April 2017 Gathering

First Gathering

On the first Saturday in April 2017, coinciding with Brigadoon, the annual Scottish Festival held at nearby Bundanoon, the very first gathering of the descendants of Farquhar MacRae was held. (There have been other gatherings held by branches but as far as we know none that have drawn the descendants of all of Farquhar's children together.) It took place at property of Kevin Maguire in Mittagong, NSW. Kevin kindly opened his home and garden to welcome his cousins. After a wet March in the Southern Highlands, the skies cleared and April began with sunshine, so an Afternoon Tea was arranged in the Kevin’s front garden where there was plenty of space for everyone to mingle and get to know one another.

A total of 19 people attended, most of whom had never met before (apart from knowing those in the same branch), a few had been in contact by email and even fewer by phone. Four of the seven branches were represented, with an apology from Dellas Johnston, a descendant of Mary McCrea and George Young Rankin, and Neville Wynn, a descendant of Farquhar MacRae and Sarah Ann Griffiths, who were unable to attend.

On the Friday morning, Michele and Greg Endicott set out from Brisbane, picking up Michele's sister Roslyn Fischer on the Gold Coast on the way, on what was intended to be roughly a 12 hour drive to Mittagong. This was not to be. With the ending of March had come Cyclone Debbie, bringing so much rain to Northern Rivers region of New South Wales that the Tweed River Valley was flooding and the towns of Lismore and Murwillumbah were under water. 325 mm of rain fell in Lismore on Friday, 31st March. The Pacific Highway, the main coastal route, between Brisbane and Mittagong was closed. Roslyn, Michele and Greg had only just crossed the border between New South Wales and Queensland when their progress was halted.

Clan MacRae motto
"Fortitudine"
meaning with fortitude

The bridge over the Tweed river was closed. Forced to back track to Ipswich, they headed down the New England Highway. Being of hardy Scottish highlander stock, with plenty of MacRae fortitude, and keen to meet their cousins, they were not going to be deterred and arrived just in time for a cuppa on Saturday afternoon.

For the rest of the extended family, the journey was not such a challenge. Patrick, Jo, Mary and Bronte travelled from Helensburg, Sydney; the Browns from Eastwood, Sydney; Peter Maguire from Burwood, Sydney; Ray Hynes from Willow Tree, near Tamworth; and Bernard and Dorothy, Carolyn and Brad, Kevin and Ayya Esika are all living in the Southern Highlands.

It was an enjoyable afternoon with sharing of family history and much talk of holding a Reunion of all Farquhar's descendants. Are you interested in attending a gathering of Farquhar's descendants? Would you like to help spread the word and collect information on Farquhar's descendants? Contact Us

Group photos

In each group photo are the descendants from one branch of the first generation, representing four of the seven branches.

Click on the thumbnail to see a full-size colour photo.