ACMS & CLAN MACLEOD SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND
REPORT 2008
Clan MacLeod Society Of New Zealand:
Report for ACMS MC meeting
To be held on 16th February in Edinburgh
New Zealand Clansfolk wish their fellow Clansfolk all the best for 2008. It is a fairly quiet time of the year for Clan activities as many clansfolk have been on Christmas & New Year holidays. Most Regional Societies have yet to hold committee meetings to plan activities for this year.
One of the major highlights for the latter part of 2007 was the visit from Ruari and Anne Halford-MacLeod. I gather that this was their first time in New Zealand . They very much enjoyed their trip around the country being met and hosted by clansfolk from North to South. There was quite a bit of reminiscing with clansfolk that they had met at Clan Parliaments over the years. When Ruari was in Christchurch, he discovered a suburb named after some of his forbears. Ruari and Anne visited one of our oldest clan members who was at Parliament in 1956 being Tui Parsons whose neice is our national secretary. Tui and Rona are quite closely related to the late Calum of the Road fame. This is the sort of thing that Ruari and Anne enjoy most meeting up with clansfolk who have strong connections to notable MacLeods in Scotland.In Waipu they were taken to the grave of the Rev Norman MacLeod. They also met up with Rebecca's mother and Grandfather. It was a real delight to have this visit by Ruari and Anne.
Members of the regional societies attended functions organised by outside groups. Canterbury members attended the Gathering of The Clans Celidh at The Scottish Society. Auckland members attended the Auckland Highland Games and the pre Xmas Picnic in Cornwall Park.
Canterbury had to defer their AGM to February 2nd as there was not a quorum present on November 24th That Society will be holding its annual picnic on Sunday January 20th in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Some members will be attending the Burn's Supper at The Scottish Society on January 26th and The Canterbury Centre's Pipe Band Contest on February 24th.
The highlight of this particular period was The Waipu Highland Games on January 1st in Waipu. Clan MacLeod was Host Clan for this and as such had pride of place in Clan Alley with a Marquee. Members of Helensville and Auckland Societies manned this during the day. I was in attendance as was John MacLeod Chief of the MacLeods of Raasay. As Clan MacLeod was Host Clan John and I were accorded DV Status. We were in the Official party taking the Salute as the clans paraded into the ground and also later when the official opening of the games took place. The Canadian High Commissioner to New Zealand performed the official opening signifying the link to Nova Scotia and St Annes on Cape Breton Island in Canada. In the morning I went down Clan Alley on a PR meet and greet the other clans and groups present and watched some Highland Dancing. After lunch I went over to the piping boards . I don't know how many outsiders visited the Marquee.In the parades both The Helensville and Auckland Society's banners were paraded. This was the first time that John had attended a highland games and he seemed favourably impressed especially at the Ceilidh which followed the games in the evening when a young piper from Christchurch played exceedingly well . The piper was Harrison Hawke who is a son of Richard Hawke who took part in last year's Dunvegan Silver Chanter.
On the evening before the games it was Hogmanay. Don Hammond President of Auckland & NZ Vice President put on a barbeque for visiting clan members. It was an excellent time of good Clan MacLeod fellowship.
It is with regret that I report the passing of Ron Tucker of Dunedin who was President of The Otago Society for a goodly number of years. He was a brother in law of the famous bearded Allan Macleod who made some hair raising trips overland and sea to and from Dunvegan. Ron through his marriage to Runa (Allan's sister )became involved in Clan MacLeod affairs becoming Otago President. His nephew Rod is currently Otago President. Ron had been unwell for some years recently. He is sorely missed
On a much brighter note one of our oldest Clan Members Tui Parsons recently celebrated her 90th birthday. She went to Wellington to be with her relations to celebrate it.
I have asked all the regional societies to discuss the ACMS MT and bring the results of those discussions to this Years NZ AGM which is proposed for Staurday May 10th. This will be a major item on the meeting's agenda.
If there are any Clansfolk from around the world intending to visit New Zealand would they please contact me and NZ Secretary Rona Cooper so that we can arrange some Clan hospitality for them.
Ian F MacLeod, President Clan MacLeod Society of New Zealand
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