Ebervet C.V.C Veterinarians Arrive In Aberdeen “Powered By Legends”

“We make a living by what we get,
but we make a life by what we give”.

These words by Sir Winston Churchill fully describe the “Powered by Legends” animal health care service. This project “Ebervet Community Veterinary Care” was started 2 years ago by Dr Hilldidge Beer, and other Cape based veterinarians, who perform healthcare procedures throughout the Western Cape, and now the Karoo.
The Ebervet Veterinarians made their third visit to Aberdeen on November 26th, where local welfare organizations work in unison with them.
K.A.P.S. the local animal welfare society in Aberdeen, contact this very giving group of Vets, advising them when animals in the areas of Lotusville, Thembalisizwe and Aberdeen, have been selected, and are ready for treatment. This comprises of sterilization, de-worming, vaccinations, flea and tick control and minor injuries.
A project in each town visited, will run for 2 days. Two veterinarians, an attendant nurse to anaesthetize the animal, and to give after care, are required for each trip.
All expenses are paid for by Ebervet C.V.C., and the local organization with whom they work.
Ebervet C.V.C. only charge 10% of the normal rate, and this fee is paid by local welfare organizations, from donations received. The vets aim, is to do 300 sterilizations in total in the Karoo towns. A small fee is requested from each animal owner, but no one is turned away if they cannot pay.
Neglect and abuse of an animal, is mainly due to ignorance, and people’s perception that animals do not have the same ability to feel pain as humans do.
S.V.D. Science Veterinarian Diet, have donated 250 bags of animal food for this trip.
These amazing woman veterinarians arrived in Aberdeen on two gleaming Harley Davidson motorbikes, and a Landrover Defender with trailer, as their back-up vehicle. So, the concept of “Powered by Legends” was initiated, as both vehicles have 165 years of history between them.
Sponsored technical assistance for the Harley Davidson’s is given by a Tygervallei motor-bike concern. The Landover’s servicing and technical telephonic support is sponsored by a Somerset West firm.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Karoo Animal Protection Society Presented With Cheque

A donation was presented to Lynn Holdt of K.A.P.S. by Dr. Hilldidge Beer of the “Powered by Legions” veterinary care organization, at a dinner given at the Camdeboo Art’s Gallery and Restaurant on Wednesday 19th November. This financial donation represented a percentage of the profits, from the sale of art work by Sandi “Yaffa” Esterhuizen of Aberdeen.

Seen in the photograph is Dr Hilldidge Beer presenting Lynn Holdt of K.A.P.S. with a cheque, Dr Hilana Steyn, Elizma Duvenage Public Relations Officer and Wendy Abbott Veterinary Assistant.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Thiofhi Ravele Of “Open Africa” Visits Aberdeen

Thiofhi Ravele is a Route Networker for ‘Open Africa’. This organization based in Claremont, Cape Town, researches areas where tourism can be promoted throughout the community. This assists in creating employment and helps to alleviate poverty, through the medium of tourism. They identify key players in the local communities, involve municipalities, and identify attractions such as flora and fauna which are unique to that specific area. Open Africa facilitates the establishment of these routes through conducting workshops in the communities, where they also identify local like-minded people who are able to form structured committees to ascertain where their specific area of interest in tourism lies. They then assist further by linking these committees with the support organisations, government agencies and corporate companies for ongoing support.
Various sponsors are approached for funding to develop routes such as businesses in the local areas, The World Bank, The European Union, and corporate companies such as De Beers.
The Open Africa Website http://www.openafrica.org/ assists in promoting local tourism, by placing photographs on the website, giving a GPS reading of the destination, and providing descriptions of all the attractions and products available, before the route is launched to the media and other stakeholders. All these services are performed with no financial charge to the community.
Retired SABC journalist and friend of Open Africa, Charl Pauw, conducts interviews with route participants that are posted on the Open Africa website. The website receives approximately 10,500 visitors a month with the majority of visitors coming from South Africa, Europe and the U.S.A. The approximately 200 participants, who are listed on the website, have benefited substantially from the additional marketing.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Artist Amanda Oosthuizen In Aberdeen

Amanda Oosthuizen, who is an artist, lives in Wynberg in the Cape. She was recently in Aberdeen, where her paintings are now on display at “Moer-toe”, a local coffee shop/restaurant in Aberdeen. Amanda, who is a full time artist, studied textile design but painting has always been her first love.
Two years ago, at Amanda’s first showing in a gallery called ‘Vanilla Canvas’ in Cape Town, all her work was sold in the first two days of the showing. Amanda’s paintings have a wonderfully soft pastel look. Her style is French Classic, and all her paintings are original. Apart from her present style, Amanda is also known for her paintings of white roses. She has a wide appeal to private collectors, and to galleries around the Cape, and at times finds it difficult to satisfy all the demand.
In the 1970’s Amanda’s mother lived in Rabie Street in Aberdeen.

Article By: Joan Tinker

What A Party!

Seldom has Aberdeen been a spectator to such a bash! Against a brilliant Karoo sunset, guests began to arrive at “Moer-toe”, for a private party. This party was to celebrate the opening on Saturday 29th November, by the owner Helena “Poppy” Troske.
“Moer-toe” is an old Karoo home built next to the cemetery. Thus, its name and the resulting theme.
Smartly dressed security personal checked names against the guest-list, as elegantly dressed ladies and their partners were shown into this wonderfully Karoo inspired coffee/restaurant for snacks and pre-dinner drinks.
Here in this old Karoo house, an incredible transformation has taken place. Hung on walls around the coffee shop are paintings by Amanda Oosthuizen. These have been painted in soft pastel shades in French Classic style. Photographs of local celebrities are also featured throughout the house. A theme of brightly coloured hats as a wall hanging is an eye catching item, as is the classic antique furniture mixed with modern antiqued dressers and sofas.

Above a smartly laid dinner table, silver spoons are stuck into the ceiling. This procedure is an old tradition, which marks the passing on of a family member. Above another beautifully laid table, is an amazing chandelier, it is made of a farm implement, festooned with hundreds of hanging red crystals of all sizes and shapes.
The outer the walls of “Moer-toe” are also decorated with strategically placed old farm implements.
A choir of singers then entertained the guests, and then, still singing, the choir proceeded to lead a hearse carrying Helena to the Aberdeen Club. Still maintaining her theme, her guests walked in a procession behind her.
At the Aberdeen Club, tables were laid for Helena’s eighty guests, where a Karoo dinner was served. Live music entertained the guests, who all danced and partied until the small hours.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Deon and Petro Hurter with Hilary and Dallis Graham and Friend

Graham and Rudi at dinner

Graham Ashington and Anton

Anton, Dallis Graham and Lutter van Niekerk

Thembalo Children’s Dance Group

On Wednesday 26th November, Shelagh Miller Wood gave the “Thembalo Children’s Dance Group” a well deserved party. It was held in Aberdeen at the Congregational Church in Lotusville. This was to celebrate their praised performance of “The Paquita Waltz” at The John Rupert Little Theatre’s ‘Summer Variety Show” on Friday 21st November.
As reported by a Graaff-Reinet reporter, “Two groups of very young (and upcoming) dancers gave well-choreographed performances”. One group was Shelagh’s “Thembalo Children’s Dance Group” from Aberdeen. Congratulations to Shelagh and her young performers. Seen in the picture, are Shelagh Miller Wood and the Reverend Carol Cloete-Piedt with the Thembalo Children’s Dance Group.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Academics Visit Aberdeen

John Rushmere is an Honorary Professor of Architecture at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. He is also the recipient of a gold medal from the internationally acclaimed S.A. Institute of Architects.
Theresa Hardman has a Master’s Degree in Architecture. Her post-graduate studies focused on Karoo farm houses.
Both of these talented academics were in Aberdeen at the invitation of the Camdeboo Municipality to view and assist in the possible renewal of the Fonteinbos environmental area, and other architectural projects around Aberdeen.
John Rushmere was on the steering committee in the Ciskei, to assist in a cultural project on “Ntaba Kandoda” (The Mountain of Men), a mountain between Alice and Kingwilliamstown, venerated by the national bard S.E.K. Mqhayi. Unfortunately due to political upheaval in the Ciskei around that time, the project had to be abandoned.
Theresa Hardman spent two years traveling in the Karoo under the auspices of the Simon van der Stel Heritage and Conservation Organization. She witnessed that heart rending era where farmers vacated their lands due to the crippling drought, the wool crises and the failure of the banks to assist them. Homes were just abandoned overnight as the farmers, who after generations of living on the land had no hope and no future.
Theresa, as far back as 1992, came to the conclusion that the only way to rescue all the small towns and the forgotten areas of the Karoo, was to establish tourism.
This foresight of Theresa’s is very much apparent in her desire to re-establish the wonders of the Karoo.
Together with her insight and knowledge of the Karoo, the valuable experience that John Rushmere has to offer, the support of the Camdeboo Municipal Council and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, this, and other projects promise success.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Hail Without Rain

Suddenly, out of an ominously black sky, hail began to pound the dry streets of Aberdeen on Friday 28th November. The incredible noise of the hail crashing down on the corrugated tin roofs of the Karoo houses was deafening. As suddenly as the hail started, it ceased. Then the first rains began to fall on a parched Karoo town. Rain water tanks filled, and the ‘constant gardeners’ of Aberdeen breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully, this is the beginning of the rain for which all the farmers have been praying.

Article By: Joan Tinker