{"id":336241,"date":"2023-08-24T20:10:52","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T10:10:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=336241"},"modified":"2023-08-25T22:10:48","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T12:10:48","slug":"traditions-live-on-in-the-bush","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2023\/08\/24\/traditions-live-on-in-the-bush\/","title":{"rendered":"Traditions Live On In The Bush"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
The Rum City Highland Dancers are one of the regular groups which support Scots In The Bush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A glass of scotch was left on the bar to toast the late Gervie Fullerton (see video tribute below)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

August 24, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone was blown away by this year’s Scots In The Bush festival at Boondooma Homestead … almost literally!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

There were more than 70 performers – singers, musicians and dancers – at the five-day celebration of everything Celtic.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Gervie, 93, had been a stalwart at Scots In The Bush, leading the Performers’ Parade every year and Addressing The Haggis.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Measuring his kilt became a tradition on stage carried out by local councillor Kathy Duff.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was very honoured,” Tony said. “Gervie was a great friend and a true gentleman.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tony also inherited the dubious honour of having his kilt measured …<\/p>\n

Guests for the festival come from all over Australia to fill the camping area in the homestead’s grounds.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There was plenty for them to see and do.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

More than $800 was raised on the Wednesday night fundraiser with proceeds going to the RACQ LifeFlight Foundation.<\/p>\n

On Thursday night, a c\u00e8ilidh (bush dance) was held with Heather Clarke calling the dances and Brisbane-based band ISHKA providing the traditional Celtic music.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A special event this year was a commemoration service for Vietnam Veterans’ Day, which fell on the Friday of the festival.<\/p>\n

The service was held at Boondooma Homestead’s war memorial prior to the official opening by Crs Duff and Scott Henschen.<\/p>\n

Musician Vinge Pagett also played at the moving ceremony.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, everyone who was left on the grounds joined hands to sing a rousing version of “Auld Lang Syne”.<\/p>\n

[All photos courtesy of Torkit Business Solutions<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Visitors and musicians gather to celebrate their Celtic heritage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Cr Scott Henschen and Cr Kathy Duff at the Vietnam Veterans’ Day commemoration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
There was also a touch of Irish green at the Scots celebration with ISHKA Celtic Music … the Brisbane group plays at Irish as well as Scottish c\u00e8ilidhs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Toowoomba Caledonian Society brought along their Pipe Band<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Moreton Celtic Fiddle Club features guitars and cellos as well as fiddles and bodhr\u00e1ns<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Boondooma Homestead camping area was filled with campervans and caravans for the 2023 festival<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Gallery Of Photos<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

[All photos courtesy of Torkit Business Solutions<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Vale Gervie Fullerton<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

A tribute to the late Gervie Fullerton, who had been part of Scots In The Bush since its inception, was played on Friday night. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Gervie, “the Bard of Boondooma”, died at age 93 last October.<\/p>\n

(This video was prepared by Torkit Business Solutions<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n