The cycling committee members are hard at work finalising the arrangements for the Winelands Cycle Race on 22 January. The start and finish will be at Hugenote Primary in Wellington, when it will be "all hands on deck" to handle 1500 or more cyclists. Not only Paarl Rotarians but members of other clubs will assist with marshalling and other aspects of the race.
President Deon has his say
The calendar year is coming to an end and, as always, we can’t believe how quickly time has passed. Anthony Oettinger, the German-born American linguist and computer scientist, said: “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.” Time may be important to humanity, but a fruit fly is just focused on trying to get a meal.
I suppose that is what Paarl Rotarians are trying to do, aside from our weekly club lunch. Through the year, we are focused on trying to make a difference in vulnerable people’s lives and yes, often by providing something basic such as a meal.
We are half-way through the Rotary year and have been involved with various aspects of Rotary life – from fellowship, fundraising and projects, to imagining ways to create a better life for those in need. We also welcomed new members who brought new energy and vision that will develop our club for the future.
Our project activities continued unabated. Our auction returned after two Covid years to a new venue and funds raised for projects set a record. Arrangements for the Winelands Cycle Race are almost wrapped up and we are ready for 22 January. Our Interact and youth leadership programmes are showing excellent results and we said goodbye to two short term exchange students who departed for Hungary last week.
Our giving programme so far included, among others, blankets for the annual Valcare winter blanket drive; funds to Amado animal-assisted therapy, Andrew Murray Children’s Home, Jack Meyer Art School and Rusoord old age home. Ongoing support for Kerith Retreat has resulted in the second phase of the food garden with 15 vegetable beds being completed and ready for planting.
We also went on an Edubox outreach to five schools in Prince Albert and Merweville, and enjoyed the hospitality of former Paarl Rotarian Piet Gouws and his wife Ruth on their Karoo guest farm Assendelft. The teachers and children at the schools we visited were an inspiration – achieving much with very little in an unforgiving, yet open-hearted landscape.
We look forward to some rest over the festive season when we can marvel with friends and family at how time has flown, and indulge in feast-laden tables.
The new year awaits and we get another chance at doing what we do better.
Best wishes
Deon & Rosario
The digger loader has been busy again at Kerith Retreat, creating the next phase of the food garden development that will double current production. RC Paarl sponsored the cost of the two-day operation.
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EXCHANGE STUDENT. Corli Rossouw (second left) is one of two Paarl Girls High students who are spending the school holiday in Hungary with host families as short-term Rotary exchange students. With her are (from left) Rotarians Deon Erasmus (president of Paarl Rotary), Marita van der Sluys and Adele de Almeida who wished her well shortly before her departure for Budapest. The other exchange student is Isabella Groenewald.
A group of Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Paarl visited Merweville and Prince Albert to distribute educational toys to five schools in the area. The Early Childhood Development units at Merweville Primary, George Fredericks Primary, the Prince Albert POP Centre, Prince Albert Primary and Wildekrans Pre-school Centre all received sets of Eduboxes comprising eight different toys to promote numeracy and fine motor skills. The children at Prince Albert POP Centre couldn't contain their excitement when Paarl Rotarians visited the school with their donation of educational toys. Seen here is POP Centre ECD teacher Anolisha Briesies on the left, with her learners and members of the Rotary Club of Paarl.
BETTER VISION. The Rotary Club of Paarl has made a big contribution to the eye health of learners at Ihlumelo High School. The club has sponsored reading glasses for 102 needy learners with vision problems, after testing at the school. Although the state does eye tests, there is no funding to supply the spectacles and this is where Paarl Rotary lends a helping hand by sponsoring spectacles to the tune of R40 000. The children who needed spectacles had the opportunity to select their own frames. Here optician Richard Mathivha of Eye Save fits one of the learners with her new glasses while Deon Erasmus, president of Paarl Rotary, looks on. At right is school health worker Nicole Warries.
