As we approach the end of the year and we reflect on the past Twelve months one

again realizes that time has simply flown by and we wonder what has happened.

This is so symptomatic of the modern world. Technology and the “Now World” keep

us so busy we lose track of time often at the expense of quality time for ourselves and

our families. Thank goodness, as members of the CCSA we have the opportunity of

getting a break from the hustle & bustle of our busy lives and get away with fellow

Club members on the weekend rallies that our Regional committees plan. This is

the time we can re-charge our batteries, enjoy quality time with our families and

socialize with our fellow members.

‘n Paar hoogtepunte van die afgelope jaar waaroor ons kan rapporteer was die viering

van belangrike mylpale deur verskeie Streke. Ek vra van vooraf verskoning as ek

enige streke se mylpale nie in die verslag genoem het nie. Die groot vieringe

waarvan ek bewus is was Noordkus, North Rand, Midlands en Suid-Vrystaat. Die

laas-genoemde streek het sy 50ste bestaansjaar onlangs tesame met hulle Kers-

saamtrek gevier en dit was vir ek en Beryl ‘n voorreg om die geleentheid by te woon.

Ons was heeltemaal bederf en die streek se gasvryheid is iets om te beleef. Geen

wonder hulle is bekend as die “Geliefde Streek”! Die ander drie Streke het hulle

40ste bestaans-jare gevier en weereens was ons bevooreg om Noordkus se vieringe

by te woon. Dit was ook ‘n saamtrek te beleef en die wat dit bygewoon het sal dit

lank onthou. Ons brei ons gelukwense uit aan hierdie streke op die bereiking van

hierdie belangrike mylpale en wens hulle alle sukses vir die toekoms.

We unfortunately bid farewell with the passing of some stalwarts in the CCSA and

here we think particularly of National Councillor and Free State Provincial Councillor,

Frik du Toit and most recently Meg Chaplin – wife of Past President Colin Chaplin. It

is indeed sad that we mourn the loss of such great people. I had the honour of

knowing them personally and considered them friends. We extend our condolences

to the respective families and wish them comfort in the knowledge that these two

great people are at rest in the hands of the Lord. I always say – it is never goodbye -

it is until we meet again.

Next year will be an important year on the CCSA calender. Convention which will be

held at the beginning of March will be the 50th Convention and will be held as a full

Convention – known as Convention SA at which all Regions attending will be at the

same venue. This time it is going to be held at a Caravan park – Koppisol Resort in

Vereeniging and for this reason we have exended an invitation for non-committee

members who would like to attend this Convention to please let your committee know

as soon as possible. Closing date for intentions to attend is Monday 16th January.

Another important event to diarise for next year is the CCSA’s 70th Anniversary. This

will be celebrated as part of the National Rally to be held over the weekend 22/23

July. We are going to ask Regions to plan their Rally themes around this event and

we look forward to seeing and reading reports on the success of this particular

weekend.

In closing I take this opportunity of wishing our readers a Merry Christmas and a

peaceful and prosperous 2017. If you are staying at home - enjoy the break and if

you are travelling, please take care on the roads – please do not become a statistic.

Until next time - God Bless

Yours in Caravanning

RUSSELL GIBBENS

PRESIDENT

Koppisol - 16 to 18th September 2016

By Peter Simpson (Chairman)

Firstly may I thank all those who braved the weather man and others predictions / threats that there

was impending doom on the way claiming thunder, lightning, large hail, torrential rain to mention but a

few items. To the best of my knowledge we had a light shower at best on Sunday afternoon.

Having covered that aspect on to the important things.

Friday night heralded the usual meet and greet and registration as well as the banter that always

accompanies it. We welcomed two new members namely Marius Loggenberg and Sid and Louise’s

friends Dalene & Frank Wagner, as well as our guests from H / O and South Rand Wayne and Liesl

Thompson, please Liesl next time bring a leash for Wayne.

Saturday morning heralded a stunning day with warm sunshine and the smell of bacon and eggs

floating through the air and a lovely chilled atmosphere throughout the camp. Saturday afternoon

however kick started the committee into action as we prepared for the main function being the “Mad

Hatters Tea Party”. Before we go into that I must thank my team on committee namely Bev Jones,

Shannon, Jenny, Craig & Cameron Reaper, Owen, Carel as well as Dalene & her hubby and my wife

Heather for their hard work. Hope I mentioned everyone but apologies if I missed someone. As for

Louise and Sid words cannot describe what you guys did to make this a memorable event. The stuff

that came out of those boxes was amazing.

On to the main event and the speeches from our Guest of Honour namely the Vice- President of the

CCSA Jan Heyneke who gave us an account of his early dealings with North Rand Region. Thanks

Jan we appreciated you giving up your time and the present you handed over to us being the original

scroll with the picture of the bird emblem from 40 years ago.

This was followed by the two past chairmen namely Sid vd Merwe and Alan Rush who presented a

breakdown of the past history of the club from it’s beginnings up until present. Thanks so much for

that gentlemen.

We then declared the party open and the charge of the light brigade commenced with some of the

tastiest snacks one could wish for. Thanks to all the members for their contributions. Also thanks to

everyone for their efforts regards their dress ups / costumes / hats etc. that really made the event.

Pictures have been posted by many photographers on our face book page for all to see. Special

thanks to Cameron for being the roving photographer.

Saturday night brought the coldest wind known to man and beast which sent most, not all sensible

people to bed early. There were some die hards however that stayed up till late. They make them

tough at South Rand Region.

Sunday morning was not pleasant which could be clearly seen by late sleepers and silence in the

camp, enough said. Chairman’s tea was a lively event and my first since my new appointment and

was as brief as possible as will be the case during my tenure as chairman. Introduction of the new

members and usual chirp followed by a lovely breakdown of the naughty people by our one and only “

BARRY Goble” who handed out the wooded spoon to Jenni Reaper and followed up by Sid the man

with his usual stories of who had to get fined for misbehaving over the weekend.

This was followed by the cutting of the cake and what a cake it turned out to be. Needless to say there

were only crumbs left which basically says it all.

At this point I would like to thank some people for their help in making this rally / event possible and

one to remember. Firstly Sid and Louise for all the work you guys put in under stress from your

personal issues was truly amazing and we thank you on behalf of my committee and the members.

To Grant Goochie and co. thank you for helping by arranging the glasses and sand blasting our

celebration on them. As usual Variprint came through on time and right first time, many thanks bud.

To Catherine the cake lady thanks for accepting the last minute order and producing an astonishing

theme cake which was truly out of this world both in looks and taste.

That’s all Folks,

Frik Du Toit! ‘n Ware legende, waar begin ‘n mens om

iets oor hom te skryf?

Frik Du Toit is gebore in Krugersdorp op 22 Januarie

1952. Sy ouers trek kort daarna Welkom toe en hier het

Frik skoolgegaan tot in 1968 waarna hy skool na

standard 8 verlaat het.

Direk na skool het hy op die myne in Welkom begin

werk waar hy vir 25 jaar lank gewerk het voordat hy

besluit het om iets anders te probeer. Vir 5 jaar het Frik

ander werke probeer en het intussen ook in 1995 na

Kimberley verhuis.

In 1997 verhuis die gesin na Bloemfontein kry hy werk

by Oranje Toyota. Frik het vir 19 jaar by Oranje Toyota

gewerk en baie uitgesien na sy aftrede op 21 Januarie

2017 sodat hy met die karavaan kan gaan toer.

Op 29 Desember 1972 is Frik getroud met Hanna en

hulle was geseënd met twee kinders naamlik Corlee

(1976) en later JP (1986). Later het Frihanlee as

kleinkind bygekom en na JP en Nicola se troue was

Nicola soos een van Frik se eie kinders. Frik se gesin

was sy lewe en hy sou enige iets vir sy gesin doen.

Wat Frik se geskiedenis met KSA betref,

het hulle in Junie 1983 amptelik by KSA

aangesluit as lede van Noord Vrystaat

Streek, nadat hulle reeds vir ‘n ruk lank as

sosiale lede by die klub betrokke was. In

Januarie 1984 word Frik gekoöopteer as

smous by die komitee en in Julie van

dieselfde jaar word hy Saamtrek

organiseerder. In 1986 word hy Voorsitter

van Noord Vrystaat streek totdat hy in

1992 as die eerste verteenwoordiger van

die Vrystaat en Noord Kaap streke verkies

word. In 1995 verhuis die gesin na

Kimberley en hulle lidmaatskap word

oorgeplaas na Noord Kaap streek.

In 1997 verhuis die Du Toit’s weer, hierdie

keer na Bloemfontein, en hulle lidmaatskap

word na Suid Vrystaat oorgeplaas. Nadat

Frik in 1997 by Oranje Toyota begin werk

het, het hy bedank as Provinsiale

Raadslid, maar is weer in 1998 herkies in

hierdie posisie.

In Maart 2007 ontvang Frik sy Eric Hoffman trofee vir 20 jaar diens op die bestuur van die KSA en in

Maart 2011 word Lewenslange Ere Lidmaatskap van die KSA aan Frik en Hanna toegeken.

Sy werk as Nasionale Raadslid het Frik met passie en oorgawe gedoen tot en met die dag van sy

afsterwe op 28 November 2016.

Niemand weet presies hoeveel saamtrekke die Du Toit’s as KSA

lede gedoen het nie. Deels omdat hy ‘n punt daarvan gemaak het

om seker te maak hy gaan “kuier” gereeld by al die streke

waarvoor hy verantwoordelik is en deels omdat hy altyd gesê het;

“Hy is nie daar vir die skyfie nie, maar vir die samesyn en die

liefde vir kamp”. Sy rekords is dus nie volledig by Suid Vrystaat

nie omdat hy die wêreld vol gekuier het en nooit daaroor

ge”worry” het om dit op datum te bring nie, dit was eenvoudig nie

wat vir hom saak gemaak het nie en ook nie waaroor sy

lidmaatskap by KSA gegaan het nie. Hanna sê sy weet ook nie,

maar al wat sy weet is dat dit heelwat meer as 200 kampe is.

Op 15 jarige ouderdom het Frik sy oom se kitaar in ‘n kamer in hulle huis ontdek en net daar het sy

liefde vir musiek begin. Hy het homself leer kitaar speel en later jare selfs sy eie CD uitgebring.

Hanna het hom in Maart 1971 ontmoet onmiddelik besef dat Frik versot is op musiek en sy kitaar.

Naweke moes almal maar saam gaan as Frik iewers musiek gemaak het en so het sy vriende en

familie hom leer ken. In sy leeftyd was hy lid van minstens vyf orkeste wat deur die jare maar gekom

en gegaan het. Selfs hierdie passie van hom het hy tot kort voor sy dood nog beoefen en die laaste

tyd het hy saam met Corlee gereeld nog vrydag-aande by verskeie kuierplekke in Bloemfontein onder

die naam PADO musiek gemaak.

Frik Du Toit, gesinsman, musikant en toegewyde karavaner, ons

salueer jou! Wees verseker jy gaan beslis gemis word op ons

saamtrekke en ook op alle vlakke van die samelewing waar jy

betrokke was.

Dit is vir ons as Suid Vrystaat ‘n eer en ‘n voorreg om hierdie

huldeblyk namens die Vrystaat en die Noord Kaap Area en die KSA

in geheel aan jou en jou familie op te dra.

Machiel Myburgh

Voorsitter: KSA Suid Vrystaat

Die KSA lede wat hom geken het sal weet, hy was nie skaam om sy kitaar uit te pluk en sommer

heel aand vir ons musiek te maak by die saamtrekke nie. Inteendeel. Dit het amper ‘n instelling

geword dat Frik Saterdag vir ons musiek maak tydens die Suiderkruis en die ander gesamentlike

saamtrekke van Vrystaat en Noord Kaap.

Ons as KSA lede het hom geken as ‘n ‘n groot Christen wat ook gereeld vir ons met skriflesing en

gebed geopen het by Chairman’s Tea en op spesiale geleenthede.

Frik was ‘n passievolle mens wat alles wat hy gedoen het met oorgawe aangepak het en altyd

geweet het wat hy in die lewe wou hê.

Suid Vrystaat word 50

Nadat daar eers so bietjie verwarring was oor die presiese

datum wanneer die streek gestig is, kon ons darem vasstel

dat Suid Vrystaat Streek in Maart 1966 sy ontstaan gehad het

nadat ons van Noord Vrystaat afgestig het.

Ja, glo dit maar as julle wil, maar die Noord Vrystaters is die

moeder streek van die Vrystaat en Noord Kaap streke.

Nou-ja, geen 50ste verjaarsdag kan mos verby gaan sonder

dat daar groot makietie gehou word nie en so het die komitee

in oorleg met die lede besluit dat ons hierdie jaar ons groot

verjaarsdag vieringe gaan kombineer met ons Kerssaamtrek

op Maselspoort oor die naweek van 2 – 4 Desember 2016.

Die naweek se opgewondenheid is so bietjie gedemp deur die

skielike afsterwe van Frik Du Toit (ons Provinsiale Raadslid)

en sy begrafnis die Vrydag voor die saamtrek, maar ons het

besluit om voort te gaan met die vieringe en om die naweek

aan Oom Frik op te dra.

Klompie van ons het besluit om sommer al Donderdag uit te

sleep. Russel en Beryl het minstens ook vir ons kom kuier die

naweek en iemand moes hulle darem Donderdag-aand al

geselskap hou op Masies!

Op die ou einde het 32 woonwaens, op sekerlik die warmste

kamp naweek wat ons nog beleef het, op Maselspoort

saamgetrek vir hierdie jaar se groot Kerssaamtrek / 50ste

Verjaarsdag vieringe van Suid Vrystaat. Vrydag-aand is daar

oudergewoonte om die

braaivleisvure gekuier en tot

laatnag stories uitgeruil oor

wat sedert ons laaste

saamtrek in elkeen se lewe

gebeur het.

Saterdag is afgeskop met ‘n

gesamentlike brunch en

daarna het almal sommer

maar net rustig tussen

vriende rondgekuier.

3-uur Saterdag middag het die kinders “cupcakes”

versier voordat Kersvader oudergewoonte sy draai

in die karavaanpark kom gooi het

Saterdag-aand se

verrigtinge het na

Maselspoort se groot saal

verskuif en ons het selfs ‘n

enkele vedwaalde “raider”daar gehad, maar ons was

reg vir hom!

Na die gebruiklike toesprake en ‘n

heerlike ete het die makietie met alle

erns begin, en té vining, soos

gewoonlik, is die aand waarna almal so

lank uitgesien het toe ook weer verby.

Sondag is die naweek afgesluit met die gebruiklike Voorsitterstee voordat daar vir oulaas

verjaarsdag koek ge-eet is.

Sommige het maar baie traag opgepak en ander het vir oulaas eers weer saam gebraai voordat

ons die realiteit van die laaste maand van 2016 in die gesig gaan staar het.

Weereens baie dankie aan

Russel en Beryl dat julle vir ons

kom kuier het. Dit was

voorwaar vir ons ‘n eer en ‘n

voorreg om julle die naweek

saam met ons te kon hê.

Our 40th Birthday Rally was held out at Bushwillow Caravan Park in the Karkloof area over the

weekend of 4th – 6th November and yes, true to form at Bushwillow it rained and rained but this

did not deter or dampen the spirits of the party goers.

We had 39 families in attendance and thanks must go to the 30 Midlands, 5 Sunshine Coast,

2 North Coast and 1 Nomad members as well as 1 visitor that braved the weather to come and

celebrate our birthday. It was also great to see the likes of Isabelle Mare accompanied by her son

Kevin and Lewis and June Hancock attend. Klaus and Evelyn Fischer travelled all the way from

Montagu. Dianne, Abigail & Eddie Revell – daughter and grandchildren of Ron and Rose King all

the way from the UK came to join the celebrations.

Saturday evening was the birthday bash in the hall and what a bash it was, the food great, the

company the best, the DJ fantastic as he kept the dance floor busy at all times.

Sunday morning after friendlies, tea/coffee and birthday cake, it was pack-up time in the rain and

mud and off home – a great weekend enjoyed by all.

{Gordon Major}

Chaiman

Op 22/01/2016 het ons Nasionale Saamtrek #175 in ons aansluitstreek, na 33 jaar gedoen.

In die tyd het ek Stef en Louie de Swardt ons kinders in die klub grootgemaak, en baie nuwe

vriende ontmoet. Baie het vriende gebly, en ons lewe verryk. Baie het gekom, en gegaan.

Sommige het lank gebly, ander kort....

Sommige is soos die week weggeneem, en ons mis hulle altyd.

Dit is steeds n Voorreg om deel van die Familie te wees.

Solank ons onthou dat die klub n Regspersoon is, wat net identiteit kry deur die kwaliteit van sy

lede, en die wat n gesamentlike doel nastreef.

Nou is ons in n nuwe groep, bekend as Suid-Kaap.

Weereens n voorreg, en sal die genot daarvan net wees wat onsself daarvan maak.

Nou al weer amper op #180, en loop die goed soos stroop.

Dankie KSA, bestuur wat dit oor die afgelope 60jaar n sukses maak vir ons almal, WAT WIL!!.En

onthou, sonder n sent vergoeding!! Dink mooi voor julle kretiek uitspreek, en dra eerder by tot die

voortbestaan van Ons Groep!!

George (National and Provincial

Coucillor for the Eastern Cape) and

Martie Claassen (Secretary for

Eastern Cape Province) retiring after

many years of service for the CCSA -

From Left to Right – George

Claassen, Gavin Hislop (Chairman –

Algoa Bay) and Martie Claassen

You hard work and contribution to the

club will be missed !!!!

At the recent opening of Natal Caravans and Marine new premises some interesting facts were

highlighted and we thought we would share them with you.

1. Natal Caravans & Marine and Caravan & Outdoor Life are both THIRD Generation family

businesses.

2. 1960 was a memorable year in which the following happened:

• The first Sprite Caravan was built in Natal

• Natal Caravans & Marine (Natal Sprite as it was then known) opened their doors with

Eric Courtis at the helm.

• Caravan & Outdoor Life began publishing their magazine under the leadership of

Norman Castle.

• Natal Region received its Charter as a fully-fledged Region of the CCSA.

From Left to Right –

Graeme Pridgeon (Ex

Chairman of Vaal

Triangle and Exco

member),

Pat & Mike Cerfonteyn

from Vaal celebrated

500 rallies.

The National Council of the CCSA

wish all the Regions and their members a

Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year

PLEASE NOTE :

The office will be closing on

Thursday 15th December 2016

and re-opening

Monday 9th January 2017

Name of Profile:

Caravan Club of Southern Africa

CCSA / KSA turns 70 in 2017

Celebratory weekend –

21 to 23 July 2017