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From the Presidents desk
KEEPING IN TOUCH
It's with a great deal of pleasure that I introduce the new format
to our newsletter, to be produced quarterly. One of our committee members, Ian Laurenson (who is also our honorary solicitor)
will edit the newsletter. In recent years we have been most fortunate to have Gibby Inkster, Pat Dixon, Rose Coutts and many
others involved with contributing articles and producing the newsletters. With Ian joining the team, we can call on his computer
skills to change the layout. I'm sure you will agree that the format and articles will catch the interest and attention of
more than just our members. Ian's father, Graeme edited the Society's newsletters in the late 30's. Some of you will have
copies of Graemes' books Kiwi in the Shetland Scattald and From Northern Star to Southern Cross in your bookshelves.
I
am aware that our efforts at keeping in touch have need to change with the times. Having returned from the Millennium Hamefarin
last year I was also very aware of how important it is to reach out to our members. For many Shetlanders, the strong bonds
with their far distant relatives only existed because of the importance they placed on keeping in touch. In days gone by postcards
and letters were the instruments of communication, but now we often rely on the telephone to convey our thoughts, feelings
and news. For many of us the art and skill of putting pen to paper is condensed to the annual Christmas card. But without
the written record so much of our history is irretrievably lost our Societies historians, Graeme and Susan Butterworth, will
testify to the importance of recording our history and despite the computer age, the written word is still the most used means
of communication.
But what about the computer age? As we move into the 21st century, more and more homes link up to
the Internet, mobile telephones transmit brief text messages and email messages make the postie's job almost redundant. Ever
mindful of the increasing use of electronic communications, Ian is also working on a Web site for the Society, which will
mean our newsletter, can be accessed by anyone, anywhere, at any time. The marvels of modern technology should make keeping
in touch even easier!
It's time we moved forward, while at the same time preserving that special character that is
our Shetland Society.
Jim Coutts
In this issue...
Events Page 2
Young Shetlanders Page 3
Puffins Page
4
Future direction of the Page 5
Society.
EVENTS
Hastings Blossom Festival
Regretfully, for various
reasons we have decided to postpone our acceptance of the invitation to participate in the Hastings Blossom until next year.
As accommodation is quickly booked out, it will be imperative to book early and we will need to make a firm commitment early
next year. This promises to be a fun occasion but definitely requires some forward planning by everyone who wishes to go.
Winter Function
The planned winter function has been cancelled when we realised that there is a clash of dates.
Instead we are planning to hold a Viking Night on Saturday 11th August (subject to the Jarl's concurrence).
If all goes
to plan, it will be held at Jim & Roses' house and all Viking Squad members potential members and committee members and
their partners will be invited.
2001 Viking Ball
Heralded by an enthusiastic Junior Squad, Jarl Tony Cook led
a fiery band of Vikings to get a very successful and enjoyable night underway. The squad included some South Island Vikings
as well as a genuine Shetland Viking Ross Duncan from Scalloway. Tony O'Brien of The Pines once again provided an excellent
meal, and the music by Highland Country and Dr Feel Good kept the dancers on the floor well into the wee hours of the morning.
Our thanks go all those who have supported us so well over the years and especially to all those who organised groups to come
to the ball. Thanks also go to Tony for his help and support as well as the catering which included impeccable bar service
as well.
Annual General Meeting - Scots Hall 9th September
Scots Ball - 4th August 2001 - Lower Hutt Horticultural
Hall
Childrens Christmas Parade - 17th November 2001
Shetland Visitors
Some of us have been lucky
enough to catch up with several visitors from Shetland over the summer. Visitors to our fair shores have included Dennis &
Marina Bright, Michael and Doreen Gray, and Lorraine and George Jamieson all from Lerwick. Those who met up with Robin Hunter
from Unst certainly will not forget his whirlwind visit as he sought to provide many of us with genealogical data from the
Shetland Family History Group.
We know we can look forward to welcoming another tour group led by Maurice Mullay and
Alec Johnson next February, and we should have more details on this tour shortly. In addition we have also heard of a group
arriving in New Zealand in November organised by Andrews Adventures of Whiteness. Their planned itinerary covers arriving
in Auckland from Bali on November 12, then on to Rotorua, Wellington, Picton, Christchurch, Fox Glacier, Queenstown, Mt Cook,
Christchurch to return to Auckland before flying out to Los Angeles on 27 November. They are scheduled to be in Wellington
for two nights, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 November. We already know that one of our members has relatives coming on this tour,
and we are endeavouring to find out who else will be coming.
Obituaries
Ray Palliser
We were greatly
saddened by the death of one of our members, Ray Palliser in March of this year. Ray had become a very supportive member following
his interest in things Shetland through his friendship with Lillian Rees. We were particularly pleased that they had decided
to join us for the Millennium Hamefarin last year, and we know that it was a very enjoyable and special trip for both of them.
Our condolences go especially to Lillian whom we know will greatly
miss his companionship and friendship.
Mary
Limacher
Members will also be sad to hear of the recent death of Mary Limacher, partner of the late John Coutts. "Little
Mary" and John were regular attenders at Society functions up until John's death a few years ago.
Puffins in Shetland
The Puffin is probably the best-known member of the Auk family, although there are another 21 species including Guillemots
and Razorbills. It is instantly recognisable with its brightly coloured bill and well liked by all birdwatchers. The Atlantic
or Common Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is the species which is seen in Shetland and the rest of Britain.
Puffins nest in
burrows (which they usually dig themselves with their very sharp claws) amongst boulder scree and also in cracks in the cliffs.
About one fifth of the total Puffin population of Scotland breed in Shetland, approximately 125,000 pairs.
Most of the
large coloured part of the Puffin's bill (the bright bluish and yellow areas closest to the head) is simply a decorative sheath
and is shed during the winter, to be regrowing each spring at the start of the breeding season. In winter plumage therefore
their bill appears much duller in colouration and noticeably smaller
When to Puffin Watch
Almost all Puffins leave
Shetland during the winter months returning to their breeding areas from March onwards. Large 'rafts' (groups of birds swimming
together) of Puffins may be seen on the sea at this time as they gather around their breeding areas. They lay only a single
egg and the chick is fed in the burrow on small fish. Most Puffin colonies are empty soon after mid-August.
The best time
to visit a Puffin colony is in the morning or early evening as most of the birds are at the fishing grounds during the day.
During the incubation period Puffins spend more time ashore, but the extent of the colony
visits is variable, and although
they may be ashore for long periods of time there may not be much activity.
For more information on Puffins go to the
following web site
www.wildlife.shetland.co.uk/birds/puffins.html
FUTURE DIRECTION OF THE SOCIETY
Barbara
Baker, on behalf of the committee, has been considering the future role of the Society ever since Shetland week two years
ago. We wanted to build on the success and the interest that it generated both with our members and the wider community
The
reality is that our membership base is getting older and in common with other national and ethnic societies we don't have
a steady influx of new members or Shetlanders leaving the homeland and immigrating to New Zealand With so many pressures and
pursuits these days many activities of the Society don't appeal to younger new Zealanders with Shetland links. But some activities
are popular.
For many of the children a chance to take part in the Christmas parade as a junior Viking is one of the High
points of the year. For older New Zealanders discovering that they have Shetland forebears has meant a growth in interest
in genealogical research
To enable us to reach out to the young and those middle-aged potential members we have arranged
for a Scoping exercise to be carried out. The results suggested that we should move toward establishing a Web page with educational
information that could be accessed by schools and hyper links to various sites in Shetland. We are working on that now. We
intend to actively maintain the page. We also want to build up a database of Email links with our members so that there can
be a two way flow of information and contact. If you have an Email address why don't you drop us an email so we can add that
to our database. At the same time let us know whether the changed format of the newsletter appeals to you or if you prefer
a single column newsletter.
Lost and Found
Found at the Viking Ball, a silver clan/kilt pin. We are sure that
someone will be very upset at losing this - please get in touch with either Margaret Jenkins (ph 476-8102) or Rose Coutts
(ph 388-3705) if you know who it belongs to.
From The Editor
I am pleased to be able to assist with the production
of the quarterly newsletter. It has always been a regular and well read broadsheet in our home. While the layout and content
may have changed a little the hard work of the committee members goes on unabated.
I have always been impressed at
the energy invested by the committee and the results achieved from such a small group of dedicated people. That has always
been the Shetland way. Because of other commitments I have not been able to pitch in but I admire the way Jim, his wider family
and the other committee members organise, arrange, sort out catering, spend hours making items for the ball and the parade
and other events held during the year.
It is interesting how families become involved. As Jim mentioned in his editorial
my father, Graeme was a previous editor of what was then called "the Shetland Society News Bulletin". His twin brother Douglas
was the Society accountant, and my grandfather was one of the founding members of the Society and its Sagamaster for many
years. In recent years it has been the Coutts clan that has been the driving force behind our Society - without them we could
not have had so many successful functions - and the Society itself would have faded like so many organisations in recent times.
Ian Laurenson
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