Scandinavian Club of Manawatu Inc.
A History of Scandinavian Clubs in Manawatu
In the early days of Scandinavian settlement in Manawatu, social activities appear to have been organised on an informal nature. For example, members of the group probably still felt their closest allegiances were to their own homelands, rather than to 'Scandinavia' in general. Instead, general cohesiveness in Manawatu was probably due to shared migration and post-migration experiences, shared poverty, shared religious beliefs and participation, and because they could at least communicate with one another. Lack of Lutheran pastors and facilities for some years, also meant that the Scandinavian-Wesleyan Church, under the existing - and relatively well-endowed - Methodist Church, led the way in this and New Zealand's other Scandinavian settlements.
Other than activities associated with the town's Scandinavian-Wesleyan, Lutheran and (later) Open Brethren churches, there is no evidence that a formal Scandinavian-type club existed in Palmerston North before 1884. Until that time, existing social structures, particularly that influenced by the leadership and generosity of the town's well-born Norwegian sawmill-owners, Johan Richter, Jacob Nannestad and Frits Jenssen, were probably sufficient. Over the years, this trio employed (and thereby influenced) a great many of the district's men-folk, their business in its day being the town's largest employer.
In 1884, a well-educated Dane named Svenne Victor Langkjer, settled in Palmerston North. He arrived in New Zealand as an assisted immigrant in 1873, and appears to have initially lived in Southern Hawkes Bay. In addition to being stricken with tuberculosis, he was a noted musician and singer, especially where fund-raising for needy people was concerned. He was also a keen astronomer and built the town's first observatory. In mid-October 1884, he held a public meeting of the town's (apparently existing) Scandinavian Club, which he chaired, with the intention of forming a more formal Scandinavian Club. This was to be registered under the Friendly Societies Act. The club, which soon had 102 members and a good set of byelaws, aimed to hold social gatherings, as well as to enjoy literature, music and chess. Unfortunately, Langkjer's health was in decline and he disappeared from the public eye in late 1884. He died in May 1885, and there is no evidence to date that the club survived him. Certainly, it was never registered under the Friendly Societies Act.
Palmerston North's newspapers between 1886 and 1900 no longer exist, although there were certainly social get-togethers involving the Scandinavian community. As a result, we do not know if Langkjer's club or a similar one endured. However, J. Lyng, in his 1938 book 'The Scandinavians in Australia, New Zealand and the Western Pacific', wrote that the only place in New Zealand to form a Scandinavian Club was Wellington. However, this club - formed before October 1875 - did not last very long. Perhaps this club had links to the apparently short-lived Palmerston North club? It is noteworthy that the well-known Wellington Dane, architect Christian Julius Toxward, became - after years of work with Scandinavian immigrants - the region's Danish consul in 1882. Toxward certainly belonged to the Wellington club. He died in 1891.
In 1892, an inaugural Scandinavian social evening was held in Wellington. Still, after a very successful first few years, the group running this annual event also failed.
By 1914, Palmerston North's Scandinavian community again felt the need to establish a new club. Their timing, though, was wrong. The 'Evening Standard' of 3 August 1914 enthusiastically described the new club's recent inaugural meeting. The next day the First World War was declared. Despite work in the interests of the war effort, including running a stall to help the Belgians at Palmerston North's 'Patriotic' A & P Show (held 3 November 1915), the general public's rabid anti-Germanism affected the club. It was dissolved and its property sold in May 1917.
The next club, a branch of the New Zealand Anglo-Danish Society, was formed in Palmerston North around the outbreak of the Second World War. This very active club devoted considerable time and energy to helping the war effort. Later it hosted many visiting Danes and organised a range of social activities. However, its time was also up by the late 1950s.
The Scandinavian Club of Manawatu
The formation of the Scandinavian Club of Manawatu traces to the decision to place a plaque honouring early Scandinavian settlers, on a monument in Mauriceville West. This event occurred in March 1973. A key figure in the ceremony, Ted Mattson of Palmerston North, also sought out people of Scandinavian descent to gain their support. Many proved to be based in Palmerston North, and were interested in their heritage. In addition, a number of families were holding reunions to celebrate the centenaries of their forebears' arrivals in New Zealand in the early 1970s, while interest in genealogy, and ethnic heritage in general, was becoming increasingly popular.
Around this time also, Wellington man, Malcolm (Mac) Larsen began taking an interest in his family origins. He visited Norway in 1973 and 1975 (and led a tour there in 1980), as well as helping genealogists trace their Scandinavian heritage. He founded the Wellington-based New Zealand-Norway Society in 1978.
Larsen's interest in things-Scandinavian, did not, however, stop there. On 22 June 1979, at the home of Barbara Durham (now Shute), in Palmerston North, and in response to newspaper coverage and notices in various places, 58 people crammed into the house for a Wine & Cheese evening. Mac Larsen told the crowd that he was overwhelmed by the terrific response, and that night the Scandinavian Club of Manawatu was born.
Inspired by this success, Larsen went on to form Scandinavian Clubs in Hawkes Bay (1980), Wairarapa (1981), Dannevirke (1982) and Taranaki (1983). It was to these areas, that the New Zealand Government had sent its Scandinavian immigrants, and the vast majority of club members are descendants of those people, rather than expatriates. Scandinavian Clubs were formed in other parts of the country as well, including Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. A number of single-country clubs also exist around the country.
In 1982, Larsen received Norway's St. Olav's Medal and in February 1985, he received a citation from the five Scandinavian Clubs he formed, acknowledging his work. He died on 6 April 1985.
Like most new clubs, the Scandinavian Club of Manawatu's earliest years were very active. In addition to holding functions in Palmerston North, the club hosted what became the first Scandinavian Gathering, held at Norsewood, on the weekend of 5-6 March 1983. Two years later, the Club organised the second Gathering, this time held at Mauriceville and attended by around 300 people. Thereafter, the Gatherings were passed around the country's various clubs, with Manawatu again hosting the event - at Foxton - in 1993. In recent years, the Gatherings have also included groups from Australian clubs. Manawatu held the tenth Gathering, slightly out of sequence, thanks to the generosity of the Hawkes Bay club, at Palmerston North on 2-4 March 2001.
Over the years, the club has matured and so to have its members. As a result, meetings are less frequent and these are usually well attended. Especially popular is the Mid-Winterfest. To keep less active members involved, the Club's newsletter was revamped into a small magazine in June 1996, and in 1997, it received the name 'Skandia Quarterly'. The Club has also utilised 'Skandia' as a by-name for its two historical books, the name originating with a small Danish-language newspaper published in Palmerston North in 1875-6. "Skandia's' unique outer cover also decorates the covers of both books.
In mid-1998, the Wellington Scandinavian Club, which suffered numerically from competing with the city's single-country clubs, decided to move, en masse, under the wing of the Manawatu club. This has caused the Manawatu Club to move what activities it can toward the general direction of Wellington. For example, its annual picnics have become Horowhenua-based, and recently a combined Manawatu-Wellington dance group has been practicing at Waikanae.
Nowadays, the Club holds four regular meetings each year, including the Mid-Winterfest and the Christmas Party. Other special informal get-togethers, including the picnic, are also held. At present, due to 'Skandia Quarterly', the Club has members around New Zealand, in Australia, the United States and Scandinavia.