FRIENDS FOREVER!

These before and after pics were taken at Plett Pre-Primary School in 1997, and at the Woodridge matric dance earlier this year. Above from left are Mieke van Reenen, Stephen Arendse, Mary Everard, Kirsty Donald and Alistair Baynes. Now spot the pre-primary resemblance: at back left, young Mieke sticks out her tongue, with Alistair back right, Mary seated in the centre, Kirsty in front right, and a heavily made-up Stephen seated left. If you know the girl in front or the boy far left, please email esther@cxpress.co.za and let us know who and where they are in the world.

SHARP SAASVELDER

Congratulations to Muedanyi Ramantswana - a Saasveld BTech student with a Sappi bursary - for winning first prize in the Forestry Youth Advancement Programme competition with his paper on ‘The effects of climate change on forestry’. The clever youngster also recently attended the 18th Commonwealth Forestry conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.

COULD A PHOTO DO IT JUSTICE?

Eden to Addo Corridor initiator Joan Berning and fellow hiker Antony Gardy seem to deliberate whether to even attempt to capture their amazing surroundings on camera. A group of 24 hikers set off last Friday on the 18-day Eden to Addo Great Corridor Hike – read the story on the Environment page.

KLEIN GELUKKIE

Oud-Plettenbergbaaierers Chimorné Becker en Riaan Barnard het op 11 Junie ‘n pragtige klein babadogtertjie ryker geword. Haar naam is Moné en sy gaan verseker vir die paartjie, wat nou in Humansdorp woon, baie plesier bring.

BACHELOR’S PARTY…

Groom-to-be and Plett Security owner Waldo Olivier’s mates thought it would be a great idea if he spent Saturday afternoon begging for money while chained to Plett’s dolphin circle at the top of Main Street - to the great amusement of passing motorists. Said ‘mates’ also kindly provided Waldo’s charming outfit and spent the afternoon cheering him on from the balcony of Ghillies Grill. No alcohol at all was consumed during any of these proceedings. Waldo is marrying his Plett sweetheart, Debbie Boukes, on September 25.

SANTA CONFERS

Last month, Santa (SA National Tuberculosis Association) delegates from all over the Western Cape, accompanied by National President Ethel Mokoena from Gauteng, gathered in Plett for the Santa 2010 Western Cape Annual Conference, Symposium and AGM, which concluded on Sunday August 15. The streets of Plett came to a standstil when Santa volunteers embarked on a march from Shell Ultra to Plett police station, lead by the Plett Pioneers field band. The aim of the march was to raise funds and awareness about TB. In the photo at left, Ms Mokoena chats to Plett Santa chair Zenzall Plaatjies.
Photo: Bongani Tom

GOLF FUN ENSURED

Garden Route Insurance Brokers recently sponsored a golf day at Knysna Golf Club. It was a fun, well attended event and everyone seemed to have a great time. The insurers thank Hollard Insurance products Zenith and Etana for their sponsorship. In the pic, fourth place winner Eduan du Plessis, left, receives his prize from Gareth Menton of Garden Route Insurance Brokers.

RAISE A GLASS

The second annual Gourmets & Gourmands fundraiser for Carpe Diem School in George was held on August 28, and the sell-out event saw guests being wined and dined by some of the Garden Route’s finest restaurants. An added attraction this year was the pairing of each restaurant with a wine farm to take the culinary experience to another level altogether. Making the event even more spectacular was the auctioning off of incredible experiences, paintings and select wines graciously donated for the occasion, skilfully steered by famed foodie and co-owner of the Eden School of Culinary Art, Francois Ferreira. Carpe Diem received an incredible R60 000 to further its important work with the special needs learners in our area. So with a sweet treat in one hand – like the delicious a delicious crème brûlée being prepared by Mercia Alkaster of Cinnamon Boutique - and a glass of delectable dessert wine in the other, a toast is raised to another successful event.

SETIES MEESTERS

Op Vrydag 27 Augustus is die nuwe bestuur verkies van die Suid Streek Boeremusiekgilde. Van links op die foto is Suidstreek sekretaris Boetie Adams, Grens voorsitter Dennis Moss, Suidstreek voorsitter Louis Hurter, Suidstreek ondervoorsitter Hennie van Wyk, Port Elizabeth voorsitter Frans Joubert, en Outeniqua voorsitter Vernon van Rooyen.

KNOW THESE FOLKS?

John Mulder, who is well-known in Plett for finding metal and other lost items on the beach, recently stumbled upon a Blackberry cellphone on Central Beach. No owners could be tracked down, but this photo appears on the phone’s memory card. If any of these people look familiar to you, please contact John on 044 533 2177 to put him in contact with the phone’s rightful owners.