The Clan MacLeod Society of Australia (NSW) Inc. Newsletter March 2012 Chief: Hugh MacLeod of MacLeod Chief of Lewes: Torquil Donald Macleod of Lewes Chief of Raasay: Roderick John Macleod of Raasay President: Peter Macleod, 19 Viewpoint Drive, Toukley 2263. Phone (02) 4397 3161 Email: [email protected] 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, 4th to 6th May - Glen Innes Festival - see below. i.e. One person $28, Two people $38, Three people $48, 7th July - Aberdeen Highland Games see next Newsletter. etc.). Subscriptions are due on 30th June each year. Dear Clansfolk, Successful Christmas Function A week of rain pre- Wendy and I are off to the North American Gathering so the ceded Saturday 26th November but it was forecast to clear next Newsletter will be a bit earlier than usual. In it will be and sure enough around lunchtime it did. Neil and Marga- a write up of the Gundy BBQ and preview of the Aberdeen ret McLeod provided some beautifully Webber barbequed Highland Games. meats to go with delicious salads and sweets. A little Mac- Chief Donald Macleod of the Lewes will be Chieftain of the Leod business was disposed of at our brief meeting leaving Day at Aberdeen, come along, meet Chief Donald and show plenty of time for social chatter. Attendance was not huge but your support for Scotland’s most important clan. Peter those who came certainly enjoyed themselves. A big thanks to convivial hosts Neil and Margaret McLeod. Chief Donald - Chieftain of the Day at Aberdeen In recognition of Clan Mac- ACMS News (Associated Clan MacLeod Societies) Leod, Chief Donald Macleod 1. The BBC are to make a ‘History of Britain’ and tried to of the Lewes has been invit- contact the ACMS, but when phone calls were returned the ed to be Chieftain of the Day relevant person was on holidays. at the Aberdeen Highland 2. With a view to selling back issues, a proto-type of The Games. Chief Donald, who Clan MacLeod Magazine on line was demonstrated. It is lives in Sandy Bay, Hobart, also planned to make back issues available on DVD. will be accompanied by his 3. Alick Morrison’s book ‘The Chiefs of Clan MacLeod’ will charming wife, Heather. be scanned and sold as a DVD rather than re-printed. Chieftain of the Day, is an important Official Guest. He re- 4. MacLeod Woodland at Orbost (see Sept. 2011 Newslet- views the Massed Bands, other performers, clan stalls and ter). Plans are in place to improve the entrance and build competitions. Last year’s Chieftain was Mr Michael Bryce, a wall. The wall will be predominently local stone but with husband of Australia’s Governor General. provision for stones from overseas carved with their origin. Local masons and carvers are available to assist. 2012 Glen Innes Celtic Festival 5. Parliament 2014. Dates are being finalised. Possibly 26th July to 2nd August BUT this may need to be changed if it clashes with the Dunvegan Show. There will not be a Pre- Parliament trip in 2014. NRG work week will be on Skye and held during the week prior to Parliament. North American Gathering 2012 The Crowne Pla- Time is running out za Hotel in Alexandria “Old Town”, Virginia USA has been if you plan to attend the 2012 Celtic Festival. It runs from contracted with the MacLeod Society USA for the 2012 Thurs. 3rd to Sun. 6th May but most activity is from Friday NAG. Dates are Thurs. 28th June to Sun. 1st July 2012. 4th. A Friday night function is held at the Services Club. Sat- Room rate is US $112.00 per night including tax. To get the urday starts with a street parade, join the MacLeods and special rate it is best to book through the North American march. Then to the Standing Stones for dancing, pipe bands, Gathering website: www.wix.com/sdrakem/2012-nag yard dog trials, heavy events, stalls & entertainment. Accom- Final programme is not yet available but includes: modation is in short supply, contact Glen Innes Visitor Cen- ● Evening riverboat cruise tre. www.australiancelticfestival.com or Ph 02 6730 2400. on the Potomac River. Each year a Celtic Nation has special attention. ● 2012 is the turn of Brittany & Galicia. The lat- Workshops & Speakers. ● Whisky Tasting. est recognised Celts, those of Asturias, Northern ● Spain/Portugal, are included so this should add Dancing & Piping. ● something unusual. In 2013, it’s Scotland’s turn. Group Photo. ● Flags of Brittany (top) and of Galicia. Evening Banquet. Alexandria, Virginia is just across the Potomac River from Pay by Internet You can pay membership fees or any the USA Capital, Washington DC. There is plenty to see other payment to our Society by Internet Banking. This can in Washington with its Memorials, important Government save you time and postage, and sometimes bank fees. Buildings, Museums and the like. The NAG website has ● Send funds to The Clan MacLeod Society of Australia (NSW) Inc. BSB 012 256, Account 008610081. links to most of the popular tourist venues. ● Email Treasurer Rod McLeod advising you have made For any further information contact the 2012 NAG Organ- payment & what for: [email protected] iser, Stephen D. MacLeod, email [email protected] MacLeod World Gathering - New Zealand 2013 New Book - ‘Four Sons Of Skye’ The history of a The Clan MacLeod Societies of Helensvale and Auckland Tolmie family from the Isle of Skye to Otago, New Zealand. have announced their intention to host a Clan MacLeod Review by Peter Macleod. World Gathering in late November 2013. Venue will be Auck- Tolmie is an interesting Sept of our land and it is planned for the date coincide with the Auckland Clan. They are descended from John Highland Games. The event is very much in initial planning, Tolmach MacRory MacLeod of the the organisers should have more detail in the October Clan Gairloch MacLeods and so, they are MacLeod Magazine. As information is available it will appear of MacLeod blood. John Tolmach was in the New Zealand section of the Clan MacLeod website involved in the feud with the MacKen- www.clanmacleod.org and in this Newsletter. zies which resulted in the MacLeods MacLeods in Switzerland Our clansfolk in Scotland being dispossed of their lands in Gair- have a new member, Marcello Foggetta, who is also a mem- loch. Possibly John Tolmach dropped ber of a band based in Basel, Switzerland. The pipers in the his MacLeod surname to make it hard- band wear the yellow MacLeod tartan with the permission of er for his enemies to find him. After Chief John and Chief Donald. To cement their relationship being chased out of Gairloch, John Tolmach settled on Skye. with Clan MacLeod, some 35 members of the band have Over time the family became prominent on the Isle, as farm- joined the Clan MacLeod Society of Scotland. ers, ministers of religion, tacksmen of Talisker and Uiginish Marcello visited Edinburgh late last year and pointed out and as Factor to MacLeod of MacLeod. Another member of there are a number of MacLeods living in Switzerland includ- the family was Frances Tolmie, the famous collector of Gael- ing Chief Hugh’s brother, Stefan. Although it’s early days, ic folklore. The author’s own description of the book reads: the ACMS will be looking at the possibilty of a Clan MacLeod ‘A story of intrigue, murder and fierce rivalry over the land, Society being formed in Switzerland. tracing 500 years of Tolmie history from the MacLeods of Marcello’s band will tour Scotland in late May this year. Gairloch and of Lewis.’ ‘Donald Tolme (Gaelic spelling) was raised with the privileg- Those who read my write MacLeod Fiddlers on Tour es of the Scottish Tacksman and inherited the blood of the up on the 2008 North American Gathering in Ottawa may Kings of early Scotland, Norway and England. In 1848 at the recall my rave review of Ian MacLeod’s talented young ‘Mac- age of nineteen, he laid aside his kilt, donned his first pair Leod Fiddlers’ from Glengarry, Ontario. This amazing group of trousers and sailed from Skye to the fledgling colony of have now booked to tour Scotland in July. So if you or some- Australia and later New Zealand. His three younger brothers one you know is touring Scotland at that time and has the William, Malcolm and Allan Tolmie followed soon after.’ opportunity to see them - don’t miss out! ‘From gold fields to large sheep stations to public office, the Scientific Misconduct on Rum from Rod McLeod four brothers were self made men. Their sons fought with Rum, the island, lies seven miles west of Skye, and, with an the ANZACS and in WW2. Descendants today continue to area of 16 square miles, it is the largest of the small inner make a notable contribution to the country of their birth.’ Hebridean Isles. As well as being small, it is mountainous; Author is James G.H. McKay, a descendant. The book is a the Cuillins of Rum rise 2600 feet; the climate is described paperback, 270 pages and deals initially with MacLeod and as wet, and the isle was once covered by forest. A large Tolmie history. Then it covers individual stories of the four herd of red deer still breeds there, along with ponies, wild brothers and their progeny.