On Monday 15th March 2010 journalists representing newspapers of the Eastern Cape and tourism magazines of South Africa for example ‘Explore SA’ arrived in Aberdeen with the Camdeboo Local Tourism Office Chairman, Mr Roy McLaughlin. This was the first phase in a new tourism route named ‘The Plains of Camdeboo’. This is the first project of the CLTO recently established under the guidance of the Cacadu District Municipality through public consultation.
Mr McLaughlin welcomed the journalists and explained that the establishment of ‘The Plains of Camdeboo’ has been made possible through financial assistance of generous donations from five guest houses in Graaff-Reinet, The Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and the Cacadu District Municipality. He explained that this route, which includes Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen and Nieu-Bethesda, will hopefully stimulate tourism and through this, growth in the area. ‘The Plains of Camdeboo’ will act as a platform for small and local businesses to market themselves, and will add momentum to the local tourism offices. A route map will be produced, showing street maps of each town, and posters will be available to guest houses, restaurants and fuel stations. Route content training will be given by the CLTO to hospitality staff, petrol attendants amongst others.
Mr McLaughlin welcomed the journalists and explained that the establishment of ‘The Plains of Camdeboo’ has been made possible through financial assistance of generous donations from five guest houses in Graaff-Reinet, The Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and the Cacadu District Municipality. He explained that this route, which includes Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen and Nieu-Bethesda, will hopefully stimulate tourism and through this, growth in the area. ‘The Plains of Camdeboo’ will act as a platform for small and local businesses to market themselves, and will add momentum to the local tourism offices. A route map will be produced, showing street maps of each town, and posters will be available to guest houses, restaurants and fuel stations. Route content training will be given by the CLTO to hospitality staff, petrol attendants amongst others.
The journalists were shown the beautiful N.G.Kerk where Mrs Estelle Snyman gave an enlightening and some times amusing rendition on the making of the famous wall hangings and the women who had made them in 4 months. These wall hangings are found both in the church and in the ‘Kerksaal” (Church Hall). Estelle said there was nothing to compare with these wall hangings on this scale, as each wonderfully depicted biblical scene is 5metres in length.
Mr David Miller told of the ‘Font’ in the church which was donated by the congregation in 1858, and the magnificent chandeliers that were once lit by gas but were now converted to electricity.
Mr David Miller told of the ‘Font’ in the church which was donated by the congregation in 1858, and the magnificent chandeliers that were once lit by gas but were now converted to electricity.
In the grounds of the church one enormous olive tree was shown to the journalists. This tree was grown from a cutting given to South Africa from an olive tree in the ‘Garden of Gethsemane’.
In the Kerksaal, where breakfast and coffee was served, the full beauty of the wall hangings could be seen. Here Mrs Marguerite Beneke had her designs of glass plates and wall plaques on show, on which pictures depicting Karoo scenes have been painted. These are truly beautiful, and Marguerite’s work is widely known around South Africa.
Here an introduction to the Bureau was given by Mrs Dallis Graham who presented the journalists with a CD prepared by the Bureau on life in Aberdeen and printed information of the Bureau’s official launch of the Diarama of the Aberdeen Cemetery. Mr Carlos De Sousa had his very famous ostrich eggs on display and local craftsman Mr Dirk Goeieman also displayed his craft work.
Mayor Daantjie Japhta addressed the gathering with regard to the changing face of tourism. He said tourism must change, that a difference could be made, and spoke of tours into Thembalisizwe, the “Freedom Route” in Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe’s grave, and said "we must integrate and work together" he reiterated again that we should ‘stand together as friends or perish as enemies’.
In the Kerksaal, where breakfast and coffee was served, the full beauty of the wall hangings could be seen. Here Mrs Marguerite Beneke had her designs of glass plates and wall plaques on show, on which pictures depicting Karoo scenes have been painted. These are truly beautiful, and Marguerite’s work is widely known around South Africa.
Miss Thembisa Nonnies, the officially trained tour guide for Aberdeen, took the journalists on a walkabout showing the Carmen Villa Residence, Villeria, the Post Office and Magistrate’s building which is a magnificent structure to The Aberdeen Heritage, Archive and Tourism Bureau.
Here an introduction to the Bureau was given by Mrs Dallis Graham who presented the journalists with a CD prepared by the Bureau on life in Aberdeen and printed information of the Bureau’s official launch of the Diarama of the Aberdeen Cemetery. Mr Carlos De Sousa had his very famous ostrich eggs on display and local craftsman Mr Dirk Goeieman also displayed his craft work.Mayor Daantjie Japhta addressed the gathering with regard to the changing face of tourism. He said tourism must change, that a difference could be made, and spoke of tours into Thembalisizwe, the “Freedom Route” in Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe’s grave, and said "we must integrate and work together" he reiterated again that we should ‘stand together as friends or perish as enemies’.
Article By: Joan Tinker