Val Bundanoon Head and Shoulders

January 20, 2014 by Alaistair Saunders

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Bundanoon Highland Gathering Inc. Bundanoon is Brigadoon Saturday 5 April 2014 It is with great pleasure that the Bundanoon Highland Gathering Committee announce their Chieftain for the 37th gat...

Bundanoon Highland Gathering Inc. Bundanoon is Brigadoon Saturday 5 April 2014 It is with great pleasure that the Bundanoon Highland Gathering Committee announce their Chieftain for the 37th gathering is Valerie Cairney-Editor and Publisher of the Scottish Banner newspaper Valerie Cairney is pleased to be returning to the 2014 Bundanoon Highland Gathering, an event she calls “one of the most special Scottish events in the world”. Valerie will be travelling with her husband Jeff Moore (Clan Morrison, USA) from Florida, USA to be a part of Bundanoon is Brigadoon. Valerie is also looking forward to joining her son Sean (the Australasian editor of the Scottish Banner) at this year’s Gathering, who will be at the Scottish Banner tent throughout the day. This year marks thirty-eight years since Valerie launched the Scottish Banner newspaper, then a publication for the local Toronto Scottish market in Canada. Today the Scottish Banner has readers across the world with its major distribution in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Scotland and the USA. The Scottish Banner has been printing each month in Australia for nearly twenty years and is available in all states and territories. Through the Scottish Banner Valerie has met a wonderful array of people from across the world, from royalty to celebrities, however it is the regular members of the Scottish community which inspires her most. The countless volunteers for events such as the Bundanoon Highland Gathering, the dedication of pipers, drummers and dancers, and Clan members who help those looking to trace their roots and more. The Scottish Banner was launched at the Fergus Highland Games and Scottish Festival just outside Toronto in 1976, this event is much like the Bundanoon Highland Gathering, an event which has grown into a major event on the local calendar and has promoted Scotland to generations of Scots and their descendants. For nearly forty years Valerie has attended Scottish events and festivals across the world and knows what an important part they play in nurturing Scottish identity internationally. Bundanoon Highland Gathering has remained one of her favourite Scottish events since she first attended in the 1990’s. On Valerie’s last visit to the Bundanoon Highland Gathering she was recognised by the Celtic Council of Australia and was awarded the Celtic Honour Cyfaill y Celtiad (C y C) (Welsh-Friend of the Celts) for service to the Celtic community, Valerie is also a past recipient of the Flora MacDonald Award in the USA for services to the Scottish community. Whilst it’s a long trip from Florida to Australia, Valerie is looking forward to meeting as many Australian Scots as possible on her third visit to the Gathering and is greatly honoured to be asked to be the Chieftain of the Day. 2014 is Scotland’s Year of the Homecoming, and for Valerie coming back to Bundanoon is Brigadoon will no doubt feel she too has come home. Please make sure you say hello or as she may prefer “G’day Val”.

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