Why all the fuss about this ugly old dead fish in the Bulawayo
museum I asked with a sideways glance at the Ichthyologist at the
Bulawayo Museum of Natural history..... surely there are other more
pressing needs in Bulawayo at this moment.
But it was only when ..... and Coelacanth champion Lara Knight
showed me said Coelacanth lying forlornly in his leaking glass case
in the museum archives that I began to realise the importance of this
Poorly Poisson.
The Coelacanth comes from a very old lineage which dates back about
400 million years. It precedes the dinosaur by 100 million years. As
the coelacanth fossil record abruptly ends at about 70 million
years,
scientists thought that the coelacanths had played out their role in
evolution and had disappeared in the great wave of extinction's
that
characterised the end of the cretaceous.
However it was with great excitement that a real live one was
recorded caught by Captain Hendrik Goosen in 1928 in the River
Chalumna.
And then several years later another coelacanth was caught in the
Comores by one James Bierly Smith. The Coelacanth is the sole
representative of a very ancient vertebrae group and provides the
scientific world with an invaluable window into the past.... the
veritable "Missing Link "
Now the fact that the little old Bulawayo Museum has one of these
incredible specimens which has come to symbolise the plight of many
endangered marine animals is significant.
Fondly known as Old Four Legs or the Dinofish, the Coelacanth has
its
own rescue web-siteshttp://www.dinofish.com/ - its own shop, its
own
magic in a world where it must be preserved at all costs.
It even has its own poem written By Francine M Storey
Point your hands like a compass to down
and dive off the edge of Madagascar
into the tea-warm Indian ocean
as the fathoms widen before you
in a blue-green peacock's tail
elongate yourself like an eel
round and flat at the same time
then move your arms in great arcs
and descend along the path of broken sunlight
swim carefully through the hypnotising seaweed
over the ragged battlements of tulip-coloured corals
until at last, you pass
the ironwork of the continent
and you are below the world
here where the sun is repulsed
by the fist of pressure
blind fish like beggars
wait for alms
and the sea is a Buddha
silent and dark
no progression
no regression
fullness flatness of tides
the eye in the throat beats the time
when the pupil is ready
the teacher arrives
wait
for the coelacanth
fish of rounded gills and lobed fins
400 million years old
last inhabitant of the Devonian sea
if he approaches
unseen
unheard
ask him
how did you survive?
*****
Old Four Legs in the Bulawayo Museum is still in pretty good
condition despite his plight. He needs to be saved though, he is a
part of our living history, he is possibly the Missing Link to mans
evolution, a fish with four legs ?
This fish has been described as a 'living fossil' and is very rare;
most Museums around the world only having plaster casts or
fibreglass
models. We have the real deal: a preserved Coelacanth literally in
the flesh!
Unfortunately the original tank it was displayed in was damaged and
for the last 15 years or so our precious specimen has been tucked
away in the basement.
The temporary tank in which the Coelacanth is presently housed is
rusting and it is possible that should nothing be done that the
Coelacanth itself may deteriorate.
Our museum is fortunate to have many distinguished, qualified and
capable staff.
It also has a suitable display tank to re-home the Coelacanth.
However to successfully preserve and display this fish approximately
400 litres of Isopropyl Alcohol is required. The cost of this is
around $400 million dollars.
A Bulawayo firm Acol Chemical has agreed to provide the isopropyl
alcohol and repair to the case is being sought, but important
funding is still needed to save our Coelacanth.
Can you help ?
e mail magskriel@mac.com
+++++++
BULAWAYO LETS UNITE AND GET OUR CREMATORIUM UP AND RUNNING
"The Bulawayo community is renowned for pulling together and getting
the job done. There is one job that we as a community have not
focused sufficient attention on and that relates to the
refurbishment
of the City's crematorium. It has not been functioning for some time
now and that has caused enormous distress and inconvenience to
hundreds of families who have been bereaved in the last few years. I
am aware that perennial stalwarts like Neil Todd and Noel Scott are
at the present time doing sterling work overseas in trying to raise
the necessary money to refurbish the crematorium. However it seems
to
me that we have all the necessary engineering skills in Bulawayo for
us to do the job and if we get some outside help that will be a
bonus. So in essence this is an appeal to the Bulawayo community,
especially our industrial, engineering and commercial sectors, to
assist the work already been done by Neil, Noel and others by
providing expertise and assistance to get the job done quickly." The
Hindu Community and the association "Abuz" is also very sympathetic
with our plight and we thank them for that. The Booysen family has
also been involved in trying to activate the refurbishment of the
Crematorium and so has the Bulawayo and the City Council.
I know several firms who would be more than willing to assist
financially, and if you wish to help, please make your pledge to
<magskriel@mac.com>
1) Van Rheede - Wells
Sylvia Audra youngest daughter of Barbara and the late Johnny
( Rudolph) to Brenton only son of Grenville and Jill, in
Cardiff,Wales on the 19 August 2006. Another one bites the DUST !
2) Goode Kimberley and Stevan
One year today , 12 September 2006, now for the next 49 years! love
and all the best Mom, Ouma and Bragitta
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++
4 CONDOLENCES
JEAN MCMINN LOVED MOTHER OF THERESA AND NEIL , JOHN AND ALETTA
WILL BE SADLY MISSED.
+++++++++
I was so sad to read of Clem Coetsee's untimely death. He was an
inspiration to all who knew him and his work with conservation and
in
particular elephants was amazing. He will be missed dreadfully.
Please pass on my sincere and loving condolences to his wife and
family. God richest blessings to you all.
Noreen Welch,
Christchurch,
New Zealand
++++++++++
EDNA TRUMP
Our Darling Aunt Eddie Trump taken so very suddenly. We miss you and
remember all the good times. You were never a burden.
M.H.D.S.R.I.P.All our love Wally, Helen, John, Lee, Chloe, Pam and
Ben and Kelly
+++++++++++
DEATHS:
ANNE STIRLING
Passed away peacefully on 12th September, 2006.
Beloved mother of Elizabeth, Kenyon and Carol, and Catherine.
Grandmother of Clea, Alex and Glenn.
+++++++++++
A Memorial Service for Anne Stirling will be held at the
Church of Ascension, Hillside, on
Friday, 22nd September, 2006
at 10 a.m.
+++++++++++
CONDOLENCES
Anne Stirling.
Dearly loved sister-in-law of Charles & Lorna Stirling.
Deepest sympathy to Elizabeth, Catherine, Kenyon,
Carol and the children from all the family.
++++++++++
WE OFFER SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE FOLLOWING
PAUL PRETORIUS
JUNE BUCKLEY
SALEJEE LEHER
HANS HAWKINS
A DA SILVA
ISSY DONSKY
JOHN SWANEPOOL
PADDY TURK
JOHN "POPS" RHODES
JOAN MERRY
DEREK PLAYFORD IN CAPE TOWN
JIMMY SHADWELL
+++++++++
GRAVE MAINTENANCE
Have you left Zimbabwe? Are you planning on leaving? Do you have
family graves in Bulawayo Cemetery?
If your answer is "YES" to any of the above questions, you may need
my services.
Regular, reliable grave site maintenance service.
Call me, Mr Hajat on home number 476 569 or cell 023 896 375.
Let each day be your masterpiece.
- Unknown -
++++++++
When you don't know what to do, walk fast and look worried.
- Dennis Peer -
+++++++++++
So Much Happiness
It is difficult to know what to do with so much happiness.
With sadness there is something to rub against,
A wound to tend with lotion and cloth.
When the world falls in around you, you have pieces to pick up,
Something to hold in your hands, like ticket stubs or change.
But happiness floats.
It doesn't need you to hold it down.
It doesn't need anything.
Happiness lands on the roof of the next house, singing,
And disappears when it wants to.
You are happy either way.
Even the fact that you once lived in a peaceful tree house
And now live over a quarry of noise and dust
Cannot make you unhappy.
Everything has a life of its own,
It too could wake up filled with possibilities
Of coffee cake and ripe peaches,
And love even the floor which needs to be swept,
The soiled linens and scratched records….
Since there is no place large enough
To contain so much happiness,
You shrug, you raise your hands, and it flows out of you
Into everything you touch. You are not responsible.
You take no credit, as the night sky takes no credit
For the moon, but continues to hold it, and to share it,
And in that way, be known.
~ Naomi Shihab Nye ~
+++++++++++++++++
TIDBITS
Let each day be your masterpiece.
- Unknown -
+++++++++
A group of young Black Zimbabweans have formed the Zimbabwe Prayer
forum .
I am incredibly impressed with all they are doing, and am honoured
to
try and help in anyway I can. Please remember them
all in your prayers. Things are very bad now. Thanks.
.."Our dear Lord Jesus Christ,
please walk through our
Country Zimbabwe
and take away all our worries,
economic hardships,
hunger,
Political unrest and illnesses.
Please would You bless the households of the Individuals
receiving this email".
Thank You Lord. Amen
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