2016 edelweiss 3

SEPTEMBER 2016

2016 Swiss National Day at the Club 1 August 2016 The house was full, the spirits were high, and the company was great. From young to young at heart, there was something for everyone to enjoy and be entertained.

Our 1 August celebrations for the 725th birthday of Switzerland started of course with the National Anthem followed by a welcome from President, Arnold Kramer, who shared some intriguing facts about our home country. The Companion Singers, under the leadership of their conductor, Toni Hofmann, took us on a trip around Switzerland, performing songs in all four Swiss languages.

We then had the pleasure of listening to the Honorary Consul, Ms Manuela Erb, conveying greetings from the official Switzerland and inviting all to raise their glasses to a toast for our home country.

The members of the Dance group Alpenrose, looking splendid in their Trachten, performed three very different dances for us. Sylvia Hochuli did again a wonderful job with the group by marrying timeless musical pieces with interesting choreography.

Then it was time for a dinner of traditional Swiss favorites rounded off with a platter of Swiss guetzli and chocolates brought to us directly from Switzerland courtesy of committee member, Susan Brealey.

Switzerland has such varied traditions and customs, but it is also a truly modern and innovative country.

At first glance, the Swiss might appear reserved, but we do like to party. Our National Day Celebration reflected this. Our own Swiss Miss, Renee Moullet and her band ‘Soulmates’ brought the house down with an energetic performance and popular tunes. The dance floor was full.

It was great seeing everyone letting their hair down and having fun.

Thank you to all the performers for entertaining us, thank you to Roger Moullet and his team for the Swiss dinner and friendly service. Thank you to all the members and guests that came along. So sorry for all who missed out – hopefully, you can make it to the next National Day, 1 August 2017!

Barbara Kündig 8 9 Fl i n d e r s L a n e • M e l b o u r n e 3 0 0 0 • Vi c to r i a • Au s t r a l i a • w w w.

SWISS CLUB OF VICTORIA Founded in 1899

SWISS CLUB INTEREST GROUPS

89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 T: 1300 893 968 E: info@swissclubvic.com.au http://swissclubvictoria.com

Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose President: Sylvia Hochuli OAM T: (03) 9531 6575 E: hochuli@tpg.com.au

Club Nights for Members: Wed & Thurs

Swiss Companion Singers Convenor: Herbert Schwärzler T: (03) 9561 7811 E: ritaherbert@bigpond.com

Club / Restaurant Opening Hours Lunch: Mon – Fri from 12noon Dinner: Tue – Fri from 6pm Chef & Manager: Roger Moullet Restaurant and Functions Manager: Reneé Moullet Bookings T: (03) 9650 1196 Swiss Club Restaurant Catering For all functions contact Roger or Reneé T: (03) 9650 1196, M: 0409 040 249 E: swissclub@hotmail.com The Second Floor Function Room Info and/or bookings T: 1300 893 968 E: thesecondfloor@swissclubvic.com.au Membership Keep all your contact details up-todate: M: 0423 513 843 E: membership@swissclubvic.com.au

COMMITTEE Arnold Kramer President / Building Services Manager M: 0419 268 503 E: president@swissclubvic.com.au Vreni Welsh Secretary M: 0423 513 843 E: info@swissclubvic.com.au Barbara Kündig Treasurer M: 0402 018 363 E: treasurer@swissclubvic.com.au Susan Brealey M: 0401 170 036 E: susan@swissclubvic.com.au Markus Luethi Marketing/Website M: 0468 408 046 E: marketing@swissclubvic.com.au

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 Les Bavards – ‘The Chatterboxes’ Joint Convenors: Sigrid de Castella & Rémy Favre Sigrid M: 0416 088 000 E: swiss@andec.biz Rémy: see Groupe Romand du Victoria Laughter Yoga Helvetia Convenor: Marianne Bishop M: 0448 697 258 E: laughter.club.helvetia@gmail.com Swiss Festival Chairman: Rolf Huber T/F (H): (03) 9807 0282 M (B): 0425 805 854 E: rolf@swissfestival.com.au

SWISS COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS Swiss Society of Victoria (Benevolent Society) President: Patrick Albert M: 0449 999 645 E: patalbertaus@gmail.com Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess Australian/Swiss Cultural Society President: Sylvia Hochuli OAM 92 Addison Street, Elwood Vic 3184 T: (03) 9531 6575 E: hochuli@tpg.com.au

Unless otherwise stated, postal address for all is: 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 w w w. s wissclubv ic .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 www.swiss.org.au/chfrvic Swiss Yodel Choir Matterhorn President: Chris Hostettler 19 Lockwood Road Belgrave Heights Vic 3160 T: (03) 9754 7390, M: 0428 427 434 E: helvet@bigpond.com www.swiss.org.au/matterhorn SwissCham Australia General Manager: Marcel Svatos T: (02) 8003 5524 E: marcel@swisscham.com.au www.swisscham.com.au Swiss-Australian Academic Network (SAAN) E: info@saan.com.au www.saan.com.au Organisation of the Swiss Abroad Council Member: Roland Isler Further contact details see: under Editor www.aso.ch 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) 8637 7175 E: melbourne@honrep.ch Further contact details of consular representations see: www.eda.admin.ch/australia

‘Edelweiss’ appears quarterly in March, June, September and December. Circulation 450.

For all enquiries contact: Editor: Roland Isler 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 Victoria The Club has been a hive of activity since the last edition of the Edelweiss, despite it being one of Melbourne’s wettest, coldest and windiest winters. In May Barbara Kundig and Vreni Welsh again organised to host the Biggest Morning Tea on the second floor which raised over $1700 with 100% of all donations going to the Cancer Council – Wonderful result and thanks to the organisers, volunteers, attendees and to all those who donated to this special cause.

The Seniors Luncheon held on the 25th of July was an absolute success and thoroughly enjoyed by the 80 guests who attended. We wish to thank Rita, Sylvia, Liz, Herbert, Christian, Roger, Stephan, Georgina, Beat and Peter for all the effort made putting on such a splendid and well received afternoon of friendship, entertainment and fun. Everything was carefully decorated and arranged in delightful matching colours and of course the food and entertainment was wonderful. It was a delight to be part of it all, seeing the smiling faces on everyone and to hear their voices singing to the music by Peter and Beat following the song sheets prepared by Roland Isler. It was lovely and a real treat having Heidy Gieger read out a lovely poem that brought both humour and reflection on ageing that everyone enjoyed.

The National Day of Switzerland – 1st August this year falling on a Monday was appropriately celebrated at the Club. We had the Swiss Kids lampion parade, a special event for 18 year olds and dinner with entertainment at the restaurant.

The lampion parade was attended by the toughest of young Swiss and devoted parents. Being a week night, a school night and such a miserable cold wet night I thank all the parents, friends and especially the children for upholding this lovely tradition. Setting off from under the Swiss flags in Federation Square with our Honorary Consul Manuela Erb to the Swiss Club with umbrellas, hats, coats and of course the lanterns they endured torrential rain and cold. I met them on the last leg of their journey only to be greeted with the heaviest of the rain. Despite this these little troopers valiantly finished the trek before making their way up to the second floor to shake off some of the rain. They were given some well-deserved chocolates and the cow bells to make very loud merry noise.

After the noise, chocolate and photos were taken they left happier to go home and some joining the dinner celebration in the restaurant.

On the evening of our National Day we had a very special event take place on the second floor that was borne from the initiative of our Consul General Mr Ernst Steinmann.

The Consulate offered to contact all young Swiss turning 18 years of age this year, who reside near Melbourne. Together the Swiss Club of Victoria and our Honorary Consul sent out

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invitations to these individuals to join us at the club on the National Day. We received RSVP from five of the invitations and the following four joined us. Emilie Wicki, Hunter Langenegger, whose grandfather Kurt was an honorary member of the Club, Ashley Heiz and Adrian Hug. They were accompanied by partners and close family. We decorated the 2nd floor room and provided food and light refreshments.

We made them feel most welcome in a warm and relaxed environment. We had made three large pull up posters displaying Swiss History in Australia, the formation of our Club and what is to come which remain at the Club for all to view. We also had a map of Switzerland with the cantons ready for them to place their pin onto their own place of origin. After brief speeches of welcome we engaged in open discussion exchanging ideas on how we, the Club can be more relevant with the young. The Club offered to these young individuals, who will be the future of our Club, a three year free membership to the Club, and all keenly choose to join up along with some of the parents. We arranged for a few gift items to be handed to them. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet with the parents and families and it was evident that their Swiss heritage is valued and an important part of their ancestry. The SCV offers to them an opening into the history of the Swiss in Australia and a conduit of information and connection to Switzerland.

Afterwards we headed down to the restaurant for the formal National Day program and dinner and entertainment. Our fellow member and daughter of Roger Moullet, Renee and her band, Soulmates, were already playing to the gathered guests.

Our MC for the night Barbara Kundig welcomed the 100 plus guests we were lead into the singing of the National Anthem by the Swiss Companion Singers. Formal speeches by myself and our Honorary Consul were followed by a wonderful performance by the Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose under the guidance of Sylvia Hochuli OAM. As usual, the dancers, dressed impeccably, performed beautifully and the members and guests were truly delighted. We thank you Sylvia and all the dancers for your wonderful contribution helping us celebrate the National Day. The Companion Singers treated the guests with more traditional Swiss songs sung beautifully in all four languages of Switzerland. Thank you Herbert Schwaertzler, convener, and all the singers for providing such in tune voices with displayed patriotic Swissness to the evening.

Thank you to Roger Moullet and to all his hard working team of staff for looking after all the guests so well throughout the evening.

I sincerely thank my fellow committee members and thank you all for being so kind and caring toward each other making the enjoyment for your fellow Swiss and friends lives enriched.

It is these and such occasions, which are as a result of your fellow Club members efforts and dedication that make my role as President really worthwhile.

The night was a great success and what we managed, was to Swiss Club of Victoria

blend the customary with some new, and I believe that on the whole it was a night that respected the values of Switzerland.

We had our traditional dances, the singing and music from Renee’s band that engaged both young and old. We knew that the evening program may not have been as has been in the past however a little change is going to be inevitable.

On Sunday 7th August the Swiss Picnic was held in bright sunshine at the Austrian Club, again a terrific turnout which was great to see. Congratulations to the organisers, Swiss Yodel Choir Matterhorn Inc. the stall holders, performers, volunteers and of course all attendees for making another happy day for the Swiss Community.

I mentioned earlier that change is inevitable and the future of our Club relies on new blood coming on board. The event with the 18 year olds was a fantastic initiative and reinforced the fact that many Australian born Swiss are keen to be part of our Swiss community. We especially need to encourage the next generations of Swiss and Swiss Aussies to become more involved if we, as a Club are to survive another 117 years.

The Committee thank all those wonderful people who assist others in getting into and back from the Club for our events and gatherings. Without their kindness and thoughtfulness many would miss out.

I undertake the role as your President of the Swiss Club Victoria with a commitment to uphold the values of the Club and serve the members as best that I can. Be assured that I encourage your input, support and guidance in order to achieve the best outcomes in the interest of the Club and look forward to meeting you.

Arnold Kramer - President

The Swiss Club Restaurant would like to invite all Members to join their BIRTHDAY CLUB! This entitles you to receive a complimentary meal during your birthday month when you dine with two or more people. It also keeps you up-to-date with any events that Roger and Reneé will be doing at the Restaurant. To join is free! Simply call 03 96501196 or email swissclub@hotmail.com with your name, date of birth and anniversary month.

We look forward to seeing you for your birthday!

Welcome to our new members Paul Durr, Joan Mahnig, Daniel Tokarev You will feel right at home in no time.

New Members events are held throughout the year.

Come and say Gruezi, Salut, or G’day.

Happy birthday Celebrating her 85 Birthday, Lore Zispin (September) Happy Birthday and Bonne Anniversaire to you. We wish you special celebrations with friends and family and many happy and healthy returns.

Congratulations We congratulate Renee Moullet on the Birth of baby boy Luca and Roger Moullet for becoming a granddad again Terry Mylvaganam is a first time grandma to baby girl Emmy only happiness with your new bundle of joy.

The last farewell It is with sadness that we inform you of the passing Of Honorary Life Member Edwin Zimmermann in England And Honorary Life Member Joyce Dornbierer Sincere condolences to Agnes Zimmermann and Ernie Dornbierer and families.

If your partner, your friends or fellow members have a reason to celebrate, are unwell or have left for a better place, please let us know so that others know too.

Please contact any committee members or the Editor.

Thank-you!

I would like to sincerely thank Patrick Rychner and acknowledge his help in finalising this newsletter whilst I am on holiday in Switzerland, where I will attend the centenary Congress of the Swiss Abroad. I look forward to reporting on this event in the next edition of the Edelweiss.

Editor w w w. s wissclubv ic .com . au

The Newsletter Packing Team hard at work

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Swiss public celebrates Gotthard tunnel The world’s longest tunnel has officially been opened in Switzerland with an elaborate ceremony featuring an eclectic range of performance art.

Some 600 actors, musicians, alphorn players, choirs and the Swiss Army band performed in a sometimes bizarre ceremony. Trapeze artists dressed as construction workers, a horse and carriage and other theatrics traced the history of the 57-kilometre tunnel’s construction as part of the opening ceremony.

Some 30,000 people on Saturday and another 50,000 on Sunday attended events at four locations: Erstfeld and Rynächt in canton Uri as well as Pollegio and Biasca in canton Ticino, at the other end of the 57 kilometre-long tunnel.

It was the first time members of the public – who largely financed the project through their taxes – could see the hallmark engineering project that was 17 years in the making and officially opened to VIPs on June 1.

Special trains transited through the Gotthard throughout the weekend, with about 35,000 people choosing to take their inaugural ride through the world’s longest rail tunnel.

Some 240 additional trains were put in service to transport people to the event. Trains will officially begin circulating through the new Gotthard tunnel after the timetable changes in December 2016.

Media praise for a ‘national obsession’ The morning after the official opening of the Gotthard tunnel through the Alps, the world’s longest rail tunnel, newspapers in Switzerland and around the world have lavished congratulations and compliments on a country that, in recent years, has become used to international criticism.

“So much praise is almost embarrassing for us!” was the headline splashed across the front page of tabloid Blick. Like many other papers, Blick’s main photo was of the leaders of Switzerland, Germany, France and Italy all sitting in the train together, relaxed and laughing.

“Joy, pride and tears – this day will never be forgotten,” it continued.

For the Neue Luzerner Zeitung, “the new Gotthard Tunnel is not only an incredible feat of Swiss precision and engineering, it is also a masterpiece of direct democracy [two-thirds of Swiss voters backed the project in a 1992 referendum] and an expression of citizens’ spirit of innovation”.

The Berner Zeitung joined virtually every other paper in pointing out the symbolism of a structure that brings European countries closer together “at a time when Switzerland’s relationship with the EU has never been so open and unclear”.

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It added that the main reason for the tunnel was getting freight off roads and onto rail tracks, “but this shift will only work if our neighbours keep their side of the bargain”.

The Nordwestschweiz also focused on the European Union.

“Switzerland opened the new tunnel yesterday with plenty of self-confidence. It should look after its interests with Europe with the same self-confidence – not only concerning the approach routes to the tunnel, but also our bilateral relations and the rules of immigration.”

While the majority of papers were in celebratory mood, the Basler Zeitung struck a more equivocal tone.

“Building tunnels is our USP, our purpose, our mission. We’re much better at tunnels than, say, coming up with policies for refugees or energy, buying planes or knowing how to get on with people,” it wrote.

Newspapers in the French-speaking part of Switzerland were equally full of admiration for the technical achievement and also referred to the political symbolism.

Le Quotidien Jurassien saw the tunnel as a “hyphen between Switzerland and Europe”.

For Le Matin, however, the hyphen was between the north and south of Europe. “It will enable Switzerland to take its place at the heart of the continent”. It said it would also give Switzerland “the chance to shine – discreetly at any rate – since [the tunnel] is not a tower, it’s an invisible cathedral”.

24 Heures echoed the Berner Zeitung: “Europe must once again confirm its desire to transfer as much freight as possible [onto rail]. And here, Switzerland will have to count on Europe – not vice versa.”

The New York Times reckoned conquering the Alps was “something of an obsession” for the Swiss.

“It’s certainly not easy to explain rationally our emotions for a hole that looks exactly the same for 57 kilometres,” admitted the editor of Blick. “Actually you can’t explain it, you have to feel it.”

VIP tunnel excursion (clockwise from left): Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Swiss Federal President Johann Schneider-Ammann, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande Swiss Club of Victoria

Senior Members’ Luncheon Monday, 25 July 2016 Year after year the Senior Members of the Swiss Club are honoured with an invitation to a fine lunch. Year after year it’s ‘a full house’ and the camaraderie shows the reciprocal warmth of our fraternity and the gaiety shows zest and ‘youthfulness’. It is just so much fun!

On behalf of the Swiss Club Senior Members, thank you very much President and Committee. We will herald your generosity.

The gratitude is also extended to the dream team helpers, who willingly and in good humour get this party together. Should the till afford such a lunch next year, I have it first hand, the wonderful helping hands may be called upon again.

Rita Schwärzler-Abbt

Clown Dimitri has left the stage Clown Dimitri, the beloved Swiss clown and mime has died, aged 80. The national treasure from canton Ticino died unexpectedly on 19 July, 2016, just two days after his last performance.

A man of few words in a country with four official languages, Dimitri spoke to audiences by combining naive, bumbling humour with acrobatics and skill with a vast repertoire of musical instruments.

Jakob Dimitri was born in 1935 in the Swiss village of Ancona, and at the age of seven knew that he wanted to become a clown. In 1958, he trained under and befriended the French mime artist Marceau, Dimitri’s idol, and a year later performed his own show.

With a bowl-cut hairdo and gap-toothed grin from a mouth he would stuff wide with ping-pong balls to juggle over the years, Dimitri long performed as a solo artist. He eventually set up a family troupe in New York in 2009.

La Famiglia Dimitri staged well-regarded, family-friendly shows featuring juggling, cycling, singing, high wires, tight wires and slack wires.

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A chat with Margarita Scott-Young Sometimes it is really surprising what you can find out about people when you sit next to them at a Swiss Club function and have a little chat. I recently had such an opportunity with long-standing club member Margarita Scott-Young. I just had to ask Margarita to do an interview for the Edelweiss and I am glad she agreed. I started by asking to tell us a bit about her childhood.

My childhood was a bit like a jigsaw puzzle. Both of my parents were Swiss, but due to my father’s work, my family lived in a few different places around the world. I went to primary school in Venezuela. Classes were taught in English, so I was soon trilingual – at home my mother insisted on speaking only Swiss German, school was in English, and everything else was in Spanish. In my last year at primary school, my father was sent to Bolivia. This time I attended a correspondence school with mainly American children from other companies. The afternoons were spent swinging from ropes across a nearby creek. My mother said the state of my clothes always told a tale.

As a teenager, I was sent from the South American Andes to the Swiss Alps, where I attended a boarding school. In winter we just stepped out of the school, strapped on our skis, and away we went. School lessons took place in the morning and late afternoon. Early afternoon we were encouraged to spend outdoors. On weekends there were mountain hikes and excursions. Most of the holidays, I visited my parents wherever they were living at the time.

With your school years behind you, what did you do?

I went on to become a primary school teacher and taught in a Swiss village in the hills for a few years. Then I got itchy feet, studied French in the French part of Switzerland, and decided to migrate to Australia. Within a month of arriving in Melbourne, I was already teaching again at a primary school. Every school holiday was spent exploring this vast country. Travelling in the outback was rough, dusty and bumpy on the mainly unmade roads. On one of my trips, I met my future husband.

By the time our two children were at school, I was ready for something new.

In Switzerland I had taught the recorder at school but I also enjoyed playing the flute. After extra flute studies in Melbourne I qualified as a flute teacher which enabled me to teach from home until it was time to retire.

When and why did you join the Swiss Club?

It was important to me to have contact with the Swiss community and I joined the Swiss Club in 1970, soon after I arrived in Melbourne. My newly acquired Australian friends came along to the great Swiss balls. As a family, my husband and I took our children to the weekly barbecue lunches at the Swiss Club. And now, I recently received an Honorary Life Membership, which is just amazing.

And then you became a member of the Swiss Companion Singers.

That’s right. I have been singing with the Swiss Companion Singers since 2004. I enjoy both the companionship of the group and sharing Swiss folk songs with the wider community.

How do you like to spend your time? Any hobbies?

A few of my current hobbies include travel, music (I sing, play flute in an ensemble, and am learning to play the violin), tai chi, bushwalking, line dancing and Spanish conversation class.

I also love spending time with my grandchildren.

Thank you very much Margarita.

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P.O. Box 2160 M.D.C., Fitzroy 3065, Victoria Phone (03) 9417 4144, Fax (03) 9419 8873 sales@henkellvineyards.com.au

Swiss Club of Victoria

Biggest Morining Tea On Monday 23 May The Swiss Club of Victoria hosted a Biggest Morning Tea for the second time.

About 40 members and friends enjoyed a cuppa and a buffet of delicacies, friendship and a chat on The Second Floor.

Some members due to other commitments were unable to attend but still donated on our behalf online.

We thank you all for your generous donations and are very proud to announce that we set a new record of over $1700 to help the Cancer Council of Victoria.

We hope that The Biggest Morning Tea will become a regular event on our yearly calendar and count on your ongoing support and generosity.

Get the whole bunch of Edelweiss online The entire library of newsletters since 2007 is now available online. Just go to the Swiss Club website 4 Our Club 4 Edelweiss Newsletter 4 Archive Edelweiss: http://issuu.com/search?q=edelweiss …and click on the Edelweiss ‘Open Stack’.

Fahrt ins Blaue – Mystery Trip Wednesday, 9 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 $35.00 per person, which includes a 3-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): The Bernard Sandoz Cup was battled over on 22 July at the Club’s Second Floor.

Adrian Besley triumphed over his good mate Chris Laube.

Congratulations to the winner and thank-you to all for participating.

The next Swiss Club Singles Championship will be held on Friday, 14 October at 7:30pm Bookings are essential. Please ring Roger at the Swiss Club or myself on 0418 645 313, or email: louis.albert.schneider@gmail.com Cost: Only $20 per person which includes dinner.

New players are always welcome!

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Address:

Telephone: No. of persons @ $30.00: Cheque enclosed for total $: Please make your cheque payable to the Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess (ASCS)

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The 6th Australian Jass Tournament took place on 12 June 2016 in Perth 52 people, including 16 from Victoria, travelled to Perth to take part in the 6th Australian Jass Tournament and go into battle for the coveted Primo Calabresi Trophy.

On Saturday, some of the card players and partners went on a sightseeing tour of Perth, the Swan Valley and Fremantle. The winery and the chocolate factory found great approval by all.

Of course, we had to taste the best fish in the best restaurant in Fremantle, recommended by the hosts. How right they were!

Sunday morning 9 o’clock the serious business of Jass commenced and took all day.

The games in the morning were played with German cards and after lunch we played with French cards.

One had the opportunity to meet a lot of players. Thanks to the great organisation everything went smoothly without any problems and all to quick the day passed.

Congratulations to the winner and the committee for organising a great event!

Sylvia Hochuli OAM

Three Victorian players under the first ten and Ernie Hugli in 3rd position flying the flag for the Swiss Club – a fantastic result!

Congratulations to the winner and all Victorian players!

Victorian player ranking Rank

Name

Score

3

Ernie Hugli

6682

5

Madeleine Wager

6610

8

Roger Moullet

6590

13

Fred Portmann

6498

15

Werner Kuffer

6487

19

Sepp Schacher

6430

24

Brigitte Goldiger

6315

25

Beny Huerlimann

6310

27

Sylvia Hochuli

6307

31

Iris Anthonisz

6268

33

Paul Eisenegger

6262

36

Hans Bruengger

6109

44

Sepp Goldiger

5940

45

Robyn Martin

5922

48

Rita Unternaehrer

5845

52

Margrit Schacher

5720

The happy winner Matthias Bickel (Qld) with Peter Mueller, President of the Organising Committee

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Swiss Club of Victoria

SWISS CLUB MOVIE 2nd Jass Night Results: Swiss Club, 28 May

Sonjas Rückkehr

Singles

1. Martin Weber............................................2927 2. Walter Imfeld............................................2887 3. Hans Keller................................................2875

Wednesday, 16th November 2016, 8pm Swiss Club, 2nd floor

Doubles

1. Doris Conrad & Hans Keller.......................5508 2. Roger Moullet & Hans Pecar.....................5206 3. Brigitte & Sepp Goldiger...........................5024

3rd Jass Night Results: Swiss Club, 9 July Singles

1. Walter Imfeld............................................2838 2. Hans Keller................................................2824 3. Marcel Theiler...........................................2745

Doubles

1. Doris Konrad & Hans Keller.......................5447 2. Simone & Alex Bahler...............................5339 3. Sigi Wyder & Rene Zeller...........................5309

(Her Second Chance)

2006, Drama, 87 mins, Swiss-German with English Subtitles, Director: Tobias Ineichen After many years in jail, Sonja returns to her home village where she takes up her fight for custody of her 8-year old son Tim. But neither the authorities, nor her in-laws, nor Tim’s foster parents will ever consider handing over little Tim to Sonja, a purported spouse killer. Sonja must bring light into her dark past if she is to win back Tim’s love.

Tobias Ineichen’s film is led by Melanie Winiger, one of Switzerland’s brightest talents. (IMDB) 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.

Upcoming Jass Night – 2016 4th & Final 10 September

Swiss Club

Information supplied by Paul Eisenegger

Inexperienced players most welcome (not suitable for total beginners though, must know at least the basic rules and the value of the cards!)

ES

IA

OF

For all who enjoy the game but want to play for enjoyment only. No competition, just social!

Y ET

Social Jass

SOC I SS

SWI

Exercise you brain – play Jass!

V IC T O R TA

BLISHED 18

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The Swiss Society of Victoria’s purpose is to assist fellow Swiss in Victoria, old and young, who are in need of financial or social support.

If you are experiencing difficulties, or you know of someone who does, please contact us. We are here to help.

Enjoy Dinner before the game.

• Wednesday, 28 September • Wednesday, 26 October • Wednesday, 23 November

Franz Schellmann M: 0412 203 893 schnellmann@dodo.com.au Supporting the Swiss Community of Victoria since 1879

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Patrick Albert M: 0449 999 645 patalbertaus@gmail.com

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Making time for the timeless Switzerland keeps alive a wide range of traditions in the face of globalisation and today’s fast-paced society.

But competing with the digital revolution isn’t easy.

How does the country hold on to its past? And is it succeeding?

It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon, and Aarau’s Old Town is filled with tents and stands and platforms. Flags hang over narrow streets filled with pedestrians. People in traditional costumes sit together at tables in restaurants, drinking beer and eating sausages. Spectators form half-circles around quartets of musicians. Small children sit on the ground in the empty spaces, studying the instruments.

The event is the Swiss National Folk Music Festival, where 1,500 musicians are entertaining some 100,000 visitors over the course of four days.

“It’s important to renew people’s awareness of these traditions, and to celebrate them, and for that we need festivals,” says Alex Hürzeler, culture minister of canton Aargau. “It doesn’t matter if they’re held in a small village or a neighbourhood or at a national level like this one in Aarau. They’re necessary in order to spread a sense of community, to allow people to celebrate together, across borders.”

Federal festivals Switzerland’s federal festivals have an almost 200-year history, with roots planted before the Swiss Confederation officially existed.

There are festivals for a wide range of activities. The first – which took place in 1824, also in Aarau – brought together the country’s marksmen. Fifteen more disciplines were introduced between 1832 and 2008, among them ‘Schwingen’ (Swiss wrestling), yodelling, traditional costume wearing, and a uniquely Swiss sport called ‘Hornussen’ that to a novice looks vaguely like a cross between golf, fishing and lacrosse.

Today the federal festivals are hugely popular. The most recent federal sport festival (held once every six years) drew 60,000

Learning to play the accordion is often a skill passed down from generation to generation

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Traditional Swiss sports: Schwingen and Hornussen

participants and 100,000 spectators, while three times that many attended the Swiss wrestling festival. The marksmanship contest is the largest of its kind in the world.

These are amateur sports. “Every wrestler has a job,” says wrestling official Roger Brügger. “We work during the day and train at night.” And the sports are accessible to the average citizen – not just as a spectator but also as a participant.

Carrying on traditions The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines tradition as “a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by the people in a particular group, family, society, etc., for a long time.”

Dancing in traditional Swiss costume is something a family can do together for decades. For one woman in Aarau it’s been 27 years. Her son used to take part. Her daughter still does.

Unfortunately, the daughter lives in another part of the country but she says it’s important “that the tradition is carried on”.

“Making music is one of the best things you can do, in my opinion,” says an accordion player in his twenties. “You can make other people happy. And it’s fun.”

Yodelling and playing the Swiss accordion are often passed down in families.

But one woman who teaches yodelling in a Swiss city says it’s hard to find people to carry on the tradition there. “It used to be that if you yodelled, you belonged to a yodelling club and performed in concerts and sat on the board. It required a commitment.” Today yodelling clubs attract fewer people, she says. “But what remains is the attraction to the music. For me, Swiss Club of Victoria

it’s a fascination with the way you use your voice, changing from head to chest. It’s very joyful. And in a group, it’s the way we harmonise.”

If you ask the attendees at the festival, folk music is far from dying out.

“There has been increased interest recently,” says Matthias Wüthrich, music editor for the folk station ‘Radio Tell’. “Among young people as well. People want to make music again, to be involved themselves. In the face of globalisation, it’s a movement back to our roots.”

Yet there are relatively few young people at the federal folk music festival.

And the popularity of other cultural traditions is uncertain. The costume seamstress hasn’t been able to find a successor to take over her business when she retires. And a woman seated at a small loom in the marketplace says young people don’t have the interest – let alone the room – required to practise weaving.

That doesn’t mean there’s no interest in the tradition, however.

American expat, Kali Tal, says that for her, weaving once a week with a group of Swiss women is “a way to connect” and an opportunity to learn Swiss-German dialect.

The government as promoter Although it’s individuals and families who practise traditions, communities at all levels play a role in maintaining them.

“It’s a shared responsibility between the Confederation, the cantons, the cities and villages,” says David Vitali of Switzerland’s Federal Office of Culture. “Culture is a matter primarily for the cantons, whereas the Confederation has a subsidiary role.”

The federal government tries to contribute to the visibility and awareness of traditions, Vitali says. One such project – which Vitali coordinated – was the selection of 167 living traditions as part of Switzerland’s implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, ratified in 2008.

In 2012, Switzerland published the Inventory of Living Traditions in Switzerland. The traditions, which were proposed by the cantons, had to fulfil the criteria according to UNESCO’s Convention. These include transmission, continued practice and the sense of identity and community that they provide.

According to Vitali, how traditions are passed down is also starting to change. “If you look at really modern traditions, like flash mobs, for example, the information is passed on by social media networks. It’s really based on modern methods of communication.”

In addition to selling roast chestnuts and playing the alphorn and keeping bears in Bern, Switzerland’s list of living traditions contains newer traditions like a meeting of motorcycle enthusiasts.

“That was a really new thing, but of course people reacted differently,” says Vitali. “There were those who said, ‘That’s interesting’ and others who told us ‘That’s certainly not tradition’, because tradition is often associated with festivities and folklore.”

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Regional differences To some extent, speaking of “Swiss traditions” is misleading, because traditions can differ greatly from region to region.

“Switzerland measures 350km by 250km and in that area we have a huge diversity of styles, in folk music as well as in classical music,” says Martin Frey, a concert accordion seller from Oberentfelden, near Aarau. “All in a compact space, there’s a Swiss accordion scene with music that’s totally different from the orchestral accordion scene or from people who play solo, or who combine accordions with other types of instruments.”

Other traditions are linked to a certain region or language group. ‘Schwingen’ is mainly practised in German-speaking Switzerland, says Roger Brügger. “There are wrestlers in the French regions, but certainly less than in German-speaking areas. We’re working to increase that base.”

Tradition and tourism For most Swiss traditions, the roots aren’t all that deep, according to Vitali. “Many traditions are less old than we may think. Alphorn playing, for example, was more or less forgotten until the beginnings of tourism, which reinvented the tradition and gave it the place it has now.”

Today, tradition and tourism are closely interlinked.

“We’ve seen that interest in customs, living traditions, cultural landscapes, is growing, especially among tourism professionals,” says Vitali. “Approximately half of summer visitors to Switzerland cite cultural values and authentic encounters as main reasons for their trip, and not only the mountains.”

Likewise, visitors’ interest can help to safeguard traditions.

“Appreciation from an outsider may raise local awareness of a custom or a practice. A good example would be the annual descent of cattle from their summer Alpine pastures. There are practices like these which have been revived and now attract thousands of spectators.”

Supporting tradition Practising a tradition “marks everyday life. It structures life,” says Vitali. “UNESCO says it gives people a sense of identity, of continuity. It helps to orient people in their surrounding world.”

For the city of Aarau, hosting federal festivals has become a tradition. By the year 2019, when the federal sport festival takes place there, the city will have hosted all of the major national festivals within 20 years. That’s a lot of traditions being handed down.

“You can only win [as a sponsor],” says Aargau’s culture minister, Hürzeler. “When people come together, have fun together, are sociable, then it’s a winning situation that crosses all borders, from political borders on up to religious borders.

The whole country comes together – there’s even international participation. And it’s always a win when people meet on these terms.”

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Swiss that changed the world Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747–1823), watchmaking genius Born in Neuchâtel, Breguet learned his craft in Versailles, then set up on his own business in Paris.

Among his innovations were the first self-winding watch, Arabic numerals on the watch face and the shock absorber. In 1810 he made the first wrist watch for Caroline Murat, sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. He also designed instruments for physicists and astronomers.

May we ask you again?

The Good Deed Die gute Tat With the financial support of the Swiss Society of Victoria, we are once more able to provide our Seniors with a Christmas celebration on 3 December 2016 at the Swiss Club.

Every year the Senior guests are presented with a bag of homemade Christmas biscuits, a most welcome and treasured gift. The ladies of the Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess and many silent helpers prepare the sweet bounty.

We are looking again for kind and talented people, who could spare a bit of time and a few nuts and eggs and help to fill the ‘stockings’. Last year the response was overwhelming, and the Guetzli we received were not just proof of good and willing hearts and hands, they showed culinary excellence, which also reflected on the bright smiles on our guests faces.

We need your help again! Please! The goodies could be picked up in time at your place.

Please contact Rita Schwärzler-Abbt on tel. 9561 7811 or email ritaherbert@bigpond.com or Sylvia Hochuli on tel. 9531 6575 or email hochuli@tpg.com.au Lets keep this wonderful tradition alive!!

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Advanced Notice: Invitation to the Seniors of the Swiss Community, Swiss Nationals aged 70 or older and Partner The Swiss Club of Victoria with the support of the Swiss Society of Victoria, the Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess, the Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose, the SwissKids and the Swiss Companion Singers invite you to a

Senior Christmas Afternoon Tea Saturday, 3 December at 2pm Swiss Club of Victoria, 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

This event is free of charge.

RSVP by 25 November 2016 Please fill in the reply slip below or contact: Rita Schwärzler-Abbt T: 9561 7811, E: ritaherbert@bigpond.com or Sylvia Hochuli T: 9531 65 75, E: hochuli@tpg.com.au

Yes, I would like to attend the ‘Senior Christmas Afternoon Tea Name(s):

Address:

Telephone: This reply slip to be sent to: Rita Schwärzler-Abbt, 18 Hertford Cres. Wheelers Hill 3150

We need your email address There are many members, who have not as yet supplied us with their email address. Do not miss out on important announcements.

Make sure that you update all your details by contacting membership@swissclubvic.com.au or 0423 513 843

Swiss Club of Victoria

Test your Swiss Knowledge 1

Swiss Democracy in a Nutshell

By Vincent Kucholl and Mix&Remix

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CHF 22.90 +Postage. Available from Bergli Books http://www.bergli.ch Also available online from http://www.bookdepository.com for A$ 23.18

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Across 2. In which valley would you find Trubschachen?

4. Who can cure homesickness?

8. Lake Baldegg (Baldeggersee) is in which canton?

9. Who said: “…as if God was pelting the Devil down from Heaven with snow balls” (surname)?

10. Who will give a presentation about two great Swiss textile manufacturers (first name)?

12. Who did the singers visit (surname)?

13. Which national treasure has left the stage?

15. Who was the best Victorian Jasser (first name)?

16. According to Marianne and Heidy, what’s good for your health?

Down 1. A roast beef delicacy from Basel.

3. What did the media call a ‘national obsession’?

5. Who grew up in Venezuela (first name)?

6. An insect which is also a Swiss sport.

7. In which town do the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein converge?

11. What culinary delights are handed out to guests on 3 December?

14. Surname of a famous Swiss watchmaker.

For answers go to page 21

Parking in the City?

Before you visit the Swiss Club, visit www.secureparking.com.au/secure-a-spot Choose ‘11 Flinders Street’ and pre-book your parking.

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Publisher: Bergli Books Language: English Binding: Paperpack, 96 pages ISBN: 978-3-905252-63-7

An accessible, illustrated introduction to Switzerland’s unique form of democracy. Written by well-known comedian and political scientist Vincent Kucholl, and illustrated by Mix&Remix, the book is both for those new to Switzerland as well as anyone who would like to finally understand direct democracy, political parties, or what goes on in Bern.

Winner of the 2013 Albert Oeri Democracy Prize.

Newsletter Deadlines 2016 December Issue: Covering Dec/Jan/Feb 2017 Editorial Deadline: Monday, 7 November Mailing: Wednesday, 23 November

Das wöchentliche Radioprogram über alles Schweizerische in Australien, der Schweiz und der Welt. Eine Viertelstunde Aktuelles, Musik, Reportagen und Interviews auf Schweizerdeutsch mit Adrian Plitzco auf 93.1fm Jeden Sonntag von 19:45 bis 20Uhr SBS HOTLINE: (03) 9949 2192 http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/yourlanguage/german

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The

HEPBURN SPRINGS

We have a busy schedule for the remainder of the year: 9 October – Singing and participating at the Swiss Festival, Queensbridge Square / Southbank.

22 October – Swiss & Italian Festa in Hepurn Springs. Taking part in the parade and singing traditional Swiss songs.

27 November – Singing Christmas and traditional Swiss songs at the nursing homes in Bayswater and Boronia, supported by the Dance Group Alpenrose and the Swiss Yodel Club Matterhorn.

3 December – Singing Christmas Songs at the Senior Swiss Christmas Afternoon Tea at the Swiss Club.

If you like to sing traditional Swiss songs why not come and sing with us. We are practising on the 3rd and 4th Thursday of each monthat the Swiss Club For more information phone the convenor Herbert Schwärzler on 9561 7811.

Visiting Urs Marfurt, a founding member of the choir at his retirement home and singing his favorite songs with him

Exhibitions food + wine events Literature Events GRAND PARADE + FAMILY FESTA Heritage programs DESCENDANTS GATHERINGS Dinner & Dance event OPEN GARDENS Lantern Parade LEARN TO DANCE THE TARANTELLA

Fireworks

19TH-23RD OCTOBER

full program information out early September

WWW.SWISSITALIANFESTA.COM 16

Swiss Club of Victoria

It has to be said: The Ladies Luncheon…

Again we found some very interesting guest speakers for the forthcoming Luncheons. Make sure you put the dates in your diaries and please book to help Roger with the catering.

Please come along and join us, starting at noon, on

• Wednesday, 7 September Our guest speaker will be Daryl Teschendorf. He imported and distributed interior textiles from leading Swiss manufacturers Création Baumann (Langenthal) and Jakob Schlaepfer (St Gallen). Markets he supplied were architects, interior designers and decorators, international hotels and function centres, corporate offices, manufactures of curtain drapes, etc.

See some of the beautiful fabrics that featured in design exhibitions and won numerous Australian Design Awards over the years.

• Wednesday, 2 November Guest speaker is Adrian Plitzco from SBS Price for a 2-course meal, wine, soft drinks and coffee is $27 pp for members and $30 pp for non-members.

Invite a friend or two to come along. Please book with the Club on 9650 1196 or with Heidy on 9889 9321. Booking is essential.

Our last Ladies Luncheon is the day after Melbourne Cup and we invite you to wear your cup hat or create a special hat for the Ladies Luncheon. Our guest speaker Adrian Plitzco will judge “best creation” and you can win nice prices.

Heidy Giger

The Ladies Luncheon is one of our very special outings at the Swiss Club. I have attended many luncheons and enjoyed them immensely. Thank you Heidy and Marianne.

Thank you Roger and your excellent staff. Also our helper, who wears the chauffeur’s hat. Could put many more accolades into her hat! Thank you.

Inge Kulmanis

Victorian Seniors Festival – October 2016 The State Government will provide eight days of free public transport for Victorian Seniors Card holders in metropolitan and regional Victoria for the period 2-9 October 2016 and 5 days of free V/Line travel between 3-6 October and on Saturday 8 October. http://www.melbournepoint.com.au/events/victorianseniors-festival/

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…at the Swiss Club has become indeed a prestigious affair.

The excellent choice of speakers has attracted more and more ladies of diverse age groups, participating vividly as one can notice during the lecture and question times.

The table decoration, last time it was the wonderful camellias loosely scattered, or the giant mouth watering Toblerone the time before, lets the guests feel most welcome. And as if the trend to step up inspired our super chef Roger, the food has become better and better.

To mention the last speaker, Mrs Mary Castellani, talking about Memory and Aging, the importance of the Ladies Luncheon came totally to light.

Enhancing and keeping memory capacity has amongst other things much to do with social interaction. And this is exactly what this gathering does. The women talk to each other, exchange news, there is laughter and meeting new people, a wonderful network, which is most important in a women’s life. It is worth the effort to get out of the tracky dacks and go to town.

The compliment and heart felt thanks go to Heidy Giger and her assistant Marianne Bishop. They seem to be themselves in harmony and it makes you feel good upon arrival.

The thank-you comes from All of Us. See you next time – Wednesday, 7 September Rita Schwärzler-Abbt

Laughter is the universal language that everybody understands.

Laughter is effective regardless of differences in language or culture.

Unconditional Laughter is truly for everyone and everyone can do it.

You can laugh out loud, giggle quietly, do it alone or better still, come and share your laughter with us every 3rd and 4th Thursday of the month at 6 pm at the Swiss Club, Second Floor.

Laughter Yoga Helvetia Contact: laughter.club.helvetia@gmail.com Marianne Bishop 9432 2421 or follow us on facebook.

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Regional Differences in Swiss Cuisine Distinctions in regional cuisines are quite pronounced, leading Marianne Kaltenbach, the author of ‘Cooking in Switzerland’, to remark that “Switzerland’s cuisine is as varied as its landscape.” Indeed, the ingredients used differ considerably depending on whether you are in a mountainous area, on the shores of a lake, or in a fertile valley. In the Alps, where the cows graze during the summer, cooks rely heavily on dairy products such as milk, butter, cream and cheese; indeed, Switzerland has the world’s fourth largest dairy consumption per capita, over 315kg per person annually. The country’s lakes and rivers have varied fishes such as char, pike and whitefish, while the valleys and plains offer an abundance of fruits and vegetables.

The first two of the three C’s that Switzerland is most famous for – cheese, chocolate and clocks – can be found in Switzerland’s greatest contribution to the world’s gastronomic repertoire, fondue (meat fondue, known as fondue bourguignonne, is also popular). Yet, even when it comes to cheese fondue recipes, each canton has its own twist on the classic. Fribourg, which situated on the border between the French and German speaking parts of Switzerland, claims the oldest fondue recipe, the only one that does not include wine.

A more classical fondue recipe comes from Neuchâtel; it uses Gruyère, Emmentaler, or the spicy cheese from Jura just to the north, and local white wine. More generally, melted or cooked cheeses appear to be commonly eaten in mountainous areas in Eurasia, for example in Georgia. Swiss Alpine regions are home to such gooey melted cheese specialties as raclette and the malakoffs. Raclette hails from Valais in the south.

According to the local lore, it was invented by accident by a group of wine-growers who built a fire to warm themselves; a piece of cheese felt into the fire and melted, the hungry winemakers spread it on their bread, and they loved the results. Today, special raclette ovens or mini skillets placed over table grills can be used for melting the cheese, which is then spread on hot, unpeeled boiled potatoes and eaten with cornichons, marinated onions, and assorted pickles – and of course white wine. Malakoffs, or cheese fingers deep-fried in batter, supposedly owe their name to the Vaudois mercenaries who brought the recipe back from Russia (Genevois sometimes claim to have originated the recipe). Other cheese recipes from different parts of Switzerland include cheese pastries called Chäshappech from Appenzell in the northeast; Basel cheese toast, which uses onions, and Bernese cheese toast, which uses milk and Kirsch; cheese soup found in many variations in the mountainous regions such as Graubünden and the Valais; and Geneva cheese soufflé.

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The local cuisine in French-speaking cantons, especially in Geneva and Vaud, is unsurprisingly heavily influenced by the French. One favorite meat dish in western Switzerland, typically eaten for Easter, is gigot d’agneau, a leg of lamb braised in the oven. Other meat offerings from Vaud include fricassee à la vaudoise, made from pork, and jambon à l’os, ham on the bone. This canton is also home to the papet vaudois, a filling dish of leeks and potatoes. Unique Vaudois recipes also include the gateau aux nillons, a cake with a dark, rich topping of pressed walnuts, and a tarte au vin vaudois, Vaudois wine tarte with a filling of white or red wine mixed with some cream and baked over dough crust. In Geneva, many restaurants feature dishes from the nearby Lyon, arguably the gastronomic capital of France. But some of Geneva’s culinary offerings have a more local flavor. Lake Geneva offers char and perch, cooked gently and served with a sauce of white wine, butter, and eggs or cream. Some Geneva specialties have an interesting story as well. One such dish is the ‘Mother Royaume’ soup, served in a special large pot known as the marmite during the ‘Escalade’, an annual celebration in memory of an unsuccessful attack on the city in December of 1602 by the Savoyards. According to the legend, such hot soup was poured over the heads of the enemy by a courageous woman, Mère Royaume, thereby saving the city.

The cookery of the southern canton of Ticino is heavily influenced by the Italian cuisine from the Piedmont and Lombardy regions. For example, polenta is still quite popular.

Traditionally, polenta was cooked over the fireplace or over charcoal in a copper kettle and stirred for 40 minutes in one direction; today, many cooks prefer a faster cooking version.

Other typical dishes, also inspired by the Italians, include the hearty minestrone (vegetable soup) in its many variations such as busecca (Ticino tripe soup), the manzo brasato (a beef roast with a rich red wine sauce), the osso bucco (calves’ knuckles), and of course risotto. Both risotto and polenta are often served with wild mushrooms. Risotto always makes an appearance during the Ticino carnival, when it is served in the street to both locals and tourists alike – this is known as risotto in piazza.

Italian flavors and techniques are also apparent in some of the traditional dishes of Uri, a German-speaking canton north of Ticino. These influences came from the Italian workers who were participating in the construction of the St Gotthard tunnel. One example is the Rispor, a type of risotto with leek (called porro in Italian), garnished with browned onions. Pasta – in the form of straight hollow noodles or small dough bits known as Chnöpfli – is also commonly eaten in Ticino and Uri, though the poor traditionally mixed pasta with the cheaper potatoes. Another popular Ticino dish called vermicelles has nothing to do with long, thin Italian noodles though that is where its name derives from; instead it is a chestnut purée dessert.

Gastronomical influences of the neighbours are found also in the two eastern cantons bordering Austria: St Gallen and Graubünden. St Gallen has always had very close ties with its monastery, and many of today’s specialties were created by the monks, such as the St Gallen monastery cake, which is nonetheless reminiscent of the Austrian Linzer Torte. In Graubünden (where Romansch is spoken, alongside German and some Italian), traditional dumpling variations combined Swiss Club of Victoria

with vegetables and dried fruit, as well as lamb and venison dishes and meat pies, are reminiscent of Habsburg cuisine. The canton’s bakers, especially those from the Engadine region, achieved great recognition in the whole of Europe for their ‘Engadine Nut Cake’ and other specialities .

Citizens of Basel, a rich and scholarly city since the Middle Ages, maintain the cuisine of the neighboring Alsace. Their typical regional dishes include the Lummelbraten, a roast prepared from fillet of beef. Another traditional offering is a spice wine known as Hypokras, which dates from the Middle Ages and is traditionally served with Leckerli, spiced honey-nut cookies invented at the beginning of the 15th century for the dignitaries of the Basel council, because ordinary Lebkuchen (honey cake) just was not good enough for them. But local dishes include simpler fair as well, such as the Ziiblewäje (onion pie) and flour soup, a traditional offering served in the early morning hours after the Morgenstraich, the official opening of the Basel carnival, as well as after the marked parade through the city streets.

The northern cantons of Aargau, Schaffhausen, and Thurgau feature fish dishes based on delicate fresh-water fish from the Rhine and the Lake Constance. Citizens of Rheinfelden, a small town in Aargau, celebrate the Rhine’s bounty in annual cookout organised by the Fishermen’s Guild in August. In Schaffhausen, local favorites include grayling, a fish with tender flesh and a slight flavor of thyme, typically fried in plenty of butter, as well as pike, sliced and deep-fried. Fish is also commonly eaten in Zug, a small canton south of Zürich. Many gourmet visit Zug in November to taste the tender Röteli, a fish from the char family with reddish meat and an extremely short season. It is usually braised with herbs and white wine or boiled and served with melted butter. Thurgau specialties include whitefish, either roasted with white wine, assorted herbs, and copious amounts of butter, or cooked and marinated in a white wine and vinegar sauce flavored by onions, carrots, and leeks.

The cuisine of other German-speaking cantons exhibits German culinary sensibilities. For example, Solothurn’s speciality is Suure Mocke, a version of German Sauerbraten, meat roast marinated in local wine. A Luzern specialty called Schnitz und Härdöpfel is as German as it gets: it is a peculiar combination of bacon, potatoes and dried apples or pears in a sweet and sour sauce. The so-called Bärner Platte (bernese plate) includes everything produced from a typical slaughter day, known locally as Metzgete: ham, bacon, blood- and liver sausages, boiled beef, pork parts such as shank, snout, tongue, ears and tails, served on a bed of Sauerkraut or beans. According to the local story, the Bärner Platte was created in the vicinity of the city when victorious soldiers returned from a long battle. The women welcomed their men home by bringing everything they had in their houses to a nearby inn where the food was cooked and eaten. This dish also reflects the fact that historically meat was served only on Sundays and then usually only for men. This was particularly true in the mountainous cantons, where most people could seldom afford meat at all.

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Following in Lord Byron’s Swiss footsteps Two hundred years ago, the great British poet Lord Byron retreated to Switzerland with fellow Romantics for what would become an exceptionally creative summer. It would also have a lasting impact on tourism to the area.

In 1816, 28-year-old George Gordon Byron left England by boat for self-imposed exile.

The disgraced literary star travelled through Belgium and Germany to Switzerland, where he stayed from 20 May to 10 October, meeting up with an entourage that included poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary Godwin (future Mrs Shelley) and her stepsister Claire.

They rented summer houses at Cologny, near Geneva, and spent part of their time boating and visiting Geneva, Lausanne and the Château de Chillon. Fleeing nosy locals and British tourists, and often stuck indoors due to bad weather – blamed on an Indonesian volcano - the creative juices flowed.

“Everybody was spying on Byron and spreading rumours.

The idea he was drinking a lot and taking drugs was a myth.

He mainly just wrote when he was here,” explained Patrick Vincent, professor of English and American literature at the University of Neuchâtel. He was a consultant on the ‘Byron is back’ exhibition that recently opened at the castle.

It commemorates the anniversary and showcases original documents and objects.

“He was depressed about leaving England and the fact that his wife had left him. He felt guilty, depressed and abandoned by his half-sister. There was this creative tension which was so inspiring and led to great creativity over those five months.”

Their summer culminated in Byron’s poem ‘The Prisoner of Chillon’, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and a short story by young physician John Polidori called ‘The Vampyr’, which was influence for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Travel bug Those five months have undoubtedly had a huge impact on English literature, and culture in general. But Byron’s visit to Switzerland has had other enduring influences, most notably on tourism.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, visiting Europe on the so-called Grand Tour was an educational rite of passage for many young aristocrats, artists and philosophers. By the time of Byron’s visit after the Napoleonic Wars, growing numbers of middle class Europeans had also got the travel bug.

In the Romantics’ letters from the times, we learn that several thousand English tourists were staying in Geneva in 1816 and had booked up many of the country homes.

“The Romantics like to think they were alone, when in fact

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there were lots of people all around them and looking at what they were doing as they were so notorious,” Vincent explained.

After Lake Geneva, Byron toured the Alps on horseback and by carriage with his companion John Cam Hobhouse, following a guidebook route. They both kept diaries. In Byron’s Alpine Journal, written for his half-sister Augusta, the nature-lover waxes lyrically about the landscape, the quality of his mattress and singing locals.

“In the evening, four Swiss peasant girls from Oberhasli came and sang the airs of their country… the airs are so wild and original and at the same time of great sweetness,” he wrote.

“God pelting the Devil with snowballs” From Montreux they climbed the nearby Col de Jaman mountain and travelled to canton Bern.

“French exchanged for bad German – the district famous for cheese – liberty – property – and no taxes,” wrote Byron.

They went on to Lake Thun, the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Staubbach Falls, which resembled “the tail of a white horse streaming in the wind”.

As they ascend the Lauberhorn, Byron gazes in wonder at the Jungfrau and Eiger mountains.

“Heard avalanches falling every five minutes nearly – as if God was pelting the Devil down from Heaven with snow balls... clouds rose from the opposite valley curling up perpendicular precipices – like the foam of the Ocean of Hell during a Springtide.”

His alpine trip would inspire his poem ‘Manfred’, which was later set to music by Tchaikovsky and Schumann.

Hobhouse’s alpine diary is more down to earth. He is amazed by the sights but complains about getting ripped off by innkeepers, crowds of English, and peasants who are “too accustomed to tourists”.

As Byron swoons over the Jungfrau, Hobhouse describes how the sudden arrival of “two or three females on horseback” shatters the illusion of ‘wildness” up on the mountainside.

While struck by the beauty of the countryside, Byron’s attitude towards the Swiss people is ambivalent, however.

“Switzerland is a curst selfish, swinish country of brutes, placed in the most romantic region of the world. I never could bear the inhabitants, and still less their English visitors,” he wrote to Thomas Moore in 1821.

At the time, alpine trips were all the rage. According to British historian Gavin de Beer, around five books on Switzerland were published every year in Europe in the second half of the 18th century. From 1845 to 1850, 40 travel-related works on Switzerland sometimes appeared a year.

In 1816, the year ‘The Prisoner of Chillon’ was published, Byron-mania was also at its peak. His flight abroad had not dampened interest – quite the contrary.

From then up until around 1850, Byron fans, including French writer Victor Hugo, made pilgrimages to Lake Geneva, the Château de Chillon and the Alps to follow in his footsteps.

Swiss Club of Victoria

They were assisted by books like ‘Murray’s Handbook for Travellers in Switzerland’, published in 1836 by the son of Byron’s English publisher. Packed with Byron quotations, tourists could relive his emotions in front of the Jungfrau and at other spots.

Jungbürgerfeier

“Byron stayed here” Local entrepreneurs were also quick to exploit the literary rock star’s appeal. “Byron stayed here” plaques appeared on buildings and English tourists packed new establishments like the luxury Hotel Byron near the Château de Chillon, inaugurated in 1839. Tourism was already quite big, but Montreux, Vevey, Clarens, Villeneuve and Caux developed a great deal because of Byron.

Today, the Hotel Byron is an old people’s home.

Other deceased artists, like writer Vladimir Nabokov or singer Freddie Mercury, have joined the list of famous former residents or visitors who the regional tourist office likes to cite.

But Byron’s influence has not waned. For years, the Château de Chillon has remained the most-visited historic monument in Switzerland. In 2015, almost 372,000 people crossed its drawbridge and admired the Byron graffiti in the dungeon.

British visitors (2.5% of total) have, meanwhile, slowly been replaced by Swiss (24%) and Chinese (20%).

Thanks to the generous support of the Consul General of Switzerland, Mr Ernst Steinmann, the Honorary Consul of Victoria, Ms Manuela Erb together with the Swiss Club of Victoria hosted a reception to celebrate the coming of age of all young Swiss in Victoria born in 1998.

The young men and women were invited together with their parents or partners to mark this special milestone in their lives.

It was an opportunity for the newly adult Swiss citizens to learn more about the official Switzerland and how to be able to participate in Swiss civic life. The event also introduced them to the Swiss Club, its long history, and the place of friendship and support for the Swiss Community. It was also a n unique opportunity to mingle with other young Swiss. Thank you to all for coming along.

swissinfo.ch

IMPORTANT NOTICE NEW BANKING DETAILS WESTPAC SWISS CLUB OF VICTORIA BSB: 033-157 A/C NO: 446271 For payment of membership and SCV functions

Invitation to the young Swiss coming of age.

Swiss National Day Celebration at the Austrian Club – Sunday 7 August

This glorious winter Sunday brought a large section of the Swiss community in Victoria together to celebrate our National Day. Young and old seemed to really enjoy the day, and it was most pleasing to see the many families who introduced their children to the sights, sounds and tastes that Swiss traditions have to offer. It was also a great opportunity for many to catch up with friends they haven’t seen for years.

Another piece of good news is that the Swiss Yodel Choir Matterhorn has been invigorated through the addition of five female singers, including two yodellers, and has been able to perform again in public for the first time in over 18 months!

We would like to thank all the groups and individuals who have helped to make this event a success: Honorary Swiss Consul Manuela Erb, the Alphorn Duo Irma and Chris Thalmann, the Swiss Companion Singers, the Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose, the Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess, the accordion/guitar duo Philip and Beat, the Swiss Club of Victoria, the Swiss Festival Committee, the Groupe Romand du Victoria, the Laughter Yoga Group, Walmas Smallgoods, Tom Maerkli, and of course the Austrian Club who allowed us to use its facilities.

Erwin Weinmann Secretary, Swiss Yodel Choir Matterhorn Inc.

It’s your Club. Get Involved!

Test your Swiss Knowledge - Answers Across: 2. Emmental; 4. WALMAS; 8. Luzern; 9. Byron; 10. Daryl; 12. Marfurt; 13. Dimitri; 15. Ernie; 16. Laughter Down: 1. Lummelbraten; 3. Gotthard; 5. Margarita; 6. Hornussen; 7. Bonaduz; 11. Biscuits; 14. Breguet w w w. s wissclubv ic .com . au

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NOTICE

2016 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, 7 September 2016, 8pm Agenda: 1. Opening and Welcome 2. One Minute of Silence 3. Attendance, Apologies, Proxies 4. Adoption of Minutes of Annual General Meeting 2015 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 2016 Annual General Meeting of the SCV Held Wednesday, 16 March, 2016, 6.30pm, 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 1. Opening and Welcome The President of the Swiss Club of Victoria, Arnold Kramer, opened the Annual General Meeting at 8:10pm and welcomed the Honorary Life Members and Members of the Swiss Club. He thanked everyone for attending; a total of 54 voting members were present.

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2. One Minute of Silence Arnold invited all members to stand up and observe a minute of silence to remember our friends and members, who have left us.

3. Apologies Sylvia Hochuli, A.P. Boll, John Ortner, Barbara Kündig, Sigrid de Castella, Antony Anderson, Erika Kimpton, Urs Biedermann, Heinz Gujer, Lutz Kreimer, Felix Wyss, Paul Kramer, Peter Kropf, Christina Borg-Bono, Liz & Rolf Maedler, Rena Bueler, Max & Liliane Witschi, Henry Huggins, Sok Wee & Christoph Bitterlin, Danielle Bilson, Yvonne & Russell Stucki, Patrick Albert, Jennifer Kramer, Reto Hofmann, Elisabeth Oswald, Noel Welsh, Remy Favre, Susan Cranage, Ernst Hügli, Fred Dumar, Basil Jenkins, Beat Altermatt, Gideon Aschwanden.

4. Adoption of Minutes of the AGM The Minutes of the Half Yearly Meeting held, Wednesday, 30 September 2015, were published in the March 2016 newsletter. The minutes had been read and are a true record. The minutes were moved by Sepp Schmidig and seconded by John Wyss, All in favour. The minutes were adopted.

5. President’s Report Dear Honorary Life members and members, Welcome and thank you for joining us for this 2016 Annual General Meeting.

It is a privilege to address you as your President, and I want to thank you for your support during this past year. I have learnt so much more about the Swiss Club community, the various groups and of course you as individuals.

Regrettably, I struggle at times to remember all your names, however, I hope that I have always made the effort to greet you and have a brief chat.

2015 at the Swiss Club was once again a busy time for us at the Club. We enjoyed the company of The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, a regular event that brings a welcome stream of visitors and revenue. Thanks must go to all those members who may have been inconvenienced by this event for their understanding.

We hosted the Biggest Morning Tea raising a considerable donation for the Cancer Council. An event we will repeat this year.

The 1st August National Day saw our Club humming the entire day with an impressive art and craft exhibition on the 2nd floor. We served Swiss sausages in the laneway alongside games for the children who later formed the lampion parade to Federation square. Roger had the restaurant open and had a busy day keeping up with the steady stream of visitors.

In mid-October we had the Swiss Consulate setup the mobile biometric passport station on the second floor managed by the Vice Consul Christoph Keller and his assistant Ms Robbiani. They processed over 500 identity cards and passports.

The Seniors Christmas afternoon Tea Party in December was again a huge success and special thanks must go to the convener and organiser Rita Schwärzler for her continued dedication toward this special event.

We hope that with the continued generosity of finance from the Swiss Society of Victoria and efforts from Rita and her team of supporters, they will continue to bring this special annual event for the Elders of our Swiss community.

The same special thanks must go to all the interest group convenors for their tireless work year in year out, Sylvia Hochuli with the Heimatabend, Heidy Giger & the Ladies Luncheons, Herbert Schwärzler, Marianne Bishop, Rolf Huber, and Esther Blaser. We thank the teams of helpers like the Swiss Club of Victoria

Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess, the Folk Dance Group Alpenrose, Alphorn players, the Swiss Companion singers, Swiss kids, and all the supporting volunteers.

Throughout the year, we have been well fed, watered and entertained

by Roger & Renee and the staff from the restaurant and on the first Thursday of the month we have Johnny Wanner’s Kapelle Grüetzi Mitenand providing delightful music. We thank Roger and his team for all his hard work in making the club restaurant such a welcome place for members, their families and guests.

We also have the Regular movie nights, social jass, billiards, yoga laughter etc. It is really appreciated that all these activities and events are held as they continue to reinforce the social aspect and purpose of our Club.

Our 117th Foundation Day Celebration on 1st February this year was a special one. What was initially set out to be a wine tasting cheese and canapé event took a twist with a special, but secret at the time, announcement. The Club was thrilled to be able to include and celebrate Sylvia Hochuli on her award of the OAM, a well-deserved award. Amongst the 120 distinguished guests we had His Excellency the Ambassador of Switzerland, Mr Marcel Stutz, who fare welled Erika Kimpton and introduced Manuela Erb as our new Honorary Consul.

On 1st December 2015 we concluded negotiations with Roger Moullet with the signing of the Services Agreement. The Agreement is for 12 months with option for both parties to agree to extend for a further 12 months.

Rental payments are monthly with outgoings invoiced accordingly. The 10% discount to members for food and beverage continues to apply.

Maintenance costs for the Club this past 12 months have been kept at a low and acceptable level with minimal repairs necessary apart from a water tank replacement. We have, as you may have noticed, installed additional low cost LED lighting to the front stairwell. We also painted this entire area which was indeed overdue, and also relacquered the timber handrails. The restaurant booths seating has been reupholstered which have served us well since the renovation more than ten years ago.

Emergency lights and exit signage have also had their day and it was necessary to changeover many of these, again to LED version des.

that the Club is in good shape and with their continued efforts we will endeavour to do even better.

However, it is a committee of volunteers, and it would be so much better if we could have a few more hands on our team. We need members willing to get stuck in and actively work with us. Can I ask you all to encourage your families and friends to continue to support the Club and become involved members so that we can introduce fresh ideas whilst we maintain the traditions of the past?

6. Treasurer’s Report Treasurer’s report was prepared by Barbara Kündig and presented by Markus Lüthi: 2015 was a positive year for the SCV. We closed the year with a $11,921 profit. We maintained our cash at hand reserves at a similar level as at the end of 2014 and were able to reduce our liabilities (ANZ loan) by 40% to 190,000.

We reviewed how we manage the club’s financial affairs. We started banking with Westpac, taking advantage of their free Community Banking

Proxy Form for the Half-Yearly General Meeting 2016 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:

We re-established the subsidised parking with the new owners of the 114 Flinders St car park, Le Garage. Follow on tickets are available from the Club restaurant for members as before.

hereby appoint:

Thank you to Roland Isler, who for over 10 years has been editing and producing the quarterly editions of the Edelweiss newsletter,. The Edelweiss contains fascinating, informative and relevant information that our members thoroughly enjoy reading. Really appreciate the effort that goes into the production.

his/her address being:

I would like to mention that Roland is on the Council of the Swiss Abroad representing Oceania and he will be the Chairman of the Meeting the OSA are having here, at our Club on October 8th. Anyone wishing to know more about this important conference can catch up with Roland later.

It is important for us all to remember and thank: All people, past and present, who have in any way, volunteered their time, helped or contributed to the Swiss community, for their support and contributions.

Before we move onto the Treasurer’s Report I would like to invite: Rita Schwärzler and Heidy Giger up to the front so that we can present them with a small gift as a token of our appreciation: Lastly, I wish to thank my Committee for their commitment throughout this past twelve months. We are a small group and have had to work hard to keep it all going which at times, has not been easy. I am proud to say w w w. s wissclubv ic .com . au

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, 7 September 2016 and at every adjournment thereof.

Signed by hand this

day of

2016

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. Only proxies received on this proxy form will be considered as valid proxy instructions.

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product and all payments are now via EFT. We set up a virtual credit card facility, processing membership and function credit card payments ourselves improving time and control. We went online with the accounts.

Committee members can participate more actively in the finance process by all having view access to the finances (bank accounts & accounting software).

maintenance contract. This seems a lot, but since we have this contract (about 3+ years now), we have had no major issues nor repair costs for the main lift and the dumb waiter. So prevention (even if it costs money) is better than paying for repairs! The other large expense was janitorial expenses which includes cleaning of all windows outside (each time about $1,000) and weekly cleaning of the Second Floor facilities to name a few.

We listened to your request to present more straightforward information at the AGM/HYM so that a comparison between accounting periods is possible. The financials distributed are copies of the director’s report displaying 2014 & 2015 figures.

Member Expenses:

Income: In 2016, the SCV achieved income of $214,363. 84% is from rent and outgoings. Pure rental income (excluding outgoings) was $142,493 spread over the three floors plus the outside wall. 59% for the G/F, 26% for the club restaurant, 14% for the Second Floor and 1% for Wall advertisement space.

Member subscriptions & functions: I would like to congratulate and thank our membership secretary, Vreni Welsh, for her wonderful work managing the membership. She does it without fuss, and with tremendous heart and energy. Membership matters, and Vreni makes it happen. Vreni has also been very supportive and active in assisting me in setting up the membership in the accounts, and she helps me very much with the collection process.

Donations were again a welcome surprise. We are grateful to have received $6,727. This is made up of two bequests; from HLM, Mr Hans Muhl and from member Ms Doris Diserens. In addition, several members generously rounded up their membership payment. Some HLM replaced their now free membership with a donation. The committee thanks them for their generosity and continuous financial support of the Swiss Club.

Receivables: While receivables are an asset, we took to heart the members’ concerns that they were too high. Thus, we worked hard on collecting the 2014 receivables made up of mainly outgoings invoices.

We reduced them by almost 60%. This might not seem enough, but in addition, we changed the outgoings rebilling procedure. We now on charge outgoings in full as incurred by us each month. As a result, $37,833 worth of outgoings was rebilled in 2015 of which 91% of these invoices were collected by 31 Dec. The remaining $3,400 was settled by Feb 16. To assist TR with the increased outgoings, we agreed in Mar 15 on a repayment plan of $3,250 per month. It should all be cleared by early 2017. This payment is in addition to their monthly rental and current outgoings invoice. All 2015 rent due was paid by end of the year.

Expenses: We incurred expenses of $202,442. 24%. Almost a quarter, or $48,000 were depreciation expenses.

Rates, which includes Land Tax, Council Rates, Water, Fire & Security, were 25% of expenses with a large portion rebilled. Rates appear higher than 2014. In 2015 Land Tax & Council Rates were entered with the full amount when notice was received, with installment payments deducted from full amount when due.

Insurances, which consist of building, liability insurance of 20 million, voluntary workers and directors insurance was 6.5% of total expenses. The insurance premium was $1,894 (13%) lower than 2014. Over $7,300 of it is rebilled to the tenants leaving us with comprehensive insurance at a cost less than $6,000.

Repairs and Maintenance made up 12% of expenses, but was $14,415 or 37% lower than 2014. Half of it was for building improvements such as replacing the water tank on the roof and improved lighting in the stairwell.

The other half was for maintenance of which almost 50% was for the lift

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1) Function Expenses: Being a social club is our raison d’etre. In past years, when the club was struggling financially, investing into members was sometimes a challenge. While as a general rule, functions should break even or make a profit, the committee feels strongly to give something back to members and spread it among all age groups. In 2015, two major events were organized; the 116th anniversary High Tea and the National Day Festival at the club. The committee decided to subsidize both events. We also continued spending $1,600 on the Seniors Luncheon and supporting senior events with gift vouchers and/or wine donations. As a result, our function expenses have tripled compared to 2014 but so has our function income.

2) Newsletter, Postage, Printing & Stationery: With setting up the accounts in Reckon, we slightly adjusted the chart of accounts and changed where we post some entries. Adding the three categories up, 2014 expenses were $5,042 and 2015 $7,801, a difference of $2,759.

We introduced new, personalized membership cards renewable each year (except for HLM) at a cost of almost $1,000 or roughly $2.50 per member. We trust you appreciate the new cards! It is now also quite easy for the club restaurant to determine current membership status as the cards expire each year. If you want to receive your 10% discount on food & beverage, please present your current card. You can collect your 2016 card tonight. Please see Vreni after the AGM. Gold is expensive thus updating the honour board with gold leafing cost $650. We also supported the Ladies Lunch with $500 from the bequest of Doris Diserens. We paid for the trophies and engraving for the Jass Competition nights organized by the Dance Group ($400) and purchased a batch of special sign in books for the club restaurant at $400. As signing-in of non-members is a requirement for a club liquor license, please ensure that all guests you take to the club restaurant register their presence in this book!

3) Miscellaneous Expenses consists of phone, website, committee expense, licenses & a market review cost for the building required to negotiate rental rates. Thus showing an increase of $1,053 or 14%.

Bank Fees are higher than 2014 due to implementation of credit card facility and still having the ANZ account, which will be closed in 2016.

Please only use our Westpac account for any EFT transactions.

The ANZ loan for the Second Floor was reduced to 190.000 and the interest rate was decreased from 7.16% to 5.99% as of Nov15. Thank you to Susan Brealey for shopping around and thus giving us the necessary information to renegotiate with ANZ. However, in the meantime the banks have moved on interest rates, and as of March the loan interest is 6.2%.

By paying down the loan by $125,878, we saved 27% or $6,442 in interest expenses. This will be further reduced in 2016 due to the lower interest rate as well as continuing with our efforts to pay down the loan with any surplus cash.

This covers most of our expenses. If at any time you would like to know more about the accounts, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please accept my apologies for not being able to deliver the treasurer report in person due to other commitments. My thanks go to Markus Lüthi for presenting the report on my behalf.

Swiss Club of Victoria

Conclusion Profit & Loss: Income: $214,363 Expenses: $202,442 Balance Sheet: Current Assets: .............................................. $ 2,982 Fixed Assets:................................................... $ 918,318 Total Assets:........................................... $ 1,061,300 20,053 Current Liabilities:........................................... $ Non Current Liabilities ................................... $ 90,000 Members Funds:............................................. $ 851,247 Total Liabilities: .................................... $ 1,061,300 2015 ended positively for the club while reducing our loan considerably.

We were able to build on the great work previous committees had done over the past 16 years (I can’t speak about events before that, as I was not part of it). Let’s put it all into perspective; we are a small club, but thanks to the tremendous work of previous committees and their respective treasurers, and thanks to the support, help and advice of many dedicated and loyal members, we were able to upgrade this building and finance improvements in excess of $700,000 since 2004. While nobody can predict the future, system and controls were set in place in 2015, so that 2016 should again be a positive year for the Swiss Club. I would like to thank my fellow committee members for their support and assisting me in my endeavours to make it financially happen for the club. Thank you.

Honorary Life Membership based on 40 years of membership and being over the age of 70 was awarded to: Urs Biedermann, Heinz Gujer, Rita Jenkins, Lutz Kreimer, Ernst Niederer, Fred & Annette Ruegg, Margarita Scott Young, Andreas Tobler, Hans Wanner, Barbara & John Wyss, Felix Wyss. The new HLM present were handed their certificate and received a bottle of wine.

The committee proposed to the members to extend a Honorary Life Membership to Roland Isler for distinguished and ongoing service to the Swiss Club of Victoria. Roland has been a member for over 30 years, a committee member and president of the Swiss Club, and the Newsletter editor for over 10 years.

Proposed by: Sepp Schmidig, seconded by: Rolf Huber, all in favour – the motion was adopted.

The Committee congratulated the new honorary life members, and thanked them for their long support of the Swiss Club. Roland Isler thanked the committee and all members present for the honour of becoming a honorary life member.

Pins: Presentation for 10,20 resp 30 years of SCV membership Gold: H Greig Foletta and Paul Kramer, Silver: Peter Kropf and Ross Weber Bronze: Sok Wee & Christoph Bitterlin, Christina Borg Bono , Rena Bueler, Monica Hofmann, Henry Huggins, Liz & Rolf Maedler, Liliane & Max Witschi and Lore & Rolf Zispin.

The Treasurer’s report was moved by: Walter Purtschert and seconded by: Herbert Schwärzler, All in favour - The 2015 Financials were adopted.

All the pin recipients present were awarded with their pin and given a sweet present.

7. Election of Office Bearers

New Member Welcome: Preceding the AGM a Welcome Night for our New Members was held: Patrick Andenmatten, Nick Georgopoulos, David Windsor and Renee Moullet attended the AGM and were presented with a copy of our 100 year history book.

Committee Members (2 years) Arnold Kramer: Proposed by Markus Helsing seconded by Hans Keller, all in favour, Barbara Kündig: Proposed by Herbert Schwärzler seconded by Albert Forster, all in favour.

Election of Honorary Officers: As per the constitution all Honorary Officers retired, and the committee recommended the following: President: Arnold Kramer was proposed by Rolf Huber, seconded by Sepp Schmidig, all in favour Secretary: Vreni Welsh was roposed by Rita Schwärzler, seconded by Patrick Rychner, all in favour Treasurer: Barbara Kündig: was proposed by Marcel Muntwyler, seconded by Roland Isler, all in favour

Other General Business: Kurt Born asked Roland Isler about banking possibilities for Swiss abroad.

Unfortunately, Roland had no good news for the members as no Swiss Bank is interested in providing this service. With “Post Finance” is in the process of applying for a Banking license there is another hope lost.

But the OSA keeps lobbying in favour of the Swiss Abroad.

Sepp Schmidig thanked the Committee for its commitment and good work over the past year.

9. Conclusion

Arnold Kramer welcomed and thanked Bruce & Stuart Legg for their work on the accounts.

As there were no further questions from the members, Arnold Kramer concluded the meeting with the words; ‘the Swiss Club of Victoria relies on the members support, the financial returns from its tenants and most importantly the commitment and interest from the volunteers to ensure it can remain a focal point for the Swiss community.

Thank you all for giving the Club this support.’

Election of auditor was proposed by Franz Schnellmann and seconded by Hans Keller, all in favour

The Annual General Meeting closed at 9:10pm and members were invited a glass of wine and Lindt chocolates.

8. General Business

Minutes taken by Vreni Welsh as a true record.

Election of auditor:

Membership Presentations: We have 417 members at present. Vreni Welsh informed everyone that all membership data has now been transferred to Reckon Hosted and in future membership accounts will only be sent by email. Please put email sender accountshosted into your favourites. All members are encouraged to provide us with an email address. w w w. s wissclubv ic .com . au

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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

Thursday 01

Wednesday 07

Saturday 10

Wednesday 21

Wednesday 28

Kapelle Grüetzi Mitenand entertains at the Club Ladies’ Luncheon HALF-YEARLY GENERAL MEETING Jass Night – Swiss Club (Final) Swiss Movie Night: ‘Kleine Fische’ Social Jass

OCTOBER

Kapelle Grüetzi Mitenand entertains at the Club Oceania Swiss Club Presidents’ Conference 2016 – Social Dinner at the Club SWISS FESTIVAL @ QUEENSBRIDGE SQUARE Billiard Competition – Swiss Club Single Championship Companion Singers perform at Swiss & Italian Festa Social Jass

NOVEMBER

Thursday Friday Sunday Friday Saturday Wednesday

06 07 09 14 22 26

Wednesday 02 Thursday 03 Monday 07 Wednesday 09 Wednesday 16 Wednesday 23

DECEMBER

Thursday 01

Saturday 03

Friday 23

Ladies’ Luncheon Kapelle Grüetzi Mitenand entertains at the Club Editorial Deadline – Newsletter December issue Fahrt ins Blaue (Mystery Trip) – Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess Swiss Movie Night: ‘Sonjas Rückkehr’ Social Jass Kapelle Grüetzi Mitenand entertains at the Club Senior Christmas Afternoon Tea Club Restaurant closes after dinner (reopens on Monday, 9 January 2017 for lunch)

OTHER REGULAR SWISS CLUB MEETINGS: Committee Meetings: every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month (excluding January & December) 6.30 to 8pm.

Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose: practice every Tuesday evening at 8.15pm Swiss Companion Singers: practice and social gathering every 3rd and 4th Thursday of each month at 7.30pm Laughter Yoga Helvetia: meets every 3rd and 4th Thursday of each month at 6pm SwissKids: meets every 1st Saturday of each month, from 2pm to 4pm Les Bavards – ‘The Chatterboxes’: French Conversation Group meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month at 6.30pm

The Swiss Club of Victoria will be hosting the Oceania Swiss Club Presidents’ Conference 2016, organised by the Australian and New Zealand delegates to the Council of the Swiss Abroad. The day-long conference will take place on Saturday, 8 October.

On Friday, 7 October a social dinner will be held to welcome the many conference participants and their partners from all over Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland. Swiss Club members are warmly invited and encouraged to join our guests for this special evening. Make sure you book early!

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Swiss Club of Victoria

Invitation to celebrate

Hosted by our Honorary Consul Manuela Erb, the Swiss Club of Victoria is celebrating the commencement of scheduled passenger travel through the new Gotthard Base Railway Tunnel.

You are invited to a display and information presentation featuring video and photographs, dedicated to this marvel of railway engineering in the 21st Century.

Thursday 1st December 19 00 - 20.30 pm The Second Floor, Swiss Club of Victoria 89 Flinders Lane Entry by Gold Coin Donation

Restaurant Bookings: To avoid disappointment Please Book all Dinner Reservations Swiss Club Restaurant Direct T: (03) 9650 1196

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