CELEBRATIONS STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART
Professor Chris Barnard came home to celebrate his 75th birthday in Beaufort West. To mark the occasion, the local Tourism Bureau organised a Heart Festival. A birthday banquet honoured the heart transplant pioneer’s big day. It all began at 06h00 at the gates of the Karoo National Park, when Professor Barnard officially started a marathon, through the park. Only the second of its kind, the other is run through the Kruger Park. Then Lara, the latest addition to the Barnard clan, was christened in the lovely little Mission Church where her grandfather, the beloved Reverend Adam Barnard, preached for many years. The church, a landmark and national monument, is part of the museum. A tea and lunch followed as well as the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in the garden of the Barnard house. A highlight of the day was the birthday banquet, attended by virtually all Professor Barnard’s immediate family, friends and VIPs from the Groote Schuur Heart Unit in Cape Town.
FEESTE VAN GISTER
Beaufort-Wes van gister het altyd kans gesien om fees te vier. Spesiale dae was Kersfees, Nuwejaar en Konings- of Koninginsverjaarsdae. Volgens Wynand Viviers in Hooyvlakte is elke fees vooruit gegaan deur weke van koek bak, gemmerbier maak en oor en weer kuier. Dans en sang was gewild. In 1852 het Beaufortwesters glo die twee honderdste herdenking van Jan van Riebeeck se landing by die Kaap met ‘n dorpsfees soos min gevier. Dan was daar Koningin Victoria se Goue Jubileumfees in 1887. As fees was dit was glo iets besonders. Die Raad het £10 gespandeer op die verligting van die stadshuis en telegraafkantoor. ‘n Ope vakansie dag is verklaar, kerkklokke het gebeier om dankdienste aan te kondig en ‘n blaasorkes het deur die strate gemarseer. Elke huis moes verlig bly vanaf 19h00 tot middernag. Daar was ‘n dans by die Masonic Hotel en die hele dorp is uitgenooi om die volgende dag te kom piekniek hou by Die Waterval. Omtrent almal het opgedaag, aan die sport geleenthede deelgeneem en die vuurwerk vertoning geniet.”
TRAVEL, THE GREAT PANACEA
Mr Robert S Smythe, an early impresario “well known throughout the colonies for arranging lecture tours for literary gentlemen,” visited Beaufort West in the 1890s with one of his personalities who was to speak on “The Value of Travel.” Smythe introduced him, saying this: “Everyone should travel. It does much more than broaden the mind. It could ensure world peace. Travellers gain tolerance and develop a much better understanding of each other and of world affairs.”
SWARTBERGPAS WEER OOP
Die wereldberoemde Swartbergpas, ‘n toerisme trekpleister vir Prins Albert, sal weer op November 14 weer amptelik oopgestel word. “Amper ‘n volle jaar na dit deur vloedwaters beskadig was, maar nou met die beste oppervlak in sy geskiedenis,” sê Mnr Herman de Witt, voorsitter van die Sentrale Karoo Distrikraad. “Die pas is so alom bekend dat heelwat toeriste spesiaal na die Karoo toe kom om dit te sien en daaroor te ry.”
CUDDLE UP TO A GRAVEYARD
The South African and Welsh families of Walter Jones, once a well-known figure in Beaufort West want to “adopt” the old Anglican cemetery in Bird Street, restore it in his memory and turn it into a tourist attraction. “Obviously we will not disturb any graves,” says Marlette Tredoux, Mr Jones’s daughter. She is liaising with Beaufort West authorities on the project. “Our aim is to work closely with the Beaufort West Tourism Bureau and to create a peaceful environment in which tourists can study the town’s history. We simply wish to tidy the graveyard, clean the irrigation furrows, plant some old-fashioned Bankshire roses and cannas to add colour. We would like to donate some benches, so that visitors can sit in the shade during their visits. Any Beaufort West families interested in joining us in this effort should contact Rose Willis, who is co-ordinating the project for us.”
BALE DANKIE!
Die Sentrale Karoo Distrikraad was verheug om te sien hoe gou Round-up lesers hul tjeks van R30 vir posgeld gestuur het. “Die spoedige reaksie was vir ons ‘a riem onder die hart,” sê John van der Merwe, hoofuitvoerende beampte. “Dit onderstreep weereens dat Round-up ‘n wenner is en ‘n spesiale plek in die toerisme mark beklee. Die nuusbriefie sped ‘n uiters belangrike rol in die bemarking van toerisme in die Sentrale Karoo. Ons bedank graag die lesers vir hul bydraes!”
BROCHURE A WINNER
The N1 promotional brochure, “A Faraway Highway of Discovery,” has been given an excellent reception. A copy was recently mailed to all readers of Rose’s Round-Up, and many wrote to say how much they enjoyed it. The brochure was also hailed as “a first for South African tourism.” The Argus food editor, Myrna Robbins, complimented its use of ” history and route information that can be read at a glance. The strip map is a winner!” “A good read, bright, attractive and easy to digest with delightful historic facts, succinctly stated. My immediate desire was to visit the Karoo,” wrote historical researcher Dr Dawn Gould. Travel writer Gillian Rennie loved the brochure and the information sheets on each town. “They’re a freelance writer’s dream, filled with buckets of information.” “Enticing,” said Western Cape Tourism Board member Jans Rautenbach, of Oulap Guest House. “Even those of us who know and love the Karoo enjoyed this brochure.” And members of the Simon Van Der Stel Foundation considered the “combination of history and modem-day tourism delightful.”
‘N TYD VAN JOLYT
Tydens die Anglo Boere-oorlog het Beaufort-Wes sy “eie” militere-blaasorkes gehad. Die Britse leer se orkes is deur Lt-kol Spence tot beskiking van die dorp gestel “wanneer dit vry was.” Die dorpsmense was verheug toe die Raad die aanbod aanvaar het. Die orkes is onmiddelik genooi om opelug konserte te lewer en by danspartytjies te speel. Amptelike konserte is in die stadsaal aangebied. Hierdie spoggerige geleenthede was uiters gewild en “amper modeparades” het een skrywer van die dag opgemerk. Nog ‘n bron van vermaak was die Sondag militêre parades op die bult aan die bopunt van Birdstraat, waar die swembad vandag is. Die Coldstream Guards parades was van die gewildste.
COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF!
Addressing a recent tourism workshop in Still Bay, Western Cape Minister of Tourism, Mr Lamp Fick, appealed to each region to fully utilise traditional foods. “Overseas visitors love sampling local cuisine. Yet, all too often, this does not appear on the menu and the excuse offered is that it is too ‘common’. This is ridiculous. Recently, a German couple touring Cape Town asked me where they could enjoy a rack of lamb. They then found it on the menu at the Karoo National Park, outside of Beaufort West, and pronounced the park’s rack of lamb the tastiest meat they had ever eaten. Compliments to the chef?”
A HALL FOR WAXING LYRICAL
The Lyric Hall at the Royal Hotel, venue of the Food and Wine show during the Beaufort West Heart Festival. was once the social hubs of the town. In 1893. Frenchman Max O’Rell visited to deliver a lecture on France and the French in this hall. It was entitled “The Happiest Nation on Earth”. He said: “France is the foremost country of the world. Even the French admit that. They are happy and content in their own country and they love tourists. Many nations consider ‘foreigners’ droll creatures, even savages. Not the French, they love the diversion that tourists create. The English hate foreigners; the Swiss love them as sportsmen love the game; Germans see them as heaven-sent blessings. The French consider Belgians ‘dear’, Dutch ‘simpletons’, Italians ‘noisy’, Americans ‘mad’, Germans ‘pompous’, Scandinavians ‘cold’, Australians ‘grotesque’ and the English ‘eccentric’.” Writing of his visit to Beaufort West, he said: “The best souvenir of my trip to Africa was a visit to the Lyric Hall in Beaufort, a little town with twelve to fifteen hundred inhabitants. What a name for a hall. It had wooden walls and benches and at one end a stage framed by nymphs and sylphs, not too professionally painted. On the right wall was a panel inscribed ‘music’ and on the left its twin inscribed ‘drama’. These listed forthcoming ‘attractions’ which included performances of Shakespeare, Dante, Milton, Molière and Cornielle. The music recitals included the works of Beethoven, Berlois, Wagner and Verdi. I met the owner who, quite justifiably, was more than a little proud of the type of entertainment he was able to provide for the townspeople.”
BEAUFORT SE DIAMANT MANNE
Vanaf Toeka se dae probeer Beaufortwesters die deurreissende vekeer te benut. Die huidige Tourisme Buro beraam planne om toeriste te ooreed om die dorp ‘te ontdek’. Deurreisende verkeer was omtrent altyd ‘n lewensaar vir Beaufort-Wes. Vanaf die tyd wat die eerste reisigers op die noord/suid roete beweeg het was Beaufort-Wes al ‘n ideale oornagplek. Toe diamante in 1868 ontdek is het die dorp ‘n bloeityd beleef. Diamantdelwers het deur die dorp gestroom. Hotelle, bakkers, voerkwekers en staleienaars kon amper nie by bly met die aanvraag vir kos en voorrade nie. Sommige plaaslike inwoners het fortuine op die diamantvelde “gaan haal”. Een het ‘n yslike 88 karaat diamant “The Star of Beaufort West” in Mei 1871 ontdek en diamantkoors het in die dorp vlam gevat. Kort daarna het ‘n ander inwoner, wat amper net so goed gevaar het, met sy terrugkeer ‘n groot donasie aan die sendingkerk gemaak. Die Beaufort West Diamond Mining Company is in die lewe geroep en hulle het ook goed gedoen. Die voltooiing van die spoorlyn na Kimberley het die bloeityd in die wiele gery, maar later, toe goud in die Transvaal ontdek is, het die koors weer uitgebreek en bekende entrepreneurs soos Barney Barnato het ‘n hotel in Beaufort-Wes laat bou om die deurgande verkeer te benut.
WHAT FEARFUL MANNERS, OLD BOY!
Fully utilising the potential of passing traffic to contribute to the economy of small Karoo towns has long been a daily preoccupation. Loxton farmer John Sinclair recently found an booklet entitled “Early Motoring in South Africa.” In it an item states that “in 1912 great indignation was expressed in Beaufort West when a car travelling northwards sped straight through the town without even stopping to pass the time of day. No telling what the world is coming to as its pace increases and travellers forget their manners.”
PRINS ALBERT OP DIE LUG
Die SABC radio-program Woman Today het onlangs ‘n onderhoud met Toerisme Buro Bemarkingskomiteevoorsitter Elaine Hurford gedoen oor die toerisme potensiaal van die dorp en die Swartberg gebied. Daar was ook ‘n onderhoud met kaasmaker Louis Le Roex. “Luisteraars was baie beindruk met sy verduidlikings oor die maak van kaas en sy redes waarom by homseif in die Karoo kom vestig het,” sê inligtingsbeampte Inge Mynhardt. “Min mense was bewus van die top gehalte produkte wat ons hier vervaardig en die onderhoude het baie vir die dorp beteken.”
USEFUL EXCHANGE OF IDEAS
The first combined meeting of the Central Karoo and Klein Karoo regional tourism organisations has created positive co-operation between two regions. The main aim of the meeting, held in the Karoo National Park, outside Beaufort West on October 28, was to discuss common ground and ways of sharing the benefits of tourism. “Both regions appeal to the new breed of tourist visiting South Africa,” said Central Karoo RTO chairman Herman de Witt. “Arid zones fascinate modern tourists, most of whom have tired of ‘chocolate box’ scenery. Visitors these days seek ‘something different’. They enjoy ‘African experiences’, and they constantly seek the unusual and the unique. We certainly have venues to fit the bill.” Combined promotions, featuring eco- and adventure tourism ideas specifically related to the Swartberg Mountain area, were discussed. Sports-orientated promotions were highlighted and several forward thinking staff training options put forward, as well as ways of improving standards and service.
NUWE HANDLEIDING OP PAD
Nasionale riglyne en ‘n gebruikskode vir advertensies langs die pad, rowel as toeriesme georienteerde padtekens is goedgekeur. Mnr C P du Plessis, direkteur van Paaie in die Wes-Kaapse Plaaslike Regering sê die bladuitleg van die nuwe dokumentasie is gedoen. Dit sal eersdaags gedruk word en binnekort beskikbaar wees.
SPILLING BLOOD
Geologist Johan Loock has taken issue with Sven Eklund who, in Round Up No 42, January, 1997, stated that “Dwyka” meant ” blood”. Mr Eklund also referred to iron deposits being washed downstream and turning the rivers red. “I do not agree with his theories and explanations,” says Mr Loock. “Nor can I find any evidence of this in any references to old indigenous languages. I also do not agree with his remarks regarding the leachate which turns the river red. The Ecca and Beaufort beds contain pyrite nodules, but over the last two-million years, while the earth’s surface has been stable, all iron would long ago have been leached out.”
RHENOSTER KRY RIVIER SE NAAM
Die Karoo Nasionale Park het besluit om die nuwe renostertjie “Dywka” to noem. Volgens mnr D J Uys, ere-veldwagter, is die naam van een van die Karoo se groot riviere gekies omdat dit pas goed by Gamka, die naam van die vorige kalfie. Die Karoo Nasionale Park het nou vyf renosters, Ngara, Catharina, Chipembere, Gamka en Dwyka.
PORCHES PAUSE FOR A BRAAI
Prince Albert and Beaufort West hosted the recent Porsche Economy Rally which celebrated the marque’s 50th anniversary. Fuel for the week-long run from Gauteng to Cape Town was sponsored by BP. The group refuelled at Donkin Motors in Beaufort West and then drove to Travalia Guest Farm for a spit braai. The participants, five of whom came from Europe especially to take part in this historic drive, were captivated by traditional Karoo hospitality.
PRINS ALBERT DEEL IN WERELD VOËLVELDTOG
Vier Prins Albert mense neem deel in a wêreldwye voëltelling en verdien fondse vir Birdlife International. Hulle is David en Jean Rossouw en Christiaan en Hannie de Wit en vir elke spesies waaroor hulle verslag doen betaal NTT, Japan se grootste telekommunikasie maatskappy $10 (R48) vir Birdlife International. Dis die derde jaar dat die maatskappy hierdie kompetisie borg. In 1995 het 53 000 voëltjieliefhebbers in 51 lande 2 764 spesies aangekondig, in 1996 het 80 694 mense 5 317 spesies aangedui in 81 lande. Dit is omtrent 60% van die spesies in die wêreld. Prins Albert het ‘n ryk voëllewe en Christiaan spog met 703 spesies, Hannie met 694, Dawid, 605 en Jean 569. Hulle stuur amper daagliks hulle verslae in via e-pos.
