A Very Successful Artist

Marguerite Beneke started her fascination with glass at an early age. Whilst living in Pretoria, she began working in stained glass, etchings and paintings. In 2003, she and her husband relocated to Aberdeen. While browsing through an art supply shop she saw her first piece of kiln worked glass and fell in love with the light, texture and colour of the glass.

Glass fusing is a process where a specialized kiln is used to melt pieces of glass together. There are many different techniques for producing fused glass items but Marguerite mainly works with glass enamels, bits of coloured glass and copper wire. Most of her pieces are fired twice. This lengthy process can take up to 48 hours to produce a single piece.

Her creative inspirations come from every direction, whether it is the colour of a beautiful Karoo sunset or the colour of the ocean. It has a wide-ranging appeal and is uniquely different. She specifically produces glass items you won’t see anywhere else.

Marguerite currently exhibits her work at the Camdeboo Fine Art Gallery in Aberdeen, Chocolat Gallery in Graaff-Reinet and the Chris Tugwell Gallery in Pretoria. Her work has been sold to customers from the U.K. and U.S. as well as Europe. She is currently working on a commission from the South African Air Force.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Zurab The “Dog Whisperer” Of Aberdeen

I was given an eight week old highly pedigreed Doberman Pincher puppy. I mistakenly thought this puppy would be similar to all the “gundogs” I had reared and trained over the years. To my dismay this puppy proved to be too intelligent, too hyperactive, and too demanding of my time and presence. I and my friends became alternately dismayed and exhausted by his inability to ever be calm or to listen to commands, or to stop devouring my reading glasses, and any other expensive equipment he could find.
He grew, and grew, and grew, and soon I had a 40kg boisterous, over affectionate dog on my hands who would lovingly throw himself at me when I was least expecting it. In desperation my friends suggested that I acquire the services of Zurab who was known to train and to understand the dog’s mentality.
Zurab agreed to assist me, and to have my dog trained in walking to heel outside of my property, where there were all sorts of distractions, and to be obedient to my commands in just two weeks. This has been achieved now, and I have learnt how to be “the boss” without raising my voice or my hand.
The mental strength that I am now able to exercise over such an intelligent dog is quite awesome, and my deepest thanks go to this proven “Dog Whisperer”.
Zurab is from Moscow in the Soviet Union, and has always had an animal in his life and his home. He has been in South Africa for about 20 years, living in Durban, and Port Elizabeth, where he had dog training schools. He trained dogs from puppy to adult classes, and preferred to have only 8-10 dogs in a class. He has been a member of the Kennel Union of South Africa, and has occasionally bred dogs for show purposes. He believes in the socialization of dogs. Zurab says that he has the intention of breeding the American Staffordshire terrier at some future date.
Zurab became aware of his affinity with animals when he did his two year compulsory military training in Russia. He was taught to train dolphins in the Black Sea for military purposes, and formed a great love and bond with them. Zurab stressed that with all animals you have to make them accept you as their leader. This makes dealing with the animal easier, and the animal becomes a great deal happier, as it no longer has that responsibility. I am hoping that Zurab will start a training and socialization class for all the lovely dogs that we have in Aberdeen. Apart from having an obedient dog it will be wonderful socialization for the owners as well. Zurab can be reached on 078 2006 480.

Article By: Joan Tinker

A New Look For Aberdeen

Over the past few months a big change has come over Andries Pretorius Street as you drive into Aberdeen. If you are driving at the recommended speed of 60kms per hour, you will easily observe how many houses and businesses have been restructured and repainted, curbs have been built by the municipality, and now the garage has a magnificent new roof over the petrol pumps. As the garage is the first business you see as you drive in, it bodes well for the rest of the town, and we hope this “new look” will spread throughout Aberdeen. Congratulations Tinie Appel.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Aberdeen Hits The WWW

Aberdeen Welcomes South Africa And The International World To Its Website

www.aberdeen.org.za

Two and a half years ago Dallis Graham began a really positive mission to put Aberdeen on the map electronically. Dallis first began by designing a beautiful brochure for the town of Aberdeen and decided that to promote tourism for the town in a more significant manner; the town must have a website available to South African and International Tourism.
Dallis then had to find funding for such a project, and the following were the Associations which made contributions to this project: Aberdeen Tourism and Information, Graaff-Reinet Tourism and Information and Anton Nel an Aberdeen Businessman.
Dallis then approached a website designer in Graaff-Reinet to design and compile all the information which had taken months to gather in correct detail. After about 7 months, Dallis realized that nothing was being achieved, and asked for the assistance of another IT literate person to assist her with this project. Again nothing was achieved. In desperation Dallis confided her problem to a new resident of Aberdeen, Mike Wilson, who turned out to be an IT Consultant, Media Marketeer, Computer Graphic Artist and Web Author. At last success was achieved, and with the ongoing assistance of Mike, Dallis’s dream became a reality.
The highlight of this dream was when ADSL arrived in Aberdeen, and now the Website is on line 24 hours a day.
The Website is growing daily, and it is essential for all the Guest Houses, B&B’s and Aberdeen Businesses to be on this Website, showing the individual facilities that are offered in detail.
Historical places of interest have also been added to the Website.
An events calendar is also a necessity, so that visitors to the town can be informed by the B&B’s and Guest Houses etc. the happenings in Aberdeen. An events calendar will also prevent more than one event being planned for the same day.
To contact Dallis with information regarding events and general information please phone: (cell) 083 226 6158 or (Art’s Café) 049 846 0803 or send an email to: info@aberdeen.org.za.
The Website now has links with the Graaff-Reinet Tourism and Information Office, Cacadu Tourism and Karoospace. These are just a few of the links which will be added in the future.
All comments and reviews will be very welcome on the “Weblog”.
Up to date, rave reviews have already been received, and we hope to see more of these reviews. Interest in the town of Aberdeen is growing, and this is very obvious by the number of residents who are buying homes in Aberdeen.
Congratulations Dallis on your persistence against all odds in achieving this beautiful website and bringing Aberdeen into the 21st century.

Article By: Joan Tinker