April 2006
Pole Position
Ron Exner has placed his stake in Bavaria--literally!
It’s one thing immersing yourself in a foreign culture when you become an expat, but not everyone goes to the lengths of Australian Ron Exner and his family …
Er, is that a maypole in your backyard?
It is. We were driving our two boys, James, who’s 11, and William, who’s 7, back from school in Starnberg one day, passing through various Bavarian villages. Along the way, we were admiring the maypoles and the boys started hassling us to buy our own. My wife, Robynne, stopped the car and on impulse asked a lady in her garden where she could buy a maypole. The lady, Mrs Kutzera, nearly fell over in surprise. She told us that you couldn’t buy maypoles; you have to make them instead. Her two sons Peter and Hartmut agreed to make one with us.
How, exactly, does one go about making a maypole?
First of all, we had to get permission from the forest authorities to obtain a tree. Then, we cut down a tree, chopped off the bark and planed and sanded the wood. The next step was to decorate the pole. With the help of masking tape, we painted it white with a blue spiral. All in all, it was a mammoth task that took from June to October to complete. Just painting the pole took seven hours. It was a real community project—around 15 people were involved. Of course, the sheer size of the pole added to the work. Whereas most of the maypoles you see in gardens are three or so meters tall, ours is nine meters! Because it’s so big, we can see it from every window in the house and, of course, seeing a maypole brings good luck.
When did you erect it? Was there a big celebration?
We decided to erect the maypole on October 1 last year, which surprised a lot of people, as May 1 is the traditional date. But October 1 is the start of spring in Australia and it was our way of introducing a touch of Australia to the event, while showing our appreciation for German traditions.
Word spreads fast, and we quickly became well known in Icking, where we live, and in surrounding villages. More than 100 people attended the celebration, including the local mayor, which was a real coup. Most people wore traditional Bavarian costume, or Tracht. We bought lots of food and drink, including more than 100 Brezen, 80 liters of beer and a dozen bottles of champagne. A didgeridoo player added a touch of Australian culture, while a friend, who played the cowbells, provided Bavarian music. The maypole still stands proud in our garden, and is decorated with both Australian and Bavarian flags. A kangaroo resides at the top.
So, although you’ve adopted Bavarian culture, you still feel it’s important to bring touches of Australia into your lives here?
Absolutely. When we moved to Munich in 1990, there wasn’t an Australian shop, pub or football club. We even struggled to buy Australian wine here. We decided to change that. First of all we helped found the Munich Kangaroos Football Club, which plays Australian Rules football. I served as the president there for years and still keep up with the club, even though I am too old to play football anymore. We also set up the Waltzing Matilda Bush Dancing Group, which offers Australian folk dancing here in Munich. Typically six men and six women take part and get dressed up in colonial costume. My wife is the choreographer and I am the so-called Stimmungsmacher for the group. I come on at the start wearing an Australian cowboy-style Akubra hat, cracking a bullwhip and screaming “Cooee,” which is a call intended to attract people’s attention in the Australian bush.
Are you planning any future German-
Australian events?
We’re holding another German-Australian maypole festival on April 30. People normally decorate maypoles with signs representing local guilds to show visitors which trades are practiced in the village. On April 30, we plan to add signs to the maypole illustrating our family’s professions and interests. One will be decorated with the Alps on one side and Ayers Rock on the other.
What first brought you to Munich?
I transferred with Kraft Foods 16 years ago, after working for the company for 12 years in Melbourne. I’d always been interested in Germany and, when I was 11 years old, I decided I wanted to become a chemist and live here. Exner is a German name and I wanted to chase up my ancestors, who lived in what is now Poland. I was also attracted by the possibilities of career advancement in Europe.
And was it a good decision?
It’s a great place, and we see ourselves living here indefinitely. The mountains are the main draw for us. We love downhill and cross-country skiing, and also hiking in the summer. We miss the beach, but then again the alpine lakes are lovely. It is such a clean, safe environment and also an affluent part of the world. Plus, we have got to know the local people and have developed good friendships.
Both of our children were born in Starnberg, but they regularly visit Australia on holiday. They aren’t really sure if they are German or Australian. They love all aspects of Australia and speak with a thick Australian accent, but can also speak German and Bavarian as well as English. We try to bridge both cultures and hope that, with the help of our maypole, we’ve literally placed our stake in Bavaria!
