Stirling’s sporting archive set for 10,000-mile trip to Oz

Australian-themed sporting memorabilia, from the University of Stirling archive, will take centre stage at a special Commonwealth Games exhibition on the Gold Coast next month.

University archivist Karl Magee and Richard Haynes, Professor of Media Sport, will fly 10,000 miles to exhibit the collection at Scotland House during the 2018 competition, after receiving an invite from Commonwealth Games Scotland.

Karl Magee (left) and Professor Richard Haynes will exhibit Australian-themed sporting memorabilia at the Commonwealth Games.

They will present talks and tours on a unique, Australian-themed version of the University Archives’ popular ‘Hosts and Champions’ exhibition – which documents more than 80 years of international sporting competition – between April 2 and 6.

Mr Magee said: “The Hosts and Champions exhibition has toured Scotland since 2015 – visiting towns and cities, from Lerwick and Carnoustie to Dumfries and Stranraer.

“I am delighted that we now have the opportunity to share this fascinating collection – celebrating the history of the Commonwealth Games – with sports fans on the other side of the world.

“We hope that, by hosting the exhibition at Team Scotland HQ, sharing the inspirational stories of past sporting heroes will inspire and drive our current group of athletes to success on the Gold Coast."

The exhibition will begin on April 2, which marks the official opening of Scotland House, located in the Mantra on View Hotel in Surfers Paradise.

Mr Magee and Professor Haynes will provide a tour and talk for the Queensland branch of the Australian Society of Archivists on April 3, a day before Team Scotland host an event to mark the start of the Games.

A gathering of University of Stirling alumni will be hosted at Scotland House at 6pm on April 6.

The event will coincide with the ‘Hosts and Champions: Scotland in the Commonwealth Games’ at Hawick Museum – meaning the University will be running two exhibitions, on either side of the world, during the Gold Coast 2018 competition.

Hosts and Champions is a touring exhibition celebrating more than 80 years of participation and achievement by Scotland in the Commonwealth Games, from its origins as the British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930, through to Glasgow 2014. The collection includes photographs, designs, clothing, papers and artefacts which evoke a rich story of Scotland’s involvement in the Games, including as hosts in 1970, 1986 and 2014.

Swimmers

Nine University of Stirling swimmers will compete at the Gold Coast Games, which run from April 4 to 15.

Reigning Commonwealth champion, Ross Murdoch, and double Olympic medallist, Duncan Scott, will represent Scotland, alongside European silver medallist and World finalist, Kathleen Dawson, and former World Junior Champion, Craig Benson.

The more experienced campaigners will be joined in Australia by Team Scotland’s most successful Youth Games athlete in history, Scott McLay, as well as 2015 Youth Games silver medallist, Craig McLean.

Calum Bain and Jamie Graham will represent Northern Ireland, while Aimee Willmott will compete for England.

Team Scotland will also be supported by the University’s Head Performance Swim Coach, Steve Tigg, who will be part of the coaching staff.

Read more about the University Archive.

To attend the University’s alumni event at Scotland House on April 6, please contact: alumni@stir.ac.uk