Another Aussie

**Michael A** · 24th August 16, 06:55 AM

Greetings from Down under!

I have not until recently identified with the Scottish side of my heritage but as I researched my family history, having unearthed a famous Scottish Royal Navy officer from 1757, whose portrait now hangs on my dining room wall, his Jacobite grandfather, and also a convict transported from Campbeltown Argyll to Van Diemen's Land, among others, and having recently visited Scotland with my very much more recently Scottish wife and our three daughters, I have taken a greater interest.

That said, I decided to get a kilt made up in the oldest tartan within my line, Ferguson. The kilt maker in Brisbane is sorting that out now. I am based in Camden NSW.

In the meantime, to get a feel for wearing a kilt, I ordered a 5.11 tactical kilt, as it is cheaper than the utilikilt and, for the time being, more immediately available. I received my first one yesterday and I can't believe I didn't take to wearing one earlier! The sense of freedom is incredible. It was quite cold today and I hardly noticed the cold due to my thick socks and RAAF flying boots. I even wore it in a hardware store (Bunnings) without anyone giving me funny looks, and I am quite thin to boot, with scrawny legs.

People certainly laughed at work and I laughed with them. In the clinic I do, I think if I wear a sporran with it (either a leather hand-made day wear model that was given to me years ago or an ammo/admin pouch) it says KILT! more readily than without, as far as strangers are concerned.

So now I have ordered a grey one and just now I ordered a black one, while they still last. I also ordered the cheaper Brighton utility kilt a few weeks ago (it just arrived at the post office so I'm picking it up on the morrow), with the more traditional design with two straps at the side.

Anyway, that's me - happy to be here and plenty to learn.

**Father Bill** · 24th August 16, 07:37 AM

Welcome to the "Great Rabble!"

**Tarheel** · 24th August 16, 08:28 AM

Well met Michael. It seems to me that kilting for you, is as natural as your forefathers having offspring. Welcome.

**Tomak** · 24th August 16, 09:20 AM

Hello and welcome from Southern California.

**Kiltedjohn** · 24th August 16, 09:42 AM

Welcome from a Scotsman living in middle England. I have a half-sister living in Brisbane, so interested to hear there is a kilt-maker there. When I last visited her, I saw an (Irish) bagpiper playing in the centre of town - quite unexpected!