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At the time of writing there are about 37 Cornish Bards usually living in Australia! About 49 more, or perhaps even more we do not have a local record of, have died since being made Bards. Each has been honoured by the Gorsedh Bardic Council in Cornwall for services to Cornwall (excellence in the Cornish language, services to the Cornish people in various parts of Australia and in Cornwall, work for the cause of a Celtic Cornwall, etc.) The first Australian born Bard was Kernow Tramor, Sir Langdon Bonython, in 1935 (whose daughter Myrgh Bonython (Lady Wilson) was also a Bard).
Two local Bards in South Australia, the late May Cocks and late Ros Paterson had been seen in public in their robes during the Kernewek Lowender festival with Bardic Council permisson in the late 70's and early 80's but there had been no formal gathering of Bards outside Cornwall. The first ceremonial meeting (or gathering) of Bards in Australia was held in Queens Square, Moonta SA in May, 1983 with Trevanyon (Denis Trevanion) leading, with two visiting Bards (Marjorie Trevanion and Kathleen Eidmans) from Cornwall and two South Australian based Bards (Ros Paterson and May Cocks 'Steren an Soth'). The first formal Gorsedh Proclamation in Australia was in May, 1985 at Wallaroo Mines SA. A great debt is owed to Trevanyon, Den Toll, and Map Kenwyn (who was living in South Australia in the '80s) for getting gatherings happening in Australia and creating a 'world' dimension to the Cornish Gorsedh.
The first full Australian Assembly with its special purpose written ceremonial was held in February, 1988 at Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, Victoria. Gatherings have also been held in Victoria in the Bendigo district in 1990 (at Eaglehawk), in 2002 and 2004 (Bendigo City Centre), and in 2006 (Eaglehawk again (as in 2010)), Ballarat again in 1992 and 2008, Melbourne 1994, and Castlemaine in 2000. On June 7th 1998 there was an Assembly of the Bards of the Gorsedd of Cornwall in Australia in Geelong, Victoria, during the National Celtic Folk Festival. A Proclamation ceremony was held in Canberra, ACT in October 2005. Since then Assemblies have been held almost every year somewhere in Australia.
Gatherings are held every 'odd' year at Moonta, Wallaroo or Kadina in South Australia, during the Kernewek Lowender festival (or other places such as in those held regularly in Victoria, subject to Grand Bard's approval).
Get a Listing of the Ceremonies in Australia
Australian Bards at Richman's Plant, Moonta Mines in 1991 after an Assembly
21st Assembly - The 27 Australian and 4 Bards from Cornwall at Ballarat (Brown Hill) on 15 March 2008
Assembly leader leader Mab An Gwylvos (Peter Trevorrow) on right, Gorsedh Secretary Mentenor a'n Ertach (Barbara Shaw) on left
Australian Bards at Ballarat in 1992 starting an Assembly
Australian Bards at Moonta in 2001 before starting an Assembly
Note: there are photos of the latest assemblies further below!
The first two special ceremonies held in 1983 and 1985 were much later followed by a Proclamation ceremony which was held in October 1995 in Canberra where 15 Bards met. All other 'Gatherings' have been held using a specially written ceremony for Australia, based on the Open Gorsedh.
Examples include that at Moonta on Saturday May 17th, 1997 during the Kernewek Lowender in which 13 Australian based Bards and one from Cornwall took part, and the 11th Assembly in South Australia at Moonta on May 15th 1999 during the Kernewek Lowender (attended by 23 bards, including the Grand Bard Bryallen, and 3 other Cornish based Bards). The 12th Assembly of the Bards at gathering in Castlemaine, Victoria in March 2000 was held with 22 Bards taking part from Vic., SA, and NSW. The 13th Assembly which was held in Moonta, South Australia, on 19th May, 2001 had 22 Australian Bards from 4 states (including Pen Melen who was made a Bard in 1952 and Map Pendyn (1997) both from far off WA). Also attending was a visiting Bard from Cornwall, Prof. Philip Payton.
The 14th Assembly was held in a civic square in Hargreaves Street, Bendigo, Victoria on 2nd March 2002 lead by the Grand Bard, Jowan a'n Cleth (John Bolitho), and the 15th was at Queens Square, Moonta, SA on Sat 17th May, 2003 at which the Grand Bard (Jowan a'n Cleth) again led the ceremony and 26 Bards attended - from 3 states (SA, Vic, NSW) as well as Philip Payton again, and the North American Bard Pow Owrek (Gage McKinney) from California, USA. The 16th Assembly ceremony was held in Bendigo again on 28th February, 2004 with 24 Australian based Bards plus past Grand Bard John Bolitho leading. More assemblies have been held (see further below).
Latest: The 34th Assembly was held in Ballarat in March 2020 just before Covid-19 restrictions hit Australia, so it was very pleasing that the 35th Assembly was able to go ahead with 19 Australian based Bards from 3 states, on 22 May 2021 at the Kernewek Lowender. The 36th Assembly was held on 20 May 2023 inside at Wallaroo Public School, SA, due to threat of storms.
Note: The Bards in Australia are part of the full Cornish Bardic circle and have no formal local organisation or leadership, each Bard being directly 'subject' to the Council in Cornwall. They do liaise informally with each other, especially in local geographical areas.
Australian Bards at Moonta in 2001 processing to the Assembly
Kernow bys vyken!
Bards from NSW and their banner bearers at the Assembly, Moonta SA, 17th May, 1997
A Listing of our 36 living Bards, of Gorsedh Kernow, in Australia
Name, State living in, Bardic Name, Year became a Bard, Meaning of Bardic Name
| MRS LILIAN JAMES, SA, ULA RUTHVELEN, 1988, TAWNY OWL |
| MR CHRIS DUNKERLEY, NSW, KEVRENOR, 1988, BUILDER OF LINKS |
| MRS DIANA HANCOCK, SA, PALORES TRAMOR, 1994, OVERSEAS CHOUGH |
| MRS RUTH HOPKINS, VIC, COVATHORES YSTORY TRAMOR, 1995, RECORDER OF HISTORY OVERSEAS |
| MR RALPH THOMAS, WA, MAP PENDYN, 1997, SON OF PENDEEN |
| MR STEPHEN MOREY, VIC, MAP BODINAR, 1997, SON OF BODINAR |
| MR PETER TREVORAH, VIC, MAB AN GWYLVOS, 2001, SON OF THE BUSH |
| MRS JANET WOOLHOUSE, VIC, COL GWYN A GERNOW, 2001, WHITE PEAK OF CORNWALL |
| MR NOEL CARTHEW, SA, MAP CADDY, 2002, SON OF CADDY |
| MRS JOY MENHENNET, VIC, BENNETH LOWEN, 2002, JOYOUS BLESSING |
| MR TOM LUKE, VIC, COLON HAG ENEF YN BENDYGO, 2003, HEART & SOUL IN BENDIGO |
| MRS LEANNE LLOYD, VIC, NANSCAROW A BENDYGO, 2004, NANCARROW OF BENDIGO |
| MR PAUL THOMAS, SA, MAP WALLAROO, 2004, SON OF WALLAROO |
| MRS JOY DUNKERLEY, NSW, CHERYA, 2005, BRINGER OF WELLBEING |
| MS ROSEANNE HAWKE, SA, MYRGH TREVELYAN, 2006, DAUGHTER OF TREVELYAN |
| MR COLIN ROBERTS, VIC (in UK as at 2019), MAB SEN KOLOMM, 2007, SON OF ST COLUMB |[presently living in UK]
| MRS LIBBY LUKE, VIC, ROSEN WYNN BENDYGO, 2008, WHITE ROSE OF BENDYGO |
| MR NEIL THOMAS, VIC, MELINOR DOWR KENWYN, 2011, KENWYN WATER MILLER
| MRS LIZ COOLE, SA, MYRGH MOONTA, 2011, DAUGHTER OF MOONTA
| MRS JULIE WHEELER, NSW, MYRGH AN TIR DA, 2012, DAUGHTER OF THE GOODLAND
| MR PETER MUNDY, VIC, LOWARTHER YLLOGAN HA BENDIGO, 2012, GARDENER OF ILLOGAN AND BENDIGO
| MS JUNE WHIFFIN, VIC, MYRGHWYN TRELOAR, 2013, GRANDDAUGHTER OF TRELOAR
| MRS CARLENE WOOLCOCK, SA, DYSKADORES, 2013, TEACHER
| MR DEREK TREWARNE, VIC, MAB ERHOK, 2014, SON OF EAGLEHAWK
| MR ROB LLOYD, VIC, GWAS BENDYGO, 2014, SERVANT OF BENDIGO
| MRS WENDY BENOIT, VIC, GWERESORES DHE LIES, 2014, HELPER OF MANY
| MRS ROBYN COATES, VIC, RIYAS NERTHEK, 2015, ENERGETIC GIVER
| MRS LENICE STUCHBURY, VIC, MYRGH PORTHIA HA KEA, 2015, DAUGHTER OF ST IVES AND KEA
| MRS MARGARET JOHNSON, SA, KANORES KEUR, 2018, CHOIR SINGER
| MRS JAN LOKAN, SA, MYRGH GOLSERY, 2018, DAUGHTER OF GOLDSWORTHY
| MR GREG DREW, SA, DREW SYDHNI, 2019, DREW OF SYDHNI
| REV MATT CURNOW, SA, KANNAS FENTYNNOW SANS, 2020, MESSENGER OF HOLY WELLS
| MR KEN PEAK, VIC, GWITHYAS HWEDHLOW, 2021, KEEPER OF STORIES
| MS LIESL WARNER, SA, TELYNYORES OSTRALI SOTH, 2021, HARPIST OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
| MS ROBYNNE SANDERSON, NSW & SA, YLOWETH RA DERETH, 2024, MUSICIAN OF BROKEN HILL
| MR ARTHUR COATES, VIC, SKEUSENNER OSTRALI, 2024, PHOTOGRAPHER OF AUSTRALIA
[Note also includes DR PHILIP PAYTON, CAR DYVRESOW, 1981, FRIEND OF EXILES - from Cornwall who is now living in South Australia]
Get a Full Listing of the Bards in Australia
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The late George Ellis (Map Bendygo) in Bardic robes
13 yo Lowenna Dunkerley
as the Lady of the Flowers with Leader Lilian James (Ula Ruthvelen) - 3rd Proclamation - Canberra, A.C.T. October 1995.
Her sister, 25 yo Kerensa Dunkerley
as the Lady of the Southern Land, with Marshall Mageres an Ertach (Ruth Cocks) and flower dancers at the 26th Assembly in Nowra, NSW in 2012.
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Six Grand Bards have visited Australia during their office, starting with Hugh Miners (Den Toll) in 1985, Ann Trevenen Jenkin (Bryallen), then the late John Bolitho (Jowan an Cleth) (2001-03) who led the Bendigo Assembly in March, 2002 and also the Moonta Assembly in May, 2003, and also Vanessa Beeman (Gwennenen) in 2007. Maureen Fuller (Steren Mor) visited in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Merv Davey (Telynyor an Weryn) came in 2017. In Gunwyn, George Pawley White, a former Grand Bard had visited Australia and assisted with ceremonies, as did Cecil Beer (see photo at top) when living in South Australia. Trevanyon, Denis Trevanion, a former Deputy Grand Bard, visited and conducted the first Bardic ceremony in Australia in 1983 after his term of office.
The first Female Grand Bard - In Sept 1997 the 1st female Grand Bard was installed. She is Bryallen (Ann Trevenen Jenkin - shown here at Moonta in May 1999) and was the 2nd Grand Bard to attend a gathering in Australia during term). The Deputy Grand Bard for 2003-05 was Gwenenen (Vanessa Beaman), who then became the second female Grand Bard (2006-2009). Steren Mor (Maureen Fuller) became the 3rd female Grand Bard in 2012-2015; and attended in South Australia in 2013 and 2015, Victoria in 2014.
New Australian Bards - A sample of honours from a few years : At the Gorsedd in Bodmin in September 1997 three (3) Australians became Bards. These were Map Pendyn, Myrgh Hocking, and Map Bodinar (see details above). In 1998 two more became Bards - 'Kathlyn a Garn Brea' and 'Myghwyn Woolcock' (details above). In 1999 two more Victorian residents - 'Gorvyrghwyn an Garrek' and 'Dyscajor Ertach Gwyr'! No Bards from Australia were made in 2000. There were two more in 2001 (including one in the language) and three specially installed at the Dewhelans Gorsedh in Falmouth in May, 2002, a further two in September, 2002, two in 2003, four in 2004, but only one in each of 2005, 2006, and 2007, two in 2008, and then one in 2009! This has continued. Some of these are for excellence in the language but most are for their extensive and/or significant voluntary services for Cornwall, the Cornish and their Celtic spirit. For more details see the full Australian listing link for details.
Some gatherings in Australia were on 27 October, 2012 at University of Wollongong, Shoalhaven Campus, Nowra, NSW (27th Assembly), 17 March, 2012 at Canterbury Gardens, Eaglehawk (25th Assembly), 13 May, 2011 at Davies Square, Wallaroo, SA (24th Assembly), March, 2010 at Eaglehawk, Victoria (23rd Assembly); May, 2009 at Davies Square, Wallaroo, SA (22nd Assembly) at 15 March, 2008 at Brown Hill, Ballarat Victoria with 31 Bards (27 from Australia and 4 from Cornwall), on 18 May 2007 in Victoria Square, Kadina, Sth Australia (the 19th Assembly and 22nd ceremony), and on 20 March, 2010 in Canterbury Gardens, Eaglehawk (Greater Bendigo, Victoria) with 23 Bards from Australia and Peter Williams (Map Carek Dhu) from Cornwall. Before that 18 March 2006 in Eaglehawk, near Bendigo, Victoria, (the 18th Assembly and 21st ceremony) with 25 Bards attending including two from Cornwall. On 14th May, 2005 at Queens Square, Moonta, South Australia (the 17th Assembly and the 20th Bardic ceremony in Australia - 22 years after the first ceremony in Australia in 1983, and 77 years after the 1st Gorsedh in Cornwall) - and February, 2004 a Gathering in Bendigo, Victoria (the 16th Assembly and 19th ceremony). See the full Ceremony listing.
Book: In September, 2016 a book was published by the Gorsedh on the Cornish Bards of Australia and New Zealand/Berdh Kernow Ostrali ha Mordir Nowydh - The book is available from the Gorsedh online shop web site page: Shop
In Cornwall, the 75th Open Gorsedh was held at Launceston, once the ancient capital of Cornwall on 6th September 2003, and the 2004 Gorsedh was at Lemon Quay, Truro. The 2005 Open Gorsedd in Cornwall was on Saturday September 3rd (ie. 1st Saturday) in Wadebridge, the 78th Open Gorsedh held at Redruth on Saturday 2 September 2006. The 2009 and 79th Open Gorsedh was held at Looe on Saturday 6 September 2008, which also recognised 80 years of the Gorsedh since 1928. The actual 80th Open Gorsedh was held at Longstone Park, Essa (Saltash) in Cornwall on 5 September, 2009 (5 Australian based Bards attended). In 2010 it was held in St Ives in western Cornwall on Saturday 4 September, 2010 on The Island with 5 Australian Bards attending. (A Gorsedd Proclamation was held at St Ives on 17th April starting with a procession from the Guild Hall to the Malakoff). The Open Gorsedhow held in Cornwall since 2010 were held: in Helston near the south coast in western Cornwall on Saturday 3 September, 2011, and in Camelford on the north coast on 1 September, 2012. The 84th Open Gorsedh in Cornwall, was at Glasney Field, Penryn on 7 September, 2013; the 85th Open Gorsedh was at Torpoint on 6 September, 2014; and the 86th, St Austell FC ground, Poltair, St Austell on 5 September, 2015 (with 5 Australian Bards attending), and the most recent (87th) at St Keverne on 3 September, 2016. The next after 14 years was held again for Launceston on Saturday 2 September, 2017. The 2018 Open Gorsedh was held in Newquay on Saturday 1st September, 2018 (a proclamation was held on 21st April, 2018). The 2019 Open Gorsedh was held in the Plen an Gwari at St Just in Penwith, on 7th September, 2019. A special 90th celebration was held at Boscawen Un on 21st September, 2019.
Other gatherings have been held in North America over the past decade or so - eg. a gathering of 18 bards was held at Grass Valley, California in July 2009 with 3 Australian based Bards attending along with some from Cornwall (including then Grand Bard Gwenenen) and local bards from USA and Canada. Bards gathered at Mineral Point in Wisconsin in August 2011.
VALE: The Bard, MOLGH CANNAS 'Herald Thrush' ( Breffni Hosking of Sydney NSW) who was made a Bard whilst living in Cornwall in 1951, died in July 2005. The Bard, MYRGH HOCKING (Mrs Edna Ellis of Victoria (Bendigo), who made a Bard in 1997, and whose name means DAUGHTER OF HOCKING) died on the 27th March 2003 and after being unable to attend the 2003 Assembly with her husband. All the Australian Bards miss her very much, and our condolences to Map Bendygo. The Bard, MYRGH PENSANS HA VICTORIA (Mrs. Betty Eggleton of Victoria, made a Bard in 1988, and whose name means DAUGHTER OF PENZANCE & VICTORIA) was unable due to ill health to attend the 14th Assembly at Moonta and tragically died 3 days afterwards on 22nd May, 2001. She is very much missed. A Bard from SA, Ian Aull has also died in recent years. LADY WILSON, SA, MYRGH BONYTHON, 1988, DAUGHTER OF BONYTHON died at age 102 in 2008. PEN MELEN (Lambert Truran died in 2011, and GWYTHYAS AN ERTACH (Jim Harbison) in 2010. Early bard MYRGH ERTACH OWREK (Lesley Morton) died in May 2012. Others are named in the full listing of Bards. Some bards are very elderly or infirm and unable to attend gatherings, however most make the big effort to travel (at times so very far) to them in respect for the honour given them and to join with their peers.
The next Assembly is being held at Wallaroo SA on Saturday 20th May, 2023.
Photos of the more recent Assemblies:
Australian Bards at Moonta in 2001 after the 14th Assembly in front of Moonta Uniting Church (Wesleyan) - leader Ula Ruthvelen (Lilian James) with flowers
Australian Bards at Bendigo in 2002 after the 15th Assembly. The Grand Bard John Bolitho is among the flower girls!
23 Australian Bards at Moonta in 2003 after the 16th Assembly in front of Moonta Uniting Church (Wesleyan), the Grand Bard John Bolitho and 2 overseas Bards from Cornwall and USA.
Some of 24 Australian Bards at 17th Assembly in Bendigo in 2004 with the past Grand Bard John Bolitho leading and the City Mayor addressing Bards.
Some of 25 Australian and 4 overseas Bards at Moonta in May 2005 - 18th assembly leader then Grand Bard Bryallen (Ann Trevenen Jenkin) at centre.
Some of 22 Australian and 2 overseas Bards at Eaglehawk in March 2006 - 19th assembly leader Mab An Gwylvos (Peter Trevorrah) at front with pastron.
Some of 27 Australian and 2 overseas Bards at Kadina in May 2007 - 20th assembly leader Grand Bard Gwenenen (Vanessa Beeman) right of centre
21st Assembly - The 27 Australian and 4 Bards from Cornwall at Ballarat (21st Assembly - Brown Hill) on 15 March 2008
Assembly leader leader Mab An Gwylvos (Peter Trevorrow) on far right, Gorsedh Secretary Mentenor a'n Ertach (Barbara Shaw) on far left
22nd Assembly - The 26 Australian plus 1 Bard from Cornwall and 1 from USA (Susan Pellowe) at Wallaroo South Australia (SA) (in Davies Square) on 15 May 2009
Assembly leader leader (Den a Bol) Terry Johnson, with plastron and flowers
23rd Assembly - The 23 Australian based bards plus 1 Bard from Cornwall (Map Carrek Dhu) at Eaglehawk, Greater Bendigo, Victoria (Canterbury Gardens) on 20 March, 2010
Assembly leader leader Peter Trevorah (Mab an Gwylvos), with plastron
24th Assembly - The 23 Australian plus 1 Bard from Cornwall (Philip Payton) and 1 from USA (Tommi O'Hagan) at Wallaroo SA (Davies Square) on 13 May 2011
Assembly leader (Den a Bol) Terry Johnson, with plastron, also the May Queen (flowers), and the Governor of South Australia (His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce)
25th Assembly - 20 Australian based bards assembled at Eaglehawk, Greater Bendigo, Victoria (Canterbury Gardens) on Sat 17 March, 2012
Assembly leader leader Peter Trevorah (Mab an Gwylvos), with plastron
26th Assembly - 13 Australian based bards assembled at Nowra, NSW (UoW Shoalhaven Campus) on Sat 27 October, 2012
Assembly leader leader Terry Johnson (Den a Boll) with plastron, Clr Joanna Gash MP, Mayor of Shoalhaven City on right, Kerensa Dunkerley (Lady of the southern land) on left
27th Assembly (30th anniversary) - 24 Australian based bards and three from overseas assembled at Davies Square, Wallaroo, SA on Sat 25 May, 2013
Grand Bard and assembly leader Mauren Fuller (Steren Mor) with plastron, and Caitlin Bettess (Lady of the Australia's Little Cornwall) in middle front
28th Assembly (30th gathering) - 23 Australian based bards plus the Grand Bard assembled at Eaglehawk, Greater Bendigo, Victoria (Canterbury Gardens) on Sat 15 March, 2014
Assembly leader leader Grand Bard Maureen Fuller (Steren Mor ), with plastron
29th Assembly (31st gathering) - 24 Australian based bards plus two from overseas assembled at Davies Square, Wallaroo, SA on Sat 23 May, 2015
Grand Bard and assembly leader Mauren Fuller (Steren Mor) with plastron, and Tayla Daniel (Lady of the Australia's Little Cornwall) in middle front [Photo: Arthur Coates)
30th Assembly (32nd gathering) - 27 Australian based bards at Jubilee Lake, Daylesford, Victoria on Sat 19 March, 2016
Assembly leader Peter Trevorah (Mab an Gwylvos), with plastron [Photo: Arthur Coates)
31st Assembly (33rd gathering) - 25 Australian based bards plus two from overseas assembled at Davies Square, Wallaroo, SA on Sat 23 May, 2017
Grand Bard and assembly leader & GB Merv Davey (Telynor an Weryn) with plastron in middle front [Photo: Arthur Coates)
32nd Assembly (34th gathering) - 18 Australian based bards assembled at Eaglehawk, Greater Bendigo, Victoria (Canterbury Gardens) on Sat 17 March, 2018
Assembly leader ,Peter Trevorah (Mab an Gwylvos) with plastron
33rd Assembly (35th gathering) - 21 Australian based bards plus one from overseas assembled at Davies Square, Wallaroo, SA on Sat 18 May, 2019
Assembly leader (Den a Bol) Terry Johnson, and Past Grand Bard Steren Mor (Maureen Fuller) from Cornwall, with plastrons in middle front [Photo: Arthur Coates)
34th Assembly - 7 March, 2020 South Gardens, Wendoree Pde, Ballarat. Leader Mab an Gwylvos (Peter Trevorah) 21 Bards (all from Australia) [Photo: Arthur Coates)
35th Assembly (37th gathering) - 19 Australian based bards assembled at Davies Square, Wallaroo, SA on Sat 22 May, 2021
Assembly leader (Den a Bol) Terry Johnson, with plastron in front, and the May Queen. One Bard Ula Rythvelen (Lilian James) was part of the ceremony but not in photo. [Photo: Dee)
The 36th Assembly (38th gathering) of the Bards of Cornwall in Australia - 18 Bards assembled at Wallaroo Primary School, Wallaroo, SA on Sat 20 May, 2023 [16 Australian based, plus 2 visiting from UK)
Assembly leader (Den a Bol) Terry Johnson, with plastron in front. One Bard Lilian James was in ceremony but not in this photo. [Photo: Arthur Coates)
Some related Cornish places on the Worldwide Web are ....
Gorsedh Kernow (Cornish Gorsedd official)
Go Cornish Language Page
Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek (Cornish Language Fellowship)
Agan Tavas (Our Language)
Cornwall Council Language Office
34 Circular Avenue, Sawtell, NSW 2452, Australia
kevrenor@gmail.com
Baner Sen Perran (St Piran's Flag) - As well as the flag for the Saint of Cornish Tin miners, today it is recognised as the flag of the nation of Cornwall itself and is flown often today in Cornwall and just as much all around the world - including recently as far afield as the North Pole. It is especially flown on the saints day - St Piran's Day - 5th March.
