Visiting New Zealand from Germany, a dream come true for Leopold!
Ah-Lek Tay brought a very special visitor to the club last Thursday, 14 year old Leopold Staude from Leipzig, Germany.
Leopold's connection to our club is via past President Fraser Morrison.
Leopold's dad, Michael Staude, is from the Rotary Club Leipzig-Centrum, and he reached out to our club last year; Ah-Lek, as Area Governor met with Michael in Melbourne at the Convention. (The things AGs do...). The connection to Dunedin Rotary goes back a few years to Michael's late Grandfather (Hans-Ehrhardt Oberlander) and Past President of Dunedin club, the late Fraser Morrison.
Hans, was a German prisoner of war, and Fraser, an NZ Army Sergeant, and they met in Italy in 1945. Hans was the only one among the 20 prisoners who spoke any English. The two men became friends during the month the Kiwis supervised the prisoners. After the war, the two men attempted to maintain contact (Hans even had dreams of one day emigrating to NZ), but the European political situation meant that even correspondence was impossible.
Hans, was a German prisoner of war, and Fraser, an NZ Army Sergeant, and they met in Italy in 1945. Hans was the only one among the 20 prisoners who spoke any English. The two men became friends during the month the Kiwis supervised the prisoners. After the war, the two men attempted to maintain contact (Hans even had dreams of one day emigrating to NZ), but the European political situation meant that even correspondence was impossible.
More than forty years later, when the Berlin Wall was torn down, Hans renewed his efforts to find the friend that he knew only as "Morrie" Morrison using agencies such as the Red Cross, the NZ Army, and the police. In 1994, the Red Cross was able to identify "Fraser" Morrison and locate his address in Dunedin. Later that year, Hans' children, who had heard endless stories of "Morrie", helped their parents put the money together for a six-week campervan holiday in New Zealand.
According to Michael, the reunion was a deeply touching moment. " It must have been very touching when my grandfather Hans and Fraser met again. My grandparents told me that when they arrived at the Morrison home, Fraser decorated the house with New Zealand and German flags, went to the piano, and played two national anthems." This heartwarming story is a testament to the power of Rotary in fostering lifelong connections.
After Ah-Lek met Michael Staude last year in Melbourne, we included a story in our Bulletin 21st May 2023, and this was based on the meeting between Hans and Fraser featured in an ODT article dated 17 November 1994. When Michael Staude first reached out to our club to re-connect with us, Bruce Cowan kindly wrote back to Michael on behalf of the club and shared some memories.
Here is an excerpt from Bruce's correspondence with Michael:
Fraser Morrison - it was really interesting to hear of the contact between him and your grandfather after the war in Europe, and again in 1994.
Fraser Morrison was a member of the Rotary Club of Dunedin for many years, joining on 15/12/1956 and serving as Club President in 1975-5. He was an enthusiastic member of the club and initiated a major fundraising venture in 1973 which continued for many years and raised substantial amounts of money for various charities. He was the second member of the club to be awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in 1983.
Fraser also served as District Governor in 1980-81, at a time when the whole South Island of New Zealand was one District (it divided into two Districts the following year). He was a remarkable leader and there are several pages devoted to him in the book detailing the history of Rotary in this District. He was a colourful and skilled orator and had a very clear passion and insight into Rotary.
He was also a creative and talented man - I remember as a young boy in the mid-1960's joining in the combined schools choir performances in the Dunedin Town Hall, with Fraser Morrison playing the piano for the massed choirs. It was a serious occasion for us youngsters, but Fraser injected some levity by lighting up a cigarette in the breaks while seated at the grand piano on stage (I guess it was much more acceptable back then), and then hastily putting it into his jacket pocket when he had to resume playing, leaving us all wondering why he did not start smouldering or bursting into flames. He was a superb pianist as well as an entertainer!
Fraser Morrison was a member of the Rotary Club of Dunedin for many years, joining on 15/12/1956 and serving as Club President in 1975-5. He was an enthusiastic member of the club and initiated a major fundraising venture in 1973 which continued for many years and raised substantial amounts of money for various charities. He was the second member of the club to be awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in 1983.
Fraser also served as District Governor in 1980-81, at a time when the whole South Island of New Zealand was one District (it divided into two Districts the following year). He was a remarkable leader and there are several pages devoted to him in the book detailing the history of Rotary in this District. He was a colourful and skilled orator and had a very clear passion and insight into Rotary.
He was also a creative and talented man - I remember as a young boy in the mid-1960's joining in the combined schools choir performances in the Dunedin Town Hall, with Fraser Morrison playing the piano for the massed choirs. It was a serious occasion for us youngsters, but Fraser injected some levity by lighting up a cigarette in the breaks while seated at the grand piano on stage (I guess it was much more acceptable back then), and then hastily putting it into his jacket pocket when he had to resume playing, leaving us all wondering why he did not start smouldering or bursting into flames. He was a superb pianist as well as an entertainer!
Leopold having also shared the family stories about his Great Grandfather has dreamed of coming to New Zealand, and for his summer break this year that magic has happened. Leopold, his dad Michael and his godfather Ulrich, have just completed a tour of the North Island, following some of the routes Hans took in 1994. The group arrived in Dunedin on July 11th and while in Dunedin, stayed with the current generation of Morrisons. Michael and Ulrich went back to Germany last Sunday leaving Leopold to stay on and enjoy his holiday break while staying with a Dunedin Central Rotarian host family until the end of July.
It was great to meet Leopold. We wish him a wonderful Kiwi experience and thank him and Ah-Lek for visiting us.
