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Ermelo Insight Newspaper - Newspaper articles
Duduzile Ramahlo ~ A young woman with an inspirational life-story ~
A recent event at the iTthafa High School featured inspirational and motivational talks by a group of young women who have made their mark in society and forged successful careers for themselves in the corporate and other sectors, despite facing some daunting challenges and in some cases, even initial failures.
Duduzile Ramahlo, the founder of Phenomenal Women of Influence and Character (PWOIC) grew up in Ermelo and attended local schools.  She matriculated at Ligbron Academy for Technology in 2008 as the top learner in accounting and began studying for a B.Com Accounting degree at the University of Pretoria in 2009.  Her life and career after varsity is a true success story but only came about after overcoming some difficult challenges.  She is currently a Financial Analyst at the National Treasury in Pretoria and as she put it, “I love my job!”
Until the age of 11 Duduzile was raised by her mother who then re-married.  Her mother was her role model and someone she could look up to and depend on for inspiration and encouragement.  According to Duduzile, although they were very close, these were qualities in her mother that she only came to realize and appreciate in her early adulthood.  Her mother initially hailed from Witbank (Emalahleni) but also lived in Pretoria, Nelspruit and Johannesburg before coming to Ermelo.  It was clear that she had wanted to broaden her daughter’s horizons and wanted her to know that women could do so much more in life.
Two months after commencing her studies in 2009, Duduzile’s mother passed away.  This was a devastating blow for her and proved to be a life-changing experience.  “My step-dad played a momentous role in my life after my mom passed on and as much as she basically raised me alone I cannot discount his presence in my life.  Looking back at the time, I realised it was as if my mom had raised me knowing that she would not be around and in my life forever.  For this I am extremely grateful because it made me strong and self-sufficient at a young age.  I had always known what I wanted in life and only later, after experiencing failure did I realize that my mom’s death had affected me in many ways.”
For about 3 years she went through periods of depression although this was not apparent at the time.  From matriculating with a distinction in accounting at school, Duduzile failed accounting in her first year at university and forfeited the bursary she had been awarded.  “This was tough for me because she was the one person that I wanted to feel proud of me even though she was no longer there and I felt I had let her down.”  Duduzile had to repeat accounting in 2010 and her second year in 2011.  This did also not go very well so she changed to B.Com Financial Management.  Undeterred, Duduzile drew inspiration from what her mother had taught her and she subsequently graduated from university with a B.Com degree, obtaining a distinction in accounting and financial management.  She is currently pursuing her dream of obtaining her qualification as a Chartered Accountant.  “It is a dream deferred and not a dream abandoned.”
“I owe this to my late mother.  She was very ‘pro-women’ and an advocate for excellence.  She worked at Eskom and would tell me about all the engineers and people from the cities that were following successful careers.  I got to meet these women and talk to them and hear about their stories of success and how through sheer determination they did not allow failure to derail them.  The good thing about it was that they were good role models and tangible women, not just someone who was out of reach on TV, talking about their lives.  It made me realise that if these women could do it, so could I.”
It was this that planted the seed for Duduzile to establish PWOIC Young Women.  She wanted to bring tangible young women who were doing well in life closer to home in order to inspire learners who do not have the same real-life role models she had when she was a youngster at school.  She stressed that PWOIC is not only about university graduates but that there are a lot of young women who have become very successful and have carved careers for themselves despite not having degrees behind their names.
“Basically PWOIC Young Women is about inspiring and encouraging young girls to believe in themselves and to rise above obstacles and failures that they may experience.  They can now also look up to the women of PWOIC and say “If they can do it, so can I”.  PWOIC Young Women envisages the introduction of mentorship programmes to provide constant monitoring of young learners and not only to go to places and give inspirational talks once a year.
Duduzile is not just all about studying and pursuing a career, she also has time to live and enjoy life.  This go-getter career-woman is herself the mother of two children, a 3 and a half year-old and a 2-year-old and is engaged to her love of 8 years.
Geelhout…  ~ Boom van die jaar 2018 ~
Die Henkel se Geelhoutboom-Podocarpus henkelii aard goed in Ermelo. Die een van vele in die dorp groei in die tuin van Daleen Fourie.
Geelhout, waarvan sulke voortreflike meubels gemaak word, was die vanselfsprekende keuse toe daar op ’n nasionale boom vir Suid-Afrika besluit moes word en in 1976 is die Geelhout as nasionale boom verklaar.  Hoewel daar redelik wyd aanvaar word dat dit na die opregte Geelhout verwys, is daar geen bewyse dat die ander plaaslike Geelhoutsoorte spesifiek uitgesluit is nie.  Al vier Geelhoutspesies is as beskermde bome verklaar, wat beteken hierdie bome mag nie sonder ŉ lisensie gekap of beskadig word nie.  Hierdie bome word beskerm omdat hulle waardevolle hout het wat tot houtontginning kan lei, en ook omdat hulle sleutelspesies is wat ’n belangrike ekologiese rol vervul.
Geelhout kry sy naam van die ligte, ietwat gelerige hout.  Die ligter Geelhout word dikwels met donker Stinkhout as kontras gebruik in meubels soos die bekende jonkmanskas wat sedert die negentiende eeu gemaak word.  Dit word reeds eeue lank plaaslik benut en was byvoorbeeld die belangrikste timmerhout van die eerste Europese pioniers aan die Kaap en is onder meer vir die bou van huise en waens gebruik.  Pragtige Geelhoutvloere en plafonne is ’n deel van die tradisionele argitektuur en is destyds as ruwe dwarslêers (balke onder spoorstawe) ingespan.
Geelhoutbome groei oor ’n breë gebied, van die Soutpansberge en Blouberge van Limpompo suidwaarts deur die klowe van die Drakensberge en teen die Suid-Afrikaanse suidkus langs tot op Tafelberg in die Kaap.  Dit kom ook in die tropiese Oos- en Wes-Afrika voor tot by Tanzanië en die Kameroen.  Die Geelhout, ’n stadige groeier, is ’n manjifieke boom met ’n massiewe stam en wyduitgestrekte kroon.
Outeniekwa-geelhoutbome kan reusagtig groot word en die sogenaamde Groot Bome wat in die Knysna en Tsitsikamma woude groei lok meer as honderdduisend besoekers per jaar.  Hierdie bome groei tot 40 meter hoog, met groot krone en stamomtrekke wat dikwels meer as 7 meter reik.  Opregte Geelhoutbome word tot 30 meter hoog.  Verskeie Outeniekwa-geelhoutbome is as kampioenbome verklaar, insluitend die Tstiskamma Groot Boom wat langs die N2 nasionale pad staan.
Geelhoutbome is van die min sagtehoutspesies in die land wat duidelike jaarringe wys.  Outeniekwa-geelhoutbome kan tot ’n duisend jaar oud word.  Die manlike en vroulike bome ontwikkel keëls wat soos miniatuur denne keëls lyk.  Op die vroulike keël ontwikkel daar ’n uitgroeisel bekend as ’n podocarpium, waarop ŉ vlesige saad ontwikkel.
Weens streng beheer word Geelhoutbome tans nie ernstig bedreig nie.  Die opregte Geelhout en Outeniekwa-geelhout word redelik baie in tuine en as straatbome aangeplant.  Die bome groei stadig tot matig vinnig.  In tuine sal dit normaalweg nie naastenby so groot word soos in die woude nie, en dan word dit gewoonlik ’n boom van middelslag grootte met krone wat nie wyd sprei nie.  Geelhoutbome kan sukkel om te groei in ongunstige toestande soos swaar ryp, droë klimaat of swak gronde.  Mense wat die bome aanplant moet aanneem dat die bome redelik groot kan word en nie te naby aan mure plant nie.  Geelhoutbome is tweeslagtig en vrugtevlermuise wat die vrugte van vroulike bome vreet versprei die sade van Outniekwa-geelhoutbome in stedelike gebiede, en in sekere dele van die Kaapstadgebied versprei die bome soos ’n onkruid.  Alhoewel die vier Geelhoutsoorte beskerm word, mag dit gekweek en in tuine aangeplant word sonder lisensie.  Hierdie wetlike vrystelling sluit ook in dat tot ’n kwart van die krone sonder lisensie gesnoei mag word, maar vir die kap van Geelhoutbome (selfs in tuine) moet aansoek gedoen word aan die relevante provinsiale streekskantoor van die Departement van Landbou, Bosbou en Visserye.
Boomplantweek word jaarliks in Suid-Afrika van 1 tot 7 September gevier.  Al is dit altyd ’n goeie tyd om ’n boom te plant, herinner hierdie nasionale week ons aan die belangrike rol wat bome in ons omgewing en gemeenskappe speel.  Hou die volgende in gedagte wanneer jy ’n boom plant: Spit ’n vierkantige gat van omtrent 60 x 60 cm.  ’n Vierkantige gat moedig die wortels van die boom aan om sywaarts te groei, wat die boom stewiger maak.  Gooi ’n graafvol kompos en ’n halfkoppie elk beenmeel en 2:3:2-kunsmis in die gat.  Voeg van die grond wat uit die gat gespit is by en meng alles goed.  Vul die gat met water.  Wag dat die water dreineer.  Verwyder die plantsak en sit die boom in die gat, so diep soos wat dit in die sak was.  Gebruik nog van die grond wat aanvanklik uitgespit is om die boom deeglik vas te druk en maak dan goed nat.  Voed die nuwe boom met ’n aanwending van 2:3:2, omtrent ’n maand nadat dit geplant is.
Geelhout word baie gebruik in die maak van meubels, die kis is in 1981 vir René Lind deur haar pa, Abie Cronjé vir haar gemaak.
Phoenix Rotary awards service above self
Brendan Damons (Phoenix Rotary), Damian Morgan and Janine Cirigliano (Phoenix Rotary Club President).
Rotary links 1.2 million members to form an organization of international scope.  It began with the vision of one man, Paul Harris.  The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so that professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, form meaningful lifelong friendships and give back to their communities.
Generous contributions to the Rotary Foundation are essential to securing and growing Rotary programs throughout the world.  Through their donations, donors support work in Rotary’s six areas of focus: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education and growing local economies around the world.
Ermelo Phoenix Rotary club honoured donors and contributors by presenting them with awards during a stylish event held at the Africa Sky Ermelo Inn on Thursday, 23 August.  Paul Harris awards were given to four people in their personal capacity in appreciation of their contribution to the community and service above self.
Jaco Johnstone, of the Msukaligwa Emergency Services and Fire Protection Agency received a Paul Harris award for his service above self to his community.  Jaco has a passion for the community and serving its members takes preference above all.  His crew is his family and they have a bond that is hard to break.  He is always willing to attend to any call, no matter how small.  He never discriminates against age, gender or race.  To him, the entire community is ‘his people’ and what he does for one, he would do for another.  He will not hesitate to jump into a cold dam in the middle of winter to retrieve someone’s loved one.  Working in rain and cold to rescue a trapped victim from a car or spend 18 hours straight on his feet to douse a warehouse fire is all in a day’s work for Jaco.  He is an absolute perfectionist in everything he does and he applies every single act to the “T”, he does not believe in grey areas.
The second Paul Harris award went to Damian Morgan, of Brakecore Supply co.  Damian began at Brakecore as a stores clerk and moved on to the sales department, where after he progressed to sales manager.  He soon became sales director and in 2014 he became the CEO and major shareholder.  Damian is the founder of the Morgan Life Foundation which is a non-profit organisation with the intention of helping those less fortunate.  He has funded blanket and clothing drives, sponsored schools with basic necessities and has been involved in numerous community projects.  Damian lives by the moto: “Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit”.
The next Paul Harris award was given to Paddy Singh, who was responsible for establishing the first and only temple for the Hindu community in Ermelo.  He is also involved with the Food for Life project and other Iscon outreach programs that cover Mozambique, Botswana and Zambia.  The Food for Life project has been in operation for the past 20 years.  Food is distributed to areas of the community that are severely underprivileged.  They currently distribute 800 to 1200 plates of food monthly in Ermelo, Witbank, Middelburg, Piet Retief and Secunda.
The fourth Paul Harris award went to Maria Gallino from Amsterdam.  Since 1976, when Maria and her family came to South Africa and settled in Amsterdam, she has been involved in the community.  She has always had a spirit of giving without expecting anything in return.  She has been instrumental in keeping Amsterdam clean by having bins installed throughout the town and establishing a recycling centre.  Maria later became involved in a day-care centre that provided meals to school children in Kwathandeka.  She currently continues to work tirelessly with the help of many volunteers on the establishment a care centre for disabled children at Damesfontein.  She also arranged funding from overseas and after many years of planning and construction, the centre will open its doors soon.
Certificates of Service were also awarded to several local businesses and individuals in appreciation of their continued support, they are: Wally van der Walt (ACSU), Alan Geoghegan, Damian Morgan, Natie Myburgh (Burlec), Marnus Coetzer (De Wit Motors Ermelo), Noeline Loubser (Ermelo Toyota), Gerhard Pieterse (Hardie Tyres), Toni Di Loreto, Frikkie du Plooy (Wildman), Drini Jacob (Izimbali), DJ Koch (Pick n Pay), Antonie Swanepoel (Ligbron Academy of Technology), Leon du Preez (Major Steel), Jason Southey (Mpumalanga Brick & Crete), Jaco van der Merwe, Paul van Niekerk (PC Sand), Butch Kotze, Matie Jacobs (Supa Quick), Erhard Prinsloo, Johan van Greunen (Rietspruit Crushers), Louis Botha (Stallion Readymix), Bernard Scheepers, Josè Ferreira (Tony's Blue Bottle Liquors), Theodor Boshoff, Stepan van Helt & Michael Hagemann (Ermelo Inn) and John de Beer (SAB).
Wendy Damons (Phoenix Rotary Treasurer), Jaco Johnstone and Janine Cirigliano (Phoenix Rotary Club President).
Janine Cirigliano (Phoenix Rotary Club President), Paddy Singh and Lakesh Maharaj (Phoenix Rotary Club Secretary).
Nasionaal vereer vir omgewingsvriendelike bosboupraktyk
Braam Steenkamp van Plaas Dennedal in die Warburton distrik is as die Sappi Nasionale FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Groepskema Boer van die Jaar vir 2017/2018 aangewys.
Braam Steenkamp, van die Plaas Dennedal in die Warburton distrik is 14 Augustus as die Sappi Nasionale FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Groepskema Boer van die Jaar vir 2017/2018 aangewys.  Hy het die Bosbok Wisseltrofee, tydens Sappi se jaarlikse toekenningsfunksie wat by die Florence Gasteplaas gehou is, ontvang.  Hierdie trofee word jaarliks toegeken deur Sappi aan die boer wat die hoogste punte behaal tydens sy jaarlikse inspeksie wat deur ŉ paneel van onafhanklike ouditeurs gedoen word.
Braam, wat reeds in 1996 die bosboubedryf betree het, beskryf hierdie toekenning as ŉ groot eer.  Voordat hy en sy gesin hulle op die plaas gevestig het, was hy in die siviele ingenieursbedryf in Pretoria werksaam.  Volgens Braam, dra sy vernuf wat hy oor die jare in besigheid en menseverhoudinge aangeleer het saam met sy agtergrond in siviele ingenieurswese, baie by tot die bestuur van ŉ suksesvolle bosboubesigheid.  Braam word deur sy vrou Marinda beskryf “as ŉ beskeie mens wat altyd sal uitreik na die mense in die gemeenskap.  Sy gesin kom ook altyd eerste en hy is ŉ wonderlike man en pa.  Sy liefde vir die natuur word verseker weerspieël in die strukturering en netheid van sy plase en hy is veral ingestel op die bewaring van die grond.  Vleilande word gerespekteer, erosie word verminder en bekamp, water word opgedam en gespaar en ook gereeld getoets!  Hy pas ŉ wetenskaplike metode toe om bome op die beste manier te plant en te oes en sy kap en snoeiprogramme word baie fyn uitgevoer.  Braam is ook baie ingestel op wintertyd se brandgevare en daarom het hy sy eie span wat hy opgelei het deur die jare om voorbrande te maak, nie net vir hom nie, maar ook vir sy bure wat nie die nodige toerusting of kennis het nie.  So bekamp hy die risiko van verwoestende brande is sy onmiddellike omgewing.  Hy kyk graag na al sy werkers se welstand en sommige van hulle kom al ŉ pad van 20 jaar plus saam met hom.”  Adéle Moolman, sy regterhand in die kantoor, werk hand aan hand saam met Marinda om perfeksie in die kantoor te verseker terwyl Braam sorg vir perfeksie buite.  Hy gee alle eer aan die Here... as boer sê hy, hy is nie bekommerd oor die dag van môre nie, God is reeds daar!
FSC is ŉ wêreldwye nie-winsgewende organisasie wat toegewyd is om die verantwoordelike bestuur van woude en bosbou te bevorder.  Hulle bemagtig besighede en verbruikers met kennis om ingeligte keuses rondom bosbouprodukte en die aankoop daarvan te neem.  Hulle lede sluit in van die wêreld se grootste omgewingsorganisasies soos WWF en Greenpeace asook besighede soos Sappi en dan ook bosbou eienaars en bestuurders, verwerkingsmaatskappye en privaat maatskappye waarvan die Ermelo Insig koerant en die drukkers wat hulle gebruik, Paarlcoldset ook lid is.  Gesamentlik staan hierdie instansies saam om die beste praktyk in bosbou en omgewingsake aan te spreek.  Saam handhaaf hulle die hoogste standaard in bosboubestuur wat omgewingsaanvaarbaar, sosiaal voordelig en ekonomies bekostigbaar is.  "FSC takes care of the world's forests for future generations."  Braam het ook akkreditasie by Sappi se internasionale onafhanklike ouditeure, Woodmark waarvoor hy elke vyf jaar geoudit word.
Joggie Hills van SAPPI oorhandig die gesogte Bosbok Wisseltrofeë aan Braam Steenkamp tydens Sappi se jaarlikse toekenningsfunksie wat by Florence plaasgevind het.
A call for the community to unite
With the general decline of moral values amongst people, and violence and crime plaguing society in towns and on farms in South Africa, Pastor Jabulani (JJ) Nsibande of the Fountain of Salvation Church has taken the initiative to erect a huge cross to serve as a call for people to unite and stand together against the decay.  It will also make people aware of the alarming number of farm attacks and murders of farmers and their workers.
The cross was erected during an early morning ceremony on the farm Klipfontein of Carel-Gert Steenkamp, 10km outside Ermelo on the road between Ermelo and Amersfoort on Tuesday morning and is clearly visible from the main road.  In answer to a calling, Pastor JJ visited all the farm owners in the region and told them of his plan. Some farmers then donated the wood to build the cross and the cross was constructed by himself and others.  “It must also serve as a reminder that Jesus died for us on the cross and that people must return to the Word of God,” said Pastor JJ.
According to the owner of the farm, Carel-Gert Steenkamp, there was already a need that arose by the late Carel-Piet Steenkamp to erect a church for the farmworkers and their families early in the 1950’s.  The church was built by farmworkers who lived on the farm.  They were assisted by a missionary, Reverend Maritz, who was stationed in Ermelo at the time and conducted Sunday Services there.  The church also served as a school during the week and in so doing, the community was spiritually uplifted while at the same time receiving an education.  With the passing of time, the road to the church fell into disuse which resulted in it becoming isolated.
A few years ago, a pastor Jabulani Nsibande visited the owner of the farm, Carel-Gert and requested permission to hold services in the church.  Permission was granted, but it was felt that the church was situated too far from the road and not easily visible.  It was then decided to build a new church on a site where it would be more visible and also have access to electricity.
According to several of the farmers who attended the erecting of the cross, they support this initiative fully and say that it is important for all cultures to stand together in making a difference in our community.  Whenever you drive on the road between Ermelo and Amersfoort and you see the cross next to the road, let it remind you of a community that united across all differences to stand together.
Ermelo Fotoklub hou Fotografiewerkswinkel
Vyfster Magisterwenner, Rosa van Schalkwyk – Ag sies man
Na vele navrae, bied lede van Ermelo Fotoklub ŉ beginnerswerkswinkel aan Saterdag, 25 Augustus vir persone wat belangstel in fotografie.  Die onderwerpe wat aangeraak gaan word is sluiterspoed, lensopening, ‘manual’ verstellings op jou kamera, ISO, komposisie en fokuspunte.  Daar is egter beperkte plek beskikbaar en hulle werk slegs op besprekings.  Stuur ŉ epos aan ermelofotoklub18@gmail.com vir enige navrae.
Die afgelope maandvergadering het weereens puik wenners in elke afdeling opgelewer.  James Harris, Streeksdirekteur vir die NOP Streek het besoek afgelê en was verras met die hoë standaard wat deur die lede gelewer word.
Vier Sterwenner, Andrew Roos – KNP Arend 1
Twee Sterwenner, Dolfie le Grange - Nonnetjiesuil
Juniorwenner, Jacques Kruger – Teaching the Art
Drie Sterwenner, George Prinsloo – Elephant Family
Een Sterwenner, Dalena van der Westhuizen – Sambreelinstallasie
Seniorwenner, Christa Strauss – My Canon and me
Florence Women making a difference - Top Country Wedding Venue of 2018
Photo: Heleen Lowe - www.splendidproductions.co.za
Florence Wedding venue, located on the outskirts of Chrissiesmeer was named the Top Country Wedding Venue of 2018 in the TopVendor competition.  TopVendor is passionate about South Africa’s growing wedding industry and their aim is to create a platform to showcase the most creative individuals in the country.  TopVendor wants to inspire suppliers to be the best in their profession, bringing together wedding industry’s professionals.
Florence, which is predominantly managed by a group of women with Ané Steinberg at the helm, has grown in stature since they held their first wedding as a venue in February 2012.  Florence has now become a one-stop venue with a fairy-tale forest, a renaissance chapel, and a venue hall beyond comparison.  Mooi-Nooi is the bride and her bridesmaids’ dressing haven, while the RamKamp is designed to please the groom and his men.  Most of the wedding guests can also be accommodated on the farm.  There are several other guest rooms available, each with its own charm as well as 14 Safari Dome tents (3m x 3m).  Ablution is very modern and close by.  One of their newest additions is the chapel that can seat a maximum of 200 people.  Currently Ané has 40 employees at the venue who work tirelessly to make every wedding special.
According to Ané when she turned 50, her husband asked her what her plans were for the next 20 years.  At that stage she had been involved in tourism since 1997 and they were looking for ways to put Chrissiesmeer on the map.  She had a few rooms on the farm that she rented out as accommodation and the old milking-shed that begged to be useful.  After considering many different ideas for a year she decided on a wedding venue.  During the following year the venue was built, most of the time without the necessary funds.  The first weekend in February 2012, her daughter Heléne got married to Marius Coetzer and their wedding became the first of many that were to follow at Florence.  The couple won the ‘Sarie Bruidspaar van die Jaar’ competition, and the publicity the venue received through the competition contributed to their growth.  Early in 2019 Heléne and Marius will be joining the wedding industry when they open and manage their own wedding venue, Smitsfield, located on the road to Lothair.
When asked to what Ané contributes her success, she answered with the slogan that has brought her so far, “I slept – and dreamed that life was joy.  I woke – and saw that life was but service.  I served – and understood that Service was JOY!”  Ané takes a very hands-on approach to every wedding as she has a great passion for what she does.  Arranging a wedding is not just a job to her, she invests in every marriage by blessing every bride that crosses her threshold.  The tranquillity and serenity of an old-world charm combined with a peaceful setting makes Florence the perfect wedding venue that can accommodate even the most unconventional bride.  With country-style hospitality and a friendly atmosphere, this is the place where dreams come true.  Florence has the perfect setting to create memories that will last a lifetime.  With a vision from the owners to please and a passion to make it happen it is no wonder that Florence won Top Country Wedding Venue of 2018.
Visit their website at www.florence.co.za for more information.
The team of women at Florence Wedding Venue that was awarded the Top Country Wedding Venue of 2018 in the TopVendor competition.
Ermelo Fotoklub wenners vir Augustus
Thinus van Schalkwyk - 1ste plek ‘Natuur’
Fotografie klubs wat by die Fotografiese Vereniging van Suid Afrika (FVSA) geaffilieer is bied op gereelde basis fotografiese salonne aan.  Vir diegene wat nie weet nie, ’n salon is ŉ kompetisie waaraan fotograwe deelneem.  Lede by geaffilieerde fotoklubs word toegelaat om aan die salonne deel te neem om salonpunte te verdien wat op klubvlak nodig is vir bevordering van 1 stervlak na die volgende.
Die klub wat die salon aanbied besluit watter kategorieë aan deelgeneem gaan word.  Die PSSA het spesifieke kategorie riglyne en definisies waaraan die foto’s wat ingeskryf word vir die kategorie aan moet voldoen.  Die hoofsaaklike verskil tussen die kategorieë, afgesien dat die onderwerp van die foto aan die kategorie moet voldoen, is of die foto deur rekenaarsagteware gemanipuleer mag word of nie.  Kategorieë waar geen manipulasie toegelaat word nie is gewoonlik Natuur, Sport of Fotojoernalistiek asook sekere Landskapkategorieë.
’n Fotograaf word toegelaat om maksimum 4 foto’s per kategorie in te skryf soos gespesifiseer deur die inskryfvorm van die salon.  Natuur (Voëls en Wilde diere soms afsonderlik), Makro, Fotojoernalistiek, Stillewe, Visuele kuns, Troeteldiere, Portrette (Mens of diere) en Ope is ’n paar van die kategorieë by salonne.  ’n Verdere onderskeid in die kategorieë is dat die foto’s kleur of monochroom (swart en wit) moet wees.  Vir Monochroom is dit nie nodig om ’n spesiale kamera te hê nie.  Enige kleurfoto word d.m.v. rekenaarprogramme vir fotografie omgeskakel na monochroom foto’s.  Vir verdere inligting oor salonne en die werking van die PSSA, gaan kyk gerus op hulle webtuiste http://www.pssa.co.za/.  Hier onder volg dan ook ’n paar van die lede wat uitstekend op salonne gevaar het.
Onthou dan ook die beginnerswerks-winkel wat Ermelo Fotoklub aanbied op 25 Augustus.  Dis belangrik dat ons slegs op besprekings kan werk.  Vir verdere inligting, stuur ’n epos na ermelofotoklub18@gmail.com.  Ons volgende klubbyeenkoms is 3 Augustus om 19:00 by die NG Kerk de Bruinpark.
Leon Drotsky - 1ste plek ‘Kelly Slater’
Rosa van Schalkwyk – 2de plek ‘Dis my deel van die blouwildebees’
Gert Kotze – Sertifikaat van Meriete ‘Die wegspring’
Spek se waarde is g’n Spekstorie
Billy Lloyd, Spekboom kenner
Creative Connections in samewerking met Ermelo Tuinbouklub het verlede week die inisiatief “plant ’n boom vandag vir more” geloods.  Die uitdaging om teen November 1000 bome te plant wat vir die nageslag behoue sal bly word vandeesweek aangevul met inligting oor die Spekboom, soos vertel deur Billy Lloyd, ’n kenner op dié gebied.
“Eergister nog het ek in die laatmiddag gaan sit op een van my gunsteling plekke in die Valleibosveld, my hartland.  Tussen klippe my kop op ’n boomwortel laat lê kry en aandagtig gestaar, tot ’n klein beweging my oog roep na waar ’n paar koedoes in die Spek wei.  Hulle moes die dag net daar deurgebring het en staan nou bietjie uit in die son se namiddag strale.  Van afwei na die brakbossies in die laagte was daar nie eers sprake nie.
Daar moet iets in die warm windjie versteek wees dat hulle nie afkom nie, is wat ek gedink het.  Met die tuiskom kry ek ’n verlate Whatsapp boodskap van Elmarie Celliers af en dit begin te reën.  Die hele nag deur reën dit sulke sagte buie wat baie punte tel.  Ek bid op my bed na 4 jaar se droogte.  Die 20mm skiet ’n hoop in my hart op en ek voel om te sing of soos ’n kalf in die veld te hol.  Die oggend se Whatsapp lees: “Skryf vir my ietsie vir die koerant oor Spek”.  Ek stuur maar sommer ’n “Duimpie” dingetjie terug maar my hart wil spring en ek wonder of daai koerant genoeg papiere het om my storie te kan swaai.
Vandag vat ek die lang pad huiswaarts; so lekker gekuier en amper vergeet ek moet skryf.  Koedoe-pastei by Jansenville se padstal gekoop, daar het hulle ook 15mm reën gehad en toe ons hier by Graaff Reinette verby na die afdraai vir Nieu Bethesda is, kyk ons uit vir die troppe Blou Kraanvoëls wat altyd hier vergader; toe onthou ek weer want Elmarie Celliers is mos ook die ‘Kraanvoël tannie’.   Ek sê vir Xolani: “Vat die ou Isuzu se stange”.  Nou sit ek sommer so in die ry en skryf oor die Lootsbergpas Colesberg toe.
Van Graaff Reinette gepraat sing oorlede Randel Wicomb “Daar is Gwarrie bos, Wilde Pruim, Noem Noem en Granaat; tussen Soetdoring en Karee vind ’n koedoebul sy maat”, maar soos dit seker by menigte begrafnisse gebeur, word die een wat die hardste gewerk het nie in die bedankingslied onthou nie.  Net so gaan dit met Spek.  Ek het nog altyd gedink, maar vandag weet ek, dit is by verre die beste plant wat ek van weet.  Ek vertel jou graag hoekom.
Spek of Portulacaria Afra groei letterlik enige plek in enige grond, selfs op klip teen die steilste hellings waar swaar ryp dit nie bykom wyl dit jonk is nie.
Spek bind die grond en voorkom erosie en dit hou die grond en plant materiaal onder dit vas om dit as groei medium vir ander plante te verskaf.
Spek verskaf ongelooflik baie koelte aan die ander bome in die bos en beskerm so bv. die einste Wilde Pruim se stamme teen die uitmergelende Karoo son.
Met ’n onlangse studie is dit vasgestel dat Spek die mees effektiefste koolstofbinder van al die plante is en die plant kan tot 4,5 ton per hektaar per jaar bind en dít met slegs 250mm reën per jaar.  Spek kry dit reg deurdat die plant tussen twee fotosintese prosesse kan skakel.  In kort gestel, die plant kan soos ’n gewone plant of soos ’n vetplant fotosinteer na gelang die heersende toestande.  So hou Spek aan en wanneer ander plante opgee, verskaf hy nog kos.
Spek beskerm homself teen oorbeweiding deur taniene af te skei wat die inname van diere chemies beperk, so hou hy diere aan die wei weer om nie een plant te veel te benut nie.  Wanneer ’n Olifant, Koedoe of Kameelperd aan Spek vreet, vreet hulle van bo af en die plant stoel en versprei deur middel van vegetatiewe voortplanting om ’n bos te vorm en nog grondgebied in te win.
Dié dinge sien ons alles nou eers raak.  Vroeër het boere sommer die boerbokke ingeja om die bos bietjie oop te maak.  Die ding is hulle eet die Spekbos van die kant af en hulle het ’n hoë tanienne tolleransie.  Die Spek word ’n regopstaande boom en kan niks van sy funksies verrig totdat hulle hom opeet nie.  In sy plek kom daar Karoobossies en brak op, wat heel goed is as dit reën maar as die droogte kom soos hy dié keer gekom het is hy ’n nare ding.  So is dit ook by my bure waar van groot troppe wild, na vier jaar se voer niks oor is nie.  Ek sê dankie vir my pa vir bewaring.  Dankie Here vir Spek; want toe die aalwyne vrek in ’n droogte kon Spek ons  hierdeur dra.
Sny net ’n stok af en druk hom die volgende dag in die grond of al is dit ’n week later.  Hierdie plant weet van wag; weet van swaarkry.
Plant hom tussen die klippe by jou huis, teen ’n muur of sny hom in ’n heining.  Plant hom langs die paaie vir almal om te onthou, ons brand te veel suurstof.  Plant hom as bonsai om te sien hy sal blom al is daar swaarkry.
As jy hom plant laat hy jou aan Paulus se woorde dink.  “Kyk ek verbly my in moeilike tye want dit bring in my volharding en die volharding bring egtheid van geloof en die egtheid van geloof bring hoop en die Hoop Beskaam nie” ….Plant Spek!!”
Spek of Portulacaria Afra groei letterlik enige plek
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