That was fun: playing the piano-accordion, in the restaurant of the Dutch shop, in Smithfield, Sydney, on Mothers Day. "Typically Dutch" was the comment from some visitors.

I am telling my stories here. Have you told yours?

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	The board of the D.A.C.C. (Dutch Australian Cultural Centre) would like to organise talks, by Dutch-born visual (and later other media) artists, on the topic of their works.
	The board is keen to highlight the works created by Dutch-born artists, who live in or near Sydney.
	We would like to arrange for sessions of talks, given by Dutch-born artists, using using audio-visual presentations, in various locations, in and around Sydney.

Interested? Please contact us: info@dacc.com.au OR: jo@ozcloggie.com
( Four members of the D.A.C.C. board are involved in working with visual arts, to various degrees and keen to participate. )

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Federation of Netherlands Societies - On Facebook.

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CAN YOU HELP?

A Mr Herman Smulders is searching for his father, who left the Netherlands for Australia, in 1950.
The father's name: Christiaan Gerardus Ballintijn.
It would seem at at some stage Mr Ballintijn's wife or daughter lived in Penshurst.
PLEASE email Jo M. (webmaster) : jo @ ozcloggie.com if you can help.
Details, here, in Dutch.

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Heard Mr Charles Schwietert speak about "Holland, the country where everything used to be allowed. Or in Mr. Schwietert's own untranslated words: "Leven in het land van JP de MP, of te wel hoe Jan Peter Balkenende ons allemaal gelukkig maakt."
It was Thursday 8 January 2009, in the Rabobank, Darling Park Tower 3, level 16, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney. Organised by Dutchlink. Much food for thought: The talk and the event!

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There I was, thinking I proposed - off the top of my head - a novel idea , at the DACC Board meeting but it's not that novel.
Because, I have just found this
migrantweb.com/hostelsforum
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What I suggested was that the D.A.C.C. (Dutch Australian Cultural Centre) organise a reunion (or more) of those of us who first lived in *migrant hostels*, before we moved into proper housing, after we arrived, in Australia, in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

(My mother and I sitting outside our nissan hut, in Villawood Migrant Hostel.)
Migrant hostels (That I lived in) tended to be ex-army camps and were given the fancy name: Migrant Reception Centres.
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My parents and I moved through:
Bonegilla ( near Albury),
Scheyville (near Windsor),
Villawood (near Chester Hill)
and
Matraville (on Pozieres Ave.)
(Not the Bunnerong Rd Hostel. That was for British migrants) .
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READ ON

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Migrating then - Migrating now- Letting off steam: READ ON
ON AIR When Dutch language programs, in Sydney were new. READ ON

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UPDATE: This young Japanese student, had apparently tasted the bitter and the sweet.

So now it was time for the SALTY!!! (We Dutch do like it salty!) MORE HERE!

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I am hoping that this website is visited by Dutch-born people who DO LIKE Dutch-Australian Clubs and others who DON'T like Dutch Clubs.
And by Dutch-born people who have been here a looooooong time and are staying and those who are temporarily enjoying the space, the freedom and the Aussie culture.

Surely we can all appreciate the energy and work that continues to be put into making the older Dutch-Australians happy.
Please have a look here!!!!

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(This was the scene, at the Dutch shop ('t Winkeltje) in Smithfield. (Photos taken by Mrs Anita van Altena). Pictures sent to me by Mr Peter Hamer, who was there.

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Temporary paid employment: Recently arrived young family from the Netherlands, in Summer Hill, Sydney, is looking for a Dutch speaking assistant babysitter, to the Grandmother (who doesn't speak Dutch) with two children, aged four and six, a few times during the second half of December, perhaps also early January. Please contact Klaas Woldring, 4341 5170

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And now, the last word on: Sinterklaas., here!
A few days ago, I reported:
Today I bought the chocolate letters and the marzipan imiation fruit, and the taai-taai because 5 December is not far off.
You may remember me telling you about it HERE.

Before going to bed, on December 5 Dutch children leave their shoes (or clogs) near the fireplace or modern substitute and hope that St Nicholas (Sinterklaas) will send his assistant(s) Black Pete(r) (Zwarte Piet) down the chimney (or find some other way in, to leave presents.

I have been telling you this, on my previous websites from when I first found the internet in 1996!!

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The Dutch established themselves in the U.S., before it was called the U.S., and called the city New Amsterdam. Soon it became New York. They brought with them, the tradition of celebrating St Nicholas Day (Sinterklaas Dag) and soon (like many of us) anglicised it to Santa Claus.

Then there was The Night Before Christmas and there was Coca Cola and the rest is history.

And so, when my children were born here in Sydney, their mother and I revived the tradition, for our family too. My parents and I had forgoten about it until my daughter was born, in 1981, just in time for being two months old at Sinterklaas time.

And so, as in previous years, next Monday, 1st December, I'll be playing Sinterklaas songs again, in the retirement village, in Chester Hill.

There will be young children attending again, from the local school, wearing mitres, made from cardboard and the village's residents will be watching as these children (who know much more about Santa Claus than about Sinterklaas) each get to have an audience with the good saint and receive a small gift (......if they have been good!).

My own _children_ (No longer children) will no doubt visit my father (91) (in the same village) and we'll have our chocolate letters and some pepernoten, and keep the tradition alive.

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Joop (John) de Wit, of the Concordia Club, in Newcastle, (8 December, '08) wrote:
I'm still recovering and in a state of absolute shock having experienced the greatest St. Nicholas party for the children last Saturday at Marmong Park. I would like to thank everyone on behalf of our wonderful committee for all your help, support, assistance in every way shape or form.

More than 122 children attended this very hot and humid day. A difficult head count revealed over 300 people in the park. An absolute great success and thanks to all those who participated to make the day the success it was. I like to mention a few persons by name however the possibility of forgetting someone is too risky to do this, 'THANKS TO ALL' is a brief way and to the point to all those concerned.

However, having said that, I must Thank St. Nicholas and his 5 black Pieters for attending this special day so far away from a wintery Holland to give us the pleasure of his company.

Looking at the 120 plus photos we took last Saturday not one unhappy face. (That was after St. Nick had left of course...) All the people that arrived to celebrate this special day with their offspring - we like to see you all again next year on Saturday 5th December.
Weather wise I don't want to comment but I would have liked the temperature as it was last Saturday in Holland, a cool 5 degrees and to me a much better alternative, I'm personally speaking of course, because I better be careful as I don't want to be a late call for St. Nicholas to finish up in Spain to do labour work for the next 10 months.

Also a last reminder for our Multicultural concert next Sunday, 14 December, 08!
We had a great write up in the Herald this morning, but I must apologise for the mistakes in the paper as they have not used the amended version of the flyer I sent them last week.
Also apologies to the Dutch Quintet who didn't get a mention including the combined choir. Apologies also to the choirs who cannot participate this year for various reasons, all in all we are looking forward to another celebration of multiculturalism in this area and that's all thanks to you!

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A Volunteers Award was presented to Jan Mees for his services to the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre, Smithfield and to the late Ankie Dupree and Jan Mees for their services to the Concordia Club in Newcastle by the NSW Heritage Office, on Thursday 20 November, in the AGL Theatre, Museum of Sydney and the following citation gave details of the award:

"Our final Heritage Volunteer Award goes to JAN MEES and the late ANKIE DUPREE who were nominated by the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre, Sydney and the Concordia Society, Newcastle

When Jan received news he was to receive this award he asked if he could share it in memory of a wonderful woman, his late partner of 30 years and an absolute rock of the Dutch-Australian community, Ankie Dupree. Ankie, also known to her friends as Ann, lost a brave battle against cancer in July this year.

Ankie would have celebrated 25 years as President of Concordia in 2008 and her leadership throughout this time was without parallel. With Jan, Ankie was also a member of the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre in Sydney and she was a dedicated volunteer serving her local community and a great promoter of our nation’s multicultural heritage.

Jan is one of earliest members of the Centre, and is a popular hard working volunteer serving the Dutch community in both Sydney and Newcastle. He is the one you rely upon to get a job done quickly and efficiently. He staffs the Centre, sits on its board, organises film, radio, and DVD afternoons at the Abel Tasman retirement Village, collects books and materials for the Centre’s library and archive, sets up exhibitions and is bus conductor and driver for the community’s day excursions. Jan even takes on the role of the Dutch Santa Claus (Sinterklaas) which is always a highlight of the community’s Christmas festivities.

Would you please join the Minister in congratulating JAN MEES and in saluting the memory of ANKIE DUPREE"

"*More here*":http://www.redbubble.com/people/mrjoop/writing/2084872-i-see-links-the-botany-historical-trust
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MORE HERE

Genealogy request:
My name is Rita de graaf de Jong.  I am searching for my  family tree, relatieves who are living in Australia.  The brother of my grandmother was  Jacob Schoon, born, 11-august-1884,   Kolhorn, Holland.   He died 1966, at Waterfall, Helensburgh,(83). Jacob arrived  per ship WAARWIJK, nov.,1908, Sydney.  He had fair hair, blue eyes , Was 5 ft 9 in. and had a tatoo mark on the right arm, bird over anchor. Jacob married in 1934, Jean Farrell,  in Bulli. Jean  arrived per IRISHMAN, 19 june 1913, and was born in Scotland. Jacob and Jean had 2 or 3 children,  Thelma ? Bill ?    I have a photo of the family, of 4. Also a photo of the parents and 3 brothers of  Jean. ( but not clear) Jacob Schoon visited his family in Holland, twice. The last time about 1960. If there is a person who can remember this persons or is related to Jacob Schoon, please email me. (graa5112@planet.nl) Rita de Graaf de Jong, Rijksweg 80 1786 PX,  Den Helder The Netherlands.
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Echoes from the Past

from the Federation of Netherlands Societies website:
"Echoes from the Past"
My name is Frances Larder.
I am a committee member of D.A.C.C.
I am of Dutch descent but was born in Dutch-East India, as it was called before the war.
My parents and their 4 children arrived in Australia, after the war, like so many other war torn families.
I obtained a degree in visual arts and for quite a number of years I participated in solo and group exhibitions both in Australia and overseas.
"Echoes from the past" will consist of the following elements:
* Two wall hangings (showing the maps of the Netherlands depicting before and after reclamation).
* A marionette stage and marionettes depicting the costumes of each regions
* The history and traditional celebration of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
* Miniature furniture to highlight how people lived in the early 1900s
* Indonesian Wayang puppets highlighting the strong connection the Dutch had with the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia our closest Asian
neighbour).
* Indonesian batik traditions showing the link between the Dutch and Indonesian cultures
* Video and dvd- telling some of the history, music, and dancing
* A showcase displaying spare marionettes
The proposed project will only be able to proceed with the help of the volunteers and sufficient funding must be made available to bring it to fruitition.
For those willing volunteers or anyone needing more information,
I can be contacted, here!
Frances Larder.
MORE HERE.......

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Better than chocolate!! .....was launched recently and one of our members here, Yvonne Louis, was part of it all. This anthology has now been released to support the charity Room to Read (www.roomtoread.org).

Better than Chocolate is claimed to be a delicious assortment of deftly crafted tales that mirror the facts and fantasies of the circle of life.
It has a few snippets of the book A Brush with Mondrian in it that deal with the art mystery/memoir that will be published by Murdoch Books. A Brush with Mondrian is partly a migration story and Yvonne Louis is currently dotting the i's and crossing the t's, before its release. Keep an eye out!!
Click on Yvonne's avatar and get in touch, please.
So good to see Dutch-Australians out there, doing these things!!!!
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The book Better Than Chocolate is available online at www.thewritersdozen.com or by emailing info@thewritersdozen.com. ($20.00 plus postage)

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Please reach out and tell/ show as much or as little as you like. Let's get to know fellow Dutch-Australians of all ages.

	There are, at least three of us, who display our creations, our art, our photos, our writing on a site, called RedBubble.com. All three of us have a strong Dutch-Australian connection.
Jo, in NSW	Inge in WA	Marilyn in NSW