Morning Mirror 42 - 12th March 2003 |
|||
I've even seen a broken exhaust pipe (with silencer) in a queue too. What I can't stand is people piling a few stones on top of each other and using that to keep their place. The famous line my husband's also heard a couple of times was "This was my place in the queue yesterday / last week." What a cheek! It's our place today!. Oh, it's so much fun living in Zimbabwe. JANET......
Over the weekend of 20, 21 and 22 December 2002, 31 members of the Brebner clan gathering in Bulawayo to celebrate the centennial of the Bulawayo Brebners. There were only eight family members in all missing. Celebrations kicked off with a formal dinner, black ties and jackets, at the Bulawayo Club, with the guest speaker being Mr Bob Cole who was a great friend to the older generation of Brebners. On Saturday, now joined by the youngest generation of the family, everyone set off for a trip down memory lane in Tshabalala game sanctuary. After a visit to the site of the old homestead, sadly now demolished, and to see various other places of interest to the family, boerewors roll brunch was served at John and Jenny’s home. In the late afternoon, everyone gather at Audrey Brebner’s home for official photos and no one envied the photographer his job, trying to gather all the different generations, fit everyone into the photo AND getting everyone to smile at the same time. Everyone then settled down to enjoy sheep and beef on the spit and a very sociable, chatty evening was had by all. On Sunday there was a visit to the Athlone Cemetery where readings were done and flowers laid, first at Ethel Mary’s grave and then at Jock’s. Unfortunately that concluded the celebrations and everyone departed for their various corners of the world. The following is from part of the history compiled by Richard Brebner which was read out at the dinner. It was a hundred years ago that John, or Jock as he was popularly known, came to Rhodesia as it was then. He was born into a farming family in Newton on Bruxy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in June 1880. It is said that Jock got fed up with working on the farm. He had to plough for as long as twelve hours a day behind two Clydesdale horses. He answered an advertisement by Cecil John Rhodes who had formed the BSA Company and was looking for people to colonise Rhodesia. As Jock was form farming stock and was a very competent horseman he got a job on a ship to Cape Town bringing out remounts for the Boer War. He had to look after the horses on board ship and later when they docked in Cape Town. While there he was met by representatives of the BSA Company who arranged for him to travel to Bulawayo. Jock arrived in Bulawayo sometime in 1902 as a 22 year old and was to serve a five year apprenticeship under Teddy Hull who farmed where REPS school is today. After this, he was allocated a farm, Tshabalala, just outside Bulawayo where the Tshabalala game sanctuary is now. Jock was given the farm on a 99 year lease as it was part of the Rhodes Estate and it was the hub around which the Brebner family revolved. About this time, Jock met a man called Cecil Selfe and they formed a partnership as times were tough on the farm in Matabeleland which was prone to droughts, not to mention periodic epidemics of the dreaded Rinderpest which ravaged domestic stock. Jock and Cecil Selfe also took in a lodger called Betts who was a bachelor to help pay the bills. It was round about 1908 that the bachelors needed someone to cooked for them so Cecil’s sister, Ethel Mary Selfe, came out from England. Jock fell in love with her and they were married in May 1910. They honeymooned at the Matopos Hotel! Jock set out to develop Tshabalala in earnest with a particular interest in cattle, importing a number of Shorthorn and Lincoln Red bulls from his native Scotland. He became involved in judging in local cattle shows and his obituary states “ Mr Brebner was one of Rhodesia’s most successful farmers and stock breeders. He was a senior judge of the Shorthorn Society and a well known judge at leading stock shows in the Union and in the North. His fine herd of Lincoln Red cattle is testimony to his ability as a stockbreeder.” Jock became a well known member of the Bulawayo farming and business community becoming founder member of the Matabeleland FArmers Co-op in 1915. He was also on the committee of the Bulawayo Agricultural Show and he won numerous prizes for his cattle over the years. Jock and Ethel had four children, Cecil Newton or Sonny, William Herbert, or Bill, Ethel Mary, or Girlie (known affectionately by her nephews and nieces as Tante), and Gerald. After the fourth child, Gerald, was born, Ethel and Jock decided that that was enough children. It was interesting to see how they practised family planning in those days. Jock moved out to the rondawel in the garden with his sons. Ethel Mary slept in the main house with her daughter Girlie. Towards the end of his life, Jock became ill with diabetes and died in December 1942. Ethel Mary carried on living at the farm with her daughter Girlie and died in May 1960. Both she and Jock are buried in the Bulawayo Cemetery. Their children remained in Zimbabwe and many of the future generations are still in Bulawayo, although sadly not on Tshabalala farm which was turned into a game sanctuary in 1979. Congratulations to the Brebner Family for 100 years of loyal service to their beloved country.
WANTED
Contact Riette on 242479 (afternoon and evening)
EXCEPTIONAL HOUSEKEEPER REQUIRED Busy Mom / Businesswoman with demanding schedule requires the services of a Housekeeper / Cook of high calibre. Top remuneration to the successful applicant.
WIND IN THE WILLOWS Christian Brothers College will be holding a Premiere for their play, Wind In The Willows, at Bulawayo Theatre Club, on Friday 4 April 2003 at 6.30p.m. for 7.30p.m. Cheese and wine will be served. Tickets $800/person available from J. Bonnett on 465571 (B) or 259789 (H). The play will run from Wednesday 2 April to Saturday 5 April 2003. DEBBIE ROBINSON
The Bulawayo Power Boat Club is still urgently needing a manager / caretaker at our club at Lower Ncema Dam. Accommodation is provided. Free lights and water. Salary negotiable - to suit elderly active person or couple. Reply to robbie@voyager.co.zw Many thanks.
LIFT REQUIRED Heather Vosloo
FOR SALE
FOR SALE:
MAKE AN OFFER:
Contact: GAYL SMYTHE
TREASURE CHSET WANTED I am desperately looking for an old wooden treasure chest (with the curved top/lid), or the likes. Please could you help?
HOUSE FOR SALE A 3 bed-roomed house on one third of an acre at 31 Berwick Drive, Famona - near the fire station...... in 1994 I put up a seven foot high red brick security wall.... it has a single servants quarters and an over-swing garage and separate car-port, but no pool or borehole as I didn't feel that it was necessary for one person.. I Have to be near the industrial sites for work...and require a "flat" home for 83 year old Mother' s visits...... BELLE KRAAN
COOK NEEDED GOOD MALE COOK WANTED. AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS AND OVER. MUST HAVE TRACEABLE REFERENCES. SINGLE ACCOMMODATION. PHONE ROWENA DOLLAR 242382 CEL 011 209093
PEOPLE IN NEED Recently we have been involved with feeding programmes, and have managed to locate a number of families that are in dire straits. One such family is a grandmother who has lost all of her children due to aids, and is now trying to raise 13 grandchildren. She attempts to make a living by selling vegetables on a street corner. She is confined to a wheelchair. When we last visited her, we found she was bedridden because her wheelchair needed repairs and she could not afford the spare parts. She is the sole family breadwinner. With the current economic situation and the number of people dying of aids, her story is not unique. With winter approaching fast we have started a collection point for second hand clothing to be able to assist such families. We are requesting donations of ANY second hand clothing (especially children's clothing) and blankets. We will personally distribute all items, and ensure that they end up with the people who are in need. If you are able to assist. please hand donations
in at : We assure you that EACH item donated WILL make a difference to somebody's life. Thanking you in anticipation. Bertha Lee
WANTED URGENTLY Housesitter and/or reliable gardener, as soon as possible, to care take home in Kumalo for two to three weeks. Please phone 256509. Juliet
'amaBooks invite you to a Book Launch Erina by Wim Boswinkel in The Tent outside Large City Hall, Bulawayo Thursday 13th March 2003 at 4.30pm.
HOUSE NEEDED URGENTLY Elderly Couple still desperately seeking small 3 bedroomed house any areas. Very house proud and and will look after the place as their own. Please! Please! Cannot express the urgency of this request. hearthvo@telconet.co.zw
HOUSE NEEDED Does anyone know of a house available for rent in Bulawayo? My parents have been given a month's notice on the house that they were renting in Zvishavane which they have been staying in since they were kicked off the farm. They have been trying to finish up with the cattle and tie up the farm side of things. They have decided that the best move now would be to Bulawayo and we are desperately trying to find a place for them. Please if you know of anything available, or perhaps have a contact whom we could get in touch with - please could you let me know. I would appreciate any information you could give. Many thanks I would appreciate any information you could give. Many thanks Trish Swannack - lundi@reliant.co.zw
LIFT OFFERED TO JOBURG I am offering a lift to Jhburg on Saturday the 12th April going via Francis town and would like someone to share fuel as I hope to do it in one day and will leave fairly early on Saturday morning to get to Jhburg later in day. also can you put me on your list I have this e mail address and also my own private one which is A McIntosh mcnosh@mango.zw I am not sure if I should give my phone no out. I hope this is in order. Cheers for now
GARDENER WANTED Wanted : Domestic/Gardener (with references) who can get along with a dog, able to iron & do general house work, needed desperately. Salary Negotiable. Phone Home 243801 / Work 72725
To Brendan and Hayley Davies on the birth of their daughter ERIN. Granny and Grandpa Ninette and Berwick are well too !! NIGEL OXDEN WILLOWS IS NOW ENGAGED TO NATISHA MELLEM
A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.
We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere.;
Last month a survey was conducted in countries across the world by the United Nations. The question was: "Please give your honest opinion about possible solutions to the shortage of food in the rest of the world." The survey was an utter failure
|
