South African Mid Central Association

Since there are South African organisations and associations dotted about New Zealand, but sadly, nothing happening in this part of the island, it's been decided to band the motley bunch of us into some sort of team, in and around Wanganui.
The big launch was held at the Top Ten holiday park and took the form of a whole weekend of 'pret en plesier' with something for everyone.
Folks came in from the surrounding districts and either booked chalets or pitched their tents and joined in the 'getting to know you' atmosphere, with good food, good music and company. The 'sports' were an aside for those who were so inclined and provided lots of laughs and good prizes!
So many of the local businesses came to the party with sponsoring prizes and so on and we were really quite chuffed that the mayor of Wanganui pitched up and gave a positive and encouraging speech.
All in all, a very successful launch and a fun weekend of R and R.

The team of 'die spesery meisies' - main organiser of the event and the new association, Pierre is second from the left.

The ladies team of 'die mal koeie'!

Teams were chosen for the day and challenged other teams to beat them at rowing, paintballing and cooking!!! These chaps really got into the spirit with their basketball theme.

Even some of the ladies were prepared to take on the river and row their way across and back. The current is fairly strong and since the river is so close to the sea, it tends to be somewhat tidal - most of the ladies did an amazing job and no-one needed rescuing! There was a motorized boat out on the river with them, just in case!

The 'mare' of Wanganui, Michael Laws - gave a really good account of how New Zealand has grown as a result of migrants from all over the world and how kiwis want to embrace and celebrate all the various cultures - in our case "especially the food"!

He has evidently visited SA - albeit only Johannesburg but at least knows where SA is!

There is a 'biggest dinner' (that's the most people catered for we gather) elsewhere in New Zealand each year and Michael Laws thinks Wanganui should host the 'biggest braai in New Zealand' and put Wanganui on the map. He's promised financial support for this to the tune of $10,000 for next year, so that sounds 'good as gold'!

Rapt attention for Michael's speech - especially the part about council support for next years' event!

The Boesenkool children making music at the fees - that's Mum in the red blouse, keeping the music from blowing away. Just shows you - there is even real culture going on amongst the South Africans here in New Zealand.

A lovely touch of class with these incredibly talented children playing tunes everybody knows and loves.

Here's a team of guys planning their strategy before the big paintball war - to be honest, we have no idea who won! There was a lot of shouting and shooting and raucous laughter going on - it seems that a great time was had by all the big boys playing cowboys and crooks!

Even the ladies were game for a spot of paintball and some came away with very dramatic bruises to prove it!

The gentlemen armed with the clipboards are the 'judges' of the best potjies! Some folks really take this type of competition seriously, but then who wouldn't when the first prize was a very large and impressive hamper of South African products sponsored by one of the local supermarkets for the event. Good on ya Countdown!

After a full day of river paddling and paintballing and potjiekos for dinner, folks let their hair down and danced the night away.



Dis al!