End of Year Ceilidh – Clan Cameron and Clan MacLennan – 17th November

Sunday 6th August 2023 saw members of National Clan Cameron Australia Inc. celebrate the re-formation of Clan Cameron NSW  40 years ago under the leadership and direction of Dr Bob and Bet Cameron on 10 April 1983.

The inaugural executive committee consisted of Dr Bob Cameron (P), Muriel Johnson (VP), Ted Cameron (Sec.) and Valda Wood (Treas.).  Among the very active early members were Beth Crawford and Sue Catterall, both of whom joined us on trhe day and can be seen below cutting the anniversary cake.

We were also blessed with the presence of four new or rejoining Clan Cameron members on the day.

NCCA members assembled on the verandah of the Breakfast Point Country Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beth Crawford and Sue Catterall cutting the 40th Anniversary Cake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President Alistair Cameron presented attendees with the 40th Anniversary National Clan Cameron Australia Inc. publication which is available on the NCCA members’ section of the website.

 

President Alistair Cameron welcomed new members to the association.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This great summary of what has happened to the Highlands and Islands after Culloden was written by Chris Grant, who has just written a book about Culloden and its aftermath, with particular reference to the Grants of Glenurquhart and Glenmoriston, and their Clansmen and women.

“The harsh treatment of the Highlanders and their families after Culloden merely served as a starting pistol to what we would call today cultural genocide. What followed in the pacification of the Highlands was successive Acts of Parliament, which would in effect implement policies which sought to gradually, but systematically, dismantle all the cornerstones of Highland Gaelic culture.

 These acts would in time not only change the clothing, culture and way of life in the Highlands, but by the ending of Heritable Jurisdiction, fundamentally change the very structure of their society, and this in turn greatly contributed to the later Highland Clearances, which were also encouraged. The majority of ordinary people saw that they had no economic future in light of how they were being expected to live.

 The policies which were rolled out over a protracted period even sought the very eradication of the language of the people. These policies contributed greatly to emptying the Glens of people throughout the Highlands and Islands, and set the scene for what we see today, where once thriving communities on many a Highland hillside and in the lower glens, now hold nothing but the vegetation-covered skeletons of the former homes of those people.

Areas which once thrived with population are now eerily empty and largely devoid of life and people, in what were acts of vindictive cultural vandalism that the Highlands has never recovered from and which it is so much the poorer for in our modern age, where little but tourism and wealthy landowners coexist over huge swathes of a picturesque but sadly empty land.

They created a desert largely devoid of people and life and called it peace, which is quite an apt way of portraying the Highlands of Scotland in our modern era.”

Thanks to: Dot MacKenzie GSDC. Group To Stop Development At Culloden.

Clan Cameron was again well represented at this year’s Bonnie Wingham Scottish Festival.

Thanks to the efforts of local Maree Camerons, most notably Heather and Murray Oldham, we all enjoyed a wonderful day meeting and enjoying the company of fellow Camerons together with our fellow Scots in a country setting with the day’s activities emphasising fun and Scottish camaraderie.

Clan Cameron members assembled at the Clan Cameron tent

The Drum Major leading the Pipes and Drums and the Scottish Clans, with C hief of the Day, Ray Robertson (Clan Donnachaidh)

Clan Cameron marching, with Banner Bearer George Hoad.

Massed Pipes and Drums

 

The Highland Rose – Jacobite Living History Group

 

Lad’s Light Caber Toss

Wee Bairns’ and Lads’ and Lassies’ kilted dash

Lads’ and Lassies’ Tug-o-War

 

Best Dressed Dog with Scottish Theme

 

All in attendance enjoyed a wonderful day.

 

 

 

 

 

Members of National Clan Cameron Australia enjoyed celebrating the Year of Scotland, along with their fellow Scots at Glen Innes on the weekend of 6-7 May.

Brisk weather and breezes added atmosphere to a splendid day, with sunshine aplenty.

We welcomed three new members to the association and we look forward to seeing them again at one of our functions or one the many gatherings held throughout the year.

It was also wonderful to meet with President, Clan Cameron Auckland, Rob Cameron and three of his fellow NZ Clan Celtica band members, who had a number of number rousing performances throughout the weekend. Rob also brought across some wonderful Clan Cameron Badges which will soon be available for NCCA members, by way of donation, which will be featured on this website. We have a limited number, with 10 being sold to association members on the weekend already.

The day commenced with the Street Parade consisting and Celtic Clans and Pipes and Drums marching up and down the full length of the city centre, with a large crowd attending and applauding strongly.

The two days of festival events featured a great variety of activities, including Highland Dancing, a super Cèilidh held Friday evening, Pipes and Drums, musicians, strongmen and wrestling and more.

There were many merchandise stalls selling a variety of wares together with ample food and drink outlets.

Thank you to John and Lynne Cameron, Qld, for setting-up the Clan Cameron tent for the weekend, as they have done for a number of years, but are now not in a position to continue to do so.  Should anyone be in a position to take the Cameron tent to Glen Innes on future occasions please contact secretary Terry Cameron.

NCCA members marching in the Street Parade

 

 

 

Ian Mossom Cameron, in fine regalia, with Chris and John

Angus Cameron with Chris and John

Clan Cameron Auckland President, Rob Cameron with John and Chris

Clan Celtica, NZ, with President, Clan Cameron Auckland , Rob Cameron on the pipes.

Highland Dancers competing in the Australian Celtic Dance Championships

The Massed Pipe Bands performing.

Tossing the caber.

And it’s over!

Maeshowe was probably built around 2800 BC. In the archaeology of Scotland, it gives its name to the Maeshowe type of chambered cairn, which is limited to Orkney.

Maeshowe is one of the largest tombs in Orkney. The mound encasing the tomb is 35 m in diameter and rises to a height of 7.3 m. Surrounding the mound, at a distance of 15 m to 21 m is a ditch up to 14 m wide. The grass mound hides a complex of passages and chambers built of carefully crafted slabs offlagstone weighing up to 30 tons. It is aligned so that the rear wall of its central chamber is illuminated on the winter solstice.

Maeshowe is a significant example of Neolithic craftsmanship and is, in the words of the archaeologists, “a superlative monument that by its originality of execution is lifted out of its class into a unique position.”

The Historic Environment Scotland digital documentation team has created a 3D interactive model.

Maeshowe entrance

Maeshowe

Cross-sections of maeshowe

The interactive 3D model can be seen via the link below.

Masehowe – 3D interactive model