Clan Keith Society (SA) Anniversary Dinner, 27/10/2007
After 8
months planning, invitations sent and venue set, the evening was finally
upon us.
The 10th
Anniversary Dinner of Clan Keith Society (S.A.), on the evening of the
27th October, at the Keith Hotel / Motel Lounge, in Keith S.A. We had
spent most of the Friday afternoon and Saturday morning setting the
venue up and placing the guests before retiring to our homes to prepare
for the beginning of events at 7.00pm.
We arrived at 6.30pm to set up the
raffle table and entrance table and greet our guests. Both Neville and
myself were a little nervous as to how things would turn out but as the
guests started to arrive and mingle things started to calm down a
little. At 7.00pm Alex Harvie our MC called the guests to be seated
after which our Piper, Bob Campbell, piped the High Commissioner of Clan
Keith Aust. & N.Z. the Commissioner of Clan Keith Society (SA) and the
Clan Keith Banner into the room. The Commissioner then toasted his piper
and all of a sudden all was well with Brenton & Neville, we knew the
evening would be a success. The Haggis was piped in and paraded around
the tables until it was set on the presentation table. Here Trevor
Powell of Clan MacLeod recited after the address, made us ready for more
toasts, the Loyal Toast and the Toast to our Chief, Kintore. Following
this, David Porteus of The Royal Caledonian Society of SA made a
presentation to Brenton followed by slanderous actions of the Campbell’s
and their photo-imaging secretary. This banter was then followed by an
interesting short talk on the Scottish ness of our region through the
history and eyes of our Local Councilor, Janet Allen whose ancestor was
------ McIntyre, one of the very early settlers to the area. The Host
Clan, The Keith’s then replied with tell tale information about the
McLeod’s, Campbell’s, Irskines and any other clan that fell in their
path. A wonderful evening, with much merriment throughout, ended and
weary guests retired to their quarters to make ready for the Kikin’ O’
Tartans the next morning. A few stalwart souls in the likes of a couple
of Campbell’s, a couple of Thompson’s and the Commissioner and Secretary
of Clan Keith held on until 3.00am Sunday. The Keith’s being left in
charge of the Campbell banner, which they defended with indifference.
The Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan at St
Catherine’s Anglican Church the Sunday morning was a momentous occasion,
which drew people from all over the district. Being an occasion of the
first kind in a local church, it turned into a major event for the
locals to see this cultural event and numbers were high. After the
service, a light luncheon was served and then farewells given as our
guests departed for their distance homes.
A few of the guests made their way to
the secretaries’ place to visit his Old Scottish Inn, Old Church ruins
and a circle of standing stones, “The Standing Stones of Dick”.
Finally with the feedback we have
received from the majority of our guests, and the backing of the local
publican we plan to have another dinner in 2009. Probably after we
return in July from The Homecoming 2009, in Scotland.
A Life Changing Occasion
The Secretary of Clan Keith Society
(SA), Neville Dick, suffered a substantial Heart Attack on the 12th
of November and was air lifted to Flinders Private Hospital, Intensive
Care Unit in Adelaide. After a two-week stay in this establishment he is
out and about, even attending the Daylesford Highland gathering with his
brother the Commissioner, who also had a life changing experience, as it
was he who was first on the scene and worked on him in his capacity as a
retired Ambulance Officer. All looks well for the future now and Neville
would like to thank all those who sent their good wishes and prayers.
PS:
Neville is back at work now, albeit on
restricted hours and duties and doing very well. One more visit to Flinders
Hospital on March the 5th and hopefully the all clear will be given.
Daylesford Highland Gathering Saturday 1/12/07
We made an early start to this event,
leaving Keith at 7.00am on the Thursday 30th November (St
Andrews day). We arrive at Daylesford at 12.30pm and had a light lunch
before setting up our tent site on the oval. We returned back to our
hotel room in Creswick 20 minutes away, where we had dinner, showered
and then rested. Up at 7.00am for a big breakfast and an amble up the
road to Daylesford where we met some old friends in the Sinclair’s,
Fraser’s, Campbell’s, and MacFarlanes. Then arrived our High
Commissioner, Jean Marshall with her escort, The Commissary of Clan
Keith Victoria, Ron Marshall. A bit of a slow day, quite warm but
enjoyable non the less. Clan Keith Victoria picking up a new member. We
said our goodbyes at 5.00pm and arrived home at Keith around 9.45pm.
Neville slept very well after this huge two days, which he deems a
major, step forward in his rehabilitation.
Banner Maker
Neville has made another Clan
Banner. This one being for our cousins in New Zealand and is in the
motions of making another for Southern New South Wales. These two
banners will be added to his list of banners made for South Australia,
Victoria and Queensland. We are so fortunate to have someone with such
talent in our ranks.
Yours Aye
Commissioner
Clan Keith
Society (SA)
Brenton Dick
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