Newsletter Number 21 September 2015-
Since the publication of our last Newsletter in March the Caledonian Society has been involved in events both celebrating the Society’s History and also in providing traditional Scottish Fun and Entertainment.
Ceremony For Caledonian Society Stone Chair
On Friday June 26th Caledonian Society Directors along with Patron Ron Cain QSM were hosted by the Toitu Otago Early Settlers Museum to a MorningTeaCeremony marking the official transfer of the Caledonian Society Stone Chair (Kings Seat) to the Settlers Museum. The Chair was carved by Oamaru Stone Mason James Robertson to commemorate the visit to Dunedin in June 1901 of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall later King GeorgeV and Queen Mary.
The Stone Chair has resided at the Settlers Museum since 1998 and was prominently displayed at the Dunedinburgh Exhibition organised by the Museum in early 2014. The date of the transfer ceremony was hugely appropriate marking 114 years to the Day when the Stone Chair was first on public display at the old Caledonian Ground South Dunedin. The Caledonian Society would like to express their appreciation to the Toitu Otago Early Settlers Museum particularly Director Jennifer Evans and Kirsten Glengarry for arranging everything so well for the ceremony including media coverage and also the lovely Morning Tea. A photo and report of the ceremony appeared in the Otago Daily Times of Wednesday July 1 while a report on the ceremony was also presented by Radio New Zealand.
Mid Year Event Function
The 2015 Caledonian Society Mid Year Function was held on Sunday July 26th at the Mosgiel Station Function Centre Gladstone Road Mosgiel. A total of 46 attended. The Function proved highly successful with the Hotel providing everyone with a wonderful carvery meal including a great variety of desserts. Our two young Highland Dancers Penny and Aleisha and Soprano Singer Sarah Oliver accompanied by Pianist Francis Brodie provided wonderful entertainment throughout the Afternoon. Guest Speaker Anna Clere the Manager of Volunteer Otago gave an interesting talk on the important roles filled by Volunteers and the opportunities available to become a Volunteer in the Otago Community. Anna also provided us with an insight into her own background and her current role with Volunteer Otago.
Thanks to our Official Piper Ray Goodfellow and Haggis Ceremony Co-Ordinator Hugh Marshall for their stirling contributions to a most enjoyable occasion.
Annual General Meeting
The 153rd Annual General Meeting of the Caledonian Society of Otago was held on Thursday August 27thin the Guthrie Pavilion of the Bayfield Sports Trust Building 2 Shore Street Dunedin.
In his Annual Report President Kieran Columb outlined the achievements of the Caledonian Society during the preceding 12 Months. The President highlighted the Caledonian Society providing demonstrations at the Southern District and Otago Taieri A and P Shows with the Society being warmly received at both venues by the respective Committees and Participants.
In his concluding remarks the President spoke of the challenges facing the Society in recruiting new members particularly in the younger age groups The Caledonian Society needs these potential members to assist with running our Highland Games Events and to promote the Society by the latest online social networking services. Communication in Society today is is especially important.
To this end the Caledonian Society has recently joined up as a Friend of Vulunteering Otago The hope is that having regular contact with this organisation will help the Society in attracting new members and lift our profile in the Otago Community.
Scottish Community Updates
The “Totally Tartan” Day scheduled to be held in the Octagon on Saturday November 28th has been cancelled. For the Caledonian Society this solves the dilemma of a potential date clash with the South Otago A and PShow however thecancellation provides bad news for the Dunedin Scottish Community. The cancellation has been brought about by the failure of all groups to present a combined front on the format of “Totally Tartan” resulting in no funding being provided from the DCC Community Grants Council. This unfortunate state of affairs needs to be rectified before any future progress can be made on combined Scottish Events. The Annual General Meeting of the Otago Scottish Heritage Council will be held in the Meeting Room of the Hocken Library onTuesday October 6that 7PM. A good attendance would be welcomed with some important issues to be discussed.
Paape Cup Children’s Athletics Day
On Sunday November 22nd the Caledonian Society will be co-organising the Paape Cup Children’s Athletics Meeting along with the Athletics Otago Children’s Section The Caledonian Society will be running the gate and also providing Morning and Afternoon Tea for Officials. The Society will also present the Paape Cup to the winning Club at the end of the competition. Arthur Albert Paape was a former President and Life Director of the Caledonian Society who spent the majority of his working life in the Hotel Industry. He lent his support to a number of Otago Sporting Bodies and was a passionate follower of Harriers and Athletics.
Laughter is the best Medicine
The Sun-Baked Cowboy swaggered into the Saloon and through parched lips asked the bartender to give hisHorse a bucket of his best Whiskey. “And what’ll you have Stranger?” asked the bartender. “Nothin’ replied the dusty Cowboy “I’m Drivin’
An English Girl appearing on the Groucho Marx Programmesaid that she’d seen her Sister and Brother In Law “Snugging” in a Movie Theatre. “What is Snugging”? Groucho asked “Well the Girl replied when you do it I suppose you call it Necking”.”When I do it,” Groucho said I call it Reminiscing”.
Groucho Marx stated he once had a Nurse who was so conceited that when she took his pulse she subtracted ten points for her personality