Category Archives: Membership

Southern Yarn for Nov-Dec, 2024

The Southern Yarn is once again complete and ready. We held off in order to include content from our formal dinner last weekend where we celebrated our 75th anniversary as a club.

This means that the Southern Yarn got impacted by the postal strike. Perhaps it was good that we did not even get it into the mail, but we will let you know what happens in terms of our postal customers. For now, we will send the link to our email list so you can read it before Canada Post and their union sort out their differences and catch up on the backlog that is sure to be mounting daily. 

Here is Charlie Powell’s Editor’s Corner, to get you started.

For Remembrance Day* this year, we attended the Service in the small rural hamlet of Domain, Manitoba. It was heartening to see the turnout — especially young families.

The outdoor elements included the usual wreath-laying, reading names of locals who enlisted for WWI and II, and Last Post, Rouse and National Anthem, all under surprisingly “mild” weather for this time of year. That was followed with an indoor gathering in the very spacious Community Centre.

One of the few solemn formalities was a projected showing of Terry Kelly’s “A Pittance of Time” music video – you can easily Google it and is worth watching! Children’s participation had been pre-encouraged with an art competition. The results were on display and winners were announced and prizes awarded. Then all were treated to refreshments – donuts, tea, coffee and time to view the artwork and chat with friends.

[*I guess I should explain, for those who are not aware … In Canada, Remembrance Day is commemorated much the same as ANZAC Day is down under.]

As Jenny Gates explains (p.7), our Southern Yarn may or may not remain at its current 8 pages – it will largely depend on how much original content is shared by members and readers.

Oh, and it’s time to renew your membership (p.3). As always, thank you to our advertisers, Peter, Jenny, Brian, Ed, Mike, ….

Yarn July August 2024

The Southern Yarn for July-August 2024

24-Yarn_0708-JulyAug The Southern Yarn for July August is complete and posted here for your enjoyment. 

Here is the editorial to get you started:

I’m a bit too old and unfit for cricket these days, but there was a time when I, along with other younger and fitter fellow DUCW members, played and enjoyed the game at a competitive level. In the winter we played (and won the championship) indoors (with a tennis ball) and in the summer we played at Assiniboine Park. We had to stake out the boundary and peg a large mat down for the pitch. So, it is good to learn that an upgrade is in the works (see p.5) since there are now so many new Canadians, particularly from South Asia, who also want to continue enjoying their traditional sport.

With the Paris Olympics about to start, we will no doubt soon be cheering on and celebrating new heroes. Australia’s and New Zealand’s first Olympians get a mention on p. 4.

There is also more of our Club history (see p.6), thanks to Jenny Gates and our bird this month is the oriole. Thanks again to all our sponsors, contributors and advertisers.

Charlie

Yarn – Jan-Feb 2024

24-Yarn_0102-JanFeb So, we’re into 2024 already, and The Yarn is right there, along for the ride with you.

The January-February edition is available now, and here is the Editorial to get you started:

Happy new year, Yarn readers! And it’s not just a new year, it’s also the Club’s 75th! That’s quite an achievement for a little outpost here in the middle of North America, eh?! Talk about the “Aussie/Kiwi battler” – the DUCW exemplifies just such a character. And this little Southern Yarn gazette plays a not so insignificant part in the battle to stay alive and relevant ‘midst the constant bombardment of alt-media’s missiles, mortar and manipulations.

So, if you value these 8 pages in your inbox or mailbox every couple of months, please heed Catherine’s renewal reminder (p.1). Where else does one find such concise and concentrated downunder content? This edition, again, is a typical example – there’s Club and member news, book reviews, bird views, OZ and NZ news – you choose.

Since there likely would not be a DUCW if it weren’t for the BCATP, it gets another prominent mention (p.6). The humble but joyful little canary gets the honour of first bird “viewed” this year (p.8).

Huge thanks again to Jenny, Peter, Judy, Catherine, advertisers, Brian, et al.

The Southern Yarn – Nov December 2023

23-Yarn_1112-NovDec Nov-Dec 2023 Yarn

The November December issue of The Southern Yarn is available online now, in full colour with links to source and extended content. It will also be in the post this week, in its glorious goldenrod analog paper edition, for those who still anticipate delivery in their letter boxes. 

To get you started, here is the editorial: 

On 20 September, 1939, Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced to Parliament that Australia was offering the British Government an expeditionary force to bolster the Royal Air Force as it expanded for World War II.

Apart from a force headquarters, the offer comprised 1 Fighter Wing Headquarters with Nos 7 and 15 Squadrons; 2 Bomber Wing Headquarters with Nos 1 and 8 Squadrons; 3 Bomber Wing Headquarters with Nos 16 and 17 Squadrons; and an Air Stores Park, a Medical Receiving Station, a Base Area Headquarters and a Base Depot. The number of personnel required to service this force totalled 3,200 officers and personnel, including a reinforcement pool of 225. Continue reading

Southern Yarn for March-April, 2023

The March-April edition of The Southern Yarn is once again available for your enjoyment. 

To get you started, here is Charlie’s editorial:

A couple of bits came my way for this issue that triggered some nostalgia.

Regular Yarn readers will already know that I have a soft spot for Australian bird life, and I’ve been known to eagerly play a YouTube video of a kookaburra laughing or a lyrebird doing imitations for Canuck friends who had a more deprived upbringing. However, in addition to Vegemite, there are many other enjoyable reminders of “home”, such as hearing the ABC Radio News theme music – fair dinkum! Growing up in the ’50s the radio was it for news, entertainment and serials. Continue reading