Why “Bonnie Wingham?”
WHAT makes Wingham so special that it has been chosen to have a Scots festival?
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Why not have it, if it’s worth having in Taree or somewhere else?
A few years ago the member of the Manning Valley Historical Society had exactly that discussion when someone suggested Bonnie Wingham. We did our homework and the more we read and researched the more we became convinced that we should give it a try.
Eleven years on and we are glad that we did.
One of the things we look at was the pattern of land settlement in the valley. It soon became apparent that Wingham really was the centre of a major population of Scots. In fact when we looked at the parish maps we could see clearly the concentration of Scottish names on the initial survey maps. One are in particular was the Bight across the river from Wingham. IN the first block of land sales there were 16 Scots out of 20 buyers! In the area between Wingham and Tinonee there were more than 30 Scottish names on the map and that was only the parish of Tinonee. Spread the search a little wider to look at Bo Bo and Burrell Creek, Dingo Creek and Marlee, Killawarra and Belbourie and the answer to why “Bonnie Wingham?” is clear.
Why they chose to settle in such groups is perhaps best answered by their shared Presbyterianism and by the fact that many spoke little English, communicating with each other in Scots or Gaelic.
The members of the historical society are organising a display of the crafts the women folk brought with them and we hope that there will be people who will lend some of their precious items that their great grandmothers made, having learned the skill in Scotland. When you have seen their display and you use the Scottish fashions that they replicated in their self-made clothes displayed in the museum you will discover another reason for “Why Bonnie Wingham.”
When you see the farm implements brought with them and their likeness to the soldiers weapons of the day you will get an idea of the double life many of our ancestor had lived.
Farmers one day and levied as soldiers the next, their tools were capable of rapid conversion to pikes or billhooks making them effective opponents to the enemy’s mounted men. Fortunately they didn’t need to convert them in Australia.
But they could if they were needed!
A new feature of Bonnie Wingham this year is the family history research workshop being held on the Thursday at Wingham Services Club. Check at the museum for details.
You never know you might find is your relation.
The Bonnie Wingham Scottish Festival is on May 28 - May 31.