Tartan's out for our march into March
Scottish fans from across Australia are preparing for Bendigo’s tartan march in March at this Saturday’s Scots Day Out in Rosalind Park.
One of the largest Scottish celebrations in Australia, Scots Day Out has moved to March for its sixth year after earlier being held in February.
Clan and diaspora groups are maximising their involvement in SDO, growing engagement and boosting membership numbers in Victoria through SDO. Clan Edmonstone chief commissioner for Australia, Mal Edmiston, is travelling from Townsville and will officially invest the group’s first Victorian commissioner at SDO.
Clan members and highland dancers will be part of the opening march of 12 pipe bands from across Victoria down View St at 10am on Saturday morning as they make a colourful entry into Rosalind Park after saluting 2018 chieftain Bryan Coghlan.
Event director Chris Earl said: “We’ve expanded the music on Ceilidh Corner in 2018 where the amazingly talented all-female Celtic group Drowsy Maggies – one of the most exiting young folk groups in Victoria at the moment - will feature along with Scottish Gaelic Society choir, members of the Celtic Piping Club on small pipes and local performers.
“We continue to grow the involvement of re-enactment and martial sword arts groups with the Gullsborg Dark Ages Society of Bendigo village, Bendigo Swordcraft and the kilted warriors from Glen Lachlann Estate College of Arms conducting a tournament at SDO for the first time.
“Scottish expat Andy Howitt has his contemporary take on traditional highland games while Nexus Youth Theatre will add a touch of the Edinburgh Fringe to our SDO celebrations.
“Add in an exhibition of folk art by local painter Ainsley McPherson, whisky, haggis, shortbread and Scottish stalls, kilt and the finale and SDO 2018 has more than six hours of free entertainment in Rosalind Park.”
The SDO2018 celebrations kick off with a free open-air cinema on Friday night in Rosalind Park with the Australian premiere of highlights from the Edinburgh Short Film Festival featuring award-winning contemporary shorts.
“Scots Day Out brings our community together, welcoming visitors from all parts of Australia and celebrating the inclusive culture of our city,” Chris said.
SDO is supported by the Regional Centre for Culture Program, a Victorian Government initiative in partnership with the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and the City of Greater Bendigo.
