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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Wendish Heritage Society
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20201003T090000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20201004T170000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20200513T094450Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200513T130640Z
UID:1600-1601715600-1601830800@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Launch of Rentsch and Hundrack family history books\, 3-4 October 2020
DESCRIPTION:Please note:  A decision about this Reunion will be made in August 2020 when Government restrictions relating to the conducting of such events become clearer. \nThe launch will take place in Hamilton\, Victoria.\nFor information and Registration Forms\, contact Monica Rentsch\, 170 Sharrocks Lane\, Croxton East\, Vic. 3301.  (Mob) 0438 735 239; email:  rentschdescendants2020@gmail.com \n 
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/launch-of-rentsch-and-hundrack-family-history-books-3-4-october-2020-2/
LOCATION:Hamilton\, Victoria\, Hamilton\, Victoria\, 3300\, Australia
ORGANIZER;CN="Monica Rentsch":MAILTO:rentschdescendants2020@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200517T090000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200524T130000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20200209T122931Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200513T090501Z
UID:1569-1589706000-1590325200@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Tour to South Australia\, 17-24 May 2020
DESCRIPTION:PLEASE NOTE:  Due to coronavirus restrictions\, this tour is postponed to 2021.  The tour will be re-scheduled when circumstances allow.   \nPlanning is underway for Lyall Kupke to lead our group on a tour of Wendish sites.  The tour will take place in May\, to coincide with South Australia’s History Festival.  Please note that this will replace our usual March weekend tour.\nThe proposed itinerary is as follows: \nSunday 17 May:  Travel to Adelaide\nMonday 18 May:  Port Misery landing place; Port Adelaide wharf; Piltawodli Mission to the Kaurna Aborigines (Schürmann); Klemzig Pioneer Cemetery; Hope Valley Cemetery.  Evening:  attend the FoLA Presentation (Bethlehem House\, Bethlehem Lutheran Church; Flinders St.).\nTuesday 19 May:  Barossa Valley (Rosedale\, Hoffnungsthal\, Langmeil\, Bethany\, Light Pass\, Ebenezer\, Neukirch\, St Kitts).  Stay the night.\nWednesday 20 May:  Peter’s Hill\, Riverton\, Kapunda\, Marrabel.  Return to Adelaide.\nThursday 21 May:    Visit Lutheran Archives in the morning; in the afternoon attend the talk at Burnside Library by Lois Zweck (Topic: How did migration change the lives of German and Wendish migrants?)  Evening: Dinner with the Wend/Sorb Society of South Australia (venue to be confirmed).\nFriday 22 May:  Hahndorf\, Lobethal and Birdwood.\nSaturday 23 May:  German Heritage seminar at University of Adelaide (Topic: German craftsmen in SA) – all day (costs $40 – $50 which includes lunch and morning and afternoon teas).\nSunday 24 May:  Free to pursue your own interests or wend your way home.\nFor enquiries and bookings\, contact Betty Huf\, Tel. (03) 5572 4959; email bettyhuf@outlook.com
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/tour-to-south-australia-17-24-may-2020/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200513T080000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200513T170000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20200513T092845Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200513T093134Z
UID:1598-1589356800-1589389200@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Launch of Rentsch and Hundrack family history books\, 3-4 October 2020
DESCRIPTION:The launch will take place in Hamilton\, Victoria.\nFor information and Registration Forms\, contact Monica Rentsch\, 170 Sharrocks Lane\, Croxton East\, Vic. 3301.  (Mob) 0438 735 239; email:  rentschdescendants2020@gmail.com \n 
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/launch-of-rentsch-and-hundrack-family-history-books-3-4-october-2020/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200426T113000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200426T150000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20190917T100652Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200513T090803Z
UID:1506-1587900600-1587913200@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:170th Anniversary of the Arrival of the Pribislaw\, 26 April 2020
DESCRIPTION:PLEASE NOTE:  Due to coronavirus restrictions\, this event is postponed to 2021.  It will be re-scheduled when circumstances allow.   \nThis celebration will take place at Ziebell’s Farmhouse\, 100 Gardenia Rd\, Thomastown\, Vic.  All descendants of Pribislaw passengers are invited.  There were about 50 Wends who came to Australia on the Pribislaw\, which was named after the last Wendish prince\, who died in 1174.  The ship was built in Ribnitz in Mecklenburg.  The Bernstein Museum at Ribnitz has kindly arranged to build a scale model of the ship for Ziebell’s Farmhouse Museum.  It will be unveiled at this Anniversary celebration.\nZiebell’s Farmhouse (c. 1850-51) is at 100 Gardenia Rd\, Thomastown\, Vic.  It is Victoria’s oldest German immigrant building.  From 20 October 2019 it will be open to the public every Sunday from 11.30 am to 3.00 pm.
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/170th-anniversary-of-the-arrival-of-the-pribislaw-26-april-2020/
LOCATION:Ziebell’s Farmhouse\, 100 Gardenia Road\, Thomastown\, Victoria\, Australia
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200314T133000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200314T163000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20190917T100020Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190917T100020Z
UID:1504-1584192600-1584203400@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Annual General Meeting\, Saturday 14 March 2020
DESCRIPTION:Our Society’s AGM will be held at 1.30 pm\, followed by afternoon tea.  All are welcome.  The venue is our meeting room at St Aidan’s Community Centre\, 12 Surrey St\, Box Hill South\, Victoria.
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/annual-general-meeting-saturday-14-march-2020/
LOCATION:St Aidan’s Community Centre\, 12 Surrey Street\, Box Hill South\, Victoria\, 3128\, Australia
ORGANIZER;CN="Glenys Wollermann (Secretary)":MAILTO:wendsociety1@optusnet.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200301T113000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200301T150000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20200209T124112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200209T124112Z
UID:1571-1583062200-1583074800@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Westgarthtown Descendants' Day\, 1 March 2020
DESCRIPTION:Ziebell’s Farmhouse\, 100 Gardenia Rd\, Thomastown\, Vic.  will host Westgarthtown Descendants’ Day on Sunday 1 March 2020\, with a picnic lunch.  A sausage sizzle will be held\, for a gold coin donation.\nZiebell’s Farmhouse (c. 1850-51) is at 100 Gardenia Rd\, Thomastown\, Vic.  It is Victoria’s oldest German immigrant building.  Ziebell’s Farmhouse is now open twice a week:  every Sunday from 11.30 am to 3.00 pm\, excluding public holidays; and every Tuesday from 9.00 am to 12 noon\, excluding public holidays. 
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/westgarthtown-descendants-day-1-march-2020/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20191124T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20191124T153000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20190917T095115Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190917T095115Z
UID:1499-1574604000-1574609400@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Goethe Plaque Dedication\, Sunday 24 November 2019
DESCRIPTION:The unveiling and dedication of a memorial plaque will take place at 2.00 pm on Sunday 24 November at Grave site 13 in the “Other Denominations” section B at Melbourne General Cemetery.\nThe plaque will record the nine young children who were buried in this unmarked grave in the years 1854-1871.  They include three daughters of Pastor Matthias and Mrs Harriet Goethe\, of Trinity German Lutheran Church\, East Melbourne; one daughter of Pastor Johann Peter and Mrs Annie Niquet of St John’s Lutheran Church\, Ballarat; and five infant children of Carl and Wilhelmine Golgerth.\nMembers of AKi (the Historical Society of Trinity German Lutheran Church) and members of FoLAV (the Friends of Lutheran Archives Victoria) formed a “Goethe Plaque Working Group” to undertake this project.  The group is grateful for the generosity of donors who have made this project possible:  Trinity German Lutheran congregation\, Doncaster-Ivanhoe Lutheran congregation\, Wendish Heritage Society Australia\, Friends of Westgarthtown\, Friends of Lutheran Archives Victoria and Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society.
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/goethe-plaque-dedication-sunday-24-november-2019/
LOCATION:Melbourne General Cemetery\, College Crescent\, Parkville\, Victoria\, 3052\, Australia
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20191026T120000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20191026T150000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20190917T093818Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190917T093818Z
UID:1496-1572091200-1572102000@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Annual Luncheon\, Saturday 26 October 2019
DESCRIPTION:Our Annual Luncheon will be held at the Lady Barkly room\, Barkly Motorlodge\, 43 Main Road\, Bakery Hill\, Ballarat\, Victoria.  All are welcome.\nTime:  12.00 for a 12.30 start on Saturday 26 October 2019.\nCost:  Approx. $30.00 per person\, to be paid on the day by individual attendees. \nPlease book by Monday 14 October 2019 with Glenys Wollermann Tel. (03) 9891 6652; email g.wollermann@y7mail.com\nBookings are essential. 
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/annual-luncheon-saturday-26-october-2019/
LOCATION:Barkly Motorlodge\, 43 Main Road\, Bakery Hill\, Ballarat\, Victoria\, Australia
ORGANIZER;CN="Glenys Wollermann (Secretary)":MAILTO:wendsociety1@optusnet.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20190917T101235
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20190917T101235
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20190917T101235Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190917T101235Z
UID:1510-1568715155-1568715155@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Tour to South Australia\, May 2020
DESCRIPTION:Planning is underway for Lyall Kupke to lead our group on a tour of Wendish sites.  The tour will take place in May\, to coincide with South Australia’s History Festival.  Please note that this will replace our usual Labour Day weekend tour.  More details will be provided in the next Newsletter.  For enquiries and bookings\, contact Betty Huf\, Tel. (03) 5572 4959; email bettyhuf@outlook.com
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/tour-to-south-australia-may-2020/
ORGANIZER;CN="Betty Huf":MAILTO:bettyhuf@westvic.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20190917T080000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20190917T170000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20190917T135936Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190917T135936Z
UID:1516-1568707200-1568739600@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Labour Day Weekend Tour to Mount Gambier\, 9 - 11 March 2019
DESCRIPTION:This tour to the Mount Gambier area of South Australia\, led by Betty Huf\, was a resounding success.  A total of 24 people attended part or all of the activities on the itinerary.  It was wonderful to see some “first timers” on the tour.  Below is John Noack’s report. \n  \n\n The “Lady Nelson” Visitor and Discovery Centre was an informative location for this tour to begin. There were many colorful tourist brochures on display and the large replica of the brig “HMS Lady Nelson” recalled the very important role performed by this ship from 1800 until its destruction by fire in 1824.  In 1800\, captained by Lieutenant James Grant\, this brig became the first ship to sail from the west through Bass Strait.  Two mountains which were sighted inland were named after Lord Gambier and Captain Schank.  This area was first named “Gambierton” and later\, “Mount Gambier”.\n Christina Smith was featured here in an impressive hologram video presentation. The hologram image of Christina Smith steps out of a wedding photograph to tell the story of early contact between settlers and Aboriginal people.  Christina (nee Menzies) and her husband James were the first European settlers in this area.  They migrated to Australia from Scotland in about 1840.  In 1846\, they settled at the Rivoli Bay sea-port.  This Smith family displayed great care and compassion towards the local Boandik Aborigines\, by establishing a home and a school for them.  Although James died in 1860\, Christina continued to rear their seven children and care for the sick and needy in the area\, including the Aborigines.  She died in April 1893 and was buried in the Mount Gambier Cemetery.\n Mount Gambier’s RSL Museum provided a sad reminder that wars are waged at a great cost in money and in human lives. It has been estimated that 180 million people were killed in the World Wars and in other conflicts during the 1900s. This local RSL Museum displayed reminders of sand-bag shelters; of very large and cumbersome radios and of the feared Nazi flag and emblem.  However\, it was interesting to read the displayed article “Rommel’s War without Hate”\, (or “Krieg Ohne Hass”)\, which depicts Field Marshal Erwin Rommel as a sort of “Gentleman General”\, who preferred to engage in “chivalrous conduct” and “soldierly honor”. He pursued this aim [1] by insisting that all of his captured soldiers were given exactly the same rations of food as his own soldiers and also [2] by ensuring that captured hospitals and their doctors were able to continue treatment of their injured patients.  The doctors were then repatriated through neutral Switzerland.\n The Umpherston Sinkhole or “sunken garden” was a part of the property of James Umpherston\, who settled in this area in 1860. By 1884\, he had developed this Sinkhole into a pleasant resort for his family and also for the townspeople of Mount Gambier.  Sinkholes appear when rainwater\, which absorbs carbon dioxide from decaying vegetation\, then forms into carbonic acid\, which soaks into and dissolves the limestone’s calcite or calcium carbonate below the surface. When the underlying limestone eventually collapses\, a large sinkhole appears.\n Meischel Park was called the “Boandik Lutheran Cemetery”\, before about the year 1980. It had been used by the ELCA (the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia) from 1864 to 1907.  This Boandik Congregation was originally established by Pastor C.W. Schürmann in 1859.  From 1863 to 1878\, Pastor J.F. Meischel served this congregation.  Pastor J.E. Hansen was the next Pastor\, from 1880-1912.  However\, as most families shifted elsewhere\, the congregation closed in 1907.  However\, this ELCA branch began renewed activities in the 1930s and St Matthew’s Congregation was established in 1948.\nThe Mount Gambier Local Council assumed responsibility for this Cemetery in the 1970s and by 1986\, this Cemetery became Meischel Park\, being named after its second Pastor.  The plaque lists the 76 burials between 1864 and 1907.  These include such surnames as Fiedler\, Kalms\, Koehler\, Krause\, Kreig\, Kuehne\, Lange\, Leschke\, Lindner\, Meyer\, Mueller\, Nitschke\, Noske\, Paschke\, Patzel\, Pfeiffer\, Pohlner\, Proposch\, Roesler\, Ruwoldt\, Schluder\, Schubert\, Vorwerk and Zippel.\n The Lake Terrace Cemetery is preserving the grave and the memory of Pastor Andreas Kappler. He left his Wendish homeland and his parish of Weissenberg in Lusatia\, Saxony in 1848\, in order to serve the pastoral needs of the Saxon and Prussian Wends and others\, who had made Australia their new home.  He spent much time and effort in locating the Lutherans over a very wide area and kept meticulous and detailed baptism and marriage records of the people he served.\nIn 1860 Kappler visited Mount Gambier.  Dr Edward Wehl persuaded him to stay.  Kappler remained Pastor at St Martin’s Lutheran Church until his death in 1877.  His tombstone states: In Memory of Andreas Kappler\, Lutherischer Pastor an [at] der Martini Kirche in Mount Gambier. Geboren [Born] in Klein Hahnchen in Sachsen am 5th November 1802. Gestorben [Died] am 3rd Juni 1877. Sanft ruhe seine Asche. [His ashes are resting peacefully].  Because his tombstone does not feature his ministry to Australia’s pioneering Wendish settlers\, our Society is discussing the provision of a plaque to commemorate Andreas Kappler’s standing as Australia’s only Wendish pastor.  As a fitting tribute to Kappler\, arrangements of Australian gum leaves and Lusatian linden leaves were placed on the grave by President Betty Huf and Secretary Glenys Wollermann.\n St Martin’s Lutheran Church provided the venue for our Saturday evening’s activities. On its foundation stone is recorded:  To the Glory of God.  The Foundation Stone of this Church was laid by Dr W. Wehl\, 21st Jan 1862.  The Church was dedicated by the Rev A. Kappler\, 5th Oct 1862.\nPastor Colin Huf conducted a worship service which drew on the sentiments of an 1896 Harvest Festival Thanksgiving Service.  This service had stressed both the need to receive blessings but then\, out of gratitude\, to practise philanthropy and to be generous\, especially to the poor and needy.  A finger-food meal supplied by St Martin’s Congregation was followed by two presentations\, one on the Wends in Lusatia and in Australia and the other on the Germans of the Mount Gambier district.\n\n  \n\n Early German Pioneering Settlers\, including their lives and times in the Mount Gambier District\, were featured on a PowerPoint presentation. It revealed that Stephen Henty of Merino Downs visited this area in 1839 and grazed some cattle here.  The first permanent settler may have been Johann F. Tollner in 1849.  In 1852\, Wendish families\, such as the Albert\, Burger\, Deutscher\, Hundrack\, Petschel and Rentsch families passed through this area on their wagon-trek to Portland.  Later in 1859\, Johan & Joachim Ruwoldt trekked overland from Adelaide to settle in this area\, along with dozens of others.\nIn 1864\, the settlers founded a German Club and in 1868\, they formed a Liedertafel.  In 1869\, a jeweller named J.M. Wendt set up his business and later still\, in the 1880s\, Johannes Matthias Jens set up his well-known hotel business.  Our Tour participants were able to enjoy the hospitality provided by Jens Hotel.\n Adam Lindsay Gordon came to Australia from England in 1853 and became known as a creative poet and a competent\, but cavalier\, horseman. He is renowned for his feat of leaping on horseback over an old post and rail guard fence onto a narrow ledge overlooking Blue Lake\, and then jumping back onto the roadway.  The site of this daring riding feat is known as “Gordon’s Leap”.  It is marked by an obelisk in memory of Adam Lindsay Gordon.\n“Dingley Dell” near Port MacDonnell\, Gordon’s property and home from 1862-66\, is preserved as a museum.  It displays early volumes of his poetry\, personal effects and his horse-riding equipment.\nGordon has been honored as a Poet by having his bust displayed in Poet’s Corner at Westminster Abbey in London and with a Statue near Parliament House in Melbourne.  In one of his poems called Ye Wearie Wayfarer\, Gordon wisely states:  “Life is mostly froth and bubble\, Two things stand like stone.  Kindness in another’s trouble\, Courage in your own.”\n The Port MacDonnell Maritime Museum provided for us many displays\, which vividly depicted the occupations and the living conditions of this area’s pioneering settlers. Port MacDonnell was proclaimed a port by the Governor\, Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell\, in 1860.  However\, before this date\, this area featured sheep\, grain and dairy farming; stripping wattle trees and carting wattle bark (which was heated\, made into powder and used during the tanning process); manufacturing hats from soft rabbits’ fur; loading goods at the Port and fell-mongering\, which involved preparing sheep skins for tanning.\nDisplays tell the story of over 30 ships which came to grief along the rugged local coastline in the 19th century.  The museum houses a model of the Admella\, which was wrecked in 1859\, killing 89 passengers.  This was one of the worst maritime disasters in Australia.\n The Cape Northumberland Lighthouse remains were also interesting. This is the site of a monument to the gallantry of Benjamin Germein\, who was the first Lighthouse Keeper from 1859 to 1865.  Germein was the first to reach and save lives from the wrecks of the ships Admella in 1859 and the John Ormerod in 1861.  This lighthouse at Cape Northumberland experienced constant\, extremely windy conditions and was eventually shifted further inland.\n The Blue Lake Pump Station Aquifer supplies water to the town and to surrounding areas. Water has been pumped from here since 1883.  The Lake turns a vivid blue colour from late November through to March each year.  From April through to November the water turns a dull grey.  Our tour group travelled in a glass panelled lift down the original well shaft\, then walked through an 80 metre tunnel to a viewing platform close to water level.  The display of the water-pressure\, with its powerful spray\, is certainly impressive.\n The Engelbrecht Cave Tour enabled Tour participants to inspect the Sinkhole and to descend below the busy streets of Mount Gambier after taking the required 164 steps down. It has obtained its name from Johann Carl Engelbecht (1833-1914) who was born in Magdeburg\, Germany and came to Australia in 1857.  He settled in Mount Gambier in 1865 and set up a distillery in 1885.\nToday this picturesque cave is popular with tourists and also attracts certified cave divers from around the world.  However\, we were informed that during the latter half of the 1800s\, this cave was used as a rubbish dump by its owner\, Engelbrecht\, and by other town residents.  It continued to be used as a rubbish dump until the 1950s.  In 1979 the local Lions Club commenced the huge task of removing the rubbish\, a three year project.  In 1995 Engelbrecht Cave was added to the South Australian Heritage Register.\n\nWe are very grateful to Betty Huf for her meticulous planning and organisation of the tour.  We also thank the Mount Gambier folk for their special contributions towards this very memorable weekend:  Vic and Kathy Peucker\, Maren and Ed Peucker\, Margaret Peucker and the Lutheran Ladies Guild and Mary Arthurson. \nJOHN NOACK
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/labour-day-weekend-tour-to-mount-gambier-9-11-march-2019-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20190309T080000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20190311T170000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20190917T102308Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190917T102308Z
UID:1512-1552118400-1552323600@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Labour Day Weekend Tour to Mount Gambier\, 9 - 11 March 2019
DESCRIPTION:This tour to the Mount Gambier area of South Australia\, led by Betty Huf\, was a resounding success.  A total of 24 people attended part or all of the activities on the itinerary.  It was wonderful to see some “first timers” on the tour.  Below is John Noack’s report. \n  \n\n The “Lady Nelson” Visitor and Discovery Centre was an informative location for this tour to begin. There were many colorful tourist brochures on display and the large replica of the brig “HMS Lady Nelson” recalled the very important role performed by this ship from 1800 until its destruction by fire in 1824.  In 1800\, captained by Lieutenant James Grant\, this brig became the first ship to sail from the west through Bass Strait.  Two mountains which were sighted inland were named after Lord Gambier and Captain Schank.  This area was first named “Gambierton” and later\, “Mount Gambier”.\n Christina Smith was featured here in an impressive hologram video presentation. The hologram image of Christina Smith steps out of a wedding photograph to tell the story of early contact between settlers and Aboriginal people.  Christina (nee Menzies) and her husband James were the first European settlers in this area.  They migrated to Australia from Scotland in about 1840.  In 1846\, they settled at the Rivoli Bay sea-port.  This Smith family displayed great care and compassion towards the local Boandik Aborigines\, by establishing a home and a school for them.  Although James died in 1860\, Christina continued to rear their seven children and care for the sick and needy in the area\, including the Aborigines.  She died in April 1893 and was buried in the Mount Gambier Cemetery.\n Mount Gambier’s RSL Museum provided a sad reminder that wars are waged at a great cost in money and in human lives. It has been estimated that 180 million people were killed in the World Wars and in other conflicts during the 1900s. This local RSL Museum displayed reminders of sand-bag shelters; of very large and cumbersome radios and of the feared Nazi flag and emblem.  However\, it was interesting to read the displayed article “Rommel’s War without Hate”\, (or “Krieg Ohne Hass”)\, which depicts Field Marshal Erwin Rommel as a sort of “Gentleman General”\, who preferred to engage in “chivalrous conduct” and “soldierly honor”. He pursued this aim [1] by insisting that all of his captured soldiers were given exactly the same rations of food as his own soldiers and also [2] by ensuring that captured hospitals and their doctors were able to continue treatment of their injured patients.  The doctors were then repatriated through neutral Switzerland.\n The Umpherston Sinkhole or “sunken garden” was a part of the property of James Umpherston\, who settled in this area in 1860. By 1884\, he had developed this Sinkhole into a pleasant resort for his family and also for the townspeople of Mount Gambier.  Sinkholes appear when rainwater\, which absorbs carbon dioxide from decaying vegetation\, then forms into carbonic acid\, which soaks into and dissolves the limestone’s calcite or calcium carbonate below the surface. When the underlying limestone eventually collapses\, a large sinkhole appears.\n Meischel Park was called the “Boandik Lutheran Cemetery”\, before about the year 1980. It had been used by the ELCA (the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia) from 1864 to 1907.  This Boandik Congregation was originally established by Pastor C.W. Schürmann in 1859.  From 1863 to 1878\, Pastor J.F. Meischel served this congregation.  Pastor J.E. Hansen was the next Pastor\, from 1880-1912.  However\, as most families shifted elsewhere\, the congregation closed in 1907.  However\, this ELCA branch began renewed activities in the 1930s and St Matthew’s Congregation was established in 1948.\nThe Mount Gambier Local Council assumed responsibility for this Cemetery in the 1970s and by 1986\, this Cemetery became Meischel Park\, being named after its second Pastor.  The plaque lists the 76 burials between 1864 and 1907.  These include such surnames as Fiedler\, Kalms\, Koehler\, Krause\, Kreig\, Kuehne\, Lange\, Leschke\, Lindner\, Meyer\, Mueller\, Nitschke\, Noske\, Paschke\, Patzel\, Pfeiffer\, Pohlner\, Proposch\, Roesler\, Ruwoldt\, Schluder\, Schubert\, Vorwerk and Zippel.\n The Lake Terrace Cemetery is preserving the grave and the memory of Pastor Andreas Kappler. He left his Wendish homeland and his parish of Weissenberg in Lusatia\, Saxony in 1848\, in order to serve the pastoral needs of the Saxon and Prussian Wends and others\, who had made Australia their new home.  He spent much time and effort in locating the Lutherans over a very wide area and kept meticulous and detailed baptism and marriage records of the people he served.\nIn 1860 Kappler visited Mount Gambier.  Dr Edward Wehl persuaded him to stay.  Kappler remained Pastor at St Martin’s Lutheran Church until his death in 1877.  His tombstone states: In Memory of Andreas Kappler\, Lutherischer Pastor an [at] der Martini Kirche in Mount Gambier. Geboren [Born] in Klein Hahnchen in Sachsen am 5th November 1802. Gestorben [Died] am 3rd Juni 1877. Sanft ruhe seine Asche. [His ashes are resting peacefully].  Because his tombstone does not feature his ministry to Australia’s pioneering Wendish settlers\, our Society is discussing the provision of a plaque to commemorate Andreas Kappler’s standing as Australia’s only Wendish pastor.  As a fitting tribute to Kappler\, arrangements of Australian gum leaves and Lusatian linden leaves were placed on the grave by President Betty Huf and Secretary Glenys Wollermann.\n St Martin’s Lutheran Church provided the venue for our Saturday evening’s activities. On its foundation stone is recorded:  To the Glory of God.  The Foundation Stone of this Church was laid by Dr W. Wehl\, 21st Jan 1862.  The Church was dedicated by the Rev A. Kappler\, 5th Oct 1862.\nPastor Colin Huf conducted a worship service which drew on the sentiments of an 1896 Harvest Festival Thanksgiving Service.  This service had stressed both the need to receive blessings but then\, out of gratitude\, to practise philanthropy and to be generous\, especially to the poor and needy.  A finger-food meal supplied by St Martin’s Congregation was followed by two presentations\, one on the Wends in Lusatia and in Australia and the other on the Germans of the Mount Gambier district.\n\n  \n\n Early German Pioneering Settlers\, including their lives and times in the Mount Gambier District\, were featured on a PowerPoint presentation. It revealed that Stephen Henty of Merino Downs visited this area in 1839 and grazed some cattle here.  The first permanent settler may have been Johann F. Tollner in 1849.  In 1852\, Wendish families\, such as the Albert\, Burger\, Deutscher\, Hundrack\, Petschel and Rentsch families passed through this area on their wagon-trek to Portland.  Later in 1859\, Johan & Joachim Ruwoldt trekked overland from Adelaide to settle in this area\, along with dozens of others.\nIn 1864\, the settlers founded a German Club and in 1868\, they formed a Liedertafel.  In 1869\, a jeweller named J.M. Wendt set up his business and later still\, in the 1880s\, Johannes Matthias Jens set up his well-known hotel business.  Our Tour participants were able to enjoy the hospitality provided by Jens Hotel.\n Adam Lindsay Gordon came to Australia from England in 1853 and became known as a creative poet and a competent\, but cavalier\, horseman. He is renowned for his feat of leaping on horseback over an old post and rail guard fence onto a narrow ledge overlooking Blue Lake\, and then jumping back onto the roadway.  The site of this daring riding feat is known as “Gordon’s Leap”.  It is marked by an obelisk in memory of Adam Lindsay Gordon.\n“Dingley Dell” near Port MacDonnell\, Gordon’s property and home from 1862-66\, is preserved as a museum.  It displays early volumes of his poetry\, personal effects and his horse-riding equipment.\nGordon has been honored as a Poet by having his bust displayed in Poet’s Corner at Westminster Abbey in London and with a Statue near Parliament House in Melbourne.  In one of his poems called Ye Wearie Wayfarer\, Gordon wisely states:  “Life is mostly froth and bubble\, Two things stand like stone.  Kindness in another’s trouble\, Courage in your own.”\n The Port MacDonnell Maritime Museum provided for us many displays\, which vividly depicted the occupations and the living conditions of this area’s pioneering settlers. Port MacDonnell was proclaimed a port by the Governor\, Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell\, in 1860.  However\, before this date\, this area featured sheep\, grain and dairy farming; stripping wattle trees and carting wattle bark (which was heated\, made into powder and used during the tanning process); manufacturing hats from soft rabbits’ fur; loading goods at the Port and fell-mongering\, which involved preparing sheep skins for tanning.\nDisplays tell the story of over 30 ships which came to grief along the rugged local coastline in the 19th century.  The museum houses a model of the Admella\, which was wrecked in 1859\, killing 89 passengers.  This was one of the worst maritime disasters in Australia.\n The Cape Northumberland Lighthouse remains were also interesting. This is the site of a monument to the gallantry of Benjamin Germein\, who was the first Lighthouse Keeper from 1859 to 1865.  Germein was the first to reach and save lives from the wrecks of the ships Admella in 1859 and the John Ormerod in 1861.  This lighthouse at Cape Northumberland experienced constant\, extremely windy conditions and was eventually shifted further inland.\n The Blue Lake Pump Station Aquifer supplies water to the town and to surrounding areas. Water has been pumped from here since 1883.  The Lake turns a vivid blue colour from late November through to March each year.  From April through to November the water turns a dull grey.  Our tour group travelled in a glass panelled lift down the original well shaft\, then walked through an 80 metre tunnel to a viewing platform close to water level.  The display of the water-pressure\, with its powerful spray\, is certainly impressive.\n The Engelbrecht Cave Tour enabled Tour participants to inspect the Sinkhole and to descend below the busy streets of Mount Gambier after taking the required 164 steps down. It has obtained its name from Johann Carl Engelbecht (1833-1914) who was born in Magdeburg\, Germany and came to Australia in 1857.  He settled in Mount Gambier in 1865 and set up a distillery in 1885.\nToday this picturesque cave is popular with tourists and also attracts certified cave divers from around the world.  However\, we were informed that during the latter half of the 1800s\, this cave was used as a rubbish dump by its owner\, Engelbrecht\, and by other town residents.  It continued to be used as a rubbish dump until the 1950s.  In 1979 the local Lions Club commenced the huge task of removing the rubbish\, a three year project.  In 1995 Engelbrecht Cave was added to the South Australian Heritage Register.\n\nWe are very grateful to Betty Huf for her meticulous planning and organisation of the tour.  We also thank the Mount Gambier folk for their special contributions towards this very memorable weekend:  Vic and Kathy Peucker\, Maren and Ed Peucker\, Margaret Peucker and the Lutheran Ladies Guild and Mary Arthurson. \nJOHN NOACK
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/labour-day-weekend-tour-to-mount-gambier-9-11-march-2019/
LOCATION:Mount Gambier\, South Australia\, Australia
ORGANIZER;CN="Betty Huf":MAILTO:bettyhuf@westvic.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170424
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170508
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20160202T014550Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160221T203843Z
UID:1113-1492992000-1494201599@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:In the Footsteps of Martin Luther
DESCRIPTION:Rev Noel Noack\, former Lutheran Bishop of Qld\, and Dr Meg Noack\, together with Mr Stan Klan\, Principal of Great Trains of Europe Tours (Toowoomba)\, invite you to join them on a pilgrimage tour through Europe\, in Martin Luther’s footsteps. \nThis pilgrimage tour will honour the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. It will include a pre-tour of Israel\, “In the Footsteps of Jesus”. The tour will depart on 24 April 2017\, for 14 days.
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/in-the-footsteps-of-martin-luther/
CATEGORIES:Tours & Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2017-Luther2.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Great Trains of Europe Tours":MAILTO:greattrains@bigpond.com 
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20170311T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20170313T140000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20160511T022924Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160511T022924Z
UID:1442-1489226400-1489413600@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Labour Day weekend tour to Portland
DESCRIPTION:Portland in Victoria is the proposed destination for our Labour Day weekend tour in 2017.  Our Tour Leader will be Betty Huf. Keep the weekend free.  More details will be provided as they come to hand.
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/labour-day-weekend-tour-to-portland/
LOCATION:To be advised\, Portland\, Victoria\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Tours & Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Betty Huf":MAILTO:bettyhuf@westvic.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20161015T120000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20161015T120000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20160221T205514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160221T205539Z
UID:1351-1476532800-1476532800@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Wendish Heritage Society 30th Anniversary Luncheon
DESCRIPTION:A special Luncheon will be held to commemorate our Society’s 30th Anniversary. Arrangements are pending but keep the date free!
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/wendish-heritage-society-30th-anniversary-luncheon/
CATEGORIES:Tours & Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20160626T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20160626T140000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20160204T222132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160205T011105Z
UID:1187-1466949600-1466949600@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:"My Trip to Lusatia" – talk by Lyall Kupke
DESCRIPTION:Join Lyall Kupke to hear about his 2015 trip to Lusatia.
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/my-trip-to-lusatia-talk-by-lyall-kupke/
LOCATION:St Andrew’s Lutheran Church Hall\, 22 Avenue Road\, Glynde\, SA\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Other Societies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SASorbSociety.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Lyall Kupke":MAILTO:kupkell@yahoo.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20160430T133000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20160430T163000
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20160420T030635Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160420T031030Z
UID:1407-1462023000-1462033800@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Annual General Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Our Society’s AGM will be held at 1.30 pm\, followed by afternoon tea.  All are welcome.  The venue is our meeting room at St Aidan’s Community Centre\, 12 Surrey St\, Box Hill South\, Victoria.
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/annual-general-meeting-2/
LOCATION:St Aidan’s Community Centre\, 12 Surrey Street\, Box Hill South\, Victoria\, 3128\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Meetings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/fav.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Glenys Wollermann (Secretary)":MAILTO:wendsociety1@optusnet.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20160416
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20160417
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20160204T221531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160205T011146Z
UID:1185-1460764800-1460851199@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:Bus trip to Sedan and Cambrai
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday 16 April the Wend/Sorb Society of South Australia Inc will be taking a bus trip to Sedan and Cambrai district via the Barossa Valley. The cost includes Lunch.
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/bus-trip-to-sedan-and-cambrai/
CATEGORIES:Other Societies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SASorbSociety.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Ruth Walter":MAILTO:ruth.walter43@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20160312
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20160315
DTSTAMP:20260419T005917
CREATED:20160204T225014Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160221T204553Z
UID:1191-1457740800-1457999999@www.wendishheritage.org.au
SUMMARY:March Tour to Dimboola and district
DESCRIPTION:You are warmly invited to join us for a tour to Dimboola and district in Victoria on the Labour Day weekend in March.  All are welcome.  Please pass on this information to others you know who may be interested.  You do not need to be a member of our Society to join our Tour.  Our Tour Leader will be historian and researcher Betty Huf. \nBetty’s proposed itinerary is as follows: \nSaturday 12th March:\nMorning: Meet at the Dimboola Historical Society Courthouse Museum\, in Lloyd St\, Dimboola (next to the Post Office).  The Museum is open from 10.00 am. Morning tea is available for a donation. \nLunch: 12.00 pm at Mason Clarke Preserving Co. in Lloyd St.\, almost opposite the Historical Society\, (set tasting menu – $20 each; coffee\, cake etc will be extra)\, or make your own arrangements for lunch. \nAfternoon: Start tour at 1.00 pm to Lochiel Cemetery (also site of the former Lutheran church)\, Pink Lake\, Glenlee to look at the Alf Traeger memorial\, then meet with a local historian at Woorak; Woorak Cemetery (well worth a visit!); then on to Nhill to see the former Noske flour mill\, Nhill Lutheran Church and possibly the Lutheran school. \nEvening meal: Our evening meal will be at the Farmer’s Arms Hotel in Nhill (order from the menu)\, where we will be entertained by mystery “eminent” guest speaker(s).  We will then return to Dimboola. \nSunday 13th March:\n9.00am: service at Jeparit Lutheran Church; morning tea with the congregation \nMorning: visit the Kumbala Native Garden east of Jeparit (entry by donation); \nLunch: at the Hindmarsh Hotel in Jeparit (order from the menu) \nAfternoon: visit the Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum (a vast collection of pioneering equipment and memorabilia); \nEvening meal: return to Dimboola for a BBQ at about 6.00 pm\, followed by an evening stroll. \nMonday 14th March:\nPossibilities include a short drive along the Wimmera River in the Little Desert National Park near Dimboola\, and/or a visit to the Dimboola Cemetery. The destinations will be determined by the wishes of tour participants. \nPlease note that the above itinerary is subject to change. Please make your own arrangements for accommodation. \nPlease book ASAP with Betty Huf (details below) as bookings are desirable for some venues.
URL:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/event/march-tour-to-dimboola-and-district/
LOCATION:Meet at the Dimboola Old Courthouse Museum\, 67 Lloyd St\, Dimboola\, Victoria\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Tours & Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/DimboolaCourthouse.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Betty Huf":MAILTO:bettyhuf@westvic.com.au
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR