The Quest of the Quaich

[billsides]

[IMG]

http://

[/IMG]

[IMG]

http://

[/IMG]

My photos got through in my last post but the text didn't so I add it now. Pics showed Colin McLeod from the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club who had just handed me the X Marks the Scot Quaich, the other pic showed Judy Turner the founder 16 years ago of the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle club on her retirement sharing the Quaich. Judy has been a giant in Scottish music in Australia and her group a winner of album awards. I have been proud to support her group as I can. The Quaich was a most appropriate farewell. I was wearing a kilt made with the Royal Scottish Dancing Club tartan.

Today I took the Quaich to one of the Scottish Counntry Dancing groups I attend. These photos record a special occasion, the birthday of our teacher Heather Byers who for her whole life has been deeply involved in Scottish things, be it education, dancing, piping or history. A most appropriate person to share the Quaich. Many members knew of its travels and on arrival it was lovingly polished by a member who saw it at Portarlington. Being the only guy in the group present and I always appear in a kilt, to get a show of tartan we collected ladies wearing tartan skirts about me. My kilt today was a Hunting Sinclair. My grandmother was a Sinclair.

Bill

[billsides]

I am awaiting photos for my next report on the travels of the Quaich but last night it was seen at the Brunswick Scottish Society Annual Highland Ball and tomorrow be at the Mitcham Tartan Day luncheon then be with old Scottish steam plant operating at the Melbourne Steam Traction Engine Club's open day. (Google them) By way of change, it will be used at a Rotary Changeover Night Monday then by request, on Tuesday return to Thomson Memorial for their dancing social and be in the presence of most of Melbourne's best Scottish Country dancers, but it must move on after that ASAP.

To date I have had no X Marks the Scot member west of my location here in Melbourne request it. (they need not be in Australia) The Quaich has had an amazing response wherever it appeared and has opened up many doors for me over the few days that I have had it. Group members west of me who like the idea of having a "Quest of the Quaich" experience, should contact me ASAP so we can arrange its future travels.

Bill

[cessna152towser]

Great pics Bill.
I hope to have the opportunity of meeting you when you visit Scotland later this year.

[billsides]

[/IMG][/IMG][/IMG]



Next group of photos from the Brunswick Highland Ball where the Quaich was the centrepiece of the Clan Sinclair table with President of the Clan behind. The photo of the group of three men are Bill Sides on the left (modern Hunting Sinclair kilt), the President of the Clan Sinclair (Australia) in centre (weathered Hunting Sinclair) and on the right and wearing a kilt for the very first time is a guest from England Jeff Lord who is also wearing a modern Hunting Sinclair kilt plus general photos from the dance floor showing kilts in action.

Bill Sides

[billsides]

[IMG]

http://

[/IMG]
[IMG]

http://

[/IMG]
[IMG]

http://

[/IMG]




Take two (photos did not come out).

[billsides]

[IMG]

http://

[/IMG]
[IMG]

http://

[/IMG]

The next use of the Quaich was during its visit to the Mitcham Country Dancer's Tartan Dinner. In Australia, Tartan dinners are held as close to practical to July 1 and of course a toast to the tartan is always held and the X Marks the Scot Quaich was used for that. We were piped in by member and President of Clan Fraser in Australia Don Chitts and we later put on a SCD dancing demonstration for other diners at the Alfred's Homestead facility.

[billsides]

[IMG]

http://

[/IMG]


[IMG]

http://

[/IMG]

The Scots had huge influence in Melbourne, at one point it is said Melbourne's population
was 75% Scottish and evidence of that is in the street and suburb names right across our city. Scottish equipment was once used almost everywhere and near my home is without doubt the largest collection in the Southern Hemisphere of Scottish plant is preserved and operating. The Quaich visited the MSTEC ground on a run day and was photographed beside one of a pair of giant Scottish made triple expansion stean engines ex the Clyde built Lyttleton Two tug. It is visible on the lower right. The next photo shows it beside a quite modern Glasgow built Sissons high speed engine once used for generating power in a factory. These engines were the world's best when built so rather appropriate to be visited by the X Marks the Scot Quaich.

Bill Sides

[billsides]

The Quaich must move on Westerly from its location in Melbourne, it has one last duty here this afternoon then I would like it to move on to another X Marks the Scot member to promote the use the kilt as much as possible. For me it has opened up great opportunities, and created much talk and interest, it can do it for you too so please contact me so I can forward it ASAP so you can share the experience of this wonderful initiative.

Bill Sides

[billsides]

May last post as holder of the X Marks the Scot Quaich. It has been a wonderful experience especially being over the International Day of the Tartan period. Locals adopted the concept and we can expect many more to watch these pages as a result of its visit to Melbourne and encompass kilts. I have attached an Ode to the Tartan that we use each year at vthis time plus an explanation of Tartan Day and a final pic taken at the Thomson Memorial Tartan Day Social where tartan was everywhere you looked.
Tomorrow the Quaiche heads off far west to France and I wish the the holders there have just as enjoyable experience as we in Melbourne have had.

Thanks for the opportunity to host it.

Bill Sides

[IMG]

http://

[/IMG]

[IMG]

http://

[/IMG]

[IMG]

http://

[/IMG]

[Oddern]

What a great time you have had with the Quaich. And may fine pictures of that.
It's a pity that there is no Xmarkers between Australia and the African and European continents. maybe we should start a membership campain in this part of the world.
Skål!