The Dutch Burgher Union 114,
Reid Avenue, Colombo 4.
Telephone Nos: 2584511, 5331661
Newsletter – August 2006
President’s Message
Dear Fellow Member,
The first of our Fund Raising events “An Evening of Nostalgia” took off to a flying start on 14th July 2006. The evening featured the ever popular Jazz and Blues singer Jerome Speldewinde who entertained nearly 200 members and guests with Jazz singer Natasha doing a ‘guest spot’ earlier on that evening. This was a resounding success and we hope as many members and guests will continue to support us in the future. This event will be held every Friday from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight. Friday the 11th will feature Natasha, exclusively, and the 18th Jerome. Tickets are priced at Rs.300/=.
I congratulate the Chairman of this event, Dallas Martenstyn and his energetic and capable team – Nigel Austin, Carol Prins, Jackie Anthonisz and Tammy Flamer-Caldera for a job well done. Thank you.
Our weekly entertainment upstairs in the Bar/Lounge area every Wednesday has also been very successful. Last Wednesday saw over 70 members and their guests enjoying the music of Darlan and Vivien, singing and dancing their cares away. Entrance for Members and their spouse will be free but guests will be charged Rs.150/= per guest. Please do support this event as often as you can and join the fun.
With all good wishes,
Kem Martenstyn President
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
22nd October – Founder’s Day
05th December – St. Nikolaas’ Day
10th December – Christmas Sale
16th December – Christmas Dinner Dance
ST. NIKOLAAS’ HOME
The concept of establishing a Home for the members of our community who were unable to find accommodation for themselves goes back to as early as 1937 and on the initiative of Dr E.W. Arndt plans were formulated for the funding of it.
Dr R.L. Spittel donated an acre of land and other substantial donations were received and the Home was built. The Home came into being on the 22nd of August 1951 with 14 Residents. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength and we now have nearly 50 Burgher ladies whose average age is 85.
Dr Rosemary Mutthumani
We say a big “thank-you” to Dr Rosemary Mutthumani for her devoted attention to the medical needs of the Residents of the Home for the past 25 years or more. She has been a source of strength to the ailing Residents and also to the successive Matrons. Owing to ill health and advancing age she will no longer be able to care for the Residents and they and the staff of the Home will feel her loss. We wish her a happy and peaceful retirement.
From our Welfare Chairperson. Mrs Anthea Muller
The Eighty Club Melbourne has sponsored the education of the Solomonsz brothers for a number of years. After sitting for the OIL Exam in 2003/2004 the elder boy, Kevin, decided to pursue a career in the hospitality trade and applied for funds to follow a training course in Basic cookery. The Post Education & Tertiary Committee of the Eighty Club approved his application and funds were released for the entire course plus his traveling expenses. In October 2005 he successfully completed this course and received an “A” Grade Certificate and was also awarded the “Best Student” award for outstanding performance throughout the course.
He is now working as a Trainee Cook at the Eden Resorts and Spa, Beruwela and hopes to proceed to Australia where he will further his studies in the hotel field.
We are proud of you Kevin and we wish you every success in the future.
We warmly welcome the following new Members, Associates and Overseas Associates
Member: Mr. Dominic Ross Kellar,
Associates: Ms Shirin Abeyesinghe, Mrs Marieanne Perera, Messrs. Patrick de Silva, Jeremy David, A.R. Chandiram, Rohan Perera, Dinesh Shehan Peiris, Shammi Silva, Rajan Sellamuttu, Buveneka de Silva Seniviratne, Shashi Dilum Welgama, Patrick de Silva
Overseas Associates: Messrs. Maurice Forster, Astor Adriansz
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
Our greetings and best wishes go out to all our Members celebrating their birthdays in August, especially to – Ms Rochelle Holsinger, Mrs Sheryll Jinasena, Ms Michelle Leembruggen, Mr Patricia Mamelka, Mrs Shirani Amaratunga, Ms Kalpana Amalean, Messrs. Anthony Adrian Loos, Warren Solomonsz Wilhelm Brown, Victor Meurling, Howard Martenstyn, Kenneth Pendigrast, Ajit de Fonseka, Hirantha Pereira, Joseph Pereira, Johannes Ross, Shammi Silva and Maurice Forster.
A tribute to the late Mr Arthur E. Keuneman – Former Organizer of the Forgotten People Fund.
For many years Mr Arthur E. Keuneman was the Organizer of the Forgotten People Fund in Australia. He would each year send the DBU a cheque for the monies collected by this Fund in Australia which was in turn distributed by the DBU to the many callers, all of Burgher origin, who came to the DBU in dire need.
In 2001 Mr Keneuman wrote – “Due to age (I am now 81) and ill-health I am afraid that I shall have to give up organizing the FPF. I started it 27 years ago in 1974, and since then it has been a part of my life.” For one who dedicated the last years of his life working towards helping the needy of his community in the land of his birth we in Sri Lanka are deeply grateful and we offer our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones.
Meaning of Success
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of genuine critics and endure the betrayal of false and dishonest friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others and to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition void of fraud and shennigans; or the forgiveness of adultery or to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived well. This is the meaning of my success – Moira Bracknell, Ohio, USA
Contributed by Wg Cdr (Retd) E.H Ohlmus
DISCLAIMER ssss
In producing this Newsletter, every effort is made by the Editor to avoid errors of any kind. However, occasionally, errors in typing may occur and are deemed acceptable as long as they do not cause facts in the item of news or the article to be distorted.