CHIEF:  Alastair Ivor Gilbert Boyd 7th Baron Kilmarnock

Richard G. and Jerri Lynn Boyd

568 W. Friedrich Street

Rogers City, Mich. 49779

35TH  MELBOURNE HIGHLAND GAMES

                      35TH  MELBOURNE HIGHLAND GAMES
 

Visit Australia at Easter- Hear the bagpipes o the South (played upside down?)

G'Day all Descendants of the Scots, up there in the Northern half of the Globe

If you feel like a change from the Northern Hemisphere, consider coming 'down under' to Melbourne, Australia, for Easter 2001 (14th -15th April) and visit one of the largest Scottish events in the Southern Hemisphere.

That weekend, the 35th Annual Ringwood Highland Games in Melbourne will have:- a massed Band Spectacular of over 1000 pipes and drums on parade.

This year we celebrate Nationally the Federation of Australia 100 years on.

The Australian Commonwealth Pipe Band championships, and attended by many overseas pipe bands.

The Australian Championships Highland Dancing competitions (The Sword Dance, The Scottish Lilt, The Highland Fling, The Sailors Hornpipe and even the Irish jigs!), Scottish Country Dancing., to the music of jigs, reels or Strathspeys. Heavy games and traditional tug-of-war, Tossing the caber, The Scottish Hammer Throw, and the Shot Put. all exhibiting the test of strength of the Scots descendants and proof of their inherent fitness and ability! 40 Scottish Clans and Societies exhibiting (handing out Clan Information plus a wee dram, if you're lucky!), Heraldry, Genealogy. The Grand parade set amongst the Australian Gum Trees of the adjoining park, with the blue hills of the Dandenong ranges beyond, Stalls, food ( such as Scottish snowballs, and Irn Bru, Haggis, slicing sausage, and mealy puddings), Scottish goods, crafts, jewelry, clothing, music Family picnics. Scottish breeds of dogs and Highland breeds of Cattle, Mock Battles with the 'Varangian Guards', creating an olde worlde atmosphere with their medieval costumes and weapons, ready for battle, with swords, pikes, axes and shields. Haggis Hurling, great prizes. Welly boot throwing, more great prizes. Scottish flags, banners,  and colorful tartans plus (if you come a wee bit earlier) a Scottish Gala Dinner on April 6th.

It will be Autumn down here then and the weather should be just right. Accommodation is excellent and of a wide range of options, we speak 'Aussie' English, and we are fairly civilised! -  Melbourne has been cited on many occasions as one of the most liveable Cities in the World (City Population
about 3.5 million). Its vast array of International cuisine restaurants is impressive and the standards are second to none. Our main International airport has just been renovated once again, for greater efficiency. We have one of the best and biggest casinos outside of Vegas. A huge harbour, Top class sporting facilities (including more Big retractable roofed sports stadiums than most other Cities), Wonderful Opera houses and arts facilities. A modern World class Zoo, A brand new contemporary Exhibition building, trams down the main streets and out to the suburbs, Commuter trains and under- ground rail systems,and pleasure boats down the Yarra River. The longest urban underground motor vehicle tunnel in the world  (just opened - and passes deep down and right under the City), Terrific local Aussie Wines and picturesque vineyards (and the beer is good too), plentiful supplies of Scotch, Bourbon and Irish Whiskie. plus many top class tourist attractions. Plus some of the most extensive Genealogy facilities you will find anywhere.  Plus the weirdest array of native animals you will find in any country (God made the Australian platypus last of all the animals, and used up all the bits and pieces left over - it can lay an egg, or, give birth to live offspring! - it looks part duck, part beaver, is furry and lives mainly in underground tunnels or in the water!)

And the exchange rate is currently in your favour!

All you Scots descendants, come South this year just for a change, see what it feels like to walk upside down!.

Cheerio for now
Brian Boyd  
Melbourne, Victoria,
(down the bottom South East corner of) Australia.

NOTE: Use this data as a finding tool, just as you would any other secondary source. When you find the name of an ancestor listed, confirm the facts in original sources.

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