scone.com.auWorth A Look!
THIS weekend more than 6,000 people are expected to travel from throughout Australia for the 17th Aberdeen Highland Games.
Some of the first white settlers in the Upper Hunter were Scottish and they left an indelible connection to their homeland when they named the early settlements of Scone, Aberdeen and the parish of Strathearn.
Today the link to Scotland is still celebrated with Games.
Charles Cooke, president of the Aberdeen Highland Games said he is proud to see the Games continue to grow since they first began in 2000.
Tug-o-war at the Aberdeen Highland Games.
“In 2000 I was approached with the view of running a highland games in Aberdeen,” said Mr Cooke.
“At first I resisted this move mainly due to the amount of work that I knew was required and I doubted the support was there; oh how wrong you can be!
“Here we are some seventeen years down the track running an event with an expected crowd of over 6,000 people who have come from all parts of Australia and booking well in advance to be there,” he said.
“Further we have been able to put back into the communities of the Upper Hunter region in excess of $80,000 of which we are very proud,” Charles Cooke said.
The festivities start on Friday, also International Tartan Day, with a golf day and a Ceilidah band at the Muswellbrook RSL Club.
On Saturday, the muster begins at 8am and the parade sets off at 9am at Harrison Oval, a fitting grand opening for a full day of Scottish events.
Charles said his favourite part of the Games are the bands at the beginning and end of the day.
A pipe band performing at the Aberdeen Highland Games.
“I think the draw cards are always the bands at the opening and closing and next to them are the tartan warriors,” said Mr Cooke.
“For people who have not been before, it is a great family day out and it will give you a Scottish highland experience,” he said.
“The music, the dancers, the strong men, egg races, caber tosses, tug-of-war, there are lots of things to enjoy.
“And we have stalls selling specialised celtic and Scottish goods,” said Charles Cooke.
Plan your day at the Aberdeen Highland Games:
View the Community Calendar on scone.com.au or visit the Aberdeen Highland Games website.