Nicola grew up at Kayuga, a property west of Aberdeen and has a strong bond with this area. She was educated in Sydney and Armidale and then became a Chartered Accountant while working in Sydney. Upon returning to the Upper Hunter in 1996 to work at Coolmore Stud, a position she left when she married her husband Tony O’Driscoll. Following three years away in Victoria, she and Tony returned to the Upper Hunter in 2015 to her parent’s property west of Scone where she is currently working on the development of a small herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle.
Her late father, David Macintyre, was the first “Chief of the Day” in 2000 and her brother Duncan Macintyre was the “Chief of the Day” for the 10th Aberdeen Highland Games. David Macintyre had been a great supporter of the Scottish culture, funding the Upper Hunter Pipes & Drums in the mid to late 1970’s.
Nicola is very proud of her Scottish heritage, with her Great Great Uncle Peter Macintyre arriving in Australia in the early 1820s soon to be followed by her Great Great Grandfather Donald Macintyre. Donald Macintyre obtained the land grant that formed the majority of Kayuga in 1827 and the family owned Kayuga and lived there for over 175 years until 2008.
In accepting the position as Chieftain, Nicola would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Charles Cooke and his committee on the creation of the Upper Hunter Tartan. It is a wonderful legacy and something that the People of the Upper Hunter, not only those with Scottish heritage, can be very proud of. In addition she wishes to congratulate the committee on the successful running of 20th Highland Games and looks forward to many more.