Clan Donald Canterbury held their AGM and Branch Meeting on Sunday 8 February.  To commemorate the Glencoe massacre a Glencoe photo board was on display, Ann Smith piped us into the meeting and Cathie McMillan read an interesting article about the village and surrounding countryside of Glencoe.

Christine Martin was re elected as President and Margaret Donald as Secretary/Treasurer. Cath Lyall has stood down from the Committee after providing valuable service for a number of years. We welcome her replacement, Adrienne Pamment who has already boosted our funds by running a raffle.

Christine Martin reported on the successful year Canterbury had with many enjoyable social events held. Christine commented on the success of the Hororata Highland Games and Clan Donald’s participation. One of the highlights for the year for the Clan was the enjoyable visit to Dunedin in May to attend the Clan Donald New Zealand AGM and renew acquaintances and friendships with our Otago Clans people. A very moving personal memory for Christine was her visit to Scotland last June and arriving at the Clan Donald Centre on Skye and seeing the flag flying at half mast at the time of Harold McIsaac’s passing.

The AGM was followed by a very enjoyable barbecue at Alan MacDonald’s house.

 

Ann Smith

 

 

Glencoe photo board.

 

 

Margaret Donald, Secretary/Treasurer and Christine Martin, President.

 

 

At the AGM, Colin and Doreen MacDonald with their son, Alan MacDonald, High Commissioner for Clan Donald New Zealand.

 

 

Pictured at the barbecue (left to right) Sally Wihone, Brennan Nelson and Pauline McIvor.

 

 

Bob Lyall and Elwyn Martin, South Island Commissioner.

 

 

Maureen Breach and Peter Smith spend a few quiet moments reading the Glencoe booklets.

 

 

Christine Martin chats with Colin MacDonald and Brent Tomlinson.

 

 

Adrienne Pamment, our MasterChef, at work.

 

 

The raffle being drawn under “police supervision”. Pictured left to right Helen Ring, Alan MacDonald and Adrienne Pamment with Sally Wihone.

The Paeroa Domain looked a picture under a beautiful Summer sky on Saturday the 14th of February. There were 14 clans in the Clans Village this year, and we were able to renew acquaintances, have a chat with our friends from other clans and enjoy a dram or two.

The beautiful weather brought out the crowds and we were kept busy welcoming our members and signing up a couple of new members.

 

Clan Donald Member Ross O’Halloran with Vice President Lynnette McDonald.

 
At 11am the clans marched to the town centre behind the Thames Valley Pipe Band. And as usual the March stopped all traffic through the town, and soon gathered an interested crowd of Saturday morning shoppers. The band played several sets of pipe tunes and then led the clans back to the domain.

 

Pictured, in the town centre, are several members of the Clan Donald Colour Party. From the left Vice President Lynnette McDonald, Lawrie Fear, President Bruce McGechan and Clan Member Barrie Paterson.

 

 

In the morning there was plenty of activity with the Solo Piping, Highland Dancing and Solo Drumming. The Axemen’s Carnival always attracted a good crowd, and there was a lot of interest in the Heavyweight Field Events.

During the afternoon there was the Pipe Band Contest with 13 bands from the Auckland and Central Districts.

The official opening was at 1.30pm with the welcome speech by the President of the Paeroa Highland Games & Tattoo Committee Alistair Buchanan. The group Twisty Willow also sang the National Anthems of New Zealand, Australia and Scotland.

In the afternoon there was a Tartan in the Park competition. The competition theme was “Fun and Fashionable Tartanwear” open to anyone who could show that Tartan was a contemporary fabric which could be worn in a multitude of styles in the 21st Century. Annette Paterson of Clan Donald Auckland was one of the winners in the competition.

Mary and Alan Bray, two of our long-time members, won the magnificent basket, which was the prize in the raffle.

 

Mary and Alan Bray with the magnificent basket, which was the prize in the raffle.

 
The evening Tattoo events started at 5.30pm with the Pipe Bands Street March through the town to the domain, followed by the firing of the cannon, which signalled the start of the Tattoo.

During the entertainment there was a Mace Flourishing Competition, a Haggis Ceremony, Massed Highland Dancers and songs by Twisty Willow.

The Tattoo finished with the Lone Piper, the Ode to Scotland, Massed Bands playing Scotland the Brave and Auld Lang Syne.

Representatives from five of the Clan Donald Societies met in the capital city Wellington on Saturday the 23rd of May 2015. And what a brilliant weekend with plenty of sun and no wind. Wellington has the reputation for being the windy city.

 

The War Memorial Carillon, which was dedicated on Anzac Day 25th of April 1932, sits above the new National War Memorial Park in Buckle Street Wellington.

 
The AGM was held in the West Plaza Hotel, which had excellent conference facilities. The dinner in the evening was also held at the hotel.

The President Angus McDonald, from Wellington, welcomed everyone to the meeting. There were representatives from Southland, Canterbury, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and Auckland, plus the High Commissioner, North Island Commissioner and South Island Commissioner.

 

Members gather before the meeting. From the left Angus McDonald, President Clan Donald New Zealand and Wellington; Marylyn Hayes, Secretary Clan Donald New Zealand and from Southland; High Commissioner Alan MacDonald; seated Murdock McDonald from Auckland; standing Patricia McKechnie, Treasurer Clan Donald New Zealand and from Wellington; Bruce McGechan, President Clan Donald Auckland; seated Brent Tomlinson from Canterbury; Alton McDonald, President Clan Donald 
Southland; Elwyn Martin, South Island Commissioner; Christine Martin, Vice President Clan Donald New Zealand and President of Clan Donald Canterbury and Tom McDonald, North Island Commissioner.

 
Each of the Presidents, Christine Martin from Canterbury, Bruce McGechan from Auckland, Alton McDonald from Southland and Angus McDonald from Wellington presented a report on each of their societies activities during 2014. Elwyn Martin, the South Island Commissioner, also gave a report on the overall situation in the South Island, and Tom McDonald, the North Island Commissioner, did the same for the North Island.

Bruce McGechan, the Website Coordinator, also presented a report on the performance of the Clan Donald New Zealand Website. In particular, on the spectacular growth over recent years, from an average of 6,000 hits a month in 2012 to an average of 10,500 hits a month in 2014. There are a very loyal number of visitors, making up an average of 80% of the total number of visitors. Visitors were from a wide range of countries, from North and South America, Asia and Europe, Australia and New Zealand. 52% of all visitors to the Website are from New Zealand. Bruce also requested that all societies provide more information on events and news items during the next twelve months.

The Chairman Angus McDonald thanked everyone for their support over the past 12 months. He then handed over to the High Commissioner, Alan MacDonald, for the election of office bearers.
The following Officers were elected unanimously. President Angus McDonald of Wellington. Vice President Christine Martin of Canterbury. Secretary Marylyn Hayes of Southland, and Patricia McKechnie of Wellington as Treasurer.

 

From the left, Patricia McKechnie of Wellington, Treasurer, Marylyn Hayes of Southland, Secretary and Angus McDonald of Wellington, President.

 
The main business of the AGM concerned a new replacement constitution. The existing constitution had not worked, and had also been found to not comply with incorporated societies regulations.

Following robust discussion the new constitution, prepared by the sub-committee of David McDonald, Alan MacDonald and Angus McDonald, with amendments to do with membership, was approved.

It was also agreed that the 2016 Annual General Meeting be held in Christchurch on Saturday the 21st of May.

The AGM finished around 4.30pm. Some of the representatives had an opportunity to see some of the sights of Wellington. Others spent the time chatting over a dram or two before Dinner at the West Plaza Hotel.

The Dinner in the evening started with pre-dinner drinks followed by a welcome by the Clan Donald New Zealand President Angus McDonald. The High Commissioner Alan MacDonald also read out a message of greetings from the High Chief Lord Macdonald, The Rt. Hon. Godfrey James Macdonald of Macdonald.

 

High Commissioner Alan MacDonald reading the greetings from Lord Macdonald.

 
Following the speeches was the Haggis Ceremony. The Haggis Party of Piper Bruce McGechan of Auckland, Haggis Bearer Angus McDonald of Wellington, Bard David McDonald of Hawke’s Bay and Whisky Bearer Barry Fry of Wellington marched into the room to the well known Robbie Burns tune “A Man’s a Man for a’ That”.

David McDonald then gave a rousing rendition of the Robbie Burns “Ode to the Haggis”.

After sampling the Haggis the guests enjoyed a fantastic smorgasbord dinner.

 

Ewan & Valda McCann from Wellington.

 

 
During the evening the Clan Donald New Zealand President Angus McDonald formally presented to Alan MacDonald, his warrant for the position of High Commissioner. Alan had received his warrant in 2014 in an informal presentation in Christchurch, and this was the first occasion for representatives of the other societies to witness his receiving of the warrant.

 

The High Commissioner Alan MacDonald receiving his Warrant from the President Angus McDonald.

 
Also during the dinner, Bruce McGechan from Auckland, played several pipe tunes of significance to the High Commissioner Alan MacDonald and the President Angus McDonald.

The first tune was a slow air entitled “Great is the Source of My Sorrow”. This tune commemorates the massacre at Glencoe, and had special significance to Alan MacDonald, as his father Collin is in the process of applying to the Court of Lord Lyon to be recognised as the Chief of MacDonald of Glencoe.

The second tune entitled “Kathleen MacDonald “ had special significance with family connections for Angus McDonald.

 

From the left, Katherine Steer, and Marylyn & Graydon Hayes from Southland.

 

 

 

Grant & Catherine MacDonald from Wellington.

 

 

 

South Island Commissioner Elwyn Martin and Canterbury President Christine Martin.

 

 

At the back, Megan Hall, and Tom & Ian Dickson from Clan Keith, and in the front, Maureen McDonald and Erin Moyle from Wellington.

 

 

 

Sheila & Duncan Wall, National President of Clan Gunn New Zealand.

 

 

 

 

John, Patricia & Peter McKechnie from Wellington.

 

 

 

 

Julie Dickson and Erin Draper from Clan Keith.

The guests from the Clan Donald Societies and their friends from Clan Gunn and Clan Keith enjoyed a great evening, and after the Dinner met in the Hotel Bar to chat and enjoy a few drinks before retiring.

On Friday the 3rd of July, Bruce McGechan President of Clan Donald Auckland and his wife Halina and Murdock McDonald, represented Clan Donald at a Formal Dinner and Opening Ceremony of the Celtic Barn in the Caledonian Grounds at Waipu.

 

From the left, Murdock McDonald, and Halina and Bruce McGechan.

 
This function was an opportunity for the Waipu Joint Venture to gather together all those whose substantial contributions had enabled the successful completion of the project.

The Celtic barn comprises a main hall, which has the most up-to-date acoustic features. A large entrance hall, which has already been booked for several weddings, and a fully equipped commercial kitchen, plus changing rooms and shower and toilet facilities. The Celtic Barn is only a half an hour from Whangarei and around one and a half hours from Auckland.

 

A view of the main hall.

 
At 7pm around 400 guests sat down for the Formal Buffet Dinner, which was preceded by the Haggis Ceremony.

 

 

Some of the guests who were seated at 40 tables in the main hall.

 
Following the dinner, the building was officially opened by the HON Bill English, the Minister of Finance. There were also many tributes by the Chairman Richie Guy, to the many people who were responsible for the planning, raising the finance and completing the fantastic facility.

During the evening there was music supplied by the well-known ceilidh band Twisty Willow.