41 Club New Zealand
NOUMEA 41 20th ANNIVERSARY
Hi, Salut and Bon Jour,
I've been back from Noumea for a week and have had some time to sort through my photos. Well, all I can say is what a wonderful week celebrating the Noumea 41 Club 20th Anniversary - fantastic hospitality in a stunning part of the world (still for now technically part of France). Interesting visiting during the short winter - average temperature was mid 20s which was very pleasant.
Once met at the airport, we had an welcome drink at the Noumea 41 Clubrooms. The 41 Club and Round Table own their clubhouse and it proved to be a great venue during the visit. Apart from myself, Tom Lane from Perth and four French couples were in Noumea for the celebrations. It was wonderful to see that Orleans - the French Club who were Noumea's sponsor club were represented for the week. It was also great to see the Noumea Round Tablers and their wives involved during the week. They, like the 41ers are very keen to form a bond with New Zealand.
I was kindly hosted by Patrick and Cathy in their lovely home atop a small mountain with beautiful views across at Noumea and beyond.
We met for lunch at a local cafe on Friday morning and I travelled out to Ile aux Canards during the afternoon to help with the final presentations. Ile aux Canards (Island of Ducks) is a small island which is popular with day trippers - about 600 metres from the mainland and as a night time venue is very popular. Noumea 41 held their "Storming of the Bastille" evening on the island with dinner and dancing in plenty which concluded with fireworks - a fantastic night out on a venue unlike any I've seen before.
On Saturday we met for brunch - a few sore heads about after a wonderful evening the night before. In the afternoon, we attended the Special Meeting for the 20th Anniversary and the reading of the draft Pacific charter for the Noumea and New Zealand 41 clubs. The intention for that is that once every two years that there should be a meeting between Noumea, New Zealand and Australia (which could be held in conjunction with an AGM or other event). My suggestion was that some consideration be given to involving APEX 40 given our close ties with APEX. This suggestion was well received and needs to be subject to some further consideration.
I was very pleased to be able to present a Koru carving which Derek Johns made from an old totara post. Derek did a great job and the Noumea Club were very impressed. Derek's other fitting in the Noumea Club "Tina" was modelled - particularly by Tom and the French visitors (oh la la...). From Kaukau 41 Club, it was wonderful to be able to present our first club banner - very apt given the nature of the occasion.
On Sunday, we boarded the Bayou (a large catamaran) for a day trip to a small island and out to the reef entrance for lunch on a floating cafe near a large coral outcrop. The swimming was spectacular as you'll see from the photos attached. It was amazing to hear that the locals can go camping on the offshore islands at no charge - a bit of Robinson Crusoe experience. I can certainly say that a long weekend spent camping, a few red wines and nothing to do but enjoy the beach or go snorkeling on coral really appeals. A very good reason to return to New Caledonia....!!
We had a spare day on Monday - a great time for a walk around Noumea for me and in the evening we had a meal in a local restaurant. We enjoyed a wonderful meal in a private room and the party trick for the evening was hanging tea spoons from our noses (a very amusing evening...)
On Tuesday, a group of us travelled to Yate to the south of Noumea. We had a very interesting drive around the south of the island and we stopped to see the Yate Dam (or barrage as it is known locally). For lunch we were treated to a bougna (the Kanak equivalent of a hangi). The bougna was cooked in flax baskets with banana leaves wrapping the food. The bounga itself contained chicken and vegetables cooked in coconut milk - very nice and quite a different taste to a hangi. We had a look across at a large nickel smelter that is in the final stages of commissioning. New Caledonia has 20% of the world's nickel reserves (something like 500 years worth of mining).
On Wednesday, Tom and I were kindly hosted by Pascal and Olivia for a beautiful lunch at their seaside home. In the evening we had our farewell dinner at the clubrooms. At around 1030pm we had a visit from the local police - someone had complained about noise but they left with a smile (maybe it helps having a judge in the club...) and the evening wound up a little after 11pm. A wonderful finale evening....!!
Early the following morning sadly it was time to head back to reality and a 2 1/2 hour flight back to Auckland where thankfully the weather was reasonably warm.
All in all, I think the relationship between our two associations has strengthened as a result of the contact we have had in the past few years. I have to commend Noumea for taking the initiative in making the effort to visit New Zealand last year. I know there are others in the New Zealand 41 Association who intend to visit the 41ers in Noumea and I can tell you that you will certainly be made most welcome. All I can say is GO (you won't be disappointed).
For Alain - can you please forward this email to those for whom I don't have an email address (I'd like an email address for Patrick and Cathy please).
In closing, here's an ancient Maori proverb:
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!What is the most important thing in the world?
It is people! It is people! It is people!
Pour notre amis en Noumea - merci beaucoup pour votre fantastique hospitalité....!!Kind regards and Yours in 41,
Chris
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