euskalkultura.eus

Sydney, Australia. Basques in Sydney excitedly welcomed the Olentzero, “this year it wasn’t too cold, or hot, between 24-25 degrees,” Manu Martin, vice-president of the Gure Txokoa Basque Club explained to EuskalKultura.eus.  The event gathered some 16 children and the adults who accompanied them, for the BBQ. It was the third weekend of December, and the last official event of 2020 for the Basque club, ”until January 17^th when we will resume our meals that are open to the public,” every Sunday.

Two days before, on January 15^th, the Gure Txoko will have a dinner for all the volunteers to thank everyone who collaborated unselfishly in the club’s events in 2020.  Manu Martin said that the majority weill be club members, but there are others who are very valuable “that helped us a lot without being club members, and so the least we could do is offer them this modest gesture of gratitude.”  Until that date, the headquarters and kitchen will remain open for private member dinners.

When asked their opinion of 2020, Manny Martin reminded us that Gure Txoko had been closed for 14 weeks because of the Coronavirus, and also suffered capacity restrictions that caused notable economic impact.  “Nevertheless, we took advantage of this time to do some work on the roof’s insulation that was damaged in a storm in February, so we carried out those repairs during the closure.”

The pandemic trapped the club’s president, Izaskun de Allende in Euskadi.  The club's board is comprised of the following:

-President, Izaskun de Allende
-Vice-president, Manu Martín
-Treasurer, Jose Goikoetxea
-Treasurer Jon Urrejola
-Secretary, Beñat Oliveira
-Vice-secretary, Estefanía Martino
-Directors, Jagoba Landa, Oianne Agirre, Irune Pañagarikano
-Clubhouse managers, Alvaro Echeverria and Jessica

Basque Christmas in Townsville in the Press

Further north, the North Queensland Basque Club, located in Townsville, welcomed Christmas and the Olentzero again with much excitement.  This time, they also received coverage in the local weekly Burdekin Local News that included a report in its December 10^th issue on how the local Basques celebrate Christmas.

Entitled, “Gabon Zorionak, a Basque Christmas,” Hayden Menso did a report that began with situating Euskal Herria on the map and tells how well-known families like the Bengoas or Arrates, who have deep roots in the area, celebrate Christmas. It includes traditions like Olentzero and what traditional Basque dishes are enjoyed at this time, including recipes on how to make kroketak (sic), provided by Rose Mary Bengoa.