Preparing to By Paul Pickering
CABER-tossing and Scottish dancing are not necessarily the traditional fare of a 21st birthday party.
Nor do many birthday revellers request the musical services of 18 pipe bands to provide the soundtrack.
Then again, the 21st annual Highland Gathering, staged by the Rotary Club of Narre Warren, isn’t your average community event.
Nonetheless, Berwick’s Akoonah Park will be a sea of tartan on Sunday, 11 February to celebrate the coming-of-age of this beloved community event.
As well as the stirring parade of massed pipe bands, patrons will be treated to a variety of traditional highland activities.
Among community favourites are the Atlas Stones of Strength competition, the solo drumming contest and the dog fly-ball competition.
Event convenor Rotarian Ross Chudleigh said: “Along with the competitions throughout the day, Scottish apparel, crafts and souvenirs will be on sale, together with food and drink, a publican’s booth, displays and Scottish clan representations.”
LaTrobe MP Jason Wood will officially open proceedings at 11am, with festivities concluding about 4pm with the pipe band parade.
Rotary spokesman Ray Stewart describes the closing parade as “a spectacular event,” adding with understated awe “18 pipe bands make a lot of noise.”
