New Title - Danish Society

The Danish
Society (Inc.)
Auckland, New Zealand
NEWS MAGAZINE
ISSN 0113-4965 • July 2007
Advance Notice
Smørrebrøds
Mothers’ Group
Party
Saturday, 26th August, 12 noon
Mid-Winter Christmas
Lunch
Details in August magazine
Film Evening
Friday, 20th July, 7.30pm
We are showing
“Prag”
a Danish drama with English subtitles.
Free film plus coffee and
cookies for members
- donations welcome.
Non-members pay $5
Film Review
“Prag”
from 2006 with Mads Mikkelsen and
Stine Stengade.
25 years ago Christoffer’s dad left his wife
and son in Denmark and went to
Prague. He is dead now and Christoffer
goes to Prague together with his wife Maja
to collect the body. But they are having
problems in their marriage and Christoffer
realises that this trip is his last chance to
save his marriage.
Hooray! It’s time again for a
very popular party!
Venue: The Danish Society
6 Rockridge Ave
Penrose
Saturday, 28th July 2007
at 6pm
Come and enjoy the wonderful open
Danish sandwiches
Bring cash to buy beer, snaps and other
drinks from our bar
A variety of cd-music will be played
Price per member $25
Price per guest $35
Send in the slip at the bottom of the
insert, latest by Friday 20th July 2007
Come to the
Open House
Sunday, July 1st from 2pm
Come and meet your friends or get some
new ones – Everyone is welcome!
Coffee & cake from $2.50
THE DANISH SOCIETY (INC)
P. O. BOX 12 279 - PENROSE 1642
6 Rockridge Ave., Penrose, Auckland
Phone 580 3103
www.danishsocietynz.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Member:
Youth rate: (18 to 25)
Senior rate: (65 & over)
Family discount:
Less
Magazine subscription only:
Contact phone numbers
The Danish House
Valhalla, Leigh
580 3103
09 422 6194
CARDPLAYERS
524 6016
VICE-PRESIDENT
Richard Logan
480 9883
TREASURER
Roger Knights
021 858 248
SECRETARY
Rolf Siggard
528 2469
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Mia Barr
Antony Barrett
Lena Burlon
Finn Nielsen
John Stewart
634 1159
444 0939
528 1116
625 5533
480 8282
EDITOR “NEWS MAGAZINE”
Pam Logan
480 9883
9 Puawai Place, Northcote, Auckland
E-mail: pam-richardlogan@attglobal.net
PRODUCTION
John Stewart
480 8282
MAILOUT
Ann & Henning Dinesen
570 4481
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Rolf Siggard
528 2469
Other Addresses
ROYAL DANISH CONSULATE GENERAL
P.O. Box 619, Auckland 1
Fax 537 3067
Phone 537 3099
www.danishconsulatesnz.org.nz
THE TRADE COMMISSION OF DENMARK
Harbour View Building, 152 Quay St, 7th Floor
P.O. Box 2154, Auckland 1
Fax 307 5207
Phone 379 3119
www.dtcauckland.um.dk
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
1 Harris Rd (P O Box 85-014) Mt Wellington
Phone
579 4490
BOOKINGS FOR VALHALLA
RATES
Weekdays (off-peak)
Adult
Child
Member
$10
$5
Guest
$20
$10
Whole Weekend
Member
$30
$15
Guest
$50
$25
Weekdays (peak)
Member
$15
$7.50
Guest
$25
$12.50
Long weekend (3 nights)
Member
$45
$22.50
Guest
$75
$37.50
Whole house daily rate (for the off-peak season)
Flat rate
$250
Peak season = Christmas Eve to the end of Anniversary
weekend. Children are 18 and under. Babies are free.
Call the Booking Officer: Marion Stewart,
88c Coronation Road, Hillcrest
P: 480 8282 E: valhalla@danishsocietynz.com
2
$55 per member
$45 per member
$40 per member
$10 per couple
$45
REGULAR EVENTS
Committee
PRESIDENT
Karen Yates
(2007 Financial Year – 1st Oct 2006 to 30th Sept 2007)
FOLKDANCERS
meet on the first and third Wednesday
of the month - 11am to 3pm
meet at 7.30pm on the second and
fourth Tuesday of every month.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
DANISH MOTHERS’ GROUP
are held on the first Wednesday of each
month at 7.30pm
meets every 2nd Tuesday.
Call Christina on 360 4389 for venue.
VALHALLA
DANISH HOUSE
An Open House is held on the first
Sunday of each month from 2pm.
Working bees are held on the weekend
of the second Saturday of the month.
QUICK CHECK CALENDAR
July
Sun 1
Wed 4
Tues 10
Wed 18
Fri 20
Tues 24
Sat 28
August
Wed 1
Sun 5
Sat 11
Open House
Card Players
Folkdancing Social Night
Card Players
Film evening
Folkdancing
Smørrebrødsfest
Card Players
Open House
Valhalla Working Bee
Danish Classes
Thursdays
Beginner class 6 - 7.15pm
Intermediate class 7.30 - 9pm
Private lessons are available
on Saturday mornings.
For more information call
Connie Kristensen
Phone 483 8078
Sat 11
Tues 14
Wed 15
Fri 17
Sat 25
Tues 28
Winter Warm-up
Folkdancing Social Night
Card Players
Film evening
Bingo
Folkdancing
September
Sun 2
Sat 15
Fri 21
Sat 29
Open House
Valhalla Working Bee
Film evening
Over 60s luncheon
Danish House Hall Hire Rates
Members rates for hiring the hall for the whole day
at the Danish House, Penrose.
Sunday to Friday inclusive
$100
Saturday:
$150
Half a day is $25 less. Funerals – no charge.
The bond is $100.00 per booking.
The booking/holding fee of $50.00 is deducted from
the total cost.
Call the Booking Officer:
Lorraine Nielsen, Phone 625 5533
Committee Contacts & Convenors for Working Groups
Committee Contact
Cultural
Karen Yates
Danish House
Members
Roger Knights
Communication
Other Clubs
Karen Yates
Socials
Lena Burlon
Valhalla
Richard Logan
Working Group
Card Players
Danish lessons
Danish Mothers’ group
Folk dancing
Library / Videos
Society history
Welfare (Cards & Flowers)
Bookings
Maintenance
Membership
Convenor
Lise Jensen
Connie Kristensen
Christina Bengtson
Finn Nielsen
Helle Gilderdale
Karen Yates
Vibeke Courtney
Lorraine Nielsen
Carsten Dansted
Rolf Siggard
Phone
625 8969
478 5175
360 4389
625 5533
478 7016
524 6016
576 3150
625 5533
524 2047
528 2469
Editor
Webmaster
Presidents/contacts
Marketing
Bar
Socials
Youth group
Bookings & Maintenance
Development
Pam Logan
Lena Burlon
Karen Yates
480 9883
528 1116
524 6016
Finn Nielsen, Keld Burlon
Lena Burlon, Mia Barr
Steve Harris
Marion Stewart
Richard Logan
625 5533
528 1116
523 5410
480 8282
480 9883
Danish Society News Magazine July 2007
Karen’s Corner – From the President – June 2007
Kære Medlemmer,
We have now reached the
mid-point of the year, as can be felt
in Auckland. The long enjoyable
summer is over. In Denmark, as
many of you know, there was an
early warm spring and now it is
summer.
Mid Summer/Winter
All of us who have experienced
the light and bright colours of the
Danish spring find it hard to forget.
The days get longer,” skoven
springer ud”, trees in the woods
are decked with light green leaves
and the sun begins to shed some
warmth. Even if the wind blows
cold, it is the change from the bleak
winter and the anticipation of sun
and warmth on Denmark’s gentle
hills that brings a great feeling
of pleasure. This year, spring was
crowned with the arrival of a little
princess born to the Crown Princess
and Prince. Some things are going
well in the “state of Denmark”!! It is
good being a Dane.
St Hans, the celebration of
midsummer is also a wonderful
experience. By the time you read
this we will have celebrated our
St Hans, adapted to suit winter
conditions at Danish House. The
essence remains the same; the
bonfire, the burning of the witch,
singing around the fire, snobrød
over the glowing embers and
chatting with old and new friends.
And I nearly forgot a frankfurter
Danish Society News Magazine July 2007
or two with mustard and other
goodies!
One year I celebrated St Hans
on Fanø, a small island on the
west coast of Denmark. As we
looked across the water to the
mainland, we could count at least
four if not five bonfires in distant
communities. St Hans tradition, old
as it is, is still celebrated today and
affirms the Dane within.
Ny I Danmark
It is of interest that Denmark has
set up a website
www.nyidanmark.dk for those
born outside of the country,
seeking Danish citizenship. This
website provides information on all
aspects of life in Denmark and the
necessary test, of multiple choice
questions required to be passed to
gain the red Danish Passport. There
are many parts to the 28 question
test, lasting one hour, embracing
all aspects of Danish life and its
organisation, including culture,
history, politics, the law etc.
For example
Hvad hedder nationalsangen?
a. I Danmark er jeg født
b. Jeg ved hvor der findes en
have så skøn
c. Der er et yndigt land
Hvordan fejres sankt hansaften
23 juni?
a. Der sættes tændte sterinlys i
vinduerne
b. Der brændes bål
c. Børnene klæder sig ud
I shall not give you the answers,
as all Danes will know them. It is
however worth having a look at
the website if you have access to a
computer. Perhaps this is an idea
that can be used elsewhere in the
world!!
Open Sandwich Party
to come
This month we have a mid year
“Smørrebrøds“ Party coming up.
Undoubtedly the best smørrebrød
in town is made in The Danish
Society with great organisation,
care and a mixture of fun and
stress. For those responsible for the
preparation it takes several weeks
to organise the food. Many of you
know all too well those experiences
from the past. Most of Saturday,
together with another team of
volunteers who go to work to make
the sandwiches.
“Festen“ The Smørrebrods
Party is an opportunity for all, old
and young to come and enjoy a
traditional Danish delicacy that is
on the verge of disappearing. This
occasion is always enjoyed with
snaps and beer. Our requirement in
The Danish Society is to balance the
enjoyment of food and drink with
moderation, respecting ourselves
and each other as we participate in
this cultural event.
I look forward to seeing you at
the Danish Society functions this
month.
Med venlig
hilsen
Karen
3
Report from the Valhalla Booking Officer
Each month I report to the Danish committee
with regards to Valhalla. Part of my report reflects on
the occupancy of Valhalla and on how it compares
with previous years of the same month. You may
be interested to learn that we have experienced an
income growth of 44% over the past 12 months (May
06 – April 07) compared to the previous 12 months
(May 05 – April 06). Last year July and August 06 were
very quiet months, however; this year I have whole
house bookings for every weekend.
It has been noticed that young children’s
handprints have been found quite high up on the big
window in the lounge. To do this the children would
need to be standing on the back of the lounge suite to
reach so high. I’m quite concerned as the window is old
and is not made of safety glass and should the window
break while a child is pushing on it and falls through
the window the outcome would be disastrous. This is a
tragedy waiting to happen. Please take care with your
young children.
When you ask Stephanie the cleaner to come in to
clean on your behalf there are some points you need
to remember:
• She does not clean the bedrooms.
• You must tidy the house up, she is there to clean not
tidy after you.
• The inside of the oven must be left clean by you.
Stephanie will wipe down the stove top but as she
is only there for two hours she cannot do a full clean
of the inside of the ovens as well.
• You must clean the Barbeque.
• If she is coming at 3pm to clean before the next
occupants’ arrival you must vacate Valhalla by
3pm. Stephanie cannot be expected to clean with
occupants still in the house.
Purchases/Maintenance
old one. The chimney was swept out in April all ready
for winter. Please remember to reset the fireplace for
the next occupants before you leave.
I will also be replenishing the first aid box during
July, however there is only ever the basics stored in it, it
is always best to take your own as a precaution.
The two old heaters have been thrown out and
I plan to replace them with two
Oil Fin heaters in July. They are
much safer than bar heaters and
although hot children cannot burn
themselves on them.
Marion
At the June working bee
A dress-up party at Valhalla
The water tank at the top of the hill has
been emptied and cleaned – this should make a
considerable difference to the quality of the water.
We are currently investigating installing a water filter
system at the water pump, so any feedback on the
current water quality would be appreciated.
Once again the fireguard has disintegrated. I have
located a more substantial one, which I will be taking
up during the school holidays in July. Please take care
with the fireplace and until I get the new guard up
there try to keep it covered as best you can with the
4
Danish Society News Magazine July 2007
We need your help!
at the next Valhalla Working Bees
14-15 July 2007 (2nd weekend of the month)
12-13 August 2007 (2nd weekend of the month),
15-16 September 2007 (3rd weekend of the month), 13-14 October 2007 (2nd weekend of the month)
We are seeking your support to carry out a whole range of jobs (inside and outside).
Any help is welcome. Some volunteers come for the day whilst others stay the weekend.
If you are able to help in any way, please contact Richard Logan, 480-9883 (Home)
June 16 & 17 Valhalla Working Bee
Nine members and guests participated in the June
working bee. The main focus of the weekend was
planting out approximately 300 trees. A number of
other tasks were also completed. My thanks go to all
those who attended. We were lucky that the weather
was generally dry, even if a little cool.
Fortunately the planting team was able to get
much improved assess into the Cove gully than was
previously possible because of the new half formed
track which runs across the entire gully. This new
track not only greatly improves our access into a very
difficult area to get into, but we hope that when it is
finished that it will provide a wheel chair track circuit
for our members/guests. We are also mindful that we
currently have much better views from the new track
than the parallel but higher track
which effectively has a flax wall
that eliminates any view of the
estuary.
Richard Logan
Valhalla Convenor
(Development)
19 June 2007
Cleaning up at the
May working bee
Danish Society News Magazine July 2007
5
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid statue was a present from
brewer Carl Jacobsen (The Carlsberg Breweries) to the
city of Copenhagen, and was made by a little known
sculptor called Edvard Erichsen. The Little Mermaid
was unveiled at Langelinje in 1913, as part of a general
trend in Copenhagen in those days, requiring classical
and historic figures to be used as decorations in the
city’s parks and public areas.
In 1909, brewer Carl Jacobsen saw solo dancer
Ellen Price dance in Fini Henriques’ ballet “The Little
Mermaid” at the Royal Theatre. He was so taken with
her that he asked her if she would pose for a sculptor.
She agreed in principle, but was not very interested
in posing without any clothes on, when she found
out just how publicly the statue would be placed. So
Edvard Erichsen’s wife stepped in and modeled for
the body. On September 14, 1912, the Little Mermaid
statue was first placed at a test location, and on August
23, 1913, it was finally placed at its permanent location.
tongue, in exchange for legs to replace her fish tail,
so she could be with her love, the prince. And every
step she took on her legs, hurt like she was walking on
swords. To be with her love she became a mute and
was in pain with every step she took.
The sculptor has taken a certain “poetic license”
when creating The Little Mermaid. She has part legs,
part a fish tail, although the story by Hans Christian
Andersen clearly defines when she has a fish tail and
when she has legs. The sculpture pictures her at a
time after she has gotten her legs. The hybrid leg/tail
arrangement was probably done in order to make it
easier to figure out who she is, if you don’t know her
and her story in advance.
From: http://www.copenhagenpictures.dk/mermaid.html
The Little Mermaid symbolizes the fairy tale by
Danish author and poet Hans Christian Andersen, the
story of a mermaid who fell in love with a prince from
land, and often came up to the edge of the water to
look for her love. The sculpture pictures her as she
sits and looks out over the water, after never actually
having married the prince, and reminiscing over her
lost childhood in the sea, as a mermaid.
The story of The Little Mermaid is not a very happy
one - she does not get her loved one, even though
visiting a witch and agreeing to give the witch her
How the Danes see other Danes
Even within such a small country as Denmark there
are strong regional differences.
Copenhageners make great show of not being
able to understand some of the thicker regional
accents in Jutland and regard traveling there with
great foreboding. Jutlanders are seen as rural masters
of understatement. According to popular belief, the
Jutlander rarely says anything downright positive,
e.g., when asked if he wants coffee, he doesn’t say
“Yes”, he says “I wouldn’t say no.” Jutlanders see
Copenhageners as slick, silver-tongued city dwellers
who do them an injustice. They claim they are “not as
bad” as all that.
In fact, all Danes have a better opinion of
6
themselves than they allow themselves to express.
How Others See them
The Danes are seen as the epitome of good order
and good sense. They are not very excitable or
romantic, they have neat painted houses set in neat
countryside and wear sensible shoes – a bit like the
Swiss, but without the mountains.
Their language is unlearnable, their cultural identity
elusive, but everybody likes the Danes. It is impossible
not to like the creators of LEGO, the producers of so
much bacon and butter, and the brewers of (probably)
the best beer in the world.
From: Xenophobe’s guide to the Danes
Danish Society News Magazine July 2007
To the Vikings of the Sunrise
The serpentine prow and stern
rise in a proud, steep curve.
And the long, straight line
of the cool, oaken keel
runs like the spinal nerve
of the clinker-built craft,
coming up fore and aft
into a bold thrust to cleave
the water and fling it aside.
The square sail as white as snow
billows before the wind –
its stripes flowing red as blood.
Along the strakes below
the blades of oars are beating
akin to wings of an eagle.
A sturdy, stream-lined warship,
long, lean, light and regal,
rearing to make a raiding trip.
Such a picture comes to mind,
when you face a Viking ship.
A shielded, fighting vessel,
skillfully rigged to wrestle
with foe and the raging sea,
rising and heeling over
till its timbers creak and groan.
Built to cross a storm-tossed ocean,
resolute in line and motion.
Erling B. Jensen
Scandinavian Settlers’ Saga
(Dedicated to my father and mother who taught me the
values in life)
Under Julius Vogel’s Immigration Scheme,
forests and gold were promised as a goal.
Be bold! A better living was the theme –
and Norsemen found great forests but no gold.
Many a man set off with child and wife.
When typhoid broke out, lack of medical care
accounted for sufferings and loss of life.
The fare for the voyage was their own affair.
Emigrants, whose passages were assisted,
could purchase land at one pound per acre.
The lure of the promised land persisted
whether a Dane was a builder or a baker.
To Hawkes Bay the brave Scandinavians came,
and through hardship, trials and many tears
they eked out a meager livelihood to claim
a primeval wilderness despite their fears.
They were beyond the point of no return.
Bound by a contract with the Government
they had no choice; they simply had to learn
how to clear the bush for their settlement.
They stretched out blankets over wooden poles
And covered themselves against wind and rain.
Under sodden blankets and tents with holes
families huddled together feeling the strain.
Bedraggled and hungry they slept under trees;
they logged in the mud to build their huts,
they slogged on the roads to pay their fees.
There was no time to think of ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’.
The Scandinavians were well-nigh illiterate,
but showed their crafts through Viking skill.
The native found them kind and considerate,
ready to learn as they went through the mill.
They demonstrated the old Viking virtues,
namely courage, perseverance and loyalty.
‘They founded Dannevirke and paid their dues –
became New Zealanders under British royalty.
Our pioneers honoured their native land
by working and willingly giving their best.
They sowed the seeds, and they lent a hand
to make sure our generation would be blest.
A road through the forest - 40 mile bush, 1870s
(from: http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/NewZealandPeoples/Scandinavians/2/en)
Danish Society News Magazine July 2007
(… Who reaped the harvest from their toil and zest?)
Erling B. Jensen
7
Where to live?
Copenhagen is the 6th most expensive place to live in
the world. Moscow is the most expensive, followed by
London, Seoul, Tokyo and Hongkong. Auckland is well
down the list at 99th and Wellington is 111th.
Rosenborg Castle, Copenhagen
Witches
Inger Mortensen found this song
when looking for St Hans songs.
Does anyone know the tune?
Chorus:
Who were the witches, where did they come from
Maybe your great, great great-grandma was one
Witches were wise, wise woman they say
And there’s a little witch in every woman today
Witches knew all about flowers and trees
How to use all their roots and their leaves and their
seeds
When woman had babies, the witches were there
To help them and hold them and give them sweet care
Some people thought that the witches were bad
Some people were scared of the power they had
But power to help and to heal and to care
Isn’t something to fear, it’s a treasure to share.
(source: “Rise Up Singing”, Peter Blood and Annie Patterson, 1992)
The next magazine deadline is July 16.
Foreningsnyt
Hjertelig til lykke til:
Congratulations to the 34 members
who have birthdays & the 1 couple who have an
anniversary in July especially
Angela Dall-Hjorring
som fylder 35 år d. 12.7.2007
Kirsten Pedersen
som fylder 85 år d. 23.7.2007
Kurt Rasmussen
som fylder 75 år d. 19.7.2007
Ruth Ungemuth
som fylder 50 år d. 15.7.2007
Thank You Letters
To The Danish Society
Thank you very much for the lovely flowers you sent
for my 90th birthday. They added to the pleasure of a
wonderful day with family and friends. Many thanks.
Elli Olsen
To The Danish Society
Thank you very much for the flower arrangement I
received at my birthday.
Axel Hansen
Til den Danske Forening
Tusind tak for de smukke blomster vi modtog på vores
Bryllupsdag. Mange hilsner fra
Jens Erik & Inger Larsen
To The Danish Society
We would like to thank you for your thoughts, visits,
cards, flowers, many acts of kindness – and most of all,
for your prayers that have kept us going through this
sad and difficult time.
Kathie Kristiansen (Allan & Shirley, Judy & Steve)
2006-2007 Committee
All contributions welcome – in Danish or English.
(Arial Narrow font, size 12)
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)
8
Danish Society News Magazine July 2007
Smørrebrøds Party
Hooray! It’s time again for a very popular party!
Venue: The Danish Society
6 Rockridge Ave
Penrose
Saturday 28th July 2007 at 6 pm
Come and enjoy the wonderful open Danish sandwiches
Bring cash to buy beer, snaps and other drinks from our bar
A variety of cd-music will be played
Price per member $25
Price per guest $35
Send in the slip
latest by Friday 20th July 2007
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - cut here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sent in by (print name): __________________________________________
Contact phone number: ____________________
I have enclosed a cheque
I have paid online on the date: _______________
Payment covers ______ guests and ______ members
Please send this slip by Friday 20th July to:
The Danish Society
PO Box 12 279
Penrose
“Soc2807”
If you wish to pay online, please credit our account: 12 3036 0671539 000
1st reference (please write): Soc2807
2nd reference (please write): “your name”