Fellow Ship @ the Kruger National Park

The Middelburg Rotary club went on a fellowship weekend at the Kruger National Park.



Everybody arrived at the Park the Friday afternoon and with great enthusiasm bragged about the fact that most has seen die Big 5 the first day. With great pleasure Charles told about the Lions and Cheetah’s they saw on their first day.


We all had a very relaxing evening sharing experiences around the fires. Saturday morning by dawn most of the Rotarians were off seeking the best photos and stories for the camp fire tales.


 
That evening everybody could not stop chatting about the wonderful weather, all the animals they saw and just having a great fellowship.
 
Danie Walker received the Fellowship Trophy which is a dinosaur in a bamboo cage. This trophy was affectionately known as the “deiner sore ass” as it has been living at Charles and Colleen’s home for the last 18months. There were a number of candidates for the trophy. However as the evening progressed Danie raised the tempo and his daughter…… decided that the trophy would now become the “danie sore ass”. Well done Danie.

The Rotarians that went to the Kruger would like to thank Cliff and Carol for the excellent arrangements making this trip possible, Thanks guys!

JULIEO – THE TRAIN OF FAME

The famous ‘Julieo’ alias Eleven Twenty Seven train was donated to Middelburg in 1972 where she rested for 26 years at Steve Twshete Local Municipality in Middelburg Mpumalanga.

The train was rescued by Mrs. Anna-Marth Ott, CEO of Middelburg Chamber of Commerce

Then the imaginative BIG move started for this 61 ton Locomotive.  Months of planning to get the timing 100% for this move to the Busmid Building at the Chamber of Commerce. The big day was on the 6 October 2010, the town was filled with Riggers, Safety Managers, Managers CEO’s of the sponsors, 71 ton Crane, and Lowbed Trucks, it seemed like Middelburg was moving.

The moving action took a full 12 hours to complete. Julieo had to be treated for some serious ‘einas’ that happened as a result of a lack of maintenance over the 26 years at the municipality.

Nothing ever runs smoothly. During the lifting process to place Julieo on her new laid tracks at the Busmid Building in front of Dros, the crane had to put her down because the ground was unstable and the huge crane’s feet started sinking into the ground

 

At 18h18 Julieo was placed on her new honored tracks for a well deserved rest and renovation that will be driven by the Middelburg Rotarians.

This day would never have been possible without the generous sponsorships from:


Steve Tshwete Local Municipality-Steam Locomotive- Escorting the low beds and controlling of traffic, Johan Janse van Rensburg/ Marius Brits-Project Manager/Planning, Builders Market-Building material, Siyakana Construction- Building, Quick Step-Concrete for foundation, Van Wettens-Transport, Johan Lee Bouers- Filling Sand, Ammeka Industries-Lifting equip. testing, Midplan Vervoer/Cemsquared/Hytec- Filling Sand, Columbus Stainless-Lifting Equipment/manpower, EPA- Survey of new area, Kanonkop Hardware-Barrier tape and Vests, F&K Engineering-Palisade modifications /loco, ME Industries-Transport of lifting Equip., Johnson Crane Hire-Crane, Schalk Smit-Labour, Sakkie Swart- Rigging Supervisor, Kanhym Estates-Gazebo, Little Elephant-Sound System, Dros- Parking Area and Umbrella's, Stimela Rail-Rails & Gravel, Executive Risk Control- Security Guards, Optimum Coal-Rigging equipment, Talisman-Compactors.

Karnallieland@McDonalds

Rotarians Solly Mogola, Alta Baartman, Mariette Stapelberg and Colleen Deiner (Ann’s President) had the privilege to take disabled children from Karnalie Land to McDonald for a well deserved party.


Arriving by bus the excitement was clear on the smiling and chatting faces. They couldn’t wait for the party to start.

The party food arrived and the excitement was clearly heard that their “own crowned head master” had to bring them to silence and insist that their table prayer should be performed; this is the honesty of a child. They were guided in their prayer by the care giver which teaches them to be thankful for all the blessings they receive, this was the most heartfelt thing we experienced and the fight to stop tears started then.

Solly assisted with the eating part of hamburgers, they had great fun and enjoyed the attention; he had a tear in the eye most of the time.

The children that were able had great fun on the playground, sounded like bees chatting away, singing songs and just relaxing and enjoying the day.  The social worker confirmed that the kids couldn’t stop talking about their trip to McDonald for the past week. She thanked the Rotarians for the wonderful out reach.

Rotary would like to thank the sponsors: Party : Mr Solly Mogola from Bambanani Health and Safety, Mr Jack Mathiba for the transport supplied

Rotary Middelburg Golf Day

                                   Rotary Middelburg’s 1st Golf day with a difference.......

Middelburg Rotary Club had their 1st very successful golf day on the 29 June 2010 at the Middelburg Golf Club.
The aim of the golf day was to generate funds for Setatuka Trust, Rosebuds in Nazareth, and Hospice which is ongoing.
This was a golf day with a difference; the ‘shot gun start’ had all 32 four ball teams start at the same time with play. The aim was that business people could still go to their offices in the morning and have a fun and relaxed afternoon of golf.

The raffle ticket winner of this magnificent price was very pleased with his winning.

One of the unique prizes sponsored by Shanduka Coal

In general comments of players, was very positive and all indicated that they will definitely support our golf day again.

1st Winners

2nd Winners

3rd Winners

Some players of the Golf Day

Rotarians at work......

SAVF Middelburg

Rotarians Albert Myburg and Alta Baartman had the privilege to deliver well needed beds to the SAVF Middelburg for their medical department on 01 September 2010.

Present: Heleen v Heerden, Koos Jacobs, Jony Coetzer, Albert Myburg

Middelburg and Middelburg Cycad jointly host the DG!

The Middelburg and Middelburg Cycad Rotary clubs jointly hosted the DG at an Ann's evening on 6 September during the DG's official visit. It was a wonderful evening of fellowship where the benefits of meeting fellow Rotarians in relaxed environs was once again demonstrated. DG Francis, during his address to the club expressed his satisfation with the projects that the clubs are involved in, and reiterated that the Future Vision plan, and grants in terms thereof will require clubs to work together more and more. He also gave the frightening statistic that Rotary had 1.2 million Rotarians in 1994, lost 1.2 million Rotarians through death or resiganation between 1994 and 2010, and still has 1.2 million Rotarians. There is no doubt that all clubs need to put in a huge effort to retain members which have recently joined. DG Ann Janet briefly addressed the club and placed particular emphasis on the pleasure of planting the first tree in her year as DG Ann. The evening was concluded by AG Jan Botha thanking the clubs for their commitment to their projects, and DG Francis for all his effort.
PS President Charles and AG Jan did look spiffing in their tuc's.

The DG is in town!!

District Governor Francis Callard and his better half, Janet were in town today for the annual DG's visit to the Rotary Clubs of Middelburg and Middelburg Cycad. AG Jan Botha, President Charles and Rotarian Albert of the Middelburg Club, and PP's John Brislin and Wessie van der Westhuisen of Cycad (in the absence of President Colleen) took DG Francis and Janet for a whirlwind tour of Rotary Projects in the area.
The first stop was Elandslaagte farmschool where President Charles could brag (and Headmistress Heleen expressed her thanks) about the installation of water pumps and tanks which were much needed to address a severe shortage of water at the overcrowded school.

There is now even enough water to supply a small vegetable garden to assist in the nutritional needs of the children.

The Middelburg Rotary club has also been involved with the stocking of the library at the school and has supplied every child with his/her own dictionary. In addition through a kind donation from Canada, the school has been supplied with virtually new school desks and chairs.

Before being allowed to leave the school, DG Ann Janet was commandeered into planting a tree there on behalf of the Middelburg Rotary Anns, as part of one of the Anns projects.( And Boy..... Can she handle a shovel!!!!!)

Back in town, The Middelburg Cycad Club showed off the incinerator at the St Joseph's home for the Aged which was one of their major projects as well as the vegetable garden which not only serves St Josephs, but also contributes to some feeding schemes in the area.

After a hot and dusty day DG Francis and Janet were happy to enjoy a hamburger and a drink in the cool environment of the Burger Hut Restaurant.