Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Kom Dans Klaradyn...

Kampioendansers Samian Jurnaal en Mark Adams poseer saam met plaaslike sangeres Yurica Opperman en ander jong dames wat groot pret by Prince Albert Primêr se Maskerbal gehad het.

- Sammy Delport -

As jy nie op Vrydag 5 Junie by die VGK saal was nie, het jy voor-waar iets gemis. Prince Albert se mense het gelangarm dat die biesies bewe – foxtrot, cha-cha, tango, samba, rumba, wals, quickstep, pasa doble en jive! Prince Albert Primêr het die maskerbal georganiseer ten bate van die gr. 9-toer fondsinsameling. Behalwe die fonds-insameling, wil ons jongmense bekend-stel aan langarm en dit ook weer in die gemeenskap vestig as ‘n goeie vorm van vermaak, oefening en stresontlading.

Die gr 6 leerders het hard gewerk om al die maskers te maak terwyl die gr 9 leer-ders o.l.v Emmy Willemse en Matilda Mooneys die saal versier het. Denise Ohlson het dit só opgesom: “Ek kon my oë skaars glo. Die saal was waarlik sprokiesmooi en ons het ons maskers gedra wat Klara en Siemon Joubert spe-siaal vir ons gemaak het. Later het ons ‘n bordjie heerlike eetgoed en ‘n glas wyn ontvang. Ek hoop beslis die skool doen dit weer. Strictly Come Dancing kan maar Prince Albert toe kom!"

Terwyl Derek Hendriks en sy orkes ons vermaak het, kon ons die hoogtepunt van die aand aanskou... Suid-Afrika se kam-pioen dansers, Samian Jurnaal en Mark Adams van Beaufort-Wes, het vir ons gewys hoe daar regtig gedans moet word! Mike Upton, wat self ‘n profes-sionele danser is, was in verwondering: “Ek het nog nooit soveel pret in Prince Albert gehad nie! Samian en Mark is fantasties. Hulle het die talent, skoon-heid, tegniek en persoonlikheid om internasionale sterre te word. Hulle is baie professioneel en ek sien uit daarna om hul loopbaan te volg, want hulle is van die beste wat ek nog gesien het."
Inderdaad, hulle gaan juis in September Suid-Afrika in Sjina verteenwoordig en dan in Desember gaan hulle vir die Russe wys hoe die jong mense van Beaufort-Wes kan dans. Ons wens hulle alle sterkte toe.

Ons besoekers het ook van hul goue medaljes aan 3 paartjies oorhandig wat met mening gewals het. Die gelukkiges was Mietie en Neville Tarentaal , Johan en Mari du Toit, Mike Upton en Ellen Joubert. Twaalf uur het te gou aange-breek, maar almal wou nog ‘n dansie inkry met Samian en Mark. Baie dankie aan almal wat saamgewerk het om dit ‘n sukses te maak.

Mnr Sammy Delport sien uit daarna om volgende kwartaal danslesse aan te bied. Mnre Adams en Jurnaal (die onderskeie vaders van Mark en Samian), bedryf die D&D Dansskool in Beaufort-Wes, en ons het hulle genooi om vir ons te kom tou wysmaak. Kyk uit in die Vriend vir die datums, tye en koste van die lesse.

Ons sien julle by die LENTEBAL wat op 4 September sal plaasvind

Karatekas Presteer by SA Kampioenskappe

Eloise Gouws doen verslag oor die uitmuntende prestasie wat ons jong Karate kundiges by die die onlangse S A Kampioenskappe behaal het.

Die Prince Albert Karate Klub het groot naam by die S A Kam-pioenskappe in Stellenbosch op 23 Mei gemaak toe ses van die klub se lede – karatekas – gekies is om Suid-Afrika by ‘n toernooi in Namibië op 8 Au-gustus te verteenwoordig. Die toernooi sal in Windhoek gehou word as deel van die verrigtinge om die 20ste bestaansjaar in Namibië te vier.

Agt van ons nege deelnemers aan die Kampioenskappe het plekke verwerf en ons span het ‘n hele hoop Goue, Silwer en Brons medaljes in Gevegskuns en Kata gewen!

Die volgende Karatekas het SA kleure verwerf: Andrea Gouws, Martin Koorts, Ryan Ferreira, Ismarie Le Grange, Pieter Koorts en Eloise Gouws. Aneske van Eeden en Oscar Maeyer het Wes-Kaap kleure gekry en Nelius Koorts gaan ook na Namibië toer as deel van die S A ontwikkelings span.

Onthou, nou is dit harder werk as ooit want volgende jaar word die Wêreld Kampioenskappe in Suid-Afrika gehou en dit is ons groot mikpunt. Baie geluk aan al my mede Karatekas. Julle verdien dit, want julle het ’n uiters besondere prestasies behaal. BAIE geluk mede- karatekas!!!

My Christelike Perspektief

- Jeanette de Lange -

Open. 21:5 “… kyk, Ek maak alles nuut …”

Wié van ons ken nie die “before” en “after” sessies nie? Die winterseisoen is oók so ‘n “sessie”. Die seisoen van voorbereiding, wegsny, snoei, verwyder, beplan.

Beplan vir ‘n beter seisoen, uitbreiding, vernuwing – alles op hoop en verwagting – vra maar enige plaasboer.
Net so ook in ons eie lewe – kyk, Ek maak alles nuut ... ‘ Godgegewe Belofte – as jy wil, jou keuse.

‘n Proses van aflegging, verwyder, bely, skoon skaaf, fyn maal – pynlik! Beslis nie altyd soos ék dit wou hê nie.

Maar Jesus se “after” is ‘n jy soos Hy weet jy kan wees. Die ware jy, jou volle potensiaal wat Hy ontgin, ontwikkel, openbaar – Sy Beeltenis al meer gelyk. As jy wil.

Briewe / Letters

Ons kultuurerfenis lok toeriste

Prince Albert met sy pragtige ou geboue, leivore en landbou erwe lok baie toeriste. Hierdie on-vervangbare erfenis en kultuur bates het in die eerste plek aanleiding gegee tot die geweldige groei in die toerisme bedryf die afgelope tien jaar.

Maar hoe lank gaan hierdie bates nog behoue bly en toeriste lok? Op 24 April 2009 is lede van die munisipaliteit se Bou en Erfenis Advies Komitee gestel dat die komitee ontbind is op ‘n raadsvergadering gehou op 26 Maart 2009. Hierdie komitee het juis deur aanbevelings aan die raad hulle bes gedoen om Prince Albert se erfenis bates te beskerm en bestuur. Wie gaan dit nou doen?

By die onlangse publieke vergadering op 13 Mei 2009 waar die munisipaliteit begroting bespreek is, was dit vir my ironies dat Mnr April Pienaar, onder–burgemeester gesê het dat die raad hulle gaan toespits op toerisme as ‘n bron van inkomste en ontwikkeling vir die dorp.

Ek wonder vir hoe lank toeriste nog ons dorp sal besoek as hierdie kultuur erfenis begin verlore gaan a.g.v die feit dat die komitee wat omgesien het na hierdie bates, nie meer bestaan nie?

Lydia Barrella

Bekommerde inwoner se vrae aan Raad

Na die begrotings vergadering op Woensdag, 13 Mei, te Prince Albert se Sydwell Williams Sentrum was ek baie teleurgesteld oor die houding van ons Burgemeester.

Ek maak die volgende stellings om ver-beterde verhoudinge te bewerkstellig en om prioriteite aan te spreek in belang van die administrasie:
1. Die belastingbetalers, waarvan baie vaste inkomstes het, is bekommerd dat hulle nie op hul inkomstes sal uitkom nie omdat koste vinniger styg as die rente en/of verhogings.

2. Die Raadslede verhoog hulle toelae tot die uiterste toelaatbare bedrag, spandeer op geboue en meer munisipale werknemers, en die man op straat sukkel al hoe meer – hoekom is daar nie meer geld vir welsyn nie?

3. Dit is tog ons reg op vrye spraak – maar dit is ook teen die grondwet om rassisties te wees. Baie mense in die verhoor het gevoel dat apartheid nog leef – maar net anders om. Daar is ook gesê as die mense nie van die voorstelle van die Raad hou nie moet hulle wegtrek. Hoe klink dit?

4. Die Burgemeester was nie verkeerd in alles wat sy gesê het nie bv oor diere wat pla, maar sy verduur geen kritiek nie, al is dit konstruktief.

5. Die stemgeregtigdes – ons is mos `n demokrasie - het die Burgemeester ingestem en sy werk vir hulle nie andersom nie. Ons sal weer stem.

6. Die Raad wil nie nou gebruik maak van die plaaslike koerant, Die Vriend, nie omdat hulle briewe publiseer van lede van die publiek wat kritiek lewer, maar dit is die korrekte plek vir plaaslike aankondigings. Nie alles is negatief nie, en as die Raad anders optree sal daar niks verkeerd van hulle gesê kan word nie.

In die algemeen was baie lede van die publiek onder die indruk dat die vergadering belasting sal bespreek. Ons was ook gevra: “Hoekom doen julle nie meer om die mense te help nie, waarom moet die Raad dit doen?” Ek glo dat die gemeenskap baie doen om te help; die Kerke verskaf sop vir Badisa se sopkombuis, alles uit hulle eie sakke, en nie van geld van die regering nie, of belastingsgeld nie. Mense in die dorp gee gereeld vir die minder-bevoorregdes.

Ek het nog altyd gedink ons dorp het besondere goeie rasseverhoudings, maar nou hoor ek hoe ons Burgermeester, die dorp se leier, die belastingsbetalers beledig. Is ek reg, of hoe dan?

Ek het my oorspronklike brief, sonder verkortings, aan die Burgemeester oorhandig.

Ione Auerswald

Thursday Group thanks supporters

On behalf of the Thursday Group I would like to thank everyone who has helped us by means of donations in various forms.

You have helped us to help others.

Geen donasie is te klein nie en ons ontvang dit met dank.

Dit help ons om andere te help.

Ione Auerswald

Disappointed about Catholic Chapel

I was certainly disappointed to read in your May 2009 issue that the new owner of the ground on which stands the little chapel Eddiebuilt a few years ago, will not allow Prince Albert's handfulof Catholics to continue using it for mass every other weekend.Indays of mutual cooperation among churches and their members, such pettiness is unusual.

Having donated the Leo Theron face of Christ stained glass window forchapel in memory of the late Piet and Lenie Olivier (and not inmemory of my mother, as reported) I personally am distressed that theowner will not allow the Catholic community to remove somethingthe chapel that is rightly their property.

Father Kevin Reynolds, Pretoria

Thank You

Thank you for to everyone who supported both Gunda and me during my recent hospitalisation and convalescence. Yours prayers, warm wishes and encouragement meant a lot to us.

Michael Brunner

Pastoor Billy van Rooyen en die Red Pumas kom help

Ons weet al lankal Prince Albert is die beste plek om te bly en my ondervinding op 13 Junie het dit weer eens bewys.

Ek was op pad om Joshua en Shaldo Sass by die stasie te gaan haal toe my kar net ewe skielik gaan staan het. Morsdood, vrek, kaput. In die middel van die pad, geen selfoon ontvangs en boonop in die donker. Een vir een het die karre verby my gery. Was dit my verbeelding of het hulle sommer nog `n bietjie vet gegee om weg te kom van die mal vrou wat in die middel van die pad op en af spring en waai?

Net toe ek wou moed opgee, stop Broer Billy se taxi. Hy het die Red Pumas in Matjiesfontein gaan haal waar hulle ‘n wedstryd gelykop gespeel het. Een, twee, drie het hy die probleem ge-idendifiseer, die kar uit die pad gestoot,kinders op die stasie gaan haal, my kar ingesleep en ons almal veilig afgelaai. Nie net dit nie, hy het toe sommer my kar ook reg gemaak!

Nogmaals dankie, u is voorwaar ‘n barmhartige Samaritaan.

Linda Fodor

MUSEUMNUUS

Algemene Jaarvergadering van die Museum

Op Woensdag, 17 Junie, het die Fransie Pienaar Museum sy Algemene Jaarvergadering gehad. Oud en jonk het die koue trotseer om te kom luister en sommer gesellig saam te verkeer.

Na die vergadering het ons na ‘n DVD gekyk wat Michael en Gunda Brünner saamgebring het. Michael, ‘n akteur, was vir baie jare deel van die Isidingo-span. Gunda, ‘n kunstenares, het in Duitsland grootgeword, na Suid Afrika gekom, Michael hier ontmoet, en hulle is getroud. Terwyl Michael elke dag by die SAUK aan die Isidingo reeks gewerk het, het hulle begin uitkyk vir ‘n spesiale plekkie om te koop. ‘n Plot, 65 km buite Johannesburg, het by hulle byval gevind.

Die egpaar het besluit dat die huis wat hulle op die plot gaan bou, so ver moontlik met boumateriaal uit die natuur, van hul eie grondjie, sou kom. Alles is haarfyn beplan. Die kleigrond wat uitgegrawe is vir die stene, wat self vervaardig is, het later die regte grootte gat voor die huis geword vir die swembad, wat ook veeldoelig sou wees. Die swembadwater en pomp moes altyd gereed wees in geval van ‘n brand, want die huis se dak is met riete van hul eie plot gedek en daar was geen sprake van ‘n brandweerstasie naby hulle nie. Selfversorgend in alle opsigte, was dié egpaar se wagwoord.

Die plot was oortrek met swart “wattle” bome,‘n indringerplant. Dié regop bome is uitgehaal om plek te maak vir die bouperseel en sou nou deel word van ‘n “groter” plan. Die huis, en al die buitegeboue wat ons op ‘n gewone plaaswerf sou vind, is binne ‘n hoë ringmuur gebou. Een hek, die ingang tot die Brünners se “Fort”, is saans gesluit en dan was die egpaar met al hul plaasdiere veilig.

Stenemaak was ‘n stadige maar effektiewe proses. Michael het sy eie steen-vorm ontwerp en elke reuse steen het bestaan uit kleigrond, klippe en een derde sement. Michael sê dat wanneer dié mure eers droog was, kon jy maar alles probeer, ‘n spyker kry jy nie ingeslaan nie.

Huis klaar gebou, sonpanele pryk op die dak, hoenders en kuikens skrop op die werf rond, Gunda sit op haar hurke en voer die ganse, almal is gelukkig en tevrede. Reg? Verkeerd!

Michael en Gunda soek baie duidelik na nóg ‘n uitdaging. Hulle besluit om ‘n boot te bou. Die “Wattle” bome staan mos die wêreld vol!

Elke oggend ry Michael die 65km SAUK toe en saans kom hy huis toe, maar sy heup begin al meer probleme gee. Die boot is later klaar gebou. Die egpaar verkoop hul Fort-huis en vir die volgende twee jaar seil en leef hulle in dié boot. Hulle koop later ‘n karavaan, begin rond-reis, en beland so op Prince Albert.

Welkom, Michael en Gunda! Ek kan nie help om te wonder wat dié twee volgende gaan bou nie!

Museumgroete
Debbie Badenhorst

Catholic Church Update

-Zelia Mullins-

Regular readers of the Prince Albert Friend will recall that last month it was reported that the Catholic community of Prince Albert had been left without a permanent place to worship as the land on which our church stands had been sold and that the new owner would not allow us to hold services there any longer.

This month it gives me great joy to report that our heavenly Father has indeed heard our cries for help and although we do not yet have a new permanent home, we do have a lot to be grateful for.

Firstly, we would like to thank Father Pieter Minnaar, Andrew and Ailsa Tudhope who generously offered us the use of St John’s Anglican Church. A word of thanks also goes to Lorna Verran in making enquiries about the possible use of the “bidhuis”. Finally, we would like to thank Gary and Lisa Smith who have selflessly offered us a room at Onse Rus Guesthouse to use for mass and for storage of our altar and pews until we have a new church to call home.

I am also happy to report that the new owner has had a change of heart and has agreed to let us remove and replace the stained glass windows and the picture window designed by Leo Theron.

Although we might not have a physical building to call home we at least now have all the fixtures which can be used to build a new church, God willing. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and contact Zelia Mullins on 072 108 1987 or 023 541-1102 should you have ideas with regards to a permanent home for our church or a tiny piece of land we could buy to erect a new church. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

The Weavery has a New Home

- Jeanette de Lange -

A change is as good as a holiday, so they say. Until it’s experienced!

From a cinema to a general dealer, to an art gallery – and now a weavery – what a transformation to the imposing building at 55 Church St.

Met ‘n alles-in-een lokaal. Spinwiele, weeframe, stoommasjien, balle en balle gekleurde wol.

Fassinerend om te kyk hóe die eindproduk groei en groei, rytjie vir rytjie. Elke styf gespande draad, stringe geweefde wol. Elke proses ‘n prentjie vir kyk, waardeer, geniet en jou mat word deel van ‘n groter legkaart.

But the Weavery is not only about dyeing, spinning and weaving. There’s more – a burst of colour – wool for knitting, scarves, blankets, glass, baskets, delightful scents of soaps and lotions.
Stop! Stop! You owe it to yourself to pop in, feast your eyes, enjoy.

Haak-afstammeling oorlede

- Adriana Schoeman -

In die voorportaal van die Haak Familiewoning, tans die Fransie Pienaar Museum, hang ‘n foto van die gesin. In die agterste ry heel regs staan Jim.

Jim, oftewel, James Beaton Haak, is in 1885 gebore. Hy trou op 15 Julie 1917 met Helene le Roux van ‘n plaas (tans bekend as Bergwater) in die gang. Hy sterf twee jaar daarna tydens die groot griep. Op daardie stadium was daar ‘n seuntjie uit die huwelik gebore- Jan Haak. ‘n Tweede seuntjie, James Beaton, is na sy pa se dood gebore.

Jan Haak, genoemde eersgeborene, is oorlede op 12 Junie 2009, op die ouderdom van 91 jaar. Saam met al die Haaks, wydversprei oor die land en in Prince Albert, onthou ons nog en eer die nagedagtenis van hulle wat vooruit-gegaan het.

Sterreprag Oor Prince Albert

-Hans Daenhe-

In Julie en in die yskoue greep van die winter is die sterre op hul mooiste, want ons kyk nou in die sterrykste gebied van ons Melkweg, naamlik na die middelpunt van ons galaksie.

Dit is in die omgewing van die Skerpioen en die Boogskutter waar dit wemel van ander hemelsvoorwerpe as net sterre, soos oop sterrehopies, bolvormige sterrehopies, nebulae (gaswolke), dubbelsterre en selfs hele galaksies. Kyk gerus met `n verkyker in hierdie omgewing rond om `n paar aaah-oomblikke te belewe.

Op die 21ste Junie het ons al die Wintersonstilstandpunt beleef, maar die dae word eers op die 7de Julie in die oggende langer (met een minuut per dag) nadat ons verby die verste punt van die Son op die aardwentel-baan gespoed het teen 107,000 km/uur. (Teen hierdie spoed is daar hoop dat die winter ook gou verby sal gaan.) Vanaf die 16de Junie geskied die sonsondergange reeds later met `n minuut elke dag. Die somer kom definitief !

Volmaan is op die 7de Julie en Nuwe Maan is op die 22de Julie.

Mercurius word in die middel van die maand weer `n helder aandobjek welliswaar nog baie naby aan die son en net sigbaar tot middel September vanaf Gordon`s koppie.

Venus is nog met magnitude -4.1 die helder oggendster en sal dit tot aan die einde van die jaar bly.

Jupiter (mag. -2.7)is sigbaar die hele nag in die sterrebeeld Steenbok .

Saturnus (mag. 1.0) is sigbaar in die vroeë aand in die stertgedeelte van Leo wat op sy rug lê maar eerder herkenbaar is aan die omgekeerde vraagteken of sekel.

Voor die sterrebeeld Scorpius, die Skerpioen, wat almal maklik behoort te vind omdat dit soos die ware Jakob lyk, is daar twee helder sterre wat die sterrebeeld Libra, die Weegskaal voorstel.

In die antieke tyd was dié twee sterre, α en β Librae deel van `n groter Skerpioen en hulle arabiese name Zuben el Chamali en Zuben el Genubi beteken vandag nog die Noordelike en Suidelike Knypers van die Skerpioen respektiewelik, maar in Julius Caesar se tyd is hulle van die Skerpioen afgesny en tot die twaalfde diereriem-teken verander.

Die Weegskaal is die enigste nie-lewende diereriemteken en is ter ere van Julius Ceasar ingestel nadat hy die Romeinse Kalender hervorm het. Dit word as die weegskaal van geregtig-heid voorgestel om Julius Caesar se gebalanseerde sin vir geregtigheid te simboliseer.

Terloops, ons hedendaagse kalender wat op die Romeinse een gebaseer is, is nog net `n kwart dag per jaar uit sodat ons net elke vier jaar `n skrikkeldag nodig het om die kalender met die sterre te sinkroniseer en nie meer 14 dae elke jaar soos lank gelede nie.

In die suide is die drie kruise nou baie mooi sigbaar bokant die Swartberg. Dit is nou veral opvallend hoe naby die Skerpioen aan die Suiderkruis is.

In die suidelike rigting huisves ons sterrehemel ware pêrels wat reeds met `n verkyker opgespoor kan word soos die dubbelster Acrux, helderste ster in die Suiderkruis, Omega Centauri, die mooiste bolvormige sterrehopie in Centaurus, die Eta Carina newel tussen die Suiderkruis en die Valskruis en natuurlik ons mooi buurgalaksie, die Groot Magellaanse Wolk.

Hou die sterre in jul oë!

What Does Climate Change Mean for Prince Albert?

- Sue Milton-Dean and Richard Dean -

There is strong evidence that the global climate is growing warmer and changing in other ways. Emissions of carbon dioxide, from burning of fossil fuels such as petrol, diesel and coal, felling and burning of forests, and ploughing of large tracts of land, form a gas blanket that functions like a greenhouse, reducing heat loss at night. Glaciers and iceberg are melting and most northern hemisphere weather stations show a constant increase in mean daily temperature over the past century.

Predictions for South Africa, and in particularly the Western Cape, are that the temperature will increase, annual rainfall decrease, rain seasonality in the west switch from winter to summer, and that extreme events – storms, droughts, floods – will become more frequent. On the basis of rainfall data for the past 12 decades, is there any evidence that these predictions are being realised here in Prince Albert – and if so what are the implications for farming, tourism and municipal budgets?

Arid areas throughout the world have boom or bust weather patterns. Weather data averaged over a month or a year may tell a very different story from daily or hourly patterns. This idea was well captured in an article about Australian deserts entitled “Where creeks run dry or ten foot high”. Similarly, the average daily flow of the Sandrivier is a meaningless statistic because this river may be in spate for a few hours annually but dry for the rest of year. So we will discuss annual and monthly rainfall patterns as well as individual rainfall events.

Annual rainfall data from the South African Weather Service shows no evidence for a drying climate in Prince Albert. Instead there may be a long-term cycle of wet and dry periods. The 40 year period 1878-1907 had above-average rainfall and was followed by 40 dry years (1928-1967) and then a wetter period from 1978-2007. The numbers of years within a 20-years period with exceptionally high (>300 mm) or low (<100 mm) total annual rainfall are indicated above and below the graph. The past 20 years have had more highs than lows.

Prince Albert does not have strongly seasonal rainfall and this appears to have been the case for a long time. In every 20 year period for the past 108 years, autumn was the season with the highest rainfall, followed by summer. We expect a lower mean monthly rainfall in spring and winter. So we must accept that neither total annual rainfall nor rainfall seasonality have changed over the past century.

But what about extreme events? “Extreme” is difficult to define, but only 10 months of the past 1440 months have received more than 100 mm of rain. As Table 1 shows, five of these very wet months were in the past 28 years. Rainfall runs rapidly off land in semi-desert areas such as this because there is little vegetation cover to slow it down. Large quantities of rainfall, while welcome, can also be damaging.

Runoff water carrying rocks and branches increases in forces and momentum, as small streams join larger ones. Downpours can cause spectacular and expensive damage, particularly to human built infrastructure. Among the most memorable are the wash away of at least six bridges in the Meiringspoort in 1996, and the bridge over the Sandrivier in 1998.

A few days of heavy rain on the Swartberg (1-3 August 2006) washed away the bridge over the Dorpsrivier, and a single cloudburst (60 mm) on 5 March 2009 caused almost irreparable damage to the 110 year old dry stone walls of the Swartberg Pass as well as flooding houses and dumping mud and rubble in the streets of the village. Damage was particularly severe in parts of North End where little provision had been made to channel water off the roads.
An increase in cloudbursts, hail, or drought that damage infrastructure, houses and crops will increase costs to the municipality and divisional council, pushing up rates and transport costs, while decreasing farm and tourism revenue.

Preparedness is the best way to deal with unpredictability, so it is very reassuring to see drainage culverts being built along the main road from Prince Albert to the N1. Special care will be needed to manage increased runoff water on the Swartberg Pass to minimise damage to the road, walls and downhill vegetation. Training in the rare skills of arts of cambering and stone-masonry will be needed to conserve this heritage asset for use by locals and tourists.

Additional precautions could include removal of alien trees such as gums (Eucalyptus), poplar (Populus) and salt cedar (Tamarix) from drainage lines to prevent uprooted trees damming up water and damaging bridges, and relocation or protection of the garbage dump to prevent floods washing toxic materials and litter into the Dorpsriver.

In conclusion, while there is little evidence that Prince Albert is becoming more arid or that rainfall seasonality is changing, there is some support for the idea that global climate changes are increasing the severity of rain storms. With good planning, an increase in damage to roads, bridges, the Pass and other infrastructure can be minimised.

Sue Milton-Dean and Richard Dean of Renu-Karoo Veld Restoration cc made this presentation on climate change on World Environment Day, 5 June, at the Sydwell Williams Centre.

Op die Otter Staproete

- Sara-Mari du Plessis -

Op 13 Mei het 12 opgewonde stappers die Otter Staproete aangepak: vyf van Prince Albert: Leon de Wit, Sara-Mari du Plessis, Amelia le Grange, Karel en Dolla Grové, ses van Kaapstad: Madri du Plessis en Donovan Cooper, Petro Slabbert, Marion Willson en Danie Kritzinger, Ewald van der Westhuizen en Jack Ansell, ‘n regte Engelsman van Johannesburg. Hy het die lekkerste beesbiltong saamgebring!

Vir ‘n paar was dit ‘n tweede keer en vir een ‘n derde keer. O, daar’s verskillende redes waarom mense hierdie moeder van alle staproetes wil ervaar, maar die grootste rede is sekerlik die ongelooflike skoonheid van die kuslyn. Ons het die beste weer gehad wat jy kon wens; ‘n groep van tussen 20 en 30 dolfyne gesien wat waarskynlik besig was om jag te maak op ‘n skool vis, voëllewe, interessante plante, blomme en ‘n groot veld van spinnerakke wat horisontaal oor bosse gespan is. Plato-uitsigte tot op verre horisonne. Lang paaie deur die woude, paadjies wat op en op en op en, nes jy dink jy’s bo, ….nog op zigzag en weer af en af en af tot heel onder by die mooiste riviermondings en klein strandjies.

Elke aand was daar “mak” muskeljaatkatte wat buite bereik in die skadu’s rondom die hutte geskuil het in afwagting op oorskietkos. Een het verby gesluip tot binne ‘n hut, ‘n sak met proviand gegryp en laat spaander. Gelukkig was die reddingspoging suksesvol. Saans om die vuur is gekuier en klere en slaapsakke wat in die rivier nat geword het, in die rook drooggemaak. Ja, die Bloukransrivier was toe nie heeltemal speletjies nie, want alhoewel dit laagwater moes wees, het die stormweer van die Kaap (waarvan ons onbewus was) tot dáár die seegety beïnvloed.

Soveel verskillende persoonlikhede wat dieselfde ervaring gedeel het en aan die einde kon ek sê: dit was almal my mense.

Wildekanisland se Vadersdag Wenner

- Ellen Joubert -

Wildekanisland Kleuterskool het ‘n heerlike mandjie eetgoed uitgeloot vir Vadersdag en Anwyn Grové was die gelukkige wenner. Die mandjie is goedgunstiglik aan Wildekanisland geskenk deur André Jaquet wat gedink het dit kan vir fondsinsameling gebruik word.

Sy voorstel was baie welkom – met die groot storm in Februarie is Wildekanisland se splinternuwe boom-huis boom en al ontwortel. Die inkomste uit die Vadersdag lootjies verseker dat die boomhuis nou weer herbou kan word.

Baie dankie aan almal wat ‘n lootjie gekoop het.Julle kan gerus kom kyk wat ons met al die R5 muntstukke gedoen het!

What is going to be hot this Season?

- Linda Jaquet -

There is good news for Prince Albert residents who have been frustrated by the lack of professional advice in our village on technical aspects of house maintenance. Home Hardware is to hold a series of briefings by professionals on different aspects of looking after a house.

As a start, and quite rightly at the beginning of our cold season, Mark Steyn of Home Hardware last week invited Henry Brophy, a technical expert from Kwikot, a geyser manufacturing company in Port Elizabeth, to chat to homeowners, builders, construction workers and other interested parties about the correct installation of geysers.

At the meeting, Brophy passed on very useful tips about how to save money by doing the right things to install and maintain hot water systems. Some of those invited asked how a company in Port Elizabeth could possibly provide proper service to clients in Prince Albert, Brophy described the extensive warranty policy and impressive client backup process Kwikot provided.

More importantly, when Brophy learnt that there are currently no suitably qualified plumbers in Prince Albert, he announced that his company would offer free training to those who were interested.

The gathering was well attended, and valuable information was passed on to those concerned. This meeting was one of many that Home Hardware has arranged in their attempt to plough back into the industry through continuous education. Owner of Home Hardware, Mark Steyn said: “We do not only strive to provide products and services to the Prince Albert community, but also to improve the quality of the workforce that service the local building industry.”

Garden Club News

The Prince Albert Garden Club elected a new committee at its AGM on 3 June held at outgoing Chair, Michael Upton’s Prince Albert Garden Guest House. Sue Goosen is the new Chairperson, with Shireen Reid as her deputy. Gill Hall will serve as Treasurer and Dawn Viljoen continues as Secretary. Neil Dixon and Linda Jaquet are the additional committee members.

The committee has drafted a programme for the remainder of the year. The annual garden competition will be held as planned in August, while the Oudtshoorn Garden Club’s scheduled visit to Prince Albert will take place in the second half of 2009. There are also plans to visit nurseries in Oudtshoorn and Leeu-Gamka, host interesting guest speakers and talks and hold a fundraising Garden Sale towards the end of the year. Notices about upcoming meetings and events will be posted around town and placed in the Friend.

African Relish, the recreational cooking school on Church Street, is the venue for the Club’s meeting on 1 July at 15h00. Ann Kerr will provide a tour of the school’s flower, herb and vegetable gardens and talk about her vision and philosophy in planning and planting the gardens. This will be followed by refreshments courtesy of African Relish! Club members will be charged a fee of R5 and guests, R10; those present will have the chance of winning an interesting plant in a lucky draw.

The Garden Club’s annual membership fee (R30) is now due. Whether you are an experienced gardener or do not know a euphorbia from an aspidistra, why not come along and join the Club.

Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month, usually at 15h00, at different venues in and around Prince Albert.

For more information, please contact:
Sue Goosen – 023 5411 558
or Dawn Viljoen – 023 5411 832.

Medics on Motorbikes

- Linda Jaquet -

What do you do when you want to urge your bosses to see for themselves the working conditions on the ground and to get to know the faces behind the names on memos? If they are medical professionals, you appeal to what they love doing most apart from caring for other human beings. And that’s what senior doctors in two provincial hospitals in the Great Karoo did.

Dr Earle du Plooy, medical superintendent of BW Hospital and Dr O van Heerden of Laingsburg Hospital invited Professor Craig Househam, the Head of the Western Cape Health Department, a motorbike enthusiast and Dr Joey Cupido, in charge of the Province’s District Health Services and Health Programmes, to join them on a Motorcycle and Marketing Roadshow or “M&M” through the Great Karoo. They were joined by fellow bikers, Dr Niklaas Stempels, a George ophthalmologist and Dr Srinivisan Govender, a family physician working in Kayelitsha.

The objective of Drs du Plooy and van Heerden was to break down negative perceptions of the Karoo, raise awareness of the need to recruit more medical personnel in this part of the province and also to enable staff at hospitals to get direct answers to their questions and concerns.

And so, the M&M Roadshow arrived at Prince Albert’s Hospital on 19 June, somewhat later than planned as Dr du Plooy’s zippy, black Vespa ran out of petrol en route!

Prince Albert was the last stop after three days on the road visiting the hospitals at Laingsburg, Beaufort West, Nelspoort and Murraysburg. Here they met with Henry Basson, Hospital Manager and representatives of the Hospital’s medical and nursing personnel in a discussion also attended by other officials of the Department of Health. According to Basson, they reviewed the challenges faced by small provincial hospitals like Prince Albert’s.

Dr Cupido informed the Friend that the meeting had come up with possible solutions to specific problems related to ophthalmology, orthopaedics and outpatient transport raised by the Hospital’s personnel.

The four “non-Karoo” doctors had not visited Prince Albert before and regretted not having the time to stay longer. Professor Househam roared off in the direction of the N1, while Dr Stempels made his way back to George through Meiringspoort. Dr Govender had sensibly taken a day’s leave and set off to discover the Swartberg Pass and wend his way slowly home.

Bekroonde Zoeloe Kunstenaars in Prince Albert

- Denise Ohlson -

Hennie Boshoff werk tans met drie van sy oud-studente aan ‘n kunsprojek by sy huis, Villa Kruger. Die drie Zoeloe-kunstenaars het jare lank saam met hom in Durban gewerk en is nou al drie hoogs geskool en bekend.

Hy glo in hul toekoms en is besonder trots op Welcome Danca en Bheki Khambule wat al bekroon is as Nivea Kunstenaar van die Jaar in 2005 en in 2008. Hy is net so opgewonde oor die feit dat hulle saam met Lalelani Mbhele oral suksesvol uitstal. `n Opwindende vooruitsig is dat hulle – onder Hennie se leiding en toesig – opdrag gekry het om kunswerk vir die 2010 Sokker in Durban te lewer.

Terwyl hulle in Prince Albert is, beplan hulle om vinjette te skilder van mense, plekke en momente in die dorp. Verby-gangers sal welkom wees om te kyk hoe hulle werk en hul werk sal ook te koop wees. Hulle beplan om deel te neem aan die 30X40 Uitstalling op 9 Augustus by die Prince Albert Gallery.

Hennie vertel: “Hoewel ek geen kontak met die drie gehad sedert ek ses maande gelede in Prince Albert kom woon het nie, is dit verstommend hoe die sinergie steeds tussen ons werk. Ons bespreek ‘n konsep oorsigtelik, gaan slaap daaroor – en die volgende oggend kom ons bymekaar… met amper identiese ontwerpe en illustrasies. Dit is net suiwer vreugde om saam met hulle te werk”

Genooide gaste het op Jeugdag by Villa Kruger saamgekom om die kunstenaars te ontmoet en hul werk te sien. Daar is sowaar `n hele paar Prince Alberters wat in Zoeloe kan kommunikeer (!) en die drie manne is oorstelp met die vriendelike ontvangs in ons mooi dorp. Hul besoek aan `n plaaslike shebeen was ook `n gawe ondervinding en hulle het net vleitaal vir Prince Albert en sy mense.

Lesers kan meer oor Welcome, Bheki en Lalelani se kunswerke op hul webwerf www.vulakznarts.co.za leer.

Robbie Cairncross besoek Prince Albert

- Tobie en Andéne Gous -

"Ek het die sondaarsgebed gedoen en vrede gevind. Dit wat ek nie in geld, vinnige motors, dwelms en drank kon vind nie, kon gebed my bied.”

Dié pragtige woorde kom uit die mond van dr Robbie Cairncross, wêreldbekende geloofsprediker wat reeds derduisende mense na die Here gelei het. Dié man, wat sestien jaar gelede sy “Jesus Be Set Free” bediening begin het, was onlangs in Prince Albert op uitnodiging van Renier van Niewenhuisen, wat ook as sameroeper van die Cairncross program opgetree het.

Almal is baie opgewonde oor die wonderwerke wat plaasgevind het toe Robbie in die dorp was. Baie mense het die teenwoordigheid van die Here ervaar en talle genesings is opgelet: bene wat weer uitgroei en ‘n klomp krukke wat weggegooi kon word!

Robbie het in die veld gewerk, tussen die mense in hul huise en hul besighede. Tydens een van sy gewilde ontbyt-sessies wat Saterdagoggende plaas-gevind het, het hy ook ‘n lesing gegee vir mense oor hoe om finansiële skuld geestelik te vereffen.

Dr Cairncross, wat ‘n hele rits grade agter sy naam kan skryf, vertel dat hy as weeskind deur ‘n Skotse familie aangeneem en grootgemaak is. Hy weet dat sy biologiese ma, toe sy aan hom geboorte geskenk het, gebid het: “Here, ek gee hom vir jou, beskerm hom en gebruik hom vir jou koninkryk.” Sy was ‘n Afrikaanse meisie van Ladismith wat weens godsdienstige oortuigings nie met sy Griekse pa kon trou nie.

Sy lewe het verder goed verloop en hy was ‘n multimiljoenêr toe ‘n man op ‘n dag by sy besigheid instap en uit die bloute vir hom sê dat as hy hom nie bekeer en wedergebore raak nie, hy deur sy sonde gaan sterf. “ Ek het hom eers verwilder, maar toe weer teruggeroep. Hy het my oortuig om my lewe te verander. Ek het my besigheid weggegee en nooit weer teruggekyk nie.” Dat sy nuwe lewe nie sonder uitdagings was nie, erken hy. “Ons het moeilike tye beleef, maar nooit het my familie vir brood gebedel nie.”

Hierdie was Robbie se derde besoek aan die Karoo. Op De Rust en Laingsburg is ook wonderwerke verrig tydens sy dienste. Al drie sy besoeke het ‘n ommeswaai in baie mense se lewens teweeggebring en Robbie sal sekerlik sy goeie werk in die Karoo voortsit.

Jesus Be Set Free TV kan elke Dinsdagaand om 20h30 en Vrydag-oggende om 11h00 op Spirit Word se kanaal gesien word. Miljoen mense kyk weekliks na sy program.

Vir enige navrae oor sy dienste of oor gebed, kontak 083 989 8149 of besoek www.JesusBeSetFree.tv

Buitekantstraat slaan munt uit herwinningskema

- Ellen Joubert -

Uiteindelik het die herwinning terugkoop stelsel afgeskop en nou kan jy wins maak uit herwinning! Op Donderdag, 18 Junie, tussen 14h00 en 16h30 het die Munisipaliteit by die Sydwell Williams Sentrum geld uitbetaal vir herwinbare goedere wat soontoe gebring is.

Kort na 14h00 het ‘n hele tou kinders gewag om hulle sakke goedere te laat weeg. Munisipale werkers wat by die herwinningsprojek werk het eers elke sak deeglik inspekteer om seker te maak dat goedere reg sorteer is en dat nie-herwinbare goed uitgehaal word. Daarna is elke persoon se herwinbare goed soort vir soort geweeg en die waarde daarvan is daar en dan oorhandig saam met ‘n pragtige plakker wat aanmoedig om te “Herwin vir wins”. Almal is vriendelik bedank vir hulle bydrae en almal is gegroet met “Kom weer met meer!”

Teen die einde van die middag het 56 mense, waarvan meeste skoolkinders was, hulle herwinbares verkoop. Van hierdie 56 herwinners was 26 inwoners van Buitekantstraat! ‘n Mens sal dink Buitekantstraat het die res van Prince Albert die stryd aangesê om te sien wie die meeste herwinbares kan insamel en verkoop.

Die middag het net oor die 1 ton herwinbare goedere met ‘n waarde van R263 gelewer. Herwinners het met enige iets van 15c tot R14 weggestap. Een herwinner het 730 kg glas vir R147 aan die projek verkoop!

Die Munisipaliteit beoog om elke tweede Donderdagmiddag vanaf 14h00 ‘n terugkoop geleentheid by die Sydwell Williams Sentrum te bied. Herwinners wat hulle goedere hier wil verkoop moet seker maak dat hulle goedere soort by soort sorteer is.

Geen gebreekte glas kan aanvaar word nie. Die doppies van plastiekbottels moet afgehaal en apart gehou word – die doppies word tans teen 40c per kilogram teruggekoop. As jy papier bring, moet wit papier (die papier waarop fotostate gemaak word en die papier in skool skryfboeke) apart gebring word van tydskrifte en koerant.

Die waarde wat vir elke soort herwinbare uitbetaal word verskil van tyd tot tyd en die prys hang af van die waarde waarteen die herwinbare goedere verkoop kan word. Op 18 Junie was die waarde per kilogram van elke soort herwinbare die volgende: plastiek 65c, plastiek bottels 50c, blikkies 45c, glas 20c, karton 20c, wit papier 40c, koerant en tydskrifte 7c, plastiek bottel doppies 40c.

As jy reeds ‘n herwinner is wat jou herwinbares op ‘n Donderdag vir kolleksie uitsit, moet jy asseblief aanhou om dit te doen. Daar is nou weer voldoende sakke vir die projek beskikbaar en jy sal ‘n leë sak kry in ruil vir elke sak wat jy uitsit. As jy so gaaf is om jou herwinbares te sorteer moet jy asseblief daarmee aanhou. Die trekker laai die sakke net so op en dit maak die taak van die sorteerders by die projek baie makliker as goedere klaar sorteer is.

As jy nog nie ‘n herwinner is nie, is dit hoog tyd dat jy een word. Sit jou goed op ‘n Donderdag uit of bring dit na die herwinningshok by die stortingsterrein of kom verkoop dit weer op 2 Julie by die Sydwell Williams sentrum. Vir vrae - bel die Munisipaliteit of vir Ellen Joubert by 023 5411 953 of vir Imke Maeyer by 023 5411 184.

Die herwinningsprojek vra alle boere wat ekstra 50kg sakke het om dit aan die projek te skenk.Bel vir Ellen Joubert by 023 5411 953 of 0711556229.

Stories round the Campfire at Scholtzkloof

This event was held in tandem with IZIKO’s Friends of the South African Museum programme, which ran from Friday afternoon 5 June to Sunday lunch-time here in Prince Albert and the surrounding district. The Cape Town Friends joined the friends of the Fransie Pienaar Museum and Prince Albert Cultural Foundation for a soup and bread evening with story-telling and songs in the barn at Scholtzkloof.

Saturday morning dawned slowly, with grey lowering skies and subdued light. Part of the programme was conducted in icy blustering wind and cold rain, but by the afternoon, the sun came out and the evening was clear and not even terribly cold, considering that we are already deep into the winter.

Entertainment round the campfire was provided by Ailsa Tudhope (who performed on special request by the previous IZIKO party, all of whom had been moved and enthralled by her local stories), songwriter and singer Stef Kruger, and Poem Mooney, elected Chief of the Attaqua, and member of the Nasionale Khoi-San Raad.

Poem is in Prince Albert gebore en het in huis Ebenhaeser in Nuwerus grootgeword. Ouma Rosie, die plaaslike vroedvrou, “het hom gevang’, en omdat Poem se naelstring hier begrawe is, sal Prince Albert altyd die plek wees waarna hy terugkeer. Die Ebenhaeser huis bestaan nie meer nie, dis afgebreek weens die ‘Group Areas’- wetgewing. Die Fransie Pienaar Museum het Poem se gedig omraam met weggooigoed uit Nuwerus en Rooikamp, as deel van die ‘Verlede en die Hede’ uitstalling. Sy gekose vertellings en Stef se liedere staan as ‘Woordmusiek’ bekend.

Stef Kruger grew up in Philippolis–‘dis my wortelwêreld’ – and he was brought to our attention by Poem, whom we heartily thank for the introduction. Stef set up his sound system in the Scholtzkloof skuur, and we were treated to a number of gentle reflective often autobiographical songs.

Stef’s songs have often been sung and interpreted by other singers, like Dozi, who has recorded a rendition of Stef’s “Pennies op die Spoor”, which Stef also sang for us. An astonishing 42 performers have recorded their interpretations of Stef’s songs, singers such as Jannie Moolman, Coenie de Villiers, Anton Goosen, Amanda Strydom, Lucas Marais, and many others.

Stef says that song-writing is part of his ‘mental makeup’, and that he cannot function without re-creating his experiences into songs: words and music. An album (a book, not a CD) containing some poems and over 100 of his songs – the music plus the words – embellished with many wonderful evocative photographs taken by Stef, is available, as are the two CD’s of his songs, entitled ‘Stef Kruger in Eenvoud I and II’. The Prince Albert Cultural Foundation has copies if anyone would like to see them.

The ‘Woordmusiek’ programme – Poem tells his stories and reads his poems, and Stef embroiders and adds his story in music, all pertinent to the Klein-karoo and Karoo – can be requested via Twana Roets at 076 472 3912, or 044 272 8161 or e-mail at twanaroets@telkomsa.net Performances last either 60 or 90 minutes.

Griet Jacobs word 90

- Neville Claassen -

Griet Jacobs is gebore op 15 Junie 1919 in die eertydse Rooikamp. Sy het saam met haar susters en broers hier in Prince Albert grootgeword. Tannie Griet, beter bekend as "Aunty Ragel" aan vriende en familie, het tot standerd ses (graad 8) skoolgegaan en moes toe gaan werk. Sy is na Kaapstad waarheen baie van die plattelandse meisies gegaan het om in fabrieke of as huisbediendes te gaan werk. Advokaat Jack Friedman het Aunty Ragel ingeneem en sy het 30 jaar vir die gesin gewerk en sy het selfs na Worcester saam met hulle verhuis waar sy haar toe gevestig het. Hier het sy in die huwelik getree met Abraham Jacobs wie haar intussen ontval het.

Na haar man se dood het een van haar susters by haar ingetrek en het die tweetjies mekaar opgepas. Die suster, Katriena, is ongelukkig ook oorlede en die familie het toe besluit dat sy huistoe moes kom. Sy het haar in Prince Albert by haar enigste oorblywende suster, Paulina, kom aansluit wie op daardie stadium by die hospitaal gewerk het. As gevolg van die werkslading kon haar suster haar nie langer versorg nie, en is sy in die bekwame hande van die personeel by Huis Kweekvallei geplaas.
Alhoewel Aunty Ragel se spraak aangetas is as gevolg van 'n beroerte, is sy steeds 'n aktiewe lidmaat van die AGS-Kerk, en sorg Ouderling Kammies dat sy steeds Sondae gehaal word vir dienste. Sy is 'n bok vir sports en kan mens kan nog 'n grappie met haar deel.

Ons wens haar alle sterkte toe en is steeds dankbaar vir dit wat sy vir haar familie beteken het in die dae toe sy nog gewerk het. Sy is steeds dierbaar vir ons.

Boekenuus

Prince Albert Openbare Biblioteek

Lang Skaduwees in Afrika

Connie Luyt is as skrywer bekend vir ligte romans. Met die versky-ning van Lang Skaduwees in Afrika het sy lesers egter verras met ‘n roman wat hart en siel aanraak en deeglik nagevors is.

“...Spyt en verwyt vreet die fondament van ‘n mens se bestaan weg tot die hele fondament inmekaar sak. Dit maak dat jy niks kan geniet of waardeer nie.” (Maia van Breda) Hierdie aanhaling is vir my die kern van hierdie verhaal.

Die boek word in drie dele vertel en handel oor drie vroue: hoe swaarkry en verlies hulle lewens help vorm het. ‘n Verhaal wat begin in Suid-Afrika, oorloop na Kenia en weer terug na Suid-Afrika. Die eerste verhaal is dié van Francine van Rensburg en lê die grondsag vir die res van die vroue se verhale. Sy is die kern-karakter uit wie haar nageslag later hulle krag en wysheid sou put.

Francine se dogter, Maia, se verhaal word in die tweede deel vertel en háár dogter, Christine, in die derde deel. Hoe-wel Christine se deel die kortste is, is dit die belangrikste en wou die skrywer eintlik háár verhaal vertel, maar kon dit nie doen sonder dié van die voormoeders nie. Om haarself te verstaan moes Christine eers in haar familie se spore terugloop.

Spore is die werkstitel van die verhaal: spore wat jy vul, spore wat jy volg en spore wat jy nalaat. Ook dat jy die hede deur die verlede verstaan.

Lang Skaduwees in Afrika is allermins ‘n morbiede verhaal. Uit al die swaar spruit daar altyd hoop. Francine sê dan ook “...ons vroue probeer uit wanhoop iets skep...” Daar word oor ‘n interessante deel van die geskiedenis geskryf waaroor baie min inligting beskikbaar is, nl die Afrikaners wat hulle ná die Anglo-Boereoorlog in Kenia gaan vestig het. Soos een van die resensente tereg gesê het: “...Wat ‘n juweeltjie. Dit lees so glad soos seep en is goed geskryf, lees vlot, is onopgesmuk en boei enduit.”

Ronél McKnight

Retreat in Daily Living at St John the Baptist

- Ailsa Tudhope -

Last year’s Prince Albert pilgrims were delighted to hear that Lindsay Wakeford and Mary Przybojewski would once again be able to accompany them on a Retreat in Daily Living. We had all found the experience deeply enriching during 2008. Three more ladies swelled the numbers to ten when we gathered for our opening session in the little Church Hall, the venue for the tea room and community activities during the week ahead.

The retreat focuses upon individuals and their relationship with Jesus and also encourages shared times of companionship, time to create art or simply listen to quiet music in the company of the other pilgrims.

Each day each individual spent 45 minutes with Mary or Lindsay in the beautiful little church. Lindsay created a snug meeting place in the vestry, while Mary sat in the church, with its pastel stained glass windows and the text painted around the walls: “Come unto me all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest…” Fleece blankets were the order of the day for both Mary and her companions, since the Karoo winter starts to bite in May.

Prince Albert is a remarkably peaceful place, but life tends to become very busy once you live here, so time out from set routine was much appreciated. Each day those taking part were required to draw aside from the rush of daily life, to spend a short period dedicated to quiet contemplation and prayer. Later in the day our individual sessions with our prayer companions gave us the opportunity to discuss where our prayer lives were leading, through positive experiences and even the blocks. Lindsay and Mary are most perceptive and ask just the right questions to get one thinking about the highs and lows of one’s prayer experiences.

The material they provided for daily reading and meditation was chosen to suit each pilgrim’s individual needs. Several mentioned that the retreat had come at just the right time for them, all experienced it as a blessing.

Those participating in the retreat belong to a variety of Christian denominations and are used to different traditions. Some are familiar with the idea of Christian meditation, others found this a new approach in prayer, but one which they believe will enrich their lives and their relationships with Jesus.

The closing service was followed by a shared supper, an opportunity to thank Lindsay and Mary for their generosity of spirit and care for the Prince Albert pilgrims. We have been refreshed and will continue to use the materials and encouragement provided through the months to come. The group usually meets every second month for a meditation and a shared lunch. If you are interested in joining us please telephone Renee or Dawn on 023 5411 832.

Wêreld Omgewingsdag

Op 5 Junie, ‘n regte wintersdag in die Sydwell Williams Sentrum, het kinders van Prince Albert Primêr die saal volgepak vir ‘n opwindende program gereël, deur die Department Omgewingsake en Toerisme. Die oorhoofse onderwerp waarop al die voorleggings gemik was ‘klimaatsverandering’ wat tans die verbeelding van die hele wêreld aangryp.

Die eerste spreukbeurt van Ellen Joubert het die ernstige onderwerp van herwinning omskep in ‘n vermaaklike en leersame demonstrasie. Die kinders se deelname was ‘n bewys van haar effektiewe manier van kommunikasie. Die moontlikheid van sakgeld vir hul inisiatief sal seker hierdie herwinningsprogram vinnig op die been bring.

Die treffende fotobeeld van Tafelberg in die Kaap het as agtergrond gedien. Omskep in ‘n ysberg op ‘n koue see was dit ‘n verbeeldingryke manier om die punt tuis te bring – klimaatsverandering is hier op ons drumpel – ons mag nie dink dat ons dit kan verontagsaam nie. Met hierdie uitgangspunt is die voorleggings voortgesit: herwinning het ‘n rol om te speel wat kan lei tot besparing van energie uit onvolhoubare natuurbronne; ontwikkeling vereis geweldig baie natuurbronne, water onder andere, en tensy die impak bekamp word, kan dit lei tot vernietiging van natuurbronne. Laastens, het Sue Milton-Dean die uitwerking van klimaatsverandering op die omgewing aangeraak met ‘n skyfie vertoning. Weereens was die geesdrif en deelname van die kinders ‘n aanduiding van hoe die jonger geslag veral ‘n goeie begrip van die kwessies van ons tye het. Hulle besef dat hul wel deel van die oplossing is.

‘n Plaaslike musiekgroep het die gehoor vermaak, en ‘n opvoering deur leerlinge van Prince Albert Primêr het die gehoor laat skaterlag oor hul kort toneelspel van werkers in hul uniforms wat die omgewing besoede,l en die vrou – kompleet met doek – wat hulle uitskel oor hul onverskilligheid.

Natuurbewaring studente bied omgewingsleer aan

- Aneléh Vorster -

Die Graad 8b klas van Prince Albert Primêr, onder leiding van Mnr. Jacobus Minnaar, het Renu-Karoo Veld Restoration op Donderdag, 21 Mei besoek. Die leerlinge is onderrig in omgewingsleer deur twee Natuurbewaring studente.

Die derde-jaar studente, Rudi Swart en Aneléh Vorster, studeer Natuurbewaring by die Nelson Mandela Metropolitaanse Universiteit in George by die Saasveld Kampus. Hulle is tans besig met hul praktiese jaar en werk by Renu-Karoo onder Prof. Dr. Sue Milton-Dean as hul mentor. Hul derde jaar bestaan uit praktiese opleiding waarin hulle ondervinding moet opdoen in vele aspekte van die natuur en die bewusmaking daarvan. ‘n Groot deel daarvan sluit omgewingsleer vir die gemeenskap in.

Die leerlinge is op ‘n baie praktiese en humoristiese wyse bewus gemaak van die wonderwêreld van plante. Die studente het die funksies van die verskillende plantdele, metodes van bestuiwing van blomme en verspreiding van sade verduidelik met praktiese voorbeelde. Die interessante, unieke aanpassings van Karoo-plante om te kan oorleef in die bar, droeë omgewing, is ook bespreek. Die leerlinge het in groepe gewerk en sketse met byskrifte gemaak van plante en die bestuiwer van daardie spesifieke plant. Hulle het ook geleer hoe om steggies van plante te maak asook om sade te plant. Elke leerling het sy eie bakkie met plantsteggies en sade huistoe gevat aan die einde van die dag. Die projek sal gemonitor word deur die leerlinge self. In die weke wat kom sal die plantsteggies se groei en sade se ontkieming met opgewonde kinderoë dopgehou word. Die resultate sal aangeteken word in tabelvorm en in aanmerking kom vir hulle eerste semester punt.

Die behoefte van terreinversiering by die skool is raakgesien deur Renu-Karoo. Spekboomsteggies en Witkareebome is aan die skool geskenk om in die behoefte te voorsien. Die leerlinge, studente, onderwysers en Renu-karoo personeel het almal deelgeneem in die plant van die steggies en bome op die skoolterrein. Daar word gehoop om oor ‘n paar jaar van nou af ‘n duidelike verbetering te sien sodat leerlinge van Prince Albert Primêr voordeel en plesier daaruit kan kry.

Almal is dit eens dat dit ‘n baie verrykende en leersame ervaring vir beide die leerlinge en studente was. Renu-Karoo en Prince Albert Primêr beplan om in die nabye toekoms weer saam te werk en nog klasse in omgewingsleer aan te bied.

LIFE IN KAROO COUNTRY… or, a sweet slip of the tongue

- Elizabeth Storey-Lawson -

Every Wednesday morning, kindest courtesy of Romy and William Mathews, Prince Albert’s most avid ‘wordsmiths’ gather at their café to do battle in a game or two of Scrabble. The exchanges are hilarious, heated, academic, intense, literary and etymological; but oh do we learn! Again and again, we continue to be impressed, befuddled, amazed and amused by the degree to which the English language has absorbed words from virtually every foreign tongue. And to further thicken the dimension of even a concise dictionary, science, technology, politicians and teenagers constantly add new ones.

The sources of new English words are themselves a wonderment. Computer programmers have contributed almost as many in the 20th century as Shakespeare did in the 16th (not as poetic, perhaps). In amongst the newly minted are the long-lived, supposedly moribund vocabularies of ancient Greek and Latin. All the Latinate derivatives continue to find a home in the “Mother Tongue”. Once English bested French as the lingua franca of the British Isles (a term of superb irony), it went on an insatiable shopping spree for its lexicon. Some words were swallowed whole, some modified modestly, a number butchered and battered into conformity with grammatical / spelling rules, and a few disguised beyond easy recognition.

Henry VIII, honouring his dead elder brother’s marriage commitment to Catherine of Aragon, the Princess Royal of Spain, included in her ‘bride price’ a large piece of land in south London. Like many of the sub-sections of that great city, it is known by its own special name, unusual to say the least. Fifteen century Londoners were likely illiterate and linguistically challenged so they quickly adapted Catherine’s royal title: La Infanta del Castille into Elephant and Castle to denote her proprietary rights.
Language historians struggle with sloppy handwriting, spilt ink and the delights of distinctive word authorship, e.g., Joyce, Lewis Carroll and Tolkein. Roald Dahl’s father celebrated his birth with such fervor that he was hoog in die takke when writing out his son’s Christian name and never noticed the missing ‘n’. Then there are the famous and infamous, literary or real, whose surnames (eponyms) become dictionary entries in good standing: villains such as Draco, Quisling and King Pyrrhus and those who have significantly improved our lives: Louis Braille, William Hoover and Candido Jacuzzi. A Scrabble favourite is the brilliant Georg Ohm whose name has the distinction of being a unit of electrical resistance when spelt left to right, and one of conductivity spelt backwards.

The English language is organic, dynamic, vibrant and almost unique in its willingness to morph. Words have the power to convey, clarify, confuse and confound; sympathize, soothe, succor and obfuscate. Over time they can reverse their original meaning or lie dormant for generations only to come back into common parlance. Add variation in syllabic stress, and/or tone and you are at risk of serious misunderstandings. Alaskan Inuits have but a dozen different words to describe “snow” – not 100 as is commonly ascribed – but South Africans have at least that number of pronunciations of the word Shame!

Each one of us has a personal core vocabulary, most of which was acquired by the age of 6 (not that we can use it then, rather that we have heard it and it has been imprinted in our minds). Slips of the tongue are unavoidable and usually highly amusing (Spoonerisms – misplaced letters) or juxtaposed (my four year old asking for a drink to thirst her quench). Our Scrabble devotees learn new and wonderful words every week but we are hard pressed to use them in ordinary conversation (just what more can you say about an saz .. a Middle Eastern stringed instrument .. other than I can’t play one). Like our “accents,” we take our ingrained vocabulary with us wherever we go and they are sure markers of our generation, gender, and geographical origin.
My newest granddaughter, Alessandra, was born in February and I recently went to Bermuda for her christening. Imagine my surprise at being greeted by the newly appointed minister of our Parish, Nicholas Dalton, born and raised in Graaff-Reinet. His arrival had been so recent that this was his first baptism. Alessandra was angelic and at the end of the ceremony, Rev. Dalton enthusiastically invited the entire congregation to join him in the Vestry to offer many KUDUs to her proud parents!
Mrs. Malaprop would have been delighted!

Skaakspan hou aan Skitter

- Annestine van Rooyen, Graad 9 -

Vier van Prince Albert Primêr se leerders is gekies vir die SWD skaakspan: Maurice Claassen, Naaim Briesies, Jonathan van Rooyen en ek. Onsdié vakansie Kaap toe om mee te ding teen al nege provinsies.

Dit is vir my ‘n groot voorreg om in die SWD span te wees. In die begin van die jaar was die kompetisie baie sterk en ek was op my senuwees, maar ek het dit oorwin. Ons gaan Prince Albert Primêr se naam hoog hou in Kaapstad. Ons is baie trots op ons prestasie. Mnr Claassen, ons waardeer u ondersteuning, geduld en alles wat u vir ons doen, ons gaan u nie teleurstel!

Prince Albert deel van Inheemse Span

- Anthony Morgan -

Op Saterdag, 30 Mei, het meer as 90 sportmanne en vroue van die Eden en Sentraal-Karoo Distrikte in die Interdistrik Inheemse Spele op die Odendaal Sportgronde in Prince Albert met groot suskes meegeding. Die doel van die spele was om ‘n distrikspan te kies wat volgende maand by die Weskaap Spele sal deelneem.

Inheemse spele behels die volgende kodes: Dibeke/Skululu; Kho-Kho/Jag-mekaar; Jukskei; Driestokkies; Kgati/Touspring; Diketo/Klipgaatjie; Morabaraba en Ncuva (altwee bordspele) en Iintonga/Stokgeveg.

Baie kom oorspronklik vanaf myn-werkers wat jare gelede hierdie tipe spele vir ontspanning gespeel het na harde skofte ondergronds.

Dit was ‘n baie koue dag in Prince Albert, maar die koue kon niks aan die sportlustige deelnemers doen nie. Die volgende persone sal aan die Weskaap Spele vanaf 17 tot 19 Julie deelneem:

  • Marco Baartman (Skululu)
  • Zandria Berlin (Ncuva)
  • Sias Briesies (Ncuva)
  • Kennith Claassen (Jukskei)
  • Waldon Ewerts (Diketo)
  • Rayno Maartins (Jukskei)
  • Wilcot Plaatjies (Morabaraba)
  • Jonathan Prins (Driestokkies)
  • Eufrim Schoeman (Driestokkies)
  • Megan Willemse (Morabaraba)
  • Zubaida Williams (Ncuva)
  • Zandile Zaki (Iintonga)

Ons wens almal baie sukses toe met hierdie besondere spele. Julle moet weet dat ons hele gemeenskap in vlees of gees saam met julle sal wees!

Albert College’s All Pay Clothing

- Caleb Swanepoel -

It all started when I opened the third chapter in my Grade 8 Economics book. It was all about entrepreneurship and starting your own business. I decided to start a group business with some of my friends from Albert College. After much discussion and planning, we “formed” a close corporation, and decided to buy over-runs from a factory in Cape Town. We all worked during the Easter holidays to save start up funds for the business. The clothing we sell is high quality and is sold at very reasonable prices. Our slogan is: City Clothes at Country Prices.

Rebekah says that setting up and running the business has been a great experience for all of us, especially at our age. “We had to go through a lot of packing, sorting, counting and folding to get our stock ready for the first All Pay day.” Rebekah has learnt how to do bookkeeping in Excel and keeps track of our expenses and sales.

The day finally arrived and we loaded all the goods into the Kombi. Alexander and Rebekah Swanepoel and Christopher Mullins joined me to head down to All Pay on the 2nd of June.

There were lots of small stalls and we set up ours at the end of the row. Our tables were piled with scarves, jackets, bags and an assortment of golf shirts and t-shirts. The start was a bit slow and it was freezing cold, but the day eventually warmed up and the customers came. Ailsa Tudhope and Tracy Swanepoel, both teachers at the school, came along and were a great help.

The day was very successful but our team identified some problems. Next time we will set up another table to provide more space, make some bigger signs and be “prepared for everything!”

We want to expand our sales throughout the community, so the Lazy Lizard has said we can use them as an outlet. A lot of our stock is summer-wear, like golf shirts and t-shirts, so we will have a stall at the Saturday Market when it gets warmer. Thanks to everyone who supported us with our business at All Pay.

On the African X Trail

- Tracy Swanepoel -

Last month six Zwartberg Club runners – Sandy Bower, Brian Modra, Tracy Swanepoel, Juliana Van der Westhuizen, Maruschka Erasmus and Steffi Rohrbach – ran the African X trail run.

The ‘African X’ is a three-day trail race based in Kleinmond near Cape Town. It covers 90km in legs of 24kms, 44kms and 22 kms. The race is made up of some serious steep climbs and descents.

We were nervous and excited about the race; firstly because of the uncertainty of running through rugged terrain but also because we were unsure of the distance. We lined up on day one. In comparison to us the other trail runners around us were looking pretty elite: knee high ski pants, fingerless gloves, trail running shoes, GU- nutrition and camel packs. But from the moment we hit the trail we were thrilled. It would take me hours to describe the three wonderful days that we had running along the Kleinmond coast. We traversed mountain trails and jeep tracks, ran through the forest, through fynbos and protea fields, along the beach and passed lagoons. The weather during the three days of running was perfect making the run a truly memorable experience. The elite runners raced flat out but the majority of the runners enjoyed the trail running and the scenery.

The race formation was cloverleaf, which meant that we returned to the same finish each day. We ran in teams of two per team: Brian and Tracy were team 333 ‘Gin and Tonic’, Sandy and Juliana were the Jewels: Priceless and Precious and Maruschka and Steffi were team ‘Short Squared’. Each runner was responsible for their team partner: to stick together and help each other.

The organisers and the sponsors, ProNutro and New Balance, had covered all the details to make it a ‘well-run’ event. The nutritional support, first aid, physiotherapy, marshals and trail markers were great. Maruschka can give more explicit details about the ‘Medic’ who doctored her blistered feet at the end of each day; they seemed to emerge out of the Medical tent after dark each evening. Juliana made sure she ran with her own personal physiotherapist and Steffi spent all her pocket money on bananas. As always Zwartberg Runners had the support of the Prince Albert Police force. Hannes Van der Westhuizen made an excellent team manager and spent hours nursing his Windhoek Laager as he waited for us at the finish each day. Thank you, Hannes.

Well done everyone. How about next year?