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WOW! - BUNDANOON AND THE GORDON SPIRIT
What a Day we had at Bundanoon this year, it was enormous, there were a larger number of Bands, venders and stalls, more Clans in attendance and a huge crowd of people. All of which meant we were kept extremely busy all day. We participated again this year in the Parade, with Andrew Gordon and his father Jim carrying the Clan banner and Clan Flag, both of whom were immaculately turned out in their Dress Gordon Kilts and white Gillies shirts, We thank them both for their participation and enthusiasm they did a great job. I was dressed up as the 4th Duke of Gordon 1800, with my Regimental Sergeant Major , Aide de Camp 1798 (Neville Badger) and Colour Sergeant from the 1815 Genadier Company (Andrew Bergquist). We were representing the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen(Scotland). Cheryl Bergquist was our Gordon Knight who did a massive job carrying the great sword and targe. See all the pictures in Gatherings ( Bundanoon 2011) and Photo Gallery. We all looked resplendent I must say.
The media from the Southern highlands Newspaper took pictures and I believe photos will be in this week's edition. On Parade poor Neville had a mishap when his kilt dropped to the ground but he handled the situation brilliantly, re adjusting and bowing to the crowd and waving he was cheered and given a standing ovation. On return to the Clan tent we found it already busy and the Girls battling to keep up with inquiries and sales of our merchandise. Andrew spent much of his time for the next few hours posing for photos with people and interacting with the crowd. This was a big crowd pleaser. The Castle was again popular with the kids especially with all the new soldiers on it that the kids could take home.
And at the end of the day we were presented with the "Spirit of the day award" and told we were the Best Clan on the day. This is the second time we have won the award and we are all pretty chuffed. I'd like to thank the team for all their efforts. Colette Gordon , Lynn Badger and Cheryl Bergquist all worked hard on the sales stall, photos etc without a break, Neville fired up the BBQ for the Gordon's and guests who attended lunch and Andrew and I were kept busy with photos and information. The new Display board with its eight sides proved to be most popular, sometimes it was four deep with people trying to find their clan areas look at the weapons or read the Sept board and castle map. The Gordon Highlanders museum display was also a big hit, the 50 brochures I got from the museum all went. Hope they get some visitors from it. I will send a letter to the museum this week and keep them informed plus I need more brochures. Similarly the Gordon DNA project display handout (50) also all went.
I was particularly pleased this year as my son Andrew and his wife Kylie came for the first time in tartan with our granddaughter, Shayla ( 8 months old) in a Gordon Kilt and bonnet and I must say she looked beautiful in it. I know I'm biased but she was the most beautiful and best dressed girl there.
We enlisted many new members including - Julie Street -Smith, Charles Alcock, Jennifer Banfield, Elizabeth Solomon, Robert Morris, Graham Gordon. Robyn Rattey and Andrew and Jim Gordon and three others who came through the web site, Andrew B. has to download their names for me yet.
Andrew Gordon (our banner bearer) has been coming for many years and had all his Bundanoon badges down the lapel of his kilt but unfortunately he lost his 1999 badge on the day, so if anyone has one they can give him to replace it we would be extremely grateful, we will gladly pay the postage.
The Web site has been in operation just over a year now and has proved very popular. We have had over 154,000 hits on it with an average of 433 hits per day. In March alone we had 14,300 hits. The site is about to change yet again with some new information in the General Area but the Members Area has four new updates. We will be releasing more on that soon .
Don't forget you can now get our DVD's in the new merchandise section - Gordon Castles (now updated version with 96 castles and stories), Scottish history books- great for genealogy and reading. 119 bagpipe tunes and All I know about the Gordon Clan. These can be purchased as a pack or individually. An article on these will appear elsewhere in the site.
That's about if for now - Toukley Gathering is just round the corner so hope to catch up with you there. We will also be at Clans on the Coast ( Nelson Bay) and Berry this year. Keep an eye on the front page of the site for dates and locations.
BYDAND
Ken Gordon
Chief Commissioner.