Hier den kompletten St. Andrew-Letter im Format PDF herunterladen!

Auszüge aus dem St.-Andrew-Letter, die das Schaffen der Ordensmitglieder, der Komtureien sowie unter dem Patronat des Ordens stehenden Organisationen dokumentiert, und Einblicke in die allgemeine Ordensarbeit vermittelt. 

From Fort William To Loch Lomond
In July 2002 our members Chief The Chev. Christoph Gänsbacher KSA (chairman of “The Gordon Highlanders of Austria”) and Pipe Major The Chev. Emil King GCSA (Co-founder and Pipe Major of the “First Leiblach Valley Pipes and Drums”, Austria´s first original bagpipe-band) passed *The West Highland Way*. Location of arrival was Glasgow; up from there the device was “From Fort William to Loch Lomond”. A special adventure with backpack, sleeping bag and tent through the unique landscape of our beloved Highlands.

Locations & stops f.e.: Fort William, the snowy Ben Nevis, Lochan Lunn, Lundavra, Old Military Road, Lochleven, Glencoe (incl. Museum to commemorate the historical massacre of the Clan MacDonald by their enemies of the Clan Campbell), the Bridge of Orchy (start-position for the record-route of around 35 km), River Ba, Loch Buidhe, Beinn Toaig, Loch Tulla, Tyndrum, Glen Fillan, Kikton, the Falls of Falloch, Inerarnan, Loch Lomond (called the most beautiful Scottish Loch), the famous Rob Roy McGregor´s cave, Inersnaid, Callander (with Rob Roy-museum) and Balquidder (with Rob Roy´s grave). Congratulations, dear conferers!

A home for 500 bottles
July 27th, 2002 at Steyregg (Upper Austria): Master Distiller of Bruichladdich (and three times “Distiller of The Year”) Jim McEwan and Guiseppe Begnoni, greatest Whisky-collector of the world (5.500 Bottles) opened the 1st Austrian Scotch Whisky Museum, founded by our Chev. Thomas Neuhauser, Laird of Greinneglean, KSA, MLA.

Prominent guests: Dr. Mario Prinz, greatest Austrian Whisky-Dealer, Klaus Schwaiger, greatest Austrian Whisky-Collector; Steyregg´s Mayor Josef Buchner; H.E. our Grand Master; Fritz Häfele, Chairman of “Acla da Fans” etc. Scottish live-music was performed by the Viennese Pipe-Band “Samh Dubh” (with its prominent member Sylvia Hoffmann, Austria´s first female piper), who received applause from over 150 guests from seven countries.

Competent and good in mood as ever, Director Ing. Günther Suhrada from “Guinness UDV” Vienna (Guinness United Vintners & Distillers) presented for tastings not only the “Classic Malts of Scotland”, but also special and rare editions, f.e. of Johnnie Walker, Cardhu and Cameron Brig Single Grain. Peronod Ricard was represented by Aoife Downes from Ireland, who offered brands like Aberlour, Glenlivet and Chevas Regal in different qualities. Elisabeth Korandra (Bacardi Martini Austria) presented tasting of Ballantines Blends, Ballantines Pure Malt and the “Heritage Collection” of Allied. As a perfect complement “Austria Tabak” offered fine Cigars from its “Wallstreet” –edition.

Thanks and Honors
In relation to the museum´s opening H.E. our Grandmaster had the pleasure, to honor some especially meritorious persons: Jim McEwan was admitted into the order as “Knight of Honour”; to Piper The Chev. Mattias Grabner KSA was awarded the “Junior Piper-Badge” (Bronze Stuart-Thistle). Afterwards the members of the order Chev. Thomas-Jürgen Bäumler KSA, Dame Gabriele Hodina DSA and Chev. Thomas Neuhauser KSA, MLA has been knighted formally with the order´s ceremonial-Highland broad sword. The order´s *Diploma of Honor* was given to Andrea Neuhauser in relation to her meritorious co-work for the foundation of the museum and for the excellent organization of the opening-event.

For distinguished service at the ceremony and in some other affairs H.E. the Grand Master expresses his special acknowledgement to Sgt. Martin “Fips” Täuber, further member of the order and H.E. the Grand Master´s adjutant.

A wonderful “Scottish” event
To H.E. our Grand Master, who designed free of costs the Museum´s Badge as his special, personally donation, and some other persons, who have given also special support to the museum, the Golden Museum´s Badge was been awarded by Thomas Neuhauser in an impressive ceremony.

Five fried young-pigs (“Spanferkel”) enjoyed the guests also like an excellent assortment of sweets & cakes in a room upstairs, where our Chev. Christian Dematté Laird of Batbalkie, CSA presented his extraordinary Scottish fine art photographs-exhibition “Avalon-Vision of Paradise” – wonderful artistic impressions of our beloved “Alba”.

Outside of the marquee the guests could look at Thomas unique motorbike “The Drunken Harley”, completely painted with scottish motives, and at some exclusively cars (Jaguar, Ferrari etc.)

Later in the evening a raffle was realized; Jim McEwan donated a bottle “Bruichladdich 20years old” with his signature as first prize. Also a rarities-tasting and Jim´s introductions to scottish dances found great interest.
Contact/Information:
1st Austrian Scotch Whisky Museum
Linzer Straße 29a (Gewerbepark/area of the “Stahl”-Corportation)
A-4221 Steyregg
Tel.: (++43)(0)7237 59 05
Fax: (++43)(0)7237 59 05 11
Mobile: (++43)(0) 664 515 98 43
E-Mail: Diese E-Mail Adresse ist gegen Spam Bots geschützt, Sie müssen Javascript aktivieren, damit Sie es sehen können
Internet: www.whiskymuseum.at

10 Jahre POTSTILL
Zum 10jährigen Bestehen gratulieren wir *Potstill* „Austrians Finest Whisky Shop“ in Wien herzlich. Dr. Mario Prinz, weit über Österreichs Grenzen hinaus bekannter Experte für Single Malts, hat in mühevoller Aufbauarbeit ein „Zentrum“ für Fans rarer und außergewöhnlicher Marken geschaffen, in dem kompetente und liebenswürdige Beratung großgeschrieben wird – für „Einsteiger“ ebenso wie für „Feinspitze“ mit besonderen Ansprüchen. Weiterhin viel Erfolg und viel Freude mit dem *Diploma of Honour* unserer St. Andrew-Association!

Kontakt:
Potstill „Austrian´s finest Whisky Shop”
Strozzigasse 37
A-1080 Wien
Tel. & Fax: (++43)(0)1 48 03 853
Mobil: (++43)(0)699 10 05 31 42
E-Mail: Diese E-Mail Adresse ist gegen Spam Bots geschützt, Sie müssen Javascript aktivieren, damit Sie es sehen können
Internet: www.potstill.org

Commandery of Nellenburg
The commander of the Commandery of Nellenburg (Germany), Chev. Fritz Metterhauser GCSA, end of July retired from his function. As new commander has been appointed Chev. Hans Peter Raith GCSA, also “King of Arms” of the order. Best thanks to Chev. Metterhauser for his engagement and achievements in the past!

Scottish Pop Rock
Under the device *To be stronger* Chev. Basil Henry Connor Wolfrhine of Stuart, Laird of Kintail, Ullapool and Camster, GCSA, Commander of the Commandery of Soonwald/Germany, presented – common with his band “The Claymore Highlander” – his new CD “Scottish Pop Rock”. 10 impressive titles from “The great Highlander in Germany”, including the excellent own compositions “Dancing Like A Feather In The Wind” and “Be Stronger”. For the titles “Once Again To Feel This Love” and “Bonnie Lass” he received double-gold in relation to the “The Best Of Int. Pop-Trophy 2001/2002” – competition. Congratulations!

Informations: www.scottish-pop-rock.de or www.scottish-pop-rock.com

1st Styrian Hielander Tryst
He calls himself a “farmer and musician” and plays – naturally kilted – the Great Highland Bagpipe: Ing. Helmut Schulhofer, owner of the popular “Erlebnsibuschenschank Fuchsenhof” in Styria. On July 7th 2002 the engaged wine grower and “Styrian Highlander” (title officially registered!) invited to the 1st Styrian Hielander (=Highlander Meeting).

Beside some local musicians and bands a special highlight was the presence of Austria´s 1st original Scottish bagpipe-band, the “First Leiblach Valley Pipes and Drums” (Hörbranz/Vorarlberg) under command of our Pipe Major The Chev. Emil King GCSA (one day before the band was one of the main-attractions of the (town festival) in Voitsberg.

Under his guests – all over from Austria – the “Styrian Highlander” could welcome f.e. Rupert Mörth (world champion in power triathlon), star trumpeter Toni Maier, Lena Binstingl (Miss Western Styria), Sonja Brunner (Styrian cider queen), police-colonel Luis Eberhard with his band “Steierblech”, participants of the helicopter world championship 2002, a delegation of “The Gordon Highlanders of Austria” under command of our Chief. The Chev. Christoph Gänsbacher, KSA, Voitsberg´s major Ernst Meixner etc.

In relation to his performances as piper and also to the successful event Ing. Schulhofer received the *Diploma of Honour* of our St. Andrew-Association.
Inforamtions:
Buschenschank “Fuchsenhof”
Ing. Helmut & Birgit Schulhofer
Gasselberg 56
A-8563 Gaisfeld
Tel.: (++43)(0)3143 20 120; (++43)(0)664 11 17 706

FLOOD DISASTER IN AUSTRIA - Whisky Museum destroyed!
On July 27th 2002 the 1st Austrian Scotch Whisky Museum has been opened, on August 14th 2002 the founder and director, our Chev. Thomas Neuhauser, Laird of Grainneglean KSA, informed us with a fax:”Shortly only five words: The museum is completely destroyed!” Dear Thomas: We heartly wishes you all the best for reconstruction and if we can give support, we will do!

Training-room flooded!
Particularly destroyed also has been the training-room of the “First Leiblach Valley Pipes and Drums” in Hörbranz (near Bregenz/Voralberg), as our Chev. Pipe Major Emil King, Laird of Garegarth GCSA, told us at the same day.
Also him and to the band all good wishes for reconstruction.

And: Hereby we thank all members of the order and especially of our St. Andrew Volunteer Corps (SAVC), who – by money/good donation – gave aid to the victims of the flood disaster. Also the SAVC-general command tries to help by its best possibilities (report in next issue!)

Wet Highland-Games
On August 4th, 2002 in Donnerskirchen (Burgenland) “The Gordon Highlanders of Austria” invented to their 6th Highland Games. In relation to torrential rain the event must been broken off. The competitions were putted of to August 11th, 2002, but also this day extremely rain was a great problem. Nevertheless at last all 16 teams (1 team = 2 members) gave their best.
Mostly of the “heroes” had thrown away their wet T-Shirt and looked-especially after the tug-of-war-part-nearly like warriors from the “Braveheart”-movie. Under sunshades (!) the pipers Chev. Grabner and Ing. Schulhofer tried to give motivation until to the “bitter end”.

Highlander Festival
The “Highlander Festival” of “The Gordon Highlanders of Austria” now is celebrated on September 7th ,2002, 8:00 p.m., at the parsonage of Donnerskirchen. Special guests f.e.: The First Leiblach Pipes and Drums; H.E. our Grand Master; “The Styrian Highlander” Ing. Helmut Schulhofer; the mayor of Donnerskirchen; our Chev. Thomas Neuhauser, Laird of Grainneglean, KSA (director of the 1st Austrian Scotch Whisky Museum) etc.

Pipes & Drums & Cars
One of their next performance The First Leiblach Valley Pipes and Drums have at the “1st British Classic Car Event” at Schloss Hof (Lower Austria) on September 14th, 2002 in relation to the “Highland Games” there (2:00 p.m.).