It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas....

For the 2019 festive season we decided to change things up a little.

In addition to the large Christmas street lights which are installed at the Middelburg Mall for three months over the festive period, we decided to give the individuals of Middelburg the opportunity to contribute in a small way.

This year we used old light bulbs and painstakingly hand painted and decorated each to create our own festive Christmas ornaments.

The project was the first of its kind and a resounding success, and hopefully the start of many similar projects to come in the future.

Canadian & American Friendship Exchange 2019

In November 2019 our club got to host a team of Rotarians from Canadian & American District 6330. 

Our goal for the week was simple: Give our guests a picture of what our club does in our community, sharing our different cultures and what it means to be a member of our club. 

Each day we climbed onto the bus, with our trusty driver/guide Charles and two of our club members, Taylor & Mart, who acted as additional guides. From nursery school and education projects on the outskirts of town to handing out layettes donated from our Canadian guests at the Middelburg Provincial Hospital Maternity Unit and every project in between. Our guests,some of which have been instrumental in making our Container Project a success, were able to see what our Club does in our community and also the unique challenges that we face.  

Although Rotary is a service organisation, we also aim to have fun. 

From the Christmas braai - show and tell; visiting an animal rehabilitation center;  a visit to the local pub and enjoying some traditional food to Taylor running through the mall with the Canadian flag collecting our guests from a rushed last minute shopping spree. Overall the week was a resounding success, both informative and fun.

On a more personal note:

For one week our members opened up their homes to our fellow Rotarians from abroad, giving us an opportunity to learn more about each other and the differences in our cultures. For these members it was a truly unforgettable experience that they will cherish for many years to come. This was a very real reminder of just how big our organisation is and how many opportunities it offers. 

#RotaryConnectsTheWorld

Christmass Braai / Show and Tell

Club Flag Handover

Our first meeting and meal with our visitors #bunnychow

The wheels on the bus go round and round...

Sing along at a local nursery school

Visiting a local orphanage and handing over toys

Layette handover at the Middelburg Provincial Hospital Maternity Unit

Official Friendship Exchange Pin

First Annual Rotary Club of Middelburg Charity Golf Challenge

On the 10th of October 2019 the Rotary Club of Middelburg hosted it's first annual Charity Golf Challenge.
This was a new and exciting challenge for our club. A way to raise funds while having fun and interacting with our community members in a new way. After months of planning and organizing we were faced with the one thing we could not plan for, terrible weather.
On one of the coldest and windiest days of the year fun was had by all the golfers and sponsors who braced the cold to support our club and raise funds for various education projects as well as Polio awareness.
Our club handed out "purple polio drops" and "Purple 4 Polio" ribbons at our green, using a fun platform to raise Polio awareness.

We would like to thank all the participants and sponsors for making our First Annual RCM Charity Golf Challenge a success. We hope to see you all again next year....

Supported by our Round Table Middelburg 126

Prize Giving

Our golf green Champions Raising Polio Awareness and handing our "Purple Polio Drops" and ribbons.

Celebrating our 50th Edu-Container!

Many schools in South Africa do not have the tools and equipment to provide a good education. Our Literacy project in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Grand Bend, Canada aims at delivering equipment to our district’s most needy schools. Books, desks, chairs, sport equipment, musical instruments, medical equipment (too name a few) are sent from Canada and distributed to these schools via our dedicated project team in Middelburg.

The Middelburg Rotary Club receives containers from the Rotary Club of Grand Bend, Canada and it is stored at our warehouse until the club distributes these goods to the needy schools.

We recently celebrated our 50^th Container and the party, which had great food and drink on offer, was lapped up by everyone. It was truly a joint celebration of a joint effort well delivered and well deserved!

We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone that supports this amazing project and we look forward to the next 50 containers!

  

Rotary clubs exist to improve communities through a range of humanitarian, intercultural and educational activities. Clubs advance international understanding by partnering with clubs in other countries. Rotary also encourages high ethical standards in all vocations. – Call on us to find out how you can get involved and Be a Gift to the World.

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Rotarian Called To Higher Service

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Marietjie Kruger has passed away from cancer. She  and her husband Fanus worked tirelessly on the Badplaas Rotary Resort (also known as SWEMB) and were Paul Harris Fellows. She will be dearly missed and our sincere condolences to Fanus and the family.  Memories of a loved one.... I feel a warmth around me like your presence is so near. And I close my eyes to visualise your face when you were here. I endure the times we spend together and they are locked inside my heart, for as long as I have those memories we will never be apart. Even though we cannot speak anymore my voice is always there, because every night before I sleep I have you in my prayer. For Anton, Steve

Fanus and Marietjie receive a Paul Harris recognition.

Parmeshwar (Charlie) Panday becomes Paul Harris Fellow

During the annual Greatest Train Race on 22 August, Charlie Panday, was named a Paul Harris Fellow.

Parmeshwar (Charlie) Panday with Max Kohler (Chairman of GTR) and District Governor David Grant

The Paul Harris Fellow is awarded in recognition of an individual who has made a substantial and tangible contribution towards the betterment of the community or the country. The honour is bestowed on behalf of a Rotary International Club and is handed to persons who fulfil the Rotary Motto of “Service Above Self” within the community. Paul P Harris was the founding member of Rotary International in 1905 and the title of being a Fellow stems from sharing the founding members’ beliefs.

The award recognises Charlie's generosity and financial contribution towards community upliftment and the support of the EduContainer Project with the Middelburg Rotary Club and Canada. 

Charlie Panday is among several other prominent South Africans who have received a Paul Harris Fellow, including, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Raymond Ackerman, George Bizos, and Nelson Mandela.

The Paul Harris Fellow

The 29th Annual Greatest Train Race

On Saturday, 23 August 2015 we held our annual Greatest Train Race that started in Witbank and ended in Middelburg.  

Both walkers and runners had the option of running either a 5K  Fun Run or a 15K or the full 39K.  Teams could be entered for relay or as individual runners.

More fun, food and fellowship happened after the race at the end site where big hospitality tents and the Rotary Ann's also entertained underprivileged children, elderly and the disabled at the Middelburg Care Village.

The proceeds from the race go to several organisations and also to the three Rotary clubs in the area.  Our aim is to support our local community by using the proceeds for amazing projects.  

On behalf of the Middelburg Rotary Club, we want to say thank you to all Organisers, Sponsors, Athletes, the many Rotarians from neighbouring towns and Friends of Rotary that helped make this event another successful and fun day!

Please enjoy some photos below.

For more news from GTR, go to www.gtr.co.za