Management Committee, 2018

(Front, f.l.t.r.) Barry Vosloo (Vice-Chairman, Communication), Frikman Nel  (Managing Agent), Gerhard van Rooyen (Chairman, Security), Ingrid van den Berg (Secretary), Werner Pauw (Developer), Elsa Erasmus (Finance).

(Back, f.l.t.r.) Flip Dreyer (Maintenance), Marie Snyman (Residents’ Support), Jadene Horne (Conservation), 

Rita Vosloo (Social Action) and Braam Cilliers (Administration)

Onse Dries wen weer eens

Dries (regs) en sy seun, Stefan

Die African Bowhunters-organisasie se nasionale boogskietkampioenskap is op 18-19 November in die Donkerhoek-omgewing in Pretoria aangebied.

Boogskuts van regoor die land en tot so ver as die Wes-Kaap, het die kompetisie bygewoon en boogskiet in al die verskillende klasse is goed verteenwoordig.

Dries Engelbrecht van Bela-Bela en sy seun, Stefan, spog hier met hul wentrofeë en medaljes vir die langboogklas. [Dries is ‘n inwoner van Warmbad Renaissance (E132) - red.]

[Foto en byskrif ontleen aan Die Pos, ons plaaslike koerant en wenner van die ATKV-mediaveertjie 2017 – beste gemeenskaps- of plaaslike koerant]

Jaareindgeselligheid - 22 November 2017

Ons oord se sosiale aksie-portefeulje moes vanjaar weer eens uithaal en wys toe hulle nagenoeg 100 gemoedelike inwoners tydens ons jaareindgeselligheid op smullekker disse getrakteer het.

Die  foto’s hieronder bied ‘n oorsig van die feestelike geleentheid.

'n Blik oor die keurigversierde lokaal

(V.l.n.r) Marie Snyman, Hester Breet, Ria van Rensburg, Bella van Zyl, Ans du Plessis, Wilma Kense en Renate Schmidt

Mel se mense. Dis vir Mel Smith (heel links) 'n saak van trots dat verreweg die meeste inwoners wat in haar straat woon, die oord se funksies getrou ondersteun. 

Die kaastafel was oudergewoonte 'n wenner 

Two talented residents produce new publication

Bold new publication

Kgalagadi Self-drive – Routes, Roads and Ratings, is a bold new publication from HPH Publishing, the publisher of over 30 books on the environment.

This book offers the vision, creativity and hard work of an exceptionally talented team led by Philip and Ingrid van den Berg who live in U34.

Philip and Ingrid van den Berg

Philip and Ingrid have been visiting the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on a regular basis since the early seventies. Over the years they have developed a deep appreciation of its grandeur. The following photo by Philip clearly captures the magnificent landscape.

Camera artistry

Ingrid was responsible for doing research and writing the text. With her

B. Sc. (Hons.) degree, which includes Zoology, Botany and Entomology, she was well-equipped for this.

Philip, whose expertise in wildlife photography and intimate knowledge of nature gleaned from his extensive background in Environmental Education, dealt with the photographic library. He ensured that the finest pictures were selected.

Kgalagadi Self-drive – Routes, Roads and Ratings combines the very best travel tips and route suggestions with captivating photography as demonstrated by the following picture from one of the book’s heart-stopping photo sequences of a lion kill which was taken by Nick Rabjohn.

Going, going ...

... gone!

HPH Publishing was founded by Philip and Ingrid in 2001. Their youngest son, Heinrich, currently runs the company. Click HERE to visit their website.

In die Bosveld gebore en getoë

Die Van der Merwes

Nadat hulle verskeie woonplekke oorweeg het, het Sakkie (65) en Marietjie (55) van der Merwe besluit dat hulle hulle oudag in Warmbad Renaissance wil deurbring. Hulle huur tans E113 en is in hulle noppies met die gerief en ruimte wat dit bied. Hulle is eweneens hoog in hulle skik met ons oord se goedversorgde terrein en die gawe mense wat hulle tot dusver ontmoet het. Kortweg: hulle is hier so gelukkig soos ʼn kat met sewe sterte!Sakkie is op Kuruman gebore. Hy het in Potchesftroom grootgeword en uiteindelik in 1971 aan die Hoër Tegniese Skool Rustenburg gematrikuleer. Hierna het hy in Pretoria by die voormalige Yskor ʼn vakleerlingskap as ʼn elektrisiën voltooi.

Sakkie het in verskeie hoedanighede in die Yskorgroep van maatskappye gewerk voordat hy by die Grootegeluk-steenkoolmyn op Ellisras uitgetree het om sy eie sakeonderneming van stapel te stuur.

Marietjie is ʼn Bosvelder in hart en niere. Sy is op Nylstroom gebore en getoë. Hier het sy in 1982 aan die Hoërskool Nylstroom gematrikuleer voordat sy ʼn student aan die voormalige Technikon Vrystaat in Bloemfontein geword het. Hier het sy diplomas as ʼn aptekers- en tandheelkundige assistent behaal. Na vele omswerwinge, veral in die Limpopoprovinsie, werk sy tans as ʼn skakelpersoon by die St. Vincents-hospitaal op Bela-Bela.

Sakkie en Marietjie het mekaar op Burgersfort ontmoet en is in 2011 op Cullinan getroud. Hy het twee kinders uit ʼn vorige huwelik, en twee kleinkinders. Marietjie was ook voorheen getroud en het een seun.

Troupantlaners hou straatbraai

Kort na ons oord se ontstaan 26 jaar gelede, het die behoefte aan sosiale interaksie tussen die inwoners uitgeloop op ons straatbraaitradisie. Straatbraaie vervang nie die meer formele geleenthede wat deur die bestuurskomitee se sosiale aksie-portefeulje gereël word nie.

Die doel van ‘n straatbraai is om sommer net ander straatbewoners se geselskap te geniet en om nuwe inwoners in die buurt te verwelkom.

Die volgende foto’s beeld ‘n onlangse straatbraai uit wat deur die inwoners van Troupantlaan aan huis van Connie en René Venter gehou is.

V.l.n.r. verskyn Gerhard Swart, Connie Venter, Pieter Heyneke en Eddie Kuntz.

V.l.n.r. verskyn René Venter, Beatrix Esterhuizen, en Hester Breet

V.l.n.r. verskyn Annette Heyneke, Lirpa Kuntz, Hester Botes, Raaitjie Minny, Linkie Ellis en Annetjie van Vreden

Indigenous tree of the month (8)

During the past few months, we have provided information about the indigenous trees that occur in our village. The purpose was not only to inform, but also to encourage residents to dedicate themselves to their conservation.

This month we feature the last of the series, i.e. the Tree Wistaria (Bolusanthus speciosus), one of the most spectacular of our indigenous trees when in flower. In Afrikaans it is called Vanwykshout.

One of the most spectaclular of our indigenous trees when in flower

PHILIP VAN DEN BERG (U34) writes: Quite a few Tree Wistarias flourish in our village, e.g. close to U124 and U82.

One of a few Tree Wistarias in our village grows next to U124 

The Tree Wistaria is a decorative, slender, upright, small to medium-sized tree that is widespread in the bushveld areas of southern Africa where it prefers to grow where dolerite outcrops are close to the surface. The dark vertically fissured bark is characteristic.

The vertically fissured bark is characteristic

The striking clusters of pale blue to velvet flowers are produced in profusion during September and October, sometimes even before the new leaves appear. Long papery pods are borne in clusters.

The Tree Wistaria blooms in Spring

Long papery pods are borne in clusters

This versatile tree is very hardy and drought resistant, making it ideal for the garden. The roots are not invasive.

The wood of the Tree Wistaria is sought after by carpenters, because it makes excellent furniture. It works well on a lathe, turning out beautiful table lamps and other articles. The straight growing stems are very hard, termite resistant and used for fencing posts. The roots are used medicinally to alleviate stomach problems and the inner bark is used to treat abdominal cramps.