By Tanya Steele
On the lands of the Wurundjeri, Clan MacLennan hosted the Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival for 2025, with a day filled with heavy games, pipe bands, dancing, folk music and more.
Known in the outer east as a day to celebrate Scottish and Celtic heritage, the event saw thousands flock to Croydon on Sunday 12 March with people clad in Clan tartans, kilts, sashes and Celtic finery.
In amongst the tartan, the calm presence of Uncle Perry Wandin performed a traditional Welcome to Country smoking ceremony alongside the festival in full throe. The Wurundjeri Elder welcomed attendees and officials forward as he performed the traditional ceremony.
Expanding into international competition, the annual festival in Croydon saw athletes from all over the globe, from the USA, Europe to Scotland, compete in the heavy games this year for the first time coordinated by the International Highland Games Federation (IHGF) alongside the regular Australian contingent of athletes.
Despite the sun, crowds moved amongst the games and Scottish dance competitors seemed undisturbed by the busy day as they competed in highland fling and sword dances, while pipe bands marched in formation at the other end of Eastfield oval.
The Games themselves have evolved greatly from their origins in 1967, originally known as The Ringwood Highland Games and started by the Mayor of Ringwood City Council, Elizabeth Penny. Later in 2021, the event was renamed to the Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival as they were the only remaining Highland games in metropolitan Melbourne.
The heavy game athletes competed in everything from caber toss, hammer throw, the Dinnie stone and more. Pipe bands marched in formation, competing across the day with bagpipes filling the air and Scottish, Morris, Welsh and Celtic dancers put on several dance displays.
There was plenty to do and see with Highland Cows to pet, and real-life reenactors from Roman soldiers to the Viking Age were part of the fun. Attendees could also research their lineage and speak to official members of the various Scottish clans at the Clan Tents, taste a wee dram of whiskey or be part of the games in the Wee games, Welly Boot Toss and Kilted Dash.
