Dick reports...

Burgenländer Picnic

This year’s annual Picnic at the Evening Bell Park was an unexpected success. Close to 1000 revellers showed up – about 800 of them were paid guests, plus lots of children and camp-followers brought the numbers up. People from all over the German Canadian landscape came to revel at this popular venue.

A lot of folks at this picnic

The Danube Swabian Club had representative’s there, including Henry Betsch and his wife Julia, and Joe Folk. Paul Schneider and Heidi of Radio Herz came all the way from Kitchener, and Ulli Jeschke also showed up after his CHIN radio show. Rainer and Irmgard Walter, Ekko Hildebrand and family of the Hansa Club came, as did many others who enjoy an outing among friends. The weather was practically perfect, which of course meant lots of traffic at the pool, offering cool respite from the sweltering heat, which was only tempered by the shade of the magnificent tall old trees.

The Chapel on top of the hill

As has become tradition the day started with the Holy Mass, celebrated by Father Karl Hoeppe from the St. Patrick’s German Parrish in Toronto, at the Chapel on top of the hill. The large gathering of worshippers was impressive and the spirit of Christian communal interaction was apparent.

After the church service the kitchen and the bar were opened to the thirsty and starving mass, as they stomped down the 35 steps from the church-service on the hill. It must have taken tremendous effort to prepare so much food for so many people. The line-up was very long and the length of it almost never changed for many hours. On the menu? Schnitzel, bratwurst, sauerkraut and potato salad. Of course coffee and cake service had been available ever since the park opened and did a great business before lunch. Kudos to the many volunteers that had laboured since early morning to get the food ready for the huge line-up inside the long hall.

John Brunner, President of the Burgenlaender Club	Roy Perl, past president

While all this was going on, the Golden Keys (the Club’s house-band) had arrived and started to set up shop on the usual stage at the end of the concrete dance area. However a family of wasps had the same idea – only earlier – and was valiantly defending this decision.

The Golden Keys

So, for the sake of peace and tranquility and the fact that there were more wasps than band-members, the band set up outside of the stage. (Keys: 0 – Wasps: 1) - the sound of their huge palette of beloved “Evergreens” always delights and sounded fantastic.

The National Anthems

The dance floor was continuously full. Happily the other party, the large family of wasps decided not to participate in that activity and stayed out of every ones hair and beer!

On the dance floor

This is definitely a family oriented community event that we hope will be around for a long, long time.

Playing games in the water and on land

The next picnic takes place at the Hansa House August 14^th. See you there!

As always

Dick Altermann