Kilts and Pipes in Mosman

There is always something to see while staying at The Oriana and this week was no exception.

1988 was Australia’s bicentennial year. To mark the event, Scotland proposed as their gift to Australia, that a Cairn be presented, made up of a stone collected from every parish in Scotland – 1750 stones. There was great competition from all over Australia all vying as to where the cairn should be sited but Mosman was selected. It was erected on the highest point on Middle Head by a Scottish specialist Cairn builder.

The event is commemorated in Scottish Week held at the end of June each year.

Wardens were first appointed in 1988 to care for the cairn and every year a report is sent to the Scottish Parliament as to the condition of the monument.

The procession to the Cairn was led by pipers followed by kilted Councilor Roy Bendall, carrying the Council’s ceremonial Claymore. The word claymore is derived from the Gaelic “claidheamh-mòr” the broadsword wielded by Rob Roy and his highlanders in battle, but technically the older medieval two-handed broadsword was known as “claidheamh dà làimh”.

This year’s inspection was undertaken by The Right Honourable the Earl of Dunmore who had also been present at the inaugural dedication 34 years ago.

Mayor Corrigan;12th Earl of Dunmore, Malcolm Murray;
Warden of the Cairn, Councillor Roy Bendall with Claymore

Helen and Roy Bendall in Stewart tartan with Scottish Australia flag