2015 Highland Gathering
One of Australia’s biggest Scottish celebrations takes place on the grassy slopes of Deakin University in Waurn Ponds on the 1st of March 2015 when the Geelong Highland Gathering returns for another year.
This event is going from strength to strength since moving to the university’s grounds three years ago after a more than 50 years at Queens Park. This year the event will be even bigger with thee Geelong Highland Gathering winning the rights to host the 2015 Victorian Highland Pipe Band Championships. The pipe band championships are expected to attract players from all around Victoria and several from interstate and promises to be a wonderful addition to the event this year, that has moved back a few to March 1st from its traditional mid March date.
A new attraction to the festival will be an amazing birds of prey demonstration. Here visitors will come face to face with medieval falconry, there will be peregrine falcons, owls, kits, kestrels and even eagles. The display promises to be astonishing.
Favorites including the South Pacific Heavy Games Championships, Western Martial Arts Academies of Australia National Longsword and
Broadsword championships and Highland Dancing competitions will all be back at the 2015 event.
A highlight of recent events has been the Scottish Breeds Dog Show, they are also back for 2015 as are the incredible Scottish Country Dancing displays and the very colourful 42nd Highlanders re-enactment group. The Varangian Guard Dubh-linn Branch will also be returning for some realistic medieval re-enactments.
The grounds of Deakin University will be surrounded with a host of Clan tents many selling Scottish souvenirs as well as some very tasty Scottish food including yummy haggis.
There is a huge program specially tailored to the young with a Wee Highland Games where kids can join in with haggis hurling and some light weight caber tossing that should be a lot of fun.
The local Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative’s people have had a long tradition with the event dating back to the first Geelong Highland Gathering that took place in 1857. This year the Wathaurong people will be again participating in the event, taking part in the moving opening ceremony with the ‘Welcome to Country’ and a smoking ceremony.
Entry costs are: Family $40; adult $15; Concession $10; children
5-16, $8; children under-five free.
More information can be obtained at www.geelonghighlandgathering.org.au
