Yours in Caravanning RUSSELL GIBBENS PRESIDENT

As we approach the end of the year and we reflect on the past Twelve months one again realizes that time has simply flown by and we wonder what has happened. This is so symptomatic of the modern world. Technology and the Now World keep us so busy we lose track of time often at the expense of quality time for ourselves and our families. Thank goodness, as members of the CCSA we have the opportunity of getting a break from the hustle & bustle of our busy lives and get away with fellow Club members on the weekend rallies that our Regional committees plan. This is the time we can re-charge our batteries, enjoy quality time with our families and socialize with our fellow members. n Paar hoogtepunte van die afgelope jaar waaroor ons kan rapporteer was die viering van belangrike mylpale deur verskeie Streke. Ek vra van vooraf verskoning as ek enige streke se mylpale nie in die verslag genoem het nie. Die groot vieringe waarvan ek bewus is was Noordkus, North Rand, Midlands en Suid-Vrystaat. Die laas-genoemde streek het sy 50ste bestaansjaar onlangs tesame met hulle Kerssaamtrek gevier en dit was vir ek en Beryl n voorreg om die geleentheid by te woon. Ons was heeltemaal bederf en die streek se gasvryheid is iets om te beleef. Geen wonder hulle is bekend as die Geliefde Streek! Die ander drie Streke het hulle 40ste bestaans-jare gevier en weereens was ons bevooreg om Noordkus se vieringe by te woon. Dit was ook n saamtrek te beleef en die wat dit bygewoon het sal dit lank onthou. Ons brei ons gelukwense uit aan hierdie streke op die bereiking van hierdie belangrike mylpale en wens hulle alle sukses vir die toekoms. We unfortunately bid farewell with the passing of some stalwarts in the CCSA and here we think particularly of National Councillor and Free State Provincial Councillor, Frik du Toit and most recently Meg Chaplin wife of Past President Colin Chaplin. It is indeed sad that we mourn the loss of such great people. I had the honour of knowing them personally and considered them friends. We extend our condolences to the respective families and wish them comfort in the knowledge that these two great people are at rest in the hands of the Lord. I always say it is never goodbye - it is until we meet again. Next year will be an important year on the CCSA calender. Convention which will be held at the beginning of March will be the 50th Convention and will be held as a full Convention known as Convention SA at which all Regions attending will be at the same venue. This time it is going to be held at a Caravan park Koppisol Resort in Vereeniging and for this reason we have exended an invitation for non-committee members who would like to attend this Convention to please let your committee know as soon as possible. Closing date for intentions to attend is Monday 16th January. Another important event to diarise for next year is the CCSA s 70th Anniversary. This will be celebrated as part of the National Rally to be held over the weekend 22/23 July. We are going to ask Regions to plan their Rally themes around this event and we look forward to seeing and reading reports on the success of this particular weekend. In closing I take this opportunity of wishing our readers a Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2017. If you are staying at home - enjoy the break and if you are travelling, please take care on the roads please do not become a statistic. Until next time - God Bless Yours in Caravanning RUSSELL GIBBENS PRESIDENT

Koppisol - 16 to 18th September 2016 By Peter Simpson (Chairman) Firstly may I thank all those who braved the weather man and others predictions / threats that there was impending doom on the way claiming thunder, lightning, large hail, torrential rain to mention but a few items. To the best of my knowledge we had a light shower at best on Sunday afternoon. Having covered that aspect on to the important things. Friday night heralded the usual meet and greet and registration as well as the banter that always accompanies it. We welcomed two new members namely Marius Loggenberg and Sid and Louise s friends Dalene & Frank Wagner, as well as our guests from H / O and South Rand Wayne and Liesl Thompson, please Liesl next time bring a leash for Wayne. Saturday morning heralded a stunning day with warm sunshine and the smell of bacon and eggs floating through the air and a lovely chilled atmosphere throughout the camp. Saturday afternoon however kick started the committee into action as we prepared for the main function being the Mad Hatters Tea Party. Before we go into that I must thank my team on committee namely Bev Jones, Shannon, Jenny, Craig & Cameron Reaper, Owen, Carel as well as Dalene & her hubby and my wife Heather for their hard work. Hope I mentioned everyone but apologies if I missed someone. As for Louise and Sid words cannot describe what you guys did to make this a memorable event. The stuff that came out of those boxes was amazing. On to the main event and the speeches from our Guest of Honour namely the Vice- President of the CCSA Jan Heyneke who gave us an account of his early dealings with North Rand Region. Thanks Jan we appreciated you giving up your time and the present you handed over to us being the original scroll with the picture of the bird emblem from 40 years ago. This was followed by the two past chairmen namely Sid vd Merwe and Alan Rush who presented a breakdown of the past history of the club from it s beginnings up until present. Thanks so much for that gentlemen. We then declared the party open and the charge of the light brigade commenced with some of the tastiest snacks one could wish for. Thanks to all the members for their contributions. Also thanks to everyone for their efforts regards their dress ups / costumes / hats etc. that really made the event. Pictures have been posted by many photographers on our face book page for all to see. Special thanks to Cameron for being the roving photographer. Saturday night brought the coldest wind known to man and beast which sent most, not all sensible people to bed early. There were some die hards however that stayed up till late. They make them tough at South Rand Region. Sunday morning was not pleasant which could be clearly seen by late sleepers and silence in the camp, enough said. Chairman s tea was a lively event and my first since my new appointment and was as brief as possible as will be the case during my tenure as chairman. Introduction of the new members and usual chirp followed by a lovely breakdown of the naughty people by our one and only BARRY Goble who handed out the wooded spoon to Jenni Reaper and followed up by Sid the man with his usual stories of who had to get fined for misbehaving over the weekend. This was followed by the cutting of the cake and what a cake it turned out to be. Needless to say there were only crumbs left which basically says it all. At this point I would like to thank some people for their help in making this rally / event possible and one to remember. Firstly Sid and Louise for all the work you guys put in under stress from your personal issues was truly amazing and we thank you on behalf of my committee and the members. To Grant Goochie and co. thank you for helping by arranging the glasses and sand blasting our celebration on them. As usual Variprint came through on time and right first time, many thanks bud. To Catherine the cake lady thanks for accepting the last minute order and producing an astonishing theme cake which was truly out of this world both in looks and taste. That s all Folks,

Wat Frik se geskiedenis met KSA betref, het hulle in Junie 1983 amptelik by KSA aangesluit as lede van Noord Vrystaat Streek, nadat hulle reeds vir n ruk lank as sosiale lede by die klub betrokke was. In Januarie 1984 word Frik gekoöopteer as smous by die komitee en in Julie van dieselfde jaar word hy Saamtrek organiseerder. In 1986 word hy Voorsitter van Noord Vrystaat streek totdat hy in 1992 as die eerste verteenwoordiger van die Vrystaat en Noord Kaap streke verkies word. In 1995 verhuis die gesin na Kimberley en hulle lidmaatskap word oorgeplaas na Noord Kaap streek. In 1997 verhuis die Du Toit s weer, hierdie keer na Bloemfontein, en hulle lidmaatskap word na Suid Vrystaat oorgeplaas. Nadat Frik in 1997 by Oranje Toyota begin werk het, het hy bedank as Provinsiale Raadslid, maar is weer in 1998 herkies in hierdie posisie. Frik Du Toit! n Ware legende, waar begin n mens om iets oor hom te skryf? Frik Du Toit is gebore in Krugersdorp op 22 Januarie 1952. Sy ouers trek kort daarna Welkom toe en hier het Frik skoolgegaan tot in 1968 waarna hy skool na standard 8 verlaat het. Direk na skool het hy op die myne in Welkom begin werk waar hy vir 25 jaar lank gewerk het voordat hy besluit het om iets anders te probeer. Vir 5 jaar het Frik ander werke probeer en het intussen ook in 1995 na Kimberley verhuis. In 1997 verhuis die gesin na Bloemfontein kry hy werk by Oranje Toyota. Frik het vir 19 jaar by Oranje Toyota gewerk en baie uitgesien na sy aftrede op 21 Januarie 2017 sodat hy met die karavaan kan gaan toer. Op 29 Desember 1972 is Frik getroud met Hanna en hulle was geseënd met twee kinders naamlik Corlee (1976) en later JP (1986). Later het Frihanlee as kleinkind bygekom en na JP en Nicola se troue was Nicola soos een van Frik se eie kinders. Frik se gesin was sy lewe en hy sou enige iets vir sy gesin doen. In Maart 2007 ontvang Frik sy Eric Hoffman trofee vir 20 jaar diens op die bestuur van die KSA en in Maart 2011 word Lewenslange Ere Lidmaatskap van die KSA aan Frik en Hanna toegeken. Sy werk as Nasionale Raadslid het Frik met passie en oorgawe gedoen tot en met die dag van sy afsterwe op 28 November 2016. Niemand weet presies hoeveel saamtrekke die Du Toit s as KSA lede gedoen het nie. Deels omdat hy n punt daarvan gemaak het om seker te maak hy gaan kuier gereeld by al die streke waarvoor hy verantwoordelik is en deels omdat hy altyd gesê het; Hy is nie daar vir die skyfie nie, maar vir die samesyn en die liefde vir kamp. Sy rekords is dus nie volledig by Suid Vrystaat nie omdat hy die wêreld vol gekuier het en nooit daaroor ge worry het om dit op datum te bring nie, dit was eenvoudig nie wat vir hom saak gemaak het nie en ook nie waaroor sy lidmaatskap by KSA gegaan het nie. Hanna sê sy weet ook nie, maar al wat sy weet is dat dit heelwat meer as 200 kampe is. Op 15 jarige ouderdom het Frik sy oom se kitaar in n kamer in hulle huis ontdek en net daar het sy liefde vir musiek begin. Hy het homself leer kitaar speel en later jare selfs sy eie CD uitgebring. Hanna het hom in Maart 1971 ontmoet onmiddelik besef dat Frik versot is op musiek en sy kitaar. Naweke moes almal maar saam gaan as Frik iewers musiek gemaak het en so het sy vriende en familie hom leer ken. In sy leeftyd was hy lid van minstens vyf orkeste wat deur die jare maar gekom en gegaan het. Selfs hierdie passie van hom het hy tot kort voor sy dood nog beoefen en die laaste tyd het hy saam met Corlee gereeld nog vrydag-aande by verskeie kuierplekke in Bloemfontein onder die naam PADO musiek gemaak.

Die KSA lede wat hom geken het sal weet, hy was nie skaam om sy kitaar uit te pluk en sommer heel aand vir ons musiek te maak by die saamtrekke nie. Inteendeel. Dit het amper n instelling geword dat Frik Saterdag vir ons musiek maak tydens die Suiderkruis en die ander gesamentlike saamtrekke van Vrystaat en Noord Kaap. Ons as KSA lede het hom geken as n n groot Christen wat ook gereeld vir ons met skriflesing en gebed geopen het by Chairman s Tea en op spesiale geleenthede. Frik was n passievolle mens wat alles wat hy gedoen het met oorgawe aangepak het en altyd geweet het wat hy in die lewe wou hê. Frik Du Toit, gesinsman, musikant en toegewyde karavaner, ons salueer jou! Wees verseker jy gaan beslis gemis word op ons saamtrekke en ook op alle vlakke van die samelewing waar jy betrokke was. Dit is vir ons as Suid Vrystaat n eer en n voorreg om hierdie huldeblyk namens die Vrystaat en die Noord Kaap Area en die KSA in geheel aan jou en jou familie op te dra. Machiel Myburgh Voorsitter: KSA Suid Vrystaat Suid Vrystaat word 50 Nadat daar eers so bietjie verwarring was oor die presiese datum wanneer die streek gestig is, kon ons darem vasstel dat Suid Vrystaat Streek in Maart 1966 sy ontstaan gehad het nadat ons van Noord Vrystaat afgestig het. Ja, glo dit maar as julle wil, maar die Noord Vrystaters is die moeder streek van die Vrystaat en Noord Kaap streke. Nou-ja, geen 50ste verjaarsdag kan mos verby gaan sonder dat daar groot makietie gehou word nie en so het die komitee in oorleg met die lede besluit dat ons hierdie jaar ons groot verjaarsdag vieringe gaan kombineer met ons Kerssaamtrek op Maselspoort oor die naweek van 2 4 Desember 2016. Die naweek se opgewondenheid is so bietjie gedemp deur die skielike afsterwe van Frik Du Toit (ons Provinsiale Raadslid) en sy begrafnis die Vrydag voor die saamtrek, maar ons het besluit om voort te gaan met die vieringe en om die naweek aan Oom Frik op te dra. Klompie van ons het besluit om sommer al Donderdag uit te sleep. Russel en Beryl het minstens ook vir ons kom kuier die naweek en iemand moes hulle darem Donderdag-aand al geselskap hou op Masies! Vrydag-aand is daar oudergewoonte om die braaivleisvure gekuier en tot laatnag stories uitgeruil oor wat sedert ons laaste saamtrek in elkeen se lewe gebeur het. Saterdag is afgeskop met n gesamentlike brunch en daarna het almal sommer maar net rustig tussen vriende rondgekuier. Op die ou einde het 32 woonwaens, op sekerlik die warmste kamp naweek wat ons nog beleef het, op Maselspoort saamgetrek vir hierdie jaar se groot Kerssaamtrek / 50ste Verjaarsdag vieringe van Suid Vrystaat.

3-uur Saterdag middag het die kinders cupcakes versier voordat Kersvader oudergewoonte sy draai in die karavaanpark kom gooi het Saterdag-aand se verrigtinge het na Maselspoort se groot saal verskuif en ons het selfs n enkele vedwaalde raider daar gehad, maar ons was reg vir hom! Na die gebruiklike toesprake en n heerlike ete het die makietie met alle erns begin, en té vining, soos gewoonlik, is die aand waarna almal so lank uitgesien het toe ook weer verby. Sondag is die naweek afgesluit met die gebruiklike Voorsitterstee voordat daar vir oulaas verjaarsdag koek ge-eet is. Sommige het maar baie traag opgepak en ander het vir oulaas eers weer saam gebraai voordat ons die realiteit van die laaste maand van 2016 in die gesig gaan staar het. Weereens baie dankie aan Russel en Beryl dat julle vir ons kom kuier het. Dit was voorwaar vir ons n eer en n voorreg om julle die naweek saam met ons te kon hê.

Our 40 th Birthday Rally was held out at Bushwillow Caravan Park in the Karkloof area over the weekend of 4 th 6 th November and yes, true to form at Bushwillow it rained and rained but this did not deter or dampen the spirits of the party goers. We had 39 families in attendance and thanks must go to the 30 Midlands, 5 Sunshine Coast, 2 North Coast and 1 Nomad members as well as 1 visitor that braved the weather to come and celebrate our birthday. It was also great to see the likes of Isabelle Mare accompanied by her son Kevin and Lewis and June Hancock attend. Klaus and Evelyn Fischer travelled all the way from Montagu. Dianne, Abigail & Eddie Revell daughter and grandchildren of Ron and Rose King all the way from the UK came to join the celebrations. Saturday evening was the birthday bash in the hall and what a bash it was, the food great, the company the best, the DJ fantastic as he kept the dance floor busy at all times. Sunday morning after friendlies, tea/coffee and birthday cake, it was pack-up time in the rain and mud and off home a great weekend enjoyed by all. {Gordon Major} Chaiman

Op 22/01/2016 het ons Nasionale Saamtrek #175 in ons aansluitstreek, na 33 jaar gedoen. In die tyd het ek Stef en Louie de Swardt ons kinders in die klub grootgemaak, en baie nuwe vriende ontmoet. Baie het vriende gebly, en ons lewe verryk. Baie het gekom, en gegaan. Sommige het lank gebly, ander kort... Sommige is soos die week weggeneem, en ons mis hulle altyd. Dit is steeds n Voorreg om deel van die Familie te wees. Solank ons onthou dat die klub n Regspersoon is, wat net identiteit kry deur die kwaliteit van sy lede, en die wat n gesamentlike doel nastreef. Nou is ons in n nuwe groep, bekend as Suid-Kaap. Weereens n voorreg, en sal die genot daarvan net wees wat onsself daarvan maak. Nou al weer amper op #180, en loop die goed soos stroop. Dankie KSA, bestuur wat dit oor die afgelope 60jaar n sukses maak vir ons almal, WAT WIL!!.En onthou, sonder n sent vergoeding!! Dink mooi voor julle kretiek uitspreek, en dra eerder by tot die voortbestaan van Ons Groep!! George (National and Provincial Coucillor for the Eastern Cape) and Martie Claassen (Secretary for Eastern Cape Province) retiring after many years of service for the CCSA - From Left to Right George Claassen, Gavin Hislop (Chairman Algoa Bay) and Martie Claassen You hard work and contribution to the club will be missed!!!!

From Left to Right Graeme Pridgeon (Ex Chairman of Vaal Triangle and Exco member), Pat & Mike Cerfonteyn from Vaal celebrated 500 rallies. At the recent opening of Natal Caravans and Marine new premises some interesting facts were highlighted and we thought we would share them with you. 1. Natal Caravans & Marine and Caravan & Outdoor Life are both THIRD Generation family businesses. 2. 1960 was a memorable year in which the following happened: The first Sprite Caravan was built in Natal Natal Caravans & Marine (Natal Sprite as it was then known) opened their doors with Eric Courtis at the helm. Caravan & Outdoor Life began publishing their magazine under the leadership of Norman Castle. Natal Region received its Charter as a fully-fledged Region of the CCSA. PLEASE NOTE : The office will be closing on Thursday 15 th December 2016 and re-opening Monday 9 th January 2017 The National Council of the CCSA wish all the Regions and their members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Name of Profile: Caravan Club of Southern Africa CCSA / KSA turns 70 in 2017 Celebratory weekend 21 to 23 July 2017