Category Archives: High Commission

Southern Yarn for March-April, 2026

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The March-April issue of The Yarn is ready for your online perusal, and the monochromatic analog version is entrusted to our ever faithful Canada Post, for those less likely to be reading these words on the web… and as usual, we start off with the wise words from our editor…  

With all the bad news that bombards us these days, it’s a welcome break to spend time searching for and reading “other” news. And not just news – history, humour, member happenings and events also.

In this issue, there is some history concerning early emigration to New Zealand and Australia; there is some Tundra humour, some Footrot Flats humour courtesy of Murray Ball; there are snippets of all sorts of other interesting information and much more.

Thank you to Jenny, Judy, Peter, Brian and our advertisers for their contributions. Thank you, too, to Cherie at Echo Publishing in Sydney. After some back and forth with emails, we were granted permission to reproduce selected excerpts from Favourite Cricket Yarns by Ken Piesse (2016). You’ll find one of them somewhere further on in this issue.

Enjoy, Charlie

Yarn September October 2025

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We recently had a road trip to Cleveland, Ohio, and enjoyed some great sights, sites and scenery going and coming. But in all seven states through which we passed, smoky skies reminded us of the northern Manitoba bushfires.

Over 2 million hectares are affected, making them the worst on record. Which is why it was heartening to learn of the assistance from Kiwi and Aussie firefighting teams [July 13, 2025]:

“Fire and Emergency New Zealand deployed an additional 43-person taskforce to Manitoba, Canada, to bolster the local response to more than 500 actives wildfires currently burning in the region.

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Yarn for September-October

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The Southern Yarn for September and October is ready.

guest editor: Jenny Gates

It’s a lot of work and a big commitment to produce a newsletter on a regular basis, and because we’re so appreciative of Charlie Powell’s efforts, I’m guesting here in his stead. Thank you, Mr Editor.

In this our 75th year, there is much to celebrate, not the least of which is we are still a going concern and an active club with a committed executive driving things along. And to make the year even more special, we are planning on a wide swath of events for you to enjoy.

On September 27, a group of us will be at the Blue Bombers game to cheer on the team and Aussie punter Jamieson Sheahan. And that will be followed by our very special 75th anniversary dinner (p.1), as well as the AGM at a new, more relaxed venue – more info on that and other upcoming events in the Nov/Dec issue. In this issue, enjoy reading about the golf tournament (p.1), Toby and Jen’s adventure and the Haka Camp report (p.3), news from down under (p.4), a new book from a new member (p.5), the next installment in our history (p. 6), the AFL update (p. 7) and all about birds (p. 8).

Thanks to Charlie, Peter, Toby, Penny, Mike, and our advertisers. Enjoy the read. — Jenny

Yarn May June 2023

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The Southern YarnSpring has sprung,
The sun is ris,
I wonder where the birdies is…

They will no doubt be flocking through soon, mostly on their way further north. Thankfully some regulars have stayed around through the winter months – chickadees and nuthatches – and visit our feeders daily.

We took a walk through Kings Park a couple of weeks ago and saw a fleet of pelicans on the river (more than 100). Some were perched on bits of remaining ice. Further along the track, Judy was buzzed by a cheeky chickadee. Luckily, she had come prepared with some black sunflower seeds in her pocket and was soon treated to that unique pleasure of having them feed from her hand. Birds I view this issue is about wood ducks (p.8).

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