Swedes Down Under Club Inc

Swedes Down Under Club Inc
Annual Report/ President’s Report 2011
2011 AGM was held 12 March 2011 at the Finish Hall in Mt Gravatt. There were 41
members present at the meeting and lunch.
The committee elected for 2011 Swedes Down Under Club Inc.committee was:
President: Elisabeth Johansson
Vice President: Sophia Ahlin
Treasurer: Monica Ylitalo
Secretary: Kristina Hedin
Assisting Secretary: Ylva Bohm
Committee Members: Helena Alberg, Lotta Beckelin, Victoria Cain, Thomas Hansson and
Kajsa Rylander.
2011 has been a busy year with several new initiatives and some obstacles, still a very
positive and enthusiastic year with lots of fun. With only two committee members continuing
from 2010 it was a steep learning curve for some of us. There were also some changes to the
committee throughout the year that we had to accommodate but I would like to sincerely
thank all people involved with the committee all year for their time and efforts to make the
operation of the club as smooth as possible.
When the treasurer decided to step down, Bettan volunteered to take on the Treasurer role
and Ylva was instead elected President by the committee. Sophia already knew that she
would return to Sweden after finishing studies in 2011 so it was decided that someone who
would remain in the committee took on the President’s role. Helena, who has done so much
for SDU over the years, also decided to leave the committee to make time for other things.
We started the year with several planned movie nights, but unfortunately due to the
equipment not being available these did not go ahead as planned. Preparation to purchase
projector equipment was started but not finalised during the year.
SDU also started a facebook page that has proven very popular with almost 100 signed up.
A tremendous big thank you to our Webmaster, Michael Ahlberg, who continues to do a
great job with Swedes Down Under’s web page.
We also would like to thank all the helpers and volunteers throughout the year! The
committee members cannot by ourselves get everything done but we have had many helping
hands at midsummer, kraftskivan, Christmas and other events that has made it all possible.
The events during 2011 organised by Swedes Down Under:
13/4 a movie night at the Danish Club – which turned out to be the only one at the Danish
Club! - showing the comedy “Vi hade iallafall tur med vadret – igen”, with about 20 people
attending.

26/6 Midsummer celebrations at Rochedale State School again. This year, we had a double
booking to work around, but it worked out great in the end with the initial festivities and May
Pole up on the fields above the school and the Midsummer Table in the Hall afterwards.
Swedish/Danish/Australian band “Kupaleja” performed again and we had both the
Scandinavian Singers as well as a folk dance troupe to everybody’s delight. The Midsummer
pole looked amazing and a large group joined in the dancing and singing around the pole.
There were more than 150 people attending on the day and many stayed to enjoy the herring
and potatoes in the hall. Thanks to IKEA for generously donating some of the food.
27/8 Crayfish party at the Finish Hall. This year we had a greater variety of food, including
superb entrees with skagenrora and cheese followed by prawns, smorgastarta, cheese cakes.
This was very lucky as the new supplier of our crayfish did not get the message of what
recipe to use and they were frankly tasteless albeit very fresh. But we had a very happy crowd
that participated in the singing and dressing up for the night.
There were around 90 members and guests at the Crayfish party.
14/9 movie night at Lotta’s place in St Lucia, as we could not get a working projector
organised in time for the planned movie night. We showed several of the ‘Solsidan’ episodes,
the Swedish television series. Lots of laughs, several of us had not seen any of these before
and we were treated to some delicious supper including smorgastarta.
23/10 The Moose Hunt – it is a popular event and this year we had about 30 attending the
Rifle Range and the park after for soup. After an unfortunate mix-up with the cost
(participants were asked to pay an additional $20) most decided to go ahead with the shooting
and had a lot of fun, whilst a few more joined us for the traditional pea & ham soup and
(arrack) punch in a nearby park. We had several Danes joining us, and they ended up being
the sharpest shooters on the day, taking out First and Second Price.
27/11 Christmas Market on the First of Advent at the Danish Club – the first of we hope
many markets. A very successful day organised jointly by SDU and the Swedish School with
hundreds of visitors and many stalls selling baked goods, lollies and other food, clothes,
candles, craft and many other things.
17/12 Swedes Down Under’s traditional Christmas Dinner was held at the Danish Hall.
There were around 60 people booked in for this event and we were treated to ham, Jansson,
gravlax, meatballs, beetroot salad, decorated eggs, herring and other traditional delicacies.
21/12 Seems like some people can’t stop and Bettan had organised with several members
also singers of the Scandinavian Singers to go very early in the morning to IKEA in Logan to
sing for the staff there and share in the St Lucia tradition. There would have been 300 staff
and family enjoying this treat, and feedback from IKEA is that they really appreciated this.
During 2011, Kristina initiated a book club, or rather a book-exchange, jointly with the
Swedish Church in Woolloongabba where several members have met up in the Nazareth
Lutheran Church over some lovely Swedish treats and coffee and exchanged books and
magazines.
During the year, the golf days has continues where a group of enthusiasts meet at different
golf links to play and socialise, Jonny Lange has continued to be the driving force behind the
golf days.

.
Again, for the AGM in 2012, SDU has organised lunch with the AGM, this has been made
possible due to some events getting a greater profit than expected. It is positive to see around
30 members booked in to the AGM as this is the only general meeting over the year where
we discuss membership issues and the like.
The purpose of this is to bring the Swedes Down Under club together and have a discussion
between members of what will and should be happening in the coming year. We want to
maintain some Swedish traditions and aim to pass some of our Swedish heritage on to the
younger generations.
Unfortunately, like previous year, there are several committee members resigning this
year.
Bettan Johansson resigned from her initial position of President on the 27 June and now
Treasurer has decided to leave the committee after several busy years putting in a lot of work.
Sophia Ahlin – Vice President, moved back to Sweden in November and we wish her all
the best back home
Kajsa Rylander will have a very busy year coming up and will not continue in the
committee but will help out with events
Helena Alberg has been with the committee for many years and needed a break but has
continued to help out at events
Monica Ylitalo resigned from the Treasurer in June to focus on other endeavours
SDU greatly appreciates each and everyone’s contribution during 2011 and wish you all a
great 2012 ahead.