A peerie wird fae da editor

Colder temperatures, warm jerseys, hearty meals and soups, rugby mania – winter is here! For some it’s time to head to the ski fields or other outdoor pursuits. For others it’s time to hunker down and enjoy indoor activities. Whatever your preference we hope you have time to have a skoit at the newsletter.

The Viking Ball is a major event in our Society’s calendar. If you look back over the Society’s social activities, it is easy to see that what was popular with one generation does not always appeal to the next. As the original Viking squad and its supporters have grown older, moved away (and some sadly have passed on), we have wondered whether the ball would continue to be supported by the up and coming generations. But for the last 35 years it has been consistently popular, usually attracting at least 300 patrons, including some from out of town, without ever having to advertise. It’s a big event to organize but always a good night out.

Just before the ball Rose Coutts was asked to provide a report of the ball for The Shetland Weekly a newly established newspaper which was launched in Shetland during April. So with this in mind ‘the ball’ will be the focus of this newsletter, looking back to how it all started through to more current times. We have a list of Jarls and Ross Mainland, this year’s Jarl, features in Meeting wir Members. We also hear from the Junior Jarl Daniel Rumbal.

As always there’s more.

Keep warm and keep well.

Mary Wood

Our Viking Ball

The lights are dimmed and chatter of the 350 or so guests at the 2005 Viking Ball gradually quietens. There is an expectant hush as the sound of the pipes strikes up and the piper enters the hall followed by Junior Jarl, Daniel Rumbal with his squad of Junior Vikings. They range in age from 9 to 13 and nearly all have Shetland ancestors several generations back. After parading around the hall the Junior Jarl assembles his squad in front of the galley. They raise their axes, give a resounding cheer which is the signal for Jarl Ross Mainland to lead his Viking Squad into the hall. Following the piper, the squad parades around the hall, ending up in a V formation centred on the Jarl. Vice-President, Barbara Baker welcomes the Jarl and his squad to the Shetland Society of Wellington’s 34^th Annual Viking Ball.

The story behind the Shetland Society of Wellington’s continued success with the Viking Ball is quite remarkable. It goes back to the early nineteen-seventies when the then President, Jimmy Irvine, decided it was time to revive the flagging interest in the Society’s activities. The invitation to the 1970 AGM included a “front up or fold up” ultimatum to members – and you may remember, succeeded in stirring up a response. At that meeting he proposed that Society members form a Viking squad and complete a half-built galley which was languishing in Jimmy Priest’s workshop. It was intended to use this to put the Society in front of the Wellington public by mounting displays in the then newly opened shopping malls in Johnsonville, Paraparaumu and Wainuiomata. The culmination of this activity would be a charity ball.

There was an enthusiastic response to his proposals and in the ensuring year the squad was formed and outfitted. Tom Coutts was elected Jarl, the galley completed and named Bregdi.

It was put on display at the shopping malls where the Viking squad also paraded and collected donations for the nominated charity (popularly known as the Blind Kiddies Appeal). There were demonstrations by Shetland women of carding, spinning and of course Shetland knitting, as well as Shetland crafts on display.

The first Viking Ball was a huge success, almost embarrassingly so as over 800 people attended. In order to accommodate everyone the festivities had to be spread between the Lower Hutt Town Hall and the adjacent Hutt Horticultural Hall. In the following years the numbers settled at a more comfortable level – around 400 – so that only one hall was required.

In true Shetland style the Bredgi was beautifully crafted with Jimmy and Robert Priest mainly responsible for the construction. Magnie Coutts rigged her out as well as making rivlins for the squad members. Squad members all worked countless hours helping with the galley and making their outfits. They also purchased a goose in order to obtain wings for the helmets and then had to dine on goose again as the first batch rotted (they learnt to preserve the wings properly the second time around!). But it was too difficult to have the Bregdi as centre stage at the Ball and her outings were largely confined to centennial parades in Dannevirke, Norsewood, Ekatahuna and Pahiatua as these areas had a strong history of Scandinavian settlement. Ultimately as storage became an insurmountable problem for the Society, the Bregdi was set ablaze in a river-bed as the highlight of the Pahiatua celebrations in February 1981.

For the Ball a two-dimensional galley (complete with mast, sail, shields and oars) was constructed and is still used today. The squad still wears the original sheepskins and helmets, and carries the original axes and shields – though the shields, like the galley have been repainted. The rivlins lasted a few years before being replaced by more comfortable fur-fabric boots and the tunics have been replaced and remodeled several times. The Jarl has traditionally carried a sword and worn a cloak with a different tunic to the squad and more recently has worn the outfit from the 2004 Lerwick Up Helly Aa squad.

After nearly twenty years at the Hutt Horticultural Hall, the committee finally became convinced that the Lower Hutt City Council was going to fulfil its promise to completely

refurbish the hall. This meant looking for an alternative venue as the hall would not be available for our use during the planned alterations and probably not suitable afterwards. However nothing came of the LHCC’s plans and The Association of Scots Societies is still using it for their Scots Ball each year!

So 1990 saw a move to Todd Park and the change of venue also provided the stimulus for a revamp. It included a new paint look for the galley and its shields and with new tunics for the squad and repainted shields, a smart new look at a new venue was created.

There was a change in the format of the evening as well, where a dinner before the dancing was introduced (instead of the more traditional supper) and two bands provided continuous music.

However, the catering costs at Todd Park reached an unsustainable level and the committee was once again forced to look for an alternative venue. This was found in the Indian Cultural Centre in Kilbirnie, Wellington and for the last ten years or so the Ball has been held there. The move to the Indian Centre posed some interesting cultural problems – for instance what to do about the two huge panels (over 4 m square) that flank the stage depicting brightly hued elephants. Could we incorporate them into our décor? Did the Vikings get as far as India? Commonsense prevailed and black covers were made to hide them! Then drama prevailed a few years later when the hall was suddenly required for a funeral service the day before the Ball. We had already decorated the hall including having the galley in position. Not a problem, we were assured, the service would go ahead complete with Viking décor. But nobody had thought about the cotton backdrop for the galley, which was stretched in front of a gas heater. It was a cold morning and the funeral organizers thoughtfully turned on the heaters to warm up the hall before the service and poof – the blazing backdrop nearly created a true Indian funeral pyre!

Over the years Jeanette and Alistair Miller had used their considerable creative talents to provide original murals and decorations for both the Hutt Horticultural Hall and Todd Park and again Jeanette and Alistair designed and made a series of new decorations for the Indian Centre. The initial concerns that it would be necessary to screen off part of the hall (because of its large size) proved completely unfounded. The screens (Shetland scenes painted by Alistair) have, however, been used ever since around the back of the hall!! Whilst new decorations have been added, the original banners first used at the Hutt Horticultural Hall are still used and much admired. A tradition of providing an individual touch by creating table decorations (to hold the candles) has continued, although there has been some recyling of themes and ideas!

In 1996 the Society celebrated its 25^th Viking Ball with Jimmy Irvine as the Ball’s founder, being elected Jarl. One of his henchmen was Don Anderson who, as Secretary in 1971/72 had done so much with Jimmy to ensure that the initial idea came to fruition. The other henchman was John Smith, the only Viking Squad member to have been at every ball for the preceding 24 years. For the first time there was a very young Shane Dollan acting as a fiddle-box carrier. However it was not until 1998 that Junior Vikings formally paraded at the Ball.

This year followed the pattern that has been set since the Ball moved to the Indian Centre. At the completion of a full buffet dinner, provided by Tony O’Brien of “The Pines”, the Junior Squad and then the Jarl and his Viking Squad start the formalities. Our two bands provide continuous music for the rest of the evening, with our traditional Scottish band, Highland Country, setting feet tapping with such favourites as Strip the Willow, the Eightsome Reel and the Boston Two Step. When they take a break, the modern band, Mojo, continues the tempo with a fast rock’n’roll beat. From then on it’s non-stop dancing, and all too soon it’s time for the crowd to join together for “Auld Lang Syne” and “Wir No Awa tae Bide Awa”.

Within a couple of hours you could be forgiven for not realizing that the Viking Ball had even been held, as the decorations are down, the galley dismantled, the uniforms packed away and another successful ball is over. We’re all tired, but it’s been a lot of fun and no doubt we’ll do it all again next year! And with the outstanding success of “Dancing with the Stars” we could be in for a bumper year next May! Long may the birlin and twirling continue!

And from our Junior Jarl, Daniel Rumbal…

It is a pleasure to have been chosen as the Junior Viking Jarl.

We had a great turn-out for this year’s Viking Ball. I’m sure all who turned up had a great time,

This year’s Junior Viking squad are an excellent bunch of young, enthusiastic Vikings. At the ball they performed extremely well. We need to practice the roar if we are to be as good as the Senior Squad.

Members of the squad came from all around New Zealand with Oliver coming from way down in Christchurch.

Being a Jarl is a big responsibility. It won’t be long before I’m taking this responsibility again as a Senior Viking.

Daniel Rumbal

The Jarls

Nearly all our Jarls have been either Shetland born, of

Shetland descent or related to a Shetlander by marriage.

The very few exceptions are those members of the squad who

have given outstanding loyalty, service and hard work.

1972. Tom Coutts

1973. Lawrence Gifford

1974. Don Anderson

1975. Eddie Barclay

1976. Robert Priest

1977. John L Coutts

1978. Kenny MacKay

1979. Bunty Mouat

1980. John Christie

1981. Andy Smith

1982. Bill Tait

1983. Mackie Coutts

1984. John Smith

1985. Graeme Henderson

1986. Jim Coutts

1987. Jim Goudie

1988. George Coutts

1989. Graham Coutts

1990. Gibby Inkster

1991. John Tait

1992. Bernard McLachlan

1993. Bruce Jenkins

1994. John J Coutts (died during year)

Kevin Mouat

1972. Gary Turner

1973. Jimmy Irvine

1974. Jeff Familton

Gibby Inkster (Shetland Week)

1972. Gary Moller

1973. Alan Dixon

1974. Russell Pitt

1975. Tony Cook

1976. Richard Rumbal

1977. Andrew Clark

1978. John Freeman

1979. Ross Mainland

Meeting wir Members

introducing

Ross Mainland

I have been a member of the Shetland Society committee for seven years. I am married to Ruth, who is also on the committee. We have two daughters, Fiona who is a secondary school teacher and Helen who is a chef. We have just moved to live in Whitby after twelve years in Pukerua Bay. I am a home handyman and Ruth is a teacher. She is of Scottish/English descent.

My Shetland ancestry is through my farther, Tom Mainland who came to New Zealand as a sixteen-year old orphan in 1928. Dad’s father, John came from Dunrossness but Tom was born in Gonfirth where his father was a Methodist lay preacher. After his father’s death in 1916 Dad was brought up in Sandwick by his mother’s family, Smiths. On arrival in New Zealand Dad did a farming course at Flock House, then spent some years in the South Island. Eventually he settled as a married man in Masterton where I grew up with my two sisters, Narita and Lois, and a brother Lindsay. In 1953 Dad’s sister Joey emigrated to Masterton with her husband Donnie Ratter and their sons, Tom and Ian.

When I met Ruth in 1980 she was teaching at Newlands School where Lillian and Kenny McKay also worked. Lillian educated Ruth as to what a “Sheltie” was and so began our interest in things Shetland. In 1998 we took our daughters to Shetland and we were blown away to meet first cousins of my father on both sides of the family. (Mainland and Smith). Ruth and I returned in 2000 as part of the Hamfarin group.

Ross Mainland

Te Papa treasure

Our last newsletter had a feature about Shetland shawls, this evoked memories of a shawl that was on display at the old Dominion Museum in Buckle Street. Did the shawl still exist? Had it been transferred to Te Papa? Margaret Pitt made enquiries on behalf of the Management Committee and discovered that Te Papa has a wonderful example of gossamer fine Shetland lace knitting. It is a stole which was made for Queen Mary; Queen Elizabeth II’s grandmother and was gifted to New Zealand’s national museum in 1946. It is likely that the stole was made to mark the silver jubilee of the reign of King George V and Mary his consort. Incorporated in the traditional design is a crown motif with the initials Q M and the dates 1910-1935.

Presenting royalty with Shetland lace knitting was a way of providing a quality gift to mark an important occasion. It also had the benefit of being a marketing technique, a way of gaining publicity, prestige and demand for the high quality knitwear! Queen Victoria was the first monarch to receive such a gift.

As is the case with much of Te Papa’s collection, the stole is not on permanent display but arrangements can be made to view the item. Perhaps it will feature in a specialist exhibition some day!

Shetland Books

Winter is also a good time to enjoy a good book. The Shetland Times Bookshop is a great source of books with Shetland themes and ordering online can be a quick and convenient way to acquire publications. www.shetlandtoday.co.uk has a link to the bookshop where you can view titles and order if you wish.

The Shetland Publishing Company is another source and the company has outlets both in Shetland and New Zealand. Titles can be ordered on the website www.baysights.com/shetlandbooks or from 62 Beresford St, Bayswater, Auckland 1309. Postage within NZ is free. A list of publications available is included with this newsletter.

Te Ara Encyclopedia of NZ

www.teara.govt.nz

“The first original, official, digital, national encyclopedia in the world” so said the publicity blurb when the online encyclopedia was launched earlier in the year. This is an ambitious project which is to be organized around 8 themes. The first theme – New Zealanders is available now with other themes to be added progressively year by year.

New Zealanders tells the stories of the many peoples who have made New Zealand their home. There are two strands to investigate. Maori New Zealanders which looks at iwi who descend from the crew of voyaging canoes or other ancestors. New Zealand Peoples investigates the people who travelled from around the globe to settle in New Zealand and have now made it their home.

Shetlanders do rate a mention! To find them you need to look under Scots in a drop down ‘explore’ menu. Look at ‘the late 1800s’ and you will find the heading Shetlanders. “Among the Scots who arrived as gold miners in the 1860’s were a substantial number from the Shetland Isles; far to the north of the Scottish mainland…”

Early settlements on the West Coast, Stewart Island, Karamea and Campbell Island are mentioned. There is a photo of Shetlanders on Campbell Island taken about 1904 and a photo of a Shetland woman knitting while carrying a kishie of peat. Not surprisingly Sir Robert Stout features. By viewing the ‘Biographies Gallery’ you can link to the Dictionary of NZ Biography and learn more about Sir Robert.

This is a fascinating web site and a rich source of information. Browsing could be a great winter’s day activity.

Society News

Our condolences to Ross and Ruth Mainland on the death of Ross’ uncle, Donnie Ratter. He passed away shortly after Ross had written his introduction for our newsletter.

On a happier note, congratulations to George and Dianne Coutts on their recent marriage. Several Shetland friends and family joined them in their celebrations.

And to Gibby Inkster our best wishes for a speedy recovery from his recent surgery.

Come to the Foy

Saturday 30 July 2005

Scots Hall, Cnr Hansen & Stoke Streets, Newtown

Family Activities

Crafts, learn a Shetland dance

Stories, singing food, quiz

Please bring a plate of finger food to share

Gold coin charge

From our readers

We have two offers for keen Shetland knitters

The first offer is from Harold Sinclair:

“I hiv a maakin belt and about a score o’

wires ta gie awaa ta sumeen dat can ose it”

If you didn’t understand that I will start again.

I have a knitting belt and about 20 steel knitting

needles to give away to someone that can use

this equipment.

Harold Sinclair, 15/17 Balmoral St Taradale

Napier

Phone (06) 844 3863

Email haroldsin@xtra.co.nz

and sadly, after Jean Style’s death, her

husband Charles now makes this offer:

“I shan’t be needing to set up the hap

stretchers anymore – so would be

willing to give them to a member

of your Society should anyone want

them. They first belonged to Jean’s

mother.”

We will be only too happy to pass on

a message to Charles if anyone would

like to take up his offer.

Twatree wirds du maybe dusna ken

Birl to whirl around rapidly

Kishie a straw basket carried on a person’s back

Skoit to glance