I delivered this address on behalf of Philip Langenhoven, Chairperson of The Afrikaans Club of New Zealand, at the opening of the Afrikaans collection at Christchurch Central Library on 25 June 2008.

_________________________________

Kia ora koutou, goeie middag almal and good afternoon everybody.

First of all I would like to apologise for not being able to attend this event after all, due to changes to my family situation this week. However, I am thankful to Jaco Swart for agreeing to front up on my behalf with a message from the Executive Committee of The Afrikaans Club of NZ - a cultural migrant support organisation.

The Afrikaans Club of NZ exists to offer an ‘African watering hole' to immigrants from South Africa and Namibia who wish to remain in contact with their cultural roots.

We know that NZ accommodates diverse peoples and has a growing multi-cultural society. We also know that New Zealanders are generally very understanding of our need to refresh ourselves culturally and emotionally from time to time, as this makes for more relaxed, confident and positive contributors to New Zealand society.

The 3 focus areas of The Afrikaans Club are: The family, music & drama and ‘reaching out'.

Seven years ago we initiated our KiwiKasie Festival, which involves an annual Afrikaans concert. We bring a popular Afrikaans singer to NZ for this event and we organise a national tour - also to Christchurch. We always try to include local talent in the preliminary programme.

The fact that Kiwis generally accept and understand this basic cultural need of ours, does not go unnoticed. We appreciate your positive acceptance of us and our culture, which really revolves around our language, Afrikaans. We don't have a unique dance, as Indians or Pacific Islanders have, but mainly the language. And of course we have food, like BILTONG and BOEREWORS (beef coil sausage).

When discussing our Afrikaans culture, we refer to activities where we can use our mother tongue, Afrikaans. We love story and joke telling, singing in Afrikaans, etc. If you have been wondering about this before, perhaps you will now understand why our culture really revolves around our language, Afrikaans. There is nothing sinister or imperialistic about it, rest assured!

But we continuously remind our supporters to participate on other levels in Kiwi society. Whether it's through churches, schools and other community services, we believe we should get involved in life around us. We continue to communicate through our internal communications media that we need to get constructively involved. We believe that we need to assist Kiwis to continue to shape and - keep in shape - the orderly and pleasant environment we all have the privilege to live in.

I think South Africans generally have a ‘soft landing' in NZ, compared with others who are struggling with the English language. Although there are differences between us and the Kiwi culture, we have a good start with the similarities of rugby, netball, cricket, driving on the left side of the road, barbeques (or BRAAIS!), outdoor life, etc.

Us Japies are really trying to fit in well and make a good contribution to this wonderful country.

This is perhaps why it is so much more special that the Christchurch Central Library has agreed to help realise the dream of Afrikaans speaking locals, by initiating a first ever Afrikaans book collection.

It is therefore my privilege and pleasure to announce that the Executive Committee of The Afrikaans Club of New Zealand has decided to donate an amount of $2,000 to the library, earmarked for the acquisition of additional Afrikaans language books, to maximise the initial impact on the local community who love to read Afrikaans. We are aware that there are also English speaking South Africans who will enjoy being able to read the language they were exposed to over the years in South Africa. We trust Marietjie Swart will be happy to support the process of selecting a further representative collection of new books.

This financial donation is additional to the very modest book collection donated by the Club some weeks ago, to strengthen the first collection facilitated between the Library and Marietjie.

While we wouldn't want to interfere in any way with the library's intention to support a gradual expansion of the Afrikaans collection, The Afrikaans Club executive and our members also support the principle of making our financial contribution where possible, to further demonstrate our appreciation towards Kiwi institutions that support our migrant community.

In 2003 The Afrikaans Club initiated a similarly sized project with the East Coast Bays Library in Browns Bay, Auckland. That first collection was also modest, but the Club continued to raise funds, and two years later managed to donate $4,000 to the library for further expansion of the Afrikaans collection. We were delighted to learn of your intention to pursue a similar initiative in Christchurch.

Thank you for giving us the space we need from time to time to celebrate our cultural heritage and for respecting our basic cultural needs. But thank you also for welcoming us to your great Aotearoa New Zealand.

No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa. Thank you.

24 June 2008

Press Release

The Auckland based The Afrikaans Club of New Zealand has demonstrated its commitment to a national focus when it approved a sponsorship of $2,000 to the Christchurch Central Library, for the acquisition of new Afrikaans language books.

This sponsorship follows after ‘Afrikaans in Christchurch' - a local website run by an enterprising husband and wife team, Jaco and Marietjie Swart - had been instrumental in realising the first ever Afrikaans collection in the Christchurch Central Library. This library also needs to be acknowledged and applauded for entertaining Marietjie's suggestions and for bringing the project to fruition.

This donation is additional to the very modest book collection donated by the Club some weeks ago, to strengthen the first collection facilitated between the Library and Ms Swart.

While accepting with appreciation the library management's willingness to support a gradual expansion of the collection, The Afrikaans Club and its members also support the principle of making its own financial contributions - where possible - to Kiwi institutions that support our migrant community so positively. There is high appreciation for the fact that New Zealanders are so willing to respect and empower migrant communities in different ways, hence our wish to make a small contribution.

In 2003 The Afrikaans Club initiated a similarly sized project with the East Coast Bays Library in Browns Bay, Auckland. That first collection was also modest, but the Club continued to raise funds, and two years later managed to donate $4,000 to the library for further expansion of the Afrikaans collection, and also facilitated the selection, purchase and transportation of the new books from South Africa. At the time Marietjie Swart was very interested in this project and we were delighted when she announced her intention to pursue a similar initiative in Christchurch.

The Afrikaans Club has 3 focus areas: the family, music & drama and ‘reaching out'.
We offer dance functions for South African migrant families in Auckland, with a special focus on Afrikaans speakers' cultural needs. We encourage members to cherish their identity, but also to be positively involved in Kiwi life.
We bring Afrikaans performing artists to NZ every year, to participate in our festival called KiwiKasie, celebrating our Afrikaans language and culture by also incorporating local Afrikaans talent into the programme. Where possible these artists are also taken to other centres in New Zealand, i.e. Christchurch.
The Club directs some projects to the wider Kiwi environment (see our website for details of our support given to the Auckland Museum's refurbishment project). The Club also invites our members to bring Kiwi friends to our social events. We encourage our members to contribute positively to NZ society.

The vast majority of Afrikaans speaking South African immigrants regard it as a priority that their children should adapt well in New Zealand and master English properly. Through our children's normal contact with teachers, friends and the media this element of their adaptation is very well developed in most instances.

But many of us also wish for our kids to have a command of our mother tongue. Research has shown that children who learn at an early age to be bilingual or multilingual have plenty of cognitive and cultural advantages (New Zealand Woman's Weekly, 12 January 2004). Since we are (at least) bilingual people from a country with eleven official languages, it is natural for many of us to accept the above as a realistic possibility, and fairly easy to achieve.

We increasingly find that Kiwi's understand that people's culture and language could be a stabilising factor in helping immigrants to settle down emotionally. It also is an extension of one's personality and humanity.

For more information on The Afrikaans Club, please visit www.afrikaans.org.nz, or telephone Philip Langenhoven at the number below.

Ends.

Philip Langenhoven
Public Relations Officer
The Afrikaans Club of New Zealand
Mobile: 027-657 2147

MEDIA RELEASE 19 June 2008, by the Christchurch Library

Library Launches Afrikaans Collection

Christchurch's growing Afrikaans community will have ready access to books in their own language, with next week's launch of the Christchurch City Libraries' Afrikaans collection.

The Afrikaans collection will join books in Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Persian, Russian, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Thai and Vietnamese - making the new section the thirteenth in the Libraries' World languages collection.

Libraries and Information Manager Carolyn Robertson says the Afrikaans collection will open with around 250 items - a mixture of fiction, non fiction and children's material.

"We were originally approached four years ago with a request to provide books in Afrikaans," says Mrs Robertson. "At that time we felt we could not support a collection, but since then there has been an increase in the number of Afrikaans speakers, and strong support from the Afrikaans community to have a collection. We've been able to revisit the request and meet the demand."

The views of local Afrikaans speakers were sought to help City Libraries decide what the collection would offer. The majority of items were then sourced overseas.

The collection, housed in the World Languages section of the Central Library in Gloucester Street , will be launched on Wednesday 25 June.

Goeie nuus Christchurchers!

Vanaf 25 Junie 2008, kan Afrikaanse boeke by die Christchurch Sentrale Biblioteek in Gloucester Straat uitgeneem word!

Afrikaans is nou op die eerste vloer in die "Tale van die Wereld" area verteenwoordig tussen tale soos Chinees, Duits, Frans, Koreaans,Nederlands, Japanees en Persies. Die doel hiervan is om vir ons, wat Afrikaans is en hier in Canterbury woon, boeke in ons moedertaal aan te bied.

Ons is baie opgewonde daaroor. Om meer te lees oor die "World Languages Collection Policy", lees gerus http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Policy/FacilitiesCollections/WorldLanguages.pdf

Op hierdie stadium bestaan die versameling uit een rak boeke wat die Christchurch Stadsraad aangekoop het en 'n vyftigtal nuwe boeke wat goedgunstiglik aan ons geskenk is deur die Afrikaanse Klub van Nieu Seeland.

Afrikaanse kinderboeke is op die grondvloer, in die "Centre of the Child" beskikbaar.

Die biblioteek aanvaar donasies van boeke wat in 'n baie goeie toestand is, maar daar is streng kriteria oor die boeke wat hulle in hul versameling opneem. So byvoorbeeld wil hulle nie graag boeke aanvaar wat ouer is as vyf jaar nie. 'n Afrikaanse vriendin het voorgestel dat as mens na 'n besoek aan Suid-Afrika 'n nuwe trefferroman saambring, en jy dit klaar gelees het, jy dit dalk kan skenk aan die biblioteek as jy nie spasie daarvoor het op jou huisboekrak nie. Voor jy dit sou skenk, gesels egter eers met die biblioteek of hulle dit sal kan gebruik. Ons kan jou in kontak bring met die regte mense daar.

Lidmaatskap vir die Christchurch City Libraries is gratis vir inwoners van Christchurch. Maar ons weet van heelwat Afrikaanse lesers in naburige streke, soos in Suid- en Noord-Canterbury, wie op 'n gereelde grondslag in Christchurch kom. Weet dat julle ook welkom is om die boeke te gebruik en uit te neem. As jy buite die stadsgrense woon maar "rates" betaal op 'n stadseiendom kan jy 'n "residents card" kry en gratis boeke uitneem. Die toeslag vir nie-inwoners is $2.50 per boek (wat 'n maand lank uitgeneem kan word).

Kyk vir meer inligting op
http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Services/Membership/

'n Versoek

Die versoek is nou om die versameling na behore te benut. Die biblioteek het aangebied om die versameling aan te vul met tyd, as die boeke benut word. Neem asseblief die boeke uit, en selfs die boeke wat jy dalk nie in Suid Afrika sou uitgeneem het nie, want hoe meer ons lees, hoe groter is die kans om nog boeke te kry.

Die Geskiedenis van die Biblioteekprojek

Gedurende die eerste deel van 2004, het ons verneem dat die Christchurch Biblioteek dit moontlik oorweeg om Afrikaanse leesstof aan te hou - mits daar voldoende lesers is wat van die diens gebruik sal maak. Die webwerf AfrikaansinChristchurch.org.nz het sy ontstaan aan die veldtog te danke. Ons het 'n behoeftebepaling gedoen deur middel van 'n vraelys, op ons webwerf. Na ontvangs van die ingevulde vraelyste, het ons die vraelyste verwerk en die verslag na die biblioteek gestuur vir voorlegging. Later in 2004 het ons antwoord gekry dat die Afrikaanssprekende gemeenskap ongelukkig nie op daardie stadium groot genoeg was om Afrikaanse boeke in die biblioteek te regverdig nie.

Na die 2006 sensus het Afrikaans in Christchurch in 2007 weer 'n versoek voorgele dat die Christchurch Stadsbiblioteek 'n Afrikaanse versameling begin. Die sensus het aangedui dat daar heelwat meer Afrikaanssprekendes in Christchurch woonagtig is as na die vorige sensus. Ons het in November 2007 gehoor dat die biblioteek voorlopig in beginsel toestemming gegee het dat 'n Afrikaanse versameling moontlik in die Sentrale Stadsbiblioteek aangehou kan word maar dat die biblioteek kan nie die besluit bekragtig voordat hulle weet dat voldoende mense die diens gaan benut nie. Hulle bekommernis was dat alhoewel daar voldoende Afrikaanssprekendes hier woonagtig is om 'n Afrikaanse versameling te kan he - dat dat 'n moontlike te klein persentasie van die mense belangstel in Afrikaanse media. Hulle wou graag hoor van mense wat sal baat vind by 'n Afrikaanse versameling.

Ons het die terugvoer op hierdie einste blad gekry en dit vir die biblioteek gegee. Die terugvoerders moes per e-pos reageer en verduidelik hoe hulle voordeel sal trek uit so 'n Afrikaanse versameling "will benefit from this collection" en wat sal voel dat dit hul behoeftes sal bevredig "who feel it would meet their needs". Die mense het ook gese watse tipe media hulle in die biblioteek sou wou sien.

Uiteindelik word die lankverwagte versameling in Junie 2008 bekendgestel.

Baie dankie vir jou hulp

Baie dankie aan almal wat terugvoer gegee het - daar is op daardie terugvoer gewerk om hierdie versameling op die been te bring.

Baie dankie ook vir die biblioteek en die Afrikaanse Klub wat gehelp het om boeke daar te stel vir ons leesplesier.

 

Culture Galore is 'n heerlike geleentheid wat deur die Stadsraad van Christchurch aangebied word om Christchurch se kulturele verskeidenheid te vier. Hierdie viering vind plaas met musiek, danse, kos, kuns en kunsvlyt van die ongeveer 50 kulture wat verteenwoordig is in Christchurch. Dit vind plaas tussen 12 - 4, by die Ray Blank Park, Maidstone Road in Avonhead. Toegang is gratis.

Hou saam met ons duimvas vir 'n pragtige sonnige dag sodat die 7 000 besoekers wat in 2007 gekom het, weer 'n draai gaan kom maak (en sommer nog vriende saambring).

Ons persoonlike hoogtepunt is om te smul aan al die heerlike kosse - mens kan jou smaakkliere 'n wereldtoer laat onderneem want daar is kosstalletjies van oral soos Switserland, Holland, Pole, Rusland, Korea, Japan, China, Suidelike-Afrika en nog vele meer. Ander mense ervaar die danse en opvoerings wat die hele middag duur, as hoogtepunt. Kan nie anders nie - veral nie as daar 'n so 'n groot verskeidenheid is soos 'n Maori Karakia en Kapahaka is, Hollandse koor, Latynse danse, Fillipynse danse, "Belly Dancing" en nog meer op die spyskaart is nie. Vir vele kinders is die gratis werkswinkels - soos seepkerfkuns, vlieermaak en gesigverf die kersie op die koek.

Suider-Afrikaanse kosse en kunsvlyt word verkoop deur die South Island of NZ Association of Southern Africans (SINZASA) wat vanjaar weer teenwoordig gaan wees. Hulle beloof boereworsrolle, biltong, kaneel-pannekoek, melktert, koeksisters asook Afrika-kunsvlyt.

Kom loer in by die "Afrikaans in Christchurch" inligtingsstalletjie en kom se dag!

"Afrikaans in Christchurch" is 'n spanpoging tussen Jaco en Marietjie Swart wat 'n passie Afrikaans het. Al is ons nie 'n amptelike sosiale klub nie wil ons vir Christchurchers bewus maak dat Afrikaans ook hier gepraat word.

Hiermee die inligting wat ons op ons inligtingsbord is:

 

Welcome to Afrikaans in Christchurch!

About Afrikaans

Afrikaans is one of the languages spoken in Southern Africa. It is a modern language from Germanic origin. Some great works of literature were, and still is, published in Afrikaans. It is also an academic language.

Small communities of Afrikaans-speaking people are based all over the world, after emigrating from Southern-Africa in recent years.

Afrikaans in Christchurch

A fair number of Afrikaans-speaking people made Christchurch their new home. No-one know exactly how many, but according to the 2006 census, 3500 South-Africans live in Christchurch. We estimate that Afrikaans is the mother tongue for 40% of these.

Literacy in your mother language is important for cultural and personal well-being. That is why many migrants quite naturally use their first language and pass also pass it on to the next generation. Furthermore, better communication is possible between parents and their children if they can use their mother-tongue. It has also been proven that bilingualism increase brain development in children.

Afrikaans in Christchurch encourages Afrikaans parents to speak and read Afrikaans to their children. From time to time we have an Afrikaans mother-and-toddler catch-up, to which anyone wanting to chat in Afrikaans is welcome to come along. It is good for children to see they are not the only kids speaking a second language.

Afrikaans in the Christchurch Library

Afrikaans in Christchurch did two research projects (one in 2003 and one in 2007) on the viability of Afrikaans books at the Christchurch Library.

Recently we got the excellent news that the Afrikaans population is now large enough to have Afrikaans as a language in the library.

The Afrikaans collection is not available yet. People wishing to read Afrikaans can let us know via our website what their needs are for Afrikaans books and magazines. We will continue to pass this information on to the Library, and will also keep you posted on what is happening.

We are very grateful to the Christchurch City Library for granting us the facility. We ask Afrikaans people to make regular use of the collection once it becomes available, not only to prevent it from gathering dust, but also to stimulate its growth.

Afrikaans in New Zealand

We are friends of the Afrikaans Club of New Zealand, based in Auckland. The aim of the Afrikaans Club is to introduce Afrikaans speakers as positive contributors to the New Zealand society, and for people to simply enjoy the Afrikaans language.

This club sends out a weekly electronic newsletter in in Afrikaans, called Brokkies. They also arrange a yearly Arts event, called the Kiwikasie Arts Festival. In the past, some of the Kiwikasie artists from South-Africa toured through other NZ cities and towns and we, as Afrikaans in Christchurch, organised three local Christchurch concerts for stars from South-Africa, in conjunction with the Afrikaans Club.

Visit www.afrikaans.org.nz for more information.

South African Recipes are online at www.RainbowCooking.co.nz

During our citizenship ceremony we were encouraged by the government to retain what is good and constructive about our culture and language, to enjoy it in New Zealand, and to share it with Kiwis.

We love the South African cuisine we grew up with and introduced our Kiwi friends to it, and they loved it too. Because they regularly ask for recipes, it became hard to keep up with the task of writing down the same favourites, so we decided to publish some of - mainly South-African - recipes on a website called Rainbow Cooking.

The address is www.rainbowcooking.co.nz.

The name Rainbow Cooking name reflects the fact that South African cuisine incorporates a very wide variety of culinary traditions, fusing together the best of Dutch, African, Asian, English, French, German, Indian, Indonesian, Malaysian and Portuguese cuisine.

All the recipes on Rainbow Cooking are free. Most of the dishes are photographed and all the recipes are tried and tested, made at our home in Christchurch using ingredients from the local supermarkets, and are quite easy to make in your kitchen.

Remember to subscribe for new recipes when you visit Rainbow Cooking, as we add new recipes on a regular basis.

Visit www.rainbowcooking.co.nz.

Afrikaans in Christchurch was genooi om saam met ander kulturele groepe by die Arts Centre aan 'n "Christmas Festival" deel te neem op Sondag, 9 Desember 2007.

Ons direkte stalletjie bure was van die Poolse , Griekse, Joego-Slawiese, Indiese en Amerikaanse gemeenskappe. Meeste van die stalletjies het bobaas-kersgebak verkoop en daar was ook 'n paar puik naaldwerksters wat handgekwilte, geweefde en gehekelde kersversierings en geskenke verkoop het.

Toegang was gratis terwyl mens jou kon verkyk en verluister aan die mooi danse en musiek wat gemaak is. Met die wat die Arts Centre oor naweke 'n verskeidenheid kosstalletjies het wat kos verkoop, het meeste mense die kans benut om sommer middagete daar te koop en daar te eet terwyl hulle 'n skouspel geniet. Die gratis program het bestaan uit:

11.00 - 11.30 Musica Balkanica (Musiek uit die Balkanlande)

12.00 - 12.30 Musica Balkanica

12.30 - 13.30 Garden City Symphony Orchestra

13.30 Griekse Danse

14.00 Fillipynse Danse

Die musiek en kersboomuitstalling het plaasgevind in die Suidelike deel van die Arts
Centre en die gereelde naweek vlooimark wat ook by die Arts Centre plaasvind, het ook voortgegaan.

Ons fusion kersboom was getooi met tuisgebakte eg-Afrikaanse soetkoekies wat mooi gemaak is met lollies wat binne in dit gebak is.

Daar was ook handgemaakte (ingevoerde) kralewerk van Kaapstad aan die boom wat deur 'n talentvolle kunstenaar daar gemaak is.

Ons het ook iets van ons Europese erfenis daar gehad in die vorm van Europese
kersversierings. Ons het immers 'n reenboogtaal - ons versierings het gepoog om dit uit te beeld. Ons het ook 'n paar treffende Christelike boodskappies in Engels daar gehad, sodat almal kon verstaan oor Wie Kersfees vir ons gaan

Die weer het mooi saamgespeel met die wat dit 'n sonnige en warm dag was. Die son het pragtig deur die lekkers in die koekies en die glaskrale geskyn en dit 'n ander dimensie gegee. Ons het ook 'n versameling Afrika-diere wat uit krale gemaak is, op die boom gehad wat nogal vir baie uitroepe van verwondering gesorg het. Dit het so bietjie gevoel of ek in die Kruger Nasionale Park gesit het ;-) Die stalletjie het nogal belangstelling gelok, seker omdat die boom redelik uniek versier was.

Aanvanklik het ons getwyfel of ons die aanbod om uit te stal moes aanvaar het, want ons 'n nasie is wat uiteenlopende gewoontes en tradisies het en mens nie iets wil uitbeeld wat ander Afrikaanssprekendes uitgesluit gaan laat voel nie. Aan die ander kant, met ons navorsing het ons agtergekom dat ons Afrikaanse mense baie dinge in gemeen het met hoe ons Kersfees vier.

Daar was 'n plakaat met die volgende inligting op vir besoekers om te lees:

+++++++++++

Country of Origin: The Afrikaans language and culture originates from South Africa. The language developed among the early settlers from Dutch, German and French origin, as well as the Malay who were brought to South-Africa in the 17th century.

Brief history of settlement in /Christchurch/ New Zealand

While South Africans have been migrating to New Zealand in small numbers for many years, this started to increase significantly during the last 15 years. Although the low level of crime is one of the primary reasons that makes New Zealand a popular destination, South Africans find that they fit in well with the Kiwi style of living, and embraces their new country.

According to Statistics New Zealand there were over 41 000 South African migrants living in NZ during 2006. Almost 27 000 of these were Afrikaans speaking. Approximately 3 500 South Africans live in Christchurch and a 30 to 40 % are estimated to speak Afrikaans.

Celebration Date: Christmas Eve on 24 December and Christmas day on 25 December

Christmas Traditions: For the majority of Afrikaans people, Christmas is a four-week long Christian festival known as Advent, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is usually celebrated with extended family.

The activities on Christmas Eve start with dinner and may be followed by carols, a
Nativity play if there are a number of children present to play in it, a Bible reading
and short prayer. The final item is the opening of the Christmas presents.

Christmas Day includes attending a church service, and a special Christmas Day lunch enjoyed with extended family.

Decorations are part of Christmas. While German-style decorations form the basis, it is common to adopt local styles and fashions. Fairly recently, African bead-craft Christmas decorations became apparent.

Traditional Christmas Foods: The choice of a Christmas menu depends on each family.

The traditional Christmas meal can include turkey, ham, leg of lamb, fried potato, yellow rice with raisins, vegetables and salads. Dessert may include a steamed pudding, complete with hidden coins, served with custard and sauce.

Because Christmas Day in South Africa is usually very hot, Christmas "braais" (BBQs) became traditional. A "braai" is to grill meat over fire and serve it with salads. Some people prefer a cold meat-and-salad picnic. A favourite cold Christmas dessert would be trifle: sherry-sprinkled sponge cake, combined with fruit, nuts and preserved ginger, a layer of jelly covered by a layer each of custard, and whipped cream.

Treats available during the Christmas season includes tins filled with home baked
biscuits such as sweet biscuits ("soetkoekies"), coffee biscuits ("koffiekoekies"),
brandy-drenched fruit cake, handtertjies and home-made ginger beer

"Happy Christmas" in language of country of origin: Geseënde Kersfees!

Organisation contact details: Afrikaans in Christchurch

Website: www.afrikaansinchristchurch.org.nz

+++++++++++

Dit was lekker om deel te kon wees van die geleentheid. Dalk is ons weer volgende jaar daar. Miskien is daar selfs 'n Brokkiesleser wat volgende jaar saam met ons by die stalletjie wil help beman.

As julle belangstel om saam te jol, laat weet vir Alan Webster so spoedig as moontlik (voor 17 Desember) by 0274759520, sodat hulle kan weet vir hoeveel om reg te maak.

Koste is $5 per persoon bo 16, onder 16 is gratis.

"The Arts Centre of Christchurch" hou 'n Internasionale Kersfees-fees op Sondag, 9 Desember 2007, tussen 11 vm - 2 nm. Hulle beplan om tien verskillende etniese gemeenskappe wat in Christchurch gevestig het, se Kerstradisies daar ten toon te stel.
Hulle het ook vir "Afrikaans in Christchurch" genooi om 'n kersboom daar te versier en ietsie van ons Kersfees te vertel.

Ons het lank geneem voor ons die aanbod aanvaar het, aangesien ons 'n nasie is wat uiteenlopende gewoontes en tradisies het en mens nie iets wil uitbeeld wat ander Afrikaanssprekendes uitgesluit gaan laat voel nie. Aan die ander kant, met ons navorsing het ons agtergekom dat ons Afrikaanse mense baie dinge in gemeen het met hoe ons Kersfees vier.

Ons boom sal seker nie heeltemal verteenwoordigend wees van alle volksgenote se kersbome nie, maar vir ons is dit hoe ons kersboom vanjaar daarna uitsien. Tans beplan ons om hom te versier met tuisgebakte soetkoekies, kralewerk wat deur Afrika hande gemaak is asook iets van ons Europese erfenis daar te he. Moet ook nie te verras wees as jy Afrikaanse Kersmusiek hoor nie.
As die weer mooi is, gaan ons in die "South Quad" wat van Hereford Street toeganklik is, staan. As dit reen gaan ons in die Great Hall wees. Met die wat die naweek-vlooimark ook aan is tussen 10 vm - 4 nm, is dit 'n lekker kans om bietjie daar rond te loop.

Kom maak gerus 'n draai!

Nog Christchurch Kerstyd goed wat jy nie wil misloop nie, is:

2 Desember
Smiths City Santa Parade om 2nm, Central City, Colombo/Kilmore Streets, Christchurch

8 Desember
Christchurch City Choir Messiah
Stadsaal
Koop kaartjies by Ticketek

9 Desember - 24 Desember
CCS Christmas Tree Festival
Christchurch Convention Centre

'n Versameling van 50 versierde Kersbome, by die Christchurch Convention Centre. Toegansfooi is betaalbaar11

10 - 24 Desember
The Christmas Grotto Experience
Daagliks 4nm tot 9:30 nm,
Naweke 10.30 vm to 9:30 nm,
Ou-Kersdag 10.30 vm to 11nm
meer details:
http://www.christmasgrotto.org.nz/

'n Kersfunksie vir Southland se Afrikaans- en Engelssprekende Suider-Afrikaners!

Wanneer: Sondag, 9 Desember 2007

Waar: Southland Ski and Runabout club, Invercargill

Program:

Die spit begin draai teen 12.00. Daag op enige tyd vanaf 12 uur tot 5 uur en kuier saam.

Aandete word teen 5 nm bedien.

Vader Krismis (Santa) na ete, omtrent 6 nm.

Alles behoort teen 7 nm klaar te wees.

Bring saam: Die vleis word is ingesluit aangesien dit 'n spitbraai is, maar bring asseblief jou eie drinkgoed en eetgerei. Bring ook bykos soos slaai, broodrolletjies en nagereg saam om te deel.

Koste: As gevolg van die kostes om die saal te huur en die skaap te voorsien, vra die organiseerders 'n donasie van R15 per gesin om die kostes te dek. Daar sal iemand by die ingang wees om die donasies in te vorder.

Vir die kleingoed: Bring 'n klein geskenkie (ongeveer $10 - $15 se waarde) per kind, om in Santa se sak onder die kersboom te sit sodat hy dit later kan uitdeel. Verseker asseblief dat die geskenke duidelik met hul name gemerk is.

Padaanwysings: Neem die pad na "Oreti Beach", kruis oor die Oreti rivier and aan die ander kant is daar 'n bord met al die verskillende clubs. Draai links en volg die pad na "Sandy Point", verby die Terrotonga resiesbaan, verby die "Speedway Track" tot jy die teken sien " SA Function ".

Kontak:

Alan.Webster@fonterra.com, 027-475-9520 of tuis by 03-217-6035.

Alan hulle hoop om 'n Nuwejaarsdans te reel vir 31 Desember 2007, en reelings sal by die funksie bespreek word.

Linda Klok, bied 'n tweede Suider-Afrikaanse kuiersessie aan vir beide Engelsprekende en Afrikaanssprekende ma's en hul kleuters.

Linda is ook 'n Total Learning boeke-agent en behoort haar katalogus ook daar te hê as jy van haar Kiwi kinderboeke wou aankoop.

Wanneer: Vrydag, 21 Desember om 10h00.
(dit gaan moontlik 'n vaste afspraak word vir die derde Vrydag van elke maand)

Waar: Friends,'n kleutervriendelike koffiewinkel gelee in die Elim Community Church gebou: 285 Cashel Street (naby Fitzgerald St), Christchurch

Koste: $5.90 - wat kinderspeelgrond en koffie insluit. Moet asseblief nie jul eie kos saambring nie - die koffiewinkel bied kos te kope aan.

Laat weet vir Linda voor Maandag 15 Oktober of jy kan kom, want sy moet spasie bespreek by telefoon 354 4951 of 021 02750930, epos: lklok@xnet.co.nz.