Welcome to Winnipeg, Tom

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed Global punter Aussie Tom Hackett for the 2022/23 season and beyond. General manager Kyle Walters selected the 29-year-old in the first round, sixth overall during the 2022 Global Draft.

Heralding from Melbourne, Tom was twice honoured with the Ray Guy Award (2014, 2015) as the top punter in the NCAA during his days at Utah.

Looking forward to seeing you on the field, Tom.

Yarn for April May 2022

Here is the Yarn for April and May, 2022. 

There is a lot here to read on the 8 pages, including the cover story about a new land acknowledgement project that has created something we’d like you to comment on.

Remember that, unlike the print edition, the PDF version of our newsletter allows you to connect to hyperlinks embedded in many of the text items.

Enjoy!

Yarn February/March 2022

Welcome to the Southern Yarn for February/March.

Here is the Editorial to get you started:

As explained on our website: “The Down Under Club of Winnipeg (DUCW) has been proudly and enthusiastically operating in Manitoba for almost 70 years. It came into existence in the 1940s when Australian and New Zealand servicemen, who had been training in this area through the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, informally gathered as a meeting of mates.”

It is now 70-plus years and, sadly, none of those founding vets are still with us. As time marches on we naturally contemplate how to continue our evolution and remain of relevance in our community. Meanwhile, it’s fitting to be reminded of that extraordinary logistical effort and show of solidarity and cooperation across the Empire that was a necessary response to foreign aggression – see “Getting to know…” p.6.

Driving along rural Manitoba roads in the dead of winter, I don’t expect to view many different birds. Sometimes lucky enough to see an owl atop a hydro (electricity) pole, or a flock of snow buntings. Occasionally a covey of small chicken-like birds is disturbed in its roadside dining and takes off fast and low. After a recent such sighting and still needing a subject for Birds I View, I researched whether they were quail or partridge and determined they must be the latter, but since partridge had their turn a couple of years ago, quail got the nod this time – p.8. All this and so much more bits of news that might have escaped your notice over the past two months. As always, big thanks to Jenny, Brian, Judy, Peter and other readers who contribute and offer feedback; not to mention our sponsors!

Southern Yarn Dec 2021 – Jan 2022

It’s time for the last, AND the first Yarn of the years we are bridging with this issue. Stand by for the Dec-Jan issue of The Southern Yarn in your mailbox in glorious yellow paper and B&W print, or in modern full colour (with live hyperlinks!) via the PDF documents featured as always here on our website

And good luck with getting used to saying and writing the new year 2022. That’s a lot of twos, but it has a nice ring two it, right? 

Yarn Dec 2021 - Jan 2022

The Southern Yarn, Dec 2021 to Jan 2022

And here’s Charlie’s editorial to get you started.

As Peter reports, our recent AGM was fun and multi-national. Not only that, some great ideas emerged and you will see their influence on the content in future issues of The Southern Yarn. As always, we welcome the contributions from members and friends. So, “Thank You” to Jude McCudden for her thoughtful poetic offering (p. 6) and Peter Debenham’s friend, Brian McCann, for his ‘Great Ocean Drive” story (p. 5). Also, Jenny has put together some member related snippets in “Re Member” (p. 3). Again, I thank our regulars and our advertisers!

Meanwhile, as the nursery rhyme advises: “Christmas is coming and the geese are getting fat. Please put a penny in the poor man’s hat. If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do. If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you!” And as this food safety professional advises: Keep it simple, keep it cold or keep it hot, but keep it safe!

Be generous and … Enjoy!
– Charlie