Festival News

RBSF July 2021 Weekend Cancelled

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Continuing uncertainty over Covid-19 restrictions and the unavailability of Camperdown’s Theatre Royal complex for performances has led the organisers of Camperdown’s Robert Burns  Scottish Festival to reconsider the structure of this year’s program and they have come up with an innovative solution which hopefully will have the support of patrons. The events of the 2-3-4th of July will be spread out to safe times in Spring, and the pre-existing performance commitments at Darlington’s Public Hall -19thJune, and Terang’s Commercial Hotel – 1stJuly – will go ahead as planned. Paid-up ticket holders will be offered the option of a refund or may opt to use their ticket to attend the deferred events. So the 2021 Robert Burns Scottish Festival will be a novel series of “Burns’ Bites” and it is hoped that supporters will be sympathetic and supportive of these changes which the organisers have been reluctant to make. The golf will go ahead as planned on …

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RBSF2021 Brett Clarke performing and working in School’s Program

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Brett Clarke Bio – Kirrae Whurrung Tribe – Born 1977 A fundamental belief of the RBSF committee is that while we are contributing to our local Australian culture that has imported/colonial feature it is most important that we respect and engage with the culture of the first people of Australia. Dr Menzies said “we’re very pleased to announce that Brett Clarke, a member of the Kirrae Whurrung Tribe, will be working with the local School Children to teach them a local language song to perform at our Festival Finale Concert to celebrate our shared history and NAIDOC week”. Brett’s Bio: From early childhood, I spent much of my time with my late Grandfather, who taught me much of our cultural history of the Kirrae Whurrung Tribe. Pop was an expert at wood carving and showed me and my brother Crispian how to use the tomahawk and rough rasp to make spears, boondi’s, carved snakes, and …

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RBSF2021 Press Release #3 Early Bird Tickets

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Early Bird Tickets for the Camperdown Robert Burns Scottish Festival offers great discounts for patrons. The Camperdown Robert Burns Scottish Festival Committee is 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 favourites returning.   The Festival Chairperson, Dr. John Menzies OAM said “the committee is pleased to announce that Early Bird tickets will be available until May 30th and the Early Bird ticket is $80.00 which allows patrons to go to all performances at the designated venues including the two Satellite Events in Darlington on June 19th with live music and the Movie Whisky Galore and at Terang’s Commercial Hotel on Thursday 2nd of July featuring the Sugar Loaf Band: Luke Plumb, Pete Daffy, Maree Daffy, and James Green.   Friday the 3rd, Saturday 4th, and Sunday the 5th Concerts and performances and the Popular Lecture …

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RBSF2021 Press Release #2

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The 2021 Robert Burns Scottish Festival is set to return to Camperdown in July this year. Festival Chairperson, Dr John Menzies OAM is pleased to announce that the festival is going ahead and promises to be a great event.  The committee is working hard to ensure that Patrons and the local community will be able to attend Covid Safe event.  Dr Menzies said that careful planning will be put onto place by implementing a Covid Safe Plan for approval from the Chief Medical Officer. The RBSF will see the return of the School Children’s program with primary and secondary aged events including art works, poetry, story writing, and the popular Shortbread baking competition these activities will happen before the festival and delivered in the schools. Dr Menzies also said that Schools can access programs from the Robert Burns World Federation at no cost and connecting to Scotland, the birth place of Burns is a wonderful …

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RBSF Press Release #1 2021

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The 2021 Camperdown Robert Burns Scottish Festival is moving with the times – and leading from the front! Festival Chairperson Dr John Menzies OAM said, “Skills acquired through Covid necessities saw the virtual 2020 festival launched on line.  This received national and international praise so now a virtual component with international contributions will be an integral part of this years `in person’ festival.” In responding to this interest from afar the organising committee has set up a dialogue with festivals in Scotland  -Ayr`s Tamfest-New Zealand- Dunedin`s Robbie Rocks festival, America- the American Scottish  Foundation which organises New York`s Tartan Festival, and the Robert Burns World Federation. There have been valuable exchanges of ideas which will benefit our festival. One key feature of this international collaboration is that Robert Burns’ legacy is relevant worldwide. A fundamental belief of the Camperdown committee is that while we are contributing to our local Australian culture that has imported/colonial features it is most important that we respect the culture of the first …

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Virtual Festival Launch Saturday 4th July

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Celebrating connections new and old! Online concerts; The Camperdown Robert Burns Festival is set to launch its virtual festival on Saturday the 4th of July with ‘Live Concerts’ streaming on Facebook and Instagram along with new content on our website camperdownburnsfestival.com.au. Luke Plumb, Fiona Ross, Kate Bourke and The Cornerhouse Band will be the first of our performers over our virtual festival weekend. We plan to present further live streaming concerts later in the year. For those not on social media you can still see our Facebook and Instagram feeds via our website. Our website will feature an array of material that tells the story of the festival while showcasing our beautiful district and spotlighting the many connections that Camperdown Victoria has to Scottish heritage. What might you find on the website? Festival Coordinator, Catherine O’Flynn, shares an Acknowledgement of Country filmed at The Wombeetch Puyuun Reconciliation Park. From across the waves Robert Burns World …

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2020 Cancelled

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The 2020 Robert Burns Scottish Festival has been cancelled.  Chairperson Dr John Menzies OAM said “that the RBSF Committee met last week and the decision to cancel the Festival which aligns with the Australian Government guidelines on mass gatherings became the catalyst that was the only option we could take.  Dr. Menzies said that before making a public announcement we needed to contact all of the Performers, Guest Speakers and providers who had been booked for the 2020 festival.” We are mindful of the impact of the Covid-19 Virus and the loss of income for our Musicians and providers including our Patrons. Early Bird Ticket holders will be refunded and our Website will be updated for the duration, the committee will continue to plan the festival for 2021 and appreciate the support given over recent months. Dr Menzies said, “This is a time for us all to use our strength and compassion to pull together …

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Press Release Program & Ticketing Updates

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The Camperdown Robert Burns Festival committee are pleased to announce that the festival program is nearing completion and promises our 2nd festival as a community operated festival will see new elements adding to a number of favourite events returning. Festival Chairperson Dr John Menzies AOM said “the committee are pleased to announce that Early Bird tickets are now available via the festival website via Trybooking.com until May 25 . Visit: https://camperdownburnsfestival.com.au/tickets/ Early Bird tickets are $80 which allow patrons to go to all the performances at designated venues over the weekend”. This price excludes the Burns Festival Gala dinner which is $70 / person, bookings are essential”. Dr Menzies said, “ a number of festival musicians have now been booked and the performers coming include The Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, returning as our headline act in 2020. A great combination of Australia’s best known Scottish performers are now confirmed to appear at the festival include …

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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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