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Australians are now recuperating after twelve months celebrations during the 1988 Year of Australia's Bicentenary.
Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the First Fleet, arrived on our shores in Sydney Harbour on 26th January 1788 and commenced the settlement of our country, now strong and independent, and with a population of over sixteen million people.
Many Scots took up the challenge during the early and mid 1800s, journeyed to Australia by sailing ship, became foundation settlers, and opened up our vast country.
To commemorate Australia's association with the Scottish people, a cairn of stones of Scottish origin, collected from the parishes all over Scotland, has been constructed in Rawson Park, Mosman, overlooking North and South Head at the entrance to Sydney Harbour, New South Wales. Rawson Park, situated at George's Head adjacent to the Military Reserve, would have been one of the first landmarks witnessed by Captain' Arthur Phillip on his entry into Sydney Harbour.
The stones of the cairn were gathered from all over Scotland, shipped to Australia, and built to form a cairn approximately 8 feet in height, and 5 feet across at the base, the whole set on stone slabs forming a central viewing area within the lawns of the Park. The finial stone, of Celtic design, came from the Island of Ulva, off the coast of the Island of Mull.
The project was opened on St. Andrew's Day, 30th November 1988 by His Grace the Duke of Argyll. The inscription on the plaque reads as follows:
THE SCOTLAND AUSTRALIA CAIRN
HERE FRAE A' THE AIRTS, STANE UPON STANEHAUD THEGITHER THRU WIND AND RAINMINDERS 0' SCOTLAND THAT AINCE WAS HAME THERE ARE MANY COMMEMORATIVE CAIRNS IN SCOTLAND MARKINGIMPORTANT EVENTS OR PLACES.THIS CAIRN WAS BUILT TO COMMEMORATE THE BICENTENARY OF THE LANDINGOF CAPTAIN ARTHUR PHILLIP IN SYDNEY IN 1788. ITS STONES WERE GATHERED BY THE MINISTERS OF EACH PARISH FROM ALL OVER SCOTLAND, GENEROUSLY COLLECTED TOGETHER BY THE ROYAL MAIL AND BROUGHT TO AUSTRALIA. THEY REPRESENT THE DIVERSITY OF SCOTLAND'S GEOLOGY. AMONG THEM ARESTONES FROM FOUR SCOTTISH CATHEDRALS.THE FINIAL STONE OF THE CAIRN CAME FROM THE ISLAND OF ULVA, OFF MULL, WHICH WAS THE BIRTHPLACE OF LACHLAN MACQUARIE (OR MACQUAIRE) THE FIFTH'GOVERNOR OF NEW SOUTH WALES WHO IS OFTENDESCRIBED AS THE'FATHER OF AUSTRALIA',THE CAIRN IS THE RESULT OF VOLUNTARY EFFORT BY MANY PEOPLE. IT WAS ERECTED BY THE MOSMAN COUNCIL UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE SCOTLAND/AUSTRALIA BICENTENNIALCAIRN COMMITTEE AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SCOTTISH AUSTRALIA HERITAGE COUNCIL.IT NOW STANDS AS A LASTING TESTIMONY OF GOODWILL BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND AND THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA.
And so we extend a special invitation to all Scots from all over the world ...Be sure and visit this famous monument and let's all celebrate the great ties between the Peoples of Scotland and Australia. You will be most welcome to visit us.
Cheers from Australia, Bert Hunter, Clan Officer.
From the Clan Officer, Australia.
Clan members are advised that a varied selection of Clan Goods as advertised in the Clan Hunter Mail Order Brochure are available on display at my home: 51 Albany Street, Gosford, 2250, New South Wales, 'phone 043-251588.
As you know, the goods are of excellent quality and are very reasonably priced. They make excellent gifts for your relatives and friends. Orders can be taken for goods not in stock.
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