General News
29 June, 2023
Scottish heritage on show
FULL Scottish regalia will be out in force for the Robert Burns Scottish Festival this weekend.
FULL Scottish regalia will be out in force for the Robert Burns Scottish Festival this weekend.
The 2023 festival will feature a variety of events over the weekend, with festivities to start on Thursday.
Robert Burns Scottish Festival committee chairperson Dr John Menzies OAM said the committee had worked hard to keep the festival affordable, and offers free entry to students and children under the age of 18 years,
“The committee have worked hard in planning the Burn’s festival program that has something for all ages and all abilities along with many free events for patrons to experience our Festival,” he said.
Mayor Ruth Gstrein will partner with Liz Patterson on Friday morning to provide a Scottish cooking class at Camperdown College’s secondary campus, beginning at 10am.
Numbers are limited, so booking for this event is essential.
Friday night’s events include the Gala Dinner at the Theatre Royal, with an authentic Scottish dinner including Haggis with the address given by Scottish performer Fiona Ross.
The musical entertainment for the meal includes Kyle Moir piping in the evening, and Merran Moir playing the small pipes along with Janet and Hugh Gordon.
The gala dinner has sold out, with 100 guests booked.
On Saturday, Dr John Menzies OAM will be playing his bagpipes from the top of the clock tower.
Shops along Manifold Street will be displaying art works completed by students from schools in Camperdown.
Wee Stories will be held at the library on Saturday, with Chris Gstrein reading to the children and their parents.
Jock MacEcka and his sidekick Angus MacSparky will follow, hosting a family show for all ages.
The monthly rotary market in the avenue will be held across both Saturday and Sunday, with a meet and greet with Highland Terriers Doge and Rosie providing a photo opportunity.
Dog owners are welcome to bring their own Highland Terriers to vie for the Waggiest Tail prize.
Highland dancing exhibitions will be held at the Heritage centre at 11am and 1pm.
Austral and Hugh and Janet Gordon will play live at the Loaf and Lounge from 10am, finishing for the judging of the shortbread baking competition.
The festival lecture series returns to the Killara centre, starting at 10.30am with Scottish born Fiona Ross exploring Burn’s approach to song writing.
Stewart McArthur will talk about his family and local Scottish connection to the composition of Australia’s best loved folk song, Waltzing Matilda at 11.30am.
Dr Rosalie Triolo will present Scots as Sodgers and Teacher enlistees from 1.30pm, and Allan Willingham will discuss portraits, panoramas and landscapes at 2.30pm.
A free choir workshop will run from 9.30am and is open to all ages with choir mistress Kym Dillion.
Ms Dillon will take a class, which will then perform at the morning concert at the Theatre Royal from 10.30am.
The free concert will feature Tuniversal, the Lakes and Craters Band and Merran and Peter Moir.
Saturday afternoon patrons will be treated to a second concert at the Theatre Royal, with Maree and Peter Daffy with Andre Cooper on Fiddle, the Twa Bards and Hugh and Janet Gordon performing.
Tickets will be available at the door, costing $25.
Austral will perform at the Hampden Hotel alongside the whiskey tasting, a free event with whiskeys at bar prices.
Tuniversal, Fiona Ross, Hugh and Janet Gordon and Austral will headline an evening concert on Saturday at 7.30pm, with tickets at the door costing $25 per person.
Sunday’s activities include the Robbie Burns Golf Ambrose at the Camperdown Golf Course, with prizes for best dressed team available.
The Lakes and Craters Band will perform in the avenue from 10am, filling the markets with music.
The Camperdown Heritage Centre and Masonic Hall will be opened to the public over the weekend.
The Robert Burns statue will be accessible to the public at the Civic Centre at 10am, with the Twa Bards presenting a tribute to the Scottish poet.
The festival’s final event will be the Theatre Royal Festival Finale Concert, featuring Brett Clarke, the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, Warrnambool Pipes and Drums, Peter and Maree Daffy with Andrew Cooper, and Austral.
Doors open to the concert at 1pm, with the concert beginning at 1.30pm.
Tickets will be available from Laffs or at the door at $25 per person and includes an afternoon tea interval.
For more information, please contact festival co-ordinator Catherine O’Flynn on 0407 056 126.