2015 edelweiss 1
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High Spirits at High Tea Foundation Day CelebrationHigh Spirits at High Tea Foundation Day Celebration
MARCH 2015
8 9 F l i n d e r s L a n e • M e l b o u r n e 3 0 0 0 • V i c t o r i a • A u s t r a l i a • w w w . s w i s s c l u b v i c . c o m . a u
Following on from last year’s successful inaugural Foundation Day Celebration which was a glitzy evening dinner, we decided to offer something new and organise an afternoon High Tea event.
The idea was to give those members, who may prefer a daytime event, an opportunity to attend this year. However, with only 40 bookings a week from the event, this format seemed definitely less popular – and we, the organisers, began to panic! Some anxious phone calls had to be made to drum-up support and, to our great relief, we were able to convince another 25 members to attend and thus avert a minor catastrophe!
With that sorted, we went ahead to transform the 2nd Floor into a lovely garden setting for our High Tea. Arches decorated with rose garlands greeted the guests at the entrance, colourful High Tea posters on the wall all the way up the stairway, floral and ivy garlands hanging down on the walls, tables decorated invitingly and lots of little garden embellishments everywhere. But the centerpiece was the buffet, laden with plenty of delectables such as an array of ribbon sandwiches, delicious cakes, vanilla slices, fresh scones and lots more.
To the tunes of the piano man, guests enjoyed a glass of welcome bubbly. The specially labeled sparkling wine for the occasion was available for sale for anyone
wanting to take home a special memento of the Club’s 116th birthday.
Whilst it was raining outside, what better way could there have been spending an afternoon celebrating the club’s foundation? Everyone had a good time, and that made all the hard work worthwhile. But questions need to be asked: why was it so hard to get members to attend this social function? There seems to be less and less willingness and interest by the membership to be involved in Club activities. Tell us what format this function should take in future years, we are happy to listen! If functions are not patronised more enthusiastically, soon there will be no-one left willing to spend time, money and effort to organise them.
Barbara Kündig, Rita Schwärzler-Abbt, Roland Isler
Dear Roland, Rita and Barbara
May we send a special thank-you to you and all those who assisted with yesterday’s Swiss Club 116th birthday High Tea celebration.
What a delightful afternoon!
We are sure all those who attended will agree with us that the effort and work that you undertook to make it such a success is very much appreciated.
Arnold and Jenny Kramer
A combined Christmas visit to the Tabulam and Martin Luther Home in Boronia by the Folk Dance Group Alpenrose, Companion Singers and Yodel Choir Matterhorn
17 November 2014
An urgent message from your committee:
IT IS CRUNCH TIME NOW!The Swiss Club Constitution stipulates ten (10) committee members.
We are seven (7) until the AGM on 18 March 2015.
Three (3) committee members are retiring at the AGM. All three have been serving and contributing to the Swiss Club for many years.
We thank them very much for all their work.
There will be four (4) remaining committee members after the AGM…40% of the actual size the committee should be!
Does a committee of four really represent our diverse membership?
Unless members step up and come forward to join the committee and are willing to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for everything Swiss,
4 individuals have to pull a 420+ strong membership?
Where does that leave us as a club, as a Swiss community? ‘Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno’ (one for all, all for one)
is the motto of Switzerland and the Swiss. Doesn’t quite seem the case if the committee can’t increase.
Volunteering is not about having time, we all have the same amount: 24hrs. We are all busy, and lead active lives with many interests and diverse commitments.
Volunteering is about caring, participating, contributing, sharing and creating for the benefi t of all.
Anyone is welcome, we don’t look for Einstein.
You only need to be a member, have some common sense, be able to laugh, talk, read, write, have an opinion, know how to switch on a computer and get onto the internet, be curious about picking up knew skills, able to make it to the club, and
love Switzerland and spreading Swissness…
If you happen to have even more skills…that will be a handy, wonderful bonus!
All committee members started once as novices and ‘learned as they went’.
We are keen to talk to you or maybe you know of a member, who would be interested, so that we could ask them? Please get in contact by calling
1300 893 968 or any committee member directly on their mobile.
The Swiss Club is only as much fun and interesting as the members contributing to it. It is up to all of us. The Swiss Club of Victoria, has been a home away from Switzerland for Swiss, their families and friends, since 1899! It has been a place of friendship, conviviality and great times. What a shame to lose this because
everyone hides behind not having time?
Come to the AGM on 18 March and put your hand up! The future of your club depends on it!
4 S w i s s C l u b o f V i c t o r i a
SWISS CLUB OF VICTORIAFounded in 1899
89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000T: 1300 893 968, F: (03) 9650 3104E: [email protected] www.swissclubvic.com
Club Opening HoursLunch: Mo - Fri from 12noonDinner: Tue - Fri from 6pmClub Nights: Wed & Thurs
Chef & Manager: Roger MoulletRestaurant and Functions Manager: Renee MoulletBookings T: (03) 9650 1196
Swiss Club CateringFor all functions contact Roger or ReneeT: (03) 9650 1196, F: (03) 9650 3104M: 0409 040 249E: [email protected]
The Second Floor Function BookingsCBD Function Room with a difference!Info and/or bookings T: 1300 893 968E: thesecondfl [email protected]
COMMITTEESigrid de CastellaPresidentM: 0416 088 000E: [email protected]
Barbara KündigImmediate Past President / SecretaryM: 0402 018 363E: [email protected]
Urs Derrick WildiTreasurerM: 0403 040 930E: [email protected]
Vreni WelshMembershipM: 0423 513 843E: [email protected]
Antony AndersonBuilding Services ManagerM: 0416 069 666E: [email protected]
Arnold KramerAssistant Building ManagerM: 0419 268 503E: [email protected]
Liz IslerGrants Offi cerM: 0409 040 099E: [email protected]
SWISS CLUB SUB-GROUPSSwiss Folk Dance Group AlpenrosePresident: Sylvia HochuliT: (03) 9531 6575E: [email protected]
Swiss Companion SingersConvenor: Heidy GigerT: (03) 9889 9321E: [email protected]
Ladies LuncheonsConvenor: Heidy GigerFor bookings T: (03) 9650 1196For information: T: (03) 9889 9321E: [email protected]
SwissKidsConvenor: Esther Blaser-TokarevT: (03) 8521 3739M: 0424 220 523E: [email protected]
Les Bavards - ‘The Chatterboxes’Joint Convenors:Sigrid de Castella & Rémy FavreContact: see SCV committee and Groupe Romand du Victoria
Laughter Yoga HelvetiaConvenor: Marianne BishopM: 0448 697 258E: [email protected]
Swiss FestivalChairman: Rolf HuberT/F (H): (03) 9807 0282M (B): 0425 805 854E: [email protected]
SWISS COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
Swiss Society of Victoria(Benevolent Society)President: Franz SchnellmannT: (03) 9449 2245, M: 0412 203 893E: [email protected]
Trachtengruppe SchwyzergruessAustralian/Swiss Cultural Society President: Sylvia HochuliT: (03) 9531 6575E: [email protected]
Groupe Romand du VictoriaPresident: Rémy Favre1 Hughes Street, Malvern East Vic 3145T: (03) 9571 2835, M: 0412 135 095E: [email protected]/chfrvic
Swiss Yodel Choir MatterhornPresident: Chris Hostettler19 Lockwood RoadBelgrave Heights Vic 3160T: (03) 9754 7390, M: 0428 427 434E: [email protected]/matterhorn
SwissCham AustraliaGeneral Manager: Marcel SvatosT: (02) 9262 1511, F: (02) 9290 1928 E: offi [email protected] details see: www.swisscham.com.au
Swiss-Australian Academic Network (SAAN)E: [email protected] details see: www.saan.com.au
Organisation of the Swiss AbroadCouncil Member: Roland IslerFurther details see: under Editorwww.aso.ch & www.swiss.org.au/csa
Embassy of SwitzerlandT: (02) 6162 8400, F: (02) 6273 3428E: [email protected]
Consulate General of SwitzerlandT: (02) 8383 4000, F: (02) 9369 1334E: [email protected]
Consulate of SwitzerlandT: (03) 9824 7527, M: 0413 042 728E: [email protected]
Further details of offi cial representations see: www.eda.admin.ch/australia
Unless otherwise stated, postal address for all is: 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000
‘Edelweiss’ appears quarterly in March, June, September and December. Circulation 500.
For all enquiries contact:
Editor: Roland IslerT: (03) 9524 6335 (B) M: 0412 935 565E: [email protected]
67 St Georges Crescent Heatherton Vic 3202
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Dear members and friends of the Swiss Club,
A year ago we were enjoying a hot summer and celebrating the incredible grand slam win of Stan Wawrinka. Alas, this year it was not to be as both our hopefuls got knocked out – Roger Federer losing
to Andreas Seppi in the third round and top seated Novak Djokovic defeating Stan.
However, we were able to celebrate our Swiss heritage here in Melbourne on 1st February with the 116th anniversary of our Swiss Club of Victoria’s foundation with an afternoon High Tea – read the report on the front page.
Coming up on Wednesday 18 March, following last year’s success, we will again present our ‘new look’ Annual General Meeting – a more condensed meeting for Members upstairs with dinner celebrations afterwards in the Restaurant which non-members can also enjoy. We encourage you to come along and join us.
After the Christmas break, the restaurant has now reopened for lunch and dinner. Why not grab some friends and head in to enjoy the fi ne Swiss-Aussie cuisine and service? There are always delicious seasonal specials (try the Wallaby Stroganoff or Duck Broth) and a great wine list, not to mention some fi ne Swiss and German beers.
A reminder that the Melbourne International Comedy Festival will ‘bump in’ on Sunday 22 March, and ‘bump out’ on Monday 20 April. During this time our sub-groups need to fi nd alternative venues to meet and practice. This festival is an important event for the Club, generating much publicity and income. During this time we appreciate your patience if your Club or restaurant access is limited.
We’ve continued to strengthen our relationship with the management of the Comedy Festival and we look to welcoming some great comedians including Cal Wilson with ‘Undercurrents’ and relative newcomer Luisa Omielan with ‘What Would Beyonce Do?’ Tickets are on advance sale now at http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/2015-on-sale-now/
The committee has also been working more closely with our ground fl oor tenants, Terra Rossa, on a proposal to upgrade the basement space as well as exciting new concept for Duckboard Place which could kick off with a temporary art installation as part of Melbourne’s laneway project. Whilst nothing has been fi nalised or agreed to, this could be a great opportunity for the Club. Stay tuned for more information to follow.
The committee has offi cially had a break over the Festive Season but in reality we’ve all been hard at work. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Assistant Building Manager Arnold Kramer for assisting Antony Anderson on many of our building matters, and especially for arranging our new dim-able lights on the second fl oor. They look amazing and we can now create a more intimate mood.
I’d also like to thank Liz Isler who joined the committee at the Half-Yearly. Liz and I have been working hard on some process documentation including working more closely with our fantastic sub-groups, and creating position descriptions for committee and non-committee roles. We hope these will give potential helpers a better view of where they can help the Club and what each role involves. It’s been wonderful working with Liz and she’s certainly brought a wealth of process knowledge to the Club.
I’d also like to thank Vreni Welsh for her tireless work on memberships – answering member queries, processing new member applications and ensuring your Club fees are up to date. Just a reminder that you should have by now received your membership renewal letter. 2015 fees are due by 31 January 2015 and we hope to have exciting new membership cards for you soon.
We’re going to miss Derrick Wildi when he leaves in March. Derrick has been a huge presence on the Committee and a diligent Treasurer – we will miss him greatly. Derrick’s resignation leaves a huge void on the Committee and the position of Treasurer vacant. Should you have any book keeping or accounting skills, or be willing to learn and interested in fi lling this position we would warmly welcome you on the Committee.
And last, but by no means least, our past president and secretary, Barbara Kündig, has also been working hard on administrative matters, social media and getting our eNewsletter to you (not to mention arranging for new Swiss fl ags to fl y proudly outside our building). Without Barbara’s wonderful work things would certainly not run as smoothly.
It takes a lot to run your Club, and whilst the old adage is ‘Many hands make light work’, the fact that we are only seven up to the AGM, and even less thereafter, means the Club heavily relies on just a few ‘hands’. So if you have some spare time to contribute to the Club please let us know. Especially with the recent departure of Derrick Wildi we are eager to get some new faces to help us.
I do hope that you fi nd some time over the next few months to come in and enjoy your Club facilities and perhaps even attend an event or two. Your Club is only as vibrant and active as you make it. So come on in, and get involved!
Remember, there is discounted parking available to members at Secure Parking, 114 Flinders Street. It can be pre-purchased on-line, see ‘Parking in the City?’ on page 10 for more details.
We look forward, very much, to seeing you at the Club soon.
Sigrid de Castella - President
President’s Message
Planning your private or business function? The Second Floor is the perfect venue! Contact 1300 893 968 for information & bookings.
6 S w i s s C l u b o f V i c t o r i a
Welcome to our new membersWe are proud to introduce half a dozen new Swiss Club members: Don Musto, David Egan, Diane & Rene Kuntz, Danielle Bilson & Peter Jess.Please make them feel welcome. We hope you will enjoy great times at the club and find many new friends.
If you have joined our great Club in the last 1½ years keep an eye out for a special invitation email or sms. Get involved, get to know your fellow members and join our fun and interesting activities.
Congratulations!So happy to share the arrival of two beautiful Swiss Girls with you all.
Sarah & Tom Merkli welcomed Avalon Heidi and Melinda & Damian Schaller welcomed Matilda Louise. Both mums and baby girls are doing fine and the dads are tickled pink.
‘Ganz de Bappe’ – beautiful Matilda Louise Schaller
Annual Membership PaymentThank you very much to all the members, who have once again so promptly paid for their annual subscription.
A special thank-you to Nola Mauerhofer, Kurt Rietman, Edwin Zimmermann, Noel Welsh and Susan Cranage & Rémy Favre for topping up their membership contribution with a generous donation.
If you have not as yet made your payment, we kindly ask you to do so, at your earliest convenience.
Payment made by the end of February each year ensures that there won’t be any interruption to the delivery of your Edelweiss Newsletter and that your Membership Card will be ready for pick up, when you visit the Club as of March.
Happy birthdayThe following members will celebrate a special birthday in March, April or May:
Peter Meury and Max Witschi will celebrate their 80th birthday.
Theo Surbeck, Rene Gehrig, Fred Ruegg and Hannelore Hauser will count 85 candles on their birthday cake.
Congratulation to all of you and we wish you good health for many years to come.
Get wellDealing with health issues at the moment are Ruth Lambrides, Yvonne Erb and Beryl Black. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, we hope to see you soon at the club again.
The last farewellWe are saddened by the passing of our Honorary Life Member, Colin Wilkinson and extend our sincere condolences to his family.
We also morn the loss of our members Gertrud Corcoran and Barbara Dardel Jessop and our deepest sympathies go to their families.
Sadly, we also learned of the passing of Inge Altermatt and Ida Aebersold. Our thoughts are with their partners Beat Altermatt and Beny Huerlimann in this time of mourning.And just as we went to print, we received the sad news that Doris Diserens, has passed away. The Swiss Club always had a special place in her heart, she was a great lover of Swiss culture and folklore and a keen reader of the Edelweiss Newsletter.We shall miss them and remember them.
Dear members, please tell the committee or the editor if your partner, your friends or fellow members have a reason to celebrate, are unwell or have left for a better place.
LegacyThe Swiss Club has received a most generous gift of $1000 left to the Club by Hans Muhl who passed away on 25 October 2013 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
What a wonderful sign of devotion for the Club he loved.
Thank-you Hans!
The whole bunch of Edelweiss is now online The entire library of newsletters since 2007 is now available online. Just go to the Swiss Club website 4 Our Club 4 Edelweiss Newsletter 4 Archive Edelweiss:
http://issuu.com/search?q=edelweiss
…and click on the Edelweiss ‘Open Stack’.
7w w w . s w i s s c l u b v i c . c o m . a u
Fahrt ins Blaue – Mystery TripWednesday, 12 November 2014Driving into town was a breeze thanks to my great and loyal friend. The trip started with much laughter.”Hesch e Schriebi?” (Do you have a biro?). “Jo! Aber kei Papier!” (Yes but no paper!). Soon, I received some paper.
Along the Yarra we drove, sun shining, blue sky. Small rowing boats gliding on the gold-glittering water. The people were out in great numbers cycling.
We drove past a Restaurant called ‘Fat Monkey’. When we arrived in Burwood, the second bus was already there and some of the people waited outside for us. Now, we are on our way to…Frankston? We travelled towards the sea. Dromana? Portsea? Flinders? Sorrento? Everyone was guessing?
We spotted the beach boxes.
“Hurray!, we’re going onto the ferry,” Sylvia called out. Our morning tea was consumed on the bus. All of us waited patiently for the ferry to arrive, while munching tasty biscuits and drinking delicious juice. We also studied the National Costumes of our Swiss ladies! They are exquisite, handmade, of course, in Switzerland. Many people boarded the ferry, among them, would you believe it, was a whole bunch of cyclists from Switzerland! They were on a cycling holiday wearing
their unique jerseys that could have won a fashion show. They planned to spend a few weeks downunder, fantastic!
The view was splendid. We saw the Heads, between them all the large ships roll into Port Phillip Bay.
We met many friends we do not see during the year, laughing and taking. One could only dream of such a great day, but it was reality!
The view was magnifi cent. Arriving in Queenscliff, watching the Norfolk Pines and splendid old buildings in prime condition.
Lunch was at the Hotel Queenscliff with its superb leadlight windows. We all watched and marvelled at the beauty.
Our Sylvia spoke to us. A whole table was set with great raffl e prizes. The Trachtengruppe ladies sold the tickets in no time. They worked tirelessly.
Everyone will remember this day out. Sunshine, excitement, good food and lots of fun! Thank-you with a smile from ear to ear.
Inge Kulmanis
8 S w i s s C l u b o f V i c t o r i a
We are all looking forward to another year of good companionship and lots of singing. There is nothing better than to sing in a choir amongst friends. If you feel like joining us, we are happy to welcome you into the group.
We will continue practising on the 3rd and 4th Thursday of each month to be able to participate in Swiss Club events, Swiss Italian Festa, nursing homes etc.
For more information phone the convenor Heidy Giger on 9889 9321 or Herbert Schwärzler on 9561 7811.
Henry’s Alphorn hitI am just back from the Annual Harrietville Music Camp which is organised by the Whitehorse Symphony Orchestra. At the camp I played an ‘Alphorn Ballade’ for Alphorn and string orchestra by the English composer Dennis Armitage. We performed it at a student concert for the residents of Harrietville. It was probably the fi rst time the work had been performed in Victoria. It was conducted by the string tutor Philip Carrington. Very few people had ever seen an Alphorn let alone hear one and it was quite a hit.
Henry Huggins
Photo courtesy of Mark Haughton Photography
Swiss Alps to Antarctic Glaciers – a Swiss-Australian storyRECALL and REPLACEMENTIf you purchased this book about the fi rst Swiss in Antarctica at our presentation evening in September last year, we would like to recall it and replace it for you free of charge. After the event, we noticed a few errors, and that it had been printed with pages out of sequence. To arrange for a replacement copy, please contact the Swiss Club on 9650 1196. If you missed the event, new copies of the book are available at Readings bookshop. Postage is free within Australia. www.readings.com.au
Swiss Alps to Antarctic GlaciersThe Journals of Dr Xavier Mertz Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914
Edited by Anna Lucas
It’s your Club. Get Involved!
Newsletter Deadlines 2015June Issue: Covering June/July/AugustEditorial Deadline: Monday, 4 MayMailing: Wednesday, 20 May
September Issue: Covering Sept/Oct/ NovEditorial Deadline: Monday, 3 AugustMailing: Wednesday, 19 August
December Issue: Covering Dec/ Jan/Feb 2016Editorial Deadline: Monday, 2 NovemberMailing: Wednesday, 18 November
The Newsletter Packing Team hard at work!
Follow the Swiss Club on Social Media! You can fi nd us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Swissclubvic, on Twitter @SwissClubVic or on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/SwissClubVictoria
9w w w . s w i s s c l u b v i c . c o m . a u
Senior ChristmasAfternoon Tea6 December 2014. Sponsored by the Swiss Society of VictoriaTo the Swiss Club, Convenor, Sponsor and everyone involved with the wonderful Afternoon Tea for the over 70s:
The tables looked beautiful as did the decorations around the Restaurant.
I was greatly moved by the singing in Romansch and Swiss German. A transforming experience that touched the heart.
Loved the Swiss Folk Dancers and their variety of dances. The children looked adorable especially the two that
hugged each other.
The Alphorn sounds made me feel home-sick as did Hans singing with the Musicians. What a lot of talent and it was a privilege to be there to hear and see the depth of beauty that touched our emotions.
Loved eating the tasty ‘Belegte Brötli’ and the Creme Schnitte was ‘deliziös’. Thank-you to all the helpers who made sure I had four cups of
tea. Very refreshing.
I went home with my Lindt Bear and bag of home made Guetzli. A special Christmas treat!
Being a part of the afternoon is a happy and emotional experience for me as it is a lovely reminder of Christmas’ gone by.
I hope all the workers realise just how much joy you gave to us, the participants.
Many thanks for a specially enjoyable afternoon.
Ann Pask
ESTABLISHED 1879
SW
ISS SOCIETY
OF V IC TORIA
We help Swiss citizens living in Victoria who need financial or social support. Because charity begins at home. You can help us in helping them.
For more information about us or if you know any Swiss citizen in Victoria who could benefit from our services contact:
Franz SchellmannT: 9449 2245 M: 0412 203 [email protected]
Become a member of the Swiss Society of Victoria
The Swiss Society of Victoria is a benevolent organisation and has been supporting the Swiss Community of Victoria since 1879
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Moving Due to relocation to Canada as of end of March 2015, I have a number of items to give away for free or for minimal cost. Items are:
• Fridge• Freezer• TV with stand• Stereo• Washer• Tumbler• Piano (Yamaha / upright piano)• Car (Nissan Pathfi nder 1998)
If you are interested please contact Derrick on 0403 040 930.
10 S w i s s C l u b o f V i c t o r i a
Test your Swiss Knowledge
Across 4. What is Ursli called in Romantsh? 5. Where is the Secretariat of the Organisation of the
Swiss Abroad? 6. Which Swiss (surname) made a movie about famous
Aussie poet Banjo Paterson? 8. Which movie sounds like a cup of herbal tea? 11. Which country is Derrick moving to? 13. Which region saw an increase in Swiss Abroad of 2.01%
in 2014?
Down 1. Who should join the committee? 2. Europe’s largest subterranean waterfall (ü=u). 3. The ‘Marchfest’ is organised by which club? 5. What’s on the AGM menu? 7. Surname of mathematical genius brothers. 9. First name of Damian’s baby girl? 10. What does WALMAS sell?12. Who (fi rst name) stood under the giant Cuckoo Clock?
For answers go to page 14
1
4
2 3
6
8
7
9
11
10
12
13
5
Parking in the City?Before you visit the Swiss Club, visit www.secureparking.com.au/secure-a-spot
Choose ‘114 Flinders Street’ and book to receive parking for as low as $5!
Ladies, please mark the dates of these two Luncheons in your calendar:
• Wednesday, 4 MarchGuest speaker will be Bev Moss who redefi ned the idea of entering her ‘senior’ years by taking on the challenge of a new job in a new country…it would eventually lead her to Buckingham Palace!
• Wednesday, 6 MayPrice $27 pp for members, $30 pp for non-members. Includes 2-course meal, wine, soft drinks and coffee.
New-comers most welcome. For information and bookings ring me on 9889 9321 or Roger at the Club on 9650 1196. Bookings are essential!
Heidy Giger
Customised English Written and Oral Communication Skills for Professionals.
• Business Writing Skills• Speaking Skills• Australian Workplace Inductions• In-Company Consultancy• Online Solutions
Tel: 03 9421 5348 Email: [email protected]
11w w w . s w i s s c l u b v i c . c o m . a u
SWISS CLUB MOVIE
‘Pepperminta’Wednesday, 20 May 2015, 8pmSwiss Club, 2nd fl oor2009 Fiction 84 min. German/English subtitlesDirector: Pipilotti Rist with Ewelina Guzik, Sven Pippig, Sabine Timoteo, Elisabeth Orth, Noëmi Leonhardt, Oliver Akwe
Pepperminta is an anarchist of the imagination. She lives in a futuristic rainbow villa and according to her own rules. Colors are the young women’s best friends and strawberries are her pets. She knows the most amazing remedies to free people of their fears.
A magical, visually stunning and uplifting contemporary fantasy about Pepperminta – who sets out together with her friends to save the world. No one is safe!
Pepperminta is the fi rst feature fi lm for director Pipilotti Rist, who had previously distinguished herself as a video artist. Peppermita was an offi cial selection at the 2009 Venice International Film Festival and won the 2010 ‘Cutting The Edge Award’ at the Miami International Film Festival.
Free for members, non-members gold coin donation.Enjoy dinner at the club, before or after the movie. Please book with the restaurant on 9650 1196.
Jewish International Film Festival Classic Cinema Elsternwick:
One Step to Freedom (Akte Grüninger)2013 Austria, Switzerland, 96 min. Swiss/German/English subtitles. Director: Alain GsponerFri 20 Mar 2:00pm; Sun 22 Mar 8:45pm; Wed 25 Mar 4:45pm For details see: www.jiff.com.au/fi lms/one-step-freedom/
12 S w i s s C l u b o f V i c t o r i a
In 1966, he was awarded the ‘Schweizer Jugendbuchpreis’ (Swiss youth book prize) for ‘Zottel, Zick und Zwerg’. The biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award, conferred by the International Board on Books for Young People and fi rst awarded in 1956, is the highest recognition available to a writer or illustrator of children’s books. Carigiet received the inaugural Illustrator award in 1966.
The storyIt is a story in rhyme scheme about a little boy named Ursli, who lives in the Swiss Alps. His village is preparing for the annual ‘Chalandamarz’ celebration on 1 March, where Engadin boys parade through the towns ringing cowbells to drive out the Winter and welcome the Spring. The boy with the biggest cowbell is supposed to lead the procession.
When he goes to Uncle Gian’s farmhouse with the other boys, he gets the smallest bell of all! Determined not to be the laughing stock of the village, Ursli treks to his family’s summer hut up in the mountains where he knows that he can fi nd a large cowbell instead. He spends a lonely, scary night. When he comes back the next morning with the biggest cowbell in the whole village, he is the leader of the procession and everyone is happy that he is back.
The village of GuardaOne of the most delightful villages in the Lower Engadin. Every house is of great cultural and historical signifi cance – built and richly decorated in the ‘sgraffi to’ style, typical of the Engadin. Almost the entire village dates back to the time when it was rebuilt after the ‘Austrian storm’ of 1622, when almost every village in the Lower Engadin was destroyed by rampaging Habsburg soldiers.
Carigiet created his paintings in a room on the top fl oor, under the roof, of Chasa 47. The house next door, Chasa 51, served as template for Ursli’s home. There is even a Schellen-Ursli trail (Via Uorsin). Over a distance of 6km and signposted with 20 signs in three languages, it is a great way to learn more about the story of Schellen-Ursli.
http://www.guarda.ch
Generations of Swiss children have grown up with the delightful story of Ursli, written by Selina Chönz and illustrated by Alois Carigiet. Together with the story of ‘Heidi’, it remains one of the most popular and loved children’s stories in Switzerland.
The author and illustratorAlois Carigiet (30.08.1902-01.08.1985) was a graphic designer, painter, and illustrator. In 1940, he was approached by the author Selina Chönz (04.08.1910-17.02.2000) who asked him to illustrate her story ‘Uorsin’ to create a children’s picture book. Between the years 1940 to 1945 Carigiet spent several weeks each year sketching the scenery and architecture in Guarda, Chönz’s home village in the Lower Engadin, after which he modeled the protagonist’s village. The original version ‘Uorsin’ was written in Upper Engadin Romansh, Puter/Surselva. In 1945 the book was published in German as ‘Schellen-Ursli. Ein Engadiner Bilderbuch’ and later in English as ‘A Bell for Ursli’ (1950). The book has been translated into ten languages with total sales estimated around 1.7 million
worldwide.
The Romansh-speaking Carigiet and Chönz created a series of Alpine children’s books with two sequels featuring Ursli’s younger
sister Flurina, ‘Flurina und das Wildvögelein. Schellen-Ursli’s Schwester’ in 1952 (‘Florina and
the Wild Bird’) and ‘La naivera’ (‘Der grosse Schnee’) in 1957 (‘The
Snowstorm’). In the 1960s, Carigiet continued on his own, illustrating and writing
‘Zottel, Zick und Zwerg. Eine Geschichte von
drei Geissen’ in 1965 (Anton the Goatherd), ‘Birnbaum, Birke, Berberitze. Eine
Geschichte aus den Bündner Bergen’ in 1967 (‘The Pear Tree, the Birch Tree and the Barberry Bush’), and ‘Maurus und
Madleina. Über den Berg in die Stadt’ in 1969 (‘Anton and Anne’).
‘Schellen-Ursli’ – ‘A Bell for Ursli’
Chalandamarz
13w w w . s w i s s c l u b v i c . c o m . a u
Social JassFor all who enjoy the game but want to play for enjoyment only. No competition, just social!
Inexperienced players most welcome (not suitable for total beginners though, must know at least the basic rules and the value of the cards!)
Enjoy Dinner before the game. RSVP your table on 9650 1196.
If you intend to come along, please send a SMS (0402 018 363) with preference of cards (German or French) until the Tuesday before, so we know how many booths to reserve.
• Wednesday, 25 February
• Wednesday, 25 March
• Wednesday, 22 April
• Wednesday, 27 MayWe hope to see you at 7.30pm on the above dates.
Barbara Kündig
Exercise you brain – play Jass!
Upcoming Jass Nights – 2015Swiss Club 1st 21 March 2nd 30 May 3rd 4 July 4th & Final 12 September
Matterhorn 1st 28 February 2nd 25 April 3rd 8 August
Chasa 51 - Schellen-Ursli House
Chasa 47
14 S w i s s C l u b o f V i c t o r i a
The unusual ways of Swiss waters Switzerland is often referred to being the ‘Water-castle’ of Europe, no other country on the continent has more springs, rivers, waterfalls and lakes in such a high concentration on so little land. More than half of Swiss domestic electricity is produced by 556 hydroelectric power plants, generating some 19 million gigawatt hours a year – www.expatica.com/ch/about/country-facts/35-facts-about-Switzerland_100041.html One famous example is the worlds tallest gravity dam, Grande Dixence in Valais – www.grande-dixence.ch Many of you may remember it from the James Bond movie ‘Golden Eye’, where Bond bungee jumps off the over 200 meter tall concrete wall – www.ticino.ch/en/commons/details/-Goldeneye-Bungee-Jumping/77102.html
In this episode of Damian’s Websurf I would like to share with you some of the unusual ways of Swiss waters, which Melinda and I have experienced on our travels through my home country in recent months.
The snow covered peaks and glaciers of the alps are the source of the water richness of Switzerland. One of these glacial valleys is the Lauterbrunnental, which is also known as the valley of the 72 waterfalls – www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/lauterbrunnental.html We visited the most unusual of these, the Trümmelbachfall, Europe’s largest subterranean waterfalls – http://www.truemmelbachfaelle.ch Accessible via platforms and slippery galleries by foot, the melting waters of the Jungfrau glacier thunder and roar past you through the inside of the mountain and up to 20’000 litres of water shoots towards the valley fl oor – http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trümmelbachfälle
Water played a major part for the earliest settlers of Switzerland, the Pfahlbauer (pile builders) constructed their dwellings along the shorelines of our major lakes. Neuchâtel is home to the Laténium museum which we visited last summer – http://latenium.ch It explains how the Helvetians and later the Romans used the lake very effectively for their every need, such as the construction of ingenious fi shing traps.
The levels of lake Neuchâtel and the lake of Biel were artifi cially lowered to facilitate easier boat travel and reduce the risk of fl ooding. This revealed the remnants of an entire townships where in 1857, a rich cache of artifacts was discovered. The archaeological site of La Tène gave name to the celtic culture that fl ourished from around 450 BC to the 1st century BC – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Tène_culture – It led early historians to belief that the settlers had constructed their houses on platforms that stood in the shallow water, hence the name ‘Pfahlbauer’ – www.geschichte-schweiz.ch/pfahlbauer-pfahlbauten.html
On a trip to the Val de Travers – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val-de-Travers – famous for its absinthe, we went to see the Subterranean mills in the Cols-de-Roches built in the 16th century – www.lesmoulins.ch The depth and water fl ow within the naturally existing caves was harnessed from the 16th century onwards to power mills for grinding up fl our or power timber saws. It is truly remarkable to consider the generations of people who worked there underground in the high humidity at a constant 7 degrees year round.
Did you know that the most visited tourist attraction in Switzerland is indeed a waterfall? We recently went to see the Rheinfall – www.rheinfall.ch – near Schaffhausen and were surprised to learn, that Europe’s widest and largest waterfall attracts more visitors than any Swiss mountain. We have already made plans to visit further watery points of interest in Switzerland. We intend to go on a Kanalsafari in Basel – www.ideenreich.ch/main.html – to visit the underground rivers, which were only covered up in the 1950 – www.altbasel.ch/dossier/birsig.html
Greetings to all friends downunder from Allschwil!
Damian Schaller - [email protected]
Login and get the latest info: www.swissclubvic.com
Test your Swiss Knowledge - AnswersAcross: 4. Uorsin; 5. Bern; 6. Dumar; 8. Pepperminta; 11. Canada; 13. OceaniaDown: 1. You; 2. Trummelbachfall; 3. Tivoli; 5. Bratkartoffeln; 7. Bernoulli; 9. Matilda; 10. Smallgoods; 12. Sylvia
15w w w . s w i s s c l u b v i c . c o m . a u
• Homemade Smallgoods• Swiss Cheese• Chocolate…and much, much more!
Come and visit us @ 4-6 High Street
Bayswater Ph: 9729 0635
www.walmas.com.au
WEALLLOVEMEATANDSMALLGOODS
Homesick?We can cure that!
Luganighe Sausage with Saffron RisottoThis is a simple but satisfying sausage and risotto combination from Lugano. Luganighe sausage is a raw Ticinese sausage that contains pork, spices, salt, pepper and red wine. This makes it not too different from a raw Italian sausage commonly found in most butcher shops. For this recipe any raw Italian sausage will work just fi ne.
Serves 4
Ingredients: • 600g Luganighe (or Italian) Sausage, simmered for 20
minutes in plain water• 25g butter• 1 onion, fi nely diced • 250g Arborio risotto rice• 200ml white wine• 800ml meat, chicken or vegetable stock, kept warm (make
it easy for yourself and just dissolve some stock powder in 800ml boiling water)
• ½ tsp saffron powder (1 tsp is also fi ne if you want a more intense coloured risotto)
• salt & pepper to taste• 100g grated hard cheese (eg: Parmesan, Romano or Sbrinz)
Steps: In a large pan, melt the butter and sweat the onions over low heat without letting it caramelize.
Add the rice and mix well. Sauté over low heat until rice turns translucent.
Add white wine and turn up heat. Stirring constantly until white wine is completely absorbed by rice.
Add stock to rice. Stop adding stock when rice has been covered by liquid. Bring to the boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Leave rice uncovered and stir occasionally to prevent bottom from burning. Add more stock if liquid has been reduced too much. Keep simmering until rice is creamy and al dente (approximately 20 minutes).
Stir in saffron and grated cheese. Mix well and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Serve rice and sausage into deep plates.
Buon Appetito!
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16 S w i s s C l u b o f V i c t o r i a
PSV (Public Service Vehicle) driver licence.
One day, Mr Goodfellow, the Managing Director, called me to his offi ce and said: “We have been watching you for some time and since you are Swiss, speak several languages, have a good knowledge of our vehicles and a good driving record, we would like you to take a group of 27 Australian VIP’s on a 28 day tour to Rome”. Having recovered from that unexpected offer, I had to prepare myself for what was needed for such a big undertaking. I was well briefed by the Company about all the documentation and customs requirements etc for a journey through France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.
The day arrived when I went down to London with a latest model, large and very wide coach to meet the Australians and my allocated Norwegian Courier called Arne.
What made you choose to come to Australia?The choice was easy. Having spent 28 days with a most wonderful, kind and friendly group of Australians, I almost became an honorary Australian. Being Swiss, driving an English Coach and being only about 23 years old I was a bit of a novelty by the end of the tour. Mr & Mrs Ross and their daughter June (a very successful Melbourne business family) were on a 9-month world tour and almost adopted me during the tour. On the last day of the tour I was invited by the family to come to Melbourne. It was an offer I could not resist.
Upon my return to Switzerland I found a short-term job at the Bellevue Garage in Bern. I did advise Management of my intention to emigrate to Australia within a year and they were most supportive.
Mr Ross assisted me in my visa application and I was soon ready to travel ‘Down Under.’
Naturally, my family had some reservations of me going so far away. It was of great comfort for my mother to know that I had such a strong contact in Melbourne.
How did you go settling in Australia?I was very privileged. On arrival at Port Melbourne on 8 August 1955, I was picked up in the Ross family Chrysler and taken to their Hawthorn home and given my private room. From day one I was like a member of the family. Indeed, on New Year’s Eve 1957 June and I got married in the Scots Church in Collins Street followed by a wonderful Reception at Menzies, a top class Hotel (now long gone) in Bourke Street.
Career, business and family life, how did you manage it all?I was offered to get involved in the family company. However, I was determined to succeed under my own steam and obtained employment in the service garage at General Motors
Fred, you came to Australia during the golden years of opportunity – the fi fties. You have been here a long time, seen a lot and done a lot. We would love to learn a little about you. My philosophy is simple: ‘Let other people fi nd out who you are, they will remember longer’. However, since you ask me to outline some of my activities during my life so far I’m happy to do so.
Tell us a little of your early years in Switzerland.I was born in Matten-Interlaken in March 1931. Our family home had a direct view of the ‘Schynige Platte’ and naturally the Jungfrau and the surrounding massive mountains only a very few kilometers away. Being a tourist destination for visitors from all parts of the world, Interlaken was a great place to grow up.
My education was in part during wartime when the kids had to share the schoolhouse with members of the Swiss Army and soldiers sleeping on straw in our class-rooms.
At a very early age I became interested in mechanical things and naturally cars and trucks.
Our neighbour down the road had a transport company with its own repair workshop and so I spent most of my time after school in that workshop. It was great, so much to see and learn.
After leaving school, what did you do?On completion of my formal education and a year in Lausanne, I started a 4-year Motor Mechanic Apprenticeship in Interlaken.
During that time I had the opportunity to meet all kinds of National and International visitors who would call in at our garage.
I had a special interest in some of the large English Tour Buses and so I developed a friendship with many of the drivers who would return regularly for fuel or sevice during summer.
How little did I know then, that these early contacts would be the catalyst for a most interesting and rewarding life.
Being so close to the various ski fi elds, I was a skier from an early age and after I fi nished school, I joined a local Ski Club and started racing. I participated in many races with varied success. In my study I still have a photo of war-time Field-Marshal Montgomery presenting me with the highly sought- after ‘Inferno’ badge. The Inferno Race in the Swiss Alpine resort of Mürren was organised for the fi rst time in 1928 by a group of ‘ski-crazy’ Englishmen. It was then and still is today the world’s longest ski race, but 60 years ago, it was different – there were no lifts, we had to walk uphill. Check out http://www.inferno-muerren.ch for more information.
On completion of my Apprenticeship and having been a Swiss Army recruit in Thun, my life went into an unplanned direction.
One of the Bus Companies, SUT ( Sheffi eld United Tours) invited me to spend a winter in their workshops in Sheffi eld (England) to become more familiar with their fl eet of AEC vehicles. It was a great chance to improve my English. I was also given the opportunity to obtain the British National and International
Fred Dumar – this is your life…
17w w w . s w i s s c l u b v i c . c o m . a u
Fisherman’s Bend. After some month, through a family contact I was invited to join Preston Motors, then one of the largest GM Distributors in Australia, fi rst as a mechanic and later a service adviser. In 1963, after 8 years with the Company and by then having become the distribution and stock control manager for the group, I resigned to start my own business.
Through my position at Preston Motors I made lots of contacts in the motor industry and therefore, was comfortable to open a little offi ce in Hawthorn under the name of Duros Enterprises P/L. Selling motor accessories to Service Stations and Car Yards in the City and the bush out of a VW van. This was somewhat different to sitting in a City offi ce with my own combined staff of 14.
Having established a client base, I employed a fellow to take over my round and I created further clients. After some time, I was offered the opportunity to buy into my main supplier. Although, it was a big step, June agreed that we should take the chance. Our Offi ce was on the Kings Way and Duros became part of D & R Trading at that location. My Co-Director Don McGhee, an Australian Ex-Military Captain, was well known in the motor industry and was happy for a young fellow like me with a technical background to join him.
We had a good business importing and distributing motor accessories. For some time we had purchased a range of Airfl ow Air Cleaners and other products from Manufacturer Tom Burgess. We had a good relationship with Tom and invited him to join us as a third Director .
Our next step was into retail. We purchased an accessory business called Jayco (not the Caravan Jayco of today) and expanded that to three outlets.
In 1967 we were approached by GJ COLES and SS KRESGE of Detroit, (the Coles partners in the proposed Kmart’s) to run the Automotive Department under licence in the soon to be opened Kmart’s. I went to the States and on to Europe on business and on the way through had a look at the Kmart operations. The fi rst Kmart opened in Burwood on 29 April 1969 and we had fi ve more covering Vic, NSW & Qld. Come 1st of May 1972 we sold our total interests in Kmart plus our original businesses
including Doft Holdings (being made up of Don, Fred & Tom) to Kmart Australia.
After being so involved what was your next move? Now being out of a job, haha, it was the start of a new era. I was invited by a builder friend to join him in building some fl ats. With my friend’s guidance I built my fi rst block of 11 fl ats in Hawthorn in 1973. Our Estate Agent suggested I should join them and get involved in Real Estate. To start in a totally new environment at the age of 42 needed some courage. In order to get a better understanding of the profession and the legal requirements I applied for and got my Sub Agents Licence. I also enrolled in the Real Estate course at the Prahran Tech. By 1975, I was issued with a full licence which I still hold. Through our family Company we purchased 50% of a successful Richmond Real Estate Agency. It was again a totally new way of life. My working days were long and more often than not extended to 7 days a week. Naturally, I also had to make sure that my involvement in my own property projects remained on track. It was a big undertaking, but we made it. I had strong connections in property circles and for years was a member of the Californian Association of Realtors. To this day I’m still a Fellow of the Real Estate Institute of Australia. My wife June was a great help during my active Real Estate days, she was on home duties since the day of our marriage. It would be fair to say, she had plenty to do, looking after our home, our two poodles and the ever ringing telephone (no cell phones then).
I hear you also had some involvement in the Television Industry.Yes, you could say that. As a result of acting on behalf GTV 9 in Real Estate matters, I made a number of good contacts within GTV 9 and later Channel TEN.
One such contact was a news reporter called Jim Brown working for 9 and later head-hunted by TEN. He was very well known for his very strong news reports. As a New Zealander he was captivated by the poetry of A.B.‘Banjo’ Paterson. One night, June and I were dinner guests at his home. He could not stop talking about how the Banjo poems could make great television. His concept of putting moving images to the words
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18 S w i s s C l u b o f V i c t o r i a
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had not been done for TV before. On our way home June and I agreed that we should try to help him make it happen. Within a few month of doing a lot of research, making contact with the copy rights holders and receiving various required consents plus some legal work, Stanza Production (which later became Stanza Television) was born. We negotiated the rights for a pilot under the poem title ‘In the droving days’. Jim assembled a crew of the willing out of the TEN News Room to work on the Banjo project over weekends on a shoe string budget. The Camera, Sound & Editing was done by experienced News people and I became the fi nancial backup and later Executive Producer. Jim did all the writing for the links and also became the production director. Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell did the voice-over. Going forward…our pilot was accepted and a full 44 minute programme was created and sold to TEN. Banjo’s Australia was sponsored by BHP and telecast nationwide in prime time to celebrate the Company’s 100th anniversary. Banjo’s Australia received three Television Society of Australia Awards. The American PBS Network which has over 350 Member Stations screened an extended 55 minute version which gained us a Network nomination to enter into the primetime EMMY Awards. A 50 minute version was then produced for the BBC .The same concept was used to produce a Henry Lawson programme. Stanza Television produced and put to air ‘The Farming Show’( 30 minutes) and ‘Our country’ (a travel show also 30 minutes). In total we produced more than 50 episodes. It is interesting to note, that all of the above came out of a dinner discussion in Power Street, Hawthorn. As all this was going on, I was building a 4-level retail and offi ce Building in Bridge Road, Richmond with editing facilities for Stanza Television in the basement. I called it ‘Stanza House’. Naturally, there were not enough hours in the day and so we sold our 50% interest in Andrews & Moore Real Estate to our Co-Director David Moore.
What does the Swiss Club mean to you?The Club is a nice place to come, relax and meet friendly people.
I have been a member for many years. In fact, I’m an Honorary Member of the Club. For many years, June and I would call in for a dance or a drink after a night out in the City. When I have O/S visitors I always attempt to bring them to the Club. Roger and his staff did a great job when we had a rather large group of friends at the Club to celebrate my 80th birthday. Over the years I have been involved in various matters relative to the Club building and was very pleased to do it.
Apart from work, what are your passions, your hobbies?As you can see from the general overview of my life, the time for additional great passions are well gone by. I have all I need to enjoy the rest of my days. I hope.
It is hard to believe that you are 84, you look so healthy, fi t and full vigour. How do you manage, tell us your secret please.Look after your body, have a positive mental attitude, keep up to date with what is going on in the world and around you.
Maintain and build friendships. Do not smoke, have a glass of red every day, keep your interests alive and drive safely.
Do you ever stop working?Why should I? There is a saying: ‘it’s better to wear out than rust out’. I’ll drink to that!
If you could invite fi ve people, living or dead to dinner, who would it be?Without hesitation, I would invite my late wife June and my parents in-law to thank them for all the wonderful years we have enjoyed together.
Rupert Murdoch, for his creative thinking and ability to execute his at times impossible plans and for his personal interest in people who are prepared to have a go.
I say this, as I have a personally signed letter from him responding to one of our project proposals we put direct to him some years ago.
Nelson Mandela, for his focussed mind, when all hope appeared lost during his years in prison. His inner strength was the driver for him to succeed upon his release. I would enjoy to learn from his positive thinking.
It has been a most interesting, absorbing, satisfying and at times very expensive life so far.
As a past President and Sapphire Paul Harris Fellow Rotarian, I know, not everyone in the community has the chance to create their own opportunities or make their mark. And if they do, Google will not forget it, and this I know. 27 years after going to air in the US, ‘Banjo’s Australia’ and ‘Fred Dumar’ and other entries can still be found on the New York Times website.
Sadly, I lost my dear wife June after 52 years of very happy marriage in 2010. Many of my achievements and involvements would not have been possible without her support and consideration.
My interests are now more directed toward travel and keeping in contact with friends here and O/S and to enjoy my Poodle Mandy.
Thank you Fred!
The Swiss Club Restaurant. It’s where you meet your friends.
19w w w . s w i s s c l u b v i c . c o m . a u
Swiss that changed the world
The Bernoulli brothers and Leonhard Euler (17th – 18th centuries), mathematical geniuses
The Basel-based Bernoulli family revolutionised maths in the course of two generations. Brothers Jacob (1654-1705) and Johann (1667-1748), pictured above, were pioneers in the development of infi nitesimal and probability calculus. Johann’s son Daniel, applied the discoveries of his father and uncle to physics.
Leonhard Euler (right), also from Basel, a pupil of Jakob and friend of Daniel, wrote more than 800 papers on mathematics, astronomy and physics.
Euler was featured on the 10 franc banknote, series 1976 - 1995.
Cantonal police have uncovered a plan hatched by a group led by a 40 year old Neopolitan man previously known to Italian police. During several meetings in a local bar in Naples, the group devised a scheme to steal pension payments worth approximately CHF 1,500,000 from the Lugano post offi ce. A key component of the scheme was for the intended perpetrators to be disguised as false postmen. Police haven’t disclosed how the scheme was uncovered.
A winter of heavy rainfall and many landslides has led tragically to the deaths of two people in Davesco. Heavy rain had made a wall above the property unstable and it subsequently toppled down the slope before hitting the residence. The deaths follow those of a mother and daughter the week before in similar circumstances. The rainfall has been so heavy that Lago Maggiore reported a water level of 196.19 metres – almost three metres over the yearly average.
The Ponte Romano in Aquila in the Valle di Blenio counts among the oldest surviving stone arch bridges in Switzerland. The bridge was built in 1461 and restored in 1965 and 1975. It was formerly the main road through the Valle di Blenio and crossed the Brenno River. Today, both the fl ow of the river as well as the route of the main road has been altered, so that the bridge now has no function. Today a road passes under the bridge that connects some hamlets.
Anthony Longano
Please take note of the following tournaments in 2015:
• Doubles Championship: Friday, 27 February
• Bernard Sandoz Cup: Friday, 26 June
• Singles Championship: Friday, 23 October
We look forward to another year of exciting games! Bookings are essential, please ring Roger at the Swiss Club or myself on 9439 7593 or 0418 645 313.
Cost: Only $20 per person which includes dinner.
New players are always welcome!
Louis SchneiderBe a part of your Club. Join the Committee.
All for love...Swiss boy wants to come to Australia to be with his sweetheart...
It’s not easy to do, if you don’t have a job. If you can help, or know someone that can, please get in touch with Säm on [email protected]
He is fl uent in English and is looking for work in the fi elds of product design, graphics, CAD etc. He is fl exible and willing to give anything a go.
20 S w i s s C l u b o f V i c t o r i a
E-voting makes slow but steady progressAbout 70% of Swiss Abroad will be able to cast their ballots online for the parliamentary elections in October this year. The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) is disappointed that not all of its constituents will be able to vote electronically.But the OSA remains hopeful that every registered Swiss living abroad will be able to vote electronically by the time the 2019 elections are held.
Switzerland is a pioneering country in e-voting. In contrast to Norway, which decided in July 2014 to temporarily shelve online voting trials due to security concerns, the Swiss have continuously expanded their e-voting option.
The number of potential Swiss participants has continued to grow, and the security of the electronic voting and election process has been improved. The next major step will take place next year, when the 14 Swiss cantons participating in trials introduce second-generation e-voting systems – reaching about 70% of expatriates eligible to vote.
Each Swiss Abroad voter will newly receive a series of individual verifi cation codes along with the personal election material. For the election to the House of Representatives, for example, there will be one code per candidate.
After a vote has been cast, the system will forward a verifi cation code for the sender to compare against the code on the voting documents. A match confi rms that the desired candidate was chosen. Using this method, any possible manipulation of the vote would immediately be apparent.
More safety, more votersSecurity experts all agree that this form of individual verifi ability makes e-voting intrinsically more secure. For this reason, the government is set to make e-voting more widely available in the coming years.
In fact, some Swiss-German cantons are even planning to extend their 2015 e-voting trials to selected communes in Switzerland itself.
In Geneva, up to 30% of domestic voters are already able to use the internet to cast their ballots.
There is a unique twist to e-voting in another canton in the French-speaking part of the country. Voters in Neuchâtel sign a contract with the canton’s e-government portal as a prerequisite for e-voting. All voters who have signed a contract are allowed to vote online.
The cantons themselves decide whether or not to participate in
Switzerland’s e-voting trials, while the federal government sets the overall strategy. As the security levels are upgraded, the numbers of voters allowed to vote electronically are increased.
Previously, only 10% of Swiss expatriates were allowed to vote electronically. This will be increased to 30% with the introduction of the second generation of e-voting procedures with individual verifi ability using codes. The third generation of e-voting procedures will be introduced from 2020 onward. In principle this means that 100% of voters abroad could then cast their ballots electronically. Registered expatriates eligible to vote amount to 3% of the total electorate.
Progress since 2011But it is not certain that all cantons will offer e-voting within the next six years, as only 14 out of 26 have signed on.
Some cantonal authorities have cited a lack of funds by way of explanation. Others are sceptical about the security of the
existing systems. They want to wait and see how second-generation e-voting technology measures up.
This of course has implications for the number of expatriate Swiss who can vote via the internet. Those who cannot must cast their ballots using conventional post, which can be time-consuming and cumbersome.
However the Swiss Abroad who hail from one of the 14 cantons participating in
e-voting trials will be able to electronically elect the members of the House of Representatives in October.
As the elections to the Senate, the other parliamentary chamber, are conducted according to a completely different system that varies from canton to canton, e-voting for these elections will be available in only 12 cantons.
“The OSA made a huge effort to make e-voting available for the Swiss Abroad in time for the 2015 parliamentary elections, initiating a petition in 2012 that garnered 15,000 signatures,” says OSA co-director Ariane Rustichelli. “The OSA regrets that this is not the case,” she adds.
Nonetheless, enormous progress has been made. The 14 participating cantons cover 70% of the approximately 155,000 Swiss abroad who are eligible voters. This is a four-fold increase from the 2011 elections.
Paper quandaryThe OSA has set a new goal of having e-voting available to 100% of their constituency in time for the 2019 elections.
But even if all 26 cantons agree to offer e-voting, a fl aw in the system remains, namely, the delivery of voting material. Everything – the voting card, ballot and codes – is available in paper form only, so it has to be delivered by conventional post.
“There has been a lot of thought given to introducing paperless e-voting, but the time frame for its implementation is not yet clear,” says Thomas Wehrli, leader of the e-voting project in canton Aargau.
Technically, paperless, fully electronic and completely secure e-voting is feasible. But implementing such a system would be
21w w w . s w i s s c l u b v i c . c o m . a u
an incredibly sophisticated, complex task. Its realisation thus remains in the distant future.
Instead, attention has turned to the possibility of introducing a second device into the process. Completely disconnected from the internet, it would be something like the devices banks provide to their customers for e-banking.
New methods need time“The choice of a voting technology is always embedded in a political culture,” explained Uwe Serdüt, vice-director of the Centre for Research on Direct Democracy in Aarau.
He pointed out that “most communes still hold citizen assemblies” and that the introduction of postal voting – which was then a second option to voting at the polls – needed about 30 years before it became universally accessible.
Canton Basel-Country was the fi rst to introduce postal voting, in 1978, while Valais and Ticino, the last two cantons, did not offer it until 2005. “It looks like the administrative and political process for e-voting will also take about 30 years,” Serdüt estimates.
Seen from this perspective, it might be that the year 2030 is a realistic time horizon for paperless e-voting to become universal.
Andreas Keiser - swissinfo.ch
Time to registerThe fi rst electronic voting trials took place in 2003 at a local level in canton Geneva, followed by tests in cantons Neuchâtel and Zürich in 2005.
Geneva, Neuchâtel and Zürich each have their own systems, which are being continuously refi ned and further developed. The systems used in Zürich and Geneva are available by contract to other cantons. The Geneva system is used in the cantons of Basel-City, Bern and Lucerne, while the cantons of Fribourg, Graubünden, Solothurn, Schaffhausen, St.Gallen, Aargau and Thurgau share a single copy of the Zürich system and have joined together in an electronic voting consortium known as Vote électronique.
The four cantons of Basel Country, Graubünden, Aargau and St.Gallen did e-voting trials for the fi rst time in the parliamentary elections of 2011. Canton Zürich froze work on e-voting in 2011 to review the state of affairs. It will resume participating in trials from next year. Glarus will join the e-vote consortium, which now includes nine cantons, bringing to 14 the number of cantons participating in the e-voting trials.
If your last place of residence was in one of the afore-mentioned cantons, are a Swiss citizen eligible to vote and would like to exercise your right using e-voting, you must register on the electoral roll of your canton to be able to participate in the parliamentary elections in October.
Contact the Consulate General in Sydney now on email: [email protected] or phone (02) 8383 4000 to arrange registration.Roland Isler - Council of the Swiss Abroad
Statistics on the Swiss Abroad 2014Just over 746,000 Swiss citizens were living abroad as at 31 December 2014 according to statistics published by the FDFA. More than 142,000 of them are registered on the electoral rolls with their commune.
In a press release issued on 29 January 2015, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) indicated that the total number of Swiss Abroad rose to 746,885 in 2014 with an increase of 14,726 persons (+2%) compared to 2013. The Swiss Abroad population in Australia rose by 577.
At the end of 2014, almost 10% of the Swiss population resided abroad. The total number of Swiss expatriates is in line with the population of Switzerland’s third largest canton, Vaud.
Figures by continent and countryFor the seventh consecutive year, Asia saw the greatest percentage rise in Swiss citizens abroad in 2014 (+4.61%) followed by Europe (+2.33%), Oceania (+2.01%), America (+1.39%) and Africa (+1.25%). In absolute terms, it is Europe which has seen the greatest rise with 9,108 more persons followed by America (+ 2,493) and Asia (+2,234). Almost 61.86% of the Swiss Abroad, 462,049 persons exactly, therefore live in Europe and 96.50% of them reside in an EU state.
France still has the largest Swiss expatriate community with 194,474 persons or 26% of the total number of the Swiss Abroad. Germany has the second highest number of Swiss expatriates (84,671) followed by the US (78,696), Canada (39,618) and Australia with 24,584.
Practice has started again for this year.
Over Easter, we will travel to Adelaide to participate at the National ‘Volkstanzfest’. It will be the 6th time for us to be involved. Dance Groups from overseas and from all over Australia, Austrian, German and Swiss come together.
There will be workshops, concerts and of course socialising with other groups. We look forward to it!
The group will organise the competition card nights again at the club. Hope to see you there!
Sylvia Hochuli
22 S w i s s C l u b o f V i c t o r i a
NOTICE
2015 Annual General Meeting of the SCVNotice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Swiss Club of Victoria will be held at 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, on:
Wednesday, 18 March 2015, 6.30pmAgenda:1. Opening and Welcome2. One Minute of Silence3. Attendance, Apologies, Proxies4. Adoption of Minutes of Half-Yearly General Meeting 20145. President’s Report6. Accounts and Financial Statements7. Election of Offi ce Bearers8. General Business:
– Question Time9. Conclusion
Minutes of the 2014 Half-Yearly General Meeting of the SCVHeld Wednesday, 24 September 2014at 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne1. Opening and WelcomeThe President of the Swiss Club of Victoria, Sigrid de Castella, opened the Half-Yearly Meeting at 8.05pm and welcomed the Honorary Life Members and Members of the Swiss Club. She thanked everyone for attending; a total of 29 voting members were present.
2. One Minute of SilenceSigrid invited all members to stand up and observe a minute of silence to remember our friends and members, who have left us.
3. ApologiesSylvia Hochuli, Rita Schwärzler-Abbt, A.P. Boll, Marylse Birmele, Barbara Kündig, John Ortner, Marianne Bishop, Bill Pollock, Kiyong Tak, Flavia Consiero, Ros & Paul de Castella, Inge Kulmanis, Christian Schwärzler, Hilda & Edi Scheiber, Heidy Giger, Sue Schnellmann.
4. Adoption of Minutes of Annual General MeetingThe Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held Friday
21 March, 2014, were published in the September 2014 newsletter. The minutes had been read and are a true record. The minutes were moved by Franz Schnellmann and seconded by Roland Isler. All in favour. The minutes were adopted.
5. President’s ReportDear Honorary Life members, dear members,Thank you for joining us for the Half-Yearly. In the months since the March AGM we’ve had some exciting events some challenges and some welcomes.On the events front in March we saw another successful season for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival here in The Second Floor, and a very busy time for the restaurant with hundreds of pre- and post-show patrons. I’d like to thank all of the Sub-groups and members for their fl exibility during this busy time when their favourite booth, table or the second fl oor space was unavailable.In April we had a truly idyllic day for the annual Swiss Festival at Queensbridge Square, and planning is already well underway for 2015. More on that a little later. In May we had the Unterhaltungsabend once again organised brilliantly by Sylvia Hochuli with fantastic performances and plenty of happy Tombola prize winners.May also saw our fi rst Jazz event held with the second one in September. The aim is to make this a monthly music event, especially with well-known Jazz venue Bennetts Lane closing next year, it’s a great opportunity to provide Melbourne’s bands with a new venue, whilst attracting new people to the Club. Over the coming months we’re also hoping to provide different musical styles in upcoming performances so we can meet the needs of all of our members.In June we had our fi rst working bee in many years, and we got to reorganise The Second Floor’s kitchen, storage cupboards and storeroom. You may have also noticed the cleaner hallway stair rails and the new feature display of bells in the hallway, which gives the restaurant downstairs a little more room.As always, and despite the rain, the Lampionparade marked our Swiss National Day and two fantastic dinners followed, one on each fl oor, to warm the participants back up afterwards. And recently on 11 September our member Dr Anna Lucas, presented ‘Swiss Alps to Antarctic Glaciers’ and her research into the journals of Dr. Xavier Mertz on Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914. This was a new type event for us to run, organised by Roland Isler and Barbara Kündig, and it was well received.All of these events add interest and variety to our regular sub-group events and performances, and I’d like to thank those dedicated individuals who work so hard to organise them so that we can all enjoy and benefi t from them.In addition I’d like to thank all of the Sub-Groups for their contributions to the Club which help keep our Swiss traditions and customs alive, keeping the Club vibrant and a place of true Swissness. And I’d like to extend a special thank-you to the groups’ convenors – Sylvia Hochuli (Dance Group), Heidy Giger (Companion Singers), Esther Blaser-Tokarev (SwissKids), Marianne Bishop (Laughter Yoga) and Rolf Huber (Swiss Festival) for their continuous efforts in leading the groups so competently.
23w w w . s w i s s c l u b v i c . c o m . a u
Swiss Club of Victoria
Nomination Form for Offi ce Bearers for 2015 We, being Honorary Life Members or Ordinary Members of the Swiss Club of Victoria hereby nominate (please use block letters)
Name of person nominated:
for election as a member of the Committee.
1. Name of Member:
Signature:
2. Name of Member:
Signature:
I,
(name of candidate) being a member of the Swiss Club of Victoria, hereby, consent to act as a member of the Committee, if elected.
Signature:
Note: Any two Ordinary Members or Honorary Life Members of the Swiss Club of Victoria may nominate other members for election to the Committee.
To be valid, this Nomination form must reach the Secretary no later than Wednesday, 4 March 2015.
Coming up on October 19 we have Sunday Sessions Jazz, featuring the Paul Van Ross trio, fresh back from touring and recording a new album in New York and Cuba. Social Jass is on in October and November and is a great opportunity to practice your card skills.This weekend Barbara and I will represent the Club’s interests at the Swiss Club Presidents Conference at the Swiss Embassy in Canberra. We are hoping that this is the start of forging closer links with other Swiss Clubs around Australia and New Zealand.As always most of our events are featured in our Newsletter along with other valuable information for members which helps connect those who cannot visit as much as they’d like to. The Edelweiss is well known as being one of the best magazine-style newsletters around and this certainly would not be possible without the fantastic efforts of our editor, Roland Isler. On behalf of the Committee I’d like to thank Roland for all of his hard work and dedication to the Club which is truly admirable.With the warmer weather starting it’s a great time to head to the restaurant for some Nüsslisalat which has been a regular feature lately on the menu. Roger also has some great salads on the menu perfect for warm summer days. The restaurant is a pivotal meeting point for our members and their friends, where they can meet and enjoy a taste of Switzerland, Aussie–style. I’d like to thank Roger Moullet and the restaurant staff for continuing to do such a wonderful job.There have been a number of challenges for the Club this year. The fi rst was an update to the Privacy Laws in March, which forced us to revisit the Club’s Privacy Policy and formally publish it on our website.Another was changes to Victoria’s Liquor Licensing laws that now requires all Committee members (who are also directors of the Club’s company, the Swiss Club of Victoria Pty. Ltd.) to provide some personal information and sign a declaration. This is very serious stuff, and so going forward we will have to tighten up on our requirements for all guests and members to sign on the Club’s register at specifi c events. members can help out by following the rules and signing their guests in.As company directors of the Club Committee members are legally responsible to ensure that it operates not only according to our constitution, but also that we comply with Australian Securities and Investment Commission, Australian Taxation Offi ce and Occupational Health and Safety requirements, among other things. Anyone who has run their own business knows how arduous these requirement can sometimes be. In addition we need to ensure that everything we do is in the best interests of the Club and its valued members. These are our guiding principles.In carrying out our duties we need to ensure that any event that can impact the Club, positively or negatively, is monitored closely and all risks are assessed and fully mitigated where possible. This includes all social functions on the Second Floor and public events like the Swiss Festival. As a result we have started working much more closely with the Swiss Festival Committee, and I am pleased to report that we have a detailed business plan now in place for the 2015 event which we are reviewing but is yet to be signed off and agreed to by the Swiss Club Committee.
The Swiss Festival is a fantastic cultural event which greatly benefi ts not only the City of Melbourne, but also our members and the Club. It is a great day of Swissness in Victoria, where Swiss can get together and celebrate their culture, traditions, music, and cuisine, and share it with the wider community. It is also a great forum to showcase the talents of our wonderful Sub-groups.As for the past 12 years we are, once again, very excited to help support this event. We are thrilled that for the third year the Swiss Festival will be held at Queensbridge Square, closer to our Club house, where it can reach many more people. But with a bigger impact comes greater risk, and so we look forward to continuing to work together with the Swiss Festival Committee to cover off the Club’s legal and fi duciary requirements so that we can have a hugely successful event next year.Keeping the building running is yet another of our challenges and I’d like to thank our Building Manager, Antony Anderson, and Assistant Building Manager, Arnold Kramer, for handling things so competently.
24 S w i s s C l u b o f V i c t o r i a
Proxy Form
for the Annual General Meeting 2015 of the Swiss Club of Victoria
To: the Secretary of the Swiss Club of Victoria(please use block letters)
I,
being a member of the Swiss Club of Victoria,
my address being:
hereby appoint:
his/her address being:
being another member of the Swiss Club of Victoria, to vote for me and on my behalf at the Annual General Meeting of the Swiss Club of Victoria to be held on Wednesday, 18 March 2015 and at every adjournment thereof.
Signed by hand this day of 2015
Signature:
Note: Only members who are entitled to vote, having paid their subscription or being Honorary Life Members, may represent other members as proxy. Proxy forms must be handed to the Secretary at least 48 hours before the meeting is to take place.
Regular maintenance, repairs and the annual safety compliance statement have all been handled rather effortlessly, or at least that’s how it appears. The reality is a huge amount of work continues to be done, month on month, coordinating tradesman and ensuring the decisions we make are the right ones for the Club and its members.Recovery costs for use of the basement power have commenced, although the recovery is not as big as we had hoped. And apart from the usual routine maintenance we have recently fi xed the doors in the women’s toilet in the restaurant, and even though we replaced the hand dryers on the second fl oor they’re still not working properly – so a warranty call is underway. The upgrade of the electrical feed into the building which is currently running at 110% of capacity is progressing slowly, whilst we wait for CitiPower to schedule a planning meeting with us and our electricians. But once done this should last us for many years going forward.Moving onto Welcomes we are pleased to make an announcement – but it must be done with a minimum of fuss, so please no clapping. Liz Isler has offered to join the Committee in the capacity as Grants Offi cer. Personally, I am very excited to work with Liz, and look forward to the Club, with Liz’s help, getting a share of some the many grants that are offered each year by the Victorian and Federal Governments. If anyone would like to assist Liz on this Sub-Committee please let us know.Again the only way our Club can run is with the dedication and commitment from its Committee, and whilst our Committee is still small, it remains very dedicated indeed. I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Barbara Kündig, Derrick Wildi, Antony Anderson, Arnold Kramer and Vreni Welsh for all their hard work and commitment.We still have vacancies on the Committee, and we are still calling for members to assist us with any time they can spare. If you’d like to get involved please let us know. As they say ‘many hands make light work’, so if you have any time to spare and would like to help please contact myself or one of the Committee members. We’d love to work with you!
6. Treasurer’s ReportThe good news is that during the fi rst 8 month in 2014 we did not have any extraordinary fi nancial transactions and the income and expenses are in balance. Below is a snapshot of the fi nancial affairs of the Club.
Balance sheet (all values in $1,000)Liquid Assets ...................168 Liabilities.......................... 8Fixed Assets ....................982 Loan ............................. 315 Equity ........................... 827Total ......................... 1,150 Total .......................1,150
Profi t & Loss (all values in $1,000)membership fees ......... 18.7 Audit/Legal & Insurance ....17.7Rent & Outgoings ..... 104.7 Bank Fees .............................17Other Income ................ 4.7 membership Services .........10.6Loss ............................... 5.5 Building Maintenance .......20.1 Building Operation ............36.2 Depreciation .........................32Total .......................133.6 Total ............................133.6
As in previous years the expenses remain largely the same with slight increases for taxes and utility costs. Thanks to the implementation of a maintenance program the cost for repairs have dropped slightly. This is to allow us to ‘splurge’ some funds on small upgrades like the bells in the entrance hallway, cleaning chairs and printing pictures of Switzerland to be placed in frames on 2nd fl oor. Also having a general handy-man who is familiar with the building help us to keep any cost at a reasonable level.The income side also remained largely the same with slight increases in income for room for the 2nd fl oor. Despite a lot of hard work by Committee members to sell the second fl oor (thank you Barbara) it still would be nice if we could secure a regular user in order to ensure a more steady income stream. Also membership is slightly down due some members not renewing their membership despite several efforts to contact them.Two to note are that our fi x term loan for fi nancing the second fl oor is about to expire in December 2014 and we are planning to reduce the loan balance by reducing our cash balance. We
25w w w . s w i s s c l u b v i c . c o m . a u
currently are also ‘shopping’ around to see if we are able to obtain a better banking service for less costs.Secondly we have commissioned a building evaluation to be completed as our last evaluation was done in 2008. Through this process it was identifi ed that the industry is using two specifi c terms to specify the building value.• Replacement value: The cost to replace the assets of a company or a property of the same or equal value.• Reinstatement value: Reinstatement valuations are primarily used for insurance purposes and are effectively an estimation
of the likely cost of rebuilding a property in the event of it being damaged or destroyed. The basis of a reinstatement valuation is linked with the cost of construction at the particular time.In our case in the past the reinstatement value was used to determine the insurance value and we will re-assess if the replacement value which is about $1 million less can be used instead when renewing our policy in February 2015. Please rest assured that all special items like bells, windows etc. are stated separately and will be insured at the current estimated value.In closing I would like to thank all members and Committee members for organising events and completing work for the Club. Without these dedicated helpers we simply would not be able to run the Club in its current form. On a personal note I would also like to advise that due to personal changes I will be stepping down as treasurer and I will be joining the rest of my family in Canada in the fi rst quarter of 2015. If any of you is interested in supporting the Club and is able to provide some treasury services please contact any of the Committee members.
* * *Derrick Wildi, Treasurer, informed the members that he will be relocating to Canada within the next six months to be with his family. Until such time, he will continue serving the Swiss Club in his capacity as TreasurerRoland Isler thanked Derrick for his many years of service on the Committee and for an excellent job as the Club’s Treasurer.
7. Election of Offi ce BearersLiz Isler offered herself for election to the Committee. The members elected Liz to the Committee. Sigrid welcomed Liz to the Committee.
8. membershipThere are presently a total of 438 members, 17 members joined this year, however we lost 30 members due to cancellation. Sadly, 4 members passed away.We have the pleasure of nine new members present tonight, who came along to the new member drinks and chat. The new members, Sarah and Tom Merkli, Simon Ward, Ian Penboss, Martin von Wyss, Coral and Juerg Stolz, Sabine and Martin Stacher. Please make them all welcome at the Club.
9. General BusinessRoland Isler, member of the Council of the Swiss Abroad, informed the members that the new ‘Law of Swiss Abroad’ has been passed by both houses of the Swiss Parliament. He informed that ‘PostFinance’ is now offering banking possibilities and solutions to Swiss Abroad. Roland also spoke about the upcoming meeting of Swiss Club Presidents in Canberra, Saturday, 27 March. It is the fi rst of its kind.
10. ConclusionAs there were no further questions from the members, Sigrid de Castella closed the Half-Yearly Meeting at 8.47pm by thanking all present for their attendance and interest in the Swiss Club and invited them all to a glass of wine.
Minutes taken as a correct record by Vreni Welsch, membership
Special AGM
DinnerWednesday, 18 March,
from 8pm
Whether you join us at the AGM or not, Members, their friends and family are all
warmly invited to join us at our AGM dinner in the Restaurant.
This is a special event to celebrate with our Members their support of our Club.
At this event we will be presenting Commemorative Year Pins and Honorary
Memberships to those who are eligible.
Main Cours e
Kasseler (smoked pork loin chops) Bratkartoff eln (fried potatoes)
Sauerkraut
Dess ert
Apple Tart with CreamIce Cream
So make a night of it and bring along your friends and families at the special Member pricing of $25 per person with drinks at bar
prices.
All bookings with the Restaurant(03) 9650 1196 or by email to
26 S w i s s C l u b o f V i c t o r i a
Swiss Events & FunctionsPlease note that this calendar also list events other than those organised by the Swiss Club of Victoria and its sub-groups. Please book all Swiss Club functions (bold entries) with Roger, phone 9650 1196 or fax 9650 3104 and check website for latest information and details of upcoming events. For all other events please contact the relevant organisation (see page 3 for contact details).
OTHER REGULAR SWISS CLUB MEETINGS:
Committee Meetings: every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month (excluding January & December) 6.30 to 8pm.
Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose: practice every Tuesday evening at 8.15pm
Swiss Companion Singers: practice and social gathering every 2nd and 3rd Thursday of each month at 8pm
Laughter Yoga Helvetia: meets every 3rd and 4th Thursday of each month at 6pm
SwissKids: meets every 1st Saturday of each month, from 2pm to 4pm
Les Bavards - ‘The Chatterboxes’: French Conversation Group meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month at 6.30pm
5th Australian Jass Tournament will take place on 7 June 2015 in Sydney at Forestville Memorial Hall, Corner Starkey Street and Warringah Road, Forestville NSW 2087.
FEBRUARY Wednesday 25 Social Jass Friday 27 Billiard – Doubles Championship Saturday 28 Jass Night – Matterhorn
MARCH Wednesday 04 Ladies’ Luncheon Thursday 05 Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains at the Club Wednesday 18 Annual General Meeting & Dinner Saturday 21 Jass Night – Swiss Club Wednesday 25 Social Jass Thursday 26 Comedy Festival starts
APRIL Monday 20 Comedy Festival ends Wednesday 22 Social Jass Saturday 25 Jass Night – Matterhorn
MAY Monday 04 Editorial Deadline – Newsletter June issue Wednesday 06 Ladies’ Luncheon Thursday 07 Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains at the Club
Wednesday 20 Swiss Club Movie Night: Pepperminta Wednesday 27 Social Jass Saturday 30 Jass Night – Swiss Club
Travel by bus or tram and be safe! Trams 5 & 64 - Tram Stop 36Traditional Bands - Pretzels - Dancers - Singers
German food and beer/schnaps Admission $10.00
german club tivoliMelbourne Australia Est. 1860
Free face painter on Sunday 12 noon - 3pm
R
OU
NDABOUT THE SWISS
CLUB
Foundation Day Celebration
Fahrt ins Blaue
Seniors Christmas Luncheon
OSA Info Evening