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Clan Donald Magazine No 2 (1962) Online
Clan Donald in Queensland by A.G. Macdonald, Commissioner for Clan Donald in Queensland.
The first organization of Macdonalds in Queensland was the Clan MacDonald Society of Mackay and District, which came about in 1958.
A year later the Society extended its boundaries and changed its name, thus becoming the Clan Donald Society of Queensland. During the two years that followed, the Society enjoyed steady progress under the leadership of an enthusiastic Council headed by John Martin, President; H. Allan, Vice-President; R.N. Connell, Treasurer; and A.0. MacDonald, Hon. Secretary.
The members of the Society have been kept together by regular social evenings, film and lecture evenings, dinners and picnics. Every opportunity has been taken to interest members in the history and traditions of the Clan.
Recently, our High Chief, Lord Macdonald, honoured me by the appointment as his Commissioner for Queensland. It is felt that his lordship's action, which makes evident his interest in his clansmen in this country, must result in the expansion of the Society.
Another branch of the Society was formed during June at Nambour, where I had the pleasure of meeting a number of enthusiastic clansmen. Most of the credit for the formation of the branch goes to E.R. Sleat of Woombye, near Nambour. We are very happy to have this branch established in South Queensland, and now we are turning our eyes to the city of Bundaberg, where our Clan is well represented.
At the instigation of Donald J. Macdonald of the Edinburgh Society, we set ourselves the task of locating descendants of several of our clan cadet families who came to Australia during the early years of our history. Whilst we have had many disappointments, we have also enjoyed some success, having located Norman Macdonald of the Glenmore family in Sydney, and several members of the Macdonalds of Rigg and Balviquean, represented by Donald J. Macdonald of Narangba, Queensland. The Kinlochmoidart family is represented in Australia by Roy MacDonald, of Bundaberg. Unfortunately our many efforts to locate descendants of the Glencoe family in Australia have failed.
Since several of our letters have been published by the New South Wales, Victorian, and South Australian press, we have received many enquiries from our clansmen in the Southern States. Many of them have provided us with valuable family information.
After we have established a few more branches in Queensland, we hope to be able to interest our clansmen in other states sufficiently to establish branches there. However, we do not expect this to happen in the near future because of our limited population which is scattered over such a vast area.
For the moment, we are happy with our progress and confident concerning the future. We are grateful for the interest shown by our Chiefs and others who have done so much to encourage and assist us, particularly Donald J. Macdonald, Younger of Castleton, without whom the Society might never have been formed, and more recently Reginald H. Macdonald of Kingsburgh, who has been most helpful and encouraging in every way.
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