Community
24 January, 2025
Large crowd celebrates Bard’s birthday
THE Australian summer sun did not deter residents from celebrating Scottish bard Robert Burns’ birthday over the weekend.
The Camperdown Botanic Gardens hosted over 100 people at the Burns Birthday event last Sunday with a variety of Celtic-themed activities.
Robert Burns Celtic Festival coordinator Catherine O’Flynn said the event took place at the original site of the Robert Burns statue, where it sat for 100 years before being restored and relocated to the Corangamite Shire Council office in town.
“Sunday saw over 100 people enjoy a Scottish afternoon celebrating all things “Burns” with Dr John Menzies playing the pipes in the gardens and leading the Haggis Parade, with concert goers then enjoying Haggis,” she said.
“Highland dancers performed, followed by the Robert Burns Celtic Choir singing a selection of songs including the Welleman song and crowd pleaser the Sky Boat Song.
“Camperdown’s own The Twa Bards, Don Grieve and Angela Preiss also performed.
“Andrew O’Flynn recited Holy Willie’s Prayer, a well-known Robert Burns poem.
“Tuniversal Music Group, the final act accompanied the Highland Dancers and then played a great selection of Celtic tunes.”
Ms O’Flynn extended her gratitude to emcee Simon Bucherri, as well as to those who donated raffle prizes for the event.
“The afternoon was a wonderful way to spend a warm summers day in a beautiful setting,” she said.
Dr Menzies OAM said the event kicked off the 2025 Robert Burns Celtic Festival, with the main event scheduled for June.
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