Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

Riekie Schoenbee of ACVV Senior Citizens Centre and Andrew Marshall from GBS (both standing) celebrated GBS Mutual Bank’s 140th anniversary with residents of Hayton Place recently.

GRA has been working and meeting with Makana officials and stakeholders since May this year to achieve some resolution of the uncontrolled stray livestock issue. Progress has been gradual, but with insistence from us and supporters a plan is now in place. One repeated example of damage from unattended livestock is at the Rhodes University research facility situated near the N2 not far from the Graduate Village. Cows have been breaking through the fencing to get at greener grass, which also includes specimen plants in the nursery needed for a long-term research project. Other plants are cultivated at the facility…

We live in a society where we don’t think twice when it comes to making small compromises. We justify compromise with sayings like; “I’m only human” or “I couldn’t help myself.” But do we ever stop and think what it says about us and our character when we do compromise – even when it comes down to small, sometimes insignificant, things? Recently I read the story of three Hebrew boys who were threatened to be burned alive if they did not compromise on their beliefs and worship the Babylonian king. Listen to their answer as it’s recorded in Dan 3:16-18…

Is it more important for you to be right, or to do right? In our endeavours, do we consider the difference between what people want and what people need? Basic needs like shelter, social contact, clothing and food can be provided at relatively insignificant cost. And by using instinct and simple skills, people can survive and even thrive. In contrast to wants, the market for basic needs is small. Modern economies and political systems are geared to reinforcing people’s desires rather than their needs. So is too much of a good thing absolutely awesome? Not according to 16th century physician…

A couple of weeks ago, and for the third year in a row, I spent a tremendously enjoyable few days at a festival in the Western Cape winelands called Poetry in McGregor. As on previous visits, it was a veritable feast of poetry, spoken word and music. On the Saturday afternoon, a crowd of poetry lovers filled the McGregor Backpackers for an open mic/open floor event called Groundings, based on a regular event of the same name held in Cape Town and hosted by the effervescent Roché Kester. I was more than pleased to join this lively throng. And what…

Makana Enviro-News 275 – for Grocott’s Mail, Fri 15 Sept 2017 Compiled by Jenny Gon Help protect our wildflower heritage with CREW South Africa’s wildflower diversity is legendary but, in many areas, threatened. CREW [Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers] is a citizen science programme that works nationally with volunteers to survey and monitor plants of conservation concern. In 2014, an Eastern Cape CREW centre was established in Grahamstown, under the leadership of Vathiswa Zikishe – the Eastern Cape coordinator, based at the RU Botany Department. Vathiswa has just launched the Eastern Cape’s third field season, expanding the programme to…

Margaret Frances Geldenhuys (née Gough) 6 August 1923 to 5 September 2017 Margaret Frances Geldenhuys (née Gough) was born in Port Elizabeth on 6 August, 1923 and passed away peacefully in Hout Bay on 5 September, 2017, at the age of 94. She was a loved and respected teacher, a dedicated lecturer in psychology at Rhodes University while her husband was headmaster of Graeme College, an inspiring mother and grandmother and an ever-loyal friend. She was also an award-winning poet whose two published collections of poems are held at NELM. To her very last day, Margaret dedicated her life selflessly…

By Courteney George Bradfield Clumber Church, in the vale of Clumber in the Eastern Cape, 5km from Bathurst just off the Shaw Park road, has seen various renovations taking place since 2015. To celebrate the completion of the repair and restoration tasks, which coincide with the 150th anniversary members of the church will host an exciting 150th anniversary celebration from 20 to 22 October. On 20 October at 2pm we are laying a flower token on each and every grave to honour those who have gone before. That evening there will be an auction at the Pig and Whistle Inn…

Henry Olivier 21 February 1997 – 2 September 2017 The Hoërskool PJ Olivier community was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of Henry’s fatal car accident, on the Port Alfred road, last weekend. Henry attended PJ Olivier since 2015 and matriculated last year. He loved rugby and athletics and was also a member of the school leadership team. Henry will always be remembered by his fellow students and teachers as a warm, caring person and always made time to inquire about the well-being of all with whom he had contact. In this way, he touched the lives of so many…