Gathering pipes up for tradition

By Kelly Yates
PIPE bands, highland dancing and traditional Scottish heavy games entertained crowds at last weekend’s Berwick Highland Gathering.
More than 300 people turned up for the event on Saturday 13 February at Akoonah Park in Berwick, with firefighters from the Berwick CFA opening the gathering as a remembrance to the lives and properties lost on Black Saturday.
Pipe bands battled it out at the event, with crowds also being treated to other attractions including the black and white dog show, highland dancing, traditional Scottish games and a number of stalls, vendors and traders.
Mr Hall said some of the highlights on the day were the mass band drum salute and the Scottish heavy games.
Simon Hall from the Rotary Club of Narre Warren spent the past six months organising the event, which is in its 24th year.“Everything went well on the day. I got lots of positive feedback,” he said. “The event was a family day, with great representation from the Scottish community.”
More than 30 Rotarians helped out on the day, with Mr Hall thanking them and the other volunteers.
“Without the help we couldn’t run events like this,” he said.
Casey mayor Lorraine Wreford and councillors Shar Balmes and Simon Curtis took part in the closing ceremony.