THE ROTARY CLUB
OF KNYSNA

Newsletter October 2008
 

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT:

Swallows herald the beginning of the summer season. Welcome back to our Rotarian swallows Hans & Doke Tollenaar who spend the winter in Holland and Howard & Ann Waters who were in England. We also had the first visitors passing through and can expect a regular stream until after Easter. Welcome to all.

Peter Klews
 
 

ROTARY LUNCH GUEST SPEAKERS

We were delighted to welcome the Executive Mayor of Knysna, Eleanor Bouw-Spies to our Club for lunch on the 7th October.  In honour of International Teacher’s Week, six teachers from local schools having Interact Clubs also attended the luncheon.  Eleanor spoke about the youth of Knysna, the empowerment of women and the work of the Knysna Municipality. Click HERE to read her full address to the Club.

We were also honoured to have Ms Kimberley Stavers and Advocate Gavin Capes visit the Club on the 14th and 28th October respectively. 

Kimberly had spent the past five weeks working at the Dorothy Broster Children’s Home which houses and cares for 48 children. The Home has benefited from Rotary projects on many occasions, the current one, to build individual cupboards for every child is very welcome as most of the children have never had a private space of their own.

Gavin has been the Knysna Senior Prosecutor for the past 8 years and is also the Chairman of FAMSA in Knysna.  He spoke about the impact of drugs on crime in Knysna and about FAMSA’s role in the Knysna community.

www.pannells.com/friendship.htm

       
Knysna Mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies

Kimberly Stavers from the
Dorothy Broster Children’s Home

Adv Gavin Capes: Senior Public Prosecutor and Chairman of FAMSA
 
 

KNYSNA ROTARIANS VISIT THE “UYS’S”

An outing to the Uys’ in Prince Albert was enjoyed by 17 members from our Club – thanks to Ian & Barbara Uys. Ina Thompson came up from Cape Town to join the members for the weekend – good to see you Ina!!

INTERACT NEWS

October saw the Charter of a new Interact Club at the Knysna Montessori School and the induction of the new Oakhill School Interact Committee.
 

The “Uys’ Place” in Prince Albert

From left to right:
Doke Tollenaar, Cathy Pickles,
the Uyses, Margo Sandiford
PP Lesley Satchel at the Oakhill interact committee induction
 
 


KAROO TO COAST

The Rotary Club of Knysna played an important role in ensuring the success of the Talisman Herald Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge, which took place on21 September 2008. 

The race is organised by the Lions Clubs of Knysna and Uniondale. For the past few years, the Rotary Club of Knysna has generously allowed the Lions to utilise the Rotary office for two months of the year in order to manage the event. The Club also provided experienced volunteers to assist with marshalling and timekeeping on race day.

This event was started ten years ago in order to raise funds for "Sightfirst" related operations in the Southern Cape area.  The local community has great confidence in the procedure and over 1000 eye related operations have taken place to date.

People from all walks of life can qualify for the operation if they cannot afford to pay the normal fee. In addition to the wonderful gift of sight, the race has also had an excellent effect on many of the labourers in the Langeberg. Besides providing extra employment opportunities in the build up to and during the event, many labourers have also started cycling and enjoy the benefits associated with this sport.

The race organizing committee would like to extend their gratitude to the Rotary Club of Knysna

 

Welcome to the new
Montessori Interact Club!





 
 
R100 000.00 WORTH OF WOOLWORTHS FOOD TO THE NEEDY

On 29 October Woolworths donated R100 000.00 worth of food to our Club for distribution to the needy in the Knysna community. Although there was nothing wrong with the food, it had been stored at a temperature 2 degrees above Woolworths requirements, and their exacting quality control and high standards meant that this food could not be sold in the stores.  Woolworths contacted the Rotary Club of Knysna in order that the food could be distributed to the needy in the Knysna community – which it was! 

Many thanks to Woolworths for their generous donation.
 



Rotarians and their Anns
distributing Woolworths food
to the local community

 
 


FUNDRAISING GOLF DAY

The Association for the Disabled (die Werkswinkel) held a fundraising Golf Day on 31 October at Blackwaters Mashie Course on the GoukammaRiver.  Our Rotary Team, consisting of Dereck & Dawn Wheeldon, Howard Waters, John Satchel and Peter & Pam Klews, acquitted themselves well. Pam Klews & John Satchel scooped individual prizes and the team came third overall. It was a fun after


Team photo includes mascot
Ann Waters whilst
Lesley Satchel pressed the button

District Governor
Elwin Thompson (left) at the
Cape of Good Hope Rotary Club

Dragon Boat Racing Fund-Raiser
 
 


NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT GOVERNOR

Dear All We attended the Dragon boat racing fund-raiser for the Cape of Good Hope Rotary Club.  What a fun day.  They raised close to R100 000.00 on the day.  They even had duck races down a water slide with the prize being a weekend for two at a major holiday resort. Everyone enjoyed themselves with 32 teams participating.

During our visit to their club, I handed over their 50 years certificate. They are a club that does great work in their community.  Their major project this year is the refurbishing of a local school.

We also attended a "Rock Concert" Rock me Amadeus which was a fund-raiser for the Rotary Club of Oostenberg.  The evening was well supported by the clubs in the area, something that all clubs should try to do.  We enjoyed it very much.

We return home this week Wednesday for the next three weeks, something we are both looking forward to.  It is very pleasant to visit all the clubs and make new friends and hear about the many great projects being undertaken, but can become rather tiring when having to visit four clubs a week as during this last week so a rest at home will be a relief.

Greetings to all and looking forward to our visit to the Rotary Club of Knysna.

Elwin and Ina

 
 
 
Contact details:
 THE ROTARY CLUB OF KNYSNA - knysna@rotary9350.co.za

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