N EWS M AGAZINE ISSN 0113-4965 ● November 2010 Come and watch the last movie of the year We will be on a summer break until March. Film Club Friday, November 19th, 7.30pm Velsignelsen “The Blessing” 2008 Come and enjoy a great movie. Free film plus coffee and cake for members - donations welcome. Non-members pay $5. Come to the Open House Sunday, November 7th from 2pm Come and meet your friends or get some new ones – Everyone is welcome! Coffee & cake from $2.50 (Next Open House – December 5th) Registered with the Charities Commission AGM Sunday, November 28th 4pm + Family Dinner Send in any remits and/or committee nominations Jule Marked Sunday, 7th Nov, 2pm We would be grateful for donations of the following: Christmas decorations and items, Christmas Baking, Scandinavian items – homewares, collectables, vintage, books, music dvds etc. European childrens’ and babies’ clothing, new or preloved. If you would like to donate goods or help in any way, please contact: Kirsten Jensen 479 2249 [email protected]Helle Scott 521 2844 [email protected]Christmas Party Saturday, November 20th + See page 5 and Insert Julefest Saturday 12th December at 2pm Come and dance around the Christmas tree and see ANDY the magician. Meet Santa and his wife. A fantastic day to come and get into the Christmas spirit Essential to book! See insert. Also in December Christmas Service see page 4 & Christmas Singalong
Transcript
NEWS MAGAZINEISSN 0113-4965 ● November 2010
Come and watch the last movie of the yearWe will be on a summer break until March.
Film ClubFriday, November 19th, 7.30pm
Velsignelsen“The Blessing”
2008Come and enjoy a great movie.
Free film plus coffee and cake for members - donations welcome.
Non-members pay $5.
Come to theOpen House
Sunday, November 7th from 2pm Come and meet your friends or get
some new ones – Everyone is welcome!Coffee & cake from $2.50
(Next Open House – December 5th)
Registered with the Charities Commission
AGMSunday, November 28th
4pm + Family DinnerSend in any remits and/or committee nominations
Jule MarkedSunday, 7th Nov, 2pmWe would be grateful for donations of the following: Christmas decorations and items, Christmas
Baking, Scandinavian items – homewares, collectables, vintage, books, music dvds etc.European childrens’ and babies’ clothing,
new or preloved.If you would like to donate goods or help in any way,
SUBSCRIPTIONS (2011 Financial Year – 1st Oct 2010 to 30th Sept 2011)
Member: $60 per memberSenior rate: (65 & over) $50 per member Youth rate: (18 to 25) $50 per memberChildren under 18 Free Family discount: Less $30 per couple
REGULAR EVENTS
QUICK CHECK CALENDAR
DANISH HOUSEAn Open House is held on the first Sunday
of each month from 2pm.
COMMITTEE MEETINGSare held on the second Monday of the
month at 7.30pm
VALHALLA WORKING BEESWorking bees are usually held on the weekend
of the second Saturday of the month.
CARDPLAYERSmeet on the first and third Wednesday
of the month - 11am to 3pm
DANISH MOTHERS’ GROUP
meets every 2nd Tuesday. Call Christina on 021 161 3159 for venue.
FOLKDANCERSmeet at 7.30pm on the second and
fourth Tuesday of every month.
WEDNESDAY MORNING GROUP
Meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 10.30am.
NovemberWed 3 Card PlayersSun 7 Open House/JulemarkedTues 9 Folkdancing Social NightSat 13 Valhalla Working BeeWed 17 Card PlayersFri 19 Film EveningSat 20 Christmas PartyTues 23 FolkdancingWed 24 Morning GroupSun 28 AGM 4pm & Family Dinner
DecemberSun 5 Open HouseSun 5 Danish Service Sat 11 Valhalla Working Bee Sun 12 Children’s Christmas PartyFri 17 Christmas SingalongFebruarySun 6 Open House Folk musicians HabbadamMarchFri 18 Film Evening
Committee Contact Working Group Convenor PhoneCultural Card Players Oluf Basse 534 2798 Danish lessons Connie Kristensen 0274 757 565 Danish Mothers’ group Christina Bengtson 021 161 3159 Films Kurt Marquart 476 0244 Folk dancing Finn Nielsen 625 5533 Library / Videos Helle Gilderdale 478 7016 Society history Karen Yates 524 6016 Welfare (Cards & Flowers) Vibeke Courtney 576 3150Danish House Bookings Antony Barrett 444 0939 Maintenance Kim Basse 473 6455 Members Membership Kurt Marquart 476 0244 email: [email protected] Editor Pam Logan 480 9883 Webmaster Gitte Abildgaard Nielsen 360 1110 email: [email protected] Bar Finn Nielsen, 625 5533 Socials Annette Jorna 630 8722 email: [email protected] Bookings & Maintenance Marion Stewart 480 8282 Working Bees Erik Nissen 625 7396
Committee Contacts & Convenors for Working Groups
Danish House Hall Hire RatesMembers rates for hiring the hall for the whole day at the Danish House, Penrose.Sunday to Friday inclusive $100Saturday: $150Half a day is $25 less. Funerals – no charge.
The bond is $150.00 per booking. The booking/holding fee of $50.00 is deducted from
the total cost.
Call the Booking Officer: Antony Barrett, Phone 444 0939
RATES FOR VALHALLA Peak Members Guests Adults $18 $30Children $9 $20Off-Peak Adults $12 $30Children $6 $20Whole house daily rate Off-peak $120 Peak rate $270 Christmas season $320 Functions $320Off-peak = Mid-week only excluding Christmas season and school holidaysPeak = All school holidays, Christmas season and all weekends.Christmas season = Christmas Eve to the end of Anniversary weekend.The house can only be hired for 7 days at any one time.
Call the Booking Officer: Marion Stewart,88c Coronation Road, Hillcrest, NSC
Beginners 6.30-7.30pmIntermediate 7.30-8.30pmPrivate lessons are available on
Saturday mornings. For more information call Connie Kristensen 0274 757 565
Committee positions up for
re-election
November 2010 ● Danish Society News Magazine 3
You may have noticed that there has been a change of name from what use to be called the Jule Bazaar (Christmas trading table) to Jule Marked. At this event, items were donated to the society and then sold at the Penrose open day usually in November just before Christmas. Vibeke Courtney has organised this event for “so long it can’t be remembered” she says. The profits were donated to the society to help run the children’s parties “and over the years, we made thousands”. It was also a great time to meet fellow friends from the society and enjoy a coffee.
The concept has not changed except this year there has been change of organiser and what better way to celebrate the changeover than to give the event a different name. Kirsten Jensen has bravely volunteered to take over the reigns with the help of Helle Scott. Of course Vibeke will be there to help the transition. The Jule Marked will still sell items that have been donated. There will still be the cake table which “has been in that location” in the hall for “over 20 years” says Vibeke, so if you want to bake a cake then please continue to do so!
As well as the usual Christmas table, Oluf Basse will have a table of ‘goods’ from the shop and buckets of sild will be available too. Get in early to buy those sweets and lollies for the Christmas stocking. In the meantime, if you have something else to sell or you have a brilliant idea for the Jule Marked, then please contact either Kirsten or Helle. They would love to hear from you. You will still find Vibeke and Neville at the event “I will still have my table” she says. Not everything changes after all!
When: November 7thTime: 2pm onwardsDrop items at Penrose on 31st October (all day) or 3rd Nov (am) or contact;Kirsten Jensen 479 2249 [email protected] Scott 521 2844 [email protected]
See you there.Kim Basse
Jule Marked
TreasurerSecretary
Committee members – Kim Basse, Antony Barrett and
Dawn NissenRoger Knights is available to stand
as a general committee member and is willing to help the new
treasurer along; Rolf Siggaard is wiling to stand again as Secretary;
Kim & Antony are willing to stand as general committee members.
Dawn Nissen is standing down.
Subscriptions are due.Family discount
is now $30.Remember
to vote at the AGM you need to be
a current member.
Danish Society News Magazine ● November 20104
Movie ReviewFriday November 19th
at 7.30pmWe will be showing
Velsignelsen“The Blessing”
Synopsis:Katrine has just given birth to a beautiful little girl but motherhood isn’t as blissful as Katrine
imagined it to be. She can’t really connect emotionally with her babybody. When her
boyfriend Andreas has to go away for work, the new role as stay-at-home-mom makes her feel uneasy and isolated. Katrine therefore sees her new situation as an opportunity to
reconnect with her own mother whom she hasn’t seen for years. The two women try to reach out
and be good mothers, and meanwhile Katrine desperately searches for her own place in a world that seems slowly to be coming apart.
Director : Heidi Maria FaisstCast: Solberg Højfelt, Lærke Winter,
Mads Riisom Film evenings start again
in March next year.
A history of the Danish House for the past 10 years was presented to the club at the 10 year celebration of Danish House, Penrose on February 27th & 28th. Copies are available to members for $4.00 each. Get your copy at an Open House or other Danish Society event.
Danish Society shopHerrings in Bucket $60The shop is nearly out of Salte Fisk and there is no
Marzipan left.Ring Oluf Basse – 534 2798
for shop opening times
180g. 180g.
180g. 165g.
45g.
40g.
Danish ServiceSunday December 5th at 4pm
Pastor Anja Mathiassen of The Danish Church New Zealandwill conduct the Christmas Service after the December Open House.Anja will be there for the Open House as well –
if any one would like a talk with her.
November 2010 ● Danish Society News Magazine 5
The Mark of DenmarkThe British 22 SAS Regiment is generally regarded by
both the public and the military fraternity, as a highly professional and successful military unit, with the soldiers possessing an advanced degree in the skill of arms. Established in 1941, the British SAS has through the following decades taken part in numerous wars and campaigns in many different parts of the world.
Despite the unique soldering skills of the SAS members, only one of their number, has to this day, been awarded the Victoria Cross for valour. This person was a Danish officer, Major Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau Lassen, VC, MC and two Bars – the MC and two bars refer to the fact that he was the recipient of no less than three Military Cross decorations.)
Anders Lassen was only 20 years old when Denmark was occupied by the German military on the 9th April 1940, and was sailing on a Danish ship at the time. He made his way to England where he enlisted in the British Army. Here he showed remarkable skills as a soldier, and was invited by the Earl of Jellicoe to be part of the newly formed SAS unit. After completing his Special Forces training, he deployed with his unit, first to the Aegean Sea and Greece, where he took part in many successful raids against the German military, and subsequently led other raids in the same area.
He was promoted to Major at the unusually young age of 24, and towards the end of the war was in Northern Italy. It was here, on the 9th of April he was given the task to attack and hold a bridge at Lake
Comacchio, near Venice (being the fifth anniversary of the German Occupation of Denmark). In the face of overwhelming enemy numbers he fulfilled his mission, but was mortally wounded during the battle. For his outstanding courage he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award in the British Commonwealth.
His soldering skills and courage are celebrated to this very day by the SAS family in not only Britain, but also New Zealand and Australia. He has at times, been referred to as perhaps the best soldier in the British Commonwealth Forces during the Second World War, but this is of course impossible to verify. Today, on the wall behind the desk of the Commanding Officer of the 22 SAS Regiment’s Headquarters at Hereford in England, are three portraits. One is of Major David Stirling, the founder of the Regiment and another is of Major Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau Lassen, VC, MC & two Bars . . . of Denmark.
22 September 1920 – 9 April 1945 (aged 24)
Sent in by Carlo Mikkelsen
Christmas Smørrebrøds PartySaturday, November 20th, 7pm
Get into the festive mood and enjoy traditional ‘Danish Open Sandwiches’.Tea and coffee. Cash bar to buy beer, snaps etc.
*Musician – Martin Driessen will entertain us with his wide variety of music so put on your dancing shoes!
**Bring a $2.00 gift per person for ‘Secret Santa’ Price: Members $25.00 (early bird) Guests $40.00
Book by: FRIDAY 12TH NOVEMBERAnnette Jorna – ph 630 8722 or email her on [email protected]
*See insert for payment details. Bookings after 12 November: Members $30.00 Guests $40.00
(no registrations accepted after 16th November)
Finally - a shop where you can buy your Scandinavian Favourites in New Zealand.www.swenztaste.co.nz
Yes, we have:
“Kaviar”-Cod Roe crème
Marinated Herring – Dill and Mustard flavoured
Lingonberry jam
Ahlgrens bilar
Tyrkisk Peber
And as our opening specials, a warming meal for that cold weather outside:
Entree: Red and Black Lumpfish caviar (Normally $6; Opening Special: $5.50) on Crispbread (Normally $5.00; Opening Special: $4.50)
Mains: Make a “Janssons temptation” using Falkeskogs Ancovy spiced herring (Normally $10.25, Opening Special $9.50)
For desert, we suggest you pick your favourite treat from our candy shop.
For more Opening Specials visit our Bargains page.
Go on, treat yourself today - Visit our online shop www.swenztaste.co.nz
Danish Society News Magazine ● November 20106
When Carolyn and I were in Denmark during August/September last, we were invited to visit the Countess (Lens-Grevinde) Bente Bernstorff-Gyldensteen, who is the younger sister of the late Major Anders Lassen VC.MC and two Bars. We have had contact with her for a while, but it was to be our first meeting. As arranged, we arrived at her beautiful home for afternoon tea, and as expected she was the perfect hostess. It was surprising, but the conversation just flowed from the very start. In fact, we all found that we had many things in common, as she had visited New Zealand a couple of times with her late husband, and talked about her experiences in this country, which she enjoyed. She is a close friend of Mr. Mc-Kinney Moeller from the Maersk Shipping line, and during our conversation we discovered that he and I had served in the same Danish Regiment, but at different times of course.
We brought with us a small gift for her, which proved to be very well received. I had arranged through the NZSAS for a hard cover edition of the autobiography by Cpl. Willie Apiata VC. to be inscribed, dedicated to her and signed by Cpl. Apiata. There is a direct connection from Major
Anders Lassen, who is the first SAS Victoria Cross recipient, a position that remained for decades, through to Cpl. Willie Apiata, who is the second SAS Victoria Cross winner. So that history will for ever show the first SAS Victoria Cross winner to be a Dane, and the second a New Zealander.
Sent in by Carlo Mikkelsen
Monrad & Luther in WellingtonThis is a warm invitation to attend a double
celebration. We invite you to be present for the preview of plans for the bi centennial
celebrations, to offer and share more ideas and to make new friends. Do please join us on:
Wednesday the 10th of November at 5.30 for 6 pm at The Tamburini Room in the Museum Hotel, right opposite Te Papa. Refreshments,
a no host (cash) bar and a Koha invited. And, on that day, ‘Happy Birthday, Martin
Luther’. Wednesday the 10th of November is also the 527th birthday of Martin Luther. Bishop Monrad has historic family ties to Martin Luther, the founder of the Lutheran Confession. We are privileged to have the support of the Bishop of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand the Rev. Robert Erickson. Come and enjoy a piece of
Martin Luther’s Birthday Cake.To assist with catering arrangements
“At the home of Countess Bente Bernstorff-Gyldensteen when she received her gift”.
November 2010 ● Danish Society News Magazine 7
We need your help!at the next Valhalla Working Bees13th-14th November11th-12th DecemberWe are seeking your support to carry out a whole range of jobs, both indoors and outdoors. There is always house-cleaning to do as well. Any help is welcome. Lunch is supplied by the society, therefore we need to know the number of participants by Wednesday 10th November.If you are able to help in any way, please contact Dawn or Erik Nissen on 625 7396
From the Valhalla Booking Off ceriAt the beginning of October I received notification of
a cancellation during a weekend at the end of October, this meant the house would be empty for the only weekend between October 2010 and May 2011. For those of you who have provided email addresses I was able to send out a notice to our members to advise of this free weekend. As you can imagine this was snapped up.
The emails address’s I have on hand are for this purpose only and will never be used or forwarded for any other purpose. If you would like to be notified of any cancellations at Valhalla, please let me know and I will add you to my Valhalla email addresses.
However if you would prefer not to receive these emails, please let me know and I will delete your name.Fireban in Rodney District
Before summer has arrived the Rodney District Council has already put into place a Fireban starting as of December 1st. That means absolutely no outdoor open flame fire can be lit from this time.New Trampoline Pads and BBQ
I have ordered new Trampoline Pads as the old ones are beyond repair. At the same time the old BBQ is on its last legs and I have purchased two new ones. New Sewage System
We have been given the go-ahead to begin the process of installing the new Sewage System. The supplier is Simple Waste Water Solutions and the name describes it well. It is a very simple process using a green approach on our current system. The
end result will provide excellent irrigation to our hillside. This system will cope with the highs and lows of the occupancy of the house and is inexpensive to install with very little maintenance. It fitted our needs and philosophy for Valhalla perfectly. It has been a long process getting to this point; the Valhalla sub-committee is delighted to have found a system that will not be a financial burden to the Society.Care of Valhalla
The working bee was disappointed to arrive and find a few things amiss at the house. While each one is not in any manner a serious negligence by the occupants over the previous month, they are annoying and frustrating for those that arrive to find them. A broken light fitting which had not been reported to me, a dirty oven, children’s toys left on the lawn, the fireplace not reset and mud and glasses all over the table on the new deck, to name a few, all needed tidying or rectifying before they could begin work on the chores they went there to do. Please look around and make sure everything is in place before you leave. If the ovens need cleaning talk with Stephanie the cleaner and ask her if she can do it for you, she may charge a little more but it is better than others arriving to find it dirty. I ask you all to keep an eye out, as we are all responsible for the care of Valhalla.Marion Stewart
Danish Society News Magazine ● November 20108
ForeningsnytCongratulations to all the members
who have birthdays and the couples who have an anniversary in November especially
Karina Ostergaard Nielsensom fylder 35 år d. 6.11.2010
Ann Dinesensom fylder 75 år d. 18.11.2010
Paul & Ruth Ungemuthsom d. 5.11.2010 har været gift i 5 år
Pam & Richard Logansom d. 18.11.2010 har været gift i 15 år
Kirsten & Jan Jensensom d. 30.11.2010 har været gift i 25 år
Thank You Letters
Letters
Contributors
To The Danish SocietyWhat a lovely surprise to receive the beautiful floral arrangement, as I came home from 10 days in hospital. Even after a week they still look so nice. Thank you, they were a great pleasure.Kind regards,Bente Winter
To Inger and Marion, Annette and Dorthe, Finn, Lorraine and all the helpers.Thank you very much for an excellent Spring dinner in the Danish House on September 18th. Lovely tasty food, served at the tables, and a great atmosphere. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will be back for more.Warm regardsMette, Niels and Rita Jaegersborg
The next magazine deadline is Nov 15All contributions welcome – in English or Danish (with a short summary in English). The magazine can also be read (in full colour) online at www.danishsocietynz.com.Note: ads for events must be in a calendar month before the event. Pam Logan (Editor) [email protected]
Thank you to Kim Basse, Marion Stewart, Randi Beck Edwards, Rita Jaegersborg, Carlo Mikkelsen, for items sent in, and also to Pam Logan for photos in this month’s magazine.
Greetings, As director of New Pacific Studio, Mount Bruce, New Zealand, I wish to let the Literature Centre of the Danish Arts Council know that we are launching a Scandinavia- New Zealand Arts Project next month and are keen to invite Danish writers to do residencies here for periods between 4 and 12 weeks, starting from February 2011. I am attaching the project description. Our website is www.newpacificstudio.org and the project will be posted online next week.
We are the only international artist residency program in New Zealand where artists can work in different disciplines, and we have been in operation since 2001. Previous artists have been funded by many national organizations including the Scottish and Canadian Arts Councils and German and Netherlands arts organizations.
Artists and writers have the opportunity to pursue their own work, but they can also give lectures at the Victoria University of Wellington or at Massey University, as well as at other universities. General audiences are also available at the Te Papa National Museum in Wellington and at Aratoi Museum of Art and History in our small local town of Masterton.
Exhibitions at Aratoi are regularly held by visiting NPS artists, including most recently Kari Elise Mobeck, visiting sculptor from Trondheim, Norway, Sibylle Eimermacher from the Netherlands, and Leahlani Johnson from Sydney, Australia.
We are launching the Scandinavia-New Zealand Arts Project to increase national and international recognition of the Scandinavian heritage of this area, and to build new artist exchanges between our nations in north and south.
I see that Pia Tafdrup is speaking at the Writers’ Center in Washington DC this week. I admire her work (read in translation) and would like to invite her to consider doing a residency here, in conjunction with a Danish musician or visual artist. But I would also like other Danish writers to be aware of this opportunity and would be grateful for your help in spreading the word.
I hope we shall be able to meet the October 15 deadline in seeking funding support for one or two Danish artists. I visited Denmark in 2002 and felt that it would be exciting to set up exchanges between New Pacific Studio, the Karen Blixen Museum and the Bakkehuset Museum. I still see great potential there.Warmly, Kay Flavell, Director, New Pacific Studio
Children’s X-mas party Børnenes Juletræsfest Sunday 12th December 2010
2.00 p.m. at the Danish House
Hopefully Santa will bring us presents...
Andy the magician and his magic Christmas show will entertain us...
We will dance around the Christmas tree, singing both Danish and English Christmas songs...
For members and their children Name of child Age Boy Girl $ Number of adults - - - Total to pay:
Sent in by: __________________________________________
I have enclosed a cheque I have paid online on the date: _______________
Please send this slip by 6th December to: The Danish Society PO Box 12-279, Penrose 1642 “Soc1212” If you wish to pay online, please credit our account: 12 3036 0671539 1st reference (please write): “Soc1212”, 2nd reference (please write): “your name” (ANDpleaseensureallpreviousreferencesarecleared.)
- A greeting from the Danish pastor in NZ Times change. Years ago most people joined a political party, a sports club, a charity organisation, a church or society, a school committee etc. It’s not like that any more. Now organizations complain about the low membership and the lack of engagement from volunteers and supporters. People don’t move in flock anymore, we have become individualists and we have too much on our plate. Occasionally we pick an event or case we want to support for a time. The lifelong commitment to a society has become a thing of the past. Organisations come and go, our needs and goals change in relation to the context we live in and so does our commitment. What I find important to highlight in this reflection on the drop of membership of so many organisations is, that you can sign in and out of all the organisations, societies, clubs, associations, and churches you like but you can never sign out of God’s love for you. There is a parable in the New Testament (Luke 15.3-8) about a man who had 100 sheep. One of them got lost and he left the 99 sheep while he went out to look for the lost one. And when he had found it, he carried it on his shoulders, and rejoiced. That’s the way it is. God always want us, he will look for us if we are lost or far away, because we can’t sign out of the love of God. Pastor Anja G. Mathiassen
Did you know? - You can have your child
baptised in the Danish church NZ, either by a church service or by another arrangement. I will be happy to find a way so we can have your child baptised in the area you live.
- Your child can be confirmed in the Danish Church NZ? The teaching will be done over the Internet through e-mail correspondence and the confirmation will take place at a place and time to suit you. - Its possible to be married by a Danish pastor. I’m happy to come and bless you and be your celebrant on such a wonderful day. - You can have a Danish-English funeral.
- You can support the Danish Church New Zealand Inc with a $20 contribution per year. If you wish to become a financial supporter of the church, please e-mail [email protected] Next church services: Auckland December 5 2010 4pm at the Danish Society Auckland Dunedin December 12 2010 at 2.30pm at All Saints Church Dunedin Christchurch December 20 2010 at 7.30 pm at St Paul Lutheran Church Burwood The Danish Church New Zealand
Pastor Anja Mathiassen 18 Greenhill Ave, Wakari Dunedin 9010 New Zealand Ph.034640218 www.danishchurchnz.org
