PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Clansfolk, On the 16th December, 2006, Kirsteen MacLennan and James Eckersley were married at St. Palladius Church, just a short carriage ride from Drumtochty Castle, 30 miles south of Aberdeen, Scotland, where the Reception was held. It is quite evident from the article “A Highland Fairytale Wedding” and the photos on the photographer’s website, that their day was a truly marvellous event full of happiness and joy. The next day Kirsteen and James flew to Capetown, South Africa for their Honeymoon. Your Committee sent a wedding gift with your best wishes comprising a unique set of salt and pepper mills and an incense burner, all handcrafted and polished from Australian Banksia wood. Kirsteen has sent her thanks to you saying “We were delighted with the wooden salt and

pepper mills and the incense burner from the Committee. They fit in perfectly with James’ house.” The wedding and reception were filmed and we expect to receive a copy of the video or DVD in due course. At a suitable time in the future we will try to arrange a viewing for members. Our Chief Ruairidh will celebrate his 30th Birthday on 22nd April and his sister Kirsteen’s Birthday will be on 23rd April. (We wish them both a very Happy Birthday and I am sure they would appreciate receiving your good wishes.) Ruairidh is obviously very busy with his work and piping, as well as community commitments, which do not leave him very much personal free time. (See “News From Our Chief”). Our Clan Christmas Picnic and Games on 19th November at Woodlands Park in Essendon was a great day, with a good mixture of young and older members who enjoyed participating in the various “games”. (See article). Our 2005 MacLennan Piping Trophy winner, Ben Croft had recovered from

NEWSLETTER NO. 86 March, 2007

PRESIDENT: Max McLennan 45 Rhodes Pde., OAK PARK 3046 TEL 9306 7948 VICE—PRES: Bob McLennan 13 Lamart St., STRATHMORE 3041 TEL 9379 2425 SECRETARY: Patsy McLennan 13 Lamart St., STRATHMORE 3041 TEL 9379 2425 TREASURER: Geoff McLennan 11 Gleeson Drv., BUNDOORA 3083 TEL 9467 5410 EDITOR: Mary Cooper 22 Cherry St, GLEN WAVERLEY 3150 TEL 9802 5453 COMMITTEE: Mary Cooper, Enid Macfarlane, Bruce McLennan, Ivan McLennan, John McLennan, Marion McLennan, Mary McLennan, Kath Nicholls, Heather Vickers WEBSITE: <www.clan.maclennan.com> EMAIL: <max_mary_mclennan@msn.com.au>

A RED CROSS MEANS you are unfinancial for the year 2005/06. Please forward back payment/s with your 2006/07 Membership Fee which was due on 1/5/2006. Your 2007/08 Membership Fee is due on 1/5/2007. ANNUAL FEE: $22.00. LIFE MEMBERSHIP: $250.00 plus Voluntary yearly levy of $6.00.

CHIEF: RUAIRIDH DONALD GEORGE MacLENNAN OF MacLENNAN CHIEFTAIN: GREGORY SCOTT MacLENNAN PATRON: OLIVE MacLENNAN

Presentation to Ben Croft

Chief Ruairidh, Lorna, James, Kirsteen, Marlene and Kenny (Godparents)

his last June ankle injury and he attended with his family, all the way from Warrnambool, to receive his award and to entertain our Gathering with his excellent piping, including several of his own wonderful compositions. Our Clan’s Perpetual Trophy for Piping, competed for in competitions run by the Victorian Pipers’ Association during 2006, was won by 16 year old Simon Blackshaw of Wantirna. His father, of the same name, is his tutor and a Past Pipe Major from 1984-1996 of Nunawading Pipe Band, now known as The Australia Highlanders and both of them are now piping together in that band. Simon is in Year 11 at Luther College in Croydon and at present is inclined to eventually join the Army or Police Force. His sport is basketball and his hobby is writing piping tunes, one of which his band played in competition at Glasgow, Scotland in 2006. Our Congratulations Simon on your achievements and we look forward to hearing you play. Our next Gathering will be on 25th March, 2007 held in conjunction with

the Annual Ringwood Highland Gathering and Games at Jubilee Park, Ringwood. (Melway Map 49 J10). This is a great family day with a real Scottish flavour providing plenty of entertainment or participation if you choose. There are competitions for Highland Dancing, Pipe Bands, Games and many carnival events with lots of food to try. Wear your tartan, rally at our Clan tent proudly displaying our banner, for a “cuppa” any time during the day between 9am and 5pm. Ours will be one of the many Clans gathered on that day and your attendance will help make us again one of those with the strongest representation in the Grand March Past of the Clans. (Marshall at 1pm.) On Saturday 28th April, The Scots o’ the Murray 13th Annual Dinner will be held at the Tuilleries Restaurant in Rutherglen and as usual our members will be attending. This is always a great evening, evidenced by our Clan’s contingent expanding every year. You would be most welcome! On Sunday 29th April at 12noon, there will be a North Eastern Gathering for any Mac/McLennans, Lobbans, Logans etc. to get-together at the home of Brian and Jeanette Jasper, 5 Indigo Court, Rutherglen. Please come but bring your own meat and drink for a barbeque lunch (salads, sweets provided. Please advise Jeanette Jasper Ph. 02-6032 8231). Our Second Gathering for 2007 will be on Sunday 17th June at the Roseville Community Centre, 110 King Street, Doncaster East. (Melway Map 34 B9/10) with a “Bring-a-Plate and Share-Lunch” followed by our Annual Meeting and Ceilidh from 1pm – 5pm. We expect this year’s Ceilidh to again be of a very high standard. This venue is a large, very warm, carpeted, comfortable lounge area, so please reserve this date in your diary. The final draft of the New Constitution to meet requirements for the Incorporation of our Association, is in its final stage of review by your Committee. A copy will be sent to our financial members for consideration at least one month prior to voting at our Annual General Meeting on 17th June, 2007. The “Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan” Service organised by the Council of Clans will be held at The Scots’ Church, corner Collins and Russell Streets, Melbourne on Sunday 1st July, 2007 at 11am. After the service all Clans will meet in the Church Hall (upstairs) in Russell Street, for a “Bring-Your-Own” lunch (tea or coffee provided), followed by items of entertainment. Our last Gathering for 2007 will be our Clan Christmas Picnic on 25th November at Woodlands Park, Essendon from 12 noon to 4.30pm.(Details in next newsletter.) I look forward to seeing you all on 25th March at Ringwood. Sincerely yours, Max McLennan, President and Chief’s Lieutenant.

NEWS FROM OUR CHIEF Dear Clansfolk, Lorna and I went through to Kirsteen and James’ home in Fochabers a few weeks ago after their return from their honeymoon in Capetown. We had a lovely weekend looking through the wedding photos and video. I think since then Kirsteen has been back to work quite a lot and with me being in Glasgow, we haven’t had the chance to catch up. Lorna is busy in Inverness and seems to be juggling a few part time nursing jobs in amongst her very hectic social life. I have now been based in our Glasgow office for coming up to four months and have found two workloads quite tricky, especially with all the travelling between the Inverness and Glasgow offices. I tend to get

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Simon Blackshaw Jnr

home to Dores once a fortnight but will now be re-located to the Inverness office by the end of February. Other than work and travelling at the weekends, I have not had much time for much else. I am still relatively busy with the Territorial Army Pipe Band which will get increasingly busy over the next few months on the run up to the competition season. We have two overseas trips this year, the first one to Luxemburg in May and another trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia in July. I seem to be getting roped into numerous committees and continue to be Secretary for the local Dores Community Council. We are heavily involved in local planning and development issues as well as setting up a Community Development Trust to allocate community benefit finances which we have negotiated with the organisers of the “Rockness” music festival which takes place by Dores. I do quite enjoy this work although it can be rather time consuming. My free time will further diminish this May when I start a two year post as Chairman of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Highland Branch. Any spare time beyond this will be painting the house and many other “do-it-yourself” projects. My regards to you all, Chief Ruairidh Clan Chief in Belgian Game Show, “Inverness Courier”, October, 2006 From Chief Ruairidh— “The contestants were given the challenge to find two Scottish Clan Chiefs and 50 litres of water from Loch Ness and get them over to Belgium within three days to the finale of the game show. We therefore had to go across and present ourselves as proof that the challengers had succeeded. The rest of the details are in the newspaper article I think. It was all rather amusing and I have a DVD of the show which was broadcast on Belgium TV whilst we were there.”

NEWS OF CLANSFOLK BOTH NEAR AND FAR

A Highland Fairytale Wedding by Mary McLennan (with a lot of help from the Bride and Groom, Kirsteen and James and Chief Ruairidh). Drumtochty Castle in Drumtochty Glen just through the village of Auchenblae and 30 miles south of Aberdeen was the setting for the marriage of our Chief’s eldest sister, Kirsteen Ruth MacLennan and James Eckersley on Saturday 16th December, 2006. The wedding ceremony took place at the fairytale Church of St. Palladius, just a short carriage ride to the castle gates. Not only a fairytale Church, it certainly was a fairytale wedding. Kirsteen

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St Palladius Church (Drumtochty Castle)

looked absolutely beautiful in her long trailing strapless gown of ivory satin with long lace panels the length of the frock, jewelled coronet and a long flowing green velvet cape lined with the MacLennan tartan. She carried rosy red flowers. Her sister, Lorna Louise MacLennan was the bridesmaid and she wore a long flowing ruby red frock of satin-faced taffeta and a short red velvet cape also lined with the MacLennan tartan. The two little flower girls were dressed in long white frocks with green velvet capes lined with MacLennan tartan. Their hair was adorned with ruby red roses and their bouquets also had ruby red roses.

James’s Best Man was Euan Ross, wearing the Ross tartan. Euan and James were students at Fettes College in Edinburgh and

they shared a room when they first attended Junior School at the age of 10, remaining best friends ever since. Euan actually introduced James to Kirsteen. James wears the Grant tartan as his mother was a Grant. In an email from Kirsteen she says that Eckersley is actually an English name as James’s father came from Manchester.

The bridal couple were piped from the church by members of the Aberdeen Universities’ Officers’ Training Corps Pipe Band, their attendance being a wedding gift from Chief Ruairidh who had played with them when he was at university. The Pipe Major Michael Laing used to flat share with Ruairidh in Aberdeen.

Kirsteen’s Godparents, Kenny and Marlene MacKenzie from Lochinver are seen in the front page photo. Kenny gave Kirsteen away and shared the ‘Father of the Bride’ speech with Ruairidh. Kenny spoke about the MacLennan parents, Chief Ronald and Margaret, as many people at the wedding had never met either of them. James drove up to Clashnessie last May where Kenny and Marlene had sheep lambing, to ask Kenny for permission to marry Kirsteen. Having no children of their own, Kenny said he was very honoured to have been asked although he also said that he was sure if he had not given his consent they would have married anyway! Ruairidh commented in his speech that “Kenny and Marlene must have had no idea when they accepted the

role of being our Godparents that our parents would die whilst we were so young”. Ruairidh also added that he was recently invited to become a Godfather himself to a wee girl but had asked to view the parents’ health certificates before accepting the post. As James’s father is deceased his mother Isobel spoke on behalf of their family.

The little flower girls, Siobhan and Sarah Osbourne were from Loch Broom, Ullapool. Their mother used to babysit Lorna and Kirsteen when they were young and Kirsteen had baby sat them on many occasions over the years. James’s page boys were Ruairidh Grant, who was wearing Chief Ruairidh’s little kilt in MacLennan tartan and the other lad was Mackenzie Fettes, wearing a MacKenzie tartan, son of close friends Julie and Sandy Fettes. Also among the guests was Past Chief Ronald’s cousin, Keith Crisswell, who has kept in touch with and mentored Ruairidh and his sisters since their childhood.

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Ruairidh Grant, Mackenzie Fettes,Lorna, Siobhan and Sarah Osbourne, Kirsteen

James Eckersley and Euan Ross

James, Kirsteen and Pipeband

Kirsteen with tartan lined cape

5 Altogether it was a wonderful and beautiful Highland wedding and the MacLennan parents would have been very, very proud of them all. The wedding reception was held at Drumtochty Castle and all the guests thoroughly enjoyed the festivities, sharing with Kirsteen and James their happiness and joy on this very special d a y . T h e c e l e b r a t i o n s climaxed with a f i r e w o r k s display, which must have been a wonder to behold.

I could go on more and more but suggest that those who have computers go to the photographer’s site www.jonlaing.co.uk and go into “Gallery” and see for yourselves.

Christmas Greetings

Another Christmas and New Year has come and gone and as usual we received many greetings from Clan members and friends. Margaret McLennan, Sydney, Nova Scotia. Lots of Greetings to all the MacLennans. I hope everyone has a happy, safe and healthy Christmas Season. Many thanks for forwarding the Melbourne Newsletter which is much enjoyed.

Ross and Vivienne McClennan, Hamilton, New Zealand. Hope everyone is well as we are. We now have Alex and Elise home from 5 years in England and Scotland. They’re living in Auckland which is so much easier to visit. Jamie and Emily were here in October for their New Zealand tour so we saw quite a lot of them. They are now back in Scotland working on a new C.D. We will be having a short holiday (at home) from Christmas Day till 15 January. Have a very Happy Christmas and New Year. Regards Ross and Vivienne.

Peggy Leonard, Henley-on-Thames, London. Hi there. All well here. Back in May I met up with newly discovered relatives who I never knew of, found by my nephew on the Internet! 15 came to Henley to meet

me including a half-brother and his wife – and guess what – they come from Melbourne! They were all from my Father’s side who I never knew, they were lovely and made a great fuss of me. I now have a family tree going back to 1140 – many of them were Scots including the Donaldson’s from Aberdeen, which as you can guess pleases me no end. Didn’t like our very hot Summer and the drought broke the record. My roses all waited until Autumn to bloom. My two Scotties, Dancer and Bruce, are a joy and the young one has grown into a beautiful little dog and winning first prizes. I keep fit and active thankfully and am still playing pipes. My warmest greetings to all the Clan. It’s great receiving the Newsletter – many thanks.

Jack and Bette MacLennan. Greetings to all from Chicago, USA. Have a joyous Christmas.

Hilda McLennan, Vancouver, Canada. I am still soldiering on. We have had a series of wicked storms which have caused a lot of damage with floods and various power shortages. My poor garden. As ever, Hilda.

Jimmy MacLennan, Mintlaw, Scotland. Thanks for keeping me in touch with all the going-ons of our

Lorna and Keith Crisswell

Drumtochty Castle

Peggy, Dancer and Bruce

fellow Clansfolk across the sea. The magazine is something to look forward to. I am happy to relate that Sandra continues to improve. It’s nice to hear Olive is still taking an active interest in clan affairs, please give her our regards. May I add insult to injury – today it is pouring down (as usual) and as we have such a short day at this time of year, 9.30am – 2.30pm approximately, it’s miserable to look out. May I suggest an exchange, so many hours of our rain for so much of your sunshine. If only ! Wishing you all the best for 2007 and may “The Gweed Lord” gie ye some o’ oor rain ‘cos we here hev mair than eneuch!

Gordon and Kate McLennan, Canberra. Kate and I hope you are all well as you would wish and that 2007 will be kind to you. We are in relatively good spirits despite a number of surgical assaults on our ageing persons and Mac’s continuing lack of mobility. Kate’s involvement with Tai Chi provides us with very pleasant social contacts and friends, neighbours and family are all supportive. The bird feeder in the courtyard provides us with many avian delights and magpies and currawongs patrol the garden which is now drought threatened. The “house bird”, Jock the cockatiel, leaves his marks and feathers from one end of the house to the other but is a good if somewhat wayward companion. The family are well and flourishing….We succumbed recently to gentle pressures from the computer literate - but irrespective of the medium, we will always be pleased to receive your messages. Good luck and good health.

Mairi and Harry Dale, Thurso, Scotland. This is a wee note to let you know all about our doings (and undoings or misdoings?) for the year. To be honest we have done little or nothing in the past year. We took off and stayed at a hotel at Hogmanay last year and propose to do the same this coming New Year. In June we went to a wedding in South Northumberland and had a few days holiday at the same time. The weather was good and we really enjoyed ourselves. In November we went to another wedding in Glasgow where our eldest grand-niece was married. It is an amazing fact of life that wakes, weddings and christenings seem to be the only time when families really get together. Last month Harry had some good news. He went for an angiogram and it turns out that his heart has got tired waiting for a bypass and decided to grow one itself. This now leaves him one very happy chappy with no need for an operation - otherwise all’s well here apart from the usual effects of old age. Best Wishes for 2007.

Fiona MacLennan, Paisley, Scotland. I love to get the wonderful Clan Newsletter. We are well, Rebecca is 20 now and engaged. I’m fine, busy as ever. Have a wonderful festive season!

Jeanette and Brian Jasper, Rutherglen. Vic. This year has not been such a good year for us, so we hope for a brighter 2007 with better health. Both of us have had surgery during 2006. In February Brian had spinal surgery in Melbourne and then rehabilitation. He now walks quite well but balance is still a problem. However we are thankful that he is as good as he is. Then in May I had to have foot surgery with reconstruction of some toes. This meant a month in plaster then two months sitting around as I couldn’t wear shoes and very painful. I am just getting back to ordinary footwear again. In September, for the last time we drove up to Noosa in Queensland. It’s such a long way we will fly in future. We came home early November and both took ill again with severe chest infections and are just recovering from that. We are going to Wagga Wagga in New South Wales for Christmas this year and will have a family gathering in Rutherglen in early January, 2007. We were very disappointed at missing the Clan functions this year so hope to get to some in 2007.

Doug and Elva MacLennan, Tsawwassan, Canada. Merry Christmas and a Jolly New Year to all the MacLennans. This scene arrived about 10 days ago and has all disappeared. Now we have winds of 100 kilometres, a record breaking year. A memorable year all round with the death of brother Dave on May 6,th (David MacLennan was a former President of the Central Ontario Branch of our Clan.), Elva had serious heart investigations in the Spring and a bout of depression in October. Now for the good news. Our grandson who is 15 years old, ran the 400m in 52sec; broad jumped 21ft and is also a speed skater. He won 2 gold and 2 silver medals at a Canadian Under 17 Meet here in August which was the same weekend

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Snow covers Doug and Elva MacLennan’s home

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as the Fergus Highland Games so we had no choice but to stay in Vancouver for the Meet and miss Fergus. Rest of family are doing well with oldest grandee becoming a carpenter/builder, the next at University of Victoria, the next in a 3-masted sailing vessel in the Caribbean and only granddaughter had her appendix out. As for me I’m still getting slower in the water (Masters Swimming). The Clan’s Canada Branch is doing well, perhaps you get the latest Newsletter. President and Newsletter Editor Robin MacLennan is doing a fine job and our membership is holding or growing. Jack and Bette MacLennan, Chicago, USA. A Joyous Christmas to all the Clan. Jack and Marg. MacLennan, Sunshine, Victoria. A safe Christmas and New Year and good health to all in 2007. Everything is going alright here and we are now getting to know most of the residents here. Derek Gibson, Lilydale, Vic. With many fond memories and wishing all a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2007. Roddy McLennan, Plymouth, England. Please pass on my festive greetings to all my friends in the association. My health seems to be reasonably good now that I am held together with tablets and hi-tech gadgets. I hope none of you have been effected by the bush fires. Life in Plymouth is quiet and I have not done much travelling anywhere though I hope to come back to OZ next year, fingers crossed. Thanks as always for the regular newsletter without which I and others here in the UK would never get any news Regards to all the Clan. Malcolm and May Lobban, South Australia. To all our Aussie friends, Clan Lobban in Pooraka, S.A. sends best wishes for a really Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2007. Carol Davis, Camberwell, Melbourne. What a lovely day we had at the Clan Picnic. It was nice to finally put faces to the names and to introduce my sister Beverley to everyone. Happy New Year to all my Clan brethren around the world. May the coming year be filled with good health and happiness. Sally Jo and Bob Truhlar, Texas and Nebraska, USA. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the

Clan. I do glean a few items about people’s comings and goings from the Newsletter. I found the article about Elspeth’s travels very interesting. Our eldest Granddaughter, Shiloh (18) is going to school in Ellensburgh, Washington. She seems to like it there and doesn’t appear to be homesick. She and her sister Sierra are on the internet with each other quite often. If I want to talk to their mother, Mary Lou, I have to call her at work. Our twins Sierra and Sean (both 17) are seniors this year. I think Sierra plans to stay at home and attend the University of Nebraska which is only ten blocks from their house but Sean wants to go elsewhere. Sierra is on the National Honor Roll and in the National Honor Society like Shiloh, but Sean’s grades have fallen since he got a car. Ian is twenty one and working for his dad, he has his own apartment now. Bob had cataract surgery on October 6th. He is doing fine but I am waiting to get in for knee surgery. I fell on the knee on 2nd November and it has really been bad ever since. I am getting around on one crutch since then and doing very little. I told Bob

that he may have to cook Christmas dinner and he isn’t too thrilled at the prospect. We only have three other people coming so it shouldn’t be too bad. We had our first really cold weather down here yesterday. It was 79deg.F(26.C) at 5pm on Wednesday and 29deg.F(-2C) at 5pm yesterday. We also had high winds in the 50+ mph range, with freezing rain and sleet in the morning. It got to about 33deg F(1C) in the early afternoon for an hour or so then really started to drop. It got to the low 20’s F(-6C) overnight. It was pretty crisp this morning but warmed into the upper 40’s (7C) this afternoon. Supposed to be below freezing tonight but up near 60’s F.(15C) tomorrow.

Bob, Shiloh and Sally Jo

At Long Last, A Relative Found by Geoff McLennan After many years trying to find a relative anywhere in my McLennan line, I decided to investigate the siblings of my great-grandfather, James Shepherd McLennan who was born in 1858 in Keith, a small market town in the North-East of Scotland.

James had eight siblings, one of whom was Isabella who was christened in 1864 in the Kirk of St Nicholas, Aberdeen. She married a baker named Henry Valentine in 1887 and they had the Knockdu bakery near Grange in Banffshire. Knockdu did not appear on any maps so contact was made with fellow committee member, Mary Cooper who had a good knowledge of the area as her late husband John was a Banffshire man. Mary knew Knock

well and had friends in the area so she made contact with them. A message came back to say that they knew Nancy Dickson who was a descendant of Henry and Isabella. Email contact has been made with Nancy who lives in Keith and we are planning to visit her in April this year.

The Olympic Dream Fun Run/Walk by Kath Nicholls The 2006 Olympic Dream Fun Run took place through the parks surrounding the Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 19th, fifty years after the Olympic Games were held in Melbourne. This fun run was founded in 1989 by Bill Gibbins from FCL Interstate Transport Services. He wanted to help aspiring Australian athletes to achieve the ‘Olympic Dream’, so he created the event to raise funds for Australia’s Olympic Team and give everyone the opportunity to be involved. This was the eighteenth annual Olympic Dream Fun Run/Walk and Clan member Ewen Nicholls has participated in all of them. Ewen (number 1428) overtook number 1771 soon after this official photograph was taken. Each year participants have received an Olympic Dream medal which commemorates an Australian Olympic athlete. The first athlete to be commemorated was Edwin Flack, who won the 800 metres and 1500 metres run at the first modern Olympics in 1896. Great athletes such as Marjorie Jackson, Betty Cuthbert, and Herb Elliott have since been commemorated. The most recent medal commemorated all the athletes who competed in the

Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games. Ewen intends to keep on participating until he is officially ‘old’! Malcolm Lobban’s Literary Prize Awarded by the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Association (Australia) Inc. Hello Everybody, Several months ago I submitted a short story to the Richard Webber Memorial Trophy competition and it subsequently won first prize after international adjudication. The winning story "A Conscript Warrior!" recounts a few brief incidents during my period of National Service in the British Army (Seaforth Highlanders and later the Gordon Highlanders 1950-52).

Richard Webber was a founder member of the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Association (Australia) Incorporated. It was his dream for the Association to have an international body serving under the same flag with representatives from each country exchanging information and discussing ways to advance the well-being of all members. Unfortunately Richard died before his dream was realized and to honour his memory it was decided to hold an annual international competition for a memorial trophy bearing his name. The competition was inaugurated in 2001 and calls for short stories written by members of the Association based on their experiences whilst serving in Malaysia during the Malayan Emergency, the Indonesian Confrontation or on a posting to the region which includes Borneo.

At a brief ceremony on 2nd December, 2006 at my South Australian branch

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Ewen Nicholls

Malcolm Receiving Trophy

Nancy and Sandy Dickson on the occasion of their 55th Wedding Anniversary

of the Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association I got to hold the original trophy, on which my name will later be inscribed. I shall receive a replica plus an official certificate in due course. The rules of entry were quite strict and the story had to have a military theme, and be contained within four pages and unsigned. However, it now seems quite strange that a hairy old Scottish ‘sodger’ should win a prize and bring accolade on behalf of my new Aussie mates in the Marion South Australia Branch and, moreover, to beat the competition from Canada, Malaysia and poor old ‘Auntie’ Britain! Shame! Ach, well, maybe English cricket team will pull a few good strokes in the Ashes series here in Oz!

This piece of luck quickly follows the launch of my book “A Close Community” a few weeks ago by West-Dunbartonshire Libraries.

from Malcolm Lobban, South Australia 95 And Not Out! by Mary McLennan

It was with great pleasure that Patsy and Bob and Max and Mary McLennan all attended the 95th birthday of our Patron Olive MacLennan. We had a delightful afternoon tea at the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre on Sunday 28th January, 2007. The afternoon was organised by Olive’s daughters and granddaughters and to make it even more interesting it was also the birthday of one of her daughters, Barbara Nash. Barbara was a committee member of our Association for some years in its early days but now lives in Western Australia. Grandson Robert Hamilton was also celebrating his 21st birthday the next day.

Olive had a wonderful time chatting to friends from her various walks of life including Bob Semple, Drum Major of the Hawthorn City Pipe Band. Bob had been in the 8th Division 2/12 of the A.I.F. with Olive’s late

husband Ivan MacLennan. Bob entertained us with his wonderful piping throughout the afternoon and when it was time for Olive to cut the birthday cake assisted by her little great-.granddaughter Sylvia Hamilton, he played “Happy Birthday”. A lovely floral arrangement had been sent from eldest daughter Heather Mottier who lives in Switzerland. Olive’s only son Graham spoke about his mother and also thanked Bob Semple for his kindness. The afternoon came to an end about 5pm with all present having really enjoyed this very special party. Congratulations from our Clan to Olive for reaching this special milestone. “Who Would Have Thought It?” by Mary McLennan

These words were printed on the invitation Max and I received to attend the 30th Wedding Anniversary celebration of members Jeanette and Peter Robinson on 15th December, 2006. The party was held at the home of Jeanette’s mother, Gwen McLennan at Wheelers Hill, a south-eastern suburb of Melbourne and included a delightful barbeque luncheon with plenty of sweets provided to appease the hungry guests. As it was a lovely warm day, all the assembled relatives and friends were able to enjoy the sunshine in Gwen’s lovely garden and lots of talk was enjoyed by all. Our Clan wishes Jeanette and Peter many, many more anniversaries to come.

New Members We are pleased to welcome two new members into our Clan Family and look forward to meeting them in person in the not too distant future: Angus McLennan of Glen Waverley, son of our late members Cath and Clive McLennan and Barry Porter from Albany, Western Australia. (see “Can you help”).

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Patron Olive and her daughter Barbara

Bob Semple

Peter and Jeanette Robinson

Vale—Death of Miss Mary I McLennan of Baxter We have been advised by member Keith McLennan from Croydon that his cousin Mary Isabel McLennan of the Baxter Village passed away on 9th October, 2006 aged 100years, only 6 days before her 101st birthday. Mary was a daughter of Donald Munro and Amy McLennan. It was a large family and the only survivor is past member Margaret McCallum from Doncaster.

CLAN MacLENNAN ACTIVITIES

Clan Christmas Barbeque, Picnic and Games at Woodlands Park, Essendon, 19th November 2006 by Patsy McLennan

Last November on a rather warm and sunny Sunday, our 2005 trophy winner, Ben Croft with his family arrived bright and early from Warrnambool to join us at our barbeque. We were very grateful to them for making the long journey, especially after hearing that Ben had given up a day of rehearsal in preparation for the Daylesford competitions. Following lunch, we gathered around to hear Ben play his pipes and heard some wonderful music including a composition of his own, a very worthy winner of our award.

We were relieved to see some cloud cover accompanied by a light breeze when it was time to separate into groups to take up the challenge before us, playing quoits, petanque, shot-put and caber-tossing (using a length of

plastic pipe)! Laughter and cries of frustration and joy echoed around Woodlands Park as young and older took part in the physical exertions. Lolly prizes were bestowed on all and sundry and everyone was a winner.

Mary Cooper was indeed a winner as, after chatting to Ben’s mother, Lois Croft, she discovered they shared a common ancestor on the paternal side of her family. So computers and web sites aren’t really necessary, just wait long enough and relatives appear when you least expect them.

A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon soon came to an end and we revived ourselves with refreshments before wending our weary ways homeward. Our sincere thanks to David, Lois, Bettina and Ben for making the four-hour trip to be with us and grateful thanks to everyone who attended including the Bennett family all the way from Malmsbury.

MACLENNANS OF NOTE Ethel McLennan (1891-1983) Ethel McLennan was a Botanist, Plant pathologist and educator at the University of Melbourne. She was born on 15/3/1891 at Williamstown, Victoria, the second child of Eleanor (nee Tucker) and George McLennan. Ethel was educated at Tintern Girls’ Grammar School in the outer Melbourne suburb of Ringwood where two teachers kindled her love of botany. She won an Exhibition to the University of Melbourne, graduating Bachelor of Science with Honours in 1914 and the following year was appointment a Demonstrator and Lecturer in Botany at the University. At the time of her appointment, no mycology or plant pathology was taught. From 1919 these subjects were to be her main teaching and research. She was awarded her Doctor of Science in 1921 and in 1927 won the David Syme research prize for the best original research in science. Awarded a Fellowship by the International Federation of University Women in 1926, she travelled to England where she worked at the Rothamstead Experimental Station, Harpenden on the growth of fungi in the soil. On her return to the University of Melbourne, “Dr Mac” as she was known, became a formidable strength in the Botany Department as its Associate Professor. Her reputation as the leading expert in the field of mycology and plant pathology extended Australia-wide and post-graduate students flocked to the department to work under her direction. She took her responsibility for educating the young very seriously,

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Ben, Lois, Bettina, David Croft

being punctilious, never arriving late for her well-prepared lectures and practical classes. She expected the same dedication to duty from her contemporaries and particularly from her students. Dr Mac was a tower of strength to women students and was active in women’s organizations. She was President of the Australian Federation of University Women in 1934 and chaired the Australian Pan-Pacific Women’s Committee in 1929. Hospitable and generous to visitors and newcomers, she made them welcome in the rooms of the Lyceum Club or in her home, a charming Victorian house in a lovely garden reflecting her love of plants and her skill as a gardener. She was frequently consulted on subjects ranging from diseases in garden peas to diseases in hops and bananas. She was a long-serving member of the National Trust’s garden committee at Como House in Melbourne and an early champion of the use of indigenous flora in design. Fair-skinned with brilliant blue eyes, she was a small plump figure always smartly dressed. She was quick witted and had a sharp tongue when her hackles were raised. Her powers of observation, attention to detail and perception of the relative importance of the matter made her a discerning judge of people and their achievements. She died on 12/6/1983. Sophie Ducker in 200 Australian Women, Heather Radi (ed.) Women’s Redress Press Inc., Broadway, NSW.

EVENTS WITHIN MELBOURNE’S SCOTTISH COMMUNITY Scots of Victoria, Annual General Meeting and Seminar, October 2006 by Patsy McLennan This umbrella organization for Scottish groups in Victoria held its Annual General Meeting, Seminar and luncheon in October 2006 at the Celtic Club in Melbourne. Some of the items discussed included: * moves to adopt a State of Victoria Tartan with difficult negotiations still underway; * the problem of maintaining an accessible Scottish community radio programme but new avenues

are still to be explored; * the desirability of having “Scotch House” or a permanent home for the Scottish community, a very

long term project; * what to do with donations of Scottish memorabilia. Our guest speaker, kilted in MacGregor tartan, Lee Andrikopoulos, husband of Lorna, the Secretary of Scots of Victoria, proved to be both vibrant and interesting. Born in Melbourne to Greek parents, we heard how at the age of 11 he was sent to an International Boarding School in Greece so as to become more familiar with the local culture and so a Greek-Australian became an accented Australian-Greek. During his lengthy stay he served in the Greek Army’s National Service for two years. On returning home to Australia aged 21, he was astonished to discover how very Greek his family appeared after living for so long in a new-age Greece which had drawn in many influences from Europe. Soon after he returned overseas where he worked in London for a time before accepting a position in Glasgow after hearing favourable reports of warm and hospitable Scots. This he found to be true and more than made up for the freezing conditions. Three months later, reluctantly he decided he should travel on to New York and see more of the world. The following Sunday, while spending a convivial afternoon at his local pub, who should enter the room but Lorna and the rest was history. He stayed for a further two years during which time he took to wearing the kilt like a duck to water after courageously appearing kilted for the first time as a wedding guest. It was time to go home to Melbourne to introduce Lorna to his family. Of course they were won over by her Glaswegian charm and very soon enthusiastically made plans for a large wedding comprising 250 Greek guests and four Scots! Kilts and bagpipes were to the fore and received warmly by all. It wasn’t long before remarks were made regarding the similarities between their two cultures. Lee’s message for us was not to be too insular, that people are interested in other ways of life. We should invite outsiders to our events and gatherings and in this way we can more successfully raise the profile of Scots in Victoria.

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12 St Andrew’s Day Celebrated at the Catholic Education Office, Melbourne—November 2006 by Geoff McLennan

Morning tea on Saint Andrew’s Day, A time for the Scots to have their way.

The Scots of the Catholic Education Office set out to impress, The haggis was piped in for Geoff to address.

The piper came from the City of Melbourne Pipe Band, Don Walkley, CEO Staff, a bass drummer was also on hand.

The canteen was decorated, bunting, flags and gorse, Shortbread and a wee dram were available of course.

Kilts of MacKenzie, Robertson, Stewart and MacLennan, Very colourful with many other pieces of tartan.

The non-Scots also enjoyed the celebration, A great time for all in Melbourne Catholic Education.

GENERAL INTEREST

The Robert Burns’ Australian Connection To put the Burns era into an Australian time context, the First Fleet came to Australia just eight years before Robert Burns died. It was too early therefore for Australia to be the favoured destination for Scotland’s emigrants of that era so when Burns himself thought seriously about emigrating, Jamaica was his selected destination although how he could have left or stayed away from Scotland is hard to imagine.

Very soon after his death however, several of his relatives and descendants established an Australian connection. Robert Burns’s son, James Glencairn Burns had a daughter, Sarah, born in India in 1821. James’s wife died in childbirth and he sent his infant daughter home to Dumfries at the age of five days to be brought up by Jean Armour, Robert Burns’s widow.

When she was 25, Sarah Burns married Dr Berkeley Hutchison and they emigrated to Australia in 1852. Tragedy overtook them on the voyage when their three children died from measles. They subsequently had four children in Australia – Annie Burns Hutchison born in Warrnambool, Victoria in 1854, Robert Burns Hutchison in 1855, Margaret Burns Hutchison in Corowa, New South Wales in 1857 and Violet Burns Hutchison in Beechworth, Victoria in 1859. For a time they farmed a property near Albury which they named “Mossgiel”.

Curiously, Sarah left Australia for Cheltenham, England in 1862 taking the three youngest children with her and leaving eight year old Annie with her father, the two of them remaining in Australia. Annie subsequently married a wine-grower in Brookside near Adelaide and died without leaving any children. Dr Hutchison is buried in St Kilda Cemetery, Melbourne where there is a headstone.

Sarah died in Cheltenham, England in 1908 and was buried in the cemetery there. Her son, Robert Burns Hutchison, emigrated to Canada and most of the direct descendants of that line now live either in Canada or on the west coast of U.S.A.

Another Sarah, daughter of the daughter Burns had to Anna Park, married Benjamin Cameron, a marine engineer. They emigrated to Western Australia and then came to Victoria where Benjamin worked on the Murray River paddle steamers. They had a daughter, Jean Armour Cameron, who died in Sydney leaving a large family. The present descendants are mostly living around Balranald in New South Wales. After Sarah was widowed, she married Andrew Campbell who came from the same part of Scotland. She died in 1885 and as Sarah Burns, wife of Andrew Campbell, she is buried in Castlemaine Cemetery in central Victoria, where there is a headstone.

One other Australian connection is through the direct descendants of the daughter Burns had to Betty Paton, the “dear bought Bess” of his poem. There was a female descendant from that line, living in Sydney in the 1980s.

Burns’s youngest sister Isabella married John Begg and their grandson, also John Begg, emigrated to Sydney. He died in 1885 and there is a headstone in Rye Park Cemetery, New South Wales. There was a John Begg in all five generations until the current generation where there are two daughters but not a son to carry on the name. The last John Begg in that line was a solicitor in Sydney and he died in 1985.

It is of interest to us, here on this side of the world to know that there are also living, Australian connections with Robert Burns.

Visit to ‘Robert Burns’ Country, Dumfries and Galloway in South-West Scotland, September 2006 by Ron Johnston, former President, Melbourne Burns Club

Via the Internet, we booked ourselves into a Bed and Breakfast in Queen Street, Dumfries very close to the main shopping centre, St Michael’s Church, Burns’ House the River Nith and the Globe Inn.

The Burns Howff Club of Dumfries was formed in 1889 in The Globe Inn, “howff” being the Scots word referring to “a place often frequented”. This famous hostelry was Robert Burns’ favourite haunt (howff) during the latter part of his life in Dumfries. On Tuesday, September 19th, the Dumfries Ladies’ Howff Club arranged a Social Evening where six male entrants took part in the annual “Tam o’ Shanter Recitation” competition. Among the three judges was the World President of the Burns’ Federation, a prize winner himself in 2005. Next day we were invited back to the Globe Inn for a super luncheon with friends we had made during the 1996 Dumfries World Federation Conference.

We drove across to Twynholm where David Coulthard has a very fine museum displaying his racing trophies and cars. From the village, his parents operate a very large trucking business which travels all across Europe.

We visited the 14th century Saint Ninian’s Chapel on the Isle of Whithorn. Saint Ninian (c.360-432) is thought to have been born in Cumbria. He studied Christianity in Rome as a young man and after being made a bishop was given the task by the Pope, of converting the Picts. He set up his base at Whithorn in Scotland’s South-West.

Afterwards we were entertained in the Broughton House Gallery/Studios at Kircudbright complete with glorious gardens facing out to the Bay. Prince Charles and Lady Camilla had visited here a few months earlier and formally opened the buildings on behalf of the Heritage Council of Scotland. Broughton House was the home and workplace of the artist Edward Hornel who was born in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria in 1864. His parents took him back to Kircudbright when he was two years old. He studied art in Edinburgh and Antwerp and became a leading member of an important group of Scottish artists known as the “Glasgow Boys”. He was very successful and bought Broughton House just before World

War One from the proceeds of the sale of just one painting. Before listening to a talk on Hornel’s work, we were served elderberry wine in his studio, a most ornate and beautifully appointed room.

We had lunch that day at Port William in a nice sunny restaurant overlooking the harbour and later visited John Paul Jones’s home. He was the founder of the American Navy and also at one time employed in the Russian Navy by Catherine the Great of Russia. We also visited the red sandstone remains of the Cistercian Sweetheart Abbey situated in a tranquil spot close to the point where the River Nith flows into the Solway Firth. In 1273 Lady Devorgilla dedicated the Abbey to the memory of her deceased husband whose heart she had embalmed and placed in a silver and ivory casket which she carried with her at all times until her own death 20 years later.

That evening we enjoyed High Tea at the Bladnoch Hotel which is set in its own grounds and was built in 1832 as a private residence for the McClelland family who also owned the Bladnoch Distillery. Later in the Distillery’s Hall, we were amongst an audience of about 250 enjoying a variety show which included a group of musicians from Glasgow, a soprano from the Western Isles and a large group of Irish Dancers who had travelled across the Irish Sea to perform especially at the concert.

During our holiday, the weather was perfect with Scotland having the warmest September on record.

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The Cup and Ring Stone at High Banks Farm near Kircudbright

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GENEALOGY—CAN YOU HELP?

My name is Doug McLennan of Noranda, Western Australia. I would be interested in more information about early members of my family who settled in the Clunes area (a few miles west of Daylesford, Victoria) in the 1850s. The details I have at present are – Alexander McLennan, born 1790, Loch Carron, Ross and Cromarty. Died in Scotland. Married Katherine McRae (nothing known). Children: ? , ?, Lachlan.

Lachlan McLennan, born Loch Carron 1821, died 9/12/1900 Clunes, Victoria. Married May Maetier (nothing known). Eight children – James, William, Alexander, Christopher, Katherine, Mary, John and Margaret.

Alexander McLennan, born Clunes 1861, died Beverley, Western Australia. Married Grace Elizabeth Shrigley, born Clunes. Two children – Gilbert Henry and Margaret.

Both Alexander and William took up land in Quairading, Western Australia in 1906.

Gilbert Henry, born 19/11/1889 in Brisbane, Queensland, died 1960 Perth. Married Grace Lavina Sewell, born 2/5/1896, Beverley, Western Australia. Four children, Humphrey Gilbert (William – Bill), Chris and Alexander born 9/10/1920, twins, and Mary.

My father was Alex. He and Chris both had children. Bill and Mary had no issue. All have passed on.

Dad was in contact with some cousins in the Clunes area in the early 80s. The only name I remember was Lachlan who is now deceased. My mother also has a letter from Barbara Crick (nee McLennan) of Wendouree and from Gordon McLennan of Glen Avon, Clunes. Gordon has a brother Jack. His father was Andrew of Tourello Estate who was the son of Christopher, Alexander’s brother.

If you can help, my email is: dougjenny@aapt.net.au ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ New member Barry Porter of Western Australia is seeking information regarding his MacLennan ancestry. He writes, “My MacLennan blood comes down to me as follows: my Great-Great Grandmother was Frances MacLennan born in Stirling, Scotland around the 1820’s. She married Alexander Paydon (or Padon) probably in the 1840’s and they emigrated to America where they established a horse-drawn transport business. Following the upheaval of the American Civil War, the Paydon family having lost several family members, decided to move to Australia bringing their wagons with them and established Melbourne’s first covered furniture transport business, probably in late 1860’s. My Great Grandmother, Anna Margurretta Paydon who was born in Albany, New York on 1st May 1854, married English-born Stephen George Pontin in the 1870’s. They lived in Chestnut Street, Richmond, Melbourne and had 8 children, including two sets of twins, one of whom was my Grandfather, Sydney Mervyn Pontin. Great Grandmother Anna was killed in a tram accident on the 8th September 1928 in Collins Street, Melbourne. Grandfather’s twin brother Norman Max was killed at Bullecourt, France on 11th April,1917 during World War One. In 1909 Sydney Pontin married Rosalind Stewart, a descendant of the Stewarts of Galloway and they had two children the eldest of whom was my mother, Norma Helene Pontin. Mother married Thomas John Porter in 1939. He was born in England and his family members lived in Ireland and Scotland where they were members of a sept of the MacNachtan (MacNaughton) Clan. If you can help, my address is: P.O. Box 1648, Albany, 6331.

SMILE AWHILE Did I read that sign right? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Toilet out of order. Please use floor below. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In a Laundromat: Automatic Washing Machines: Please remove all your clothes when the light goes out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In an office: Would the person who took the step ladder yesterday please bring it back or further steps will be taken.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In another office: After the Tea Break, staff should empty the teapot and stand upside down on the draining board. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spotted in a Safari Park: Elephants Please stay in your car. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Notice in a farmer’s field: The farmer allows walkers to cross the field for free but the bull charges. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On a Repair Shop Door: We can repair anything. (Please knock hard on the door – the bell doesn’t work). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SEEN AT CLAN PICNIC GATHERING—19 NOVEMBER 2006

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Yvette and Ross McLennan

Robert, Terry, Sarah and Linda Bennett Kath Nicolls

Beverley Thomas and Carol Davis

Lewis McLennan Ivan McLennan

Petanque Putting the Stone

CLAN MacLENNAN GOODS FOR SALE

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DATES TO REMEMBER

(You can always find the most recent Events Calendar on our Website: www.clan.maclennan.com ) OURS: 25 Mar 2007 Ringwood Highland Gathering and Games, Jubilee Park. (Mel.49J10/11) 29 Apr 2007 North Eastern Victoria Gathering, 5 Indigo Court, Rutherglen. 12noon 17 Jun 2007 Annual General Meeting and Ceilidh, Roseville Community Centre 110 King St. East Doncaster. (Mel.34 B9/10) 25 Nov 2007 Christmas Picnic Gathering, Woodlands Park, Essendon. (Mel.28 F1) OTHERS: 10 Mar 2007 NZ Pipe Band Championships, Dunedin, NZ. 17 Mar 2007 ‘Scotland the Brave 2007’, Sydney Opera House. 18 Mar 2007 Geelong Highland Gathering, Queens Park (03-52433347) 28 Apr 2007 Scots’ o’ the Murray Dinner, Rutherglen (02-60328328) 28 Apr 2007 Bundanoon Highland Gathering, NSW (02-48837471) 05 May 2007 Glen Innes Celtic Festival (02-67325624) 27 May 2007 Scottish Heritage Day, Greaves Reserve, Dandenong (03-97940562) 27 May 2007 ‘Autumn in the Highland Manor’ (Australian Gaelic Singers), Parramatta.(02-98923209) 09 Jun 2007 National Celtic Festival, Portarlington, Vic. (03-52412499) 24 Jun 2007 Hogmanay Australis (0411 242297) 30 Jun 2007 Kilmore Celtic Festival (03-57811711) 30 Jun 2007 ‘Scotland the Brave 2007’, Brisbane Concert Hall 01 Jul 2007 Kirkin o’ the Tartan and ‘bring your own’ Lunch (03-98916450) 14 Jul 2007 ‘Scotland the Brave 2007’, Melbourne Concert Hall

Plain Ties with Crest $ 18.00 Tartan Bow Ties $ 29.00 Tartan Ties (Wool Blend) (Boy’s $25) $ 30.00 Tartan Beret $ 38.00

Tartan Caps (Mens) $ 45.00 Tartan Scarf or Square $ 38.00

Tartan Evening Sash $ 65.00 Clan Crest Mouse Mat $ 20.00

Clan MacLennan Post Card $ 2.00 MacIain Post Card (Logan) $ 1.50

Men’s Handkerchief with Crest $ 3.50 Ladies Handkerchief with Crest $ 3.00

Tea Spoon with Crest $ 6.50 Sugar Spoon with Crest $ 6.50

Small Lapel Crest Badge $ 6.50 Pewter Crest Brooch $ 40.00

Key Tags with Crest $ 5.50 Book Mark with Crest $ 5.00

Clan MacLennan Kilt Pin (Pewter) $ 40.00 Polo Shirts with Crest $ 24.00

Fridge Magnet $ 6.00 Crest Stickers $ 6.00

Crest Coasters (Set of Two) $ 15.00 Crest Coffee Mug $ 20.00

Windcheaters – Grey Marle with Navy Crest $ 26.00 T-Shirts – Grey Marle with Navy Crest $ 10.00

Books “The History and Traditions of the MacLennans of Kintail” by Dr Jon McLennan and James McLennan $ 25.00 “In Search of Clan MacLennan” by Malcolm Lobban and James McLennan $ 45.00

Please add Postage/Packing: Within Australia: Under 500g A$4.00 for one item plus A$1.00 for each additional item Over 500g A$10 flat. Overseas Surface Mail - triple the rates for “Within Australia” Supply subject to availability of stock and variation in price. Cheques payable to “Clan MacLennan Association”