Category Archives: Movies

Yarn January-February 2023

The first issue of The Southern Yarn is available now, online and in colour, and will be making its way through the post to those still having our postal version in glorious B&W on yellow paper.

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

With this first edition for 2023 it is probably worth another reminder of the origins of the DUCW – namely, a bunch of Kiwi and Aussie servicemen wanting to socialize together after making it through WWII and choosing to make Winnipeg their home. This newsletter evolved later, and while sadly those founding vets have all passed on, we try to maintain a nod to their contribution by consistently including an article or something with a military theme – serious or otherwise. So, on p.6, in “Getting to know” there is a piece of history that was news to me until I read of it in the Australian Geographic. The focus is on the secret diamonds, but the bigger picture is the bombing of Broome, WA (I had only heard of the attack on Darwin). It is good to note that the AG journalist rightly acknowledged the critical role of the (Indigenous) Nyal Nyal man who first made contact with the survivors and raised the alarm – as opposed to the Mission Brother, who gets the credit in other accounts.

There are other contributions by my usual collaborators — Jenny, Peter and Judy — and I am particularly grateful this month to Jude McCudden (observations of changes downunder, p.2) and Ed Powell (guest Birds I View observer/writer, p.8). Hopefully they will inspire more of you readers to send in news or links to stories of interest to others. Special thanks, as always, to our advertisers, and Brian Hydesmith who assembles this into its presentable format. Continue reading

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

Watch this!

We love getting recommendations for events, movies, TV shows and books from our members. Two of these are in the Dec 2020/Jan 2021 issue of the Yarn – repeated below as reminders – and the first one was sent to us by Chris Brasher.

The new live-action movie “Mulan” is directed by New Zealander Niki Caro, who also directed “Whale Rider”. “Mulan” is on Disney+ and it’s very good. Thanks for letting us know, Chris.

Netflix is showing “The Dressmaker”, an excellent Aussie flick based on the book of the same name by Rosalie Ham, directed by Jocelyn Moorehouse, and starring an extraordinary cast including Kate Winslet and Judy Davis. Highly recommended by Jenny Gates.

And CBC Gem is currently screening a program on the show The Nature of Things titled “Wild Australia: After the Fires”. Signs of life and hope emerge from the scorched landscapes of the worst wildlife disaster in modern history. This recommendation comes to us from Brian Hydesmith.

Any suggestions for things to watch or do? Email us at info@downunderclub.mb.ca and we’ll share them with members.

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.