Albannaich Winter 2009

W I N T E R 2 0 0 9

© 2009. All rights reserved. The Society of St Andrew of Scotland. PO Box 674, Toowong Business Centre QLD 4066 1

Darling Downs Ladies NightDarling Downs Branch held its annual Ladies Night Dinner on Saturday 20 June, 2009 at the Downs Club. The event was attended by some 60 members, ladies and guests, and a wonderful time was had by all.

Patrons were entertained by dancers from Bernadette Spies’ Highland Dancers and a mini-band from the Toowoomba Caledonian Pipe Band.

Guest Speaker was Ms Kim Stokes, from local radio station 4GR, who co-presents the “4GR Big Breakfast”, and she spoke most entertainingly on the trials and tribulations of an early morning radio announcer.

4GR runs a project each year, called “Give Me 5 For Kids”, to raise funds in support of the Children’s Ward at the Toowoomba Base Hospital, and it was with pleasure that our branch presented Kim with a cheque for $200 towards this worthy cause.

A Quarterly Newsletter of The Society of St Andrew of Scotland (Queensland) Limited www.standrewsociety.com

Also in this issue ...

Incoming Rotary International President ... a Scot!

John Kenny is a member, Rotary Club of Grangemouth, Scotland.

John is a past dean of his local law faculty, a judge, and a notary. He is active in the Scout Movement and earned the Scouting Medal of Merit for helping to form new scout groups in Eastern Europe. Kenny was appointed deputy lieutenant of his district by Queen Elizabeth II.

An elder of the Church of Scotland, he has served as session clerk and presbytery elder.

A Rotarian since 1970, John has been president and vice president of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland.

• Rotarian since 1970

• Lawyer, member of local law faculty

• Former President of Rotary International of the British Isles and Ireland

• Elder in Church of Scotland

• Former director of Rotary International and trustee of The Rotary Foundation

John Kenny, Rotary International President for 2009 - 2010

“Shoulder to Shoulder”Albannaich

Personality of the Society

This issue’s Personality of the Society is Kenneth G. Wyllie. Ken joined the Society in 1958.

Read more on page 2.

Prominent Queensland Scot, John Dunmore Lang.

Has Rev Dr. John Dunmore Lang been forgotten?

Angus Edmonds tells us more about Lang’s contributions and life on page 4.

The Stone of Destiny

What is the Stone of Destiny, it’s origins and the mystery of where it is now. Have the English been fooled?

Read the full extract on page 8.

Mrs Colleen Leslie presenting the cheque to Kim, watched by President Kym Flehr

We look forward to seeing Members at the Society’s, Annual Ladies Dinner on September 4th, 2009. RSVP essential, by August 28th!

A L B A N N A I C H Q U E E N S L A N D

2 © 2009. All rights reserved. The Society of St Andrew of Scotland. PO Box 674, Toowong Business Centre QLD 4066

Kenneth (Ken) G. Wyllie was born in Brisbane on March 28th, 1928.

Ken attended the Eagle Junction State School and completed his education at Scots College, Warwick. He spent the greater part of his working life (30 years) with the family business of J.R. Wyllie & Sons Pty Ltd and following the sale of the business he worked for 11 years with the Engineering Department of the Pine Rivers Shire Council.

Ken retired in 1993.

He married Noela Maclean on December 1st, 1951, the day after St Andrew’s Day. They met in Warwick, Noela was a pupil at the Presbyterian Girls’ College, when they were very young.

Ken and Noela have two daughters, Susan and Jennifer and a son, David, who is a Life Member of the Society. They also have six wonderful grandchildren.

Ken’s great-great grandparents came from the Orkney Islands, from Rousay and Eday. His great grandparents and his grandfather lived near Montrose and St Cyrus, south of Aberdeen and his grandfather, James Ross Wyllie, arrived in Australia from Scotland on January 5th, 1864 at the tender age of 5 years.

Ken joined the Society in June, 1958.

He was elected to the Executive Council in 1975 and to the Board of Governors in 1979. He is still a member of the Board and a Governor of the Society.

As a tireless worker, to this day, for the Society, he has filled the office of Chieftain and President, with distinction.

Ken says that he had the pleasure of serving as an ‘apprentice’ haggis maker to that great man, the late Dr Alex Mayes and since his passing, has made the ceremonial haggis for Society functions.

He claims that he loves making the haggis and many can attest that they greatly enjoy eating Ken’s haggis.

Apart from his work with and for the Society, Ken has been an active member of Apex and has enjoyed his involvement with the Apex Club of Ipswich, the Appeals Committee of the St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital in Brisbane and the Board of Scots - PGC College, Warwick, his old alma mater. So

too has he greatly enjoyed a long membership of the Virginia Golf Club.

In late 2008 and early 2009, Ken undertook

to review issues of the Society journal “Shoulder to Shoulder” since it was first published. He has completed that task and recommended many articles for re-publication in Albannaich Queensland.

On behalf of those of us of the Society who know Ken well and work with him, for the Society, I humbly say “Thank you, Ken. It is a privilege to know you and a pleasure to work with you. Lang may ye’r lum reek”.

Jack VaudinSecretary

Society Structure

Patron McPherson, Hon. B. H., CBE.Chieftain Porteous, R. D.Chaplain MacNicol, Rev. ArchiePresident Flehr, K. G., FSA Scot. Chairman, Council Gill, Professor S.

Members of the Council

Bolton D. G. F. Bursary ConvenorCampbell T. C. D.Ua. FSA Scot.De Hayr M. W. D.Ua.Galloway D. W. H. Gunn G. N. Chairman, Dinner CommitteeMalcolmson S. D.McCabe A. H. McConnell A. J. TreasurerMcDonald D. F. QPM.Nicol P. R. D.Urr. FSA Scot. Scott R. D.UrrVaudin J. B. SecretaryWilson A. N. Chair of Ladies Night CommitteeWorrell J. P. M. Editor, Soc. PublicationsWorrell J. R. I. Asst. Editor, Web Master

Albannaich Queensland

Editor Jim Worrell [email protected] Site www.standrewsociety.comPostal Address PO Box 674 Toowong Business Centre Queensland 4066

Personality of the Society ...

Kenneth G. Wyllie

A Governor of the Society - Kenneth G. Wyllie

Ken joined the Society in June, 1958

Competition! For your chance to win a bottle of scotch, how do you say ... “Slàinte maith, h-uile latha, na chi ‘snach fhaic!”?We have used this greeting a number of times in correspondence of late and a number of members have asked what does it mean? Well the answer to that is: “Good health, every day, whether I see you or not!”

But what we want to know is the phonetic pronunciation! E-mail your answer by August 31st, 2009 to: [email protected], for your chance to win!

The winner receives a bottle of single malt and the Chieftain’s decision is final!

mailto:[email protected]


http://www.standrewsociety.com






From the Archives ... Shoulder to Shoulder Volume 1, No. 1A series of interesting and historical extracts from your Society’s past.

2008Jul Campbell, Lahlan R.

Aug Gillespie, Robert B.

Sep Dawson, Fraser H.

Oct Batt, Keith L.

Nov Zacharin, Robert

Dec McKenna, Michael J. Chadwick, Anne

2009Feb Sanders, Dean M. MacKenzie, Cameron D. B. Weier, Isaac D.

Mar Elliott, Henry R.

Apr Nil

May McCabe, Mark B.

Jun Yorkston, Alan L.

Scottish HumourOn a trip to the UK, Barack Obama is visiting an Edinburgh hospital. He enters a ward full of patients with no obvious sign of injury or illness, and greets one.

The patient replies,

“Fair fa your honest sonsie face,Great chieftain o’ the pudding race,Aboon them a ye take yer place,Painch, tripe or thairm,As langs my airm.”

Obama is confused, so he just grins and moves on to the next patient. The next patient responds,

“Some hae meat an canna eat,And some wad eat that want it,But we hae meat an we can eat,So let the Lord be thankit.”

Even more confused, and his grin now rictus-like, the President moves on to the next patient, who begins to chant,

“Wee sleekit, cowerin’, timorous beasty,O the panic in thy breasty,Thou needna start awa sae hastie,Wi bickering brattle.”

Now seriously troubled, Obama turns to the accompanying doctor and asks,

“Is this a psychiatric ward?”

“No”, replies the doctor.

“This is the serious Burns unit.”

Society Notice BoardImportant Dates and Upcoming Events

2009 - 2010 Membership Renewal Now

Cairn Dedication, Toowoomba August 22nd

Annual Ladies Dinner September 4th

Annual General Meeting October 13th

Downs Branch Mens Dinner November 7th

Annual Mens Dinner November 27th

2009 - 2010 Subscriptions are now due!

All members should have received their 2009 - 2010 Annual Membership Renewal forms. Please return these as soon as possible according to the instructions on the form.

If you have not received your form, please contact the Treasurer, Alex McConnell on [email protected].

If you, or a friend, would like to join, please refer to the Membership Form and Joining Instructions on our web site, www.standrewsociety.com, or contact Jack Vaudin on [email protected].

Welcome to New Members in 2008 - 2009!









Queensland’s Forgotten Founding FatherBy Angus Edmonds OAMRev Dr John Dunmore Lang (1799-1878) played an important role in bringing about the separation of Queensland from New South Wales and its establishment as an independent colony (and later, State). This Scottish migrant who became a leading churchman and politician and an eminent Australian patriot should be recognised as Queensland’s Founding Father.

Introduction

In 1878, just 90 years after the arrival of the First Fleet, Australia had developed from a small penal settlement scarcely able to sustain itself to an increasingly confident and prosperous group of five self-governing colonies with a growing sense of common purpose that would lead to federation in the Commonwealth of Australia some two decades later. 1878 also

witnessed the largest funeral ever seen in Australia when over 3000 men followed the cortege carrying the mortal remains of the Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang to his resting place, and an estimated 70,000 men, women and children stood in the streets and took every possible vantage point, including roof tops, to pay their last respects. Lang had played a significant role in the development of New South Wales, he helped bring into existence the colonies of Victoria and Queensland, and he was one of the

earliest proponents of a federated Australia.

In the year that Queensland celebrates its sesquicentennial as a separate geo-political entity, little if anything is being done to commemorate the very important role played by Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang (1799-1878) in bringing about the separation of

Queensland from New South Wales and its establishment as an independent colony (and later, State). Yet a case can be made that this Scottish migrant who became a leading churchman and politician

The old site of the North Brisbane Burial Grounds, later renamed, Lang Park. Picture from 1870.

... an estimated 70,000 men, women and children stood in the streets and took every possible vantage point, including roof tops, to pay their last respects.



and an eminent Australian patriot should be recognised as Queensland’s Founding Father.

Lang’s early involvement with Moreton Bay

In 1824, following John Oxley’s exploration of Moreton Bay and the Brisbane River late in 1823, Thomas Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales, ordered the establishment of a penal colony for recidivist convicts at Moreton Bay, regarded as a place cut off from civilisation from which it would be difficult to escape and live. Briefly located at Redcliffe the penal settlement was very soon relocated to what was to become Brisbane. From 1824-1840 this settlement was solely a penal colony, a harsh and brutal outpost, from which free settlers were barred. Indeed, Moreton Bay was not officially opened to free settlers until 4 May 1842.

John Dunmore Lang’s interest in Moreton Bay pre-dates such free settlement. The focus of his interest was initially the Aboriginal population. Lang believed that, once converted to Christianity, they would naturally adopt Western civilisation. Through direct contact, Lang had developed a respect for aboriginal peoples, recognising their skills and intelligence. From his theological perspective he regarded all men as equal creatures of God. In 1837 Lang recruited a group of Protestant missionaries from Germany to establish a missionary station at Nundah. Ultimately, the German Mission failed in its objectives but some of the group remained as early settlers in the area and contributing to the development of the early settlement.

The first to propose separation from New South Wales

In 1845, just three years after free settlement was permitted, Lang first visited Moreton Bay. He travelled as far as limitations would allow, seeing the country at first hand and speaking with locals, and noting the

variety of crops and fruits already in production. He had read widely on agricultural matters and observed practices in his travels to Brazil and the United States. Although the locals laughed at his proposal ‘as absurd and hopeless’1, Lang declared publicly that Brisbane should become “the seat of a separate and distinct Colony... at the earliest possible period.”2 Lang was the first, and for a time the only, proponent of an independent Queensland.

Lang was a democrat and favoured decentralisation of government, believing this would ensure democracy governed by the will of

the people. He feared a centralised government in Sydney dominated by the rich and powerful. After all, he had witnessed the dominance of the Rum Corps and the ‘Sqattocracy.’ As a representative in the NSW Parliament for the district of Port Phillip and later for Moreton Bay, Lang noted that the central government spent more of the revenues raised in these districts in Sydney than in the districts themselves. His preferred model of government was the federal system that had impressed him during his visit to the USA in 1840.

Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang (1799-1878)



He promoted the creation of two separate colonies for Port Phillip and Moreton Bay, and as a republican, proposed they be called ‘Phillipsland’ and ‘Cooksland’ respectively rather than the names that forever link them with Queen Victoria. However, the ultimate choice of name lay with the Imperial Government and the Sovereign. [Given the publicity raised for Lang’s choice of names, and particularly in the case of his promotion of ‘Cooksland’ by which time his republican views were well known, it is possible to speculate that the name ‘Queensland’ was chosen as a direct reaction to, and rebuff of, Lang’s ‘Cooksland’, although the record shows that Queen Victoria herself took the ultimate decision.]

Promoting Cooksland (Queensland)

Following his visit to Moreton Bay, and based on his copious notes, Lang promoted the region in a book, Cooksland in North-Eastern Australia; a highly eligible field for emigration and the future cotton field of Great Britain, with a Disquisition on the Origin, Manners and Customs of the Aborigine. He published this in London in 1847. For Lang, the economic viability of his proposed new colony was closely linked to his notion of political independence. He also published pamphlets which he distributed without charge and two thousand

copies of an abbreviated Cooksland which sold for sixpence. He sent copies to Earl Grey, the Colonial Secretary, together with suggestions for the boundaries of ‘Phillipsland’ and ‘Cooksland’. If Lang’s advice had been followed the Riverina would be part of Victoria, and the Northern Rivers region of NSW part of Queensland.

Lang took samples of cotton grown near Brisbane to Glasgow for inspection and approval, and met with cotton mill owners in

Manchester to further promote the industry. He was a regular correspondent in a radical newspaper, The British Banner, promoting ‘Cooksland’ and urging skilled and educated Protestants to consider migrating to Australia, particularly to ‘Cooksland’ and ‘Phillipsland’. He addressed meetings in various cities of England and Scotland. He also answered a huge correspondence from people wanting to know more specific information about Australia.

Lang’s promotion of Queensland continued after it became a colony. Visiting the United Kingdom again in 1861, he encouraged people to take advantage of the policy introduced by the new Queensland Government of a free grant of land to all approved immigrants (an idea Lang himself had promoted). He

revised and republished his earlier work with Queensland, Australia replacing Cooksland in North-Eastern Australia in the title in 1861, with a second edition released in 1864.

Lang’s migration schemes to increase Moreton Bay’s population

To increase the meagre 1500 population of Moreton Bay, Lang travelled throughout Great Britain in 1847/48 to organise a migration scheme. Initial approaches to the British Government, including a meeting with the Colonial Secretary, appeared favourable but ended in

I N V I TAT I O N T O T H E S O C I E T Y ’ S

A N N U A L L A D I E S D I N N E RF R I D AY , S E P T E M B E R 4 T H , 2 0 0 9

Members and guests are invited to the Annual Ladies Dinner, to be held on Friday, September 4th, 2009, 7:00pm for 7:30pm at the

Tara Ballroom, Irish Club, Elizabeth St, Brisbane. The night, which will be hosted by Mrs Jackie McPherson, wife of our

Patron, is for our Ladies, Members with their wives, partners and guests, will include piping, singing, dancing and guest artists.

See the Society web site, www.standrewsociety.comfor further details and forms.

Price $75.00 per person RSVP August 28th, 2009

“Shoulder to Shoulder”

Lang as a younger man





failure. While the government wanted migrants had to pay their way, Lang attempted to force the Government’s hand to provide assisted passage and settlement grants by proceeding with a scheme that would have given an assistance package to migrants. Despite poor management and somewhat devious tactics, Lang organised a migrant scheme under the auspices of the Port Phillip and Clarence River Colonization Company, a company existing in name only with no real assets or subscription.

Nonetheless, Lang brought almost six hundred migrants to Brisbane in 1849 in the three ships, the Fortitude, the Chaseley, and the Lima. He had made promises of land grants to the migrants that were never to be fulfilled, except for those on the Lima. However, few among the ‘Lang migrants’ blamed him directly. Despite being met with ‘economic hardship, official indifference and a

suspicious reception from the resident population’3, Lang’s migrants improved the quality of life in the settlement, involving themselves in commerce, church and politics. They established the United Evangelical Chapel (an ecumenical Protestant church), a Temperance Society, and the School of Arts. Their arrival was timely as they helped to arrest a decline in Brisbane’s population following news of gold discoveries. In fact, they increased the population by 40%, a far higher percentage increase than any other migration operation before or since. Other migrants who arrived in government supported programs had also been influenced by Lang’s promotional campaigns (Overall an estimated 10,000 migrants came to Australia, including Queensland, due to Lang’s influence.)

Other motivational interests

Lang’s interest in promoting ‘Cooksland’ as the ‘Empire’s cotton

field’ had three primary motivations: (i) the economic viability and political independence of the region; (ii) the plight of the poor in Britain, especially those dispossessed in the Scottish Highlands by the large scale ‘clearances’ of clans folk to make way for sheep; and (iii) he hoped to peacefully end slavery in the United States of America. Lang was convinced that, if Americans learned that free labour could produce cotton successfully in Australia, they would end slavery and use paid labour in their cotton fields too.

A further motivation for Lang was the opportunity to introduce a population of educated and skilled Protestant migrants to counter what Lang saw as the growing influx of poor, unskilled, uneducated Irish Catholics. He also disliked the haughty elitism of High Anglicanism and its theology linking forgiveness with penitence and the Eucharist. From the outset, Lang’s promotion of

Lang brought almost six hundred migrants to Brisbane in 1849 in the three ships, the Fortitude (pictured above), the Chaseley, and the Lima.



evangelical Protestantism in ‘Cooksland’ as a bulwark against Romanism was not well received. The Moreton Bay Courier, while acknowledging the fine work that Lang had undertaken to promote migration and industry for Queensland, distanced itself from his denominational position.

Indeed, it is arguable that Lang’s identification with sectarianism (his ‘deplorable intolerance in theological matters.’4 has been the chief stumbling block for his acceptance as a major political figure in the development of Queensland and Australia. Yet Lang had good reason to associate Irish Catholicism with ignorance and poverty at that time. He had visited Ireland at age 18 and witnessed the abject poverty of its people. He knew that Catholic priests in Scotland forbade the Irish immigrant children to attend the national system of schools (because of the influence of the (Presbyterian) Church of Scotland), thus condemning the Irish Catholic population to illiteracy and the endless cycle of poverty.

Lang’s political campaign for Separation

In 1851, having successfully agitated and petitioned for the establishment of an independent colony in the south (Victoria) and following his establishment of the Australian League to further Australian political sovereignty, Lang wrote Freedom and Independence for the Golden Lands of Australia in which he proposed the Seven United Provinces of Eastern Australia. When Lang returned to Brisbane in April 1851, he outlined a scheme to promote immigration with the aid of a government subsidy - a practical policy adopted most successfully by the new government in Queensland a decade later. At a public meeting in the School of Arts, Lang spoke about separation from New South Wales and the establishment of an independent colony. The meeting passed a resolution authorising Lang to seek separation and increased immigration for the Moreton Bay District. Lang organised a petition to the Queen, and in February 1852, he sailed again to Great Britain to press

the case for separation and promote further immigration.

In 1854, to advance the separation cause, Lang accepted nomination to fill a vacancy in the electorate of Stanley Boroughs (Moreton Bay district, excluding Brisbane) in the New South Wales Legislative Council. With the support of the migrants from the three ships of 1848 and James Swan, editor of the Moreton Bay Courier, himself a Lang migrant to Sydney in 1837, Lang was elected as MLC in August that year, after a hard fought and close contest against the squatters’ candidate, Arthur Hodgson. With widespread support established for the cause of separation, and following the same lines as his earlier successful campaign for the separation of Victoria, Lang had turned the tide and within five years the establishment of Queensland was a reality.

Recognition of Lang’s founding role

A year after separation, on 17 September 1860, Governor George

The Stone of DestinySeton GordonFrom Highways and Byways in the Central Highlands

The Celtic name of the stone now in the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey is Lia Fàil, “the speaking stone”, which name the king who should be chosen. Cambray in his Monuments Celtiques, claims to have seen the stone when it still bore the inscription: “Ni fallat fatum, Scoli quocumque locatum Invenient lapidem, regnasse tenentur ibidem” or If Destiny prove true, then Scots are known to have been kings where’er men find this stone.

A few miles up the river from Perth is the site of the historic Abbey of Scone, where the kings of Scotland were crowned. But the glory of Scone has long departed, for, event in the time of the writing of the old Statistical Account, “on the spot where our ancient kings were crowned there now grows a clump of trees.” At Scone the Coronation Stone, or Stone of Destiny was “reverently kept for the consecration of the kings of Alba” and, according to an old chronicler, “no king was ever wont to reign in Scotland unless he had first, on receiving the royal

name, sat upon the stone at Scone, which by the kings of old have been appointed the capital of Alba.” The Stone of Destiny, now in Westminster Abbey, is an oblong block of red sandstone, some 26 inches long by 16 inches broad, and 10½ inches deep: on the flat top of the stone are the marks of chiselling. Tradition affirms that it is the same stone which Jacob used as a pillow at Bethel and then set up as a pillar and anointed with oil: later, according to Jewish tradition, it became the pedestal of the ark in the Temple. The stone was brought from Syria to Egypt by



Bowen wrote to Lang at the request of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland to inform him of resolutions adopted unanimously by the Queensland Parliament thanking Lang for his ‘able and successful efforts to effect the separation of Moreton Bay from New South Wales, and to found the Colony of Queensland.’5 While others in the new colony, and indeed ministers and government officials in far off London, had played important roles in establishing Queensland, these resolutions pay tribute to the special role played by John Dunmore Lang in this regard.

Lang’s pre-eminence in establishing Queensland was widely accepted at the time of separation and throughout the remainder of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. However, Lang’s relationship with the Queensland Government was soured in 1864 by a petty disagreement between him and the Government concerning a possible gift in appreciation of Lang’s role. Although Lang was received by the mayor of Brisbane and feted by his supporters in 1864

and again in 1874, he was never again offered any official recognition by successive Queensland governments in the 19th century.

Largely conservative in political outlook, they were unlikely to promote the memory of someone with a radical reputation.

However, others including former political foes acknowledged his role. His old political opponent, Arthur Hodgson, at an old colonialists reunion in Brisbane town hall in 1869, acknowledged Lang’s pre-eminence in the founding of Queensland, stating, ‘We are indebted very largely to Dr Lang for separation.’6 Writing in the 1880s, Margaret Seymour recalled how ‘during more than ten years the separationists, with Dr. Lang at their head, fought for their independence, which the Imperial Government at last granted in 1859.’7 In the same decade, William Henry Traill wrote that Lang’s name ‘was inseparably connected with the progress of the nascent colony,’ acknowledging Lang’s ‘uncompromising advocacy of separation...from New South Wales.’8 In 1899, on the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Lang ships, the remaining migrants (of whom there were about 150 alive) and their families, a total of about

Gathelus, who in order to escape the plague, sailed, on the advice of Moses, from the Nile with his wife and the Stone of Destiny, and landed in Spain. Gathelus sent the stone to Eire when he had invaded that country, and it was later brought to Scotland where it remained in the Abbey of Scone until, in the year 1296, Edward I of England carried it off to Westminster Abbey.

An interesting tradition has been given me by the Earl of Mansfield, whose family have owned the lands of Scone for more than three hundred years. The tradition, which has been handed down through several generations, is that, somewhere around the dates of 1795 - 1820, a farm lad had been wandering with a friend on Dunsinnan, the site of MacBeth’s castle, soon after a violent storm. The torrential rain had caused a small landslide, and as the result of this a fissure, which seemed to penetrate deep into the hillside, was visible. The two men procured some form of light and explored the fissure. They came at last to the broken wall of a subterranean chamber. In one corner of the chamber was a stair which was blocked with debris, and in the centre of the chamber they saw a slab of stone covered with hieroglyphics and supported by four short stone “legs”. As there was no evidence of treasure in the

subterranean apartment the two men did not realise the importance of their “find” and did not talk of what they had seen. Some years later one of the men first heard the local tradition, that on the approach of King Edward I, the monks of Scone hurriedly removed the Stone of Destiny to a place of safe concealment and took from the Annety Burn, a stone of similar size and shape, which the English king carried off in triumph. When he heard this legend, the man hurried back to Dusinnan Hill, but whether his memory was at fault regarding the site of the landslide, or whether the passage of time, or a fresh slide of earth, had obliterated the cavity, the fact remains that he was unable to locate the opening in the hillside. It may be asked why the monks of Scone, after the English king had returned to London, did not bring back to the abbey the original Stone of Destiny, but the tradition accounts for this by explaining that it was not considered safe at the time to allow the English to know that they had been tricked, and that when the days of possible retribution were past, the monks who had known the secret were dead. This tradition, it is held, explains why the Coronation Stone in Westminster Abbey resembles geologically the stone commonly found in the neighbourhood of Scone.



500m people met at Goodna to celebrate and unanimously support a resolution recording ‘the patriotic and statesmanlike efforts of the Rev Dr Lang to secure the foundations of the future colony.’9

In 1901, Federation year and therefore also the first year of Queensland’s statehood, a stained glass window was installed in St Stephens’ Presbyterian Church, Ipswich, to mark the formation of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. This window depicts Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang flanked by the two great historic figures of the Scottish Church, St Columba and John Knox. Above the figures are three crosses: the Celtic Cross (Columba), the constellation of the Southern Cross (Lang), and the Scottish Saltire (Knox). Below each figure are Iona Abbey (Columba), SS Fortitude (Lang), and St Giles Cathedral (Knox). The symbolism of Lang in such exalted historical company, and the symbolism of Lang’s work in Australia and specifically in Queensland is worthy of note. It elevates Lang to a degree that might have embarrassed even him, despite what he would have called his ‘ain guid conceit o’ himsel’.

With the election of governments more in tune with his reputation as the ‘people’s champion,’ Lang was finally recognised officially in 1914 for his pioneering role. When a seven hectare public park was developed on the site of the former North Brisbane Burial Grounds, it was thought appropriate to name it in honour John Dunmore Lang. The park was designed as ‘a people’s park’ to meet the recreational needs of the burgeoning population of the suburbs around Spring Hill, Red Hill, Auchenflower, Rosalie and Paddington, crowded with workers cottages. Lang Park is in many ways a fitting memorial to Lang. He was the people’s champion, and Lang Park is an important focal point for ordinary Queenslanders and their sense of identity as citizens of this State. We might also appreciate the

irony that this stadium, named after one who was so belligerent and fiery, carries the nickname of ‘The Cauldron.’

It is also ironic that the Lang Park development took place on burial grounds as in many ways Lang’s contribution to Queensland has been buried by subsequent events (the 1914-1918 War, the Great Depression, and then World War II) and by the growth of a population, including many migrants, who knew nothing about Lang. Furthermore, his promotion of Protestant migration to counteract the large numbers of Irish Catholics gained him a reputation (unfairly) as a religious bigot. Possibly the biggest reason for neglect of his contribution to Queensland was simply that the Governments and people of Queensland had bigger issues to face than to recall the obscure political events that led to the establishment of Queensland in the previous century.

Conclusion

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Lang’s vision for Queensland is that he actually had a vision for this vast track, of country ‘at the uttermost ends of the earth’ at a time when it was viewed by government (in Sydney and in London) as little more than a penitentiary for recidivist convicts, and by squatters as sheep runs to provide them with the means to return ‘home’ to England as wealthy nabobs. It may seem now that it was inevitable that an area like Queensland would be separated from New South Wales, but that was not the accepted opinion when Lang first proposed it.

No-one did more to promote the nascent Queensland than Lang. In addition to proposing and petitioning for its separate existence, Lang was the greatest early

propagandist for Queensland and its development. He contributed significantly to the early growth of Queensland through his migration scheme in 1848/49 and in his promotion of migration to Queensland and by government’s adoption of his proposal for assistance to migrants. Lang argued and laboured to achieve his goals and in so doing caused offense, particularly to the establishment. Lang’s chief biographer, the historian DWA Baker, presented a less than flattering view of Lang, but conceded ‘A less pugnacious man would have been easier to live with but would not have had the drive which enabled Lang to achieve so much...’10

In 1999, when unveiling a plaque on the Lang statue in Wynyard Park, Sydney, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Lang’s birth (and co-incidentally in the 140th anniversary year of the Separation of Queensland), the then Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, acknowledged John Dunmore Lang as ‘the earliest and strongest advocate’11 of Queensland’s separation from colonial New South Wales. Perhaps it is time that the State leaders of Queensland also publicly acknowledge Lang’s role and recognise him as a founder, and perhaps, the founding father of Queensland.

References

1. Moreton Bay Courier, 7 August 1847

2. JD Lang, Queensland; the future cotton field of Great Britain: its characteristics and capabilities for European colonization. With a disquisition on the origins, manners, and customs of the aborigines,



Edward Stanford, London, 1864, p. xvii

3. Dimity Dorman & Denis Cryle, The Petrie Family: Building Colonial Brisbane UQP, St Lucia, 1992, pp.112 & 114

4. WH Traill, Historical Sketch of Queensland, Paul Hamlyn Pty Ltd 1980, 1886, p.18

5. Queensland Parliament. Legislative Assembly. Votes and Proceedings, Brisbane, 1861.

6. Archibald Gilchrist, John Dunmore Lang, Chiefly Autobiographical 1799 to 1878, Vol2, p. 563

7. Margaret Seymour,‘Queensland – Past and Present’ in Cassell’s Picturesque Australasia first published 1889, first published in facsimile form 1978, Second impression 1982, Child & Henry Publishing Pty Ltd, Hornsby NSW, pp.635-636.

8. Traill, op.cit., pp. 18 &.46

9. The Queenslander, May 19, 1899

10. DWA Baker, Preacher, Politian, Patriot: A Life of John Dunmore Lang, MUP, Melbourne, 1998, p.17

11. Bicentenary plaque on Lang statue in Wynyard Park, Sydney, unveiled by the Hon RJ Carr MP, Premier of NSW, 25 August 1999.

Many thanks must go to Angus Edmonds OAM for his contribution to the magazine. The article was not only highly detailed and well researched, but also timely given the Q150 celebrations occurring at this time.

If other members have similar ideas or indeed wish to contribute any articles or content, be sure to contact the Editor, Jim Worrell on 0419 888 360 or by e-mail: [email protected]

Bursaries in 2008 - 2009As part of the Society’s annual philanthropic activities, we present a number of bursaries to worthy student recipients, to assist them in their educational pursuits.

In the early 1960’s a Bursary Award Scheme was established by the Society.

Monies were set aside to establish educational Bursaries to be awarded to students enrolled at and attending nominated school and colleges in Queensland.

The purpose of the Bursaries is:

1. To encourage, maintain and foster Scottish traditions in Queensland through future leaders of the community;

2. To promote interest in the Society;

3. To encourage and assist qualifying students to attain higher educational levels;

4. To honour the memory of deceased members of the Society who have given outstanding service to the community.

Funds for the Bursary scheme came out of Society General funds. However, on October 19th, 1990, a separate Society fund was established for ‘public educational purposes’, complying with a Deed in Trust, approved by the Australian Tax Office, exempting the fund from income tax.

In respect of candidates for Bursaries, it is stipulated that the candidate should be a student attending a recognised school or college in Queensland and be returning to such school for at least a

further year of study.

Over the years, the bank interest from the Bursary Fund has financed the scheme.

2008 - 2009 Recipients

The D.M. Fraser Memorial BursaryJames Riddell, Emmanuel College

The A.H. MacKenzie Memorial BursaryMichael Williams and William Nicol both of Brisbane Boys College

The George C. Reid Memorial BursaryFelicity Grigor, Clayfield College

The Professor W.M. Kyle Memorial BursaryMary Grant, Fairholme College

The A.D. McGill Memorial BursaryStephanie Peterson, The Scots PGC College

The Robert Steele Memorial BursaryDuncan Wilkie, The Scots PGC College

The W.M.J. Crawford Memorial BursaryBart Bowen, The Scots PGC College

The Rupert Newman Memorial BursaryEllen Vincent, Somerville House

The Sir Bruce Shearer Memorial BursaryJacqueline Tait, Somerville House

The Dr. A. Gordon Grant Memorial BursaryJacob Todd Gundry, Toowoomba Grammar

The Dr A.D.A. Mayes CBE Memorial BursarySteven Jon Thornely, Toowooma Grammar

Donations to the Bursary Fund are still invited by the Society.

Jack Vaudin, Secretary of the Society

Ellen and Jacqueline, recipients of bursaries in 2008 - 2009 and students at Somerville House





From the BranchesDarling Downs Branch

The Darling Downs Branch of the Society co-operated with the Toowoomba Caledonia Society in relation to the hosting of yet another highly successful Highland Ball in Toowoomba on Saturday 30 May. The Darling Downs Branch then proceeded to conduct its Ladies Night at the Downs Club on 20 June (see front page of this edition). Sixty-two Members and guests attended and enjoyed a highly entertaining speech from Toowoomba Radio Announcer Ms Kim Stokes. This was followed by the presentation of a donation cheque to Ms Stokes to benefit the Children's Ward at the Toowoomba General Hospital.

On 22 August 2009 a major event will occur in the opening and dedication of a significant stone cairn to commemorate Horn Park and the "Robert Burns Walk" through that park. The project has been a joint venture of the Downs Branch of the Society, the Toowoomba Caledonian Society and the Toowoomba Regional Council. It has been co-ordinated and organised by Downs Branch Secretary Mr Malcolm Leslie. The official opening will take place at 2pm at the cairn, Stuart Street, Toowoomba. A cast bronze plaque commemorating the Robert Burns Walk and the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, will be unveiled by Toowoomba Regional Mayor Councillor Peter Taylor. A second cast bronze plaque commemorating the contribution of Dr Alex Horn to the Toowoomba community and as a long term patron of the Toowoomba Caledonian Society and advocate of

Scot's values and culture will be unveiled by Society President Mr Kym Flehr (acting on this occasion in his capacity as Chieftain of the Toowoomba Caledonian Society). The formalities will be followed by an afternoon tea at the site.

On the 19th September, the Downs Branch of the Society, again acting in conjunction with the Toowoomba Caledonian Society, will enter a float in the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. The overall presentation will include a decorated float, the Toowoomba Caledonian Pipe Band and both Toowoomba Highland Dancing Schools.

On the 7th November 2009 the Downs Branch will host its President's (Mens) Dinner at the Downs Club. Support of this and all of the other above functions is sought from all members of the Society.

Sunshine Coast Branch

We are sure anybody who attended our Hogmanay and Burns’ Supper would have been pleased they did! The Hogmanay, run jointly with the Noosa & District Pipe Band was attended by about 120 people and the music, dancing and entertainment went non-stop until after midnight.

Our Burns’ Supper at the silent movie theatre in Pomona also went until late thanks to a very enthusiastic attended celebrating Robbie’s 250th birthday. Our M.C. David Simpson, who is from Ayrshire, kept the night rollicking along and this rendition of Holy Willie’s Prayer (in appropriate costume) brought great applause. David’s son, Stephen, addresses the Haggis in a most entertaining way

and Angus Edmonds surpassed his usual high standard in his presentation of the Immortal Memory. Jack Frame’s toast to the Lassies and June Law’s response was most entertaining. We were entertained throughout the night by Christine Hanley, Kevin James, a Piper from Noosa & District Pipe Band, and Maurie De Hayr. Those dancing were in fine form and seemed to enjoy competing with Kevin, the Piper, to see who give up first.

The Sunshine Coast Branch’s All Male Choir made its first ever appearance and its rendition of Flower of Scotland brought thunderous applause.

It certainly was a night to remember.

During May, our branch of the Society donated $500 towards the North Coast Regional Pipe Band Contest. The Gathering, held in Yandina, was organised by the Sunshine Coast Caledonian Pipes and Drums in conjunction with the Yandina Soccer Club. The day was a great success and our congratulations go to the Sunshine Coast Caledonian Pipes & Drums for achieving 1st place in the Mini Band competition and 3rd place in the grade 4 bands competition. The Noosa & District Pipe Band also performed well and did a great job as Deputy Band for the day.

Be sure to catch up with the next edition of Albannaich and the Branch news for the report on Ceilidh in Cooroy, which was held on June 27th.

Important Branch Dates

Cairn Dedication, Toowoomba, August 22nd

Downs Branch, Mens Dinner, November 7th

Albannaich Winter 2009

Documents

Transcript of Albannaich Winter 2009