Bardh Meur Kernow Steren Mor / The Grand Bard of Cornwall has sent the following report of her trip to Australia….
“I had a great time at McCrae on the Mornington Peninsula where the Melbourne branch of the Cornish Association of Victoria hosted a lunch for me with the Committee members. I had a question and answer session with them after lunch, when I was able to update them on the latest Cornish matters. Last Saturday ( 9th May) I returned to Melbourne to give a powerpoint presentation called “Kernow Calling!” which talked about the significance of the Recognition of the National Minority, St. Piran’s Oratory and the new pound coin.
The Grand Bard delivers her Powerpoint presentation “Kernow Calling!” for Melbourne Branch of the CAV
“I showed photos of events throughout the bardic time which has elapsed since I was in Australia in March 2014. I included photos taken on my tours of Cornwall with the Australians when they were in Kernow, which were places off the beaten track. I also included photos of the moment when the Australians were barded which Keith Shaw, Kaswydh and Jonathan Shaw kindly extracted from the film of Torpoint. They were thrilled as you can imagine.
“Last Sunday (10th May) I went to the Cornish service at Berringa where there was a 30 strong contingent from the choir ‘Sing Australia’ which was beautiful. I read the gospel and said the Grace in Cornish at the tea afterwards. On Monday Joy Menhennet, Benneth Lowen, President of the Ballarat branch of the Cornish Association of Victoria gave a dinner in her home for all the members so that I could talk to them. A very enjoyable evening.
Grand Bard Maureen Fuller talking to Derek Trewarne, Mab Ebrok new bard barded at Penntorr and Moira Drew, CAV librarian, June Whiffin, Myrghwyn Treloar, secretary of CAV.
“On Wednesday morning (13th May) I went to the Australian Catholic University where the mansion built by Cyrus Bath Retallack, a Cornishman, is now part of the campus. I met the Dean, Dr. Joe Fleming who was pleased to see me as he had hosted the Ballarat St. Piran’s Day and sent a donation to St. Piran’s Trust as a result of hearing about it from my St. Piran’s address. I have also met Cllr. Peter Cox the Mayor of Bendigo and had another meeting with the Federal MP called the Honourable Lisa Chesters who both wanted to discuss Cornish matters as Bendigo is the Cornish capital of Australia.”
Bardh Meur Steren Mor /Grand Bard Maureen Fuller will be going on to the Kernewek Lowender Copper Coast Cornish Festival which is being held Sunday 17th to Sunday 24th May 2015 in Moonta, Wallaroo and Kadina.
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