The August/September 2021

SouthernNEWSLETTER OF THE DOWN UNDER CLUB OFYarn WINNIPEG INC. downundercalendar Naadohbii: Members will be notified by email when the next Zoom chat is scheduled. To Draw Water New exhibition SEPTEMBER on now at the WAG ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Saturday 4th September, 10:30am at The Players, 2695 Inkster Blvd. We are holding our annual tournament at “The Players” course, off Inkster Boulevard. The game will be “Best Ball”, where you are part of a team of four, and you all hit your next shots from the best positioned ball in your group. It is a great format for social golf, and for those who just play occasionally, because if you don’t hit a Above: Nici Cumpston, Oh my Murray Darling, 2019. great shot yourself, you simply pick up your ball Right: Nici Cumpston. Bared (detail), 2019. and play from your team’s best position. Both courtesy: WAG. We will start at 10.30am and play 9 holes. The course has a nice open-air area attached to This wonderful new exhibition brings together dian art at the WAG, Naadohbii: To Draw the restaurant, overlooking their man-made lake, artwork from Turtle Island, Aotearoa, and Aus- Water’s unveiling during a time of prolonged where we gather after the game for results, a tralia, and contributes dialogue on water and drought in central Manitoba has made its beverage, and a burger. our changing environment from an Indige- themes even more prescient. It is a casual event and guaranteed good nous perspective and with an international “I think there’s something for Western time. Call Peter Munn at 204 237-1805 to let scope. viewers, in particular, to reflect on through him know your attendance. Look forward to Kimberley Moulton, senior curator at these Indigenous perspectives of water that seeing the regulars and many more. South-Eastern Aboriginal Collections at could perhaps bring us closer to understand- Cricket on Saturdays Museums Victoria, connected six First Peoples ing water as something that should be pro- Assiniboine Park artists from across Australia with Naadohbii: tected.” The Manitoba Cricket Association fields quite a To Draw Water. The works exist in the You can watch the opening event online few teams for Saturday matches. The majority mediums of animation, painting, print making, [link], which included greetings from Pataka Art are played on three pitches at Assiniboine Park and photography. + Museum, , NZ, and First Peoples across from the Pavilion, entry off Corydon “Water is a connector for all humanity, Department, Museums Victoria, Australia. Avenue. along with the air we breathe. It is life, and The exhibition runs until February 5, It would be fun to have a social few hours at we must respect this. Bringing the Indige- 2022. Contact the Winnipeg Art Gallery for the cricket in Assiniboine Park, likely a date nous artists from across the three countries details. And for more information, visit the later in September will be chosen and we will together in conversation around what water WAG website [link]. email members closer to the time. There is no means to each other creates a strong cul- Water is sacred. Water is life. Enjoy! cost involved; we would gather under the trees tural space where the threads of Indigenous across from the Pavilion sometime after 11 am water sovereignty (are) at its core.” on the day, and plan to bring a picnic lunch According to Riva Symko, head of collec- and/or afternoon tea, COVID regulations at the tions and exhibitions and curator of Cana- time permitting. Stay tuned.

find us on facebook or the web www.downunderclub.mb.ca email: [email protected] online been faithful to Tara for much the same president’s time. Harley was joined by a rescue pup editorially ramblings about a year ago, called Joey, who does yours Peter Munn not have an off-button. The latest Charlie Powell member of Jodi and Chris’ family is Well, the severe drought Over the past few another rescue, Louise, who has the foreshadowed by last years, my kidlings mane of a lion, and the hoofs of an winter’s minimal delivery of snow is now have been acquiring two things, elephant. Once hoped to be a midsize dog, manifesting itself big time in the form of a) partners (with discerning taste), and she is up to about 70 lbs already. wildfires. The inconvenience of smoke in b) dogs, that either came with the part- Not invited is the final pet, a cat named our air is nothing compared to the sad ner, or were acquired in tandem. Turkey, owned by grand-daughter Grace. ordeal of having to leave one’s home and And so, as gathering restrictions in Man- — Peter belongings to the mercy of the wind and itoba become less restrictive, we are seeing flame. When it last struck Australia in 2019- more of the families with their associated 2020, Canadian firefighters were quick to pets. We have prepared for family gatherings respond. Now, Aussie counterparts are by strengthening perimeter fencing, and deployed to help contain the blazes in checking on all gate locks. We have a multi- Northwest Ontario. You can learn more at person birthday party coming up late August, this [link]. where Tyler and Hannah are flying in from You never know where you will find a Toronto, and all our other children will join downunder connection. While browsing a us for the birthday bash. Dogs are included, thrift store in Arborg, rural MB, a children’s apart from Klondike, Tyler’s rescue grey- storybook with a very hound (pictured here). Twice the size of most birdie cover (see greyhounds, fresh from a successful racing below) caught our career in Florida before they shut down the eye. Looking closer, sport there, this is a dog with a split person- the author, Mollie ality. One half crazy, the second half hungry. Miller Atkinson, was Eats anything — regular food, stolen food, a a New Zealander. A cell phone, whatever. Being so tall, he once little research led to reached over a kitchen counter to steal the the following infor- brisket that had been planned for dinner. mation: In 1936 Mol- The smallest dog, Chewie, has belonged lie Miller Atkinson to Richard for many years, and Harley has married Hal Atkin- son, a nephew of Harry Atkinson’s son, Alfred Charles Atkin- More than son. She presumably met him through the 40 years’ artist Dorothy Richmond while she was liv- $ South Pacific ing in Wellington. Mollie was involved in experience the Arts and Crafts movement in New Zea- land. Initially practicing metal work, she turned her attention to painting and writing CANADIANS CAN NOW after she became ill with tuberculosis. [link] TRAVEL TO PARADISE! - And that led to another little piece of $5,923 p/p NZ history concerning four-time Premier of Incl.: RT international airfare from Vancouver or Calgary, 1 night in Tahiti, 4 nights in Moorea, New Zealand, (Sir) Harry Atkinson which 3 nights in Bora Bora, daily breakfast & dinner, domestic airfare between the islands, you can read under “Hurworth” in NZNews, airport transfers and all taxes & fees. Valid for travel: 10 Jan - 31 Mar 2022. Visit the bucket-list p.5. Interesting trivia, eh? Well, with so lit- worthy Society Islands and see why French Polynesia is a mythical destination! *Want to modify tle Club activity to talk about, due to this package? Contact us for COVID, we do our best. additional travel For more info: Thank you to Jenny and Brian for their dates, departure www.downundertravel.com cities, excursions assistance again with this issue, and to and/or any hotel Peter, Ed, Malcolm, Mario and Judy for con- upgrades. tributions. Please take note of our advertis- er sponsors and support them where (403) 270-4414 Phone possible. 1-866-470-4414 Toll Free Enjoy, [email protected] 114, 3907 3A St NE, Calgary T2E 6S7 • www.downunder-travel.com

2 The Southern Yarn • www.downunderclub.mb.ca August – September 2021 If anyone in the club would like us to DUCWNetworking mention their business in the next issue of the Yarn, email Jenny at info@downunder Helping Out Our Mates ... again club.mb.ca with the following details: Everyone still doing okay? - name of your business When this piece was posted in the - what you offer in 5 words or less October/November issue of the Yarn last - contact name year, new social distancing restrictions were - contact phone number about to be put in place in Manitoba. Current Hopefully we’ll see you all soon, but for restrictions have now been relaxed, now, take care, stay well and happy, and let’s although there’s still reason to be cautious see if we can help out some of our mates. and careful. As you know, we have not had any in-per- - Jenny Gates son Club events for more than a year, and not sure when that will change, but we have had several online get togethers. Folks have zoomed in from across the city and around 100yearsAgo… the world, and many an excellent conversa- history of note tion has been had. This issue seemed like a good opportu- Tūrangawaewae marae nity to remind you about our advertisers. If established … you are looking to book, buy or hire in the [Source: New Zealand History] After the First near future, consider supporting our mates World War and the devastating influenza and/or recommending them to others if they pandemic of 1918, Waikato leader Te Puea are also looking. As important then as now Hērangi resolved to rebuild a centre for Downunder Travel in Calgary is a PART- Who knew that a public health poster from the Māori King movement at Ngāruawāhia, NER of the DUCW, and has been helping us the time of the Spanish influenza pandemic its original home before the land confisca- with our travel plans for more than 10 years. in 1919 would be as important a message tions of the 1860s. Waikato leaders pur- Many of us have booked our adventures with then as now. chased 4 ha of riverside land opposite the Jason and his team, and while there’s not The poster included the above illustra- township in 1920. The following year Te Puea much travelling right now, you can still get tion drawn by Australian illustrator and began moving her people from Man- in contact with them so you’ll be good and author May Gibbs. It was part of a govern- gatāwhiri to build a new marae, Tūrangawae- ready when borders fully open up again. Call ment campaign in New South Wales to limit wae. Years of hard work followed, draining Jason at 1-866-664-6989, or visit https:// the spread of the deadly Spanish flu pan- and filling swampy, scrub-covered land and downunder-travel.com/ . demic of 1918–1919, in which about 12,000 fundraising for buildings. They also had to Kiwi Installations & Sales is a SUP- Australians died, 6,300 of them in New overcome opposition from Ngāruawāhia’s PORTER of the DUCW, and has been busy fit- South Wales. Pākehā citizens, who initially tried to have ting our homes and businesses with rolling Gibbs was one of the most popular chil- them removed from the borough. Read security shutters and exterior blinds for 15 dren’s writers of the time. Her characters, more: [link] years. Based in Winnipeg, they can also help such as bush babies and banksia men, were Drawing of the flag with your fencing and decking needs during inspired by the uniqueness of the Australian hoisted on the procla- the summer months. For a free quote, con- bush and appealed to adults as well as chil- mation of Matutaera tact Terry at (204) 229-6642, or visit dren. [link] Tāwhiao as Māori King https://www.kiwiinstallations.com/ . was made at William Pooley Legal Services is a SUP- Ngāruawāhia in 1863, PORTER of the DUCW, and can provide a vari- shortly before the Wai- ety of law services at your place of convenience. kato War began. Services include estate law, wills, civil litiga- Image: Wikipedia tion and elder law. To set up an appointment today, contact Bill at 204-783-1632.

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August – September 2021 www.downunderclub.mb.ca • The Southern Yarn 3 ing a kerb-side bin lid is a simple action. But ing gear in particular is to walk around the newsfromOz our research, published today in Science, dis- aircraft stomping our feet and tapping the various sources, see web links in online edition covered this behaviour is far more signifi- wheels with a wheel whacker to wake up and cant than you may have first thought. scare off the snakes. That’s about making Sulphur-crested cockatoos are copycats. sure no harm comes to our engineers or the After one solves the lid-flip puzzle, other snakes. birds nearby imitate the new foraging behav- “Only then do we carefully approach iour in a stunning display of “social learning”. each wheel and unwrap them before per- For decades, scientists believed humans were forming our pressure checks and visual the only animals capable of culture. Now, inspections. thanks to the community’s observations, we “We’ve encountered a few rattlesnakes can add parrots to this small (but growing) and also some scorpions, but the wheel list, which also includes chimpanzees, hump- whacker does its job and they scuttle off. It’s To date, only nine drops have fallen in the famous back whales and New Caledonian crows. a unique part of looking after these aircraft Pitch Drop experiment. [Link] while they’re in storage and it’s another sign of how strange the past year has been. These Like watching paint dry A380s would rarely spend more than a day [Source: The University of Queensland, Out- on the ground when they were in service.” reach] We’re home to the famous Pitch Drop Their work involves everything from cov- experiment, which holds the Guinness ering the interior seats with plastic sheeting World Record for the longest-running labo- to applying protective film to the top of the ratory experiment. rudder and on all of the cabin windows. The The experiment demonstrates the fluid- wheels, tyres and landing gear legs are ity and high viscosity of pitch, a derivative of wrapped in protective film and all inlets and tar that is the world’s thickest known fluid orifices on the fuselage are plugged to avoid and was once used for waterproofing boats. insects, birds and even bats making them- Thomas Parnell, UQ’s first Professor of selves at home. [link] Physics, created the experiment in 1927 to Snake, rattle and roll: Where illustrate that everyday materials can exhibit aircraft share accommodation quite surprising properties. with snakes and scorpions … At room temperature pitch feels solid, [Source: Qantas 100, 3 June 2021] It’s rattle- even brittle, and can easily be shattered with snake season in the Californian Mojave a hammer. But, in fact, at room temperature desert and Qantas engineers based at the the substance — which is 100 billion times airline’s Los Angeles hanger have added a more viscous than water — is actually fluid. new pre-inspection procedure to avoid the Read more: [link] wrath of startled rattlesnakes when they Editor: that reminds me of a fact I was carry out weekly maintenance on Qantas’ told about the stained glass windows in cen- parked fleet of A380 aircraft. turies-old cathedrals – the glass is thicker at The engineers are tasked with maintain- Adelaide’s public olives the bottom, due to its “liquid” state. ing the A380s that are currently parked in Did you know the City of Adelaide permits deep storage, with the fleet expected to members of the public to register for an olive return to service when international travel collection permit? demand gets back to pre-COVID levels – The permit entitles the holder to collect which could still be two years away. olives from trees located within the Park Qantas Manager for Engineering in Los Lands, with the exception of fenced areas Angeles, Tim Heywood, said having a team within Bonython Park / Tulya Wardli, and of engineers driving the two hours from LA trees located within garden beds. Con- to Victorville for regular inspections is a vital ditions apply. [link] part of keeping the aircraft in top condition However, some of the residents show during their downtime. Encounters of the utter contempt for the rules. – Thanks to Ed slithering and rattling kind are all part of Powell for sending in this evidence showing Clever cockie … the job. corellas feasting. [Source: The Conversation: John Martin, “The area is well known for its feisty ‘rat- Barbara Klump, Lucy Aplin, 22 June 2021] tlers’ who love to curl up around the warm In a small, isolated village in southern rubber tyres and in the aircraft wheels and Sydney, the local sulphur-crested cockatoos brakes. Every aircraft has its own designated are particularly clever. Once a week, when ‘wheel whacker’ (a repurposed broom han- the neighbours roll their wheelie bins to the dle) as part of the engineering kit, complete kerb, cockies fly over and, with skillful with each aircraft’s registration written on it. dexterity, open the lids in search of food. “The first thing we do before we unwrap It may seem as though cockatoos open- and start any ground inspections of the land-

4 The Southern Yarn • www.downunderclub.mb.ca August – September 2021 greater heights, and he held a number of pro- it, she believes it’s what residents want. newszealand vincial positions including MP for New Plym- Chris Chen, from the University of Canter- various sources, see web links in online edition outh and Superintendent of , and bury, said the new arena could be positive served as Minister of Defence, Minister of for the city’s image. “Christchurch was per- Crown Lands and Immigration, and Colonial ceived as really old fashioned, with a dull Treasurer. and negative image. And having a world In 1876 he became Premier of New Zea- class stadium and arena established would land, an office which he held hold four times definitely attract a lot of young people and between then and 1891. change this kind of perception … and help Atkinson was away from Hurworth for build a sense of community.” [link] much of his political life, with the house con- siderably changed and enlarged before his death in 1892 when the property was sold. Hurworth is typical of early settlers’ dwellings in its simplicity – rectangular in Inaugural Gumboot Awards … shape, clad in vertical board and batten with [Source: NZHerald, The Country, 1 Aug 2021] a pitched roof and French doors opening And the winner in the “Best Farm onto a four-sided veranda. Entrance/Mailbox” category was this classic The cottage was donated to Heritage New mailbox in Caples Valley. See the other cate- Zealand in 1967 and restored to its original gory winners at: [link] specifications. It was during this time graf- fiti from the was uncov- ered, which continues to fascinate visitors NZ Opening Up today. [Source: Stuff NZ, 13 Aug 2021, ] From early 906 Carrington Road, New Plymouth, NZ 2022, travellers to New Zealand are set to fol- http://www.visitheritage.org.nz low one of three “pathways” based on their vaccination status and the risk profile of the country or countries they have spent the past 14 days in. Eventually, the Government would like all travellers fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to be able to enter New Zea- land quarantine-free, while most of those unvaccinated will have to spend 14 days in Hurworth … managed isolation. New Zealand’s ability to [Source: Pouhere Taonga/Heritage New Zealand] maintain its elimination strategy when the Hurworth was a settlement established near phased re-opening begins will be key to New Plymouth in the 1850s. Of the six hous- determining when this will happen. [link] es in the settlement four were destroyed in the New Zealand Wars and another lost to New arena for Christchurch fire. Built in 1855-56 by pioneer settler and [Source: Radio NZ, 13, Aug 2021] City coun- future four-time Premier of New Zealand, cil has finalised plans to construct a new (Sir) Harry Atkinson, this modest cottage arena for $523m. While Mayor Lianne Dal- (also christened Hurworth) is the only ziel is nervous about how the city will pay for remaining building of the small Taranaki settlement that flourished during the 1850s. Harry Atkinson, having learned from a sawyer, cut the wood for it himself and by 1857 the house was finished in its original Law services at your place of convenience form. The outbreak of the Taranaki War in March 1860 threatened the idyllic lifestyle at Hurworth, with Harry sending wife Jane Wm. B.K. Pooley b.a. l.l.b and their children to safety in Wanganui after burying their valuables. lawyer • notary public Harry joined the Taranaki Rifle Volun- teers and fought in many battles around the province over the next few years, rising to home visits . office visits the rank of Major with the Forest Rangers. day, evening & weekend appointments He had become involved in politics, and in 1861 he became the member in the House of Representatives for his local Grey and Bell 204-783-1632 constituency. His political career rose to

August – September 2021 www.downunderclub.mb.ca • The Southern Yarn 5 GettingtoKnow history, and members of our club George Hubert Wilkins In 2015, the Australian Museum in Sydney – my old stomping ground – staged the exhi- bition “Trailblazers: Australian’s 50 Greatest Explorers”. One of those explorers was George Hubert Wilkins, and the following is taken from the Museum’s website [link]. That Wilkins has a connection to Canada is a bonus. Enjoy reading about this amazing man. Jenny Gates

In a life filled with extraordinary adven- tures, George Hubert Wilkins is particularly noted for ‘firsts’, including flights across the Arctic and in Antarctica, and taking a sub- marine beneath the frozen Arctic Ocean. He was also a war correspondent, cinematogra- pher, naturalist, geographer and pioneering climatologist. Born in outback South Australia in 1888, Wilkins studied engineering at the Adelaide School of Mines and travelled to England as a stowaway where he learned to parachute and fly aeroplanes, becoming an aerial cine- matographer who performed and filmed stunts. He became one of the first to film a bat- tle, during the Balkan War of 1912-13, and his prowess with the camera saw him invited to join the Canadian Arctic Expedi- tion in 1913. During this expedition, he and leader Vilhjalmar Stefansson became sep- arated from their vessel, and narrowly the first Antarctic flight, taking off from Farewell friend escaped with their lives after hiking hun- Deception Island and exploring the Antarc- One of our long-time DUCW members, dreds of kilometres across the sea ice. tic Peninsula. He returned to Antarctica a Lorraine Tinckam, has peacefully passed After crashing in the England–Australia further five times over the next decade. away after a brief air race of 1919, Wilkins joined Shackleton’s Not content with adventuring in the air, illness. Lorraine’s 1921 Antarctic expedition. He was then he bought a submarine and in 1931, became late husband, asked to lead a British Museum expedition the first to venture under the Arctic Sea ice. Mervyn, was from to Australia to collect rare animals. Throughout his life, Hubert Wilkins Sydney, Australia, During a series of Arctic flights in 1926- gained vital scientific insights into a range and after they met 27, Wilkins had several life-threatening of fields. As a result, he became a consultant in Winnipeg in adventures, including having to land on sea in polar survival for the US Government, 1971, they moved ice when a plane ran out of fuel, and then improved weather forecasting, and devel- downunder for a walk for 13 days to be rescued. oped techniques for flying at night. while until return- In 1928, in a single-engined ski plane, Wilkins is commemorated with the nam- ing to Winnipeg Wilkins made by far the longest flight in a ing of the Wilkins Ice Shelf, Wilkins Sound, 17 years later. An polar region, a trans-Arctic flight from the Wilkins Ice Runway at Australia’s Casey educational assis- Alaska to Spitsbergen, and was knighted for Station, and Wilkins’ Rock-wallaby, a spe- tant, Lorraine was known for her culinary services to aviation and exploration. Later cimen of which he collected in 1925. and entertaining skills, and her magic touch that year he was back in Antarctica, com- - Jen Cork, Australian Museum with children. Our sincere condolences to manding the Wilkins–Hearst Antarctic Lorraine’s friends and family. Expedition. During this expedition, he made

6 The Southern Yarn • www.downunderclub.mb.ca August – September 2021 Global youth report Commonwealth [10 August 2021] The Commonwealth Secre- BushYarn tariat will unveil its flagship report on global NewsDesk youth development on 10 August 2021. Parrot Fashion This is the third edition of the Global The bush missionary had travelled over a lot Human rights awards Youth Development Index, which measures of Australia, and here he was riding his [19 July 2021] The winner of the first ‘Chris- the state of health and wellbeing, education, buggy along an excuse for a road in the tof Heyns Memorial Commonwealth Prize’ employment, equality and inclusion, politi- Queensland backblocks when in front of him was announced during the virtual 13th Nel- cal participation, and security for more than appeared a bullock team with a load of son Mandela World Human Rights Moot 1.8 billion young people around the world. sleeper rails. He couldn’t get past and it was Court Competition. Developed by the Commonwealth Secre- obvious that the bullocky had not seen him. The Competition, which ran from 2-16 tariat, the Youth Development Index informs Besides, there was a flow of the most vulgar July, was organised by the Centre for Human policymakers about young people’s needs and violent language coming from the front Rights based at the Faculty of Law of Univer- and opportunities while indicating areas for of the team. He walked around to the front, sity of Pretoria, South Africa in partnership success as well as where attention and but hard as he looked, he couldn’t see with the Washington College of Law of the investment are needed. It also acts as a data anyone and yet the foul language continued American University, UN Office of the High advocacy tool, highlighting the importance to assail the air. He tried cooeeing, but no Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), of gathering statistics on key youth indi- response came except for more bad lan- and the Commonwealth Secretariat. cators to achieve the Sustainable Develop- guage. The only thing he could find was a This year’s overall winners of the compe- ment Goals. bright green parrot sitting on the furthest tition as well as the Christof Heyns Memorial Government representatives, youth bullock’s back. Commonwealth Prize were the two-member leaders and experts will join a special news- The parson, mystified, shrugged his team from Strathmore University, Kenya, cast, designed to unveil and analyse key find- shoulders and managed to pass the team, Sumatra Hussain and Sanjana Ragu. The ings on youth development performance in continuing on his journey until he reached a Prize money will be used towards organising 181 countries. small settlement which offered nothing a fully sponsored internship for them at the The results programme will air across more than a few houses, a post office and a Centre for Human Rights of the University of the Commonwealth on multiple television hotel. He noticed two men lazily seated on Pretoria, South Africa. channels. the hotel verandah drinking beers, so he decided to investigate. Tourism impacts small states Trade impacted by pandemic He said “There’s a bullock team about [1 July 2021] The dramatic plunge in global Commonwealth countries are estimated to twenty miles back, completely unattended. I tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic is have lost up to US$345 billion worth of trade looked for its driver in vain.” having far-reaching and devastating effects, in 2020, including $60 billion in intra-Com- “Thanks, parson,” said the lean, long one, particularly for Small States. Yesterday, dur- monwealth trade, according to 2021 Com- “you needn’t worry. That’s my team but, to ing a Commonwealth Tourism Seminar, the monwealth Trade Review on “Energising tell you the truth, it ain’t completely unat- Commonwealth Secretariat proposed the Commonwealth Trade in a Digital World: tended.” development of a global ‘Tourism Action Paths to Recovery Post-COVID”. “Well,” said the preacher doubtfully, “I Plan’ to help spur a much-needed recovery. Released today, the Commonwealth didn’t see a soul for miles, the only thing I Drawing on research from a new Com- Trade Review provides a timely and com- saw was a green parrot perched on the back monwealth report, ‘Tourism and COVID-19: prehensive analysis of the impact of the pan- of one of your polars.” Mapping a Way Forward for the Common- demic on the trade and investment flows of “Ah,” said the bullocky with a certain wealth Small States’, the action plan pro- Commonwealth member countries. knowing pride, “that’s Percy, me South Amer- vides a number of practical policy options The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a ican parrot. I trained him meself and he’s for reviving the tourism sector over the short, heavy toll globally, substantially impacting one of the best. In fact, he doesn’t even need medium and longer term. all Commonwealth members economies and me.” The recommendations emphasize that to leading to US$1.15 trillion in foregone gross “Pity about his language,” sighed the par- restore global tourism and stimulate domestic product (GDP) in just one year. son, “I never heard such filthy language in demand there is a need to foster traveller Compared to pre-pandemic growth trends in my entire life.” confidence and protect workers employed in 2020, Commonwealth economies contracted The bullock driver slammed down his the tourism industry, especially vulnerable by approximately 10%. beer glass, clearly annoyed. groups. Most Commonwealth countries also “Why, that good fer nothing little feath- Furthermore, it highlights that the recov- experienced a significant decline in overall ered ba…rd!” he roared. “I told him never to ery of tourism in Commonwealth States, par- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in swear in front of ladies or preachers. He’ll ticularly small states, is dependent on the 2020, with a loss of US$153 billion to the get the sack when he bl…y gets back!” actions of major tourism source markets, Commonwealth. [Source: “Classic Bush Yarns, by Warren such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Given the linkages between trade and Fahey, 2001] Australia. This underlines the need for investment and the role of FDI in supporting coordination between source markets and cross-border trade, these disruptions could traveller destinations to facilitate and foster limit trade prospects for Commonwealth tourism demand. countries.

August – September 2021 www.downunderclub.mb.ca • The Southern Yarn 7 birdsiview… by Charlie Powell

Right: Eastern kingbird Below: Western kingbird (C. Powell, at Winnipeg Beach)

Board of Directors President: Peter Munn Vice President: Terry Roberts Secretary: Margaret Munn Newsletter Editor: Charlie Powell Treasurer: Peter Debenham Social Coordinator: Kingbird … Judy Powell, with assistants Penny Hechter & Lucia Barron These guys overwinter, meek and mild, in Here is an apt poem [link]: Membership: South and Central America, feeding mostly “for any ruffian of the sky” by e e cummings Cathering Bowering on fruit and berries. But when they come Past President: north, the other side of their personality for any ruffian of the sky Terry Roberts shows – loud, aggressive and visible insect your kingbird doesn’t give a damn–

his royal warcry is I AM predators. Their Latin name, Tyrannus, gives This newsletter can be downloaded in PDF a hint that they’re not afraid to defend their and he’s the soul of chivalry. format from the website. Thank you to all nest and territory. Kingbirds go after the In terror of whose furious beak of our contributors within the club, from (as sweetly singing creatures know) overseas and information services. Layout much larger crows and hawks, even humans, by [email protected] if they get too close to the nest. They remind cringes the hugest heartless hawk and veers the vast most crafty crow. The Southern Yarn me of the willie wagtail, so ubiquitous and is published by the your kingbird doesn’t give a damn Down Under Club of Winnipeg, Inc. well-know downunder, and also so fearless. (DUCW). The views and opinions for murderers of high estate Manitoba seems to be where the expressed by contributors to this whose mongrel creed is Might Makes Right black/grey and white eastern overlaps with publication are not endorsed by, nor do they - his royal warcry is I AM. necessarily reflect those of, the members of the more colourful western. They will be true to his mate his chicks his friends the DUCW. The DUCW and the Editor of The Southern Yarn do not accept any seen perched, openly, on the lookout for he loves because he cannot fear insects. The western will also track cattle, to responsibility for the content or accuracy of (you see it in the way he stands information or websites contained in this snatch the bugs they disturb. The males are and looks and leaps upon the air) publication. Articles may be republished noted for their acrobatics during courtship. with permission of the Editor.

T H E D O W N U N D E R CLUB OF WINNIPEG INC. Reader feedback Station Main, PO Box 1655, Winnipeg Manitoba Canada R3C 2Z6 Thanks again to Malcolm in

Canberra for another birdlike [email protected] flower – the Yulon magnolia www.downunderclub.mb.ca (left); and this little colourful Like us on facebook! beauty – painted bunting (right). Proudly printed in Winnipeg by Kendrick Quality Printing Ltd.

8 The Southern Yarn • www.downunderclub.mb.ca August – September 2021