Editor’s Note:

1. If you are aware of any member that has not receive the Newsletter, please let me know either via email clangunn@snap.net.nz or 03 323 9011 (please leave a message if I am not in).

2. Please send/email contributions for the August 2011 Newsletter to me no later than 18 July 2011.

Thank you.

Council Members

as at October 2010

President: Todd Wall healing@touch-your-heart.co.nz

Vice President: John Sauer kathyandjohn@xtra.co.nz

Immediate Past President Val Donald Ph: 03 366 4476

Treasurer: Ian Gunn ian.gunn@xtra.co.nz

Secretary: Marie Gunn marie.gunn@clear.net.nz

Membership Secretary: Kathy Sauer kathyandjohn@xtra.co.nz

Committee: Dianne Gunn Giles lendit@pcconnect.co.nz

Stuart Gunn lizandstuart@actrix.co.nz

Mervyn Gunn merv.tui@xtra.co.nz

Kathy Sauer kathyandjohn@xtra.co.nz

Bonny Flynn

Editor: Sue Gunn clangunn@snap.net.nz

Website: www.clangunn.org.nz

Genealogist:
A reminder that Clan Gunn’s genealogist is Margaret Godfrey : Ph: 03 487 6700 / Email: Margaret-g@clear.net.nz. Margaret is only too wiling to help members find their ancestry.

Secretary: Marie Gunn, 121B Johns Road, Belfast, Christchurch 8051, Ph: 03 323 6608

Editor’s Note: The website is www.clangunn.org.nz

Saturday 27 November 2010 – Annual Christmas Dinner was held at Sequoia 88 Restaurant, Main North Road, Redwood, Christchurch – an event that all attendees enjoyed.

	Kirkin o’ the Tartan, Christchurch – Banners of the various Clans
	David and Chris Gunn with Clan Gunn Banner
	Clan Donald at the Kirkin o’ the Tartan, Cristchurch

New Year’s Honours List

Colin Donald Gunn of Nelson, a Clan Gunn member, was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for Services to the Community. Here is a report from Tracy Neal of The Nelson Mail, 31 December 2010 headlined “ The simple pleasures of People ”:

“Volunteers are people who do things they don't have to do, but choose to do, says an exemplary figure in Nelson's voluntary sector who has been recognised in the New Year Honours.

Colin Gunn, 73, has been awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to the community.

Seated in his sun-drenched bungalow high above Nelson harbour, which is a lifetime removed from the Gisborne state house he was raised in, Mr Gunn contemplates the meaning of community and volunteering.

The former director of the Nelson Community Education Service, who has been active in Nelson's voluntary sector for 30 years, sums it up in the maxim of Roman scholar, teacher and politician Seneca, who said about 2000 years ago that wherever there was a human being, there was a chance for kindness.

"Community work is about kindness. It's people helping others maybe less fortunate or having struggled through something."

Mr Gunn says it is always a privilege dealing with people, such as the volunteers he has mentored and helped along the way, who have always been positive and helpful.

"Working with nice people changes your life."

Mr Gunn is noted for his involvement in the establishment of the Community Worker Training and Support Trust, and has been on the board of about 50 organisations in the Nelson region. He helped to establish the Citizens Advice Bureau in Nelson, the Manuka Street play group and the Health Action Trust.

A key focus for him has been helping groups in difficulty. He wrote and edited three editions of a community work handbook, Seizing the Moment, the latest of which is about to go online as an e-book.

Mr Gunn also had a central role in developing the 2004 Social Wellbeing Report, and was co-author of a report for the New Zealand Qualifications Authority on the recognition of prior learning. Mr Gunn's community interests stem from his career as a teacher and lecturer, and finding ways to motivate young people.

"If you are not motivated, then you don't get very far. In independent learning (such as community education), people come to you because they want an answer."

Since he retired, Mr Gunn has continued to volunteer as a mentor for the Community Worker Training and Support Trust.

When he heard about the QSM, he experienced a range of feelings.

"When I first learned, I felt proud, but then it's, `Oh my God, do I really deserve this?'." Wellington-born Mr Gunn said he learned long ago to live like you don't know what's going to happen in life.

He and wife Marian have lived in their port hills bungalow for 30 years. They have been married for more than 40 years, after meeting in London, hitch-hiking from Paris to South Africa, and arriving in New Zealand penniless.

Mr Gunn, who says he is managing health challenges, says 2011 will be about setting personal milestones and looking forward to the Rugby World Cup. “

Heartiest Congratulations from the Clan on being awarded the QSM!

Dunedin AGM Weekend aka Destination Discovery

I rose early on that Saturday 30^th October 2010 and left our home in Auckland at 6:00am. I was off on an adventure – alone.

Well, I don’t believe we’re ever really alone. I mean I wasn’t travelling with anybody else that could be seen.

> You see, I live in a family where more often than not there are twelve of us at home, so being alone is something quite different. Actually, very rarely and even though I’m a traveller that’s certainly not solo.

So here I was being driven to the airport about to embark on a weekend of discovery – alone. I wouldn’t describe myself as introverted, shy or an overly anxious individual but I was stepping out of my comfort zone. I must be a pack animal who enjoys the feeling of safety in numbers.

My journey was taking me to Dunedin, that Scottish stronghold in the South. I have lived about 50 years in Auckland, known as the biggest Polynesian city in the world, so even though I’m as pale as a peach myself, any place where there is an absence of brown faces sends me a bit shaky for starters. I carried on.

Todd Wall was waiting for me at the airport resplendent in his Scottish regalia. I felt safe. That was until Discovery No.1 – he suddenly, without warning, turned into a rally driver. Up hill and down dale we sped. I must say very skillfully. The surrounding countryside became a blur, although I did catch a glimpse of the ocean and some animals in fields, here and there.

Then again, without warning, very suddenly we stopped. And there it was Discovery No.2 – the most enchanting, cosy cottage hidden away on the side of a hill above the sea. Could I see the fairies fluttering among their favourite flowers in the garden?

I enjoyed the privilege of being invited to spend the night there.

It was while I was inside that I made the extraordinary Discovery No.3 – Homes in Dunedin don’t have any dust – not a speck!

It didn’t seem long before my rally driver chauffeur was ready to hurtle us towards our next destination. We collected Margaret on the way and headed towards Bonny’s home where the Clan was gathering for lunch.

I was greeted at her front door by a large bed of the tiny, fragrant flowers, lily-of-the-valley. What joy! This little flower is not seen in Auckland yet in my story it plays a huge part. Discovery No.4 – I knew there was certainly magic in the air.

Folks flowed in, all very warm and welcoming and food followed, fast and flavour-some. This was alright.

I was born in Lancashire, in the north west of England. Flowers, food and fabrics are favourites. So, when it was announced that we were going to attend a narrated exhibition of fabric banners at a local Church in the afternoon, I was a fan. Right up my alley. It was fabulous.

More food for thought in the form of a home-baked afternoon tea prepared by the Church ladies, evoked memories of a distant past when owning an Edmonds cookery book and having the cake tins constantly full was standard home-making practice.

More food for thought in the form of a home-baked afternoon tea prepared by the Church ladies, evoked memories of a distant past when owning an Edmonds cookery book and having the cake tins constantly full was standard home-making practice.

We returned to Bonny’s again in the evening for a pot luck dinner, more blathering, a raffle and more delicious food. Not at all difficult to deal with.

After dinner, we watched a DVD of the recent funeral of Bonny’s husband Errol. Supportive kinship seemed very obvious amongst the group and rich fellowship existed. I felt very comfortable.

The AGM itself which began at 10am the next morning, in the Janet Cameron Hall, was another opportunity to witness the Clan in action. Some had travelled many miles from Christchurch and despite challenges presented by serious health issues, were courageously contributing for the good of the group. I liked that.

I felt deep respect and gratitude for the opportunity to participate.

I love the way we are all woven together in life and the more we weave the bigger the blanket that encircles us all.

The formal business of the meeting which proceeded quite harmoniously, assisted our appetites to appreciate the hearty roast beef dinner and fruity pavlova roll dessert that followed. Caterers delivered and served us all. When you cook for twelve many times during the week, this was heaven.

In Maori culture, hospitality – manaakitanga is paramount. Discovery No.5 – The Clan Gunn Society in Dunedin follows this tradition too.

So how do I feel reflecting on my weekend of discovery?

Discovery No.6 – This journey has joined others which I cherish and are filed away in my ‘Journeys of the Heart'.

I thank all of you who shared. I look forward to meeting each of you again.

Arohanui – Shalom

Christine Bowker Wilson

New Members

We extend a very warm welcome to the following new members:

Neil and Vicky Gunn; Barry and Aloma Wilson

Carin and Jenney Wilson; Janina Polansky

Virginia Di Somma; Jessica Wilson

and Pouroto Ngaropo.

Report from Kathy and John Sauer of the 22^nd AGM 2010

Firstly, very many thanks for the fantastic effort from President Toddy and all his Dunedin team for the action packed, fun filled, glorious weekend, all put together at the last minute because of the disastrous fire at Cave destroying the venue that we have enjoyed so much the previous two years - (I believe we have a good chance of being back there this year). We drove down on the Friday and met with a few of the Dunedin Clan and Marie and Ben for a light meal and then went to meet our host for the weekend - Jan Wyllie. We were treated like royalty by Jan and our accommodation was second to none.  Saturday Morning we all met at the lovely home of Bonny Flynn for a lovely lunch and catch up with other Clan members.

At 2pm we all gathered at the St Clair Presbyterian Church to view and hear the history of the beautiful banners all handmade by parishioners. Nothing prepared us for the treat in store.  It was 'out of this world'.  Each banner had a story which was read to us by some of the ladies.  It was one of the most interesting and unusual exhibitions I have ever seen.  They even had beautiful cards for sale with pictures of the banners. I now realise I didn't buy enough as I used them all very quickly.  The ladies then served a memorable afternoon tea.  As if this wasn't enough, Toddy invited us all to his house.  What a delight this was too.

During a visit to the Scottish Shop in Dunedin we were pleasantly surprised and highly delighted with their display window.  A mannequin was dressed with Gunn Tartan.  We were thrilled they had entered into the spirit of the weekend although truthfully we have no idea whether it was by design or accident.  Whichever - another accolade for Dunedin.

We all gathered again at Bonny's home for a pot luck dinner.  We were joined by Richard and Tony Rawstron from Christchurch and more Clan members from Dunedin.  It was another wonderful evening of catching up with one another, fabulous food and hoots of laughter all round.

The AGM was scheduled for 10.00am at Janet Cameron Hall at Green Island.  An ideal venue, brilliant weather, comfy chairs and off we went for the business in hand.  John was elected Vice President  and considers it an honour and although  he expressed some hesitation of the position initially, he will endeavour to execute his duties to the very best of his ability. (His words not mine).

At the conclusion of the meeting we were served yet another cooked meal at the hall by the folk from St Barnabas Home.  We waddled out to our vehicles and headed for home with songs on our lips and the love and hospitality of Clan Gunn Dunedin in our hearts forever.

Words don't adequately express the great effort and teamwork of the Dunedin team.  Looking forward to catching up with you all this year and hopefully some of you who haven't yet attended an AGM will be inspired to come along and enjoy the experience of a Clan Gathering.  Just bring along your laughing gear and goodwill and all the rest falls into place.

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH CLAN GUNN – DUNEDIN!

Kathy and John Sauer

Wedding of Alecia Ferguson and Dave Labes 15^th January 2011

Congratulations to Alecia and Dave on their recent wedding. The wedding was held in one of Dunedin’s beautiful gardens which nestles under the Maungatua Hills.

Alecia was resplendent in a beautiful beaded tulle gown, carrying white roses. Her bridesmaids wore identical dresses of cobalt blue chiffon with bouquets of yellow roses. The ornament on top of the wedding cake was that of a woman in a wedding dress catching a rugby player, so the ensemble in Otago colours were followed through to the bridesmaids, best man and ushers’ waistcoats and flowers due to Dave’s rugby influence.

Alecia represented Clan Gunn as a contestant at the Queen of the Heather competition in September 2005. Both Alecia and Dave were active members of Clan Gunn prior to their departure to Australia to take up residence. Alecia’s parents and grandparents still play active roles in the Clan and support the Clan’s activities in every way. We wish Alecia and Dave all the best of good fortune for their future life together.

Sheila Wall

• Obituaries 
  
  

Ben Gunn

The news of Ben (John) Gunn’s passing after a long illness on 19^th December 2010 was received with great sadness by not only his family but friends and Clan alike. He was a proud Scot, a loving, loyal husband and father, a strong Clansman, and a brilliant craftsman.

Ben was a very loyal and stalwart member of his Clan. He was at every meeting he could get to both locally in Christchurch and Nationally. So determined was Ben to be at the last AGM in October, just before his passing, that he made the five hour trip by car from Christchurch to Dunedin and back with his wife Marie’s help using a wheelchair and walking frame when he arrived. That is Determination, Bravery and Loyalty that we could all learn from.

Ben was born in Dunbeath, Caithness, Scotland and it was his wish that his ashes be taken back there, and that wish will be honoured.

Rest in Peace Ben. You will be sorely missed.

Todd Wall (President and Friend)

Errol Flynn

It was with sadness and regret that we learned of the passing of Errol Flynn, husband of Bonny Flynn (a hard working member of the Clan Gunn Council) on 17^th September 2010, a week before his 70^th birthday.

Our sincerest condolences go to Bonny on this occasion. They also go to Errol and Bonny’s daughters, Charmaine and Fiona as well. Charmaine represented Clan Gunn on one occasion in the Queen O’ the Heather competition here in Dunedin and won the Crown. She currently lives in Auckland. Errol was well acquainted with the Dunedin Clan members and when he was at home he engaged all and sundry in interesting conversations interspersed with plenty of humour and laughter. He will be sadly missed.

Rest in Peace Errol.

Todd Wall (President)

Hector Coutts, sadly passed away just before Christmas 2010. He was in his 80^th year. He leaves behind his wife Noeline and two children, a son and daughter. He will be sadly missed by his family and we offer them our sincerest condolences on their loss.

Rest in Peace Hector.

Todd Wall (President)

Whistling in the Winds with the Mighty Gunns

An Extract from “The Highland Clans”

by Moncrieffe of that ilk and David Hicks

Published by Bramhall House

To realise how powerful the Gunn Clan of Caithness in the Scottish highlands were, here are a few extracts from Sir Iain Moncrieffe’s book- ‘THE HIGHLAND CLANS’. It is his aim to describe in the book the great and rightful pride which people of Scots and Highland descent feel about their origins, wherever they are now living.

“The chief of Clan Gunn was Gunn of Killearnan, whose Gaelic title was Mac Sheumais Chataich. The family derived their name from their Norse Orcadian ancestor Gunni, whose wife Ragnhild (widow of Lifolf ‘Bald-pate’) inherited great estates on the Scottish mainland in Caithness and Sutherland after the death in battle in 1198 of her brother Harald Ungi, Jarl in Orkney and Earl in Caithness. Her father descended from Moddan ‘in Dale’, probably son of Moddan, mormaer of Caithness (slain in 1040); and her grandfather was Saint Ragnvald (St. Ronald), Jarl in Orkney, who built Kirkwall Cathedral in honour of his own uncle St. Magnus: the bones of both saints still sanctify the building. These Orkney jarls descended from ‘Turf’ Einar, Jarl of Orkney from 894, who taught the Orcadians to burn turf or peat in their fireplaces and was half-brother of Rolf the Ganger, founder of Normandy. It was Turf Einar who avenged the murder of their father Ragnvald the Wise, Jarl of More, son of Eystein Glumra, Jarl of the Upplanders: descended through the Norse sea –kings of Vestfold and Raaumarike from the ancient pagan sacral ‘Peace-Kings of Uppsala’ in Sweden. Their emblem was the galley, the boat that symbolised their ancestral mother-goddess Freya.

The coat of arms of the Gunn chiefs has not yet been recorded in Lyon Register (1967). In 1800, Gun-Munro of Braemore recorded a coat with a three mast ship on the sea, and on a red’chief’ (i.e. the top third of the shield) the Three Legs of Man between two golden stars. The Manx Legs reflected a late and erroneous tradition that the name-father of the clan Gunni was the son of a Norse king of the Isle of Man: whose royal house in fact probably sprang from the same Yarlingar stock as the jarls of Orkney to whom the real historic Gunni was related. The three masted ship is simply a differenced version of the old galley of the Orkney jarls, thought up by the heralds to disentangle Caithness from Orkney symbolically. Burkes General Armory, which lists a number of officially unrecorded coats-of-arms, attributes to Gunn (Sutherland) a three masted galley, and on a red ‘chief’ bear’s head between two stars; while for Gunne (Caithness) it has a ship under sail on the sea, and three stars on a red ‘chief’ above the ship. Basically, therefore, the Gunn coat is obviously the Ship of Caithness (derived from the Galley of Orkney) with a ‘chief’ of Sutherland (golden stars on red) on which another device is usually also incorporated. This device in the Braemore coat is the Three Legs of Man, a late misconception, and on the other attributed coat it is a Mackay bear’s head (from so many Gunn-Mackay marriages in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries) that was only adopted in error by the Mackays in the seventh century. It therefore falls to be considered what was the earlier device borne by the Gunns in their ‘chief’: and the obvious answer is, their famous silver brooch (heraldically a ‘buckle’) as Crowners of Caithness.

Startlingly enough, the earliest surviving example of the Gunn chief’s coat-of-arms appears to have been punch-marked by a mediaeval armourer-smith on a rock in Massachusetts in or about 1395. obviously it is impossible to attain certainty in such a matter, especially from photographs, but the heater-shaped shield there, borne by what seems to be the effigy of a fourteenth century knight, appears to show arms of a distinctively Norse-Scottish character: a galley, and in chief a star between two large buckles. As with many Scandinavian heraldic boats, no mast appears to be shewn: but the oars are crossed in saltire at the blades, as in some highland coats.

Since at least 1426 the Gunn chiefs had been locked in conflict with the Keith’s of Ackergill, who had inherited through a Cheyne heiress important rival Caithness land-claims derived from her remote ancestor John, Jarl of Orkney (murdered by Snaekoll, 2^nd Gunn chief, in 1231). The Clan Gunn had been defeated in 1438 in a battle on Tannach Moor near Wick, by the combined forces of the Keith’s and Mackays. There is a distinctively Norse flavour about the tale that in another battle, near Halberry Castle itself, a huge Keith was attended by the devil in the shape of a raven sitting on his shoulder and assisting him ‘by tearing the eyes out of the sockets of some of the Gunns.’ For the raven is the bird that symbolises the spirit of Woden, whose Raven-Banner the old Orkney jarls (ancestors of the Keiths and Gunns alike) had displayed in many a battle: there was a prophecy that it would always have the victory, but its standard bearer would be killed.

The Gunns were again defeated by the Keiths in 1464 in Strathmore near Dirlot. ‘Soon thereafter Crowner Gunn and some of his sons were massacred by the Keiths in the chapel of St. Tyer, near Wick. Four of his sons were slain that day, which other accounts place in 1478. There is a well known tale that it had been agreed to hold a reconciliation meeting of twelve horsemen from each side. Twenty four Keiths came, two on each horse, and slew the Gunns, who had sought sanctuary in the chapel.

In 1517, the Clan Gunn played a decisive part in the battle of Torran Dubh in Rogart, when the Sutherland Murray’s, supported by the Rosses of Balnagowan, defeated the Mackays and their allies. An old Gaelic song has the stanza: “Thainig na Guinich’s gu’n tainig iad, ‘S ann an deagh am a thainig iad. Thair iad as Macaoidh’s siol Mhothan, Mharbhadh leo siol Phail gun acain.” ‘The guns came and came they did, It was in an hour of need they came. They Mackays and Mathesons fled, But the Polsons were mercilessly slain. “

To be continued ….

Contributed by Jess Smith, Scottish Authoress & Friend

Photo Gallery

Clan Gunn Attendees at the 22nd AGM in Dunedin

Sheila and Joyce as “Ding” and “Dong”	L-R John Sauer Tony & Richard Rawstron

Clan Members enjoying the 22nd AGM Lunch Dunedin

Alecia Ferguson and Dave Labes	Bonny Flynn and Jessie Nelson

Council Members

2009 - 2010

President: Todd Wall healing@touch-your-heart.co.nz

Vice President: John Sauer clangunn@snap.net.nz

Immediate Past President: Val Donald Ph: 03 366 4476

Treasurer: Ian Gunn ian.gunn@xtra.co.nz

Secretary: Marie Gunn marie.gunn@xtra.co.nz

Membership

Secretary: Kathy Sauer kathyandjohn@xtra.co.nz

Committee: Ben Gunn marie.gunn@xtra.co.nz

Dianne Gunn Giles lendit@pcconnect.co.nz

Stuart Gunn lizandstuart@actrix.co.nz

Mervyn Gunn merv.tui@xtra.co.nz

Kathy Sauer kathyandjohn@xtra.co.nz

Bonnie Flynn

Editor: Sue Gunn clangunn@snap.net.nz

Website: www.clangunn.org.nz

Genealogist: A reminder that Clan Gunn’s genealogist is:

Margaret Godfrey Ph: 03 487 6700

Email: Margaret-g@clear.net.nz

Margaret is only too wiling to help members find their ancestry.

Marie Gunn, Secretary

121B Johns Road, Belfast, Christchurch 8051

Ph: 03 323 6608