Local Clubs – Page 5 – Rotary Club of Wynberg, Cape Town SA

20 August 2014

Magical Visitors to Isiphiwo School

Wynberg Rotary was fortunate to host two different visits to Isiphiwo Primary School during the last month. And from the reception, the school was thrilled!

The first visit was by Alina Topp, our STEP exchange student from Germany. Alina was given the Khayelitsha tour with a stop-over at Isiphiwo. We found that the Grade 3 class who have twinned with a French class as pen pals had made lovely mobiles using hangers (below).

The school has once again been recognised for their efforts. We found a number of paintings down the corridors with number and letter puzzles and general interest and geography lessons. Thanks to the Department of Education who have recognised Isiphiwo’s efforts and provided a some money that had to be appropriately spent on promoting literacy and numeracy.

Well done Mr Tabata and staff.

We noticed that the school has also shown pride in their surroundings. Bricks that had been lifted and stored in the quad had been put to great use by paving a previously sandy area and building a low retaining wall. Once again, using resources that they have to beautify the grounds for the learners.

The second visitor was Marty the Magician, returning for his third performance at Isiphiwo, Continue reading “Magical Visitors to Isiphiwo School”

2 July 2014

Induction of the Club President 2014-2015

The evening of the 19th June saw the induction of our new club president, Jackie James. The event was held at the very tastefully decorated Mowbray Golf Club,

PP Karen handing over Presidency to Jackie

There were a number of highlights to the evening. DGE Cecil Rose presented two awards to the club – a certificate of appreciation for hosting a successful Rotary Family Health Day in April 2014, and a certificate was presented on behalf of the Board of Directors of RI and signed by RI President Ron Burton for the highest retention rate of membership and membership development in District 9350. Well done to a very vibrant and successful club!

Karen and DGE Cecil Rose with certificates

The club also awarded a Double Sapphire Paul Harris to Honorary Rotarian John Vivian. John has been involved in Rotors, then Rotaract, and then became a Rotarian. During his time he has embraced many positions including that of President in 1989/90, but has always been enthusiastic and supportive in all spheres. He has designed and built many a castle
for Uncle Paul’s Christmas Parties even when large trees destroyed the castle. John, ever the
handy-man has been involved in many projects and always willing to help. His close association with Rotors/Rotaract was marked by their presentation of his first Paul Harris award given to him by our Incoming President Jackie when she was Rotors President. We all congratulate him.

President Karen awarding Double Sapphire Paul Harris to John Vivian

In accordance with tradition, the incoming presidents of Wynberg Rotaract and Retreat Rotaract, Lee Bergman and Thasmine Abrahams were inducted as Honorary Members for this coming Rotary year.

We had a number of illustrious guests attending:-

DGE Cecil Rose
AG Michelle Anders and her husband Bruce
Incoming president of RC Sea Point, Tony Davidson
RC Sea Point PP Gavin Schachat
Incoming president of RC Waterfront, Maryke Vermaak
RC Waterfront Chris Fick
Incoming president Wynberg Rotaract, Lee Bergman
Incoming president Retreat Rotaract, Thasmeen Abrahams
Wynberg Rotaract – Jessica de Shmidt, Kerri Connor, Chrisleen Rankin, Daniel Doyle, Zintle Gantsho, Morne Valentyn
Friend of Retreat Rotaract – Lucien Willemse
Friend of Wynberg Rotary – Simisha Pather-Elias and her husband Imraan
Honorary member June Orsmond and her husband Guy
Honorary member John Vivian and his wife Mary
Partners – Derek Waldman, Jackie Wernberg, Kit Schreiber, Wenche Hovstad, Colin Bird, Janet van Wyk, Valda Todd, Edith Hime, Marietjie van Eerden, Pam Jackson

In her incoming speech Jackie highlighted the need for partnerships in Lighting up Rotary:-

Rotary, both at an organisational level, and at our club level has experienced many changes recently. Over the past two years our club has grown rapidly from 19-29 members. Since July 2013 Rotary International has shifted it’s focus to “larger, higher impact projects” that are sustainable. By sustainable they mean “projects must benefit the targeted community long after the grant fund has been expended.” Together with this they have introduced the New Grants Model, including Global Grants, enabling clubs to access large amounts of funding.
For many years now the Rotary Club of Wynberg have been committed to such long-term projects – Lavender Hill High School, Norwegian-sponsored schools in Grassy Park and Lotus River, the Sailing Programme and Retreat Community Hospital. Funded by a Global Grant we are now supplying much-needed medical equipment to Victoria Hospital, developing a literacy programme and a Baby College programme.
Key to these projects are the partnerships we have developed – with the clubs and colleges in Norway, with our recipient schools and with local Rotary Clubs. We looked forwarded to working closely with RC Sea Point, RC Waterfront and other clubs, not only on project but socially and sharing of ideas.
Incoming RI President Gary C K Huang’s theme for this Rotary year is “Light up Rotary”, and his goal is to “light up the lives of people in need”, emphasising, together with DG Cecil Rose the importance of participation. RC Wynberg’s goal is to keep up our hard work and increase the light we spread in our communities, and to continue to keep the light of fellowship burning brightly in our club.

In accordance with Tradition Jackie finished with a quote, in this case from Leonard Cohen:

“There is a crack in everything, that is how the light gets in”.

See the Wynpress 25 June 2014 for more information on the evening.

29 April 2014

Some fun at Lavender Hill High

House colours:

Van der Bilt student Ryan Selvaggio was here in May to July 2013. Ryan did a lot of work to establish a house system at the School. The students and staff were consulted and provide input and made choices.

Last week the house colours were officially launched. These are some pictures of the launch.

2014 Bag hand-out:

Each year Biffy tries to hand out bags to say well done to the students who have not dropped out of the system and stayed all the way to Grade 12. The bags are filled with a few goodies (depending what Biffy can get her hands on). This year the students got t-shirts, water bottles, pens, soap and other odds. This was largely due to donations from Virgin Active, Wynberg Rotaractors and other sponsors. Thank you sponsors.

This task is getting harder and harder due to the increased number of Grade 12 students each year. Although the task gets harder, this is good news as more and more students are staying the distance. When this project was started it was a case of looking for 60 or 70 bags. This year it was a case of having to find 126 bags and contents. I believe that next year it will be over 200. This is truly good news to see more and more students not dropping out of the system and making it all the way to Grade 12.

When speaking to the students of Grade 12 they made me a promise to have a 100% pass rate. Good luck Grade 12s. Make us proud and live up to that promise. Put your heads down for the last few months and do your best.

For more information on Lavender Hill High School.

13 December 201321 December 2013

An Induction and Paul Harris to end the year

The annual end of year party for the Rotary Club Wynberg is always special. Gifts are distributed – and swopped, to the dismay of some unfortunates – , the meal is good, talking laughing and general good cheer is shared by all.

This year, however was special. We celebrated one outstanding achievement – a Paul Harris – and inducted our latest member. Continue reading “An Induction and Paul Harris to end the year”

21 November 201322 November 2013

NLC Bursary Evening with Visitors from Norway

On Wednesday November 6, Wynberg Rotary Club handed out 450 bursaries to children from primary schools and one high school in Grassy Park and Retreat.

The bursaries are funded by two sponsors in Norway Oddemarka Junior School and Haugaland College, who raise money through their Solidarity Day, when all the students go out and work for a day. The project was started in Grassy Park 14 years ago to help two primary schools with funding for computer equipment and books. The project, facilitated by Wynberg Rotary Club through the Norwegian Liaison Committee (NLC), has gone from strength to strength and now includes Montagu’s Gift, Perivale, Lotus River, Die Duine, Stephen Road primary schools and Fairmount High School. Over the 14 years, this school project has raised approximately R4 million.

This was a special occasion for the recipients, the donor schools and Wynberg Rotary Club. For the first time all 42 teachers (including the principal) from Oddemarka visited South Africa, and Cape Town. They were joined by 4 scholars and two teachers from Haugaland, albeit in a separate tour party.

Are Hovstad presenting Bursaries to Fairmount Secondary learner

Late Are Hovstad presenting a bursary to Stephen Road student at the annual Bursary Night.

The week of 4 to 10 November was hectic for all the visitors. They toured the Western Cape, from Cape Point, through the wine routes, to Game Farms, Robben Island and Tablemountain. They stopped off at the Aquarium, the Waterfront, and Greenmarket square.

In their travels the party performed three very important functions: the reason for the visit.

In the evening of Wednesday 6^th November, the whole group joined the Norwegian Liaison Committee and members of Wynberg Rotary Club at Hyde Park Primary to hand out the bursaries. It was a fantastic evening, enjoyed by all, especially the children.

On Thursday 7^th November the party split up into 6 groups, each travelling with a member of Wynberg Rotary to a different school. There they spent two hours getting to know, and be known by, the principal, staff and in many cases enthusiastic learners.

Finally on the evening of the 7^th the tour party joined Wynberg Rotary at Palms Guest House for their weekly meeting. It was a convivial evening, a few speeches, a good meal, much talking and making of friends.

On behalf of Wynberg Rotary Club we thank all members of Oddemarka and Haugaland, both staff and learners, for this fantastic, gift they brought to our Cape Town learners. We hope they took back many pleasant memories.