OzCloggie

In order to apply for the establishement of a course, I wish to prove that the need exists in Sydney for the learning of basic Dutch for travel to the Netherlands and communication with relatives, among other reasons.If you are seriously interested please email me: jo@ozcloggie.com

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Two weeks from now, my father and I celebrate being in Australia 50 years. We set foot on Western Australian soil, May 1956, just like Willem Janz., did, 350 years earlier but a bit further north than Fremantle.
More fuss is being made about Willem Jansz arriving on the Duyfken, than about my parents and I arriving on the Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. Lots of events have already taken place and more to come this year to celebrate the 400 year relationship between Australia and the Netherlands, while my father and I will possibly look at the calendar, on May 14 and say: "Look. We've been here 50 years. How time flies!"

The most recent part of the 400 year relationship celebrations that I enjoyed very much, was a piano recital given by Gerard Willems, who, like me, came to Australia, with his parents, on a migrant ship. His skills on the piano and generally in music are rather more famous than my playing of the piano accordion, to accompany the pupils who were mainly happy enough to sing along,in my primary school classes between 1964 and 2001.
The recital really was a lovely experience. And there are still more celebrations to come.



( Right: ) Me, 'just' a 'few' years ago. The accordion is still red. The colour of my hair is now different.

Please, check out the D.A.C.C. website, for more details, on Willem Janz, and the Ozcloggie.com website on us. And, Gerard Willems, here.

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