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Issues from 1998
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Robert Burns: poet of human dignity

Words: Dr David Kemp (‘59)

Hugh Wilson ('66), Dr David Kemp ('59), Rev Graham Bradbeer and Mr Don Mercer

It's coming yet for a' that,
That Man to Man,
the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that

It is said that, after Queen Victoria, there are more statues of Robert Burns in Australia than of any other person. Melbourne has a magnificent statue in the Treasury Gardens on Spring Street.

Scotch staff and Old Boys played a prominent part this year in the Melbourne commemorations of the poet's birth, when our Chaplain, Rev Graham Bradbeer, proposed the toast to the 'immortal memory' of Robert Burns at the annual dinner organised by Rob Adams (‘76 ) on behalf of the Melbourne Scots, held on Friday 22 February.

Mark Saul, Teacher-in-Charge of Pipes and Drums at Scotch, brilliantly played selections on the bagpipes, John Blanch (‘64 ) led the singing of Burns songs, while the Chairman of the School Council, Dr David Kemp (’59) and Anne Marie Kemp, and Deputy Chairman John Wilson and Paula Wilson, sang along, with many other Old Boys who were present.

To most people the determination of those of Scottish descent to remember the poet Robert Burns, who lived 200 years ago, seems hard to understand. But as our Chaplain made clear, there are good reasons for the regard in which Robert Burns is held.

Burns is remembered for many reasons, not least because of his beautiful songs that are still sung around the world; songs such as My love is like a red red rose, The banks an’ braes o’ Bonnie Doon, as well as Scots Wha Hae and of course Auld Lang Syne.

But Burns is especially remembered because he was a believer in the equality of every human being, men and women, and in the equal respect due to every person when these were very unfashionable ideas following the French Revolution. He was a very influential voice in the coming of democracy, by being its greatest poet.

Rev Bradbeer presented Burns’ work through the lens of Thomas Jefferson’s words in the American Declaration of Independence, which identified the 'unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'. Burns was a great admirer of George Washington and the American revolutionaries.

He became a brilliant advocate for the equal rights of all people, which helps to explain the many statues erected in his honour around the world. Recalling and honouring Burns is to recall what he stood for, and what later generations have fought for.

Rev Bradbeer reminded the listeners that Burns was not only an advocate of the rights of men, but was also one of the earliest advocates of the rights of women:

While quacks of State
must each produce his plan,

And even children lisp the Rights
of Man; Amid this mighty fuss
just let me mention,
The Rights of Woman merit
some attention.

Scotch College of course owns one of the outstanding collections of Burns’ works in Australia, the gift of J T Picken.

Rev Bradbeer impressed the guests by reading directly from the original and valuable Kilmarnock edition of Burns’ poems, one of the prizes of the Scotch collection. Hugh Wilson ('66), the Scotch Finance Manager, kept an unwavering eye on the rare volume to make sure that it did not go astray! All present agreed that the evening did the great Scottish poet of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, proud.

Updated: Monday 24 June 2013