The Swiss Connection
by John Clarke
What do Australians know about Switzerland? Fine chocolates are made there. There are mountains and snow. They speak three languages – French, German and Italian – and they avoid international conflicts. Their hero is a crossbowman who once shot an apple off his son’s head.
At the last meeting of the German speaking group Kaffee und Kuchen the guest speaker was the Swiss Honorary Consul Patrick Wille.
Patrick Wille was born in the historic town of Erlenbach am Zürichsee. He studied law at the University of Zürich and was admitted to the bar as Rechtsanwalt (attorney-at-law) in 1999. As part of his mandatory military service he was sent to Bosnia-Herzegovina as a member of the Swiss peace-keeping force. He continued his studies in the United States in 2002 before coming to Australia the following year. He received his Master of Laws and Master of Business Administration from the Bond University, Queensland and was admitted as a Solicitor in New South Wales. He now practises Law in Adelaide, one of the few licensed to practise in both Australia and Switzerland.
In an entertaining speech he revealed connections between Switzerland and Autralia of which few would be aware. For example, Australia is the third most popular destination (outside of Europe) for Swiss emigrants after the USA and Canada. And Swiss immigrants have been coming here for a long time. The gold rushes of the 1850s drew many Italian Swiss; farming opportunities attracted the German Swiss; and the love of wine and wine making brought the French Swiss.
An advocate of Swiss immigration was Sophie (de Montmollin), the Swiss born wife of Charles La Trobe, 1st Superintendent of Port Phillip (from 1839 to 1851). She was an enthusiastic letter writer, and from her Victorian home she extolled the beauty of the countryside and the opportunities offered by the flourishing British colony.
Even earlier John Webber was portraying Australia’s attractions. The official artist on Captain Cook’s third voyage around the Pacific (1776-1780), Webber was born in London, the son of Swiss sculptor Abraham Wäber, and studied in Bern, Switzerland. He is best known today for his depiction of the death of Captain Cook.
So entrenched in Australian life, there are some companies that Australians do not realize are Swiss. Condensed milk has been in the pantry of Australian homes for generations. The Nestlé Company began in Switzerland. Roche Pharmaceuticals was founded in Basel, Switzerland in 1896. The Royal Flying Doctor arrives in outback Australia in a Pilatus PC-12, a Swiss made aircraft.
Did you know that Australia’s major export to Switzerland is gold? Or that the major import from Switzerland is still clocks and watches?
The next Kaffee und Kuchen meeting on Monday, 25 November will be preceded by a Norddeutsche Platten luncheon, starting at 12 midday (cost $15 per head). Those wishing to attend should contact Steffi Traeger (0408 621 384).