All Mathesons worldwide are invited to the International Clan Gathering in Australia and New Zealand from 28 March to 10 April this year.
The Gathering wil be be a highly enjoyable way to meet other Mathesons and will also provide an unique opportunity to come to these two countries, close together and with much common heritage. You will enjoy the hospitality, culture and scenery, as well as the Scottish flavour amongst the descendants of early pioneers, and more recent immigrants. Alexander Matheson, the heir to the Chiefship, will be in attendance for the Australian section.
Do come if you can: not only will it be a great chance to meet other Mathesons and explore your common heritage, but you could also take time either before or after the Gathering to explore Australia or New Zealand, experiencing their extraordinary beauty and meeting more of their cosmopolitan populations. They have much to offer the visitor, and extra days/weeks will be well worthwhile. It will be just after the Easter holidays, lovely autumn weather – an ideal time for a visit. The programme will include:
For details, click here.
To see the Australia branch newsletter for September 2007, which contains additional information, click here.
For picures of the last gathering, in June 2004, click here.
DETAILED PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
AUSTRALIA
MARCH 2008
28 1100-1700 Registration and introductions
1800 - 2200 Informal dinner
29 1030-1700 Visit to the Immigration Museum, Melbourne
1200-1330 Lunch, followed by Clan Parliament
1600-1730 Afternoon tea and Genealogy Forum
1930-2230 Clan Dinner
30 1030-1200 Clan Church Service at Scots Church Melbourne
1030-1630 Ringwood Highland Games
1930-2200 Evening entertainment, with music and traditional Scottish and Irish dancing
31 0930-1700 Historic homestead and Wineries Tour
1900-2300 River Cruise and dinner
Evening Scottish country dancing
1 April Tours: choose from Sovereign Hill Historic Gold Mining Village, Dandenong Ranges, Great Ocean Road. To find out more,
go to Melbourne Trivia or Visit Melbourne. If you plan to register for the gathering, please indicate your preferences on
the registration form.
APRIL 2008
2 and 3 Transfer to Auckland, New Zealand (3 hr flight)
NEW ZEALAND
APRIL
4 Registration in morning
Formal Dinner in evening
5 Trips and tours around Auckland and environs
Evening Light meal and get-together
6 Church Parade at Historic St Andrews
Church inc KOT
Lunch and get-together
7 Tour, whole day to historic Waipu
Museum, lunch, lecture and entertainment
Evening meal back at Auckland
8 Transfer by air to Queenstown
9 and 10 Trips and tours, dinner and other Meals, meeting and talk etc
11 Close. Travel home or some people may opt to stay longer in NZ.
Further details will be added to this page as they become available. Watch this space! Alternatively, click on one of the following links:
Melbourne part of the programme (on the Australia Society webpage)
If you are interested in joining a group attending the gathering from your national Clan Society, please contact your Branch's Chief's Lieutenant. Alternatively, you can register direct with the Australia and New Zealand Clan Societies - click here to register for the Australian part of the gathering. New Zealand links will be posted shortly.