Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Our Annual Festival - All systems go!

Bokkie and Sonja
-Linda Jaquet-

A new-look Prince Albert Town and Olive Festival is on the cards! From Friday, 27 April to Monday, 30 April, part of the town’s main street will be cordoned off to host the 14th consecutive festival to be held in our popular village. This was the good news that emerged from a meeting on 16 January of the members of the Prince Albert Tourism Association, who unanimously decided that the annual event should go ahead - after concern that the festival would not be held this year following the resignation of the organising committee.

A new Festival committee, chaired by Bokkie Botha, with Sonja McKenna as his deputy, is intent that this year’s Festival will be a good event Other members of the organising committee are Jan Bothma, Kallie Erasmus, Denise Ohlson, Rachel Roberts, Kobus Snyman and Pam Wessels. The team, which held its first meeting within days of being elected, has also co-opted several community members to help ensure the success of the event.

Bokkie Botha is determined that this year’s Festival will be fully inclusive of all the people of Prince Albert. He and his wife, Mary-Anne, moved to Prince Albert several years ago, having fallen in love with the town and fulfilling their intention of bringing up their son, Jamie, here. Bokkie was a business executive for many years and was also involved in labour relations. He has acted as spokesperson for South African business and served on the boards of several South African and international business and labour organisations.

Most people in Prince Albert know Bokkie as a lover of good food. His restaurant, The Olive Branch, has won several awards and is listed in the top 100 restaurants in South Africa. In his spare time, Bokkie is a keen canoeist and has also run thirteen Comrades Marathons. Bokkie has appealed to everyone in Prince Albert to grow vegetables for the Festival. “Plant your seeds now,” he said, “and they’ll be ready for you to sell them at the Festival!”

Sonja McKenna is an entrepreneur – she developed and ran her own boutique hotel for fifteen years. She loves working with people and told the Prince Albert Friend that she was keen to become involved in local projects. Sonja brings with her a fearsome reputation as a fundraiser. She too is resolved that no Prince Alberter be excluded from the Town and Olive Festival. Why her recent move to Prince Albert? “Because I’m passionate about the houses, interiors and gardens of the Karoo,” she said.

Both Bokkie and Sonja appeal to all in the local community to support the Festival and welcome everyone with ideas on how to lure tourists and create fun and excitement for both visitors and locals alike. Please put on your thinking caps!

Both can be contacted through the Tourism Office on (023) 5411 366 or at princealberttourism[at]intekom.co.za

There is also a concern about a shortage of guesthouse accommodation during Festival time. If townsfolk and farmers can offer suitable accommodation to visitors, please let the Tourism Office know.

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