Veronica McFarland - Principal
Age: 59
Age started dancing: 4, in Perth Scotland with Louvaine Rushford
Level: Judge, Examiner, Teacher
Started Teaching: 28th June 1963
Competitive achievements: Teaching: World Championship medalists, World Championship Finalists 1999, 2001, 2004, Adult Grand Australasian Champion 2003, Adult British Overseas Champion 2000, Currently teaching 8 regular championship placegetters.
Non- competitive achievements: Training 3 of my own children to become teachers. President of NSW State Committee of Highland Dancing for 13 years, seeing the committee through the 1998 Champion of Champions event. Forming the Peninsula Highland Dancing Association.
Favourite dancing moment: Each year seeing 2 of my children dance at Cowal, and on each occasion dancing the reel together. I was so proud as a mother and a teacher to see them smile to each other when propelling together to finish the Worlds in 1999 and years since then.
Favourite traditional dance: Scottish Lilt, as a competitor this was my favourite dance, I enjoyed the musical difference of the 9/8 rhythm. As a teacher I still enjoy watching the dancers work with this rhtyhm to create beautiful movement.
Favourite choreographed dance: Freedom Forever, the music for this piece is amazing, it takes me home to my childhood and the dance is exciting. Dougie has managed to capture the history of Scotland and more importantly give the image of dancing moving forward into the 21st century.
Major inflluences: Charlie Mill, my teacher prior to my departure to Australia he instilled in me a belief in the then new SOBHD system. Jean Ritchie, for the past ten years Jean has had much involvement with my and my children's dancing, in that time she has furthered my knowledge of the text and has become a great friend.
Where do you see yourself in ten years time: Principal of the VLSHD which will have grown to a number of locations, teaching dancers Australia wide the art of Scottish Highland Dancing.
Caroline McFarland
Age: 24
Age started dancing: 6yrs old
Level: Teacher
Competitive achievements: Twice Runner-up NSW State, Runner-up Australian Commonwealth Championships, 8 time World Championship Representative, 3rd, 4th & 5th Place British Overseas Championship.
Favourite dancing moment: Getting the oppurtunity to live in Scotland for 7 months with Dougie in Dundee, and have lessons from Delma Wilson. Finishing nearly every World Championships right beside Dougie. Being asked as a lead dancer in the Edinburgh Tattoo "a Salute to Australia" and being part of the Australian dance team to travel to Oman. I think the highlight of my dancing career for now would be dancing in Down Under The Kilt, dancing beside the best dancers in Australia and along side Gareth Mitchelson I will never forget, it was an honour to be asked to be apart of such an event.
Favourite traditional dance: It use to be the swords as I loved the power and strength it needed, as I got older my favourite became the Sean Truibhas, it's such a graceful dance and as I learnt to dance more graceful and elegantly, this dance gave me the oppurtunity to show that.
Favourite choreographed dance: The Conundrum, the music really lifts you and no matter how tired I am getting throughout a show as soon as the music starts for the Conundrum I get another rush of energy. The choreography is brilliant and it's dance that makes you feel full of life.
Dance idol: Colleen Rintamaki, to me she will be the greatest dancer I have ever seen, she has such grace and strength at the same time and makes everything look so easy. Dougie is also my biggest Idol, I have never seen a dancer with his determination and I admire his ability of "no excuses" he just never gives up. Watching him train in Scotland with Delma, he would dance for hours till he got it right.
Where do you see yourself in ten years: I would like to see myself in 10 years time, with my own dance class under VLSHD, hopefully having one of my own children in the class. Passing on my knowledge to the dancers of the future.
Douglas McFarland
Age: 24
Age started dancing: 3yrs old
Level: Champion
Competitive achievements: Mulitple World Championship Medalist and Finalist, British Overseas Champion, Australasian Champion, Australian Commonwealth, NSW, Victorian, Tasmanian, South Australian Champion, Twice placed in British Open Championship.
Favourite dancing moment: Producing and dancing in Down Under the Kilt.
Favourite traditional dance: Seann Truibhas - the dance requires strength and style, it is a dance that I can think about the history of Scotland, feel the emotion and put that into the performance.
Favourite choreographed dance: I can't pick one dance, but I am particularly proud of the work I did in unlawful, the script dealt with personal issues and I feel I managed to present this difficult time in my life in an artistic, enjoyable tale.
Dance idol: Gareth Mitchelson - all my life I have looked up to Gareth, particularly lately as he takes the steps to further Scottish Highland Dancing Tony Cargill - I met Tony on my first trip to Scotland in 1997, since then I have watched him in awe, he is an amazing dancer and an amazing guy.
Where do you see yourself in ten years: Definately involved in highland in some capacity - my competing days will be over, I love teaching so I will definately pursue that. The shoes (Dougies) will keep me busy and I hope to be on a stage in some part of the world spreading the joy that comes from Highland Dancing. And somewhere in between meeting my wife and having a family.
Rhiannon Marston
Age: 20
Age Started Dancing: 7 almost 8
Level: Champion
Competitive Achievements:
Festival of Tartans 11yrs Champion
Newcastle 12yrs Champion
Southern States 12 yrs Champion
Southern States Golden Anniversary 12 yrs Champion
NSW 12 yrs Champion
Runner-up: Eastern Australian, Commonwealth, Peninsula
6th Place British Overseas Championship 2002
Favourite Dancing Moment: Dancing in World Highland Dancing Championships twice and Edinburgh Military Tattoo - Salute to Australia
Favourite Traditional Dance: Jig
Favourite Choereographed Dance: Dance Power
Dance Idol: Douglas McFarland because nothing ever stops him from dancing
Where will I be in ten years time: Having travelled the world, settled back in OZ with a career and family, definately still involved in Highland Dancing
Kyle Marston
Age: 19
Age started dancing: Just turned 11
Level: Champion
Competitive achievements: 1st Canberra City Championships 2006, Runner-up NSW State Championship, Runner-up Scottish Boys Championship behind David Wilton
Favourite dancing moment: Standing next to my teacher; Douglas McFarland, on stage after the Tasmanian Championships, competing in the World 2002, being a cast member in Down Under the Kilt 2005 with Gareth Mitchelson.
Favourite traditional dance: Fling
Favourite choreographed dance: Bravehearts
Dance idol: Douglas McFarland, David Wilton
Where do you see yourself in ten years time: Running my own hotel and teaching Highland Dancing under the VLSHD with Mrs McFarland
Hannah Polo
Age: 10
Age Started Dancing: 6
Level: Premier
Competitive Achievements: Runner - Up NSW Closed Championship 2006, 2nd Runner - Up NSW State Championship
Favourite Dancing Moment: My first Championship Placing (4th)
Favourite Traditional Dance: Hornpipe
Favourite Choreographed Dance: Thistles
Dance Idol: Caroline McFarland
Where will I be in Ten years time: I think I will still be dancing and maybe teaching Highland Dancing.