The shuffleboard.

MrJoop
Author: MrJoop
Word Count: 255
previous browse writing next

The shuffleboard.

Shuffleboards, a game that was a favourite with (among others) with the Dutch, say , in a pub (café) or even, at home. Long before video games and such.
Now, here in Sydney, they may be one way to have the children of Dutch immigrants to connect with the culture that their (grand-)parents knew.

The shuffleboard. belongs to the following groups:

Dutch Touch

When-ever my children were at my parents’ place, when they were little and being minded there, one of the forms of entertainment was a shoe-box, up-side down, with holes cut out, to roll marbles through, from a reasonable distance.

If I was doing this in cartoon form, I would draw immigrants to Australia, from the Netherlands, riding the wave(as the large numbers of Dutch, coming here at that time became known as) on shuffleboards (sjoelbakken), to land on Aussie beaches.

The shoe-box and the marbles worked on the same principles, as the shuffleboard. There were numbers above the holes and brother and sister competed for the highest score, while Oma (my mother) and Opa (my father) watched and were delighted.

The shuffleboard was taken to the recent celebration of the Dutch queen’s birthday, in Hunters Hill, organised by Dutch-link and the school, De Kangoeroe.
It was fun to see the children take on the challenge.
After all, it’s good for hand and eye coordination. (And it’s noisy too!)
........
So, this is another connection with the Dutch heritage, to put on the list, for the younger folk, besides St Nicholas (Sinterklaas), Dutch confectionery, chiefly Dutch licorice, but Haagse Hopjes, babbelaars, etc., Not to forget syrupwaffles (stroopwafels), croquettes and perhaps, even, raw herring!!

  • Martin Derksema

    Martin Derksema

    Yeah, the good old shuffle board was great fun. Indeed conquered by the pc-games.

  • Marilyn Brown

    Marilyn Browncommunity host

    My mum and Dad have one at home. We’ve spent many a fun filled evening while staying with them, everyone has a go!

  • MrJoop replied

    Thanks Marilyn. I wrote this after some intense discussion, at the D.A.C.C. meeting regarding ways to attract the attention of of Dutch-Australians and involve them in the life of the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre.
    Main theme: The gap between the oldies (who migrated particularly on ships and many of whom first stayed in hostels) many of whom networked after having been thrown together this way and the young ones who seem to have arrived lately in a smaller wave, with knowledge of Australia, with means to settle straight into life, or, are here as ex-pats, staying for a while.
    Until now, I was one of the kids who were brought to Australia, in the 50s and 60s.
    This queen’s birthday celebration highlighted the gap between us white-haired Dutchies and the new lot.

Add your comment

You need to login or signup to add your comment to this work.