REGISTERED BY AUSTRALIA POST - PUBLICATION No. VBH 6369
SEPTEMBER 2012
That’s how we celebrated Swiss National Day! As in years past, the eight large flagpoles alongside St.Kilda Road, between Flinders Street Station and Federation Square, proudly flew the white cross on red background signaling Switzerland’s 721st birthday. At sunset, families started to assemble at the usual spot and I wondered if we’d get as many people as last year, because the weather looked rather doubtful. There was no cause to worry, soon there was a large crowd of mums and dads and their children all getting their lampions ready. There were even some new faces which was great to see. The sound of Gerd Schwärzler’s drum got everyone up in line and off we went. It must have been quite a spectacle for bystanders watching this noisy procession of people with bells, waving flags and carrying lampions of many shapes and
sizes, making its way slowly along the Yarra River towards the MCG. Many, I’m sure, were wondering what football team this crowd was barracking for. Thankfully, the rain was holding off and we arrived at the Club in dry condition. The children and parents headed upstairs to the 2nd floor, where some yummy food was awaiting. Continued on page 5
89 Flinder s Lane • Melbour ne 3000 • Victor ia • Australia • www.s wissclubvic .com.au
SWISS CLUB OF VICTORIA Founded in 1899 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 T: 1300 893 968, F: (03) 9650 3104 E: info@swissclubvic.com.au W: www.swissclubvic.com Club Opening Hours Lunch: Mo - Fri from 12noon Dinner: Wed, Thurs & Fri from 6pm Bookings T: (03) 9650 1196 Swiss Club Catering For all Functions contact Chef & Catering Manager Roger Moullet T: (03) 9650 1196, F: (03) 9650 3104 M: 0409 040 249 E: swissclub@hotmail.com The Second Floor Function Bookings CBD Function Room with a difference! Info and/or bookings: T: 1300 893 968 E: thesecondfloor@swissclubvic.com.au
SWISS CLUB SUB-GROUPS Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose President: Sylvia Hochuli T: (03) 9531 6575 E: hochuli@tpg.com.au Swiss Companion Singers Convenor: Heidy Giger T: (03) 9889 9321 E: adelheid1@bigpond.com Ladies Luncheons Convenor: Heidy Giger For bookings T: (03) 9650 1196 For information: T: (03) 9889 9321 E: adelheid1@bigpond.com SwissKids Convenor: Esther Blaser-Tokarev T: (03) 8521 3739 M: 0424 220 523 E: esther.blaser@gmx.ch
Pro Ticino President: Claude Rossi 5 Falls Road, Hoddles Creek Vic 3139 T: (03) 5967 4542 E: marclas@dcsi.net.au Swiss Yodel Choir Matterhorn President: Marco Unternährer 3 Bluegum Court, Upwey Vic 3158 T: (03) 9729 3338, (03) 9752 6996 (H) W: www.swiss.org.au/matterhorn Swiss-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) General Manager: Marcel Svatos T: (02) 9262 1511, F: (02) 9290 1928 E: admin@sacci.com.au Postal address see: www.sacci.com.au Swiss-Australian Academic Network (SAAN) E: info@saan.id.au W: www.saan.id.au
COMMITTEE
The Swiss Diners Club Convenor: Damian Schaller M: 0410 461 364 E: damianschaller@swiss.org.au
Barbara Kündig President T/F (H): (03) 9005 4938 M: 0402 018 363 E: barbara@swissclubvic.com.au
Swiss Festival Chairman: Rolf Huber T/F (H): (03) 9807 0282 M (B): 0425 805 854 E: rolf@swissfestival.com.au
Rolf Huber Immediate Past President T/F (H): (03) 9807 0282 M (B): 0425 805 854 E: rhuber@swissclubvic.com.au
SWISS COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
Postal address and further information for all above see: W: www.eda.admin.ch/australia
Swiss Society of Victoria (Benevolent Society) President: Franz Schnellmann T: (03) 9449 2245, M: 0412 203 893 E: schnellmann@dodo.com.au
Organisation of the Swiss Abroad Council Member: Roland Isler Contact details: see below under Editor W: www.aso.ch / www.swiss.org.au/csa
Urs Derrick Wildi Treasurer & Membership Administration T/F (H): (03) 9824 7930 M: 0403 040 930 E: uwildi@swissclubvic.com.au Sigrid de Castella Membership Relations & Building Management Support M: 0416 088 000 E: sigrid@swissclubvic.com.au Antony Anderson Building Management M: 0416 069 666 E: antony@swissclubvic.com.au Damian Schaller Marketing Manager M: 0410 461 364 E: damianschaller@swissclubvic.com.au w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au
Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess Australian/Swiss Cultural Society President: Sylvia Hochuli T: (03) 9531 6575 E: hochuli@tpg.com.au Groupe Romand du Victoria President: Rémy Favre 1 Hughes Street, Malvern East Vic 3145 T: (03) 9571 2835, M: 0412 135 095 E: remy@favrecranage.com W: www.swiss.org.au/chfrvic Unless otherwise stated, postal address for all is: 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000
Embassy of Switzerland T: (02) 6162 8400, F: (02) 6273 3428 E: can.vertretung@eda.admin.ch Consulate General of Switzerland T: (02) 8383 4000, F: (02) 9369 1334 E: syd.vertretung@eda.admin.ch Consulate of Switzerland T: (03) 9824 7527, M: 0413 042 728 E: melbourne@honrep.ch
Impressum ‘Edelweiss’ appears quarterly in March, June, September and December. Circulation 500. For all enquiries contact: Roland Isler, Editor T: (03) 9524 6335 (B), M: 0412 935 565 E: risler@swiss.org.au 67 St Georges Crescent Heatherton Vic 3202
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President’s Message Dear members and friends of the Swiss Club, The biggest day on our social calendar, Swiss National Day has come and gone. The club held its usual events, the Senior Members Luncheon on 31 July and on 1 August the Lantern Parade for families and the National Day Dinner at our club restaurant. The members attending had the pleasure of meting our new Ambassador, Mr Marcel Stutz, who joined our celebrations. Roger and his team put together a lovely Swiss style dinner and Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertained. We hope, the members, who came long, had a good time, and if you couldn’t make it, well join us on Thursday, 1 August, 2013! With spring, hopefully soon around the corner, there will be the Half-Yearly General Meeting in September. Please make an effort to come along. It is your club and the twice held meetings, in March and September, are a great way to support your committee and learn more about the club. In October, we are planing a Jass course. It is an opportunity to finally learn how to play this Swiss National sport. Jass is a
fun game and really not that difficult. So invest two Saturday afternoons and you are on your way to be our next ‘Jass König’! See page 15 to sign up. The Swiss Social Afternoons have taken off. They are intended for all ages. It is another opportunity for members to get together. As it is in the afternoon, it is an ideal event for all our members, who do not like to venture out at night. The days are getting longer and you might even have time for a dinner in the club restaurant afterwards. The next Social Afternoon is Thursday, 18 October, details on page 10. We have planned another special event for October. It is jointly organised with the La Trobe Society. We hope we can count on our members to come along and learn a bit more how it all began for our Swiss community here in Victoria. See page 21. I know it seems kind of early, but the Festive Season is not that far away. Have you been starting to think of a Christmas/End of Year Party for your families, friends or business? Well, why not consider the Second Floor, a great venue for such events. Please ring us for a quote. Members get very special rates! Wishing you all a wonderful spring time, we hope to see you at one of our events at the club. Barbara Kündig - President
Happy 18th Birthday to Ruby Altermatt, Georgina Rychner and Anthony Huber. We had the pleasure of seeing you grow up, from attending Swiss School to coming along to Club events with your families. Having reached adulthood we wish you all the very best for a bright and happy future. Happy birthday to Jill Mueller who commemorated her 80th, while Fritz Schwab celebrated his 90th. We congratulate you and wish you good health in many years to come!
Get well Welcome to our new members We warmly welcome Vivienne Larcombe, Rob Ruxton, Sophie Petoud, Chris Villani, Nathan and Lisa Cochrane, Aleksandra Ilievska, Peter and Marjorie Rea, Sarah Goh Sau Kuen, John and Rosie Lovell, Beat Wittwer and Moira MacDonald-Young. We are looking forward to meeting you at one of our forthcoming functions.
Congratulations Warmest congratulations to Damian Schaller and Melinda Varley on the announcement of their engagement. Congratulations to Roger and Diane Moullet on become grandparents. Their son Andre and Elyce are proud parents of Cruz Christian. Congratulations also to Brigitte and Dolf Bohren on become grandparents again.
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Erna Kathriner, Paula Preisig and Sepp Schmidig had to spend some time in hospital. We wish you a speedy recovery and hope to see at the club again soon. We also think of Hans Bless and Toni Erb, who has been moved to the Tabulam Nursing home in Bayswater, and of everyone else who is not doing so well at the moment.
The last farewell We are mourning our dear and well respected Honorary Life member Fritz Hochuli, who passed away on 2 August, aged 82. Our deepest sympathies go to Sylvia, Dieter and family.
We also inform members of the passing of Hans Bertsch in mid-August, our sympathies go to his family.
Swiss Club of Victoria
From front page
Meanwhile, everyone else joined the members and guests at the fully booked Club Restaurant. We were pleased to welcome as guest of honour the newly arrived Ambassador of Switzerland, Mr Marcel Stutz, on his first visit to Melbourne. As usual it didn’t take long for John Wanner’s ‘Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand’ to create a lively atmosphere. The delicious dinner menu created by Roger Moullet and the splendid service by the staff did its part to ensure everyone was having a good time. Club President Barbara Kündig and the Ambassador reminded everyone of the purpose of the festivities, which was followed by a toast to Switzerland and all rising to sing the National Anthem accompanied by ‘Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand’. It was great to see so many people – young and old – having a good time! Thank-you to everyone that attended and a special thank-you to all the helpers that made Swiss National Day once again a memorable event! Editor
The coffee was delicious, but kept me awake, thinking of the lovely time we had. The entree arrived and everyone smiled,‘Nüsslisalat’!, we know it from home. I was thrilled, it tasted delicious. Of course what followed was a ‘Brote’, potroast of beef, another famous Swiss Dish, with mashed potatoes, carrots and broccoli. In between Chris’ Örgeli, he entertained us greatly. Hans Brunner with his yodelling. We sang and linked arms and truly celebrated our National Day. Snippets from Switzerland we never forget. Thank you all for a very fine day. Another to hold in the treasure chest. The decoration with the William Tell apple and flag plus flowers, terrific. Thank you to our Swiss Club for giving us Seniors such a splendid afternoon. Inge Kulmanis
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National Day Senior Members’ Luncheon Tuesday, 31 July We, the Seniors of our beautiful Swiss Club, thank the President and Committee very much for the beautiful Lunch and entertaining afternoon to celebrate the Birthday of our Nation. It was good to meet old friends, sit down at the red and white decorated table with Walter Tell’s apples as symbol, admire the flower posies lovingly bound by Margrit Gasinski, eat the excellent food, drink a glass or two of wine, listen to the Schwiizerögeli played by Christian Thalmann and being surprised by a Solo Jodel presented by our Hans Brunner. A million thanks go to all the helpers, who made this day again a success. On behalf of ‘The Grey Power’ Rita Schwärzler-Abbt
Newsletter Deadlines 2012 December Issue: Covering Dec /Jan/Feb 2013 Editorial Deadline: Monday, 5 November Mailing: Wednesday, 21 November
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CERN detects new ‘Higgs-like’ particle Scientists at the CERN research centre on the SwissFrench border have discovered a new particle that could be the elusive Higgs Boson – crucial in understanding how the Big Bang gave rise to stars, planets and even life. “We have a discovery. We have observed a new particle consistent with the Higgs Boson – which one? That remains open,” CERN Director General Rolf Heuer told a seminar at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research in Geneva. “This is indeed a new particle. We know it must be a boson (subatomic particle) and it’s the heaviest boson ever found. This is a preliminary result, but we think it’s very strong and very solid,” said Joe Incandela, spokesman for one of the two CERN teams hunting for the Higgs. Physicists have been smashing particles together at near lightspeed in the underground Large Hadron Collider (LHC) – the world’s most powerful particle accelerator - near Geneva since 2010, creating high-energy collisions of protons to investigate dark matter, antimatter and the creation of the universe, which many theorise occurred in a massive explosion known as the Big Bang. Amongst the huge amount of data produced by the LHC experiments, researchers have already seen tantalising hints of the Higgs Boson, the so-called “God particle” believed to be the missing piece of the fundamental theory of physics known as the Standard Model, which were reported by CERN in December 2011. Since then, power in the LHC had been ramped up and the rate of the particle collisions in it tripled in the search for the Higgs. In December, the Atlas and CMS teams at CERN, which comprise some 5,000 scientists, reported what appeared to be hints of a Higgs particle weighing about 125 gigaelectronvolts (GeV), roughly 130 times heavier than a proton. That evidence became overwhelming. The Atlas team reported
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a particle at 126.5GeV with a confidence of five sigma, while the CMS team found a particle with a mass of 125.3 GeV with a 4.9 sigma confidence. A “5 sigma” certainty constitutes a discovery in scientific terms - or to be sure that there is less than a one in a million chance it is a fluke. “As a layman, I would now say, I think we have it,” said Heuer, referring to the Higgs. Standard Model For particle physicists, finding the elusive Higgs Boson is key to confirming the Standard Model that explains what gives mass to matter and by extension how the universe was formed. Without the Higgs particle, the particles that make up the universe would have remained like a soup, the theory goes. It is unclear from the latest findings whether the particle they have discovered is the Higgs as described by the Standard Model, a variant of the Higgs or an entirely new subatomic particle that could force a rethink on the fundamental structure of matter. Heuer described the latest findings as a “milestone in our understanding of nature”. “The discovery of a particle consistent with the Higgs Boson opens the way to more detailed studies, requiring larger statistics, which will pin down the new particle’s properties, and is likely to shed light on other mysteries of our universe,” he added. At the end of the announcement, the seminar room held a standing ovation. Peter Higgs, one of the six physicists who first proposed the theory in 1964, wiped a tear from his eye. “It’s an incredible thing that it’s happened in my lifetime,” he declared. swissinfo.ch
Ed: The discovery was simultaneously announced in Geneva and at the 36th International Conference on High Energy Physics held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 4-11 July. CERN scientist Professor Franz Muheim attended the conference and Liz and I were pleased to invite him to the Swiss Club and to go sightseeing in return for the tour of CERN Franz did with us last year (see ‘Edelweiss’ September 2011 ). Support those that support your Club. Consider our Advertisers
Swiss Club of Victoria
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The Swiss Society of Victoria A chance to meet all the Swiss affiliated Clubs Friday, 12 October, 6.30pm Swiss Club, 2nd floor An evening with the Swiss Society of Victoria and the Swiss Sub/Groups will be held at the Swiss Club on Friday, 12 October 2012 on the 2nd floor, starting at 6.30pm. This is an opportunity for you the Members and Friends to get to know the objectives of the Swiss Society of Victoria and their future plans. The Swiss Society of Victoria has a proud history dating back to 1879. Throughout all these years the SSV has been able to assist in many ways and we will continue to do so. In order to do so we rely on you the members and we want to welcome new people to our organisation. At this evening you will hear from other groups as well, this is a chance to get to know each other and mix with people from various traditions and folklore. Complimentary refreshments will be served and drinks are available from the bar. Parking is available in Flinders Lane Car Park only a few blocks from the Swiss Club on the same side. When you leave the function please ask the staff of the Club for a concession parking ticket. Please book with Roger Moullet at the Swiss Club on 9650 1196. Bookings close 5 October 2012. We are looking forward to welcome all our Guests for this special evening. On behalf of the Swiss Society I extend to you all our best wishes. Franz Schnellmann - Hon. President
Want a taste of Switzerland? Visit the Swiss Club Restaurant
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Sponsorship reception On Friday, 29 June, a reception was held on the Second Floor, for the official unveiling of the Coat of Arms sponsorship plaque. The elegant plaque was designed by former committee member Patrick Rychner. It perfectly complements the frosted committee room window bearing the canton flags, which of course, is also the work of Patrick. The President of the Swiss Club of Victoria, Barbara Kßndig, did the honour of unveiling and thanked the sponsors that attended the reception, aand indeed aall members tthat gave so ggenerously in ssupport of the SSecond Floor renovation. A total of $12,000 was donated – what a fantastic result!
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Echo Helvetia Gespräch mit Christian Froelicher, Leiter des Deutschsprachigen Programms von SBS Radio Roland Isler: Seit der Pensionierung von Ursula Schäppi, der langjährigen Moderatorin von ‘Echo Helvetia’, wurde das Schweizer Programm auf SBS Radio um die Hälfte gekürzt, von einer halben Stunde auf 15 Minuten. So wie ich es beurteilen kann, ist das Programm vor allem bei der älteren Generation sehr beliebt und eine unentbehrliche Quelle für Nachrichten und Beiträge aus und über der Schweiz und auch über die Schweizerdeutsche Gemeinde in Australien. Es wurden einige Stimmen laut, die die Verkürzung sehr bedauern. Auch für mich hat das Programm an Stellenwert verloren, da es einfach nicht möglich ist - auch mit der besten Präsentation - in der halben Zeit gleich viel an Beiträgen zu präsentieren. Bislang haben wir keine konkrete Erklärung von SBS Radio erhalten, was die Gründe der Verkürzung sind. Christian, kannst Du uns bitte darauf eine Antwort geben. Christian Froelicher: Das mache ich gerne. Das ‘Echo Helvetia’ ist in der Tat so etwas wie eine schweizerischaustralische Institution. Ursula Schäppi in Sydney hat dieses Segment fast 30 Jahre lang mit viel Herzblut und Einsatz betreut. Historisch entstanden ist es, als die Schweizer noch nicht vollwertige Mitglieder der deutschsprachigen Programmfamilie waren. Heute sind sie es. Das heisst, spätestens seit der letzten Programmreform, Mitte der 90er Jahre, richten sich unsere neun Sendungen/Woche an alle Deutschsprachigen in Australien: Deutsche, Österreicher, Schweizer, und so weiter. Insofern ist die ‘Beschränkung’ auf eine Viertelstunde ‘Echo Helvetia’ kein Anachronismus, sondern die logische Folge des Wunsches, die Schweizer in allen Sendungen als gleichberechtigte Hörer ernstzunehmen. RI: Wer ist verantwortlich für diesen Entscheid? CF: Wir bei SBS haben die Vor- und Nachteile einer Verkürzung des ‘Echo Helvetia’ ausführlich diskutiert. Auf der einen Seite stand der Wunsch, eine alte Tradition weiterzuführen. Auf der anderen Seite gab es Argumente, das ‘Echo Helvetia’ ganz fallen zu lassen, und Beiträge aus und über die Schweiz in alle Sendungen einfliessen zu lassen. Wir einigten uns auf einen Kompromiss: Eine Verkürzung des ‘Echo Helvetia’ auf eine Viertelstunde, dafür 100% auf ‘Schwiizerdütsch’, der eigentlichen Muttersprache der Deutschschweizer. Die Neuerung mag schmerzen, und als Schweizer (aufgewachsen in Luzern und Bern) kann ich das ein Stück weit nachvollziehen... Trotzdem sind wir der Meinung, dass der Entscheid richtig ist, für Hörer, Programm und Team. Er bietet die Chance für einen Neuanfang und frische Ideen! RI: Es ist nicht das erste mal, dass ‘Echo Helvetia’ unter Druck kommt und ums überleben bangt. Der Vergleich ‘Kosten versus Dienstleistung’ ist zweifellos bei der Auswahl der Sprachen und der Zuteilung von Sendezeit für einen Staatsbetrieb wie SBS wichtig. Trotzdem hat SBS - aus meiner Sicht - aber auch eine multikulturelle Verpflichtung. Das bedeutet, dass auch kleine Sprach-Gemeinden wie die unsrige berücksichtigt sein sollten. Wie stehst Du dazu?
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CF: Ich sehe das genau so. Aber wie gesagt: Die Programme von SBS Radio sind nicht nach Nationen gegliedert, sondern nach Sprachen. Das Arabische Programm z.B. sendet für eine Hörerschaft, die von Marokko über Ägypten bis Syrien reicht. Das Spanische Programm hören Katalanen, Gallizier, Basken und Kastilianer genau so wie Argentinier und Chilenen. Für die Schweizer in Australien bedeutet dies: Sie sind fester Bestandteil des Deutschen Programms - und im Falle der Tessiner und Romands, des Italienischen und Französischen Programms. Das kann und will niemand ändern. Dass wir am Sonntag abend eine Viertelstunde lang - und danach im Internet als Download - auf Schwiizerdütsch senden, ist so gesehen ein Sonderfall. Und der bleibt gewahrt... RI: Ist es möglich, dass in absehbarer Zeit die Verkürzung rückgängig gemacht werden könnte? CF: Kurzfristig: Nein. Mittel- bis langfristig: Wer weiss. Wie die ‘Edelweiss’-Leser bestimmt wissen, plant SBS Radio derzeit die nächste Programmreform. Sie wird ca. 2013/14 umgesetzt. Im Moment ist völlig offen, welche Sprachgruppen Sendeplätze verlieren, beziehungsweise gewinnen. Wir müssen zuerst die Resultate der Volkszählung vom Winter 2011 abwarten. Aber es schaut nicht schlecht aus für die Deutschen, Österreicher und Schweizer. Sprich: Es kamen im letzten Jahrzehnt wieder mehr Einwanderer aus diesen Ländern nach Australien als in den zwei Jahrzehnten zuvor. Auch die Zahl derer, die angaben, sie würden zuhause Deutsch sprechen, stieg erstmals seit 20 Jahren! Das ist eine erfreuliche Entwicklung, sie garantiert uns eine hoffentlich spannende Zukunft. RI: Du hast jetzt die Moderation des Programms von Adrian Plitzco übernommen. Was sind Deine Pläne für ‘Echo Helvetia’? CF: Die Zeiten haben sich geändert, Roland... Wie Ursula Schäppi in ihrem Abschieds-Interview mit der deutschaustralischen Zeitung ‘Die Woche’ sagte: Vor 20 Jahren hatte SBS Radio ein absolutes Monopol, was die Weitergabe von Nachrichten und Berichten aus der alten Heimat betraf. Wenn ein Bundesrat am 1. September zurücktrat, und wir 3 Wochen später - nachdem Schweiz Radio International uns eine Kassette (!) auf dem Postweg übermittelte - im ‘Echo Helvetia’ darüber berichteten, war das eine echte Dienstleistung. Heute würde kein Mensch mehr zuhören. Ich möchte im ‘Echo Helvetia’ daher vermehrt Geschichten, Ereignisse und Persönlichkeiten in Australien aufspüren, und weniger Dinge, die Du und ich im Internet jederzeit selber abrufen können. RI: Und hast Du zum Schluss vielleicht noch einen speziellen Wunsch an Deine Hörerschaft? CF: Ja, ich habe sogar drei Wünsche: Erstens, dass uns die ‘alten’ Hörer eine Chance geben und am Sonntag abend um 20.45 Uhr (trotz der verkürzten Sendezeit!) mit gespitzten Ohren das Radio einschalten, wenn das ‘Echo Helvetia’ sie in ihrer Muttersprache anspricht, mit Themen und Geschichten, die uns anregen, informieren und unterhalten sollen. Zweitens, dass es uns gelingt, neue Hörer zu gewinnen, für ein innovatives, frisches ‘Echo Helvetia’ und für unser Programm insgesamt, die neun Sendestunden Montag bis Samstag von 09-10 Uhr und dreimal am abend, Dienstag, Donnerstag und Sonntag von 20-21 Uhr. Und drittens, dass uns die Hörer sagen, was gefällt, und was wir besser machen können. Am besten per email: german.program@sbs.com.au RI: Vielen Dank, Christian.
Swiss Club of Victoria
World Heritage city celebrates its patron saint Legend has it that the monk Gallus built a hermitage 1,400 years ago in a spot that would later became the World Heritage city of St.Gallen. The city’s anniversary is now being marked, but questions still linger over Gallus’ origins. Documents put Gallus as coming from Bangor in Northern Ireland, but not everyone agrees. Recently, historian Max Schär published a book arguing that Gallus came from Alsace because he could understand and preach in German. But according to Ernst Tremp, head librarian of the St.Gallen Abbey Library, which is running an exhibition devoted to St.Gallus, he was a monk in the early seventh century and a pupil of St.Columbanus of Ireland. “He separated himself from St.Columbanus’ monks and settled in the Steinach valley, where there was of course no city and no abbey,” he told swissinfo.ch. “He first of all built a chapel and lived there for several decades, preaching and doing good works. He died around 640 and is buried here. Later an abbey was erected around his grave, which existed until 1800.” Tremp says there are good arguments for both theses. “It’s best to leave it open as it’s not crucial. What is more crucial is that Gallus was really a pupil of St.Columbanus, that he saw himself as an Irish pupil monk, lived according to St.Columbanus’ strict rules, so he understood himself in the tradition of the Irish monks,” said Tremp, also a professor of history at Friburg University. According to these early accounts, Gallus moved, as one of his mentor’s 12 companions, from Bangor via Luxeuil and Metz, up the Rhine to Lake Constance. In 612 Gallus separated from the group and followed the River Steinach south. He stumbled among the wild vegetation of the Mülenenschlucht gorge and interpreting this as a sign from God, decided to stay there. Another story, exquisitely depicted in a ninth century ivory tablet on show in the exhibition, the oldest illustration of the legend, tells of Gallus instructing a bear to get wood for the fire and the bear being rewarded with some bread. The bear is depicted in the city of St.Gallen’s coat of arms. Pilgrimage After Gallus’ death, his grave - elevated by a bishop to a sarcophagus - became a place of pilgrimage and Gallus was accepted as a saint, there being no official canonical procedure at the time. “We don’t know where the grave is anymore and the sarcophagus doesn’t exist anymore. But in what is now the abbey church there is a crypt containing a modern reliquary casket in which the remains of Gallus’ skull can be seen,” Tremp explained. A monastery was founded around 100 years after Gallus’ death and grew to become an important school of learning. The city subsequently grew, gaining an economic boost from its embroidery industry. Since 1983 the abbey and church precinct has been a Unesco World Heritage site. w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au
Pilgrimages may have tailed off since the 1960s, but the saint has certainly left his imprint, giving his name to the city, surrounding canton and the bishopric. People celebrate Gallus day on 16 October. On the map Thomas Scheitlin, the city’s mayor, describes 2012 as a very important year for St.Gallen. The official celebrations started in April and continue until October. They include several exhibitions as well as installations by international artists in the Mülenenschlucht gorge. He hopes that the jubilee will put the eastern Swiss city known chiefly for its university and for being a Unesco site more firmly on the international map. “My hopes are that the story of St.Gallus becomes better known and that people who come to St.Gallen will see what the city represents, starting with the Unesco world cultural heritage, the cathedral and all the artistic installations.” “Gallus is present everywhere in the city,” he told swissinfo.ch. Isobel Leybold-Johnson - swissinfo.ch Books, scriptures and architecture St.Gallen Abbey houses the oldest library in Switzerland. It is considered one of the most beautiful cloister libraries in the world and, along with whole abbey area, became a World Heritage site in 1983. The abbey itself was founded in 612, and the first records of a library date back to 820. In the following centuries, the abbey became a cultural centre famous for its writings and the illumination of manuscripts. The Baroque hall was built between 1758 and 1767. Today, the library contains 2,100 manuscripts, 1,650 incunabula (documents printed before 1501) and 170,000 books.
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Second Floor Club Social: Movie Afternoon Thursday, 18 October, 1.30pm Swiss Club, 2nd floor A selection of DVD’s will be ready to choose from by ‘democratic’ vote. For bookings please ring Rita Schwärzler-Abbt on 9561 7811 or email ritaherbert@bigpond.com or Barbara Kündig on 9005 4938 or email barbara@swissclubvic.com.au Cost: complementary, gold coin donation appreciated. Afternoon tea or coffee can be bought for a minimal amount. If you like to have a hearty lunch before, ring Roger at the Swiss Club on 9650 1196. Please bring a friend(s) for a fun film afternoon and a chat and discussion after.
SWISS CLUB MOVIE ‘Der Sandman’ Wednesday, 5 September 2012, 8pm Swiss Club, 2nd floor CH/2011, Comedy, 88 min Swiss German/English subtitles Director: Peter Luisi. With Fabian Kruger, Irene Brugger (Frölein Da Capo), Beat Schlatter ‘Der Sandmann’ (the sandman) follows a young excomposer named Benno. Benno has a decent job at a postage stamp store, his own apartment and a beautiful girlfriend – what’s not to like, right? Well Benno constantly seems uptight and shows slight disdain for coworkers and friends. But most of all, he absolutely hates Sandra, a young woman who owns a coffee shop on the first floor of his apartment complex. She keeps Benno awake at night as she practices on her ‘one-woman’ orchestra machine. The two of them trade many insults and don’t hesitate to let the other know their hostile feelings. However, when Benno unexplainable begins leaking sand, Sandra becomes his only solace, and the only person who can help him. 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.
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Valtellina: lost piece of the Swiss puzzle This year marks the 500th anniversary of the conquest of an alpine valley that – if it hadn’t been for Napoleon – would have made the Switzerland of today a bigger and ‘more beautiful’ country. In June 1512, the forces of Graubünden, now a Swiss canton but then an independent republic, marched into the Valtellina, its southern neighbour. For nearly three centuries thereafter, Graubünden ruled the Valtellina as a subject territory. Yet the locals were never really happy being ruled by selfinterested and often corrupt officials from Chur. In 1797, when Napoleon conquered Switzerland and the northern regions of modern Italy, he gave the Valtellinesi the option to join the new ‘Cisalpine’ (Italian) Republic. They went with their Italian neighbours. The Valtellina has basically been Italian ever since. The 500th anniversary of the conquest was marked recently by a conference of historians in Tirano, now on the Italian side of the border, and Poschiavo, on the Swiss side. Valtellina’s Guglielmo Scaramellini, a professor at Milan University was pleased by recent discoveries of documents in Italian and Swiss archives which “will be useful for shedding light on the events of 1512 and the years that followed.” “We want to shed more light on the initial phase of the Graubünden regime,” agreed Florian Hitz, a Swiss historian. “That time has been completely overshadowed by the period of crisis and warfare that followed in the 17th century. Looking back, people have portrayed the relationship between the Graubünden overlords and their Valtellina subjects far too pessimistically, at least as regards the early decades.” He sees the historians as having to change people’s awareness. “The rule of Graubünden in the Valtellina is still weighed down with prejudices in the public mind. It was not as bad as it is made out to be.” Yet the people of the Valtellina ended the connection with Graubünden as soon as they got the chance. Would it have been a good thing for us - or for them - if they had stayed? “Probably a Swiss Valtellina would not have stayed with Graubünden for long, but would have formed a canton of its own”, thinks Hitz. “That would not have done any harm to Graubünden, and been only a plus for Switzerland. The country would just have been bigger and more beautiful.” Scaramellini archly suggests another scenario: if the Three Leagues (as the Graubünden federal state was called) had persuaded the Valtellina to stay with them as an equal ‘fourth league’, Graubünden would probably not have joined the Swiss Confederation, “so that still today there would be a Republic of the Four Leagues, independent and sovereign. Another miniature Switzerland - but competing with the original!” Irredentism on both sides The language balance in a greater Graubünden and/or Switzerland would have been different, though. “Graubünden with Valtellina as a part of it would have become a canton dominated by Italian,” thinks Hitz. “One cannot be sure if a
Swiss Club of Victoria
Switzerland weighted to the southeast, with Valtellina, would have been able to withstand Italian irredentism [to return the lands].” Irredentism has been a factor on both sides of the border. When Valtellina’s leaders voted to leave Graubünden under Napoleon, Graubünden’s people were the losers. They had some of their best vineyards in the Valtellina. Many who owned property there had it confiscated. Graubünden has never had a serious chance of getting the lost valley back, although there is a lingering tendency to regard the Valtellina as Switzerland ‘irredenta’. People in Graubünden have long talked of reconquering the Valtellina ‘drop by drop’ (meaning wine, not blood) or ‘bottle by bottle.’ And at times Italians have dreamed of annexing Italian parts of Switzerland. Secession or Anschluss Fast forward to 2012. A chance remark by Swiss defence minister Ueli Maurer that Switzerland could absorb Lombardy has got people in the Italian region interested in joining Switzerland - or annexing it. A petition has been in circulation advocating that Lombardy and Switzerland become a new country. Politicians of the Lega del Nord, which (at times) espouses secession from Italy, soon picked up the idea of a Swiss merger. “We could declare war on them” mused party leader Umberto Bossi before a crowd of supporters, “and then promptly surrender.” Some Valtellina people too, given the troubles of the Italian economy, wish they were back with Switzerland. “The Graubünden irredenta is really just a harmless joke,” says Hitz. “The idea of the Valtellina people leaving Italy is not so harmless, considering that it is a rather bitter joke directed at Rome. But the people of Valtellina who – half-jokingly – dream of joining Switzerland are really not thinking of rejoining Graubünden but of something along the lines of a canton of their own, like Ticino. Ticino was originally conquered territory too, so that would fit.” “I don’t think there is any real irredentism left now,” Scaramellini says, “but just the thought about how things might have been ‘if only….’ Maybe there are a few regrets, on both sides, but I think that there is a kind of realism which prevents anyone from thinking seriously about rearranging the borders.” It is perhaps noteworthy that there has been no official pomp and circumstance to mark 500 years of conquest. Given the remarkably low profile maintained by governments in this celebration, is the whole thing still too touchy a subject? Hitz points out that local politicians at least made a point of turning out for the conference. Massimo Sertori, the Lega Nord president of the province of Sondrio, opened the day in Tirano, and Martin Jäger, the education minister of Graubünden, was there to welcome the delegates in Poschiavo. Scaramellini is happy that there was at least “minimal recognition” of the occasion. “The higher authorities were missing altogether,” he concedes, “but that is only to be expected, given the present time of economic and institutional crisis - especially in Italy. Terence MacNamee - swissinfo.ch
The Swiss are the world champions when it comes to taking the train – last year they travelled on average 2,422km per person by rail. This is 300km more than in 2007. Only the Japanese come close to the Swiss total at 2,010km, with France in third place at 1,377km. Trains are least used in Lithuania at only 112km per person (2008 average). Even though the federal railway network has the highest density of traffic in Europe, 19 out of 20 passenger trains arrive at their destinations within four minutes of the scheduled time.
Fahrt ins Blaue Mystery Trip Wednesday, 14 November The Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess / Australian Swiss Cultural Society would like to invite the retired Swiss/Australian Community (over sixty) to our mysterious and exciting ‘Fahrt ins Blaue - Mystery Trip’. Cost is $28.00 per person, which includes a three course lunch. If you are interested, please complete the coupon below and mail it with your cheque to: Sylvia Hochuli, 92 Addison Street, Elwood Vic 3184, or call 9531 6575. See you there!
Yes, I would like to attend the ‘Fahrt ins Blaue - Mystery Trip Name(s):
Address:
Telephone: No. of persons @ $28.00: Cheque enclosed for total $: Please make your cheque payable to the Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess (ASCS)
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Beryl Black-Vesely – ice-skating and a whole lot more Beryl, you’re not of Swiss decent but your Swiss connection could not be a more interesting one. And so is just about everything that you do. You are an accomplished artist, book publisher, historian, sports person, expert on roses and much more. Starting with your childhood, did you grow up in Melbourne? Yes I did, as one of five children. My family background is English. My father arrived with his parents in 1913 and my mother’s family settled in Adelaide in 1878. I have always lived in Melbourne. I attended school in Melbourne, then later a girls school, followed by a University arts degree, which I didn’t complete. In my late teens I made my first Swiss connection: I had a Swiss girlfriend neighbour with whom I am still in touch. After University I worked in various office positions but my passions were art, history and sport. What sort of sport? I was sailing, played tennis and loved cars. I was introduced to ice-skating by my older sister who took me to ice-skating shows. That is also how I met my future husband. How did that happen? It was on the ice-skating rink where I noticed someone skating very well. Later I was introduced to a musician playing in the jazz band at a party I was attending. His name was Ivo Vesely and it turned out to be the same person I noticed skating the previous week. Cutting a long story short, eventually we got married. Our son Greig was born in 1960 on the opening day of the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, USA where Ivo was representing Australia in ice hockey. Well, that of course explains why you noticed his iceskating skills. Oh yes. He was a very accomplished ice hockey player and skater. Was he doing this professionally? No, Ivo was working as a design engineer at GMH. It was a busy time for him as he was also working at night starting a business together with two partners. At the same time, our family was growing. 18 months after our first son was born, I gave birth to our twin sons, David and John. A busy time for me too, looking after three young boys and the house and garden. Around that time I made my second Swiss connection, Heidi. She was from Zurich and like me she was also married to a Czech husband. So you have a Swiss and Czech connection? Yes, and there is a link between the two. After the children arrived I was thinking how nice it would be if I could meet my in-laws in Prague, or his brother or other relatives. But that seemed impossible. Ivo escaped communist Czechoslovakia in 1947 and arrived in Australia in 1951. The parents thought Australia was too far away and they wouldn’t have got a permit to travel together, only one at a time to ensure the other It’s your Club. Get Involved!
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returns. So after three years of letter-writing to and fro to Europe, with the help of a Czech friend who was an ice hockey coach, Ivo got a position as ice hockey coach for EHC Chur and work as an engineer during the day. The money was enough to support a family of five, so we accepted the offer. We packedup our belongings, leased out the house and the boys, three under six and a half, and I set off on a ship for Genoa. Ivo flew ahead to meet everyone concerned as well as arranging accommodation for us. What a bold move. It must have been an exciting time. Arriving in Chur in 1966 was so wonderful, to me it was like coming home. I especially loved the mountains nearby. After some weeks of buying furniture and organising, we settled down comfortably. I was asked to teach children ice-skating for two seasons by the teacher Monica Torriani who I met playing tennis. Monica was the daughter of well-known Swiss ice hockey player Bibi Torriani. Monica and I came second in the 1968 Tennis Club Chur Championships. How did you cope with the language? It took quite a while before the boys started to learn the language and eventually were able to attend the appropriate kinder classes. For me, learning the language at the beginning was watching TV and listening and reading German Grammar books, communication certainly was not easy but we all managed with the help of many people. Eventually I was able to understand and speak quite well. Did you enjoy life in Switzerland? It was a wonderful time for all the family. Our first Christmas in Switzerland was up in Davos with the Czech ice hockey trainer Jan Sobotkiewiz and his charming wife Michelle. She wanted to meet us because we were from Melbourne, the place where her father was born of Swiss parents. Many years later, that meeting led to a very interesting discovery back in Australia, I’ll come back to that later. During our stay in Chur I attended the Migros Klub Schule every week with Herr Otto Braschler who was a very good, sound teacher of the classic art. Since then I have continued to develop my artistic side with various teachers in Australia. I specialise in botanical art, which has been exhibited and published. Being closer to Prague, did your wish come true to meet your husband’s family? Yes it did. My husband’s mother came out to visit for three weeks in 1967. It was very exciting for her too as she hadn’t seen her son for 20 years. In 1968 we were in Austria meeting up with Ivo’s brother Ruda, his wife and two teenage children, for the first time in 20 years. And then the Prague Spring Uprising took place and it became too difficult for them to return. So we actually brought them back with us to Switzerland where they applied and gained political asylum. They are still there. Why and when did you return to Australia? After only two months in Chur, our eldest son fell into a bush of stinging nettles, which caused only a minor problem at Swiss Club of Victoria
Beryl is holding the book ‘Florilegium’, a collection of botanical art, of plants growing at Government House. Beryl is one of the contributing artists, from the Botanical Art School of Melbourne.
the beginning but unfortunately turned into a major one. Inflammation developed behind his eyes. For two and a half years we went back and forth, visiting doctors, hospitals in Zurich, injections in his eyes, always trying to find a cure. He was such a brave young boy. After picking him up from a Pro Juventute hospital in Davos, doctors told us that the only thing that would help him is to live somewhere where there is more moisture in the air; otherwise he would be blind in ten years time. What a shock! We needed to think a lot and make decisions. We had to leave Switzerland to help him and we did so eight months later, in 1969. Once again we had to pack-up everything we had, this time returning back to Melbourne. Sadly we left Chur, driving to Basel then Paris, then over to Dover and Southampton where we boarded a ship for our return to Melbourne via the Panama Canal – nearly five weeks sailing. How was life back in Melbourne? After living for three years in Switzerland, it was hard for the boys to fit in at school. The other children called them foreigners, they were not happy for a long time as they still conversed in Swiss. Eventually we settled. I became a member of the Swiss Club, mainly to keep my language skills, it’s so easily forgotten, to meet different people and to keep my Swiss memories alive. I joined the Folk Dance Group Alpenrose for a while. I love dancing anytime, on the floor as well as on ice. I want to come back to what I was saying earlier about Christmas in Davos with Michelle and her husband. I knew that her grandfather who settled in Melbourne was called Grasset. It was in 2008, on one of my visits to the Swiss Club, when I noticed hanging on the wall a membership certificate from the year 1900 – signed by the president M.L.W. Grasset! Could this have been Michelle’s grandfather? Too much of a coincidence, I thought. After checking with Michelle, I discovered that the full name of her grandfather was Marc Louis William Grasset – and he was indeed the first president of the Swiss Club of Victoria! Michelle had given me a sewing box and also a woven image of William Tell, which belonged to her family, I eventually gave it framed to the Swiss Club and it hangs on the wall now. Such a history! w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au
I also got involved again with skating and eventually became an announcer for the Victorian and Australian championships for seventeen years. Two of my best friends are artists, another one is a musician, one is an editor, or they are from tennis or ice-skating. I am very much involved in the things I love. Did moving back in Melbourne help your son? Yes it did. Greig is wearing glasses now but thankfully his eyesight has not deteriorated from when we left Chur. Do you still have connections to Switzerland? I certainly do. Having still so many friends from the time we lived in Chur, I needed to return to see the mountains again. We have had two lots of visits from friends from Chur and I have returned there in 1976, 2003, 2005 and I am looking forward to another trip this year. All of the family have returned over the years to visit Chur, and friends and the Vesely family who live near Zurich. If you could invite five people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be? My friends, past and present, Marie Claire, Goethe, Dorothy, Mozart and P. Cav. Catered for, of course. Of course! Thank you Beryl and we wish you a great trip to Switzerland!
SWISS CLUB MOVIE ‘Handyman’ How to find your dream woman in five days Wednesday, 21 November 2012, 8pm Swiss Club, 2nd floor CH/2006, Comedy, 88 min Swiss German/English subtitles Director: Jürg Ebe with Marco Rima, Martin Copeland, Stefanie Berger, DJ Bobo, Tanja Dankner Mike Duerst gets dumped by his girlfriend, because she is pregnant by her former boyfriend. In his despair Mike gets in contact with Gregor Frank, a psychologist, who, in his radio show, claims to know all about women. Gregor promises Mike to find the perfect woman, if he agrees to be the subject for his upcoming psychological advisory book. Mike accepts. So Gregor explains Mike the typical patterns of women’s behavior. Mike falls in love with the attractive pilot Christina Berger, without realising that she is Gregor’s girlfriend. Unknowingly Gregor coaches Mike how to convince his new lover to leave her boyfriend. 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.
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Rousseau finally becomes Swiss 2nd Jass Night Results: Swiss Club, 2 June Singles
1. Fritz Hochuli .............................................3020 2. Ernie Huegli .............................................2824 3. Peter Raschle ...........................................2807
Doubles
1. Sylvia & Fritz Hochuli ...............................5306 2. Ida McDonald & Benny Hurlimann...........5305 3. Brigitte & Dolf Bohren..............................4999
3rd Jass Night Results: Swiss Club, 7 July Singles
1. Ernie Huegli .............................................3054 2. Fred Portman ...........................................2898 3. Jurg Bartholdi ..........................................2790
Doubles 1. Doris Conrad & Hans Keller ......................5311 2. Brigitte & Dolf Bohren..............................5105 3. Alex & Simone Bahler ..............................4846
1st Jass Night Results: Matterhorn, 25 Feb Singles
1. Margrit Schacher......................................2950 2. Sepp Goldiger ..........................................2830 3. Erika Wager..............................................2806
Doubles
1. Margrit & Sepp Schacher .........................5427 2. Iris Anothize & Raymon Mischler .............5279 3. Ida Mcdonald & Beny Hurlimann .............5275
2nd Jass Night Results: Matterhorn, 5 May Singles
1. Sylvia Hochuli ..........................................2831 2. Markus Villiger .........................................2821 3. Sepp Goldiger ..........................................2798
Doubles 1. Brigitte & Sepp Goldiger ..........................5442 2. Sylvia & Fritz Hochuli ...............................5438 3. Doris Conrad & Hans Keller ......................5275
Upcoming Jass Night - 2012 4th & Final Swiss Club
15 September
Information supplied by Paul Eisenegger & Marco Unternährer
Smile! Do you know what FOEN is? No, it’s not a misspelled name of the warm wind that gives Swiss people headaches and makes them moody – it’s the official abbreviation for the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment.
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28 June marked the high point of the commemorations of the 300th birthday of the Geneva writer and philosopher, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It was also a belated official recognition of the role he played in developing Switzerland’s image abroad. “Who else could have been celebrated by so many different events? It shows people are still interested,” Yvette Jaggi, former president of the Swiss Arts Council told swissinfo.ch. “The individual and his writings still speak to us today.” The official recognition of Rousseau came as a welcome surprise to some, such as Guillaume Chenevière, former head of Switzerland’s French-language public television. “It’s the first time that Switzerland has officially claimed Rousseau as part of its heritage,” he said. “Our embassies have even organised Rousseau events around the world.” Even the French, who often like to claim the Geneva philosopher as their own, are pleased the Swiss have decided to celebrate Rousseau. “It’s a Swiss product,” points out Tanguy L’Aminot, a researcher at France’s National Center for Scientific Research. “In 2007, Geneva said it wanted to coordinate all the celebrations, a proposal that suited everyone, including France.” The Swiss foreign ministry has also published a brochure about Rousseau and Switzerland. “Pestered during his lifetime by the same Swiss and French who claim his heritage today, Rousseau has shown, 300 years after his birth, that he was a precursor of modern Switzerland, recognised for its creativity and innovative spirit,” Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter wrote in the preface. Swiss image This official recognition may seem to arrive somewhat late given Rousseau’s role in spreading Switzerland’s image across Europe in the 18th century, particularly with his bestselling novel Julie, or the New Héloïse, published in 1761. In the 23rd letter of this epistolary novel, Rousseau describes the idyllic lifestyle of canton Valais’ mountain folk. “He writes that money is scarce in Valais, but life is good because food is plentiful and working in the fields is a pleasure,” says historian and journalist Gerard Delaloye, who adds that the reality was far from a bed of roses. “At that time, peasant families were sending their sons to be killed all over Europe’s battlefields to put some money in their pockets,” he points out. Rousseau’s vision of Switzerland was laid out in a letter to one of his patrons, Charles de Montmorency. “Switzerland is like a big town with 13 neighbourhoods, some in valleys, others on hillsides, others on mountains. [...] You can hardly call it deserted when there are bell towers in forests, flocks on outcrops, factories in abysses and workshops sitting beside a torrent.” His description of the 13-canton confederation, which lasted Swiss Club of Victoria
until 1789, reflected and reinforced a growing passion for Switzerland among Europeans. From the second half of the 18th century, Switzerland became a frequent destination for travellers. “From 1740 to around 1840, it was a craze,” writes historian Claude Reichler in his book, Travel in Switzerland. “Writers, painters, musicians, nobility with newfound wealth, rich burghers, they all came to Switzerland.” This attraction for the alpine summits helped create a tourism industry and allowed it to develop all through the 19th century. Even as the country became more industrialised, it disguised itself as ‘eternal Switzerland’, reinventing its folklore to serve up a traditional and idyllic image to tourists. Part of this, says
Delaloye, involved technical feats to build hotels and railways in the mountains. Yet Switzerland took little from Rousseau. “It even ignored him for a long time,” Chenevière points out. “It’s Rousseau who took a lot from Switzerland and considered it a model for others.” “Jean-Jacques had this vision of Switzerland as the place in the world where nature and human activities had the best relationship. What speaks more to us at a time when inequalities are growing again, when the mighty are cornering land and natural resources than Rousseau’s sentence: ‘You forget that the fruits belong to all and that the land belongs to no one.’” Frédéric Burnand, swissinfo.ch
Learn how to play
This course is designed for anyone who enjoys playing card games. The aim of the course is to get participants interested in playing Jass. You will learn about its history, the Swiss cards, basic Schieber rules (one of many Jass variations) and actually play the game with other participants. An interactive course for beginners over two Saturday afternoons. When: 13 October & 10 November, from 2-6pm Where: The Second Floor, Swiss Club of Victoria Cost: $30 pp for club-members $40 pp for non-member guests Fee includes all course materials, instructions and refreshments Bookings: Please fill in the form below and email to info@ swissclubvic.com.au or mail to SCV, 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000. EFT fees to SCV BSB 013375 Account 3536 82406 or pay cash at club, no later than 30th September, 2012 (there will be no refunds after 1 October). For more information call 1300 893 968. Places are limited.
Always wanted to know how to play the game the Swiss are so passionate about?
Swiss Club Jass Course: 13 October & 10 November, 2-6pm. The Swiss Club of Victoria Name:
Membership No.
Name:
Membership No.
Name:
Membership No.
Address:
Telephone:
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No. of persons @ $30.00:
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Total payment $:
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The Swiss Banks and the Swiss Abroad I am writing to you on a topic that has been brought to my attention and is of concern to numerous Swiss abroad. It’s about the change in service and products provided by Swiss banks to account holders living overseas. When I moved here, I (and I am sure most of you) kept my account with the bank that I conducted business with for the last two decades when living back home in Switzerland. A natural thing to do and in the past never an issue, as it was convenient to conduct business, manage your Swiss property and mortgage, transfer money between family members, receive Swiss pension payments etc. It was easy, efficient and economical, especially since some of the local banks had difficulties accommodating international payments and if they did, applied healthy fees. Over the last few years a number of Swiss and other international banks have been caught in cross country tax, regulatory and legal challenges and as a consequence, many of them reduced their international services to a minimum whilst reviewing the regulatory framework, business model and strategy under which they operated at home and in the various countries. This was necessary to ensure that they are fully compliant with the laws and regulations of the respective jurisdiction in which they operated. Australia is no exception; due to these banks being under increased scrutiny from international regulators and authorities, our lives have become more difficult as the various Swiss banks that we used to do business with during all these years started to change their offering and imposed new terms and conditions on their Australian based customers. Subsequently, it is increasingly difficult for compliant customers (and rightfully for the non-compliant ones) to transact business through them. This applies to credit cards, FX transactions, pension payments all the way to share and fund investments, not to mention additional documentation requirements and fee increases that came along with these changed terms and conditions. In some cases, the banks even insisted on closing the account(s) that had been there for decades. Most Swiss banks have asked Australian based clients to provide them with an Accountants Certificate, confirming that they are a sophisticated investor. If you are in the position to do that, you will be able to access a wider range of products and a more personalised service. If not, your access will unfortunately be rather limited. Australian regulators differentiate between retail and wholesale/sophisticated investors. The Corporations Act 2001 defines a wholesale/sophisticated investor as someone who meets at least one of the following tests: • has net assets of more than A$2.5m and supplies an Accountants Certificate confirming this • has income of at least A$250k over the last two financial years and supplies an Accountants Certificate confirming this • is investing $500k or more into the opportunity/product If you don’t meet at least one of the above, you are deemed a retail investor. You most likely have been contacted by your bank and were asked to complete and sign documents regarding your investor status; or you might have simply noticed that some services that you had been accessing were cancelled without prior
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notification. In my case, I had some unpleasant surprises and when I called my contact at the bank I noticed that the person had been reassigned. When I inquired about what was going on I ended up having a number of phone calls, emails and letters back and forth before I had a full understanding of the situation and managed to sort things out. It is my understanding that the problem that we are confronted with has been raised through the delegates of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad - OSA who complained that their countrymen in the various countries have difficulties with their Swiss banks. The Swiss in the US are particularly affected. The meeting approved a resolution to ask the Federal Government to look into solutions as to how to service the Swiss abroad with adequate banking facilities in Switzerland (source OSA). Unfortunately there is no cookie cutter solution, each bank customer has to find their personal solution. The good thing is that there are a number of ways to tackle this issue and if you are looking for some guidance I would be delighted to assist you. In the future I will be publishing a quarterly article relating to a current topic on economics and the world of investing. There are some good ways to protect your hard earned money in uncertain times like these and I will be happy to share them with you. Should you have a particular interest or request for the December issue, please contact me and let me know. Starting on Tuesday, 21 August 2012, I will be part of a weekly German speaking series on SBS Radio in Melbourne, talking about the pros and cons of various asset classes and how to invest in them. Please tune into digital SBS Radio2 or in analogue on 93.1 FM between 9:00 - 10:00AM. http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/german/ Patrick Albert – Bus Ec FH, Prof Dip Securities & Derivatives
About the author: Patrick Albert, was born and educated in Zurich, Switzerland. Patrick initially worked in marketing and sales in manufacturing and logistics. From there he moved to finance where he worked as a regional manager for Switzerland’s largest leasing company. Since 1997 he worked for some of Switzerland’s largest banks; starting in institutional banking he soon moved to private banking where he spent the last twelve years in various management and advisory roles in Australia, The Bahamas, Cyprus, Geneva, London, Singapore and Zurich. Since 2009 he lives with his family in Melbourne. Dedicated to providing independent advice, Patrick joined E.L. & C. Baillieu as an Investment Advisor in June 2012. He speaks English, German and French. Contact: Patrick Albert Investment Advisor Mobile: +61 4 4999 9645 Direct: +61 3 9602 9318 Email: palbert@baillieu.com.au Website: www.baillieu.com.au E.L.&C. Baillieu Stockbroking Ltd L26, 360 Collins Street Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia ABN 74 006 519 393 AFS License No. 245421 Participant of ASX Group Participant of NSX
Swiss Club of Victoria
Expats veer left and vote for change Here’s scientific evidence: Many Swiss expatriates tend to vote left-green and tend to favour liberal ideas. Two separate reports confirm a political profile marked by openness towards the outside world and towards change. The study by political expert Michael Hermann from Zurich University endorses findings of a survey by scientists from Lausanne University. “The average Swiss expat is politically more open minded, willing to embrace reforms and therefore less conservative than the electorate at home,” concludes Hermann. This is hardly surprising for a segment of voters who have emigrated - albeit often temporarily, he admits. But the decisive factor is the social and educational background of the expats with an above average percentage of people with high professional skills and holding leading positions. “High-quality professional skills, hunger for success and a political open-mindedness of many expatriates define the profile of this group,” he says. However, Hermann adds there is a great diversity of party political preference and that the expat electorate are not typical lefties. He found that the Social Democrats were the most popular party for expat voters in the 2011 parliamentary elections with 21%, ahead of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party with 20%. This compares with just below 18.7% and 26.6% respectively of support among the domestic electorate. Also striking is the disparity in support for the Greens (more popular among the expats), and the centre-right Christian Democrats and Conservative Democrats (less popular) – two groups rooted in traditionally rural parts of the country. Similar results Hermann’s study on behalf of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) appears to back results of a survey by political scientists Georg Lutz and Pascal Sciarini, presented at the beginning of the month. While the two scientists from the Lausanne-based Foundation for Research in Social Sciences relied on 1,629 respondents from an online survey among Swiss expats, Hermann chose a different method for his systematic investigation. He had access to the records of nine (out of 26) cantons about the voting patterns of last year’s parliamentary elections. In addition he included the results of all the nationwide votes from 2004 registered separately in cantons, including Geneva, Basel City but also Lucerne and Appenzell Inner Rhodes. The Swiss Club Restaurant. It’s where you meet your friends.
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The samples in Hermann’s study represent about 50% of the total expat electorate and were then extrapolated to complete the picture. Both Hermann and Lutz agree on a cosmopolitan profile of the Swiss Abroad with certain left-leaning political preferences and both qualify their appraisal. Lutz argues that it is striking to see that the People’s Party is neck-and-neck with the Social Democrats. Hermann for his part stresses that expat voters appear to favour economic liberalism and deregulation – anything but typical leftwing positions. Long way The Swiss Abroad won the right to vote via post 20 years ago as OSA director Rudolf Wyder points out. “It took some time and the first attempts date back to the early 1920s. But suddenly there was a way out for what had seemed to be insoluble,” Wyder says. He adds that Switzerland came under pressure to grant its citizens abroad suffrage as notably France and Russia were pushing the issue for their citizens. Nowadays Switzerland is among many other countries in Europe to offer direct democratic rights to its expat community. Turnout among expatriates is up to seven times higher than officials expected in the late 1980s. Wyder argues the voting rights for Swiss living overseas have been a success story as expats “are a benefit for Switzerland because they represent the country abroad and believe in its values.” However, he says OSA is not insisting on “dragging expats to the polls. But those who are keen must be given the chance to have their say.” For this purpose the organisation has been promoting the introduction of electronic voting, not least for expats who receive their ballot papers too late. A petition, launched at the beginning of this year, calls for the swift introduction of e-voting on a broad basis by the next parliamentary elections in 2015. Doubts remain whether it is realistic demand. “Sometimes you have to call for more than you can get,” said OSA president, Jacques-Simon Eggly at a recent news conference.
Das wöchentliche Radioprogram über alles Schweizerische in Australien, der Schweiz und der Welt. Eine Viertelstunde Aktuelles, Musik, Reportagen und Interviews auf Schweizerdeutsch mit Christian Froelicher. Jeden Sonntag von 20:45 bis 21Uhr auf 93.1fm SBS HOTLINE: (03) 9949 2191 http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/yourlanguage/german
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Test your Swiss Knowledge 5
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Unterhaltungsabend Saturday, 12 May
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Across 2. Swiss currency (German). 4. Swiss soccer player that was send home in disgrace from the London Olympics. 5. In which city is the Tell memorial? 8. Which Italian cheese was inspired by the Swiss cheese Sprinz? 9. Europe’s largest clock face is in…? 10. Which southern Swiss city is host to a film festival? 11. Swiss supermarket chain. 13. Swiss travel agency. 14. Surname of the new Swiss Ambassador to Australia. 16. Skiresort in Graubünden.
This year’s Unterhaltungsabend was once again a fantastic night at the Club. ‘Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand’ under the leadership of John Wanner entertained the happy guests with popular tunes and sing-alongs. We were privileged to have life music for our performance. I like to thank John for his efforts arranging the music for the dances. Many thanks to the Band for sharing their enthusiasm and energy. The special performance by Chris and Tom with the Örgeli and Saw found great applause. Thank-you to Roger and the whole team and everyone who so generously donated prizes towards our Tombola. We had lots of winners and happy faces. A big thank-you to the committee of the Swiss Club and Roger for their continues support. The group would like to keep performing a few more years. We have one problem: We need more members. Why not join the group and join the fun? For information contact Sylvia on 9531 6575 or Nancy on 9890 7530. Sylvia Hochuli
Down 1. Surname of the new presenter of ‘Echo Helvetia’. 3. In which city on Lake Thun is the Chästeilet held at the end of each summer? 5. In which canton would you hear a Ruggusseli or a Zäuerli? 6. Triathlete that won Olympic gold for Switzerland in London. 7. Swiss watch brand 12. Swiss TV personality that recently died. 15. Name of the patron saint of the city that celebrates its 1400 anniversary this year. For answers go to page 21
Follow the Swiss Club on Social Media! You can find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ Swissclubvic, on Twitter @SwissClubVic or on YouTube http:// www.youtube.com/SwissClubVictoria
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Swiss Club of Victoria
Emotional book launch at the Swiss Club There was hardly a dry eye in the house as Swiss Club Committee Member Sigrid de Castella spoke at the emotional launch of her new book ‘Half The Woman I Was ~ How I lost 70kg naturally, reclaimed my life… and how you can too!’ held at The Second Floor at the Swiss Club of Victoria on 27 June 2012. Sigrid was introduced by her good friend international artist Aubrey Rhodes who applauded Sigrid for her courage, dedication and inspiration. Aubrey explained “Sigrid’s new book is about a real person. She shares with you an intimate account of her amazing success and her overwhelming struggle with weight and body image. This book is a personal insight into the determination and dedication of a real-life woman who overcame the incredible challenges and the overwhelming doubts one confronts when taking on a goal so intimidating, so daunting, as losing over 70kg (half her body weight) without surgery or dieting. I can honestly say it is one of the most inspirational stories I have ever read”. Aubrey continued “When you read the book you soon realise that Sigrid is a regular person like you and me. She isn’t superhuman, but she does show us what amazing feats regular people are capable of. She makes the impossible, not just possible, but attainable and gives us one more reason to believe in ourselves, to dream big, and to take control of our lives, our minds, and our bodies.” Around 75% of Australia’s population is now overweight or obese and despite more than 2,307 weight loss companies in Australia offering their solutions Australians just aren’t getting any thinner. Many are now asking why? Sigrid will be the first to acknowledge that it can often be hard to cut through the clutter and find real solutions that will actually work long-term. She explains “virtually all weight loss companies only focus on diet and exercise which is simply insufficient. Diets simply don’t work – if they did they wouldn’t need to keep reinventing themselves. These Band-Aid approaches may give you some short-lived success for a few weeks, but sure enough, that weight will keep coming back, and often with a little more each time.”
However, Sigrid believes the real weight loss solution can be simplified through a process of education and realization about the combined mind, body and spirit, and she has the proof to back it up. “It’s the mental battle that is the third and most crucial spoke in the weight loss wheel.” She continues “The word “diet” has a quick fix connotation that is not only unachievable and unsustainable long term, but actually does more harm than good to your body. We all know that realistic eating and exercise plans are part of the solution. But the truth is achieving your ideal size is virtually impossible long-term without implementing a lifestyle program that includes comprehensive mental reconditioning. Only then can you achieve lifelong health and vitality.” Sigrid’s groundbreaking new book provides a real solution based on the secrets she’s unlocked during her own journey. Her book has been described by many as the most holistic weight loss book on the market to date. In fact Sigrid says her book will not only change your body, it will change your whole life. And to support you in your own personal journey she’s included over $3,000 of bonuses, tips and tools via her website for those who buy her book and join her free VIP program. The book launch was attended by over 60 people including Sigrid’s publisher Global Publishing Group and her Australasian book distributor Dennis Jones and Associates. Many business colleges, family and friends also attended the celebrations which were sponsored by Scent of a Flower, Market Juice, Organic Matters, Water First and Yalumba Wines. Sigrid’s book ‘Half The Woman I Was’ is priced at $29.95 and available in all good bookstores throughout Australia and New Zealand, as well as from her website www.HalfTheWomanIWas.com
Planning your private or business function? The Second Floor is the perfect venue! Contact 1300 893 968 for information & bookings.
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Hans Brunner – still making headlines
Hans Brunner, the man with the golden voice, is also a leading authority in the identification of animal hair. His expertise is still sought after, including the high-profile Chamberlain case, which has now finally been settled.
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After a one year pause, the Swiss National Day Celebration at Gembrook was again held on Sunday, 5 August and proved to be very popular, despite the wintry weather conditions - luckily the rain held off until the official part had been completed. Young and old people with Swiss connections took the opportunity to catch up with friends and to enjoy some Swiss specialities. Many thanks to everybody who contributed to making this function a success! On that day we also heard the sad news that Fritz Hochuli had passed away. Fritz was a great supporter of the Matterhorn Society and Yodel Choir, and we always enjoyed having him in our midst at functions and ‘Jassabigs’. Fritz’s friendly face will be sadly missed but we will keep very fond memories of him! On the Cup-weekend (3 & 4 November) the Choir will again participate in the Swiss & Italian Festa in Hepburn Springs and Daylesford, and on 18 of November we will join the other groups to provide Sunday entertainment for the elderly residents of the Tabulam & Templer and Martin Luther Homes. The Choir is still rebuilding and we would welcome new singers – President Marco Unternahrer will be happy to give you more information (Tel. 9752 6996 H or 9729 3338 W).
SWISS NEWS, WORLD WIDE
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News from the Swiss Yodel Choir Matterhorn
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Advanced Notice:
Senior Christmas Afternoon Tea Senior Christmas Afternoon Tea for Swiss Nationals born 1943 or earlier will take place on
Saturday, 1 December, 2pm Please mark this date in your calendar. For information ring Rita Schwärzler-Abbt on 9561 7811 or email ritaherbert@bigpond.com
Swiss Club of Victoria
Kaffeeklatsch We would like to extend an invitation to all our Senior Citizens (over sixty) to a wonderful afternoon of Coffee, Cakes and a Chat = Kaffeeklatsch, at the Swiss Club.
The Swiss Club of Victoria and the La Trobe Society
Sunday, 9 September, 2pm
invite members and their friends
There is no charge for this cosy afternoon, however our Group is thankful for any donations. Please reserve a place by ringing or leaving a message with Marlies Krummenacher 9503 9921 or Rosmarie Oswald 9583 9048.
to a joint celebration of the early Swiss settlers in Victoria
RSVP no later than Monday, 3 September.
DATE: Friday, 19 October, 6.00pm -8.00pm
Test your Swiss knowledge. Go to: www.gemeindequiz.ch
The Bernard Sandoz Cup was held on Friday night, 15 June at the Swiss Club. Tony Thumiger triumphed over Ernie Huegli. Congratulations to the winner and thank-you to all for participating. The next Swiss Club Singles Championship will be held on Friday, 26 October at 7:30pm 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 Schneider
Test your Swiss Knowledge - Answers Across: 2. Rappen; 4. MichelMorganella; 5. Altdorf; 8. Parmigiano; 9. Zurich; 10. Locarno; 11. MIGROS; 13. Kuoni; 14. Stutz; 16. Laax Down: 1. Froelicher; 3. Sigriswil; 5. Appenzell; 6. NicolaSpirig; 7. Omega; 12. KurtFelix; 15. Gallus w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au
VENUE: The Swiss Club of Victoria 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
PROGRAM: 6.00pm Refreshments 6.30pm Welcome to the Swiss Club Barbara Kündig, President Speakers: • Dianne Reilly ‘Neuchâtel in the 19th century’ • Marguerite Hancock ‘Sophie de Montmollin La Trobe of Neuchâtel’ • Roland Isler ‘The Swiss Club of Victoria – from the beginning to the present’ 7.30pm -8.00pm Refreshments Drinks and canapés COST: $40 per person RSVP: Monday, 15 October
Yes, I would like to attend the joint Swiss Club/La Trobe Society function Name(s):
No. of persons @ $40.00: Cheque enclosed for total $: Please mail and make your cheque payable to the Swiss Club of Victoria, 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
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Bull-boar sausage The bull-boar is a beef and pork sausage produced by the Italian-speaking Swiss population of the Victorian goldfields of Daylesford/Hepburn Springs since the 1850s. Spices, wine and garlic make bullboar a distinctive sausage. The recipe is at risk of extinction in the Swiss/Italian population because of the huge investment in time and labour to make a batch of these sausages. In Italian it was simply referred to as 'salsiccie’ or ‘sausage’. It was called bull-boar on the goldfields by the English-speaking settlers because it contained both beef and pork. Roughly equal proportions of lean beef and half-fat to lean pork. The sausage is made with wine in which garlic has steeped and has a sharp, almost ‘high’ taste. It is less fatty than most sausages so can feel slightly dry. It is full of spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice, so during cooking it releases an aroma like a meaty hot cross bun. Every family in the district has their own recipe which are all carefully guarded secrets. In many instances, apart from their family name, it is the last link with their Italian-speaking forebears who settled the area. Today, bull-boar sausage is made by a handful of local butchers. The Swiss & Italian Festa in Hepburn Springs celebrates local food traditions, including bull-boar sausage. Bon appetit!
Our next performance will be on Saturday, 3 November at the opening parade day of the SWISS & ITALIAN FESTA and on Sunday, 4 November we will perform in the church in Hepburn Springs. Why not spend a lovely weekend in this beautiful part of Victoria and join us at the Festa? For more information phone the Convenor, Heidy Giger on 9889 9321.
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Swiss Club of Victoria
There are only two more Luncheons to go for this year, so please Ladies, get your pens out and mark these dates in your calendar:
• Wednesday, 5 September We will hear a talk about the Smith Family
• Wednesday, 7 November Price $22 pp for members, $25 pp for non-members. Includes 2-course meal, wine, soft drinks and coffee. Looking forward to your company. 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
Im Wartsaal vom Himmel Im Wartsaal vor em Himmel stohd e Puurebüebli still, ond hebt de Chopf, werd blääch ond rot, wäässt nüd, was s söll ond will. Do goht di goldig Himmelstör met beidne Flögel uuf; de Petrus schlarped müed deher, ond s Büebli lood en Schnuuf. “Hopp ine jetz! Was luegscht mi aa?” “Wääscht, s ischt mer nüd recht drom. Wenn i bi deer nüd zaure chaa, denn chehr i z lääd gad om!’
Ladies Luncheon, 4 July: Delyce England who runs a belly dancing studio in Geelong, gave an interesting talk about belly dancing, its history and costumes.
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Do lacht de Petrus: “Gad of dii hend s passt scho ewig lang! S schönscht vo de Himmelsmelodii ischt jo din Jodelgsang!”
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As you might know, demonstration sports were no longer part of the Olympic games after 1992. However, special tournaments for non-olympic sports can be organised and at the recent London Summer Olympics 2012 (http://www. london2012.com) Great Britain attempted to run Twenty20 cricket and netball - unfortunately, neither campaign was successful. And that got me thinking, what would our home country display as it’s show sport? There is certainly no shortage of sports that you can only find in Switzerland and I thought I should dedicate this edition of my column to the weird and wonderful world of Swiss sports. Hornussen In this sport two teams play against each other, however similar to the English Cricket while one team is fully assembled on the playing field, the batting team is represented by only one player. This player has what can best be described as a whip with at hard piece of wood at the end which he accelerates enormously by spinning around his own axis. Once fast enough, he lets the whip slide up a metal ramp at the end of which sits the Hornuss, a round puck that, as soon as it is struck, will buzz towards the opposing team at up to 300 km/h. The playing field starts 100m after the ramp and is 200m long. The other team is armed with helmets and ‘Schindel’, a device which can only be described as an oversized pizza shovel. With this they try to stop the approaching puck midair by trowing their wooden board accurately above their heads. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornussen) mentions that the earliest record of this indigenous Swiss sport is from 1625 when two men were fined for playing Hornussen on a Sunday. Nowadays of course there is a national organisation called the Eidgenössischer Hornusser Verband (http://www. ehv.ch/cms/) which regulates the game and organises Swiss Championships. Hornussen is played by a few dedicated expatriates in South Africa and the USA where it is also known as Swiss Golf. Schwingen Olympic wrestling is what I think comes closest to describe Schwingen (http://www.esv.ch//news.php) in a simple way, however, typically Swiss, we do things slightly different to everyone else. The match takes place in an outdoor ring
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which is covered with sawdust. The wrestlers wear short pants and a belt on top of their clothing which are made out of jute and are extremely sturdy. This is where the opponents grab onto in order to throw each other onto the back. The winner is the first to pin his opponents shoulders to the ground while still holding on to the pants with at least one hand. Schwingen is extremely popular and important in Switzerland (http://schwingen.ch) and together with Hornussen and Steinstossen are considered the National Sport. This also means that as a winner of the Eidgenössische (Switzerland’s biggest national tournament) you are declared the Schwingerkönig (the king of the Wrestlers http://www.jabderhalden.ch/, a title that stays with you for live, you also win a cow and are guest of honour at every national tournament henceforth. Outside of Switzerland, Schwingen is only practiced regularly in the San Joaquin Valley in the USA (http://www.riponswissclub. com/index_files/Page320.htm) Steinstossen Literally translated in means to push a stone (or better stone put) and in our home country this ‘original’ stone ways in at exactly 83.5kg and is known as the Unspunnenstein (http://www. steinstossen.ch). The practice of throwing stones either as training for distance or aim is generally seen as the oldest sport in the world. Practiced among the alpine population since prehistoric times, it’s first record in Switzerland is from Basel where it was part of a festival in the 13th century. Nowadays the stones used at festivals are of varying sizes and weigh about 50kg. However, once every 12 years at the Unsprunnenfest (http://www.interlaken.ch/de/unspunnenfestschweizerisches-trachten-und-alphirtenfest.html) in Interlaken the Unspunnenstein is used and the furthest it has been thrown is 3.89 meters. Many areas of Switzerland have their own traditional sports events such as the cow fighting in the canton of Valais or the Harassenlauf, which takes part annually in the canton of Baselland. If you know of any others why don’t you leave a comment on our homepage www.swissclubvic.com or on our facebook site http://www.facebook.com/Swissclubvic Damian Schaller - Marketing Manager Swiss Club of Victoria
Jochen’s Swiss challenge The first Australian search dog team going to Switzerland to contest the toughest canine USAR (Urban Search & Rescue) search test, held in Les Epeisses, on 26 & 27 October. What is a canine USAR team? It is a dog and handler trained to an accepted standard to search for persons buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings due to earthquakes, explosions and the like - Urban Search & Rescue or USAR. The most recent such disasters were the earthquakes in Christchurch and Japan last year, 2011. Qualified canine USAR teams can also be deployed after cyclones - Cyclone Yasi, and landslides such as Threadbo. What is this challenge? The challenge is for the Australian canine USAR team, German Shepherd Dog, Jochen and his handler, Elke Effler, qualified to the highest level in Australia, to qualify at the highest level in the canine USAR world globally - the Swiss REDOG (Swiss search and rescue dog organisation - www.redog.ch) Operational Test. Who is Jochen? Jochen is a very handsome dog and is a very good representative of the German Shepherd Dog breed. Whilst not of absolute top show quality, he nonetheless looks what he is, a very well bred Australian German Shepherd Dog carrying excellent lines in his pedigree. He is now 7 years old. Excerpts from Jochen’s blog 07/08/2012: Arriving in Switzerland: He was so relaxed and so calm as if flying to the other side of the world and being stuck in a crate for at least 26 hours is something he did every other week. I gave thanks for a well-bred dog with excellent manners and a calm disposition. We took him to the car and he had to get into a crate in the car again for the 108km drive to Chur. You would think that he had had enough of crates by now but, in he hopped and settled himself down. It was not long and he was snoozing. Was I a proud ‘mum?’ You bet. 08/08/2012: Our first full day in Switzerland: On the way from the airport I had mentioned that one of my prime objectives was to get Jochen as fit as possible over the next three months to ensure that he would have the stamina to manage the eleven searches he would have to do in the REDOG operational test. Vreni and Elias had planned a fairly demanding 4-hour walk for today, Wednesday, 8 August. In deference of me, as I had just come off a long-haul flight, they thought that I would be sleeping in and were going to leave me a note. But I was up at 7.00am feeling refreshed and ready to go. We agreed that I could always turn around and go back early if I felt the need. Ha, did I feel the need? Of course not. It was one of those perfect summer days in the Swiss Alps, my alpine trekking legs were in gear and Jochen was ready to go. We were here to walk and get fit! w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au
10/08/2012: On the bus to Flims: Today I decided to go further afield and take Jochen to Flims by public transport. Given that dogs are accepted as a way of life and as part of the travelling public, I just had to give this a try, particularly as we will be travelling to Geneva a few times. The journey from Rähzüns to Flims meant a change of bus in Tamins. The first bus was relatively full and I did not notice the other dog right at the back of the bus until we had to get off at Tamins. To get off we had to move to the middle where the exit doors are. As we got there, the other dog jumped up and hurled very bad Swiss language at Jochen. He said, ‘You think that is bad language? Well, cop this!’, and proceeded to use the best Australian swear words he could think of. But that ‘common’ cross bred dog was not going to be told off by any pure bred one and yelled back, ‘Who do you think you are with your fancy pedigree?’ I couldn’t get off the bus fast enough because Jochen said that there was more where that came from, no doubt dreaming up some more Australian swear words. The amazing thing was that no-one seemed to be bothered. Ed: We wish Jochen and Elke best of luck for the big challenge in October. Keep following the adventures of Jochen on jochensswisschallenge.weebly.com
Consular officers of the Swiss Consulate General in Sydney visit Melbourne in November 2012: Registration of biometrical data for issuing Swiss Travel Documents (passports, identity cards) will be possible at the premises of the Swiss Club in Melbourne during a few days in November 2012. Officers of the Swiss Consulate General in Sydney will be present in Melbourne with the necessary equipment. The members of the Swiss Community in Victoria and the surrounding areas will receive further information about the procedure of the registration. The Consulate General in Sydney will release this information and the dates of the visit in September 2012. Bernhard Furger – Deputy Consul General of Switzerland
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NOTICE
2012 Half-Yearly General Meeting of the SCV Notice is hereby given that the Half-Yearly General Meeting of the Swiss Club of Victoria will be held at 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, on:
Wednesday, 19 September 2012, 8pm Agenda: 1. Opening and Welcome 2. One Minute of Silence 3. Attendance, Apologies, Proxies 4. Adoption of Minutes of Annual General Meeting 2012 5. President’s Report 6. Treasurer’s Report 7. Buildings Report 8. Membership Report 9. General Business 10. Conclusion Please note: Accounts & Financial Statements will be made available to members at the meeting.
Half-Yearly GM Special Start the Half-Yearly General Meeting with a typical Swiss dish. Roger and his team will have a special treat for you. Bookings essential on 9650 1196. A la carte menu also available at regular prices.
Minutes of the 2012 Annual General Meeting of the SCV Held Wednesday, 14 March 2012 at 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 1. Opening and Welcome The President of the Swiss Club of Victoria, Ms Barbara Kündig opened the Annual General Meeting at 8.30pm and welcomed the Honorary Life Members, and Members of the Swiss Club. She thanked everyone for attending the Annual General Meeting. A total of 35 voting members were present.
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2. One Minute of Silence Barbara invited all members to stand up and observe one minute of silence to remember our friends and members, who have left us. 3. Apologies Colin Eichenberger, Chantal & Bernhard Imbach, Roger & Joan Kirsten, Verena Asher, Erika Kimpton, John Sewell, A.P. Boll, Rémy & Susan Favre, Kurt Rietmann, Colin Wilkinson, Christina Borg-Bono, Ernie Hugly, Claudia Dahinden-Apostoloff, Pia & Richard Mathys, Verena Steiner, Angela & Othmar Jaeggi, Vreni Welsh, Michael & Momo Wyrsch, Christian Schwärzler, Sue Schnellmann, Gerda & Martin Probst, Liz Isler. 4. Adoption of Minutes of Half-Yearly General Meeting 2011 The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, held Wednesday, 14 September, 2011, were published in the March 2012 Newsletter and copies of the financials were distributed at this meeting. The Minutes had been read and are a true record. They were moved by Roland Isler and seconded by Roger Moullet. All in favour. 5. President’s Report “Dear honorary life members, honorary members and members of the Swiss Club. Welcome to the 2012 Annual General Meeting of the Swiss Club. 2011 was a more quiet year for the Swiss Club of Victoria. We held our core events such as the Swiss Festival in April, the Heimatabend in May, the Saturday evening Jass nights, the Senior National Day celebrations, the Swiss National Day lunch and dinner, the Lantern Procession as well as the Senior Christmas. In the name of the committee, I would like to thank very much all the convenors and their groups for their continuous support of the Swiss Club and for organising their groups and gatherings. A big thank-you to Sylvia Hochuli, President of the Swiss Folkdance Group Alpenrose, Heidy Giger, Convenor of the Companion Singers, Damian Schaller, Convenor of the Swiss Diners Club and Esther Blaser-Tokarev, Convenor of SwissKids. Our thanks also go to Rita Schwärzler-Abbt for organising the senior events such as the National Seniors Luncheon and the Senior Christmas. A very big thank-you also goes to Roland Isler, our editor, who for the past year, has once again put together a very informative and interesting Newsletter, the ‘Edelweiss’, for our club. The combination of club news and notices as well as the many fun and interesting stories about Switzerland and our fellow Swiss, present and past, makes for great reading. Thank you. The Saturday Morning Swiss School and the Playgroup have now been merged and a new group, ‘SwissKids’ has started to meet regularly on the Second Floor on the first Saturday of the month from 2-4pm. It is a combination of play and school, again with an emphasis on Swiss culture and Swiss German. Their convenor is Esther Blaser-Tokarev, and if you know of any Swiss with school aged children, please tell them about
Swiss Club of Victoria
the group. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the many convenors and parents, who over the past decades participated, supported and lead the Saturday Morning Swiss School and the Playgroup for their work and effort. The agreement with Roger Moullet to manage the club has come to a close last year. We have now worked out a new agreement, which will be for 3 years with one 3 year option. This has started 1 January 2012. Up to now Roger paid us a monthly rental. When reviewing the terms and conditions of the new agreement, it was important for the committee that the person who operates the club restaurant also contributes to the outgoings of the 1st Floor. The Committee decided against increasing the rent, but to include outgoings such as council rates and electricity. This will reduce our cost by about $68,000 per year. The rental increase going forward will be 3% or CIP, whichever is the higher. The 10% discount for members for Food & Beverage continues to apply. We thank Roger and his team for all his hard work in making the club restaurant a welcome place for members, their families and guests. Our tenant, Terra Rossa was owned by Eddie Muto and partners. In late 2011, they sold the Terra Rossa Restaurant to the ‘Publican Group’. The ‘Publican Group’ owns and manages restaurants and pubs in Melbourne and Perth. The new owners have taken over and start to put on their own stamp on running the restaurant. As a result, the requested increase of power to the building is no longer as urgent. That does not mean it is postponed indefinitively, just that it is not an immediate upgrade we need to do. We will still proceed with the new electricity meter in the basement to ensure that our tenants really pay for what they consume. Like in previous years, we have applied for government grants. Over the past years we have received contributions to the Swiss Festival, the National Day and towards the Newsletter publication. This time we also submitted a grant request towards the upgrade of the building, eg back stairs, lobby area. We keep you posted if anything eventuates. We have also continued to do some upgrades and cosmetic improvements to the stairwell. The new carpets for the landing will be installed over the next weeks. It is a slow process and cost is always a concern. The kitchen has now a new fridge and freezer as well as an under bench beverage fridge. We are still working on the kitchen counter window art work. The Second Floor occupancy remains way below the forecasted figures. The committee is somewhat disappointed about the reluctance of members renting the space for their private or business functions. We were hoping to get more support from that direction. Therefore, the rental income for the Second Floor is of great concern and this year, we will put an emphasis on trying to make it work better. We have found a member, Vreni Welsh, who volunteered her time to help us promote and manage the floor. Hopefully, we can report more at the HalfYearly. My thanks also go to my fellow committee members for their continuous effort and considerable input to the Swiss Club. They all work full time, have families and still do a lot of work for your Swiss Club. I would like to close by thanking you, the members, for your continuous support during the past year.”
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6. Treasurer’s Report Financial details as of 31 December 2011: ASSETS Cash / Bank Account ..............................................$ Deposits .................................................................$ Accounts receivable ...............................................$ Land .......................................................................$ Building..................................................................$ Plant & Equipment ................................................$ Furniture & Fittings ................................................$ Freehold improvements..........................................$ Improvement 2nd Floor.........................................$
90,280 12,669 100 210,000 260,409 81,841 71,347 183,287 299,175
TOTAL ASSETS ..................................................$ 1,209,108 LIABILITIES Accounts payable ...................................................$ Bank Loan ANZ ......................................................$ Other creditors (GST) .............................................$
765 315,878 2,056
Proxy Form for the Half-Yearly General Meeting 2012 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 Half-Yearly General Meeting of the Swiss Club of Victoria to be held on Wednesday, 19 September 2012 and at every adjournment thereof. Signed by hand this
day of
2012
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.
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Prepaid membership ..............................................$
–
TOTAL LIABILITIES ...........................................$ 318,699 EQUITY Members Funds .....................................................$ Movie Fund ............................................................$ Profit / (Loss) ..........................................................$
906,826 28 (16,445)
TOTAL EQUITY ..................................................$ 890,409 INCOME Membership fee .....................................................$ Rent .......................................................................$ Sponsorship / Donations ........................................$ Various ...................................................................$
20,729 120,842 8,230 9,178
TOTAL INCOME ................................................$ 158,979 EXPENSES Building Operations ...............................................$ Building Maintenance ............................................$ Depreciation...........................................................$ 2nd Floor................................................................$ Bank Fees ...............................................................$ Insurance ...............................................................$ Member Services ....................................................$ Legal and Accounting.............................................$
45,993 12,480 48,000 7,907 31,327 15,432 11,584 2,701
TOTAL EXPENSES .............................................$ 175,424 OPERATING RESULT .........................................$ (16,448) Thanks to diligent monitoring and managing the expenses (5% less than in 2010) the club was able to reduce the overall loss by 50% compared to the previous year. Overall we experienced similar difficulties like last year with banking & interest fees at forecasted levels but with revenue from the 2nd floor significantly below expectation. Throughout the year it also became obvious, that respective efforts to promote the venue successfully are more time consuming than anticipated. Over the last years we also observed that additional efforts are required to upkeep and maintain the building infrastructure and to comply with existing and new legislative requirements. The limited number of committee members makes it a real challenge to juggle the resources efficiently and it is expected that this will remain a challenge in the near future. As stated several times, if any of our members can assist the committee in any shape or form in running the club, please contact any of the committee members. The main challenge in 2012 will remain to successfully promote the 2nd floor and to generate additional revenue to offset the banking & interest fees. At the same time we will keep the focus on managing all other costs. The building maintenance will be challenging for budget purposes, as repairs need to be attended to as they occur. I would also like to thank my fellow committee members in assisting me in managing the financial affairs of the club. Report was moved by Marcel Theiler and seconded by Herbert Schwärzler.
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7. Election of Auditor Bruce Legg has offered to stand as auditor for the coming year. The appointment was moved by Patrick Albert and seconded by Hans Keller. 34 in favour – 1 against. 8. Election of Office Bearers Rolf Huber, Barbara Kündig, Damian Schaller and Derrick Wildi agreed to serve another term on the committee (2012-2014) and their signed nomination forms have been displayed at the club’s notice board for the preceding two weeks; no other nominations were received. The following office bearers were confirmed for a further two years (2012-2014): Rolf Huber - proposed by Patrick Albert and seconded by Roland Isler, all in favour. Barbara Kündig - proposed by Roger Moullet and seconded by Herbert Schwärzler, all in favour. In addition Barbara Kündig was re-elected as president for a further year (2012-2013) proposed by Rita Schwärzler and seconded by Patrick Albert, all in favour. Damian Schaller - proposed by Roland Isler and seconded by Patrick Albert, all in favour. Derrick Wildi - proposed by Theo Wyrsch and seconded by Herbert Schwärzler, all in favour. 9. Membership Report Back in September 2011 there was a significant drop of member numbers due to cancellation of memberships as a result of non payments. However during the 2nd half of 2011 we were fortunate to welcome 16 new members bringing the number of members to 439. Overall there was no change to the membership structure in regards to membership types, age groups and language details compared to previous years. Of all members 70% hold Swiss citizenship, which is well above the required 50% by our articles of association. 10. Building Management Report Works since the AGM: • Refurbishment of stairs from 1st to 2nd floor; • Additional signage in stairwell to promote the club to visitors e.g. Comedy Festival; • Under bench and full size fridges in the 2nd floor kitchen; • Resolution of main lift issues; • Hooks in the 2nd floor toilets; • Regassing of the 1st floor restaurant fridges; • Replacement of the fire bell (sprinkler activated); • Continuing issues with the goods lift. Preparation works for the Comedy Festival: • Testing of smoke detectors (back to base monitoring); • Replacement of exit lights and light bulbs; • Testing of exit lights; • Check of fire extinguishers and hoses; • Testing of sprinklers and fire bell; • Clear out of rear stairs and landings; • Inspection by Melbourne City Council building inspector; • Assistance with “bump in”
Swiss Club of Victoria
11. Internet & Social Media The Swiss Club of Victoria had to relocate their homepage to a new provider. Wordpress has been chosen as the new CMS (Content Management System) platform and a quick overview is given to the members present about the content and functionality. The new page has greatly improved statistics which allows the committee to analysis the visitors to our homepage www.swissclubvic.com In March 2012 an average of 98 internet users visited our site with an all time high achieved on Friday, 2 March with 202 page visits. Most visitors come from Australia but an ever growing number of page views come from overseas from countries such as Switzerland, the USA and the United Kingdom. Sections that are particularly well frequented are our restaurant page and ‘A taste of Switzerland’ which features recipes from our quarterly Edelweiss newsletter. Our Facebook page has also been updated and the number of followers is growing weekly. At current 183 people are following the Swiss Club and are notified of any updates that concern the club. An important statistical element of Facebook is the ‘reach’ which in our case shows that 59% of visitors are female and are aged between 25-34. As with our homepage the main bulk of visitors is from Australia, followed by Switzerland and Germany. The members are informed that the new CMS tools allows almost anyone to create content for the Swiss Club homepage and Damian invites in particular the heads of subgroups to become authors on the new site. 12. General Business Honorary Life Membership Honorary Life Membership was conferred to the following members in recognition of 40 years of membership and being over 70 years of age: Brigitte Bohren and Patricia Doos. Questions and Comments (Q: question, C: comment, A: Answer): C: Patrick Albert proposed to seek a Swiss handyman to do the job and to ask for volunteers via newsletter and use database and send out emails C: Heidy Giger suggested inviting nearby businesses to inspect second floor. C: Albert Forster wondered if there might be an organisation to manage the venue on our behalf. Perhaps we could pay a commission Q: Rita Jenkins: Do we have wireless upstairs? A: Yes, set up is available; we also have a full sound system, projector & screen C: Basil Jenkins: Why not have more than one agent doing the marketing for upstairs? Q: Roland Isler: Is the $120k income total for both tenants? A: Yes, it is. Q: Roland Isler: What is the rental increase we can ask Terra Rossa for? A: Perhaps 2x CPI. Q: Roland Isler: Can we get a professional valuation?
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A: Yes, that can be done. C: Franz Doos voiced that we contact Schindler to fix our elevator, a good Swiss company. Q: Roland Isler: What is the cost of a new elevator? All these continuous problems with elevator, are we throwing good money after bad? A: Before repairing the valve last year, Committee investigated the cost of a new elevator. It was over $100K which was outside our financial capabilities. A new elevator needs to be budgeted long term. The committee has been working on a maintenance plan. C: Herbert Schwärzler expressed concern about dumb waiter bolts constantly breaking and needing replacement. Herbert offered to have a look at it. C: Basil Jenkins commented that carpet work might be dear at the moment due to all the insurance work going caused by the recent floods in Victoria. Q: Herbert Schwärzler: The ‘Gaststätte’ sign is not understood by non-German speakers. People end up on the Second Floor as they don’t realise the door marked ‘Gaststätte’ is the entry to the restaurant.. Can there be another sign ‘Restaurant’ on door? A: Committee will discuss in upcoming meeting C: Roland Isler spoke about the weekly Swiss German Radio program ‘Echo Helvetia’ on SBS Radio on a Sunday evening. Ursula Schäppi, the long-term host, retired this February. Ursula has always been very helpful to the Swiss Club and has featured us many times with interviews and reports. Adrian Plitzco is the new presenter, but airtime has been cut from the previous 30 minutes to 15 minutes only. Swiss organisations around the country should lobby SBS to review the Swiss content. The Swiss Club of Victoria also wrote a letter to SBS Radio voicing our concerns about loosing this worthwhile program. Q: Rita Schwärzler - can Damian be hired for marketing second floor? 13. Conclusion As there were no further questions from the members, Barbara closed the Annual General Meeting by thanking all present for their continuous interest & support in the Swiss Club of Victoria. The meeting closed at 10.20pm and all members were invited for a drink. Minutes taken as a correct record by Rolf Huber, member of committee.
58. Zentralschweizerisches Jodlerfest, Lachen, 22-24 June
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Swiss Events & Functions Please note that this calendar also list events other than those organised by the Swiss Club of Victoria and its subgroups. 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).
SEPTEMBER
Saturday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Sunday Saturday Wednesday
01 05 05 06 09 15 19
SwissKids Ladies’ Luncheon Swiss Movie Night: “Der Sandmann” (The Sandman) Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains at the Club Kaffeeklatsch - Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess Jass Night - Swiss Club (Finals) Half-Yearly General Meeting & New Member Welcome
OCTOBER
Thursday Saturday Friday Saturday Thursday Friday Friday
04 06 12 13 18 19 26
Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains at the Club SwissKids Swiss Society of Victoria evening Jass Course, 2-6pm (1) Second Floor Club Social: Movie Afternoon Joint La Trobe Society & Swiss Club Reception Billiard Competition - Swiss Club Single Championship
NOVEMBER
Thursday 01 Saturday 03 Sat/Sun 03/04 Wednesday 07 Saturday 10 Wednesday 14 Wednesday 21
Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains at the Club SwissKids Companion Singers perform at Swiss & Italian Festa Ladies’ Luncheon Jass Course, 2-6pm (2) Fahrt ins Blaue (Mystery Trip) - Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess Swiss Movie Night: “Handyman”
DECEMBER
Saturday Thursday Friday
Senior Christmas Afternoon Tea (by invitation) Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains at the Club Club Restaurant closes after dinner (reopens on Monday, 7 January 2013 for lunch)
01 06 28
OTHER REGULAR SWISS CLUB MEETINGS: Committee Meetings: every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month 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 SwissKids: meet on the 1st Saturday of every month, from 2pm to 4pm The Swiss Diners Club: dates for get-together can be found on www.swiss.org.au or on our Yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/YoungSwissMelbourne
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Swiss Club of Victoria
CBD FUNCTION AND MEETING ROOM WITH A DIFFERENCE The Second Floor at the Swiss Club
BUSINESS FUNCTIONS, CONFERENCES, SMALL MEETINGS
• Theatre style seating for up to 90 • Work shop seating for up to 55 • Cocktail set up for up to 120 • Private meeting room for up to 16 • Architect designed space • Choice of catering from the Swiss Club Restaurant or Terra Rossa • Modern amenities
• Basic coffee making facilities • Parking close by • 5 minutes walk to Flinders Street or Parliament Station • 2 minutes walk to Tram 75/70/48 • Friendly venue with Swiss history • Competitive rates
OR DINNER/ DANCE FUNCTIONS, LAUNCHES, PRIVATE EVENTS
• Unbeatable location • Ample parking close by • Train, tram and bus close by • Dinner seating for up to 80 • Cocktail set up to 120 • Dance floor • Architect designed modern space with lots of ambience
• Modern amenities • Choice of catering from the Swiss Club Restaurant or Terra Rossa • Choice of BYO caterer • Catering kitchen with 4 ovens, microwave and industrial dishwasher • Friendly venue with Swiss history • Competitive rates
AT THE PERFECT VENUE – THE SWISS CLUB OF VICTORIA Contact us on E: thesecondfloor@swissclubvic.com.au T: 1300 893 968 to check for availability, more information or a quote
National Day Celebration
THE
RO U CLU
T
ABOU D N B
IS SW S
Unterhaltungsabend
Sponsorship Reception
Senior Members’ Luncheon