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WALTONS Highland games publicity manager finds relaxation in annual efforts Herald staff Although he chuckles about how he was coerced into becoming involved with the Speyside Highland Games when they were founded four years ago Bill Miller of Or chard Boulevard In George town admits he now considers the games and the work he does in helping to prepare for them as pari of his relaxation 1 work just as hard for games as do on my daily job he says com as a whole is a hard working bunch Each member has put in his hours Officially my city director but I think we have a go everything Mr Miller credits games manager Sandy of Brampton as being the driving force behind the whole opera- lion and vows thai without him there would literally be no games was Mr McAllan who coerced him into work on games In begin ning and it was largely due to his efforts and enthusiasm that the games began four years ago HELD GAMES Brampton had highland games for a couple of years but they fell through and in the HaltonPeal Highland Games Association Ltd was formed Members approached council early that year to see if would Interested In letting group host the games and if so would they be prepared help subsidize them since ihey were brand new They were told la goahead but the request or funds was turned down We were going on a wing prayer that year he says because we had zero funds but luckily the weather held and we made a Utile spare cash for the second year Last year it cost us SIS plus for Ihe games and this year we expect cost over The bulk of this money goes the Pipers and Pipe Bands Association Canada for prize money judges pipers to play for the dancing competi tions and I rans portal ion costs of bands competing in the events The Highland Dancers Association of Canada also has to be paid since It provides judges for dancing tit ions In spite of some to think it I cost peanuts to on a show like this he says Thats wh we have to raise gate admis S3 from last year because of all Ihe Increased costs When games began the only date available which would not conflict other games happened to be the second weekend of June Since were brand new they had no choice but accept Now member feel the choice of dale has been lucky Were the outdoor games of the season and dan cers and bands are Itching to gel out and gel started he says Were their trial so we get good turn outs No one could dispute how good their crowds have been when you consider that inside three years they have come from being a brand new games lie for third place as the largest games in Ontario The 1978 program listed other games held between July 1 and Sept Mr Miller soys the Cambridge games would draw about the same size crowd as Georgetown and only ihe Fer gus games and Ihe games draw bigger crowds Bolh of those games have been running well over years Choosing names was done very carefully Mr Miller says The group behind the games decided lo use I la I Ion Peel In their title in order to encompass as large an area as possible and draw on the great number of residents from a Scottish background as well as many local organizations with Scottish connections Anyone questioning the interest in Scottish traditions In the area has only to stop and count ihe number of pipe bands In the area iwo in Georgetown one in Acton one in Milton and the Lome Scots in Brampton and Georgetown to realize how widespread connection is SPEYSIDE NAME The name Speyside High land Games was chosen be cause regional government turned us Into Ha ton Hills and Halton Hills Highland Games would just have been loo much of a mouthful the group fell Looking around Ihe area for a logical name to substitute turned out to be the only old community name with suitable connotations It was also of special significance to Dr Macintosh the groups president Carol Barrow vicepresi dent Betty Miller secretary and treasurer make up the other members of the executive while George Gray Beverly Gray Ten- fellow contestant lets go with a Peter Barrow and Boy Booth of Georgetown and rank and George Montgomery of Brampton are directors of the lion Gordon Peine a founding member of the group and years treasurer was moved to J Phoenix Arizona by his em earlier this year but still keeps in touch Mr Miller says The Speyside gomes were not Mr Millers first involve ment with such He belonged to an athletic club in his Perth and attend games all over northcen tral Scotland wilh the group for 10 years I was In both gymnastics and weight lifting he says not in competitions or things like the heavy weight When the games were set up the group made a conscious choice avoid midways and Trills and slick as close to the traditional tjpe of games found the highlands as pos sible Apparently the choice was good Over and over people tell us this Is the way it was when come to the games he says The heavy weight con testants to a man have staled they like the way we have our games organized They like the way weve kept to old traditions and the fact that we give them official recognition for their part in drawing a crowd There were 10 main heavy weight contestant who have all participated in one of more of the games and wc hear thai al least five of them will be at ihe games this year competing ma kilt While it takes a degree of expertise to know a top notch dancer or pipe band while ihey are performing it ruiulrea much less sophistication follow the contenders in the heavy events Thai combined with the sheer power these men display make them crowd as they put the pound shot toss the pound weight for height over Ihe bar toss the caber telephone pole cut to size or pick up carry 400 pound weights in what is called Farmers Walk The only dif ference in ihe will be a change in the weights for the pound weight event BIG ENOUGH This year the handle will only be big enough for one hand he says In the past could pick it up with mo hands rock it bock and forth to gel Some momentum going and then heave il over Iwo hands But not this year Theyll have to do it all with one hand Thai will separate the men from the boys Last year he games drew bands and more than dan cers This year ihey expect least an equal number of bands and more than dancers They have hired two extra judges to handle them all They also have concessions lined up and Frank is slill getting calls from interest ed groups In his capacity as publicity director for the games Mr Miller has wrlltcn the Tor onto Sun ihe Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail as well as television stations like II little like the fact that Air Canada will be carrying meniionof side games in their magazine for all flights arriving in Cana da ihal indicates what sort of job hes succeeding in doing for the association and what of repuiallon the games are earning only has there been considerable Interest from out side local mer chants and residents have done their port too Wc feel the games arc an lo community he says something he can gel involved in And Ihey have The merchants businessmen have been very supportive The town works crew lo date have been more than cooperative The Hydro docs things for us and puis up banners The papers give us good coverage We even have individuals involved like Mrs Herbert on Maple Avenue who rents us her big back yard which adjoins the park as a place to park cars Wc give a lot of pleasure a lot of people and thats whal makes it all worlh while Most of the comments Ihey hear arc from people who have colour ound they have had a few comments from people who feel the games arc perpetuating Canadian traditions Not so for Mr and his wife who snol itnr for me Plates like Georgetown are re nice places to tiring up kids We were in Canada fur before we even Mined mjihing be i nisi no wanted lo become and tee if loukl til ml Canadian s something draw upon ihtseroois We find ihe games gofir More and more we find people names like thai 1 a of Scottish hunt games They the colour and sound ind where else can you spend a whole with the son of we offer or resident will probably look forward of the Chieftain for this games will be mayor Pomeroy decked for ihe We fell wc owed it to him for his support his Mr Miller says and in recogni nun of his He has promised he will a rental plate and come in proper wilh a kill One of the important new events this will dance in Georgetown Armouries following the game II is sored by the Georgetown Girls Pipe Band and tickets arc a- from the band or Ihe association members Eventually wed like lo be able to hold a ball to end games bulwcwerc loo late starting to organize it ihis year Well have to work up to that FOSTER GAMES The associations aim is to the games ana mane them grow Mr Miller says but ultimately when there is sufficient money In the bank to take care of a rainy day the means hat literally surplus funds would bo put towards support of some cultural activ ity associated with a Scottish group such as a dance school or a piping school first wc have to gel enough money set take care of that rainy day because Its bound to happen some year Then he grins and reminds you that In all the years and years since the fall fair first started was first time It was ever com pletely rained so maybe ihe odds arent so bad after all Mr Miller Is Canadian mar keting manager for a data processing firm Harris Sys tems Ltd of Don Mills and travels extensively tor them Ik classes himself as a te pid amateur photographer quickly points all the possibilities games present for real enthusiasts from he standpoint of colour and motion wife Betty has been he associations secretary since the beginning and shares he hours of work involved in his relaxation Her hobby is horses and he uses that as his excuse to get out in the fresh air The couple have two young children Adrian and Janet PolkaDot Rock For- the man or woman who has everything the IDEAL GIFT A red and white Polka- Dot Rock Only Includes postage handling and Send your cheque or money order payable to Cordova Ave Suite 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