Honouring Long History Of Defiance

Newcastle Herald

Monday July 3, 2006

By FRANCES THOMPSON Upper Hunter Reporter

ABERDEEN'S Highland Games, which were held at the weekend, are an act of defiance and a reminder of Scotland's culture and traditions.

The annual festival began as a morale booster after the closure of the Aberdeen meatworks, in the Upper Hunter, in the late 1990s.

The meatworks had been a major employer and economic force in the town for decades and 400 jobs were lost when it closed.

July 1 was chosen to coincide with International Tartan Day, which reminds Scots worldwide of the political struggles with Britain and terrible events such as a ban on the wearing of tartan from the middle to late 1700s.

For modern-day Aberdeen the games are pure fun, especially the heavy events, such as the very popular warrior competition for men who have to lift huge chunks of sandstone.

The stones range from 110 kilograms to 140 kilograms and competitors have to pick them up and heave them onto a barrel. Winner, Nick McKinless, was the only man to achieve the feat.

"People just can't believe they can lift those weights," games committee treasurer Lisa Bourke said.

On Saturday, there was also tug of war, a kilted dash footrace, pipe bands and a re-enactment of life in the Dark Ages.

On Saturday night, there was highland dancing, the haggis was piped in and Angus McGregor, of Cardiff, read the traditional Robert Burn address.

Mr McGregor was chosen because of his distinctive burr.

Pipe band organiser Charles Cooke said 14 bands came from as far away as Armidale, in New England, and Goulburn, in the Southern Tablelands.

Newcastle's United Mineworkers Pipe Band was voted best band of this year's event.

The Upper Hunter has very strong Scottish ties.

One of the first land grants was made to the Macintyre family in the area now known as Kayuga, on the Dart Brook. Descendants of the family still occupy the land.

Other early Upper Hunter Scottish families included the MacKenzies, Mackays and Camerons.

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

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