Prince Albert Friend: April 2007
Prince Albert se olyftoekoms is blink. Met drie olyfboere wat stewig in die olyfsaal sit en met ‘n olyffabriek in aanbou, is ons in die wegspringblokke om die lint te breek as die olyfmekka van die Karoo!
Toe Jan Bothma in 1973 sy eerste eksperimentele hektaar olywe op Swart-rivier geplant het, kon hy skaars voorsien dat hy in 2007 vir die 13de jaar sy olyffeesstalletjie in die strate van Prince Albert sou kom opslaan.
Vandag, met 3000 volgroeide bome, oes en bewerk Jan en sy vrou Annalien en hul kinders Cobus, Jan en Carolien, tussen 50 en 80 ton olywe per jaar. Onder die Swartrivier etiket word bemark: ingemaakte groen, halfryp en swart olywe, gedroogde olywe, olyfpasta en olyfolie.
Jan deel graag sy kennis van sy geliefde produk. Hy lewer twee praatjies oor olywe en olyfolie tydens die fees. Sorg dat jy daar is om jou ore te spits sodat jy ook kan saampraat as dit kom by Manzanilla, Leccino en Mission!
Tydens die fees bied die Bothmas ook ‘n laatoggendontbyt aan onder die verwelkomende boorde op Swartrivier. Dit beloof om ‘n gesellige en interessante feesaktiwiteit te wees; kaartjies en aanwysings is te kry by die toerismeburo en kaartjiestalletjie.
Fred Badenhorst is ‘n man wat ‘n intieme verhouding het met grond. In 1997 sien hy al die goeie waarde in die bodem van Prince Albert raak en besluit om De Beerstraat 12 te koop. Gou is die paar hektaar nie wyd, breed en lank genoeg nie en hy skaf die plaas Rosendal aan - waar hy wingerd, neute en 15 ha olywe aanplant.
Hier byt die olyfgogga hom behoorlik en hy en sy vrou Anobé vertrek na Spanje, Italië en Griekeland om te gaan kyk na die hoe en die wat van die olyfbedryf.
Met sy terugkoms spring hy en sy bestuurder Essie in met ‘n span werkers en sit 21 ha van die ou Raap-en-Skraap Karavaanpark se grond onder olywe. Calamata, Mission en Manzanilla is die eetolywe, Frantoia, Coratina en Letchino die olieolywe wat aangeplant word. Terselfdertyd begin hulle ‘n kwekery waar boompies in tonnels gewortel word. Na sowat nege maande is die boompies sterk genoeg om oorgeplant te word en die eerste drag word verwag so vier, vyf jaar later.
Olyfkenner Linda Costa het die boorde onlangs besoek en sê dis van die mooiste bome wat sy nog gesien het. Die 2007 oes van 10 ton laat Fred en Essie se harte swel van trots en vreugde. Fred is ook bly dat PA Olives broodnodige werk skep vir werkers wat andersins ledig sit en wag vir die vrugteseisoen om weer aan te breek.
Intussen het die grond by Koelhoogte ook Badenhorst besit geword en die eerste 8 ha bome staan reeds kniehoog. Op Leeu-Gamka word 100 ha olywe beplan… Saam met die aanplantings op Stilplaas sal PA Olives binnekort 150 ha Karoogrond onder olywe hê. Fred sê Prince Albert is ‘n gesonde en goeie plek vir olywe. Die droë klimaat beteken daar is min swamme en siektes in die boorde.
Met PA Olives gevestig en op koers is ‘n ekstra ruim gebou in Prince Albert se industrieële gebied aangekoop en dit word tans ingerig as olyffabriek. Klein en opkomende boere sal welkom wees om hul olywe hier te kom verkoop of om hul olywe hier laat pers en onder hul eie etiket te bemark.
Kredouw Olive Oil
John Southern, owner of Rosendal farm, at the top of the Kredouw Pass estimates his olive harvest this year at 20 tons. He has 5000 trees on his farm, all about six years old, including a range of cultivars: Coratina, Frantoio, Leccino, Manzanilla, Mission and Favolosa. They started harvesting early this year, as one of the cultivars was ready at that time. John is "very happy" with this year's harvest, given the age of the trees, the climatic conditions and the water situation.
Most of the harvest will be pressed for oil and although most of this year’s produce will be sold by someone else, John plans to bottle what he keeps to sell under his Kredouw Olive Oil label. He plans on bottling and selling more and more of his own oil and planting more olive trees over the next several years.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 11:48 PM 0 comments
Labels: Olive Festival, olives, Olyffees, Olywe
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 11:44 PM 0 comments
Aan die stand van die bekende sterrebeelde word dit nou met `n blik na bo in die nagtelike hemel duidelik dat ons al in die Herfs is.
Die bekende Orion skuif al meer weswaards en maak plek vir Leo wat nou op sy rug in die aand bokant ons koppe lê en dit beteken 12 uur sterretyd = Herfs.
Behalwe vir die helder Regulus (klein koning) is daar in Leo nog `n helder "ster" wat nie normaalweg daar hoort nie en dit is die planeet Saturnus in al sy prag.
Die maand Mei begin met die seldsame aandverskyning van die vinnige Mercurius wat op die 2de op sy helderste sal wees, maar vir sy waarneming sal mens definitief op Gordonkoppie moet wees.
Venus word al hoe helderder onderweg na haar helderste verkyning op die 5de Julie en sal nou sigbaar wees vir `n paar ure na sonsonder. In `n sterk verkyker of in `n teleskoop kan mens sien dat Venus fases vertoon soos die Maan.
Dit was wat Galileo Galilei met sy teleskoop waargeneem het en dit was vir hom die bewys van die korrektheid van die heliosentriese wêreldbeeld.
Die Europese satelliet Venus-Express het in April 2006 by Venus aangekom en in `n wentelbaan om die planeet ingeswenk om vir ons meer inligting omtrent die oppervlakte van ons buurplaneet te kan versamel.
Jupiter word ook helderder en is nou die hele nag sigbaar in die sterrebeeld Skerpioen.
Jupiter se vier groot mane Io, Europa, Ganimedes en Kallisto is soms in baie aanskoulike konfigurasies met hulle planeet te sien en dit gebeur weer hierdie maand op die 4de, 10de en 19de dat hulle almal op `n feitlik reguit lyn sal lê.
Nuwe Maan is op die 15de Mei en op die 18de sal Mercurius, die sekelmaan met aardskyn), Aldebaran, Venus en Saturnus almal saam sigbaar wees op die Ekliptika.
Ekliptika word die vlak van die Aarde se baan on die Son genoem en dit is ook op hierdie vlak waar al die ander planete en die Maan te vinde is. Die 12 sodiaksterrebeelde (diereriembeelde) lê ook op of naby hierdie vlak . So kan dit gebeur dat die Maan soms `n ster van `n sodiaksterrebeeld kan verberg (okkulteer).
`n Okkultasie van El Nath (ß Tauri, helder ster in die noordelike horing van die Bul) deur die Maan vind plaas op die 18de vanaf 18h23 tot 19h12 . Dit kan met behulp van `n verkyker op `n driepoot waargeneem word.
Labels: Sterreprag, Sterreprag oor Prince Albert
Prince Albert's Museum is a companionable, homely place - it should be, for the collection arose from the dreams and magpie instincts of a generous woman: Fransie Pienaar.
Born on the farm Lammerkraal in 1897, Fransie was educated locally and then went to Cape Town to study at the Sullivan College of Music. She returned to the district to marry farmer Giddy Pienaar and started collecting antiques and objects of interest to the extent that when she and Giddy retired to Prince Albert in 1956 an entire room of their home was dedicated to her collection.
Terwyl sy in die dorp was, het Fransie geleentheid gehad om nog items te versamel, en die NG_Kerk her vir haar ‘n saal geleen. Teen 1972 was daar egter meer plek vir ’n muis nie. Teen dié tyd was Fransie se skoonseun, Frikkie Allers, burgemeester. Hy het die Raad oortuig om ‘n huis in Kerkstraat vir Fransie te leen. Op die dag van die amptelike opening het sy die hele versameling vir die mense van Prince Albert gegee. Sedertdien het dit net gegroei en is verskuif na die huidige perseel, voorheen die huis van die Haak-familie.
Fransie was vir etlike jare die ‘kurator’, en dit het vir haar eindelose plesier verskaf om besoekers rond te wys. Sy het hul ook vermaak met musiek op haar mondfluitjie en huisorrel. Sy sterf op die gryse ouderdom van 87.
There's more to the Fransie Pienaar Museum than meets the eye. Behind the building you will find a still where the local witblits is made – you can see it in action from 10.00am on Friday 27th April and there’s a witblits tasting at 2.00pm. You might even need a sip of witblits to give you courage to enter the Museum's haunted room. Ask curator, Jonathan Rolfe to tell you the tale of a ghostly guest in what used to be a parlour. Check the Town and Olive Festival programme for all the walks and talks that start at the Museum, which is open throughout the Festival.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 11:41 PM 0 comments
Labels: Fransie Pienaar, Museum
The Prince Albert Cultural Foundation/Kultuurstigting, supported by the Fransie Pienaar Museum and Southern Cape branch of the Simon van der Stel Foundation will be hosting the annual Symposium and AGM of Heritage South Africa, a national body comprising affiliated branches of the Simon van der Stel Foundation, Heritage Trusts and heritage bodies from many villages and towns of South Africa.
The focus of interest of Heritage South Africa is the conservation of all aspects of heritage: whether this takes the form of elements of the built environment and its contextual landscape or intangible heritage such as oral traditions, histories, and local traditional skills.
The Symposium will take place from 10 ­-11 August and includes three sessions each of which will address a different portion of the heritage timescale.
The first two will address archaeology and rock art, and village life and the problems associated with protecting heritage in small villages.
The third will be structured to facilitate a discussion of what constitutes our respective cultural identity - pertinent questions in a social milieu where people are questioning and redefining themselves (and their identity and cultures) and there is Constitutional protection of cultural identity overlain with the need for nation-building ­ seemingly two contradictory goals.
Stimulating speakers from each of the cultural groups will lead the discussion. There will be interesting excursions on both days.
Persons wishing to know more please contact :
Judy at 023 5411 713
(PA Cultural Foundation) or
Virna at 023 5411 172
(Fransie Pienaar Museum).
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 11:40 PM 0 comments
Labels: heritage, heritage symposium, Prince Albert, symposium
Só baie het verander sedert die “voortyd”. Die tyd toe die Gamkasklowers hul smal groen vallei bewoon het. Vandag soek besoekers tevergeefs na oorblyfels van hierdie eiesoortige pioneers se oorspronklike volkskultuur. Hul landerye, wingerde en boorde is oorgroei; hier en daar kan ‘n paar skerp oë dalk nog ‘n lemoenboom of wat tussen die ruie rivierbosse bespeur.
Verlore is hul vindingryke implemente, hul vernuftige werkmetodes; weggedra is die knap handgemaakte meubels… Ook die ou staatmaker “Welcome Dover” stowe het nuwe staanplekke gekry in dorpskombuise - waar hulle vandag selde nog gebruik word. Selfs die beskeie plaaswonings met hul bekoorlike eenvoud is onlangs opgeknap - om in die moderne smaak te val van toeriste uit al die uithoeke van die wêreld.
Dit is dus ‘n groot geluk dat Brian du Toit die vallei in April 1965 met sy studente besoek het om die volkskultuur van hierdie geïsoleerde gemeenskap van een honderd siele te bestudeer. Eg en outentiek, so uit die monde van die geharde pioneers, het hulle twee honderd raaisels opgeteken – ‘n ware brokkie volkskultuur – wat destyds gepubliseer is in ‘n artikel in die tydskrif Volkskunde en Volkstaal.
Vanselfsprekend bied raaisels genot en vermaak, maar Brian kom in sy artikel “Die kulturele rol van die raaisel” tot die gevolgtrekking dat die Gamkasklowers raaisels vir intellektuele stimulasie uitgedink en gevra het. Hulle het formele geleenthede gereël waar familie en vriende in ‘n atmosfeer van wedywering bymekaargekom het om mekaar se vernuf te toets.
Die antwoord is nie sommer geopenbaar as die deelnemers nie flink genoeg kon dink nie. Verkeerde antwoorde is uitgepluis en hoe langer die raaiselsteller die mense aan die raai kon hou, hoe meer status het hy gewen. Soms het dit selfs ‘n paar dae geneem voor die antwoord uitgewerk is. Tyd was volop - en terwyl jy skoffel in die groentetuin of brood knie in die kombuis of bokke oppas in die veld, bly jy soek na die antwoord.
Informeel is minder bekendes ook sommer met die intrapslag met ‘n raaisel gekonfronteer – en so is hy of sy heel vinnig beoordeel! Saans het jonk en oud snoesig langs die vuur gesit, of gehurk langs die es, raaisels uitgedink en gevra. Die koffie het aan die kook gebly en die jong mense het die geleentheid gebruik om met ‘n klip-handmeul ‘n bietjie meel te maal.
Daar is gewedywer om die moelikste raaisel te vra en die meeste meel te maal. Vir kinders was die stel en uitpluis van raaisels van opvoedkundige belang. Hul denkprosesse is gestimuleer, hul oplettendheid opgeskerp en hul redenasievermoë ontwikkel. Selfs van hul stories en “fee-verhale” is aan raaisels gekoppel – die held in die verhaal moes raaisels ontleed om die pragtige prinses te wen…
Die gewildste onderwerpe vir hul raaisels was die natuur, die diere en die plante. Gereedskap, huishoudelike artikels, dele van die liggaam, en natuurlik die Bybel, was ook ‘n bron van inspirasie. Al klink van die raaisels hier en daar dubbelsinnig, is hulle verseker nie plat of grof nie. Sodra jy die antwoord hoor, voel jy eintlik verleë dat jou gedagtes so in ‘n heeltemal verkeerde rigting gedwaal het!
VOORBEELDE VAN DIE RAAISELS
Raai, raai. Wat maak jy as jy oor 'n rand loop?
Raai, raai. Watter stoel het die man laat staan toe hy geloop het?
Raai, raai. Waaroor treur 'n treurwilger?
Raai, raai. Op watter bank het nog nooit 'n mens gesit nie?
Raai , raai. Daar is 'n groot blou koei, sy het elke vyf minute wit kalfies?
Die raaisels getuig van knap denkprosesse, voortreflike oplettendheid, slim woordgebruik en speelse energie. Kyk gerus agter in die boekie, wat saam met die uitstalling van die skilderye bekendgestel sal word, om te besluit wat die antwoorde dalk kan wees. Vele meer raaisels in Afrikaans en Engels verskyn ook in die boekie.
(Dankie aan Denise Ohlson vir die vertaling )
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 11:39 PM 0 comments
Labels: Die Hel, Gamkaskloof, Gamkaskloof se Raaisels
- Bruce MacDonald -
The carving of the five bluegum tree stumps in Kerkstraat has generated great enthusiasm in Prince Albert – both to have the project banished forever as a concept, and to have it introduced into every village in the country. There are very few in town who do not hold an opinion one way or the other.
Five people who are very much in favour of the project are young men for whom it represents a way of obtaining valuable experience and skills in working in this medium. The four apprentices on the project are all Prince Albert boys, and all have a school background that is appropriate to their current work – art and woodwork. Leon Kamfer, Jeffrey Armoed and Jaco Staalmeester all mention the encouragement that they received from their art and woodwork teachers, both at school and afterwards.
Given the limited work opportunities in the town, all have varied work careers to date – unsurprisingly, building-sites crop up most often in conversations about past employment.
Willem Strydom, descended from emigrants from Gamkaskloof, has worked at furniture restoration and renovation, and has made a living cutting firewood. Jeffrey has been very active in the community, running wire art workshops, and playing a role in the Hoërskool Zwartberg facilitation project. All are keen on the hard physical work that this kind of art requires.
The men are gaining skills in both the conception of the sculpture work, and the more physical aspects – wielding mallet and chisel, working with goggled eyes with an angle-grinder, and trying not to cut off their toes with a chainsaw. Providing the plinth on which the trees stand with a concrete surface draws on their building experience. Jacobus Murphy is the newcomer to the team, and the handlanger work falls to him in the meantime.
Project leader Richard Forbes has a broad vision for the initiative. A workshop is to be set up to train additional sculptors, at which point the current apprentices will become team leaders. Richard envisages a great deal of work in the next few years. “ABSA Bank has accepted this project as part of its Corporate Social Investment effort, and has committed to funding the undertaking for three years,” he says. “Our next project is likely to be in Potchefstroom. After that . . . ”
The sculpture project was reportedly the talk of the KKNK in Oudtshoorn, and Richard has been keen to work there. “Unfortunately, they clean up the town each year for the Fees, so there are no dead trees left.” The other option is to locate dead trees on surrounding farms, sculpt them, and transport them to a suitable position in the town. The Government’s Working for Water initiative apparently is flooded (!) with requests from farmers to remove alien trees from their farms. Richard views this as a valuable opportunity to obtain large old tree trunks, which can be worked on and then transported to towns which are not as well-supplied with impressive old tree trunks as is Prince Albert.
The team exudes a youthful enthusiasm as they go about their hot and sweaty work. Willem mentions the many passersby who stop and chat and ask questions. Interest is intense. I ask Jeffrey what it is like working with Richard. “I don’t know what to say,” he says. When he does work out what to say, it is sure to be something very positive indeed.
(Since the writing of Bruce’s article, the woodcarvers have noted that the tide of opinion about the project may be changing. They reported that a number of residents, who initially opposed the carving, complimented them on what they were doing and were enthused by their work. Also, the woodcarvers discovered that birds, including a family of owls, were nesting in the tree stumps. As a result, they did not go ahead with the planned changes to the trees’ upper branches, leaving them as they were. Ed.)
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 11:36 PM 0 comments
Labels: bloekombome, Blue gums, tree carving, trees
- Adapted by A Tudhope from various sources -
Alberts Mill is the last of seven mills which used to operate in Prince Albert. Standing on the outskirts of the village, its wheel is driven by water which races along the furrow straight from the Swartberg Mountains.
Graan was vir die eerste keer in 1842 hier gemaal, maar die huidige gebou dateer uit 1850, toe HJ Botes ‘n groot meul opgerig het, waarvan die wiel-deursnee 2,4m was. Vyftien jaar later koop Pieter Alberts die eiendom, en oor die volgende honderd-en-twee jaar het vyf generasies van die Alberts die meule suksesvol bedryf.
Teen 1933 is al die koring in die distrik hier gemaal, en Oom Jan Alberts het vir Piet Swanepoel opdrag gegee om ’n nuwe waterwiel te bou, wat toe gedoen is by die ystersmid se smidswinkel agter die ou Luttig Meule in Markstraat.
In 1965 the mill was declared a National Monument and two years later Carel Alberts became the last miller in the family as competition from two massive mills in Oudtshoorn forced Alberts Mill to close.
In 1977 Carel sold the mill to Johannes Theron who arranged for its restoration with the Managing Director of the Union Steel Corporation of South Africa, Jan de Waal. After Mr Theron's death the mill slowly deteriorated but in 2000 the current owner Johan Senekal, in collaboration with the ‘Friends of the Alberts Mill’, started to bring it back to life. Today, with a new millrace and carefully restored wheel, it forms part of the Miller's Inn complex and visitors can once again buy stone ground flour milled at Alberts Mill.
Gedurende die Prince Albert Dorps- en Olyffees kan jy na Alberts Meule gaan kyk, en meer te wete kom oor die restourasie en werking van die meul. Join Derek Thomas and Dick Metcalfe for a tour of Alberts Mill to learn about its restoration and see how it works: Sunday 29th April 3.00 – 4.30pm
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 11:35 PM 0 comments
Labels: Alberts Mill
- Ailsa Tudhope & Helena Marincowitz -
Both the NG Kerk (1865) and the Chapel of St John the Baptist (1896) are National Monuments and part of the living history of Prince Albert.
The fine Neo-Gothic Dutch Reformed Church is laid out in the shape of a Greek cross. Some twenty years after its construction the ornamental cast iron fence was chosen from a catalogue and shipped out from a foundry in Glasgow. Visitors with an eye for detail might notice that the corner posts on the walls which run between the fences were carefully plastered to match the cast iron design.
The vast interior has an impressive carved pulpit, a carved oak chair donated by Cecil John Rhodes and a fine organ imported from England in 1886. There is only one other like it in the country, in Sutherland. Helena Marincowitz spoke about its provenance in a Prince Albert Friend article some years ago:
“Ds Adriaan Hofmeyr, het vir die musiekkultuur op hierdie dorp baie beteken, maar veral vir die kerk. Onder sy entoesiastiese leiding het die gemeente gou £850 vir die kerkorrel ingesamel. Die persone wat veral bygedra het was die broers Samuel en Jan Luttig en Frederick Oosthuizen. Die orrel is van England bestel en op 7 Augustus 1886 was die inwyding van die orrel. Ds Adriaan Hofmeyr het self die orrel bespeel saam met die nuwe orreliste Mej Fischer. Hy het ook die koor afgerig en ‘n Musiek en Letterkundige Vereniging op die dorp gestig. Met die goudstormloop in die distrik van Prince Albert in 1891, het Ds Adriaan by die delwers besoek gaan aflê en ook daar ‘n delwerskoor op die been gebring.”
‘n Blommefees vind plaas in die kerk vanaf 1.00nm, Vrydag 27 April. Die feesdiens begin 9.30 vm, Sondag, 29 April. The New Apostolic Church Choir, with 120 voices, orchestra and organ, conducted by Louis Diedericks, will perform from 4.00 – 5.30pm on Sunday 29th, followed at 4.45pm by Dr Noel-Jean Kriel’s organ recital, filling the beautiful building with stirring church and classical music.
Stefné Theunissen het ‘n brosjure geskryf oor die kerkgebou wat iets oor die preekstoel, orrel, Rhodes se stoel en baie meer vertel. Dit sal beskikbaar wees gedurende die Dorpsfees. A new brochure about the church will be available during the Festival.
Bishop Robert Gray, first Bishop of Cape Town, visited the community at Prince Albert on the 29th of October 1865 and conducted a service in the ‘Dutch church.’ He saw the need for a Mission school in the town and sent the Reverend John Gibbs to build it. Completed in 1871, it is the older of the two buildings on the St John's Church property. During the Festival the little hall, completely refurbished during 2006, will host Patchwork Theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz, their Children’s story–telling and The Story Weaver’s “Karoo Tales of the Elements.”
Die gemeente het die kerk se 110de bestaansjaar in 2006 gevier. Argitek/bouer George Wallis het St John’s-kerk gebou ná die voltooiing van St Jude’s in Oudtshoorn. Die hoeksteen is gelê in 1895 en die kerk is voltooi vroeg in 1896.
St John’s is typical of late Victorian churches in small country towns: a simple building, with leaded lights which cast delicate trails of pale pink, green, yellow and scarlet across the interior of the church. The church holds a surprise, for the Rev. Breach, who came from Plettenberg Bay to help with the construction, painted a Scripture text around the walls.
The harmonium in the foyer was installed as a thanksgiving for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and was played by Florence Luttig, whose daughter Betty Weatherhead is Prince Albert’s oldest resident, having turned 100 last November.
A service of thanksgiving for HRH Prince Albert is held here each year during the Oktoberfest and the congregation organises regular musical events to raise funds to maintain the lovely old buildings. Enthusiastic support for these events from the whole Prince Albert community made the restoration work possible – an expression of true Prince Albert spirit. The church will be open for viewing on Friday 27 April and Saturday 28th April from 4.00 – 5.00 pm. An information sheet will be available for visitors.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 11:34 PM 0 comments
Labels: churches, national monuments, Prince Albert
Met die aankoop van ‘n mooi ou Kaap-Hollandse huis op sy hektaar grond het Herman en Susan Perold in 1995 gedink aan neute of olywe plant, maar ‘n besoek van ‘n wynmakersvriend uit Stellenbosch het gelei tot die aanplant van wingerd en die maak van ‘n besonderse dessertwyn genaamd SoetKaroo. ‘n Dubbel Goud (medalje) en ‘n Trofee by die 2005 Michelangelo International Wine Awards!
Die behoefte aan ‘n kelder was duidelik, en met ‘n kortkursus in kleinskaalse wynbereiding agter die rug, begin hulle hul eie kelder inrig. Tyd of geld is daar nie vir ‘n splinternuwe parskelder nie; die pakkamer langs die motorhuis moet die ding doen. Herman is te besig met die wingerdpraktyk en so word Susan beplanner en, teësinnig, boukontrakteur.
Die wynkursus het benadruk dat sanitasie en kelderhigiëne allerbelangrik is vir suksesvolle wynbereiding. Die pakkamer se mooi rietplafon word bedek met dik polistireen vir goeie isolasie. Die mure word geverf met ‘n spesiale wasbare produk. Die vloer word bedek met swaar-diensteëls en net ‘n spesiale organiese wasmiddel word gebruik. Alle chloor of chloor-verbindings is taboe. Enige spatsel of sap word blitsig verwyder sodat daar geen broeiplek vir kieme is nie. Deurentyd word die vertrek koel en donker gehou. Alles anti-swam en anti-bakteries.
Met fisieke inspanning word die druiwesap met emmers en bekers deur siwwe en lappies bewerk. Angstige nagte volg wanneer die suiker te vinnig val en die sap van die doppe afgetrek moet word. Maar die loon is in die wonderlike slaap wat jy slaap as die taak afgehandel is, die doppe op die komposhoop en die sap rustig in die tenk is. In hierdie stadium is die nuwe pophuis-kelder se tenke vir die eerste keer gevul en SoetKaroo 2007 ontwikkel haar kenmerkende geur en kleur terwyl dit stadig afsak en blink raak. Veel later, hopelik na ‘n ordentlik koue winter, behoort die sappies reg te wees om gebottel te word.
Eers dan sal ons almal weet of Herman en Susan erg voortvarend was om wynmakers te wil wees en of dit ‘n goeie besluit was!
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 11:33 PM 0 comments
Labels: kelder, Soetkaroo, wine, wyn
Prince Albert was among the first of the Cape Colony villages to open a Public Reading Room in 1858. Over the years it has grown and become a fully fledged library which is part of the Beaufort West division of the Western Cape Library Services. The occasional dog has paid visits to the library, either accompanying an owner on foot or carried in by enthusiastic young owners, as a puppy, to be “oohed” and “aahed” over by Tannie Reinie. Now the canine visitors must take a back seat, for we have an official Library Cat, Snoepie.
Nou wag hy elke oggend voor die biblioteek, as hy Reinie hoor aankom, gaan haal hy haar op die sypaadjie, want hy weet dis tyd vir sy ontbyt! Deur die dag “ontspan” hy uitgestrek op die mat, groet die kinders wat inkom en speel (of verjaag) die honde-maats wat inloer.
Besides Snoepie, what else can you find at the Prince Albert Library? The friendliest of librarians! Reinie, Bettie and their part-time assistant Jeanette will bid you a warm welcome and share their knowledge of the broad range of books, CD’s, DVD’s, video’s, magazines and newspapers they have in stock. Afrikaans and English material is available and the books are regularly supplemented by quarterly visits from the “Boekewa”, the Library van, which brings new items, including special short-term collection material. Gentle music provides a relaxing backdrop to Library visits.
Die Naslaan- en Leesafdeling bied ’n wye verskeidenheid van die nuutste tydskrifte, en vorige uitgawes kan uitgeneem word om rustig by die huis te gaan lees. Vir ons jongmense word daar ook goeie voorsiening gemaak – hulle het hul eie naslaan-afdeling en ’n wye verskeidenheid materiaal vir skoolprojekte. Gedurende skoolvakansies kan die kinders DVD’s kyk in die biblioteeksaal. Deur die jaar kan hulle Vrydae-middae inkleur, teken en legkaarte bou.
Gedurende die jaarlikse Biblioteekweek is die biblioteek vol kinderkuns, kleuterskole word besoek en ’n Teedrink vir lesers bo 60 word gehou. Almal wat die biblioteek besoek kry boeksakke, boekmerke, lekkergoed en stempels op hul handjies – dit hang af net hoe oud hulle is!
Tourists and visitors are most welcome to browse through the library’s collection of books about Prince Albert, supplemented by Reinie’s own scrapbooks which include newspaper and magazine articles about the village and its residents.
The Library is such a homely and welcoming place that it simply HAD to have a cat. Thanks for moving in Snoepie.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 11:31 PM 0 comments
Labels: biblioteek, library
Local Mohair Carpet links Prince Albert with Sweden
Prince Albert resident, fine artist and designer, Sally Arnold and her Swedish partner, Anders Paulsson, are developing an exciting project that will link Prince Albert and Anders’ historic family farm in the south of Sweden in a highly original way.
In 2008, the couple will launch a new art gallery and wine tasting locale, with a custom-made spa set in a modern glasshouse adjoining the old, Swedish farm buildings. And the focus will be on offering top-quality South African products – many from Prince Albert – ranging from art, design, contemporary furniture, wines to beauty treatments by South African therapists.
Sally and Anders spent three months at the end of 2006 sourcing the collection pieces for their project. Included in the articles from Prince Albert, among them Avoova game boards, watercolours by Alf Gundersen and a vintage Climax windmill, is a large mohair carpet designed by Sally and woven at the Wolskuur Spinners. The carpet will grace the tasting area of the wine restaurant and art gallery at the “Swedish-South African” farmhouse.
Sally approached Petra van der Merwe of Wolskuur Spinners in December last year with a simple crayon sketch of the carpet based on the brand name of her new business concept, Three Lily Buds. One hot afternoon, the two women drew up a large cartoon to scale on brown paper, which Petra then cut into strips for easy insertion into the largest loom in the weavery, one that was 2.5m wide. Hannes van der Merwe began dyeing the natural mohair skeins: sky blue, red and sand. Touches of green bouclé were also used for the stamens.
Two experienced, long-time weavers at Wolskuur Spinners, Jennifer Botes and Carolina Pieterse, were responsible for translating Sally’s pencil drawing into a 2.5 x 4m mohair carpet. A three-week process in all, with physical prowess and deft weaving required at the heavy industrial loom. Once completed, expert Petro Claassen, cut the carpet free and placed it on a large table for neatening and steaming, which took a further two days.
Petra and Sally, assisted by Sarah Lottering, then decided to give the piece an unusual finish: a special stitch in white wool all around the three large flowers to further accentuate their shapes. After two days of manual stitching with extra-large needles, sitting cross-legged on the table tailor-like in order to reach every flower, the carpet was ready for the final steaming, drying and professional packaging by Hannes.
The carpet is a fabulous, handcrafted work of art, the product of the combined talents and expertise of six women and one man. Sadly, the weavery is down-scaling and will no longer be using all its industrial looms. However, the women’s skills and a selection of Hannes’ impeccable looms are still very much in business at the at the Wolskuur Spinners shop on Church Street.
To see Sally Arnold’s carpet, check out her website: www.threelilybuds.com
Labels: carpet, mohair, sweden
One of the highlights of 2006 for four of Prince Albert's most adventurous citizens was an expedition to Zambia to erect a windmill donated by the NG Kerk of Prince Albert, for the Kings Highway FCE (Foundation for Cross Cultural Education) mission station at Kalunga in Northern Zambia.
Local farmers Leon De Wit and Willem Freysen accompanied by Leon's daughter, Anneke, and Dorrien Tissiman left the Karoo on a very chilly morning on June 24, 2006 with the intention of reaching the small FCE mission station on the Tanzanian border in four days. Their goal was to erect a windmill, which they towed behind Leon's bakkie, so the mission station could further increase the amount of water they pump from the nearby river for use in their garden and mission station.
Leon and his son, the late Heinrich de Wit, had taken part in previous expeditions to the same FCE mission station to erect and maintain the original windmill.
"This trip was about Prince Albert reaching out to Africa," said Dorrien, "it was a symbolic gesture acknowledging the need of people north of our country's borders."
For the four adventurers it was test of patience. The four day trip through Botswana, which included close encounters with elephants, and crossing into Zambia by ferry at Kazangula, was extended a further day. This was due to them being given the inevitable uphill by the customs and clearing agents at the Zambian border post. After much restraint on Leon’s part he insisted on the team presenting their papers to the customs officials in Livingstone. (Fortunately none of the expedition was locked up for taking a swipe at any of the customs officials.)
A wonderful overnight stay in Livingstone at the Maramba Lodge was even more exciting when an irate hippo stomped through the camp at 1.30 am in the morning.
The community of Kings Highway were overjoyed at the arrival of the Prince Alberters and were on hand to help with the installation. "While they were very keen to be involved they had no knowledge of how to mix cement or install a pump," says Dorrien, "Leon and Willem were very patient showing community leaders how to make repairs if anything went wrong."
Accommodation at Kings Highway was comfortable with the group sleeping in small rondavels which was a change from being on the road where most nights they camped or slept on a church hall floors. "The food was the real test," admits Dorrien, "We lived on Bully Beef potjies and I, for one, really longed for a few vegetables."
The assembly and erection of the new windmill as well as maintenance on the old windmill was completed in five days. Leon then decided that it would be a great idea to go up to the southern end of Lake Tanganyika. After a gruelling day in which they travelled just 200kms in six hours the team stopped in a town called Mpulungu on shores of Lake Tanganyika. There they feasted on a Nile Perch fried in butter by a local woman. "It was the night of the World Cup soccer final and the whole town was watching TV. At one point there was so much shouting and screaming I thought we were caught up in a coup d' etat," confessed Dorrien.
They spent two nights in Mpulunga, enjoying a trip out onto the lake in a dhow-like boat powered by an outboard motor. All tried their hand at fishing hoping to catch the elusive Nile perch or tiger fish, but no luck!
It was then back on the road with the object of visiting Vic Falls on the way home. And then over the border again by ferry at Kasane. They overnighted at a campsite on the Chobe river experiencing a true African sunset over the water. The next morning it was up early and back on the road with the team arriving back in Prince Albert late the following day on July 9. In total nine days were spent driving with all fuel paid for by Leon, Willem and Dorrien. “This trip was an incredible experience that I would love to do again,” said Dorrien.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 11:28 PM 0 comments
Labels: church, outreach, zambia
- Helene Smit -
At the beginning of 2006, a very exciting programme was launch-ed at the Hoërskool Zwartberg initiated by Penny Alder. Together with teachers at the school, a need had been identified to enhance the thinking and communication skills of learners who would soon leave school and have to function as independent adults. The traditional curriculum helps learners to improve their language capacity, but there are not necessarily enough resources available for additional processes which may help learners. Penny’s idea was to gather volunteers from the town, who would be willing to give their time and energy to provide an opportunity for learners to have facilitated conversations in which they could develop their skills.
The Grade 11 class was chosen for the first round of the project. The class was divided into 10 different groups, and each group had a group of three facilitators allocated to it. The facilitators took turns to spend a period a week with the class. Learners discussed a variety of topics ranging from Valentine's Day, relationships, to more difficult social problems such as teenage pregnancy, drugs, racism and HIV.
The idea behind these conversation classes was to assist learners to develop their own thinking about the issues that confront them in their daily lives and explore the complexity through facilitated conversations. Some of the issues are light-hearted, and some are tricky and even difficult to talk about.
The project is now in its second year, and although we have made some changes based on the learning of what worked well and what didn’t last year, the process is essentially the same. The volunteers were trained in facilitation skills, and have to manage processes such as the group dynamics, who participates, and how the learners listen to one another and respond. The facilitators have the task of helping the learners’ develop their ability to critically think through all the various aspects that affect a particular area and be able to express their feelings and views to one another in constructive ways.
Kobus Snyman and the teaching team have been very supportive of the project and have commented that they have noticed an increase in the confidence and communication capacity of learners who have been part of the conversation classes.
There are currently 15 dedicated volunteers and many of them have commented how much they themselves have learnt through the project. Thank you to them for their time and commitment.
If anyone else is interested in becoming involved in the project, you are invited to contact me in my capacity as project leader on (023) 5411 063. All Prince Alberters are welcome and we will provide the necessary training.
Labels: School, school news, Zwartberg
Hoërskool Zwartberg bade farewell to Lisa Weinmayr at the end of term. Lisa has spent six months here and found Prince Albert quite a change from her industrial hometown of Pforzheim near the Black Forest in Southern Germany.
The Karoo heat was daunting but by the time she left Lisa reckoned she far preferred it to the cold that was awaiting her at home! She really enjoyed living in a village, where everywhere is within walking distance and found Prince Albert a beautiful, peaceful and friendly place.
School was very different – here Lisa wore a uniform, experienced learning in very large classes and took subjects she had never studied before, like ‘Toerisme’ and ‘Lewensoriëntering’. Maths and Science were familiar, but using scientific concepts and learning definitions in a foreign language takes some doing.
She passed all her subjects with flying colours, impressing all her teachers with her hard work and is probably the first pupil ever to pass her Afrikaans literature paper with some answers written in English. At home she studies German, English, Latin and Ancient Greek.
Jennifer Munro and the tennis team will really miss Lisa, who enjoyed the camaraderie of the team. Tennis matches took her to George and Oudtshoorn and holidays with the Steyn family, her hosts during her visit, and with her own family who spent Christmas in South Africa, took her to the Garden Route, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
During this term the Science Festival and Art Tour were wonderful opportunities to see more of the country and meet youngsters from a broad spectrum of South African schools.
We will miss Lisa as the new term begins but are pleased to hear she is back in Pforzheim, catching up on all the local news with her parents and sisters, Paulina and Carla.
Labels: exchange student, School, school news, Zwartberg
Kultuuraand met die Schreiber Musiekskool van Duitsland
- Stefné Theunissen -
Dertien jong musikante van die Schreiber Musiekskool in Duitsland het ons dorp vanaf 2 tot 6 April 2007 besoek. Soggens het hulle musiek werkswinkels vir die kleintjies by Wildekanisland aangebied en die aand van 4 April het dié jong mense ons inwoners met pragtige musiek vermaak.
Die konsert was te kort, want eie aan die Duitsers met hul vrolike musiek, het ons harte weer warm geklop. Ons vertrou julle kom gou weer kuier.
Die program was deurspek met vrolike en pragtige items. Peter McEwan en Chrisna Smit het weer eens hulle ta-lente met ons kom deel. Prince Albert is baie ryk aan talent. ‘n Aand sonder Lode Mooneys en Therene Fourie se stemme is nie volmaak as hulle afwesig is nie. Baie geluk en dankie vir jul pragtige sang.
Bodo, jy en Prince Albert Kieliebeentjies se musiek is van hoogstaande gehalte. Kan julle nie vir meer sulke Kultuuraande sorg nie? Jou kitaarspel en sang sorg vir die siel.
Die fondse (die aand het ‘n wins van
R5 300.00 gemaak) het vir Wildekanisland Kleuterskool gegaan. Ons ou klein maatjies het ook hulle kant gebring met hul Hande Was item. Pragtig maatjies! Baie dankie aan die ouers wat vir verversings gesorg het asook die persone wat huisvesting verskaf het. Julle is staatmakers. ‘n Baie groot dank aan Bodo en Gudrun vir al julle moeite en reëlings vir sulke pragtige musiekaande. Ons waardeer julle en wag vir die volgende verrassing.
Bodo en die organiseerders wil graag die volgende mense bedank vir hulle ondersteuning en bydrae om die week so suksesvol te kon maak.
Bergwater vir hul venue vir Dinsdag-aand.
Die Gholfklub wat ons kon gebruik Donderdagaand.
Berlinda wat in haar vakansie by die skooltjie was.
Weltevrede wat vir ons vye geskenk het.
Vir die verblyf by privaate gesinne:
Ionè en Ken Auerswald
Ann en John Whitton
Veronika en Lutz Diegel
Gerda en Jürgen Klin
Merle en Clive Cleaver
P. S. Thank you Peter McEwan for your contribution to the trees: "Only God can make a tree" - Bodo-
Labels: afrikaans, duits, Kultuuraand
-André Jaquet –
When I first met Jason Jafta, a quiet, self-effacing young man from Prince Albert, I thought he looked like a serious, bookish type who would hesitate before crossing the road on a lazy Sunday afternoon. How wrong I was!
In fact, Jason is one of the top rugby referees in the country, who has won the Referee of the Year award in the South Western Districts for the past two years. He is now employed fulltime by the South African Rugby Board and is the youngest member on their referee panel.
In disbelief I ask Jason “Come on! You can’t be serious! How can a small guy like you keep control of 30 mean and nasty players when tempers get rough? Smiling, but with steel in his voice he replies: “Just try me! Because of my size, those who don’t know me try to shove me around at first, especially in big games like finals. In the first ten minutes, I stamp my authority on the game. The guys soon know I mean business. They see that having set my standards, I am consistent and that I am fair to both sides”.
“Also, I know the 22 important rules of rugby. And the 23rd, which is: Use your common sense. The players are trying hard to win, the adrenaline is pumping and players don’t see the game the way the ref does. The spectators are worked up and there could be a riot if you make a lousy decision”.
How did he reach the upper levels of the game? “I am mad about rugby and played half-back at school until Grade 10. I’ve always wanted to be involved. But rugby is a physical game and I just don’t have the right build. Now as a ref I really am fully involved where the action is. I started slowly by reffing soccer games but needed more excitement and I moved to rugby. I also love the travelling that is involved: going to new places and meeting new people.
Of course I owe a lot to my family and to the teachers at Hoërskool Zwartberg because they taught me a great deal about discipline and fairness and about being involved in life, not just a spectator.” Jason was Head Boy at the school in 2003.
What advice would he give to young people who are keen to become referees? “Enjoy the game: if the passion is not there, just stay out of the kitchen. Keep very fit because the hard work pays off”.
Finally, I ask him what his dream is. “I want to referee in some more finals, then in the Super 14 and Currie Cup competitions and then represent South Africa at Test level.” I have no doubt at all that this is one person whose dream will be fulfilled.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 11:25 PM 0 comments
Labels: Profile, rugby, sport
When I imagine a group of young kids playing a game of soccer, an image comes into my mind of a comet – a bright solid object trailed by a long tail of dust and debris. In the soccer game, the ball is the solid object, and a chaotic mob of chasing players forms the tail.
I was very impressed, then, at the Human Rights Day soccer tournament, held at the Odendaal Sports Fields on Wednesday, 21 March, to observe how soccer-aware and disciplined even the youngest players were. True, the younger age groups who played early in the day occasionally adopted the comet strategy, but in general, the soccer was of a high standard and, as my father’s Boy Scout Log-book was apt to say, a Good Time was had by all.
The tournament, initiated by Jakoba Visagie and Goliath “Tool” Lottering, was envisaged as a way of bringing the two sides of Prince Albert together in a celebration of the common humanity that is the essence of Human Rights Day. North End was very well represented, and the upper part of town rather sparsely so. However, the games themselves, particularly the early less formal ones, were conducted in a spirit of perfect togetherness.
The later games, between established youth teams, were very impressive in their skill and discipline. I do not know the names and other details of the more senior teams involved in the tournament, but it is very heartening, for a soccer-lover like myself, living in a part of the world that has a far greater awareness of and passion for rugby, to see the Beautiful Game given the amount of respect and devotion that was evident that day at the Odendaal Sports Field. Innumerable informal games of “one-bounce” and the like, the specific rules of which escape me, were taking place on the sidelines and on the stoep of the club house, providing a graphic demonstration of how soccer skills and artistry are developed, even in communities with fewer resources – in fact, particularly in such communities. Soccer is genuinely a game that anyone can play, anywhere.
Rudi Maeyer provided an excellent example of rising to the occasion when he was strong-armed into refereeing one of the junior games, something he had never done before. Fortunately, there were no television replays for sideline commentators to second-guess his decisions, and everyone was having way too good a time to suggest that he needed some specs.
Finally, I was most impressed at how many thirsty players (and hangers-on) can have their thirst quenched by a single watermelon! The three that were cut up during the course of the morning put one in mind of loaves and fishes.
- Louise Jooste -
Dit was weer daardie tyd van die jaar wanneer fietsryers van oral in die land na die Kaap storm vir die jaarlise Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay fiets-toer.
Agt fietsryers van Prince Albert het vanjaar deelgeneem. Vir Oom Dawid Rossouw en Ceril Afrika was dit ‘n eerste. Vir Lulu het dit vier jaar geneem om 2 min vinniger as haar pa te ry, maar pa is baie trots op sy afrigting.
Lulu was 4de Jnr dame uit 97 Jnr’s van regoor die land en algeheel 3de van die Suid-Kaap dames.
Die tye was as volg:
Lulu Jooste 3h13
Chris Jooste 3h15
Johan Fourie 3h34
Louise Jooste 4h25
Ceril Afrika 5h08
Dawid Rossouw 5h13
Johan Rissik 6h00
Labels: argus, fiets, fietsry, sport