Southern Yarn - Down Under Club of Winnipeg
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The June 2018
Southern Yarn
N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E D O W N U N D E R C L U B O F W I N N I P E G I N C .
downundercalendar
JULY
Annual All-Age Pool Party
Sunday 8th July, 3 pm
at Jason and Lynley Davidson’s
57 D’Arcy Drive, Winnipeg
AN ANNUAL FAVOURITE FOR THE KIDS! The Club
provides burgers, bangers and buns.
The rest is potluck – so bring a side-dish, salad,
dessert, etc. Call Lynley at 204-275-7631 or Peter Munn, Lynley Davidson, Penny Hechter, Terry Roberts, New Zealand High Commissioner
204-943-3775 to let her know you’re coming. to Ottawa Dan Mellsop, Les Fitt and Katrina Epp, Betsy and Murray Burt, and Jenny Gates.
AUGUST
Golf Tournament
Saturday 25th August
Excellent DUCW Events in April
at The Players April was a busy and exciting time for the Next up on April 30, we were delighted
2695 Inkster Blvd. DUCW, starting with our ANZAC Day event to welcome Dan Mellsop, the New Zealand
Tee time is 10:45 for 18 holes ($40 or $35 for on Saturday April 28. A large turnout of High Commissioner to Ottawa, who was vis-
seniors); or 1:00pm for 9 holes ($25 or $22 for
almost 50 people included members and iting Manitoba for business and made time
seniors). All ages and abilities are welcome.
guests, potential new members, and our to meet with some of us – Murray and
Call Peter Munn at 204-237-1805 to book your
friends from the General Monash Branch of Betsy Burt, Lynley Davidson, Terry Roberts,
entry.
the Royal Canadian Legion. We were espe- Penny Hechter, Les Fitt and Katrina Epp,
cially fortunate to welcome Rick Sellwood as Peter Munn and Jenny Gates. The King’s
If you’d like to suggest a new social event, we’re
our trumpet player for parts of the formal Head Pub was the perfect location for con-
happy to help you plan it for the Club!
service. There was also a wonderful selec- versation about a variety of topics over a
tion of eats and treats, and special thanks to beer or two and some chips and shepherd’s
Debbie Griffiths for her ANZAC-inspired cup- pie. Always great to meet and swap stories
cakes. The evening included several games and ideas with our High Commissioners to
of two-up where Charlie Powell was ably Canada.
assisted by many of the children attending. — Jenny Gates
Most of our events include a potluck
component, where you can contribute
something from your own creation, but the
Club often provides some special treats like
these beautiful cupcakes. Join us each time
and taste the surprises.
online
find us on facebook or the web
www.downunderclub.mb.ca
email: info@downunderclub.mb.ca
president’s of the coverage on CBC, it was great view-
editorially ramblings ing. Still in the sports reporter mode, Dow-
nunder drivers were brilliantly represented
yours Charlie Powell
Peter Munn this past weekend in certainly the most
spectacular of all Formula One races,
It was an exciting held on the streets of Monaco. Young
Apologies for not getting time for Winnipeg Kiwi driver Brendon Hartley is now in
a Yarn together for May, but I was away for hockey fans all his second season with Toro Rosso,
half the month, downunder. The primary round the world, and especially here in unfortunately did not finish the race, which
reason was a reunion of the class of ’69 Winnipeg, as our Jets powered their way was won by West Australian Daniel Ricciar-
who attended Queensland Agricultural Col- through the first two rounds of the Stanley do, driving for Red Bull.
lege – it was certainly great to meet “old” Cup playoffs, before losing in the third. We are running our golf tournament in
mates again. Of course, with every trip back What a thrill ride. For the long-suffering late August, set yourself some free time on
“home” there are always many reunions – Bombers fans, I hope they have a season to your calendar for the 25th of August, and
other friends, family and, naturally for me, remember as well. It was longer than a join us for a relaxing day playing either
the birds. I managed to photograph about month or so ago that the Commonwealth nine or 18 holes. Good company, easier
40 different birds and chose one of them, Games, held mainly on the Gold Coast, course, and no one takes it too seriously.
the fan-tailed cuckoo, for Birds I view this came to a close. There were some spectacu- Guaranteed good time will be had by all.
month, p.6. lar venues, and for those who caught some
Thank you to Jenny Gates for her sum-
mary of our ANZAC commemoration on
80 years ago …
April 28th. While in Queensland, I also vis-
ited the Sandgate Museum – Trump and the Melbourne
friendly volunteers and a very Cup - who knew?
well-presented display of mem- “The Trump” was an Australian-bred
orabilia - I noticed a protected Thoroughbred racehorse who won the
copy of “The Anzac Book”. I Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double as well as
have since found a pdf copy two other principal (Group One) (G1) races
online – 100% the words of the in 1937. He showed his versatility by win-
men who wrote them in 1915 at ning races over distances of six furlongs
Gallipoli. Something else that to two miles. [From Wikipedia, the free
caught my eye was a notice on a encyclopedia. Read more online.]
lamp-post on the South Bank in
Brisbane calling for new sensi-
tivities to events of history.
More than
Thank you also to Catherine
Bowering for her second part of Merry Christmas $
40 years’
South Pacific
the Nancy Wake story, Getting to know, p.4
– it’s a big help having such articles writ-
From the experience
ten and offered. Cook Islands! It may be spring now, but winter is never far away!
Others who have contributed this month
are Peter, Murray, Judy, Malcolm and our Plan your winter escape now: Enjoy BOTH Christmas & New Years on the
sponsors – white-sand beaches of The Cook Islands! An exclusive offer from Downunder Travel.
Thank you! 22 December 2018 – 04 January 2019. This Vacation Includes:
• Return (economy) airfare • Breakfast daily
Remember Major Sumner? He led Tal-Kin-Jeri via Air New Zealand • Airport transfers
aboriginal dancers at the • 12 nights’ accommodation • Complimentary resort activities,
2000 and 2004 Folklorama at Lagoon Breeze Villas including kayaking and snorkeling
(Garden Studio Room) • All taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
pavilions hosted by DUCW. Visit ou
r
www.dospecial Chris $3,399 per person* *Price based on departures from Winnipeg.
Well, he’s still going strong, Other departure cities are available, contact
wnunde tmas p
and leading the cause r a
/christm-travel.com ge: Downunder Travel for more info. Based on
as double occupancy. Valid for our exclusive
through the Green Party. The departure date: 22 December 2018
– 04 January 2019.
Greens have likened the
upcoming by-election in the
South Australian seat of
Mayo to “groundhog day”,
saying it will again be fought (403) 270-4414 Phone
over the River Murray, and have revealed Ngar- 1-866-470-4414 Toll Free
rindjeri elder Major ‘Moogy’ Sumner as their candi- info@downunder-travel.com
date. [Read more online] [ABC News: Isadora 114, 3907 3A St NE, Calgary T2E 6S7 • www.downunder-travel.com
Bogle, 17th May 2018]
2 The Southern Yarn • www.downunderclub.mb.ca June 2018
newsfromOz newszealand
source: NZ Herald, unless otherwise noted
various sources, see web links in online edition
Christchurch
Gondola …
Soar suspended above
the suburbs as the
birds fly beneath your
cabin. The Christchurch
group of Tasmanian devils has been discov- Gondola whisks you
ered in Australia, giving new hope for the nearly a kilometre to the Crater Rim at the
Edible board games survival of the endangered species. They top of the Port Hills with stunning 360°
[Australian Food News: Jack Cain] Game were found by scientists on a conservation views. [Read more online]
designer Jenn Sandercock has created 12 expedition in south-west Tasmania. The
edible tabletop games so far, all of which marsupials’ numbers have been slashed
require a trip to the supermarket. The goofy because of the spread of an infectious facial
game The Order of the Oven Mitt begins with cancer. [Read more inline]
chocolate cookie pieces, each topped with
different candies on a gingerbread checker- Whose magic possum? …
board. Players have fondant avatars, or [BBC News: April 2018] The Canadian corpo-
“squires,” and must perform rituals to ration is suing the Royal Aus-
become knights. [Read more online] tralian Mint over a coin that First inhabitants …
celebrates the popular Pos- Over four hundred years before Christopher
sum Magic children’s book Columbus and the rest of Europe worried
series. Their issue is not about falling off the edge of the world; Maori
with the furry marsupial but people voyaged thousands of miles across
with Australia’s method for the vast unknown Pacific Ocean in small
printing colour on to coins, for which Canada ocean-going canoes and became the first
claims to own the patent. But Australia inhabitants of Aotearoa New Zealand. To this
claims it uses different methods, court docu- day, Maori culture is a core part of New
ments show. [Read more online] Zealand’s national identity. [More online]
Sir John Monash, Anzacs
honoured in France … Law services at your place of convenience
On high ground adjacent to the small French
village of Villers-Bretonneux - and opened
on Anzac Day 2018 - at the rear of the Wm. B.K. Pooley b.a. l.l.b
Villers-Bretonneux Australian WW1 War
Memorial - is the brand new Sir John lawyer • notary public
Monash Centre, a state-of-the-art visitors’
home visits . office visits
gateway to the Western Front. [Read more
online]. See also some other more controver-
sial use of the hero’s name [at this link]. day, evening & weekend appointments
Healthy little devils 204-783-1632
[BBC News: 28th April, 2018] A healthy
Kiwi Installations & sales Roll-up Security Shutters,
decks, fences and more.
kiwiinstallations.com Free in-home/cottage estimates.
Call Terry 204-229-6642 or 204-663-6549
June 2018 www.downunderclub.mb.ca • The Southern Yarn 3
ther advancement of British, Canadian and
gettingtoknow… history, and members of our club
American forces. During a German counter
offensive that forced a retreat Nancy and
company lost their radio and codes. It was
Nancy Wake Nancy who bicycled the 400 km round trip
AUSTRALIA AND NEW in 72 hours through German held territory to
ZEALAND’S GREATEST WAR the nearest point known to have a clandes-
HEROINE tine radio that could transmit the message of
their needs to London via Algeria. Complete-
Having recently read Peter Fitzsimons’s ly exhausted and with the skin on her legs
biography I was captivated by the life and rubbed away she needed several days and
personality of Nancy Wake. the ministration of the local doctor before
- Catherine Bowering. she could walk. Never again did she ride a
bicycle! But her efforts were successful; the
Part II: The White Mouse supplies arrived.
(PART I appeared in the April 2018 issue of Skirmishes continued, some, subtle hit
The Southern Yarn) and run attacks on convoys, others, substan-
tial incursions like an attack on a Gestapo
“The Germans…aware of a woman’s activi- HQ not only to take out officers but also to
ties, whose description she fitted…code- give local people the confidence that the
named her ‘the white mouse’…because of Nazis were no longer in overwhelming con-
her amazing ability to disappear just when trol. Alerted by the noise of explosions the
they thought they had her cornered.” Flat- local poured out of their homes thinking
tered but now frightened, Nancy and Henri their town had been liberated and nearly
decided that she must leave Marseille via the thwarted the escape. During the destruction
Pyrenees Mountains into neutral Spain, the of an armaments store Nancy was forced to
Nancy Wake
same escape route used by more than one use the lethal force of a karate chop on a
thousand people she had helped. Many fac- guard; only afterward did she discover she
tors including increased German activity, Nancy and her few SOE colleagues were suffered a severe gash to her right arm.
her detection, detention, vicious interroga- to aid the Maquis in the mission “to hamper Recovering, she contemplated how she had
tion and escape, and terrible weather meant and hammer the German Army in whatever become so aggressive. Recollecting the
that only on the seventh attempt did she way they could to debilitate them” and to pre- atrocities she had seen inflicted on the Jews
make it. Nancy was then arrested in Spain pare them for the future drive to free France. in Vienna or innocent local people or
for illegal entry, an anticipated event but Nancy, the only woman among 3000 plus escapees in the network, she then under-
quickly overcome with the British Consul men, earned their respect and loyalty by her stood.
paying her fine. More delays in Gibraltar determination, persistence and ability to The tide had really turned by late August
before boarding a huge convoy sailing to drink any of them under the table. She lived 1944. At a memorial service in a small town
Britain meant that six months had passed as they did: sleeping in the she met an acquaintance
since she had kissed Henri goodbye. open, eating what they hunt- Nancy was who told her the terrible
In 1943 London springtime she recov- ed and fish and, at her insis- news that Henri was dead.
ered from her ordeal and began preparing for tence, buying instead of forced to use the Subsequently she learned
Henri’s arrival. There was no way to contact stealing other necessities that he had been shot
him without the great risk of possibly expos- from the locals; she provid-
lethal force of a after being maliciously
ing his Resistance involvement. Desperately
wanting to continue an active role against the
ed the cash courtesy of the
SOE. Evaluating their needs
karate chop on tortured for six months by
the Gestapo for refusing
Nazis she offered her services to the Free for equipment and supplies, a guard to give any information
French government-in-exile of Charles de communicating to London about Nancy. Forever
Gaulle but was refused…bureaucratic suspi- via secret radio, meeting, gathering and afterward she blamed herself for his death.
cion between the British and French. She secreting the parachuted bundles by moon- Returning to their home in Marseille which
received a welcome acceptance from the light, training the men in the use of had been looted by the departing Gestapo,
British on account of her role and relation- weapons, making explosives and military she was consoled to find one memento, her
ship with the Allied personnel she had tactics such as sabotage and guerrilla war- copy of Anne of Green Gables. Her work in
helped escape from France. She was commis- fare—-all in a day’s work. the Auvergne completed she flew back to
sioned into the Special Operations Executive In June 1944 Nancy and the Maquis London two months later. She spent time in
(British counterpart of the Free French) in began their part in the Normandy offensive. Paris as well, then relocated to Australia.
the guise of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. Hitting their assigned targets (underground Later in life she moved permanently back to
An intensive guerrilla fighter/spy training telephone cables, railway junctions, facto- England where she died at the age of 98 in
preceded her parachuting into France behind ries, roads, and bridges) was designed to 2011.
enemy lines to begin her liaison with local slow the movement of thousands of German Great Britain, France and The US award-
partisans, the Maquis, Frenchmen who had soldiers from the south of France who were ed high honours to Nancy, one of the most
fled into the bush to fight the Germans. scrambling north to try to forestall the fur- highly decorated heroes of World War II.
4 The Southern Yarn • www.downunderclub.mb.ca June 2018
commonwealth reminded too that democracy is a process
prone to ebbs and flows, progress and make welfare payments,” Ardern told RNZ.
place by Murray Burt regress. A case can be made of recent signs
of shifting dynamics — of democracy adrift,
“My understanding is that if they’ve been
there 10 years or more that there should be
or even in retreat. eligibility. But for this group that’s been
Green Peace exposes As with any neighbors, Australia and raised we have an independent youth benefit
slavery, human trafficking at sea Indonesia do not always have a common in New Zealand, we have support we can pro-
Green Peace New Zealand Investigators from view on issues of mutual concern. The tasks vide them here. If they’re on the streets, that
are behind a global operation that has for leaders of both countries is to navigate tells me they do not have that network of sup-
exposed shocking incidents of human traf- such challenges with a view to protecting port. We could provide it here. Unfortunately
ficking, slavery and abuse at sea aboard for- and building the broader relationship. Ulti- we cannot provide it in Australia.”—SOURCE:
eign fishing fleets. mately, Australia and Indonesia’s respective New Zealand Herald;
Over two years, teams from Greenpeace dedication to democracy has made the bilat-
NZ and Greenpeace East Asia have been eral relationship stronger, more resilient Oz juvenile detention “tighter
investigating grave human rights abuse and robust. But we cannot be complacent. .— than Guantánamo Bay”
cases reported on Taiwanese fishing fleets. SOURCE: East Asia Forum; R M Marty Jake Roper, 14, was held in isolation at the
Investigator Tim McKinnel, and investi- Natalegawa Indonesian foreign minister Don Dale juvenile detention facility for 15
gations analyst Stephanie Croft, led the NZ from 2009–2014 days. The length of time he spent there was
probe. A former police detective, McKinnel just five days shy of the worst disciplinary
spent years campaigning for Teina Pora, that Jail for Australian journos who punishment permitted in the solitary con-
finally saw Pora’s convictions for the murder are irksome finement unit for enemy combatants held in
and rape quashed and a multi-million dollar There’s almost universal acceptance of the Guantánamo Bay.
compensation payout. maxim “Journalism is not a crime”. One After the ABC Four Corners graphic
His subsequent work for Greenpeace NZ, exception is Australia’s parliament – it begs investigation into the juvenile detention
investigating international fishing fleets has to differ and is making it that way. facility in the Northern Territory, a royal
now contributed to a major report, Misery at Legislating for Australia’s national secu- commission has been announced by the Aus-
Sea. It was launched last month, exposing rity has drifted a long way from the fight tralian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, to
human trafficking rings, slavery, and mur- against terrorism. Increasingly now, Parlia- investigate how events there were allowed to
der on the high seas. ment passes laws that are about suppressing occur.
McKinnel says what he uncovered on far- the public’s right to know and criminalizing One pressing question will be how Don
away fishing vessels over the past two years anyone who reveals information the Govern- Dale permitted staff to isolate children for
of the investigation has chilled him in terms ment would prefer was locked up. such lengthy periods of time and what poli-
of scale of the misery involved. How else can you explain how a draft law cies it had in place to monitor some of the
“What we discovered on some of these could be introduced into the Parliament more extreme methods seen used in the
fishing vessels, which often operate on the nowadays that would allow for journalists to vision obtained by Four Corners.
high seas and don’t come into port - some- be locked up for 20 years for reporting infor-
times for years at a time - is nothing less mation in the public interest? In the name of Murray Burt writes this column to raise
than modern-day slavery. We’re talking keeping the people safe, the Government sensitivities mainly about the southern Com-
abuse, rape, starvation, and even murder - now wants to keep information hidden from monwealth nations and to lift the curtain on
and it’s all for tuna.” —SOURCE: Scoop Inde- view, and punish the whistleblowers who our understanding of a third of the popula-
pendent News disclose the information and the journalists tion of the world. The Commonwealth name
who work with them. and significance is too rarely mentioned in
Australia, Indonesia partner for In an even more egregious example of daily news, he says. It should be. Enjoy.
democracy legislative overreach, under the guise of
Can democracy deliver? This is the question combating “espionage” and “foreign interfer-
currently being asked in Australia and many ence”, journalists, editorial production staff,
corners of the globe. If we look at Indonesia’s media outlets’ legal advisers and even the Read more most issues from Commonwealth
transformative democratic journey — today it office receptionist could be locked up for Corner on page seven of the electronic ver-
is the world’s third-largest democracy — the merely handling that information. sion of The Southern Yarn.
reply can only be resoundingly affirmative It’s an appalling new assault on press
Murray Burt is a retired editor and journalist who
yes. More importantly, democracy must freedom. —SOURCE: Forward to Criminaliz- is concerned that lesser elements of the Com-
deliver. ing journalism monwealth get poor media coverage.
Yet as democratization has unleashed Burt is president of the Manitoba branch of the
promising reform in some countries, it has NZ PM won’t pay welfare for Kiwi Royal Commonwealth Society; past president of
triggered conflict and convulsions in others, kids living in Oz the Commonwealth Journalists Association; secre-
inflicting violence, carnage and suffering on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has ruled out tary of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of
the most vulnerable and forcing people in New Zealand providing help to Kiwi Canada advisory board; Hon LCol of the 78th
their millions to seek refuge across borders teenagers living rough in Australia after Fraser Highlanders; a senator of the 166th Bat-
and continents. authorities there denied them welfare help. tery RCA (Kenora) and a director of The Intrepid
Even where we might celebrate more “At the moment there’s no country in the Society. He is retired from more than 50 years of
lasting democratic transformation, we are world that funds another government to journalism.
June 2018 www.downunderclub.mb.ca • The Southern Yarn 5
Shining cuckoo (aka shining bronze-cuckoo) [link]
Fan-tailed cuckoo, Mt Coolum, Qld (C. Powell)
birdsiview…
by Charlie Powell
Board of Directors
President:
Peter Munn
Vice President:
Cuckoo Catherine Bowering
I very briefly viewed and quickly pho- Secretary:
tographed the fan-tailed cuckoo, above, on a Margaret Munn
recent visit to Mt Coolum, Queensland. The Newsletter Editor:
Charlie Powell
sighting was so brief that I was only able to
Treasurer:
identify it once I downloaded the picture to Peter Debenham
the computer. Social Coordinators:
Australia has at least a dozen cuckoo Judy Powell, Joanne Debenham,
species, including the larger and louder Lucia Barron
channel-billed cuckoo. This is another bird Membership:
Terry Roberts
with the nick-name “Storm bird” or “rain
Past President:
crow” (see Koel, in the Feb. ’18 Yarn)
Terry Roberts
because of its nocturnal call, often in
advance of a storm. This newsletter can be downloaded in PDF
Cuckoos are notorious for parasitizing format from the website. Thank you to all
other birds – using them to do the incubat- of our contributors within the club, from
overseas and information services. Layout
ing and child-rearing! As pied currawongs by design@hydesmith.com
have spread from the mountains and made Black-billed cuckoo by Wolfgang Wander (colors
more of a home for themselves in Sydney’s adjusted by Skiessi) - [link], CC BY-SA 2.5, [link] The Southern Yarn is published by the
Down Under Club of Winnipeg, Inc.
suburbs, so have the channel-billed cuckoos (DUCW). The views and opinions
followed, taking advantage of one of their er with the captured hairs, as a pellet. Their expressed by contributors to this
favourite hosts for parental duties. Cuckoo diet also includes insects, berries, snails and publication are not endorsed by, nor do
they necessarily reflect those of, the
chicks either eject the other eggs or hatch other birds’ eggs. This species is more likely members of the DUCW. The DUCW and
earlier and starve them by demanding all to incubate its own chicks (no currawongs in the Editor of The Southern Yarn do not
the food. Manitoba). accept any responsibility for the content or
accuracy of information or websites
Several of Australia’s cuckoos are also contained in this publication. Articles may
found in New Zealand, especially the shining Here is some cuckoo trivia: be republished with permission of the
bronze-cuckoo – the smallest, at only about Cuckoo marans is a breed of chicken known Editor.
6 inches. They spend the winter up in the for their very dark brown (“chocolate”) eggs
Solomon Islands. (James Bond’s favourite) and good mother- THE DOWN UNDER
CLUB OF WINNIPEG INC.
I haven’t seen one yet, but North Ameri- ing qualities. They originated in the French
Station Main, PO Box 1655,
ca’s black-billed cuckoo includes southern town of Marans in the mid-1800s.
Winnipeg Manitoba Canada R3C 2Z6
Manitoba in its range. That is good because 1-204-832-4405
they feed on grubs that other birds are not so Although it is not known info@downunderclub.mb.ca
keen on, for example hairy caterpillars, like when or where, the first www.downunderclub.mb.ca
the tent caterpillar which can be so damag- cuckoo clock was made Like us on facebook!
ing to our forest canopies. Their tolerance for likely earlier than 1600 –
the unpalatable hairs is due to the ability to Wikipedia Proudly printed in Winnipeg by
shed their stomach lining and eject it, togeth- Kendrick Quality Printing Ltd.
6 The Southern Yarn • www.downunderclub.mb.ca June 2018
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