This Day in History: 1996-09-07

1996 September 7-8: The first Toodyay Highland Games and Festival of the Celts was held on the Toodyay Showgrounds. A parade of massed bands (three) through the town to the Showgrounds preceded the Games on the Saturday. Commissioner of Police Bob Falconer officially opened the event.  Games and athletic contests abounded. The Grand Ceilidh held in the Sheep Pavilion that night was sold out. Celtic music and dancing workshops and concerts filled Sunday. Gaelic football and hurling teams competed. A grant ($3,500) from the 1996/1997 Special Events Assistance Scheme of the Western Australian Tourism Commission assisted the event. Angus James was the chairman of the organising committee.

Source:
Toodyay herald, Aug. 1996, p.1 (photo); Sept. 1996, p.1; Oct. 1996, pp. 1 (photo), 6-7 (photos).