Swiss Society Of New Zealand

“The Annual Fondue”
and we invite you, your family and friends, to come along on Sunday, 21st September!

Venue: Matangi Hall, Tauwhare Rd, Matangi
Time: 11.30am, with Fondue served at approx. 12 noon
Cost: Adult members $30.00 | Adult non-members $35.00 | Children $1 for each year of age, up to 16 years old.

To assist with catering, bookings are required by Tuesday, 16th September.

The cost of the Fondue luncheon includes an initial glass of wine, beer or soft drink from the bar for everyone, after which donations for further drinks are appreciated.

The Fondue will be served with home-made bread, together with a large selection of tasty cold cut meats.

A small raffle will be held, tickets will be sold after the meal, so please have some spare cash handy to support the club. Donations to the raffle table would be very much appreciated.

Presentation of the Society Sport’s Prizes and Club Trophies will also take place during the afternoon, so particularly if your name appears on the list of winners, please come along to collect your award or prize. The raffle draw will follow the trophy and award presentations.

This will be followed a little later by a delicious dessert of fresh fruit salad, meringues and cream, together with a variety of home-made baking, as well as coffee/tea and Schnapps.

A helping hand is of course always appreciated by the committee – including with baking, serving food and clearing up – please contact Beatrice or Anita (details below) if you can lend a hand.

To book for the function

Either: direct credit your payment, as well as advise your attendance details (names and numbers attending) by e-mail to: bea.leun@xtra.co.nz, or text to Beatrice on 021 29 28 254 (See full details of ‘How to make Payments’ below).

Or: contact Beatrice on phone 07 843 7971 (please do not leave a voicemail on this landline number), or call / text on 021 29 28 254.

Sausage/meat orders

Please place your Swiss Deli orders with Beatrice by Sunday 14th September, either by:

e-mail: bea.leun@xtra.co.nz | phone: 07 843 7971 | text: 021 29 28 254.

A limited selection of sausages and meats will also be available for purchase at the function but pre-ordering would be appreciated – and you will avoid missing out!

How to make payments
Payments can be direct credited to the Hamilton Club’s Bank account: ANZ 010321 – 0029162 – 000.

Please also include your name (surname and initials) and payment details (ie ‘subs’ and/or the function name).

If you are unable to pay by direct credit, subs and function attendance can be paid in cash at a function. Otherwise, you are most welcome to contact Beatrice to discuss and make alternative arrangements for payment. We will make every effort to assist members who are unable to make online payments.

These evenings will be held on the first Friday of each month, initially for the next three months to gauge interest, commencing 5th September, at the usual venue, the Union Parish Church, Cambridge.

Everyone is welcome to come along for some friendly rounds of cards – suitable for both learners and regular players. For any children, or non-card players, there will be a variety of board games available, or you can bring your own. And each month, a lucky ‘spot prize’ will be drawn during the evening.

The Club will provide tea and coffee, and a plate for supper would be appreciated.

Cost: $5 per adult and $2 per child – this is to cover the cost of the venue hire.

Dates for 2025: 5th September; 3rd October; 7th November

Meet at the Whites Road Entrance carpark at 11.00am (check to see full details/directions on google maps).

The walkway is now fully open after recent major upgrades to the boardwalk. The full track is 4.7km long in total and takes up to 1 1⁄2 hours each way. It is generally easy walking through private farmland, with a few short steep sections. The Blue Spring itself (incl public toilets) is located near the Leslie Road end.

Bring along your picnic lunch and drinks and enjoy this lovely scenic walk.

In case of inclement weather on the day, or for any further information, contact Anita Zuber – 0274 985 170 or anita.zuber@swiss.org.nz.

These evenings will be held on the first Friday of each month, initially for the next three months to gauge interest, commencing 5th September, at the usual venue, the Union Parish Church, Cambridge.

Everyone is welcome to come along for some friendly rounds of cards – suitable for both learners and regular players. For any children, or non-card players, there will be a variety of board games available, or you can bring your own. And each month, a lucky ‘spot prize’ will be drawn during the evening.

The Club will provide tea and coffee, and a plate for supper would be appreciated.

Cost: $5 per adult and $2 per child – this is to cover the cost of the venue hire.

Dates for 2025: 5th September; 3rd October; 7th November

Use this relaxed occasion for a last catch up with family and friends before Christmas!

Children will be able to craft cards and do Christmas Cookie decorations in the hall from 11.00am – 12noon.

The Club will provide drinks and barbecued sausages and bread for members; a small payment to cover costs will be required from non-members. Donations for the raffle table are much appreciated – make sure you bring some cash with you to buy raffle tickets.

Santa has also already promised that he will drop in after lunch with gifts for the children.

A plate of Christmas baking for afternoon tea would also be appreciated.

Note: At approx. 2.00pm, we will also hold a Special General Meeting to vote on a new constitution and for our Club to become an Incorporated Society – in accordance with upcoming legislative changes to club status from April 2026. Further details to come in the Helvetia and the next newsletter.

1. To formally pass a motion to register the club as an incorporated club under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022
2. Approve the constitution (see the document here)
3. Appoint the officers of the club
4. Appoint 2 contact people for the registrar

Please arrive early before it gets too hot – and bring your own drinks, snacks, sun protection etc….

The 50 metre shooting competition is open to all Hamilton Club and/or Swiss Society financial members (non-members can take part, but will not be eligible for any trophies or prizes.)

We look forward to seeing all the ‘regulars’ again, as well as any new shooters. For Club members, besides the men’s shooting cup, women can compete for the Fluhler-Cooper Women’s Trophy; and there are also prizes for junior shooters – another good reason to join in!

There is plenty of help and guidance for newcomers to ensure a safe and accurate shooting experience.

Important note: despite all efforts made to ensure everyone’s safety, all junior members (under 16 years), and other minors, at the shooting venue are the sole responsibility of their parents or guardians, who must be present for the full duration of the event. All children (minors) must be strictly supervised. Shooting regulations are now very strict – any adverse incidents could have major consequences for the Club.

For further information about the day, please call our Riflemaster, George Russenberger (ph 027 944 5552).

Bring your folding chairs, tables, sun umbrellas and picnic rugs to enjoy the shade under the large trees on the school field. Also bring along your extended family and friends for a great day out – everyone is very welcome!!

For lunch, grilled Swiss sausages (Bratwurst and Cervelas) with bread, mustard or tomato sauce; as well as a selection of cold drinks; will be sold throughout the day. From about 1.00 pm, a variety of delicious homemade baking, together with tea or coffee (and
Schnapps), will also be available for sale.

Swiss Society and Hamilton Club Sports’ Events:

We encourage you to take part in the variety of sports’ events on offer.

At the Picnic, any Swiss Society members can compete in the Society prize bowling; and Hamilton Club members can participate in the Hamilton Club Trophy bowling competitions (adult’s cup, ladies’ teapot, and junior prizes).

The same rules apply to the Swiss Society and Hamilton Club Shot-Put competitions (men, women, and junior girls and boys) which will take place on the field during the afternoon.

Note: The Club will subsidise Society Competition participation (Shooting, Bowling and Shot-Put) for all junior Hamilton Club members (aged 15 years and under) by 50%.

To participate in Society and Club Trophy Competitions, you must be a current Society and/or Club member. If bringing visitors to the picnic, please make them aware of this. They may still pay and compete for fun, but will not be eligible for any prizes or trophies.
It is not necessary to bring current trophies to the picnic – these will be collected later in the year for engraving and presenting.

Other Picnic Activities:

A variety of childrens’ games, races, and activities – including a lolly scramble – will take place on the field during the afternoon; and the adventure playground is open all day for the children to play on! However, children are not permitted to access any roped off areas around classrooms and other school facilities.

The school’s swimming pool will be available for use, but children must be strictly supervised by an adult at all times. Please bring your own “water toys“ (any school equipment is not for our use). Parents please note: you are fully responsible for the safety of your own child/children, both in and around the swimming pool (refer to the notice by the pool), as well as around the adventure playground.

Roster:

As usual, we expect it will be a busy day and we require volunteers to help during three shifts: 11.00am – 12.30; 12.30 – 2.00; and 2.00 – 3.30pm. No cash handling is required for sausages – just serving food.

If you can help during any of these shifts (either writing bowling scores or selling food), please contact Anita Zuber (0274 985 170). Shifts can then be checked at the bowling or food table.

Sausages:

A limited quantity of vacuum packed sausages can be purchased after 2.00pm at the refrigerated trailer by the food stand. To ensure availability, and avoid disappointment, preordering is recommended and would be appreciated. Orders will be required by Thursday, 5th February. Please contact Beatrice (021 29 28 254 or bea.leun@xtra.co.nz).