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2026

JANUARY

Thursday, January 15, 2026.

EXTRAORDINARY SPECIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE CHANGE OF VENUE
Hogarth: Taikunthi Restaurant, Union House, Adelaide University.
Attending: (4 persons): Leo Davis, Rob George, John Potter, Neville Sloss.

A possibly unrepresentative gathering attempted to assess the suitability and costing of a venue given some alarm expressed by a few of those who attended the Xmas gathering at an asking price of $110. A couple of regular attendees, in proffering apologies, expressed concern at the procedure by which the Taikunthi business had been set up.

The ‘test’ was perhaps statistically invalid in that appetites were not large, with smaller meals, sans entree or pudding, being ordered and wine taken by the glass (two each by two and beers by three) leading to bills around $50. Tucker got ratings of 8/10 or better and the setting (it was holiday time) judged very pleasant.

Neville Sloss will be communicating further on these matters.

Rob George told of his 30 plus hours per week, unpaid, managing the Marino Community Hall. He is working with Keith Conlon (a dedicated cyclist) on a History Month presentation on the history of cycling in Adelaide, in collaboration with Patrick Jonker, who topped his 1991-2004 professional riding career (Olympics 1992, 1996) winning the 2004 Tour Down Under. A few of you will be regular users of the Patrick Jonker Veloway.

Conflicting memories were exchanged concerning the history of the building we were in, including construction times, events that may have occurred in it, bridal paintings that may or may not have been hanging, popular offerings on the Refectory menu, and more.
Milk, whether ladled from milk cans, in ‘school milk’ bottles, homogenised or not, scalded v separated (ringing Lister machine) cream were discussed, showing the quality of conversation.

The quality of planning, preparation, in 1960s film making, locally as well as on the Continent was discussed critically.

THE FOLLOWING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS COME FROM NEVILLE.

Following a subcommittee* lunch at Taikunthi at Adelaide University it was unanimously agreed that it offered a great alternative to Jolleys for our regular lunches. instead of having a set- course lunch ( usually far more than we need to eat at lunchtime) the restaurant offers a variety of dishes to suit most tastes and Hogarthians could order what they please. Importantly they are happy to have people pay for what they consume at the end of the lunch, so the user pays principal applies. We had one ‘lighter’ course each and felt that the food was perfect for lunch (at around $20).

At a Hogarth meeting, one would be tempted to lash out a little and include a starter or dessert or both - if three courses were consumed, the price would be around $55-$65.

Seating? There is a long comfortable bench which would be set up for us ( pictured) which could take up to 14-16 catering for all but Xmas lunches. While it has booths opposite it does allow for some separation from other regular diners. Alternatively the lovely manager Vanessa said they would be happy to set up a table for 12 in the front space ( pictured).

Drinkers? Corkage is fixed and non-negotiable at $25 which is pretty standard these days. They are happy to have people bring their own wine. Alternatively, they have a good wine list - with interesting inclusions, probably because of the National Wine Centre's involvement. By the glass, from $9 to $16.50, by the bottle from $40 to $130, with most around $50-60. It will be fitting at our first offical lunch there in February that the Hon. A Turon, shouts us all a glass of ‘his’ fizz -2024 Turon 'Blanc de Noirs' | Adelaide Hills SA !!

So, Thursday February 19 is the date of our next Hogarth and the meeting shall be at Tai-kun-thi, Level 5 Union House, Adelaide University. Please advise by Monday February 16 if you are coming or not.

* The sub-committee included Leo Davis, John Potter, Rob George and yours truly. Some members offered their apologies but we had enough for a quorum ( see Club rules - section G, item 2.1.i)

Something close to that I will send out, pending advice from Vanessa about seating and food choices. I did ask her about a set course of a starter (2 choices) and a ‘lighter’ main (2 choices) which would be around $40 which from our experience would be ample of old blokes. And anyone could vary from that and go a la carte. Will see what she says.

Happy with that chaps??

ROB HAS CONTRIBUTED THAT HE FULLY AGREES WITH NEVILLE.

FEBRUARY

Thursday, February 19, 2026.
Taikunthi Restaurant, Union House, Adelaide University.
Attending: (13 persons): Wayne Anthoney, Leo Davis, Ian Henschcke, Andrew Hill, Ian Lister, John McGowan, Ian ‘Bones’ Owens, John Potter, Neville Sloss, Arwed Turon, Milton Wordley, Ghil`ad Zuckermann, Giulio Zuckermann. Non dining guest speaker Laureate Professor Derek Abbott.

Milton Wordley, Neville Sloss, Ian Owens, John Potter, Arwed Turon, Ian Lister, Ian Henschcke, waitress Irene, Giulio Zuckermann, Andrew Hill (standing), Ghil`ad Zuckermann.

As is the norm nowadays the gathering was demure. This report written from the dull end of the table may not reflect more lively and elevated goings on up near the window. No jokes or antecdotes were directed at the whole table (exception below per favour Ghil`ad).

Milton Wordley, Neville Sloss, Ian Owens, John Potter, Arwed Turon, Ian Henschcke, Wayne Anthoney, Giulio Zuckermann, Ghil`ad Zuckermann. (at deep rear right Derek Abbott).

Matters geometric…. One member complained at the table being lined at 45o to the window argueing for a parallel orientation. Most were happy not to have half the tablers facing into glare.
With Ghil`ad a sometime lecturer in Beijing and Giulio a student there, Beijing stories were swapped. Ian Owens recalled taking a children’s circus there. One cockney lad silenced a crowd by asking loudly in the famous square, ‘Where did the chap stand in front of the tank?’ Late in the trip, in appreciation of how well the kids had performed and behaved, it was announced that, as a reward, McDonalds had been ordered. By now, days of genuine Chinese cuisine had changed palates and the ‘treats’ were not welcomed. They were delivered, exactly as if they’d have been made in London, Minneapolis or Orroroo and they slowly congealed in the bus, the driver being the ultimate receiver.

Food is an important part of life for Ghil`ad. Explaining some of his current lecturing schedule, including three months at a University in Beijing he mentioned a lecturing post at a College of Oxford University whose main appeal seemed to that that the catering had been set up by a fellowship from Sainsbury’s.

John McGowan, Derek Abbott, Milton Wordley.

Ghil`ad, spotting a one-time colleague, Derek Abbott, currently Laureate (2024-2028) Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Adelaide University, sitting with others at another table, dragooned him into telling to us (which he was happy to do and did ably) the story of how, at considerable personal expense, he unravelled, to his satisfaction (but not yet to that of SAPOL it seems) the identity Somerton man.

Wayne Anthoney, Giulio Zuckermann,

Giulio (who previously joined us in Feb 2024) is in his first year of an Engineering degree at one Bejing’s 90+ Universities.

Wayne Anthoney, Giulio Zuckermann, Andrew Hill (standing), Ghil`ad Zuckermann.

John McGowan, while thanking Neville for facilitating our move, explained that he’d had trouble deciding to attend because he still harboured anger at the process by which this establishment had replaced the long standing Staff Club. That led Ghil`ad Zuckermann to tell us of his convincing his father, a holocaust survivor, to take advantage of the best that Germany provides today, by buying a German car, and we are not talking VW.

There seems to have been consensus that the move from Jolleys Boathouse, where the last flat price (including a corkage factor) of $110 did not match the choice available at Taikunthi Restaurant of paying or not corkage and the size and price of meal. Very few brought a bottle and paid corkage and many chose wine by the glass. Possibly the average inebriation level was lower than at previous musters. A minority had an entrée or a pudding course so that most preferences and budgets were satisfied. Neville conducted a straw poll asking for a score out of 10. It came in at around 7.8. This was skewed by two serves of steak being sent back and replaced by chicken.

Milton Wordley, Arwed Turon, Neville Sloss.

Leo and friends. This pic also gives a good perspective of the restaurant.

Wayne writes: Down at our end of the table conversation was robust, as is always the case when one is in the company of people like Arwed, Henschke and Lister. In my case I learned quie a bit about the Sanskrit numbering system and symbols from Ian, who although he does not speak this ancient language, found himself as a relief teacher having to superintend a group of Indian secondary school student who did.

Ghil'ad, who gave a good recommendation wrote after the gathering:

One recommendation: Don't make the mistake of ordering a steak. (The chicken is great.)

Having been educated at Oxbridge for 8 years, I believe that all diners ought to be served at the same time to ensure a shared experience ESPECIALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEAL.

I therefore hereby recommend that each and every diner should receive his own first dish (regardless of whether or not it is an appetiser/starter, a main or whatever) at the same time. Otherwise, we shall have a somewhat-autistic situation -- unacceptable at least at Oxbridge -- in which several people eat for 30 minutes whilst the others are watching them and waiting for their own food. :-)