Edelweiss Newsletter September 2013

REGISTERED BY AUSTRALIA POST - PUBLICATION No. VBH 6369

SEPTEMBER 2013

The homecoming of Edelweiss No. 1 Thanks to Michelle Grasset – granddaughter of Marc Louis William Grasset, first President of the Swiss Club of Victoria – the Swiss Club is now in possession of a copy of the No. 1 - First Volume Edelweiss newsletter, dated 1 January 1900.

Michelle lives in Switzerland and happens to be a good friend of fellow Swiss Club member Beryl Black. Thanks to Beryls ‘gentle persuasion’, Michelle agreed to part with this little treasure that she kept in remembrance of her grandfather. So, on a recent holiday to Switzerland, Beryl was able to bring the only known copy of the No. 1 newsletter back home to Australia.

The newsletter consists of only four pages.

Page one is of particular interest because it recalls the foundation of the club – in German and in great detail.

The first couple of paragraphs reveal the following: “…on 24 December 1898, afternoon 3 o’clock, six jolly Swiss souls made a promise – not with crossed swords, as their ancestors on the ‘Rütli’ have done it, but with sparkling glasses filled with wine – to make joint efforts to establish a Swiss association for the purpose of promoting social activity and a closer connection among the Swiss living here.” “…and on 1 February 1899 the matter had progressed to the point that the club was formally founded and was given the not very poetic, yet very importantsounding name of ‘Swiss Club of Victoria’.”

Up to know, we only knew the year when the club was founded, now we have a precise date: Wednesday, 1 February 1899!

For the first time, we will be able to celebrate the club’s foundation on its actual birthday. Let’s make this an annual event on our social calendar. It could take the form of a dinner dance or maybe a

Roland Isler and Beryl Black presenting the number one Edelweiss to Swiss Club President Barbara Kündig cocktail reception – if you have an idea for this celebration, please get in contact with the committee. It could be the start of a lovely tradition.

The 113 year old document is extremely fragile and very faint, to the point that the text can only be read with great difficulty using a magnifying glass. In terms of the history of the Swiss Club, it is such an important document that I decided to create a digital restoration of the front page. That involved firstly deciphering the text, followed by elaborate scanning to enhance the image and then cleaning it up digitally – a painstaking and very timeconsuming exercise! From the finished digital image, I was able to create a print which resembles very closely what the original once looked like before time took its toll on it. Finally I had it framed and presented to the Swiss Club as a gift. Next time you are at the club, look out for it, it hangs near the entrance of Roger’s office, and there is also an actual-size print on

Michelle Grasset the reverse of this front cover. On behalf of the Swiss Club of Victoria, our sincere thanks go to Michelle for her generosity and to Beryl for the hand she played to make it happen.

Editor

89 Flinder s Lane • Melbour ne 3000 • Victor ia • Australia • www.s wissclubvic .com.au

SWISS CLUB OF VICTORIA Founded in 1899 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 T: 1300 893 968, F: (03) 9650 3104 E: info@swissclubvic.com.au W: www.swissclubvic.com Club Opening Hours Lunch: Mo - Fri from 12noon Dinner: Tue - Sat from 6pm Club Nights: Wed & Thurs Bookings T: (03) 9650 1196 Swiss Club Catering For all Functions contact Chef & Catering Manager Roger Moullet T: (03) 9650 1196, F: (03) 9650 3104 M: 0409 040 249 E: swissclub@hotmail.com The Second Floor Function Bookings CBD Function Room with a difference!

Info and/or bookings: T: 1300 893 968 E: thesecondfloor@swissclubvic.com.au

COMMITTEE Barbara Kündig President T/F (H): (03) 9005 4938 M: 0402 018 363 E: barbara@swissclubvic.com.au Sigrid de Castella Vice President M: 0416 088 000 E: sigrid@swissclubvic.com.au Rolf Huber Immediate Past President T/F (H): (03) 9807 0282 M (B): 0425 805 854 E: rhuber@swissclubvic.com.au Urs Derrick Wildi Treasurer & Membership Administration T/F (H): (03) 9824 7930 M: 0403 040 930 E: uwildi@swissclubvic.com.au Antony Anderson Building Management M: 0416 069 666 E: antony@swissclubvic.com.au Damian Schaller Marketing Manager M: 0410 461 364 E: damianschaller@swissclubvic.com.au w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au

SWISS CLUB SUB-GROUPS Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose President: Sylvia Hochuli T: (03) 9531 6575 E: hochuli@tpg.com.au Swiss Companion Singers Convenor: Heidy Giger T: (03) 9889 9321 E: adelheid1@bigpond.com Ladies Luncheons Convenor: Heidy Giger For bookings T: (03) 9650 1196 For information: T: (03) 9889 9321 E: adelheid1@bigpond.com SwissKids Convenor: Esther Blaser-Tokarev T: (03) 8521 3739 M: 0424 220 523 E: esther.blaser@gmx.ch The Swiss Diners Club Convenor: Damian Schaller M: 0410 461 364 E: damianschaller@swiss.org.au

Pro Ticino President: Claude Rossi 5 Falls Road, Hoddles Creek Vic 3139 T: (03) 5967 4542 E: marclas@dcsi.net.au Swiss Yodel Choir Matterhorn President: Chris Hostettler 19 Lockwood Road Belgrave Heights Vic 3160 T: (03) 9754 7390, M: 0428 427 434 E: helvet@bigpond.com W: www.swiss.org.au/matterhorn Swiss-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) General Manager: Marcel Svatos T: (02) 9262 1511, F: (02) 9290 1928 E: admin@sacci.com.au Postal address see: www.sacci.com.au Swiss-Australian Academic Network (SAAN) E: info@saan.id.au W: www.saan.id.au Embassy of Switzerland T: (02) 6162 8400, F: (02) 6273 3428 E: can.vertretung@eda.admin.ch

Swiss Festival Chairman: Rolf Huber T/F (H): (03) 9807 0282 M (B): 0425 805 854 E: rolf@swissfestival.com.au

Consulate General of Switzerland T: (02) 8383 4000, F: (02) 9369 1334 E: syd.vertretung@eda.admin.ch

SWISS COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Postal address and further information for all above see: W: www.eda.admin.ch/australia

Swiss Society of Victoria (Benevolent Society) President: Franz Schnellmann T: (03) 9449 2245, M: 0412 203 893 E: schnellmann@dodo.com.au Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess Australian/Swiss Cultural Society President: Sylvia Hochuli T: (03) 9531 6575 E: hochuli@tpg.com.au Groupe Romand du Victoria President: Rémy Favre 1 Hughes Street, Malvern East Vic 3145 T: (03) 9571 2835, M: 0412 135 095 E: remy@favrecranage.com W: www.swiss.org.au/chfrvic Unless otherwise stated, postal address for all is: 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000

Consulate of Switzerland T: (03) 9824 7527, M: 0413 042 728 E: melbourne@honrep.ch

Organisation of the Swiss Abroad Council Member: Roland Isler Contact details: see below under Editor W: www.aso.ch / www.swiss.org.au/csa

Impressum ‘Edelweiss’ appears quarterly in March, June, September and December. Circulation 500.

For all enquiries contact: Roland Isler, Editor T: (03) 9524 6335 (B) M: 0412 935 565 E: risler@swiss.org.au 67 St Georges Crescent Heatherton Vic 3202

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President’s Message Dear Member, Swiss National Day has come and gone, and I hope, you had a great day and were able to celebrate either at the Swiss Club or in private.

Switzerland has a long and proud history and so does the Swiss Club of Victoria. I always enjoyed history, finding it captivating to learn how people lived, what they experienced, their challenges and joys in life. I find it very interesting to listen to the stories of Swiss, who have come to Australia so many years before me. To hear from them how the club was such an important anchor point, a place where they felt understood and shared a common bond and the good times they enjoyed together. We are fortunate that a group of members spent countless hours to put together our history book, so that we have an account of our past. That the club has now been gifted a copy of the first ever published Edleweiss is wonderful. Thank you very much to Beryl Black for initiating this, to the Grasset Family for returning the copy to the club, and to Roland Isler for painstakingly restoring the document, so that we can read it again, albeit requiring a decent magnifying glass. It was fascinating to read the description of Switzerland in the 19th century as well as their prediction of Switzerland’s fortune in the century to come. I enjoyed the part about the members’ passionate discussions, and that their first event was an Unterhaltungsabend, which 113 years later, thanks to the Dancegroup Alpenrose, still takes place yearly at the club. Hopefully, Roland will continue publishing further extracts from the first Edelweiss, so that we can hear more what our “Gründerväter” were up to at the club.

Wedding bells were ringing!

Congratulations to all the club members, who traveled to Queensland to participate at the Australian Jass Championship. Our member, Peter Schlitter, won the Primo Calabresi Trophy and is the 2013 Australian Jass König.

Congratulations and well done! (see page 15 for further result).

The committee was asked if the club would be interested to be one of the venues for the 2013 Great Amazing Race that takes place on Saturday, 5 October. The committee thought this would be a great opportunity to showcase the Second Floor as a function venue to a larger public. Maybe some of the members are also interested in participating in the event (see page for details).

This has been my 18th president’s message – can’t believe how time flies, but everything eventually comes to an end. After 4 ½ years as your President, I have decided to retire from the presidency at the upcoming Half Yearly Meeting, and move over “is Stöckli” to finish my committee term as the Immediate Past President. I thank you, the members, and the committee for your kind support and friendship during my tenure. I enjoyed meeting many of you and organizing events for you. Our Vice-President, Sigrid, will be my replacement, and I wish Sigrid all the best in her new role.

Spring is on its way, many of our fellow Swiss members will be returning from their visit to Switzerland. We hope to see you at the club soon and hear of your adventures in the ‘Heimatland’. There are several activities planned until the end of the year, one of them the Half Yearly Meeting on the 25th September.

Please come along, get involved and participate in your club.

Barbara Kündig - President

SWISS CLUB MOVIE ‘Madly in Love’ (Wenn die Liebe verrückt spielt) Wed 18 September 2013, 8pm Swiss Club, 2nd floor 2009, 85 Min, Romantic Comedy, Swiss German, Tamil/ E subtitles

Our heartfelt congratulations to our Committee Member Damian Schaller and his lovely bride Melinda Varley on their wedding on Sat, 25 July. We wish them all the very best, and much happiness as new family.

Newsletter Deadlines 2013 December Issue: Covering Dec /Jan/Feb 2013 Editorial Deadline: Monday, 4 November Mailing: Wednesday, 20 November

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Director: Anna Luis with Monica Amgwerd, Stefan Kollmuss, Murali Perumal,Muraleetharan Sandrasegaram, Sugeetha Srividdunupathy, Laura Tonke Devan, a young Tamil raised and living with his extended family in Switzerland, wants to fulfil his father’s wish of an arranged marriage. However, a few days before the traditional wedding with his bride coming from Sri Lanka, Devan falls madly in love with Leo, a European woman.

Will family and societies expectations or love be stronger and overcome cultural differences and traditions?

Free for members, non-members gold coin donation.

Swiss Club of Victoria

Member Workshop On June 19, the committee organized a member workshop on the Second Floor.

This event had been in the pipeline for a while. Due to the small number of committee members, many of our ideas often end up in the too hard basket, because we are just so swamped with the day to day compliance and upkeep of the building, dealing with tenant issues and just keeping the club going. As much as we actually enjoy organizing events and interacting with our members, often, we simple don’t have the time and energy for it. However, after talking about doing it for at least two years, we finally took the plunge, set a date and sent the invites out.

The motivation for doing the event was threefold; The committee has a genuine interest to get to know the members better. We want to make the club a place where people have opportunities to meet other members and the committee is approachable and easy to interact with.

Secondly, we are also really interested in knowing what the members really think about their club and its facilities. We need the feedback, and we want to know that what we are doing, is actually also what the members want. We are realistic enough, that we cannot please everyone all the time at the same time.

However, we want to be in sync with the general interests and desires of the members in regards to the Swiss Club.

Thirdly, we need new committee members desperately!

Did you know that combined your six committee members have served for you on the committee for 47 years? In other words, they have been dedicating their free time to the Swiss Club for almost 5 decades! That is an average of 7.8 years or almost four terms in office each!

This might be fantastic for the stability and consistency of the club, and in a business setting an enviable employee retention rate, but considering, that the committee are all volunteers, who also all work full time work and have family commitments, one could argue that it is high time that among our 400+ members some other individuals step up and come forward with a stint on the committee to help and support their Swiss club.

We invited our members for drinks and nibbles. On arrival, they had an opportunity to interact and get to know other members. Soon it was time to get down to business and to start working. To break the ice, the members had to make the shape of Switzerland based on their commune of origin.

This got members really talking to each other in no time. The participants were then divided into five groups, each hosted by a committee member and assigned a topic. The five topics were: Vision for the club, Membership, Building/Maintenance, w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au

From the Editor I wish to acknowledge the assistance of former committee member Patrick Rychner in the production of this edition of the Edelweiss, due to my holiday overseas. Thank you Patrick! Roland Isler

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the Second Floor and Marketing/ Restaurant. The teams had 20 minutes to discuss and address their points. The members then had the opportunity to swap teams and discuss another topic with a new group. The discussions were quite animated and the members seemed to enjoy the smallness of the groups to voice their opinions freely. At the end, each committee member shared their group’s findings with all present.

The overall consensus? The building and its central location is quite an important aspect of holding the club together. Seeing the Swiss Flag outside gives members a sense of pride and identity and inspires ‘Swissness’.

The restaurant is an important meeting place and thus a friendly welcoming atmosphere in the restaurant is paramount. Members want to be recognized and valued as members when going to the club restaurant. There was concern that the restaurant is perceived as too costly considering that it was a club. There was interest to have a wider range of functions offered throughout the year and to foster good relations with all Swiss groups and hopefully ‘bringing everyone together’. There was also concern that the club remains financially secure and thus the group also thought it was not unreasonable to expect from members more involvement e.g. support the upkeep of the building via

working bees, a maintenance levy or through regular sponsorship drives. It was acknowledged that there needs to be an effort to involve more 2nd and 3rd generation of Swiss to participate in club life.

The committee felt positive at the end of the evening about the format of the event and is of the opinion that it has been very worthwhile and interesting.

We thank all the participants, who took the time to come along, and give their opinions so freely and generously.

The committee will, over the coming months, discuss the various topics and points in more details and share them with you. We certainly would love to implement many of the ideas rather sooner than later, but the process might proof to be rather ‘slow-ish’, as we are still as stretched with committee members than before the member workshop.

Reading this article, some members might wonder, ‘why wasn’t I invited?’ Well, we had to start somewhere; we invited about 100 members across all age groups, some we already knew, and others we had never met. 22 took the time to come along.

The committee thought the outcome was really positive and encouraging. We also have strong intentions to do this event again with another group of members so that over time, all members will have an opportunity to voice their opinion and feedback in person. The smaller groups also allowed more intimate discussions, where everyone felt comfortable to share their opinion.

Barbara Kündig

Want a taste of Switzerland? Visit the Swiss Club Restaurant

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Swiss Club of Victoria

w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au

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“In my heart I’m still Swiss” Religious persecution, famine, population booms and jobs – throughout history Swiss citizens have started new lives abroad for a wide range of reasons. Do they become dual nationals, and if so, why and how Swiss do they remain?

Ten of the more than 700,000 Swiss who currently live abroad – some in booming cities, others on remote exotic islands – tell swissinfo.ch about their experiences, emotions and motivations.

Some had applied for citizenship abroad for love, others for practical reasons such as not being able to enrol in professional training without it.

But the overall feeling, as summed up by Marthe Lindsay, who moved to Britain in the 1970s, was that “becoming a citizen of another country cannot change the fact that you remain above all a Swiss at heart”.

Similarly, most respondents reckoned that if they had been forced to give up their Swiss passport – something few countries require – they would have had to think long and hard about whether to take the plunge.

When Sophie Lüssi, a successful jazz violinist from Zurich, was applying for citizenship in Buenos Aires, the form said she would have to give up her Swiss passport – “something I’d never do”.

“While filling out the paperwork: I put a cross through that box – and I was granted Argentinian citizenship without having to forgo my Swiss one.” Argentina has allowed dual citizenship since July 2010.

Career move “In my heart I’m still Swiss, but after spending 46 years in New Zealand I’m also proud of being a citizen of this country – and my dual citizenship,” said Bern-born Erika Currie, who arrived in New Zealand in 1967 under the assisted immigration scheme, which gave her permanent residency.

After four years, she was entitled to apply for citizenship.

Her formal naturalisation ceremony took place in 1973 in Wellington and she was allowed to keep her Swiss passport.

Of the 715,710 Swiss who currently live abroad (including dual nationals), New Zealand is home to 6,805, according to foreign ministry figures for 2012.

“I took this step because I planned to work and remain in New Zealand long term and to participate in the political life of my host country. It was also advantageous to my career, as with a Swiss passport it would have been very difficult to make frequent business [trips] to Australia, usually at short notice, as I would have had to obtain a re-entry permit before travelling.”

Oath of allegiance Katharina Allen, originally from Zurich, became a Canadian citizen after living in the country for ten years, also for employment reasons.

“At the time, foreign nationals couldn’t enroll in a teacher’s college and since that was my chosen profession, I was obliged to conform,” she said.

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“It was a very simple process comprising an oath of allegiance to my adopted country. Swiss citizenship was retained without question.”

Allen’s parents have lived in Canada – whose Swiss community totals 38,959 – for over 40 years without taking steps to become citizens. Some of her siblings still don’t have a Canadian passport – not a problem, she says.

“Their contributions to and love for Canada are not diminished by the fact that they have never formally acknowledged their loyalty.”

Duty and commitment Loyalty and duty are common themes among respondents.

“I believe that if you migrate to another country, it is only fair to be a citizen and do your duty as such,” said Claudia Stillhard, who applied for Australian citizenship after living in the country on a permanent resident visa for two years.

A further advantage, she said, was that her children were automatically Australian.

“We’re lucky that Australia allows dual citizenship and therefore it was not such a hard question. If I would have had to give up my Swiss heritage, I’m not so sure I could do that.”

Roland Isler also wasted no time after living for two years in Australia – current Swiss community 23,632. “Unlike in Switzerland, where every foreigner wanting to become a Swiss citizen is looked at with suspicion, people who settle in Australia are encouraged to make a commitment to their adopted country,” he said.

“The willingness to make such a commitment was my driving force to become a citizen, to be able to participate in the political life of the country, but also to be able to travel freely in and out of the country without having to rely on a re-entry permit.”

He said he often asks himself whether he would have done it if it had meant losing his Swiss citizenship. “I don’t know the answer to that – I’m just glad I never had to make that choice.”

Red tape “We are Swiss and remain Swiss!” wrote Petero Koerber from French Polynesia, home to seven other Swiss. “Not only because of our red passport but also because Switzerland will always remain our homeland in our hearts.”

Koerber says he became a naturalised citizen for many reasons, one being assimilation, which for him also means accepting rights and duties. But there was also the dreaded red tape jungle for non-citizens.

“As in most countries, foreigners have to periodically apply for residency permits, which, depending on the country, can be a bureaucratic nightmare. There comes a point when you could do without that,” he said.

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Swiss Club of Victoria

“Plus you’re never sure whether one day the answer will actually be ‘no’ and you have to suddenly leave – even if you’ve lived in the country for years. And obviously you have to pay for it.”

All this, he said, makes most people think of naturalisation sooner or later. French Polynesia is governed by French law – albeit with a few tweaks – and coming from a country where French is an official language, like Switzerland, one can get naturalised after three years instead of five.

“A year or two after applying, you go to the local police station to see whether you can hold a conversation in French, and then, several months later, you get summoned back to the police station to pick up various documents. You have no idea what they are – it’s only at home that you see the letter with the French president’s signature: you’re now a French citizen!”

He was disappointed though that whereas in France “the official shakes your hand over a glass of wine, that doesn’t happen here”.

Swearing allegiance Fred Peyer originally thought the naturalisation process had been complicated in Hawaii, but after reading Koerber’s experience he said it was in fact “child’s play”: three months, $700 and a nice party.

Peyer left Switzerland aged 24 and became a Canadian citizen after living in Montreal for five years. He described an amusing experience with the interviewing judge.

“As soon as she saw I was from Switzerland, she started telling me about her recent holiday there. She was all excited and kept on talking for quite a while until she suddenly said: ‘Oh, I’m supposed to ask you some questions. Who is the Prime Minister?’ I answered ‘Trudeau’ and that was it, I had passed the interview!”

After 16 years in Canada, he moved to Hawaii – Swiss community 704. He became a US citizen two years ago after living there for 22 years on a Green Card. He could still keep his Swiss passport, “but had to swear allegiance to the United States”.

“The main reason was that the Green Card is a privilege, not a right. It can therefore be taken away at any time for whatever reason. My children are here in the US and at 65 I won’t be emigrating anywhere else anymore, so by becoming a US citizen I made sure I couldn’t be ‘deported’ for any reason,” he said.

Cookies and punch The naturalisation process in the mainland United States in the early 1990s was more complicated for Elisabeth Perlman – who had to deny she was a Nazi!

“I don’t recall the exact length of the overall time [it took], but I think it was less than a year. I do remember that in the application forms I had to say that I was never a member of the Nazi party or of the Communist party and that I would defend the US in case of war – which means you could get drafted if you were the right age.”

She said the citizenship test – a one-on-one oral exam – consisted of ten questions, all from a booklet the government had sent her to study. “For the English exam I had to write w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au

down the following sentence: ‘I am looking forward to becoming a US citizen soon’.”

Perlman could keep her Swiss passport, but in the US government’s eyes she is exclusively an American citizen. Last year, 76,330 Swiss lived in the United States.

“The swearing-in ceremony was a while later at the local courthouse and very formal with pledge of allegiance etc. But afterwards we – there were about 100 of us – were greeted by nice volunteers with cookies and punch, plus we were handed a little American flag and solicited to sign up for one of the two big political parties.”

Not just passing through Isabel Golay was born in Morocco to two Swiss parents but has lived in Argentina since 1980.

For her, having an Argentinian passport is linked to values.

“I live here, I get involved here, I have a commitment to Argentinian society – I am a part of it, not just a bird of passage,” she said.

“I usually say that my life’s like a tree whose roots are in Switzerland, whose branches are spreading out in Argentina and whose fruit will hopefully be for everyone.”

Thomas Stephens - swissinfo.ch (Many of the comments were gathered through a request on SwissCommunity.org)

SWISS CLUB MOVIE ‘Der Verdingbub’ (The Foster Boy) Wednesday, 20 November 2013, 8pm Swiss Club, 2nd floor 2011, 108min, Drama, Swiss German, English subtitles Director: Markus Imboden. With Max Hubacher, Katja Riemann, Stefan Kurt, Max Simonischek Max is an orphan who has been hired out to a farmer’s family. His foster parents treat him like a workhorse while their son seizes every opportunity to humiliate him.

Playing the accordion is the one thing that is entirely his. But when the new teacher stands up for Max, it only makes a bad situation much worse. The only thing preserving his will to survive is his friendship with Berteli, who was also taken on to work at the farm. Max dreams of Argentina with her: a fantasy world, where allegedly even hayforks are made of silver.

Free for members, non-members gold coin donation.

Enjoy dinner at the club, before or after the movie.

Please book with the restaurant on 9650 1196.

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The Swiss Companion Singers visited Urs Marfurt at his new home to wish him a very happy 80th Birthday. As one of the Companion Singers founding fathers Urs joined in and helped entertain the residents of the Nursing home in Templestowe.

Customised English Written and Oral Communication Skills for Professionals.

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Business Writing Skills Speaking Skills Australian Workplace Inductions In-Company Consultancy Online Solutions

Tel: 03 9421 5348 Email: info@solutionslingua.com www.solutionslingua.com

For Sale: SWISS ALPINE HORN

The Companion singers practice on the 3rd and 4th Thursday every month at the Swiss Club at 7.30pm. The rehearsal time focuses on old and new Swiss songs and the choir is looking forward to participate again at the annual SWISS & ITALIAN FESTA in Hepburn Spring on the 2nd and 3rd of November. Why not spend a lovely weekend in this beautiful part of Victoria and join us at the Festa?

For more information phone the Convenor, Heidy Giger on 9889 9321.

Magnificent hand-crafted alpine horn for sale. As new, $1800 (that is half price!). Comes with hardwood mouthpiece and carrier bag. G-flat with F extension.

3-piece, total length 3.5m approx.

Contact the editor for details

Become a member of the Swiss Society of Victoria

The Swiss Club Restaurant. It’s where you meet your friends.

Advanced Notice:

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We help Swiss citizens living in Victoria who need financial or social support. Because charity begins at home. You can help us in helping them.

Senior Christmas Afternoon Tea Senior Christmas Afternoon Tea for Swiss Nationals born 1939 or earlier will take place on

Saturday, 7 December, 2pm Please mark this date in your calendar.

For information ring Rita Schwärzler-Abbt on 9561 7811 or email ritaherbert@bigpond.com

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The Swiss Society of Victoria is a benevolent organisation and has been supporting the Swiss Community of Victoria since 1879

For more information about us or if you know any Swiss citizen in Victoria who could benefit from our services contact: Franz Schellmann T: 9449 2245 M: 0412 203 893 schnellmann@dodo.com.au

Swiss Club of Victoria

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You might walk through a park in New York, Hamburg, Sydney, and Beijing or through Flinders Lane in Melbourne and hear the chants of Ho Ho - Ha Ha Ha from groups of people doing Laughter Yoga.

Laughter Yoga is an innovative concept and has been widely established all over the world – simple and profound. It is an exercise routine and a complete wellbeing workout. There are no physical yoga postures so the group is suitable for people of any age or ability. The best part about Laughter Yoga is that you really don’t need any ‘reason’ to laugh. Initially this may seem awkward but doing it in a group makes it easy because laughter is contagious. We all know how good laughing makes us feel and it helps to relax the body, reduces the negative effects of stress and tension! That’s what Laughter Yoga is all about. It provides a platform which helps to break down barriers, shed inhibitions and generate overall wellbeing.

Laughter Yoga also helps boost the immune system to resist diseases and encourages positive thinking.

Laughter Yoga Helvetia is run by Laughter Yoga teachers trained by Dr Madan Kataria the founder of Laughter Yoga and Sebastien Gendry, CEO American School of Laughter Yoga and they work closely with Laughter Clubs Victoria and Laughter Yoga Australia. It aims to generate good health, joy and wellbeing for the local community.

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Fahrt ins Blaue Mystery Trip Wednesday, 13 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 $30.00 per person, which includes a three course lunch.

If you are interested, please complete the coupon below and mail it with your cheque to: Sylvia Hochuli, 92 Addison Street, Elwood Vic 3184, or call 9531 6575.

See you there!

Yes, I would like to attend the ‘Fahrt ins Blaue - Mystery Trip Name(s):

Address:

Telephone: Laughter Club Helvetia meets every 3rd and 4th Thursday at 6pm at the Swiss Club, 2nd floor.

Why not come and see for yourself how good you feel afterwards. Everybody welcome.

Contact: laughter.club.helvetia@gmail.com Marianne Bishop 9432 2421 or Heidy Giger 9889 9321 w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au

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

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Gruyere and the story of a Swiss pioneering family

Can you tell us a bit about your grandfather? When and why did he come to Australia?

Johann, or John as he called himself in Australia, was born in 1824 in Grossaffoltern, half way between Biel and Bern. He was a teacher by profession. I believe there were two reasons for him to make the decision to come to Australia. I remember the story, apparently one of his pupils tragically drowned on an excursion, and that must have weighed heavily on his conscience. Growing deafness was the other reason. He had to retire from his profession. And so he decided to start a new life in a new land, sailing from Liverpool on the James Carson in July 1854.

Why do you think he chose Australia and what did he do once he arrived here?

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When did he meet your grandmother?

There is a story about that involving a Swiss fellow vineyard worker, William Anker. The Anker family still lives not far from here. My grandmother, Mary Tyne, arrived in Melbourne from Ireland in 1863 and subsequently found work in Lilydale at Lithgow’s Hotel. John Burgi, as an educated man, was asked by William Anker to write to Mary on his behalf. We don’t know the details, but instead of becoming Mrs Anker, six months after arriving in Australia, Mary became Mrs Burgi.

That surely wouldn’t have helped to maintain neighbourly harmony?

Apparently there was some antagonism, but it wouldn’t have lasted long, people didn’t have time for this in those days.

After they got married, what happened?

They lived on Samuel de Pury’s property, ‘Cooring Yering’ [now ‘The Gateway’, a suburb of Lilydale], where John was experimenting with growing tobacco. Their first baby, Mary Ellen, was born in 1864, followed by my father Edmund two years later. Mary Ellen died shortly after Edmund’s birth. The family eventually grew to 10 children.

VICTORIA ROAD

Burgi Hi ll Road

The name Burgi sounds Swiss, maybe it was once spelled Bürgi, with an ‘Umlaut’?

That is correct. My grandfather Johann Burgi was Swiss and he originally spelled his name with the two dots above the ‘u’ but he soon abandoned it when he came to Australia.

I don’t know for certain why he chose Australia, but Neuchatel is not far away from Grossaffoltern and I can imagine that he must have heard news about the many that left for Australia from that part of Switzerland. He was attracted to the Yarra Valley by the presence of so many of his fellow countrymen, including the de Castellas, de Purys and Deschamps with their well-established vineyards providing employment for a large work force. He tried his hand at many things, even prospecting for gold, which was not successful. In fact, many came here looking for employment after giving up prospecting.

Gruyere Road

Editor: Gruyère is a word every Swiss knows, because it is the name of one of the world’s best cheeses and because of the place where the cheese originates from, the picturesque medieval town of Gruyère in Switzerland. There is also a locality of the same name right here in Victoria, situated about 15km from Lilydale.

In Susanne Wegmann’s book ‘The Swiss in Australia’ it says the following about Gruyere: “A story is told that he [Hubert de Castella] employed a cheese maker from Gruyère in Canton Fribourg, where the de Castella family originates. Their Lilydale grazing area facing the Great Dividing Range resembled the scenery of Gruyère.

However, despite being produced with an identical name in similar surroundings the cheese didn’t turn out well because of differences in herb composition of the pastures.

This was the excuse of the cheese maker for his boss. The experiment was abandoned, but the locality name remained on the maps.”

Today, I am talking to Moira Burgi who arguably knows more than anyone else about Gruyere. Moira, do you think the cheese experiment failed just because of the herb composition, or do you think it Moira Burgi might also have something to do with the fact that the milk didn’t come from the lovely black and white Fribourg cows?

Moira: Well, we will never know if it was the cows or the herbs. They did abandon it for many years but today, cheese is being produced in this region, but I don’t think Gruyere cheese is among them.

It was about this time that land in the Parish of Wandin Yallock [bordering the Parish of Gruyere] became available for selection. On October 1, 1866, John was granted a licence to occupy Lot No. 1 – 20 acres – corner Burgi Hill and Victoria Roads, the first of the many to follow. John straightaway set about clearing a small area and building what he described in a letter as “a good, comfortable hut”. On May 11, 1867, he brought his little family – his wife and 15-month-old son, Swiss Club of Victoria

Edmund – to live in the vast wilderness that Wandin then was.

Was he able to buy that land as a Swiss citizen?

I believe at that time there were restrictions for non-British subjects?

At the beginning he could only lease the land, but the reason for that was the Johann Bürgi, 1889 government wanting to make sure the land wasn’t gold bearing. Once that was established, eventually he was able to acquire the land for one pound an acre. I have not been able to find any evidence that he was ever naturalised.

It must have been an extraordinary hard life as a pioneer carving out a living from the bush with a growing family.

Did your grandfather leave any records?

We still have some of his diaries, which go into great detail.

Despite all the difficulties, my grandparents managed to cope. Gradually conditions began to improve and the hard work began to show results. Although he didn’t have a farming background, John approached the task with Swiss thoroughness. He experimented with a variety of products, tobacco, grape vines, fruit, berries, vegetables and crops, as well as keeping cows, poultry, pigs and bees. In his diary of 1886-7 he says: “sowing different things – potatoes, carrots, maize, beans, swedes, onions, wheat, radishes, lettuce, cabbage, red beet, tobacco, tomatoes, rye, mangels, caulies, sunflowers, water melons, pie melons, oats, shallots and parsley”.

He kept very detailed accounts of all these experiments: varieties of fruit – cherries, peaches, pears, plums and apples – suitability of climate and aspect; fertilizing, grafting and pollination requirements; profitability, etc. He also read widely of whatever he could get and made copious notes and pasted in his diaries cuttings on all sorts of topics. He even went to Sydney twice to buy fruit trees. I don’t know how he managed that.

So far we talked about your grandparents. What about the next generation, your parents?

After 38 years of pioneering work, raising a family and becoming established in the district, my grandparents John and Mary passed away in 1904, only four months apart. After their parents’ deaths, the three sons – my dad Edmund and his brothers John and Sam – continued to run the property, trading as Burgi Brothers. They grew fruit mainly and were noted for their peaches. In 1910, dad married my mum Mary, the daughter of Irish migrants in Gruyere. Mum and Dad built their home on the 85-acre block at the corner of Victoria and Gruyere Roads, where I still live. My brother Bernie was born w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au

in 1913, then I came in 1916 and finally brother Eddie in 1919.

Dad died suddenly of a burst appendix in 1924, aged only 58. Penicillin, which might had saved his life, had not been discovered then. As he died without a Will, his estate had to be administered by Public Trustees. The law at that time, in such a case, was that the widow inherited Burgi children - Moira, Bernard the real estate and all and Edmund, Christmas 1921 the money was held in trust for the children until they were 21. So Mum was left with a house and 85 acres of largely unimproved land, three little children – 5, 7 and 10 – and no money. Nor was there any assistance of any kind in those days – no widow’s pension, child allowance or concessions. How she managed I still don’t know, but manage she did. She kept cows and sold milk and butter, fed pigs on the buttermilk and also had chooks. There was only a small area of orchard on her land and no-one to work it. The late 1920s, leading up to the Great Depression in 1931 were very hard times. Life was hard for Mum in many ways, but she never complained. She just got on with the job and made the best of things. She was determined to “wear out, not rust out”. She continued to keep active until a slight stroke and failing eyesight persuaded her to take it easy. In 1966, when she was 90, I came home to care for her. She lived a further 10 years without the help of any pills or potions and died in 1976, just a few months short of her 100th birthday.

Longevity must be in your family! In your own long life of 97 years, you would have witnessed incredible changes happening around you?

Indeed! When Mum took over the farm, horses provided all the power for the work on the farm and transport, although I do remember seeing a bullock team in the Main Street of Lilydale on the day I started school in 1924. In the almost 90 years since, there has been a complete revolution, both in farming methods and our way of life. There were no cars, trucks or tractors; no mechanised implements such as fork lifts and spray pumps; no water, gas or electricity; no cool stores; no computerised fruit graders or drip irrigation; no telephones, radios, TVs, computers or email. The list is endless.

I could go on reminiscing – so many memories come flooding back. The Gruyere and Wandin of my young days have passed and gone, but it is said that we are endangering the future when we forget the past, so I appreciate this opportunity to talk about the old days. The history of this land holds special interest for me as just two generations of my family before me – my grandparents and parents – have witnessed and been part of its development since the first day of its European settlement in 1866.

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2nd Jass Night Results: Swiss Club, 1 June

Let’s talk a little about you Moira. You said you went to school in Lilydale, that’s a long way to go to school?

Shortly before dad passed away, I was sent to Lilydale to a convent boarding school.

Today Lilydale might be a short way away from here, but in those days it took an hour by horse; for a little girl of seven years, boarding was the only option. I was picked-up to spend a weekend at home only once a month. I spent all my school years there until I was 15. After that I trained and worked as a mothercraft nurse and was also the typical ‘maiden aunt’ who was always available to care for Bernie and Eddie’s children and for their children’s children. I also worked in the office of an adult education centre in Kew for ten years. I left employment in 1966 to look after Mum after she had the stroke.

Have you ever travelled to Switzerland to see where your grandfather came from?

No, I haven’t, in fact I have never travelled outside of Australia, not even overseas to Tasmania! Members of my family, however, have travelled back to Grossaffoltern and established links with Bürgis in Switzerland and also in America where one of his brothers migrated to.

Are you a Swiss citizen? Are you conscious of your Swiss origins?

I am not a Swiss citizen. My grandfather never registered his marriage or his children with the Swiss authorities. But I am very aware of my Swiss origins and I treasure it a great deal.

If you could invite five people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be?

You leave the most difficult question to last! At my age you appreciate the quiet times, dinner parties are not for me. I would love to meet both my grandparents; there are many questions to ask. Six of my grandmother’s siblings went to America, only she came to Australia; why did she choose Australia? I would also love to be able to talk to dad, who passed away when I was so young.

Thank you very much Moira for taking us on this extraordinary journey back in history!

Many thanks also to Anne Burgi for her kind assistance.

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Singles

1. Bruno Jenny .............................................2854 2. Sylvia Hochuli ..........................................2778 3. Hans-Peter Schlittler.................................2766

Doubles

1. Brigitte & Sepp Goldiger ..........................5147 2. Trudi & Marcel Theiler ..............................5109 3. Doris Conrad & Hans Keller ......................5107

3rd Jass Night Results: Swiss Club, 6 July Singles

1. Walter Imfeld ...........................................2879 2. Alois Schnieder.........................................2847 3. Therese Say ..............................................2740

Doubles 1. Therese & Alec Say ...................................5369 2. Martha & Alois Schnieder ........................5288 3. Brigitte & Sepp Goldiger ..........................5197

2nd Jass Night Results: Matterhorn, 11 May Singles

1 Martin Weber ..........................................2860 2 Luzia Bloechlinger .....................................2835 3 Sigi Wyder .................................................2791

Doubles 1. Justin Hermann & Rowan Lipenski ..............................5507 2. Luzia & Louis Bloechlinger ...........................................5460 3. Robyn Martin & Fred Portmann ....................................5371

Upcoming Jass Night - 2013 3rd 10 August 4th & Final 14 September

Matterhorn Swiss Club

Information supplied by Paul Eisenegger & Sepp Goldiger

Das wöchentliche Radioprogram über alles Schweizerische in Australien, der Schweiz und der Welt. Eine Viertelstunde Aktuelles, Musik, Reportagen und Interviews auf Schweizerdeutsch mit Christian Froelicher auf 93.1fm Jeden Sonntag von 19:45 bis 20Uhr (Neue Sendezeit!)

SBS HOTLINE: (03) 9949 2192 http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/yourlanguage/german

Swiss Club of Victoria

Sunday, 9 June 48 players from four states competed at Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast, for the title of Australian Jass Champion.

The day was organised by a small group from the Gold Coast headed by Franz Huber and Bruno Vogt in conjunction with committee member Rita von Rotz. A big ‘Thank-you’ goes to the committee for the faultless organisation of the event and also for the warm welcome.

What a pleasure to report on this event. Most important, the Primo Calabresi Trophy will stay in Melbourne for another year.

First was Victorian player Peter Schlitter with a massive score of 7096 for 10 rounds with 10 different partners. The new JassKönig with have his name engraved on the Trophy.

Second was Queensland player, Nick with 6958 points. Rosa Dubach and Rita von Rotz with a new AJC Record of 948 points in round 4 achieved the Best Round of the day.

In third place, flying the Swiss Club flag high, was myself with 6849 points. All up, a successful Victorian campaign, out of nine Swiss Club players and six Matterhorn players, there were five in the first 11 places.

celebrate the 25th year since I was in Brisbane for ‘World Expo’ in 1988, then on Saturday I went to see the ‘Australian Outback Spectacular’ on the Gold Coast, jass on Sunday, and lastly, on Monday I spend the day with my son Eric celebrating my 87th birthday – a weekend I shall never forget.

The next Australian Jass Championship will be held on Sunday, 8 June 2014 hosted by the Swiss Club of South Australia in Adelaide. The organisers will have big shoes to fill. Thanks again to our friends in Queensland for all you did for us.

Ossie Haering

Ossie Haering, Peter Schlitter and Nick

Rita von Rotz

The food, lunch and dinner, was just fantastic. Fleischkäse und Buure Macrone for lunch and everything a Swiss heart could wish for dinner – 10 out of 10 for the catering! The Swiss folklore show presented by the Yodel Club Bärg-Roeseli was very versatile, showing us much more than just yodeling.

On a personal note, some friends were surprised why I made the trip to Queensland, Firstly, I wanted to

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1 August at the Club

Swiss National Day Picnic

The Swiss Club celebrated the 722nd birthday of Switzerland with its annual lantern parade. The families met at Federation Square where as usual the Swiss flags were flying. The Parade was again lead by our drummers Gerd & Chris. The procession went , with a lot of noise from the drums and bells off into the dark night along the Yarra River and back to the Swiss club, where the kids were treated to some yummy Roger fries (Thank you Roger for your as usual kind donation), sausages and sweet treats.

In the meantime, the guests arrived in the club restaurant.

After a welcome address by the club president, Barbara Kundig followed by the signing of the Swiss National Anthem and birthday cheers for our home country, Roger and his team spoiled us with a Swiss inspired 3 course meal. Kapelle Gruezi Mitenand entertained us as usual with wonderful Swiss tunes.

We hope all the menbers and guests had a lovely evening.

On Sunday 4th August the traditional Family Picnic was held for the first time at the Austrian Club in Heidelberg. When Switzerland decided on a date for its National Day, it obviously had no regard for the wintery weather conditions prevailing in Victoria at this time of year. However, we were quite lucky this time, as the sun broke through the clouds in the morning and helped to attract a few hundred visitors to this new venue, among them many young families with children.

As usual, the stalls with typical Swiss food and drinks provided a great attraction, with the selection including the traditional Bratwurst and Cervelat, Nussgipfel and Glühwein offered by the Matterhorn Choir, Raclette prepared by the Groupe Romand, special Swiss cheeses, and a broad range of Swiss style delicatessens and sweet things offered by Walmas.

The official celebration started with an Appenzeller Yodel followed by ‘Schälleschütte’, replacing the traditional church bells.

Honorary Consul Erika Kimpton gave a short speech referring back to the origins of the Swiss Confederation, which was followed by a taped address to the Swiss compatriots abroad by the President of the Swiss Federal Council, Ueli Maurer.

The Swiss Companion Singers led the singing of the National Anthem and followed up with a few well known Swiss folk songs. The Matterhorn Choir finished the ‘floorshow’ with a happy yodel song and a few Schwyzerörgeli tunes with popular ‘Tschäderabäng’ accompaniment.

Judging by comments received on the day, the new venue has generally found the approval of the visitors. We express our thanks to the Austrian Club for being friendly hosts, the various Swiss groups in Melbourne for their active support on the day, and all the visitors for sharing in the happy spirit of the occasion, despite a few drops of rain.

Just a little reminder that the Choir is still looking for singers to join us – please give our President Chrigel Hostettler a call to find out more (Tel. 9754 7390).

Erwin Weinmann – Secretary, Swiss Yodel Choir Matterhorn

Appezöller Hääweh I wääss nüd, isch s e Chranket, I wääss nüd, isch s e Freud.

Am Landsgmäändtag, am Landsgmäändtag choods zmol wie inegschneit.

Verlore liid a Muschle im trochne Ufersand; Eweg vom Meer, vom tüüfe Meer, am warme Sonneschtrand.

Ond I de Muschle ruuscheds wie Strom of offner See. O Häämetglöck, o Jugedloscht, wie tuescht mer hüt so weh!

Book the Second Floor at the Swiss Club for your next function

16

Swiss Club of Victoria

Meet the Committee:

Vreni Welsh Membership Relations I moved to Australia some 25 years ago after finishing my studies at the Institute fuer Sozialpaedagogik in Brugg Switzerland.

I first got involved at the Swiss Club when my now grown up boys Tim and Daniel attended the Saturday Morning Swiss School.

Now I work part time at a Medical Clinic and in my spare time I enjoy Yoga and Meditation. I like reading, taking my dog for long walks and I am a keen puzzle fanatic.

Over the years I have met many dear friends at the Swiss Club.

I like to thank all of you for the friendships and all the good times we enjoyed together.

It is time for me to repay my “debt” and give back a little to the Club. About a year ago I joined the Swiss Festival Committee to lend a helping hand. At the Half Yearly Meeting in September I will put my hand up to join the Swiss Club Committee. I will endeavour to look after the most precious asset of the Club – you the members. I am looking forward to all the fun times ahead of us at the Swiss Club and working together with all of you. I also like to thank my husband Noel for his support to make this all possible for me.

We welcome the following new members Harald Donni, We are looking forward to meeting you at one of our forthcoming functions.

Congratulations The following members celebrated a special birthday: 80 years: Sam Williams, Urs Marfurt, Marta Rogers 85 years: Vernon Hauser, Hans Wanner, Bob Wernl 95 years: Hans Bless Congratulation to all of you and we wish you good health for many years to come Happy Birthday to Margaret Staehli. Margaret celebrated her birthday with her family and friends in Healesville where she now lives with daughter Barbara. At the age of 93 Margaret still teaches Yoga every week and keeps in touch with her community; she is even planning a trip to Switzerland later in the year Congratulations to Hans Keller and family on the birth of his grandson. All the best for the newest little Swiss.

Get well Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Dolf Bohren dealing with health issues at the moment

The last farewell TRACHTENGRUPPE SCHWYZERGRUESS/ AUSTRALIAN/SWISS CULTURAL SOCIETY SWISS FOLK DANCE GROUP ALPENROSE

Yvonne Erb, loyal, hard working member of the Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess and past member of the Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose is celebrating her

Our deepest sympathies go to our Honorary Life Member, Ernst Fries, and family on the passing of our Honorary Life Member, Rosmarie Fries. Our thoughts are with you during these difficult times and we will remember Rosmarie fondly.

Dear members, 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.

90th Birthday From the groups, congratulations and best wishes to you.

For the Trachtengruppe, it has been a privilege to work alongside you for so many years.

The Dance Group appreciates your continuous support over the years.

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18

Swiss Club of Victoria

Test your Swiss Knowledge 4

5

3

1

by Hubert de Castella.

Translation, with introduction and notes

by C.B. Thornton-Smith of ‘Notes d’un vigneron Australien’ (1882).

2

6

8 11

10

12

7

9

13

1.

2.

7.

9.

13.

Notes of an Australian vine grower

Across Hero of the battle of Sempach (1386).

Swiss Club event in September.

A suburb of Bern.

What happens on 13 November?

In what month of the year 1899 was the Swiss Club founded?

Down 3. Shooting competition for teenagers held in Zürich.

4. If you stand on top of the Jungfrau, what glacier can you see?

5. Surname of Swiss aviation pioneer.

6. Carl Elsener, the man that made the Swiss Army knife famous, recently died at the age of 90. He was the Senior Chief of what family business?

8. Where is Switzerland’s larges international airport?

10. The people of which canton have recently rejected the staging of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games?

11. First name of Federal Councilor that will be a keynote speaker at the Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Davos.

12. Mountain near Lugano.

Publisher: Mast Gully Press, 1979 Language: English Binding: Hardcover, 75 pages Charles Hubert de Castella (1825-1907) was born in Neuchâtel. In 1854 he arrived in Australia to join his brother who in 1850 had bought Yering Station in the Yarra Valley.

In 1861 he wrote his first book ‘Australian Squatters’ – see Edelweiss June 2012.

‘Notes of an Australian vine grower’ is Hubert’s second book written in 1882. By then he had become one of the leading animators and publicists of the wine industry in Victoria. He had been able to turn his property, St.Hubert’s, into a showpiece for Victorian viticulture, especially after he won the prestigious German Emperor’s prize at the 1880-81 Melbourne Exhibition.

This book really formed part of a concerted campaign to promote Australian wines, particularly the Victorian wines (and most particularly his own wines), that were sent to the 1882 Bordeaux Exhibition and perhaps gain an overseas market for them.

The book contains a series of photographs of the St.Hubert’s vineyard, made in 1884 by the photographer Nicholas John Caire.

This book is out of print but you may find it in secondhand bookstores and online.

SWISS NEWS, WORLD WIDE

For answers go to page 20

Luftkurort in der Schweiz Die Schweiz hat viele Luftkurorte. In einem von diesen spielt sich folgende Episode ab. Ein Besucher des Kurortes fragt den Bürgermeister: “Stimmt es, dass das Klima hier so gesund ist, wie überall behaubtet wird?” “Selbstredend, mein werter Herr”, erklärt ihm der Bürgermeister. “Erst vor einer Woche mussten wir den Ortsältesten vergiften, damit wir den Friedhof einweihen konnten!”

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FOR SALE Paintings by well known Swiss artist Willy Koch from St.Gallen. Most of them are watercolours depicting St.Gallen scenery etc. Other items for sale: large original cow bell and an old colour etching of St.Gallen.

If interested I can organise a suitable inspection at my home. Contact SCV member Bernie Macho on 9592 3693

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Kaffeeklatsch We would like to extend an invitation to all our Senior Citizens (over sixty) to a wonderful afternoon of Coffee, Cakes and a Chat = Kaffeeklatsch, at the Swiss Club.

Sunday, 8 September, 2pm There is no charge for this cosy afternoon, however our Group is thankful for any donations.

Please reserve a place by ringing or leaving a message with Marlies Krummenacher 9503 9921 or Rosmarie Oswald 9583 9048.

RSVP no later than Monday, 2 September.

It’s your Club. Get Involved!

The Bernard Sandoz Cup was up for grabs on the 28th of June at the Clubs Second Floor.

Peter McGrath triumphed over Adrian Besley.

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

The next Swiss Club Singles Championship will be held on Friday, 25 October at 7:30pm Bookings are essential, please ring Roger at the Swiss Club or myself on 9439 7593 or 0418 645 313.

Cost: Only $20 per person which includes dinner.

New players are always welcome!

Louis Schneider

Test your Swiss Knowledge - Answers Across: 1. Winkelried; 2. Kaffeeklatsch; 7. Breitenrain; 9. MysteryTrip 13. February Down: 3. Knabenschiessen; 4. Aletsch; 5. Piccard; 6. Victorinox; 8. Kloten; 10. Grison; 11. Eveline; 12. MonteBre

20

Rösti: quintessentially Swiss Switzerland is famed for its stability, direct democracy, mountains, watches, chocolate and, of course, rösti. At first glance, rösti seem like a rather humble, unsophisticated peasant dish. But do not be fooled by appearances!

Underneath its modest exterior lies a wealth of creativity and innovation, much like Switzerland itself.

Rösti – or roesti, as it is written in non-German languages – is a fried potato cake originally from German-speaking Switzerland Although the term ‘Röstigraben’ (rösti ditch) refers to the cultural fault line that divides German- and Frenchspeaking Switzerland, the dish is a much-loved national culinary treasure. Admittedly, though, there is one small sticking point: in eastern Switzerland, the potatoes are grated after they have been boiled first, while in the west they prefer to grate them raw!

Once the raw-or-boiled question has been settled, there remains the issue of what potato should be used. For many, it has to be the early season Agata, with its smooth skin, perfect round shape and pale yellow flesh. The only problem is that it does not store well. By autumn, it is supplanted by the light red skin of the late-season Urgenta potato. Another variety with the ideal characteristics for a perfect rösti is Armandine.

Whichever variety you choose – and depending on availability in Australia – the potato must always be firm and waxy.

Switzerland does not have a monopoly on fried potato dishes though.

For example, the USA has hash browns, while in Spain there is ‘patatas a lo pobre’.

However, what sets Switzerland apart is that it invented a special potato grater specifically for rösti. Since its arrival towards the end of the 19th century, the rösti grater has propelled this simple potato cake into the ranks of Swiss ingenuity.

The potato may be the star ingredient in this traditional Swiss speciality but it serves as a stark reminder that Switzerland was not always the prosperous land it is today. It was thanks to the humble spud that the country staved off several famines. Legend has it that in 1770 the potato was re-named the ‘saviour of the poor’. Since then potatoes have become a permanent fixture on the Swiss culinary landscape, celebrated by home cooks and top chefs alike.

From ‘Swiss Rösti, by Presence Switzerland Swiss Club of Victoria

Scientists hope to solve enigma of dark matter A mystery which has been puzzling space scientists for more than 80 years may be on the verge of an explanation, thanks to the $2 billion cosmic ray detector on board the International Space Station.

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer has found the first hint of dark matter, Samuel Ting, the leader of an international team of scientists, announced at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, or CERN, near Geneva. Dark matter, which has never been directly observed, is thought to help hold the cosmos together.

Some 25 billion events recorded by the spectrometer over a period of 18 months included the largest collection yet of antimatter particles in space: 400,000 positrons - positively charged subatomic particles.

Scientists who are analysing the data at CERN postulate that the surging energies of these positrons could indicate that they were created when particles of dark matter collided and destroyed each other.

“These results are consistent with the positrons originating from the annihilation of dark matter particles in space, but not yet sufficiently conclusive to rule out other explanations,” said a statement issued by CERN. It is possible that the new phenomenon could be energy originating from pulsars, the organisation said. A pulsar is a highly magnetised rotating neutron star that emits electromagnetic radiation.

The existence of dark matter was first inferred back in 1932 to account for discrepancies between the mass of large astronomical objects, as calculated from their gravitational effect, and that calculated from the luminous matter they contain. Although the theory is widely accepted, several other explanations of these discrepancies have also been proposed.

The search for dark matter is conducted not only from experiments in space, but also on Earth at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider and in other deep underground laboratories.

Ting said the spectrometer would be able to tell scientists “over the coming months” whether the positrons were indeed “a signal for dark matter, or whether they have some other origin.”

CERN Director General Rolf Heuer expressed confidence that taken together, experiments carried out on Earth and in space would produce a resolution of the dark matter mystery “in the next few years”.

The spectrometer will continue to search for antimatter and dark matter for the rest of the space station’s life, which should be at least until 2020. swissinfo.ch

Swolywood Ladies and Gentlemen! Let’s do a Film Afternoon before the summer comes.

Thursday, 17 October, 2pm Swiss Club, Second Floor If you are interested please ring Rita Schwärzler-Abbt on 9561 7811, email ritaherbert@bigpond.com or the Swiss Club

Senior Members’ Luncheon for Swiss Club Members born 1940 and earlier The Committee of the Swiss Club of Victoria has much pleasure in inviting you to a Luncheon at the Swiss Club, on

Monday, 30 September. 12 noon Please fill in the form below and mail to Rita Schwärzler-Abbt, 18 Hertford Crescent, Wheelers Hill Vic 3150, no later than 24 September 2013.

For information please ring: Rita Schwärzler-Abbt: 9561 7811 or Sylvia Hochuli: 9531 6575 Cost: Complementary for members, non-members $45.00 Payment to be enclosed with application.

Yes, I would like to attend the Senior Member’s Luncheon Name(s):

Address:

Telephone: Email: SCV Membership Card number(s): Payment:

@ $45.00 = $

Complimentary for Swiss Club Members Login and get the latest info: www.swissclubvic.com

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Please make your cheque payable to the Swiss Club of Victoria

21

A celebration of our local heritage 30 October – 3 November Now in its 21st year, the Hepburn Springs Swiss & Italian Festa is firmly established as one of the longest running festivals in Central Victoria.

The Hepburn Springs Swiss and Italian Festa began as a modest event in 1993 and has grown in stature and reputation to the position it enjoys today – one of two significant festivals in the Hepburn-Daylesford region. It has grown from a predominantly community based event to one with broad appeal to visitors and locals alike.

Visitors and the communities of the Hepburn Shire will enjoy a five day multicultural festival highlighting the heritage of the settlers from Ticino in Switzerland and Northern Italy who arrived in the region in the mid-nineteenth century. Their legacy is still visible today in the food and architecture of the region, mineral water and wines including nebbiolo, dolcetto and pinot grigio varieties, all heavily influenced by these Swiss & Italian migrants and worthy of our nurture and celebration.

The Swiss & Italian Festa provides an annual focus for Swiss and Italian activities in the area, bringing descendants of the original settlers and visitors together in the region to celebrate this vibrant heritage.

The Festa program includes the Grand Opening Parade and Family Festa, Landscape Art Exhibition; special Swiss and Italian themed events at local wineries and restaurants; literary events, concerts and musical performances all held in iconic Swiss and Italian heritage buildings and venues; sporting events for children and adults (including Boccia for the Ballarat Special School); walks to historically significant locations; a descendants’ picnic and museum tours at Cricket Willow; Italian movies, open gardens, open studios and exhibitions. Plus parties, parades and children’s events all culminating in the Lantern Parade and Fireworks Finale!

The region boasts a wealth of enticing attractions including most recognisably the Hepburn Springs Bathhouse and the Mineral Springs, which would not be in existence today if not for the original Swiss and Italian settlers who set up the original Hepburn Mineral Springs Committee to control mining and therefore protect the mineral springs in the area.

Be part of the 2013 Hepburn Springs Swiss and Italian Festa and enjoy one of Victoria’s most loved regions.

22

Swiss Club of Victoria

Naturalisations continue to fall in Switzerland

The next Luncheon will be on

• Wednesday 4 September Our guest speaker is Ursula Jansen who will talk about her experiences in amateur photography and movie making.

• Wednesday 6 November Lunch is $22 for members and $25 non-members. Includes 2-course meal, wine, soft drinks and coffee. Newcomers most welcome.

Please book with Roger at the club on 9650 1196 or email info@swissclubvic.com.au. For more information ring Heidy on 9889 9321 Heidy Giger

The number of people who became Swiss citizens in 2012 dropped seven per cent over the previous year, according to the latest numbers from the Federal Migration Office, continuing a trend toward fewer naturalisations.

Also as in past years, the largest number of those naturalised in 2012 came from Italy, followed by Kosovo and Portugal. The number of Serbians who became Swiss declined 21% over the previous year.

Fewer people also put in applications for naturalisation, a number that’s been on the decline since 2009. In 2008, a record 35,000 people applied for citizenship; in 2012, it was 24,806.

According to the migration office, this trend can be attributed to the fact that many cantons recently implemented stricter requirements for naturalisation.

Of those who became Swiss citizens in 2012, 26,221 did so through an ordinary application process, while 8,718 made use of the government’s fast-track naturalisation process. A further 117 people obtained citizenship through repatriation.

To qualify for citizenship, immigrants must have generally lived in Switzerland for 12 years, but requirements for how long a person has to have lived in a commune before applying vary.

There is also an expedited process for spouses of Swiss citizens, but again, specific requirements differ by canton and situation.

Applicants are required to be integrated in the Swiss way of life, familiar with Swiss customs and traditions, in compliance with the Swiss rule of law, and to represent no danger to Switzerland’s internal or external security.

Swissinfo.ch

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w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au

23

Swiss history has also been made elsewhere Eminent experts are calling for the creation of a special institute and a lexicon to sum up the wide-ranging and varied research on the history of Swiss emigration. They say a broader view on the larger issue of migration is also needed.

A systematic approach would paint a fuller picture of Swiss émigrés, including the multitude of reasons for going abroad over the past century and the influences on them of their chosen states.

While today about 700,000 Swiss live abroad, no reliable figures existed before the second half of the 20th century.

For Leo Schelbert, a former professor at the University of Illinois in Chicago, the time is right to make a synthesis of all the work that has been done and is still underway.

“The younger generation of academics seems to be open to the history of Swiss emigrants,” Schelbert explains. Globalisation and modern means of telecommunication, notably the internet, have helped raise a general awareness of “the oneness of those abroad with those at home.”

Brigitte Studer, professor of history at Bern University, puts the growing interest in the Swiss abroad into an academic context described as a “transfer of cultural values”.

“It is about de-compartmentalising Swiss history, to overcome a national view and to pinpoint how ideas circulate across borders,” she explains.

Crucial information on the expatriate community risks getting lost if there is no conscious effort to focus and institutionalise research, she warns.

Growing interest Studer welcomes Schelbert’s proposal and she is joined by her colleague Georg Kreis, professor at Basel University. He draws a parallel between an increasingly mobile society and the apparent wealth of historic studies on the expatriate community.

Kreis is convinced that this aspect of the past merits special attention. Nevertheless he cautions it must not be weighted too heavily in the syllabus of university education.

He adds institutions exist which focus on migration issues, notably at Neuchâtel University.

Encouraged by the response from academic circles, Schelbert sees closer cooperation between Swiss universities as well as with other institutions.

“My idea is to link a future institute on expat history with museums and schools. The know-how would not remain in an ivory tower but spread wide to form our national collective consciousness,” he hopes.

Planning your private or business function? The Second Floor is the perfect venue! Contact 1300 893 968 for information & bookings.

24

Changing role Sacha Zala, director of the research project, Diplomatic Documents Switzerland, highlights a strategy change by the federal authorities. From the 1950s and 60s onwards the expatriate community was used as a tool to improve the image of Switzerland abroad.

“It is an extension of the tried and tested militia system at home. Whereby the state is represented by members of the civil society,” he says.

Swiss expats only started to speak with one voice in 1916 when a pressure group was set up at the federal level. The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) was founded by conservative members of the community – in stark contrast with the liberal profile of the average emigrant.

Up to this point in time, the state had considered migration as a private matter of individuals, while the local authorities often encouraged their poorer citizens to leave their home and try their luck elsewhere.

Lessons and challenges At a recent conference on the history of Swiss emigration, Kreis pointed out the fascination of studying the interrelation between the experiences of daily life with more abstract questions of double identities and ties with different countries and social groups and gender. “It allows us to see how the individual dealt with the new environment.”

Studer for her part stresses the influence of the state and other public institutions, the economy and culture.

“Swiss history has not only been made on Swiss territory, but also elsewhere,” says Studer.

A special lexicon could serve to highlight this aspect, as the country has for a long time been part of a globalised world, she adds. The focus has been limited to a past that happened inside Switzerland only.

Making sense of expat history can double the normal work of a researcher. “You need to master two environments: know where people came from and what their unique background is.

But also to understand their new surroundings,” says Schelbert.

While relying on traditional sources such as written records, Schelbert has gone further by commissioning autobiographical statements from people describing their experiences.

Missing pieces The experts agree that neglected historical aspects should be given a closer look.

Kreis suggests a critical review of how decisions to emigrate came about, while Zala and Studer hope researchers will turn their attention to the history of home comers – the emigrants who have returned to their Swiss origins bringing back not only financial wealth but also a different culture.

Up to now, he says the phenomenon has been studied at the local level, but a broader and more systematic approach is still lacking.

Above all there seems to be a consensus among academics Swiss Club of Victoria

that more brainpower and time should be invested to examine the connection between immigration and emigration.

“So far it has been a one-sided look,” says Studer with Kreis adding that the often heated debate today over immigration overshadows the larger issue of human migration and mobility.

Urs Geiser and Sonia Fenazzi - swissinfo.ch

Swiss expats in Australia some 100 years ago: The Lafranchi brothers at their truck outside the Swiss Mountain Hotel in Blampied, Victoria. The hotel still exists today.

Archivist serves up expat history on a platter Dating back nearly 100 years, the records of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) – documenting its activities and the experiences of the Swiss expatriate community – are being dusted off for inclusion in the Federal Archives.

Stored in the attic of the OSA headquarters in Bern, historian Florian Baccaunaud is examining the final bunch of records, dating from the period between 1994 and 2000, so that 100 years of documents may be ready in their entirety in time for the organisation’s centenary in 2016.

Baccaunaud, a dual Swiss/French national with a BA from Bordeaux University, has been given three months to go through the hundreds of documents stored under the roof of the OSA building. He decides which papers to keep for posterity, and how to file them according to their contents in a digitalised register and has until the beginning of September to wrap up his work.

“The forthcoming centenary encouraged us to push ahead in order to ease access to documents for researchers so that a history of the OSA could be written by 2016,” OSA director Rudolf Wyder says.

Hand-written The OSA records cover a wide range of activities by the organisation, the Council of the Swiss Abroad and the annual congresses. w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au

They include the minutes of the meetings, speeches, official programmes, lists of participants and even hand-written “log books” of young expatriates attending the official holiday camps in Switzerland.

Not least, there are also newspaper clippings, pictures and, of course, the official correspondence of the OSA. “From the point of view of a historian, all these documents are most interesting. They are a record of the OSA activities for the Swiss Abroad. Also they allow us to understand how it all happened, how the institutions work and what role this organisation has played,” says Baccaunaud.

Many letters, particularly official correspondence, Baccaunaud adds, can help the Swiss authorities identify necessary legal and administrative amendments or lead to new bilateral accords between Switzerland and a country, where expatriates may face certain problems.

“Through the history of the OSA we can not only get an idea of the concerns and interests of the expatriate community, but also of those people who wanted to emigrate or return to Switzerland,” Baccaunaud says.

Diverse experiences Among the records Baccaunaud looked at were many letters by expatriates to the OSA, covering social, legal, economic, political or patriotic topics.

Baccaunaud says the documents are evidence that the concerns of the Swiss abroad went beyond their own personal environment. Many members write of wanting to take part in Swiss life and offering their services for the country.

“The letters are also very simple testimonies of expatriates who write about their recent emigration. They have only just settled in their new host country and explain how they are perceived as Swiss abroad,” he notes.

Baccaunaud shows an example written by a Swiss women who had just emigrated to a French village on the border with Spain. In it she recounts an anecdote of a visit to the local hairdresser’s which seems to have touched a raw nerve.

Asked where she came from, the lady responded she was from Geneva – whose citizens have a reputation of taking their city and themselves very seriously – but there was no reaction. Upon repeating her answer, the hairdresser nodded affirmatively: “Ah, yes, Grenoble.”

Sonia Fenazzi - swissinfo.ch

Handwritten letters and postcards are part of the archived documents

25

NOTICE

2013 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, 25 September 2013, 8pm Agenda: 1. Opening and Welcome 2. One Minute of Silence 3. Attendance, Apologies, Proxies 4. Adoption of Minutes of Annual General Meeting 2012 5. President’s Report 6. Treasurer’s Report 7. Buildings Report 8. Membership Report 9. General Business 10. Conclusion Please note: Accounts & Financial Statements will be made available to members at the meeting.

Half-Yearly GM Special Start the Half-Yearly General Meeting with a typical Swiss dish. Roger and his team will have a special treat for you.

Bookings essential on 9650 1196. A la carte menu also available at regular prices.

Minutes of the 2013 Annual General Meeting of the SCV Held Wednesday, 13 March 2013 at 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 1. Opening and Welcome The President of the Swiss Club of Victoria, Ms Barbara Kündig, opened the Annual General Meeting at 8 pm and welcomed the Honorary Life Members and Members of the Swiss Club. She thanked everyone for attending; a total of 27 financial members were present.

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2. One Minute of Silence Barbara invited all members to stand up and observe a minute of silence to remember our friends and members, who have left us, in particular our Honorary Life Members, Kurt Langenegger, Toni Erb, Margrit Schneider, Oscar Nicolet and Franz Döös. We will remember them fondly.

3. Apologies Colin Wilkinson, Marcel & Trudy Theiler, Sue Schnellmann, Therese Say, Simona Wirth, Paul & Ros de Castella, Peter Meury, Rolf Huber, Vreni Welsh, Sylvie Eggetswiler, Bruno Giger, AP Boll, MIchael Wyrsch, Marlies & Sepp Krummenacher, Barbara & Walter Purschert, Marlies Birmele.

Proxy Forms received: Peter Meury (to the chairperson) 4. Adoption of Minutes of Half Yearly Meeting The Minutes of the Half Yearly Meeting, held Wednesday, 19 September, 201, were published in the March 2013 newsletter.

The minutes had been read and are a true record. They were moved by Greg Bowles and seconded by Roger Moullet, all in favour 5. President’s Report The president’s report won’t be long, as you will also hear from the different committee members reporting on their respective portfolios – I will let them to the talking.

We hope you enjoyed the facilities and functions that were organized for you for the past year. The committee would like to thank all the convenors of all the interest groups very much for continuing to lead and organize their respective groups. Many thanks to Sylvia Hochuli, Dance Group Alpenrose, Heidy Giger, Companion Singers & Ladies Luncheon, Esther Blaser, SwissKids Damian Schaller, Swiss Diners Club, Rolf Huber, Swiss Festival, Louis Schneider, Billiard Group, Paul Eisenegger & members of the Dance Group for the Swiss Club Jass nights, Rita SchwärzlerAbbt for the Seniors Activities, Marianne Bishop, Laughter Club Helvetia, our newest interest group, Our special thanks go to Roland Isler for all his engagement and work on our newsletter.

The committee appreciates your involvement in making the Swiss Club Newsletter interesting and attractive. We would also like to thank Roger Moullet, our gerant, and his staff, front and back of house, very much for all their work in our club restaurant for the past year.

Since the last AGM 2012, the club organized two Swiss Festivals, Jass nights, several Swiss movie nights as well as social movie afternoons, the Unterhaltungsabend organized by the Dance Group, a Jass course over two Saturday afternoon, where we had a dozen interested people learning how to Jass. Many thanks go to Sylvia Hochuli, Paul Eisenegger, Roger Moullet , Hans Keller and Martin Hornlimann for being great teachers.

We also held our usual National day festivities with dinner in the club restaurant and the Lantern Procession as well as the Samichlaus in December. We also organized a very successful joint event with the La Trobe Society in October. It was well attended, and one of the guest speakers was our own editor and club historian Roland Isler. This event came to fruition thanks to the initiative of our member, Daryl Ross, who is also involved in

Swiss Club of Victoria

the La Trobe Society.

The two Swiss Festivals, the April 12, 2012 one in Heidelberg at the Austrian Club, and the February 13, 2013 at Queensbridge Square, were at two completely different venues and the outcome for the club could not have been more different. The committee thanks the Swiss Festival Committee very much for two very well organized Festivals. They did on both occasions an excellent Job, especially in getting the 2013Festival off the ground in such a tight timeframe. This year’s Festival with its central city locations was a return to the city. A decade earlier, April 2002, the first Volksfest, the original Swiss Festival, was held in Flagstaff Gardens. The return to a central city location certainly brought Swissness closer to a new group of people, however, from the Swiss Club’s perspective; regrettably, it was not the most successful day financially, falling way short of previous years. As a club, we will have to seriously review the form of our involvement in the Festival in the future. Derrick will give you further details in the treasurer’s report.

As for the functions going forward; coming up is our 40th Anniversary Dinner Dance this Saturday. If you haven’t book yet, it is not too late. Please come along and celebrate with us. 40 years at 89 Flinders Lane is a milestone to be proud of.

The Unterhaltungsabend by the Dancegroup on the 4th May is another highlight on our social calendar. The Edelweiss and the social calendar on our website give you further details on all the various events.

The Comedy Festival will again take place on the Second Floor form 27 March – 21 April. We thank the interest groups for their understanding that the Second Floor will not be available for their use. It would like to take the opportunity to thank Tony Anderson & Sigrid de Castella for their time to get everything ready for the Comedy Festival. Since we first

Swiss Club and respect our organizational structure. There has not been an official complaint from her what we might have done incorrectly to warrant this. The Committee deeply regrets the situation. The Swiss Club has always endeavoured to have good relationships with the official Switzerland. As far as the committee is concerned, we recognize and respect the position of the Honorary Consul of Victoria and all it entails. As the Committee is the elected representative of the Swiss Club, the Committee expects that any organization or individual recognizes this and does not let their personal likes or dislikes affect their professional conduct when dealing with the Swiss Club. It is indeed rather disappointing to experience such behaviour from a member of the Swiss consular corps. The committee is always open to a friendly dialogue.

I would like to close the president’s report by thanking you, the members, for your continuous interest in our Swiss Club. We have been able to attract new members over the past months.

It is my absolute pleasure to welcome some of them to tonight’s AGM. Please welcome Erika Lesch, Ann Pask and Amy Roulston.

Proxy Form for the Half-Yearly General Meeting 2013 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,

started to rent the room to them, compliance has certainly very much increased. Tony & Sigrid spend quite a bit of time to get it all in order and also all the necessary approvals & certificates before the Festival can take up residence on the Second Floor as well as getting the room back into its original state afterwards.

Sigrid & Tony will elaborate further during their building report.

my address being:

At this point, I would like you to turn to the kitchen window frosting, which was designed by our member, Patrick Rychner.

Depicted is ‘welcome’ in the 20 most spoken languages in Victoria. We have of course added “Grüezi and Bainvegni”.

Since leaving the committee, Patrick has continued to help the club with artwork and advertising material. We very much appreciate that he continues to volunteer his time and support us on various projects.

his/her address being:

I hope, you all had an opportunity to view and appreciate the Old Lady, the historical Swiss Flag, now taking pride of place in the restaurant and read about her in the latest edition of the Edelweiss. Roland Isler is continuing to research to learn more about its origin and history.

On another, unfortunately not so pleasant matter; for the Past 3+ years, sadly, the once good relationship between the Honorary Consul of Victoria and the Swiss Club has become non-existent. The Honorary Consul has decided that she no longer wants to interact with the elected committee of the w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au

hereby appoint:

being another member of the Swiss Club of Victoria, to vote for me and on my behalf at the Half-Yearly General Meeting of the Swiss Club of Victoria to be held on Wednesday, 19 September 2013 and at every adjournment thereof.

Signed by hand this

day of

2013

Signature: Note: Only members who are entitled to vote, having paid their subscription, or being Honorary Life Members, may represent other members as proxy. Proxy forms must be handed to the Secretary at least 48 hours before the meeting is to take place.

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We trust that you will enjoy being a member.

Many thanks also to the committee, Derrick Wildi, Sigrid de Castella, Antony Anderson, Damian Schaller and Rolf Huber, who can’t be with us tonight as he is overseas.

6. Treasurer’s Report Financial details as of 31 December 2011: ASSETS Cash / Bank Account ..............................................$ $18,392 Deposits .................................................................$ $84,461 Accounts receivable ...............................................$ $37,085 Land .......................................................................$ 210,000 Building..................................................................$ 260,409 Plant & Equipment .................................................$ $69,841 Furniture & Fittings ................................................$ $59,347 Freehold improvements..........................................$ $171,287 Improvement 2nd Floor.........................................$ $287,175 TOTAL ASSETS ..................................................$ 1,198,099 LIABILITIES Accounts payable ...................................................$ Bank Loan ANZ ......................................................$ Other creditors (GST) .............................................$ Prepaid membership ..............................................$

$5,750 315,878 1,831 35

TOTAL LIABILITIES ...........................................$ 323,494 EQUITY Members Funds .....................................................$ Movie Fund ............................................................$ Profit / (Loss) ..........................................................$

21,449 132,617 5,000 2,894

TOTAL INCOME ................................................$ 161,960 EXPENSES Building Operations ...............................................$ Building Maintenance ............................................$ Depreciation...........................................................$ 2nd Floor................................................................$ Bank Fees ...............................................................$ Insurance ...............................................................$ Member Services ....................................................$ Legal and Accounting.............................................$

39,175 18,311 48,000 8,060 29,134 16,957 13,461 4,7251

TOTAL EXPENSES .............................................$ 177,826 OPERATING RESULT .........................................$ (15,866) Overall the challenges in 2012 were similar to the challenges faced in 2011.

The cost for building operations and building maintenance were closely monitored and the implementation of structured maintenance plans show first fruits with costs being in line with figures in 2011 and more importantly assist us with identifying issues in advance, rather than being faced with the damage requiring repair, if and, when things go wrong.

28

On the upside, I’m happy to report that the tenancy situation is stable and both tenants are very responsive to any request made and assisting us in working as a team.

For 2013 no major changes are expected, and it is anticipated, that the challenges will remain the same as in 2012. The challenge will be to look for some avenues to generate some additional income for the 2nd floor. Unfortunately, with the committee being stretched to the limits in the current situation this will be a steep hill to climb as this task will require additional resources to be able unlock the full potential of this venue. Hence, any help with assisting us in this undertaking would be terrific.

Moved: Franz Schnellmann, seconded: Herbert Schwärzler, all in favour.

7. Election of Office Bearers Committee Members for election:

890,381 89 (15,866)

TOTAL EQUITY ..................................................$ 874,604 INCOME Membership fee .....................................................$ Rent .......................................................................$ Sponsorship / Donations ........................................$ Various ...................................................................$

Of concern is still the rental income for the 2nd floor, which is still below expectation and below the cost of interest fees paid for the loan taken to finance the refurbishment. The committee is actively seeking to improve this situation, but any assistance from any member would be greatly appreciated. If you know of anyone looking for a room for private celebrations or for business functions, please contact any of the committee members.

Sigrid de Castella: nominated by Roger Moullet, seconded by Hans Keller, all in favour Antony Anderson: nominated by Marcel Muntwyler, seconded

by Albert Foster, all in favour Election of President: Barbara has decided to retire from the presidency at the Half Yearly 2013. Sigrid de Castella has offered to take on the role of President. The committee proposes to the members to re-elect Barbara Kundig as President and Sigrid to assume the role of Vice-President until September 2013 and then the presidency to the AGM 14.

Barbara Kundig: nominated by Herbert Schwärzler. seconded Adrian Huber, all in favour Sigrid de Castella: Roger Moullet, seconded by Hans Keller, 26 in favour, 1 abstain 8. Building Report General works since Half Yearly meeting • Pipe leak in ceiling of Terra Rossa Restaurant • Electrical outage in Basement • Toilets 2F: Fixed broken door hinges & damage to door stop in ladies room and replaced toilet seat men’s room. There was also a water leak in the men’s toilet. After investigation, it was determined that it has dried out with no structural damage. A1 will re-grout and seal the floor.

• 1st Floor: Men’s room plumbing leak – fixed & retiled • New Wall Frames 2 x A0 in boardroom & 2 x A1 at front entry for advertising • Billiard Table: Leg repaired / reattached, sourcing new whiteboard insert for scoring • New Roller Blinds installed 2nd floor both sides main room, Swiss Club of Victoria

1F window near kitchen •Restaurant: Vent installed for pre-mix machine, 2 wooden chairs repaired •Hole in wall repaired under TV • Window Frosting completed Upcoming Works: • Preparation for Comedy Festival ‘bump in’, • Blinds for board room / 1st floor office, • Review of Alarm System Codes, Re-organising store room and kitchen clean out Lifts • Passenger lift has been stained and phone line is now working.

• Goods lift motor rebalanced and no more issues i.e. sheered bolts Upcoming lift items: Door lock on goods lift (dumb waiter), new door sensors in passenger lift.

Electrical system: • Check of building electrical system found items on some floors being powered from other floors. Rerouting of some power runs will be required.

• Pre work for new electrical board in Basement under way.

Meter to be installed in the Basement with usage costs shared between Terra Rossa and Swiss Club restaurant.

Building electrical upgrade on hold but will be done in the next 2 years. Terra Rossa to contribute half cost.

Fire safety: • Currently have 3 companies providing all of the fire safety compliance. About to do annual compliance checks and audit for Comedy Festival which involves the companies above 9. Membership Report Derrick reported on the membership. The total number of members increased by 12 to 451 members. This is especially encouraging, as we usually lose on average of 15 of members for various reasons. Other than that, there are little changes to the overall membership structure in regards to age groups, language spoken and percentage of members with Swiss citizenship.

The availability of SMS and e-mail details continues to increase, which assist us in being able to more effectively communicate with members on upcoming events or anything else worth knowing about the club. For any update on what is happening at the club please visit us on Facebook or the Social Calendar on our website.

9. Internet & Social Media (Damian) Damian spoke about social media and plans to upgrade the website to keep it fresh and interesting to read. He encouraged the members to participate by either liking our Facebook page or to contribute to the website as authors.

10. General Business

Argus” newspaper from 1860 describing how the flag was handed over to the Swiss in Victoria. Roland will write a follow up article for the next Edelweiss.

• Roland asked for further clarification about the electrical upgrade and inquired, if this had not been done during the 2F renovation. Tony responded that the electricity on the Second Floor was all fine and had been upgraded; it is in the basement, where the cables and circuits need to be sorted out to clearly identify who uses what.

• Roland then voiced his concern that the Honorary Consul of Victoria has chosen to ignore and bypass the Committee in dealings between the Swiss Club and official Switzerland. He commented that this is quite disrespectful toward the committee and a deviation from accepted protocol. It was not acceptable that there are instances when the official Switzerland arranges events at the Swiss Club, and the committee is not involved or invited and only learns about it afterwards. As the head of the largest Swiss organisation in Victoria, our President and committee are entitled to be treated courteous and with the respect that befit their position, irrespective of personal issues that one might have. Regrettably, efforts to bring about a change have failed. Roland said that the members have to step in and make a decision on this. After all, this building belongs to the members, and what happens in it is a matter that the members should be concerned about. Roland put forward a motion that Roger and his staff be obliged to automatically redirect any inquiry by the Honorary Consul of Victoria to organise any official function held in this building to the President or Secretary. The decision shall be theirs, and only theirs, whether such a function should be held at the Restaurant or on the Second Floor. It is the only way to ensure our Committee is fully informed and in control, and proper protocol is adhered to. We need to give a clear signal that we won’t tolerate such conduct, and that the members support the elected President & Committee. The motion was seconded by Rita Schwärzler.

There was a vigorous exchange and questions by the members.

The motion was voted on and approved in favour by all.

• Heidy Giger commented about the dryer in the Ladies room that simply does not seem to function. There were comments about installing a Dyson or swap over to paper only. The committee will investigate the cost and determine how to resolve most cost efficiently.

• Marianne BIshop voiced that the toilet paper dispenser seem to make it difficult to feed the toilet paper readily. The committee will see what can be done.

11. Conclusion As there were no further questions from the members, Barbara closed the Annual General Meeting by thanking all present for their attendance and interest in the Swiss Club and inviting them to some refreshments.

Minutes taken as a correct record by Damian Schaller, member of the committee.

• Roland Isler reported that more information about the origins of the Old Lady has come to light. An article was found in “The

w w w.s w i s sc lu bv i c .co m.au

29

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

Wednesday Thursday Saturday Sunday Saturday Wednesday Thursday Wednesday Thursday Monday

04 05 07 08 14 18 19 25 26 30

Ladies’ Luncheon Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains at the Club SwissKids Kaffeeklatsch - Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess Jass Night - Swiss Club (Finals) Swiss Movie Night: “Madly in Love” (Wenn die Liebe verückt spielt) Laughter Club Helvetia – Laughter Yoga Half-Yearly General Meeting Laughter Club Helvetia – Laughter Yoga Senior Members’ Luncheon

OCTOBER

Thursday Saturday Thursday Thursday Thursday Friday

03 05 17 17 24 25

Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains at the Club SwissKids Swolywood: Social Movie Afternoon Laughter Club Helvetia – Laughter Yoga Laughter Club Helvetia – Laughter Yoga Billiard Competition - Swiss Club Single Championship

NOVEMBER

Saturday 02 Sat/Sun 02/03 Wednesday 06 Thursday 07 Wednesday 13 Wednesday 20 Thursday 21 Thursday 28

SwissKids Companion Singers perform at Swiss & Italian Festa Ladies’ Luncheon Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains at the Club Fahrt ins Blaue (Mystery Trip) – Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess Swiss Movie Night: Der Verdingbueb Laughter Club Helvetia – Laughter Yoga Laughter Club Helvetia – Laughter Yoga

DECEMBER

Saturday Saturday Thursday Thursday Thursday Friday

Senior Christmas Afternoon Tea (by invitation) SwissKids Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains at the Club Laughter Club Helvetia – Laughter Yoga Laughter Club Helvetia – Laughter Yoga Club Restaurant closes after dinner (reopens on Monday, 6 January 2014 for lunch)

07 07 12 19 26 27

OTHER REGULAR SWISS CLUB MEETINGS: • Committee Meetings: every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month • Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose: practice every Tuesday evening at 8.15pm • Swiss Companion Singers: practice and social gathering every 2nd and 3rd Thursday of each month at 8pm • The Swiss Diners Club: dates for get-together can be found on www.swiss.org.au or on our Yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/YoungSwissMelbourne

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Swiss Club of Victoria

National Day Celebration

IS SW S

Urs Marfurt’s

80th birthday

THE

RO U CLU

T

ABOU D N B