General News
3 January, 2023
Glenn Hooper awarded chieftain honour
Glenn Hooper has helped set up the Highland Gathering for more than 15 years and at Sunday’s event, was given the opportunity to take centre stage as chieftain. Named as chieftain for the annual event’s return after the pandemic, Mr Hooper has...
Glenn Hooper has helped set up the Highland Gathering for more than 15 years and at Sunday’s event, was given the opportunity to take centre stage as chieftain.
Named as chieftain for the annual event’s return after the pandemic, Mr Hooper has been integral in preparing Princes Park for the Gathering since 2005.
Mr Hooper was surprised when he was offered the position of chieftain and was at first going to decline, but described the title as a “great honour”.
“I’ve been helping to set up the games since 2005 and worked for the Highland Society for more than 20 years,” he said.
“I was tutored by the legend Harold Hubble and he said ‘you start your apprenticeship and I’ll sign off when you’re ready’ but unfortunately Harold passed away before he could do that.
“I was surprised when the Highland Society president approached me about the position and my immediate thought was that I wasn’t sure I could do it.
“I certainly never thought I’d get the opportunity and given the great honour of the position, I accepted.”
Mr Hooper worked as the groundskeeper for the Maryborough Highland Society for some 22 years which is how he first became involved in organising the Highland Gathering.
He said over time the Gathering took hold of him and became an annual event and experience he’s grown to love.
“To me the Highland Gathering is a tradition that’s been held since 1857 and with my work at the Highland Society as groundskeeper and my involvement with setting up the games, it’s always been something I’ve sort of grabbed and run with,” he said.
“We’ve had some trying moments over the years, but the Gathering has gotten into my blood — it’s a fantastic experience and I’ve grown to like it very much.
“The Highland Society has been very good to me and I couldn’t be happier than to be honoured with this position, it’s great to have it back after the last couple of years.”