sediba jul-oct 2015 · buks van der walt kerry-anne hare cell: +27 83 320 2268 cell: +27 76 447...

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Non-Profit Organiza/on Fund Raising Number: 006-421 NPS July – October 2015

Contents:______________________________________________________

1. Le-erfromEditor

2. Commi-eeContactInfo

3. Tents

4. A-endingWorkPar@es

5. SpecialProjectWeekendReports

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Le*erfromtheEditor

JulytoOctober2015 Kerry-AnneHare

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dearfriends

Well, it has certainly been an evenMul fewmonths! It seems that the Pilanesberg has experienced all fourseasons,andinnopar@cularorder!

WeweredyingofcoldinJuly-Ireallythoughtthatwewereallatriskofhypothermia!WethenskippedSpringandwentstraightintoSummerinAugust.Then,attheSeptemberworkparty,wehadwhatlookeddis@nctlylikesnow!WehadsuchaseverehailstormwithstonesthesizeofR5coins,andtheresultwasthattheparklookedlikeaWinterWonderland!

� HailthesizeofR5coins

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ThankyoutoJohnPitchfordforsendingmetheseawesomephotographs

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Septemberwasthefirst@meIhaveeverbeentoaworkpartywhereworkwasrain-delayed,andmorethanhalfoftheteamwenthomeonSaturday,aWertheirtentswereflooded.ThisshortdelugewasfollowedswiWlybywhatcanonlybeexplainedasadrought,andalthough (touchwood) it seems that the rainshavenow,eventuallystarted,itwillbeawhilebeforeourdamlevelsarebacktonormal.

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VerylowwaterlevelsatTilodiDam

Therewereanumberofstoreroomandvehiclebreak-insandweallfeltthatitwasge[ngtoapointwhereourteamwasgoingtobeputindanger.ThereismuchdiscussionbetweentheHO’s,FOPS,NWParksBoardandvariousFGASAtrainingins@tu@onstoseewhatcanbedoneuptheretosavethereserve.Itwouldbeashametoloseoneofveryfewsuchbeau@fulconserva@onareas.

WehadasuccessfulAGMon31October,whichsawBuksVanderWaltreplacingMarkMorris,[email protected]@onedthatweplantoaddapermanentmembertothecommi-ee-itwillbesomeonewhocangiveadviceonfinancialplanningandcompliance.Bronwynhasbeenworkinghardto update themember data base, and we hope to increase our membership significantly in the next fewmonths.Wehavehadsomenewpamphletsprinted,andwearetoyingwiththeideaofholdingsomefamily

Itseemstheanimalsarekeepingthefaiththough,as many of the babies have already dropped. Ican’twaittogetbackuptheretoseethemall!Wehavesomewilddogpups(fourIbelieve)andsomeleopard cubs, as well as a few gorgeous babyelephants and plenty of plains game babies too.Thecameraisgoingtobeoverworked!

We’vehadali-lesadnewsfromthepark.IbelievethatUno(oneof thebe-erknownbullelephants)is no longer with us, aWer a tousle with anotherbull. He took a tumble and broke his leg. Hiscarcass was visible from Mankwe Way. We aregoingtomissseeingthisbeau@fulboyaroundthereserve.

OurBorakalaloworkpar@esweregoingverywell,but it iswith great sadness that the decision hasbeen taken to discon@nue the work par@es thereun@lfurtherno@ce.

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weekends, as many of our members who have young children are oWen unable to a-end. I’m suremanypeoplewouldrathertheirchildrenwereoutexperiencingthebush,thanhomestaringatelectronicdevices.Theseweekendsaresuretobewellsupported.OurFacebookprofilenowhasover200friends.Pleasecon@nuetoshareyourphotographsandrelevantstorieswithusthere.Itisgreattokeepintouch.

TheholidaysarefastapproachingandI’dliketotaketheopportunitytowishyouawonderfulfes@veseason.Travelsafelyandweexpecttoseeyouallback,fullofenergyearlynextyear!

Seeyouin2016!

Kerry-Anne

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SomepicturesItookofUnoafewyearsago.RIP,bigguy.

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Commi-eeContactInfo

Chairman WarrenBest Cell:+27825548525 Email:[email protected]

PilanesbergSpecialProjects BorakalaloSpecialProjects(NoworkparUesunUlfurthernoUce)

PaddyCoombe-Heath BuksvanderWaltCell:+27824594339 Cell:+27833202268Email:[email protected] Email:[email protected]

KgaswaneSpecialProjects SedibaEditor BuksvanderWalt Kerry-AnneHareCell:+27833202268 Cell:+27764471119Email:[email protected] Email:[email protected] Facebookprofile:FopsSediba Treasurer SecretaryMemberships&SpecialInterestsMarkViljoen BronwynFellCell:+27827738855 Cell:+27832945971Email:[email protected] Email:[email protected] FOPSphone:0824643064

PR/FundraisingRolandWhiteCell:+27832271273Email:[email protected]:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]








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Tents__________________________________________________________________________________________________AreminderthatitisonlyLindywhoorganisestentbookings,(andnotBronwyn/secretary)sopleaseensurethatyoucontactLindy,preferablyonherCell:+27828900534

Please note: Only paid up, current FOPS members may use the tents on the basis of ONE TENT permembership. Youmay not book all 3 tents for yourself and friends who are notmembers. If you can’trememberifyourenewedyourmembership,contactBronwyn([email protected])tocheck.

The FOPS tent area is part of the Golden Leopard concession and FOPS have to adhere to the rules andregula@onsset,sopitchingaddi@onaltents/rooftoptents/caravansNEXTtotheFOPStentsifyouwantmorespacemayresultinFOPSlosingtheuseofthearea&tents,andthereforeavaluablesourceofincome.Pleasedon’tthinkbecauseLindyisn’ttherewhenyouarriveandpitchyouraddi@onaltentsthattheFOPScommi-eedoesnotgetadvisedofthis,[email protected]‘arrange’withLindytodothiswhenbookingyourtent.

Ifyouneedaddi@onalaccommoda@onwhenyoubookaFOPStent,makearrangementswithreserva@onstobookacampsiteadjacenttotheFOPStents.

ReminderofHOWTOBOOK:

• CallLINDY–Cell: +27828900534toenquireifthedateyouwouldlikeisavailable&bookthedatewithher

• Email proof of payment to [email protected]. Reference: membership number & tents.Bankingdetailssameasmembership,andonthewebsite.

• Please call Lindy to check that she has received your proof of payment, and that booking isCONFIRMED.

Pleasedonotassumeyourbookingisconfirmedjustbecauseyousentanemail,orpaidintotheaccount.Pleasebeconsiderate–ifyoubookatent,andcannotmakeyourbookingpleasetellLindyaminimumofoneweek(7days)prior,sowecanno@fyothermembersthatitisavailable.

Tentsareself-cateringandnotserviced.Pleasecleanthema]eryouruse.AnyproblemsorbreakagespleasereporttoLindyaWeryourweekend.

NB:Pleasebecareful-DONOTleavevaluablesinthetents.Ratherkeeptheseitemsonyouoroutofsightinyourlockedvehicle-duringarecentburglary,atentwindowwasslashedandvaluableswerestolenwhiletheoccupantswerevisiUngfriendsintheadjacenttent.

mailto:[email protected])%2520to

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A-endingWorkPar@es__________________________________________________________________________________________________

PleaserememberthatFOPSonlyoperatesintheparksattheINVITATION&APPROVALoftheParks

Board,sothereisaproceduretofollow:

ONEWEEKBEFORETHEWORKPARTY:

1. CALL or SMS theRELEVANTworkparty co-ordinator – e.g. Bora –MarkMorris; Kgaswane–Buks;Pilanesberg–Paddytocheckthatthereisspaceandtohaveyournameaddedtothelist.

2. Provideyourvehicleregistra@onnumberofpeoplea-ending

3. CONFIRMyourarrival@me–rememberFOPShastoadheretothegate@mesintheparks.Soifyouarenotgoingtomakethegateclosing@me,specialarrangementsneedtobemadeatthediscre@onoftheworkpartyco-ordinator.Sopleasetrytobeintheparkbythegateclosing@meontheFRIDAY.

4. DONOTemailthedaybeforeaworkparty,please–alwaysgiveno@ceandconfirmthattheyhaveyournameonthelistatthegate.

5. TosendanemailtoTENTS(Lindy)ortobookatentfortheweekendatManyane,ortosendanemailtoSECRETARY (Bronwyn)DOESNOTBOOKYOUFORWORKPARITES. Youcanonlybookwithworkpartyco-ordinators.

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SpecialProjectWeekendReports-Borakalalo

July2015 MarkMorris

ThedateofthisworkpartywaschangedtoaccommodatetheloanofaJCB.9peoplea-endedtheweekend,twoofthemcomingjustfortheday.Wewelcomednewa-endeesRudiandSandraandtheirchildrenPascaleandGabriel.WecleanedupNokatrailwhiletheJCBwasbusysor@ngoutthecrossing intoBlockspruit.Theoperatordidanamazingjobandwhenhewasfinished,KobusdrovehisNissanSafariacrosswithease.LaterintheaWernoonwepaintedoneofthewetlandhideswithWaxsolandrepairedabrokenpole.Itwasverycoldasusual–morningtempsofabout-6degrees.Ithinkwearemadcampingatthis@meofyear,butitisworthit!

Regards,Mark

� � JCBbeingputtogooduse

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August2015 MarkMorris

There’snotalottoreportforthisweekend.WegatheredrocksinthemorningtoreinforcethenewBlockspruitcrossing.Unfortunatelywedidn’tgetalotdoneastherewereonlyfiveofusandboththetractorswereoutofcommission.LaterwedidatoolinventoryandcleanedupthelastofthebuildingrubblefrombehindourstoreatMoretele.Thankstotheteamforyourhardwork!

Regards,

Mark

� � Awell-camouflagedprayingmanUs

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September-October2015 MarkMorris

September2015

Fivepeoplea-endedthisweekend.Wedecidedtofixourbraaiasallthebrickswerecominglooseontop.WethenspenttheaWernoon@dyinguparoundthecampandneateningupthe‘kitchen’.

October2015

Eightpeoplea-endedtheweekend.Wewelcomednewmembers,GerryandShirley.Wehopeyouwillbecomeregulars!SomeofuswentonasnarepatrolwiththeHOonduty.Othersinstalledasecuritygateatthebackoftheshowersandputupshelvinginthestoreroom.Bigthankstoourloyalmembers,especiallyBuksandHannelievanderWalt,JoeGordonandKobusPienaar,foryourhardworkthispastyear.

Regards,Mark

� � ThankyouBuksVanderWaltfortheselovelyheronpictures

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SpecialProjectWeekendReports-Pilanesberg

July2015 PaddyCoombe-Heath

Editor’sNote:

Mark,wethankyouandAnne*eonceagainforthemarvellousjobyouhavedoneco-ordinaUngtheBoraworkparUes.ThankyoutotheteamforkeepingthingsUckingoverthere,someUmesunderadversecondiUons.WelookforwardtoseeingyouallatthePilanesbergworkpartyweekends.

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HiFolks,

Iseethatthecoldweathertookitstollonthenumbersattheworkparty.Wehadawhole21people.Nevermind,itwasagoodcrowdandwegotalotdone.Thecoldwasn’tTHATbad!Duringthedayitwasfineandabitchillyduringthenight,butitwasnothingagoodfirecouldnotsortout.Therewereacoupleofprojectsonthego:

ThefirstwastheIronAgeSite.Lotsmoreclearingneededtobedonethis@me,butnospraying.Thereasonwasthattherewasnoneorveryli-leregrowth.Norainandverydrycondi@onswereprobablythereasonforthis.Thiswasgoodnews,sotheguysgotmoreclearingdone.Youcanalmostseeyourselfnow.

Then,wereceivedadona@onofR1000toputdownpavinginfrontoftent2-thedonor’sfavouritetent.Soacoupleoftheguyswentoutandlaidthepaving.Ihavetosaythatitislookingverysmart!

Alienvegeta@on:We justfinishedwhatwestarted lastmonth,clearingPoplartreesuponNareLink.Thereweres@llplentyoftrees,buttheguystookcareofthem,forgoodIhope.

Saturdayeveningwasveryenjoyablearoundthefire,butasIsaid,quitechilly.Ihopetoseeafewmoreofyouatthenextworkparty.

Un@lthen,gowell.

Regards,

Paddy

August2015 PaddyCoombe-Heath

HiFolks,

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Well if theweekendweather is anything to go by, summer is here. The temperature got up to the low30degreemarkonSunday.Theweatherdrewagoodcrowd,with39peoplea-endingand3noshows.Wealsohad2newies.Thismeantwewereabletogetalotdone,andwedid.

Theprojectswere:

Alienvegeta@on: Anewdreaded"lurgy"QueenoftheNight.Therewere3plantsspo-edonTswenedrive,oppositethepan.Whenwegotthereweba-ledtofindevenone,butwedideventually.Weclimbedupthehillandringbarkedthisonethencamedownthehillagaintosearchfortheothertwo.ThesewemanagedtolocateaWerabitof@me,andhadtoclimbupthehill(whichnowfeltlikeamountain)AGAIN.Wethenstartedringbarkingtheothersonlytofindnottwo,buthalfadozenmore.Theyjustpoppedupallovertheplace,andnoneofthesewerevisiblefromtheroad.Weevenfoundacoupleofpricklypearplants,whichwealsoringbarked.Eventuallyweranoutofherbicidesowehadtogobacktocamp.Itwasalmostfinishing@meanyway.Wewentandhada'"kykweer"onSunday.Armedwithplentyofherbicide,wewentbackupthemountain.Bytheendofthemorningwehaddoneabout15moreplants.Then,thegoodnews-welookedupandfoundatleast3moreplants,sonextmonthwewilltryagain.Anyvolunteers?

� Poisoningqueenofthenight.ThanksCarolCellier

Project2:ThetentsatManyane.Wereceivedafurtherdona@on,speciallytocompletethepavinginfrontoftheother2tents.Abigthankyougoestoourgenerousdonor. Nowallthetentslookveryneatand@dy.Wealsohadtoputdownpillarsforthenewtent.All8ofthem-lotsofbackbreakingworkinthehotsun.Welldoneguys.This,bytheway,tookplaceonSaturdayandSundaymorning.

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� � � Cementmixersandbricklayers.Thetentsandpavinglookstunning!

Project 3: Iron Age Site. No I had not forgo-en. There were 28 people. Why so many you ask…well theelephanthadafielddayandbroke3panelsoftheparkingarea.Thiswasaprojectallonitsown.ThefirebreakontheEasternfenceline,insideandoutsideneededtobecutproperly.Thiswasalsoaprojectonitsown.Then,insidethekraalmorecu[ngandclearingneededtobetackled.Thisisaslowandnastyjob,cu[ngbacksicklebush.Youlandupscratchedtopiecesandalmostneedingabloodtransfusionattheendoftheday.ThiswasalsotackledonbothSaturdayandSunday.Theplace is lookinggreatatthemomentandwhenweeventuallyfinish,thesitewilllookthewayitdidwaybackwhen.Amazing!

Project4:OnSunday,10guyswentdowntotheWimbledonBridgeovertheElandsRiveratMankweDam.They removedall the stuff thathadbeenwasheddown in thefloods inFebruary2014.Thewaterwaywasblockedsolid,soitwasabigjobclearingthedebrisoutoftheriver.But,asusualF.O.P.S.cameuptrumps,anditisallclearnow.

Ijustwanttosaywelldonetothewholeteamforthejobswelldone.Thankyouall.

Un@lnext@me”Hastalavista,”Baby.

Regards,

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Paddy

Asarewardfortheirhardwork,afewmembersofthegroupweretakenonawalkontheMondaymorning,asitwasapublicholiday.ThankyoutoCarolCellierforpudngthesegorgeouspicturestogether.

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September2015 PaddyCoombe-Heath

HiFolks,

Iamali-ledisappointedinyouguys.Iknowtheweatherforecastwasbad,andthereWAShailonFriday.BIGhail.But12people?????Anyway, toput itnicely, itwasaverydisruptedweekend.The rain really screwedeverythingup!But,wes@llmanaged2projects.

BathlakoandMakorwaneparkingareaselephantdamage:BothgotrepairedandwealsomanagedtotackleaQueenoftheNight.IwasrelievedthattherainheldoffformostofSaturdaymorning,sothattheprojectswerenothampered.Unfortunately,latertherainpersistedandmostoftheguyscalleditadaybySaturdayaWernoon.Attheendofthedaytherewereonly5peopleleWincamp.Wehad60mmofrainatPotokwaneonFridayandSaturday.VerygoodforSeptember.

AnywayIhopetoseeafewmoreofyouattheOctoberworkparty.Un@lthen,gowell.

Regards,Paddy

.� ThebraveBathlakoteam.ThanksJohnPitchfordforthelovelyphotograph.

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October2015 PaddyCoombe-Heath

ThanksCarolCellierforsendinginthesehailpictures.Itwasquitesomethingtosee!

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HiFolks,

AWer lastmonth’sdisasterofonly12people,[email protected],whichwasgreataswemanagedtogetalotdone.TheoneprojectwhichhasbeenongoingfornearlyayearnowwasLenongHide.Hopefullywewillcompletetheopera@onatthelatestnextmonth.Wevarnishedandcleanedupinsideandoutsidethehide.Basically,wejustneedtomakethefinalcosme@cfinishingtouches.Theplaceislookingreallygoodnow.

TheIronAgeSite:Anotherongoingprojectaseverybodyknows.TrevorisdeterminedtocutbackALLofthebushinthearea.It’sahugeprojectbutwearemakinganimpactonthebushencroachment.TheysprayedtheKraals,buttherewasnotmuchregrowth,becausetherehasbeennorain.Thebushhasstartedtosproutafewgreenshootswhichtheysprayedjusttobesure.

Then,MakorwaneHideandMalatseHide:Therewasafairamountofworktodo,andweneededtorepaintthehideswithWaxsol.Theseprojectstookupalotofmanpowersoweweregratefulfortheextrahandsatthisbigworkparty.

Lastly,wedid road clearingalongKubuand Letsha,where the treeswerege[ngabit close to the roads.Therewerealotoftreesthatweregrowingovertheroad,buthighup.Thiswashamperingthebiggergamedrivevehicles,especiallyonKubudrive.

Wellgladtoseethatwearebackontrackwiththenumbers.Keepitupguys.Soun@lnextmonth,gowell.

Regards

Paddy

sediba jul-oct 2015 · buks van der walt kerry-anne hare cell: +27 83 320 2268 cell: +27 76 447...

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