Member Recognition

This section is dedicated to local dancers who have received an award in recognition of their special contribution in the field of Scottish Country Dancing.

David Currie, OAM (1922 - 2017)

David Currie was named in the Australian Queen’s Birthday Honours List for 2005. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the community through Scottish Country Dancing. The award recognised outstanding service to residents in Nursing and Retirement Homes in the Canberra region. He had, since the late 1980s organised and presented nearly 500 displays of SCD.

David's account of how he came to be involved in Scottish Country Dancing was published in Scotch Circle in 2009. This fascinating story The Twists and Turns of My Life in David's own words is available here, and makes a good read.

The RSCDS Branch

Awarded by Branches of the Society and given for outstanding service to a Branch or to Scottish Country Dancing generally in the locality of a Branch.

Branch Award: Bruce Clark

Bruce received his award in February 2008. The citation noted that as an administrator he had served for 12 years continuously as Branch secretary. During that time, he had initiated, coordinated and contributed to many Scottish dancing activities including a Winter School and many socials. Bruce also developed a class for beginners from which many dancers were recruited and enthused.

Branch Award: Elaine Arthur

Elaine received her award in March 2008. The citation noted that she had devoted many years of outstanding service to Scottish country dancing in the local region as a dancer, teacher, tutor and mentor. She was the Convenor of the highly successful 32nd Australian Winter School held in Canberra in 2007.

Branch Award: Brian Gunning

Brian received his award in May 2011. Due to his ever-ready-to-help and friendly manner on the dance floor, Brian is one of the most popular members of the Branch. He has served several terms on the Branch committee, including a period as Co-chairman. In these capacities he has always looked for new ways to maintain and enhance support for SCD in the local area. He was a member of the organising committee for the 2007 Australian Winter School. For many years, Brian managed the Branch website and published the regular Branch email newsletter. The website and newsletter attracted much favourable comment and have proved to be very useful vehicles for bringing the local SCD community together.

Branch Award: Jack Arthur

Jack received his Branch Award in October 2015, in recognition of his outstanding service to the Canberra and District Branch over a period of more than 25 years. During his association with the Branch, Jack was Branch Chairman for significant periods, most recently from 2008 to 2015. He made a major contribution to the active Scottish Country Dancing community in and around Canberra, as a strongly motivated teacher, administrator and organiser. Jack had a significant role in the organisation of Canberra Winter Schools during the period he has been associated with the Branch, and was convenor of the 2014 Canberra winter school, a notably successful event which benefited greatly from his organisational skills.

Scroll of Honour

This is the highest accolade of the RSCDS. It is awarded each year to only a few individuals who have made an exceptional contribution, generally to the RSCDS at large/worldwide as well as locally. Nominations for a Scroll can only come from Branches or RSCDS Management Committees.

Recipients of the Scroll of Honour who have had an association with the Canberra & District Branch are:

- Les Cumming (1996)
- Kevin Connolly (1996)
- Jean Conway (2009)