From the "Australian Family
Tree Connections" magazine - June
2011.
Guest
Society
Australia
Clan MacThomas Society
Australian Branch
Glenshee, Perthshire,
Scotland.
The Chief addressing the Clan Gathering
at the Cockstane near Glenshee.
Australian Branch Victorian members
at the 2010 Gathering at Ballarat.
The Clan MacThomas Society was founded in 1954 in Scotland to
develop interest in the Clan, to preserve its traditions and
to promote its welfare. Our Chief, Andrew MacThomas of
Finegand, is the 19th Chief of the Clan. Finegand is a Vice
President of the Clan Chattan Association and a member of the
Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.
The ancestral home of the Clan is at Glenshee in
Perthshire on the road between Perth and Aberdeen.The sept
names within the Clan are Combe, Combie, McColm, McComas,
McComb, McCombe, McCombie MacOmie, MacOmish, MacComie,
MacComish, MacThomas, Tam, Thom, Thomas, Thoms and Thomson.
Not all Thomas and Thomson are Clan related and Thompson is an
English surname. To have a link to the Clan, especially for
people with a surname Thomas or Thomson there is a need to
have a connection to eastern Scotland especially the old
counties of Perthshire and Angus.
The
Society holds a Clan Gathering every three years in Glenshee;
the next being in May 2011.Each member receives a copy of the
Society's magazine Clach A' Choilich, the Clan newsletter and
regular Branch newsletters. The Society has members in many
countries and is administered by a Council chaired by the
Chief with Branches in Australia, Europe and USA/Canada. A
Society library was recently established at the Scottish
American Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, and we are in
the process of setting up a Clan Archives in Perth, Scotland.
Last year the Chief wrote and published a book on the History
of the Clan. The Society also has Clan items for
sale.
The
Australian Branch was established in 1974 and, although small
in numbers, holds regular gatherings in NSW and Victoria and
members receive a bi-monthly Branch newsletter. The Branch has
recently organised the installation of a MacThomas stone and
plaque in the Wall of History at the Australian Standing
Stones site at Glen Innes in northern New South Wales. Members
also attend the Annual Luncheon of the Scottish Clans &
Associations Council held in October each year at East
Ringwood, Victoria.
The
Society has a web site where you will find much information
about the Clan - www.clanmacthomas.com. If
you are interested in joining our Society please
contact:
Australian Secretary,
350
Whanregarwen Road,
Alexandra, Victoria 3714.
Please
make sure your favourite Society knows that being
featured here is free!
Australian Family Tree
Connections June
2011
Page 43
Note - the layout of this
article has been changed slightly to suit the webpage. The
text and photographs are unchanged. The address for the
Australian Secretary is no longer correct. WM.
