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The April/May 2019
Southern Yarn NEWSLETTER OF THE DOWN UNDER CLUB OF WINNIPEG INC.
downundercalendar
APRIL
Taste of the Commonwealth
Monday, April 15, 2019, 7 to 9 PM
MB Liquor Education Centre,
Grant Park Shopping Centre
Cost: $40 per person
The Royal Commonwealth Society invites DUCW
members to learn all about some of the wines,
beers, and liquors that are made in the
Commonwealth countries. Product
Ambassador Aaron Alblas, who
regularly is on the cooking show
sponsored by MLLC on
CTV Saturdays pairing wines with
the wonderful recipes being
prepared, will be our host. He will DUCW members joined the Royal Common-
find some of the products made in wealth Society on March 13th for an appro-
the various countries of the priately regal reception at Government
Commonwealth, tell us about them House, hosted by Lt. Gov. Janice Filmon.
and let us sip and sample. It has
always been a fun evening. Contact Betsy Burt Commonwealth Day Events
by 12th April if you plan to attend: 204-488- Thirteen members of the DUCW attended
0167 or betsyburt@mts.net the Commonwealth Day reception at Govern-
ment House on Wednesday March 13. Invit-
ANZAC Day
ed by Murray and Betsy Burt, President and
Saturday 27th April 2019, 5 pm
Secretary of the Royal Commonwealth Soci-
Scandinavian Cultural Centre
ety, Manitoba Branch, and welcomed by Her
764 Erin St, Winnipeg
Make a date to commemorate ANZAC Day with a
Honour Lieutenant Governor Janice Filmon,
memorial service, singing of our national it was a wonderful night that included min-
anthems, followed by a delicious POTLUCK dinner. gling, beverages, speeches, and a light sup-
This is always a memorable event, so come and per. There was also an interfaith evening
be a part of it, and the fun to follow. There will be service at The Cathedral Church of Saint Afternoon Tea at High Tea
a LEGAL game or two of Two-up – and prizes! And John, presided by Bishop Right Rev Geoff Bakery
don’t forget – the Bar will be open. Woodcroft, and Murray Burt read the Thanks again for the extra treats that wel-
Queen’s Commonwealth address and briefly comed members who came to enjoy the
reviewed the status of the Commonwealth in ambience and hospitality at High Tea Bakery
the past year. These annual events remind – keep it up and this is sure to become a reg-
us of our ties to each other and the impor- ular on the DUCW calendar.
tance of keeping the Commonwealth going
here and around the world. Brunch at Miss Browns
A great turnout for some really great food!
Deb Richards (left) just back Big thanks to everyone who joined in the fun
from 40+ years in QLD, chats and the conversa-
with Toby Elson and Tiernan tion, and to our
over breakfast at Miss Browns. hosts Jenny and
Steve and staff for
online
letting us take over
find us on facebook or the web
the front of their
www.downunderclub.mb.ca
fabulous restaurant
email: info@downunderclub.mb.ca
for a few hours.
president’s went to the greyhound races at the local
editorially ramblings dog track in Melbourne when I was
younger, bet and lost on them, and noticed
yours Peter Munn that they were a lean, quick animal. So I
Charlie Powell DINKS and wondered about them getting a grey-
Dogs hound for a pet, expecting that they
No, for once when would need to exercise the dog relent-
you see Dogs in my lessly. But that was not the case, as
An unnamed man stopped and shared this report, it’s not the Footscray (oops, Western) greyhounds enjoy sleeping. A lot. And being
poem for those grieving in Christchurch: Bulldogs, it’s the canine variety I’m talking ‘Dual Income, No Kids,’ the dog is spoiled.
about. He has a dog walker for exercise during the
Terrorism has no colour As written about before, our younger day, a dog trainer for what I am not quite
Terrorism has no ethnicity son Tyler has lived in Toronto for about 8 sure of, and often goes to Doggy Daycare.
Terrorism has no one belief years, and in fact announced his engage- But he is a food thief, and easily nabs any
The only thing all terrorism shares is hatred ment to the lovely Hannah a few weeks food left unattended. Although he has found
Hatred for all those things that make our back. About 6 months ago, they had decided a good home, maybe the trainer will help
world beautiful to get a dog, and over time they decided on with the food theft.
If a rainbow was only one colour, a rescue greyhound. I knew little about the Enjoy the Spring and Summer,
would you still appreciate it? greyhound breed, apart from the fact that I Peter
If everything smelt the same, would you still
go out of your way to smell a rose?
If every sound had the same tone, would you
still listen to music?
You see, the thing that makes the world a
beautiful place is the thing that makes
us human: difference
And this is especially true for the place
we call home
Our country is diverse
Diverse in our land, diverse in our culture
And our diversity is what makes our
country beautiful
Don’t let hatred take over your heart just
because things are different
Look after each other, family
More than
[Watch the video online] Christmas $
40 years’
South Pacific
experience
in Tahiti Fixed group travel date:
21 Dec. – 30 Dec. 2019
2019 $4,065 per person
Package Includes:
Return international airfare with Air Tahiti Nui
2 nights at the Hotel Tahiti Nui (Standard Rm), Tahiti
6 nights at the InterContinental Moorea Resort (Lanai Rm), Moorea
Tahiti Circle Island Tour
All transfers, all taxes, fees and fuel surcharges *Price is per person, based on double occupancy and on
departures from Los Angeles (price is in $CAD).
*Ask us about a connecting flight to Los Angeles (return).
*Valid for the fixed departure date: 21 Dec - 30 Dec 2019.
A block of 24 seats have been reserved for this trip; booking
For more info: is on a first come first serve basis. If you would like to
www.downundertravel.com customize this vacation, contact one of our
Destination Specialists for more info.
(403) 270-4414 Phone
1-866-470-4414 Toll Free
info@downunder-travel.com
114, 3907 3A St NE, Calgary T2E 6S7 • www.downunder-travel.com
2 The Southern Yarn • www.downunderclub.mb.ca April - May 2019
departing by ship from Halifax. Before
80 years ago returning to Britain, the royal couple sailed
to St. John’s, capital of the separate Domin-
ion of Newfoundland at the time. [Read more
online, and also some rare footage].
Aviatrix Jean Batten
Eighty two years ago,
New Zealand aviatrix
Jean Gardner Bat-
ten, CBE, OSC, broke
a world record with
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum execu-
the first solo flight
tive director Stephen Hayter has been with the
from England to New
museum for 20 years. (Tim Smith/The Brandon
George VI and Elizabeth in Winnipeg. Both arrived Zealand. It took 11
Sun)
in the city on the King’s official birthday in Canada] days for her to fly the
22,891 km for the Hayter piloting museum for two
Royal Visit 1939 record-breaking trip. decades
The 1939 royal tour by King George VI and Born in Rotorua, she [Bud Robertson, The Brandon Sun:
Queen Elizabeth was the first time a reign- became the best- 02/9/2019] During the Second World War,
ing Canadian monarch had stepped foot in known New Zealan- aircrew personnel from Australia, New
this country. The King and Queen spent a der of the 1930s, Zealand, England, and Canada were all
month in Canada, touring the country from internationally, by trained under the British Commonwealth
17 May to 15 June (excluding four days in the making a number of Air Training Plan, which operated bases
United States from 8 to 11 June). They record-breaking solo flights across the across the country, including Brandon. The
crossed the country twice in a blue and sil- world. She made the first-ever solo flight Brandon museum is the only one dedicated
ver royal train that became the most recog- from England to New Zealand in 1936. In to telling the story.
nizable symbol of the tour. The tour began in 2017, her heroic solo journey and status as Stephen Hayter learned his profession in
Québec City when the royal couple arrived New Zealand's greatest aviator was celebrat- the museum management and curatorship
on the Canadian Pacific liner Empress of ed by Air New Zealand with an all-female program at Sir Sandford Fleming College in
Australia escorted by two destroyers and two flight crew from London all the way to Auck- Peterborough, Ont. [More online].
cruisers of the Royal Canadian Navy. Prime land. Way to fly, Jean!
Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King for-
mally welcomed the couple with a speech
that included the words, “Today as never
before the throne has become the centre of
our national life.”
Law services at your place of convenience
The westbound journey included stops in
Trois-Rivières, Montréal, Ottawa, Kingston,
Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Banff, Wm. B.K. Pooley b.a. l.l.b
Vancouver and Victoria — as well as numer-
ous small towns and villages. The train then lawyer • notary public
traveled east, stopping, among other places,
in Jasper, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Sudbury,
Guelph, Kitchener, Windsor, Hamilton, St. home visits . office visits
Catharines and Niagara Falls. After the visit day, evening & weekend appointments
to the United States, the royal couple
returned to Canada and continued their tour 204-783-1632
through Rivière-du-Loup, Fredericton, Saint
John, Moncton and Charlottetown, before
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
April - May 2019 www.downunderclub.mb.ca • The Southern Yarn 3
newsfromOz
various sources, see web links in online edition
Lost and Found
[Nick Miller, SMH: Jan. 25, 2019]
London: Against the
odds, and just in time
for Australia Day,
M a t t h e w
Flinders has A World of Their Own Bluey the cattle dog has won
been found. [Jennifer Feller, ABC, Apr. 8, 2019] In 1968, parents over
The body of the four clean-cut young Australians were at the [Kellie Scott ABC Life: Mar. 26, 2019] People
famous British top of the pops. Three men in suits and a often say there isn’t a handbook for parent-
explorer who petite woman in a homemade dress with rib- ing, but if there was, it would likely list Bluey
helped name bons in her hair, singing lilting folksy har- as essential viewing. Kids love it, but the
and was the first monies amid the rock counterculture. Brisbane-based animation has also caught
to circumnavigate During the four years they recorded, the the attention of parents for being a breath of
Australia was quartet blazed an international trail with fresh Aussie air.
thought lost when the their first three singles reaching number The ABC KIDS’ show follows the lives of
cemetery he was buried in one. They were The Seekers. blue heeler pup Bluey and her family (yes,
205 years ago became a public park behind Georgy Girl, from the film of the same Bluey is a gal — an “accidental” dig at naming
London’s Euston railway station. But a huge name, smashed through the singles charts conventions that is just one of the cool
archaeological dig, part of preparations for a to number one in the US and was nominated things about the show) and it features differ-
$100 billion rail project, has defied predic- for an Academy Award for best original song. ent dog breeds throughout.
tions and identified Flinders’ remains among Their songs live on in popular culture and in I’m not a mum but I just quietly ended up
thousands to be removed from the site. the songs mothers sing to their children, a binge-watching four episodes while
Australia’s version of the recent rediscovery
The discovery has been described as soundtrack to the lives of so many Aus- researching this story.
of Richard III, and experts hope Flinders’
tralians. [More online] (If it’s also news to you, do yourself a
favour and go laugh your way through
skeleton will yield new insights into his life a seven-minute ep now.)
and work. [More online] It’s just about to drop new episodes, so
we wanted to find out: why are so many peo-
ple addicted to a dog cartoon and are kids
getting as much out of it as adults do? [More
online]
Renewing Australian Passports
The Australian High Commission is starting
to plan their trips west for passport applica-
tions and renewals this year. So far, only
Alberta is in the works in late summer (dates
to be announced), but if enough people in
Crown of thorns starfish.
Manitoba want to take advantage of this,
Love finds a way … there might be a trip here before or after
Saving the Bilby [University of Queensland research] The Edmonton/Calgary.
[Ann Jones, ABC, Apr. 7, 2019] In the middle power of attraction is an unlikely ally in sav- In the meantime, “If any Australian citi-
of Western Australia in a special restricted ing the Great Barrier Reef from the destruc- zens need to renew/apply for a passport
zone, the Birriliburu Indigenous rangers are tive scourge of its fiercest enemy, the sooner, they should book an appointment at
searching for traces of bilby. They fan out crown-of-thorns starfish, and could play a one AHC’s regular offices (Ottawa, Toronto,
over set points in the landscape, searching major role in helping to save corals reefs and Vancouver). Clients can monitor our web-
for anything that will give a clue as to where other marine environments globally. page and/or follow the Australian High Com-
the nocturnal inhabitants are hiding. The Husband-and-wife UQ researchers Pro- mission on social media, using the links
greater bilby, known here as muntarngarku, fessor Bernard Degnan and Associate Profes- below, to keep informed of any upcoming
is a wonderfully lanky little fluffball — it has sor Sandie Degnan of UQ’s Faculty of Science programs.”
a long snout and ears and looks a bit like a found that the coral-eating starfish gather en
cross between a bandicoot and a hare. It masse when mating due to pheromones – a Online: [Web site] [Facebook] [Twitter]
used to be found over 70 per cent of Aus- scent the researchers have decoded – so the Questions: otwa.passports@dfat.gov.au
tralia, but now it's restricted to 15 per cent. prickly pests can be lured together for cap- Info on passport applications: [Link]
[More online] ture. [More online] And we will share any posts from the AHC on the
DUCW’s Facebook page and website.
4 The Southern Yarn • www.downunderclub.mb.ca April - May 2019
newszealand
various sources, see web links in online edition
That sucks
Kākāpō hitting record numbers An apple orchard out the back of Puketapu
bers of kākāpō chicks are entering a new era
[NZ Herald; 28 March, 2019] Record num- has a new worker, one which could help the
industry’s chronic seasonal labour shortage
Royal visit of hope for the threatened species with a in the long term.
Prince William will visit New Zealand in hugely successful breeding season. The world’s first robotic apple harvester
April to honour the victims of the Breeding numbers are encouragingly has been set up at a T&G Global orchard in
Christchurch mosques terror attack. high so far – 249 eggs have been laid, 76 have Hawke’s Bay.
hopes of a renewed generation of kākāpō.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern con- hatched and 71 live chicks are carrying the It looks less like Star Wars’ C-3PO and
firmed the Duke of Cambridge would visit more like a tractor, and makes a sound simi-
New Zealand in late April. The previous record, in 2016, was 47 chicks lar to a rooster, but it could be a game chang-
Prince William will represent the Queen hatched and 33 fledged. er for apple growers, helping ease labour
during the visit. Some chicks inevitably fall foul of sick- constraints the industry currently experi-
“I am mindful that the trauma in ness, weather, accidents and other unpre- ences. It uses vacuum suction to remove the
Christchurch will last long after the National ventable incidents, as when one of the ripe apples.
Remembrance Service this week,” Ardern breeding sites flooded previously, taking the The robot, which currently is nameless,
said. lives of three precious chicks. was designed by American-based company
sor for kākāpō and takahē at the Department
“I’m sure all New Zealanders but especially This year, Dr Andrew Digby, science advi- Abundant Robotics. [More online]
the Muslim community of Christchurch will
appreciate seeing the compassion and support, of Conservation (DOC), says he had hoped to
that has been so tangibly demonstrated since have over 50 chicks fledged. That goal has
the attack, continue into the future. now been surpassed, which is a tribute to Farewell, Ruth Thomas
“Prince William has a strong connection the technology and dedication of the DOC DUCW member Ruth Thomas
with the people of Canterbury since his vis- recovery team, Meridian Energy support, passed away on March 19, 2019. She
aspect of kākāpō life – including intricate
its here following the Christchurch earth- and a programme which touches every was 97 years old and died peaceful-
quakes. [More online] ly in her sleep. Ruth and husband
monitoring of their breeding habits. [More Peter were members of the Club
online] from the very beginning, and as son
Ralph said, “Thank you for all the
fun they had as club members over
BushYarn the years.” Those of us who knew
them still remember Ruth and Peter
Road Directions as active members who enthusiasti-
again until you come to a train line, cally participated in events and
ompletely bushwacked on an then turn right.’ activities. Both will be fondly
C outback road somewhere past
Woop Woop, a tourist slammed
on the brakes and pulled his car over to
An hour later, the same car came
bouncing down the same road and the
car once again pulled over to where the
remembered for their humour and
friendship. Rest easy, Ruth [more
online].
stop beside a swaggie who was trudg- swaggie was seated, resting under a
ing along in the scorching midday sun. gum tree.
‘I say,’ called the driver, ‘can you ‘I never could follow directions,’ said
give me the directions to the next the tourist. ‘Could you do me a big
town?’ favour and travel with me so you could
‘Yeah,’ replied the swaggie, as he point out the way?’
wiped a flow of grimy sweat from his “Certainly,’ said the swaggie, climb-
brow. ‘You turn right at the next cross- ing in. ‘Just drive straight ahead. You’re
road, travel about ten miles until you lucky mate, sometimes I send fellows
spot a big shed, turn right again until like you around the track about three or
you see a big gum tree, then turn right four times before they offer me a lift!’
April - May 2019 www.downunderclub.mb.ca • The Southern Yarn 5
GettingtoKnow history, and members of our club Portrait of Hōhepa Te Umuroa
by William Duke.
Soldiers, thieves, Māori warriors: Wikimedia Commons
the NZ convicts sent to Australia
[The Conversation: Kristyn Harman, Senior
Lecturer in History, University of Tasmania:
24th Oct., 2017]
oon after it became a British colony,
S New Zealand began shipping the worst
of its offenders across the Tasman Sea.
more than 110 soldiers, sailors, Māori, civil-
Between 1843 and 1853, an eclectic mix of
ians and convict absconders from the Aus-
tralian penal colonies were transported from
New Zealand to Van Diemen’s Land.
This little-known chapter of history hap-
pened for several reasons. The colonists
vagrants and murderers and deal with Māori
wanted to cleanse their land of thieves,
fighting men like Hōhepa Te Umuroa, Te
opposition to colonisation. Transporting
Kūmete, Te Waretiti, Matiu Tikiahi and Te
Rāhui for life to Van Diemen’s Land was Māori fighters
meant to subdue Māori resistance. structed by Māori from local materials.
Early colonial buildings were often con-
In 1846, NZ governor George Grey pro-
region. When several Māori fighters were
Transportation was also used to punish At least 51 redcoats were shipped to the claimed martial law across the Wellington
the colony and fight opposing Māori) who
redcoats (the British soldiers sent to guard penal island. Some committed crimes after
being discharged from the military, but eventually captured and handed over to
deserted their regiments or otherwise mis- many faced charges related to desertion. colonists by the Crown’s Indigenous allies,
Māori warriors that they took off when faced
behaved. Some soldiers were so terrified of Four of the six soldier convicts who arrived they were tried by court martial at Porirua,
Van Diemen’s Land in June 1847 were court- north of Wellington.
with the enemy. martialled in Auckland the previous winter After being found guilty of charges that
Early colonial New Zealand had no room for “deserting in the vicinity of hostile included being in open rebellion against
for reprobates. Idealised as a new sort of natives”. Queen and country, five were sentenced to
The traditionally-clothed Māori attracted a
colony for gentlefolk and free labourers, New As Irish soldier convict Michael Tobin transportation for life in Van Diemen’s Land.
Zealanders aspired towards creating a explained, the deserters had been returned
Māori who were loyal to the Crown during
utopia by brutally suppressing challenges to to the colonists by “friendly natives”; that is, lot of attention in Hobart, where colonists
that dream. On 4 November 1841, the loudly disapproved of their New Zealand
colony’s first governor, William Hobson, the New Zealand Wars. Perhaps as a form of neighbours’ treatment of Indigenous people.
named Van Diemen’s Land as the site to insurance, Tobin had also struck Captain This is ironic given the Tasmanians’ own
which its prisoners would be sent. The first Armstrong, his superior. Several other sol- near-genocidal war against Aboriginal peo-
Grey had wanted the Māori warriors sent
boatload arrived in Hobart in 1843 and diers also used violence against a superior - ple.
included William Phelps Pickering, one of it was bound to ensure a sentence of trans-
the few white-collar criminals transported portation, removing them from the theatre to Norfolk Island or Port Arthur and hoped
across the Tasman. Pickering later lived as a of war. they would write letters to their allies at
gentleman after returning home. Irish Catholic soldier Richard Shea, for home describing how harshly they were
In 1840s Van Diemen’s Land, convict instance, was a private in the 99th Regiment being treated. Instead, they were initially
labourers were sent to probation stations who used his firelock to strike his lieutenant held in Hobart, where they were visited by
Hobartians were worried that the Māori
before being hired out. Many men transport- while on parade. This earned him a passage media and other well-wishers.
ed from New Zealand were sent down the on the Castor to Van Diemen’s Land. His
Tasman Peninsula, where labourers were three military companions on the vessel, could become contaminated through contact
ley, all claimed to have been taken by Māori
needed at the time. William Lane, George Morris and John Bai- with other convicts. Arrangements were
Ironically, those eventually allocated to made to send them to Maria Island off the
masters or mistresses in larger centres like north of Auckland and kept prisoner for four island’s east coast, where they could live sep-
Hobart or Launceston would have enjoyed months. But surviving records reveal that arately from the other convicts. [More
more developed living conditions than New their military overlords thought that the online]
Zealand’s fledgling townships. In those days, three had instead deserted to join the ranks
Auckland’s main street was rather muddy. of a rebel chief.
6 The Southern Yarn • www.downunderclub.mb.ca April - May 2019
commonwealth The legislation is expected to become
law by April 11. There will be a truncated
disability support sectors spoke to lead
researchers Associate Professor Katherine
place by Murray Burt select committee process to hear public sub-
missions. The Government is also working
Ravenswood and Dr Julie Douglas about the
impact of the pay equity settlement.
on the details of a buy-back scheme, estimat- “This research is world leading. It is
ed to cost up to $200 million. especially rare for a female-dominated sector
Aus finance join climate issues In response, Gun City emailed its sub- to receive a large pay rise. Now, for the first
The big four Australian banks, superfunds, scribers today and urged them to sign a peti- time we can understand the impact of pay-
and insurance companies are taking climate tion to Parliament. ing carers a living wage,” says the Equal
change into their own hands by signing onto The petition, in the name of Hayden Liv- Employment Opportunities Commissioner
an initiative that aims to realign the sector to ingstone, started on last week and had Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo.—
support better social, environmental and 10,786 signatures by 5pm on Friday. SOURCE Scoop Politics
economic outcomes for the country. The petition requested “an in-depth pub-
Launched on Wednesday, The Australian lic consultation period on changes to New Fiji: human rights still lagging
Sustainable Finance Initiative brings togeth- Zealand firearms legislation, to ensure effec- Amnesty International says Fiji’s leaders are
er leaders and executives from major banks, tive firearms legislation reform that does ignoring their appeals to tackle what they
insurance companies, super funds, financial not unduly punish law-abiding firearms call, “the country’s severe human rights fail-
sector peak bodies, civil society groups and owners while maintaining assurances of ings.” This is despite Fiji’s accession to vice-
academia. public safety”. presidency of the UN Human Rights Council.
The initiative includes a steering group, It called the Government’s gun law Amnesty’s Pacific researcher says their
tasked with developing a plan on how the reforms “ill-advised, partly due to the speed six-point human rights agenda was put for-
finance sector can help deliver international at which they have been implemented and ward ahead of last November’s election to
climate agreements, and transition to a more also due to (understandable) emotionally highlight priority areas for an incoming gov-
sustainable and resilient economy. driven public pressure”. ernment’s attention. Roshika Deo says
Co-chair of the initiative and IAG group The Gun City email, obtained by the NZ Amnesty’s current review shows none have
executive Jacki Johnson, said the next Herald, asked for more information on the been implemented. —SOURCE Radio NZ
decade was critical for managing climate Government’s proposed buy-back scheme,
change and other risks, and the finance sec- including whether it would compensate for Gender issues in Solomons
tor needed to play a part in that. gun accessories and ammunition, lost The list of things women shouldn’t do
“Australia has made a number of commit- income or employment, booked travel to according to Solomon Islands’ culture is
ments to international targets. Achieving events to use MSSAs, or losses from invest- long: no wearing shorts, no lingering eye
these goals extends beyond social or environ- ment in shooting facilities. contact with men, no sitting near your broth-
mental objectives – it’s an economic and It also called for an independent inquiry ers and no speaking up, among them.
financial necessity,” Johnson said. into how the gunman in the Christchurch The rules are nuanced and vary by
“Our economy simply cannot prosper in shootings obtained a firearms licence. province and tribe. But overall, cultural pre-
an environment of ever-increasing severe “The reasons and activities for which we dispositions across the country leave women
weather events and the subsequent broader own guns vary. Let’s stand united as without the same level of respect and repre-
impacts these will have.” Firearms Licence holders rather than divid- sentation as men.
The group will deliver a roadmap next ing into different groups, in the hope that The Pacific region has the lowest num-
year, outlining recommendations for the sec- other shooting disciplines will not be affect- ber of women parliamentarians in the world.
tor such as mobilising capital to assist with ed,” the email said. SOURCE: The New In Solomon Islands, one Member of Parlia-
climate goals, embedding sustainability, cli- Zealand Herald ment out of 50 is a woman, and a total of four
mate and human rights considerations into women have served as MPs in the history of
financial markets and products, and deliver- Reviewing NZ women’s pay rise the country. —SOURCE: Solomon Times
ing a financial system that meets consumer New research by the New Zealand Work
demand around sustainability. Research Institute at Auckland University of Read more most issues from Commonwealth
Technology (AUT) and the Human Rights Corner on page nine of the electronic ver-
Kiwi gun lovers balk at ban Commission has for the first time revealed sion of The Southern Yarn.
Gun owners in New Zealand are being urged the challenges and advantages of New
Murray Burt is a retired editor and journalist who
by those in the business to sign a petition to Zealand’s largest pay increase for women. “
is concerned that lesser elements of the Com-
ensure law-abiding gun owners are not The Value of Care – evaluating the
monwealth get poor media coverage.
unduly punished by the Government’s pro- impact of the 2017 pay equity settlement of
Burt is president of the Manitoba branch of the
posed ban on military-style semi-automatic the aged residential, home and community Royal Commonwealth Society; past president of
(MSSA) guns. and disability sectors” examines the impact the Commonwealth Journalists Association; secre-
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of the $2 billion pay equity settlement, which tary of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of
announced a ban on MSSAs and assault increased pay for 55,000 workers in a female Canada advisory board; Hon LCol of the 78th
rifles last week, after the terrorist attack in dominated workforce who had largely been Fraser Highlanders; a senator of the 166th Bat-
Christchurch. Legislation is expected to be paid the minimum wage. tery RCA (Kenora) and a director of The Intrepid
introduced on Tuesday and passed as an Nearly 70 staff, including both managers Society. He is retired from more than 50 years of
urgency. It has support across the political and care and support workers, across the journalism.
spectrum. aged care, home and community care and
April - May 2019 www.downunderclub.mb.ca • The Southern Yarn 7
birdsiview…
by Charlie Powell
Northern whisper
by Marie-Pier Laplante
Morning light
Glowing sight
Bracing air
My head is clear
Rolling rattle
Windy battle
In the apple tree
You wait for me
Snow buntings
Male snow bunting [Photo: United States Fish and Joyful singing
Wildlife Service] In the dead of winter
Source: Wikipedia
You are my spring
Snow Bunting Board of Directors
I often see flocks of little, mostly-white birds Shivering hands President:
– out in snow-covered fields or flying up Peter Munn
All wounds open
from the roadside – when I’m driving out in The wind blows hard Vice President:
Catherine Bowering
the country during winter. I have never been But my mind is calm
Secretary:
able to get a good close-up of them, so always
Margaret Munn
wondered what they are – so hardy to be out White flutter
Newsletter Editor:
and about at -20C and colder. Northern whisper Charlie Powell
Well, I am now certain that they are snow Can you feel this warmth Treasurer:
buntings, since nothing else fits the descrip- Coming from the frozen ground? Peter Debenham
tion and behaviour. The Lone Pine Field Social Coordinator:
Guide to Manitoba Birds confirms it as far as Snow buntings Judy Powell, with assistants
Joyful singing Penny Hechter & Lucia Barron
I’m concerned. They are depicted as very
In the dead of winter Membership:
sparrow-like, except they are whiter. Appar- Terry Roberts
ently they are even more white in the sum- You are my spring
Past President:
mer, so the theory is that the darker plumage Terry Roberts
Snow buntings
in winter helps the absorption of extra heat
Covering the field
on clear days. This newsletter can be downloaded in PDF
In the dead of winter format from the website. Thank you to all
Their claim to fame is that they are the
A sort of relief of our contributors within the club, from
northernmost passerine – breeding in the overseas and information services. Layout
Arctic and only migrating as far as southern by design@hydesmith.com
Here comes April
Canada/northern USA in the winter. They
Restless April The Southern Yarn is published by the
are also found in northern Germany, Poland Moving buntings Down Under Club of Winnipeg, Inc.
and Ukraine as well as central and east Asia. To the Arctic somewhere (DUCW). The views and opinions
Anyway, it is always a pleasure to see expressed by contributors to this
Where it all begins publication are not endorsed by, nor do they
them – adding life to the snowy landscape. necessarily reflect those of, the members of
Here is a poem by someone else who [Link] the DUCW. The DUCW and the Editor of
appreciates them: The Southern Yarn do not accept any
responsibility for the content or accuracy of
information or websites contained in this
publication. Articles may be republished
with permission of the Editor.
THE DOWN UNDER
CLUB OF WINNIPEG INC.
Station Main, PO Box 1655,
Winnipeg Manitoba Canada R3C 2Z6
1-204-832-4405
info@downunderclub.mb.ca
www.downunderclub.mb.ca
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Snow buntings feeding [Photo: Nat Capitanio] Kendrick Quality Printing Ltd.
8 The Southern Yarn • www.downunderclub.mb.ca April - May 2019
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