August 24, 2023
Everyone was blown away by this year’s Scots In The Bush festival at Boondooma Homestead … almost literally!
The August winds which whipped across the camping ground were almost enough to prove exactly what a Scotsman wears under his kilt, but they couldn’t stop the more than 450 guests at the annual event from having a good time.
There were more than 70 performers – singers, musicians and dancers – at the five-day celebration of everything Celtic.
Bands included the Hervey Bay Pipe Band, Mouldy Haggis, ISHKA Celtic Music, the Moreton Celtic Fiddle Club, Murrumba Pipes and Drums and the Noosa & District Pipe Band.
On Friday evening, the fun and games paused for a moment to honour the memory of the late “Bard Of Boondooma”, Gervie Fullerton, who died in October last year.
Gervie, 93, had been a stalwart at Scots In The Bush, leading the Performers’ Parade every year and Addressing The Haggis.
Measuring his kilt became a tradition on stage carried out by local councillor Kathy Duff.
Guests, band members and committee members paid tribute to Gervie with a commemorative video (see below), and later a toast to him at the bar.
Scots In The Bush has been an annual celebration at the historic Boondooma Homestead since 2010 (except for the pandemic years 2020-21) and Gervie had been there right from the start.
This year, Tony Coombes took over the Address To The Haggis, a baton that was passed on by Gervie who had urged Tony to take over when he could no longer do it.
“I was very honoured,” Tony said. “Gervie was a great friend and a true gentleman.”
Tony also inherited the dubious honour of having his kilt measured …
Guests for the festival come from all over Australia to fill the camping area in the homestead’s grounds.
There was plenty for them to see and do.
As well as all the music, dancing and parades of bagpipes, there were also stalls and a display by the Wide Bay Historical Machinery Club.
More than $800 was raised on the Wednesday night fundraiser with proceeds going to the RACQ LifeFlight Foundation.
On Thursday night, a cèilidh (bush dance) was held with Heather Clarke calling the dances and Brisbane-based band ISHKA providing the traditional Celtic music.
A special event this year was a commemoration service for Vietnam Veterans’ Day, which fell on the Friday of the festival.
The service was held at Boondooma Homestead’s war memorial prior to the official opening by Crs Duff and Scott Henschen.
Musician Vinge Pagett also played at the moving ceremony.
On Sunday, everyone who was left on the grounds joined hands to sing a rousing version of “Auld Lang Syne”.
[All photos courtesy of Torkit Business Solutions]
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Gallery Of Photos
[All photos courtesy of Torkit Business Solutions]
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Vale Gervie Fullerton
A tribute to the late Gervie Fullerton, who had been part of Scots In The Bush since its inception, was played on Friday night.
Gervie, “the Bard of Boondooma”, died at age 93 last October.
(This video was prepared by Torkit Business Solutions)
