Category Archives: Commonwealth Corner

Southern Yarn – May June 2025

25-Yarn_0506-MayJune The Yarn is once again ready for you to read. 

At the risk of overdosing on folate, I have no plans to change my regular enjoyment of Vegemite and toast (p. 4). Hopefully the powers that be will take note of the nationwide, multi-generational “study” that has been in progress for more than a century down under with no warnings coming from the Australian medical profession, and add fortified spreads to their allowable imports.

In this issue, we also farewell a long-standing member (p. 3), offer some viewing ideas (p. 5) and get the low-down on the AFL (p. 7).

This resident ornithologist is taking a break this issue. And instead of my Birds I view column (p. 8), we share (with permission) Gord Mackintosh’s entertaining and informative bird tour of Manitoba. In case you’re of the Scottish persuasion, we have inserted an announcement for the upcoming Manitoba Highland Gathering (p. 3).

All this and so much more – for your reading pleasure.

Southern Yarn October – December 2022

The Southern Yarn is available for you to download.

You can click on the image to the right or you can check out the Yarns page here: The Southern Yarn.

Here’s Charlie’s editorial to get you started:

It’s a beautiful Manitoba autumn – leaves changing to all shades of green, yellow and red; geese honking overhead; harvests in and gardens put to bed; returning songbirds singing to be fed. It has been fun enjoying in-person club events once again – the pool party, golf tournament, brunch – and more to come, as per the calendar.

Continue reading

The Southern Yarn August – September 2022

The latest version of The Southern Yarn is ready for you now, Check it out. And here is the editorial to get you started.

As I put this issue together, Folklorama is about to begin its 2-week run here in Winnipeg. Being the first time back, after COVID*, there are only 12 pavilions each week – about half of the usual number. Perhaps a post-COVID strategy on the part of the Folk Arts Council, or just a reality of the times – like our DUCW, members are few and sadly volunteers can no longer muster the oomph to plan and execute such a major undertaking. At least we have fond memories of our glory days. So we try to keep something of our history and culture alive as best we can – not least by this our Yarn. Read on and you will learn of a saint and a sinner, sand and scrabble, as well as more about Vegemite and cricket. Continue reading

Yarn for April May 2022

Here is the Yarn for April and May, 2022. 

There is a lot here to read on the 8 pages, including the cover story about a new land acknowledgement project that has created something we’d like you to comment on.

Remember that, unlike the print edition, the PDF version of our newsletter allows you to connect to hyperlinks embedded in many of the text items.

Enjoy!