December 2001 - Nr. 12
More "Burgenländer" than Bavarians?
At least that was the conclusion one must jump to when one compares the attendance at the "23rd Martinitanz", hosted by the Burgenländer, to the Oktoberfest of the "Bayern Club", a few weeks ago.
About
500 revellers had shown up and the event – at the St. Peter & Paul
banquet hall - was already sold out two weeks in advance.
Maybe the fact that the Mississauga Express was playing had something to do with that. They always draw a good crowd.
Or
could it have been the fact that about 20 door prizes were drawn at this
event – with the help of Erwin Huber, as MC - from firms such as Brandt
Meat, Continental Meat & Delicatessen, Karl Gyaki, George Jewellers,
Lein’s Delicatessen, Max Meat, Ruppelt Meat, Reha Enterprises, West York
Jewellers, Schinagels, Husky, Dr. Karl Schmidt and others?
The
Grand Prize however, was an Austrian Airline Flight to Vienna for two, and
was presented by Herbert Wolf, the airline manager for Canada, to the
grateful winners Rosie & Paul Riffert from Newmarket.
On
the entertainment side – other than the "Tombola raffle - we had a
solo rendition by Margarete Schauer from the Mixed Choir Edelweiss. Although
no longer a spry chicken, her voice was still captivating. No wonder she is
still singing with the choir. Thanks Gretl!
Food and drink was available as well. Sausages and Sauerkraut were "lecker" and so was the "Gösser" beer, which no event - hosted by the Burgenläner Club - could be without. I am already looking forward to the 24th Martinitanz, next year!
"Stiftungsfest"
While we are on the subject of celebrations, the Germania Club in Hamilton celebrated its 137th "Stiftungsfest" (Birthday) on October 13 – as was reported to me by a usually reliable source.
The Germania Club was founded in 1864, by the "Männergesangverein" (male choir), making it the oldest German club in Canada. The celebrations included presentation to long-time members, including awards to 45 year members.
President Linda Wanner welcomed former president, German Radio host and current president of the Continental Austrian Club in Burlington, Gerd Brachlow to the event. Gerd made an uplifting presentation, telling the audience that the Germania Club is an institution that strongly supports the German culture. As is traditional, the Germania choirs performed several songs to great applause. Unfortunately I could not attend myself due to other commitments.
Fred Oberreiter
But I also have a sad report to make. Fred Oberreiter from the Black Forest Inn – the "Schwarzwaldhaus" in Hamilton, passed away recently. He was always one of the favourite innkeepers among the German community, especially in the Hamilton area. Those that knew him will agree. Gabi and Wolfgang Schön sent these vital statistics:
Fred was born in Knittelfeld, Austria on July 4th, 1925 and went to school in a monastery in Seekau, Austria. Often he talked about walking for miles in the snow to get to school. After finishing high school Fred apprenticed as a salesclerk. He had to join the army when he was still a young man and was wounded on the Russian front during the great war.
After the war it was difficult to find work in Austria, and Fred moved from town to town to find a job. He ended up in Voitsberg, as a clerk in a textile shop. In this very store he met Rosa whom he married in Maria Trost, ten days after his 31st birthday, in 1956. In the fall of that year they decided to try their luck in Canada. They lived for seven years in Regina, didn’t like it and moved to Ontario. They choose Hamilton as their new home. The first year in Hamilton, Fred worked as an insurance and investment salesman. Sometime later Fred became the manager at the Germania Club, while Rosa worked in the kitchen.
In 1967 Fred and Rosa had the opportunity to buy the Black Forest Inn. In the beginning they had to struggle to make ends meet. They worked day and night – seven days a week. Fred was waiter, bartender, host and dishwasher. But being host was his favourite work. He loved to look after his guests, making sure they were satisfied. And Rosa was always by his side.
All that hard work paid off. The Black Forest Inn became one of Hamilton’s landmarks and Fred and Rosa were loved and well respected by their employees as well as their guests.
When Rosa passed on, a year and a half ago, Fred’s heart was broken. The only thing that kept him going was his beloved Black Forest Inn. Here he would continue to look after his guest and made sure they felt welcome. He loved to make his rounds through the restaurant and to keep personal touch with his guests.
After tragic events this summer – like the fire in his house, a bad fall in the backyard, many weeks in and out of hospitals, cancer and diabetes – he needed to be taken care of in a Nursing home. After a while he gave up the struggle to live and died peacefully on Wednesday evening, October 24th, 2001.
Fred will be missed and well remembered by all that were fortunate enough to make his acquaintance. Gaby Schön, his daughter and Wolfgang, her husband, will now run the restaurant in Fred’s spirit, so that he can rest in peace.
Dick Altermann
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