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The Austrian Club Auckland was formed in 1980
by Austrians for their families and friends of Austria to socialise with each other, and to promote and foster a spirit of fellowship amongst members. There are currently around 80 families/couples/single members.
The first president was Mrs Hesi Grossman who sadly passed away in 1991. The current president is Gerhard Simanke, who has held that position since 1986. The current vice-president, Treasurer and Secretary have all held their positions for at least 13 years.
Very popular annual events are: barbecue at the Appenzell Swiss Deer farm, Southhead, in February; a Heurigen at Markovina’s Winery, Kumeu in March, a Gulasch Evening in June, and a National Day Dinner in October. We also have walks in April / May and September, the AGM in July, and a Christmas function in December. An Austrian Dance Group and a Singing Group, which are affiliated to the Club, perform at many functions. |
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The Club Officers President Tom Bichler Vice President Margarete Lammer Treasurer Erich Schrey Secretary E. Ponting Co. Sec. Ingrid Walcher |
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The Committee Gerhard Simanke Deidre Simanke Joe Eherer Elfie Walters Andrea Gregory
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SUMMER BARBECUE MONDAY 6TH FEBRUARY 2012
We wish to reserve ..... places at the Barbecue at The Swiss Farm, @ $40 each (children under 12 $15)
and enclose our cheque for $ ....... NAME..............................................................................................
Please send this form & your cheque, made payable to ‘Austrian Club Auckland Inc.’, to the Treasurer, Erich Schrey, 2 Samuel Cross Place, Greenhithe, North Shore City. Phone 413 7515
GENERAL: We welcome new members Sylvia & Phil Lane. Sylvia is from Linz and we look forward to seeing them at club functions.
For those members who like Austrian beer, Scott Janisch reports that he has found 500-ml cans of Puntigamer in the Orewa New World supermarket, and also some of the less-known brews such as Goesser, Kaiser, Schwechater, Wieselburger & Zipfer. They should also be available at other New World stores costing around @2.50 per can, and at Pak’n’Save where they are approx $1.99
NEWS FROM AUSTRIA When 77-year-old Josef E. had to pull over in his car to make a toilet stop, he forgot one vital thing, the handbrake. On returning to his car he found it sitting on a railway line with his 74-year-old wife still in it. The pair were travelling to Ohlsdorf in Austria when Josef E. stopped to go to the toilet in nearby bushes. After forgetting to put on the handbrake however he watched in horror as his new Mercedes C-Class began to roll away with his wife, Katharina, still in it. The 77-year-old pensioner attempted to run after the vehicle but fell before the car eventually came to a standstill having rolled 50 metres. The car however came to a stop in the middle of a railway track. The ÖBB were immediately notified about the car and any further accidents prevented. Josef E. suffered a head injury during the incident and his wife serious shock but their brand new car was saved by emergency services. Police have caught a woman who has been shoplifting for 15 years. The serial shoplifter, who is thought to have stolen from shops at least six times every week, was arrested in Hollabrunn, Lower Austria. The 46-year-old thief, who has gone uncaught since 1996, was stopped by security in a department store on Wednesday and was taken in by police for questioning. Investigations then revealed that this was the third shop-lifting incident in the town of Stockerau in the space of an hour. The woman had stolen food and cooking utensils on her trip to the town. Discount stickers from a particular company were also found in the purse of the woman, which she is thought to have used to get products at a cheaper rate. The woman confessed during questioning to having shoplifted from shops and supermarkets, six times a week, since 1996. The woman is thought to have caused damage of around 45,000 Euros. She is currently on bail from the public prosecutions office in Korneuberg, Austria.
A man was put in prison in Austria for filling his car up with cooking oil. The 59-year-old from Carinthia faced an 828 Euro fine but chose to accept a prison sentence. Unemployed mechanic, Horst Zwenig, adapted his VW Golf II after petrol prices soared, so that it could run it on old schnitzel fat. He collected his oil from a restaurant in Hermagor, Austria, before he was eventually discovered by police and taken to court. Local courts initially fined Zwenig 1,188 Euros before he appealed and reduced the charges to 360 Euros. He eventually chose to spend four days in prison instead. "Just because the oil was used to fry some schnitzel, I am not allowed to drive with it. The exhaust emissions are the same," Zwenig said. The 59-year-old plans to continue his fight in order to change the current law in Austria.
On behalf of the Committee, may you all have a ‘Frohe Weihnachten und Alles Gut im Neuen Jahr’.
Auf Wiedersehen bis 2012,
Eileen Ponting, Secretary
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Liebe Freunde,
There are only a few days to Christmas, so it’s the busiest time of the year at the shopping malls. After the mad rush, we can all look forward to enjoying special time with our family & friends. We hope the lovely weather we’re having this week continues through the New Year period when we’re on holiday and will appreciate it the most.
PAST EVENTS: We had a very good turn-out for the Christmas Party earlier this month with around 30 adults and 12 children in attendance. It was lovely to see several families with three generations. As the weather was not the best, we moved the venue to the Lammer’s house, where everyone enjoyed themselves. Richard & Erich played their guitars, with Erich’s grandson Elliot, who turns 5 in January, giving an excellent solo performance. He’s obviously got Erich’s entertaining gene in his blood! Saint Nikolaus distributed presents to the children with Krampus keeping the older children ‘in-check’. We also sang carols & Christmas songs. Once again we must thanks Guenther & Margarete for their hospitality. |
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Christmas 2011 Newsletter |
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FUTURE EVENTS: Our Summer Barbecue will be held on Waitangi Day, Monday 6th February from 4.00pm at the Swiss Farm in Waitoki next year. The Swiss Clubhouse is in a beautiful rural setting at the end of Rapson’s Road, off Kahikatea Flat Road. We will have a 2 course meal including Venison, Spaetzli & salads, fruit salad & ice-cream. There is an outdoor ‘nine-pin’ bowling alley, and slides for children. We plan to have some Swiss music. The cost is $40 for adults, children under 12 $15. Below is a booking form for you to complete & send to Erich Schrey, or you can direct credit the Club’s bank account 02-0100-0874418-00. February seems a long way off, but it will come around quickly, so please don’t leave it too late to book.
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