Sophie Conlon
This time of year is extra special for Mount Gambier/ Berrin personality Hendrikus ‘Henny’ Nieuwendyk as he celebrates Christmas, his birthday and reminisces on one of his greatest achievements.
As the weather heats up here, Mr Nieuwendyk thinks back to winters growing up in Holland, and the time he could have won the Elfstedentocht -11 Cities Tour.
The Elfstedentocht is the worlds biggest ice skating event that tours 200 kilometres around the Netherlands when ice in a series of canals, rivers and lakes is more than 15 centimetres thick.
“All the people that are in it only get one day notice because the ice has got to be perfect,” Mr Nieuwendyk said.
In 1956 when was 19, Mr Nieuwendyk entered the race and finished in 12th place of field of 300.
It was a memorable experience for him, as at one point the group he was skating with all got caught in sand scattered on the ice and at one point he lost the pack and thought he had gone in the wrong direction.
Soon after the Elfstedentocht, doctors told Mr Nieuwendyk he had to give up skating and so he decided to move to Australia for a warmer climate.
Finding a home in Mount Gambier/ Berrin, he said it would be interesting to hold a similar race to the Elfstedentocht in Australia, but it would have to be on roller skates.
“You would never be able to hold it here at Christmas time with the heat, you’d have to do it with roller skates,” he said.
Thanks to unsuitable ice conditions the Elfstedentocht has not been held since 1997, but the Alternatieve Elfstedentocht Weissensee was established in 1989, which Mr Nieuwendyk said he still enjoyed watching.
“Every time now that it is on the television you have to talk about it,” he said.
