[Editor: This article was published in The North-Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (Devonport, Tas.), 20 May 1911.]
Mr Fisher at Ayr.
Great enthusiasm.
Through Burns’ country.
London, Thursday. — Great enthusiasm marked the home-coming of Australia’s Prime Minister, Hon. Andrew Fisher, to Ayr, his “native heath.” The visitor was accompanied by his wife and son, also Sir George Reid, Mr. D. Bowman. M.L.A. (Queensland), and Mr. J. Keir Hardie, M.P. Mr. Fisher was welcomed by the Provost of Ayr, the councillors, miners’ executive, and leading citizens.
The party motored through Robert Burns’ country, to Ayr. They visited Mossgeil and inspected the Burns manuscripts there. They partook of luncheon at the Auld Brig of Doon. On their return there was a great demonstration at Crosshouse village, Mr. Fisher’s birthplace. Miners fresh from their pits thronged forward as well as villagers, and school children to welcome the Australian Prime Minister. Amongst the greetings that Mr. Fisher received were the handshakes of old comrades of his colliery days. An old woman came forward and effusively wrung the distinguished visitor’s hand. The school children sang Burns’ “A man’s a man for a’ that.”
Mr. Fisher was much moved, and thanked them for their welcome. To-night a public dinner is to be tendered to Mr. Fisher.
Source:
The North-Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (Devonport, Tas.), 20 May 1911, p. 5
See also:
1) “Australian Prime Minister: Visit to his native village: Enthusiastic homecoming”, The Mercury, (Hobart, Tas.), 20 May 1911, p. 5
2) “His ain folk”, The Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA), 1 July 1911, p. 10
Editor’s notes:
a’ = (Scottish vernacular) all
Andrew Fisher = (1862-1928), federal parliamentarian 1901-1915, leader of the Labor Party 1907-1915, and Prime Minister of Australia 1908-1909, 1910-1913, and 1914-1915
Auld Brig of Doon = (Old Bridge over the River Doon) a bridge in Ayrshire (Scotland), estimated to have been built in the early fifteenth century; also known as the “Auld Brig”, “Brig o’ Doon”, “Old Bridge of Doon”
Ayr = a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland (on the River Ayr, in Ayrshire); the River Ayr (Ayrshire, Scotland)
colliery = a coal mine and its associated buildings, machines, and equipment; a facility which provides or supplies coal
Hon. = an abbreviation of “honourable”, especially used as a style to refer to government ministers, or as a courtesy to members of parliament (as a style, it is commonly capitalised, e.g. “the Hon. Member”)
Mossgeil = Mossgiel Farm, the farm of Mossgiel (old spelling: Mossgaville), located in Ayrshire (Scotland), the home of the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796)
See: “Mossgiel”, Burns Country
M.L.A. = Member of the Legislative Assembly
M.P. = Member of Parliament
Robert Burns = (1759-1796), a famous Scottish poet
[Editor: Changed “Massgeil” to “Mossgeil”.]
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