Robert Burns Club

ROBERT BURNS

1759 – 1796

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2017 Committee Meetings

15th February, 15th March, 19th April, 21st June,

19th July, 20th September, 18th October, 15th November

Time and place of meetings to be advised.

The Robert Burns Club of Melbourne Inc.

Member Society Name:	The Robert Burns Club of Melbourne
State:	Victoria
Country:	Australia
Patron:	Fiona Ross
President:	Neil Smith
Secretary:	Noel Wright
Contact:	Noel Wright 49 Volga St Hadfield, Victoria. Australia 3046
Email:	Secretary
Office Bearers:	Vice President – Vacant Treasurer – Michael Lynch Historian – Fiona Ross Editor Melburnsian – Noel Wright
2017 Social Functions:	Sunday 22nd January – 12.00pm Burns Statue – Birthday Celebration and Picnic Burns Statue, Treasury gardens, Melbourne Saturday 4th February Annual Burns Supper Glenroy RSL 186 Glenroy Road, Glenroy. Vic. Sunday 2nd April– 1:00pm Poetry Afternoon Canterbury St. Stables Community Centre, 49-53 Canterbury St., Flemington, Melway Ref: 28 J11. Sunday 30th April – 2:00pm Pleasant Sunday afternoon Community Centre, Burnside Retirement Village, Nicol Avenue, Burnside. (Melway Ref: 358 K4) Sunday 16th July – 1:00pm Poetry Afternoon Canterbury St. Stables Community Centre, 49-53 Canterbury St., Flemington, Melway Ref: 28 J11. Sunday 20st August – 1:00pm AGM and Poetry Queston & Answer Session Canterbury St. Stables Community Centre, 49-53 Canterbury St., Flemington, Melway Ref: 28 J11. Sunday 15th October – 1:00pm Poetry Afternoon Canterbury St. Stables Community Centre, 49-53 Canterbury St., Flemington, Melway Ref: 28 J11.
Purpose:	To promote interest in the works, life and milieu of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. To provide for instruction, fellowship and entertainment of members by means of relevant meetings and extra mural activities. To maintain and advance Scottish Culture
Short history:	Commemorative functions to honour the Scottish National Poet and world recognised bard, and to study his poems, songs, writings and philosophy have been held continuously in Victoria since the arrival of the first permanent Scots in 1836.One example of this is an address on the Works of Robert Burns given by the Scottish Clergyman Rev James Foster to the Mechanics Institute in 1839. Another is the First Burns Festival conducted by the Melbourne Scots on 24 January 1845. In 1904 the statue of Robert Burns was presented by the then Caledonian Society of Melbourne. Some 8,000 people attended that ceremony.A formal Robert Burns Club (sometimes referred to as a society) is recorded as meeting regularly between 1902 and 1917. In 1928 ‘Our Boy Burns Club’ held its annual dinner at the Alexander hotel Melbourne.In 1932 the Melbourne Burns Club was founded. The Club was very active. However, on the outbreak of war, the Club, along with mostother Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies disbanded. Burns activities were then continued by groups of kindred societies as opportunity occurred.In 1950 under the guidance of Mr J.T.Picken the current Robert Burns Club of Melbourne was established. The club federated in 1951 and has continuously functioned from that time.Each year the club conducts a celebration on the Sunday nearest the 25th of January (the poets birthday) near the Robert Burns statue in Treasury Gardens Spring Street, Melbourne. It also holds a Burns Supper each year, and conducts other activities during the year as well as erecting the Club tent at all the Highland gatherings throughout Victoria. An Annual GeneralMeeting is held in July or August. A regular newsletter ‘The MelBurnsian’ is published for members.
Affiliations:	The Robert Burns World Federation Ltd. Scots of Victoria Coordinating Group Victorian Scottish Union Inc.
Membership:	Family Membership$21 Single membership $16 Pensioner couple $16 Pensioner single $11 Full time student $11 Plus Joining Fee $10 (this includes a Club badge) Public Liability Insurance $6.50(optional but recommended) Application Forms for Membership available from the Secretary.
Re-established:	1950