By DANE LILLINGSTONE
SCOTS PGC College hosted the Spring Celtic Weekend with a day full of music, food and culture on Saturday.
The tartan, glengarries and sporrans from bands across South East Queensland competed for a range of band and individual prizes with hundreds of pipers, drummers and guests converging on the school grounds.
Local food, Celtic produce and crafts were on display with a variety of market stalls. Pipe bands kept market goers entertained as a variety of baked goods, arts and crafts were on offer.
At night the bands and dancers graced the floor of the college hall for a night of traditional Scottish entertainment. Warwick’s Inverness Dancers joined Scots on stage before a traditional supper, a choir of old Celtic ballads and an Auld Lang Syne farewell.
Scots PGC College principal Simon Shepherd said he hoped it would become an annual event.
“In the past, there have been pipe band competitions at Scots PGC College, however this year it was a mini band event and the Ceilidh evening dance was an extra attraction,” he said.
“We are enthusiastic to make this an annual tradition as it is a chance for the community to celebrate culture and diversity. “
Mr Shepherd said it was a celebration of the school’s Scottish roots.
“We are very proud of our Scottish roots. We are one of only two schools in Queensland with pipes and drum and one of only a handful of co-educational schools with bands in Australia,” he said.
“The Ceilidh was an opportunity for the wider community to come together in what effectively is a Scottish bush dance and enjoy a great night together.”
Mr Shepherd said he wanted to thank everyone who was involved in getting the event together.
“The parents and friends of the college who made this all possible are to be congratulated as does our outstanding pipe and drum master Mr Sandy Dalziel. The support of the Warwick Caledonian Society was greatly appreciated, and we really hope that next year even more members of the local community would like to become involved,” he said.
