Two Scottish groups both vying for Dunedin City Council funding to organise a festival in November have been advised to work together.
The Dunedin-Edinburgh Sister City Society is seeking $20,000 per annum for three years to mount an annual festival, while the Otago Scottish Heritage Council and the Queen O' the Heather Inc are jointly seeking a one-off grant of $10,000 to run this year's festival and Queen O' the Heather personality contest.
Both festivals would be held in November to coincide with St Andrew's Day, celebrated internationally on November 30. St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland.
The sister-city society planned to base its event on the annual Highland Gathering in Bundanoon in New South Wales, Australia, spokeswoman Janet Favel said yesterday.
It could include highland games, piping and dancing displays and competitions, themed food stalls, musical and art events, and a highland ball. A tattoo based on the Edinburgh Military Tattoo would be organised every three to five years.
In its submission, the society said it had been set up to reestablish links between Dunedin and Edinburgh, to promote the Scottishness of Dunedin and to act as a channel for the exchange of information between the city council and various Scottish societies in the city.
‘‘Given this position, we are well placed to facilitate cooperation between the various interest groups within Dunedin to improve the city's Scottish profile,'' Mrs Favel said.
Speaking on behalf of the Scottish council and Queen O' the Heather organisation, Allan McLean said the groups planned a festival culminating in games, a church service, a piping event and the crowning of the Queen O' the Heather on November 30.
The heritage council was an umbrella organisation for 19 clan and community groups with Scottish interests, Mr McLean told the committee. The sistercity society was not a member.
Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin told both applicants Scottish groups needed to communicate and work together.
‘‘Wearing a kilt all over the place really doesn't do it.''
