We offer our thanks to Margaret Sharpe for accepting this most prestigious social role of being the “Host for the Day.” To read Margaret’s full impressive CV please click on the link below.

(Click here to view CV for Margaret Sharpe.)

The annual Berry Celtic Festival was started in 2007 in order to assist in raising funds to help establish a Linear Accelerator Cancer Treatment Centre for the City of Shoalhaven in N.S.W, an endeavour started by the Late Dr. Ray Cleary, who sadly passed away in 2005.

A project of the Rotary Club of Berry-Gerringong-Inc. proudly assisted by other Community Groups and Service Clubs, the festival was conceived as a way for the various service clubs of the region to work together in support of the medical centre. From its inception, the Festival has been a resounding success, with up to 120 pipe players, a host of performers, and up to 4,500 spectators.

Commencing with a street pipes parade through Berry, the Festival runs a mix of musical items, from pipes to string ensembles, dancing and singing performances of Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Galician and Australian Heritage origins, and demonstrations of physical prowess by the Tartan Warriors. Other activities include the annual raffle of a magnificent Celtic quilt made by the Nowra Quilters, a Cornish pasty competition, wandering minstrels, and food and Celtic item vendors.

However, words cannot describe an event such as this: just come and enjoy it for yourself!

We are pleased to announce that, strongly influenced by the level of fund raising in the entire Shoalhaven Community, the Federal and N.S.W. Sate Governments have now confirmed that they will contribute $33.8Million to the project, enabling the project to go ahead. The proceeds of future festivals will be directed towards furnishing the new Centre.