Once on a windy and cold September evening in 1994 an idea was born. A number of young fellows decided to establish a club or foundation by their own.

Usually the unit have met for having reasons to be appart of women`s guidance for their further life.In spite of this there was a spezial influence on the young men – Scotland.

The mystery of the Scottish history, tradition and culture as well was so overwhelming that it was finally fact to find a Scottish club. The beginning was hard and even predjudices and rumours in the village did their part to abolish acceptance.But they have never given up their dream and still keep on working.

The fighting capability of the Scots has been recognised all over the world. The regiments acquired an enviable reputation for their dedication and loyality.

The regimental system is peculiar to the British Army, and nowhere has it a firmer base than among the people and clans of Scotland. The tradition of family service, where son follows father into the local regiment, is firmly ingrained in the Scottish culture and creates that special sense of family and continuity. There was one regiment which mainly inspired our unit – the 92nd Regiment, the Gordon Highlanders.

As respect and for honouring the regiment after the amalgamation with the Queen`s Own Highlanders, we adopted their nameand their Clan Gordon Tartan.

Therefore the name:

Gordon Highlanders of Austria
(dressed in Scottish uniform and Gordon tartan).

Our breakthrough was our 2nd Highlander Festival on 14th

September 1996. The 48th Highlanders of Holland blow their pipes and bet their drums through out our village making them believe – the Highlanders are there. From now on we were recognised and accepted – we entered the scenery and are not willing to leave it for the next decades. The Highlander Festival takes part annually at the beginning of June.

We have had special guests as the Baul Mulluy Pipe Band from Hamburg, The 48th Highlanders of Holland, The Roadie Rowdy Piper Band, The Shenanigans, The Wild Irish Lassies, Michael Regan from Australia, and many more ...

The Highlander Festival is a delightful occasion, dominated by the Scottish – Irish music. But the much more successful event are the Highland Games in Donnerskirchen. The number of competitors is growing year by year.

On one hand it`s an opportunity to show your strength in some Scottish competitions (Tossing the Caber, ...), on the other hand you have fun with your team partner, all the other competitors and with some special Austrian – made events such as drinking a mug of bear in one go.

This event is organized annually at the beginning of August.

We also take part at the Highland Games all over Austria, by the way we were actually able as the one and only Scottish unit in Austria to win the Games in Villach, in Hainburg as well as in Donnerskirchen.

Annually we celebrate Burns Night on the 25th January in the Hall of Knights at the Leisserhof in Donnerskirchen.

Poems are read and music is played by our piper on the bagpipe. And of course, the Haggis is presented. In the year of 1999 a number of our members, 9 in regimental dress, were given the membership as „Associates" in the honourable Order of St. Andrew, a Scottish order of Knights found in 1688 with seat in Balgonie Castle, by Markinch, Fife, Scotland. Our chief has been admitted as „Knight of St. Andrew (KSA)" by H.E the Grandmaster himself.

Our club is involved in the local society life – we have organized some charity events for children in Africa and are supporting some local associations,such as the Fire Brigadeor the local BrassBand, in our area with at least our dignity for celebrations and having fun.

Our behaviour is an amalgamation of the Austrian way of living and the respect and the honouring of a foreign culture – the tradition and history of Scotland.

Hearty greetings from the Gordon Highlanders of Austria,

Bydand and Alba Gu Brath