The Alliance Française de la Côte de Saphir is pleased to annonce that we have created an Instagram account: AF_Cote_Saphir, which will provide you with details and photos of events.

Sylvie

Le Mot du Président

 Chers amis,

On 18 June, Lilias and Mike, with the help of Justin, Amazing Grapes Canberra, reopened their Centre de Vino-thérapie (Wine Therapy centre), much to the delight of 32 attendees, members and guests. Once again, it was a very pleasant and cheerful evening, full of all sorts of conversations; we were so caught up in our conversations that we only took one photo… but we all had a brilliant time!

It is nearly 14 July, so our Mouette is in a revolutionary mood and has decided to take our monthly newsletter by storm! Every year, 14 July transforms France’s towns and villages into one huge public celebration. Fireworks, firemen’s balls and military parades mark the day, but did you know that 14 July actually commemorates the Fête de la Fédération (Federation Day), celebrated on 14 July 1790, rather than the storming of the Bastille itself? This event symbolised the unity of the French people after a year of revolutionary upheaval, prioritising national cohesion over the violence of the siege. It was not until 1880 that 14 July was officially declared a national holiday, thanks to MP Benjamin Raspail. Before that, the date changed several times: 4 May, 30 June, 15 August… This final choice was intended to firmly anchor the Republic in the collective memory.

Since I am on the subject of the Bastille, here are two interesting facts:

• At the time of its storming, the Bastille held only seven prisoners, most of whom were there for debt or matters of honour; the insurgents’ real objective was primarily to seize the ammunition. The revolutionaries subsequently embellished the account to justify their actions.

• Pierre-François Palloy, a visionary entrepreneur, infiltrated the ranks of the attackers to negotiate the demolition of the fortress. In less than two days, he secured the contract and profited from the sale of the stones, whilst organising guided tours for two years!

July is not just about the storming of the Bastille; it is also the month to celebrate ‘Christmas’. From 10 to 19 July 2026, Sydney’s historic Rocks district will host the ‘Christmas in July’ festival. Over ten magical nights, visitors can wander amongst traditional European-style wooden chalets, where over 30 stallholders will be offering handmade gifts, seasonal treats, winter drinks and culinary experiences inspired by French, German and Alps Christmas markets. If you love snowflakes, sauerkraut, mulled wine and Christmas desserts, this is the place to be!

To add a touch of glamour to your programme, make a note that the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is hosting the largest exhibition ever dedicated to Cartier in Australia, from 12 June to 4 October 2026. The exhibition traces the evolution of the house, from its beginnings in Paris at the turn of the 20th century to its most contemporary creations.

I would also like to mention events taking place in our region, either because members of our Alliance Française are participating in them, or because they have a connection to France. I therefore strongly encourage you to go and enjoy:

Spirit Allegro “Sounds of the 60s” - tickets $15 at the door. Saturday 4 July 2:00pm, Wolumla Hall

Sunday 5 July 2:00pm, Nethercote Hall.  The Brainstorm - tickets https://events.humanitix.com/the-brainstorm/tickets

We have all heard of Victor Hugo and his works “Les Misérables” and “Notre-Dame de Paris” (The Hunchback of Notre Dame*). In this show, Patrick Dickson invites us to dive into the boundless imagination of this extraordinary man. Combining storytelling, original music, and animated projections, the show explores the author’s tumultuous life and creative genius, offering a visually rich and theatrically inventive journey into the world of Victor Hugo.

Headland Theatre - Tathra Hotel Friday 7 August 7:00pm

Saturday 8 August 7:00pm

Sunday 9 August 2:00pm

I am counting on you all to come celebrate Bastille Day in style, dressed up as a legendary French figure of your choice and ready to have an unforgettable evening.

Bien à vous,

Sylvie

Le Mot du Président

 Coucou (Hello in French)!

I am writing this message from France, where Wal and I have walked 120 km along part of the Camino de Santiago pilgrims’ trail and where, after spending a few days full of fascinating discoveries in Paris, we are now with my family in Caen (Normandy). Caen is not far from ‘La Manche’ (the English Channel) and the beaches are a playground for the local seagulls; I came across one that was kind enough to pose for you!

As I am in France, my chitchat this month is very France-focused, hopefully you will be interested! When I am in France, memories buried beneath a mountain of silence resurface, it is hard for me to describe the emotion I feel, somewhere between happiness and the bittersweet pain of nostalgia, especially when I am in places I used to visit, or when I rediscover certain objects, dishes or food ingredients of my childhood. But don’t misunderstand my feelings, I take enormous pleasure in returning home to Australia.

During our walk, we had plenty of opportunities to have a picnic for lunch – ‘picnic’ is a funny word whose origin I didn’t know, so when Wal asked, I looked it up and am sharing our discovery with you: The origin of the word ‘pique-nique’ (picnic) is thought to date back to the 17th century, it is derived from the verb ‘piquer’, referring to chickens pecking at seeds, and ‘nique’, which in Old French meant ‘something of no value’. Put together, these two words therefore mean ‘pecking at little things here and there’. I really do think that the initial ‘pecking at little things’ has improved a great deal!

France has reached a new milestone, welcoming 102 million foreign visitors in 2025 (compared with 100 million in 2024). This increase confirms the trend seen in recent years. For the French, French cuisine is not just a pleasure; it is a cornerstone of their culture. A new Ipsos BVA survey reveals the French people’s deep-seated attachment to their culinary heritage. According to the study, almost all citizens (97%) have a positive opinion of French cuisine, a figure driven by 37% who rate it as ‘excellent’. The survey shows that food remains, more than ever, at the heart of the nation’s identity. This encourages me to share my monthly recipes with you, and this month’s recipe should whet your appetite.

I have heard that the barefoot bowling session went well despite some frustration that bowls wasn’t as easy as the 12 attending members and their 3 invited guests thought but the 2 hours passed quickly because it was fun and challenging. Here is what Mike said about it:

“It was cool for Barefoot Bowls, so Alliance members and friends kept their sneakers on. Under the domed roof at Club Sapphire we were dry while a shower passed overhead. After a brief introduction from “Spud’ we split into 3 groups and tried to get our bowls all the way to the jack, without going long into the gutter (36%), leaving it way too short (25%), starting the bowl too far to the right or left (25%) or getting the bias wrong and ending up on the next rink. Some members showed their experience and were pretty tidy, finishing their bowls quite close to the jack. Other less experienced members ... well, they improved over the session. Most of them ... There was some frustration that bowls wasn’t as easy as we thought but there were laughs and plenty of camaraderie. Come join us next time. Or come along to pétanque at 10am most Fridays.” To this Mike added “I need to be sacked. Had too much fun. Forgot to take even 1 photo !!!” I am sure you will all agree with me that we should keep him on a bit longer. What if we gave him another 20 years as a punishment? What do you think?

Looking forward to seeing you all again soon,

Avec toute mon amitié

Sylvie

Le Mot du Président

 Cher tous,

Welcome to the special edition of “La Mouette on Vacation” Before flying off to France, Wal and I are spending a few days in Perth, staying with Wal’s daughter; this is where I am writing to you from.

I returned last week from a four-day stay with my daughter in Melbourne, where I was blown away by the changes in Romi, my grand-daughter. She is not even a year old yet, but is already showing some truly surprising signs of independence and determination. My daughter’s response to this was, “Mum, she takes after someone,” I thought to myself that she must be referring to Romi’s great-grandmother… While I am on the subject of being a grandmother, I recently read the book "Nanaville – Adventures in Grandparenting", written by Anna Quindlen. The book takes a humorous and tender approach to the experience of being a grandmother, exploring the challenges and joys of this new role after having been a mother. As it is written on the book cover “This tender book should be required reading for grandparents everywhere”.

And since I am on the subject of books, for those of you who enjoy (or would like to) reading in French (or other languages), you can buy books in Australia from: Intext books services - www.languageint.com.au and Abbey bookshop - www.abbeys.com.au

Now, let's talk about our film night on 21 April, which brought together 25 of us. “Presi Sylvie sat on a wall, Presi Sylvie’s computer had a great fall and all the IT experts couldn’t put it together again”… It seemed to go on forever, but my computer and the projector eventually managed to connect and we were finally able to watch the film, and based on your comments afterward, it’s clear you all really enjoyed it. The movie was not only a lovely stroll through the streets of Paris, but also a moving and touching experience, making for a truly enjoyable evening. Line Renaud was simply magnificent, and Dany Boon, stepping away from his usual comic roles, delivered a performance that suited him perfectly.

You may remember that our end-of-year lunch celebrated the theme “our members are talented”. Here’s another great example of that in action. Since retiring, Greg Hunting has discovered a passion for photography, with a particular focus on nature and wildlife. His work is truly worth exploring. I encourage you to take a look at his website, “Accidental Postcards,” by clicking on the link: https://accidentalpostcards.com

My go-to in French food are essentially cheeses and with 1,800 cheeses, there are many to discover. Wal and I will be visiting the region famous for Tomme, Roquefort and other cheeses, before heading to Normandy, renowned for its wide variety of cheeses, I am going to indulge myself to my heart’s content… or rather, to my stomach’s satisfaction! To continue on this theme, this month’s recipe is a classic of French cuisine: cheese soufflé.

On page 3 of the May La Mouette, you will find a new article by Wal about the village of Les Bories, an open-air museum that invites you to travel through time and that I highly recommend you to read. Many of you are also travelling this month, so I wish you a wonderful holiday and look forward to hearing about your new discoveries and experiences. To those of you staying at home, I wish you lovely autumn days and look forward to seeing you again in June.

Warm regards, Sylvie

Le Mot de President

 Bonjour,

At the beginning of March, I was invited to a webinar organised by the French Embassy on the PACA region (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). Its beauty, diverse landscapes, climate, culinary specialities and wines were discussed. Among the speakers was Barbara Santich, professor emeritus at the University of Adelaide, who spoke about the history of food in Provence. Following her presentation, we discovered two of her books, one of which, Wild Asparagus, Wild Strawberries: Two Years in France, may well be of interest to some of us (see your April La Mouette).

As autumn begins to show the tip of its nose and the evenings grow slightly cooler, we are entering the perfect time to enjoy the comfort of home, relaxing with a cup of tea, or perhaps a glass of wine, and this edition of La Mouette!

April Fool’s Day, affectionately known as le Poisson d’Avril (April Fish) in France, comes with a tradition: secretly sticking a paper fish onto someone’s back. To celebrate this “fishy” time of year, this month La Mouette is diving into French sayings and idioms all about fish, along with a recipe to match.

Although only 11 members participated in the picnic on 12 March, we were 11 “jolly good fellows” delighted to get together and share a good time. As for the picnic baskets, they contained a few cakes just waiting to be shared and enjoyed by everyone, especially Mike! The afternoon continued with a game of pétanque, and although the ground was bumpy, stony and sloping, this did not discourage the players. For proof, take a look at the photos on page 4 of your April La Mouette.

Tasting seagull eggs, yes, you read that right! In France, “seagull eggs” are a beloved treat, but not quite what you might expect. A traditional Easter specialty from the coastal regions of Vendée, Brittany, and the Île de Ré, these delicious confections are made of praline (hazelnut or peanut), coated in smooth chocolate, and finished with a thin, crunchy sugar shell. Designed to resemble real seagull eggs, they are delicious and irresistible, one bite, and you are likely to fall completely in love!

A Joyous and Happy Easter to you all! Joyeuses Pâques à vous tous !

Le Mot du Président

 Bonjour,

This month, my Mot is a little longer than usual. I hope you will forgive me and, above all, find my prose interesting! After a well-deserved break, our first event of the year, the “Welcome (Back) Party”, took place on 7 February at Lilias and Mike's house, but in a new format since, to the delight of many members, we hired a caterer, Sapphire Coast Eats. A successful evening, with 48 members, set in a wonderful atmosphere, with pleasant food, plenty of laughter, and lively conversations—yet another truly memorable evening! A big thank you to you all and a special one to our hosts, Lilias and Mike.

In February, we also organised our first French-language lunch debate, which took place on Thursday 26th at Metro restaurant in Merimbula, bringing together 10 guests around a very convivial and chatty table.

I strongly encourage you to show your support by visiting Anh-Thu and Roger Stuart’s double exhibition that is taking place from the 20th of this month at the Artspace Gallery in Bermagui. You will find all the details on page 3 of La Mouette.

In this issue, La Mouette brings you more highlights from the French scene, including an article that is sure to catch your attention on Les Carrières de Lumières, a venue dedicated to digital art located in a former limestone quarry in Les Baux-de-Provence (southern France). Floor-to-ceiling projections of famous artists' works and music, creating a unique, 360-degree sensory exhibition inside the 14-metre-high cavernous space. A fascinating experience and a very interesting article written by Wal.

The Alliance Française French Film Festival is back for its 37th edition with 38 films celebrating the diversity of French cinema. From 5 March to 8 April (Canberra screenings will run until 12 April). For our cinephiles the program is available via https://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org/

I recently read an article entitled ‘Eat cheese like the French’, which I decided to share because it is not only relevant, but also very informative: In a formal setting, the French have their cheese after the main course but before the dessert – a sensible attitude as you will still have enough appetite to enjoy the cheese. A small green salad is often served with the cheese course, the sharp crunch and fresh bitterness of the leaves making a refreshing contrast to the richness of the cheese. Bread is the favoured medium of delivery rather than biscuits, plain so as not to distract from the flavour of the cheese, and small hunks are torn off to accompany each mouthful not too much! We are not making cheese sandwiches here. Or you could enjoy your cheese au naturel in a more rustic, straightforward way – which would still be eminently French.

To conclude, I discovered that the Dunkirk carnival (Dunkerque - north of France) includes some rather surprising competitions, including the world championship for the best seagull cry!!! I will tell you more about this in next month's French Corner (the carnival continues until 18 April). Are there any volunteers to start training for the 2027 championships?

All that remains is for me to wish you happy reading, happy movie viewing, happy seagull cry training and happy cheese tasting!

See you very soon, on 12 March in fact, for our first picnic of the year.

Sylvie

From the President

Bonjour,

The Committee and I wish you a peaceful, pleasant and a gourmand 2026, full of projects, happiness and shared moments. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a great end to the year, and that after the holidays, you are ready to immerse yourselves in the French spirit once again. First, get planning with our full 2026 calendar of events to add to your calendar.

We ended the year on a high note with three particularly successful events: the French wine tasting on December 4, with 18 members delighted to chat while sampling some fine vintages, provided by Brent McKay from Amazing Grapes, followed the next day by the ever-popular Coupe d'Antibes. The winners of the 2025 cup are Olive, Peter, and Greg, followed by Trish, Robert, and Raymond.  Finally, the end-of-year lunch, during which some of our talented members took to the stage. 34 members responded positively, including 12 who took to the stage for a total of 9 performances. Music, songs, dance, poems and ballads, mime, stories about the epic history of our Alliance, as well as rhymes and riddles, all in an excellent atmosphere. What a memorable day!

 This month, our French corner article has nothing to do with France, but is about some local history, I hope you will enjoy it.  Don’t forget the delightful tradition of la Chandeleur (Candlemas), France’s festive day of crêpes and fortune, on 2 February. So get your frying pans ready and celebrate “Crêpe Day”, any day of the month, or every day of the month!

To conclude, here is some interesting news from France:

The first one is for Champagne lovers, and I know many of you enjoy it. Growers said that grapes had reached optimal ripeness and quality, making the 2025 vintage one of the best seen in decades despite reduced volumes. The Palais Garnier (Opéra de Paris) is celebrating its 150th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Opéra national de Paris are dedicating an anniversary exhibition (14 October 2025 - 15 February 2026) to this iconic monument. The exhibition explores how this building, commissioned by Napoleon III for the elite, became, beyond France's borders, a temple of opera and ballet, a national emblem and an iconic monument.

When the Eiffel Tower was constructed in 1889, the names of 72 of France’s greatest scientists were engraved in golden letters on its first floor, but no women's names were included. This long-standing omission has now been addressed and the names of 72 female scientists will be added, a monumental recognition indeed!

Bonne lecture,

Sylvie