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 

New president inducted for Middelburg Rotary Club

It is official; Alida Niehaus has been elected as the new president for the Middelburg Rotary Club. Alida was inducted on Tuesday the 30^th of June to take over on the 1^st of July 2015.

With this big task in front of her Alida said that it is wonderful opportunity and that she is honoured and humbled to have been chosen to serve the Middelburg Rotary Club as president.

"Each president before me has continued to build and develop our Club into one that we are proud to serve. I accept this special role to be a leader and I give my commitment that I will dedicate my year to serving the ideals of Rotary and supporting each individual member of this Club", Alida said.

Alida thanked the past president Graeme & his wife Madelise for their commitment to Rotary during the past year. She also thanked the ladies of the Rotary Anne’s for their continues support.

"The goals set for the new Rotary year are to grow the club's members; to have more fun and fellowship with members, neighbouring clubs and their families; enhancing their public image; introduce a membership programme for new members and to nurture projects and strengthen our major projects", Niehaus said.

For more information about the Middelburg Rotary Club, you can contact Alida Niehaus at alidaniehaus@actioncoach.com.

President Alida Niehaus

AG Charles Deiner

President Alida Niehaus

PP Graeme Leathes 

AG Eddie Dhlamini

PDG Anton Meerkotter

Presidential Theme 2015-16

PRESIDENTIAL THEME

2015-16: BE A GIFT TO THE WORLD

RI President K.R. Ravindran chose Be a Gift to the World as his theme for 2015-16. Ravindran urges Rotary members to give the gifts of time, talent, and knowledge to improve lives in communities across the globe. "Through Rotary, we can take these gifts and make a genuine difference in the lives of others and in our world."

Watch the President's full theme speech

Making a Difference At Sango Combined School

It was with great pleasure that the Middelburg Rotary Club donated school furniture to Sango Combined School as part of our Educational Container Project in partnership with Canada.

Middelburg Interact at Work

On Mandela day, the members of the Middelburg Interact club spent their 67 minutes putting a smile on the elderly people's faces.

We had a soup kitchen which catered for a hundred and we handed out a bowl of soup with fresh rolls in courtesy of Eastdene Saverite.

We took the liberty of going all the way to the Mhluzi Care Centre to carry out this project.

As there was a whole pot of soup left, we decided to donate it to the Middelburg victim support. It made me very happy to know that they were very appreciative as they had nothing to feed the kids before we came
Ashna Patel and the Team