The Swiss Connectionby 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… Continue reading Recap: Kaffee und Kuchen October 2024
The Lot of the Family Historian by John Clarke The family historian’s lot is to conduct research, gather information and put it in order. The lot of the family historian’s family, if the family historian dies before putting the information acquired in order (which is quite often the case), is to decide what to do… Continue reading Recap: Kaffee und Kuchen September 2024
by John Clarke Making Musical Connections Music has always brought people together, whether to sing, play an instrument in a group, or simply to listen. The Kegelstatt Ensemble’s “Barossa Deutsch” Konzert brought people from Adelaide and all parts of the Barossa Valley to the Langmeil Lutheran Church, Tanunda to experience an extraordinary programme that brought… Continue reading Recap: Barossa Deutsch Konzert
A Story in Ten Objects by John Clarke Is it possible to represent the South Australian/German connection in ten objects? That was the task historian Samuel Doering set himself as guest speaker at the last meeting of the German speaking group Kaffee und Kuchen. First, appropriately for an audience brought together by the promise of… Continue reading Recap: Kaffee und Kuchen August 2024
In 1933 the German cruiser Köln came to Australia. That visit was the subject of Christine Winter’s talk at the last meeting of the German speaking group Kaffee und Kuchen. Christine Winter is an Associate Professor in the School of Humanities at Flinders University. Ostensibly the purpose of the year long voyage was the training… Continue reading Recap: Kaffee und Kuchen July 2024
Celebrated Pianist in Homecoming Concert The name Leske has been synonymous with Classical Music in South Australia for more than fifty years. So it was fitting that the finale of Adelaide German Week 2023 should be a piano recital by Clemens Leske junior. His father Clemens Leske senior, himself a renowned pianist, had been Director… Continue reading Celebrated Pianist in Homecoming Concert
A Unique Musical Experience By John Clarke It is rare that a musician of Clemens Leske’s stature and experience presents a concert outside of a capital city and rarer still with ticket prices low enough for all lovers of classical music to attend. Thanks to the generosity of Chateau Tanunda, which has opened the doors… Continue reading Konzert at the Chateau – a unique musical experience
The Enemy at Home by John Clarke Whose home is it? Who is the enemy? The Enemy at Home – German Internees in World War I Australia is the title of a book by Nadine Helmi and Gerhard Fischer, and it is a title that invites such questions. Was Australia less the home of second… Continue reading Recap: The Enemy at Home. Our September Kaffee und Kuchen
The Carnival Experience by John Clarke For most people carnival or Mardi Gras conjures up pictures of colourful Italian, Spanish or South American street parades, but one of the world’s largest and longest carnivals is held annually in the German city of Cologne. At the last meeting of the German speaking group Kaffee und Kuchen… Continue reading The Carnival Experience- This was May Kaffee und Kuchen
by John Clarke When asked why she brought her daughter Charlotte to the Tuesday afternoon playgroup at the Langmeil Centre, Justine replied, “Because it is different.” The difference is that Spielgruppe and Kinder Klub, a club for slightly older children which takes place at the same time, are conducted principally in German. While Justine’s partner… Continue reading Spielgruppe – A playgroup with a difference
