Category Archives: Getting to Know

The Southern Yarn August/September, 2021

Yarn Aug/Sept 2021

The August/September issue of The Southern Yarn is available for download.

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

Well, the severe drought foreshadowed by last winter’s minimal delivery of snow is now manifesting itself big time in the form of wildfires. The inconvenience of smoke in our air is nothing compared to the sad ordeal of having to leave one’s home and belongings to the mercy of the wind and flame. When it last struck Australia in 2019-2020, Canadian firefighters were quick to respond. Now, Aussie counterparts are deployed to help contain the blazes in Northwest Ontario.

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Southern Yarn – April/May 2021

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The April=May issue of The Southern Yarn is available now read it online now, or await your version on glorious yellow bond paper through the post, if you prefer.

Here is the Editorial, by Charlie Powell, just to get you started:

It seems like the “dry” has started here in Manitoba – so little snow during winter that there is no spring runoff! The rural community is worried, therefore we all should be. “The Dry” also makes the list of top 25 Aussie films at the box office. Of course, we all know which one is still way out ahead of the rest … see NewsfromOz, p.5. You’ll also learn who owns some of the iconic brands downunder. Speaking of which – I recently gratefully accepted an unfinished jar of Vegemite with a Best Before in 2016! Still good, and still Yum!! As we commemorate ANZAC Day again this year, whether at the usual outdoor service or virtually, pay attention to the Padre. Just as chaplains play an important role in our annual services of remembrance, they played an even more vital role in the trenches. One such example is featured in this month’s Getting to know, p.6. And, speaking of the clergy, the Bird I view this issue is the Cardinal, p.8. All this and so much more – thank you to our advertisers and contributors – Judy, Jenny, Peter, Margaret, Ed, Malcolm, Terry.

You can check out all the past issues of our Yarns page.

Yarn February-March 2021

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The Southern Yarn – February March 2021

The February-March issue of The Southern Yarn is available for download now. Also check out the back issues at our dedicated Yarns page.

To get your started, here is the Editorial:

A common theme to much of our content for this issue is “nostalgia” – not by design, it just turned out that way. You will especially find some of that if you follow the links provided in the OZ and NZ News to the respective Film and Sound Archives – thank you to Ed in Adelaide for those. Maybe during the pandemic lockdown(s), you watched a Bond movie, or two. A run of them was offered by a TV channel here in the ‘Peg. “Getting to Know ..” on p. 7, explains the inspiration for the 007 super spy. Do you remember Chips Rafferty? Did you know he was born in Broken Hill? When we lived in Laidley, Queensland, a special treat was to cool off with a Weis Bar – a uniquely molded ice cream made with real fruit. Sadly, they’re no longer being made up the range in Toowoomba (p. 5). And I’m showing my age, but I used to enjoy listening to “Dad and Dave” on the ABC. Dave and his girlfriend, Mabel, are featured in this month’s Bush Yarn (p. 6). There is much more to reminisce over if you keep reading.

Thank to Ed, Jenny, Judy, Peter, Brian, Lucia’s sister in NZ, and our sponsors.

Yarn Dec 2020 /Jan 2021

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The Southern Yarn for December 2020 and January 2021

The final 2020 issue of The Southern Yarn is also the FIRST issue for 2021. Read it now, or if you prefer, some of you can wait for the B&W one on yellow paper version to wend its way through the post to you.

Here is the Editorial to get you started.

Just as “Google” came into our vocabulary several years ago, now, thanks to the pandemic, the new understanding of “Zoom” has become commonplace. What a gift! (Every cloud has a silver lining!). Meetings and birthday parties have been enhanced, under the circumstances, by this sharing technology, which facilitates virtual togetherness. Zoom will no doubt play a useful role for many Canadian families this Christmas as COVID restrictions continue to be necessary. Kudos to the Kiwis and Aussies for managing to come through their lock-downs much more successfully than most!

The other understanding of “zoom” played a big part of this past year for me. My trusty Canon SX720 HS with 40x optical zoom brought me up close to many new birds – some of which I share in this month’s Birds I View (back page).

In Getting to Know, p.7, you will learn about a very resourceful lady named Gladys Sandford. And, in 100 years ago, on page 6, how Qantas was started. All this and so much more!

With little in the way of Club event reports, I am again grateful to Jenny Gates for her contributions to this issue, including the “Lady in Red” piece; also to Peter, Brian, Terry D., Jodie S. and our advertisers.

YOU, too, are encouraged to become a Yarn contributor! Don’t be shy – share. Make the most of your Christmas, as we say goodbye to this year,

Stay safe!