12, Terrace Review — Wednesday, December 24, 1986,

_ Terrace visit

TERRACE —Contrary to
most popular beliefs,
Christmas in Australia is
not held in mid-July.

The Christmas season is
celebrated on Dec. 25,
which is their mid-summer
season, with school
holidays already in pro-
gress. Can you imagine a
hot sun beaming down;

garden parties in mid- .

December? .

by Daniele Berquist

In Australia, because of
the weather, Santa ex-
changes his faithful
reindeer for a team of
kangaroos; that’s right,
six white boomers. Of
course we assume one of

them hasared nose todo time,’’ said the proud

traditions in Australia

justice to Rudolph, the
much loved reindeer in
America.

Wylie and Phyllis Nicol
are presently visiting Ter-
race from Australia. They
are from Brisbane, where
the next Expo (88) site will

“be. held: “‘The land has

already been cleared and
construction has begun on
the south bank of the
river,’’ said the couple.

They arrived in Terrace
in October just on time for
their granddaughter’s
birthday. ‘“‘Bryana turned
seven, it was a lovely

grandparents** This is our
third time in Terrace, and
I find the ladies most
friendly,’’ said Phyllis.
“They’ve included me in
much of their functions
which is quite nice’’.

As for Wylie, he enjoys
fishing and winter sports.
“We do get snow in
Australia but not in
Brisbane,’’ he said.

One of the things that
differs in Canada from
Australia, as far as the
Christmas season is con-
cerned, are the exterior or-

faments on dwellings:

“Our houses are~“not

the outside

decorated outside as
much. We do decorate the
inside of our homes and
we have the Christmas tree
but the colored lights on
are seldom
seen.’ _ _ :

“We are quite taken in
by it,”’ Phyllis said.

‘On Christmas Eve in
Australia it is still a strong
tradition to attend _niid-
night services at’ local
churches...When~ we get
back from” church the
sinaller children are usual-
ly_pretty tired. Everyone

_ Generally goes to bed.

Also on Christmas Eve,
late night shopping until 9

The Terrace Lions Club picked up the travel expenses for representatives of the Caledonia Students in Action to attend arecent
seminar In Vancouver directed at preventing impaired driving among young people. Lions Club president Hugh Hepburn (center)

gave the cheque for alr fare to student rep
(left) and treasuer John Harker.

resentative Sarah Vaal-Hanke. Also present were Lions’ secretary Doug MacFarlane

Potlatch tradition taught

THORNHILL —As part
of a Social Studies cur-
riculum, Grade 4 students
at Thornhill Elementary
School are examining the
lifestyle of Haida Indians
of long ago. .

A ‘Potlatch’? was held
at the school on Friday,
Dec. 12. Christine Foster
who teaches Social Studies
at the institution explains
the event:

Long ago when two
native people were getting
married, a ‘‘Potlatch’’
was held for the couple in
celebration of their wed-
ding. This is a tradition of
the Haida Indians.

Wolf Chief was
represented by Sherri
Sunberg, a Grade 4 stu-
dent. Sunberg welcomed
the visiting clans: The
Owls, Bears, Fireweed,
‘Killer Whales and the
Frogs. All who par-
ticipated in the Potlatch
enjoyed a homemade
vegetable soup made by
teachers and students and
homemade bread which
was delicious.

Don Smith, social
worker with Kitsumkalum
Band was the invited guest
to tell a legend. Smith told
two stories. How The
Beaver Came To Be, was a
favorite. Students had a
question period after,

which gave them an op-
portunity:to learn more on
the Haida Indians and
their legends.

At the closing of the
Potlatch, -students ex-
changed handmade imita-

Christine Foster (left), and Lois Yeast organized a Potlatch at

Thornhill Elementary School. The event was to help Grade.4
students learn about the Haida culture.

Derksen’s
Watch

Repairs

WATCH & JEWELLERY
REPAIRS
— ENGRAVING —

Phone 635-4538

3-4619 Lakelse Ave.

Terrace, B.C,

tion ‘‘Bentwood Boxes’.

The guests journeyed back
to their villages.

Christine Foster would
like to thank Don Smith
and his wife Louise for at-
tending the Potlatch. The
legends were very much
appreciated.

Foster would also like
to thank Claire Irwin, a
much needed parent
volunteer.

‘The event was eX-
tremely successful. The
Potlatch helped the
students understand more
on the Haida culture’,
commented Foster.

EYEWEAR
EXCITEMENT
FROM

(Benson OPTICAL
4623-2 Lakelse *Phone
Tarrace, B.C. 638-0341

p.m. is a part .of
Australia’s tradition.
Christmas Day is highly

‘anticipated by all. The —

back yard Christmas
reflects the climate and
style in Australia.

Christmas beach parties
are quite common and to
go‘camping is not out of
the ordinary.

While in Terrace we
bundle up to keep away
the chills, in Australia
they wear as little clothing
as possible due to the hot
weather
Phyllis explained. In mid-
day a turkey dinner is
seryed with the traditional
plum pudding, ‘much like
North American customs.
The beaches remain closed
up until about 4 p.m.
“Tife guards request it
because of the large dinner
served in the mid-day. At
4 p.m. the beaches are fill-
ed,’’ said Phyllis.

Since the Australian
Christmas is during the
summer vacations and
children are out of school,
families can and will travel
for miles to spend it
together. In North
America, Christmas seems
more to divide the year,
and family gathering are
hard since the average per-

in December,

ors tell of Christmas

son gets from five to 10
days off during the

season.

Up until: now, Australia
was very-much under the
British influence for tradi-
tians. The couple said that
with the young genera-
tion, American traditions
are setting in. A cold buf-
fet, instead of the tradi-
tional hot meal, is com-
mon due to the hot
climate.

As for Christmas cards,
we have our own
Australian cards which
display the climate and
customs of Australia, said
Phyllis. “‘We seem to be
more aware of the com-
mercialism in Canada
than back home, We make
a lot of our gifts, where in
Canada it’s more commer
cial.”’

The winter months in
Australia are from May
until August. In Brisbane
we have beautiful days
when the sky is clear blue.
Our average temperature
is 10 degrees Celsius, said
Phyllis. ‘‘We do get frost
in some areas’,

While in Terrace,
Phyllis and Wylie Nicol
will be residing with their

‘daughter Pamela Straker.

In January they will be
heading back to the coast
of Australia to be with
their other daughter Nan-
cy Daniels.

J
Terrace

Events

Friday, December 26 -- Terrace'a annual Christmas Bird
Count. Phone 635-6984 for more information.

Saturday, Decomber 27 — The Kinsmen Club of Terrace
will be holding a Good Neighbour Bingo with total prize
money over $4,000. Doors open at 5:45 9.m.; early-bird
game at 7:15 p.m; regular games at 7:45 p.m. — at the
Tharnhill Community Centre.

December 30 and 31 — The Terrace Public Library will hold
a free Laurel and Hardy film festival downstairs in the
meating room at 114 a.m, each day.

Wednesday, December 31 — New Year's Eve party at the
Oddfellow's Hall. Tickets available at Shefield & Sons in
ihe Skeena Mall.

Starting In December, Wednesday will.be drop-in day at
the Skeena Health Unit for parents and infants: up to the
age of 1 year. For more information, cal! 638-3310.

Friday, January 9 — You are invited to the opening of an

exhibition of works by Janet Mostad at 7:30 p.m. in the Ter-

race Public Art Gallery, 4610 Park Ave., Terrace. The artist

will te present. This exhibit continues through to January
1, 1987. :

Saturday, January 10 -- Terrace Peaks Gymnastics Club
is holding their registration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the
Skeena Mall. This is for ail classes. For more information,
phone Irene Kuhar at 635-3215.

Wednesday, January 14 — Northwest Development
Education Association is showing the film “Water - The
Hazardous Necessity” at 7:30 p.m. alt the Terrace
Women's Resource Centre, 4542 Park Avenue. Everyone
welcome, A short business meeting will follow discussion
of tha film. For more information contact Frances at
635-2436.

Sunday, January 18 — Watercolour workshop — begin-
nerfintermediate level, with Jane Cross and Des Edwards
of the Art Club of Kitimat, at Northwest Community Col-
lege - Emily Carr Studio, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Al-Anon family groups. Meetings for friends and relatives
of alcoholics. Meetings are held every Monday at 8 p.m. at
Milts Memorial Hospital in the conference room in the
psychiatric ward.

Terrace Association for Community Living needs ad-
vocates for handicapped people living In Terrace. For more
information please phone Janice at 635-9322 or Carol-Ann
at 635-3940.

Kermode Knit Wits, a club for all persons interested In fur-
thering machine knitting. Regular monthly meetings will
be held on the 2nd Tuesday at noon and the 4th Thursday
at 7:30 p.m. For further information cali Audrey 638-1335,
Jan 635-7517 or Nancy 635-5319. Everyone welcome.

The Debt Counselling service is no longer available in Ter-
race. To receive this service, call Vancouver 660-8950.

Coming