Edition / Uitgawe 9

30 August 2013

Happy Spring Day 2013!

L o n g T o m P a s s , s p ri n g 2 0 1 3 . P h o t o : C h ri s C o l v erd

The Idol of Graskop 3

The beauty of trash 8 & 9

The big bad age! 14

Afrikaans, ek s 5

GPS News

From the editor

1 September officially marks the be ginning of spring in South Africa. Although the evidence thereof in nature is only starting to show now, the chilly mornings and evenings show that winter does not easily want to loosen its grip. The seasons in the southern and northern hemispheres are always opposite from each other. Winter here, summer there, autumn here, spring there and so on. Therefore, when autumn starts there around September, then spring starts with us. It is not only evident in nature with colourful blooms and green leaves budding everywhere strangely there is suddenly a light heartedness inside you. You sud denly have courage to face problems, knowing that the hardships of life must go over... they cannot go on forever. We as humans are usually pess imists, and sometimes will refer to the glass of water as half empty in stead of half full. If you are in the winter of your life and all seems bleak and destitute, know where your strength comes from. Just like God always nurtures nature, He will send another season of spring in your life. REM sings a song called Every body Hurts, and here is the intro: When your day is long, and the night, the night is yours alone, When youre sure youve had enough Of this life... hold on.

GPS News 22 Main Road, Sabie Tel: 01 3 764 31 27 Fax: 086 57 43454 Facebook: gpsnews Twitter: @editorKemp Editorial/Advertising: Valerie Kemp, tel: 083 565 9458 E-mail: editor@gpsnews.co.za Reporters: Christine Roussouw (Sabie, Pilgrims): 079 233 4801 Gerda van den Bos (Graskop): 083 324 7254 Graphic design: Sydney Mashele Editing and layout: Pedrie Roberts
As sure as the spring comes along every September for us in South Africa, so your spring in your life will come. Just hold on... to Him!

S o c ia l Ca le n d a r Sosiale Kalender
Let us know about any events for placement in the Social Calendar. It is free!
Every Friday at 20:00 @ Canimambo: drumming circle and drinks special.

1 September

Spring day. Official change of season from winter to spring in South Africa.

1 September

Arbor Day: a day on which trees are planted and emphasis is placed on the importance they play in the circle of life.

www.gpsnews.co.za
Frans Pretorius en Jeanette Stry dom het n 42 jaar besluit om te trou. Ds. Wil lem Breytenbach van die Her vormde kerk Sabie het hulle op 1 Augustus op n baie priva te seremonie in die huwelik bevestig.

gpsnews

@editorKemp

gpsnewsblog. wordpress.com

4 September

LEFPA Escarpment meeting @ 09:00. Contact: Annalize on 082 902 5854.

Thank you, Supa Quick Sabie

I would like to extend a hearty thank you to Supa Quick Sabie for their excellent service and customer care. I would especially like to mention Gerhard, who is prepared to go the extra mile for the clients. Sabie is privileged to have a company of such stature as an asset to the town. Claudia van Aswegen

7 September 7 September

Mountain biking: Das Auto MTB Series 4, White River. Sabie VLU high tea. R50 p.p. Limited tickets available. Contact: Annette on 082 298 1 939 or Elize on 079 573 6038.

Teddy support appreciated

To all the people who have donated wool to the G.R.I.P. Teddy Bear project, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your generosity. Every ball will be transformed into teddies, so essential for the healing process of these abused women and chil dren. Special thanks to Valerie and all her staff at GPS News for a wonderful news paper and all the support I have received with this pro ject. Bless you all for your re sponse, with grateful thanks. Barbara Bredenkamp

1 2 September

Dankie vir al die hulp

Ons wil vir dr. Wynne Lieberthal en sy personeel dankie s vir al die hulp. Sabie Hospitaal se personeel by ongevalle was enige tyd van die dag of nag daar om oom Frans te help as hy suurstof nodig gehad het. Ook wil ons vir Dokter en die apteekpersoneellede dan kie s vir die oproepe wat jul gemaak het om die suurstof toestel te kan kry. Dankie vir besoeke, SMSe en oproepe, en vir Willem van Witrivier vir jul vinnige optrede. Verder n spesiale dank aan ds. Willem Breytenbach wat ons op 1 Augustus getrou het, asook vir Elsa en Bernice. Frans en Jeanette

Graskop-VLU se maandelikse vergadering en werksessie. 1 8:00 by Villa Nerita. Kontak: Eduard by 072 687 8322.

1 4 September

Spur Schools MTB 4. Contact: Mark Meyer on 082 338 9532.

1 3 &1 4 September

Graskop business strategy seminar in cooperation with the AHI. Contact: Babsie on 082 888 4261 .

21 September 24 September 28 September

Spur Schools MTB Finals. Contact: Mark Meyer on 082 338 9532. Public holiday: Heritage Day. Danie Botha-konsert by Panorama Secondary School in Graskop ten bate van Fanie Stoltz-aftreeoord en Panorama-skool. Kontak: Maria by 01 3 767 1 093.

GPS News

Golden ticket

for local
B
Gerda van den Bos
renden Ledwaba is one of the competitors in this years SA Idols competition... and he is from Graskop! He had the audience and the judges spellbound with his perform ance of Miguels Adorn, for which he received a resounding yes from all three judges at the Gauteng au ditions. His performance has earned him a golden ticket to the next stage of the competition the theater week at Sun City. It has also made him instantly famous. Search his name on Google or Facebook and you will find hun dreds of messages from fans all over the country. When the programme was broadcasted, his Twitter follow ers skyrocketed from just over 100 to over 1 300 by the time the pro gramme ended. Brenden is just 19, but he has

Idol

been a musician since the age of six, when he joined the church choir. Apart from singing he also plays keyboard, bass guitar and drums and he is currently studying sound and music engineering at Emendy Sound and Music Technologies in Pretoria. His father, Past. Phineas Ledwaba of the local Christ for Life church, says Brenden and his brother had a band, called Soulfenda, while he was still a learner at Sybrand van Niekerk High School in Sabie. He performed at various clubs and gigs over the years and his repertoire spans most of the music genres. Brenden also writes, composes and produces his own music. Ledwaba says he and his wife, Debrah, are very proud of their tal ented son and says Brenden is not just doing it for himself or their family, but also for Graskop and to put Mpumalanga back on the map.

Brenden Ledwaba has progressed to the next stage of SA Idols 2013. Photo supplied by Past. Phineas Ledwaba

GPS News

FAME
G
Gerda van den Bos
raskop has one of Mpuma langas first green buildings. Panorama Secondary Schools new school hall takes this honour as it is built from recycled material from the steel construc tion right down to the insulation. The school obtained a hangar in 2006 and then commenced to save money to convert the hangar into a school hall. It took them six years before they had enough to build the hall, but they managed it with flying colours. Principal Rachel Jacobs said they saved a lot by having a register for the photocopy machine and by using both sides of the paper. A couple of years ago, they heard that Safcol was computerising its administra tion systems and was about to throw away all its ringbinder files. Mrs Jacobs and her team gathered all those old files and are still using them today. Empty Xray boxes are used to store magazine articles in the schools library and used Xrays are transformed into shapes to aid in the science and maths classes. Lumari Faber, the schools librari an, makes holders from empty longlife milk cartons and all the in dex cards and the learners library cards are made from old posters. The library is wellstocked with books, none of it bought. They ob tained the books from other schools that didnt want it anymore and from people who wanted to get rid of old encyclopedias and books. The school has a fullyequipped science laboratory. All the apparatus were bought secondhand when they heard of a private school that was closing down. Whenever possible they fix plumbing and other main tenance problems themselves. In one case, they realised that 13 of the schools toilets had to be replaced as they couldnt obtain spare parts for that particular model. Lumari's hus band came to the rescue and with clever construction managed to get all the toilets in working order again for only R300. When the designing phase for the

HALL

Panoramas
OF

The new school halls main entrance.

With the frames up, the building started to look like a hall. school hall commenced, it made sense to build an environmentally friendly building. The hall was built with recycled steel from Australia and ecofriendly magnesium oxide boards from China. As an environ mentallyfriendly building material, magnesium board has strength and resistance due to very strong bonds between magnesium and oxygen atoms that form the magnesium ox ide molecules. Magnesium boards are used in place of traditional gypsum drywall as wall and ceiling covering material and sheathing (source: Wikipedia). Even the insulation is environ mentallyfriendly, as Isotherm was used. Isotherm Thermal Insulation is made from the thermallybonded polyester of recycled plastic PET bottles. It is environmentally friendly, nonallergic and resilient (www.isotherm.co.za). According to the Southern African Light Steel Building Associations website, this type of construction is called light steel frame building and consists of structural wall frames and roof trusses, manufactured from coldformed light gauge galvanised steel sections. All the frames were premanufactured and numbered before being transported to site. Mrs Jacobs said it looked like a huge Meccano set. Construction commenced in Feb ruary last year and by the end of the year, the school was proud to have their awards function in their own school hall. Panorama Secondary School is a prime example of what can be achieved if you put your mind to it. Well done and keep up the good work.

Principal Rachel Jacobs and some of the construction team on site.

GPS News
Kyla Smit van Horskool Sybrand van Niekerk as die lappop in die opvoering van die ou Afrikaanse liedjie.

Afrikaans! ek s
Christine Rossouw
14 Augustus was nasionale Afrikaans Dag en Laerskool Sabie het dit ordent lik gevier! Dit was die vyfde keer dat di plaaslike laerskool die dag gevier het, en leerlinge van gr. 4 tot 7 het n program propvol pret en opvoeding ge niet. Marietjie Brits, wat Afrikaans en Engels aan die skool onderrig en ook die koor afrig, het ges die amptelike stryd om die bevordering van die Afri kaanse taal is 138 jaar oud. Arnoldus Pannevis, wat as n vader van die Afri kaanse stryd beskou is, het saam met n groep geleerde vriende die Genoot skap van Regte Afrikaners (GRA) in 1875 gestig. In daardie tyd was Afri kaans nie n amptelike taal nie. Daar was ook nog nie boeke in Afrikaans nie, maar die GRA het die waarde van die jong taal besef en om die erken ning daarvan begin veg. Die genootskap het Die Afrikaanse Patriot, die eerste Afrikaanse koerant, gestig en in Afrikaans begin publiseer. Vroeg in die 20ste eeu het C.J. Lan genhoven, n joernalis van Oudts hoorn, die GRA se werk verder gevoer en deur sy toedoen is Afrikaans in die parlement begin gebruik. Die eerste Afrikaanse vertaling van die Bybel het in 1933 verskyn. Dit is belangrik vir ons as skool om die dag te vier en om die kinders daar aan te herinner dat hulle dit moet ge niet om Afrikaans te wees, te lees en te praat. Dit is n kosbare taal, het Marietjie ges. Die program het met n opvoering van die klassieke Afrikaanse kinder liedjie Eks n dapper muis begin. Dit is gevolg deur n gesprek met Lana Coetzee, n Afrikaanse onderwyser wat in Dubai woon, oor die renwoude in SuidAmerika en die Afrikaanse gemeenskap wat al meer as 100 jaar in die Pentagoniastreek in Argentini woon en steeds Afrikaans praat. Coetzee het vertel dat sowat 800 Boergesinne tussen 1903 en 1909 per skip na Pentagonia getrek het. Di gesinne het in die Tweede Vryheids oorlog van 1899 tot 1902 erg gely en baie se plase en huise is heeltemal deur die Britte vernietig. In 1909 het die Afrikanergemeen skap in Argentini uit 3 000 mense bestaan. Dit het egter deur die jare afgeneem en daar is vandag net om trent 30 mense in Argentini oor wat die taal suiwer praat. N die baie interessante gesprek het die leerlinge n opvoering van Die lappop geniet voordat hulle die fees afgerond het met die Afrikaanse koek wat spesiaal vir die dag gebak is.

GPS News Interesting facts about South Africa

The world is divided into six floral kingdoms. All these kingdoms encompass several countries, and in some cases, several continents. South Africa, which has a floral kingdom wholly contained within the country, is the one exception. The Cape Floral Kingdom has 9 600 plant species, 70% of which are not found anywhere else in the world. Table Mountain alone has over 1 500 species of plants, more than the entire United Kingdom. South Africa has the longest wine route in the world. The Palace of the Lost City resort hotel is the largest theme resort hotel in the world as well as the largest building project undertaken in the southern hemisphere. The deepest mine is a gold mine in South Africa. In 1 977 the Western Deep Levels Mine reached 3 581 m. Most mines descend to about 1 000 m. South Africa generates two-thirds of Africa's electricity. The Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world, where the water tumbles down 850 m. First is Angel Falls in Venezuela at 979 m. Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world and the largest green one. The Grand Canyon in the US is the biggest, and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia the second, but both are very dry. South Africa is home to the world's smallest succulent plants (less than 1 0 mm) and the largest (the baobab tree). The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace Prize winners is in Soweto. Former President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have houses on Vilakazi Street in Soweto.

The blue swallow: a local jewel worth treasuring

Christine Rossouw
The unrelenting slaughter of our rhino by poachers has reawakened in South Africans a fierce desire to con serve our natural heritage. But how many of us living in the breathtaking Panorama are aware that we share a habitat with a very unique and special bird: the critically endangered blue swallow? Favouring unspoilt, mistbelt grass lands, the blue swallow is the rarest of the swallows in southern Africa. But conservationists fear that the spectac ular blue swallow is the bird most likely to become extinct next in South Africa. Because the birds will only breed in grasslands with mist during the breeding season they are found in only two grassland types: the NorthEast ern Mountain Sourveld, (which stretches throughout our whole Pan orama) and the Natal Mist Belt. In December 2011, the Department of Environmental Affairs gazetted the first national list of threatened eco systems that are in dire need of pro tection. Fifth on the list of endangered ecosystems was the Blyde quartzite grassland, which stretches from Sabie through Graskop to the Blyde Canyon. With its high rainfall, frequent

mists and deep soils, the Blyde quartzite grassland is an ideal breed ing site for the blue swallow. But these characteristics also make it ideal for commercial timber planta tions. And locally, as has happened nationwide in such ecosystems, forests of pine, gum and wattle now cover huge areas of former habitat for these rare birds. According to Dr. Ian Little of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), the

disappearance and disturbance of the blue swallows habitat is a primary reason for the rapid decline in the numbers of birds. Four known re gional populations of blue swallow have already gone extinct in South Africa in the past decade, Little says. The South African population now consists of fewer than 38 known breeding pairs. It is with this in mind that the Graskop Conservancy is dedicated to

protecting and conserving the local breeding ground of the swallows by clearing the grassland areas sur rounding the town of alien vegetation, and addressing any other environ mental or industrial factors that could have a detrimental effect on the eco system. Esme Kopke of the Graskop Con servancy says it is important that loc als are aware of the blue swallow, its dwindling numbers and the need for the grasslands that make up the birds habitat to be respected and protected. Everyone can do their part by keeping the grasslands free of pollution and alien vegetation. Remember that change starts with you, in the way it takes one small pebble to start an avalanche.

GPS News

GPS News

Trashion spectacular
I
Christine Rossouw
t is said that one mans trash is an other mans treasure, but on 15 August, Sybrand van Niekerk High School showed that ones man trash can be anothers haute couture. Seven budding young designers from the high school took their ingenious clothing designs, constructed completely from waste, to the catwalk during the schools 2013 Trashion Show. Trashion is a term coined in New Zea land in 2004 for jewellery, clothing or dcor made entirely from trash, and Sy brands seven trashion designers showed that they are truly masters of this unique craft. The show had a little twist to it. While the models were important for showcas ing the designs, it was actually the designs themselves that were under the spotlight. And the audience would only see who the designers behind the designs were at the conclusion of the show. The judges Nadia Vincent, an ac complished designer and student at XELA Fashion College and Design Stu dio, established fashion designer Philip Oosthuizen and personal potential de velopment coach and 2010 Miss South Africa finalist Amanda C had a diffi cult task ahead of them as everyone of the designs on display was spectacular. The trashion show kicked off with the Fun and Funky category. These outfits were made for the imagination and were true catwalk concoctions. As MC Willie White so aptly put it: You will not be doing your grocery shopping in one of these outfits anytime soon! While the models changed into their formal trashion gowns, An van Rooyen dazzled the audience with her skills on the piano, and a couple of Sybrands matrics modelled the outfits worn at this years matric farewell. With the showcase of the designers formal gowns, the difficulty of the judges task really hit home. Each design was breathtaking, creative and ingenious in its own way. But there could only be one winner, and after careful deliberation, Amri Burger was crowned the 2013 Trashion Designer of the year. Laura Makhubedu took second place, and the two budding designers each received some fantastic prizes. The school, staff and pupils who made the evening possible did a superb job, and GPS News is looking forward to next years trashion show!

Michelle Harrison models the formal dress by Chane Marx.

Mpumi Moyeni models a formal dress by Sibongakonke Shange.

GPS News

Michelle Harrison models a creation by Chane Marx.

Melanie Barton models a creation by Valencia Bestenbier.

Natasche du Plessis models a creation by Jaco Volsteedt.

Winning designer Amri Burger and her model, Bianca Theunissen, with judges Amanda C, Nadia Vincent and Philip Oosthuizen.

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GPS News

Turning victims into survivors

Shirly Mathebula
Despite harrowing tales, it is pos sible for victims of crime to be em powered to deal with the consequences of the shocking events. The Sabie Victim Empower ment Centre, situated at the Sabie police station, is a onestop centre for turning victims into survivors. The centre is an independent or ganisation that is open 24/7. Our aim is to generate an attitude of zero tolerance towards domestic vi olence, child abuse, sexual assault and other related cases in the Thaba Chweu municipal area, said victim support coordinator Ntombi futhi Ngwenya. The centre works together with the SAPS, the department of social development, the magistrate court and nongovernment organisations to capacitate and rehabilitate vic tims of sexual assault, domestic vi olence, child abuse and related cases. Our approach is to help people who have suffered trauma or harm through rape, violence or oth er incidents, said Ngwenya. The centre started to render ser vices to the public in 2007 in a Wendy house, inappropriate to ac commodate the victims. On 22 July 2010, a new suitably furnished building, sponsored by Komatiland Forests, was officially handed over. Since then, the centre has helped victims of sexual assault and rape, human trafficking, genderbased vi olence and other related cases. In 2011, the centre dealt with 21 rape

Ntombifuthi Ngwenya, victim support coordinator at the Sabie Victim Empowerment Centre. cases and 8 cases of domestic viol ence, and last year with 22 rape cases and 12 cases of domestic viol ence. This year to date, domestic vi olence cases have reached an alarming number, with 21 cases already reported, as well as 14 rape cases. Through victim support we want to continue to help every victim to access services available to them. We regularly conduct awareness campaigns to ensure that the public understands the matters that are affecting them so that they can be protected and educated. Further more, we plead with people who are being abused to stand up and report such crimes, said Ngwenya. The centre is a first point of per sonal contact for a victim where she/he receives care, counselling and rehabilitation for about three days. When the empowerment pro gramme is completed, the victim is discharged or transferred to a rel evant facility. On the day of the victims arrival he/she is given a victim care pack, which contains toiletries, under wear and a special teddy bear. Community members are invited to donate the items that are in cluded in the care pack to help the centre to provide for the survivors of rape and domestic violence. The centre also needs more volunteers. Volunteers have to have matric, and training will be provided. For de tails contact Ngwenya on 083 688 5004 or 013 164 1211.

Police donate a garden for the needy

Gerda van den Bos
Behind the SAPS in Graskop a small piece of land is set to become the ve getable basket for needy families in town. Earlier this year, the police handed the Hlomphang Basadi Garden over to the homebased care group in Graskop. The garden was originally started as a project of the SAPS Womens Network in 2010, but several obstacles prevented the gardens success. This time around, the garden is set to flourish with several rows of cab bage already displaying bright green leaves. Popcru, one of the police la bour unions, donated garden equip ment. The department of agriculture donated fertilizer and vegetable seeds, and will mentor the community on how to maintain the garden over the next two years. The handover of the equipment took place on 30 July. Before the function, which was attended by highranking

Police officials, members of Working on Fire and some of the community members who received food parcels and blankets. police officials from the cluster, com munity policing forum (CPF) members and members of the Graskop Business and Tourism Forum, volunteers from Working on Fire worked hard to get the soil ready for the new seeds. Ly denburg Cluster Commander Col. Putter said: You have everything, from the seeds to the fertilizer, as well as healthy, red soil make a success of the garden. The SAPS in Graskop, headed by its Womens Network team, made use of the opportunity to hand out blankets and food parcels to several needy families in town. Capt. T. Maphanga, Station Commander in Graskop, thanked the local businesses and po lice members for contributing towards the food parcels.

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11

Hope in sight with water woes

Gerda van den Bos
Residents of Graskop have lately ex perienced some problems with water reticulation, but the good news is that contractors have been appointed to refurbish the pump station as well as the water waste treatment plant. Kenny Mashego, municipal unit manager for Graskop, said the muni cipality apologised for any inconveni ence that has transpired due to the water problems. He also thanked the residents and business owners for their patience. Mashego said he believes that good communication between the Graskop Business and Tourism Forum (GBTF) and the municipality is helping to make the town a better place for all. He appreciates the GBTF and the rate payers for continued communication. Mashego also said that the Graskop testing station will be reopened soon and he thanked all the individuals and business owners who had stepped in with contributions to ensure that the testing station is complying with all standards again. According to him, this was just one of the projects that had proofed that we can do more if we work together.

Have fun while getting firm and fit

Do you want to shed the weight you gained during winter, or just want to get fitter? Well, then you should consider starting Aqua Aerobics. What is Aqua Aerobics? It is a lowimpact water workout that is good for your heart and easy on your joints, performed in a heated, indoor pool. Anyone can do aqua, from young to old, small to big. One benefit of aqua is that even if you cant swim, you can still join in. All you need is an eager attitude, commitment and a willing heart. Working out in water means your muscles are forced to work harder, burning more fat, and ton ing them up faster than landbased exercises. This is because they are fighting the water every time they move. The extra pressure of the water on your legs also pushes more blood back up into the top half of your body. This makes your heart work harder, raising your heartbeat and burning even more calories during your water workout. Unlike traditional group classes, such as aerobics or dance, Aqua Aerobics is noncompetitive. No one can tell if you mess up a move when youre in the water, and you dont have to worry that anyones judging you. Many self conscious peoplefind that they can be more focused on the movements when they are not worrying about keeping up with everyone else. Water exercise can strengthen back, abs and hip muscles all key for a healthy spine. The flow of water resists movement and func tions similarly to weight training: it gets your muscles strong. Being immersed in water places pressure all over your body. To build strength, you must work your muscles against this pressure. The deeper in the water you go, the more pressure will be exerted and the harder the workout will be. Apparatus used are weights, balls, elastics, noodles, Frisbees and so forth. The classes are for an hour and lots of fun while getting firm and fit. See the Aqua Aerobics advert for more details.

Byna 500 leerlinge by laerskool se landloop

Laerskool Sabie het in Julie sy jaar likse landloopdag by Castle Rock kampeerterrein in die dorp gehou. Vanjaar het 483 leerlinge van 23 skole deelgeneem. Dit was nat en glad en op sommige plekke moes die deelnemers mooi trap, want die modder was volop. Sabie se leerlinge het nie vir die res teruggestaan nie. Luthendo Mondau (seuns o.9) het baie goed gevaar, asook Marco Janse van Rensburg (seuns o.11). Chantelle Willis het derde, Casey Tapfira sesde en Fortunate Maseko (al drie meisies o.13) sewende in hul ou derdomsgroep gekom. Danielle Gouws (meisies o.9) het agste geindig. Selfs n blinde seun van Laerskool Burgersfort, Ashley Grobler (o.13), het deelgeneem.

Die skool s: Baie geluk aan al ons atlete ons is baie trots op julle. Ons wil baie dankie s aan Castle Rock en Komatiland Forests dat ons weer jul roete en geriewe kon gebruik het. Baie dankie ook aan Suzaan Pieterse en haar span van die skool wat die dag moontlik gemaak het, en aan elke per soon wat gehelp het.

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GPS News

Don't stress about Body Stress Release

Whenever we hear or read about some unknown procedure, we as humans are usually sceptical about it. That was exactly my reaction when I heard about Body Stress Release (BSR). Janine Knoxx, Sa bies own BSR practitioner, invited GPS News editor Valerie Kemp for a complementary four sessions. Janine says: It is a gentle tech nique that is designed to help the body release stored tension from the muscles, i.e. body stress, thus as sisting the body in its inbuilt ability to maintain and heal itself. Everyday we are subjected to dif ferent types of stress. There is mechanical stress, chemical stress, mental or emotional stress. This stress becomes locked into the body and when our body has reached overload, we may experience pain, backache, stiffness, numbness, headaches, fatigue or postural dis tortions. With the person lying down and fully clothed, the practitioner will carry out a series of tests to locate the stress. This is done by applying light pressure to various points on the body and observing the re sponse. The body acts as the biofeedback monitor supplying the information required. The practi tioner then applies stimuli, by means of light but definite pressure, in exact directions necessary to en courage the body to release the stored tension. As BSR is a process, you will ini tially have three to four appoint ments and thereafter clients are encouraged to stay on a mainten ance program as we all restress our bodies. During the first appoint ment, your practitioner will explain how body stress re lease works and take a detailed case history, and after the release, the practitioner will explain what they have found. BSR is a complementary health technique that was researched and developed in South Africa in the 1980s by Gail and Ewald Meggersee that is now practised worldwide. BSR is for everyone, from babies to the elderly, whether sick or healthy. It is also safe during preg nancy. BSR is not a diagnosis or treatment of any condition or dis ease. It simply assists with locating and releasing stored tension from the muscles. After having had three sessions, I can certainly recommend BSR to anyone. Janine can be contacted on 082922 5512.

Mollers dive into

EGYPTIAN ADVENTURE
Christine Rossouw
Its a land drenched in ancient history, mystery and arguably the best diving in the world. But Egypt is also currently plagued by violence and civil unrest. That did not, however, prevent the Mollers of Sabie from taking their holiday of a lifetime in one of the worlds most exotic locations. The family of four flew to Cairo on 29 June. From there they departed straight away to Sharm el Sheik, the tourist mecca of Sinai. With an economy completely reliant on tourism, the hospitality to be found in Sinai is unrivalled. They really know how to treat tourists, says Debbie. The Mollers are all great scuba dive enthusiasts and spent the biggest part of their holiday diving in and around the incredible reefs and wrecks that jewel the Red Sea. Diving in the ocean is akin to exploring and experiencing Gods creation untouched, says Debbie. Of their 13 days in Egypt, seven of them were spent on a boat named Brina out at sea, doing four dives a day in the underwater kingdom of the Red Sea. It was an amazing experience. Id love to do it again, says Debbie. Political unrest has led to a sharp decline in the number of tourists visiting Egypt in recent days. The week after Debbie and her family returned from Egypt, 23 people booked to go on a tour on Brina cancelled. This meant that there were far fewer boats and divers out at the dive sites the Mollers explored. The unrest did, however, cause the Mollers planned stay in Cairo to be cut from their tour. Beyond the exceptional diving they experienced, Debbie said the food was exquisite. The Egyptians eat very healthily there are lots of vegetables in their diet. Its an amazing country and people. They are so respectful.

Debbie Moller poses with Egyptian statues.

Francois, Chironne and Andr Moller before a dive.

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13
Spring is natures way of saying: Lets party! Robin Williams

All abused should seek help

Shirly Mathebula
Sabie SAPS, together with the depart ment of community safety, security and liaison hosted a Womens Day celebration at the community centre at Simile, Sabie, on Thursday 8 August. It was a celebratory event that brought men and women in Simile together to commemorate the aspirations and achievements of women throughout the country. There was an exceptional atmo sphere at the centre when community members and speakers discussed issues that are affecting women in their every day life. In her keynote address, community Community members discuss issues that affect women at the safety officer Francinah Mgwenya from Womens Day celebration in Sabie. the department of community safety, se curity and liaison, said: August is Womens Month Victim support coordinator Ntombifuthi Ngwenya and is a time when women are recognised for their from the Sabie Victim Empowerment Centre (see the achievements, and to celebrate the potential and op story on p. 10) raised concerns about women and men portunities that await future generations of women. who are suffering from domestic abuse. What is more Chairperson of the Sabie community policing forum disturbing is that some of the victims do not report it Iren Lincoln added: The celebration of Womens and seek help. The victim empowerment centre is Month is recognition of the contribution made by the there to assist them. 20 000 women of all races who marched to the Union We call on women and men who are living in abus Buildings in Pretoria on 9 August 1956 to present a ive relationships to seek help. petition against pass laws. Since then, the phrase Sabie SAPS community policing officer Const. Mo wathint abafazi, wathint imbokodo (you strike a wo she Mashego expressed his appreciation of a continu man, you strike a rock) has come to represent the ous relationship between the community, government courage and strength of South African women. By departments and communitybased organisations. marking this day, let us remind ourselves and gener Community members are urged to report any form of ations to come that gender does not determine your crime, whether committed by community members or role in society. public servants in uniform, said Mashego.

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BLOEDRIVIER FAIRYLAND RICHARDSON HUGENOTE VOORTREKKER OORWINNING LEIBNITZ EEUFEES CLAREDON PRESIDENT MONUMENT HOOF JORDAAN CHURCH BOTHA

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GPS News

AGE?
T

W ho s a f r a i d o f t he b i g b a d
Age is not all bad, writes Sharon Mandy

hey say love is a many splen did thing well, let me tell you, age is a many sneaky thing in more ways than one. It just creeps up, like a cat does to a mouse, and it is just as menacing. And it is so sneaky one can never really define the day one became old. One just wakes up one day and real ises that one hasnt woken up for a long time without some sort of dull ache somewhere about ones person. The other day I went out to a braai with my daughter and we stayed later than intended. We had decided beforehand that we would have a day at the mall the next day. The next day, my daughter breezed cheerily into my room far too cheerily for my liking. Morning, she said happily. Blaagh, I answered well on re flection, it may not exactly have been blaagh it may have been arrrnn or something similar, but the point is, I did not feel like boun cing out of bed and dancing to the magic of the new day. I knew that age had extended its evil hand and had me in its clawlike grip.

I am in Pretoria this week as I have been sent on a course and al though I am really enjoying learn ing and facing up to different chal lenges, by the afternoon I really feel the continual concentration is get ting to me, and as I follow along in the manual and we reach the bottom of the page, I feel that my eyes are somewhat heavier than they should be and they, of their own accord (and this is another age thing: certain body parts seem to have a life of

their own and refuse to cooperate it is like having a builtin teenager) are very happy looking down at the bottom of the page, and they do not want to rise to look at the top of the next page. This is when our in structor suggests another quick break, as some of us seem to be looking at the floor a lot. Age is not all bad, however, there

are definite advantages. When one drops something in a room full of people, someone is bound to pick it up for one, and when every seat is taken at a gathering, someone is sure to stand up and ac tually argue with one until one is obliged to sit down. One can have great fun pretending not to hear bothersome people, and when one forgets something, it is indulgently put down to old age. I used to be in trouble about it when I was young. So there you are: life is still beau tiful, it just hasnt got as much bounce in it as it once had!

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GPS News 013 764 3127

Sudoku: The objective is to fill the 9x9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 33 subgrids that compose the grid contains all of the digits from 1 to 9.

GPS News
Michelle Prinsloo van Laerskool Sabie s sy is positief en hardwerkend.

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Michelle dra tot Bosvolkies by

Laerskool Sabie verwelkom Michelle Prinsloo, wat haar aan die begin van die derde kwartaal by die skool aan gesluit het. Michelle is vir die gr. Rklasse by Bosvolkies, die laerskool se prepri mre afdeling, verantwoordelik. Michelle is n BEdstudent in haar finale jaar en sal in November haar graad verwerf. Sy het n TEFLkursus deur die Universiteit van Oxford voltooi. Michelle het vroer aan Shalom Christian School in Graskop diens gedoen en was van Januarie 2011 n voltydse gr. Ronderwyser aan Mid delburg Primary School. Michelle beplan om later vanjaar aansoek te doen om aanstaande jaar met haar honeursstudie in vroe kin derontwikkeling te begin. Michelle beskou haarself as n posi tiewe, vriendelike en hardwerkende persoon wat maklik in enige omge wing en omstandighede suksesvol kan aanpas. Sy is lojaal teenoor haar skool en die kinders en strewe daarna om by die gemeenskap in te skakel.

Chamber wins bowling challenge

Sabie Chamber of Commerce & Tourism won the Sabie Bowling Club Bowls Business Challenge 2013. Anne Coetzee (chairperson) presents the prize to John and Janet Wills. Insert: Lisa and James Sheard.

Matla Pest Services CEO Amos Sibuyi sponsored Sybrand van Nie kerk High Schools first and second netball teams with jackets. Coach Helena du Plessis said the girls were very thankful and proud of their new jackets, and that kind sponsors, like Sibuyi, warm their hearts.

The runnerup was Thlanganani Forestry. From left: Lorraine Helberg, Albert Fourie, Mandy Fourie and Brendan Benade with Anne Coetzee.

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GPS News

150 top cyclists invade the hill country

T
Gerda van den Bos
he scene in front of Africa Silks in Graskop reminded me of that TV commercial where the young girl says her father is a space alien. She would have thought Graskop had an alien invasion when about 150 cyclists, with their support teams, descended on the town just be fore the long weekend in August. It was time for the fourth annual Clover Lowveld Tour. For five days 711 August these extremely fit men and women faced the grueling hills. Hendrik Wagener, one of the events organisers from H&A Toere, said Graskop is ideal because the area has all the difficult hills a cyclist can dream of, and the residents hospital ity is amazing. He also commended Graskop for being a safe place to visit, and was impressed with Canimambo Restaurants huge signpost that wel comed the cyclists to Graskop. Everything was just 100%, he smiled. Michael Kidson, a cyclist from Pre toria, said: Graskop is a lovely place. Its a pleasure to be here. You have wonderful people in this town. Everyday the cyclists were sent off in a different direction to face the steep hills surrounding the town and its neighbouring towns. The weather didnt play along this year and the cyclists had to struggle through wind and rain storms, not forgetting the typical early morning mist. As one cyclist so aptly put it to a teammate: Die afdraandes pla my nie dis die opdraandes. The steep hills definitely tested the stamina and endurance of the cyclists, who came from as far as the Western Cape. But I heard many of them say that they will be back!

Michael Kidson from Pretoria, Ronel Swart from Africa Silks in Graskop and Issy Zimmerman from Johannesburg just before the start of the fi nal stage on Sunday 11 August. Ronel has been part of the event since it was but a mere dream. Today it is a 150cyclist strong reality.