Scandinavian Club of Manawatu Inc.
Club Publications
(Note: Both books are A4 size, and the covers are based on the first edition of a newspaper published in Palmerston North by the early Scandinavian community on 18 November 1875.)
Skandia Quarterly is the Club's regular newsletter for members. It is published four times yearly to precede Club functions, rather than to a set quarterly timetable. Skandia Quarterly is in a number of cases the only regular contact with the Club that some of our members have. These include members in other parts of New Zealand, as well as Australia, the United States and Scandinavia.
Regular features it contains, in addition to advising of planned events and describing past ones, include general news likely to be of interest to Club members, and news of activities by other Scandinavian-type clubs and associated organisations around New Zealand. It also contains regular feature stories of an historical nature, including contributed genealogical case studies and significant events that have in some way influenced the Scandinavian community in New Zealand. These have dealt with a diverse range of topics, including assimilation, loss of traditional languages, public gatherings, exhibitions and activities that have links to the New Zealand-Scandinavian community. It also records progress with significant events involving the Club, such as the Tenth Scandinavian Gathering to be held in early March 2001, the 'Hilsen fra Skandinavien' exhibition to be held as part of the 'Origins' series at the Science Centre & Manawatu Museum throughout the summer and autumn of 2000-1, and developments at Celaeno Park,
In addition, the Club has published two books on Scandinavian settlement in New Zealand. These are:
Early Manawatu
Scandinavians (Skandia I)
This book was originally published in 1990; however, a revised version was
reprinted in 1999. The original version, enclosed within the 1999 additions,
contains a collection of contributed stories mostly involving Scandinavian
settlers who lived at some point in Manawatu. The revised version is illustrated
and contains 84 printed pages, a map, a detailed index, and a new pictorial
section entitled 'Scandinavian Gatherings in early Manawatu', compiled by Val
Burr, who also wrote or assisted with about ten stories in the original book.
This book is available from the Club for $NZ20.00 (plus postage and packaging if
required).
Mosquitoes &
Sawdust: A
history of Scandinavians in early Palmerston North & surrounding districts (Skandia
II)
This book was researched and written by Val Burr, and was published by the Club
in 1995. It is well illustrated and contains 177 printed pages, including maps,
an extensive bibliography and a detailed index. It contains overviews of
migration from Scandinavia and to New Zealand, as well as extensive coverage
relating to the migration of the first Government-organised settlement of
Scandinavians in New Zealand in 1870-1, these people being settled in Palmerston
North. The stories of a range of other immigrant families are also included
thereby covering a wide range of experiences involving Scandinavian migrants.
There are also chapters on religion, legislation, timber milling and the
experience of Scandinavian settlers during World War One. This book is available
from the Club for $NZ27.00 (plus postage and packaging in required).
Email us for further information.
Note on the Author: Val Burr has a Bachelor of Arts in History and Social Anthropology, and a Master of Arts (with Honours) in History, both gained at Massey University, Palmerston North. She has work-in-progress for the Skandia series on the impact of the timber and flour-milling company, Richter, Nannestad & Co. (established in 1872 by three Norwegians) upon the development of Palmerston North. In 1999, her book A Time of Transition: The Whakarongo School & District twelve decades on, was published by that school and district's 120th Jubilee Committee. This looks at progress in the Stoney Creek Scandinavian Block since the arrival there of the Scandinavian immigrants in 1871. Her post-graduate studies have been on the experience of New Zealand's German settlers during World War One, an interest that follows from the chapter on the subject in Mosquitoes & Sawdust.