On Thursday 6th May on the farm 'Doringdraai' the home of Dickie and Colleen Ogilvie, the Aberdeen Garden Club members enjoyed an entertaining morning. The drive to the farm over dirt roads and sometimes donga-like pot holes did not deter the competency of the driver David Miller, who once again used the intrepid 'Born to Perform' comfortable taxi.
Calling on route to collect Jadre Lategan, two beautiful Sheepdog puppies a few weeks old, were loved and admired.
After Denise Weldon had given the members a thought for the day, the club was given an extremely enlightening talk on the Soccer World Cup written by Padgie Pienaar, and delivered by Anna Featherstone. To make the talk more authentic, Anna and David wore the South African World Cup T-shirt, waved the South African Flag and blew the colourful 'Vuvuzela' as seen in the picture. At the next meeting in June it was decided that members should do the 'Diski Dance' initiated by the 2010 South African World Cup enthusiasts.
Calling on route to collect Jadre Lategan, two beautiful Sheepdog puppies a few weeks old, were loved and admired.
After Denise Weldon had given the members a thought for the day, the club was given an extremely enlightening talk on the Soccer World Cup written by Padgie Pienaar, and delivered by Anna Featherstone. To make the talk more authentic, Anna and David wore the South African World Cup T-shirt, waved the South African Flag and blew the colourful 'Vuvuzela' as seen in the picture. At the next meeting in June it was decided that members should do the 'Diski Dance' initiated by the 2010 South African World Cup enthusiasts.
John Watermeyer then gave the members a wonderfully historic explanation of how the farms 'Doringdraai' and 'Schoorsteenberg' had become his family’s farms in 1966.
These two farms encompass 9,200 hectares on which separate groups of Marino ewes, Angora goats, lambs and kids are farmed.
The homestead on 'Doringdraai' once served as a small post office, and this farm together with 'Schoorsteenberg' where a local telephone exchange was once situated, were owned by the Miller family for three generations. These two farms were then sold to the Hume family who eventually sold them to John Watermeyer.
John spoke of droughts, floods and the hardships of farming in the Karoo. He spoke of stock rotation and the uncertain availability of food for livestock. Wonderful moments of weddings on the farm 'Doringdraai', held under the magnificent old trees, which always seem to become revitalized by each wedding.
Farming in the Karoo with its unpredictable and harsh climate brings a respect to those farmers who survive it, establishing their roots, making history and producing a culture of "gain by hard work" for their families and to South Africans.
These two farms encompass 9,200 hectares on which separate groups of Marino ewes, Angora goats, lambs and kids are farmed.
The homestead on 'Doringdraai' once served as a small post office, and this farm together with 'Schoorsteenberg' where a local telephone exchange was once situated, were owned by the Miller family for three generations. These two farms were then sold to the Hume family who eventually sold them to John Watermeyer.
John spoke of droughts, floods and the hardships of farming in the Karoo. He spoke of stock rotation and the uncertain availability of food for livestock. Wonderful moments of weddings on the farm 'Doringdraai', held under the magnificent old trees, which always seem to become revitalized by each wedding.
Farming in the Karoo with its unpredictable and harsh climate brings a respect to those farmers who survive it, establishing their roots, making history and producing a culture of "gain by hard work" for their families and to South Africans.
Article By: Joan Tinker
