A full and interesting program of lectures will be presented as part of the Robert Burns Scottish Festival on Saturday 1st July at the Killara Centre. Tickets Available Now: https://www.trybooking.com/CICVY
Scottish born Fiona Ross will start the program at 10:30 am with a lecture exploring Burns’ approach to songwriting and discuss some of his better and lesser-known compositions. Fiona is a very accomplished singer with a strong interest in the history of traditional Scottish music and song.
Stewart McArthur will be the second presenter at 11:30 am. He will talk about his family and local Scottish connections to the composition of Australia’s best loved folk song, Waltzing Matilda. Stewart is a well-known 4th generation descendant of a founding Scot of Camperdown district, Peter McArthur. He is a farmer, businessman and former politician.
After the lunch break, at 1:30 pm, Dr Rosalie Triolo will present her findings about Scottish born teacher-enlistees from Camperdown district schools in World War One. Rosalie is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, it’s current Vice-President and Chair of the Historical Societies Support Committee. She is also a senior lecturer in History at Monash University, and author of acclaimed publications on School teacher enlistments in WW1.
For the final lecture at 2:30 pm, Allan Willingham will talk about the Scottish brothers and artists, Peter and James Taylor. Peter Taylor painted the portrait from life of Robert Burns that later inspired the sculpture of Camperdown’s Robert Burns statue. Allan was born and schooled in Camperdown before studying and practicing architecture in Melbourne. He has been involved in architectural history and conservation, publishing widely on topics relating to Western Victoria and Camperdown.