DECEMBER 2016
Oceania Swiss Club Presidents’ Conference
Friday, 7 October to Sunday, 9 October 2016 The Swiss Club of Victoria was the proud host of the Oceania Swiss Club Presidents’ Conference 2016. Following a successful meeting two years ago in Canberra, the Australian and New Zealand members of the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA), Roland Isler VIC (chairperson), Carmen Trochsler SA, Beat Knoblauch NSW and Peter Ehrler NZ, combined their efforts in organising a forum for leaders of all the Swiss community groups and associations from across Oceania. The response was very pleasing – every Swiss club in Australia, four from New Zealand, as well as many other associations followed the invitation. There were a total of 44 conference participants, including the presenters and organisers. The distinguished panel of presenters included two visitors who came all the way from Switzerland – Ambassador Jürg Burri, Director of the Consular Directorate of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA); and Remo Gysin, President of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA).
Official Switzerland was very well represented. On the panel was the newly appointed Ambassador of Switzerland to Australia, Pedro Zwahlen and Consul General of Switzerland, Ernst Steinmann. Among the participants were Manuela Erb, Swiss Honorary Consul in Victoria; and Jürg Bono, Counsellor, Deputy Head of Mission & Head of Consular Affairs, Swiss Embassy in New Zealand. Further presenters were Ryan Cooper, Secretary & Oceania Representative of the Youth Parliament of the Swiss Abroad, Dominique Beck, who expertly conducted the workshop on the topic of ‘The future of Swiss Clubs in Oceania’; as well as all four CSA delegates. Before getting down to business, an informal dinner was held on Friday evening at the Swiss Club restaurant. This was an opportunity for members of the host club to meet and mingle with the visitors and compatriots from all over Australia and New Zealand. Members of the ‘Guggemusik Auckland’, here to participate at the Swiss Festival on Sunday, were also attending the dinner. To the tunes of the ‘Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand’ the evening soon turned very lively and lots of fun was had by everyone. Continued page 6
8 9 F l i n d e r s L a n e • Me l b o u r n e 3 0 0 0 • Vi c t o r i a • Au s t ra l i a • w w w. s wi s s c l u b vi c . c o m . a u
Foundation Day Celebration Wednesday, 1 February 2017 6pm for 6.30pm start
Viva il Ticino! Please join the Committee and fellow members in the club restaurant to celebrate our 118th Anniversary with a Ticinese Evening
Live Music and Dancing
Club Members: $30 per person Non-member Guests: $45 per person includes 3-course dinner & entertainment Drinks at bar prices RSVP a must via Trybooking only by 28 January:
www.trybooking.com/245989
Limited spaces, book early. For questions, email info@swissclubvic.com.au
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
Ladies Luncheons Convenor: Heidy Giger For bookings T: (03) 9650 1196 For information: T: (03) 9889 9321 E: adelheid1@bigpond.com
Swiss Club Restaurant Catering For all functions contact Roger or Reneé T: (03) 9650 1196, M: 0409 040 249 E: swissclub@hotmail.com
SwissKids Convenor: Mat Lorencak M: 0417 106 556 E: mlorencak@icloud.com
The Second Floor Function Room Info and/or bookings T: 1300 893 968 E: thesecondfloor@swissclubvic.com.au
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
Membership Keep all your contact details up-todate: M: 0423 513 843 E: membership@swissclubvic.com.au
COMMITTEE
Laughter Yoga Helvetia Convenor: Marianne Bishop M: 0448 697 258 E: laughter.club.helvetia@gmail.com
Arnold Kramer President / Building Services Manager M: 0419 268 503 E: president@swissclubvic.com.au
Swiss Festival Chairman: Rolf Huber T/F (H): (03) 9807 0282 M (B): 0425 805 854 E: rolf@swissfestival.com.au
Vreni Welsh Secretary M: 0423 513 843 E: info@swissclubvic.com.au
SWISS COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
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
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
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 67 St.Georges Crescent Heatherton Vic 3202 M: 0412 935 565 E: risler@csa-oceania.org www.csa-oceania.org 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 please contact the Editor, Maria Baker, on E: maria.libers@gmail.com
Unless otherwise stated, postal address for all is: 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 w w w. s w i s s c lu b v i c .c o m.a u
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President’s Message Dear members and friends of the Swiss Club of Victoria Well, here we are again with the last edition of the Edelweiss for yet another year. Hopefully by the time you are reading this, all the extreme wind and dreadful weather we had in October and November is a distant memory and we can enjoy a summer that brings much pleasure to us all. On 7 September, the club held the half-yearly General Meeting which was well attended by members. It is fair to say after the meeting, the general consensus from those in attendance was that the club is in a sound position. I thank my committee who are doing a great job looking after the interests of the members by organising events, ensuring you are kept informed on what’s happening, performing maintenance and repairs to the building and ensuring the financial viability of the club. I do look forward to seeing more members at these meetings as it is your opportunity to ask questions and offer guidance and ideas for your club’s future direction. The next AGM is held on Wednesday, 15 March 2017. October was a busy time for the club and the Swiss community with the Swiss Club of Victoria proudly hosting the Oceania Swiss Club Presidents’ Conference 2016, organised by the members of the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA). The club welcomed members and attendees to the conference on the evening of Friday, 7 October to the restaurant where we were entertained by Johnny Wanner’s band ‘Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand’. Roger and his staff provided the guests with his famous bill of fare and attentive service. Complimentary wine was provided by the Swiss Club of Victoria to members and guests as a welcome gesture. On Saturday, the Second Floor was dedicated to the official conference which included many distinguished guests and presenters. The opportunity for the various club presidents to meet and discuss challenges clubs face, was most worthwhile. Future collaboration and interaction with these participants and their groups with the assistance of the CSA Oceania will help us to plan for the future direction of our clubs. It was a pleasure for us to host the event in our building on the second floor and to sponsor the conference lunch in our own restaurant. I must proudly boast that we really do have
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all members! 4
a wonderful club that was envied by many who are not so fortunate to have a club house such as ours. We received a very kind email from the conference chairman Roland Isler, stating: ”I cannot thank you and the committee of the SCV enough for the tremendous hospitality and generosity that you have shown to the conference participants and guests. The conference, in fact the whole weekend, turned out to be a most successful event and the contribution that the SCV has made added much to it!” The conference was full of interesting topics and information about which I would encourage you to contact Roland Isler to find out more. I also encourage you to visit the brand new CSA website www.csa-oceania.org which is an information platform dedicated to the Swiss community of Oceania. On the following Sunday, our club participated at the Swiss Festival in what can only be described as one of Melbourne’s windiest days. Our booth was selling Nussgipfel and we sold all 500 of them by early afternoon. Our stand was a great success because we had the generous assistance of Sylvia Hochuli OAM and the members of the Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose along with all the kind volunteers and Swiss Festival helpers. The theme for us was ‘Tracht’ and the ladies were a picture to be seen in their finery. Committee members, Vreni, Susan, Markus and Barbara, thank you so much for all the help and organisation. Please see the inside back cover for more. Despite the weather, Melbourne was given a real Swiss day out and I hope that you were able to be a be part of it all. The Swiss Companion Singers and the Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose have been busy doing the rounds out and about the club, festivals and various nursing homes. It is truly wonderful to hear the voices and watch the dancers perform bringing joy to the community. Thank you Herbert and Sylvia and to all your participants for your commitment to practice and for the performances which give so much pleasure to many. The annual Fahrt ins Blaue organised by Sylvia Hochuli OAM, president of the Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess/Australian Cultural Society, took place on 9 November. As usual an eager group of young (over sixty) members of the Swiss/Australian community lined up to have a wonderful day out. Read more about it on page 19. On 2 November was the final Ladies Luncheon for the year and I would like to thank Heidy Giger and Marianne Bishop for what has become a sought after gathering. These ladies have hit a chord with the members providing informative and entertaining guest speakers, setting an atmosphere of happiness and camaraderie. It has me thinking though, why don’t we have a gentlemen’s luncheon? What about setting up one for the boys? Anyone interested? On 1 December the club hosted an event organised by Honorary Consul Manuela Erb and her husband Peter dedicated to the opening of the world’s longest tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel. This was an informative and interesting presentation celebrating this magnificent Swiss achievement. Then we had the Christmas Afternoon Tea for our Seniors on Swiss Club of Victoria
3 December. I would like to thank the convenor Rita SchwärzlerAbbt for organising this fantastic and well attended function with a happy atmosphere for the upcoming Festive Season. It is always a pleasure to see the club house full of happy faces. On Sunday, 11 December the Swiss Club and SwissKids group were hosting a special event in Kallista where the Samichlaus and Schmutzli made an appearance to delight the children, parents and grandparents alike. It was a relaxed and fun day out for the families and most importantly the kids, with BBQ, games and plenty of things to keep them entertained. As this is the last newsletter for the year I take the opportunity to thank all members and committee members for their support. Also a special thank-you to all our sub group convenors and participants, our restaurant manager Roger, Renee and all the staff and especially to all the helpers, volunteers, entertainers and individuals who I may not have mentioned by name but who are truly appreciated. To all I wish you a safe, relaxing and enjoyable Christmas and may 2017 bring you good health and much happiness. I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.
Arnold Kramer – President
From the Editor Dear members of the Swiss Club of Victoria, this is my last edition as Editor of the Edelweiss. It was with some sadness that I resigned from this position at the half-yearly General Meeting in September. It was a joy and a privilege to be of service to the Swiss Club and its members in this capacity, but, after a decade, it is now time for a change. I wish to sincerely thank the members, the committee and the team of contributors for their wonderful cooperation.
Roland Isler
Newsletter Deadlines 2017 March Issue: Covering March/April/May Editorial Deadline: Monday, 6 February Mailing: Wednesday, 22 February June Issue: Covering June/July/August Editorial Deadline: Monday, 1 May Mailing: Wednesday, 17 May September Issue: Covering Sept/Oct/Nov Editorial Deadline: Monday, 7 August Mailing: Wednesday, 23 August December Issue: Covering Dec/Jan/Feb 2018 Editorial Deadline: Monday, 30 October Mailing: Wednesday, 15 November
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Welcome to our new members We are proud to introduce our newest Swiss Club members: Kris Kostadinov and Kristin Giles, Aaron Duncan and David Hill, Anton and Adrian Hug, Patricia Stoeckli, Daniel Tsakmakis, Gavin and Adrian Catt, William Gregory, Andrew and Ineke Daley. We hope you will feel right at home and enjoy many happy events at the Club. If you have joined our great Club in the last 18 months, keep an eye out for a special New Member Event invitation email or SMS. Get involved, get to know your fellow members and help us by sharing your ideas for fun and interesting activities.
Congratulations We congratulate committee member Markus Luethi and his wife Deb on the birth of their twin sons Noah and Daniel. Congratulations to the happy parents and happy Grandma Evi Morawetz.
Happy birthday Trudy Theiler, HLM will be celebrating her 90th birthday on Christmas Day. Anastasia de Castella will be 85 in November and Rose Surbeck and John Wyss, HLM in December. Simona Wirth will be 80 in February 2017. Happy Birthday and many happy returns to all of you. May you be spoilt with Swissness on your special day.
Get well Hans Brunner, HLM is recovering well after a stroke and Nola Mauerhofer underwent a double bypass surgery. We hope you will be able to visit the Swiss Club very soon.
The last farewell We are saddened to inform you of the passing of Honorary Life Members Trudi Fanger, Kurt Rietman, Aida Jenny and Alois Kathriner. Sadly, we also learned of the passing of Patricia Wernli. We shall miss them. Our thoughts are with the families and we hope you will find solace and comfort among your friends at the Swiss Club.
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 member of the committee.
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From front page
Then it was time to get to work. At 8am on Saturday morning everyone gathered for the conference on the Second Floor of the Swiss Club where they were greeted by Birgit Livesey, who was in charge of the Registration Desk and throughout the day volunteered for the important job of Minute-Taker. The main items on the busy agenda were: • Aim of the meeting – Beat Knoblauch; • Switzerland today: Current topics – Pedro Zwahlen; • Switzerland and the Swiss Abroad in light of new legislation – Jürg Burri; • Aims and Achievements of the OSA – Remo Gysin; • The OSA Centenary 2016 – Remo Gysin & Roland Isler; • Matters of concern to the Swiss Abroad – Peter Ehrler & Ernst Steinmann; • Official launch of the ‘CSA Oceania’ branding and website – Roland Isler & Carmen Trochsler; • Introduction to the topic ‘The future of Swiss Clubs in Oceania’ & results of survey – Carmen Trochsler; • Workshop: ‘The future of Swiss Clubs in Oceania’ – Dominique Beck. The Australian and New Zealand members of the Council of the Swiss Abroad have decided on a closer cooperation and, wherever possible, to act regionally – hence the term and branding ‘CSA Oceania’ was created. The benefits are: • together we are stronger and have a greater voice in the council; • to include the Swiss who live on the neighbouring island states who have no seat on the council. To better communicate with Swiss over a very vast area geographically, the CSA Oceania has created its own
Organisation of the Swiss Abroad
www.csa-oceania.org the brand new website of the Council of the Swiss Abroad for the Swiss Community of Oceania! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Swissinoceania/ 6
Swiss Club of Victoria
website www.csa-oceania. org and facebook page – just in time to be launched at the conference. This new CSA website is for the community in our region to use as a resource and source of news. Website Coordinator is Carmen Trochsler. Any feedback is most welcome. The topic ‘The future of Swiss Clubs in Oceania’ took aim at challenges the clubs are facing today and whether repositioning is needed. Carmen Trochsler summarised the results of a survey conducted by the CSA among all Swiss clubs and associations earlier this year. An ageing membership and difficulties in renewing committees were identified as the main problems. Ryan Cooper presented his views on ‘Swiss clubs from a young person’s perspective’. It highlighted many reasons why youth is not attracted to traditional clubs. Following this presentation, a workshop was conducted by Dominique Beck to find ways to address these issues. Participants split into six groups to brainstorm possible solutions. A summary of the results was compiled and a pathway given to implement them. Besides using these tools, the leaders were encouraged to reach out to each other for support and collaboration and start a dialogue among themselves and within their own committee. The conversation to address ‘The future of Swiss Clubs in Oceania’ has started and hopefully will lead to a good outcome. In light of the election of the CSA next year, OSA is proposing Australia as a pilot to trial a new election modus that includes e-voting. In order to increase legitimacy as representatives of all Swiss the CSA is looking for ways to have future elections conducted in a more democratic manner that involves all registered Swiss residing in our region. A possible scenario was discussed. The presenters on the panel provided a multitude of valuable and interesting information. Anyone wanting to find out more should contact the CSA Oceania for a copy of the minutes. The conference and the social events provided an excellent opportunity for networking. On Sunday morning a guided tour at the Immigration Museum was organised for participants and their partners. This gave visitors and locals alike an interesting insight into the history of immigration to Melbourne and Victoria. After this, only a short stroll away in Queensbridge Square, the Swiss Festival awaited, providing plenty of entertainment and culinary enjoyment for all. The CSA delegates sincerely thank all presenters, helpers and facilitators, the Swiss Club of Victoria and the Consulate General for their great generosity, the Swiss Club Restaurant for the hospitality and last but not least, all the participants and partners for attending this conference. It was decided that it should be repeated in two years in Sydney.
Roland Isler – Council of the Swiss Abroad
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Test your Swiss Knowledge 2
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Across 5. Who is the Swiss Club Jass König (surname)? 8. Where did the buses stop for a generous lunch? 10. Who is the new editor (first name)? 12. Which canton features at the Foundation Day celebration? 13. In which city did Sophie and Charles get married in 1835? 14. With whom did Louis have a fall out (first name)? 16. Which region does your CSA represent? Down 1. Where was J.J. Locher from? 2. Which city hosts the ‘Dreamland Alps’ exhibition? 3. With whom did Malcolm tie the knot? 4. Which visitor from Auckland played at the Swiss Festival? 6. Who is the new Swiss ambassador to Australia (surname)? 7. An event that took place on 14 August. 9. What did the seniors take home on 3 December? 11. Where will the Fleur de Passion undergo maintenance? 15. What creative things did the ladies wear on 2 November? For answers go to page 17
Parking in the City? Before you visit the Swiss Club, visit www.secureparking. com.au/secure-a-spot Choose ‘114 Flinders Street’ and book to receive parking for as low as $5!
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Swissness a plenty at the Swiss Festival 2016 On Sunday, 9 October at 11am the 3rd Swiss Festival kicked off. Swiss-Australians and Melburnians alike celebrated at Queensbridge Square, Southbank to the energetic sound of the drumbeat and trumpets of the sensational Guggemusik from Auckland, New Zealand. Our new MC Reto Hofmann did a fabulous job announcing the many awesome gigs that entertained the estimated footfall over 10,000 people passing though during the day. Just when the commissioner Sam Almaliki from the Victorian Mulitcultural Commission held an address up on stage with the festival well underway, the Melbourne weather reared its ugly head – this time involving strong wind gusts of over 80km/h which made us lock down our marquees and chairs in order to prevent injuries. In fact the gusty winds shut down train lines, delayed planes at Melbourne Airport and damaged homes across the metropolitan area. Glad to say, it all went well for us but knowing once more that an open air festival will always be at the peril of the unpredictable weather. But despite challenging weather conditions festival enthusiasts flocked to the many stalls tasting delicious and mouth watering specialities and stocking up on Swiss chocolates, cheese, Rivella and much more. Our captivating theme ‘Myths & Legends’ drew many families to test their knowledge and to find a missing letter in the familiar stories on display such as Heidi, William Tell and La Fee Nerine and finally going into the draw to win 1kg of Lindt Chocolates. Coincidence had it that the Oceania Swiss Club Presidents’ Conference was held at the Swiss Club of Victoria on 8 October, so part of the Sunday program included a visit of the Swiss Festival. As a result Pedro Zwahlen – the new Ambassador of Switzerland to Australia, Ernst Steinmann – Consul General of Switzerland, Jürg Burri – Director of the Consular Directorate, Remo Gysin – President, Organisation of the Swiss Abroad and Manuela Erb, Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Victoria among many others were invited to a specially designated VIP marquee which was sponsored by RUAG Australia and Managing Director John Teager. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our major sponsors RUAG Australia, Kuehne & Nagel, Henkell Brothers, City of Melbourne, the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the Erb Family, Victorinox, Lindt, A. & M. Hofmann, Swissmech Equipment and Swiss Tourism, as well as our Swiss Festival partners for their generosity in supporting our community based festival. My thanks also go out to all entertainers – especially those
from overseas and interstate, the Guggemusik Auckland (New Zealand) and the Swiss Yodlers of Sydney – as well as our MC, suppliers and vendors and in particular to the Swiss Club of Victoria, the Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose, the Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess, the Swiss Companion Singers, the SwissKids, Laughter Yoga Helvetia, Groupe Romand du Victoria, Swiss Yodel Choir Matterhorn and the Honorary Consulate of Switzerland in Melbourne – without their commitment this festival would not have been possible. And finally I would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to my hard working committee for their many hours of painstaking planning and organising this event, Bruno Giger (Treasurer), Francine Schaepper (Photography & Marketing), Liz Isler (Event Project Manager), Martin von Wyss (Infrastructure & Logistics), Patrick Andenmatten (Participants & Volunteers), Sara Giger (Marketing), Sylvie Eggertswyler (Entertainment), Zoe Hauser (Volunteers) and our media consultants, the Erb Family. For more information and for downloading photos (for free) and watching the video please visit: http://www.swissfestival.com.au/ We look forward to seeing you at the next Swiss Festival!
Rolf Huber – Chairman
The Swiss Club at the Swiss Festival – see inside back cover
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Swiss Club of Victoria
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A proud heritage Editor: Michael Dardel Jessop, there are not many Swiss Club members who can trace their family back to the Victorian pioneering days and indeed back to the early 16th century in Switzerland. It is no surprise that you immersed yourself in documenting your family’s history. We would love to find out a little about it and, of course, about yourself too. I start by asking you, what can you tell us about your early days? Michael: I was born in 1932 in England, just outside of London. My parents moved to Australia when I was about six months old, together with my two-year-older brother. As a descendent of Swiss pioneers in Australia, how come you were born in England? Well, my mother Doris Alexandra Dardel (1902-1977), was the daughter of James Henri Dardel Junior (1858-1933). She was born as one of eight children on the family vineyard that was established by my great-grandfather James Henri Dardel Senior (1811-1903) in Batesford near Geelong. As a young woman she trained as a nurse and went to England to work. There she met my father Robin Arthur Jessop. I see, so your Swiss lineage comes from your mother’s side? That is correct. At one stage as a child I was asked if I wanted to carry the name Dardel in my name, something I proudly accepted and henceforth I use the double-barrelled name Dardel Jessop. My two children Ben and Mariko also use that name. You mentioned your great-grandfather James Henri Dardel Senior (JHD). This takes us to the beginning of your family’s pioneering history. Why did JHD decide to emigrate? JHD came from a winegrowing family who cultivated a vineyard in Cornaux in the canton of Neuchâtel for over 200 years. It is not known why the possibility of a migration to Australia from Switzerland was considered, but the early and mid 19th century were troublesome times. Uncertainties because of the changing political landscape, economic reasons arising from poor crops, or family differences may have all contributed to his decision to emigrate. There is little doubt his friend Louis de Portalès, who had been to school in Vevey in 1815 with William Macarthur, the young son of John Macarthur the Australian pioneer, while William’s parents were on holiday in Europe, would have passed on interesting information to JHD about the developing Australia and opportunities for enterprising migrants.
Planning your private or business function? The Second Floor is the perfect venue! Contact 1300 893 968 for information & bookings. 10
When and how did the move to Australia happen? In 1834 JHD obtained a passport to go to Germany and onward to Australia. In order to check the economic prospects and to examine the success of crops, livestock and particularly how the Swiss vine cuttings were progressing, JHD went to Camden in 1836. There is no record that he visited the Port Phillip District and it is unlikely he had any need to. However, given the circumstances back home he would have seen opportunities in Australia. This would have been reinforced when in 1839 Charles Joseph La Trobe (1801-1875) was appointed as superintendent for the Port Phillip District with the possibility of favourable patronage forthcoming. La Trobe was born in London. His family was of Huguenot origin and he began as a tutor to the Portalès Huguenot family in October 1824 until 1827. After travels through the Americas beginning in 1832, he returned to Neuchâtel and stayed at the country house of Frèdèrick August de Montmollin as the family tutor. Montmollin was a Swiss councillor of state with substantial interests including banking, vineyards and textiles. Marguerite Dardel (1733-1805) married Jean-Jacques de Montmollin in 1763. Sophie de Montmollin (1811-1854) was born in the same year as JHD. She was the ninth of sixteen children. Soon she became fascinated by the charm, intelligence and activity of La Trobe and they became engaged. They were married in Bern 1835. La Trobe and Sophie arrived in Melbourne in 1839 together with daughter Agnes (1837-1916) and two servants. At the age of 28, JHD married 20 year old Uranie Bouvier from Peseux. Nine months later daughter Adèle Uranie was born. She was known as Blanche. JHD returned to Australia arriving in Melbourne in 1840. The separation of family at this time was a demonstration of the determination and drive of JHD to make a success of his new life as a pioneer. Tragically, Uranie died only two years later and as a consequence Blanche was put in care of grandparents. After arriving in Melbourne, he met up with his friends from back home, Jean and Alexandre Belperroud. JHD and the two Belperrouds called on La Trobe who wrote a confirming letter to James Macarthur. The price of land was indeed a major factor facing migrants wishing to establish themselves with dwellings, viticulture, farming or other commercial enterprises. In addition, there was a reluctance to allow non-British migrants the acquisition of quality land in the preferred areas near to Melbourne. They were known as denizens i.e. foreigners allowed only certain rights in their adopted country. The right to crown land was
Swiss Club of Victoria
granted automatically to British applicants. It is known that Sophie La Trobe encouraged the migration to Australia of Swiss, particularly from her home canton of Neuchâtel. This activity and any available support was done without formality due to Sophie not holding any official position and her status as wife of La Trobe required discretion on her part. The La Trobe’s assisted where possible through passive encouragement and with an understanding of settlers’ needs. Hence, there was direction for settlement towards less expensive land in such places as Geelong (previously called Jilong), Barwon, Lower Plenty and the Yarra Valley. JHD helped the Belperrouds to establish a vineyard at Plenty, believed to be the second vineyard in Port Philip District. Later the Belperrouds established a vineyard called ‘Berramongo’ along the Barwon River. He stayed with them for a while and looked for opportunities on his own account. In 1841 he managed a newly established cheese factory in Bulleen. He built a home nearby and stayed there for four years until 1845. During this time he started his Doola farm at Batesford in 1842 on leased land. The vineyard comprising about 50 acres was called ‘Paradise’ eventually becoming Paradise 1, 2, 3 and 4. During this period he met the proprietors of the Port Phillip Winery Company located at Brighton and consequentially, he managed the business for them as a vigneron from 1845 until 1848. In addition he continued to assist his friends the Belperroud brothers to establish their vineyard. Because of JHD’s reputation as a viticulturist and vigneron, La Trobe introduced him to Donald Ryrie of Yering who lacked any winemaking skills. As Yering had been planted in 1838/9 it was the most advanced vineyard in the Port Phillip District. It received its first pruning by JHD in the following year. JHD and Donald became good friends, together with his brothers William and James. JHD rode twice each year to the Yering vineyard to dress the vines and to make the wine. The first Yering label was made in 1845. His own Paradise label was produced the same year. The arrangement with the Ryries continued until July 1850 when they sold the property to Paul de Castella and Adolphe de Meurron.
In 1848 he moved permanently to his Doola farm property where he continued to develop his orchards with the support of his friend Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller (1825-1896), botanist, developer and the first director of the famous Melbourne Botanic Gardens. JHD created over 60 acres of orchard surrounded by croppings plus a further area totalling 1,500 acres for sheep grazing. Produce of the orchard has always provided fond memories discussed by aunts and uncles in family talk. Reminisces of the eating of fresh cherries grown from Swiss cuttings of the highest quality was a sheer delight. The same applied to many other seasonal fruits including apples, pears, walnuts, and apricots available straight from the tree. There were varieties of the fruit grown extending the bountiful supply. With the impending moves to separate the Port Phillip District from New South Wales, the creation of the state of Victoria in 1851 and the gold fever of the new discoveries in Ballarat and Bendigo, there were exciting times ahead with good economic prospects due to the rapidly increasing population. JHD was always on the search for suitable seedlings for his developing Paradise vineyard and the property at Doola. In addition to local sourcing of cuttings, he made seven trips back to Switzerland for additional cuttings and at the same time to recruit vinedressers and vignerons for a new life in a developing Australia. The discovery of gold and the export of Australia’s produce made promising opportunities for those willing to accept challenge. The trips back to Switzerland were financed by leasing parts of his land. These leases were between JHD and Martin Buchter (1835-1891), a Swiss neighbour whose descendants still reside on their Batesford property. At this stage of his life, JHD must have felt rather comfortable. His plans had resulted in a satisfactory life style achieved through hard work and his expertise as a vigneron, orchardist and sheep grazier. He was well respected by the community and he had friends of influence. The marriage to Mary Burroughs in 1857 had produced three children – my grandfather James Henry Dardel Junior (1858) Marie (1862)
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and Elizabeth (1864). Sadly, in 1867, Mary died at the early age of 33 years. And further disaster lay around the corner. It came in the form of phylloxera vastatrix, the vine root aphid that struck the Geelong area in 1877. The wine industry in the area was devastated. After numerous unsuccessful efforts to eradicate the problem, the State Department of Agriculture ordered in 1881 that all vine within a 20-mile radius had to be pulled out and burned. JHD persisted at Batesford, concentrating on his orchard where he grew various fruits and different varieties of them. It was not until 1970 that vineyards for wine growing recommenced around Geelong. The famous Paradise wine label has been reintroduced in 1988 by the current vignerons. What about your grandfather James Henry Dardel Junior (JD)? He was sent to Switzerland at a very early age with his sister Marie. They were put in charge of the ship’s captain for the journey but the experience must have been a challenging one for them at that age. JHD intended that a satisfactory education was required for JD to the age of 17 years. JD lived in Neuchâtel with his relative aunt Madame Perrier who had two sons of her own of a similar age. JHD meanwhile continued at Chaumont eventually dying on the property in 1903. JD subsequently carried on the Chaumont operations. To talk in more details about my grandfather would probably exceed the space available in the Edelweiss. You are probably right. In that case, let’s come back to you. My story is not nearly as fascinating! I grew up and went to school in Geelong. Later we moved to Melbourne. I worked first for Citibank and later for Swiss Bank Corporation before it became UBS after the merger. Life went its course and I met and married my wife Barbara and then our two children came along. Did you have any contact with other Swiss at that time? No, not at all. But when Ben and Mariko where 11 and 8, Barbara took them to Switzerland to go to a local school in Neuchâtel. That must have been hard for them, not knowing any French? Yes, but kids are resilient. There is plenty of history of children having been sent to Switzerland at a young age for their education. My grandfather and his sister did the same. It was important for us that our children were exposed to a different culture and learn about their roots. What role did the Swiss Club play in your life? Barbara and I became members when Joe Schibli was president, so it goes back a while. We wanted to give our children another opportunity to get a better understanding about Switzerland and Swiss culture. I got more interested too, as I started to research my family history. I worked at the other end of Collins Street, and I often took the tram up to the Swiss Club to have lunch with clients. Barbara too got involved with the Swiss Club and we made many friends over the years. I would like to mention the role Barbara played in arranging the
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nomination of Sylvia Hochuli to be included on the Australia Day 2016 Honours List and being awarded the ‘Medal of the Order of Australia’ (OAM). To my last question: If you could invite five people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be? That has to be JHD, of course. He had been a leading contributor to the development of Victoria through his expertise as a vigneron, horticulturist and farmer. Above all, he encouraged many Swiss, particularly those with vine dressing skills, to come to the growing country. JD, my grandfather. He died a year after I was born and I never had the chance to get to know him. He was a very sincere, honest and well-respected man who did a lot of benevolent work as a Justice of the Peace I think for 48 years. Dr Imamoto, who saved my life and did some pioneering work in the medical field. Auguste Escoffier (1846-1935) – the king of chefs. Imagine having him as a dinner companion! And last but not least, Barbara’s dad – Charles Rupert Hutton. He was a fine upstanding, cultured person. He was one of the original ANZAC’s having landed at Gallipoli on the 25th of April and serving in both World Wars. Thank you very much Michael! Be part of the Swiss Club family
Swiss that changed the world Louis Chevrolet (1878–1941), a motoring legend Born in La Chaux-deFonds, Chevrolet moved to France, where he repaired bicycles and won cycle races to earn the money to fulfil his American dream. In New York in 1906 he set a world speed record for cars, reaching 191.5km per hour. In 1911 he established the Chevrolet company along with William Durant, who was to go on to found General Motors. But the two men fell out and Louis lost the right to use his name in the vehicle construction industry. Swiss Club of Victoria
Kaffeeklatsch Sunday, 14 August The Seniors enjoyed the annual Kaffeeklatsch at the Swiss Club. The perfect ambiance was created with lots of laughter and conversation. It has given a lot of pleasure to the group to organise a function like that and at the same time display our beautiful Swiss costumes. On behalf of the Australian/Swiss Cultural Society, I wish you all a happy Festive Season, most of all, good health for 2017. Sylvia Hochuli OAM
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Centenary Congress of the Swiss Abroad Bern, 5-7 August 2016 The Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) was very privileged to be able to hold its meeting in the National Council chamber at the Federal Palace in Bern. It was part of the Congress which coincided with the centenary celebration of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA). The celebrations took place on the square in front of the Parliament House attended by the Swiss Federal Councillor, Didier Burkhalter. Fortunately big tents and marquees were put in place, as a deluge descended upon the guests, at least for some time. The CSA meeting had a long agenda to go through and I only highlight some of the items. 1. Election modus of the members of the Council of the Swiss Abroad With a new law on the Swiss Abroad in place, the OSA and the Swiss authorities aim at a very democratic and transparent election modus of the 120 delegates from all over the world. In some countries only the Swiss Club Presidents elect the delegates, in some countries only members and Presidents of Swiss Clubs, and in a few countries all registered Swiss can vote. In about 55% of countries, only Swiss Club members and Presidents have a vote. The ultimate aim is that in future all registered Swiss Abroad are empowered to elect the delegates. This means that the e-voting system has to be in place. The authorities are persuaded that this would be the most democratic way for the delegates to be elected. The question remains whether the Swiss Clubs can have a vote or have a say in the process. A committee has been formed to work on that proposal. As you know, in Australia, in the past at least, all registered Swiss Clubs had one vote in these elections. The Swiss Authorities and the OSA would like to delegate the election process to the umbrella organisation of each country. In Australia, we have no such representative body of all Swiss Clubs. The OSA elections for 2017 will probably be held worldwide according to ‘old systems’ but in some countries pilot projects will be conducted based on the Geneva electronic voting system. Australia has been selected for such a pilot project with the support of the Swiss Consulate General. Monetary aspects to conduct that project have not yet been determined. Just for your information, the Council of the Swiss Abroad has 140 members of which 20 are so-called appointed inland members from Switzerland, usually persons who have lived abroad and who have been helpful for the cause of the Swiss Abroad (like previous ambassadors). The other 120 members are the delegates from all countries who are empowered to have a delegate.
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2. The past and future of the OSA The centenary of the OSA was highlighted on many occasions, past, present and future discussed at length. The new law on the Swiss Abroad enacted in 2015 is certainly a milestone. As to the future, based on an extensive survey, the following goals and aims were set: • Endeavour that all registered Swiss Abroad have the possibility to elect their delegates to the CSA. The aim is to have a very transparent and democratic process enabling widest participation. • OSA to foster and emphasise the political participation and intensify the contact with the Swiss cantons and the federal authorities to enable electronic voting as soon as possible by the Swiss Abroad. • Presence of the OSA in Switzerland and abroad: It is recognised that the OSA has to gain more in importance in Switzerland as well as abroad and has to intensify its political campaigns. This is to be done through all available communication channels and through the Swiss Representatives worldwide. Organise promotion campaigns also in Switzerland to highlight the importance of the OSA with local Councils, Universities, and dissipate information about the OSA.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the OSA, the Council of the Swiss Abroad met in the National Council chamber at the Federal Parliament in Bern
Swiss Club of Victoria
• The OSA will assist the Swiss Clubs abroad to communicate closer with each other, exchange information and use common platform and websites and exchange experience and information. See information under ‘SwissCommunity.org’. 3. Budgetary Measures Federal Authorities are still on a cost cutting exercise and therefore the Swiss Review, now available in both printed and in electronic form, will only be available in e-form. Changes are also to be expected on the social security front but it has been assured that the voluntary old age insurance will continue to be available for those who do not live in an EU countries. Apparently only 5% of the Swiss living abroad are members of the voluntary old age insurance Scheme. 4. A welcome contribution from downunder OSA delegate Roland Isler from Melbourne published a beautifully illustrated booklet containing a letter written by a Swiss emigrant to Victoria, J. J. Locher from Speicher, who was looking for his fortune on the Victorian goldfields in the 1850s. It is titled “Nach Australien! Briefe eines Ausgewanderten”. The well-researched booklet is based on an earlier publication from 1857 in St. Gallen. The publication which was launched at the Congress, was well received and was mentioned several times
All Australian CSA delegates attended the Congress, (FLTR) Beat Knoblauch, Roland Isler, Carmen Trochsler, Marc Godat as a valuable contribution by OSA President, Remo Gysin. The booklet is dedicated to OSA on the occasion of its centenary. This book is also available from Amazon as a Kindle eBook. Rudolf Wyder, former Director and CEO of OSA in Bern (1987-2013) also had a successful book launch for the OSA Centenary Celebration, “Globale Schweiz, Die Entdeckung der Auslandschweizer”. This well researched and documented volume gives a pertinent historic aspect of the Swiss Abroad and of the OSA. The book highlights the various emigration waves as well as the fate of many Swiss colonies abroad, also in wartimes, and highlights the current political initiatives taken by the OSA for the benefit of the Swiss Abroad. Both authors have to be congratulated for their initiative and dedication. For more information please see: http://aso.ch/de/100-jahre-aso-1456236874/shop/publikationen 5. The Congress in 2017 The next congress will be held in Basel on Saturday, 19 August, the Council meeting on the day before, Friday, 18 August 2017. The chosen topic for the Congress will be the Dialogue between the Swiss and the Swiss Abroad, both forming one entity. It is noted that the Swiss Abroad view Switzerland often in a different way to the Swiss themselves and vote differently. About 60% of all Swiss Abroad live in an EU country, 74% of the Swiss Abroad are double citizens. Emphasis on this occasion will also be put on the inclusion of the young Swiss into the equation between Swiss Abroad and the Swiss.
Beat Knoblauch – Council of the Swiss Abroad
Centenary celebration address by Federal Councillor, Didier Burkhalter on stage with young Swiss Abroad w w w. s w i s s c lu b v i c .c o m.a u
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A HISTORICAL EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT!
To Australia! Letters of an Emigrant
Presented at the next Ladies Luncheon!
by J.J. Locher from Speicher Editor: Roland Isler 104 pages. German/English High quality soft cover $25 + postage For orders please contact the editor on: roland@gallus.com.au / 0412 935 565 Also available from Amazon as a Kindle eBook — ASIN: B01AOT5GFA Johann Jakob Locher, from Speicher in the Swiss canton of Appenzell Outer-Rhodes, sailed on the first ship that carried German emigrants in large numbers to Tasmania. He arrived in Hobart in 1855, after an arduous journey of over six months. In the same year he travelled on to Melbourne and the goldfields of Victoria. From there, he wrote a letter back home to his brother Johann Ulrich Locher, who ran a printery and lithographic-arts studio in St Gallen. In 1857 he published the letter in a pamphlet entitled ‘To Australia! Letters of an emigrant by J. J. Locher from Speicher’. This pamphlet, of which only a few copies remain in existence, is a revealing, historically-important document due to Locher’s detailed description of his journey, and of scenes, towns and people at the time of the gold rush in Australia. Locher’s original text is now available in this book as an annotated German transcript and an English translation. It contains all the original illustrations including some additional ones. 16
“An authentic report, written in plain language, that introduces us to the hard life of a Swiss emigrant in the 19th century. This is a book worth reading, an impressive and very fine gift for the 100th anniversary of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad.” Remo Gysin – President, Organisation of the Swiss Abroad “Although Locher frequently describes the land and the beauty of the places he saw, it seems to me that his report was also a warning for those who pinned all their hopes on the discovery of gold. Thanks to the publication of the letter by his brother, perhaps some were spared a sobering disappointment.” Anselm Zurfluh – Director, Museum of the Swiss Abroad Dedicated to the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad on the centenary of its foundation. Swiss Club of Victoria
Another very successful year of Ladies Luncheons ended last Wednesday, 2 November with a funfilled afternoon. It was great to see how everybody got into the spirit of the day and wore the most amazing creative hats. Our guest speaker Adrian Plitzco from SBS Radio enjoyed to be the judge of the different categories of hats and the winning ladies went home with nice prices. We also had the opportunity to do a little Christmas shopping.
Now I want to say a special thank you to Rita Schwärzler for her very kind words she wrote about the Ladies Luncheon in the September issue of the Edelweiss. I felt that Rita really captured the sentiment of this get-togethers. That is exactly what I want to achieve by running this luncheons. Make it even better next year by bringing along a friend or two. Everybody is welcome! Thank you to Roger and staff for looking after us so well. I also want to thank all the ladies for their continued support and to wish you all a very peaceful and wonderful Christmas and good health and wellbeing for the coming year. Looking forward to see you all in 2017! Dates for the forthcoming Luncheons in 2017:
• Wednesday, 1 March Our guest speaker will be Roland Isler. Roland will be talking about the book that he published – see the advert on the left.
• Wednesday, 3 May Guest speaker to be advised.
Thank you to everybody who came along and shared their joy and laughter with us. Without a regular dose of Laughter Club we would be far more challenged by the events that life brings about. Laughing about life is therapeutic and far easier in a group than the random giggles one gets throughout the day. Laughter lightens life, gives you a break and with the help of happy hormones released when laughing makes us feel stronger and positive. We wish everyone a happy and joyful Festive Season
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Price for a 2-course meal, wine, soft drinks and coffee is $27 pp for members and $30 pp for non-members. Please book with the Club on 9650 1196 or with Heidy on 9889 9321. Booking is essential. Heidy Giger
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’.
Test your Swiss Knowledge - Answers Across: 5. Imfeld; 8. Warragul; 10. Maria; 12. Ticino; 13. Bern; 14. William; 16. Oceania Down: 1. Speicher; 2. Bellinzona; 3. Amanda; 4. Guggemusik; 6. Zwahlen; 7. Kaffeeklatsch; 9. Guetzli; 11. Brisbane; 15. Hats
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Meet the new Editor:
Maria Baker We would like to introduce to you Maria Baker, who will be starting as the editor for the Edelweiss as this is Roland’s last edition. Maria Baker recently joined the Swiss Club with her husband Andrew (who is of Swiss decent) after moving to Melbourne 18 months ago. They have just started to both become active in the Swiss Club community, and, of course, are frequent visitors to the restaurant. Maria has been working as a graphic designer for the past 10 years and has vast experience when it comes to print work such as newsletters, flyers and posters. She recently heard the call for the editor position and put her hand up with haste, wanting to offer something back to the club community she is enjoying. Please help us in welcoming her to this position – we look forward to seeing where she takes our Edelweiss publication.
Thank you! In the name of the members of the Swiss Club, the committee would like to thank our Honorary Life Member, Roland Isler, very much for volunteering as the newsletter editor for the past decade. During that time, Roland has produced for the Swiss Club an informative, well researched, and very professionally looking newsletter four times a year. It has been very much appreciated. We are sad to see Roland retire and wish him all the best. Your Swiss Club Committee
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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SWISS CLUB MOVIE ‘Lago Mio’ Wednesday, 15 February 2017, 8pm Swiss Club, 2nd floor Comedy, 2005, 90 Min, CH, E subtitles, rating: M Director: Jann Preuss. Cast: Beat Marti, Laila Nielsen, Sarah Viktoria Frick, Daniel Rohr, Monica Gubser Copywriter Flo Ruggli, finds it impossible to say ‘no’ to his boss who constantly swamps him with work. What Flo does not realise is that he is being taken advantage of, and sacrificing his private life for a career that is not going anywhere. As a result his fed up girlfriend, Nicole, left him. Flo desperately wants to win her back before she migrates forever to Africa with Jürg. So he follows her to Ticino where Nicole is spending a last weekend in Switzerland at ‘Lago Maggiore’ to relax and unwind. The hotel on the shores of Lake Maggiore belongs to Nicole’s grandmother, and it is where Flo and Nicole met for the first time a few years ago and fell madly in love. A romantic comedy with a lot of twists and turns with the picturesque canton Ticino as a back drop. In line with the theme of the Foundation Day celebration ‘Viva il Ticino’, enjoy a visual trip to our Italian speaking Canton. 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.
On behalf of the Companion Singers, I’d like to wish you all a joyful Christmas and the best of health for the coming year. A big thank-you goes to our conductor Toni Hofmann! If you like singing and would like to be part of a subgroup please come and join us. We practice at the club on the 3rd and 4th Thursday of each month. Come and have a look what we are all about. Give me a ring on 9561 7811 for more information Herbert Schwärzler Swiss Club of Victoria
Fahrt ins Blaue – Mystery Trip Wednesday, 9 November 2016 This year we had 104 guests joining us for the mystery trip. Luckily, the weather was kind and everyone was guessing where the journey would take them. The destination was Gippsland. The scenic drive through the hills and farming country reminded the Swiss of the hills in the Appenzell region. After a generous lunch in Warragul, the buses took the happy travellers back to Melbourne. I thank everyone who provided personal pick-up transport. I know that the seniors appreciate the special service. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our supporters for their generosity. Your financial help and contribution towards our raffle are vital in making it possible for us to successfully carry out our projects.
Sylvia Hochuli OAM
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Inge’s Christmas Gugelhupf Ingredients: 200g raisins, preferably black seedless 3tbsp rum 2 level tsp yeast 300g plain white flour 4 large eggs 100ml milk 225g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing 75g caster sugar Generous pinch of salt Finely grated rind of 1 lemon Flour for dusting 100g split blanched almonds Icing sugar for dusting Whole glacé fruits, nuts and dragées to decorate Method Place the raisins in a small bowl, pour the rum over, cover and leave in a cool place overnight. Place the yeast in a food mixer with the flour. Whisk the eggs and milk together lightly. With the machine running on a slow speed, pour in the egg mixture and mix for about 10min or until the dough is very smooth, shiny and elastic. Soften butter, place in a bowl and beat in the caster sugar, salt and the grated lemon rind. With the machine running, add the butter and sugar mixture to the dough, spoonful by spoonful, until evenly incorporated. Turn the mixture into a large, lightly floured bowl, then cover with clingfilm and refrigerate overnight. Lightly toast the almonds. Heavily butter a 2-litre Gugelhupf mould. Take a third of the almonds and press on to the sides of the mould; refrigerate. Roughly chop the remaining almonds and mix by hand into the chilled dough, along with the raisins and rum. Carefully place the dough in the prepared mould, then cover and leave until the dough feels spongy and has risen to within 2cm of the top of the mould. Bake the Gugelhupf at 200°C (180°C fan) on a shelf below the centre of the oven for 10min, then cover with greaseproof paper and turn the oven down to 190°C (170°C fan) for 4045min or until the Gugelhupf sounds hollow when you tap the mould. Allow the Gugelhupf to cool in the tin for 15min, then turn on to a cooling rack to cool completely. Serve the cake dusted with icing sugar and decorated with a mixture of glacé fruits, nuts and dragées.
Supplied by Beat Stuber
A Christmas feast! 20
Swiss Club of Victoria
Social Jass For all who enjoy the game but want to play for enjoyment only. No competition, just social! Inexperienced players most welcome (not suitable for total beginners though, must know at least the basic rules and the value of the cards!) Enjoy Dinner before the game.
4th Jass Night Results – Swiss Club, 10 Sept
• Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Singles
1. Hans Bruengger.........................................2836 2. Ernie Dornbierer.........................................2774 3. Walter Imfeld.............................................2721
• Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Teams
1. Robin Martin & Hans Bruengger................5203 2. Sylvia Hochuli & Roger Moullet.................4991 3. Beat Altermatt & Sepp Schmidig................4950
Swiss Club Jass König & Champion Team 2016 – ERNIE HUEGLI TROPHY König
1. Walter Imfeld.............................................8446 2. Ernie Huegli...............................................8322 3. Sigi Wyder .................................................8219
Team
1. Doris Conrad & Hans Keller......................16062 2. Sepp & Brigitte Goldiger..........................15295 3. Robin Martin & Hans Bruengger..............15150
• Wednesday, 26 April 2017
IMPORTANT NOTICE NEW BANKING DETAILS WESTPAC SWISS CLUB OF VICTORIA BSB: 033-157 A/C NO: 446271 For payment of membership and SCV functions
Melbourne Jass König 2016 – GÜNTER BRITSCHGI TROPHY Combined Swiss Club & Matterhorn König
1. Ernie Huegli.............................................13624 2. Walter Imfeld...........................................13600 3. Hans Bruengger.......................................13376
Team
1. Doris Conrad & Hans Keller......................26081 2. Robin Martin & Hans Bruengger..............25434 3. Louis & Lutzia Blochlinger........................24181
Information supplied by Paul Eisenegger 9544 4681
Exercise you brain – play Jass!
Upcoming Jass Nights – 2017 Swiss Club
1st 2nd 3rd 4th & Final
18 March 27 May 8 July 9 September
Matterhorn
1st 2nd 3rd
25 February 29 April 12 August
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The 20th annual Swiss Club Singles Championship was held on 14 October at the Swiss Club and was won by yours truly! Adrian Besley (being the perfect son-inlaw) was runner up. Thank you to all for partaking. Please take note of the following tournaments in 2017: • Doubles Championship: Friday, 17 March • Bernard Sandoz Cup: Friday, 16 June • Singles Championship: TBA We look forward to another year of exciting games! Bookings are essential, please ring Roger at the Swiss Club or myself on 9439 7593 or 0418 645 313. Cost: Only $20 per person which includes dinner. New players are always welcome! Louis Schneider
It’s your Club. Get Involved!
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Senior Christmas Afternoon Tea Saturday, 3 December. Sponsored by the Swiss Society of Victoria
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Y ET
SWI
SOC I SS
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Chumm, mir wönd es Liecht azünde… Let’s ignite a Light… This was the motto and leading idea of the Senior Afternoon Tea, and I am sure, it has reached its goal. If one saw at departure the smiling faces of the guests, animated and full of renewed energy, the renewal of old and making of new friendships and the feeling of belonging, all the work and pain had been worth it. All this was only possible, with the hard work and total dedication of teams and many helping hands and ,of course, a generous sponsor, the Swiss Society of Victoria. In the name of the Elders of the Swiss Community in Victoria, thank you! You have ignited lights, amongst others and in yourselves. Have a wonderful Christmas and the very best in the New Year! Chumm, mir wönd es Liecht azünde!
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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.
Rita Schwärzler-Abbt – Convenor
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
Swiss Club of Victoria
The dance group has been very active in the community this year. It is always a pleasure to bring some joy with our dances. The group is hard at work practicing several new dances. Over Easter next year, we will travel to Canberra and participate with many groups at the National Folkstanzfest. It will be the seventh time the group will have been part of it. Saturday, 6 May will be the annual Unterhaltungsabend. We look forward to your support for a successful night. We would like to congratulate the youngest member of the group, Malcolm, on his marriage to Amanda.
Congratulations also to Nancy and Tony on their 50th wedding anniversary. For many years, the couple have been members of the group. We wish Irma a speedy recovery from a hip replacement. On behalf of the group, I would like to thank the Swiss Club and Roger Moullet for their ongoing support. I wish you all the happiness for 2017, most of all good health.
Sylvia Hochuli OAM
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
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Swiss ocean explorers A Swiss scientific expedition researching noise and plastic pollution in the world’s oceans will spend four months in Australia. The Fleur de Passion, a beautiful 33-metre-long ship, sailing under the Swiss flag with port of call being Basel, arrived in Brisbane last month after a seven-month Pacific crossing. The ocean mapping expedition, led by the Swiss-based ‘Fondation Pacifique’, is recording noise levels and micro-plastic pieces in the world’s seas. Thousands of hours of submarine recordings have been made using two hydrophones on board Fleur de Passion to help investigate the impact noise pollution has on marine life. It is has also taken samples of surface water which will be analysed for their micro-plastic content. The vessel will undergo annual maintenance at Brisbane’s Rivergate Marina before setting off on the next leg of the fouryear journey. It will sail north along the Great Barrier Reef to Townsville and Cairns in April 2017. Pietro Godenzi, president of ‘Fondation Pacifique’, said there has been a positive response to the project from Australia. “Australia is a country that is highly sensitive to environmental issues, especially to global warming and the acidification of the oceans, with the dramatic consequences currently being witnessed for coral reefs in general and the Great Barrier Reef in particular,” he added. The expedition – inspired by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, the first person to circumnavigate the earth – began in April last year in Seville and will continue to the Solomon Islands after leaving Australia. Members of the public are welcome to visit the boat while it is moored in Brisbane and there is also the opportunity to join the ship’s captain Sebastien Schwarz and his crew for part of the expedition. Want a taste of Switzerland? Visit the Swiss Club Restaurant
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Where are your memories? The first time I attended one of the ladies’ luncheons at the Swiss Club I was sitting amidst a few women whom I had never met before. However, there was no lack of interesting topics and, in a place like this, one sooner or later asks questions about how one came to live in Australia, why they came here and what they experienced. I got to hear fascinating stories and I’m sure each and every one of these lovely ladies would have enough content for a book! We tend to not only pass on stories orally or in writing, most of us love to take pictures to tell a story and to transport us back to a moment that might otherwise be forgotten. Photos are a very important part of our legacy, maybe even more though for those who have emigrated to a new home country. We are emotionally attached to photos and one of the most traumatic things that can happen to us is to lose them. So, how can we take care of our photos and make sure we can eventually pass them on in a meaningful way? These days, our photos are on all kinds of devices such as phones, tablets, computers and more. To make matters even more complicated, most of us also have a lot of printed photos. Overwhelming, right? Start with a Vision What do you want from your photos? Making albums or other keepsakes? Do you want to share them with your relatives and friends overseas? Do you want to be able to find a specific photo within a few seconds? How about leaving a meaningful photo and story legacy to your children? Think about this vision or goal before you do anything else. The reason it is important is because it will help you make decisions further down the track. Not only with regards to which photos you want to delete but also when deciding which photo management software (if any) is suitable for your skill level and needs. Let’s have a look at the basic system:
Input Think for a moment and write down where your photos are at this point in time. E.g. in shoe boxes, albums, computer, the cloud, camera, phone, slides, film reels, VHS etc. Hub Imagine the hub as a big bucket in which you throw all your photos. It’s nothing more than the place where you gather
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and organise all your photos. The hub is also what is being backed up regularly in the digital world. Think about where you’d like to keep your digital collection. On your computer, on an external hard drive or maybe in the cloud? The cloud might be better for you if you want to access your photos from different locations. Just be careful and always read the small print when using cloud services, there are not many that are suitable for photo storage or archival needs, especially not the free ones. 1. Gather Move all your photos and movies to one place, one for the printed ones and one for the digital ones. 2. Sort Once all the photos are in one place it will be a lot easier to sort and purge. One of the easiest ways is to start sorting by year, then go through every year and start throwing out those you no longer want. If you do this with prints, you will need space and keep in mind that it might take several days. 3. Organise There are many ways to organise photos, most prefer to sort them chronologically or by event. After this stage, it is rather easy and fast to scan the prints. If you do, please don’t throw out the prints because they should be kept as a backup. To keep them in good condition, it is recommended to store them in acid-free archival boxes. Shoe box size is great because they don’t become too heavy. You don’t need a fancy software to organise your digital photos. A simple core file structure with a folder per year and subfolders per month and / or events is enough. Output 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.”Once you’ve gathered all your photos in one place and hopefully organised in one way or another it is time to actually enjoy your photos. How would you like to do this? Through photo books or albums? Canvases? Keepsakes? A digital photo frame or a video slide show? Prints? Be creative and enjoy! Backup Use the 3-2-1 rule to back up your digital photos: 3 copies, 2 different mediums/devices and 1 copy offsite. Offsite could be a portable hard drive in a different location – as far away from Swiss Club of Victoria
your home as possible and practical - or in the cloud. A print of a digital photo counts as backup, too. It is harder to back up printed photos and albums. The best is scanning them which is not always feasible though because it is very labour intensive. You could also take digital photos of the complete pages as a backup or use a special app like Photomyne to do the job. Yes, it is a very daunting and time consuming project. However, I think it is worth the effort to keep our collections organised and safe for future generations. Don’t you?
WE A LL L OVE M EAT A ND S MALLGOODS
Chantal Imbach
http://www.simplyinorder.com.au/about/
The Swiss Club Restaurant. It’s where you meet your friends.
Homesick? We can cure that! • Homemade Smallgoods • Swiss Cheese • Chocolate …and much, much more!
SAN MARTINO’S FAIR begins on the saint’s feast day of November 11th. Traditionally signifying the end of the fruit harvest and the year’s end of work in the fields, this was an important time in the rural calendar, when contracts ended and rents were due. For almost 400 years the farmers of the region have met to buy, sell and trade and the stalls still offer everything from horticultural produce to livestock. LOCARNO’S PIAZZA GRANDE will soon transform into a spectacular ice rink that also includes an adjacent stage for live acts and some adjacent chalets where seasonal dishes can be savoured. Utilising the same areas used for its famous film festival, the rink will be running from 24.11.2016 to 06.01.2017
CASTELLO DI SASSO CORBARO in Bellinzona is the wonderful setting for ‘Dreamland Alps’, an exhibition about architecture in the Alps that includes impressive 3D modelling and which runs until 08.01.2017.
Come and visit us @ 4-6 High Street Bayswater Ph: 9729 0635 www.walmas.com.au Join us on Facebook
Anthony Longano w w w. s w i s s c lu b v i c .c o m.a u
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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).
DECEMBER
Friday
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Club Restaurant closes after lunch
JANUARY
Monday
09
Club reopens for 2017
FEBRUARY
Wednesday Thursday Monday Wednesday Wednesday Saturday
01 02 06 15 22 25
Foundation Day Celebration – Viva il Ticino! Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains at the Club Editorial Deadline – Newsletter March issue Swiss Movie Night: Lago Mio Social Jass Jass Night – Matterhorn
Wednesday Thursday Wednesday Friday Saturday Sunday Wednesday
01 02 15 17 18 26 22
Ladies’ Luncheon Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains at the Club ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Billiard – Doubles Championship Jass Night – Swiss Club Comedy Festival bump-in (bump-out Monday, 24 April) Social Jass
MARCH
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 8pm
Advanced Notice: UNTERHALTUNGSABEND
Laughter Yoga Helvetia: meets every 3rd and 4th Thursday of each month at 6pm
The Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose is pleased to announce that there will be an Unterhaltungsabend on
SwissKids: meets every 1st Saturday of each month, from 2pm to 4pm
Saturday, 6 May 2017
Les Bavards – ‘The Chatterboxes’: French Conversation Group meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month at 6.30pm
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Please mark this date in your calendar and tell your Swiss friends. For information contact Sylvia Hochuli on 9531 6575, or hochuli@tpg.com.au
Swiss Club of Victoria
President’s Conference Kaffeeklatsch
THE
RO U CLU
T
ABOU D N B
IS SW S
Mystery Trip
Seniors Luncheon
Swiss Festival