REGISTERED BY AUSTRALIA POST - PUBLICATION No. VBH 6369 JUNE 2011
20th anniversary of the Swiss Path and the Place of the Swiss Abroad DABOU N T U
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On the occasion of the The spring session of the Council of the Swiss Abroad was 7th centenary of the held in Brunnen (see also page 20), coinciding with the official Swiss confederation 20th anniversary celebration on Saturday, 9 April. The 100 in 1991, a hiking delegates together with the people of Brunnen and many trail – 35km long – Swiss that came from around the world (among them Sydney was built around the Swiss community identity, Georges Teitler) gathered on this southernmost end splendid spring day to celebrate, to of Lake Lucerne, listen to various speakers from local and called Lake Uri. federal government, tourism and the Each canton OSA, and to enjoy the magic view over is allocated a the lake with the majestic mountain section of the path and each citizen ‘owns’ 5mm of it. The backdrop. An Alphorn-Quintet and the Swiss Path starts on the Rütli meadow, the ‘birthplace’ of ‘Musikgesellschaft Brunnen’ provided the confederation. It ends in the village of Brunnen, in a musical entertainment. lakeside park called the Place of the Swiss Abroad. The Following the festivities guests took Swiss Path and the Place of the Swiss Abroad symbolically a ride on the steamer ‘Titlis’ across connect the people of Switzerland with the 700,000 Swiss Lake Uri to Isleten, from where many that live outside its boarders. disembarked to walk a section of The purchase of the park and the establishment of the the Swiss Path to the Rütli meadow. Place of the Swiss Abroad in 1991 was made possible through a The boat ride back to Brunnen marked the conclusion of a word-wide fund raising effort by the Swiss Abroad and a generous wonderful day, which renewed the connection donation by the confederation. and love for Switzerland in many of us. Editor
89 Flinders Lane • Melbourne 3000 • Victoria • Australia • www.swiss.org.au/swissclubvic SWISS CLUB OF VICTORIA SWISS CLUB SUB-GROUPS Pro Ticino Founded in 1899 President: Claude Rossi Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose 5 Falls Road, Hoddles Creek Vic 3139 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 President: Sylvia Hochuli T: (03) 5967 4542 T: 1300 893 968, F: (03) 9650 3104 T: (03) 9531 6575 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: www.swissclubvic.com Swiss Yodel Choir Matterhorn Swiss Companion Singers President: Marco Unternährer Club Opening Hours Convenor: Heidy Giger 3 Bluegum Court, Upwey Vic 3158 Lunch: Mo - Fri from 12noon T: (03) 9889 9321 T: (03) 9729 3338, (03) 9752 6996 (H) Dinner: Wed, Thurs & Fri from 6pm. E: [email protected] W: www.swiss.org.au/matterhorn Bookings T: (03) 9650 1196 Ladies Luncheons Swiss-Australian Chamber of Swiss Club Catering Convenor: Heidy Giger Commerce and Industry (SACCI) For all Functions contact Chef For bookings T: (03) 9650 1196 General Manager: Marcel Svatos & Catering Manager Roger Moullet For information: T: (03) 9889 9321 T: (02) 9262 1511, F: (02) 9290 1928 T: (03) 9650 1196, F: (03) 9650 3104 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] M: 0409 040 249 W: www.sacci.com.au E: [email protected] Saturday Morning Swiss School The Second Floor Function Bookings Convenor: Andrea Pinch Swiss-Australian Academic CBD Function Room with a difference! T: (03) 5331 6762 Network (SAAN) Info and/or bookings: E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: 1300 893 968 W: www.swiss.org.au/scvschool W: www.saan.id.au E: [email protected] Swiss Playgroup Consulate General of Switzerland Ingrid Preston T: (03) 9772 0516 T: (02) 8383 4000, F: (02) 9369 1334 COMMITTEE W: www.swiss.org.au/playgroup E: [email protected] W: http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/ Barbara Kündig The Swiss Diners Club home/reps/ocea/vaus/cgsyd.html President Convenor: Amy Bohren T/F (H): (03) 9005 4938 M: 0410 037 095 Honorary Consulate (Victoria) M: 0402 018 363 E: [email protected] T: (03) 9824 7527, M: 0413 042 728 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Swiss Festival Rolf Huber Chairman: Rolf Huber Organisation of the Swiss Abroad Immediate Past President T/F (H): (03) 9807 0282 Council Delegate: Roland Isler T/F (H): (03) 9807 0282 M (B): 0425 805 854 Contact details: see below under Editor M (B): 0425 805 854 E: [email protected] W: www.aso.ch / www.swiss.org.au/csa E: [email protected] Urs Derrick Wildi SWISS COMMUNITY Treasurer & Membership Administration ORGANISATIONS T/F (H): (03) 9824 7930 Swiss Society of Victoria M: 0403 040 930 (Benevolent Society) Impressum E: [email protected] President: Franz Schnellmann ‘Edelweiss’ appears quarterly in T: (03) 9449 2245, M: 0412 203 893 Sigrid de Castella March, June, September and December. E: [email protected] Membership Relations & Circulation 500. Building Management Support Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess For all enquiries contact: M: 0416 088 000 Australian/Swiss Cultural Society Roland Isler, Editor E: [email protected] President: Sylvia Hochuli T: (03) 9524 6335 (B), M: 0412 935 565 T: (03) 9531 6575 E: [email protected] Antony Anderson E: [email protected] Building Management 67 St Georges Crescent Heatherton Vic 3202 M: 0416 069 666 Groupe Romand du Victoria E: [email protected] President: Rémy Favre Damian Schaller 1 Hughes Street, Malvern East Vic 3145 Corporate Communications & T: (03) 9571 2835, M: 0412 135 095 E: [email protected] Unless otherwise stated, postal Functions Manager address for all is: 89 Flinders Lane, W: www.swiss.org.au/chfrvic M: 0410 461 364 Melbourne Vic 3000 E: [email protected]
www.swiss.org.au/swissclubvic 3 President’s Message
Dear members and friends warm and sunny and nature burst into life. Spring was here in of the Swiss Club, full. Trees turned green almost overnight. The fi elds became a sea of yellow and green. Due to the relative warmth, everything I can’t recall ever seeing so started to bloom in large varieties of colours. What a glorious many members attending our time to be in Switzerland! AGM on 16 March! It was great to see the Second Floor At this time in Switzerland, all is about moving outdoors to so busy. The committee had enjoy the arriving summer. On the other side of the world, the pleasure to present many here in Victoria, we are turning again to indoor activities and members with their bronze, being warm and cosy. What better place to enjoy this than silver or gold membership recognition pin. our club restaurant or the fun and conviviality of a Swiss Club event? How about a Jass? There will be our fi rst ever weekend Thank you to all who came for taking the time. Please keep it a Championships in June. ‘Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand’ entertains regular event to learn about your club. every fi rst Thursday of the months. It is always a fun evening. In April, comedy was the theme at the club with the Comedy For 1st of August celebrations we offer this year a National Festival taking over the Second Floor for their performances. Day Lunch. This will be an opportunity for all our members who I trust some of you had an opportunity to enjoy one of the no longer like to go out at night to enjoy a club event. In the scheduled shows. evening our traditional Lantern Parade will take place. We hope I spent April in Switzerland. When we arrived end of March, you will be able to join us at one of the upcoming events or the landscape was still bare, wintery and kind of monotonous just for a delicious meal at the restaurant. looking but then the weather changed. It became surprisingly Barbara Kündig - President
Pacher and Tony Erb had to spend some time in hospital. We wish you all the best for a speedy recovery and we hope to see you again at the Club soon. The last farewell We are sad to inform you that recently we had to say good bye to four long standing members: John Peter Mischler passed away 25 March. Our heartfelt sympathies go to his son and member, John Mischler and family. Welcome to our new members Margarete Fatzer passed away 3 April. Our thoughts and We welcome Jacqui Eddison, David Galloway, Oscar condolences go to our member Köbi Fatzer. Kamber, Erika Mohoric, Nicholas Patton and Isabelle Ruedi Birmele passed away 8 April.Our deepest sympathies Sury. We are looking forward to meeting you at one of our go to our member, Marlyse Birmele and family. forthcoming functions. Honorary Life Member Josef Koch passed away early May. Congratulations Our sympathies go to his family. Our condolences go to our president, Barbara Kündig Happy birthday to the following members who were and family on the passing of her father, Eric Kündig in celebrating their milestone birthdays recently: Switzerland. Frederick Dumar, Henry Huggins, Patricia Doos, Franz Doos, Roger Kirsten could commemorate their 80th, Dear members, please tell the committee or the editor if your Bernie Macho his 85th, while Colin Wilkinson celebrated partner, your friends or fellow members have a reason to his 90th and Alice Fueglistaler her 95th. We congratulate celebrate, are unwell or have left for a better place. you and wish you good health in many years to come! Congratulations to Janette and Paul Eisenegger who have The Swiss Club of Victoria is looking for a keen become grandparents for the fi rst time! Liam Oscar Eisenegger administrator to manage our new venue was born on 30 April. The Second Floor. If you are interested or want to know more, Get well please call 1300 893 968. Due to health problems Margrit Schneider, Wolfram
4 Swiss Club of Victoria Annual General Meeting Wednesday, 16 March 2011 Over 60 members gathered to attend this year’s Annual General Meeting. This great turnout was at least in part due to the 6SRQVRUVKLS&DOOIRU honouring of long standing membership through the Members µ7KH6HFRQG)ORRU¶ Recognition Program that the committee had introduced late last year. Toping the list was Beatrice Delacrétaz who received a gold Kurt Born BL Dear Swiss Club Member pin for her 57 years of membership! In memory of John C. Delacrétaz VD More serious matters were debated such as fi nance. The balance Bedjuids desIt is withantipodes great pleasure that we announce the completionVS of the refurbishment of ‘The Second sheet recorded a loss of over $30,000. The Treasurer, Derrick Wildi, Floor’. It has been an absolute success! explained details causing the loss. However it is to note that the Tony Boll One main feature of the new room are the frosted glassZH panels separating the conference room club at present does not experience any cash-fl ow diffi culties due to Swiss Folkfrom Dance the mainGroup function Alpenrose room. /To make a link to our common heritage and the Club Restaurant, we current depreciation cost recorded at $40,000. took up the theme of our cantonal coat of arms, but in a more modern contemporary fashion. Gwen Eckhardt Swiss Flag It was also a time to farewell Patrick Rychner and Secretary Gerda We would like to give the club members the opportunity to sponsor ‘frosted’ cantonal coat of arms at a cost of $350 each. A plaque, listing the sponsors and their nominated canton if so desired (i.e. Probst from the committee. Patrick’s creativity and Gerda’s amazing The Coat ofBruno Arms Schweitzer sponsorship BE), willon bethe put Second on view. Floor However, has donations of any amount are most welcome effi ciency have been a valuable asset to the committee and the now closed.and The will committeebe listed in the of Swissthe Swiss Club NewsletterClub of Victoria ‘Edelweiss’. club, and both will be sorely missed. Gerda and Patrick deserve our would likeWe to needthank and all appreciate members your that generosity have given and support. so If you have a query, please contact a member of the Swiss Club Committee. thanks and appreciation for the great contribution they have made! generosity. It has been fantastic to see how well supported The committee is now reduced to only six members and anyone our new venue and the club in general is. Thank you! wishing to join the committee is ask to contact any member of the Kind regards committee. Barbara Kündig President
Name of Sponsor Canton Indication Payment
EFT** Cheque Cash Credit Card Amount Card Number: Expiry: Cardholder’s Name: Signature:
** (BSB: 013-375, Account: 3536 82406 Please state your name and ‘2F Sponsoring’ in the Remarks Field!)
Membership enquiries [email protected]
www.swiss.org.au/swissclubvic 5 The Swiss Festival – showcasing our Swiss community
The Swiss community celebrated once the backdrop of a miniature Swiss Chalet again Swiss culture with the ninth courtesy of Louis Bloechlinger & Franz annual Swiss Festival 2011 in the Schnellmann. In order of appearance beautiful surroundings of the Austrian the entertainment schedule looked as Club in Heidelberg West. Despite the cool follows: and windy weather some 1,300 visitors Chris Thalmann (Schwyzerörgeli), enjoyed the atmosphere while fi lling up Tom Webb (Flag waiving, Singing on all the very best traditions and treats Saw, Washboard and Spoons), Swiss the Swiss have to offer. Markus Meli. Radio host Joe Bovalino Yodel Choir Matterhorn, The Consul Visitors to the festival enjoyed a broad was our master of ceremonies for the General of Switzerland Mr. Markus range of music and entertainment such day and led the audience through the Meli, the Australian Swiss Search Dog as the Yodel Choir Matterhorn, the Swiss action packed fi ve-hour program. Association, Houlette, Renee Moullet, Folk Dance Group Alpenrose, Phil and A particular highlight was the Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose, Beat on accordion and guitar or Houlette performance of the Swiss Companion the Swiss Companion Singers, Irma and Renee Moullet who took to the Singers who celebrated their twentieth Thalmann (Alphorn), Phillip Nadvesnik stage. anniversary at the festival with a & Beat Stuber (Accordion, Guitar), The Opening the day with a warm welcome wonderful cake which they shared with Schwörgelis. was the patron of the Swiss Festival, everyone attending. Our entertainers on Swiss delights such as Raclette and the Consul General of Switzerland Mr. stage were framed wonderfully against Bratwurst or Cervalat with potato salad
6 Swiss Club of Victoria Island Dairy, Lindt, Océ, Premier Food and Beverages Pty. Ltd., SBS German Radio, SIC Swiss Import Corporation, Silvers Circus, Société General de Surveillance (SGS), Swiss International Air Lines, Switzerland Tourism, The Swatch Group, The Swiss Club of Victoria & Roger Moullet, Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC), V-Zug, Walmas Meat and Smallgoods. The Swiss Australian Search Dog Association attended the festival for the second time and showcased their dogs unique skills to an interested audience on stage. They are just one of the many Swiss Community Groups that made the Swiss Festival 2011 an unforgettable event. The Swiss community groups in Victoria in alphabetical order are: Groupe Romand du Victoria, Pro Ticino, Saturday Morning Swiss School, Swiss Academic Network Melbourne (SAAN), were available at our food stalls prepared by our amazing Swiss Club of Victoria, Swiss Companion Singers, Swiss Folk kitchen crew under the leadership of our very own Swiss chef Dance Group Alpenrose, Swiss Playgroup, Swiss Society of Roger Moullet. Nussgipfel and Zopf along with other sweet Victoria (Benevolent Society), Swiss Yodel Choir Matterhorn, treats were served at the coffee stall where visitors could also Swiss-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, The Swiss purchase the famous Swiss Kafi Schnapps. Exclusively for the Diners Club, Trachtengruppe Schwyzergruess (Australian/Swiss Swiss Festival 2011 the committee imported Swiss Red and Cultural Society). White Wine as well as Feldschloesschen beer and Rivella from For the fi rst time the Swiss Festival committee used social Switzerland. media extensively in the lead up to the event to promote the A huge number of volunteers helped serve the visitors at all Swiss Festival 2011 online. A quick survey revealed that we our stands. Most of them belong to one of the numerous Swiss had over 100 mostly younger visitors who had learned about community groups such as the Swiss Diners Club for example. the festival purely through our online presence. Please visit But the whole day wouldn’t have been possible without the our homepage www.swissfestival.com.au and follow us on assistance of friends and families who helped out as well as Facebook ‘Swiss Festival Australia’ or Twitter @SwissFestivalAU. the Bundoora Scout group who attended with almost twenty of On behalf of the Swiss Festival committee we would like to their members. All volunteers received food and drink vouchers thank the host Austrian Club, the many volunteers, entertainers as a thank you for their efforts, for the scout group we had a and sponsors who contributed immensely to the success and special thank you in the form of Swiss scout badges which the with their time and effort made this event possible. We are kids received after the festival. happy to report that we made a profi t which will be equally This year the Lucky Draw competition saw a change with over shared among all Swiss community groups. 200 prizes being available at the Tombola stand if you were lucky enough to purchase an instant winning ticket. Visitors Plans for the Swiss Festival 2012 are already in the pipeline. could buy raffl e tickets at different locations and were in the The date and place will be announced at a later stage. We hope running to win everything from chocolates to drinking bottles to see you again next year! and food hampers to kitchen utensils. The main prizes which The Swiss Festival Committee 2011 included business class fl ights in Europe sponsored by Swiss International Airlines, 5-star hotel stays in Sponsorship/Chair – Rolf Huber Switzerland provided by Switzerland Tourism and Treasurer/Deputy Chair – Bruno Giger professional drilling machines from Hilti were drawn at Volunteers Coordinator – Chantal Imbach the end of the festival in front of an excited audience. Marketing – Damian Schaller In all the Swiss Festival 2011 gave away raffl e prizes Logistics/Sponsorship – Patrick Albert well in excess of $ 4,500.00 to the visitors. Lucky draw prizes or the jumping castle and animal farm would be impossible without our generous sponsors. Many of them have been supporting the festival for the past few years and attend the event in person. One of our newest sponsors V-Zug set up a tent on the festival grounds and offered demonstrations of their high quality Swiss kitchen appliances. They also provided the ovens which baked the famous Tarte de Fromage which was prepared as a live cooking demonstration by the Groupe Romand. Our sponsors in alphabetical order were: Consulate General of Switzerland/Embassy of Switzerland, Credit Suisse, Crown Casino, DKSH, Fracht Australia, Georg Fischer, Henkell Brothers, Herbert Schwärzler, Hilti, King
www.swiss.org.au/swissclubvic 7 From pastry cook to godfather
Editor: Joe and Marie, you have been part of the Swiss Club for many, many decades. Nowadays visiting the club has become a little diffi cult. Even though we don’t see you as often anymore, you are, of course, not forgotten. I’d like to start off our chat by asking you to tell us a little about your youth. Joe: I was born in 1929 in Fislisbach, canton Argau. We were a large family, I was the youngest of eight surviving siblings. After completing my school years I became a pastry cook. Marie: Born in 1922, I grew up in Geelong together with my two sisters. One passed on a few years ago but the other still lives in Geelong. Editor: Joe, when did you come to Australia and why? Joe: My brother Richard, the second youngest, and I came out Joe: It was a coincidence indeed! We originally signed up to together in 1951. 12 months later another brother and a sister take over a shop in Glenferrie Road, but that fell through in joined us. So we were four Schibli’s, all living in Geelong. Ernie the last minute and the estate agent offered us another shop Häsler, who came out here in the 1920’s, had a pastry business instead in Glenhuntly Road, only fi ve shops away from Bill and in Geelong together with his Swiss partner Jack Kaiser. Both of Hedi. We didn’t know them at the time and…yes, we were them were members of the Swiss Club, but Geelong was a long competitors but we also became great friends. way away from Melbourne, so their involvement was limited. Marie: The shop had two bungalows in the backyard were On a vacation back in Switzerland Ernie met Richard, who is all four Schibli’s lived. A couple of months later, after we got a baker by profession. We had plans to emigrate to America married, I joined them. or Canada, but he persuaded us to come to Australia instead, Editor: So what was your involvement with the Swiss Club at promising us a job and to look for accommodation for us. that time? Editor: Marie, you obviously met Joe in Geelong. Do you Joe: I used to go to the club on Wednesday night’s to play remember when and were? cards… Marie: Sure, that was in 1952 at the tennis club where we Marie: …that was just for the fellows, not us girls. But in 1956 both were members. And we got married a year later. we joined the Dance Group. Editor: Joe, these must have been exciting years for you, Joe: That’s right, we used to go regularly to the practice and arriving in 51, meeting Marie in 52 and getting married in 53. that’s when I joined the committee. When did you become a member of the Swiss Club? Marie: At that time we also opened another shop in Centre Joe: Well, that was also in 51. Ernie and Jack went to the 1st Road, East Bentleigh because the original one was just too of August Swiss Ball regularly. That was the only time they had small for four people. It was hard work for Joe, I had to look any connection with the Swiss community. They asked Richard after a young family and was unable to help out. We had and me to come along which we did, and we both fi lled in an the shop for a few years but then Joe took on a job with application form for club membership the same night. MacRobertson’s Chocolate factory in Fitzroy. It was a huge Editor: Joe, the fi rst time your name is mentioned on the factory employing more than 2000 people. committee list is in 1956 under Vice-President. That is a bit Joe: I worked there for seven years. One evening in 1967 Fred unusual to take on the job of Vice-President at the time of Stauder, who was the top confectioner in Australia, knocked joining the committee? on the door and asked me if I were interested in going into Joe: Switzerland was close to my heart at all times and I business with him and his partner George Gorog. Gorog was wanted to get involved in Swiss affairs. I don’t remember the the fi nancier and Stauder had the expertise. They wanted precise circumstances, but I guess the position of Vice-President to start up a new business and needed someone to run the became vacant, and since no one else put their hand up, I took business. I wasn’t interested in becoming their manager, but we on the job. worked out a deal and I joined them as a partner. So we started Editor: You only stayed on the committee for a year. Then you up the business from scratch. rejoined the committee in 1965 and again you stayed only for Marie: And the same year, we went to Europe for the fi rst one year. In 1976 you became Joint Vice-President with Othmar time. There was a big trade fair in Cologne that Joe wanted to Jaeggi. What happened in those years in between? attend and, of course, he was keen to see his family. Joe had Marie: These were busy years for us. In 1953 we moved to lost his mother and he wanted to see his dad. Melbourne and started a small cake shop in South Caulfi eld, Editor: What was that trade fair for? which unbeknownst to us at the time was very close to Bill and Joe: It was one of the largest exhibitions of confectionery and Hedi Dornbierer’s cake shop. food stuff in Europe. We looked at various products, to get Editor: What a coincidence! So you became competitors? some ideas as too what we could produce back in Australia.
8 Swiss Club of Victoria So for the next decade or so we worked hard to build up the business. Editor: And then you found the time to get involved with the committee again. As mentioned before, in 1976 you became Vice-President for the second time, and then President, fi rst in 1977 and 1978 and then again from 1985 to 1988. Thinking back, what gave you the most pleasure being President? Joe: One thing that comes to mind is being involved with the The Swiss Cub Doubles Championship was held on Oktoberfest. Admittedly it hasn’t got much to do with Swiss 18 March on the 2nd fl oor of the Swiss Club. culture, but it improved the fi nances of the club tremendously Paul Thornton & Louis Schneider won over Rainer Diehl & and we had a great sense of solidarity among the army of Adam Gruneklee. volunteers that worked at this event year after year. Editor: When was the term ‘the Swiss Mafi a’ coined, and by The 2011 dates to mark in your diary are: whom? • 17 June - Bernard Sandoz Trophy Joe: (laughs) It was in the 70’s or early 80’s, I don’t think • 14 October - Swiss Club Singles Championship anyone knows exactly when it came up fi rst. Could have been Cost: Only $20 per person which includes dinner. Ernie Huegli that was behind this, he made it quite obvious Bookings are essential, please ring Roger at the Swiss whatever decision the Swiss Club committee made was Club or myself on 9439 7593 or 0418 645 313. instigated by the Mafi a. New players are always welcome! Editor: Who was part of the Mafi a, apart form yourself? Louis Schneider Joe: Well, it just described a group of men that met every Thursday at the club for lunch to talk politics, among them were Hanspeter Frei, Max Ammann and Darby Dunston. Might have been one or two others, maybe Peter Meuri and Othmar Jaeggi, can’t quite remember. Later on there were others like Book the Second Floor at the Swiss Club for your next function Primo Calabresi, Richard Spieler and Walter Purtschert, all had the club at heart, had plenty to say and made their feelings known. Maybe it’s better if we don’t know everything, after all isn’t the Mafi a a secret society? Farewell to Swiss artist Editor: Who was the godfather? Joe: I guess I am now (laughs), because everyone else is gone, Bernhard Luginbühl but at the time it would have been Max! Bernhard Luginbühl, a Editor: If you would be President now, what would you well-respected Swiss change? sculptor, has died on Joe: I have wonderful memories of how the club was then and 21 February, just a few I enjoy thinking back. Things are a little different now but that’s days after his 82nd ok, it’s still a great club. I wouldn’t change anything. birthday. Editor: Joe and Marie, it was great talking to you and His work featured a reminiscing about times gone by, thank you very much. I wish variety of materials, you both good health and happiness. including iron, bones, wood and Luginbühl (left) with Jean Tinguely even weapons and industrial waste. “Every little thing has meaning for me,” said Luginbühl on the occasion of his 2003 exhibition at Museum Tinguely in Basel. Luginbühl’s ‘The Australian Angel’ was presented to the
Part of German Language program on Melbourne 93.1fm people of New South Wales by the Swiss Government and the Swiss-Australian community on the occasion of the Tune into news, information and entertainment about 2000 Sydney Olympics and Paralympics. everything that is Swiss in Switzerland and downunder. In addition to sculpture, Luginbühl also produced graphic Ursula Schappi presents an informative half-hour program design, lyric poetry and more fl eeting works such as in Swiss-German. Every Sunday from 8:30 to 9pm on burning things in public as a form of protest. 93.1fm The son of a butcher, the Bern-born Luginbühl remained To listen online visit: www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/german very down-to-earth despite the critical acclaim he To contact Ursula: leave a message on (02) 9955 7628 or ring 0407 995 578 received.
www.swiss.org.au/swissclubvic 9 Swiss National Day Lantern Procession - Lampionparade
Monday, 1 August, 2011 at 6pm for 6.15pm start. Must RSVP and PREPAY (no exceptions) by 25 July, 2011 Where: Federation Square, near the big screen. via our website swiss.org.au EFT BSB: 013-375, Our lantern procession will start at Federation Square at Account: 3536 82406 6.15pm. We will walk along the Yarra River and end at the **Please state the event and Second Floor of the Swiss Club of Victoria. your name in the Remarks Field!** Bring your own lantern (bought or homemade), fl ags, bells etc. (lanterns with candles or batteries only, no fl ammable Cheques made out to Swiss liquids). Club of Victoria send to 89 Flinders Lane, Parents are responsible for their children at all times. Melbourne VIC 3000). Cash or Credit Card pay at the Members: Children free. Non-members: Children $5.00 Club Refreshments will be served for the children only For more information contact Parents have the option of purchasing drinks at the Barbara on 9005 4938 or restaurant bar. email [email protected]
10 Swiss Club of Victoria National Day National Day Family Picnic News from the Swiss Yodel Choir Matterhorn Celebration at the Club We wish to inform you that the Picnic at Gembrook to celebrate the Swiss National Day will NOT be held this year. Most of the Matterhorn Choir members and their partners who Luncheon usually organise this event will still be in Switzerland, after taking part in the ‘Eidgenössische Jodlerfest’ in June. We hope Monday, 1 August that this family event will be able to be held again next year. 2-course menu with Coffee & Tea For those of you who happen to be in Switzerland in June, you may wish to visit Interlaken on 17-19 June to enjoy the Members - $28.00 per person Jodlerfest. The Matterhorn Choir is scheduled to present its Non-members - $35.00 per person competition song on Friday evening 17 June after 8pm at the Drinks at bar prices Catholic Church in Interlaken. Reservations essential. Book early with Roger or Corinne on 9650 1196 Celebrate Switzerland’s 720th birthday! National Day Federal Charter of 1291 Senior Members’ Luncheon The Federal Charter (Bundesbrief) documents the Eternal Alliance or League Of The Three Forest Cantons (Ewiger Bund Monday, 18 July, 12 noon der Drei Waldstätten), the union of three cantons in what is now central Switzerland, formed in early August, 1291. For Swiss Club Members born 1941 and earlier This inaugural confederation grew through a long series of The Committee of the Swiss Club of Victoria has much pleasure accessions to modern Switzerland. The Alliance was concluded in inviting you to celebrate Swiss National Day 2011 with a between Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden The participants Luncheon at the Swiss Club. are referred to as conspirati and (synonymously) coniurati, Please fi ll in the form below and mail to the Swiss Club, traditionally translated in German as ‘Eidgenossen’. 89 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 no later than 13 July. The league was set up as a league for defense purposes For Information, please ring: against any attacker, probably prompted by the death of Rudolf Sylvia Hochuli: 9531 6575 or Barbara Kündig: 9005 4938 I of Habsburg on 15 July 1291. Before his death, Habsburg Cost: Complimentary for members, non-members $40.00 attempted to reinforce its claim over Schwyz and Unterwalden Payment to be enclosed with application. which meant a succession of military interventions. The Bundesbrief is sometimes compared to the English Magna Carta for its similar dates and circumstances, yet it differs in its Yes, I would like to attend the Swiss Club content. The Magna Carta of 1215 is often thought of as the National Day Senior Members’ Luncheon 2011 corner-stone of liberty and the chief defense against arbitrary and unjust rule in England. It is a series of concessions wrung SCV Membership Card number(s): from the unwilling King John by his rebellious barons in 1215. However, Magna Carta established for the fi rst time a very signifi cant constitutional principle: that the power of the king Name(s): could be limited by a written grant. Three copies of the original Bundesbrief were created; only one survives, the one from Schwyz which resides in the Federal Charter Museum. Address: Precursor to the Renaissance
Coming out of the Middle Ages (400-1500) and entering the Telephone: Renaissance (1300-1700), the Swiss Confederation with its Bundesbrief of 1291 led the way forward in direct democracy Email: and self-government throughout Europe. Surrounded by monarchs and powerful external forces, the people of the forest Payment: ______x $40.00 = $______cantons fought to establish a protective pact and organisation Complimentary for Swiss Club Members of self-rule.
www.swiss.org.au/swissclubvic 11 “They say they have their own language – the language of A Romansh dilemma the heart – plus the language of the workplace, which is mostly Swiss-German. They have no emotional attachment to Despite being declared the offi cial written version Rumantsch Grischun, which they see as a threat to their local of Switzerland’s forth national language by both the idiom”. Swiss Confederation and the Canton of Graubünden, “Another reason for their opposition is political,” Etter Rumantsch Grischun continues to spark vocal debate by continues. “When the Graubünden parliament decided in 2003 locals in some areas. that Rumantsch Grischun would be used in all school materials Roman heritage as of 2005, a large part of the population felt they were not The collective language, which is believed to have evolved from suffi ciently integrated into the decision-making process. That the Vulgar Latin spoken by Roman occupiers of the region, only served to fan the fl ames of dissent.” is under further pressure from the predominance of Swiss- Some regions were quite willing to adopt the new language. German in the canton – not to mention Italian on its southern “Schools in the Val Müstair, whose residents speak a dialect fl ank and the growing infl uence of English in areas like of Vallader called Jauer, readily switched over to Rumantsch St.Moritz and Scuol, which are heavily reliant on tourism. Grischun in 2007 with good results,” Etter says. “The new The solution proposed by the Lia Rumantscha (the Romansh language has also succeeded in central Graubünden and in Alliance) – an umbrella organisation founded in 1919 to parts of the Surselva valley. Other parts of the Surselva valley consolidate efforts in halting the decline of Romansh was and the Engadine are still resisting, “ she adds. to promote a standardised written language. That language Debate at all levels is Rumantsch Grischun, developed by Professor Heinrich Schmid of the University of Zürich and commissioned by Lia Linard Martinelli, president of the Vallader-speaking village Rumantscha. He completed his ‘Guidelines for the creation of of Lavin in the Lower Engadine and head of the 190-member a written language for the whole of Graubünden: Rumantsch Conferenza Generala Ladina, the regional teachers’ association, Grischun’ in 1982. But that was only the beginning. is strongly committed to reinvigorating Romansh in the region. However, equally strongly, he is resisting the implantation of What followed was more than a decade of deliberation, Rumantsch Grischun. analysis and heated debate, before the language was accepted by 76% of voters in a 1996 referendum. This result fi nally “Rumantsch Grischun is an effort by the canton and Lia instated Rumantsch Grischun as an offi cial federal language. Rumantscha to save the language,” he admits, but questions its The following year saw the launch of ‘La Quotidiana’, a daily effectiveness and universal application. “It has its place in the newspaper with cantonal, national and international news in Val Müstair, where 80 to 90% of people speak Romansh; if they Rumantsch Grischun and regional articles published in local write a different version, it’s not a big step. If the spoken idiom idiom. is strong enough, people can cope.” However, in the Upper Engadine, where only 10 to 30% speak Tradition dies hard Puter Romansh – “and you really can’t include St.Moritz” – he Integrating the language into local school systems, however, feels that the major challenge is reviving the existing language has taken more time and has ran into more resistance than and introducing Rumantsch Grischun would be an impediment might have been foreseen. While Rumantsch Grischun was a to this aim. Even the Lower Engadine, where the percentage of logical, and now offi cial, solution to the linguistic conundrum, Vallader-speakers ranges from about 50% in Scuol, to 90% in “people care deeply about their local idioms, which they some other villages, his association stands fi rm in support of continue to speak”, says Barbla Etter, a linguist affi liated with strengthening the local idiom. Lia Rumantscha which is headquartered in Chur.
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12 Swiss Club of Victoria “We are trying to work with the canton to make available teaching materials in Vallader and Puter,“ he says, citing a Views of a committed recent example of his organisation’s cooperative work. “We have just burned a CD-ROM with translations of about 170 Rumantschun pages of geography and history text, from Rumantsch Grischun Rumantschun – a term once used to describe a Romansh- to our local languages”. language ‘militant’ – has modifi ed its meaning over the He summarises their efforts, saying: “It’s not a game to be won years to refer to someone with a passion for the language. or lost, but a struggle: trying to achieve the best for our young When asked whether this term applies to Dr. Guiu Sobiela- generation, our language and our cultural heritage.” Caanitz, he agreed with a grin. His consuming passion for The dilemma Romansh – in all its varied forms – led him to settle, more What Linard Martinelli sees as a greater threat to Romansh than 20 years ago, in the picture-postcard town of Ardez is the necessity for local children to continue their education in the Lower Engadine. There he works as a translator in German – both for practical and economic reasons. “Many and journalist for the Romansh daily newspaper, ‘La parents actually see Romansh as a disadvantage,” he adds. Quotidiana’. One of those parents, Benno Meisser – owner of the Hotel Dr. Sobiela, a Catalan who was born in the Perpignan Meisser in Guarda, a family business dating back over region of France, has devoted his life to linguistics. With 100 years – sees Romansh’s value as a cultural issue. “It’s degrees in eight languages and professional fl uency in important for my daughter to learn the local language as a vital all Romansh idioms, he says: “I came here because of the part of daily life, but at the same time, German and English are language, which is not only very close to Catalan, but is a essential to her future development,” he explains. door to other languages due to its Latin roots.” In Sent, a picturesque village further into the Lower Engadine, What is his view on the controversy surrounding the Maria Sedlacek, president of the local Romansh association, adoption of Rumantsch Grischun? Uniun dals Grischs, shares her view on the language dilemma. “It’s a good idea, the attempt to harmonise the various “Integrating Rumantsch Grischun is not a bad idea in itself,” idioms. The problem is: are the people ready to accept it? she admits, “but it is a synthetic language.” Her primary This has always interest is strengthening the existing Romansh within the been a political school system and extending it to the upper grades. “It is issue: a cultural important to sustain the maturité Rumantsch, in order to have phenomenon enough teachers with the necessary language skills.” with political Despite the problems, and regardless of the outcome of the implications.” Rumantsch Grischun debate, Sedlacek remains optimistic about “I think the the future of her language, relating to an anecdote to prove urge to hold on her point: “A 100 years ago, in 1910, a man made a bet of 100 to old idioms francs that Romansh wouldn’t still be around in 100 years. If he were still alive, he’d have to make good on that bet”. is an example of ill-placed conservatism,” he says. Rumantsch Grischun is the wave of the future: not a salvation, but a Dr. Guiu Sobiela-Caanitz in front of his great help and a Engadiner-style house in Ardez step in the right direction.“ He feels that Engadine residents who resist this movement will further isolate themselves. When asked about the future of Romansh, Dr. Sobiela says that a growing consciousness of language preservation, Schweizerdeutscher Kulturtreff together with an encouraging resurgence in bilingualism, für Eltern und Kinder are reasons for optimism. “The future is in the hands of the Romansh people. There is no doubt that they must Wir treffen uns monatlich am Samstag (für learn German, but that doesn’t mean they must discard Daten siehe Swiss Klub Kalender) von 1 bis 4 Uhr their own language.” im 2. Stock des Klubs Gratis für Swiss Club Mitglieder; $5 pro Familie für Nicht-Mitglieder. Auskunft und Anmeldung: Andrea Pinch, 5331 6762, [email protected]
www.swiss.org.au/swissclubvic 13 2nd Jass Night Results – 26 March held at the Swiss Club
Singles 1. Sylvia Hochuli ...... 2798 2. Fritz Hochuli ...... 2750
3. Hans Muhl ...... 2749
Doubles 1. Sylvia & Fritz Hochuli ...... 5548 2. Sandra & Adrian Beer ...... 5164 The inaugural Australian 3. Brigitte & Sepp Goldiger ...... 5067
Jass Championship Upcoming Jass Nights - 2011 Sunday, 12 June 4th 4 June Swiss Club 5th 9 July Swiss Club The Swiss Club of Victoria is delighted 6th 13 August Matterhorn to present the Inaugural Australian Jass 7th & Final 10 September Swiss Club Championship at its newly refurbished home in Information supplied by Paul Eisenegger 9544 4681 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
This is an ideal opportunity to spend the Sunday The Swiss Club Restaurant. It’s where you meet your friends. of the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend showing fellow Jassers how well you play the game, take in all that Melbourne has to offer and enjoy the beginning of the ski season. SWISS CLUB MOVIE The Championship will be contested over ten rounds with players being assigned 10 different partners. You can choose to play with either French or ‘Sennetuntschi’ German cards. Wednesday, 20 July 2011, 8pm Swiss Club, 2nd fl oor Lunch is included in the entrance fee. www.sennentuntschi.com Complimentary Tea and Coffee will be available for players throughout the day. 2010, 110 min, Drama, MA+ (Swiss classifi cation 16+). Director: Michael Steiner. With Roxane It is vital to RSVP for this event so that the day Mesquida, Carlos Leal, Nicholas Ofcyarek, Andrea can be organised well in advance. Booking early Zogg. Swiss German, English Subtitles is appreciated. Swiss Alps 1973: A little girl is the fi rst person to notice the weird and wild looking woman who suddenly appears Will you be the fi rst Australian Jass Champion? as if out of nowhere and who begins to shatter the The Inaugural Australian Jass village’s precarious idyll. Who is this strange and beautiful Championship woman who never speaks? The story takes us deep into the remote world of the Swiss Alps, and into a tragic tale Date: Sunday, 12 June 2011 of lust, insanity and murder. Here the protagonists lose far Time: 8.45am for 9.00am more than just their faith in what keeps the fabric of the world together. For where religious madness, incest and Cost: $25 Members of any Swiss Club - belief in demons dance their dreadful dance, every truth $30 Non-members can turn out to be false, every event can have a horrible RSVP: By 3 June, via Website or Roger Moullet and darker signifi cance - and even love itself can become Address: Swiss Club of Victoria, 89 Flinders the gateway to hell. Lane, Melbourne 3000 Free for members, non-members gold coin donation. Organised by: Roger Moullet (03) 9650 1196 Enjoy dinner at the club, before or after the movie. Please book with the restaurant on 9650 1196.
14 Swiss Club of Victoria Volkstanzfest The Group spent the Easter break in Sydney, participating at the Volkstanzfest. The National Volkstanzfest 2011 brought together 13 dance groups and over 180 performers from all over Unterhaltungsabend Australia. We were proud to showcase our cultural heritage through Saturday, 14 May dance and music. Our hosts, St. Raphael Folk Dance Group and the Austrian Friends, past members of the Dance Group and patrons of the Club have given us a fantastic weekend. We have taken a Swiss Club contributed to a fantastic night. ‘Kapelle Grüezi lot of happy memories back to Melbourne with us. Mitenand’ under the leadership of John Wanner, once again had their traditional effect on the guests. On behalf of the Folk Dance Group Alpenrose, I extend a big thank you to Donna Life music by the Band for our performance was a privilege. and Joe Gurka and Thank you very much John, for arranging the music for the the organisation dances! committee. To Roger and the whole team: Congratulations for giving us a Sylvia Hochuli most delicious meal and excellent service. The ‘Tombola’ was the big winner. Due to the generosity of our supporters, we had 300 prizes displayed. To everyone, thank you for being part in making the night a huge success. I specially would like to thank the committee of the Swiss Club and Roger for their continuous support. Sylvia Hochuli
Login and get the latest info: www.swiss.org.au/swissclubvic
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www.swiss.org.au/swissclubvic 15 The most beautiful walk My thoughts are with you on this misty autumn day and, quite without intending to, Ladies, mark the three dates below in your diary. Come and join I take my coat us at 12 noon at the Swiss Club for good food, good company and, impolitely, slip away. and interesting guest speakers. Every stone and tree is familiar to me, • Wednesday, 6 July as I tread the path to your nearby place. Unhurriedly crunching • Wednesday, 7 September though the gold-brown leaves, I delight in the damp air • Wednesday, 2 November touching my face. Guest speakers to be announced Could another walk be more beautiful, Price $22 pp for members, $25 pp for non-members. than that to the home of a friend? Includes 2-course meal, wine, soft drinks and coffee. and this one is especially so, Non-members are also welcome, bring a friend or two. For because I fi nd you, when I reach the end. information and bookings ring me on 9889 9321or Roger at You are my friend, my trusted one, the Club on 9650 1196. Bookings are essential! who always has time for me. Heidy Giger It seems you sensed I was on my way – for your table is ready, with hot, buttered scones It’s your Club. Get Involved! and you’re brewing a pot of my favourite tea. ‘What I think and how I feel’ by Stephanie Ammann 1920-1997 Ladies Luncheon What a great luncheon we had on Wednesday, 2 March! The food was extraordinaire. Only when Max was alive did I enjoy tasting these delicious caramel custards. It was a treat to have them again. They were created by Chef Roger Moullet! All the preparations that incorporate such a luncheon is commendable. With tables set to perfection, fresh fl owers, wine, delectable crunchy bread – beautiful fresh food. Herbert Schwärzler showed us all the people and places he visited on his pilgrimage and added an incredible Congratulations commentary. It sure must change the outlook of a human being. Undertaking such a pilgrimage demands enormous to the Companion strength of body and soul. There where no empty seats – Singers on their in other words, a full house! Thank you! Inge Kulmanis 20th Anniversary!
Newsletter Deadlines 2011 September Issue: Covering Sept/Oct/ Nov Editorial Deadline: Monday, 8 August Mailing: Wednesday, 24 August December Issue: Covering Dec/Jan/Feb 2012 Editorial Deadline: Monday, 7 November Mailing: Wednesday, 23 November
16 Swiss Club of Victoria Swiss presence at Avalon Test your Swiss Knowledge International Airshow 3 4 1
The Avalon International Airshow Swiss Dinner, held on 4 2 5 March at the Crown Casino, celebrated the fi rst Swiss Pavilion at the Avalon Airshow. The following Swiss companies participated: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, Ruag Aviation, StarragHeckert AG, Suhner Abrasive Expert AG as well as Switzerland Tourism 6 7 and V-Zug Australia. The event was organised by the Consulate General of Switzerland and SACCI. The Avalon Airshow is the largest and broadest airshow and aeronautic industry exposition in the southern hemisphere. 8
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Across 2. Largest agricultural show in Switzerland 5. Capital of the half-canton of Nidwalden 6. The Helvetians were defeated by which Roman general? 8. Surname of longest serving Swiss Club president Want a taste of Switzerland? Visit the Swiss Club Restaurant 9. River close to the city of St.Gallen 11. Swiss Club National Day event Down Swiss company celebrates 1. Last ticinese federal councillor 3. Where was the Council of the Swiss Abroad Spring 200th Ariane mission Assembly held? 4. Famous Swiss Football coach A European Ariane rocket has blasted off on Thursday, 17 February from French Guyana in South America carrying 7. German-Swiss playboy who recently died in Gstaad supplies to the International Space Station using Swiss 10. Which championship takes place at the club in June? technology. 12. First name of one of the committee members that retired The launch is considered a landmark by the Swiss company at the last AGM Ruag Space, which has provided the payload faring, the part For answers go to page 18 of the rocket that protects the payload, as well as guidance components, for all 200 Ariane missions. Constructed by an industrial consortium led by a division of European industrial giant EADS, the unmanned Johannes Kepler vessel is designed to deliver fuel, food, clothing and oxygen to AFL Switzerland needs the ISS crew, as well as spare parts. The vessel takes its name from the 17th century German Swiss Nationals! astronomer and mathematician and is the second Automatic 10 to 27 August, 2011 Transfer Vehicle (ATV) that Europe has committed to its participation in the ISS programme. AFL Switzerland is coming to Australia to compete in the AFL It was the heaviest payload ever launched aboard an Ariane 2011 International Cup. They can only afford to fi eld 11 players rocket. A fi rst attempt to launch the rocket was abandoned on and the requirement for this tournament is 22 players. Tuesday, 15 February because of a technical problem. They are seeking 11 Swiss Nationals currently living in Australia It is scheduled to dock with the space station on 24 February. to join the team and represent Switzerland in this tournament. Ruag Space supplied the payload faring and guidance for the If you are interested or to fi nd out more, contact Peta Lowry on fi rst Ariane launch on Christmas Eve 1979. [email protected] or visit www.afl switzerland.com
www.swiss.org.au/swissclubvic 17 At Home A selection of stories by Franz Hohler Publisher: Bergli Books ISBN: 978-3-905252-18-7 Language: English Binding: paperback, 176 pages Fondue Price: CHF 29.80 + postage It’s winter-time and Franz Hohler is one of Switzerland’s cold outside. The best most popular and respected writers remedy to cure winter and performers and has received blues is to have several of the most signifi cant something warm literary prizes in German-speaking for body and soul. Europe. His endearing tales delight A cheese fondue is readers and audiences of all ages. sure to lift everyone’s This book includes some of his spirit! In Switzerland, fondue is usually prepared by the man of most famous stories and sketches the house. Every man does it a little different and, of course, is in English translation. convinced his version is the best. Well, here’s mine: Perceptive of human nature and Serves 4 touched by the many absurdities of our everyday lives, his stories Plenty of fresh, crusty bread. French baguette is ideal are full of surprises, some bizarre, 200g each of Gruyère, Emmental and Appenzeller some touching and others dead- 300ml dry white wine on realistic. Social criticism juice of half a lemon lingers with the profound. This is storytelling at its best – with wit, 2 tsp cornfl our compassion and integrity. 1 small glass of Kirsch Available from Bergli Books, 1 clove of garlic Falknerstrasse 13, 4001 Basel Maybe you remember, freshly ground black pepper, a little grated nutmeg and a pinch T: +41 61 373 27 77 Franz Hohler gave a of sweet paprika E: [email protected] bookreading at the Swiss 1 tsp German mustard www.bergli.ch Club in 1992 Cut the bread into bite-size cubes and put in a basket. Mix together the cornfl our and the Kirsch.
Support those that support your Club. Consider our Advertisers Grate all the cheese and mix together. Cut the clove of garlic in half and rub the inside of the caquelon (fondue pot) thoroughly with it. Then put the wine, lemon juice and the cheese in the caquelon. Bring gently to boil, stirring assiduously with a wooden spoon until all the cheese is melted. Simmer gently for a few minutes whilst adding the glass of Kirsch/cornfl our, spices and mustard. Light the burner and transfer the caquelon to the table. Make sure the burner is correctly regulated so that the cheese stays nice and creamy and gently bubbling. Serve with white wine, tea and a glass of Kirsch. Hint: towards the end, when it might get a bit too thick, add a little cream. FIGUGEGL - Fondue isch guet und git e gueti Luune!
Test your Swiss Knowledge - Answers Across: 2. OLMA; 5. STANS; 6. JULIUSCAESAR; 8. BAENZIGER; 9. SITTER; 11. LAMPIONPARADE 9762 3212 Down: 1. FLAVIOCOTTI; 3. BRUNNEN; 4. OTTMARHITZFELD; 7. GUNTERSACHS; 10. JASS; 12. GERDA
18 Swiss Club of Victoria Most of us own a have developed their own applications which will allow you to smartphone of some research their service offering or book travel directly from your description by now, handheld device. To fi nd other private Swiss companies that which allows us to interest you just type in their name in the search fi eld of the access the internet and App Store. other services such as maps or weather information while on the go. My weapon of choice in telecommunication is an iPhone 3GS as it offers the widest range of applications (over 300,000 at present). While many applications available via the App Store have a price tag of between $1.99 and $99.00, there are a wealth of apps out there for free. In this edition, I will focus on some of the applications I have found helpful for myself. For the iPad, swissinfo.ch has developed a beautiful application which brings you background information on our home country. Everything from extensive essays to videos covering elections and other political topics can be accessed via this app. Just a quick search will reveal many more programs with Swiss content e.g. listening to the sounds of a Swiss alphorn or dictionaries for Swiss German dialect. Why don’t you share your thoughts on your favourite smartphone application on our Swiss Club of Victoria Facebook page. Damian Schaller - Corporate Communications Disclaimer I’m not associated with any of the internet destinations and applications mentioned in the article above and their views or comments do not refl ect my MySwitzerland City Guides published by Switzerland Tourism own or the views of the Swiss Club of Victoria. has done a great job of making useful travel information available on your iPhone. For every major city in Switzerland you can download a city guide which displays points of interest and helps you plan your stay. You can also do a city walk, which Advance Notice: guides you past historic buildings and sites of importance. Using the GPS capabilities in your device, it will track your progress along the route and display audio and video content in relation to the area you are currently visiting. Switzerland Tourism also has an app called Swiss Events, which lists all major festivals and important dates in the Swiss calendar for you to download for free. Some events such as the art exhibition BaselWorld have their own app highlighting what you can experience during their show. Many Swiss newspapers and TV stations have a free of Kaffeeklatsch charge application which lets you access the latest news about Switzerland including Basler Zeitung, 20 Minuten and We would like to extend an invitation to all our Senior Schweizer Fernsehen (Swiss TV), just to name a few. Citizens (over sixty) to a wonderful afternoon of Coffee, Cakes and a Chat = Kaffeeklatsch, at the Swiss Club. local.ch offers a free Swiss phone book which lists everything from hotels and Sunday, 11 September, 2pm restaurants to where you might fi nd the closest public toilet. There is no charge for this cosy afternoon, however our For lovers of Swiss culinary delights Group is thankful for any donations. I recommend Swiss Cuisine, an app Please reserve a place by ringing or leaving a message with that has easy to follow recipes for your Marlies Krummenacher 9503 9921 or Rosmarie Oswald favourite Swiss dish. 9583 9048. Many Swiss transport companies such RSVP no later than Monday, 5 September. as Swiss International Air Lines and SBB
www.swiss.org.au/swissclubvic 19 access for the Swiss Abroad and for Swiss tourists is becoming longer and more diffi cult. The Council demands: • Maintaining consular representation in every country. Spring Assembly Report of the • Maintaining a wide network of professional consulates. • Service to local Swiss communities should take priority when deciding locations of consulates. Council of the Swiss Abroad • Rapid expansion of e-government and new ways of consular Brunnen – Friday, 8 April 2011 services. • Resolute expansion of international consular cooperation. The main agenda items, discussions and resolutions were: • Maintaining a constant dialogue with local Swiss • Reorganisation of Consular Representation communities regarding questions of consular representation. • OSA election manifesto 2011 Election Manifesto • Current state of e-voting In light of the federal parliamentary elections in October the • Swiss banks and Swiss Abroad assembly unanimously endorsed the Election Manifesto 2011 Reorganisation of Consular Representation which contains a list of issues the OSA wants the various actors on the political scene to take on board. Gerhard Brügger, a senior foreign ministry offi cial, told the These are: assembly of the plans to reorganise Switzerland’s existing network of consulates. • The creation of a ‘Swiss Abroad Law’. It asks for the establishment of one point of contact in federal Bern “The reform takes account of changing demands. It is aimed concerning all matters relating to Swiss Abroad. This should at providing an adequate and effi cient public service,” he said. lead to an improved recognition of the interests of Swiss The network was adapting to geographic and demographic Abroad. needs and would optimise resources, this would not exclude the closure of some representations. • Make it easier for Swiss Abroad to participate in the political life of Switzerland, notably the expansion of e-voting. Among the changes that may occur at some consulates, services such as long-term and employment visas and services • Dismantling of hurdles and improvement of international for the Swiss Abroad will be handled by representations in mobility. other countries. The fi rst reorganisations have already been • Adequate consular services, including maintaining a wide completed or are about to be implemented. Some services at network of consulates and expansion of e-government. the Swiss embassy in Tirana were transferred to a regional hub • Improvement and expansion of communication services – in Pristina; from Harare to Pretoria; from Sofi a to Bucharest; Swiss Review, swissinfo, SwissCommunity. from Port au Prince to Santo Domingo; from Brussels and Luxembourg to Den Haag; from Helsinki, Copenhagen and Oslo to Stockholm; from Ljubljana, Zagreb, Budapest and Prague to Many thanks! Vienna. Dear Swiss Abroad, When questioned about the collection of biometric data in We would like to thank you sincerely for adding your particular, he said that the foreign ministry is considering signature to the online petition, save-swissinfo.ch. Since setting up mobile consulate services and hiring additional local the petition was launched a year ago, the government has personnel where required. shelved its savings programme on the grounds of higher The reorganisation of the consular network mainly affects than expected tax income. It has also committed itself to countries in Europe. When asked if changes are planed for the continue funding half of the budget of swissinfo.ch until southern hemisphere, in particular Australia, Brügger answered 2014. that at this stage no such plans exist but it is not excluded in To ensure long-term federal fi nancing, the swissinfo.ch the future. offering is currently under review by the Swiss Broadcasting Several council members harshly criticised the foreign ministry Corporation. The aim is an effi cient organisation that for its plans and the information policy on the issue in costs less to run and meets new international information particular. requirements. The following resolution was passed: To make Swiss viewpoints and solutions heard in the global The Council is concerned about the closure of consular exchange of opinions, Switzerland needs a multilingual departments within certain embassies and their consolidation media voice. into regional service centers (hubs). As this is happening at I thank you for your support and hope you will continue to a time when the number of Swiss living abroad is on the visit swissinfo.ch regularly. increase, the level of quality of service is threatened. The Walter Spahni, swissinfo readers council visibility of Switzerland on the international stage suffers;
20 Swiss Club of Victoria • Improved recognition of the Council of the Swiss Abroad as representation with selected banks, the banking ombudsman, the representative body of the ‘Fifth Switzerland’. Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority and the • Strengthening and expansion of Switzerland’s international Organisation of Swiss Cantonal Banks. The situation now is that presence and participation. it has become very diffi cult for many Swiss Abroad to maintain a relationship with Swiss banks. It is clear that by introducing Current state of e-voting exorbitant fees, banks want to rid themselves of small account Anina Weber, project leader ‘vote-électronic’, addressed the holders residing abroad. assembly to give an overview on the current state of e-voting. The only alternatives left is PostFinance as well as selected She informs that up to 2009 three pilot cantons and since 2010 branches of cantonal banks and Raiffeisen. (I refer to 12 cantons had offered vote-électronic for Swiss Abroad by additional information posted on SwissCommunity subscribing to either the Geneva or Zurich systems. In February under discussion on ‘Auslandschweizer sind nicht bei 2011 approximately 55,000 would have had the possibility to allen Schweizer Banken willkommene Kunden’.) cast their vote electronically. Bern will be added from May this Other items year. Peter Schibli, director of swissinfo, informed the assembly that She announced that for the national council elections in the online platform swissinfo.ch has been saved at least for the October there may be four cantons that will be offering time being. Some restructuring will occur. (See box). vote-électronic for approximately 21,000 voters. The Council acknowledged this announcement with satisfaction. SwissCommunity.org was awarded Silver for ‘Usability’ at the Questioned which cantons they were, she said that SG, AG, BS ‘Best of Swiss Web Award Night 2011’. With nearly 7,000 users and GR had made an application but federal approval has not it is also well ahead to achieve the target of 10,000 users by as yet been granted. the end of the year. The administrator team was applauded for Weber further explained that the problem with the Zurich this great success. system had nothing to do with vote-électronic as such, but with The 89th Congress of the Swiss Abroad will be held on 26-28 vote counting software the canton uses. Due to wrong media August in the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano. The spring reports many have withdrawn, but other cantons that use the session 2012 will be held in the Bern town hall on 24 March. Zurich system, will continue to use it. Geneva is cautious and has for the time being shelved its system due to insuffi cient Roland Isler - Council of the Swiss Abroad legal backup, while Neuchâtel has not gained any experience with e-elections yet. However, all have announced to be ready for 2015. The government’s goal is that by 2012 at least 50% of Swiss Abroad can vote electronically and the majority by 2015. In closing, she added that the government’s role is to coordinate, support and to approve projects, but the fi nal decision lies with the cantons. The following resolution was passed: The Council acknowledges the positive outcome of the trials with e-voting in all 12 cantons. The large number of Swiss Abroad that have opted to cast their vote electronically is testimony that e-voting is fulfi lling a real need. The Council is very pleased that the cantons of SG, AG, BS and GR will offer their citizens the option to partake in the national council elections in October electronically, but at the same time it notes with regret that the pilot cantons are not among them and laments the cancellation of further trials in the canton of Zurich. The Council appeals to all cantons to move swiftly to have e-voting made available to Swiss Abroad so that they can partake effectively in the political decision-making process. It further appeals to the federal government and the cantons to make e-voting available to all citizens irrespective of their place of residence and to ensure that for the national council elections in 2015 e-voting will be available across the board. Swiss banks and Swiss Abroad Disappointingly, nothing new was to be reported on this issue. Since 2009, when this issue has fi rst come to the attention of the OSA, the situation has worsened, despite the OSA making
www.swiss.org.au/swissclubvic 21 Swiss Events & Functions
Please note that this calendar also list events other than those organised by the Swiss Club of Victoria and its subgroups. Please book all Swiss Club functions (bold entries) with Roger, phone 9650 1196 or fax 9650 3104 and check website for latest information and details of upcoming events. For all other events please contact the relevant organisation (see page 3 for contact details).
JUNE Thursday 02 Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains Saturday 04 Jass Night - Swiss Club Sunday 12 Jass Championship Friday 17 Billiard Competition - Bernard Sandoz Trophy Saturday 18 Familienplausch
JULY Wednesday 06 Ladies’ Luncheon Thursday 07 Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains Saturday 09 Jass Night - Swiss Club Monday 18 National Day Senior Members Luncheon Wednesday 20 Swiss Movie Night - ‘Sennetuntschi’
AUGUST Monday 01 Swiss Club National Day Luncheon Lantern Procession, Federation Square Thursday 04 Kapelle Grüezi Mitenand entertains Saturday 13 Jass Night - Matterhorn Saturday 13 Familienplausch
OTHER REGULAR SWISS CLUB MEETINGS: From a 1952 Tourist Map of Switzerland Committee Meetings: every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month Swiss Folk Dance Group Alpenrose: practice every Tuesday evening at 8.15pm Swiss Companion Singers: practice and social gathering every 2nd and 3rd Thursday of each month at 8pm Familienplausch: monthly on Saturday (check for calendar above for dates), from 1pm to 4pm Swiss German Playgroup: every 1st Thursday of each month from 11am to 2pm The Swiss Diners Club: dates for get-together can be found on www.swiss.org.au or on our Yahoo group http://groups. yahoo.com/group/YoungSwissMelbourne
SWISS NEWS, WORLD WIDE
26 Swiss Club of Victoria 20th anniversary of the Swiss Path and the Place of the Swiss Abroad DABOU N T U
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Swiss Festival