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Nelson Branch Newsletter – February 2010

69

XIN NIAN KUAI LE     HAPPY NEW YEAR

Best Wishes for the Year of the Tiger

We hope you have had a relaxed and enjoyable holiday season with family or friends, either here in Nelson or elsewhere. Chinese New Year coincides with Valentine’s Day this year, and to celebrate the occasion our annual combined Chinese Banquet and AGM will be held at the Eastern Cuisine, 275 Queen Street, Richmond on the actual day, Sunday 14 February, when the restaurant will be open for our exclusive use. 

Your family members, friends, visitors, and guests are all most welcome to attend this celebration.

The cost for the Banquet is $28. The usual beverages (juice, soft drinks, beer and wine) will be available for purchase and if you wish to bring your own drinks the corkage fee is $5

To make things easier for the restaurant, payment will be by cash or cheque to our Treasurer as you arrive

We would also invite you to make a donation towards the NZCFS He Ming Qing Scholarship which supports three nursing scholars in China for 2010.

We hope to see you around 5.45pm to enable the short AGM to begin at 6pm. The meal will commence about 7pm.

In between, we will be entertained by Dongrui, playing her Guqin. The Guqin is one of the most ancient Chinese musical instruments and it was used by Chinese scholars 3000 years ago. There have been very few famous musical pieces played on it for thousands of years but the Guqin has regained its popularity in China in the last 10 years.  

Sunday 14 February  ..  Eastern Cuisine Restaurant  ..  5:45 pm

To arrange catering please ring:

Barbara Markland Ph. 544 4712 by Sunday 7 February.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: Items on the agenda will include: the President’s Report, the Financial Report, the Election of Officers, and any General Business. 

As some of the current team are unavailable for re-election, new committee members would be happily welcomed. Please give this matter your serious consideration, as the future of the Nelson Branch hinges on the continued introduction of new leaders. If you would like to talk about what this might involve please ring June (ph 544 7834). Nominations for all positions will be taken at the meeting.

2010 SUBSCRIPTIONS: At the National AGM last year, the branch capitation fee was increased from $6 to $7, to take effect with the payment due in January 2011, which is based on 2010 membership. Following a review of the Nelson Branch accounts, the Treasurer will recommend and move that the subscriptions remain unchanged:

That Nelson Branch subscriptions for 2010 remain the same as 2009:

Single $15 Couple $25 School $25 Corporate $30

LAST MEETING: At our very interesting, and last meeting for 2009, Evey McAuliffe enthusiastically shared her experiences, impressions and photographs of her Chinese journey with a very good attendance of members. 

Having recently returned from the “incredible opportunity” of the Prominent Persons’ and Leaders’ Tour, Evey’s enthusiasm for China was obvious. She felt that the tour organisation was a feat in itself, that the hospitality throughout was stupendous, and that everything was made more enjoyable by the company of her fellow travellers. 

Highlights for Evey included the changed attitude of helpfulness and friendliness of the Chinese people towards foreigners compared with her visit in the 1980s; watching people in public spaces and parks dancing, singing, playing music, exercising, socialising in the street, and enjoying each other’s company; historic sights, ancient treasures, stunning modern architecture and the efforts China is making in regard to the environment. 

It was clear Evey felt that her participation in the tour had been an education from which many, not just herself, would benefit through her role as Co-ordinator of the Nelson Multicultural Council.

REWI ALLEY HONOURED IN BEIJING: As a niece of Rewi and a representative of the Alley family, Philippa Reynolds travelled to Beijing in December to receive the award commemorating Rewi Alley as one of the ‘Top Ten Foreign Friends of China’ over the last 60 years. She writes:

“After a pleasant 13 hour flight to China, I was met at Beijing Airport (at 6am on a Sunday morning!) by my lovely interpreter, Lu Ping. She looked after me very well all the time I was in China – I am very grateful to her. I stayed at the Beijing Friendship Hotel and Lu Ping took me to visit ‘The Bird’s Nest’ stadium, and to see the Museum. 

On December 5th, we went to the Great Hall of the People. Representatives of the families of the other ‘Top Ten’  were there, including two 90-year-old sisters of an Indian surgeon who had saved the lives of Chinese soldiers during the Japanese invasion in 1937. We were each presented with our awards – I intend to donate the medal to the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch to go with the other things in the Rewi Alley Collection. 

I had been warned that I might have to make an acceptance speech, and so had prepared to say a few words, quoting from Rewi’s autobiography where he said that he felt he had been one of the first bridge builders between “New Zealand, my homeland, and China, the land I made my working home”. But a Thai Princess spoke on behalf of all the recipients – so that was OK! 

I was very pleased to be able to see Lu Wanru, who had been Rewi’s secretary – in fact she took me out to lunch one day. The whole occasion was very memorable and it was an honour to represent the family. I thank all the people responsible.” 

LETTER FROM FERRY VAN MANSUM: Ferry and Aukje will be very much missed this year but we hope their absence from our meetings will be temporary. Decreased demand for second-language teaching in our local secondary schools has seen them move back to teaching positions in Holland. From Twello, near DeVenter, in below zero degrees Celsius and below sea level, Ferry sends “greetings and best wishes to all Branch members for a prosperous New Year”. He has begun teaching at a school which offers Chinese as a fourth language – where the reality of China in the world is recognised by parents, students and schools alike.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2010: The 2010 National Conference and AGM will be hosted by the Hamilton Branch from 22 – 24 May, 2010. The programme is looking very exciting and it would be great to see a good contingent from Nelson there this year – combine it with a North Island holiday? Registration forms will be available soon.

HE MING QING SCHOLARSHIPS: Kathy and Royden were thrilled to meet all three of the current He Ming Qing Scholars during the 2009 Projects Tour. The group were very impressed with their dedication to their studies, their delightful personalities and the grateful thanks they gave to the NZCFS for their funding. With Shi Hongli, from the Zhangye Prefecture near Shandan, beginning her studies at the Gansu Medical College in Lanzhou, the NZCFS is committed to three scholarships this year at a cost of around $5400. 

The Nelson Branch contribution of $500, approved at our November meeting and funded by our donation tin and the ‘Chinese Treasures’ evening, has been gratefully received. It is very much hoped that we can raise a similar amount of money in 2010 – any suggestions?

THE LITTLE DAY OUT: The Nelson Multicultural Society have invited us to join in with this event being held at Chinese New Year – it is for communities to meet, talk together and be entertained and the organisers are hoping to include some Chinese celebrations: Victory Square Community Event … 14 February … from 2-6pm.

HUANGSHI – SISTER CITY NEWS: Keith Marshall, Chief Executive of the Nelson City Council and a member of our Branch, visited Huangshi in November while he was in China furthering his Mandarin studies. He met with the Mayor, Mr Yang Xiaobo, visited No.3 Middle School (sister school of Nelson College for Girls), Hubei Normal University, where he delivered a speech, and exchanged views on city financial management with his counterparts. 

In 2010, Huangshi will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of Huangshi City, and will stage the first “International Festival of Huangshi Mining, Metallurgical Culture & Tourism”. This will be the most important event of the year in Huangshi and takes place from 20-22 August. 

Xu Zugui notes: “On this significant occasion, the Huangshi Municipal People’s Government would like to invite the Mayor of Nelson, Kerry Marshall, to lead a delegation to visit Huangshi at that time. We do hope to have our sister cities’ guests with us enjoying the festival during this exciting period. 

By the way, we have a new boss, Mrs Liu Yin, who took office just two months ago. Mrs Xiang Dongfang has been transferred to another position. They wish me to pass on their regards to you and all our friends in Nelson.”

BOOK LAUNCH – APPO HOCTON BIOGRAPHY: An invitation has been received from the Tasman Bays Heritage Trust and the staff of the Nelson Provincial Museum inviting all Nelson Branch members to celebrate the launch of a book and exhibition about the life of Appo Hocton (Wong Ah Poo Hoc Ting), New Zealand’s first Chinese immigrant, at the Nelson Provincial Museum on Saturday 27 February at 3 p.m.

If you would like to be present for this significant occasion, please RSVP by Sunday 21 February to Cathy Knight at: [email protected], or PO Box 853, Nelson 7040, or phone 03 548 9588.

The Appo Hocton book can be ordered at the time of the RSVP for $25 each if collected on the day, or $30 including postage and packing. Please make sure you provide a name and address.

2010 BRANCH MEETINGS: Please keep these dates free for our Branch Meetings during 2010:

26 March 14 May (a week before National Conference)

25 June 13 August

24 September 12 November 

THE YEAR OF THE TIGER: This is Year 4708 according to Chinese reckoning. 

Famous Tigers include: Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne, Mary Queen of Scots, Ho Chi Minh, Charles De Gaulle, Karl Marx, Marco Polo, Sir Alec Guinness, Sir David Attenborough, Sir Richard Branson, Marilyn Monroe, Tom Cruise, Leonardo Di Caprio, Diana Rigg, Dylan Thomas, Emily Bronte, H. G. Wells, Beatrix Potter, Buddy Holly, Ludwig van Beethoven, Stevie Wonder, Agatha Christie, Stan Laurel and William Wordsworth.

Tiger years are: 1902 1914 1926 1938 1950 1962 1974 1986 1998 2010


People born in the Year of the Tiger are generally well liked because of their charismatic personalities. Tigers are natural born leaders and are at their happiest if working towards positions of power and influence. They are quick learners, and need to be challenged. If there is no further room for progression, they will often move on.

Tigers are usually straightforward and outgoing by nature. They will never give up no matter how aggravated they may become. Even if there is only one spark left, they will try to make it fire their lives. But, they are also full of suspicion and at times will take hasty action. Never lose sight of the fact that Tigers are smart and instinctive. They possess a great sense of humour and Tigers like people, involvement, and dedication to humanitarian causes.

They always take pride in being different from others, and normally demonstrate their originality best in their homes which are typically filled with exotic possessions. They like to spend money, and also to share it. They can be very impulsive spenders because they know they can make more. People admire Tigers as they are ferocious and domineering on the outside, but they are just as noble and distinguished on the inside.

The year of the Tiger is traditionally associated with massive changes and social upheaval. Therefore, 2010 is very likely to be a volatile one both on the world scene, as well as on a personal level.

Those born in the Year of the Tiger are compatible with the Pig, Horse, and Dog, and find it easy to get along with people born in the year of the Mouse, Sheep, Rooster and other Tigers. 

The Tiger motto: “I win”.

You can view a PDF of the Nelson Branch Newsletter – February 2010.