Taranaki Swiss Club Address
508 Salisbury Road
RD 24
Stratford
Othmar Hebler
Position: President
Phone: 06 278 6878 / 027 677 8915
Email: othmar.hebler@swiss.org.nz
Othmar Hebler has been our President since 2005, and is very dedicated to his role. Othmar immigrated to New Zealand many years ago, and married Marlies, a Swiss, who was touring around our country. They have three children who all speak Swiss-German very well., and who are all members of our club. Othmar participates in the Singing Group, plays the alphorn and accordion – in a nutshell he has great musical talent. He ensures that the Club house and surroundings are well maintained, helped by a hard-working committee. Othmar is our bus driver on our trips away, and for this we are truly grateful. His wife Marlies contributes a huge amount to our club also. Unlike her husband, Marlies’ talents lie mainly in the kitchen. Thanks to Othmar and Marlies we have a great club and we look forward to many more years of service from you!!!
Zeno Von Hospenthal
Position: Vice President / Music
Phone: 06 764 6515
Email: N/A
Zeno has been our Vice President for a few years, and has been on the Taranaki Swiss Club committee for many years. Zeno is a second generation Swiss, but understand the dialect very well. Zeno is a keen “Jasser”, enjoys Kegeln and has participated in the shooting activities in the past. He is a very, very talented musician, but sadly was involved in a car crash that left his left arm and hand badly damaged. But with his great determination and positive attitude he has been back playing his beloved accordion for some time now. He plays by ear, and quickly picks up tunes; enjoys playing for the Singing Group and with the other accordionists. Zeno is also an excellent painter, and a very keen gardener keeping our gardens looking great! Zeno lives close by and is great at opening up and locking the building and grounds when other organisations use our facilities. Zeno likes to work behind the scenes ensuring everything runs smoothly and we look forward to his continued support.
Marianne Drummond
Position: Secretary / Treasurer
Phone: 06 762 8757
Email: marianne.drummond@swiss.org.nz
Marianne has been treasurer for longer than she cares to remember!!! And secretary for just a few years. Marianne writes the articles for the Helvetia magazine and updates (perhaps not often enough!!!) the website. With both parents immigrating from Switzerland, she grew up with Taranaki Swiss Club being an integral part of her social calendar. Marianne participated in the Trachtengruppe while it was active, and plays the accordion part-time for the Singing Group. She enjoys Swiss tradition and culture and is grateful that her husband, Adrian, and sons, Daniel and Richard, also participate in the Club and help at functions.
Walter Seifert
Position: Jassen Organiser
Phone: 06 762 8559
Email: walter.seifert@swiss.org.nz
Walter is our Past President, and agreed to continue serving the Taranaki Swiss Club committee upon his retirement from the Presidency. Walter has been active in the shooting events (both small bore where he was President of the sub-committee and Karabiner), the Kegeln and also the Jassen. Walter is currently running our Jassen afternoons and thoroughly enjoys these games. Walter is a people’s person, and loves a chat … that’s what a social club is for, isn’t it Walter??!!! Walter participates in the Singing Group which he thoroughly enjoys. He is great at “Tahlerschwingen” and uses his percussion instruments accompanying the accordionists.
Heidi Werder
Position: Kegeln Chief and Committee member
Phone: 06 273 4286
Email: heidi.werder@swiss.org.nz
Heidi has also been on the Taranaki Swiss Club committee for several years. She’s great in the kitchen and is an amazing waitress for the fondue … ensuring everyone gets their fondues as soon as possible. She’s a keen sports competitor … great in shot put, keglen and jassen!!! Heidi has shown her talents in the Singing Group, and is an excellent accompanist to the accordions with her broom and half brush!!! Heidi is also wonderful at “Tahlerschwingen”, so has many strings to her musical bows!!! Heidi recently took on the job as Kegeln chief, and is an avid supporter of this event. Together with her late husband Nic they taught their children Swiss-German, and all speak the language fluently. Well done, Heidi. Their two sons, Sami and Thomas, have been regular competitors in the Schwingen (Swiss wrestling) held at our annual picnic, and between them have taken out many titles. They now referee the schwingen and undertake the administration of this entertaining Swiss sport. It is impressive to note that all of Heidi’s children are members of the Taranaki Swiss Club, and obviously cherish their Swiss heritage. Thank you for all you have done for our Club, Heidi, and we look forward to your continued support for many more years!!!
Erna Zimmermann
Position: Committe member and Hall Custodian
Phone: 06 278 8476 or 027 272 6438
Email: berna.zimmermann@swiss.org.nz
Erna has been on the Taranaki Swiss Club committee for many years, with Remigi retiring in 2016 from the committee. He had been Karabiner (big bore shooting) Rifle Master for several years. Erna is currently our friendly hall custodian, so if you require the hall for a function please do not hesitate to ring her. Erna is an avid jassen player, and both her and Remigi participate in Kegeln and shooting events. Erna is one of our “fondue makers” and is wonderful around the kitchen. You must try one of Erna’s home-made Baslerleckerli … they are truly the BEST!!! She contributed many recipes to the Helvetia magazine, something many members thoroughly enjoyed. Both Remigi and Erna participate with the Singing Group, with Remigi also assisting the accordion players by playing percussion instruments. Erna does Tahlerschwingen with Walter and Heidi, and thoroughly enjoys participating in the Singing and Entertainment group Erna continues to make a big contribution on the committee, and we hope to have her for many more years!!
Marlies Hebler
Position: Committee member
Phone: 06 278 6878
Email: marlies.hebler@swiss.org.nz
Marlies is married to our President, Othmar. She arrived in New Zealand as a tourist, and … well … the rest is history … she married Othmar and they have lived in New Zealand ever since!!! They have three adult children who all speak Swiss-German … well done for ensuring that your children speak the language of their forebearers! Marlies is efficient in the kitchen, ensuring that we always have more than enough food!!! Marlies participates in the Kegeln, Shooting and Jassen … and has won the shot put trophy several times. Marlies is currently leader of the Singing Group which performs for various other clubs and organisations, as well as offering lunch and entertainment for clubs in our own club house … a function which is thoroughly enjoyed by the people who come. We thank you Marlies for your huge efforts, and look forward to your help for many more years!!!
Vonnie Ngatai
Position: Committee member
Phone:
Email:
Anne Butler
Position: Committee member
Phone:
Email:
Anne Butler is married to Tom who is a fourth generation Swiss. They first came to the Swiss Club in 1975 when dances were held at the Kapuni Hall and they have always been interested in their Swiss heritage. They spent 20 years in Australia and, upon their return to New Zealand, decided to
become members of the Taranaki Swiss Club and be actively involved. They thoroughly enjoy the Kegeln nights and participate in most of our functions. We welcome Anne to our committee and hope that she enjoys being a part of our team.
Mary Kalin
Position: Committee member
Phone: 06 278 1914
Email:
Mary’s grandfather, Ernst Uttinger, came out from Zug, Switzerland as a child with his family. He married an Italian, Emelia, and they had seven girls, one being Mary’s mum. Mary married Brian Kalin, a second generation Swiss, and they joined the Swiss Club to reconnect with their Swiss culture. Brian and Mary attend most of our functions, when work allows, and enjoy the camaraderie of our members, and meeting new people. We welcome Mary to our committee, and hope she enjoys working with us for many years!
Marcus Rufer
Position: Committee member
Phone: 06 278 6884
Email: marcus.rufer@swiss.org.nz
Marcus has also been on the Taranaki Swiss Club committee for many years. A plumber by trade, he is often called upon to utilise his skills at the Club house. We have just recently removed the old, cracked spouting and replaced it with new spouting… Marcus getting us a good deal and assisting with the work. Marcus is also one of the team of Bar Managers, enjoys playing Jassen and takes part in the Kegeln. Marcus is an excellent pot-scrubber at our fondue evening… he just gets on with it!!! Thanks Marcus, for your valuable support, and we look forward to you being on the committee for many more years.
Richard Wagner
Position: Committee member
Phone: 022 435 9806
Email: riwag3604@gmail.com
In February 1974, the day of Richard’s arrival in New Zealand, he was offered a position as Aircraft Mechanic with NZ Aerospace Industries in Hamilton. Besides working on aeroplanes, he also flew them by gaining his commercial pilot and instructor licences. During his time in the Waikato, he joined the Hamilton Swiss Club where he got to know many of the members at the social events. After a few years at Waitemata Aero Club (Auckland) as flying instructor, he decided to explore the South Seas. He was fortunate to further his flying career with airlines in the islands of Tonga and Fiji, plus the atolls of the Marshall archipelago, where they resided for six and a half years. His wife, Lynley and son, Marcus, thoroughly enjoyed the tropical weather and crystal clear waters of the ocean. From there, they lived in Switzerland for 25 years, where their son received an excellent education. Having done a lot of scuba diving in the Pacific Ocean, Richard joined the Lake Thun Diving Club, where he became a committee member and President for many years. After retiring early 2016, Richard and Lynley returned to New Zealand, where they explored for fifteen months all the exciting places on both islands with their campervan and mountain bikes. Arriving in Hawera and seeing the great view of Mt Taranaki in the background, they decided this was the place they would like to settle. Joining the Taranaki Swiss Club middle of last year, Richard participates in the Singing Group and lends a helping hand. Lynley plays the piano accordion, and both enjoy participating with the musical entertainment. We were fortunate to have Richard join our committee at the last AGM in March, and we look forward to his helping hand at our functions!!!
Bryce Kaiser
Position: Committee member
Phone: 06 274 5856
Email: bryce.kaiser@swiss.org.nz
Bryce is a relatively new addition to our Taranaki Swiss Club committee, and we appreciate your time and effort. Bryce took over the Karabiner Rifle Masters’ duties… being ably taught by Remigi who had many years of experience … however with the new gun licensing laws the Taranaki Swiss Club made the difficult decision to close down the range and discontinue this part of our club events. Bryce is a second generation Swiss, and has embraced Swiss culture and traditions. He enjoys small bore shooting, and takes part in the Kegeln events. We look forward to your continued support on our committee.
Joe Kuriger
Position: Small bore rifle master
Phone: 06 762 8774 / 027 476 5839
Email: joeychelle1@gmail.com
Joe’s grandparents were born in Switzerland before emigrating to New Zealand, with his dad, Alex and all the siblings being born in New Zealand. Alex was a committee member of the Taranaki Swiss Club for many years, in charge of the music at the picnics when they were held at Te Ngutu Park. Now Joe is following in his dad’s footsteps and has become a member of our committee. Joe and his wife Rochelle became interested in their Swiss heritage after his brother Alex and wife Debbie started coming to the Swiss Club. Joe and Rochelle have four children who also attend our various Swiss club functions, and they are all particularly keen on shooting and Kegeln. Joe has taken on the role of small bore rifle master, and is keen to get range certification so that we can continue to shoot on our range. As a qualified builder we enjoy his input into building issues that come up! Thanks so much, Joe, for joining our team, and we hope that you will enjoy many years on our committee!!
Rochelle Kuriger
Position: Committee Member
Phone:
Email:
Rochelle is married to committee member Joe Kuriger, and they have four children. The Kurigers have a long connection with the Taranaki Swiss Club, with various family members on the committee at different times. Rochelle enjoys Swiss culture and traditions, especially an affinity with small bore shooting. She has a goal of learning to play jassen, and is motivated to find out more about Swiss culture and traditions. Rochelle enjoys trying new Swiss recipes and has brought many delicious biscuits to our club. She actively encourages their children to participate in Swiss club activities and attend functions, something we really appreciate. We look forward to your help and hope you enjoy being a part of our team, together with persuading other members of the extended Kuriger family to join in and participate.
Daniel Drummond
Position: Committee Member
Phone:
Email:
Daniel, the son of Adrian and Marianne, has grown up with the Swiss Club being a part of his social calendar, due to his parents’ involvement with the club. He enjoys Swiss culture and tradition, and after prompting from Joe Kuriger, decided he would offer his services to the committee. He enjoys shooting (both small bore and karabiner), jassen, other sports events and, of course, our food!! As an apprentice builder, we enjoy his input in building issues and undertaking odd jobs! We’re thrilled to have some youth on our committee, and look forward to your contribution. We hope you enjoy the camaraderie of our club committee and encourage other younger members to participate in club functions and events.
