The Grand Bard's visit to Australia
May, 2003

During his recent visit to Australia, the Grand Bard, John Bolitho (Jowan an Cleth) spent a very busy and enjoyable few days at the Kernewek Lowender festival in and around the towns of Wallaroo, Kadina and Moonta, in the area known as Little Cornwall, on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.

The Grand Bard officiated at the 16th Assembly of the Bards in Australia, in Moonta, and amongst the other interesting and colourful events he visited were the Dressing of the Graves, the Furry Dance in Kadina, and the Blessing of the Waters at Wallaroo Bay. He also sang with a choir, was guest speaker at several dinners and other gatherings, and met the members of a Cornish language class.

After the festival, the Grand Bard made a return visit to Bendigo, where he had attended the festival in 2002. There he unveiled a monument and visited some of the sites connected with Cornwall and Cornish mining.

All in all, it was a most interesting and full itinerary, and a wonderful way to strengthen the connection and the historical ties between Cornwall and the mining areas of Australia.

The Grand Bard returned to Cornwall with more than 500 beautiful photographs as a memento of his visit. We are able to show only a few of them, but we hope that they will convey something of the flavour of his visit. Please click on the links beside the map.

 
 
Highlights of the Grand Bard's visit

 
Australia's Little Cornwall (Moonta, Kadina and Wallaroo) - Kernewek Lowender (Cornish festival)

Moonta - 16th Assembly of the Bards in Australia

Bendigo - visit to Long Gully and the unveiling of a memorial plaque to the Bendigo Underground Miner