Fassifern Highland Gathering Event Outline

Transcription

1 Fassifern Highland Gathering Event Outline Massed Pipe Bands + Parade Calling of the Clans & Clydesdales Piping & Highland Dancing Scottish Cuisine & Workshops Highland Games History of Scots in the Fassifern Ceilidh - Scottish Dinner & Dance

2 WHAT & WHY The Fassifern Highland Gathering (FHG) is being held as part of the Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular at the Boonah Show Grounds on st May The 2015 edition will be the third for the Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular (SRCS) and first (this century) for the Fassifern Highland Gathering (yes there has been some before see next page). Connected by the focus on local heritage and Scottish culture (the Clydesdale being a Scottish breed) the SRCS and FHG community groups will combine to achieve a larger and more successful event in the Scenic Rim. The Fassifern Highland Gathering is a community arts and culture event with the following expected outcomes; 1. Community building through strengthening ties in the local Scottish community by providing an opportunity to participate in, and celebrate, Scottish culture. 2. Attracting extra visitors (event spectators and participants) to the Scenic Rim allowing commercial opportunities for local businesses eg. Accommodation, food/drinks, petrol (part of a tradition dating back to 1906, see below). 3. Fund raising activities for Boonah Show Society and selected local groups at the event. 4. Support of The Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular creating a larger overall cultural and recreational event for Scenic Rim residents.

3 Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular Highlights With over 40 horses and 100 entries, this magnificent spectacle of Clydesdales and heavy horses would rival many Royal Agricultural shows. CLYDESDALE EVENTS DEMONSTRATIONS Working corn husker and sheller, run with heavy horse power Harness Demonstration Shoeing & Blacksmith Demonstration Ploughing Demonstrations ENTERTAINMENT Wheelwright s Campfire Dinner & Scottish Ceilidh Pig on a spit, Bar Live music HORSE COMPETITION Purebred Clydesdales Heavy Horses in Harness Heavy Horse Ploughing Clydesdale, Clan Class AUCTION Heavy Horses, Vehicles, Equipment & Gear SCOTTISH EVENTS GRAND PARADE Massed Pipe Bands Clan Representatives CALLING OF THE CLANS Clan representative and Clydesdale Quaich Ceremony PIPING & HIGHLAND DANCING Demonstrations and performances SCOTTISH CUISINE Scottish food showcase Whisky tasting HIGHLAND GAMES Tossing the caber, putting the stone Tug of War Kilts vs. Clydesdales SCOTTISH CULTURE WORKSHOPS Bagpipes & Highland Dance Tweed & Tartan HISTORY -SCOTS IN THE FASSIFERN Settlement & Scots at War Map / Register Scots in the Fassifern CEILIDH Piping and address to the Haggis Ceilidh band and dancing Cultural theatre

4 History of Scots in Fassifern Origins of the Fassifern Valley The valley was first settled by pastoralists during the 1840s. The first settlers in the area where John Cameron and his brother-in-law Robert Coulson. They established themselves in the Fassifern Valley where number of other pastoral runs were established in the following decades, nearly all with familial connections to John Cameron. Almost to the man, and the woman, most of the Fassifern Valley squattocracy were of Scottish descent. Cameron named the valley Fassefern which was a Scottish name (after a Scottish Hamlet west of Fort William where his family were descendant from). In the 1940 s - 50 s pastoral runs managed by families of Scottish descent stretched from the Fassifern, out to Aratula, to Moogerah, to Dugandan down to Wyaralong, out to and past Maroon and down to Undulla near Beaudesert. Highland Gatherings in the Fassifern continuing a 109 year tradition! The first two Gatherings were celebrated on Victoria Day (May 24, 1906) and Empire Day (May 24, 1909) and were as much about raising funds for the School of Arts as they were about enticing city people to come to this remote country town, where the scenery on the train trip and the energy of the town and its surrounding farm clad hills and mountains was sure to make them want to visit again and again - a tourism promotion before the word tourist had been invented. More than 6,000 were said to have attended the 1906 event. The 1909 Highland Gathering in Boonah attracted Scots from as far afield as Melbourne, Dubbo, Brisbane, Toowoomba, Warwick and many points in between those localities. The photograph below shows the 1906 Highland Gathering after the procession had made its way to the Boonah Showgrounds where the competitive events were staged throughout the afternoon. The photo appeared in the 1906 Fassifern Guardian but the copy posted comes to us thanks to the Boonah Archives. Wendy Creighton The Fassifern Guardian - #FassifernFlashback Be part of a tradition involving Fassifern residents and businesses dating back to 1906!

5 Demographics of Target Audience and Participants Spectators (approx. 3,000) over 50 s (local & SE Qld with Scottish heritage) Participants families Participants (approx. 200+) Scenic Rim families with Scottish heritage Non-Scenic Rim participants of Scottish heritage (Targeting participants from SE Qld) Events school aged and open Promotional Database Facebook following Register of Scots in the Scenic Rim Sponsor Opportunities and Packages to be reviewed Silver Supporter $50+ Free Entry + Promotion in program + sponsors board Prize Sponsor $100+ (Trophy and cash/voucher) see below for list Awarding of trophy at Ceilidh + sponsor announcements + sponsors board + promotion in program+ free entry Event Sponsor $500 see below for list Exclusive signage and promotion at sponsored event + sponsors day package* + website promotion + ground promotional announcements + sponsors board + promotion in program + free entry Gold Sponsor $2000+ (Major sponsor) Signage in main ring + photo opportunity and promotion at opening + + sponsors day package* + website promotion + ground promotional announcements + sponsors board + promotion in program + free entry *Event & Gold Sponsor s day package Free dinner at ceilidh dinner, Sponsors box, Special sponsors only workshop.

6 Events for Sponsorship Fassifern Highland Gathering Calling of the Clans Highland Clydesdale Class Piping Demonstrations Highland Dancing Highland Games History of Fassifern Display Ceilidh Prizes / Trophies Fassifern Highland Gathering Best Pipe Band Highland Dance John Cameron Highland Gathering Participant Award Caber tossing Putting the Stone Kilted Dash Scottish cooking TBA Highland Clydesdale Class Winner High Level Future Plan Year Key Objective 1 Develop build support base, establish event, refine events 2 3 Growth increase promotion and local participation 4 Large projects Fassifern Pipe Band; Fassifern Scots book 5 Fassifern known for Scottish community - Fassifern Pipe Band, Fassifern Highland Dance School, Regular Community activities

7 Ceilidh Fassifern Highland Gathering Highlights Grand Parade Massed Pipe Bands Parade of Clan Representatives Highland Games Participants Highland Dancers "Calling of the Clans" Clydesdale Highland Class Presentation of Clan representative and Clydesdale Piper, Clan Tune and Clan Banner Quaich Ceremony Piping & Highland Dancing Piping Demonstarations throughout the day Highland Dancing demonstrations throughout the day Scottish Cuisine Haggis Lunches Scottish cooking competion Whisky tasting Highland Games Tossing the Caber / Putting the Stone Kilted Dash / Mini Munro Dash Tug of War - Kilts vs Clydsdale Scottish Culture Workshops Bagpipes - their influence, meaning and workings Highland Dance - pre FHG workshops with display on the day Tweed & Tartan - Scottish textile arts History of Scots in the Fassifern Settling of the Fassifern - Scottish names and places Fassifern Scots in WW1 Current map / register of scots in the Fassifern Ceilidh Cultural fire and theatrical show Tradditional Piping in of the Haggis Address to the Haggis (poetry by Robert Burns) Ceilidh band and Highland dancing