Franschhoek Tatler
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Birds, Beasts & Bush Club
Rhino charity organises Big 5 trip for Kusasa scholars
Robyn Kadis
Brian van der Walt of Brian’s Birding and who is the honorary President of the Tygerberg Bird Club was our speaker at the May BBB Club meeting. As luck would have it, it was one of the “load-shedding” days and his presentation was delayed by an hour but he was able to give us some good insights on how to start a birding life-list and some interesting places to visit while we waited. Being one of the most experienced birders that I know, having been a birder for the past 52 years, it was a privilege to have Brian address our club. The next meeting will take place on Saturday 13 June at 15h00 at Artemis Barn. For more information please
Franschhoek Athletics Club Nolan Hendon
After two dysfunctional years in 2013 and 2014, during which service delivery to athletes came to a halt, Franschhoek Athletic Club would like the
Brian van der Walt and Robin Kadis
call Robyn Kadis 072 999 8581 or email bbbclubfrhk@ gmail.com. The club is open to anyone who loves nature and wildlife. Visitors are welcome. community to know that the situation has been remedied under the new steering committee. The new committee consists of: Nolan Hendon (Chairperson), Jeff Roziers (Treasurer) and Hedwig Blaauw (Secretary). The club would like everyone to know that they are welcome to join. Time trails will be held every Tuesday from 18h00. For more information please contact Nolan Hendon at 072 785 6529.
Franschhoek Lions Club
Probus Club Marj Dale
The Probus Club is a local association of retired or semi-retired professional or business people, (or others who have had a measure of responsibility in any field of worthy endeavour), who are of good character and are respected in their communities. The Club meets once a month for fellowship and interesting talks. Come along and see what it’s all about. We meet
Rotary News Mark Tanner
On 21 April a party of 13 Rotarians, from the Rotary Club of Hereford in the UK, led by President Judy Bolton, were welcomed at Cape Town International Airport by members of the Rotary Club of the Franschhoek Valley. During the next four days the group enjoyed scenic drives, wine tastings and visits to Rotary projects in Paarl and Franschhoek. These included the Drakenstein Palliative Hospice, Butterfly House and local ongoing work focused on childcare and early learning for pre-school children. The Hereford club were also responsible for contributing R47 000 towards the purchase of a car for the Franschhoek Hospice. From Franschhoek the group travelled to Knysna to attend a Rotary conference.
On 2 May conservation charity, Poached Rhino, with a donation from the St. James’s Place Foundation (UK) and in conjunction with the Kusasa Project, took 14 local scholars (chosen by Kusasa) on an educational trip to Aquila game reserve. The scholars were treated to a 3-hour field trip to learn about the Big 5, conservation and flora and fauna. Poached Rhino trustee, Graeme Oliver, said of the trip: “We are hoping that the scholars may be inspired to pursue a career in conservation, or become a vet or game warden and also to better understand why our rhinos are being poached.”
The children were provided with transport by Kusasa (and accompanied by Sintu (driver) and Kirsten (teacher from Franschhoek High School) and they received bags, pens, lunch, drinks and educational brochures from Poached Rhino. Poached Rhino also provided bags and pens to Wes Eind Primary School. Oliver said that Poached Rhino intends to organise more trips for other local school children and invited the public to contact him if they would like more information or donate for future school trips. graeme@poachedrhino.org | www.poachedrhino.org
Colleen Douglas
(FLTR) Thys Geyser (Lions member), Mariaan v d Merwe (ACVV) and Wayne Buckley (Lions President)
Opvoedkundige beampte tree af Marlene Williams was vir 12 jaar die opvoedkundige beampte by die Hugenote Gedenkmuseum in Franschhoek. Sy het op 1 November 2003 in die pos begin en op 27 Maart hierdie jaar die nuwe, meer rustige, wêreld van pensioenaris betree. Die pligte van opvoedkundige beampte sluit die omsien na skoolgroepe in, asook uitreiking na skole in die omgewing. Begeleide toere, Vrouedag, Jeugdag en die jaarlikse rose uitstalling aan die einde van Oktober is ook op die lys. Bykomende verpligtinge in die portefeulje is die aktiwiteite en praatjies rondom die natuurtuin, vrugteboerdery, kunsuitstallings en die geskiedenis van die Khoi en San. Marlene se kollegas sê haar bydrae by die museum was indrukwekkend. Sy was hardwerkend en 100% toegewydheid. Hulle mis reeds hulle vriendelike, bedagsame en pligsgetroue kollega.
Graeme and Julie Oliver (Poached Rhino Trustees) pictured with Siseko, Josh, Amanda, Aphiwe, Sinoluvo, Shawn, Cardia, Annique, Sue-Ria, Wade, Chantelle, Luretia, Stephanie, Raylyn
Hospice News
Lodine Maske
The Franschhoek Lions Club held a fundraising event at Foliage Restaurant in Franschhoek to raise money for the ACVV. They raised R25 000 that was donated to the ACVV to assist them with their running costs. The ACVV is a non-profit organisation that renders social services to the broader community of Franschhoek and more specifically, the previously disadvantaged. Their Groendal office is heavily dependent on donations to fund projects and community programmes.
June 2015
Marlene Williams
at Café Bon Bon at 12h30 for 13h00. During the year we cover a range of topics and always advise our members of what is going on. This month our meeting is on 1 June and our speaker is Mike Moody who will talk about the construction of Soccer City for the 2010 World Cup and how close we came to losing the right to hosting it! His talk includes a 20 min film. Probus is a club where you can meet new people and make new friends with similar interests. We welcome new members. The joining fee is only R50, ongoing annual fee of R100 per year. If you have any queries please contact the secretary, Marj Dale, at 028 840 0955, or 071 987 8080. We would love to hear from you.
Our comedy evening on 4 May kicked off with splendid wines generously donated by Haut Espoir. Guests were served by Rob Armstrong and the Hospice staff as they made their way to be seated for an evening of fun and laughter. Two hundred people packed the NGK Hall to be entertained by the incredible comic and satirist, Nik Rabinowitz. Shrieks of laughter, hands covering mouths in disbelief, heads thrown back, bodies doubled over, these were just a few of effects that the comedy had on the audience. This wonderful evening raised over R16 000. Thank you to the NG Kerk for the hall and all its amenities, Rob Armstrong of Haut Espoir for the wine, James Stewart for his superb sounds system, Craig McNaught for being our technician for the evening, Peter and Bradley for the magnificent 5-star accommodation they provided at 21 Roux Street. The Franschhoek Literary Festival was another good fundraiser for Hospice. With 300 books and 400 chicken burgers sold, we raised R18 000 before expenses. Thank you to the Hospice staff and to the
SPCA News
Colleen Douglas
As we all know there are lots of positive things happening in Groendal with the fabulous new sports centre, early learning centre and community beautification project and this continues at our Franschhoek SPCA with the work we do for our local animals. We got into the spirit by undertaking some much-needed fixing up of our premises and grounds including repairs and painting of our two buildings. On behalf of us all I would like to give huge thanks to some very special people who help to keep our animal charity going forward in so many different ways. Stellenbosch Municipality for their grant in aid; Errol Cunnama from Travellers Lodge for being our project manager on recent repairs and fixing up of our clinic and grounds; The Podlashuk Bellingchamp National Heritage Foundation Trust who continue to give support in so many different ways; Annette Phillips and Anita Henrich who organised events to raise sorely-needed funds for our sterilisation project; Grahame Tungate - a tourist who upon returning to Canada organised boxes of leads and collars with his local Toronto SPCA for us to hand out to responsible animal owners within our community; Anna Venter who helps with animal rescue if our vehicle is unavailable and Kobus Venter who helps with any metal work; Jeannie and Graeme Comrie who monitor our collection tins and Clinic Monies; committee members and volunteers Anne Stone, Maggi Marjoram, Dawn Darlington, Jane Parkfelt, Leon Coetzee and Arwenn Kummer who do so many things including helping at our clinic, picking up and dropping off animals in need of help, walking dogs, selling of subsidised food, finding equipment we need, etc. etc. Thank you also to our youth volunteers Austin Daniels, Corne Cornelissen, Hannah Maytham, Gaia du Plessis and Anwar Arnolds. We also cannot forget about those members of the public who help by
Nik Rabinowitz caused laughter fatigue at the Hospice comedy evening.
following volunteers who worked during the weekend: Jan, Roger, Chestlin, Darryl, Adel, Pat, Jill, Hilary, Liz, Larry, Marilyn, Ethan, Mathew and Patrick. Further thanks go to Mrs Mostert for the generous donation of lettuce and tomatoes, Pick n Pay for the fridge and Porcupine Ridge for the umbrella and base. Remember our Café BonBon dinner on 27 June – An Evening in Paris. Seating is limited. Call Hospice now to reserve your tickets. One of our flats will be available for a short term rental. 15 June to 30 August, fully furnished, WI-FI and DStv included. Call Adel on 072 782 7482 notifying us of any animals in need of help; donate coins to our SPCA collection tins; have a ‘My School’ card in support of our charity; local business who donate products for fund raising and local residents who donate their personal belongings to be sold … all of the funds raised help with our basic general running costs allowing other monies to go directly to helping animals in need. Last, but of course not least, our SPCA employees Lilly, Haneley and Nathan who deal with and do what many of us can’t do … We thank you all! With your help Franschhoek SPCA mission for 2015 and 2016!!! In the first four months this year we have sterilised 200 animals. We want to triple, if not quadruple, our sterilisation numbers from last year in the hope of drastically reducing animal numbers within our communities and making sure the animals we have are healthy and happy. As we all know, throughout the world wild animals are under constant threat with many species in decline if not virtually extinct, whereas domestic animal numbers are out of control and this problem often leads to the many various forms of cruelty. The only real answer to this problem is: • Constant owner education • Encouraging owners and our communities to be more responsible • Work with landowners who often have employees resident on their land owning to many animals – usually not sterilised • Sterilisation projects! • Work with our municipality to have our by-laws updated to meet the needs of the 21st century by introducing tighter controls relating to animal ownership and allowing us more effective prosecution if cruelty is found The problem 1 cat and her offspring in 7 years can potentially produce 290 000 cats 1 dog and her offspring in 7 years can potentially produce 69 000 dogs Until this problem is solved we live by the words of Nelson Mandela: “It always seems impossible until it’s done” and “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”