Klubbnytt Feb-Mar 2019 - digital

Klubbnytt 

by the Norwegian Club of Queensland - est 1969 

EXPLORING 

ICELAND 

HOW TWO OF OUR MEMBERS 

MADE THEIR WAY ACROSS THE 

(SECOND MOST) BEAUTIFUL 

COUNTRY ON EARTH 

50 YEARS 

YOUNG 

THE NORWEGIAN CLUB OF 

QUEENSLAND... WHERE 

WE’VE COME FROM AND 

WHERE WE’RE GOING. 

+ 

THE 

COMMITTEE 

WELCOMING THE NEW 

COMMITTEE FOR 2019 

HUGSJÁ 

MUSIC FOR THE AGES 

SYTTENDE MAI 

THE BIGGEST 

CELEBRATION OF THE 

YEAR

FROM THE EDITOR 

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2019 

VELKOMMEN 

IT’S THE START OF A NEW YEAR FOR THE 

NORWEGIAN CLUB... AND A MOMENTOUS 

OCCASION 

What happened in 1969? Around the world, people 

watched as Neil Armstrong landed on the moon... 

and here in Brisbane, a fantastic group of Norwegian- 

Australians came together to bring the best of 

Norway to our sun-drenched shores. 50 years later, 

we are still here because of the enthusiasm of our 

wonderful members (like yourself) and the guidance 

and leadership of the management committee, 

keeping our little slice of Norway alive and thriving 

for the last 5 decades. 

This is my first year as Editor of Klubbnytt and my 

first year as Secretary of the Norwegian Club. As one 

of the newest members (minted for the 2018 renewal 

year), I started 2018 enthusiastically putting my hand 

up to join the Committee, and threw myself into 

the Club website (have you seen it yet? I’m pretty 

pleased with it so far) and into Assistant Secretary 

duties. 

Now it’s 2019, the Club is 50 and we figured it was 

a great opportunity to celebrate the occasion with 

giving our beloved Klubbnytt a bit of a face-lift. Rest 

assured that much of the content you know and love 

will still be here - with a few extras to keep things 

exciting. 

In events-land, we’re going to be hosting the everpopular 

Syttende Mai luncheon at the Sofitel, and 

of course our Christmas Party at the end of the year 

- but we figure what’s a birthday without a party? so 

your new Committee has their thinking caps on to 

think up some awesome ideas to celebrate the Club 

in style. 

So here’s your mission.... if there’s anything you 

think would be great in Klubbnytt, our website, or 

on Facebook.... or if there’s a great idea you have for 

ways that we can celebrate our Club’s 50th, let me 

know! I LOVE hearing your ideas. 

Hilsen, 

Jessica Hjertum 

Secretary 


The Norwegian Club of 

Queensland 

PO Box 6068 

Woolloongabba QLD 4102 

AUSTRALIA 

www.ncq.asn.au 

OFFICE BEARERS 

President: Anita Taylor 

p: 0412 773 487 

e: president@ncq.asn.au 

Vice-President: Kristin Bain 

p: 0409 061 425 

e: vicepresident@ncq.asn.au 

Secretary: Jessica Hjertum 

p: 0439 851 267 

e: secretary@ncq.asn.au 

Treasurer: Hamish Bain 

p: 0414 678 597 

e: treasurer@ncq.asn.au 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS 

Cecilie Naess 

Michael Taylor 

Laila Bjørnsson 

KLUBBNYTT magazine for members of the Norwegian Club of 

Queensland (ABN: 81 954 868 937), is published on a bi-monthly 

basis from February-March, April-May, June-July, August-September, 

October-November and December-January. Please 

be aware that no part of this publication may be reproduced 

without permission. Advertising requests are accepted via email 

to secretary@ncq.asn.au. 

POSTMASTER: Please send your change of address to the 

Nowegian Club of Queensland via email to secretary@ncq.asn. 

au or via post to the Norwegian Club of Queensland address. 

2/024

CONTENTS 


MAGAZINE 

02 | News 

10 

18 News from the Embassy 

01 | Pieces of Interest 

4 50 Years Young - Syttende Mai edition 

by members of the Norwegian Club of Queensland, past and present 

6 President’s Report from the AGM 

by Anita Taylor 

7 The Norwegian Club Committee for 2019 

8 Hugsjá – music for the ages 

by Michael Taylor 

10 Iceland - in the Vikings' Wake 

by Eileen Hjertum 

by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Canberra 

19 Norwegian News in English 

story courtesy of The Washington Post 

03 | The Regulars 

20 From the desk of Odd Steinar 

by Odd-Steinar Dybvad-Raneng 

22 Say what? 

by Eileen Hjertum 

23 Good to know - contacts and 

information 

14 Syttende Mai 

by Jessica Hjertum 

17 Norwegian Apple Cake (Eplekake) 

by Jessica Hjertum 

In our next edition, we'll continue our series on the Kings 

of Norway, as well as including a review of one of our favourite 

bands, a condensed myth from our Viking ancestors..and 

much more! Coming to a letterbox near you at 

the end of April! 

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50 YEARS YOUNG (SYTTENDE MAI EDITION) 


Top three photos sourced from the 

Norwegian Club photo album 1969-1985. 

May 17 1975 dinner: 

Ladies in bunads - (left to right, back) 

Ragnhild Furre 

Heidi Condos 

Marianne 

Lajla Nystad 

(front, sitting) Aud Mykkeltvedt 

1988 Dinnerdance song lyrics 

provided by Steinar Johansen 

If you have any pictures or 

videos (or anything else) from 

times spent with the Norwegian 

Club (no matter the 

occasion), please get in touch 

with our Secretary. 

We’re working to compile and 

digitise an archive of the Norwegian 

Club of Queensland 

- so if there’s anything you’d 

like to share, we will happily 

scan, copy and convert (this 

includes any and all old-fashioned 

film) it all. 

Let’s keep the Club’s legacy 

safe for future members! 

4/024

UPCOMING EVENTS 


MAGAZINE 

MARCH 

• SUNDAY 17 - 12:30-2:30PM 

Scandinavian Group of the Genealogical Society meeting 

• SATURDAY 30 - 11:30AM onward 

Picnic by the Bay at Wellington Point Park 

APRIL 

• SUNDAY 7 - 5PM onward 

Scandinavian Singers at Nazareth Church, Woolloongabba 

MAY 

• SUNDAY 5 - 5PM onward 

Scandinavian Singers at Nazareth Church, Woolloongabba 

• SATURDAY 18 

Scandinavian Group of the Genealogical Society open day 

• SUNDAY 19 - 12-2:30PM 

Syttende Mai luncheon at the Sofitel Hotel 

JUNE 


Anniversary Event - details TBC 

AUGUST 

• SUNDAY 18 


OCTOBER 

• SUNDAY 27 


DECEMBER 


Christmas Party at the Danish Club Heimdal 

- CAFE DENMARK - 

On the 4th Friday of every month from 6pm (excluding January 

and December due to the holidays), the Danish Club at 

36 Austin St Newstead hosts an evening filled with good cheer 

and great food - Danish open sandwiches with salmon, roast beef, 

pork, meatballs (and various other options) complement the imported 

Danish beers available at the bar, Danish pastries, tea, coffee 

- and even some baked goods and lollies for 

purchase to enjoy at home. 

DID YOU KNOW? 

The first logo used by the Norwegian Club 

of Queensland was actually the coat of 

arms of the City of Sandefjord in Norway? 

In 1992, a number of designs for the new 

Club logo were submitted by members 

and featured on the covers of Klubbnytt. 

The black and white logo above was 

designed by Russell Williams (Editor of 

Klubbnytt at the time) and was selected 

by popular vote... we’ve used variations 

on it ever since. 

In 1999, the logo was colourised for the 

first time, and has undergone at least one 

colour change in the following years. 

HOWEVER. 

It’s the Club’s 50th anniversary this year 

- and to celebrate such a momentous 

occasion, we’ve decided to reinstate the 

unedited 1992 design - the original (and 

the best!) 

information sourced from Berit Williams's book 

"A Norwegian Outpost Down Under" 

5/024

PRESIDENT’S REPORT 


THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEMBERS WHO HELPED 

ORGANIZE CLUB ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR. 

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE MANAGEMENT 

COMMITTEE FOR RUNNING THE CLUB AND MAKING 

SURE KLUBBNYTT REACHED ALL THE MEMBERS. 

Since the February/March edition, Klubbnytt went back 

to print version with the first issue displaying Berit Williams 

on the front cover and copies of Klubbnytt have 

since been sent out to all members bi-monthly. 

Vice President Kristin Bain has also created and emailed 

out a bi-monthly e-Newsletter in alternate months to 

members with known email addresses. 

2018 started out with the celebration of Berit Williams’ 

80th birthday in March. Committee members Marianne 

Seldon and Laila Bjørnsson plus other Club members 

enjoyed the festivities held at Randi Svanøe’s place. 

Our main activities that followed in 2018 were well 

received by Club members as well as members of the 

public. 

• The annual 17th of May luncheon at Sofitel Hotel 

had a great turn out of people and entertainment 

by the Scandinavian Singers. 

• Our Christmas event was again a big success and 

was held at the Danish Club with an exciting buffet 

of food and really great entertainment provided by 

the band Kupelea and the Scandinavian Singers. We 

did the traditional Dancing around the Christmas 

tree and laughed a lot. 

With many of the Committee overseas or on holiday 

during the year, there were no other events organized 

by the NCQ. 

• A lot of work has been done during 2018 to both 

the website and Facebook and Jessica Hjertum 

has now totally remade the website and given it a 

whole new look ready for 2019. Thank you Jess! 

• The Scandinavian Film Festival would have brought 

enjoyment as well as a few history lessons for those 

who were able to secure tickets. 

• Lis Harrison again organised the Brisbane Entertainment 

book to be distributed amongst members as a 

fundraiser and we had a nice result from the efforts. 

Thank you, Lis! 

• The NCQ did not participate with the usual waffle 

stall at The Scandinavian Festival in September. This 

was due to many Committee members being overseas 

and not enough helpers for the event. 

• The NCQ was represented at the Festival however, 

where Laila Bjørnsson gave a presentation on 

National Costumes – Bunad. She was supported by 

Odd Steinar Dybvad-Raneng dressed in his Bunad, 

as well as Michael Taylor, Jessica Hjertum, Kate 

Taylor and other Club members. 

• The Club’s Birthday went by without any celebration, 

but the Committee has started making plans 

for the Club’s 50th birthday celebration in 2019, 

where the incoming Committee will need lots of 

input from members. 

• Gunvor Yeo celebrated her 75th birthday in December 

and managed to slip away at the time. However, 

Laila Bjørnsson caught up with her and wished 

her Happy Birthday from us all. 

• Most of the Committee’s time seemed to again 

hinge around the difficulties of participating in the 

Scandinavian Festival. 

Although we have welcomed new members into our 

Club, there is still a notable drop in members as several 

long-time members have not renewed their memberships. 

In order to keep our Club going, we must work together 

to increase the membership numbers through support 

of annual events and activities as well as suggest new 

ones. 

The Norwegian Club of Queensland is for all of us and it 

will work even better if more people contribute. 

I have enjoyed working with the 2018’s talented 

Management Committee and wish to extend a BIG 

THANK YOU to you all for your hard work. 

Thank you to all Club members for your support! 

I wish the incoming Committee the best of luck with 

2019 activities. 

Anita Rosenborg Taylor 

PRESIDENT NCQ 

6/024

THE NEW COMMITTEE 


MAGAZINE 

Anita Taylor 

President 

Kristin Bain 

Vice-President 

Hamish Bain 

Treasurer 

Jessica Hjertum 

Secretary 

Michael Taylor 

Committee Member 

Laila Bjørnsson 


Welcome to the Norwegian Club Committee 

for 2019! While many of our 

Committee members have been with 

us for some time, we’d especially like 

to welcome Cecilie Naess, who is 

joining us for the first time. 

The Committee has been nominated 

from amongst Norwegian Club members 

- and we are always happy to 

hear any of your ideas or thoughts on 

how to make the Club the best it can 

be! 

Cecilie Naess 


7/024

ALBUM REVIEW 


Hugsjá – 

music for the ages 

BY MICHAEL TAYLOR 

Poetic. Ancient. Masterful. Just three of many words 

that come to mind when I try to describe ‘Hugsjá’, this 

newest offering from modern-day Norwegian bards 

Einar Selvik of Wardruna and Ivar Bjørnson of Enslaved. 

Released on April the 20th of 2018, it marks their second 

collaboration after their 2014 release, titled ‘Skuggsjá 

– A Piece For Mind And Mirror’, was commissioned by 

the Norwegian government to commemorate the 200th 

anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution. 

This latest release is similar to their last only in the 

sense that they again combine traditional Norwegian 

instruments of the past with modern instrumentation. In 

sound it departs significantly from its predecessor and 

truly shines a dazzling light of its own. Fans of Einar Selvik 

have been waiting with bated breath for new material 

since his last release under Wardruna, and I doubt any 

would be disappointed. 

Equally so, fans of Enslaved, who are fond of progressive 

heavy metal mixed with nordic folk (fair warning to 

Enslaved fans though: do not expect heavy metal, you 

won’t find any in this work) will hear complimentary 

echoes of Ivar’s full-time band within ‘Hugsjá’. For those 

looking for translations of the song titles, I have provided 

them alongside each track description. 

Many listeners will not be able to understand the old 

Norwegian dialect used throughout these songs, but 

a translation of the lyrics is thoughtfully provided with 

the vinyl sleeve and CD booklet, complete with wellresearched 

information on the origins of the naming of 

Norway, its peoples, and philosphy behind the choice of 

name for this awe-inspiring musical treasure. 

The album begins with the title track and has a strong, 

evocative start. Using an array of old Norse instruments 

and minimal modern percussion (I think maybe there 

was a ride cymbal or two from a drumkit but little else), 

‘Hugsjá’ (Mind-View) makes for a brilliant and welcoming 

opener. 

The next track, ‘WulthuR’ (Radiance) starts with a 

haunting, lone horn meoldy that gives way to modern 

drums as the intensity of this piece is built with 

the assistance of a mixture of modern and ancient 

instruments. Eventually the song pulls back to leave a 

finish with the horn playing alone once again. 

Throughout the album the music paints a picture to 

me of vastness from a long, long time ago. This is lended 

by the use of Norse mythology figures in the songs ‘Ni 

Døtre av Hav’ (Nine Daughters of the Sea) and ‘Ni Mødre 

av Sol’ (Nine Mothers of the Sun), which were clearly 

made to be be paired together as they are. The former 

song is complete with fitting sounds of flowing water, 

rhythm and time signature shifts that reflect the shifting 

behaviour of the sea, and comes to a calm finish in 

concert with lyrics that translate to the following: 

“Over the deep halls of Ægir 

Nine maidens play, freely 

Swathing softly man and other 

Take them to their soaking grave 

To their soaking grave” 

The latter, a much calmer yet equally masterful piece, 

paints a picture of tranquil sunlight with long, steady 

musical notes played by Hardanger-fiddle and supported 

by warm-sounding electronic synth and ends with words 

to live by: 

“Each and every day 

By the edge of the world 

You are carried forth 

In chilly sea 

By the earth’s strength 

Son of nine sisters 

Son of nine mothers” 

‘Fornjot’ begins with Einar alone providing vocals whilst 

playing the kravik-lyre, as the ensemble slowly moves 

into play to create the ominous atmosphere of this piece. 

Here is another song inspired by stories from Scandinavia’s 

pagan past, of Fornjót the giant, king of Gotland, 

Kænland and Finnland. A darker tone in this song than 

the others with a good balance of low, brooding tones 

with mid to high range instruments that stop abruptly to 

leave the kravik-lyre alone to end the song. 

‘Nattseglar’ (Night Sailor) has more modern instruments 

throughout it, showing once again that a careful balance 

can be achieved between old and new as the song is carried 

along by a more contemporary percussive rhythm. It 

stands out for its more modern feel but is in no way out 

of place for this. 

8/024


MAGAZINE 

‘Nytt Land’ (New Land) begins with distorted guitars 

and a more traditional rock band backing while the 

older instruments take the lead melodies and convey 

a feeling of mystery and adventure as the piece moves 

forward with some slight use of flowing water sounds, 

as if to encourage the listener to picture norse travelers 

taking in the scenery of unexplored territory as their 

ships approach this land that would perhaps become 

their home. This song feels like discovery, adventure, 

optimism and new beginnings. 

‘Nordvegen’ (The North Way) continues the theme of 

the last song, adding an otherworldly and bright feel 

with just an acoustic guitar and ambient synth intro 

joined by Einar’s vocals and some very light percussion 

towards the end. It is a short piece, but atmospheric, 

effective and leaves the listener wanting more. 

‘Utsyn’ (Vista) is very close to the modern Norwegian 

word ‘utsikten’ which translates to ‘scenery’. A somewhat 

sombre piece that starts with the sound of waves 

washing onto a shoreline and a pairing between the 

kravik-lyre and Taglharpa, interlaced with light drums 

and of course, Einar’s solitary, reverant singing. The 

song continues quietly until approximately the 4:30 

mark where the full force of the ensemble comes in to 

drive home the theme of vastness once again, but this 

time in the form of a landscape revered by the people 

who now call it home. Like many of the others in this 

collection of songs, the musical barrage pulls away to 

masterful effect leaving vocals, guitar and kravik-lyre 

to bring the song to a steady finish. 

This next song is a definite stand-out and one of my 

two favourites of the entire collection. ‘Oska’ (Ashes) 

starts strong, with a pulsating and hypnotic rhythm 

prominently backed by the modern rock instruments 

with the Hardanger-fiddle taking front-centre stage. 

Primal and energetic, you feel like you’ve been drawn 

into something otherworldly yet familiar as it brings 

out something animalistic in you. The music pulls back 

abruptly, leaving the guitars, kick drum and vocals as 

they sing, then chant the only lyrics of the entire piece: 

“Or verda, or oska 

Med ild, med skip” 

“Of the world, of the ashes 

By fire, by ship” 

The full ensemble returns as one to play out the song 

as they fade away, leaving just the sound of a roaring 

fire. 

The final song, ‘Um Heilage Fjell’ (Holy Mountains) 

makes me feel as if they saved the best until last with 

this hauntingly beautiful epic. It begins and ends with 

the sounds of mountanous wind blowing and fits wonderfully, 

with Einar’s gentle touch to the opening vocals, 

brilliantly executed with powerful melancholy. 

This piece chills me to the bone with the mournful feelings 

of loss it conveys. The ending lyrics are a perfect 

match for not only the end of the song, but the entire 

journey this album takes you on. 

“Av vind er du komen 

Til vind skal du bli” 

“By wind you came 

And wind you shall be” 

Laden heavily with lament and mourning, I find myself 

more fond of this piece than any other on this masterpiece 

by Ivar & Einar. 

Every part of this project feels carefully and skillfully 

prepared, and is an awe-inspiring homage to Norway’s 

cultural beginnings. A brilliant example of what can be 

achieved with a love of history and folklore, skilled musicians 

and songwriters, and an assortment of modern 

and ancient instruments all brought together in a truly 

harmonious way. I highly recommend this album to all 

lovers of music that entices with a story and invites you 

to seek out more. 

9/024

ICELA 

COVER ARTICLE 


IN THE VIKI 

T 

hey say every journey begins with the first 

step, but in reality it begins far before that. 

It begins with the thought of adventure, 

the thirst for something new, exploration 

beyond the mundane barriers of daily life. This trip had 

its beginnings as I contemplated my life, about to reach 

½ a century and my daughter reaching the ¼ of a century 

milestone. I had been reading the sagas at the time, tales 

of folks - a bit like you and I - who for numerous reasons, 

set out on voyages into the unknown towards a land 

heard of, but which had not been seen, to carve out a 

life, come what may, from the land, the ice and the sea. 

The decision had been made. We Vikings are still here. 

We left the port of Hirtshals, Denmark, on a cold, grey, 

windy morning. The lighthouse faded from view behind a 

veil of rain and cloud as we sailed into the North Sea, on 

to Iceland’s east coast in the mid-Atlantic. 

The experience of spending a few days out of sight of 

land upon a trackless, mountainous ocean, confronted 

me with the reality of being beyond immediate help. 

That journey of ours was as close as I expected to get 

to the Vikings' vanished world (other than acquiring a 

longship and setting sail myself). We did have a few 

modern conveniences: engines, cabins, cafes and the 

other “nice to have” modern paraphernalia of ship’s 

radio, satellite enabled navigation, emergency beacons, 

life rafts and two roof top spa baths. So almost exactly 

the same as our forebears. 

As the first rays of the sun began to light the sky 

and the sea, passengers crowded the outside decks 

in the chilled air, to take in the first views of Iceland. 

We had reached the entrance to the 17 kilometre long 

Seyðisfjörður (est 8th century). It was the end of July, 

summer had officially finished and only the hardy 

remained on deck all the way into the port. I don’t think 

the tops of my ears really thawed out again until I made 

it back to Oslo at the end of August. We had arrived in 

the land true to its name. There was a light dusting of 

snow on Mt Bjólfur (1085m) and the houses and farms 

looked like tiny lego creations next to the magnitude of 

the landscape. Photographs would capture moments 

but would not be able to capture the enormity of scale. 

We ventured west to Egilsstaðir’s cross roads and 

north-west into the ‘fire’ part of Iceland’s fire and ice 

reputation. The landscape here changed from the 

beautiful green pastures and Nordic-esque landscape 

of Egilsstaðir, to a brown and black pebbled one, for 

hundreds of kilometres. The traces of the stones' origins 

were clearly discernible, as larger rocks retained the 

clear flow grooves of molten lava cooled to stone. Our 

cheery bus driver happily informed us that Iceland has no 

metamorphic rock, barely 10% of sedimentary rock and 

the rest is about 25 types of igneous rock (formed from 

lava/magma). But we did not need to take his word for it, 

the Mývatn/Krafla areas demonstrated that. Bjarnarflag; 

Námafjall, Hverir, Leirhnjúkur and the entire Krafla region 

is an area where the earth hisses and bubbles. 

Hverir's lunar landscape 

photo by Jessica Hjertum 

Vaporous vents 

cover the pinkyorange 

Námafjall 

ridge which sits 

squarely on the 

spreading zone of 

the mid-Atlantic 

Ridge. Hverir is an 

ochre-toned lunar 

like landscape 

of belching 

mud cauldrons, 

steaming vents, 

radiant mineral 

deposits, piping 

fumaroles and 

the powerful 

stench of sulphur. 

The earth’s crust 

10/024


MAGAZINE 

ND 

NGS’ WAKE 

BY EILEEN HJERTUM 

is extremely thin here, and in places the ground is 

ferociously hot. Folk are warned to stay on the roped 

pathways and avoid any light coloured soil which is often 

indicative of boiling water, boiling mud or steam trying 

to break through. 

In stark contrast to this landscape, less than 5 minutes 

down the road we arrived at the Mývatn (mee-vaht) lake, 

formed by a lava dam and a strange phenomenon of a 

pseudo-crater field which is formed by lava exploding 

through the bog of dense marshlands. Mývatn is home to 

plague-like swarms of midges and more than 115 species 

of bird, including 28 species of ducks. The bogs, marshes, 

ponds and wet tundra are a high-density waterfowl 

nesting zone. NYC for waterfowl. Camping on 

the lake shores as we did, with a ground sheet 

to protect us and our gear from…bird activity, 

was a phenomenal experience due to the sheer 

numbers of birds, with no fear of camping 

humans and the overwhelming cacophony. 

Never have I heard such a clamour from birds, 

other than an Australian bush orchestra first 

thing in the morning. 

Having had a breakfast which included bread 

cooked in a steam vent (yes, the Icelanders are 

100% geothermal) we skirted around the Krafla 

(volcano) and headed further north, up the 

stark Jökulsárgljúfur canyon to view the most 

powerful waterfall in Europe – Dettifoss. The 

Dettifoss mist plume is visible up to 1 km away 

and rewards visitors with double rainbows 

over the falls on sunny days. Dettifoss is 100m 

(330ft) wide and has a drop of 44m (144ft). It 

is the 193m³ per second of milky-grey glacial sediment 

water from Vatnajökull (156km away), thundering over 

its edge, that earns it the “most powerful” superlative. 

If you have watched the movie Prometheus you have 

viewed the beauty and power of Dettifoss. 

Journeying south, our planned route through the 

interior of Iceland was blocked as the Bárðarbunga 

fissure eruption was still creating a lava field at Holuhraun 

of 85 km² x 1.4km², had taken out the only road and 

was still giving off dangerous levels of sulphur dioxide. 

Instead, we ventured through the Oðaðahraun desert 

to view Herðubreið, the Mountain Queen. Herðubreið 

is a tuya that stands alone in the vast purple/black/ 

brown desert near the Askja volcano. A tuya is lava 

that solidified into a column as it tried to break through 

glacial ice. It's a phenomenal concept to consider, as at 

1682m tall Herðubreið is twice as tall as the Burj Khalifa in 

Dubai (829.8m) and 6½ times as tall as Brisbane’s tallest 

building - 1 William St (260m). So how thick was that ice? 

Herðubreið - the Mountain Queen 

photo by Eileen Hjertum 

Having back tracked to Egilsstaðir, we picked up a new 

bus driver for our journey to Höfn at the eastern foot of 

the Vatnajökull ice cap. What a character he was, grey 

haired pony tail, Hawaiian shirt, chino shorts with long 

socks and rubber strap sandals. “Aren’t you cold?” “No” 

he says, “I have the heaters on full in the bus!” 

Now, Eglisstaðir to Höfn is literally over, round and 

11/024

COVER ARTICLE 


under mountain ranges. The mountains look solid, from 

a distance, but close up they are like piles of gravel that 

are sliding their way down steep slopes into the valleys. 

The road is rarely more than 1 lane wide (as are the 

majority of roads in Iceland) and this chap drives like 

the wind…with an added tailwind. Careening through 

the highest highway pass in Iceland (632m), we speed 

through a single lane, 630m long tunnel and then drop 

from the skies, like a falcon on the wind, into the town of 

Reyðarfjöður. The brakes did work, we did not end up a 

mangled mess in the fjord, and once I managed to loosen 

my white knuckled grip of the armrests, we were treated 

to soft is (soft serve ice cream) while we boarded new 

passengers. That was the first 22km of a 290km journey. 

Life’s an adventure and was riotous travelling with this 

kamikaze, tale-telling chap – bus driving is only one of 

his five jobs. He’s flexible with the seasons. Oh. Also, the 

scenery was picturesque, a perfect postcard at every 

turn, where the mountains meet the sea. 

The 8100km2 Vatnajökull ice cap dominates the 

landscape from Höfn through to Kirkubæjarklaustur a 

distance of 206 km, glacier tongues of white, crystalline 

blue and black ash, mountains locked in place by ice up 

to 1000m thick until they are ground down to gravel and 

dust, milky glacial rivers, clear, fast flowing waterfalls 

and crisp - at times freezing - winds whip around and 

over the cap. Vatnajökull is so vast it creates its own wind 

and weather. Remember my frozen ears? Well, there’s a 

reason every service station, café and souvenir shop sell 

“ear warmer headbands”. 

Lazy icebergs drifting in the lagoon at Jökulsárlón - photo by Jessica Hjertum 

We spent a number of days travelling around this 

expansive ice-cube, camped nightly at one of the many 

breathtaking glacier fingers, including Jökulsárlón 

where luminous blue/white icebergs calved from 

Breiðamerkurjökull and were adorned by a few 

photogenic seals bobbing in the water or lazing on the 

bergs as they drift inexorably towards the Atlantic ocean. 

Skaftafellsjökull rewards hikers with the sounds of the 

glacier moving, cracking and groaning and the brooding 

beauty of the Svartifoss (Black Falls), flanked by 

geometric black basalt columns. The only time you don’t 

spend every waking moment looking up at Vatnajökull 

in complete awe, is when crossing the black sands 

of the Skeiðarársandur, with its meandering carved 

rivulets in the sand indicative of a gentle river delta. An 

equally cheery bus driver to our last kamikaze, regaled 

in a matter of fact tone, the speed with which the 1996 

mega jökulhlaup (glacial flood), flooded this entire area 

(500km²) with 55,000m³ (2 million cubic feet) of water 

per second, (4km³ in total), smashed one 400m bridge 

and the old 900m reinforced bridge to pieces with ice 

blocks as large as 4 story buildings, weighing between 

200 to 1000 tonnes. I no longer had to wonder what 

the occasional piece of partially buried twisted metal 

wreckage to our left was. It was the old bridge. 

Suddenly thoughts of living in a tent, immediately 

beneath the largest ice cap outside of the poles, whilst 

volcanic activity was occurring under the ice cap in the 

north, didn’t seem like such a well thought out idea. 

*facepalm* 

We travelled north by 4wd bus to take in the raw 

and still active Mt Laki and the Lakagígar lava field. The 

Lakagígar eruption of June 1783 through to February 

1784 produced the largest lava flow in human history. 

In 8 months, it created 130 giant craters along a 27km 

long fissure and the ensuing lava, ash and sulphuric acid 

released temporarily blotted out the sun and devastated 

Iceland’s and the whole Northern 

hemisphere’s agricultural sector. 

The mass crop failures, acid rain and 

sulphuric fogs ensured starvation for 

livestock and humans alike for some 

years after the eruption ceased. It is 

considered to have been one of the 

catalysts for the French Revolution, 

which resulted in Louis XVI and Marie 

Antoinette losing their heads. 

There are no real roads in the 

Lakagígar region. The roads are barely 

wheel ruts from those that have 

attempted to make it through the 

uneven, poured lava stone previously. 

It is seven bruising, jarring hours on a 

mechanical bull, yet today, ground zero 

of the apocalypse is covered with soft 

green moss, lichen and the most delicate of wildflowers - 

where stepping off the roped paths can cause ecological 

devastation that can take a decade or more to repair... 

After all, Iceland only has one official growing month of 

summer. What contrasts time creates. 

The contrasts of time are reinforced at Fjarðrárgljúfur 

near Kirkjubæjarklaustur. (Seriously, who makes up these 

alphabet rich, tongue twisters) Fjarðrárgljúfur is a darkly 

12/024


MAGAZINE 

Fragile wildflowers and lava at Lakagígar 


picturesque 

canyon (gljúfur), 

100m deep and 

2km long, with 

sheer, twisting, 

folding walls, 

tufted with 

soft grasses 

and patches of 

moss, having 

been carved 

out by what is 

now the gentle 

serpentining of 

the Fjarðrár. 

The canyon is 

two million year 

old bedrock that 

eroded a mere 

9000 years ago 

as the glaciers of 

the last ice age 

retreated. The 

bedrock during 

the Ice Age had been worn flat by the moving ice. In 

retreat, the sediment-heavy waters that accumulated in 

a lagoon behind the gorge forcibly ground a twisted path 

through the bedrock to the sea. Whether viewed from 

the top of the canyon or from its base from the water, 

it is truly breathtaking, having a surreal, fairytale-like 

quality to it. The water remains so cold that it is painful to 

wade through the shallows, for no longer than the time 

need to take a photograph. (See Klubbnytt's cover photo 

by Jessica Hjertum). 

Our journey ends on the Reykjanes Peninsula, 

where Ingólfur Arnarson is reputed to have tossed his 

öndvegissúlur (High seat pillars) 

overboard and settled where the 

gods washed them ashore. This 

was at Reykjavik (Smoky Bay) 

which he named for the steam 

rising from the geothermal vents. 

A staggering 75% of Iceland’s 

population live on this peninsula, 

and it is a hive of activity for locals 

and visitors alike. But the Vikings' 

wake first leads us to Þingvellir. 

Þingvellir is the most important 

historical site in Iceland as it is 

where the world’s first democratic 

parliament, the Alþingi was 

established in AD930. It is located 

in an immense fissured rift valley, 

formed around 20 million years 

ago by magma rising from deep 

within the planet to tear the North 

American and Eurasian tectonic plates apart. The great 

rift Almannagjá is currently 8km wide and continues to 

broaden by up to 18mm per year. 

This place has energy like no other experienced in 

Iceland. At times it is deafeningly silent and at times 

you can almost hear the cacophony of the past when 

hundreds of folks excitedly met up after a years’ absence, 

to catch up on news. For a 2 week period each summer, 

Icelanders from all parts of the country would journey 

to assemble on the Parliament Plains (Þingvellir), below 

the Lögberg (Law Rock) where the lögsögumanður 

(law speaker) recited the existing laws; announced the 

outcome of legal actions made by the Lögrétta (Law 

Council); and other matters affecting all Icelanders. 

The sheer black cliffs behind the Lögberg acted as a 

natural amplifier, broadcasting the voices of the speakers 

across the assembled crowds. Anyone attending the 

assembly was entitled to present his case on important 

issues and the dramatic backdrop made even the most 

tedious speaker, sound interesting. 

More recently, on the 17 June 1944 the foundation of 

the Icelandic Republic took place at Þingvellir. Despite 

icy rain and winds that can only be truly experienced in 

Iceland, tens of thousands gathered for the election of 

Sveinn Björnsson, Iceland’s first President. Fittingly, this 

occurred at Lögberg, with proceedings concluding with 

the law on the national flag and the coat of arms. 

Not bad for the often depicted wild and savage Viking 

raiders history casts us as. Yes, Icelandic, Norse, Swedish, 

Dane or Finn – we Vikings are still here. 

If you enjoyed this tale of Iceland, make sure to check out 

the website over the coming months, where more locations 

we travelled will be explored (including Reykjavík!) 

View from the top: Þingvellir from one side of Almannagjá to the other 


13/024

SYTTENDE MAI 


Constitution Day 

or, why Norway parties hearty 

every May 17. 

BY JESSICA HJERTUM 

Syttende Mai, or May 17 as it’s known in most Englishspeaking 

countries, is an occasion for Norwegians and 

friends of Norway alike to get together and have a party. 

In Brisbane, that usually means a parade through the 

CBD on the morning of May 17 followed by something 

to eat and plenty to talk about in one of QUT Gardens 

Point’s lush gardens. For members of the Norwegian 

Club of Queensland, the weekend of syttende mai 

means only one thing: a delicious banquet lunch at the 

Sofitel in Brisbane City, with plenty of singing, laughter 

and good cheer. 

But why do we celebrate Constitution Day? What 

actually happened - and why does it matter? To answer 

these questions, we have to look back in history, starting 

with the early 1800s and the Napoleonic Wars. 

Denmark and Norway were united under the Oldeburg 

Monarchy - and were actively trying to remain neutral 

during the Napoleonic Wars as the Dano-Norwegian 

kingdom traded freely with both France and Britain. 

When the Dano-Norwegian kingdom joined the League 

of Armed Neutrality in 1801 with Prussia, Russia and 

Sweden (in a bid to stop the British searching every 

ship looking for French contraband), Britain decided 

that Denmark had allied themselves with France (if you 

don’t tolerate us searching your ships, you’re obviously 

working with the enemy!) - and had to be punished. 

The British Navy attacked Copenhagen in 1801 and 

1807 - the latter time, confiscating the entireity of the 

Danish Navy. Given the Danish Navy at the time was the 

only Navy in Europe capable of fighting off the British, it 

was a cunning strategic move. The ramifications though, 

were that Denmark (with Norway) then openly allied 

themselves with France. 

Norwegian Constitution 

image sourced from https://ivarjordre.wordpress.com/ 

14/024


MAGAZINE 

In the winter of 1812, 

Napoleon’s forces were 

annihilated in their 

attempt to subdue Russia 

- and Sweden, who had 

previously been neutral 

along with Denmark, 

started to make new 

alliances with the UK and 

Prussia on the condition 

that if Sweden joined the 

anti-Napoleonic alliance, 

they would be given 

Norway. The UK and Russia 

accepted in May 1813, 

Prussia accepted in late 

June - and by mid-July 1813, 

Northern Germany had 

been routed of all French 

forces. 

Denmark, who had 

maintained the alliance 

with Napoleon - hoping 

they’d prevail and be able 

to retain Norway - ended 

up on the losing side. In January 1814, the 

Treaty of Kiel was signed and Denmark 

lost Norway officially. Despite also being 

bankrupt, the upshot for Denmark was that 

Sweden had only negotiated for Norway itself. Norway’s 

territories of Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands 

remained in Danish hands until much, much later. 

Norway, meanwhile, was not interested in the Treaty 

of Kiel, and set about declaring their independence. 

Between April 10 and May 17 1814, the Norwegian 

Constituent Assembly worked together to create 

Norway’s new Constitution. It was signed on May 17 

1814 in Eidsvoll, declaring Norway an independent nation 

with the Danish Crown Prince Christian Frederik (later, 

Christian VIII of Denmark) the unanimously-elected King 

of Norway. 

Naturally, Sweden wasn’t going to sit by and let Norway 

declare its independence - so after much negotiation 

and a brief war, the Convention of Moss was signed 

on August 14, 1814 after amendments were made by 

the Norwegian Storting (Government) to the recentlywritten 

Constitution. Christian Frederik abdicated and 

returned to Denmark, and the personal union between 

Sweden and Norway was declared official on November 

4, 1814. 

Despite Norway being permitted to retain its own 

Constitution, laws, armed forces and currency, the 

new King (Karl XIII) wasn’t pleased with Norwegians 

continuing to celebrate their original Constitution Day of 

May 17. After his death in 1818, his heir (Karl XIV Johan) 

made a point of attending the celebrations in Oslo - 

then called Christiania - until 1828, when he banned the 

celebration altogether. 

Torvslaget den 17 Mai 1829 i Kristiania 

By Nasjonalbiblioteket - Flickr. 

Sourced from https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29327692 

This didn’t stop the indomitable Norwegian 

spirit though. The very next year, illegal flyers with 

nationalistic slogans and lyrics to the national anthem 

began circulating in mid-April. On the evening of May 17, 

the crowd gathered to celebrate the Constitution were 

ordered to disperse with threat of retribution. When 

they didn’t leave, the cavalry and infantry were sent to 

disperse the crowds by force - trampling some people 

and beating others with rifle butts. One attorney caught 

in the commotion was beaten so badly he was unable 

to walk for two weeks following the incident. Karl XIV 

Johan relented after hearing of the commotion and gave 

his approval for May 17 celebrations to continue in future. 

By 1833, formal public addresses were held to mark the 

day. The first children’s parade down Karl Johan’s Gate in 

the centre of Oslo was held in 1864 (though girls weren’t 

allowed to participate until 1899). In 1905, Norway gained 

its independence at last and Norway democratically 

elected its new King - Prince Carl of Denmark - who 

changed his name to the more Norwegian-sounding 

“King Haakon VII”. 

Needless to say, syttende mai has been heartily 

celebrated since - with no tramplings or beatings yet! 

And that brings us to the May 17 weekend this year... 

15/024


THE COMMITTEE OF THE NORWEGIAN CLUB OF QUEENSLAND 

CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL 

Syttende Mai 

luncheon at the Sofitel Hotel 

Sunday, 19 May 2019 

12-2:30pm 

Thyme² Restaurant at the Sofitel 

249 Turbot St, Brisbane City 

This year, we celebrate 205 years of the signing of the Norwegian Constitution and 

50 years of the Norwegian Club of Queensland. Join us for a sumptuous buffet catered by 

the talented chefs at the Sofitel Hotel’s Thyme² Restaurant, an afternoon of merriment, 

engaging conversation, singing (led by our wonderful Scandinavian Singers Choir), and 

even a bit of magic for the kids and the kids at heart. 

We encourage you to bring along your family and friends! 

COSTS: 

Adult Member/Choir Member: $46 

Adult Non-Member: $92 

Children 6-14 years: $20 

Children under 6: free 

PAYMENT: 

Direct Bank Transfer to Heritage Bank 

BSB: 638 070 

Acc#: 11871172 

Reference: Your surname & number of attendees - eg: “Hjertum - A2 C1” 

RSVPs are essential and must be received by May 5. 

Once payment is made, please email secretary@ncq.asn.au to confirm your booking. 

We’ll need your name, phone number and the number of guests attending (by adults and children) 

16/024

NORWEGIAN APPLE CAKE (EPLEKAKE) 


MAGAZINE 

Ingredients 

• 125 grams butter, melted 

• 130 grams icing or caster sugar 

• 2 eggs 

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 

• 125 grams self-raising flour 

• 2 tablespoons milk 

• 1 large apple (you can use any apple 

you like) 

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 

• 1 tablespoon demerara sugar 

This recipe came to us through the Norwegian Club’s facebook page from Victoria 

Katrinsdottir who says it’s her go-to eplekake recipe. 

It quickly became the most popular recipe on our website, and after making it for the 

AGM (and finding it insanely easy and delicious), I thought it absoutely had to be shared in 

Klubbnytt for everyone to enjoy. 

Method 

Preheat oven to 200C and grease & flour an 8-inch cake pan (with removable bottom) and set aside. 

In the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk (Kitchenaid, Kenwood Chef etc – or a hand mixer works just fine too), 

cream the melted butter and sugar with until light and fluffy and the sugar has dissolved. It will take about 5 

minutes - be patient. 

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after incorporating each egg. Once the eggs are fully mixed in, 

add the vanilla extract. 

Once the wet mixture is fully combined, add half the flour and all of the milk, then mix thoroughly again and add 

the remaining flour. Combine until no streaks of powder remain. 

Spread batter in the cake pan, core and cut the apple into 1/16th slices (cut into quarters and then quarters again). 

Arrange the slices decoratively on top of the cake; then sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and demerara sugar. 

Bake for about 35 minutes or until golden brown and cake is thoroughly cooked by testing with a toothpick 

Serve warm or at room temperature (it’s fantastic with whipped cream or ice cream) 

17/024


NEWS FROM THE EMBASSY 

Royal Norwegian Embassy, Australia 

Extreme weather events are more common than 

before, sea levels are rising, and droughts and floods 

are more frequent. Air pollution alone claims 7 million 

lives a year. Climate change and environmental 

damage are destroying ecosystems, with negative 

repercussions for development, health and food 

production. 

Climate change is exacerbating humanitarian 

disasters, fuelling conflict, and making certain areas 

uninhabitable. It is crucial that all countries do their 

part to prevent further loss and damage associated 

with climate change impacts. This work can save lives 

and assets, and reduce the need for humanitarian aid 

when a disaster strikes. 

The world’s rain forests make up one the largest 

global carbon sinks, provide livelihoods for millions of 

people, and are home to more than half the world’s 

known animal and plant species. Norway allocates a 

significant amount of funding to REDD+ (Reducing 

emissions from deforestation and forest degradation 

in developing countries). 

The Paris Agreement came into force in November 

2016. It is the first global agreement that commits all 

countries to setting more ambitious goals for reducing 

greenhouse gas emissions. Norway was among the 

first countries to ratify the agreement. The Paris 

Agreement gives reason to hope that the countries 

of the world can work together to prevent dangerous 

climate change. 

AIMS 

• reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions so 

as to limit the global increase in temperature to 

less than 2˚C with the further aim of limiting the 

increase in temperature to 1.5˚C 

• enable vulnerable countries to adapt to climate 

change 

• reduce the consequences of natural disasters, 

including those caused by climate change 

• prevent deforestation, and thus reduce harmful 

greenhouse gas emissions 

• promote economic development and food 

security 

Since 2007, Norway has allocated up to NOK 3 billion 

a year of its aid budget to REDD+ (Reducing emissions 

from deforestation and forest degradation in 

developing countries). 

Norway is a member of Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy 

Reform. Subsidy reform is important for cleaning up 

the air and freeing up public funds for development 

efforts. 

ACTION 

• implementing the Paris Agreement, the UN 

Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai 

Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, all of 

which have been negotiated by UN member 

states 

• reducing Norway’s greenhouse gas emissions by 

40 % by 2030 

• funding efforts to address climate change 

through the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the 

Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the World 

Bank, and other multilateral funds and partners 

• leading the way in international efforts in the 

field of health and climate 

• promoting the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies 

• supporting sustainable urban development 

and the development of renewable energy, 

with a view to promoting sustainable social 

development and economic growth 

• contributing to sustainable management of 

marine resources 

The energy sector accounts for more than 60 % of 

greenhouse gas emissions. Access to renewable energy 

is therefore crucial for sustainable development. 

Norwegian researchers on RV Dr Fridtjof Nansen are 

taking part in the vital work of mapping marine litter 

on the seabed, particularly plastic litter, which causes 

serious environmental harm. 

18/024

NORWEGIAN NEWS IN ENGLISH 


MAGAZINE 

Intercontinental conflict ends peacefully as 

Norway agrees Canada’s got the bigger moose 

By Reis Thebault and Emily Rauhala 

Article sourced from The Washington Post 

Finally, peace. 

After weeks of intercontinental conflict, two leaders 

have walked back from the brink, declaring a detente 

that brings to an end what amounted to a very cold 

war. 

In the dark days of international diplomacy, as Brexit 

looms and talks between the United States and North 

Korea sour, peace lovers and politicians the world 

over can look to a pair of unlikely new comrades as 

beacons of hope. 

On Wednesday, heads of cities in Saskatchewan, 

Canada, and southern Norway signed a compact that 

concluded their spirited standoff — over a moose 

statue. The two cities, Moose Jaw and Stor-Elvdal, 

were feuding over the right to claim the title of 

world’s tallest moose statue, a fiercely coveted prize 

that the Canadian city boasted for three decades until 

its Norwegian rival topped it. 

Canadian comedians Justin Reves and Greg Moore, 

along with admitted Yankee Stephen Colbert, fanned 

the rivalry until it devolved into city leaders trading 

broadsides in Facebook Live videos. 

But now, they have lowered their antlers. 

Fraser Tolmie, mayor of Moose Jaw, and Linda 

Otnes Henriksen, deputy mayor of Stor-Elvdal, 

signed a document they dubbed a “moosarandum 

of understanding,” though onlookers preferred the 

term “moose truce.” 

Either way, The Washington Post obtained a copy of 

the historic accord, which outlines the terms of the 

armistice. International negotiators take note: Each 

side — or, “Moose-ipality,” per the moosarandum 

— offers a concession, and both agree to further, 

ongoing discussion. 

Moose Jaw’s statue, known as “Mac the Moose,” 

currently 32 feet, will reclaim the title of tallest moose 

in the world, pending the cosmetic enhancement of 

his antlers. But that victory doesn’t come without 

compromise. Stor-Elvdal’s, “Storelgen,” which is a 

33-foot silver fox of a moose, will “forevermore be 

known as the shiniest and most attractive Moose in 

the world.” 

Then, in a sign of enduring bonhomie, the cities 

established new holidays, Norway Day in Moose Jaw 

and Canada Day in Stor-Elvdal. They also agreed to 

discuss the possibility of officially consummating their 

relationship by becoming “twin cities.” 

The dignitaries signed the agreement in front of the 

flags of Canada, Saskatchewan and Norway — and, 

of course, a framed hockey jersey from ex-Moose 

Jaw player and local hero Ryan Smyth. It was the 

culmination of a days-long tour of good will that 

brought Henriksen halfway around the world to the 

moose summit. In that moment, it was possible to 

look back warmly on the months that led her and 

Tolmie to the negotiating table. 

Words were said. 

For nearly two years, Norway’s aggression went 

largely unnoticed. Then came Reves and Moore’s 

stirring call to arms. Canada must stand with Mac the 

Moose, they said, and “stick it to Oslo.” 

“You are a city famous around the world for the 

glorious name of Moose Jaw,” Reves said, “and 

everyone that comes by knows that this should be the 

world’s tallest moose.” 

The two called on Canadians to donate money for 

Mac’s antler-lift. 

Tolmie, he said at the time, meant business. 

“There are things you just don’t do to Canadians,” he 

told Global News, a Canadian TV network. “You don’t 

say Hockey Night in Canada is a chat show, you don’t 

say we can’t put maple syrup on our pancakes. You 

don’t water down our beer and you don’t mess with 

Mac the Moose.” 

Norway better watch out, he told another TV channel, 

because “you don’t want to get into this race because 

you will bankrupt your nation.” 

But Henriksen wasn’t backing down either. 

“We’re not letting this one go,” she said in a Facebookvideo-cum-diss-track. 

“Not a chance. We’re going to 

do whatever we can to make sure this is the world’s 

tallest moose — or biggest moose in the future, as 

well.” 

This wasn’t the first time Mac faced adversity. 

He has weathered 30 years of brutal winter on the 

Canadian plains. Vandals have defaced him with 

graffiti. And, in an accident that was almost too onthe-nose, 

Mac suffered an injured jaw. 

But this week, Mac may have pulled off his greatest 

feat of survival yet. When all is said and done, this 

intercontinental tiff will only have made the moose 

from Moose Jaw stronger. And a little taller, too. 

19/024

FROM THE DESK OF ODD STEINAR 


Murder in Broome 

As an introduction to my new column in Klubbnytt I thought I would begin with something that is different to what 

I normally write about, as I found this story both interesting and intriguing, which involves a Norwegian in Broome, 

Western Australia in the year of 1905. 

However, in the next issue of Klubbnytt I shall write about the history of some important Norwegians in Australia and 

how they helped shape this country we now live in. 

Odd Steinar D-R 

[The gem mentioned in this story is the “Roseate Pearl”, 

known for its magnificent size and beauty. — Odd Steinar] 

A cadaver was found floating in the mangroves in Broome 

on 1st September 1905, according to the West Australian 

paper. The deceased was Mark Liebglid a salesman for 

several businesses in Perth as well as a renowned pearl 

dealer. 

Liebglid was a man of Jewish persuasion. It appeared to 

have been murder. On investigation, it was found that 

he had died from blows to the head and subsequently 

drowned. 

The previous evening, Constable John Trebilcock and 

others had heard screams from behind one of the shops 

in Broome. During the time when this area was being 

investigated (a little before 11.00 pm) several men in a 

small boat were observed rowing towards the fishing 

vessel SS Rose. When hailed, the men refused to stop. 

At 9.30am the following day, seaman Nakashima Kago 

found the deceased floating face down in the water - 

dressed in dark clothes and a white shirt, but shoeless. 

The police were notified and the corpse was pulled 

ashore. The man’s head was badly injured. The police 

found £451/4/6 in a package attached to the 

body. On the shore the police also found £60 in a 

briefcase [a fraction more than $15,000 at today’s 

rate]. 

og Romsdal County, Norway. He was born 11th August 

1875. Shortly after confirmation he went to sea and in 

1895 he stepped ashore in Fremantle from the steamer 

SS Port Stephens. He prospected for gold for a while and 

was known to be a man of good character. 

Two to three years before the murder, Charles had found 

his way to Broome. He worked on road building, but was 

sacked for bad workmanship. After this he began drinking 

and gambling. This Norwegian, who had befriended 

the aboriginals at the time was then ostracised by the 

white population according to a news article, which also 

condemned him as being a drunkard and addicted to 

gambling. 

The story that was told was that the assailants had lured 

Liebglid to a boat offshore under the pretence of selling 

him a valuable pearl. When Liebglid was aboard the vessel, 

one of the men struck him on the head with a cosh 

and Liebglid fell overboard. As he could not swim, he 

held on to the side of the boat crying out 

“Help! Police! I am done for. They are trying to murder 

me!” 

The police had found the boat belonging to SS Rose 

the following morning, which appeared to have 

been scrubbed clean by its Malay crew. Before long 

two men, Espada and Marquez were arrested for 

the crime. 

On the 9th of September, a Norwegian by the name 

of Charles Hagen was also arrested. Police had 

found flecks of blood on his trousers and his explanation 

as to his whereabouts on the evening of the 

murder was unclear. 

Charles Hagen or Karl Alfred Peter Ekerhagen as he 

was baptised, was from Ålesund, a town in in Møre 

Governor Broome hotel - circa 1900 

Photo courtesy of the Broome Historical Society & Museum 

20/024


MAGAZINE 

“The Old Schooner Mist at High Tide”, “View of the Mist showing spot (marked with a cross) where Liebglid’s body was found” 

Image sourced from the Western Mail, Perth WA, 18 November 1905 (via National Library of Australia) 

The men on the boat then made an all-out effort to 

drown him. One of the men had jumped overboard to 

push him under while two others battered him about 

the head to force him to let go. The three criminals 

were unable to drag the body onto the boat as people 

with lanterns appeared onshore. They left the body in 

the water and quickly made their getaway. 

Dr. Graham Blick described the wounds found on the 

corpse as having been done viciously. The head had 10 

deep wounds as well as many smaller cuts and the skull 

had three cracks and the lower part of the nose looked 

as having been hit very hard. Both eyes were shut and 

black. A finger on the left hand was crushed and a ring 

on the finger was crushed flat. Lungs and stomach contained 

water and according to the doctor, drowning 

was the cause of death. 

Charles Hagen admitted to knowing the dead man who 

lived three houses from where he lived. However, he 

denied knowing anything about his death. Hagen had 

been at the Governor Broome Hotel on the night until 

nine or nine-thirty. He had become drunk. He had 

gone to a Chinese gambling hall and had seen Liebglid 

come to the door and look in. This was the last he had 

seen of him he told the police. This had been at ten that 

evening. He told the police that he had stayed in the 

gambling hall until 11.00pm on that evening - some 20 

minutes or so after the Jewish man’s call for help. 

The following is an excerpt from the book “Coast to 

Coast: The Great Australian Coastal Liners”: 

After the arrest and trial the three were sentenced to 

hang in Fremantle Gaol. The first to the Gallows was 

Hagen, who always maintained his innocence till the 

last. His final words lasted a quarter of an hour and 

stated his innocence before he went through the trap 

door. Hagen’s death was instantaneous. 

Marquez and Espada were hanged together. Their final 

words (which were difficult to understand, as they 

were in broken English) were taken as an apology and 

admission of guilt. When the hood was drawn over 

their heads Espada cried “Oh, let me see” and the 

hood was raised. Espada and Marquez then proceeded 

to have sharp words and argue with one another. Marquez 

made a grab for the rope over his head, and in 

the confusion, the hangman began to cry like a child. 

As all of this was happening, the Chief Warder stepped 

forward to try to stop Espada’s struggles, but unfortunately 

this was the moment that the executioner 

chose to pull the lever, opening the trap door. The 

three men fell into the twelve foot deep pit, two stopping 

abruptly before the bottom by the noose around 

their necks and the Chief Warder, a man in his mid-fifties, 

hitting the floor head first, dying instantly. 

When Hagen awoke around 6.30 in the morning he noticed 

Lieglid’s door was open and walked in and helped 

himself to a drink and went back home again. Later, he 

heard that his neighbour had been killed. As per normal, 

Hagen was dressed in white (he owned two white 

outfits). On Thursday, someone commented that he 

had blood on his trousers. Hagen said he did not know 

how it got there. He was then arrested as an accomplice 

for the crime and the story of what had taken 

place that night came to light. 

21/024

SAY WHAT? DAYS OF THE WEEK 


Did you know that most of the English calendar days 

of the week are linked to Norwegian mythology and 

the importance we, in the far north, placed on both 

the Sun and the Moon? 

ENGLISH NORWEGIAN SOUNDS LIKE 

Day of the week en ukedag ehn-oo-keh-dahg 

Sunday søndag suhn-dahg 

Monday mandag mahn-dahg 

Tuesday tirsdag tears-dahg 

Wednesday onsdag uns-dahg 

Thursday torsdag tores-dahg 

Friday fredag fray-dahg 

Saturday lørdag lore-dahg 

Today i dag ee-dahg 

Yesterday i går ee-gore 

Tomorrow i morgen ee-more-gehn 

Next week neste uke nest-e oo-keh 

So what does it all stand for? 

Sunday – Sun’s day. The Sun has long been revered 

in the north because of its importance to a circle 

of life. The Sun appears on many runestones and 

jewelry called “solhjul”(sun wheel). 

Monday – Moon’s day. The Moon is important as 

it helps us to keep track of time, particularly when 

the long winter comes and you may not see the sun 

for months – the Moon was there, with its phases, 

allowing us to count the passing of days and weeks. 

Tuesday – Tyr’s day. Tyr is the god of war but also 

law, as he is very interested in justice and fair 

treaties. Tyr is the bravest of the pantheon of Norse 

gods as he willingly placed his hand into the jaws of 

Fenrir (the great wolf that will swallow the Sun at 

Ragnarok) while the other gods bound Fenrir to a 

rock. When Fenrir realised he could not get free, he 

was furious and bit Tyr’s hand right off. 

Wednesday – Odin’s day. Odin is the most powerful 

god in Asgard and is the chief of the Aesir. Odin 

created the world with his two brothers Vili and Ve 

and is married to the goddess Frigg. He is father to 

Baldr, Hod, and Thor amongst other, he gave one 

eye to attain wisdom and has two wolves – Geri (the 

ravenous) and Freki (the greedy one), two ravens 

– Huginn (thought) and Munimm (memory) and 

a gray, eight legged horse call Sleipnir (the sliding 

one) as it can run equally as well on land as in the air. 

Thursday – Thor’s day. The god of thunder, lightning, 

oak trees and strength, Thor is the strongest of all 

the gods and the protector of mankind in Midgard. 

It is when Thor rides out from Asgard in his chariot 

pulled by two goats, Tanngniost “Teeth barer” and 

Tanngrisnir “teeth grinder” that people in Midgard 

can hear the rumbling of the wheels and the sparks 

flying (on Earth, we call this thunder and lightning). 

Thor has a powerful hammer Mjölnir, along with 

a pair of gauntlets (Járnglófar) and a power belt 

(Megingjord) which makes him twice as strong. 

Friday – Freyja’s day. Freyja is the goddess of love, 

beauty, sorcery, fertility, war and death (a woman’s 

work is never done.) She is not of the Aesir gods, she 

is from the Vanir. She is very beautiful, loves poetry 

and jewelry and when she cries, her tears turn into 

amber. Her home is call Fólkvangr (People’s field) 

where half of the people who die in battle go in the 

afterlife, in fact, she gets first choice of all the brave 

warriors, the rest are sent on to Odin and Valhalla. 

Her chariot is pulled by two blue or gray cats and 

she is often accompanied by a boar. 

Saturday – Bath day The word Lørdag comes from 

the Old Norse – laug (bath) and dagr (day) The 

Vikings have been historically noted to be pretty 

clean folks - among their daily items have been found 

combs and brushes for hair, teeth and beards. So 

after a hard week – it was time to wash themselves 

and their clothes, either inside next to the fire or in a 

stream or the fjord. 

Next time you look at the calendar, remember your 

Norwegian roots and the origins of the days. 

Oh.... and don’t forget to practice saying your 

words, we would love to hear you speak (snakker) 

Norsk next time we all meet. 

Want more? The Norwegian Club of Queensland 

webpage (ncq.asn.au) will put up a new Say What 

article every month. 

Still can’t get enough? Get in touch with our very own 

Steinar Johansen (steinarau@gmail.com) to find out 

when the next Norwegian language informal chats 

are being held! They’re a great way to hone your 

skills AND spend time with some like-minded fans of 

Norway. 

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GOOD TO KNOW - CONTACTS AND INFORMATION 


MAGAZINE 

Royal Norwegian Embassy 

Ambassador: Paul Gulleik Larsen 

17 Hunter St, Yarralumla ACT 2600 

Phone: +61 (0)2 6270 5700 

E-mail: emb.canberra@mfa.no 

Web: https://www.norway.no/en/australia/ 

Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00 - 12.30 & 13:00 - 

16:00 by appointment only 

Royal Norwegian Consulate 

Consul: Peter Tobin 

Level 10, 217 George St, Brisbane QLD 4000 

Postal: GPO Box 2086 Brisbane QLD 4001 

Phone: +61 (0)7 3229 0492 

E-mail: NorwegianConsulateBrisbane@tobin.net.au 

Opening hours: Monday - Friday 09:00-12:00 and 14:00- 

16:00 

Swedes Down Under 

A social club for Swedes in Brisbane 

E-mail: svenskar@swedesdownunder.org.au 

Web: http://swedesdownunder.org.au 

Facebook: @swedesdownunder 

Danish Club Heimdal 

A social club for Danes in Brisbane 

President: Soren Hoimark 

36 Austin St, Newstead QLD 4006 

E-mail: president@danishclubbrisbane.org 

Web: http://www.danishclubbrisbane.org 

Facebook: @The-Danish-Club-Newstead 

Suomi-Seura 

A social club for Finns in Brisbane 

62 Newnham Rd, Mount Gravatt East QLD 4122 

E-mail: brisbanesuomiseura@yahoo.com.au 

Web: http://www.brisbanensuomiseura.com.au/ 

Facebook: @BrisbanenSuomiseura 

Sjømannskirken i Australia 

Priest: Kristoffer Lønning Tørressen 

Sjømannspresten reiser rundt over hele Australia 

og New Zealand. Han kommer gjerne på besøk 

og kan bidra med samtaler, kirkelige ritualer og 

lignende. 

E-mail: klt@sjomannskirken.no 

Phone: +61 421356501 

We’re always happy to help our members find the people or things they need, in and around South-East 

Queensland.... are you in pursuit of your favourite brown cheese from Norway, looking for a Scandinavian 

restaurant, or want to find somewhere you can learn Norwegian formally or trace your heritage? 

Or alternately, do you know of (or offer) any services you think might be beneficial to your fellow 

members? Let us know! 

Email is preferred, to secretary@ncq.asn.au 

23/024

Join us 

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS 

Print and digital copies of Klubbnytt, released bi-monthly 

Access to the exclusive members-only section of the website (currently under construction) 

Subsidised entry to Club-hosted events 

The satisfaction of knowing you're a part of the only Norwegian-Australian community in Queensland. 

Contact secretary@ncq.asn.au to discuss membership options!

Klubbnytt Feb-Mar 2019 - digital

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