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Clan MacLeod Society of Australia (South Australia) Inc.

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The Story of 50 years of a Clan Society, 1957 - 2007

Clan MacLeod Society in South Australia

South Australia 1963

1963 mentions the 'popular Craig Masson' piping at a ceilidh, and Craig still is associated with Port Caledonian Soc. and is Pres. of the R.U. Brown

Piobaireachd Soc.

The 1964 Highland Games were attended by the Queen Mother, and it was the curtain raiser for the Adelaide Festival of Arts.

Meanwhile our durable Chief, Dame Flora at age 89 was being received by President Nehru, Ministers and the Shar’s representative, in India and Tehran (Iran). Not stopping there our Chief toured to Australia with companion Mary Northcote (Nov-Dec). They stayed with Mr & Mrs. Luxton of Glenunga. There was a Burnside Ceilidh to celebrate the visit, a tour to Victor Harbor, and a Clan reception at the home of G. Manson. At the Ceilidh, an arrangement of Sturt’s Desert Pea arrived from Central Australia by ‘special courier,’

Bruce MacLeod of NSW became our Clan’s National coordinator.

Clan membership was in retreat, even with the Chief’s visit.

In 1966 the Port Adelaide Caledonian Soc. has built its own hall. Messenger Press produced the 'Scottish Standard' but it didn’t last.

The Royal Fleet Auxillary 'Fort Dunvegan' visited Port Adelaide and an invitation was sent to Mr. & Mrs. J. McLeod to attend 'Cocktails' with the Captain and Officers.

1968 was another Parliament year on Skye, attended by Mr. & Mrs. Reece McLeod.

The Highland Games were held at Elizabeth, where our President George McLeod was invited to be on the Games Committee and official guest at the Highland Ball.

The burning issues for the MacLeod Society President and Secretary, were:- to address the declining membership and local clan activity; and at the same time having to endure the increasingly 'generous suppers' at meetings, and bowing to “the ladies perseverance in bringing plates of supper”.

There was an intermittent arrival of visiting Clan members from other places and, while this was welcome and encouraged in inter-society correspondence, there might have been some inconvenience to local members, and it never really became a popular pursuit.

Annually the steady roll call of members who had passed away, indicated an ageing and less energetic Society, and must have been dispiriting to those who would 'Hold Fast'.

Mrs Wolridge Gordon

Carolyn McLeod (SA)

Dame Flora MacLeod