ROBERT BURNS

1759 – 2012

253rd ANNIVERSARY

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2012 Committee Meetings

16th February 15th March 19th April 21st June 19th July

16th August 18th October 15th November

All Committee meetings commence at 7.00 pm and are held in the

Board Room, Caulfield R.S.L.

4 St. Georges Road, Elsternwick

The Robert Burns Club of Melbourne Inc.

Member Society Name:	The Robert Burns Club of Melbourne
State:	Victoria
Country:	Australia
President:	Jane McLeod
Secretary:	Beverley Tait
Contact:	Beverley TaitPO Box 734Melton, VictoriaAustralia 3337
Email:
Office Bearers:	Ian Murdoch Vice President Michael Lynch Treasurer Belinda Treseder Historian Ian Murdoch Editor Melburnsian
2012 Social Functions:	Sunday 22nd January – 12.00pm Burns Statue - Birthday Celebration and Picnic Treasury gardens, Melbourne Saturday 4th February – Annual Burns Supper Karralyka Centre Mines Road, Ringwood Sunday 25th March – 1.00pm Poetry Afternoon Canterbury St. Stables Community Centre 49 Canterbury Street, Flemington. Melway Ref: 28 J 11 Sunday 6th May – 1.30pm Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Altona R.S.L., 31 Sargood Street, Altona
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 Worksof 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 itsannual 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 most other Burns Clubs andScottish 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 Highlandgatherings throughout Victoria.An Annual General Meeting is held in July or August. A regular newsletter ‘The MelBurnsian’ is published formembers.
Affiliations:	The Robert Burns World Federation Ltd.Scots of Victoria Coordinating GroupVictorian Scottish Union Inc.Council of Clans
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 b adge)Public Liability Insurance $5 (optional but recommended)Application Forms for Membership available from the Secretary.
Re-established:	1950

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