HELVETIA MAGAZINE OF THE SWISS SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 Y E A R 7 8 The Three Lakes Region of Switzerland’s beautiful Three Lakes Region century during a period of prolonged drought (Drei-Seen-Land or pays des trois lacs) lies at (refer page 24). Other significant Swiss Celtic HIGHLIGHTS: the foot of the Jura mountains, comprising the finds of the later la Tène period were discov-  Switzerland’s Three three lakes of Morat (), Neuchâtel and ered at the northern end of Lake Neuchâtel Bienne (Biel). around the same time. Lakes Region It is one of Switzerland’s most important grow- The Jura Water Correction aimed to mitigate  Organisation of the ing regions for vegetables (and let us not for- flood risk in a series of hydrological works. get the wine!). The region is at the boundary This included the diversion of the River Swiss Abroad news of the cantons , , Neuchâtel and from directly into Lake Bienne , forming part of the linguistic bound- through the canal, and building fur-  Helvetia survey ary region between French and German- ther canals between the three lakes ( results speaking Switzerland. and /Zihl canals). Originally a swampy floodplain of the Aare A side effect of this correction was the crea-  Swiss Society Games River, chroniclers reported regular flooding of tion of the longest navigable waterway in Swit- results lakes and adjacent swamps from the 15th cen- zerland - much to the delight of modern tour- tury, at times even causing the complete ists who make extensive use of boat tours merging of the three lakes. between Solothurn in the north to Yverdon in INSIDE: The original landscape provided an ideal envi- the south. ronment for our ancestors who created lake- The area is historically and culturally rich, in- Organisation of the 3 side settlements built on piles to deal with the cluding lovely cities such as Morat (Murten), Swiss Abroad news periodic changes in water levels (pile dwell- Biel (Bienne), Neuchâtel and Yverdon. There ings). Significant archaeological remains of are limitless opportunities for walking, cycling Helvetia survey results 4 these settlements were discovered in the 19th and all manners of water transport. Swiss Society Games 5 results

From the President: 6 back from the winter escape Swiss economic news 7

Embassy news 8 - 9

Health corner 10

Kids’ corner 11

Three Lakes Region 12 - 13

Swiss Club news 14 - 20

Chuchichäschtli/ 21 Garden diary

Obituaries 22 - 23

Pre-historic pile 24 dwellings

The three lakes of Morat (Murten - far right), Neuchâtel (foreground) and Bienne (Biel) (far left) This photograph and others in this issue are used with the kind permission of Bielersee Schifffahrts-Gesellschaft (www.bielersee.ch) www.swiss.org.nz OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 From the Editornew President and Editor

From the Editor Mim Bueb sin Hosesack Spring is now definitely in the air. En alti Chäpslipischtole For us Auckland (and other) urban- es Portmenee, natürlich leer ites, it often takes a trip to the coun- En Bleischtift und es Stückli Chole tryside to be really convinced - lets Es Naastuech, wo gärn suber weer, face it, spring is not spring without Es gröönelig-grüens Stuck Kandiszucker, the many calves and lambs that dot En Chlee, vierblettrig und verblüet the countryside, and the green hue En Hegel und e Hampfle Chlüüre that starts to spread over trees and Es Loos, wo sicher nüme ziet, shrubs. I hope that for the farmers among you, this spring has been Zündhölzli und es Niele-Zwiigli successful and the weather not too Es Bileet uf de Münschterturm, inclement for calving and lambing. E Lupe-n und es Muulörgeli Well, we are into our second Helve- und z'underscht nu en Rägewuurm tia issue and I must say it’s already a Was sonen Chnopf – s isch fascht es Wunder nöd alles mit sich umeträit! bit easier - not in the least part due En Sack voll Gnuusch, Dräck und Plunder? to the excellent articles the Helvetia En Sack voll Buebe-Seligkäit! team has contributed. I am so Walter-Verlag Meilen pleased about their creativity and Contributed by Edith Hess penmanship, and of course hugely grateful. The Three Lakes Region is our key topic for this issue - and there is sim- Swiss Society of New Zealand Inc. ply not enough space to give it all the Patron H. E. Dr Marion Weichelt Krupski credit it deserves! For me personally, President/ Tanja Latham-Zurbruegg, 45 Kinross Street, Blockhouse Bay, it brings back memories of a Secretary Auckland 0600. Ph 09 627 8777. E-mail: [email protected] Vice President Marcel Rüedi, 25 Beverley Crescent, RD 1 Whangarei 0179 “shipwreck” - that is, capsizing in a Ph 02 7490 1836. E-mail: [email protected] sailing boat on one late Editor Susie Wood, PO Box 65206 Mairangi Bay Auckland 0745. and very stormy afternoon just off Ph 09 4736098. E-mail: [email protected] the Island of St Peter, losing all our Treasurer Carmen Fitzi-Gordon, 2 Coldham Crescent, St. Johns, Auckland 1072. Ph 09 528 0903. E-mail: c _and_ [email protected] valuable possessions including wal- Riflemaster Ernst Lanz, 23 Hawaiian Parade, Arkles Bay, Whangaparaoa 0932. lets in the process - only to be res- Ph 09 428 5687. Email: [email protected] cued by a fancy boat with cocktail party on board. Talking about the Delegates to the Swiss Abroad Conference in Switzerland bedraggled among the glitzy! Delegate Othmar Hebler, 9 Larlin Heights, RD 15, Hawera. Ph 06 278 6878 Deputy Delegate Emanuel Zust, 41 Cheltenham Drive, Kapiti Village, Paraparaumu 62 among you have taken the oppor- Ph 04 905 0017 tunity to participate in the Helvetia survey - thank you all very much. Secretaries of the Swiss Clubs This is really valuable information Auckland Heidi Wilson, 53 Rothesay Bay Road, Rothesay Bay, Auckland. which we will consider in adjusting Ph 094789751. E-mail: [email protected] the content of the Helvetia. Hamilton Anita Zuber, PO Box 24061, Hamilton 3253. Mob 027 498 5170. E-mail: [email protected] Have you ever wondered why the Taranaki Marianne Drummond, 508 Salisbury Road, RD 24, Stratford. British National Anthem sounds Ph 06 7628 757. E-mail: [email protected] vaguely familiar? Our Ambassador Wellington Odile Stotzer, 24 Fitzherbert Street, Alicetown, Lower Hutt 5010. Marion Weichelt sheds some light on Ph 04 586 3095. E mail: [email protected] to this conundrum (page 6). Now I Swiss Government Representatives am very curious about the alternative Embassy of Level 12, Maritime Towers, 10 Custom House Quay, Wellington 6140. anthem! Wishing you a very enjoy- Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.eda.admin.ch/wellington able spring. Consulate Peter Deutschle, 3 Marine Parade, Herne Bay, Auckland 1011. of Switzerland Ph 09 366 0403. E-mail: [email protected]

HELVETIA P A G E 3 Organisation of the Swiss Abroad

Report on ASO conference in Lausanne

17-19th August 2012 (by Othmar Hebler)

330 people from 40 countries at- the world. This means travellers tended the congress, 70 of them have to take a lot more responsibility SWISS KONDITOREI BERN elected representatives. 700,000 for their own travels and actions. Swiss live outside Switzerland, that’s Bakery & Pastry There were two guest speakers at nearly 10%. The ASO is pushing the conference. One was Elmar Do you feel like eating real Swiss/German very hard to get e-voting imple- Mock, the inventor of the Swatch, breads, tasty and healthy? mented, hopefully by 2015, and is who talked about how Swatch turned German Sourdough, Butterzopf, also trying to make the Swiss abroad around the misfortunes of the Swiss Walliser Bread, Kibbled Rye, Walnut Bread, the 27th canton of Switzerland. Tasty White Bread, Basler Bread, watch industry. The other speaker or chose from a wide range of rolls, Swiss banks are continuing with was the Nobel Price Winner of inclusive Laugenrolls. charging or even closing the bank chemistry 2002, Mr. Kurt Wüthrich. In the sweet range we offer accounts of Swiss abroad. ASO is He talked about the mutations of the Blackforest Cake, Bienenstich, working very hard to get some reso- Bird and Swine flu. Chocolate Truffle Cake, Quark Cheesecake, Fruit Flans, Patisserie, lution on this for their members. The Lots of political parties attended in seasonal specialities and much more. Aargauer Kantonalbank, for exam- order to try and enrol new members. We are using local and often ple, is charging accounts with less organic ingredients. After the conference, I visited with than 150,000 Sfr. 40.00 per month. my parents the” Auslandschweizer Now with lots of money flowing into Retail sale at our bakery Platz” in Brunnen on the edge of the Switzerland and interest rates his- Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7am-2pm “Vierwaldstättersee”, a place well torically low, you can get mortgages 5/448 Rosebank Rd, Avondale, Auckland worth visiting if you’re ever in Swit- Tel: (09) 828-5860 Fax: (09) 828-5861 for a ten year term for 1.6%. zerland. www.swisskonditoreibern.co.nz Bundesrat Didier Burkhalter (head of If you like any more information on Swiss abroad) was talking about the conference, visit closing more Embassies around the www.swissinfo.ch. world, as the internet makes it a lot faster to communicate anywhere in A bit of background information

ASO stands for Auslandsschweizer still have a link with Parliament Organisation or Organisation for the thanks to the inter-party parliamen- Swiss Abroad (OSA). According to tary group "The Swiss Abroad", its website, 135,000 Swiss nationals which has about 100 MPs and is living abroad are registered on the sensitive to the cause of the Swiss electoral roll, allowing them to exer- living outside the country. cise their democratic right to vote. The Organisation of the Swiss This is the equivalent of the elector- abroad (OSA) actively promotes the ate of a Canton such as Neuchâtel - political rights of Swiss people living a very sizeable electorate and one abroad and encourages them to get that continues to grow. It is there- onto the electoral register, so that fore a vital task to protect the inter- they can participate in political de- ests of these citizens abroad. bates and keep themselves informed This is the role of the Council of the about votes and elections. The OSA Swiss Abroad (CSA), the voice of is also active in promoting electronic the Fifth Switzerland and recognised voting, a highly important democratic as such by the Federal authori- instrument for Swiss citizens distrib- ties. Even without this primary politi- uted around the four corners of the cal body, the Fifth Switzerland would world. Source: www.aso.ch OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 Helvetia Survey: Response from our Membership

Survey results We had a good response: 62 people took the time to reply; 32%, in Swiss German by 18%, in French by 13%, in Italian 14 from the Wellington Club, two from Hamilton, 41 from by 8% and in Romansh by 3%. These figures are a bit dis- Auckland, four are members of the Swiss Society only and torted as not everyone replied to all the questions, and the one skipped the question. Thank you all! You busy Taranaki Romansh contingent consists of one person only! On the people missed out, bad timing to do a survey during calving other side, over 60% of respondents did not want any Ro- season!! mansh or Italian, just under 50% no French, and just over And even more pleasing: Just over half (31) regularly read 20% no German or Swiss German. 20 people made other our Helvetia, cover to cover. 26 browse, the others look at comments: 13 of them would like either only English, or defi- nitely mainly English, as many of our readers don’t under- the Club news mainly. stand Swiss languages and would feel left out. Others would We asked which articles had been mostly read in past edi- like to see poems, ballads and children’s stories in German. tions. Half of the participants replied. Many of them pointed out again that they read the Club news. We had many posi- What are we going to do with all this information? It is cer- tainly food for thought. We are well aware that we will not be tive comments regarding articles about Switzerland – from current events to entertainment, personalities, politics, able to satisfy everyone all the time. It is interesting to note places and customs. that stories about Swiss life in New Zealand came high on the wish-list. Anybody who would like to share their story Trudi Brühlmann’s series on the Swiss cantons was certainly and/or their wisdom is most welcome! There may be some very popular! Swiss recipes were read by many. Articles shoulder tapping coming up. Please keep on voicing your about Swiss living in NZ were mentioned, too. One of our opinions in the letters to the Editor. readers passes the magazine to his Dutch neighbour, who again reads it from cover to cover. Good recycling! The last part of the survey asked about what brought you here, what you like in New Zealand and what you miss from Suggestions for future editions was next – what should defi- Switzerland. I found the replies fascinating and will report on nitely be part of Helvetia, or may be, or not at all. Not surpris- those in another issue of Helvetia. ingly, Club news came first: 57 of the 62 people (92%) voted By Nelly Steinemann for those as a “regular”. The two next themes were Swiss people in New Zealand, with 77% of respondents feeling this should be a definite, together with issues for Swiss here, Congratulations to the winner of the including law, taxes and AHV (75%). Proceeding to more practical topics, Swiss kitchen and recipes were a “must” for Helvetia survey! 73% of respondents. The opinions were more divided on Drawn at the fondue night in Auckland (07 September), other themes: Swiss customs, myths and legends attracted the happy winner was Pia Knarston of the Auckland 64% as a favourite subject. More than 50% also wanted Swiss Club. Six bottles of Renato wine will have reached regular articles on Swiss current affairs and politics, and you by now – ENJOY! Swiss businesses in New Zealand. Half would like to see letters to the Editor. Just under half of the respondents would like to read regular articles on current Swiss entertainment and on famous Swiss people. There were similar replies for personal stories (Carolyn Lane or Jakobsweg). The children’s page was favoured by a little less than half of the respondents. Surprisingly (to me any- way), health, household tricks and gardening were the least desired. Still, the majority would like to see at least some information on those. Separate suggestions were made by 24 participants. A re- curring theme was travel tips in Switzerland for us New Zea- landers. A couple of people would like to see sports news, while others like Sudoku and serial fiction. Also requested were stories about other immigrant communities in New Zea- land and news from the Embassy. The editorial committee has had some discussion about Swiss languages in the Helvetia and put a question into the A sample of Renato wines survey. Regular articles in (High-)German were favoured by

HELVETIA P A G E 5 Swiss Society Games 2012 Medal Winners

A big thank you goes to all participants for participat- Clubs, please ensure that all competitors over 18 years of ing in the medals competition, and congratulations to age are full Club and Society members. Parents, please all the medal winners. It would be great to see in- note that there is a separate competition for juniors creased participation in all events, so come along and (under 16 years of age), so bring along your children and support your Club in these sports activities. The more let them have a go at these “Swiss” sports. At the AGM competitors participating, the more medals … come and held at Queen’s Birthday Weekend, I resigned as the So- enjoy some friendly rivalry!!! I am sorry that the medals ciety Rifle Master, and I would like to congratulate Ernst didn’t arrive in time to be distributed at your 1st of August Lanz for being appointed as the new Society Rifle Master. celebrations, but Faude Huguenin have apologised for Regards the inconvenience. By the time this is printed, all clubs Mark Kiser should have received their medals. Taranaki Club Hamilton Club Double Medal Winners Single Medal Winners Heidi Werder 1st bowling Kurt Bolli 1st= shot put, men 2nd cards Markus Bolli 1st shot put, junior boys Mark Kiser 2nd bowling Hanspeter Burch 1st bowling 2nd shooting, men Nadia Cooper 1st shooting, junior girls rd Single Medal Winners Paul Cooper 3 shooting, men Bruno Epp 4th bowling Paul Amstalden 1st cards David Fitzi 3rd cards Jon Phillipps 1st shooting, men Peter Fluhler 6th= bowling Thomas Werder 1st shot put, men Hanna Frischknecht 1st shot put, ladies Marlies Hebler 1st shot put, ladies Fidel Good 2nd= bowling Toni Hess 1st shot put, junior boys Fritz Hasli 6th= bowling Helen Freiman 1st shooting, ladies Eileen Hickey 2nd cards Emma Fitzgerald 1st shooting, junior girls Ueli Hofer 1st= shot put, men Daniel Drummond 1st bowling, junior boys Florian Hurschler 2nd shot put, junior boys Kim Danz 2nd shot put, men Charlie Leuenberger 6th= bowling Dani Meier 3rd shot put, men Heinz Leuenberger 5th= cards Adrian Drummond 3rd= bowling Neal Matti 1st shooting, junior boys Ruedi Benkert 3rd= bowling Franz Morgenthaler 3rd shot put, men Zeno von Hospenthal 3rd= bowling Oskar Reichmuth 4th cards Bryce Kaiser 3rd= bowling Anna Rufer 1st shooting, ladies Berta Sidler 3rd cards Anton Rufer 1st bowling, juniors Fred Neuburger 4th cards Peter Rust 6th= bowling Herbert Staheli 2nd= bowling Auckland Club Willetta Staheli 5th bowling Hans Vetsch 1st shooting, men Double Medal Winners Karl Waldvogel 1st cards st Adrian Blaser 1 = shooting, men Rosa Wallace 1st shot put, junior girls rd 3 bowling Peter Weiss 5th= cards nd Neil Kaiser 2 bowling Walter Zuber 2nd shooting, men 5th cards Single Medal Winners Wellington Club Henry Werffeli 1st= shooting, men Single Medal Winners Lynne Dunphy 1st cards st Marcel Ruedi 1st bowling Christine Fluhler 1 cards nd Marcel Lanz 1st shooting, juniors Fred Fluhler 2 cards st Pia Wittmer-Blaser 1st shooting, ladies Hans Glauser 1 shot put st Berta Good 2nd cards John Jordan 1 shooting, men st Ian Gordon 3rd cards Theresa Jordan 1 shooting, ladies st Louis Walliman 4th cards Michael Jordan 1 shooting, juniors Karl Signer 3rd cards OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 Word from the President: Back from our Winter Escape

It is always a sure sign that I've been All the hard work paid off, congratu- in Switzerland when, on my return, I lations to Susie and the Helvetia do the “head bumping” again – I say team! “Hi!” to friends trying to give them Just a little taster of how it was to three kisses and they try to hug me take over the publishing of the Hel- at the same time – bump! At least vetia: We started meeting up five my Swiss friends will know what’s months prior to the first issue (OK, going on, whereas my kiwi friends not everyone is as organised as that, usually just think, “She’s gone nuts but we are Swiss after all…), had to again…” It probably happened to all find volunteers for articles, came up of you Swiss at some stage! with fresh ideas for topics and sto- One of the most impressive memo- ries, had to find printers, get quotes, ries I have of my recent holiday to organise postage accounts but most Switzerland is the flowers! It’s been importantly we had to find an Editor! Berner Tram over a decade since I last spent time A huge weight came off our shoul- there in summer and I was gob- ders when Susie Wood volunteered smacked by the beauty and colour- to do the editing and publishing of fulness of the geraniums. the new Helvetia. She created an Every house, every shed, every bal- updated, contemporary look and we cony, every small corner has beauti- are all thrilled with the result! Thank ful red, pink, purple and white flow- you so much Susie and Helvetia ers! It’s absolutely stunning! In my team, you did an outstanding job! opinion that is one of the reasons I’m also excited to inform you that why Switzerland stands out from we are working on a new website for other countries – it just makes it look the Society and the clubs. It’s time and feel so special. Even the tram in for an innovative, contemporary look Bern has geraniums painted on the to our on-line presence. The new side – most amusing… website should be up and running I was thrilled to receive the “new- towards the end of the year. In the look” Helvetia when we met up with meantime, enjoy the spring days and my husband in Florida. Apparently it treasure the blossoms! was the only dry thing in the letter By Tanja Latham-Zurbruegg box that day. And didn’t it look great?! Wonderful Fountain

Chuderwaelsch (Swiss Dialect) Bäägä – to cry Bibärä – to tremble with fear Biibäbbälä – to spoil Bittibätti mache - to beg Blochä – to race Bodigä – to defeat Blöffär – a show off Bröösmäli – small crumbs Bschiisä – to cheat Büschälä – to arrange something

„Café Le Kiwi“ in Morges

HELVETIA P A G E 7 Swiss Economic News

Switzerland doing better in the economic crisis Countries rich in supplies suffer from the resource curse; they tend to struggle with the creation of new jobs and industries Switzerland is mastering the current economic crisis better than because of short-term wealth. In addition, resource exploitation its recession-hit European peers. To explain the discrepancy boosts the national currency, bringing down the manufacturing with prosperity and unique laws that foster money laundering sector – a phenomenon economists call the Dutch disease. and tax dodging, however, would fall short. Switzerland’s unem- ployment rate is 2.7 per cent, lower than in any other European Neighbours country, where the rate is on average ten per cent. Its economy The Alpine country’s export focus goes back to medieval times expanded for the twelfth consecutive quarter with selective indi- when it specialised in dairy production, paving the way for the cators still going strong. milk powder and chocolate companies. The Huguenots, ex- Watch exports climbed 15 per cent in July. Car sales jumped 12 pelled from France in the 16th and 17th centuries, helped create per cent in the six months through June, boosted by demand for the watch and textiles industries. luxury cars, while dropping 11 per cent in the European Union. Today, more than half of exports go to Europe, and Germany is “In principle, the Swiss economy is doing rather well. Switzer- its largest trading partner. While Switzerland may politically be land has weathered the crisis and managed to recover consid- an island, its economic fate depends on its neighbours. Should erably faster than other countries,” Aymo Brunetti, an economics economic growth in Germany weaken further, it will become professor at Bern University, told swissinfo.ch. “It was not af- difficult for the exporting industry, Straumann said. fected by a real estate bubble or a credit crunch. It is reaping the benefits of stabilising economic policies introduced a decade “At the moment, Switzerland is not the master of its own des- ago, which allowed it to be better prepared.” tiny,” Boris Zürcher, chief economist at BAK Basel Economics told swissinfo.ch. “Switzerland’s fate very much depends on Clever policies what is happening in Europe.” So, how did such a small landlocked country without natural For the moment, Switzerland is still holding its ground because resources and a difficult geography become so competitive, important export industries such as pharmaceuticals and innovative and prosperous, allowing it to grow into one of the watches are relatively resistant to crisis. largest banking centres, shipping powers and commodities play- While overall exports continue to rise, the country’s largest sec- ers? For experts, it is quite simple: Continual peace, economic tor, the engineering industry with thousands of specialised small growth of its main export partners and successful industries and medium-sized players, however, is starting to feel the supported by business-friendly legislation have helped the crunch. First-half sales rose 1.4 per cent, as orders fell 11 per world’s oldest democracy to thrive. cent. And, its citizens are committed to diligence, high-quality work and entrepreneurship, Zurich University economic historian To- Swiss mantra bias Straumann wrote back in 2010, in a notable article “Why Experts do not predict another recession for the moment, but a Switzerland is a rich country”, published by the State Secretariat collapsing euro and a banking crisis would have the most dev- for Economic Affairs (Seco). astating effects on Switzerland. The Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology are ranked among “Switzerland would not be able to elude a break-up of the Euro- the top ten universities in Europe, and nuclear research labora- Zone, its most significant trading partner; it would head for a tory Cern is situated partly on Swiss territory. Switzerland’s suc- recession,” warned Brunetti. “A collapse would lead to unparal- cess may be due to serendipity, but also to clever policies. leled slumps all over Europe.” In the 1990s for example, the government introduced policies to Stability is Switzerland’s mantra. Thanks to social peace and stabilise its economy: a debt break, measures to balance its citizens’ rights it has a low number of strikes. Through cautious- unemployment insurance, domestic market reforms and restric- ness, cream-skimming or a wait-and-see attitude, it has not tions on immigration. Today 23 per cent of the population are joined Nato or the EU and was one of the last United Nations foreigners. Economic policies oriented towards stability and members. high-quality human capital are two of Switzerland’s self-made Traditionally associated with cleanliness, fairness, and reliability, strengths, Straumann wrote, noting that Switzerland’s economic Switzerland did, albeit, over the past decades make headlines success is due to fortune as well as good judgement. with less glorious stories such as its tarnished role during the Switzerland – one of the wealthiest nations in the world today Second World War, the grounding of its national airline or its with a per capita income of about $80,000 (SFr76,000) – used controversial banking secrecy legislation. Still, history has to be a poor country, particularly in the Alps, which remained shown that the Swiss are able to learn from mistakes and come destitute well into the 19th century, forcing citizens to seek work out of a crisis even stronger. as mercenaries and families to emigrate to Russia and the New “There is much evidence that the Swiss economy will continue World. to be outstandingly successful in the future,” Straumann said The country owns some main transit routes and water divides, back in 2010. “There is no prospect of an end.” Recent history but never had any commodities to speak of. This may have seems to be proving him right. been its fortune. Chantal Britt, swissinfo.ch (2 September 2012)

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 Ambassador’s 1st August Speech But I doubt that this has only to do with its old-fashioned Willkommen, bienvenu, wording. Swiss are naturally skeptical when it comes to too benvenuto, allegra, welcome much expression of national pride. But mind you: this cer- tainly has nothing to do with a lack of patriotism! Today, on 1 August 2012, we are celebrating Switzerland’s 721st birthday. 721 years – and I, and not only I but most of Paul Burkhard's national anthem, the one that was composed my fellow Swiss citizen, still do not feel comfortable singing in the early seventies yet failed to become the Swiss national the Swiss national anthem. In London, the Olympics have just anthem, remains modern and contemporary to this day. In started. Have you ever watched Swiss athletes? They do fact, Burkhard’s wording for his national anthem reflects en- terribly when singing the national anthem, very much contrary tirely the values and objectives as laid down in the Swiss to Kiwis and most other nations. Why is it that my kids can Federal Constitution. And if we look at the Swiss foreign pol- easily sing the New Zealand national anthem, but not the icy objectives as they are listed in our constitution: Swiss one? Every time Switzerland’s national day comes up,  the alleviation of need and poverty in the world, I wonder why that is and this year, I wanted to find out.  the promotion of democracy, Our national anthem dates back to 1841. The Swiss psalm,  the respect for human rights, as our national anthem is called since it was composed by a  the peaceful co-existence of nations and priest, took 140 years in the making. A national anthem  the preservation of the environment, should not be elected by government decree but by popular then these Swiss foreign policy objectives as set out in the opinion, was the Swiss government’s view. But what did that Swiss constitution are almost identical to the objectives as set popular opinion want? The Swiss psalm was popular at the out in Article 1 of the UN Charter. time, but so were other songs. Particularly one song, “Rufst So here we have a situation of a failed national anthem with a Du mein Vaterland” (When my Fatherland calls) was equally text that entirely reflects the objectives of the Swiss federal popular and also often used for official political and military constitution, which are almost identical to the objectives of occasions at the time. But there was a catch: it was sung to the United Nations – but a country that joined the UN only in the same melody as “God save the Queen”! Occasionally this 2002. led to quite embarrassing situations, particularly for a country It is indeed this year, 2012, that Switzerland is celebrating its like Switzerland that has never had a king or a queen. 10th anniversary as a member of the UN. As the only country As international contacts increased, the Swiss government in the world, we voted in a national referendum in favour of really had to do something about it, and in 1961 it declared full membership. Switzerland had been a member of the the “Swiss psalm” the provisional Swiss national anthem. In a League of Nations, but given the cold war and with 51 found- direct democracy like Switzerland, in which the people are ing members, neutral Switzerland preferred to be an observer the sovereign, it was obvious that a referendum would be rather than a member of a not yet universal UN. held on whether the Swiss wanted the Swiss psalm as na- So this year we are celebrating our 10th anniversary. Switzer- tional anthem. But there were mixed reactions, and it was land is a small country, but a very strong partner, said UN decided that the test period for the Swiss psalm should be Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon when celebrating our anni- extended. versary. He pointed out that Switzerland, for its size, plays a The Swiss psalm with its quite bombastic lines speaking much larger role in the UN than one would expect. In fact, about the red morning sky, the glowing of the Alps, God and Geneva serves as the UN's second headquarters and many the free Swiss failed to speak to the hearts of the “’68 genera- high-ranking UN posts are held or have been held by Swiss tion”. Many Swiss asked for a more contemporary anthem. nationals. Bank Ki-Moon mentioned that this is quite remark- Paul Burkhard, a well-known and very popular Swiss com- able for such a small country that has only joined the organi- poser, came up with a modern song. A song that calls for zation so recently. But it shows too, he said, just how dedi- understanding between peoples, for peace, and for an open cated and valued Switzerland is as a member. Switzerland which also offers the persecuted a home. But And he went on mentioning particularly that in regard to the Burkhard’s song, too, failed to strike a chord with the people, UN reform, and specifically to the reform of the UN Security and in 1975 Switzerland still did not have a national anthem. Council, Switzerland has been recognized for its heavy in- Other compositions for a new Swiss national anthem failed to volvement and outstanding contribution, and has fought hard win over the majority, too. In 1981 finally, the Swiss govern- to make the Security Council more effective, more transpar- ment set an end and declared the old-fashioned, 19th century ent, and more democratic. Swiss psalm the country's national anthem. Switzerland and the UN share a further concern: to restrict In Swiss schools, the national anthem is generally not taught, the drift of further influence and decision-making power to and even on the occasion of the festivities of our national day groups of powerful states such as the G-8 or G-20. it is often not sung. Given this history, it does not come as a surprise to me anymore why I and my fellow citizens are hav- (cont. page 8) ing a hard time singing our national anthem.

HELVETIA P A G E 9 Swiss National Library seeks Helvetia Back-Issues

(cont.) Such groups can do well deliv- WANTED: Old issues of HELVETIA for the Swiss National Library ering the necessary momentum to Between 1936 – 1991, the HELVETIA newsletter was sent regularly from New overcome acute crises, but it is only the Zealand to the Swiss National Library in Bern. UN that can speak on behalf of all of the world's nations, and only the UN The Swiss National Library collects publications relating to Switzerland from all has the legitimacy to make decisions over the world, so called Helvetica. This is why the Embassy wanted to pick up on behalf of all members. from where the HELVETIA stopped being sent and with great thanks to Marianne Drummond, Taranaki, most issues between 1991 – 2012 have been collected. Reform of the UN, reform of the Secu- However, there are some issues missing. rity Council, no further drain of deci- sion-making power to groups of power- If you, Dear HELVETIA Reader, find any of the missing issues listed below, it ful nations – all of these issues are would be greatly appreciated if you would be so kind as to send the issue(s) to the shared with just as much concern by Embassy (PO Box 25004, Wellington 6146) by the end of November 2012. The New Zealand, likewise a small country Embassy will then forward the issue(s) to the Swiss National Library in Bern for and a long-standing dedicated member posterity. of the UN. New Zealand was one of our Thank you very much for your co-operation, best allies in our efforts to push for re- form of the working methods of the Marion Weichelt, Ambassador Security Council, and I would like to The missing issues are: express our gratitude once more for New Zealand’s commitment and sup- 1991 1992 1993 1994 port. January 1991 January 1992 January 1993 January 1994 February 1991 April 1992 February 1993 February 1994 Climate change, hunger, water short- March 1991 May 1992 March 1993 March 12994 ages, safeguarding energy supply, sus- June 1991 June 1992 May 1993 April 1994 tainable development – these are the October 1991 July 1992 June 1993 May 1994 major topics that the UN seeks to ad- November 1991 August 1992 July 1993 September 1994 dress. And to quote Ban Ki-Moon once September 1992 August 1993 October 1994 more: all nations must lend a hand in October 1992 September 1993 November 1994 addressing these challenges. Switzer- November 1992 October 1993 land and New Zealand have taken up December 1992 December 1993 this challenge. Both countries make a disproportionately large contribution for their size, and will continue to do so in 1995 2000 future. August 1995 May 2000 June 2000 Let me now propose a toast to Her July 2000 Majesty Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand. To the Queen! OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 Health Corner The Swiss Birchermuesli - the Queen of breakfasts

Since I last wrote in this magazine in my function as the Secre- tary of the Auckland Club, my focus has zoomed in on natural Fortified Porridge health. I am now in the best possible position to make a contri- Cover equal amounts of rolled oats or oatmeal and buck- bution by pointing people in the right direction of true health as wheat with water and soak overnight. In the morning, add medical herbalist, and in my employment by Harvest Whole- raisins or dates and bring to boil briefly while stirring. Pour foods in Grey Lynn as their naturopathic consultant and herbal into serving bowl, add sugar or honey and cinnamon, grate potion mixer. an apple over it and add the following optionals:  Previously soaked whole linseeds/flaxseeds or chia During my training in that capacity I have not budged from the seeds, together with the gelatinous water. These are our notion that food is at the basis of good health, or, when ne- new superfoods that are higher in protein and Omega 3 glected, illness. If I share the occasional recipe in here, it is not fatty acids than fish or nuts. Soaking is necessary to a) to compete with the cooking section, rather to complement it. release the soluble fibre which is so valuable for the good And believe me, they do not come near any of your yummy consistency of the stool and therefore helps when consti- gourmet recipes. pated, and also assists the liver in expelling fats and tox- I will start this series with our very first meal of the day: break- ins, and b) to make the valuable Omega 3 fatty acids fast. And the queen of breakfasts must be the famous Bircher- accessible. Cooking of these grains is not advisable muesli (although I must confess in my childhood we only ever  Yoghurt, any cow’s or other milk, cream or coconut milk had Birchermuesli for supper!). Here is the recipe as Dr. Bircher-  Roasted sunflower/pumpkin/sesame seeds. Benner intended it over 100 years ago:  Berries, banana and other fruit.

Basic Birchermuesli recipe: Soluble fibre on the other hand is released when a grain is  Take 2 Tbsp rolled oats, 4 Tbsp water, soak the oats, pref- soaked for a time and makes the gluggy substance in the por- erably overnight ridge. This fibre keeps the stool moist and smooth and easy to  Grate 3-4 apples with skin and core into the mix, squeeze pass, and binds with bile from the liver. In this way, it is vital for the juice of a lemon over it, mix, add 2 Tbsp sweet con- the removal of toxins and fats. It is also very soothing to the gut densed milk or cream. When using cream, add sugar or lining, which is constantly scratched and injured with all the diffi- honey cult matter that it has to deal with.  Mix all together gently and sprinkle 2 Tbsp grated hazelnut Dr Bircher-Benner was aware of these or almond over it. substances and he placed particular impor- tance on eating raw food. He invented the Note: This meal contains exactly the same proportion of pro- “Bircherraffel”, the very efficient grater that tein, carbohydrates and fat as breast milk. we, coming from Switzerland, take for In the middle of Winter however, a cold Birchermuesli is not too granted. This grater provides a means to appealing for breakfast to most people. For this reason, I also prepare fresh fruit and vegetable in a way give you the warm, 21st century version of the basic recipe: the that, irrespective of whether teeth are fortified porridge (see recipe across the page). healthy or not, the body gains access to The reason why soaking is so important is that it de-activates a most components of the food and can preservative in the grain called phytic acid which makes it diffi- benefit from its quality without destroying it cult to digest, and to release soluble fibre which is so vital for with heat. These days, only juicing would surpass this process. detoxification and gut health. Fibre is a nutrient that has not During his time of practice between 1897 and 1939, Dr Bircher- been well documented in the media and we are led to believe Benner engaged in substantial research into the differences that any cereal that contains fibre is good cereal. But fibre has between cooked or otherwise processed foods and raw food. to be live, meaning it must be derived from a whole food and He found that the energy yield of a food is not so much gained remain unaltered. There are two kinds of fibre, as discussed by its calorie content, as it is by sunlight captured in a raw cell, below. called solar light photons, in a process comparable to the func- tion of a laser. He developed dietary healing programmes based Insoluble fibre is the rough stringy stuff that the body can’t on raw food diets and achieved remarkable results. His main really digest. This is what advertisers talk about when they hail rule of thumb on healthy living is: start each meal with a raw the quality of their breakfast cereals. It is this fibre that makes food, and make 50% of your diet raw. He was offered a profes- fruit so important in the diet, as fruit is made up of a lot of this sorship by Berlin’s Hess hospital, but did not accept this. In his fibre (insoluble fibre is sometimes added to an otherwise refined clinic, he treated prominent people such the Tsar Nicolas II, the cereal, just to adhere to the wishes of consumers and to comply Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, with the latest research findings). As insoluble fibre passes and writers Thomas Mann and Hermann Hesse. through the colon, it feeds the gut bacteria and helps brush the gut lining and move the stool. Yours in vitality, Herbal Trudi (Trudi Fill-Weidmann)

HELVETIA P A G E 11 Kids’ corner: The not-so-Swiss Halloween

Halloween, some fun facts Here are some fun Halloween facts PUMPKIN you probably don't know. The ori- PUZZLE gins of Halloween can be traced thou- sands of years to the ancient Celts. The Celtic New Year rituals first blended with Roman holidays and then the Roman Catholic All Saint's festival. It’s mainly celebrated in the United States, but the rest of the world is catching on. The demand for jack-o-lanterns (pumpkin lanterns) contributes to the 500 million kilograms of pumpkins, worth $117 million, that major pump- kin-growing states produced last year. There are 36 million children aged 5 to 13 in the United States - all poten- tial trick or treaters. They, and their older or younger friends, could poten- Some Halloween Jokes By Tanja tially knock on 110 million doors, the Source: http://www.myswitzerland.com What does a hungry ghost want? Why did it take the monsterLatham- ten number of occupied housing units in Ice scream! months to finish a book? the country. What kind of girl does a mummy Because he wasn't very hungry. Each American ate 12 kilograms of candy last year, on average. There take on a date? What do monsters call human were 2,077 costume rental shops Any old girl he can dig up! beings? across the country in 2006. About How do you make a witch itch? Breakfast, lunch and dinner! 1,170 manufacturers make chocolate Take away her w! Why didn’t the skeleton cross the and cocoa products, employing 39,457 people and shipping $13.9 What was written on the hypo- road? billion worth of sweets. The most are chondriac's tombstone? Because he had no guts! located in California. "I told you I was ill"! Source: the U.S. Census Bureau

Pumpkin Poptarts: Cut the pie crust into equal rectan- In a large bowl, mix together the gles (about 4x5 cm). Spoon a small powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup, Have a go at these and carve some amount of pumpkin mixture into the and vanilla. Drizzle glaze over hot gory Halloween faces! center of one of the rectangles, tak- pumpkin poptarts. Allow to cool on a 1 cup pumpkin puree ing care to not let the filling ooze cooling rack before serving. Enjoy! near the edges. 1/4 cup sugar Pumpkin Poptarts 1 egg Use a small paring knife to carve 1 package refrigerated pie crust jack-o-lantern faces into a second Glaze: rectangle. Gently lay the carved 1 cup powdered sugar piece over the pumpkin filling, then 2 tablespoon milk press the edges firmly together with 1 tablespoon light corn syrup a fork. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Transfer to a cookie sheet and bake o In a large bowl, mix together pump- in an oven preheated to 200 C for 8- kin puree, sugar, and egg. Unroll pie 10 minutes, or just until the edges of crusts, cut the edges off to make a the poptart begin to turn golden large square. brown. Contributed by Adrian Blaser OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 Three Lakes Region St. Petersinsel (Island of St Peter): a place of mystery and fame The island of St. Peters in Lake Biel a moment of boredom I could have is surrounded by mystery and fame. stayed here 2 years, 2 centuries or Since the waterway correction at the the whole of eternity. For me these 2 end of the 19th century, it is in fact a months are the happiest time in my peninsula, as those works lowered life...“ drew the attention of people the lake levels by about 2m and un- around Europe. earthed a pathway that was built by The ideological ponderings of this the Roman occupiers. This path was writer made him unpopular with the named Heidenweg or Heathen path, French authorities as he delved into as Romans were heathens in the social injustices based on the ine- eyes of the strictly catholic local St Peters Island with Erlach in the foreground www.bielersee.ch quality of human beings. Rousseau population. Excavations and docu- also observed the plant and animal mentation have revealed that a sub- By 1535, the Hospital of Bern be- world and recorded his findings in stantial church stood on the island in came the owner of the island and several books. the Middle Ages. appointed caretakers intermittently Johann Wolfgang von Goethe also The island was refuge and final rest- from the two neighbouring towns of or , until it was finally stayed on the island for a period of ing place for notable leaders and in- time, as did Napoleon’s wife Jose- jured crusaders from the 7th and 8th assigned to the Council of Twann in 1818. Part of the island was then phine Bonaparte. It is a place of natu- century. They were tended to and ral beauty and due to its marsh lands, respectfully buried by the monks on subdivided and sold off privately. The public part which contained the host to many birds and even beavers the island, who dedicated their lives can be seen occasionally. to tending the graves. monastery with vineyard and farm was managed by local farm workers It explains why the monastery was As is common among the clergy, a and vintners in an arrangement simi- transformed into a historic hotel/ vineyard and farmlet were developed, lar to sharemilking in New Zealand, restaurant and is a popular weekend including a stand of chestnut trees. but this has since been replaced by destination for people from far and The land was gifted to the Cluny lease agreements with management wide. As it happens, the region is monastery by King William III of Bur- companies. celebrating the 300th anniversary of J gundy in 1107 and was administered The writings of the philosopher Jean- J Rousseau, and several celebrations by the local representatives. In 1484, and educational gatherings are being the Pope closed the monastery due Jacques Rousseau have elevated this island from a sacred place of held for the occasion, as can be seen to financial and moral deficiencies – on http://www.rousseau300.ch/. the few monks were given to the wine magnetic attraction to a mecca for a bit in excess. people seeking peace and natural By Trudi Fill-Weidmann beauty. The quotation “I was granted This article draws on several sources from the only 2 months on this island. Without internet (details available). The Aar (Aare) The Aar (German Aare), a tributary of Many brooks in Switzerland are sim- the High , is the longest river ply called Aa or have a name combin- that both rises and ends entirely ing Aa with some local name. So its within Switzerland. Its vast catch- name already expresses that the ment encompasses 17,779 km2 Aare is the Swiss river par excel- (including the Three Lakes Region) lence, while the other major Swiss and it extends for a total length of rivers, like the Rhine and Rhône, run 295km. through peripheral regions or mark The Aare has its origin in the alpine the border to neighbouring countries. Bernese Oberland region and runs The Aare used to devastate large through the central part of Switzer- plateau areas by inundations in past land's most populated plateau region. centuries. To stop this, hydraulic en- Stretch of the old Aare At the northern border to Germany, gineering measures were taken. The (de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aare) near the twin towns Koblenz Hagneck canal leads the waters to (Switzerland) and Waldshut Lake Biel serving as a huge compen- A second channel, the Zihl canal, (Germany), the Aare flows into River sation basin. directs the waters from Lakes Neuchâtel, Murten and Biel to Büren. Rhine. The name Koblenz comes The old course of the Aare between from Latin Confluenza [flow together]. the village of Aarberg and Büren still By Melissa Lanz Aa is basically an old German word exists, but is only a small brook Sourced from : for any running water in contrast to nowadays. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aar lakes or to the sea.

HELVETIA P A G E 13 Three Lakes Region We’ve asked a local… Some Fun Tips

Fritz and Elfriede Jung, both of them Caves of Lamberta celebrating their 80th birthday in the coming months are my grandpar- The caves of la Lamberta above Môtier ents. Over the last 20 years, they were dug in the sandstone from 1916 to spent their summer months on a 1917 to defend the during the First World War. The result was a small cozy campsite at the 200 m long tunnel. Today, the caves are Broyekanal (Canal de la Broye) in a paradisiacal playground for children Sugiez. Their permanent residence and young explorers. Explore every cor- is in Pfäffikon, Zuerich. ner, or play hide and seek for hours. Alexandra: I am pleased to have Don’t forget to bring a flashlight! The City of Murten mit Gruss an Osci Roggen www.murtentourismus.ch you as my guest today for the inter- www.bielersee.ch view about the Three Lakes Region. Bicycle-railing You and grandma have regularly Have you ever heard about a bicycle- spent your summers at the camp- Alexandra: The Three Lakes Region is bilingual, what means they speak rail? No? Neither have I! But it promises ground in Sugiez for the last few to be lots of fun! Have a great family years. How many years have you French and German. Sugiez already belongs to the , time or book a fun day with your friends. spent there before you abandoned Challenge your friends in archery, laser your part-time residence there with a therefore, French is predominantly rifle, blowgun shooting or Hornussen and heavy heart last summer? spoken. Do you speak French or if you’re too tired after all, just finish the how did you get by? day with a sleep-over in the tipi and en- Fritz: Two decades. Fritz: The whole region is almost all joy your family and friends company by Alexandra: What made you decide bilingual. Otherwise, I still remember the cozy bone fire. 20 years ago to buy a campervan on a few single chunks of French from www.schienenvelo.ch the campsite Les-trois-lacs (The schooldays. Three lakes)? Alexandra: What can you tell me Fritz: It's a nice sunny area around about the people of the region? the Lake Biel, Neuchâtel and Mur- What are they like compared to the ten, and in the middle of vast vegeta- people of Zürich? ble fields. We enjoyed the last 20 Fritz: The people are friendly and years to the fullest, until we no helpful. It's not so hectic and you longer could for health reasons. have a little more time left for each other. Alexandra: And last but not least, a question about food. What is your favourite specialty of the region? ...and for the lazy ones Fritz: Freshly caught fish and for dessert, not to be missing, a nice There is plenty of opportunity to explore slice of Gâteau de Vully (a kind of the Three Lakes Region by boat, from cream cake). Solothurn in the north to Yverdon in the south. Companies that offer boat trips that take in one, two or three lakes and the linking canals include: The City of Neuchâtel www.bielersee.ch  Bielersee Schifffahrts-Gesellschaft (www.bielersee.ch) Alexandra: What do you like the  Navigation des Lacs de Neuchâtel et most about the Three Lakes region? Morat (www.navig.ch) Fritz: It’s very close to the Jura re- gion and the Vully range, and we were always able to travel the three lakes from the pier at our campsite. Delicious Gâteau de Vully (Recipe page 21) Alexandra: Is there a place you pre- www.murtentourismus.ch fer the most, a favourite place in the Alexandra: I thank you for the inter- region? view and wish you all the very best Fritz: There are many... but Murten I for your future. always liked particularly well with the charming old town and the still exist- By Alexandra Jung ing city walls and gates. And here are my fun tips for the re- Zihlkanal by boat gion... www.bielersee.ch OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 Swiss Club News

to our evening. Everyone enjoyed 1st August Celebrations TARANAKI your classy act!!! Every year that a On Saturday 28th of July we held our play is acted, an “Oscar” is awarded, 1st of August celebrations at the club and this years’ worthy recipient was

SWISS CLUB house. Approximately 110 people Jacinta Fitzgerald … well done, enjoyed an evening of cultural Jacinta … this could be the start of entertainment and good company. your acting career!!! (for pictures, We were all greeted with a lovely please go to page 19). Past Events drop of “Gluehwein” made expertly An absolutely delicious supper was by Margaret Bishop … many thanks The last card afternoons for the year organised by the committee ladies for the delicious drop, Margaret; it were held in July. Sadly, there have … cold cuts and cervelats from the was greatly appreciated. not been sufficient players for the Swiss Deli and cheese from Mercer, euchre, so if you have any ideas of Everyone attentively listened to the followed by various items of “Swiss” what people who don’t play Jassen speech by the President of the Swiss baking which were scrumptious!!! could do, please talk to a committee Confederation, Mrs Eveline Widmer- Many, many favourable comments member. Here are the results from Schlumpf, followed by the singing of were heard … eating is just such a the last two afternoons: the National Anthem. The singing wonderful hobby!!! group, a little depleted due to It’s amazing how quick an evening Jassen members being away or sick, sang can be filled … but everyone beautifully and set the tone for the 8 July seemed to enjoy this cultural mix of st evening with a sing-a-long of Vo 1 Albi Schuler entertainment!!! I would like to thank Luzern uf Wäggis zue. 2nd Heidi Seifert all our members who sold tickets for Othmar then played the Alphorn the evening … the time you put in is 3rd Heidi Werder beautifully … you could have heard appreciated. Thank you also to Booby Agnes Buhler who won the a pin drop, the audience was so everyone for attending the evening cut against five others!!! quiet!!! Several trophies were then and making it a success. distributed to worthy recipients – the The lucky raffle winners were Myrtha The following day, committee Jassen Cup was awarded to Heidi Seifert, Zeno von Hospenthal, and members that could spare the time Seifert for coming first overall during Berta Hughes. came along for clean-up, followed by the winters’ card afternoons … a committee meeting and lunch (a 15 July Walter Seifert was second and delicious soup made by Marlies and 1st Heidi Seifert Margrit Dudli third … well done to luckily there were sufficient leftovers nd you all. 2 Mathias Seifert from the night before!!!). And then 3rd Berta Hughes The Joe Dettling Memorial Trophy some weary souls still had energy to for Karabiner Shooting was play a round or three of jass!!! Booby Othmar Hebler presented to Mark Kiser … well done The raffle winners were Othmar Mark … another shooting award!!! Future Events Hebler (at least you had some The Len and Mollie Chamberlain luck!!!), Walter Seifert, Freida Meier Trophy was presented to Marianne August and September are very and Myrtha Seifert. Drummond for regularly contributing quiet months at the Taranaki Swiss our Taranaki Swiss Club News to the Club as many of our members are Thank you very much!! Helvetia magazine. farmers … and this is their busy season!!! We all hope for some fine On behalf of the Taranaki Swiss Erna and Heidi had put together weather, few frosts and a great Club committee, I would like to thank some wonderful tombola prizes, and calving season … good luck to you the Mathys family very much for their the tickets were rapidly sold … some all!!! generous donation, which has had a great return on investment, allowed us to purchase tables and and others gave a donation … that’s October chairs from the Kaponga Bowling the way with raffles!!! 4&18 Keglen recommences from Club which has gone into recess. While the tombola was being sold, a 8.00pm. Johnny would love to The new assets certainly make our group of members got prepared to see a few more people so club house look much better, and the present us with their play … the come along and give it a try. chairs are far more comfortable!!! Battle of Sempach. This legend took They enjoy a drink or two, a Thank you also to Leo Danz and place on 9th July 1386 with the hero fine supper, great company Christian Padrutt who transported being Arnold Winkelried. and in between try their hand the chairs from the Bowling Club to at the 9-pin bowling!!! our Club House. Martin and his team did a great job presenting this interesting and very dramatic play … thank you all very much for your wonderful contribution

HELVETIA P A G E 15 Swiss Club News

18 From 6.00pm Heidi and Marlies 4th August dinner will be holding a baking demon- stration, so come along and see WELLINGTON Thanks to everyone who helped pre- what they can show you … pare this event, despite all the hospi- some delectable Swiss cookies tal emergencies, broken arms and and baking!!! Yum!!! An eve- SWISS CLUB surprise babies. We had a yummy ning not to be missed!!! Please dinner, prepared by Rahel, Roland register your interest, by ringing and Erika, to name just a few. Heidi on 06 273 4286 or Marlies Past Events Little Clem and Jayden enjoyed see- on 06 278 6878. Then stay and ing each other again, after having try the keglen (9-pin bowling) … 22 July Cookie baking met at the Swiss Club when they you may have hidden talents!!! Rahel prepared dough for cookies were four months old. 21 The Trudi Ott Belt and Champi- and Zopf braids. The big kids loved Thanks to Theres who had prepared onship Shoots will be held from cutting out their cookies and learning the lyrics, so we could sing some 1.00pm … come along and sup- how to plait the loaves while the tod- traditional songs, and managed to port Mark. He’s more than dlers had fun on the floor. Thank you sing one in French too! Rahel for making this possible! happy to coach you … and age is no barrier … young and old 1st of August Bon Fire are more than welcome!!!

November

1&5 Keglen, once again, so join this merry bunch!!! 18 The Ted Napflin Memorial Shield and the Championship Shoots will be contested from

1.00pm … so give it a go!!! Jayden and Clem 12 November this is the last day for ordering your sausages be- fore those summer barbeques 8 September Fondue are upon our doorstep (the weather needs to improve from We had a fantastic turnout, espe- what we are currently get- cially since we were competing with ting!!!). Please ring Lisette on the only All Black game in Wellington 06 7628718 or Marianne on 06 for the year! — and yes, the ABs 7628757 or e-mail to lit- won! We welcomed a few new and [email protected]. Thank returning members to the Wellington Making Zöpfe and Guetzli you for your prompt orders, and Club. John Jordan, our riffle master, thanks to the Swiss Deli for al- handed out the medals. It all started with two men: Heinz ways providing prompt and effi- We also held an impromptu Extraor- Jaggi and Peter Hynes, without them cient service. dinary AGM to elect our new treas- there would not have been a fire. urer: Craig Press (job sharing with 25 The Christmas Shoot / Keglen They had been working weeks be- his wife Petra) – Thank you to both. will be held from 10.00am. Fur- forehand collecting all the firewood, ther details will be provided in getting permits and organising the the next issue of the Helve- fireworks. And luckily no fire brigade tia..December. this year. But sadly Theres Scherrer 31 New Years’ Eve will once again broke her arm, hope it gets better be celebrated at the Swiss Club soon. Once the huge and hot fire with the campervanners. was underway we let off the fire- Happy hour is from 4.00pm and works, I loved the big finale. We a BYO BBQ will be held from sang some Swiss songs around the 6.00pm. The evening will be fire and roasted marshmallows. The filled with great entertainment sausages and drinks were delicious, … so if you have an item or a thanks Trix and team. There were skit, please perfect and bring it about thirty people there enjoying it, along…the more entertainment awesome job to all those who organ- Men in the kitchen the better!!! ised the bonfire, it was a great suc- cess. By Sam Simons MD

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 Swiss Club News

Future Events Family Walk, Sunday 26 August Fourteen adults and 5 children, led 13 October – Movie Night at the HAMILTON by the Achermans, explored some of Club House the gullies around the suburban area of Chartwell, which were new to 4:00: Club rooms open- coffee SWISS CLUB many of the group. served, pop corn popped 4:30: Heidi (2001) a true classic for The weather was fine, the walks very the entire family pleasant on boardwalks and tree- 6:00: Shared Dinner (bring a plate, Past Events lined paths. Lunchtime found most pot luck Swiss feast) - Upper Hutt of us at a Westfield Centre café. Orchestra String Quartet will play Swiss National Day Celebra- Afternoon tea was enjoyed at Wald- during the meal tions, Sunday 29 July vogels, followed by a card-playing 7:00 Broken Silence – Award win- session for the rest of the afternoon. ning Swiss entry to Film Festival Nearly 100 people - young, old and RA 8:30 Supper in-between were booked for our an- Come for everything, or join us for nual lunch-time function held at the whatever appeals. Matangi Hall. The hall was beauti- Please contact Murray (528 6960, fully decorated with flags and lam- [email protected]) with pions, and soon everyone arrived your dish name and number attend- and the hall was pretty full. Big pots ing. This will help us with the table of sauerkraut, potatoes, speck, ham, frankfurters and gabanos were put set up and to make sure we don’t out buffet-style and everyone lined just have 30 Linzer Torten for dinner! up to help themselves to a delicious It would also be great to know some- lunch, courtesy of a few generous thing about your dish (Canton, ori- people on the committee who of- gins, why it’s your favourite, etc) so fered their time to make the sauer- let us know and we will print it on a kraut from scratch. Everything card … or you can just explain it on proved very popular and lots of peo- the night. ple went for seconds and maybe 28 October: Sunday afternoon some even for thirds!? Jass Following lunch the children did their Trudi will contact you – or you can lampion parade and all the children contact her in October on 56 28 019. received a small parcel of goodies to eat while the adults listened to the 3 November: Garage Sale President’s speech and sang the This is our major fundraising event Swiss national anthem as well as a for the year. Bring your brick-a- few extra Swiss songs. Raffle tick- brack, clothes, anything will do! You ets were then sold and drawn. can drop off at the Club House at the Congratulations to the lucky winners Movie Night, or call Heinz Jaggi (ph. and many thanks to the people who 526 3551) to arrange another time donated prizes for the raffle table and location. and to everyone for buying tickets. 25 November: Last Sunday after- Soon it was time to put out the des- noon Jass of the year! sert buffet – what an amazing selec- tion of home-made baking. You Trudi will contact you – or you can wouldn’t find better at the bakery or contact her on 56 28 019. cafe in Switzerland. Many thanks to 2 December: Samichlaus all those who provided baking – it is Samichlaus will come to the Club always much appreciated by every- House to meet the children. Please one. register with Sandie Simons (ph.528 The committee also appreciates all 6960) or Odile Stotzer (ph. 586 Dr. Veronika Isler the extra help with clearing tables PhD, PGDip(Clin)Psych, Member of NZ 3095). and dishes etc., as these functions Psych Soc and NZICP

8 December: Christmas Dinner always involve a lot of hard work by a few dedicated people and of REGISTERED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST Our traditional festive gathering at Ph: (07) 8238190 (Hamilton) course, many hands make light Cell: 021 457 944 the Club House— mark it in your work. Offices in Ohaupo and Hamilton calendar now.

HELVETIA

P A G E 17 Swiss Club News

Friday 10 August, 7.30pm: Jassen AUCKLAND at the Danish Clubhouse, 6 Rock- ridge Ave, Penrose Good turnout despite winter blues SWISS CLUB and some of us travelling!

1st Fidel Good 4278 Past Events 2nd Andrew Iten 4209 3rd Adrian Blaser 4095 AUGUST and SEPTEMBER 4th Heinz Frei 4081 events 5th Franz Krieger 3901 6th Berta Good 3824 National Day celebration 28 July at the Danish Club 7th Edith Hess 3781 8th Hans Iten 3775 Once again we celebrated our Na- 9th Heidi Wilson 3775 tional day in style. Some 130 Swiss with family and friends were greeted 10th Carmen Gordon 3737 with a traditional mulled wine – thank 11th Lynne Dunphy 3727 you Pia – in the beautifully decorated 12th Amelia Fitzi 3706 hall – where do you get all the ideas 13th Frederick Conquer 3660 from, Edith? The program ran very 14th Louis Wallimann 3590 smoothly, thanks to our chef Edith, Hamilton Club enjoying its Chartwell Walk her skilled young helpers, and 15th Sonia Fitzi 3392 Adrian who kept it together. We thor- 16th Hilda Iten 3303 17th Ian Gordon 3222 Future Events oughly enjoyed the typically Swiss meal – oxtail soup, ‘Berner Platte’, Saturday 18 August: International and choc mousse with berries and Family Walk, Sunday 4 November Evening at the Danish Club something else, at least for the Our next walk and get-together has adults! It was very pleasing to see 12 of us accepted the invitation of been planned for the Karangahake young and the young-at-heart to par- the Danish Club and had an interest- Gorge and the meeting point will be ticipate in entertainment. What a lot ing cultural evening. We sampled at the Waikino Train Station at of talent there is in our club! Thank some amazing food. They call it 10am. Bring a picnic lunch to take you all, to Natalie Hess for your ‘sandwiches’, certainly different from with you. The area is also suitable trendy song with electric guitar, to mine! An assortment of many sea- for biking as this is part of the Hau- Oliver Hess for your great drum solo, food specialties for entré, followed raki Rail Trail so if you have a bike Tessa Deutschle for a beautiful and by even more different meats, and a and want to bring it along, you are a very funny piece on your harp - choice of desserts from various most welcome to do so. There will such a privilege to play with you, to countries, including Edith’s Bündner also be an option to take the train in Albert Ryter for his wonderful per- Nusstorte. It was good to see some to Waihi (subject to availability) for formance on the Swiss Accordion, to of the other clubs’ entertainment – those not so keen to do lots of walk- our Ticino soldier Peter Vogel, funny dancing groups from Austria and ing or wanting to do something dif- as ever, to Ursula who can make a Denmark, singers from Germany, a ferent whilst in this area. saw sing, to my wonderful versatile saxophone player, and most impor- friends in our choir, and to our tantly, Albert Ryter who played the Family Christmas Party, Sunday 2 Yodlers and alphorn players, so spe- alphorn and later his “Schwyzer- December cial to hear and see you. őrgeli”. I found it interesting to talk to Again we will be meeting at the New- people from other Western Euro- Thank you to all you guests, I hope stead School at 11am for this func- pean clubs. A lot of similarity with you enjoyed it as much as we did! tion so keep this date free. This is a ours. family function for young and old so 1st August at the Swiss Farm: The come along to share the Christmas REAL National Day spirit with others. There will be vari- Some 20 of our diehard members HOUSEHOLD HINTS: ous activities for the children and the braved the weather. I gather the rain AFRICAN VIOLETS committee will provide a BBQ lunch JUST stopped long enough to light but everyone is asked to bring some To encourage flowering, water with and enjoy the bonfire. Judging by the baking to share with everyone for hot water in the saucer beneath the photos, it certainly looks they had a afternoon tea. AZ pot - these plants like the heat and great time. Maybe I join them next the rising steam. year, the desserts look very inviting. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 Swiss Club News

Friday 07 September: Future events RAIN CHECK Fondue and Quizz night In case of doubtful weather you will What would a Swiss Club be without OCTOBER AND DECEMBER be sent an email by 7am on Sunday. a proper Fondue? Actually we don’t You can also find the latest on our know as we have at least one per Friday 05 October 8pm Pub night website: www.swiss.org.nz/auckland at: year at the annual Fondue Night Friday 02 November 8pm Pub where we share the joy of dipping Africa Bar in Albany (1 B William Night our bread pieces into the tasty mol- Pickering Drive), very close to motor- ten cheese as Swiss tradition com- way. www.barafrica.co.nz/albany/ Off to the Wild West, Finish your mands. index.php working week in exquisite company: 46 people showed up at the Danish Just turn up, you are pretty much Toby's Restaurant & Bar, 120 Park House to get a taste of Edith’s new guaranteed to meet someone new Road, Titirangi. secret cheese mix. I guess it’s not and interesting. Friday 09 November Jass that much of a secret if you ask her Friday 12 October Jass 7.30pm: Jassen at the Danish Club, nicely. She proved that a proper 6 Rockridge Ave, Penrose. This is Fondue is possible with New Zea- 7.30pm: Jassen at the Danish Club, our last card evening for the year. land cheeses as well, which is not 6 Rockridge Ave, Penrose. We also have the Society Jass this too small a feat. Sunday 04 November: Walk in the evening, where you can win a pre- Everybody enjoyed the social gath- Hunua ranges – trying again: cious medal for your collection and ering that such dinners are and for a to show off to the grandkids. change we used a little bit more After our walk in March got cancelled modern music in the background. due to weather, we have another DECEMBER AND BEYOND Well fed, the attendants then tackled attempt! Saturday 01 December: the tricky quiz questions put together PLAN by Nelly and the paper dart competi- Working Bee at the Swiss farm. tion. This year, team Zurich took Meet at 9.50am at the Waterfall Car- away the price consisting of a box of park to start the walk at 10am. Sunday 09 December: Toblerones. Walk up Massey Track to Cossey Santa is coming to the farm at 11 The evening was finished off with a Dam (about 2 hours, 300m up over- am. Make sure you are there on nice fruit salad and many stayed on all), have lunch there and walk down time, he has been getting up early until late with a glass of wine or a Cossey Gorge Track to the falls these last few years. (about 1 hour). coffee or tea. A huge thank you to Saturday 15 December: everyone who helped making that Cake courtesy of Swiss Club at the Sing Swiss Christmas songs with us evening possible and especially to falls after the walk, and opportunity at the Danish Club on Saturday af- the ones cleaning all the gear and to take a dip in the pool at the bot- ternoon (2.30pm). the kitchen afterwards. tom of the falls for the toughest

ones. Friday 14 September 7.30pm: 2013: We are in the process of plan- Jassen TAKE WITH YOU ning another exciting year for you, and really appreciate your sugges- 1st Emil Tellenbach 4077 Your picnic, clothing, swimwear if tions / feedback. Please contact any you feel like, insect repellant, sun- 2nd Walter Haller 3930 of the committee members. screen. Walking poles are very use- 3rd Andrew Iten 3904 ful. Wear your tramping boots if you OTHER NEWS: 4th Louis Wallimann 3883 have them. The tracks are well main- New website coming : You are ex- 5th Fidel Good 3864 tained, but not exactly suitable for jandals. cused for thinking our website is not 6th Franz Krieger 3832 up to 2012 standards. We feel the REGISTER 7th Hans Iten 3829 same. David Latham has been work- Please register with Adrian: ing hard behind the scenes. We look 8th Berta Good 3802 [email protected] or forward to our new site, which will be 9th Heidi Wilson 3705 09 8320366 much clearer, better to navigate, and 10th Erwin Steiner 3667 easier to update for us. Watch the Leave your home and mobile phone space. 11th Heinz Frei 3652 number, and email address. If you like directions on how to get there, I Shooters (separate on page 20) 12th Lynne Dunphy 3650 can help out too. 13th Hilda Iten 3189 For full programme see our website www.swiss.org.nz/auckland

Nelly Steinemann

HELVETIA P A G E 19 1st August Celebrations around the Country A grand affair in Hamilton A musical evening in Auckland

A fully decked out Matangi Hall

Ursula making the saw sing Peter the “Swiss Soldier” Auckland’s Swiss Yodellers

Singing Swiss songs Yvonne and Marie-Theres Albert Ryter and Edith Hess Natalie Hess

A dramatic battle of Sempach in Taranaki

Oliver Hess drumming his heart out

Actors in the "Battle of Sempach" dramatically performed at our 1st of August celebrations Our Swiss ladies’ choir

A captured audience watches on The hero takes a break Thanks to everyone who helped on the Saturday and Sunday ... your efforts were appreciated. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 Auckland/Hamilton Shooting Report: 2012 Season

Summary: Feldschiessen Once again we had a really good turnout, even though the 54 Shooters: 50Card-Winners, 48 Medal-Winners weather was not always too accommodating to us shooters, Top scores: especially Marcel and his crew at the target end. Once again, the junior and ladies shooters showed a strong per-  Christian Neubauer 70 Points formance. Very pleasing is that junior shooters are returning  Roli Pain 69 Points some very good results. After Luke Schmutz (2008) and  Ernst Lanz 68 Points Gerhard Lanz (2010), it was now Marcel Lanz turn as a jun- Einzelwett-Schiessen: ior shooter to outscore all of us. On the very last shooting 44 Shooters: 20 Medals opportunity of the year, he pushed his father off the throne. Congratulation to all the winners! Over the years I have Top scores: seen a lot of Father/Mothers/Sons/Daughters duels and  Bruno Epp 139 Points every now and then it is the juniors that are first up and  Marcel Lanz 138 Points make sure that we parents are not getting too complacent. I  Robert Frischknecht 136 Points am looking forward to next year shooting season and hope- fully some new shooters will find the way to the farm. Wilhelm Tell Fernschiessen: Interested? Please contact me: Hauptdoppel: 44 shooters, Nachdoppel: 34 shooters [email protected] or 09 4103476, 0276 845 988 With a little bit of luck we should receive some 30 medals.

The Riflemaster; Henry Werffeli Top scores:  Orlando Werffeli: 96 points Results  Marcel Lanz: 95 Points  Hans Vetsch: 94 Points Obligatorisch: Auckland/Hamilton Championship: 54 Shooters Card-Winners 46 Trophy sponsored by V. &T. Mason, Auckland, Top scores: 44 Shooters completed the Championship  Ernst Lanz: 80 Points The Winners are:  Franz Morgenthaler: 80 Points  Henry Werffeli: 79 Points 1. Marcel Lanz: 373 Points, Winner of Gold-Medal, Care- taker of Trophy 2. Ernst Lanz: 370 Points, Winner of Silver-Medal 3. Christian Neubauer: 368 Points, Winner of Bronze-Medal Ladies: 1. Andrea Matysik: 366 Points, Winner of lady Trophy 2. Selina Storchenegger: 358 Points 3. Lorraine Vine-Belami: 346 Points Junior: Trophy sponsored by Heidi & Heinz Leuenberger, Hamilton 1. Marcel Lanz: 373 Points, Winner of the Junior Cup 2. Orlando Werffeli: 360 Points 3. Philip Morgenthaler: 352 Points

HELVETIA P A G E 21 Chuchichäschtli (Kitchen Cupboard) Nidelkuchen (Gâteau de Vully or Vully Pie) Birth Announcement: The gourmet recipe the cream and egg mixture over the top. Sprinkle evenly with the coarsely Olivia Sharma-Schwartz Approx. 28-30 cm baking tin, greased! ground sugar. Bake in a hot oven  10 g fresh yeast (300°C) for 8-10 minutes.  ½ tablespoon milk The Nidelkuchen is a cream tart the  ½ tablespoon sugar concept of which is totally unique.  30 g unsalted butter This pastry is produced especially at  250 g. plain flour the Aebersold Bakery in the heart of  ½ teaspoon salt Murten. For three generations, this  150 ml milk family has refined its taste, quality  A few slivers of butter and simplicity .  100 ml double cream I discovered Nidelkuchen in Murten  1 egg yolk itself. This must be what heaven on  1 tablespoon sugar earth feels like! Taking a hearty bite of a juicy piece of Gâteau de Vully, I Mix first three ingredients in a bowl, forgot everything else around me. cover and leave for approximately 15 Once I had eaten it, I wanted to write minutes, until the liquid froths. Put down the recipe with my sticky fingers the flour to a bowl, and add the yeast (covered in the wonderfully fine cara- mix, melted butter and milk. Knead melised cream coating). together to a smooth dough (approx. 20 minutes). When I asked for the recipe with the Sybille and Ankit Sharma-Schwartz light dough base and its sweet coat- and older sister Kira are delighted to Roll out the dough and place into ing, this proved impossible, as it is a introduce a new addition to their greased baking tin. Leave the dough well-kept secret. Never mind: I have family: “Olivia Sharma”. Olivia was to rise (approx. one hour) in a warm my very own. born on 24th June. She was 2.9kg place. Prick the sides with a fork. A piece of this cake is always a guilty and 48.5cm tall. We feel very Make shallow holes using your fingers pleasure! blessed, and want to thank everyone (use a rolling pin to stretch the holes for their prayers and support. into lozenge shapes). Place pieces (See the picture on page 13). of butter into the holes/lozenges. Pour By Edith Hess

Garden Diary Birth Announcement: Braithan Charlie Wilson Growing Asparagus

Asparagus is a perennial plant that Don't harvest the spears until their will produce regularly for over 20 third spring to allow the crowns to years and is generally disease free. mature. At the end of autumn, the The edible spears appear in spring. ferny foliage will turn yellow and black They can be grown from seed, but the which can be burnt and the ash more usual method is to plant two- added back to enrich the soil along year old crowns in winter in prepared with compost and general fertiliser. In beds, which mature more quickly. winter, cut plants to ground level and lightly cultivate the soil. Asparagus may also be grown in pots or tubs for decoration, but you will get better crops if planted in beds. They need full sun and plenty of compost, animal manure and fertiliser. Greig Wilson and Nicola Daligadu Dig the bed deeply, adding river sand from the Wellington Club gave birth to aid drainage. Asparagus takes a to Braithan Charlie at 3am on Au- lot of nourishment from the soil. gust 5th, weighing 2.3 kg. The wee Space rows 1.2m apart, with 30-50cm fella is doing well and Mum and Dad between plants, as they will get to 1- are adjusting nicely to parenthood. 1.5m when flowering.

By Melissa Lanz OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 Obituaries

“Sepp” Joseph Alois Kiser They were greeted in Wellington by Emmi’s sister and brother-in-law Agnes and Adolf Hardegger, then made 14-08-1926 ~ 19-08-2012 their way to Taranaki together. They started as farm workers in Hawera for two years, then sharemilkers for seven years. During this time, their fourth child Susie was born. They ventured on to leasing a farm on Maata Road, Eltham for one year, before purchasing it in 1971. In 1973, they made improvements to the woolshed on the farm and turned it into the Swiss Club house and a nine- pin bowling alley was made. Many events were held there, including schwingenfests and lots of the famous schnapps was consumed until the wee hours of the morn- ing. In 1975 Sepp and Emmi made a return visit to Swit- zerland with their youngest child. They farmed their Eltham property for 15 years before son Erwin share- milked, then purchased it. Sepp, Emmi and Mark pur- chased a farm on Rawhitiroa Road and in later years put a sharemilker on. They then went to live on their dry- stock farm at Pukengahu for nine years. About seven years ago, a campervan was purchased and the three of them were lucky enough to travel virtually the whole of New Zealand. A few years ago, it was decided to scale down and sell the dairy farm. After two minor strokes last year, Joe / Sepp said it was time to sell the run-off so they decided to purchase a house in Hawera. Joe / Sepp and Emmi have 14 grandchildren and have had three wonderful trips back to Switzerland together during their fifty years of living in New Zealand. Sepp had always been an avid shooter … regularly com- peting in the small bore and karabiner programmes held by the Taranaki Swiss Club. He spent many hours sig- Joe / Sepp was the third of seven children born in Ram- naling scores at the Karabiner rifle range. Sepp always ersberg, Obwalden in Switzerland. His parents were enjoyed keglen and consistently scored very well, winning farmers. Sadly, Joe / Sepps’ father died when he was the trophy many times. The litres of schnaps that Sepp only 9 ½ years old, and continuing the farming operation provided to the Swiss Club have never been counted … was left to his mother and the children. Joe / Sepp milked but I’m sure that it would run into the hundreds!!! Sepp cows before and after school. He left school at the age of and Emmi seldom missed a Club function or event, joined 14 years and worked on a neighbour’s farm. Shortly after all our bus trips away and took part in the ‘trachtentanz’ the war ended Joe / Sepp worked with the railways, dig- group while it was active. Sepp and Emmi have both al- ging a second tunnel between Brunnen and Sisikon. He ways been very loyal, dedicated, generous and suppor- then worked up on the Alps for three summers milking tive members of our Club, and we hope to continue see- thirty cows by hand and making butter and cheese. And ing Emmi at our future functions. Several years ago, in winter, for 5 ½ years in between milking, he worked in Sepp was honoured to become the Patron of our Club. a forest cutting, with an axe, branches off trees that had Sepp thoroughly deserved this accolade, and we will miss been chopped down. his friendly, smiling face. In 1954 Joe / Sepp married Emmi Kiser, also from Ram- The Taranaki Swiss Club and the Swiss Society of New ersberg (they were neighbours). They had three children Zealand extend their sincere sympathy to Emmi, Erwin, Erwin, Edith and Mark and continued the farming life for Edith, Mark, Susie and families on the sad passing of eight years. In May 1962, they left Switzerland for a slow Sepp. six week journey on a boat to the other side of the world to New Zealand.

HELVETIA P A G E 23 Obituaries

Lena Rosa Mary Hermann Marie Regina (Molly) Gianotti 1949 saw the family move to a new house in Stanners Street, Eltham, 30-04-1923 ~ 03-07-2012 06-12-1916 ~ 17-07-2012 and in 1955 the decision was made to move to Auckland. They resided in the suburb of Green Lane and owned a very successful Milk/Bar dairy. Molly became interested in horse racing, as the area was adja- cent to Ellerslie Racecourse, and a lot of racing people were regular customers. They came in large num- bers on a Friday for the Saturday tips and of course felt obliged to spend a few of shillings at the same time. Her picking winners abilities were well known in the district. In 1960, the family moved to the Lena lived almost her entire life in Marie Regina (Molly) Gianotti suburb of Hillsborough. At this time the shadow of Mount Taranaki, being passed away in Auckland, on 17th and with more free time available, born in Hawera and her limited July 2012, aged 95. they increased their involvement with the Auckland Swiss Club and fre- schooling taking place at Matapu She was born in Kaponga, Taranaki quently enjoyed the company of fel- and Eltham in South Taranaki. only daughter of Franz and Regina low members at the Social evenings Her family moved often from farm to Steiner. Her early school days were held at the Kitchener Street club- farm, as her father was not a skilled at Finnity Road Primary School, be- rooms. farmer, having arrived from Switzer- fore going to St Joseph's School in land skilled as a tailor. Lena enjoyed Eltham. And yes she did her bit in helping to run the very successful socials. music and dancing in and around She had 4 sons, including twins, un- Never without a job, she worked for Hawera and Kaponga. To get to the der the age of 3 years and 6 weeks a number of Auckland's prominent dances Werner rode a horse and at the time. A daughter, Geraldine, retailers, the highlight of this being Lena went by bicycle. It was at a arrived 6 years later. Swiss dance that she met and later the Manager of Lilli Freeman's Fash- At the age of nine, she travelled with married Werner Kasper Hermann in ion Store in Symonds Street. She her grandmother, Regina Leuthard, 1946. "retired" in the mid 1980s and took to Switzerland aboard ship. A pas- up Lawn bowls as one of her favour- Soon after Werner’s return from senger on the ship at the same time ite pastimes, which included running WWII serving in the Islands, they was Harry Truman, President of the Housie evenings for the local parish moved to Waitoitoi, North Taranaki USA. That was the only time she church and school. Her interest in where they took over Werner’s fa- visited Switzerland. At the age of 16 betting on racehorses continued ($3 ther’s farm, milking cows and rearing she passed her driving test and re- bets) and evenings at the Swiss club pigs. They were to stay there for 50 tained her licence till age 91. playing cards. years, raising 5 excellent children After her marriage to Rodolfo and having a major involvement in She moved to Caughey-Preston Re- (1939), she worked on the Stuart the school and church community of tirement home in 2011 and remained Road farm just out of Eltham, with the area. Lena and Werner moved to there till her death. She will be fondly her parents, and later moved into Maida Vale retirement village in remembered by many who passed town where she and Rodolfo bought 1997. Lena was a good indoor through her welcoming front door of a large house in King Edward Street. bowler, music teacher, typist and her last house in One Tree Hill and Here, the "family" swelled to 18 with farm secretary, but is best remem- enjoyed her delightful Swiss baking. the addition of 11 boarders, many of bered for her hospitality and ready whom became like family and re- The Auckland Swiss Club meals. Sadly missed by her 5 chil- mained in contact with Molly right up extends heartfelt sympathies to dren, 14 grand-children and 7 great to her death. the bereaved families and friends. grand-children .

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 Unesco Swiss World Heritage Sites

Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps A serial and Museum of Morat (Murten) trans-national list Fields of piles made their appearance 150 years ago in winter Ancient lakeside settlements in the when the water level of Swiss lakes Alpine region count among the most was at its lowest. These vestiges important archaeological cultural were understood to be the remains assets in Europe. From about 1000 of an ancient form of habitation con- sites actually known, the 111 with structed by our ancestors. The mu- the greatest scientific potential have seum features a very interesting per- been included into the UNESCO manent display illustrating 6000 World Heritage Site. They date from years of the history of Morat, includ- 5000 to 500 BC and are situated Rich pre-historic finds www.palafittes.org ing settlements by the riverbank from under water, on lake shores, along the Neolithic and Bronze Age. The rivers or in wetlands, offering excep- museum stands in the old water mill, tional conservation conditions for Over the past decades, pile-dwelling research has made a significant con- situated under the surrounding walls organic remains such as wood, tex- of the city. tiles, plant remains or bones. tribution to the establishment of a true-to-life picture of the past. Our (More information is available at The candidature Prehistoric Pile knowledge of early settlement his- www.museummurten.ch). Dwellings around the Alps has been tory in the pre-alpine region is largely The Lacustrine Village at staged under the auspices of the based on scientific results obtained Swiss UNESCO committee. How- from pile dwelling sites. Gletterens ever, all Alpine countries – Austria, Situated about 11 km northwest of France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia Avanches, this village was built by and of course, Switzerland, are in- Sites in Switzerland archaeologists in 1996 on the site of volved. 56 of the 111 sites listed are located a lakeside village dating back to in 15 : Aar- 3000 BC. It takes you back 5000 gau, Berne, Fribourg, Geneva, Lu- years to farming and community life cerne, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, St. on the edge of Lake Neuchâtel. Gall, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Schwyz, Thurgau, Vaud, Zug and Zurich. Around the Three Lakes Region 22 sites can be found in this region. These sites are mostly invisible because they are either under water or buried under thick layers of sediment. The Neuchâtel tourism Underwater archaeology website features a palafitte-flyer www.nb.admin.ch about the region’s pile dwelling sites (www.neuchateltourisme.ch). Rich finds Lacustrine Village at Gletterens It also mentions that a free iPhone www.village-lacustre.ch The finds from pile dwellings display App from the AppStore provides considerable cultural variety. comprehensive commentaries about The village organises attractions and Scholars today can identify more each site. workshops around the theme of life than 30 different cultural groups For those lucky enough to go on a in the period 4500 to 800 BC. You associated with the pile dwelling trip to Switzerland, however, the can even spend the night there in a sites. region offers several information tipi (tent) or have a Stone Age meal. Therefore, the interactions – even centres, museums and exhibitions Skills which can be learned are across the Alps – between Central covering the topic for further making a Neolithic knife or a and South Eastern European, exploration, both indoors and out, for Paleolithic lamp, ancient fire lighting Western European and example, including the Museum of methods and hunting with a spear. Mediterranean cultural traditions – Morat and the Lacustrine Village at Sources and further information: can thus be studied and illustrated. Gletterens. www.erlebnismarken.ch www.unesco.org, www.palafittes.org