Category Archives: Events

Aussie Author Book Event

You are invited to an Aussie author book event on Saturday October 20 at 7:00 pm at McNally Robinson (Grant Park).

One of the world’s most acclaimed authors of thriller fiction, Aussie Michael Robotham will be in conversation with Terry MacLeod, after which he will sign his latest book “The Other Wife” (Little, Brown and Company).

Childhood sweethearts William and Mary have been married for 60 years. William is a celebrated surgeon, Mary a devoted wife. Both have a strong sense of right and wrong.

This is what their son, Joe O’Loughlin, has always believed. But when Joe is summoned to the hospital with news that his father has been brutally attacked, his world is turned upside down. Who is the strange woman crying at William’s bedside, covered in his blood – a friend, a mistress, a fantasist or a killer?

Against the advice of the police, Joe launches his own investigation. As he learns more, he discovers sides to his father he never knew – and is forcibly reminded that the truth comes at a price.

This event is being co-presented by the DUCW, and we would love to have a big turnout of members and friends to welcome Michael and hear about his work. You might even see a familiar face introducing Terry before he introduces Michael. How exciting!

Michael has been an investigative journalist in Britain, Australia and the US. His series of psychological thrillers featuring psychologist Joe O’Loughlin have sold millions of copies around the globe. Robotham lives in Sydney with his wife and three daughters.

Host Terry MacLeod is an independent Emmy-nominated journalist, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipient, and former CBC Radio and TV host, presenter and producer.

For more information about the event, check out the write-up on the McNally Robinson website.

Yarn October-November

The Autumn (October-November) 2018 version of The Southern Yarn greets us with the arrival of chilly weather and colourful leaves, and some early snowfalls. Read it all here!

All our back issues are available at the Yarns page, too, of course.

Editorial: 
Lots of bits of news for your reading pleasure again this issue. While browsing, the persistent story that kept coming up was the drought that is affecting widespread parts of Australia, as well as New Zealand. Folk have even resorted to rain dances!  While it is a good example of typical Aussie humour in the face of hardship, it could be taken as a bit too light-hearted for such a critical issue. I believe the “performers” are dead serious and desperate to get the attention of the public and the politicians any way they can. For many, it is past the point of rain now providing relief: they need financial and emotional assistance. And in the longer term, some new strategies to mitigate the hardships of future prolonged extreme dry seasons. Obviously great minds have been at work addressing this challenge for some years. A good summary of one such effort is the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) publication: “The science of providing water solutions for Australia” [available online here]. For our part, we catch what spring run-off we can and pump it into barrels for use on the garden. This year there was precious little (yes, Manitoba experienced a drought, too), so plan B was drip-irrigators, sprinklers and buckets. My thanks, on your behalf, to the other contributors to this Yarn: Jenny, Ed, Peter, Judy, Murray, Brian and our advertisers! Enjoy, Charlie.

AFL Grand Final this Friday night!

Join us this Friday September 28 for the 4th Annual AFL Grand Final Night in Winnipeg.

Members and friends of the Winnipeg Bears Australian Football Club and the DUCW will be at Boston Pizza, 1475 Henderson Hwy, from 9:30 pm onward.

The Aussie Rules football grand final is the biggest event on the Australian sporting calendar, and will be broadcast live from Melbourne. This year it’s the Collingwood Magpies versus the West Coast Eagles. The large projector screen will be going, with all the pre-game live music and, of course, a rousing rendition of the Australian national anthem. Can we top last year’s effort?!?! Yes, we can!

No need to RSVP. Just turn up and be part of the event. Family and friends welcome.

More details at the WBAFC’s Facebook page.

World Masters Ultimate Club Championship

All this week in Rosser, MB (30 mins NW of Wpg), New Zealand and Australia are competing in the World Masters Ultimate Club Championship.

Note that finals are on Saturday August 4 at Investors Group Field, so if you can’t make it out to Rosser, there is an opportunity to see our teams in Winnipeg. Here’s hoping both the Kiwis and the Aussies get to the finals.

The New Zealand teams are:

  • Silver Foxes – Women, Pool B
  • Aotearoa Eh!? – Mixed, Pool B

The Australian teams are:

  • Duff Stout – Men, Pool D
  • Fine Wine – Mixed, Pool A

Visit the WMUCC website for tickets and other information. I also found this link especially helpful.

Thanks to Terry Roberts for letting us know about this.

New Zealand represented at Indigenous Day event

Thanks to DUCW members Penny and Sam Hechter for attending the Indigenous Day Live celebrations in Winnipeg on June 23 and letting us know that New Zealand was represented at the event.

“It was a wonderful surprise to see the trio perform, including a haka performance. ”

If you hear about or see any Aussies and Kiwis at events here in Winnipeg, let us know and/or take a photo so we can help spread the word.

This is definitely an event to watch out for next year.