Festival News

2020 Lecture Series

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Guest Speakers Announced. Saturday 4th July, 10.30 am – 3.30 pmKillara Centre, Camperdown $20 per Lecture Series for Adults (Saturday 4 Lectures). Under 18’s: Free(under 13’s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.) Dr Andrew Lemon has chosen to speak on “The legacy of Camperdown district Scots and the Manifolds to Australian horse racing.” Dr Ruth Pullin will speak on “Vision and patronage: von Guérard and the Scots of the Western District.” Dr Ian D. Clark will take us on “A Scottish Ramble through the Western District.” David Jellie will discuss “The legacy of Scottish Engineers, Telford and McAdam, to Australia’s roads.” For further details and updates visit our Lecture Series page. Tickets now available!

2020 RBSF Press Release

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Camperdown’s Robert Burns Scottish Festival 2020 After the relaunch of the Robert Burns Scottish Festival this year the Community Festival Committee is pleased to announce that the Festival was a great success with an increased patronage. A revamp of the festival saw new elements implemented into the event. Chairperson Dr John Menzies OAM said the committee are busy now planning the 2020 festival program. The popular Schools program is returning and visits to local schools will include an Art, poetry and a story writing competition. The popular shortbread baking competition saw an increase of entries with many mums and dads participating. The committee made the decision for entry to the festival performances for children under the age of 18 years to be free this year, and the same offer will be offered in 2020. It is our way of offering opportunities to families to come along and experience cultural events. The RBSF starts on June …

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Burns Gala Dinner 2019

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BURNS GALA DINNER @ Killara on Friday, July 5 6.00pm for 6.30pm start Enjoy a wonderful evening of fine food and entertainment 3-course meal for $65 includes: Entrée Haggis with Mashed Potato and Turnips Main (Alternative serves) Salmon Fillet on a Leek and Pea Barley Braise 8 hour Hunters Beef with Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Mash Served with assorted Green Vegetables Sweets (Alternative serves) Sticky Gingerbread Pudding with Ginger Wine and Brandy Sauce Chocolate Orange Whisky Mousse Entertainment: Eric Bogle and Band, Fiona Ross and Shane O’Mara Sing-a-long, Poetry, Addressing the Haggis Drinks @ Bar Prices Bookings essential by Tuesday, July 2 Tickets available from Laffs, Affordable Elegance and Robinson Street Clinic or phone Catherine 0407 056 126

A Special Opening of Camperdown’s Masonic Hall

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This year, for the Robert Burns Festival, the Leura Lodge, Camperdown is opening their beautiful bluestone building to the public. The Lodge itself was formed in 1865 and by 11th September 1868, the Geelong Register reported: “Another fine building in Camperdown is now nearly approaching completion.  I allude to the Masonic Hall, a large bluestone edifice in Manifold Street which has been erected by the brethren of the mystic order for their accommodation in this district.  The building when finished will be a credit to the Leura Lodge for whom it is intended and an undoubted acquisition to the township.” The hall will be open from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July. Visitors will be greeted by a current lodge member who will be there to talk about the history of the building and answer questions. There will be a display of notable Camperdown Scots where were active in …

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Top line-up for Burns Festival Lectures

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The lecture program for the 2019 Camperdown Robert Burns Scottish Festival will feature some great speakers on everything Scottish. Coordinated by the Camperdown & District Historical Society, the lecture program has grown in popularity over the years.  According to Festival chairman Dr John Menzies OAM, “an important aim of the Festival is to educate the community about the enormous contribution and influence of our Scottish forebears. The lecture program is a vital component of this”, he said. Speaking this year will be former long-serving Federal politician and well known local identity, Stewart McArthur. Stewart is a descendant of Peter McArthur, a founding Scot of Camperdown district. His subject will be; “Scots Tradition: Five generations of McArthur’s – A perspective of 180 years at ‘Meningoort’, 1839 – 2019” There will be a welcome return of culinary expert Dr Iain Buckland, who will talk about “the immigrant food experience for the Western District settlers from Scotland”. Also …

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Early Bird Tickets

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The Camperdown Robert Burns Scottish Festival Committee are pleased to announce that the festival Program is nearing completion and promises to be a Festival for the community with new elements adding to a number of favourite events returning.The Festival Chairperson Dr John Menzies OAM said “the committee are pleased to announce that Early Bird tickets will be available until May 31st and the Early Bird ticket is $80.00 which will allow patrons to go to all the performances at the designated venues over the weekend” this price excludes Festival Burns Gala Dinner $65.00 per person, bookings are essential. Dr Menzies said “our festival musicians have now been booked and the performers coming to Camperdown include Eric Bogle and his band, Fiona Ross, John McAluslan which is a great combination of Australia’s best known Scottish musicians.  Luke Plumb and Kate Burke, Shane O’Mara, Peter Daffy, Maree Daffy, Andy Rigby and Nick Martin, Claire Patti, Geoff McArthur, …

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Fabulous Music Workshops

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The Camperdown Robert Burns Scottish Festival presents three days of fabulous workshops at a Winter Music School on July 3rd, 4th and 5th. Peter Daffy, Musical Director said “Some of Australia’s finest tutors will be in town conducting a range of workshops”  There are a range of lessons for beginners in pipes and drums, Scottish country dancing and community choir and the instrumental workshops for mandolin, bouzouki, fiddle and concertina will be tailored to suit intermediate to experienced musicians. The focus is traditional Celtic tunes and songs accompaniment.  Scottish country dance lessons will be run in the late afternoons with the junior choir and informal sessions will be run in the evenings along with the senior choir.  Some come and try piping and drumming lessons are available for a small fee on the Friday.  Workshops start at $10.00 and full registration for the three days just $60.00 for Adults and $30.00 for under 18 years. …

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Eric Bogle to headline 2019 Robert Burns Scottish Festival

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The Camperdown Robert Burns Scottish Festival Committee together with Tuniversal Music Inc. are pleased to announce that Eric Bogle will be the Headline Act for this year’s festival. Eric was born in Scotland, as was Robert Burns, and that he, Eric, has a unique ability with words, music and songs, just like Burns and making him Eric, a most worthy modern day version of or successor to, Burns.  Eric Bogle will Headline at the Camperdown Robert Burns Scottish Festival this year. The Festival Chairperson Dr John Menzies OAM said that “Eric Bogle will perform in Camperdown over the festival weekend with a dedicated Eric Bogle in Concert at the Theatre Royal on Saturday 6th July.” Eric Bogle is an internationally known and respected songwriter.  For nearly 40 years he has toured the world with his music.  Eric has said “he has been inflicting his songs on innocent bystanders from outback Australis to the streets of …

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