How did the Netherlands Society in Bankstown survive and thrive so long?

I just read this and naturally I am 'miffed'.

Somebody whose name sounds a little bit familiar is being credited with the keeping the Netherlands Society in Bankstown 'alive'.
As my father was one of the two chairpersons who 'really' kept it going, I am VERY surprised to read that opinion.
I was even chairman, in its 'dying stages', when it had served its purpose.
*
Cannot ~ at this moment ~ think of the other president who was 'chair' for 12 years but I can 'tell' you that my father was the other.

The bi-monthly dance evenings, in the Bankstown Town Hall and previously elsewhere were always a huge success. I 'captured" my father making his 'welcome speech', noting how pale he was again and knowing that he would spend the next day again in a darkened room, suffering his very severe migraines. But he was 'driven' to make these events a success and they WERE!! 

While they were not particularly good friends, I must admit, after the previous chairman had kept it going for 12 years, my father also served 12 years. When the Netherlands Society in Bankstown simply had to 'close down', my father was invited to attend, as his hard work was so clearly understood and appreciated. 

I am VERY disappointed to see this:

http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_nee003196101_01/_nee003196101_01_0056.php?q=bankstown

under the heading of "TRUE"  Dutch history. 

Someone having a "joke" ? 

© Ozcloggie, is Jo Mulholland. Was Joop Mul  (Johannes M. Mul{holland} Jr) 

Time to cut the apron-strings!!

Dutch-Australian presence - HERE!

One of many links to the Dutch-Australian connection!!

St Marys -Sydney -

Renewed calls for alternate exits from Dunheved Circuit, 

where the Dutch-Australian Social Club, 

"Rembrandt" is located. 

Please support this!!!   

© Ozcloggie 2015. 

Just imagine if the DUTCH had made Australia their 'colony' - how would Australia Day have been celebrated?

Producer, John Mulders explained......

on these two videos.....

© Ozcloggie 2015 

P.S.. 

From: Elvan Kahraman 

[mailto:elvan.kahraman1@gmail.com] 

Sent: Monday, 2 February 2015 8:32 PM

Subject: Student research

Hello,

I am an Australian student currently in the Netherlands. I am doing research on expatriate cross-cultural adjustment as part of my thesis. It has been very difficult to find participants to take an online survey as part of my data collection.

The Dutch embassy in Australia suggested that you may have contacts with Dutch expats. I wonder if you might be willing, or can spare the time to help me contact expats who might be willing to take the survey? I would really appreciate any advice you can offer. 

Look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Elvan

We are NOT ....."the 'invisible Dutch'.... (Who were said to assimilated so much that they (we) almost immediately lost the Dutchness and became "true-blue". mmmmmm! Not so, I reckon!

The Dutch Australian Cultural Centre - in Smithfield NSW.

Click on this for a LARGER version: 

In 2005 in her Thematic History of the Dutch in NSW  

Kirsten Velhuis  wrote: 

4.10 Arts & culture

"At a very early stage the Dutch community in NSW demonstrated a great interest and

desire to be involved in cultural and artistic aspects of life. Many of the social clubs,

including Neerlandia and the Netherlands Societies in the Sutherland Shire and

Bankstown had drama and theatre clubs and put on regular performances in the 1950’s

and 60’s (Federation of Netherlands Societies, 1985). 

The Dutch Society Concordia wasfounded as a theatre club, and it provided many performances in the Newcastle area28under direction of Pierre Hanssen (de Wit, J. 2004, pers. comm., 10 November). Choirs were also prolific in the 1950’s and evolved from both religious organisations and social

clubs. 

A notable choir was the Dutch Choir and Folkloric Group Dee Why (no longer in

existence), under director Isidoor Lammers. This Choir was a combination of ‘Arti Vocale’,

a choir from members of Neerlandia and of ‘Dutch Charge’, a Presbyterian choir in Dee

Why (Hage, 2004). It has performed at the Sydney Opera House and the Carols by

Candlelight in Sydney’s Domain. Another successful choir is the Sunrise Choral Society

from Blacktown, which has performed with Marcia Hines and John English (Federation

of Netherlands Societies, 1985). 

The NSW Dutch Folk Dancing Group, founded in 1951 by

Dr Cornelis Wouter keeps alive traditional Dutch folk dancing and has performed at many

festivals, fairs and community events (NSW Dutch Folk Dancing Group, 2001). 

There are also a number of successful Dutch individuals who have contributed to the art scene

in Australia, of which the below are only a small selection:

Paul Cox, film maker; 

Hendrik Scheltema, painter; 

Gerard Haveke, sculpted the fountain in Sydney’s Hyde Park; 

Jaap Flier, Artistic Director of the NSW Dance Company; 

Pieter van der Stock, singer with Opera Australia; 

and Willem van Otterloo, Chief Conductor of Sydney Symphony Orchestra

(Erasmus Foundation, 1994; Duyker, 1987a). 

A final major contributor to the Dutch culture in NSW is the 

Dutch Australian Cultural Centre 

which was established in 1982 with the aim to collect and preserve the Dutch heritage in Australia. 

Though not all in the Dutch community in NSW see the need for such a centre (Ten Brummelaar, 1994) and some even show concern it might compete or interfere with existing clubs and

organisations in some way (Talmacs, P. 2004, pers. comm., 03 September), the Centre

has received grants from the Australian and Dutch governments to achieve its goals. "

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/heritagebranch/heritage/thematichistorydutch.pdf

Jo Mulholland (Was Joop Mul) Webmaster DACC.  2014