News from: 2002 | 2003 | 2004
Island full of Baxters Discovered...
Sometime, 2000
Stocks in Segrams skyrockets...
KAOS Battle
23–25 August, 2002
The night before
Marching as to war Contrary to expectations, and in complete contrast to Dunedin, Saturday 24 August dawned bright and sunny in Christchurch, and the Highland contingent set out to battle against the forces of Kaos. The battle was part of a 48-hour party, of which I shall say only that I am now seeking psychiatric help. We had joined the Cultists of Cthulhu and their zombies on the promise that, after victory, we would be allowed to trample the English into the dust — there was a Redcoat contingent on the other side, along with Russians, assassins and Catholic schoolgirls (don’t ask). The Cultists began with a ritual; needless to say the enemy made a dastardly attempt to interrupt the proceedings, under the impression that our side would be off our guard. We proved them soundly wrong. We were labouring under a double disadvantage — we were a much smaller force, and we had no strategy — but since the fallen enemy joined our side in great numbers, as the Cultists raised them as zombies, the balance was soon restored.
As for us, we were not, alas, able to revive the ancient Celtic custom of beheading the corpses of the foe to decorate our castle gates with; several of the Kaos people were, however, wearing tempting tall hats, which we took as trophies. From then on the Highland tactic was to seek excuses to charge the Alfs, which I think we did about five or six times. The end-battle was enlivened with the arrival of the Shoggoth, a large piece of black cloth with sleeves sticking out at random intervals, which consumed about twenty or so of the fighters before it ran out of room. And so ended the Battle of Christchurch.
The Shoggoth
Second semester Gaelic Speaking Lessons
Still only $2 per lesson!
Gaelic lessons will be starting soon Anyone interested in learning to speak the language of their ancestors is encouraged to turn up. All are welcome (public and non members included) regardless of how much Gaelic you already have (it’s a beginner’s course, but I’m sure you’ll welcome the chance to practise). Cost is $2 per lesson to cover photocopying costs, or $14 up front for the whole eight-week course.
Highland & Gaelic Society On-line Forum Launched
July, 2002
Yes, we now have our own space on the internet for H&GS chit-chat — Enter here.
Naomi is the main moderator.
Battle of Bannockburn 2002
22–23 June, 2002
What a weekend it was! If I believed in omens I’d have had serious doubts about it after discovering on Saturday morning that neither we nor the Lindskiis had a van to travel in (memo to self: always check when Clubs & Socs is going to be open), but we crammed into cars and we packed things down and we were all off to Bannockburn only an hour and a half after the time we’d agreed on. In a break with tradition the Lindskiis held their victory mess on the night before the battle instead of after, but then maybe that was because it wasn’t going to be their victory. After exploring the architecture of Bannockburn’s Coronation Hall, where we were staying, we trooped down to the pub, there to entertain and be entertained by piper, Wee Jock, until we were kicked out well after the usual closing time.
Having finally got to sleep about 6am (memo to self: never enter political debates while p**sed), we rose at the crack of noon and headed down to the battle site to check out the geography and lay a battle plan. And at 1pm our loyal troops started arriving. The numbers the organizers had hoped for weren’t there, because the Queenstowners were apparently made of brown sugar and would melt in the rain. So when we formed our battle line I don’t think we were actually outnumbered at all.
King Robert the Bruce (a local by the name of Gordon Stewart) gave the traditional Burns address, and we marched forward. Our ambush party, dispatched through a handy narrow space behind some bushes, met the English ambush party coming the other way, and after a few moments’ embarrassment they decided to let each other get on with it. But my MacDonalds, in the traditional place on the right flank, held firm and did not falter. When the two main lines met the Scots could not be broken.
Some extra entertainment was created about fifteen minutes into proceedings by the late arrival of the Cameroon Highlanders from Clyde, who hadn’t been at the training session and attacked Scots warriors and English soldiers with equal gusto, although I don’t think they meant to. When they finally figured out who was on their side, the English army’s fate was sealed. With charge after charge we drove them back until at last they had no choice but to concede defeat. I think there was meant to be a half-time break in there somewhere, but there ended up being about three, none of them unanimous, and the battle ended not long after the last one anyway. Incredibly, the entire proceedings had taken no more than half an hour.
The Highland Games had already begun, and two of our number entered the porridge wrestling, as well as two Lindskiis (who became Russians again after the end of the fight, and I don’t blame them). The match was finally won by our very own Jason Lamb. Then there was more drinking, and then the people who had work on Monday went home, leaving a few of us to play Imperial and drink even more.
And now it’s time for the acknowledgments. Those who fought valiantly are far too many to name, and I don’t know all their names anyway; all the locals got into the spirit of the event. I wish I did know which brave warrior ran into the heart of the English forces to rescue the MacDonald flag after it was wrenched from my rigid dead hands, though. Nor can I name all the dozens of people who worked so hard to put things together beforehand; Lindskii leader Gregor Campbell and Terry Emmett of Bannockburn deserve special mention. A big thank you to our drivers, who were so helpful at such late notice: Baxter, Jason, Rochelle and Vorne, Jarrod and Bert, thank you greatly to every one who helped.
And please, nobody ask about the Dodgy Room.
Daniel Copeland
The elite squad in preparation...
Capping Week Otago Style — the Lowland Games
8 May, 2002
A bright and sunny day dawned, and (more to the point) also nooned, on Wednesday the 8th of May. And the combined forces of the Lindskiis, the Carthaginians and the Otago University Highland & Gaelic Society set forth to battle the vast hordes of Selwyn. Under the leadership of His Grace the Viscount Gregor Campbell, commander of the Lindskiis, we crossed the Leith and fearlessly charged the enemy, who counter-attacked with great gusto. Nonetheless, by a combination of headlong downhill charges, cunning strategic manoeuvres, and prior arrangement, we drove them at last to the Union Lawn, where we were triumphant. After that we charged the audience, who were not all entirely pleased with the idea.
So began the Lowland Games, and Highlanders participated in some of the more traditional events: the haggis hurling (lest we be accused of disrespect to Scotland’s national food, the “haggis” was in fact a liver in a plastic bag),
the caber-tossing, until the caber broke,
and finally the porridge wrestling,
which despite the Other Rob McCann’s best efforts ended with a free-for-all by all competitors. 
And now for the apology. Saturday was the Capping Procession itself, and the Highland & Gaelic Society should have been participating — but your organizer (me) neglected to make arrangements on account of being too busy graduating. (Plus there was a last-minute hiccup with last week’s Gaelic lesson which occupied my attention.) For this dreadful oversight I whole-heartedly and sincerely apologize.
Daniel
Otago Daily Times
17 April 2002
Formal links between the Society and Clann Albainn were today denied by Society spokesperson, though there may be some membership overlap...
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A New Look At The
HIGHLAND CLEARANCES
Free Public Discussion
Opening speaker: TOM BROOKING, OU History Dept.
7pm, Tuesday 23 April, Room 6 Clubs & Socs
Hosted by the OU Highland & Gaelic Society
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Gaelic Speaking Lessons Starting 11 April
Only $2 per lesson!
Gaelic lessons will be starting after the Easter break, on Thursday 11 April, at 6:30pm in Clubs and Societies (84 Albany St.) — exact room to be determined. So those of you who want to learn to speak the language of your ancestors are encouraged to turn up. All are welcome (public and non members included) regardless of how much Gaelic you already have (it’s a beginner’s course, but I’m sure you’ll welcome the chance to practise). Cost is $2 per lesson to cover photocopying costs, or $14 up front for the whole eight-week course. We will be holding a lesson as usual on Anzac Day, April 25.
St Patrick’s Day AGM
17 March, 2002
It seems no one remembers late in the evening at the encampment when Daniel set our AGM at 10pm on St. Pat’s morning; except for me. You will all soon be receiving the minutes of the meeting and will find out what you volunteered for:
Baxter
2002 AGM Minutes
Daniel elected President and Language Coordinator 2002
Naomi elected Vice-President 2002
Bert elected Vice-Secretary 2002
Baxter elected Campaigns Coordinator and Quatermaster 2002
Every member present at the encampent was elected as General committee members.
The H&GS Constitution was raftified.
A brief outline of the Gaelic Studies Campaign was presented and approved in theory; detail planning was tabled until the next committee meeting.
All other business was tabled until the next committee meeting — except for anything else Baxter ‘remembers’ was decided at the meeting...
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Proclaimers Concert
A little later, also on 17 March, 2002
Student leaders are today crowing following Proclaimers singer, Craig Reid, speaking poignantly of his support for a free education system at a St Patrick’s Day concert in Dunedin last night. Craig, a father of four, said he would send his children to Irish universities because they are properly funded. The Proclaimers then devoted the anti-poverty song ?Cap in Hand? to a “better funded education system in Scotland and New Zealand”.
“Even the Proclaimers, who have only been in the country a few days can see that tertiary education in New Zealand is under funded” said Otago University Students’ Association Campaign Coordinator Kyle Matthews. “If they can see it within a week, then the government should have started to fix it by now after two and a half years.”
Twins Charlie and Craig Reid, and other members of the band also wore green ribbons during their performance. The ribbons were the focus of a St Patrick’s Day campaign where people would wear them to indicate support of a properly funded tertiary education system. The campaign was so successful in the pubs and streets of Dunedin that organizers had to put in an eleventh hour call for more ribbons to distribute at the Proclaimers concert.
“Yesterday was about going out to the public of Dunedin and showing them that under funding of tertiary education isn?t the answer, that there are better ways to get our country going. Ireland had growth of 11.5% in 2000, and it has a free education scheme. New Zealand needs to look at a similar investment” said Mr Matthews.
Cynical editor’s note: it was St Patrick’s Day, people would have worn green ribbons if the Nazis were handing them out.
Annual Summer Encampment Report
12 March, 2002
I’m delighted to report that the Summer Encampment for 2002 was a great success. We began with a relaxing afternoon eating lunch and discussing the Celtic languages, and warding off the attentions of some overly friendly chickens.
Around 3pm the Russian forces arrived; battle went hard, but the Highlanders were victorious with our carefully assembled strategy of going slightly insane and making as much noise as possible.
Afterward there were more workshops: a report on Bloody Sunday and a planning session for the Celtic & Gaelic Studies Campaign. Thanks go to Fiona Bowker and Mark Baxter, respectively, for the sterling work they put in to make us aware of our history.
Soon afterward, Robert McCann, camp cook, turned up with the eagerly-awaited food, and we feasted on roast lamb, mashed potato, carrots and other delicious things, but not chicken, despite the best efforts of one of the local residents to get itself put on the menu. Next came the formalities: a haggis ceremony in grand style, with haggis, mead and address all supplied by His Grace the Viscount Gregor Campbell (also commander of the Russian forces, but hey, without enemies what would be the fun of battle?) Then we moved on to the part where alcohol is consumed to excess, at which point things become a bit hazy, but I remember we had no less than four duels.
The first was an insult competition between myself and His Grace (taking the place of the egregious Carthaginian), which, if memory serves me correctly — a moot point — I won. Then another insult competition which involved His Grace and someone else. My memory really is getting hazy at this point... and then some more duels involving people throwing things at each other... and after that, general frivolity until the next morning.
Now to the future. On April 16 we will be commemorating the Battle of Culloden, fought that day in 1746. Also in April, Gaelic lessons start. In May we have Capping Week, and in June a battle at Bannockburn.
Daniel Copeland
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Battle of Carisbrook
2 March, 2002
The Society took part in a battle watched by several thousand spectators; and won...
Report to come — hint, hint, if anyone wants to write it...
If anyone has better photos of this (or any other society event) we’d love to make a copies...
Enter stage right Lindskii Regiment
hold the field
and exit stage right (rapidly) a few minutes later followed by the H&GS.
Taieri Highland Games 2001
December, 2001
We came (late), we did our best to pose, we went home for tea.
Maybe if they let us loose with broad-swords next year...
. News from: 2002 | 2003 | 2004
