The Dutch Burgher Union
114, Reid Avenue, Colombo 4.
Telephone No. 2584511
News letter - September 2005
President's Message
Dear Fellow Member,
"Moonlight & Roses" was a great success. Members and guests danced their cares away and threw themselves into the spirit of the evening. The live music provided by "Lazer" was excellent. There were compliments galore on the delicious buffet dinner and the unusual decor. It was roses all the way - Red roses suspended from the ceiling - to form a giant mobile which swayed in the wind and fresh rose petals were strewn on a silver table-centre with a silver candle. All this gave it a Moonlight & Roses atmosphere! A big thank you to Mignonne Fernando who gave us a surprise and sang her favourite songs which kept everyone clapping and dancing to the beat! Thank you Jerome for being such a wonderful DJ and keeping the evening alive. The game for the boys was so amusing, unusual and hilarious!
I look forward to seeing you at our picnic on Sunday 18 September 2005. An exciting programme has been planned with lots of fun and games for all. So don't miss out on a very enjoyable outing. The air-conditioned bus we travel in will be subsidized by us.
I think that some thoughts on 'family" would be appropriate to share with you this month. The family is the smallest complete unit of society on earth. As goes the family, so goes the nation. No nation has ever risen higher morally, intellectually or spiritually than the families of which that nation was constituted. All efforts therefore, at improving moral and spiritual standards, combating crime, infidelity and violence, must begin with the home and family. Attacking these problems anywhere else, further down the line, can only be temporary. It can only restrain a situation but can never result in a cure. The DBU too, to all of us, should be a base for its family, who are the members. We should endeavour to be there for each other, through thick and thin, whatever our differences may be. We should reach out to each other with a spontaneous openness and joy. With this attitude, as members, we can build bridges to bring peace and reconciliation to our hearts and our country.
Yours sincerely.
Kem Martenstyn
DBU FAMILY FUN DAY
Sunday, 18th September
2005 TANGERINE BEACH HOTEL, KALUTARA
Cost: Members & Guests Rs.850/= p.p.
Children under 12 yrs - Rs.425/= per child Cost will include - welcome drink, sumptuous buffet lunch, afternoon tea, and transport - to and from the hotel in a luxury coach.
PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY
- Fillies Derby
- Surprise Quiz
- Free use of swimming pool
- Six-a-side Cricket match
- Prizes and Surprises
- Jokes Hour & Sing-along
Members should bring their own booze!
Bookings close on Monday, 12th S(~ptembcr 2005 Limited numbers!
BOOK EARLY AND A VOID DISAPPOINTMENT!
DATE TO REMEMBER
22nd October - Founder's Day
Dutch Burgher Tea on the lawn at 5.30 p.m.
Details will follow.
ST. NIKOLAAS' HOME - FOUNDER'S DAY - 21.08.2005
St. Nikolaas' Home Founder's Day celebrated on 21.08.2005 was a great success. Rev. Charlie Jansz and Rev Ebenezer were present to conduct a service of thanksgiving. We were honoured to have with us the Chairperson of the St. Nikolaas & Brohier Memorial Homes Trust, Mrs Pauline Moldrich and her husband Mr Ralph Moldrich. Also gracing the occasion were our President, Ms Kem Martenstyn, our Deputy President, Mr Mervyn Andriesz and his wife Mrs Mersumi Andriesz and a number of members of the General Committee and the SNH sub-committee. The dinner served by the Matron and staff of SNH was excellent and all who participated had a memorable evening's entertainment.
David Martenstyn - Chairman, St. Nikolaas' Home sub-committee
The Burghers
The report of the Commission on Constitutional Reform in Ceylon, by the 3 Commissioners, Lord Soulbury and Messrs JF Rees and FJ Burrows, made to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in the UK on 11th July 1943 has two paragraphs on the Burghers (Chapter VII page 40). As it is a topic of general interest, I thought I should share it with the members of our Union through the Newsletter. The paragraphs read:
" 130 The Burghers, numbering some 30,000, are descendants of the Dutch colonists who remained in Ceylon after the capitulation to the British in 1796. At first they formed a necessary and valuable link between the new British rulers and the Sinhalese and Tamil inhabitants. Subsequently they have played a leading part in the social and political development of the Island, filling prominent positions, especially in the medical and legal professions.
The spread of education, the closer contact of the Ceylonese with European thought and industry, and the more recent growth of national aspirations have, as was to be expected, combined to diminish the dominant position at one time held by the Burghers in the public and professional life of Ceylon. Nevertheless, they continue to maintain their identity, and occupy an important place in the intellectual life and Public Services of the Island, enjoying the respect and goodwill of the other communities.
131 The Burghers are represented in the State Council by one Nominated Member."
Contributed by Richard Olhmus
Membership development sub-committee
The General Committee has appointed a Membership Development Committee comprising Mr Ryan Ohlmus (Chairman), Mr David Joachim, Mr Jerome Koch & Mr Stefan Schumacher.
Members who have candidates in mind who may wish to join the Union could contact anyone of these members or the DBU Secretariat.
Reminder
Members who have not returned the form requesting for particulars to update the DBU members' database are kindly requested to do so early. Thank you.
Billiards & Snooker
We are pleased to announce that the Union is now affiliated to the Billiards & Snooker Association of Sri Lanka. For details, please contact Mr David Joachim
Notices
As per Excise Regulations and the Bar Licence, the Bar has to close at II pm 2. The Bar area and upstairs will be closed in the evenings on all days on which there is a DBU function.
