Overview: Our 20 Special Interest Groups (1/2)

Join now and become involved

Our twenty groups cover a wide range of activities. To register your interest in any of the activities listed below, please ring our Office on 8223 2539 or send an e-mail.

1.

Accordion Group "Elite" (Akkordeongruppe)

2.

Adelaide German Band (Brass Band)

3.

Adelaider Liedertafel 1858 – Men's Choir

4.

Bavarian Dancers (Bund der Bayern)

5.

Berlin Group (Berliner Insulaner)

6.

Bushwalkers Group (Wandergruppe)

7.

Card Group (Skatgruppe)

8.

Carnival Group "Adelaider Jungs" (Karnevalsgruppe)

9.

Chess Group "Victoria" (Schachgruppe)

10.

Classical Japanese Swordsmanship Group

Group leader

Mrs Gisela Flachsenberger

Contact

Ph. (08) 8177 1792

Practice

Thursdays 7.45pm—10pm

Location

Club house, Hans Heysen Room

The Elite Accordion Group was re-established in 1984 at the SAADV. We now have ten regular players, most of whom have been enthusiastic supporters for the last decade. The Accordion Group welcomes anyone interested in joining.

Under the dedicated professionalism of our Musical Director, Mr Carlo Anzellotti, the group has reached a high standard of performance. The repertoire consists of waltzes, polkas, marches, tangos, classical and general international music.

The group has performed at various venues such as the International Expo Wayville, Carrick Hill, Schützenfest, Wineries, garden weddings, nursery homes, retirement villages, shopping malls, bowling clubs, R.S.L. and other community functions as well as the events in the German Club.

Anyone wishing to know more about the Accordion Group or would like to make a booking please contact Gisela Flachsenberger.

Group leader

Mr W. Fritzsche

Contact

Ph. (08) 8261 8662

Meetings

Mondays at 7.30pm

Location

Club house, Hans Heysen Room

Group leader

Mr Peter Reeh

Contact

Ph. (08) 8264 7195

Web

www.alt1858.org

Choir practice

Tuesdays at 7.30pm

Location

Club house, Carl Linger Hall

The 'Adelaider Liedertafel 1858' (ALT1858) is a men's choir singing mainly German songs at various community gatherings and festive days at our headquarters, the SAADV. Our conductor is Jonathan Bligh, and at full strength we number 44.

Apart from being the oldest German-singing choir, the ALT1858 is the oldest continuing male choir in Australia. Our origins date back to 1844, only eight years after the colony of South Australia was established by Governor Hindmarsh. But it was in 1858 that a committee established the choir which still exists today. We perform mainly German operatic works and folksongs, but also have Australian, English, Welsh and American choral works in our repertoire.

ALT1858 is always keen to recruit new (younger) male singers, particularly first and second tenors. Whilst proficiency in the German language is obviously an advantage, it is not a prerequisite. If necessary, we will teach you to pronounce (as distinct from speak) German. In fact, the only thing you must have is a love of singing! We practice every Tuesday evening (except for a short recess over Christmas and New Year) at 7.30pm at the SAADV clubrooms. If you can hold a tune and enjoy singing, contact us, or simply turn up on Tuesday evening.

Group leader

Mr Rob Portsch

Contact

Ph. (08) 8340 3066

Practice

Mondays at 7pm

Location

Club house, Carl Linger Hall

The 'Bund der Bayern' was established in August 1959 by Mr Heinz Brueckner. He and several other Bavarians formed the 'Edelweiss Schuhplattler' group of the SAADV. After only two short months of relentless practice the group made its first public appearance. Popularity of the 'Edelweiss' group increased with appearances at the Tanunda Weinfest, the Festival of Arts and also through the television media. The first 'Bayern Abend' in 1960 was held in the old club house of SAADV, this was the start of the Bavarian 'Gemütlichkeit' we now know in Adelaide.

During the construction of the new premises, the group held practices in a hall hired from G.T.V. 9. New costumes and necessary mending to old ones were paid with money earned at monthly dance evenings organised by the group at Henley Beach.

Upon completion of the new club premises in 1963, the group then moved back to the SAADV and adopted the new name of 'Heimat- und Volkstrachten Verein, Bund der Bayern'. The original name of 'Edelweiss' was retained by the Schuhplattlers of the Bund der Bayern.

In 1964, together with the SAADV the first 'Schützenfest' after World War II was held at the Gorge Picnic ground. As the Schützenfest grew in popularity, the SAADV took over the organisation and transferred this ever popular social activity to the Hahndorf Oval. In 1966 the Youth group of the 'Edelweiss' was formed, under the leadership of Mr Otto Vogl. In 1972, the Youth group received it's own flag. The flag was beautifully hand painted by Mr Paul Wegener and was donated to the group by Hans and Anni Knoll. The president Mr Hein Diestel-Feddersen unveiled the flag in the presence of many guests including the well known Pastor Zinnbauer. The flag was blessed by Father J. A. Baron from the German Catholic Centre St. Bonifatius, Collinswood.

In 1977, the very first 'Tanzfest' was held in the clubrooms of the SAADV. It was a modest beginning for the new traditional 'Volksfest'. Mr Dieter Fabig, President, and Mr Walter Tietjens, Secretary, together encouraged the 'Brücke' to sponsor the Festival. Other members who contributed to the success of the Volkstanzfest were Hans Knoll, Christel Kranich, Bruno Kranich, from the 'Bund der Bayern', and Mary Feddersen from the 'Deutscher Volkstanzkreis'.

For many years the 'Bund der Bayern' was a member of the 'Good Neighbour Council'. After this council dissolved the group joined the 'Folkloric Society'. As a result of this many new friendships were kindled. Some of the highlights were participating in a 'Preisplattln' with the 'Austrian National Dancers' and becoming honorary lifetime members of the 'South Coast Scottish Club'.

Over the years several group leaders have guided the progress of the dancers and the floorshows are still as popular as ever. More recently a bell ringers group under the name of 'Alpen Echo' has formed. Their instruments being finely tuned cowbells!

The 'Bund der Bayern' has been fortunate to have had some very experienced people to guide it. These are now honorary members such as Mr Heinz Bruckner, Otto Vogl, Hans and Anni Knoll, and Mrs Traudl Daniels. Over the years others have been very generous towards the group and received the certificate of 'Ehrenbayer'. John Amer, Dieter Fabig, Werner Wagnitz, Werner Bromberger, and Norbert Kosiol have all been awarded this honour.

There have been many highlights over the years, and only some will be remembered by all. Such as performances at the Sydney Opera House, in Penang/Malaysia, Port Moresby/Papua New Guinea, Festival of Arts, Vintage Festivals, Schützenfeste, Stanthorpe, Newcastle, Port Lincoln, Broken Hill, Whyalla, Mount Gambier, Brisbane, Melbourne, Alice Springs, Darwin, and Perth just to mention a few. Annually, members meet at a picnic where traditional games are played. Another yearly event occurs in December when Saint Nikolaus and Krampus visit the group. And in line with tradition there is a 'Heimat Abend' every two years.

Many years ago the dancers adopted the costumes from the area of Miesbach. Even today the boys are still proud to wear the Lederhosen and half socks ('Wadlstrümpfe'). The girls look like a pretty picture in their black vests, swinging red or blue skirts with colourful aprons and shawls.

Every Monday night the group meets to practice in the clubrooms. It is a good opportunity for the 'Bund der Bayern' to preserve our traditions and to share our customs and culture with our many Australian friends.

Group leader

Mr Heinz Wegner

Contact

Ph. (08) 8248 1999

Meetings

First Tuesday of each month at 7pm

Location

Club house, Main bar

The idea of having a special group for those members of the South Australian German Association who came from the city of Berlin was taken up in 1984 and eight members were present at the inaugural meeting. Since 1978 members from Berlin had organised the annual "Berlin Wall" and had helped with decorating the hall for that event, and from there it was only a small step to form their own group. The aim of the group is to preserve and foster Berlin humor, dialect and jokes for the enjoyment of everybody, whether a member of the group or not.

Group leader

Mrs Christel Kranich

Contact

Ph. (08) 8262 4436

Vice Group leader

Mr Helmut Petrikowski

Contact

Ph. (08) 8264 0314

Vice Group leader

Mr Werner Pohl

Contact

Ph. (08) 8260 2251

Meetings

Please see Calendar or events

Location

Club house

We are a group of more than 100 mostly elderly, reasonably fit members of the South Australian German Association who enjoy walking through the countryside. We meet every second Sunday at 9am at a predetermined spot and we walk for approximately three hours, usually in Conservation Parks, on bush tracks.

There are three groups of walkers and as a walker you can select a group to suit your level of fitness. Our A group tackles long, steep and often difficult walks between 11 and 15 km long. The B group walks between 8 and 12 km and the C group 6 to 8 km. All of the walks are selected and led by competent, experienced Walk Leaders.

Everybody brings his own table, chair, lunch, and a thermos full of tea or coffee to the meeting place. At the end of each walk everybody is tired and all three groups usually sit together in a big circle to rest, have lunch and to exchange the latest news or gossip.

Usually there are two, three or more members who celebrate their birthday and they bring a cake each, which is divided amongst those present. That is very much appreciated by all and adds to the attraction of our walks.

We also have two Bushwalking Camps per year, lasting several days and they have taken us as far away as Apollo Bay, Healesville, Melrose Park, The Grampians and Yorke Peninsula.

Once a year we have a 'Family Walking Day' where children have the opportunity to walk with us and where they can have fun together, after a short walk.

Our group also maintains an approximately 17 km long section of the Heysen Trail near Myponga. Our volunteers have built bridges across creeks, boardwalks across swamps, styles across fences and they keep the walking track reasonably clear.

All agree: It is nice to go for that fortnightly walk, participate in camps away from home and enjoy the company of the other members of the group.

Group leader

Mr Klaus Hüttenrauch

Contact

Ph. (08) 8395 0017

Meetings

Second Thursday of each month at 6.30pm

Location

Club house, Cafeteria

During the years 1954—1955 Viktor and Edith Kobienia started the Group of Skat Players, a very popular German card game. The beginners were on a small scale but the group met, as it still does today, every Thursday, and the competition Skat was played every fourth Sunday. There was not a lot of prize money involved but everybody had fun and a tasty meal was searved during the lunch break, cooked by members. After 1979 the group leader was Hildegard Clieves who ran the group with enormous energy and success. Hildegard is also the first lady ever to have won the SA Skat competition. Every year the group organises the "Skat Dance" and the group takes part in world competitions.

Group leader

Mrs Rosie Beckers

Contact

Ph. (08) 8383 0199

Meetings

Second Tuesday of each month at 7pm

Location

Club house, CMT Room

A very humble beginning but very enthusiastic ... that was back in 1972 when Horst Beier founded the "Adelaider Jungs" among a handful of members and friends. Early members, like Hans Lahska, Armin Regbein, Theo Simons, Heinrich Heuffner, Fred Seidel, and Hans Zeilder, established a very old German tradition in Adelaide and celebrated the first "Karneval" in South Australia with the opening ball in November 1972 followed by "Drei Tolle Tage", Three Happy Days, in February 1973. To organise a proper "Karneval", a council of eleven ("Elferrat") was required to organise all festivities. Due to there being only a few members of the group at the time, some members of the German Club acted as "Elferrat" and were also fitted with a colourful hat and uniform. Also, it was essential to have a Head-of-State, or "Prinz", to reign over the festivities, so the first "Prinz" became known as Hans I of Adelaide (Hans Lahska) for both the 1972/1973 and 1973/1974 seasons. Prinz Theo I (Theo Simons) reigned over the 1974/1975 season and then again in the 1975/1976 season with, for the first time, a beautiful Princess.

Hans Lahska dec quickly helped to establish a female ballet ("Funkengarde") with the support of Trudi Merget dec, who was the first dancing instructor. The ballet grew quickly to become a terrific entertainment group and supported the Carnival Group at their celebrations.

The "Adelaider Jungs" popularity grew and new members joined. Invitations came from Interstate and other local Carnival Groups to join them at their "Karneval". Many times the "Adelaider Jungs" have travelled to Melbourne, Geelong, and Whyalla and had tremendous receptions wherever they went. In 1981, some members of the group visited many cities in Germany and met Carnival Groups in Ulm, Stuttgart, Köln, and Koblenz. The Germans could not believe that we had successfully carried the "Karneval" tradition to Australia. Not only did the group entertain adults, it also made it possible for children to celebrate "Karneval" in the Club.

Because Carnival and wine are so closely related (both make people "happy"), the "Adelaider Jungs" chose for the first time a "Prinz" from the Barossa Valley – Robert Thumm of Yaldara –, in 1976/1977. He was followed by Wolf Blass of Bilyara as Wolf I in 1977/1978. Reinhold Koehler of the House of Seppelt was Reinhold I in 1978/1979. Wine is also made down South, so we discovered Hubert Lausberg of Maglieri Wines and made him Prinz Hubert I in 1979/1980. Robert I of Yaldara made it a second time as "Prinz" in 1980/1981. Once again, the Barossa Valley produced a "Prinz" in Steven Henschke, as Steven I, in 1981/1982. And once more, the House of Bilyara was represented, this time by John Glaetzer, as Prinz John von Bilyara, in 1982/1983. In 1983/1984, David Hardy von Siegersdorf reigned as Prinz David I von Siegersdorf with his Princess Elke Myer von Myerkof...

Over all these years, the Group has become stronger and has worked all the year round to produce a programme with a high standard of entertainment. The "Adelaider Jungs" is now a highly-organised Group with a committee and a council of eleven. Not only did all members work very hard to make the "Karneval" seasons a great success, we also had many happy hours on our picnics, Father's Day trips and many parties and get-togethers with drinking and singing and other entertainment.

Group leader

Mr Horst Pommerenke

Contact

Ph. (08) 8243 1091

Meetings

Tuesdays at 8pm

Location

Club house, Hans Heysen Room

Founded in 1960 under the leadership of Gerd Turon, and Horst Pommerenke being the present group leader. The group had its peak in the sixties and seventies, but membership has since declined. The name of the group "Victoria" comes from Queen Victoria, but the name is also used in German. The group has at present 15 active players and it has to be specially mentioned that not only the members are great "mates" but that their wives also have good contacts to each other.

Group leader

Mr Danny Mayman

Contact

Ph. 04 2782 1797

Meetings

Members only training. Wednesdays 7pm—8.30pm,
Sundays 11am—12.30pm when German Club is open

Location

Club house, Adolph Leschen Gymnasium

IAIDO. Classical Japanese Art of Drawing the Japanese Sword is practiced today as a method of self-development, which allows you to develop your character and spirit and requires imagination and concentration. We have been training in the German Club Gym and demonstrating at the German Club Open Day and Schützenfest since 1