Sunday, November 11, 2007

Dr Jan van Heerden (29.12.1926 – 23.9.2007)

-Denise Ohlson –

Dr Jan van Heerden, alom bekend en bemind as die die skrywer Jan van Elfen, is op 23 September 2007 in die ouderdom van 80 jaar in sy huis in Prince Albert oorlede.

Vir duisende Afrikaanse vroue was sy eerste boek, Die Verwagtende Moeder, ‘n broodnodige uitkoms en ‘n onontbeerlike handleiding. Dit was die regte boek op die regte tyd, en met sy wye kennis en simpatieke aanslag het dr Van Elfen groot vertroue ingeboesem. Sy naam as populêre mediese skrywer was gevestig en sy opvolgboeke – Babasorg, Kleutersorg en Kindersorg – is deur die jare ewe getrou geraadpleeg. Vanselfsprekend het sy lesers ook later hul tieners met die grootste gemoedsrus toegerus vir die lewe met sy welkome seksboeke Wat meisies wil weet en Wat seuns wil weet.

Johannes Jacobus van Heerden is gebore op die plaas Geluk in die distrik Middelburg, Kaap. Sy gesin het dit nie breed nie, maar hy slaag matriek in Mosselbaai en betaal vir sy eie mediese studies aan die Universiteit van Kaapstad. Hy behaal sy M.B.ChB en doen wyd locums totdat hy sy eerste praktyk in Harrismith begin. Hier trou hy in 1955 met Elfabie Schwim. Hulle maak saam vier kinders groot: Rouan, Heidi, Carel en Ilse.

Jan was ‘n kort rukkie assistant-redakteur van die SA Mediese Tydskrif – kantoorwerk het hom nie gepas nie! As gewilde algemene praktisyn het hy in ‘n hele aantal praktyke gestaan totdat hy hom vestig as stigter en eerste dokter van die Gesondheidsdienssentrum van die Universitiet van Stellenbosch – met spesiale aandag aan sportbeserings.

Die Van Heerdens gaan tree af op Onrus, maar na twee jaar verwesenlik Jan ‘n lewensdroom toe hulle in 1995 uitwyk na die wye Karoo. Hulle vestig hulle op Prince Albert, waar Elf weer, soos van ouds, ‘n egte kuierhuis inrig met ‘n ruimhartige braaiplek terwyl Jan ‘n veldtuin aanplant om sy nuwe spreekkamer.

Jan was nie net ‘n goeie dokter en skrywer nie… Hy was ook natuurmens, kunstenaar, sportkenner, wynliefhebber en lewensgenieter. As student het hy (vir ekstra inkomste) sport-spotprente vir koerante geteken (onder die skuilnaam Janus). Hierdie talent leef hy weer uit na sy her-aftrede op Prince Albert. Hy maak karaktersketse van dorpenaars vir die Vriend, stig saam met Helena Marincowitz die Prince Albert Skrywersgilde, dra by tot die gilde se boek Prince Albert, Kweekvallei, teken saam met Hendrik Mostert Die hel se rate op… Hy skilder graag en bly op die hoogte van alles wat in die mediese veld gebeur deur wyd te lees en die internet te fynkam.

Prince Albert en sy mense was besonder bevoorreg dat Jan en Elf hier kom aftree het en dat hy bly praktiseer het. Hy het graag gesê: “Siek mense is my stokperdjjie”. Sy insig en kennis in die mediese veld was indrukwekkend en hy het dit uitstekend saamgevat in tallose rubrieke en veral in sy magistrale Dokter in die huis – wat ‘n kroonboek was by Leserskring en vandag nog sy plek volstaan in menige huisbiblioteek. Twee en vyftig jaar lank het Elf hom onbaartsugtig gesteun en ondersteun. Sy het manuskripte getik en help versorg, sy het pasiënte bemoedig, sy het in die spreekkamer gewerk en geadministreer, sy het sy lewe en sy werk met groot deernis gedeel.

Soos Elf en sy kinders hom sal mis, so ook sy vriende en pasiënte. Vir sy kennis, sy energieke kreatiwiteit, vir sy stout humorsin, sy groothartigheid, sy medemenslikheid, sy onverskrokke uitgesprokenheid. Sy groot gees het ons almal se lewens aangeraak. Ons is gelukkig dat ons kon deel in sy arsenaal van lewens- én boekekennis.

Die Ou Teater Herleef

- Susan Perold -

Prince Albert is ‘n inspirerende plek. Die nuutste voorbeeld van die uitsonderlike dinge wat hier gebeur, is die oprigting van ‘n volwaardige teaterkompleks op die perseel waar die skilder Gawie Beukes die eerste bioskoop amper ‘n eeu gelede bedryf het. Watter ander klein Karoodorpie kan met so iets spog?

Laetitia van Dyk is die eienaar van De Beerstraat 12 met sy pragtige Kaap-Hollandse huis en groot erf of dorpsplasie. Hier het sy die ou woonhuis sensitief gerestoureer en ‘n intieme teaterkompleks ingerig. En so word die Jans Rautenbach Schouwburg op Saterdag 29 September 2007 met ‘n feesbanket ingewy. Jans word vereer vir sy visionêre rolprente, sy nalatenskap as ‘n akteursregisseur, sy respek vir die draaiboek, sy dapper teenstand teen die magte wat artistieke vryheid wou kniehalter en sy bydrae tot die vestiging van die rolprent as volwaardige kunsvorm. Maar hy word ook vereer vir sy menswees wat deur sy werk tot almal gespreek het, sy wysheid, sy volharding en die bree visuele kwasstrepe wat sy rolprente gekenmerk het. Dit dien steeds vandag as aansporing vir ‘n nuwe geslag rolprentmakers.

Franklin Sonn onthul ‘n reuse skildery deur Wendy Malan, ‘n gereelde medewerker van Jans se rolprente. Franklin het die teater amptelik geopen met treffende vertellings oor Jans se rolprente wat die onreg en pyn van apartheid blootgelê het, in ‘n tyd toe hy (Jans) gekruisig is daarvoor. “ ‘n Teater is nie net daar vir die lekker nie”, het Sonn gesê.

'n Video oor Jans se bydrae tot die rolprentkuns asook 'n Commendatio van Leon Van Nierop, wat hom in New York bevind, is vertoon. Die tonele, spel en temamusiek is tydloos, universeel en onderbeklemtoon, Prof Hennie van Coller, voorsitter van die SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns, oorhandig die erepenning aan Jans Rautenbach. Jans het beskeie opgemerk dat hulle nou ‘n ou man uit die berge uit kom haal vir die groot eerbewys.

Volgens prof Jacques van der Elst , hoof uitvoerende beampte van die Akademie, was dit egter andersom: dit was die eerste keer in die geskiedenis dat die Akademie berge toe gekom het om buite Stellenbosch of Pretoria ‘n erepenning na ‘n ontvanger toe te bring!

Die hoogtepunt van die aand op Prince Albert is Jans se emosionele bedanking aan almal wat sy droom moontlik gemaak het. Sy vrou Almeri word eerste, in die middel en laaste bedank.
In die nuutbekroonde drama van Mike van Graan, Bafana Republic" lewer Lindiwe Matshikiza ‘n fenomonale eenvrouvertoning – ‘n opvoering wat reg laat geskied aan die pragtige klein skouburg...

Laetitia het almal bedank wat haar gehelp het om hierdie droom te bewaarheid - almal in Prince Albert is diep dankbaar dat sy hierdie kosbare kulturele sentrum op ons dorp ontwikkel het tot die voordeel van sy inwoners. ‘n Vriendin sug, “het so gewens iemand wou my bel, sodat ek kon sê ‘jammer kan nie nou gesels nie, ons is op pad na die teater... Maar niemand het nie...”. ‘n Volgende keer!

Letters - Briewe

What do tourists really want?

We have just enjoyed four nights in beautiful Prince Albert. Reading the article “What tourists really want” (PA Friend, July 2007) made me think about why we came here. We want to encourage you to keep certain aspects of your town alive, whilst moving into the future which always brings change and challenges.

  • We loved being able to safely walk around your town at all hours, feeling relaxed and being able to greet all whom we met. At home in Cape Town, crime and security are our constant companions (not welcome ones). Work hard to keep the safe feeling in your town and trust between people.
  • We loved being able to appreciate beautiful gardens and interesting architecture – not spoiled by high walls and uncomplimentary architectural styles (except for Lewis Stores)
  • Within 5 minutes of our holiday cottage, we were able to walk amongst some of the most interesting plant life we have seen. This aspect – plants and botany – could be promoted far more to visitors. We appreciated the informative garden next to the Info Office and bought a few plants as a memento from a local nursery.
  • The PEACEFULNESS. City-life is constantly noisy – traffic, helicopters, sirens, burglar alarms, barking dogs, overloud music. We LOVE the quiet of your town
  • We appreciate the small signs of integration of the different communities in the area. We encourage you to keep moving forward.
  • The food – your town is enriched by so many outlets with delicious food. The service was great, the food was fresh and we were made to feel so welcome.

Lastly, I want to commend your Info Office and Police Station. Both answered all the questions we had, cheerfully and in such a professional manner. We thank them for their help.

Thank you, Prince Albert, for giving us such a great place to be restored.

Jo Prentice
Bergvliet

Bome/bloekombome

Voorvaders met goeie bedoelings plant dikwels bome wat later pro-blematies word soos die bloekombome in PA, eikebome in Bainskloof en indringers in Du Toits-kloof. Baie bome is soos ‘n klein hondjie of katjie…baie mooi as hulle klein is!! Waarneming is dat die witkaree ‘n gewilde sypaadjie-/tuinboom is. My ondervinding is dat hulle ‘n wye, fyn wortelstelsel het wat alles binnedring, dorstig soos ‘n bloekom en bron van baie allergieë is. Bloekoms is op die lys van ongewenste bome en moet van persele verwyder word. Dit was oa aangeplant om vleie droog te lê agv van hulle hoë “dorstigheid. Met hierdie gegewe sal die bloekoms stelselmatig vervang moet word.

Daar is baie omgewingsvriendelike inheemse bome wat goed hier sal aard, maar ek visualiseer ‘n Kerk-/hoofstraat met olyfbome en laventel. Waarom? Prins Albert het nie water om te mors nie. Olyfbome kom met relatief min water klaar. Dis mooi bome wat vrugte uit dankbaarheid dra. Dis simbolies die boom van die moeë reisiger. Dis die boom wat die meeste in die Bybel genoem word, ‘n boom wat lyding en vreugde ken …en uithou! Die vrug bring redding, die blare genesing en die olie salwing! As onderplant kan laventel (simbolies van toewyding) of roosmaryn (nagedagtenis en verseker glo mooi drome) of mirte (liefde / huwelikstrou… onthou Queen Vic se trouruiker?) geplant word.

Hierdie projek kan as werkskeppingsprojek vanaf voorbereiding, plant, oes tot verwerking aangepak word. Die lewensduurte van ‘n olyfboom, die handelswaarde van produk (olyf, laventel, roosmaryn en mirte) inaggenome , sien ek nie die einde van die projek nie. Gesuiwerde rioolwater kan gebruik word. Trouens ek visualiseer lande vol laventel onder besproeiing by die rioolplaas.

Kom ons bou nog verder aan die unieke dorp en dalk vier ons eendag ‘n olyf-en laventelfees vol liefde, deugsaamheid en werklike rus vir die moeë reisigers.

Lettie Breytenbach

Quad bikes in Prince Albert

I understand that the Prince Albert Municipality granted permission for quad bikers to have free range of the town for the duration of the recent Agricultural Show; this, despite the fact that quad bikes are not regarded as legal transport for public roads and that drivers of quad bikes are not required by law to pass driving tests. As a result, quad bikes are often driven by children, some as young as 8 or 10 years old.

During the weekend of the Agricultural Show, I myself had a close shave with three quad bikes on the “S” bend that joins Kerk and Christina de Wit Streets. I am also aware of an incident in Jan Louw Street the same weekend where two young local children were nearly run down by young quad bike drivers, who were not looking where they were going.

Prince Albert is a small town where many children, because of the relative quietness of the town, play in the streets. There are also a number of elderly residents, who also use the streets in the normal course of their daily activities. Neither our children nor our elderly residents should be subjected to the hazards of young, unsupervised and inexperienced drivers of quad bikes. The fact that there was no serious accident during the Show weekend (as far as I am aware) is almost miraculous.

While I personally do not like quad bikes because they are noisy and environmentally destructive, they are a form of modern day entertainment for the people that drive them. However, for the reasons set out above, I would strongly urge our Municipality not to grant this sort of permission again in future. I would also encourage our local Police and Traffic Official to enforce the law in terms of where quad bikes may be driven, ie on private roads and land.

Eric Ahrens

Sterreprag oor Prince Albert

- Hans Daehne -

In November is dit die laaste kans om vertroud te raak met die minder bekende lentekonstellasies soos Pegasus, Andromeda, Aries, Perseus , Aquarius en Pisces, almal nou in die noord-weste.

Dit help om bekende sterreformasies as rigtingwysers te gebruik : so wys die diagonaal van onder links na bo regs in die vierkant van Pegasus na die “ V” van die visse (Pisces) en die “agterbene “ van die vlieënde perd dui al die sterrebeeld Andromeda aan waar mens bietjie met die verkyker moet soek om die pragtige spiraalgalaksie M31 ons bure in die ruimte op `n afstand van twee-en half miljoen ligjaar te vind.

Alhoewel die Andromedanewel reeds met die blote oog sigbaar is, sal `n verkyker `n mooier aansig gee en selfs in `n teleskoop moet die vergroting nie te hoog wees nie sodat `n mens die hele oorsig kry oor die galaksie van 150 duisend ligjaar wydte.

Dit is dus `n galaksie wat amper twee keer so groot is soos ons eie Melkweg-galaksie. Alle ander spiraalgalaksies, meestal nog groter, is baie verder weg van ons.

Bokant die kop van Pegasus is die sterrebeeld Aquarius te vinde. Aquarius en Pisces is die 11de en 12de sterrebeeld van die diereriem onderskeidelik.

Met Aries, die ram, begin die diereriem,die sterrebeelde wat op die ekliptika lê , maar dit bestaan uit net twee helder sterre en baie verbeelding.

Die tweede sterrebeeld in die diereriem is Taurus, die bul en dit beteken dat die tyd naby is om weer die Sewe Susters (Pleiades) en die rooi oog van die bul (Aldebaran) bokant ons koppe in die nag te sien. Perseus, alhoewel baie ryk aan mitologie, is net so moeilik om te vind.

Op die ou end bly daar net oor om na die goeie ou vertrouelinge te soek soos die Suiderkruis en dit lê nou op sy sy en is later agter die Swartberg versteek. Daarvoor klim die Magellanse wolke nou al hoër en ons is bevoorreg om dit in Prince Albert nog met die blote oog te kan sien wat vir die Kaapenaars of Goutengers lankal nie meer nie moontlik is nie.

Mercurius – is al weer `n helder oggendverskynsel en met `n magnitude van -0.7 net so helder soos Mars wat al vanaf middernag te sien is.

Mars in die sterrebeeld Gemini word al helderder en sal in Desember om en by Kersfees op sy helderste wees met `n magnitude van -1.5 .

Venus met `n helderheid van -4.4 in vergelyking is die helderste oggendobjek.

Jupiter in teenstelling is net -1.9 helder en gaan al vroeg in die aand onder saam met die Skerpioen.

Die Maan is nuut op die 10de en vol op die 24de November wanneer dit ook in perigee is.

Saturnus is vir vroeg opstaaners te sien in die sterrebeeld Leo.

Die alombekende somersterrebeeld Orion kom weer op in die Ooste later in die nag wanneer die Skerpioen besig is om onder te gaan . Dit is nadat, volgens die mitologie, die jagter Orion deur die slangdraer, Ophiucus, weer genees is van die dodelike steek van die Skerpioen en nou gereed maak om die Skerpioen in die Weste weer in die aarde te vertrap.

`n Skouspel wat net in die lente waargeneem kan word met die omgekeerde volgorde weer in die herfs van elke jaar. Dit gee ook `n verlaring hoekom die medici deesdae nog `n slang om `n staaf as hulle kenteken het.

Hou die sterre in u oë !

Geskiedenis van die Zeekoegat Kerkie

- Lydia Barella -

Op die uitgestrekte Karooland-skap, alleen en eensaam, in 'n buitewyk van die Prince Albert NG Kerk gemeente, staan 'n historiese volksboukundige kerkie op grond wat lank gelede deel was van die plaas Zeekoegat. Die welvarende boer, Frederick Simon Oosthuizen, destyds eienaar van die plaas, het die kerkie op eie koste laat oprig in 1906.

'n Honderd jaar gelede - op 23 Februarie 1907 - is die kerkie ingewy deur ds D Wilcocks van Prince Albert en ds J R Albertyn van Willowmore. Die kerkie is gebou deur die bekende plaaslike bouer, Christian Stadler Combrinck. Hy het ook die pragtige N G Kerksaal op Prince Albert, die Sendingkerk, De Rust se kerk en ook die kerk op Fraserburgstasie (vandag Leeu-Gamka) gebou. Destyds was daar ongeveer 'n honderd lidmate wat op plase in die Zeekoegat-wyk gewoon het en die kerkie was groot genoeg om almal te akkommodeer.

Die inhoud van die Zeekoegat kerkie het ook groot historiese waarde. Met die inwyding van die kerkie is 'n klein huisorreltjie gebruik. Die huidige orrel, wat volgens oorlewering deur Cecil John Rhodes in ongeveer 1880 aan die Prince Albert gemeente geskenk is, is ongeveer 65 jaar gelede na Zeekoegat se kerkie gebring. Die pragtige olielampe in die kerkie het vroeër in die konsistorie van Prince Albert se kerk gehang. Toe gaslampe die olielampe vervang het, is hulle aan Zeekoegat se kerkie geskenk. Die eerste kanselkleed is in 1906 deur Annie Oosthuizen, oom Frikkie se dogter, geborduur en die huidige kanselkleed ('n presiese replika van die oue) deur Helena Marincowitz in 1968. By die geleentheid het Erick Oosthuizen die rooi tapyt geskenk en Mev Haana Storm die kant gordyne. Die silwernagmaalbekers is in 1912 deur ouderling P H Theron geskenk en die nagmaalkelkies in 1966 deur diaken C Pat Marincowitz. Daar is ook 'n pragtige houtdoopbak in die kerkie.

In 1914 is 'n kerkklok langs die kerkie opgerig en in 1929 het oom Frikkie 'n kerksaaltjie laat bou. Die saaltjie is ook deur C S Combrinck gebou - hy was toe reeds 'n ou man. Tussen die kerkie en die saaltjie staan 'n ry peperbome wat deur Flos van Zyl, die vrou van een van die kosters, aangeplant is.

Vele huwelike is al in die kerkie voltrek, baie kindertjies is daar gedoop en talle lidmate is daar voorgestel. Vandag is daar baie min lidmate - ongeveer twintig - in die Zeekoegat-wyk maar ten spyte daarvan word daar gereeld elke drie maande 'n kerkdiens gehou wat ds Briers graag lei. Hierdie lidmate sien ook gewoonlik om na die onderhoud van die kerkie. Vandag is hierdie besonderse kerkie een van Prince Albert se kultuurskatte. Deur die ywer en harde werk van Helena Marincowitz is die kerkie in Maart 1983 as Nasionale Gedenkwaardigheid verklaar. Hierdie geleentheid is gevier tydens die naweek van 3 - 4 Maart 1984. Die onthulling van die bronsplaat is waargeneem deur Freddie Oosthuizen, 'n agterkleinseun van Frederick Simon Oosthuizen en die kerkdiens deur ds Freddie Marincowitz 'n kleinseun.

'n Besoek aan die kerkie het een van die Prince Albert gemeentelede, Hester Jarrard, so geinspireer dat sy die pragtige gediggie geskryf het:-

ZEEKOEGAT SE KERK

Op die blou klipbanke van 'n plaas,
weg van al die gewoel en geraas,
het 'n man met 'n visie, lank geleë,
sy hart en lewe vir God gegee.
'n Kerkie het hy daar gebou
waar mense aanbid, van toe af tot nou.
Bruide het tot voor die kansel geloop,
hul kinders se kinders word steeds daar gedoop.
As jy rus soek of moeg is en sat,
besoek gerus die kerkie by Zeekoegat.
Die honderdjarige bestaan van die kerkie word op 2 Desember 2007 herdenk. Ds Freddie Marincowitz sal die diens om 10h00 die oggend waarneem. Alle belangstellendes is baie welkom om die verrigtinge by te woon. Kontak Lydia Swanepoel by tel. 023 541 1942 vir nadere inligting.

Premier Rasool honours two Prince Albert women


Pictured above are Pat Marincowitz (centre) and Annelie Rabie (right), who recently received the Order of the Disa from Premier Ebrahim Rasool. The Order was awarded posthumously to Helena Marincowitz, whose commitment to capturing the oral history of our nation reflected her conviction that history is not about the past, but is instead a window to the future for generations to come.

Ms Marincowitz’s oral history was premised on what has come to be known as public history, a history of ordinary people that would otherwise be lost. Her memory project helped to archive the origins, life stories, accounts and anecdotes that inform the identity of many South African communities past and present.

Annelie Rabie received her award based on her work as Managing Director of Business against Crime, Western Cape. Her crusade has defied the stereotypes and shown that women are capable of not only taking on, but of registering success in roles which were traditionally preserved for their male counterparts. The economic boom on the back of huge property development in the Cape Town City Central Business District demonstrates the success of her crusade against crime. Her contribution to Cape Town’s safety and security has helped attract major investments and bring citizens back into the city centre.

Prince Albert Skou

-L Myburgh-

Prince Albert Landbougenootskap se belangrikste datum van die jaar was 12 &13 Oktober 2007 en ons is trots om te sê dat ons skou weereens ‘n groot sukses was. Baie harde werk en slapelose nagte gaan in die beplanning van so ‘n skou, maar op die ou end pluk ieder en elk die vrugte van sukses.

Donderdagaand het ons die skou amptelik geopen met die Borge en Vertoners-onthaal en ons gasspreker was Christoff Cloete van Agri Wes-Kaap. Die jaar het ons, soos in die verlede, ons jaarlikse Boerbok Interstreek Kampioenskap, Dorper Kampioenskap en Merino Kampioenskap gehad wat boere van heinde en verre gelok het om met hul skou diere te spog en kompeteer. Ten spyte van die feit dat Uniondale se skou dieselfde naweek as ons skou was, was die kampioenskappe steeds ‘n sukses en ons het selfs boere van Uniondale distrik gehad wat met hul diere op ons skou kom spog het.

Die Vrydag aand was die hoogtepunt van die skou met ons steakete en nie minder nie as drie gaskunstenaars, waaronder die gewilde Wynand Windpomp getel het. Die ander twee kunstenaars was Jaycee en Karlien Husselman wat die mense op hulle tone gehad het op die dansvloer. Die gaskunstenaars het definitief tot die sukses van die skou bygedra.

Saterdag se program was ook propvol. Die quadbike “funrun” het weer plaas gevind en raak elke jaar net groter en lok al hoe meer mense. Die Jannie de Bruyn vertoning het groot en klein vermaak en hy bly die beste in sy gebied. Weereens dankie oom Jannie! Ons volley ball kompetisie het ook ‘n paar dapperes gehad waarvan sommiges so bietjie in die stof gebyt het, maar almal het dit geniet.

Die aand het ons die skou afgesluit met ‘n heerlike gesellige bring en braai en ons dorp se uitvoer produkte wat sang aan betref, Wihan en Therene het die gaste vermaak met hul puik talente. Ook ‘n groot dankie vir Wihan wat van ver af moes kom.

Dan wil ons net weereens al ons borge bedank, sonder hulle sou ons skou nooit ‘n sukses wees nie! Afrox; BP Atlantic; Bayer; SDR; Diesel Electric; Swartberg Slaghuis; Dulux; Wilgebos Traders; Virbac; Morgado Pienaar; Coca-Cola; Vredebest Verpakking; Accurate Trading; Landbank; Cape Gate; Tyre rama; Voermol; Agri Expo; Impi Wire; Jannie Augustyn; PSP Timbers; Pierre Volschenk; Gellman; Swartberg Hotel; Efekto; De Berg Kant Lodge; Klein Karoo Kooperasie; Beaufort-Wes Verspreiders; Prins Albert Munisipaliteit; Niflas; Collin Campbell; Linkline Eiendomme; Edward J. Dalton Fin Dienste en Prins Kem Apteek

En ook groot dank aan al die boere wat vir ons slaglammers gegee het ten spyte van die groot droogte: Joseph Steyn; Ini Basson; Clive van Hasselt; Herman Olivier; Andre de Wit; Dolf Marais; Morne Bothma; Jaco de Klerk; Gunter Morsbagh en Kikiwi Boerdery

En laaste, maar allermins nie die minste nie, al die sameroepers en almal wat hard gewerk om die skou ‘n sukses te maak, ‘n GROOT dank aan almal!

Wen-Wen by die Kooperasie

- Kallie Erasmus -

Prince Albert is a working dorp which sets us apart from other platteland towns that have become little more than oversized holiday resorts.

There are many icons of Prince Albert as a Karoo town such as our town farms and windpumps but few rival the Co-Op where real and wannabe farmers rub shoulders to buy anything from pipes to penknives.

Die Klein Karoo Koöperasie dryf sedert die ‘60s op Prins Albert handel. Vandat daar nie meer volstruiskuikengrootma-kers in die distrik is nie gaan dit maar swaar. Daar is selfs al daaraan gedink om die Prins Albert tak te sluit maar gelukkig het die KKK se historiese verbintenis met die dorp nog altyd geseëvier.

The upgrading of the Co-Op’s fuel facility gave rise to a potentially explosive confrontation between those who saw the project as a possible threat to the town and the Co-Op’s management. After a flurry of angry exchanges and an inspection by the Green Scorpions, sanity prevailed and a meeting was held.

Chris Breet van KKK se bestuur en Kallie Erasmus ‘n kundige plaaslike inwoner het gou-gou oor ‘n paar koppies koffie vasgestel dat almal meer in gemeen as in verskil het en met ‘n oplossing vorendag gekom.

Die KKK gaan nie ‘n volwaardige “24-uur ‘n dag” vulstasie in die dorp se hoofstraat oprig nie. Aanvanklike gedagtes in daardie rigting is gou laat vaar.

The Co-Op will modernise its fuel facility but operate it as always during the hours that the Co-Op is open. No new tanks will be installed. The pumps will be moved for more convenient service under a canopy to protect the pumps and patrons.

Dit het ook geblyk dat die KKK altyd besorg was oor die voorkoms van die fasiliteit en sonder sukses verskeie pogings aangewend het om met die Munisipaliteit hieroor te praat.

The Co-Op won’t change the nature of what it does or how it operates so there is no need to rezone the property. The correct zoning is Business 4 (ware-houses) with historically vested rights to dispense fuel during Co-Op business hours.

The street-front storm water drain will also still be fully functional after the upgrade so there will be no departure from the town’s zoning scheme and because of the unique nature of the upgrade the parties agree that no environmental authorisation is necessary.

Die partye stem egter saam dat daar gekyk moet word na hoe die voorkoms van die vermoderniseerde fasiliteit versag kan word en voorstellings in hierdie verband is reeds ontvang. Die betrokkenes, die owerhede en almal wat geraak sou word is gelukkig met hierdie uitkoms en daar behoort binnekort uitvoering aan die opgradering gegee te kan word.

Which goes to show that the environmental and planning laws work. They are common-sense measures to ensure that impacts are considered before anything is done, that a balance is found between development and conservation and that nowadays things are done with people and not to them.

The lesson to be learnt is that people should talk to each other sooner rather than later and that even when things look bad there is always room for negotiation if there is goodwill on all sides.

Wat ook duidelik geblyk het is dat ons nie sondermeer kan aanvaar dat daar altyd ‘n Koöperasie op die dorp gaan wees nie. Die dorp sal onmeetbaar armer wees as die Koöperasie sy deure sluit (en dit geld ook vir ander plaaslike besighede). Dink net hoe erg dit sou gewees het as hulle nie hier was nie en koop dan meer doelbewus plaaslik.

In the Footprints of the Nuweveld Settlers

Outing to Carnarvon, the Petroglyphs and the Corbelled houses
(3 – 5 October 2007)

- Derek Thomas –

At the end of our trip, and seated on an immaculate green lawn in the shade of tall pine trees, we admired the garden with huge urns, a formal pond with fountain and Italian-style farmhouse. The sound of bleating sheep and the persistent call of young lambs in a camp on the edge of the lawn reminded us that we were not in Italy, but on a Karoo farm, Sakrivierspoort, with vast tracts of dry Karoo scrub just beyond the perimeter of the lush green garden. A group of fourteen Prince Alberters, all members of the Cultural Foundation, gathered for our last picnic after a memorable journey to see the petroglyphs, northwest of Vanwyksvlei. What were the highlights of our trip, asked our tour guide, Judy Maguire?

Most memorable perhaps was the visit to a remote ‘blink klip’ hill on the farm, Springbokoog, in the Vanwyksvlei district on the edge of Bushmanland. Dotted with "kokerbome" and boulders coated in a black shiny mineral patina colloquially described as "desert varnish", this site was used by the Bushmen as a sacred place to record images of animals, people and mythical creatures. The images were engraved, scratched or pecked into the black surface exposing the red colour of the unweathered dolerite rock underneath. To members of the party, the spirituality of the site was tangible.
Meeting the owner of the farm at Springbokoog, Rina van Wyk, added much to the experience. Rina farms sheep in this most remote part of our vast country. Always passionate about farming, she trained at the same agricultural college as her brothers, but it was only after many years in the teaching profession (farming being considered an unsuitable occupation for a woman) that the opportunity came for her to take over the family farm. It is thanks to her sensitivity that the pertroglyph site remains pristine. One still has the sense of discovery as one explores the site, the only hint that there might be something of interest being a rock placed on top a boulder to draw attention to the nearby presence of a petroglyph.
Other highlights included visits to farms that had corbelled houses, built by the very early settlers on the old trek routes during the early and mid-1800s. At Leyfontein, Willie and Sandra Nolte’s farm north-east of Loxton, one sees a fine example of corbelling. His grandfather went to school in one of the corbelled huts (in the mid 1880’s), indicating its use even within living memory. As trees were scarce, these circular dwellings had domed stone roofs created by the careful layering of flat stones projecting progressively inward towards the apex. Stone shelves were built into the walls of the simple interiors and animal horns were used as useful hooks for hanging objects. Small openings for ventilation and low doorways provided greater security.

The ingenuity and resourcefulness of these early inhabitants impressed us – an astonishing determination to remain and overcome the odds of living in such isolation in a remote, inhospitable landscape. The often large ‘asheaps’ with numerous broken old-fashioned pottery shards and glass told a story of long occupation and much eating and drinking. Another example of settler ingenuity was the ‘saaidamme’ where low-lying land adjacent to the Sak river was flooded, allowed to dry until cracks formed in the mud and then the seed was broadcast and the land was not watered again. This method of growing wheat produced a high yield and is still practised, as it was for millennia in Egypt.

Towns visited included Loxton and Carnarvon. Loxton is an example of many remote villages that are dying due to a lack of commercial viability. Attractive homes and the wide tree-lined streets with electric posts placed down the centre cannot compensate for the lack of facilities. With no shops and petrol only available from the Ko-op on week days, people find it hard to settle there and soon pack their bags and leave. We did however enjoy the warm hospitality of "Die Rooi Granaat", a charming tearoom that serves delicious country fare.

Our group spent the night at Jakhalsdans (spelt with an ‘h’) a hunting farm just outside Loxton. The homestead was an oasis in a vast barren landscape and we responded to the lush, elegant garden and beautiful interiors of the various dwellings. On closer inspection we realised that this was an operation on a vast scale where animals were brought there in trucks, then kept in a large boma and either auctioned or hunted on the farm. Members of our group felt ambivalent about this type of hunting operation.

Carnarvon, by contrast to Loxton, is a viable town with all the essential amenities. Wide streets lined with modest Karoostyle homes contrasted with more ornate Victorian homesteads. A feature is the wide streets and powerlines down the centre creating a car-free space where we were spectators to an informal game of cricket by the locals.

From Carnarvon, 7000 sheep carcasses are exported every week, providing a significant injection for the town’s economic sustainability. From the early 1800s its population has comprised the descendents of Xhosas, Basters, Khoi and Europeans. Marauding Zulu tribes from Natal once plundered the herds of cattle owned by the local inhabitants. Some stayed and became the forebears of many who still live in the town. One had a sense of an integrated community where property ownership was evenly distributed within the heart of the town. An immaculate information centre cum restaurant is run and owned by Alfred Vass, who speaks seven languages, and proudly acknowledges his Zulu forebears. It is a good place to gain insight into the town’s ‘rainbow’ culture.

As a group we all agreed that the immaculate planning for the trip by Judy, who willingly shared her wealth of knowledge, made the experience unforgettable. Thank you sincerely, Judy. May there be more of these enriching experiences in the future calendar of the Prince Albert Cultural Foundation.

Back from beyond

- Imke Maeyer -

On the 20th of May, our family set off on a 3 and a half month road trip to Kenya. It was something we had dreamed of for some time, and we felt an incredible sense of liberation when we finally drove out of Prince Albert on that icy cold Sunday morning.

What does one expect when embarking on a trip into the relative unknown with 3 children? Well, supposedly one should expect danger around every corner, thieves behind every bush and a huge amount of corrupt officials of all descriptions.

We had no route planned, only knew that we wanted to visit Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique. Unlike most other travellers we had no GPS, laptops, or fancy gadgets but we got around just fine, by asking for directions and enquiring about the state of the roads (locals are not entirely reliable in this department as only few have cars, and pedestrians and cyclists don’t seem to notice the potholes).

People ask if we had any adventures, well to us the whole journey was an adventure; only one stretch in Kenya required an armed escort due to the close proximity to Somalia and therefore bandits. The roads were somewhat adventurous, but our car just carried on, no matter how thick the mud, steep the mountain or potholed the road. We only had a few breakdowns, nothing to get excited about.

African people love children, so every time we came to a roadblock (and we came to many) the policemen would see our kids, have a chat and wish us a lovely journey. I think it helped also that we have a very old car, which was fully loaded, rather than a fancy 4x4.

We often had more than one extra person in the car, plus some on the top holding on for dear life, but never a word of complaint. Our children were subsequently squashed along with everyone else and realised how lucky they are to have parents with a car! We had the privilege of camping in a kind family’s backyard, and as we unpacked, realised to our great embarrassment that we had more stuff in our car than they had in their entire house!
Africa is full of bicycles, either used as taxis or beasts of burden, carrying anything from firewood to charcoal to cassava. Zambia’s population is small and we ended up in some remote areas on narrow tracks, upon which the locals were so surprised to see a car that they promptly fell off their bicycles, smiling and waving madly.

Everywhere we went people were physically busy, making things to sell, farming or carrying water or firewood, never portraying a sense of bitterness. I thought a lot about the productivity and friendliness we encountered, and realised that there is an abundance of natural resources to make things from, there is very little alcohol consumption and most importantly, the pride which people have in themselves, their culture, and their work. Even if they only earn R 10 per day, people do their job proudly.

There is so much more I would like to share, but in conclusion to these few words I will say that 97% of human beings are good, that I feel humbled by our great continent and its people, and that it is possible for one’s dreams to become a reality.

Fonds op Leeu-Gamka Hotel se solder

-Charlotte Bothma -

Die Leeu-Gamka Hotel wat in 1898 gebou is, het 'n baie ryk geskiedenis. Met die uitbreek van die Anglo-Boere oorlog in 1899, het treine vol gewonde soldate deur Leeu-Gamka gery.

Aan die begin van die oorlog is gewonde Britse soldate per ambulanstrein terug Kaapstad toe gestuur en daarna terug na hul vaderland toe.

Die inwoners van Fraserburgweg (vorige naam vir Leeu-Gamka) het hul beste gedoen om die gewonde soldate te help. Die hotel en spoorweg enkelkwartiere is as ‘n hospitaal ingerig. Die erg gewonde soldate is van die ambulanstreine verwyder en na hierdie hospitaal gebring.

In 1936 het P.D.F. van der Westhuizen die hotel sowel as die Shell-, Caltex- en Pegasus-petrolpompe oorgeneem.

Dit het 'n baie gewilde rusplek vir reis-igers geword. Die Hotel was ook bekend vir sy heerlike danse en mense het sovêr as Prince Albert gekom om te kom dans.

Mnr Kassie Kasselman, huidige bestuurder, het onlangs op die solder van die hotel rondgesnuffel. Hy ontdek toe 'n kartondoos. Groot was sy verbasing toe hy dit oopmaak en 'n volledige menslike skedel daarin vind. Die skedel is in 'n koerant toegedraai wat dateer 7 Julie 1965.

Volgens Mnr Niel van der Westhuizen (vorige eienaar) het hy die skedel opgetel waar die Leeu- en die Gamkariviere bymekaar kom. Dit is vermoedelik 'n San of Khoi skedel wat uit 'n graf gespoel het.

Met die hulp van Mnr Leon Vorster van Wes-Kaapse Museumdienste gaan daar meer navorsing oor die skedel gedoen word. Intussen bly dit 'n groot raaisel!

Amptelike Opening van Leeu-Gamka Biblioteek

- Pieter Hugo -

Leeu-Gamka se splinternuwe open-bare biblioteek is onlangs amptelik ingewy deur die Provinsiale Minister van Kultuursake en Sport,minister Whitey Jacobs. Behalwe vir die inspirerende toespraak deur minister Jacobs, is die openingsfunksie in die gemeenskapsaal verder spesiaal gemaak deur verskeie ander items. Daar was sangitems deur die Leeu-Gamka Primêre skoolkoor en die Heavenly Voices & Moonlight Stars, 'n praatjie deur Mev. Elsabé Maans en voordrag deur Natasha Dickens. Die volksdanse item deur die Sweet Sixteens, 'n baie lewendige groepie bejaardes van Leeu-Gamka, het groot byval gevind.

Mnr. A. Maans, wat die verrigtinge gelei het, het almal toe versoek om van die saal na die biblioteek te beweeg. Die skare mense wat na die biblioteek aanstap, was 'n pragtige simboliese uitbeelding van die mense van Leeu-Gamka wat in die jare wat voorlê nog paadjies gaan uittrap na hulle dorp se sentrum van kennis en gesonde ontspanning. By die biblioteek het Minister Jacobs die gedenkplaat onthul en die lint geknip om die biblioteek simbolies te open.

Die mense van Leeu-Gamka se manier om dankie te sê, is om hulle nuwe biblioteek ten volle te benut. Die gemeenskap bestaan uit net 3 000 mense, maar hulle neem alreeds byna 4 000 boeke per maand uit. Die personeel, onder die bekwame en entoesiastiese leiding van Me. Gertruida Deelman, moet omtrent bontstaan om almal te help.

Abrahamskraal Skemer-aand Konsert

- Hestie Fourie -

Reeds van vroeg middag, op 6 Oktober, af het ‘n stofstreep vanaf die dorp na Abrahamskraal bevestig dat dit vanaand tyd is om lekker te kuier op die rustige ou plaas.

Konsertgangers het gearriveer met mandjies gelaai met heerlike versnaperings en natuurlik ook iets vir die droe kele na die rit. Gou-gou is alles uitgepak en is daar lekker in groepies gekuier.

Om 18:00 het almal reeds hulle plekke in die ou skoolsaaltjie ingeneem en het Chris Gouws (Chrisna Smit se vader) ons op ‘n interessante wyse teruggeneem na die ontstaan van Afrikaans. Hierdie wonderlike geskiedenis is luisterryk versier deur plaaslike kunstenaars. Die sang van Peter McEwan. Jeanine Myburgh, Hestie Fourie, Denzil Reid, Ailsa Tudhope en Therene Fourie het nuwe fleur aan ou bekende liedere gegee. Chrisna Smit se klarinet-item was pragtig en Jeanetta de Lange het die bekende gedig “Die dans van die reen” van Eugene Marais met soveel gevoel voorgedra dat almal kon sien hoe die reën soos ‘n vaal karos oor die karoo vlaktes hang. Jeanetta het daarna ‘n baie besondere gedig uit haar eie pen voorgedra. Die gedeelte van die program oor C.J. Langenhoven, met al sy pittighede het groot byval by die gehoor gevind.

Na afloop van die formele program het Mari du Toit en ‘n groep jongmense kom wys hoe outydse volkspele gedoen moet word. Die pragtige rokke van die meisies en die deftige jong manne was beslis iets vir die oog. Om die konsert af te sluit het Miems Theron haar trekklavier nader getrek en almal het die geliefde ou volksliedjies uit volle bors saamgesing… Die ou skooltjie se dak het na amper 100 jaar weer gelig net omdat die Afrikaners nog altyd net so plesierig kan wees. Die aand is afgesluit met ‘n tradisionele potjiekos-ete en heerlike tuisgebakte brode en natuurlik ‘n lang kuier om die kampvuur.

Die fondse wat geïn is by hierdie geleent-heid gaan aan Huis Kweekvallei.

‘n Dekade van Genade

- Jakoba Visagie -

Op Saterdag, 13 Oktober 2007, het nege kerkkore van die VGK van die Ring van Zoar in groot getalle na Prince Albert gestroom. Dit was vir die jaarlikse Korefees wat plaasgevind het by die plaaslike VGK-gemeente.

“’n Dekade van Genade” was die gepaste tema vir die 10-jaarherdenking van die fees. Die VGK Ring van Zoar bestaan uit 10 gemeentes (insluitend Prince Albert) wat strek tot by Joubertina in die ooste en Ladismith in die weste.

By hierdie geleentheid het omtrent 200 koorlede die toeskouers vergas met hul pragtige sang. Al 10 kore (massakoor) het die fees geopen met hul “VGK-lied” en afgesluit met Bongani Nkozi, I believe en die Magaliesberg se aandlied.

Die kore het ook afskeid van mev Jackie Afrika geneem, wat aan die einde van die jaar verhuis. Sy was een van die stigters lede van die Ringskorefees. Die kore beoog om op Saterdag, 17 November 2007, ‘n CD opname te maak.

Die plaaslike VGK-gemeente wil ook graag die volgende borge bedank vir hul ondersteuning: National Garage, Bokkie en Mary Anne Botha, Gay’s Melkery, Karoo Slaghuis, Konings supermark, Swartrivier Olywe en Spar.

Brett the Vet - Talking About an Evolution

Humans are the least evolved animals on earth. Every other living creature knows its place and nature, accepting its perfect niche. Disasters occur where man intervenes to control, manipulate or destroy the lives of others.

Birds migrate in a cycle of eternal summers using their own energy, flying an ancient path without carbon emissions, noise pollution, or bad airline meals. The spring air is filled with mellifluous, and perfect song that even the most dazzling opera divas strive a lifetime to achieve. They’re all working hard to build their own eco-friendly dwellings in ideal locations. Plumage is immaculately cared for, every feather in place, unflinching with changing fashions. The best food is freely available: Many birds make use of humans to produce it for them, without our imprisonment.

Bees have highly sophisticated and organised lives: hives thrive by strict social order, individuals working together for the common good and indirectly for the benefit of other communities like ours, through tireless pollinating, making of honey, and maintaining genetic diversity.
The lives of rats are among the most revered. They are resilient, adaptable and cunning, yet delicate and sensitive, as can be observed by the reaction of a rat when you gently blow into its face. Being mammals they posses every organ we do: a brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys etc; and their physiology is identical to ours which is why rats are used in laboratories for experimentation. In these circumstances they are often abused and cruelly treated as objects and not respected as sentient beings. This has led to militant anti-vivisection campaigning worldwide by people who have grasped the concept that animals are sentient beings and need to be treated kindly. Now there are superior and kinder alternatives to the vivisection charade, yet the practice continues unabated behind firmly closed doors.

The great apes are obvious animals to compare to humans, recognising the similarity requires little imagination. Gorillas don’t bother with doing math, driving cars, building houses, watching TV, sending emails, or wandering around shopping in malls. But they do spend time caring for family members, communicating effectively, eating well, travelling short distances on foot, sleeping properly, and entertaining guests. A gentle, idyllic existence in harmony with the environment is something they cannot maintain because of human interference. They certainly wouldn’t stoop to moving in tour groups ‘observing’ humans. We are constantly making ‘new scientific’ discoveries about the lives of these and other animals. The entire animal kingdom does not need to learn anything from human beings. Simply existing they demonstrate contentment.

Those species that have developed a closer relationship with man have done so at their peril. What were historically symbiotic relationships with domestic animals have become exploited to the extent of institutionalised cruelty on a massive scale for certain species. Some 18 million battery hens in South Africa are kept crammed into cages where a hen has the floor space size of an A4 sheet of paper: she can’t perch, preen or behave naturally. For pigs it is worse as pregnant sows are kept in crates where they can’t even turn around; a practice now banned in many other countries. Animals kept like this lose their minds, dignity, and freedom of movement, immunity, and health; to our detriment. The overwhelming quantities of toxic waste produced can lead to severe environmental contamination. We turn a blind eye, for eggs and bacon, and lose our self respect.

Marvelling at the lives of others enriches our own experience in this circus where we are the clowns. Send in the dodos.

Settlement reached with Suspended Municipal Manager

- Linda Jaquet -

The Speaker of the Prince Albert Municipal Council, Mr April Pienaar, confirmed to the Friend that the Council had reached an out of court settlement with the suspended Municipal Manager, Mr N M Wicomb, on 29 August 2007. Mr Wicomb’s employment contract with the Municipality was ended and he was paid out his monthly salary until the end of December this year.

According to Mr Pienaar, the Council believed that the settlement prevented any further delay in what was becoming a drawn-out and costly disciplinary procedure.

Mr Wicomb was suspended earlier this year on full benefits and charged with lack of service delivery and the non-implementation of over 40 decisions by the incumbent Municipal Council.

Mr Wicomb’s disciplinary hearing was postponed on more than one occasion, at the request of both his and the Municipality’s legal representatives, respectively.

Mr Pienaar said that the Council planned to advertise the vacant Municipal Manager’s position and to fill it by 1 January 2008.

Basson Art Centre News

- Christine Thomas -

A group of enthusiastic children attended Art and Craft classes at the Basson Centre behind the Museum this term. A big thank you to all who helped run those classes: Lorna Verran assisted me with the drawing and painting sessions; Anne Whitton and Eleanor Petersen made pot holders for the children to paint using flour paste to create the designs; Sandra Meyer introduced the group to decoupage, and they decorated coasters with gay colourful butterflies and made pencil holders out of tins – all useful items that no doubt the children will either use themselves or give to friends and family as gifts during the festive season.

Elsabé Abrahams, a Swartberg High pupil, who is keen to take up teaching as a career, attended all the classes, first as an observer and participant and latterly as a student-teacher. We are all agreed that she has a remarkable talent in handling the children, who are very fond of her.

As the last and first terms of school are busy times for the children, and the summer heat has to be considered, classes will stop at the end of October and start again at the beginning of the second term of 2008.

Down Memory Lane

So ‘n bietjie meer as twee jaar gelede het ek by die Fransie Pienaar Museum begin werk. Die dag toe ek vir diens aanmeld, nooi Tannie Helena my om eers saam met haar deur die museum te stap sodat sy my kennis oor Prins Albert en sy mense kan opknap.

Ons kom in die vertrek waar al die mediese toerusting uitgestal is, en ek sien Oom Hansie Odendaal se kunsgebit het voorwaar ook ‘n ere-plekkie in een van die kaste. Die byskrif lui: “Op 17 Februarie 1978 het Hansie Odendaal sy tande uit die vliegtuig van Dr. Manie Coetzee verloor. Die tande is in 2000 deur Fred Badenhorst op die plaas Paradys, ongeveer 30 km van Prins Albert, opgetel.”

Ek merk op dat daar geen inligting oor Dokter Coetzee is nie. Daar en dan neem ek my voor: Vir Manie Coetzee, Prins Albert se vlieënde dokter, moet daar gewis ‘n plekkie in die museum gemaak word. Na vele oproepe spoor ek die Coetzees op en Alta belowe om vir my inligting te pos.
Was dit nou lekker om al die ou tydskrifte en fotos uit die dik koevert te haal. Ek het kompleet soos ‘n kind met ‘n “lucky packet” gevoel!

Dokter Coetzee en sy gesin arriveer einde Desember 1975 op Prins Albert en trek in die historiese Bona Vista in. Hy was nog skaars op die dorp, of almal besef dat hierdie man nie maar net nóg ‘n dokter is nie. Hy gaan uit sy pad om almal te help wat in nood verkeer.

Gedurende die Laingsburgvloed was Gamkaskloof se mense ook van die buitewêreld afgesny. Manie vlieg in die poort in met meel en ander kos, beskadig sy vliegtuig toe hy land, en moet te voet uit die kloof klim, ‘n moeilike taak vir ‘n man met ‘n kunsbeen!

Manie het graag die storie vertel van die dag toe hy Oom Karel Cordier, deur sy eie donkie aan die been gebyt, uit Gamkas-kloof moes gaan haal. Oom Karel moes dringend hospitaal toe, die been het sleg gelyk, maar hy’t botweg geweier om in die vliegtuig te klim. Na baie mooipraat en dreigemente, selfs met ‘n spuitnaald, kon Dokter hom darem in die vliegtuig kry.

As student het ek by Manie in die spreekkamer gewerk. Dit was ‘n belewenis om hom dop te hou terwyl hy met sy pasiënte besig is en sommer gou ‘n lastige tand ook trek! Twee middae per week het ons die klinieke op Klaarstroom, Leeu-Gamka of Merveville besoek. Naby elke kliniek was ‘n rowwe landingstrook ingerig vir ons dokter. Laatmiddag, as die son al laag lê, het Manie dan my ma gebel en gevra of sy die motor só by die vliegveld sal gaan trek, dat hy in die ligte kan kom land. Die oomblik as ons uit die vliegtuig klim, dan praat my ma al hard hier van die motor af: “Jy gaan nog my kind verongeluk!” Dokter het net altyd so ‘n verleë laggie gegee.

Dit gaan goed met die Coetzees. Hulle boer al van einde 2001 af op die familieplaas, Karoovlei, buite Lutzville. Dokter doen nog “locum” werk op Springbok en gaan so een keer per jaar Ierland toe. Anja, hul dogter, is onlangs getroud.

Vir Prins Albert se mense sal Manie Coetzee altyd “óns vlieënde dokter” bly. Ons praat met respek van hom, want op een of ander wyse het hy elkeen van ons aangeraak met sy onblusbare entoesiasme vir die lewe, die energie wat hy uitstraal, sy deursettingsvermoë en blymoedigheid. Dokter Manie Coetzee verdien voorwaar sy plekkie in die museum - ‘n lewende legende vir Prins Albert en sy mense.

Museumgroete
Debbie Badenhorst

Dine in Style for a Good Cause

- Linda Jaquet -

On Friday evening, 23 November, one of South Africa’s top restaurants, Bokkie Botha’s Olive Branch on Markstraat, is hosting a fundraising dinner and wine auction for the local non-governmental organisation, BADISA.

BADISA, the Tswana word for “shepherd” or “care taker”, is a combination of three words Barmhartigheid (Compassion), Diens (Service) and Saam (Together). It is a joint ministry of the Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk) and the United Reformed Church (VG Kerk) focusing on the social needs of the people and communities of Prince Albert, Prince Albert Road, Leeu-Gamka and Klaarstroom.

Funds raised will assist BADISA to continue its invaluable social development services and support for the needy and most vulnerable in our communities.

Bokkie is preparing a mouth-watering, three-course dinner. Diners will be able to buy wines from an interesting selection to drink with their meal.

After dinner, Mark Steyn, a feisty auctioneer, will auction a range of wines, some of them special indeed.

Only 30 tickets are available at R150.00 each from BADISA’s office opposite Spar. First come, first served and that’s it!

For further information, please call

Tossie du Toit on
(023) 541-1388/1399.

ESKOM Science Expo – National Finals

- Caleb and Sandy Swanepoel -

Last month we reported on the Hoërskool Zwartberg’s Science Club’s success at the Western Cape ESKOM Science Expo. Caleb and Sandy Swanepoel were among those selected to represent the Western Cape at the National finals in Pretoria. This is their story:

On the 27th of September we flew with the other Western Cape finalists from Cape Town on Kalula airlines to take part in the Eskom Science National finals. Although it was a bumpy ride we really enjoyed it. We landed in Johannesburg and then travelled to Pretoria in an enormous bus that could fit twice as many people than we were. We stayed there in a hotel for two nights.

At the Science EXPO venue we had to set up our poster and information about our recycling and compost project, and some of the other exhibitors asked us to help them with their displays. It was a great experience; we learnt a lot and saw what sort of projects get to international level. The judging was OK, but harder than we expected. Our first judge was very stern, but our second one was terrific. We won a bronze medal and want to say thanks to our Science teacher, Lesley van Heerden, for pushing us to the point where we got all our work done and to our mother Tracy for helping us get organised. Without them we wouldn’t have gone to the National finals and have a bronze medal to show.

Besides being part of the competition we had a good time – the hotel was super, our supper out was very nice and on our first night we went ten pin bowling, which was great fun.

We really hope we can go again and next year we hope to do even better.

Tuberculosis can kill!

- Maurice, Yurica, Janavive, Narzeem and Chane -

On Wednesday, 17 October 2007, Sister Nel came to visit us at Prince Albert Primêr. She told us about Tuberculosis (TB). She even showed us what an X-ray looks like of a person whose lungs have been damaged by TB. We learned that the warning signs of TB are: night sweats, losing weight, coughing and weakness. She told us that if someone gets TB they MUST finish their medicine and that they must take it for 6 months. She warned us about the new TB that does not react to regular TB drugs.

If you know someone with TB make sure they take their medicine. If someone you know has any of the warning symptoms tell them to go and see Sister Nel at the Prince Albert Hospital TB clinic.

Thank you Sister Nel!!

PA Primêr se netbalspelers seëvier

- Berenice Ewerts -

Vanjaar het ons netbalspanne gewys waartoe hul in staat is. Die verskillende spanne en ouderdomsgroepe het 90% van die spanne waarteen hul gespeel het gewen. Die O/13 dogters het nie een wedstryd vir die jaar verloor nie!! Die O/11 en O/12 spanne het soms gelykop gespeel. Uit hierdie spanne het ons twee SWD spelers gewerf: Semarin Goliath en Robertha Fillies.

Twee van die spelers, Bertha Ewerts en Myrtle Deelman, het selfs SWD behaal in onderskeidelik spiesgooi en hoogspring. Hierdie dogters skrik regtig vir niks nie! Geluk aan julle almal vir jul mooi spel wat julle gelewer het.

Baie dankie Prins Albert!

- Diana Koorts -

Hoërskool Zwartberg wil langs hierdie weg net baie dankie sê vir jul getroue en baie goeie onder-steuning – veral met ons Ina Paarman speserye. Dankie vir elkeen wat sy beursie oopgemaak het en daarmee ’n kosbare bydrae gelewer het om ons skool se begroting te laat klop!!!

’n Baie groot dankie – dat jul veral ons kinders se harte verbly het met al die aankope – hulle is so trots om die bestelvorms “ingevul” terug te besorg by die skool.

Ons kinders het wonderlik saamgewerk en ’n kommisie van R3000 vir die skool verdien---baie geluk en baie dankie!!!
Sommiges het egter harder as ander gewerk en die gr.2 – klas het by verre die meeste geld ingesamel. As beloning kon hulle vir ’n hele week met gewone klere skooltoe gaan.

Drie leerders het besonder hard gewerk en die verkope sommer ’n goeie hupstoot gegee. Hulle is:
Shaun van Zyl met ‘n verkope van R418,10
Sophia Morris met ’n verkope van R469,10
Nelius Koorts met ’n verkope van R607,80

‘n Spesiale groot dankie aan Koggel-mander wat die eerste 3 pryse geborg het en bg. leerders lekker bederf het.

Noudat almal se tuine seker in volle blom is na die bolverkope vroeër vanjaar en jul koskasse met goeie speserye gevul is- wil ons as skool net sê: Prins Albert baie dankie – julle is elkeen baie kosbaar vir ons skool!

Zwartberg Runners shine in Meiringspoort race

- Terry Barnato –

We left at 5:30 from Prince Albert and arrived at De Rust and arrived just in time to catch the last truck taking the runners to the start. After a freezing bus ride, our runners lined up at the starting line. Soon both the 10km and 21.1km runners were on their way.
Joshua en Matthew, die klub se 'media' het in spanning gewag vir die eerste wedlopers om in te kom.

Eers het die 10km drawwers in gestroom en ons was besig gehou met fotos neem. Na hulle het die eerste 21.1km drawwers begin en na 2 en 'n 1/2 uur na die begin het ons laaste drawwers ingestroom.

Marius Williams en Petrus Bostander het baie goeie tye gekry en het die 21.1km binne 'n uur en 25 minute gehol. Brian Modra het ook 'n goeie tyd bereken.

Out of more than 900 runners, Petrus ended up in 6th place and Marius 20th.
Ons 10km drawwers het baie mooi gedraf en Melissa Haaroff wat 15 jaar oud is het die 10km gedoen. Ons het 'n paar stappers gehad wat deelgeneem het, goeie werk Iona en Jean May en Marizelle Oosthuizen.

Overall the day was a huge success and a great achievement for Zwartberg Runners. The club recorded excellent times and we hope to to be at many more races in the future.
Baie mooi almal!