A Burns spectacular – in July!
29 November 23
Following the success of Lodge Warragamba’s inaugural Burns Spectacular in 2022, the follow-up event on 22 July this year was even more popular. The dinner and show were sold out, and everyone enjoyed the evening immensely.
In an effort to restart the social side of the Lodge following the Covid hiatus, the members decided to hold their Burns Night in July instead of the more traditional January. They agreed that they did not want to wait until January 2024, and if you can have Christmas in July then why not Burns?
It was on! What was originally going to be just the usual piping in and hacking up of the haggis soon grew to be a full-on dinner and show, with pipes, drums, dancers, poetry, and singing.
The Parramatta RSL Caledonian Pipe Band have long shared a great association with Lodge Warragamba, and they presented in all their glory to give two sets of magnificent traditional pipe songs. Also appearing were the Southern Cross Highland Dancers, amazing everyone with their skill and agility, performing reels, highland flings, sword dances and even a hornpipe.
Following the ‘Selkirk Grace’ as recited by Mary Bell OAM, the haggis – star of the show – was piped in with great ceremony. RW Bro Terry McCallum turned on his best Scottish accent to recite one of Burns’ most famous pieces ‘The Address to the Haggis’. The deed being done, and the whiskey toast being slammed down by the haggis party, the haggis was marched to the kitchen to meet its culinary end.
A vocal interlude then followed with Burns-related songs, including ‘Burn for You’ (John Farnham), ‘Red, Red Rose’ (Robert Burns) and ‘Fire’ (the Pointer Sisters).
At the end of the night, a lone piper accompanied RW Bro McCallum as he recited the poetry portion of Auld Lang Syne, and when it came to that well-known chorus, the whole pipe band struck up and marched in. The crowd were on their feet and joining hands as all sang together the most famous of Scottish songs, before heading homeward after a memorable night.
The funds raised will be donated to Mama Lana’s – a local Penrith charity providing food and sometimes shelter to those who need it. In the next issue, we will cover the presentation of the MasoniCare cheque to this very worthwhile and desperately needed organisation.