It's Christmas again!!!!!

The Middelburg Rotary Club kickstarted the Christmas Season in Middelburg this weekend when the Christmas streetlights were put up on 100 streetlamps on the main roads of Middelburg.This project gives the children of Middelburg great joy every year, and is a major fundraiser for the Middelburg Rotary Club projects. The lights are used as a marketingopportunity for businessess who sponsor a particular light.


Rotarian Greame Leathes on supervisory duty

Pres Anna Mart and the team at the Care Village

A big big thank you to Rotarian Alida and her mom for ensuring that the workers were provided with food

PP Gaylene making sure that everything goes right!



The 3D Christmas light at Kentucky Fried Chicken

We would like to thank all the sponsors for making this project possible, and all the Rotarians who gave up their Saturday to assist. We must also thank the Steve Tshwete Town Council for making their staff and Cherrypickers available to the club. Finally we would not have been able to connect the lights without the able assistance of the team from Madessa Electrical.

New members at the Middelburg Rotary Club

President Anna Mart Ott hosted an enjoyable Ann's evening at the Midway Hotel on 16 October 2012.
During the evening, Interactor Gustav Brandmuller reported back on his experience at the 2012 RYLA camp which was held at Warriors basecamp in Magoebaskloof.
President Anna Mart also used the opportunity to induct new Rotarians Greame Leathes, Hennie and Engela Engelbrecht, Colleen Deiner and Alida Niehaus into the Club. We would like to welcome them, and hope that they together with their families will enjoy becoming part of the Rotary family.

From left to Right: Rotarian Alida Niehaus. Chris Niehaus, Madelise Leathes, Rotarian Greame Leathes, Pres Anna Marth Ott, Rotarian Hennie Engelbrecht, Rotarian Engela Engelbrecht and Rotarian Colleen Deiner

Another Container from Canada has arrived

Another full container containing school desks, books and ather equipment arrived from Canada on 15 October 2012 and was unloaded by the staff of Wolma Poutry.

Mr Mahlangu from Makathini Primasry School came with his staff to collect the desks that arrived. The pictures says it all.

 

Mr Philly Raphuti from District office came and assisted and collected six wheelchairs, crutches and zimmer frame. The Music director Mr Mntambo called from District office of the department of education as they have identified schools that have music and choirs that are functional. These six pianos where loaded specially for these schools by Grand Bend Rotary and Peter Twynstra.

The 40 000 books that Xstrata required and funded have been loaded and sent to the storage area where the Steve Tswete librarians will sort and assist with the distribution in the containers that Xstrata are placing at schools.

We have received speciality wheel chairs that Colleen Lamprecht from Cycad will be managing.

The sewing machines need adapting and will be able to be used.

We still have soccer jerseys for distribution and some crèche things.

Arrangements have been made to meet with the Sports department of the Department of education to identify schools that need sports injury care equipment. Please contact Charles for more information.

There is now place for the next container which will be landing later this week.

 

Well done and thank you to AG Charles and his team for all the effort.

Loskop Weekend for underprivileged children

Well done to Rotarian Jane Moloisi and her team from the Witbank Rotary Club. They were responsible for the organisation of one of the annual projects funded from Rotary's Greatest Train race....

I also believe a great word of appreciation is in order for President Giovanni and PP Colleen Lamprecht for their hufge work over the weekend.

 The weekend away to Loskop for underprivileged children. With the help of Rotarians, Interactors and Rotaracters from Middelburg and Witbank, these 45 children had a memorable weekend.

Thank you also to DG Martin and Christina for sharing your vision of Rotary with us on Friday night

Children waiting for food

Instructions from Witbank Rotarians

Witbank Rotarians responsible for the success of the weekend

Supervision by Rotaractors Sakkie and Hannes, and Interactors Gustav and Merlin???

The 2012 Rotary Greatest Train Race



The tunnel finish branded by sponsors

The 2012 Rotary Greatest Train Race organised by the Rotary Clubs of Middelburg, Witbank and Middelburg Cycad took place on 18 August.



The medal which all participants received

The largest race in the 26 year history of the event attracted the entries of nearly 23000 participants. More than 140 busses were used to transport the athletes to their respective changeovers - Somewhat of a logistical challenge!

The 1st team finishes!!!

The Rotary Clubs made use of more than 900 volunteer marshalls to ensure the smooth running of the event.
As always the Train Race was a huge success with many smiles and lots of laughter. The participating companies used the event as a team building opportunity as well as an opportunity for their employees to let of some steam.
In this process the Rotarians hope to raise more than R1 million for the benefit of the needy in the community. We will keep you posted to see if the target was achieved.

Participants stream across the finish line

We would like to thank our main sponsors, Anglo American, Eskom and Xstrata Coal for their continued support of the race. The race would also not have been possible if it was not supported by a number of other sponsors who contributed in some manner (large and small).




It was also wonderful to be joined by Rotarians from Louis Trichardt (and the Agorra ladies), Pretoria West, Rustenburg and White River, who helped as marshalls. We look forward to having you here again at the 2013 Race.

The ladies from Louis Trichardt

PDG Nic van Zyl and Joan joined us from White River

AG Ian Bannatyne (Louis Trichardt) enjoying a meal and a chat after a hard day at one of the change overs

Congratulations and well done to the Organising Committee of the 2012 Greatest Train Race, Rotarians and the Volunteers who were involved in a wonderful day!!!!!

Former Chairpersons of the Race Andre Brandmuller and Anthony Beale enjoying a few memories

The sign says it all!!

The success of the day was mirrored by the comment of Middelburg Mayor Mike Masina, who indicated that he would like to have a meeting with the Organisers of the Greatest Train Race and the Chambers of Commerce in order to join hands in the growth of the event.

A well earned rest for the VTT Team from D6400

The VTT Team from D6400 spent the last 3 days of their visit to D9400 in the Kruger National Park for a well earned rest after having worked extremely hard in the preceding period. Although they did not see all of the Big 5, they most certainly enjoyed the tranquility of the park.

The team even had time to discuss the issues of sustainability and the way forward over a few glasses of wine.

Thank you, Mary Jeanne, Jeanne, Sue, Karen and Dave for the wonderful work you have done.

VTT Team reports to the Rotary Clubs

DG Martin and Christina Forsyth Thompson

On 31 July 2012 President Anna Mart Ott presided over a joint meeting and Anns Evening of the Rotary Clubs of Middelburg, Middelburg Cycad and Witbank. It was wonderful that DG Martin Forsyth Thompson and his wife Chistina could join us to listen to the presentation of the VTT Teams from D6400 and D9400. It was clear from the presentation by the teams as that this VTT has had a huge impact on the educators who participated, and it was great to hear that many of these teachers are already implementing the strategies shared by the VTT in the classrooms.

Mary Jeanne specifically mentioned that some of the success of this project must be attributed to the support of mr JJ Mabena of the Mpumalanga Department of Education.

 DG Martin correctly remarked that the VTT component in Global Grants has added a much needed element into the pprogrammes of the Rotary Foundation. Thank you to all the Rotarians who have assisted, and congratulations to the 2 teams on a job well done!!!!!!

Team Leaders Marie Jeanne Gallagher and Elaine Galanakis sharing their views of the exchange with Rotarians and their partners