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The early Scottish settlers of Wingham initially came without their families, so they could arrive here ahead of time and build the bark dwellings their loved ones could live in.
History has it that when the women and children of the early Wingham settlers finally got off the boat at Wingham, which was as far up the Manning River as it could go, they were so relieved they dropped to their knees and kissed the ground.
Now, on the Sunday of every annual Bonnie Wingham Scottish Festival, a thanksgiving service is performed at 7.30am at Wingham Wharf, to commemorate the arrival of the women and children.
This year was made more special by the performance of a hymn that has never been performed before.
The hymn, titled Home, was written in 2012 as a gift from a previous visitor to the Scottish festival thanksgiving service, Mr Bill Kearns from Queensland. Eric Richardson has had the lyrics in his possession since, and this year Rev Daryl McKeough set the lyrics to the tune of another hymn, the Church’s One Foundation.
Home, by Bill Kearns
From the highlands and the lowlands of that northern land they came,
Camerons, Andrews, Gibsons, Campbells, and those of other name.
Dispossessed and disenchanted, their spirits in the gloam,
The turned their faces God-ward and turned their backs on home.
Like Abraham of old times they gathered kith and kin
And trusted God to lead them to a home where few had been.
They arrived in this great southland and through it they did comb,
Many settling in the Manning, learning soon to call it home.
They demonstrated courage no adversity could quell,
And raised up schools and teachers who taught their children well.
Both true to Church and family, they gave freely of their own,
And worked to make a place they were proud to call their home.
Lord, thank you for your guidance to our early pioneers,
May their faith be our inheritance that’s passed down through the years.
For whatever shall befall us, wherever we may roam,
It is God who gives direction and it’s God who leads us home.