Spurred to improve English

Wim van Schie was honoured for 20 years of service to Toastmasters New Zealand at the organisation's national convention in Dunedin on Saturday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Wim van Schie was honoured for 20 years of service to Toastmasters New Zealand at the organisation's national convention in Dunedin on Saturday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.

Wim van Schie still laughs when he recalls his first attempts at speaking English.

The 79-year-old Dutchman migrated to New Zealand in 1958 and on one of his first outings in Dunedin he and a friend decided to visit a dairy to get something to drink.

"I said to the girl behind the counter, 'I'm 30, and my friend is 30 as well'.

"I meant to say 'thirsty', but the girl just said 'that's OK, I'm 24'."

On that day, he decided if he was going to remain in New Zealand, he had better do something about his grasp of English.

Mr van Schie said he learned much of the language by reading comic books. But it was not until he discovered Toastmasters New Zealand he perfected his English.

He said being a toastmaster had allowed him to realise an ambition of becoming a stand-up comedian.

The baker, pastry cook and chef had since done stand-up comedy on cruise ships, receiving "good responses".

At the weekend his 20-year Toastmasters membership was honoured at the organisation's national convention in Dunedin, where he was presented with an encased gavel.

 

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