Our through blackened sea, they would see baths, public halls and parks. Our class paid before she married the MacGregor, Fiona letters page is a very popular and active one thair folks at last aye the home fires particular attention to Balgrayhill Road, and wrote about events and history of the and many readers have been assisted across had been burning, for mony’s a lonely the world by fellow passionate Scots. Please discovered that Bonnie Prince Charlie had Dumfries area, so I have felt a distant kinship year. And on Stornoway thair loved ones keep letters under 200 words and we reserve used that road when his soldiers marched with her and sincerely appreciate her wit and the right to edit content and length. Letters, awaited, amid the festive cheer. south to claim his crown. James Reid, the rain style of reporting. Thank you for continuing photos and any other items posted to the But the sea like a ruthless predator, had magnet, had his estate and home built there. to bring all things Scottish to us in Canada Scottish Banner cannot be returned. We stalked them like a foe. And in the dead of A mansion, designed by Rennie McIntosh, and around the world. prefer letters to be emailed to your nearest night the sea turned black, amid the sleet always displayed beautiful vases of flowers Mary Armstrong-Munz office or please visit our online Scotpourri and snow. On and on the ship sailed forth, in its octagonal windows both upstairs and Kemptville, Ontario form at www.scottishbanner.com, and was lured right past the port. Toward down. On a clear day, Ben Lomond and its Canada alternatively you may post or fax your letters the menacing” beast of Holm” and her neighbouring peaks could be seen from this, to us. Please ensure you include your full the highest point in Glasgow. Following the Choir in Victoria contact details, when emailing it is best to jagged rocky warts mercilessly the beast include your post address for those without struck out, and ripped right through her hills descent towards Bishopbriggs, it joined internet access. This page belongs to our bow. And all hope varnished instantly, up with Crownhill Road where the home readers so please feel free to take part! Thanks amid the cries and row. and estate of Thomas Muir was located. to all our readers from around the world who After four long years of battle fought, Our class visited the house and grounds. We have made this such a special page. they’d reached thair final hour. As the men were particularly interested in the life story slipped into this treacherous foam, and the of this man, his political ideas, his expulsion sea began tae devour. to Australia, and the ensuing episodes with Vale-Angus Lockhart of the Lee France and America. We took photographs Brave John Macleod battled ice cold waves, and later sent them to Springburn Public tae get a line ashore. And valiantly many Library. The Project for the schools had been souls were saved, amid the oceans roar. a success and was later featured in the Times But the bulk of men just perished, amongst Educational Supplement. the froth and foam. So near, and yet so far Ann E. Rooney and so cruelly close tae home. Toronto, Ontario Many people, even some Victorian Scots, Thair loved ones came upon the shore, Canada are surprised to learn that there is an active in that desperate. January morn Tae see Scottish Gaelic choir in Melbourne. The thair kith strewn across the beach , like International choir grew out of the Scottish Gaelic classes driftwood from the storm. Limp bodies Gathering 2015 Caithness that have been held for many years. It has floating aimlessly, where thair souls had had a number of phases over the years flown away. With hearts ripped out in but currently the choir practices weekly Stornoway, on thair saddest New Year’s at the Kildara Centre in Malvern under Day. Why tortured souls, why did sadness the direction of Barbara McLaughlin. reign, and so many hearts did brake? God Next year, the weekly practice time will works in mysterious ways, for the Lord be 10:30am on Wednesdays. Not all the giveth and The Lord takes! choir members are Gaelic speakers but a number are learning the language at the Dedicated to Scotland’s returning sons weekly classes being run at the Celtic Club The Scottish Banner is saddened to learn that perished on New Year’s Day 1919. in Queen Street, Melbourne. Lewis-born, of the recent passing of Angus Lockhart of Joan Mitchell is the regular Scottish Gaelic the Lee, Chief of Clan Lockhart. We wish his By Andrew Heaney coach for the choir and informs it on the family and Clan our condolences at this time. (Formerly Glasgow) Pictured in the photo from left to right: significance of the lyrics, the emphases Brisbane, Queensland Liane Sinclair, Lloyd Bradshaw, Noelene that should be placed on particular words Stornoway’s Saddest Day Australia Deane, Jim Deane, Dianne Sides, Bill Sides, and other features of the Scottish Gaelic Happy New Year to all our readers and staff Pam Sinclair, Roger Sinclair, Margaret, culture that surround the songs. The choir at the Scottish Banner, down throughout Wayne Sinclair, Chief Malcolm Sinclair The regularly performs at retirement villages, the ages New Year has been a very special The Saltire Earl of Caithness and his wife Penny. Scottish ceilidhs, Celtic and multicultural time for Scots with great celebration and Mrs Bruce of Jennings in NSW, Australia, On 23 July 2015 , 9 Clan Sinclair festivals and has often been the face of the renewed hope for the future, and none is not the only one to see the ‘Saltire Sky’ Australia members travelled to Caithness Scottish Gaelic Society of Victoria. Its most more than way back in 1918 with a lot of (Scottish Banner, November, 2015). In April where we joined by approximately 130 recent outing was at The Global Village; Scottish servicemen finally making it home of 2014 the late afternoon at the Australian Sinclair’s from Scotland, , Canada, the multicultural festival at Prince’s Park after the end of the First World War. With Celtic Festival, Glen Innes, NSW just as the USA, Norway, Italy and Romania for our in October 2015. The director, Barbara the continuing commemoration’s of WW1, Closing Ceremony was taking place, a few latest Gathering. We were greeted by our McLaughlin, is retiring from that position I would like to salute the memory of the hundred people looked towards the bright Chief Malcolm and his wife Penny, who at the end of this year and the Scottish brave fighting men of Stornoway returning blue sky and witnessed the Saltire. This was had organized a wonderful itinerary for Gaelic Society of Victoria is looking for a from war on New Year’s eve 1918 and the particularly moving as the weekend had our time together. Over the next 6 days replacement for her. If anyone is open to an ultimate price they ended up paying. been celebrating the “Year of the Scots’. The we enjoyed outings to Castle of Mey, interesting musical challenge of directing a Glen Innes area is called “Celtic Country” Halkirk Games where we were guest small, largely a capella choir (the Scottish Stornoway’s Saddest Day and is known for its Scottish connections. clan, a trip to the Orkneys, Thurso Castle Gaelic tradition) singing songs from a very The Faith, the Eagle, the Perished Jennings is just 110 km north of Glen Innes. and a joint dinner with who old culture in a language that has its own and the Despair Eileen Lyon were also having their gathering. We also special attractions, anyone wishing to join Praise the Lord for the boys coming home, Maroubra, NSW visited Sinclair Girnigoe Castle where a the choir for a new musical experience oh what a Hogmanay. And the war they Australia moving memorial service was held for our might also contact the Secretary. fought tae end all wars had finally passed departed loved ones. Our most enjoyable The Scottish Gaelic Society of Victoria away. Through blood and gore the boys Thomas Muir at 250 stay finished with a farewell dinner at Catriona Devlin, Secretary had fought, for the guts of four long years. In regards to the article Thomas Muir at 250 McKay’s Hotel in Wick. Kildara Centre With hope and dread and comrades dead, (Scottish Banner, November, 2015). Before Wayne Sinclair Malvern, Victoria in a sea’s of endless tears. But joy and coming to Canada in September 1968, our President, Clan Sinclair Australia Australia jubilation, as they climbed the gang plank schools in the north end of Glasgow, were Melbourne, Victoria Phone 03 9509 7906 on the quay. And drank thair dram, as thair involved in an ‘Environmental Studies Australia Email: [email protected]

Page 4 • Australasian Edition • January 2016