At the end of World War Two, notable mayor Dorothy Bayes proposed that instead of another cenotaph in Grahamstown, a living memorial should be built in the form of a series of cottages to house ageing ex-service men, widows and others connected to the war effort.
At the end of World War Two, notable mayor Dorothy Bayes proposed that instead of another cenotaph in Grahamstown, a living memorial should be built in the form of a series of cottages to house ageing ex-service men, widows and others connected to the war effort.
Today her words are echoed by the Grahamstown and Districts War Memorial Association as they say “Let us honour the dead by still taking care of the living.”
At presently the association are still working to raise funds for the project with a street collection being held tomorrow.
Various committees and individuals previously funded four cottages for single people while the Red Cross Society and the British Empire Service League (South African Women’s Auxiliary) each sponsored two cottages for couples.
Twelve more cottages were built by public subscription and one such complex, Settlers Close, next to the fire station, recently welcomed the erection of a palisade fence funded by donors and a gift of
money from Rotary Sunset.
The second complex, Oak Haven, was completed in 1978 with one of the original tenants still residing here – Joanne Van Kemenade who was born in Belgium in 1915.
Many grateful tenants have been housed in the War Memorial Home but with rising costs, the recession, the weak rand and many other charities whose needs are also great, it is becoming difficult to keep the 43 units in top shape.
The roofs need to be replaced, there is rising damp and replacing geysers are all enormous expenses to be faced.
There will be a Fun Fundraiser on Saturday, 6 March at the Full Gospel Church and Sanette Steyn can be contacted on 046 622 7117 if you can provide or donate any items for sale.
Those interested in assisting with the street collection can contact Kathy Waters on 046 636 7816.
