MARCH 2016
A very special Foundation Day Celebration This year’s Foundation Day Celebration was an event as no one had expected. Planned to be a wine & cheese tasting evening, it turned into something much more. On arrival, the 120 guests were greeted with a glass of Peter Lehman vintage sparkling and Roger’s famous Chäschüechli. Thanks to Esther, Kurt, Claire, Elliott and Hannah, everyone continued to be spoilt with a non-stop flow of more wines and carefully selected delicacies from Toni Gledhill at Antonietta’s Kitchen, including Rösti with smoked trout paté, croustade case filled with lamb fillet and salsa verde and rice paper rolls filled with noodles, vegies and prawns. New member Daryl Teschendorf, who did an excellent job as MC, kept procedures ticking along nicely. Swiss Club President, Arnold Kramer welcomed the VIP guests that were present for the occasion; the Ambassador of Switzerland, Marcel Stutz; the Consul-General of Switzerland, Ernst Steinmann; Victorian Government Ministers, the Hons. Martin Foley MP, Colin Brooks MP and Bruce Atkinson MLC. He then proposed a toast to the 117th birthday of the Swiss Club of Victoria. The Ambassador farewelled the outgoing Honorary Consul, Erika Kimpton and welcomed her successor, Manuela Erb. They enjoyed this special and proud moment in the presence of their families and friends. The Swiss Club of Victoria warmly congratulates Manuela Erb on her appointment and wishes her all the very best in this role. More about Manuela in the next edition of the Edelweiss! Then it was time to honour one of our most distinguished club member, Sylvia Hochuli. Her name was on the Australia Day 2016 Honours List, which was announced by the Governor-General, Peter Cosgrove, on Tuesday, 26 January. The list provides national and formal recognition for many Australians across the nation,
The President of the Swiss Club of Victoria, Arnold Kramer and Sylvia Hochuli OAM
who have made a significant difference to their communities. Sylvia became the recipient of the ‘Medal of the Order of Australia’ (OAM), for service to the Swiss Community of Australia. In characteristically modest style, Sylvia explains that this award is not just for herself, but also for her late husband Fritz and for all those that have contributed so much to our community. Sylvia was nominated for an award by the late Barbara Dardel-Jessop two years ago. Barbara and another four referees decided after the ‘Kaffeklatsch’ that it was time that Sylvia is formerly recognised for the tremendous work that she has been doing for so many years. And so the wheels were set in motion, in a shroud of secrecy, as no one was to know about this. The first thing Sylvia found out about it, was when on 2 October last year, she
received a letter from the Secretary to the Governor-General, informing her that she had been considered for an award within the Order of Australia. After her first reaction of shock, she rang her son Dieter to tell him what happened and asking him for advice. The ‘silent conspirators’, however, had already informed Dieter, as they suspected that Sylvia might not accept the honour. Good thing Dieter was able to persuade her otherwise. Everyone, including Sylvia, had to maintain strict confidentiality until she received another letter on 16 December, confirming that the Governor-General had approved her nomination for the award of ‘Medal of the Order of Australia’. “And even then, I was not allowed to speak to anyone about it until the release of the Honours List. That was a hard thing to do!” Sylvia explains.
89 Flinder s Lane • Melbour ne 3000 • Victor ia • Australia • www.s wissclubvic .com.au
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