Highland Games highly tuned

BAGPIPES have always been a feature of the City of Casey and before that the City of Berwick.
Scottish blood runs strong in the area and the annual City of Casey Highland Games, now held at Akoonah Park, Berwick, has enhanced this.
The highland gathering began two decades ago at the instigation of the now Christmas Islands administrator Neil Lucas and received strong support from the former City of Berwick and Rotary Club of Narre Warren.
Rotary is the real driver for the gathering with support from the City of Casey and business.
Problems began to emerge after a few years because of the summer date allocated to the games.
Bands dropped away because the venue at Max Pawsey Reserve, Narre Warren, lacked enough shaded areas.
Scots can be tough, but the Scottish uniform and Australian sun did not mix.
The move to Akoonah Park with its trees and facilities provided a new lease of life for the movement and it has grown and continued to meet an important milestone.
Patrons will see a range of Scottish heavy games and the delightful sight and sound of the massed bands.
This year, the event celebrates its 20th birthday and I say congratulations to those who put in so much effort to keep it going.
This is just another activity in the region that provides a pleasant outing for families, whether they have Scottish blood or not.