The Luxolite's Mission For 2011

The Luxolites comprise the past pupil's association of the Luxolo Intermediate School in Aberdeen. Their Project Mission for 2011 is to raise more funds so that we can implement an after-school homework class. It was deemed extremely important to realise this goal as we believe that if a patter of attending homework classes while at primary school is established, there is a good chance that the learners will continue to attend when they reach high school level. Through these classes, it can also be established which learners need specialised assistance or who are experiencing learning difficulties. Some of the children who attend might not know how to read, even at the ages of 10 and 11. The school is unable to provide these children with the support and additional assistance that they need. This can only be achieved with skilled community members/volunteers who can work with the children. We are also painfully aware that many children with learning disabilities often come from conflict-ridden family backgrounds which inhibit them from achieving at school. These learners are at high risk of experiencing social dysfunctionality and of becoming potential offenders. It is thus vitally important that we provide the support these children need at the soonest possible convenience.
During the course of 2011 homework clubs will be established and carefully monitored to assess their achievement in terms of improving the children's ability to cope at school. The area co-ordinator acts as a liaison between parents and the school since it has become clear that many of the parents are illiterate or had bad school experiences themselves and were thus unable or unwilling to engage with the school about their childrens' achievements and problems. The children will be provided with basic stationery at the homework clubs (we are in a process to find a sponsor to supply with the basic stationery). Records will be kept of attendance at homework classes and of the children's school results in order to be able to correlate and monitor changes in attendance with performance at school.

Click here to read more about The Luxololite Project and what you can do to help...

“ABERDEEN” by Tineke Anderson

Tineke Anderson

Ver van die stad met sy dolle gedruis,
lê ‘n Karoodorp baie na aan my hart.
In hierdie oase voel ek my tuis;
met minder lawaai wat die ore kan tart.

Die Karoolug is onbesoedeld en skoon,
want die wind warrel en waai, en suiwer die lug.
Die sterre wat hier aan die hemelruim troon,
skitter en skraal op hul nagtelikevlug.

Die Kamdebooberge hou ewig die wag,
verhewe en hoog, soos drake getooi.
Die rante geets deur die wind se verwerende krag,
lyk soos draketande met wag op ‘n prooi.

Die geboue vertel van destydse swier,
in stylvolle Victoriaanse argitektuur.
Ook Karoo en Gotiese styl vind mens hier;
eg Kaaps, histories, met ‘n eie kultuur.

In hierdie dorp wil ek baie graag bly;
een word met die taai doringboom.
Saam met die aalwyne wil ek gedy;
my beste as menswees kleurryk vertoon.

Dan swiep my hart saam met die swaeltjies wat duik,
en vertroetel die hoep-hoep se geroep.
My wese juig saam as die kerkklokke lui;
hier vind ek die rus wat ek soek!

Ver van die stad met die dolle gedruis,
lê ‘n Karoodorp met die naam Aberdeen.
Aan diegene wat graag hierheen wil verhuis,
word ware ontvlugting verleen.

In Memorium

COLIN KRAUT
8th November 2010

In memory of a wonderfully loving friend and cousin Colin. We shall miss you every day. Rest peacefully my friend. Joan, Anthony, Michael, Fiona, Mandy, Alan, Patricia and Sharon.
The sudden death of Colin Kraut came as a shock to his many friends both here in Aberdeen, in Durban and around the world. Colin passed away whilst on business in Durban and this has left a void in Aberdeen of a much loved presence. Our thoughts go out to his wife Meredith, his daughter Lisa, his brothers in law Russell and Mark and his many close friends.

Article By: Joan Tinker

An Evening Of Poetry And Music In Aberdeen

Aberdeen Books & Crafts Evening of Poetry and Music

Congratulations to Aberdeen Books and Crafts a.k.a Peter and Sue Shaw on the wonderfully enjoyable evening which they presented to the Aberdeen community on Thursday 28th October 2010. Profits of the evening, being R3660.00 are to be presented to the Aberdeen Hospital in the form of a wish list devised by Matron Nomhle Nkeleni-Ndaba.
Many members of the Aberdeen community assisted Peter and Sue in making the evening successful, enjoyable and of the highest of standards. Sponsors in Aberdeen and Graaff-Reinet were generous in their donations of prizes for raffles, lucky programme and ticket draws. Loan of equipment and time spent by the local community in making this a memorable event, was much appreciated by the Shaws.

Gaye Day and Marian van Staden

In typical Sue Shaw way, everything was well organized from “front of door” which was manned by Ian and Daniela Hamblin to seating arrangements assisted by Sandra Bowker.

Daniela and Ian Hamblin with Sandra Bowker

The hall at the Aberdeen Club was arranged to seat approximately seventy people and it was filled to capacity, represented by all the local communities. The colour theme of the show was black and white, and progammes, table settings, candles and flowers with table napkins decorated with red sparkles added to the ambiance. The tables each seating eight, formed a circle around the reading area which composed of a raised dais supporting a lectern, a standing lamp an elegant white chair and silver candelabra.

Keith and Maureen Mc Andrew

The evening began with poetry readings by Peter Shaw, Denise Weldon, Christa Beyers and Marius Frazenburg, who for a brief moment took on the persona of 007. Each poem read was accompanied by a slide show of the poet and brief anecdotes of the poet’s life. Some anecdotes were sad, some amusing and some were best forgotten! The poetry of William Wordsworth, Robert Burns and C Louis Leipoldt were a few poets whose works were read, while William Blake was described as a 18th century hippie, who was a forerunner of the 60’s and of the works of Bob Dylan and Bob Morrison. The slide show was skillfully managed by Jonathan Bowker who also used accompanying music to highlight the poetry read.

Denise Weldon reading a poem by William Blake - The Lamb

Marius reading Expensive Ekstratjie by Peter Snyders

A musical interlude by the Quintet from the New Apostolic Church followed the readings. Here, Tchar Tchar, La Donna e Mobile, Valse by Chopin and How Beautiful Are Thy Feet by Handel were beautifully presented by Roberto de Jager (horn), Esteline de Jager (flute), Desvaline Coetzee (violin), Vinchenzo de Jager 10 years of age (violin) and Nelson Joubert (clarinet).

Desvaline Coetzee, Vinchenzo de Jager, Esteline de Jager, Nelson Joubert and Roberto de Jager

Poetry readings were then resumed by among others Shelagh Miller Woods, Maureen Mac Andrew and Sandra Bowker who was most amusing in the reading of Warning by Jenny Joseph.
Dinner served to all those attending was the usual scrumptious meal cooked by David Miller, Toesie Slabbert and Colleen Ogilvie.
Two poems read by Peter Shaw after dinner, and which need special mention were The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes and Do Not Go Gentle by Dylan Thomas. These two poems were full of pathos and brought a sense of deep emotion which poetry can instill.
Petro Marx and Almarie Gericke then sang a musically enjoyable rendition of Who Painted the Moon Black and Streets of London, to which song many of the audience sang along.
The fun part of the evening was initiated by Sue Shaw in the reading of ABC by Spike Milligan, and Be Glad Your Nose by Jack Prelutsky read by Nomhle Nkeleni-Ndaba. Here Nomhle had everyone standing miming actions in time to the amusing dialogue.

Be Glad Your Nose read by Nomhle

The surprise and delight was an Afrikaans poem written especially for the event by Tineke Anderson titled simply Aberdeen. Here Tineke gave her reasons for loving the Karoo and for being in Aberdeen, and the gratitude she feels for all the richly different facets of the life lived in this small Karoo town.

Aberdeen written and read by Tineke Anderson

The finale of the evening gave rise to much mirth, sustained clapping and a demanding encore. John Weldon, Peter Shaw and Marius Frazenburg gave their rendition of a Gilbert and Sullivan opera, singing ‘Three Little Maids Are We’. Dressed in costumes which were composed of garden hats, kimonos, Chinese scarves and with fluttering fans, they twirled and whirled, and brought the house down!!

Gilbert and Sullivan performed by John Weldon, Peter Shaw and Marius Frazenburg

On behalf of the Aberdeen Hospital the Matron Nomhle Nkeleni-Ndaba and the Hospital Board, Professor Orlando Meyers thanked the Aberdeen Books and Crafts for instituting and organizing this benefit, the Aberdeen community who came together in assisting and making the evening possible, and to all those who attended and gave so generously.

Peter And Sue Shaw

Once again well done to Peter and Sue Shaw, hopefully this will become a yearly Aberdeen event.

Comments On The Poetry And Music Evening

I enjoyed everything and loved every poem, this evening was delightful and I would like to see this event become annual. - Motasha Nonnie.
Lovely to travel down memory lane through all that poetry - Rita van Niekerk.
It was fantastic. I enjoyed it and hope that there would be something like this again soon. Thank you - Aden Esau

Article By: Joan Tinker

Sponsership By Aberdeen Volks Delta & Caltex Eastern Cape Marketers

Mr Tienie Appel of Aberdeen Volks Delta
with the Caltex Eastern Cape Marketer

During the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa, a soccer tournament was organized on the 16 June 2010 in Aberdeen in conjunction with the Local Organizing Committee. This initiative was instituted for the disadvantaged local community so they might celebrate this 'once in a lifetime' South African event here in Aberdeen. Eight clubs participated in this well supported event.
The soccer fraternity of Aberdeen and the LOC has conveyed their deepest gratitude to Caltex Eastern Cape Marketers and Aberdeen Volks Delta for making this event so special in the lives of the young Aberdeen community.

Universal Kidz Committee Members

The ultimate winner was Universal Kidz who knocked out Pystor in the final event.

Young Blues

Everton FC

Club Results were determined as follows:
Pystor (3) vs Seven Leaves (1)
Everton (4) vs Conquering Lions (1)
Young Blues (3) vs Aberdeen Superstars (0)
Universal Kidz (3) vs Eleven Experience (1)
Semi-Finals:
Pystor (2) vs Everton (1)
Young Blues (2) vs Universal Kidz (2)
Penalty Shooot-Out: Young Blues (7) vs Universal Kidz (8)
Final:
Universal Kids (3) vs Pystor (1)

The sponsored incentives given were: One set of soccer kit, 20 tog bags, 50 vuvuzelas, 100 T-Shirts, with one soccer ball given to each competing club.

Article By: Joan Tinker