Die Beste Skou in 18 Jaar!

- Miems Theron -

Kenners wil dit hê dat die Prince Albert Landbouskou wat hierdie jaar tussen 8 en 10 Oktober plaasgevind het, die heel beste skou in omtrent 18 jaar was. Ons almal weet ‘n skou gebeur nie net nie. Harde handearbeid, bloed, sweet, tyd en geld is ingespit en omgedolwe ter voorbereiding van die grootste geleentheid van die jaar - die Prince Albert Landbouskou.

Van Woensdag af krioel dit op die skougronde om alles in gereedheid te bring. Die twee sale word uitgevee, tafels word ingedra . Buite op die grasperk word tafels, sambrele en banke, geborg deur Castle, netjies gerangskik voor die saal. Die stalle en krale is reg vir die geleentheid. Die tafel is gedek .

Donderdag breek aan en die boere kom met hulle diere aangery, nie net om te kompeteer nie, maar ook sommer om ou vriendskapsbande te hernu en gesellig te verkeer. ‘n Rekordgetal Boerbokke word aangery, Merino’s, Wit- en Swartkop Dorpers vul die krale. Daar is ‘n uitstalling met foto’s van diere wat deur wilde diere aangeval en verniel is. Ore is afgebyt, nie afgesny deur die boere soos sommige gedink het nie, maar afgevreet deur jakkalse! Nog nooit so iets gesien nie. Dis immers waaroor ‘n landbouskou gaan - om in te lig en kennis uit te brei.

Reinard van Onselen plant olyfbome, sny die gras, maak nat en hou die terrein vir 12 maande van die jaar in stand - ‘n ondankbare werk! Die jong boertjies, met die klem op jong, werk al maande elke dag by die skougronde. Hulle tyd is duur, maar hulle het ‘n passie vir landbousake en is verbete dat die skou moet voortgaan en ‘n sukses moet wees. Hulle bewys die doemprofete verkeerd – die skou is nie op sy laaste bene nie.

Die nywerheidsuitstalling bly nie agter nie. Ou veteraan trekkers, motorfietse en die nuutste masjinerie, waaronder John Deere, wat elke jaar ons skou ondersteun, pryk in die stalletjies op die grasperk. Binne in die saal wissel dit van juwele-, houtwerk-, klere- tot gereedskapkraampies. By die Huisvlytafdeling versier die kinderkuns van Hoërskool Zwartberg die mure.

Die gemeenskap se handwerk word pragtig uitgestal deur Dalene Coetzee en Ronél McKnight en daar word gekompeteer in gebak en gepreserveerde produkte.

Donderdagaand is die vertonersonthaal waarheen al die vertoners en borge uitgenooi en onthaal word. Madrie Rossouw en ma Johanna Luttig doen die spyseniering. Jy weet voor die tyd dit sal aan al die verwagtinge voldoen. Ons mae protesteer ook glad nie. Ons eet en ons gesels en meng met almal tot laat- aand. Ons gasspreker vir die aand, Breyton Milford, Projekbestuurder van Agri Expo spreek ons toe. Met sy Namakwalandse aksent boei hy een en almal.

Vrydagoggend is formeel “beoordelings-dag!” In die krale kan jy sien daar word ernstig geredeneer, fyn gekyk en ferm gevoel. Die boerbokinterstree- kampi-oenskap, gereël deur Jan-Chris Marais, het soveel bokke gelok dat die diere oor twee dae beoordeel moes word. Daar is ook ‘n afdeling vir die opkomende boere wat sterk ondersteun word. Bravo vir die nuwe boere!

Merino’s

Corné Nel van BKB help Christiaan Marincowitz dat alles klopdisselboom verloop by die Merino’s. Daar was 170 inskrywings en 12 vertoners. Die twee beoordelaars, Pieter Aucamp van Mosselbaai en Keith Coetzee van Williston sê dat die diere van ’n besondere hoë gehalte is.

Die kampioen ram: Kosie Gildenhuys van Riversdal.
Die kampioen ooi: Charl Visagie, van Plattekraal.

Nic Herbst behaal die meeste punte in dié afdeling.

Wol en Bokhaar

Die wol en bokhaar vagkompetisie was van hoogstaande gehalte vanjaar. Hierdie natuurlike vesel word organies op ons ekstensiewe velde gekweek.

Die uitblinkers in dié afdeling was:
Kampioen Fynwolvag: Nic Herbst
Kampioen Mediumwolvag: Chris Marincowitz
Kampioen Sterkwolvag: Chris Marincowitz

Dorpers is beoordeel deur ‘n oud Prince Albert seun, Fanie Müller. Daar was 70 inskrywings en 6 vertoners. Gert Luther van Willowmore was die eienaar van die groot kampioen ram en ooi .

Pragtige perde

Daar was baie hoogtepunte dié dag. Ons was bevoorreg om vanjaar van die topvertoners in Suid-Afrika op die skou te hê om van hul fantastiese mooi Saalperde te vertoon. Hieronder tel vertoners soos Koekie de Villiers van Cradock (Studcor stalle), wie al verskeie male die Suid-Afrikaanse Vyfgang kampioenskappe gewen het en Petro Botha-de Waal van Botha-stalle, Stellenbosch wie al Springbok Ruiterkuns Kaptein was en talle S.A. kampioenskappe verower het te Bloemfontein.

Pieter Hugo van Houtbaai het sy prag vyfgang-perd Speedster kom vertoon. Pieter is die uitgewer van die prestige tyd-skrif, Show Horse. Die Siertuigkampioenskap is gewen deur Karin van Graan van Port Elizabeth met die pragperd River Dance. Francois Dercksen van De Bosch stalle, Stellenbosch, het die wonderlike merrie, Let’s Celebrate, vertoon en die 3-Gang kampioenskap gebuit, terwyl Koekie De Villiers op die War Lord afstammeling, War Survivor van Henno van Graan, die Groot 5-Gang kampioen vertoon het.

Die Ruiterkuns Klas het baie vertoon en vermaak verskaf. Die volwasse vertoners het self op die klas besluit en self die prysgeld gegee en ernstig teen mekaar meegeding om te bepaal wie die beste ruiter is. Petro de Waal was die wenner. CJ du Plessis, voorsitter van die S.A Beoordelaarsvereniging was die beoordelaar, Jannie Meiring die baanmeester en Nicola van der Westhuizen die aankondiger.

‘n Modeparade was weer op die spys-kaart. Hierdie jaar het ons die room van die modelle hier gehad. Ons “Mevrou Suid-Afrika 2009”, Joani Johnson, Louise Muller, “Mej Tuinroete 2009”, en die modelle Donique Leonard, Lillian Joncker, Naska Nenadi, Mari Douglas, Chané Dutchie, Jeandre de Villiers en Alzan Nel was te sien op die loopplank. Hulle het klere van die Ontwerper Deon Oelofse, in samewerking met die Volstruisbesigheidskamer, Sandra Marais van Co-Co Boutique, Klein Karoo Boutique en Oudtshoorn Surf Wear Shop vertoon. Joani Johnson het haar kroningsrok, goudgeel volstruisleer en vere, gedra. Die rok bestaan uit ‘n volstruisleer korsetstyl-bostuk, afgewerk met Swarovsky-kristalle.
Die romp bestaan uit ses lae valle wat wyd uitloop na onder en Deon Oelofse het 24 meter rouge volstruisvere gebruik.

Kinders

Intussen het die bestuur ook nie vergeet van ons kinders nie. Vroeg Saterdagoggend het hulle o.l.v. Verlé le Grange aan die Kleuterkok-kompetisie deelgeneem. Verder het Milestone Entertainment ook gesorg dat die kortvolk hele dag vermaak word in die SPS Luttig-saal.

Trompoppies

Bridgton Sekondêre Skool se trompoppies het ons ook vermaak met hulle passies en formasies. Dit was regtig ‘n plesier om hulle dop te hou en ons weet ure se sweet is ook in daardie vertoning wat hulle vir ons gelewer het.

Die slaglamkompetisie is nog iets wat eie aan Prince Albert se skou is. Tien groepe van drie slaglammers het meegeding in katagorieë, beste enkel lam op hoef en karkas aan die haak.
Die kompetisie was vanjaar besonder sterk en gesond. Verskillende skaaprasse ding ook mee en boere gebruik die geleentheid om hulle skape te vergelyk met ander in die distrik.

Die lammers is Vrydag opgeveil deur Roelie Myburgh. Die publiek word dan die kans gegun om van die beste, uitsoek groepe slaglammers direk van die boer te koop. Net so jammer dat die publiek nie dié geleentheid ten volle benut om prima vleis teen ‘n baie billike prys aan te koop vir die vrieskas nie.

Na al die spanning van die beoordeling kon ons Vrydagaand lekker ontspan met alles wat goed was vir die siel: Steak-ete en musiek. En was die steak nie uit die boonste rakke nie! Reinard van Onselen en Samie Luttig (jnr) het ten minste 230 gaste laat proe hoe steak nou eintlik moet smaak. Vars en sag soos murg. Dankie aan Faan de Wit wat elke steak persoonlik uitgesoek en gesny het. Die dogters van Hoërskool Zwartberg was weer op hulle pos en het omtrent steak aangedra! ‘n Reuse sukses! Die musiek en sang van die twee dametjies Lindie Meyer en Le-Lue het die skougangers se voete laat jeuk en dit was ook nie lank nie of almal het dit uitgekap op die stoep - sommige selfs sonder skoene! Almal het moeg gaan slaap, want Saterdag lê nog voor en moet nog geleef word.

Alle vertoners was dit eens oor ‘n paar dinge: die mooi dorp, goedversorgde skougronde en vriendelike mense van Prince Albert met ongelooflike gasvryheid. Groot belofte van nog meer saalperde vir volgende jaar is gemaak en ons kan voorwaar nie wag om dit te beleef nie.

Ons wil net ons gelukwense aan Samie Luttig Jnr en sy bestuur oordra vir ‘n baie suksesvolle skou. Ons dank ook aan alle borge en vertoners. Geluk aan al die wenners, en Prince Albert sê baie dankie aan die Dercksens! Elke jaar word daar ook beoog om tydens die skou iets vir die dames te reël. Sonder hulle sou dit net nie moontlik kon wees nie. Doen so voort!

Art Rules, OK!

- Imke Maeyer-

On 7 October, Hoërskool Zwartberg hosted, yes… another fundraiser. Boring one might think, but thirty-five enthusiastic Prince Albert residents braved the chill to attend the school’s second Kuns- en Kosaand and went on to contribute over R13 000 towards the school’s fundraising efforts.

And what an evening it was! The art classroom’s walls were hung from top to bottom with Zwartberg’s art, while a section of the room was dedicated to Christine Thomas's art students’ work. Scattered throughout were wonderful items and artworks,donated by generous locals. I would love to mention them all, but the list is too long. Suffice to say: “Support local businesses, they make it possible for institutions like our school to keep operating!

All items were ready to fall under the hammer and Mark Steyn set the evening rolling with his well known jovial auctioneering style. Ourreached deep into their pockets. The starting bid on the children’s artworks was set at R20, not because we thought they were not worth more, but because we were hoping that parents would attend and want to buy their children’s art. paintings were of superb quality, and we felt that we should be sharing this with everybody! If children develop a sense for art at school-going age, the world must surely turn into a better place for them?

They can be creative and become entrepreneurs without needing to wait in vain for help from others!

The highest amount paid for a single item was R2 500 for a painting donatedClive Heyne, followed by a cookery course donated by African Relish. In total, we earned a whopping R13 400, which goes a long way towards the R225 000 we need to raise this year in order to keep employing our precious teachers.

Itoverwhelming to feel so supportedour, from donors to patrons - in some cases the donors were also the patrons - and I would like to thank them all from the bottom of my heart!

Thank you also to those who gave of their time and money to make sure that there was enough food and drinks to keep everybody happy!

My Christelike Perspektief

- Jeanette de Lange -

Heb. 12:2 ...die oog vestig op Jesus.

Legkaart bou is ontspannend. Dis lekker om saam te bou, te soek, stukkie vir stukkie. Soek die hoeke eerste dan die kante. Maar dit kan lol want deesdae is daar selfs rondes op die mark. Soms gaan dit gou, dan weer soek en kopkrap.

Kyk na jou eie lewe, daar waar jy geplant is, jou huis, jou werk, jou gemeenskap en kerk. Dalk is daar baie blou, net soos ons eie Karoouispansel, geel, soos die geel margrietjies, oral gestrooi.

Dalk is daar swart en grys strepe – kan die ‘n doel dien? Maar ek en jy is maar ‘n baie klein stukkie wat iewers pas – en soms wegraak. Elke stukkie verskil, en tog pas dit eindelik. Die hoeksteen wat verwerp was is nou jou hoeksteen. Sy prentjie skuil in Kor. 13

Mag jou legkaart kleurvolle, warm kleure hê. Sou die donker kleure jou onderkry, gaan stap in die veld en vind weer jou verlore stukkie.

Briewe / Letters

Yes, do something about bad drivers

I concur wholeheartedly with the comments made by Eric Ahrens in last month’s Friend (September 2009) regarding the bad driving habits of some motorists in Prince Albert.

In particular, as a regular cyclist in the town, I am acutely aware of the irresponsible speeds that some drivers travel and the inherent danger to pedestrians and cyclists alike.

Not only do many drive too quickly, but some react aggressively when confronted with the fact, as I recently experienced after narrowly avoiding a speeding CZ registration car in Kerkstraat. The driver’s reaction to my complaint could only be described as ‘road rage nearing physical abuse’ following which he roared off at an even greater speed. Something needs to be done about such irresponsible road users!

Much of the speeding is in the evenings and at weekends, presumably when our traffic officers are off duty. A few strategically placed speed cameras would quickly identify the culprits.

John Whitton

Whose habitat is this anyway?

As human life continues its rapid expansion and exploitation of nature, so too do the pets in people’s care risk joining the trail of destruction. The increased population of dogs and particularly cats, in this town is of concern.

For the non-extinct species that manage to live out a diminished existence on the periphery of our lives, it’s just a matter of time before they are barked at, bitten, pawed, and pulled apart. Bearing in mind this is all in the name of pet entertainment outside of the natural food chain. “Mittens” and “Spot” have yet to go home to a nice bowl of pet’s delight that probably came with as much processing and packaging as their loving owners will be enjoying over dinner.

Man’s best friend seems to have joined forces in having lost respect for nature. It has become all about our gratification through pet ownership rather than sharing a world together with nature. Can we dog and cat-lovers not strive together with our pets to live in harmony with the creatures of our wild?

Prince Albert is home to some precious semi-desert survivors. The slow tortoises, little field mice, racing hares, bounding buck, little birds of early morning song, and late night owls should be just as precious to us as the much-loved four-legged companions living in our homes. It is most distressing to see regular bird-kills by the many cats who roam our property. Someone even mentioned (hopefully in jest) of taking a pot-shot at an owl (endangered!) whooo was a threat to his cat!

Though there is no real immediate solution as to how we all share this fast depleting planet, let’s at least take responsibility for the animals in our domestic care and discipline them to share this habitat with those who truly belonged here first.

Concerned
(The writer’s identity is known to the Friend.)

An extraordinary library

As a comparative newcomer to Prince Albert, I feel compelled to share my thoughts with other Prince Alberters.

Who on Earth would want to live in a little dorp which is surrounded by either a semi-arid desert to the North, East and West or by rocky outcrops and mountains to the South? A place where the nearest other “civilization”, Oudtshoorn, is at least an hour and a quarter away - unless, of course, you have ambitions of participating in a Grand Prix and relish the opportunity of practising tight turns through Meiringspoort!

Why have I grown to love this little dorp? The climate is pleasant, the mosquitoes bite but are non-malarial, the air is clean and, in addition, the vast majority of the inhabitants are friendly and helpful, if help is required.

I would like to take this opportunity of mentioning the Library. In my former life, both as a student and as a career worker, it was often necessary to spend many hours in various libraries around the U.K. Generally speaking, they were well organised and the staff were helpful and efficient.

What is the point of this contribution to the Friend? I am sure that those people who use Prince Albert Library are aware of how good it actually is or, perhaps they just take it for granted. Whenever I go into the Library I am always greeted with a cheerful “Hello, Tony” and “Do you need any help?” or some similar welcome. When I’ve wanted something that isn’t actually on the shelves, either Reinie or her assistants, Bettie and Jeanetta, are only too willing to go that extra mile to acquire the book or the required information from other libraries or resources.

It is establishments like the Library that help to make this town such a special place.

Tony Gethin

Glad to live here

When I moved to our town five years ago, I thought that meant giving up the excitement of the cities I had lived in, where the choice of world class events was endless. In return I thought I would just bask in the sun and enjoy good, healthy country living. I felt I was dropping out of the fast lane into a sleepy dorp where the only sounds I would hear would be the church clock chimes and the odd braying of donkeys. Have I been in for a surprise!

Yes – those of us who choose the quiet life can do that here in peace. But thanks to caring and enterprising residents we have a whole range of other choices too.

Those who want to enjoy gourmet meals and good wines until their livers burst can do so in several of our restaurants. Those who want a simple but delicious pizza or sandwich are well served. Those who want a wide variety of delicious, healthy bread or top quality milk products for breakfast can buy them with ease.

It would take too many columns to mention and thank by name all of those who work hard and willingly to give us such a good quality of life. And so let me just by way of example share with you a magic moment I enjoyed this month.

At the end of a concert at the beautifully restored Jans Rautenbach Schouwburg last week, I sat in the auditorium, entranced and unable to move after a simply exquisite musical evening. This time it was the world class Klemeyer brothers from Germany who had woven magic with their repertoire of classical music.

Thank you, Laetitia and through you, all the others for making our lives richer and for making sure that Prince Albert is not just another little dorp lost in the Karoo. You are an absolute star.

Name withheld
(The writer’s identity is known to the Friend.)

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 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 'n 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 ligjaarwydte. 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. Vir die Kaapenaars of Goutengers is dit lankal nie meer nie moontlik is nie.

Mercurius is al weer `n helder aand-verskynsel, en met `n magnitude van -1.3, amper net so helder soos Sirius, die helderste ster.

Venus met `n helderheid van -3.9 is die helderste oggendobjek net voor sonsopkoms.

Jupiter is met -2.5 baie helder bokant ons koppe en gaan eers vroeg in die oggend onder saam met die sterrebeeld van die Steenbok.

Die Maan is vol op die 2de en nuut op die 16de November en sy tydsregulering word nou so fyn gesny dat daar in Desember twee volmane sal inpas.

Saturn is vir vroeg opstaners te sien in die sterrebeeld Virgo.

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 verklaring hoekom die medici deesdae nog `n slang om `n staaf as hulle kenteken het.

Hou die sterre in u oë !

Brett the Vet - Supply and Demand

The consumer craze crippling our modern world has unfurled hurdles and burdens in the way of rational thought and voluntary action. Attraction to things beautiful, soft, tasty, convenient, fast, uniform, and cheap makes us susceptible to covert influences that manipulate our better judgement. The dangerously false sense of security derived from desirable commodity imposition leads to widespread complacency, cruelty, and dissatisfaction. Wants and wishes surreptitiously become needs and demands.

Until recently, food of animal origin was marketed as a healthy and essential part of our supposed omnivorous diet. Now in the age of excess and research, sinister details strike us in the form of heart attacks, allergies, obesity, aggression, ADD, and an array of other diseases. Apart from the obvious plagues associated with regular overindulgence, cravings for animal protein have driven farming into horrific realms of exploitation. Broad scale animal abuse displays blatant contempt for life not only in the way they are treated, but also through wildlife annihilation, deforestation, fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas escalation - all associated with frenzied factory farming.

Nestled in the art of the tourist industry fries the ubiquitous breakfast banquet of perfecting eggs, prized from mangled multitudes of hysterical hens crammed into chambers of tortured confinement. The golden jewels of cholesterol-saturated indulgence are flanked by salty slithers of pig flesh farmed in conditions of captivity featuring repulsively restrictive tight fitting crates. Pet hates are cruelty to animals and bacon not done crispy. The criteria of culinary acceptability exclude rude ructions on the destruction of moral accountability for the brief and miserable lives that become dead meat. Reaching for free-range makes the change.

People in town and country shocked and appalled by routine misuse of illegal poisons and gin traps lapse into tirades of varying shades of red and green helplessness. Fears are dispelled by undiminished spasms of delight at the sight of char grilled lamb loins spared by ensnared gnashing of teeth. Where freedom to roam is not enough for leopard or lamb.

It must be so because the happy advert and glitzy packet assert undisputed falsehood as truth. This one says ‘cat food’ so it must be for cat, getting so fat, sprawled on the mat, can’t catch a rat, bad teeth, scabby skin, and grating joints. That one says ‘dog food’ and who would deny the endless supply to hungry puppies who cry, never satisfied by gruel tastelessly dried. Besides, there’s no time to prepare real food so rare that doesn’t compare with packets of air.

The response to baffling popularity of Dachshunds stimulates intense inbreeding as fashion favourites. Resulting stumpy twisted limbs, fragile spines and stereotypical behaviour are considered cute as a cartoon freak show. Undermining the joy is looming knowledge that sooner or later a genetically feeble, life-threatening disc will slip the sausage of delight into a pitiful crisis of unbearable pain and distress. Hybrid vigour proves the plights of crossbred delights that dispel the farce and disgrace of pedigreed race. Passive acceptance develops demand for continuous supply. Inertia paralyses populations swamped by excess. But asking the right questions still has the power to transform the world by making informed choices.

Prince Albert Tops the Billing

- Jeremy Freemantle -

The famous Prince Albert magic has done its work again, and this time on national television with Top Billing and the effervescent Reza Mahammad – broadcast on SABC 3 on 8 October. As he wafted through the village, charming everyone as he went, the cameras caught some magic moments of our local personalities, cheese makers, winemakers, bakers and chefs, giving viewers an insight to our community.

The Saturday Market was a delight to behold and everyone came out in numbers to showcase Prince Albert’s fantastic produce, much to the delight of Reza and the crew. The programme created a great deal of interest and a number of businesses have already had enquiries from people who watched the show.

The marketing mileage and positive spin off from such exposure should never be underestimated and Prince Albert will undoubtedly benefit greatly as a tourism destination by attracting greater numbers of people and creating a broader awareness of what the village has to offer.

Prince Albert does enjoy a great deal of publicity, both in the printed and electronic media and there have been a number of feature articles recently in mainstream magazines and interviews on radio as well as TV coverage.

This bodes well for the future of tourism development and the growthof tourism in Prince Albert and the region as a whole.

Prince Albert se Sigbare Polisiëring Werk Goed

- André Jaquet -

Nou die dag het ek ‘n draai by ons Prince Albert Polisiestasie gemaak en ek kon net nie verstaan hoekom ek skielik so senuweeagtig begin voel het nie. Liewe leser, u moet verstaan dat toe hierdie ou toppie jonk was, was die polisiestasie maar dikwels ‘n plek waar lelike dinge gebeur het en wat ‘n mens liewers moes vermy.

“Nou toe nou!”dink ek. Ek het niks verkeerd gedoen nie en is ook nie hier om moeilikheid te maak nie. Inteendeel – ek is deur die Vriend gevra om ‘n onderhoud met Inspekteur Hannes van der Westhuizen, Hoof van Sigbare Polisiëring te voer. Maar tog... .

Binne sekondes is ek gerusgestel deur die groot man met ‘n oop gesig wat my groet en vra hoe hy my kan help. Hy vra my ook om hom op sy voornaam te noem. My eerste indruk is baie goed: dis ‘n groot, sterk man wat fiks lyk (hy het slot vir Noord-Oos Kaap gespeel). Met hierdie man sal ek padlangs kan praat.

Hy luister aandagtig en antwoord openhartig en glad nie soos die stereotipe van ‘n staatsamptenaar wat tee drink en ginnegaap nie. Ek kry die gevoel dat ‘n mens nie hierdie man se tyd moet mors nie. As sy foon lui, vra hy om versko-ning, luister na die probleem en gee opdrag dat een van sy kollegas onmiddellik sekere aksies neem.

Ek vra hom eers uit oor hierdie nuwe ding met die naam van ‘sigbare polisiëring’ waaroor daar so baie in die dorp gespekuleer word en waaroor baie inwoners bedenkinge het. Dit veral na die uitsprake deur President Zuma oor hardhandige optrede teen enige misdadiger. Hy glimlag en verduidelik dat ‘sigbare polisiëring’ bloot ‘n nuwe omskrywing is van die werk van alle polisieamptenare wat ‘n uniform dra. Ek verstaan wat hy bedoel: ek was self staatsamptenaar en weet dat ons dikwels ‘n nuwe beskrywing vir ‘n amp ontwerp het om die departement goed te laat lyk.

Hy brei uit deur te verduidelik dat hy en die manne en vrouens waarmee hy werk een hoofdoel het: om te probeer verseker dat elke inwoner en kind, asook elke besoeker in ons area, vrylik sonder vrees deur ons strate kan loop, dag en nag. “Om dit reg te kry, probeer ons om die volgende hoofareas aan te spreek”:

• Drank- en dwelmmisbruik
• Geweld en aanranding in die huis wat om en by 50% van die klagtes is
• Huisbrake vir geld, drank en kos, meestal deur jong kinders
• Beskerming, nie net van ons inwoners nie, maar ook van besoekers

“Werk hierdie plan, en is daar al suksesse behaal?” vra ek. Hannes wys my daarop dat daar beslis ‘n merkbare afname in kriminaliteit in ons area is maar dat hy nog nie tevrede is nie. “Ek is veral bekommerd dat dwelmhandelaars al hoe meer jong kinders by die vervoer en verkoop betrek. Ons het selfs ‘n kind van 10 jaar gevang”.

Hy verduidelik ook dat die man op straat die polisie kan help deur openhartig te gesels. “Ons het goeie samewerking met die Gemeenskapspolisieforum wat deur David Rennie gelei word en dit is ‘n baie goeie begin. Soos by alle departemente moet ons aan ons begroting en mannekrag sny en dit gaan baie help as ons van nou af op die oë en ore van die gemeenskap kan staatmaak. Dit help ons om ‘n profiel van elke insident op te stel en probleme op te los”.

Ek vra hom toe hoe hy ons gemeenskap so goed verstaan, want hy ken ons probleme. Hy lag en sê dat hy in Victoria-Wes gebore is en dat hy tussen 1989 en 1997 daar gewerk het, voor sy oorplasing na Prince Albert.

Die kundigheid en benadering van ons hoof van sigbare polisiëring is vir my baie sigbaar, en daarom sal ek met nog meer gemoedsrus vanaand kan slaap!

Waterwys?

- Pieter Viljoen -

Moeisaam sukkel die ou stroompie water om al die krake en gate in die leivoor langs Kerk- en Pastoriestraat gelyk te maak, terwyl ek hom aanmoedig om tog net my dam te haal. Dis 'n stryd teen die kerkhorlosie, want dié wag nie vir die leistroom om by my erf te kom voordat hy sy ses slae slaan nie. En in my tuin wag perske en appelkoos, pampoen en aartappel, roosboom en wingerdstok - vaal van die dors - op hul weeklikse lafenis uit die bergstroom.

So het vele van ons leiwatergebruikers die afgelope weke gespartel en gespook om ons tuine aan die gang te hou en moes noodgedwonge ten duurste selfs munisipale water gebruik.

Ek het begrip daarvoor en waardering vir die feit dat daar 'n meer doeltreffende pypstelsel vir die lewering van die bergstroom in aanbou is. Die betrokkenes verdien seker meer dank en erkenning as wat hulle tans ontvang. En ons hele dorp gaan daarby baat; nie net leiwater-gebruikers nie!

Saterdag hou ek die watertjie in die sloot by Pep Stores dop en wonder hardop hoe sal my deeltjie Maandag lyk? En toe, Sondag!TOE REËN DIT! Heerlike, lieflike reën. Kyk oor die straat berg se kant toe - die berg is nog vaal soos die reën uitsak; die stormwatersloot oorkant die straat golf met bruin modderwater. Kyk oor die tuin en die reëndruppels borrel in die plasse water tussen die rose en vrugtebome. Here, mag dit nog reën; mag dit wyd oor ons velde reën; mag dit oor die droë Suid-Kaap reën - daar waar die droogtegreep so lankal knel. EN DIT HÉT!

En so saam met die opwinding en blyheid, wel dankbaarheid op diep uit my hart. Wie is ek, ons , om so 'n seën te ontvang? En dan maak dit my nederig, en skaam oor my twyfel. Ja, die stoeiery oor water maak mens soms twyfel aan jou medemens se integriteit, aan God se voorsienigheid. Vergewe tog, o Heer!

Maandagmôre was lanklaas so mooi; leiwater lanklaas so oorgenoeg; die tuin lanklaas so lewendig - druipnat die aartappels in blom; roosknoppe hang swaar belaai met waterdruppels; skoenspore sink weg in die sagte aarde; die vroeë perskes se wangetjies skyn rooi. Daar hang 'n belofte van oes oor ons tuin. Die arbeid was nie vergeefs. Die hoop beskaam nie.

Droogtes mag weer kom. Help my om te onthou: U is die Een wat sorg!

Uit slote en plas, uit geurende gras,
styg 'n danklied op ten hemel
(DIE VLAKTE - Jan F.E. Celliers)

Waterwise gardens - Prince Albert style

- Richard Dean -

A visitor’s first impression of a town is important. The drab and dusty entrances and main streets of many Karoo villages are so unappealing that the weary driver just wants to keep on driving, hoping that that the next place will look a lot better. The village entrance sign can set the tone for the whole village.
Gardens at the entrance to a village or town say more than just being a colourful patch in what may otherwise be a dry and dusty landscape. They are an advertisement, in their way, for what the visitor may expect culturally and ecologically. They can be used as a statement of environmental and social values of the people of the town. For example the little garden at the entrance to Prince Albert displays a number of aloes and other indigenous plants, offsetting the Prince Albert sign.

A garden such as this, and neat and clean roadsides, suggests that the citizens of that village have a sense of pride in their surroundings, are aware of the water-saving and aesthetic qualities of local plants and want to offer a place where visitors can feel comfortable.
With this in mind, and with an eye on the cleanest (and, it goes without saying, most attractive) town award, and given that water is a limiting resource in our village, the Prince Albert Municipality recently commissioned several gardens in the northern parts of the town. The town does have its own, unmanaged flower displays, but these are something of a lottery - in "good" rainfall years the flowers on the golf course and roadsides approaching Prince Albert from the north are as showy as anything Namaqualand has to offer, but in "bad" years there is no show.

What is critical in the Karoo, and particularly in a village such as Prince Albert, where the rainfall fits the United Nations definition of a desert (less than 250 mm average rainfall per annum), is that gardens are waterwise, with plants that do not need to be watered every day, or even every week. English country gardens are not only inappropriate, but seriously out of place in the Karoo. It is possible to create a colourful and attractive patch in a garden without resorting to a water-hungry lawn fringed by hollyhocks and roses.

The new garden at the municipal building opposite OK Foods, where BADISA and the local office of the Dept of Sports and Recreation are housed, has made a drab, dusty and somewhat rundown building rather more interesting, colourful and attractive. BADISA is a Tswana word meaning shepherd and caretaker. It is a social service and development organisation that runs programmes for people in need. A cheerful garden may help to uplift the spirit if not offer more tangible benefits.

The gardens in Voorstraat at the entrance to the North End community and at Rondomskrik have similarly brightened the surroundings. What has been good to see is that vandalism of these gardens is fairly minor, suggesting that there has been the development of a sense of pride in the environment. These gardens were prepared by Freeman Williams and his team, working with the Renu-karoo team who planted the plants in the compost and mulch that the Municipality purchased from Renu-Karoo.

The Municipality had been forward thinking in commissioning indigenous gardens, and their choice of gardens is also appropriate for this water challenged village. A number of visitors have recently mentioned that they are surprised and impressed by the large number of interesting and unusual indigenous plants they have noticed in Prince Albert gardens – apparently far more than in other villages – so the Municipality seems to be setting the trend.

But getting back to the beginning of this piece, and the show piece theme; gardens can be successfully used to advertise businesses, or at any rate, to put the name of a business in the public eye. Sponsored gardens are popular in other parts of the world, for example the garden in the picture below is located in Bishop's Waltham, in the UK, where the name of the sponsor can clearly be seen.

A well tended garden is one way of demonstrating that the sponsoring business is keen to put something back into the community. Local businesses in Prince Albert have an opportunity to do something similar, and the local garden club could also sponsor a garden, demonstrating how to create a waterwise garden.

Museumnuus

Uit die museum argief

Terwyl ek besig is om die ou dokumente in die museum uit te sorteer kom ek op hierdie mooi en interessante artikel oor die Kweekvallei-besproeiingsraad se geskiedenis af.

Dit is geskryf deur David Luttig, ‘n gesiene inwoner van Prince Albert wie die geskiedenis van die dorp baie goed geken het. Ongelukkig is die artikel nie gedateer nie maar ek skat dat dit ongeveer 30, dalk 40 jaar gelede geskryf is. Oom David soos hy bekend gestaan het, het die National Garage oorkant die hotel in 1944 laat bou en was die eienaar daarvan vir ‘n baie lang tyd. Hy was ‘n seun van Dr Pieter Luttig en ‘n kleinseun van die oorspronklike Samuel P S Luttig. David Luttig is oorlede in 1996.

WATER – die Lewensbron van enige gemeenskap

As dit nie was vir die pragtige, standhoudende stroom vars water vanuit die magtige Swartberge nie, sou hier seker nie ‘n dorp gebore gewees het nie! Hierdie water is NIE die eiendom van enige liggaam of persoon nie. Die Skepper het dit aan Prins Albert en sy mense geskenk om dit reg en nuttig te gebruik. Wat ‘n wonderlike geskenk!

Die gebruik van die water word tans beheer deur die Kweekvallei Besproei-ingsraad wat al ongeveer 40 jaar bestaan. Sedert die stigting van ons dorp was daar ‘n Drie-man-Raad, wat later deur die Munisipaliteit oorgeneem is totdat die huidige Raad gestig is. Hierdie water-skema is nie onder staatsbeheer nie, behalwe sekere voorskrifte en bepalings soos uiteengesit in Kennisgewing 740 van Staatskoerant van 17 November 1972.

Die Raad bestaan uit 9 honorêre lede wat gekies word vir ‘n dienstermyn van 3 jaar, plus ‘n sekretaris deur die Raad aangestel.

Geregistreerde eienaars is geregtig op hulle beurte elke week. Beurte kan of vol of half-stroom wees gedurende die dag of nag. Dit kan 5 minute of 20 uur lank wees of slegs ‘n drinkstraal ook. In ag nemende die voor-afgaande, plus die feit dat die waterbeurt nie geografies opmekaar volg nie bv. ‘n beurt in die bo-dorp mag volg op een in die onderdorp, het die Raad ‘n besonder ingewikkelde tydrooster.

Die Raad is verantwoordelik vir 32 kilometer (d.w.s. 20 myl) slote vanaf die inkeer uit die Dorpsrivier tot by die verskillende punte in die dorp. Aanvanklik toe daar min inwoners in die dorp was, is die water direk uit die rivier op verskillende plekke uitgekeer. Baie kosbare water het weggesyfer in die rivierloop. As gevolg hiervan is eers sementpype gelê vir die hele afstand vanuit die kloof na die dorp. Dit was egter ondoeltreffend as gevolg van lekkasies, verstoppings en worteltoe-groeisels by die nate tussen die pype.

Gedurende die veertigjare het die Raad die pype vervang met ‘n oop sementvoor wat vandag nog gebruik word. Die eerste deel vanaf die kloof tot by die sitkoppie was gebou deur wyle mnr Bêrend Booysen. Kort daarna was die deel vanaf Sitkoppie tot by die huidige Munisipale damme gebou deur mnr M A le Grange (Oom Thys van Huis Kweekvallei) en wyle mnr Christiaan le Roux.

Omdat die water onderdeur die rivier, bo-oor leegtes, onderdeur paaie en deur moeilike plekke gaan, word daar nog gebruik gemaak van pype, brûe en los sementdeksels ten einde die water op sy tyd by sy verskillende bestemmings te besorg. Ysterroosters en sement vanggate op noodsaaklike plekke, help om opdrifsels (van enige aard) skilpaaie, muise, dasse, ens op te vang. ‘n Hartseer feit is dat party inwoners van ons dorp, die bronsloot wat voor hul deur verby loop, gebruik as ‘n afval en vullis-verwyderaar!

Daar word gehoop dat u nou ‘n beter begrip het van wat gedoen was en wat steeds gedoen word, om te sorg vir die lewensbron van ons geliefde dorp.

David Luttig

Museumgroete
Lydia Barella

Manna in the Desert

- Colin Bower –

I would like to recommend to my fellow Prince Albertians a book that has recently gone on sale through the Tourism Office, Manna in the Desert, by Alfred De Jager Jackson (Brevitas).

This is a re-issue of the original, published in 1920. The author grew up on the farm Baakensrug in the Nelspoort area of the Karoo, some 75 kilometres from Beaufort-West, and he takes up his story from the year 1863. A much overdone genre, you might say.wait, for here is an account of rare authenticity, valuable not only for the historical insights and the incidental details it offers in respect of the Karoo so many of us love, but valuable also for what it tells us of the refinement of sensibility that the rugged Karoo is also capable of producing in its inhabitants.

What an amazing testimony the book provides to the education and the civilisation of the English speaking world of the 19th Century, that it was able to produce such deeply philosophical, articulate and genuine people as Alfred Jackson, who grew up and worked so far from the metropolitan centres. University graduates today do not command the language and express themselves with such elegance and simple candour as this man of the veld. And on that frontier farm, subject as it was to the indifferent rule of nature,must also have been a concern for culture, for he obviously had access to good books, and he knew his Shakespeare and the classics from the inside.

He was also an amateur scientist, and writes about the flora and fauna with considerable knowledge, although what impresses most are hisdescriptions of animal behaviour, which are of a kind that can only come from ardent first-hand observation.

Some other aspects of the book I also particularly liked: even though writing within the racial paradigm of the time, he has a ready sense of empathy with the black and the coloured people (as well, by the way, with all the hard done by), and recognises, sometimes almost against his "better" judgment (reminiscent of Huck Finn), the humanity of-called "inferior" people; he writes from a position of faith that I do not share, yet it is a faith that excludes no-one, and recognises what Darwin called the "grandeur" of creation; it is a faith that is manifest as a ready sense of wonder at the infinitude of the universe, and it is impossible not to be moved by it.

Also, in a post-modernist age, when moral concern is held to be no more than a showy disguise for ulterior motives, he writes with an unembarrassed concern for what is good and abiding. The Karoo can be treated with such sentimentality, especially by the well-to-do and by sojourners from the city, and it is thereforevaluable to have this authentic memoir to counteract it.

Alfred Jackson strikes me as having been a great and indeed a noble human being, and my life has been enriched by his book.

Manna in the Desert is on sale at the Tourism Office for R230.

Huis Kweekvallei basaar ‘n groot sukses

- Magriet Engelbrecht -

Op Woensdag, 23 September, het Huis Kweekvallei hul jaarlikse Basaar gehou. Dit was op die dag dat die skole gesluit het vir die September vakansie. So is verseker dat so veel moontlik mense die Basaar kon bywoon.

‘n Gees van gemoedelikheid het geheers en al die vrolike gesigte het getuig daarvan. Danksy Prince Albert en die omliggende buurdorpe wat so mildelik bygedrae het, het die tafels gekreun onder pannekoek, basaarpoeding, brood, beskuit, koek, kerrie en rys, braaivleis en vele ander lekkernye. Soos altyd was daar ook naaldwerk-en ‘n “wit olifant” tafel.

Huis Kweekvallei en inwoners wil vir almal wat bygedra het om ‘n sukses te maak van die dag, BAIE dankie sê. ‘n Baie welkome bedrag van R23 000 is ingesamel, wat baie nuttig aangewend sal word.

Hoede, Tee en Lag by Huis Kweekvallei

- Ione Auerswald -

Inwoners van Huis Kweekvallei het op 15 Oktober saam met die “Thursday Group” ‘n teepartytjie geniet. Inwoners het hoede gedra wat mooi versier was en pryse is uitgedeel vir verskeie hoede. Verder is daar gesing en modeparade gehou.

Hetta Blomerus het die “Thursday Group” bedank vir die lekker partytjie. Op hul beurt het die “Thursday Group” hul waardering uitgespreek teenoor die kombuis-personeel vir die tee, die kantoor vir húl samewerking, Suster Lettie vir haar mooi sang, Lydia Swanepoel vir al haar hulp, alle deelnemers aan die modeparade.

Daar was die Sarie Marais-Kappie wat ons laat skaterlag het, die Spaanse hoed saam met “Olé, Olé”, die Soldaat, die “Digger” wat gegrawe én gesing het, die Polisieman (darem nie te kwaai!) en die Tuinier.

Dit was ‘n baie vrolike partytjie met baie lag!

Biblioteek Streeksvergadering

- Reinie Smit -

Op Dinsdag, 13 Oktober, het ons ons jaarlikse Beaufort-Wes streek Streeksvergadering gehad. Dié jaar was dit Prince Albert se beurt om die gasheer-dorp te wees.

Personeel van Hoofkantoor in Kaapstad (Sentrale Naslaan en Publikasie), Streeksbiblioteek in Beaufort-Wes, die assistent-direkteur van George en biblioteek-personeel van al die biblioteke in die Beaufort-Wes Streek het die vergadering bygewoon.

Sake rakende biblioteekwerk is deur die 25 teenwoordiges bespreek.

Ná ‘n baie geslaagde, leersame vergade-ring is die dag afgesluit met ‘n uithaler drie-gang ete by Miller’s restaurant.

Flower Festival Honours St Francis of Assisi

- Mavis Aggett -

St Francis of Assisi was the theme of this year's Flower Festival at St John's Anglican Church in Bank Street and we feel sure he would have felt very much at home in our little church.

The 'little flowers that open', about which we sing in the much-loved hymn “All Things Bright and Beautiful”, becameflower arrangements.were bold and bright, a meter or so high, while others were dainty, soft and pastel.All in all they perfectly complemented each other.colours, shapes, sizes and fragrances of the flowers and foliage together represented the town's 'Proudly Prince Albert' gardens. It was this generous sharing of plants thatturn St John'saflower wonderland.

In theSt Francis were 'all creatures great and small' happily placed among the colourful floral creations: butterflies, frogs and tortoises; hedgehogs, birds and bees.And if you listened carefully you may just have heard bleating from the almost life-sized sheep.

Prince Albert's many experienced flower arrangers participated, but novices were also welcomed and guided in their creations of 'all things bright and beautiful'.you will join us next year:Finn is the contact person. Would you like to know a secret? John and Sonja Mckenna provided scrumptious refreshments throughout the day for the workers as they quietly and industriously created their works of art.

St John’s Sunday morning service was dedicated to the memory of St Francis, a man with a heart for God, his fellowmananimals.Songs, accompanied by Chrisna Smit on the piano, includedHas Broken, All Things Bright and Beautiful and St Francis' prayer, Makea Channel of Your Peace. Gospel readingsus of the beauty of lilies and the uncomplicated lives of birds.about St Francis and his dealings with nature focused on his humble and selfless life.

This seventh annual Flower Festival was much appreciated by both parishioners and visitors alike. Thank you to everyone who assisted and made a contribution. Donations by generous locals and tourists raised just over R1 000 towards church funds. We look forward to next year’s Festival – see you all there.

Alien Watch

Invaders from Central and South America

- Carol Tissiman -

We’ve chosen two plants to highlight this month: a popular cactus and a tree.

Many keen gardeners have enthused about spiny and very hardy cactus plants – none of which are indigenous to South Africa. All these plants have either been brought in as ornaments, hedging and one of the cactus family plants came in as food or fodder. While prickly pair crops have been successful in the past, the newer hybrid version is non-invasive and has proved a better alternative. Sadly, the dear little miniatures sold in many retail outlets turn into major problems in gardens and particularly, our veld.

A good example of these invaders can be found along Christina de Wit Street on the way out of town on the right hand side, where they have invaded the lower slopes of the koppie. The problem with the cactus plant is that when bits break off, they quickly root themselves again and simply take over more area.

The opuntia imbricate (imvricate prickly pear, kabelturksvy) is a good example. This one has showy purple-red flowers, and yellow succulent berries. Take care to wear thick gloves if handling, as the spines contain a skin irritant. Best method is to inject the green stems with a strong herbicide. Dead branches should be carefully collected and burned.

We suggest a great alternative to this would be a euphorbia, of which several varieties are available for this area, which grow in similar conditions and provide a similar architectural effect in the garden.

This month’s tree alien is a popular evergreen shade tree, Shinus terebinthifolius (Brazilian pepper, Brasiliaanse peperboom). This tree has been commonly planted in gardens, and now invades woodland, coastal bush, roadsides and riverbanks. It was declared a Category 1 invader in KZN and 3 in the rest of the country, while its status is under review to be changed to category 1 through-out. The leaves are dark and leathery, flowers creamy-white and small on both male and female trees, fruits are bright red like pepper corns. Perhaps the only benefit this fast growing and very invasive tree has been to provide shade, hedges, and pollen for bees to make honey. For those who suffer from hay fever, and any respiratory problems, keep the Brazilian pepper out of your garden!

We suggest some great alternative fast-growing trees would be a dodonea viscosa (sand olive, yster bos) which is hardy or even harpaphyllum caffrum (wild plum, wildepruim) which will require more water in its early life.

(Source: Lesley Henderson, Alien Weeds and Invasive Plants)

Mosaic Workshop Sparks Creativity

-Zelia Mullins-

Ten Prince Alberters recently acquired some new and exciting creative skills when they attended a mosaic workshop presented by Carolyn Wilter of Johannesburg at the home of John and Sonja Mckenna in Klip Street. I was somewhat hesitant about attending the workshop as I do not have a creative bone in my body; however, Sonja assured me that being artistic or creative was not a pre-requisite to learning the art of mosaic.

On arrival Carolyn immediately put us at ease. She showed us how to use a pair of tile nippers and to nip bits and pieces off tiles into a desired shape and size. After a few practice “nips” it was time to get started on our respective projects but not before enjoying a refreshing cup of tea with muffins and scones courtesy of Sonja.

Carolyn had various templates available for us to choose from. Some chose to mosaic a mirror, others a lovely hen and one person chose to do a house number. Sonja and John kept up our energy levels by supplying us with a delicious lunch and glass of wine and then it was back to the drawing board. Needless to say, time flew by amid friendly banter and a few curses when the desired shape was not quite achieved. The whole experience was very relaxing and therapeutic and I found it to be very rewarding.

At last the great works of art were completed, admired and photographed over a cup of tea and slice of cake! I think most of us felt really quite pleased with our accomplishments and these can be seen hanging proudly in our homes.

I would like to thank Carolyn for making the workshop so enjoyable and Sonja for organising the workshop and providing us with the scrumptious meals and refreshments. Last but definitely not least a big thank you to John Mckenna for being at the beck and call of ten women, which admittedly, could not have been that easy!

Klemeyer Trio’s Music Wins Friends

-Elizabeth Storey-Lawson-

On Saturday, October 10th, the music lovers of Prince Albert were treated to a superb performance of Chamber Music at Laetitia van Dyk’s Jans Rautenbach Schouwburg. The Klemeyer Trio from Hanover, Germany, presented a programme of works for piano, violin and flute covering almost two centuries of composition.

Chamber music is often called “the music of friends” and the demands on the musicians are quite different than those needed for a larger ensemble. The Klemeyer Trio is constituted of three brothers, Dietrich (piano), Ludolf (violin) and Hermann (flute) whose perfect synchronicity and flawless seaming belie both their musical expertise but also, one suspects, innate fraternal spirit.

The Jans Rautenbach setting was perfect for close viewing of their dexterity; the acoustics in the hall are very good and the theatre’s piano more than matched the pianist’s skill. Only, perhaps in the pianissimo passages, did it seem a little uncooperative.

The evening began with two J.S. Bach sonatas and a most beautiful Handel duet giving us the richness and complexity of 17th c. High Baroque. Hermann Klemeyer added special interest by explaining the provenance of the Bach Sonata in G flat – a challenge of instantaneous improvisation made to Bach by non-other than the German Emperor himself!

The second half of the program brought us to the 18th c. and the flowering of the Romantic period. Friedrich Kuhlau’s lyrical Grand Solo op. 57 in F flat perfectly reflects the changing compositional style. Kuhlau himself was credited as being ‘the Beethoven of the flute’ and he did a great deal to promote Beethoven’s works in both Germany and Denmark.

Franz Schubert, whom Schumann described as being “the most poetic of all composers”, provided us with an exquisite Sonatine in D flat for violin and piano. The second movement, andante, was especially melodic and tender, and the weaving of intricate harmonies beautifully delicate.

The final offering, “Five Pieces” by Cesar Cui, was not only a sheer delight but, I suspect (and speaking for myself) an utter surprise. Cui wrote at the turn of the 20th c. He represents one of the least known of the Nationalist Russian composers. His works are underperformed and certainly deserve more attention. This charming composition is particularly loved by the Klemeyer brothers as it was specifically written for their three instruments.

The very modern musician, Bono, claims that “music has the ability to change people’s lives” and with the performances of the Klemeyer that statement is made doubly true. All the proceeds from their concerts in South Africa – their visit was sponsored by Dr. Otto Muller, and Integrow Health Ltd of George - and the sale of their CDs, are donated to the Life Community orphanage in George.

It was an honour for us all to give our deepest appreciation and support to the Klemeyer brothers for the pleasures of their performances and their efforts on behalf of the children of our country

Prince Albert Garden Club News

- Gill Hall -

The Prince Albert Garden Club had another wonderful outing on Wednesday, 7 October, this time to Malachite Nursery. About 15 members and friends attended a very informative talk by Carol Tissiman on medicinal and culinary indigenous plants and their uses.

Carol and Dorrien arrived in Prince Albert about five years ago and had a few fruit trees and one other tree on their property. Their vision was to create a space for humans, dogs and birds to find peace, shade and to enjoy the views. They started by creating a beautiful pavement garden and from there, things have developed into a wonderful garden and nursery. Carol obviously has a passion for plants and caring for the environment and protecting Karoo flora that faces extinction.

”Plants in the Karoo need space and wind or they suffer from fungal problems such as aphids. Karoo plants (a bit like the inhabitants) don’t like crowds. Another common problem is over watering” Carol suggests watering well and then letting the ground dry out rather that watering often but lightly. Nothing is too challenging if you give plants enough space.

Garden Club members were spoilt with tea and a selection of delicious cakes and biscuits using herbs from Carol’s garden. The monthly lucky draw was won by Linda Smith – a special salvia murrii donated by Carol - and everyone received a lovely gift made by Carol’s right hand lady, Jeffline Hendricks. The winner of the Arbour Month raffle, gardening tools and an apron, was Megan Reinders. Thanks to everyone who bought tickets and helped the Garden Club raise R240.

The next Garden Club meeting will be held at 15h00 in Jacqui and Neil Dixon’s garden – currently referred to as “Foggy Bottom” - at 4 Christina de Wit Street on 4 November, followed by tea at Miller’s Restaurant at R15 per head.

The annual Prince Albert garden competition has been postponed until 2010.

Ons Kinders maak vir BADISA saak

- Ilze Koorts -

BADISA Prince Albert het onlangs `n BADISA Fietstoergroep plaaslik ontvang. Die groep verteenwoordig `n gemeente in die voorstede van Kaapstad en het kom uitvind wat ons op Prince Albert doen, en voortspruitend daaruit, benodig om `n beter diens aan ons gemeenskappe van Prince Albert, Klaarstroom en Prince Albertweg te lewer. Hulle is baie begeesterd met die straatspeelgroepies wat deur BADISA begin is en ons het reeds speel- en opvoedkundige toerusting van hulle vir hierdie doeleindes ontvang.

BADISA se speelgroepies het reeds in Muisvoëlstraat begin. Met 32 kindertjies wat reeds die groepie bywoon, moet die groepie nou verdeel word. BADISA het ten doel om `n speelgroepie in elke straat te vestig, waar nodig. Ons kinders se vroeë kinderontwikkeling is prioriteit. Dit maak ons kindertjies meer skoolgereed, wat weer tot `n kleiner uitvalsyfer ten opsigte van skoolbywoning aanleiding gee. Ons wil graag al ons kinders sien skoolgaan en hul skoolloopbane voltooi. Die persone wat die speelgroepies by hul huise aanbied sal binnekort weeklikse opleiding ontvang in die moets en moenies van vroeë kinderontwikkeling.

Enige persoon wat belangstel om by hierdie speelgroepies betrokke te raak, word genooi om me Melissa Strydom by tel 023 5411388 te skakel.

Baie dankie vir elke vrywilliger en donateur wat by BADISA se werk betrokke is!

Joshua brings home Gold

Linda Jaquet –

Prince Albert’s Joshua Fodor and his team mate, Yaghia Mitchell, won gold medals at the National Finals of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, held in Pretoria on 10 October for the Township Geyser they invented. Both are Grade 10 learners at the Cape Academy for Maths, Science and Technology and represented Cape Town at the National Finals.

Joshua and Yaghia developed the geyser in response to the Think Green theme of the Southern Peninsula Science Expo earlier this year, where they won silver medals. They have since improved on the geyser’s design and workings and were overjoyed to have won gold.

The geyser is effective, economic and easy to build. It consists of an oil drum, a 5-litre water bucket, about one metre of 5-cm copper pipe and one connecting join. The oil drum has a small opening cut at the bottom of one side for the fire place and all the parts can be sourced at minimal expense.

Well done, Josh and Yaghia! Prince Albert celebrates your success with you and knows that you will soon represent South Africa at international fairs for young, up-and-coming scientists.

More Water for PA?

- Linda Jaquet -

Every summer and even in winter our farmers, townsfolk and the Municipality of Prince Albert stress about sustainability of our water reserves. Some stress more than others and some water users have been suspected of using foul means rather than fair to squeeze more than they are entitled to out of their leiwaterbeurt.

This situation is hopefully about to improve when the water furrow (leiwatervoor) piping from the mountain to the Municipality’s reservoirs at the entrance to the town is completed at the end of October. According to Kallie Erasmus, the Vice Chair of the Kweekvallei Water Users Association (KWUA), the pipeline will mean a gain of 20% more water for the town. Both Kallie and I D Vorster, Chair of the KWUA reassured water users at an informal meeting of members of the KWUA in October that the significance of the water gain would be felt during the hottest months of the year – December to February - when scientific observation showed that there was a loss of 35% of the water due mainly to evaporation from the open, concrete furrow.

Kallie and ID informed the water users that the new pipeline would also ensure a constant stream of water to the Municipality 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Historically, the Municipality has drawn 18 hours of water every Thursday and Saturday from the furrow to provide drinking water to the town. Now, a “dividing box” in the furrow should mean that even in the dry months of the year, the Municipality will not have to depend on its boreholes and will be able to keep its reservoirs full and provide uninterrupted drinking water to the town. The improved stream to the Municipality is calculated pro rata according to the total number of hours the Municipality receives water. In addition to recharging Municipal reservoirs, a portion of the Municipality’s water supply will be made available on tender to arid farms.

Even the tortoises will benefit – a safe drinking area has been built along the furrow for them!

Having the furrow piped was a precondition for disaster relief funding from the Province during the severe drought in the town and surrounds some years ago. Water experts also held the view that it was the best means of improving and sustaining the town’s and agricultural users’ water source. For various reasons, including political wrangling in the local Municipal Council, the laying of the pipeline was delayed until August of this year. Once completed under the Municipality’s supervision, the KWUA will continue to maintain the pipeline and furrows in town and manage the supply of water to users.

Most water users have welcomed the piping particularly if it can guarantee both a constant domestic and an agricultural water supply when there is pressure and a high demand. Susan Perold of SoetKaroo wine estate told the Friend: “All in all, I think the constant stream will be good for all of us, rather like the drinkstroompie of years gone by.” Other water users were concerned about how water and water turns would be monitored and managed and not dominated by the same few members of the former Kweekvallei Irrigation Board management.

Members of the KWUA, which recently replaced the Kweekvallei Irrigation Board in terms of the National Water Act of 1996, have water entitlements in terms of the Kweekvallei founding proclamation. They pay a levy to the KWUA determined by the Department of Water Affairs.
While elections for a new management of the Association were to have been held on 29 October, they have been postponed indefinitely as not all members apparently received timeous notification.

Kallie explained that a public meeting would be held to talk more about the pipeline and other pressing issues, as well as set an alternative date for the election. One member told the Friend that the incoming management would not only have to manage the water system efficiently but strive for transparency in all its activities and decision-making.

Werk sag met ons Vroue en Kinders

- Ilze Koorts -

Uit elke ses vrouens wat bymekaar is, word een daagliks mishandel in Suid-Afrika. Dit is die jongste statistieke wat by die Nasionale Konferensie vir Maatskaplike Werkers van 13-16 Oktober 2009 bekend gemaak is.

Wat maak dat daar so min respek vir `n vrou of kind in ons samelewing is? Het dit te doen met die opvoeding? Het dit te doen met die omgewing? Is middelmisbruik die rede? Is dit omstandighede soos armoede, frustrasie, swak lewensvaardighede wat daartoe aanleiding gee? Daar word baie geredeneer oor die redes.

Inherent keer ons terug na respek vir `n ander persoon. Dit gaan oor ons verhoudings met ander mense. Elke mens verdien respek vir sy/haar uniekheid, vir sy/haar eie menswees, om nie met ander vergelyk te word nie, om gerespekteer te word vir sy/haar eie gevoelens, behoefte aan menswaardigheid.

Behandel ons elkeen wat oor ons pad kom soos ons graag behandel wil word? Nie een van ons wil geslaan, geskop, met woorde afgekraak of afgepers, sleggesê / gekritiseer word vir wie ons is – of wat ons het - nie.

Meld by iemand aan as jy of jou kinders mishandel word. Meld aan as jy weet van iemand wat mishandel word. Bel BADISA by 023 5411388. Ons wil ‘n verskil maak vir hierdie vroue en kinders!

P A Chamber of Commerce Meets in November

- Linda Jaquet –

Meeting with Municipal Manager

Members of the executive of the Chamber of Commerce recently briefed Prince Albert’s new Municipal Manager, Juanita Fortuin, on the Chamber’s goals, activities and plans. A number of issues were raised with Ms Fortuin, such as the town’s water quality, the recycling project and tourism initiatives, as well as possible joint projects. Sally Arnold described the meeting as productive and highly encouraging and noted that the Chamber looked forward to a more positive relationship with the Municipality.

November meeting

The Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce will hold its next meeting on 19 November at 13:00 at the Swartberg Hotel. The guest speaker will be Paul Hoffman,Branch Manager andAdvisor at the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) in George.

Hoffman will give a short presentation on SEDA's activities and its projects that support and develop small enterprises in the region. The Chamber’s Sally Arnold told the Friend: “This is an excellent opportunity to gain information and network with a significant promoter of small business.would encourage all members and anyone who is interested in learning more about support for small enterprises to attend.”

According to the SEDA website (www.seda.org.za) there is no definition of a small enterprise that everyone agrees on, but it is generally a description of any enterprise with less than 50-100 employees. It includes profit-making enterprises (businesses), as well as not-for-profit enterprises (such as co-operatives).

Within the definition of a small enterprise, many people also recognise a large number of very small (or micro) enterprises, with less than five employees. Turnover figures are also used to define small and micro enterprises.

September Tennis Tourney

- Colin Bower -

Brothers Iaan and Stegmann Coetzee earned themselves bragging rights for a year by winning the men’s doubles section of the Prince Albert September Tennis Tournament, strangely enough, held in September. They won a tense final against Dirk Visser, and the enfant terrible of the tourney, Sandy Swanepoel. Iaan and Stegmann had previously encountered brave opposition from the Stephan Schoeman/Brent Philips-White pairing, this being Brent’s first appearance in a major tournament since injuring himself in a car accident. In the other semi-final Dirk and Sandy edged out Fourie Munro and Darius Fourie, although the latter pair claimed unfair tactics on the part of their opponents, who were inclined to hit the ball down the centre of the court, and then shout “Yours Fourie”, thus encouraging a collision of the two confused players.

The mixed section was won by Andrea Gouws and Joshua “Then and Now” Swanepoel, who beat Marelise Vorster and Dirk Visser. Twenty-two players participated in the tournament, and the level of competition was extremely high, the on-court tensions frequently exacerbated by much jeering and other forms of raucous behaviour from the spectators sitting up in the club’s grandstand.

Players and spectators generously put themselves under an obligation to spend lavishly on the liquid refreshments in a bid to boost club funds, and superb boerewors supplied by André Gouws was married to the best roosterkoek produced by the Fourie family for a lunchtime feast, although there were some complaints about the fiery chakalaka which the voorsitter had prepared overnight before the tournament, the after effects of which were apparently felt for three days by some members.

But, all in all, it was a successful day, with special thanks due to sponsors The Gallery Café, Miller’s Restaurant, Café Albert, and The Lazy Lizard.

Prince Albert Netball Team Comes Up Tops

On Saturday, 10 October, the Prince Albert Netball team hosted a long awaited regional netball tournament. The tournament was a great success and exceeded our wildest expectations, but we learned too that success often means overcoming obstacles and disappointment; at the same time we made the best of the opportunities presented to us.

In total, four teams competed to be crowned as netball’s finest. With support from our manager, Vanessa Lottering, we triumphed and took our rightful first place, Merweville came second, the Innercity team came third and Klaarstroom, fourth.
We thank everyone who participated and those who made a contribution, whether it was a donation or coming along and supporting our team. A special word of thanks from the team to Vanessa and our captain, Lorraine Jantjies, for the hard work and effort they put into making the tournament a success and for also being good support systems and motivators.

We would also like to thank those who disappointed us, because through the disappointment we grew closer and stronger as a team.

We also want to raise awareness and stress that sport should be about the passion and love for the game and it should not be violent, and should be a-political. Once again from the Prince Albert Netball team, thank you to all our supporters.

If you would like to join us, we practise from Monday to Thursday at 17h00 at the Odendaal Sports Grounds.

For more information, please call Lorraine on 0781114280.

Prince Alberters Do Well in Meiringspoort Races

- Abigail Modra -

At 4:30 am on the 17th October twelve Zwartberg Runners set off in a convoy of cars for De Rust on the other side of the Meiringspoort. We were an interesting group, half of us huddled in tracksuits and yawning fiercely, the others alert and ready to go. This was the third consecutive year that Zwartberg Runners had supported the De Rust Striders in their well known event - the Meiringspoort Half Marathon and 10 km.

By the time we reached the Meiringspoort it was light and we took note of the route, water points and kilometre markings on the way. After checking in and pinning on our numbers we headed for the “loading zone” where runners were piling onto trucks, bakkies and buses. We (the 10km runners in our group) were extremely lucky to get seats on a bus!
At the start I was surprised to see how many runners there were - probably twice as many as last year! We spotted a few other Prince Alberters as well, including Charles Roux, Sonja and John Mckenna, Angela Ashworth, Dolla and Karel Grové and Delene and Riaan Coetzee. It took us a good five minutes to get out from behind the walkers and then we were able to pace ourselves all the way to the finish.

The event was well organised and our athletes all did very well, all finishing before the cut-offs.
The times of the Prince Albert participants were as follows:

10km
Joshua Swanepoel 42.34 mins
Louisa Mokoaqo 54.10 mins
Terry Barnato 56.12 mins
Abigail Modra 56.12 mins
Matthew van Heerden 1.01.10 mins
Dalene Coetzee 1:12:39 mins
Karel Grové 1:15:31 mins
Dolla Grové 1:15:31 mins
Hannes vd Westhuizen 1.18.10 mins
Zelia Mullins 1.19.36 mins
John Mckenna 1:20:01 mins
Riaan Coetzee 1:20:07 mins
Iona May 1.25.53 mins
Sonja Mckenna 1:29:22 mins
Angela Ashworth 1:29:38 mins


21.1km
Johanna Mokoaqo 1.45.10 mins
Tracy Swanepoel 1.57.00 mins
Sandy Bower 2.05.11 mins
Charles Roux 2:13:15 mins
Juliana vd Westhuizen 2.16.12 mins
Marushka Erasmus 2.51.35 mins
Charlotte Bothma 2.51.36 mins

Well done Zwartberg Runners and all those other Prince Alberters on the road. By the way, we’d love to have you run or walk in our colours next time! Please join us next year and support the club and so, our community.