Rindacella and her sugly isters lived in a marge lansion.
Rindacella worked very hard, frubbing sloors, emptying poss pits and shivelling shot... shivelling shot?

What do we get when we mix in one month of world cup with twelve months of delivering a better environment for all and striving to conserve the indigenous fauna and flora of a vlei like ours?

Well I could just list the various Task Teams, what they have done and then just get on with electing a new committee or rather re-electing the same old, same old, for really that is what we have come to expect from a fading, aging, whitey organisation such as ours. As May approached we said to ourselves and to our spouses: Lets go to the AGM, it’s only one evening out 365; won’t take up too much time and those few diehards won’t mind standing once more to fight for the rights of plants and animals lurking on our mountains, surviving in our rivers and swimming in our vleis; all we have to do is pay our subs, cheap at R100 per year and then go home. We will have done our bit.

Look we belong to Zandvlei Trust we care for the environment. Do we? DO WE?

Besides picking up the odd dog pooh in a pick ‘n pay plastic packet which our dog left behind during one of our many walks with the animal; besides picking up a bit of litter and popping it into the nearest bin; besides paying our subs for another year what have we done to ensure the conservation of our fauna and flora? What have we done to enhance this natural resource for the benefit of all?

For example: I called Gavin Lawson, the other day and asked him for a report on hacking; he said it’s on the website. DUH! I am as much to blame as anyone else.

Neil Major was more forgiving; not that Gavin isn’t; when asked for Neil’s he sent his report which on checking matched what was on the website.

Are we getting the message? Are we listening twice as much as we talk?
Or shall I just entertain you with Ronnie Barker’s BBC rendition of Cinderella. It’s all on the web. The report I mean not Cinderella...although I wouldn’t be surprised...

Yes, of course, there are a few who really do do something about caring for our environment; there are those who spend time and energy and money ensuring the quality of the vlei and surrounds improves. But what about the rest of us? To misquote some American fellow: To make an organisation work, we must be participants, not simply observers.

This report shouldn’t just be about regurgitating a brilliant website; which incidentally could be far better if we participated more with it. Send pics of the otter you saw eating a crab at three in the morning under a full moon. Write a short note about how you found Park Island and how you left it. The world wants to know. The website is a monster which needs feeding it needs to change every day if it is going to continue receiving over 1 million hits per annum. Good enough is not good enough anymore and if we don’t watch out we will lose out.

The Trust is healthy but it could be better. The hard working members and there are a few who are still doing a good job but some of us sitting... and standing here, can do more. The other day a new member wrote ‘green fingers’ on her application to join Zandvlei. How many of you have written similar comments down and just sat back and waited for the phone call to come to, for e.g., help Una with her garden? Go on to the web, see how many times it says: we need more volunteers; it’s up to us to pick up the phone to make that call. If you snooze you lose and so will we. It’s time we came out of that deep sleep; woke up; smelt the fynbos and did something for ourselves.

Speaking of Una Hartley may I add that Neil Major has offered to assist her in keeping Westlake Garden looking as attractive as it has under her green fingers. I couldn’t think of two better qualified to make cycling along Main Road Lakeside a pleasure indeed. Many thanks, Una.

Thanks too to Neil for maintaining the berm we find doing exceedingly well on the east park of the vlei. Neil is also going to be planting good solid indigenous vegetation on the island along the southern portions of Prince George Drive. Just watch this space. And, with the buy in from the City, the Rate payers and the Trust we hope to employ Neil to improve the eastern shores of the vlei from the vehicular bridge to the caravan park. As we all know manager Cassandra Sheasby is hectically understaffed and cannot be expected to do it all herself.

Three people in charge of over 200 hectares of nature reserve is absurd. They were given 20 hectares to look after in the beginning not 200. I have written to the City asking for this to be addressed in such a way that we will not have to do the City’s work for them. Over the last few months the Zandvlei Trust has been funding the employment of a part time assistant for Cassandra. This has to stop as soon as possible otherwise I will tell the City that it certainly doesn’t ‘work for us’ but rather ZVT works for it. Just doesn’t make sense does it? We belong to the Trust in hopes that we can, as our constitution says: promote dialogue between... Municipal and Government bodies concerned with the management and/or use of the Zandvlei and its area of interest; to assist in providing relevant advice on the management of the Zandvlei and its area of interest. Instead of moving towards employing more staff it seems the city is going to remove events occurring around the Vlei so that the three will be able to get on with their own reserve work. Will this help? I don’t think so. Take the Kite Festival for example. Because the current Reserve staff compliment cannot cope with hosting such an event there is a move to stop having it on the Reserve. Sure we need to change the “content” of the Kite Festival. Not ban it. Let’s talk about moving away from a flea market mentality and bring more arts and crafts in. Less of “made in China” and more real made in South Africa artwork; craftwork. And I am tired of same old same old kites up in the sky. Only one gentleman impressed me last year, and he was a local fellow with genuine homemade kites. We need to bring back the WOW factor to our Kite Festival. And the Reserve needs to be supporting Cape Mental Health through this annual Festival not throw it out.

Yes, this is a chair’s report not a gripe session; I am merely reporting what I heard two days ago. Children come from afar to enjoy our kites, I will not let this one slip away due to some inept administrator who sits in 44 Wale Street and who cannot address and do something about a simple staffing problem. Watch this space.

Moving on: Thanks Gavin Lawson for mastering the website. It continues entertaining and informing those millions out there. The committee needs to and could be more pro-active in this regard.
From websites to Wetlands;
Dear Friends, do yourselves a favour: find a canoe, some paddles and paddle around the Westlake Wetlands where John Fowkes and his team, thanks to Peninsula Beverages, have through hard work and persistence cleared much of the hyacinth and opened up the water ways resulting in an increase in wildlife. The Wetlands play an important role in helping improve water quality in the main body of the Zandvlei and providing a home for a wide range of fish, mammals and birds. Rhodes University Aquatic Weed Bio-control division who have taken a personal interest in the area and brought in bio-control agents, together with the work of Working for Wetlands and Cape Town City, have certainly improved the quality of the two rivers and cleared the channels in the wetland. However, there is still more to be done as the basic cause of the excessive alien water plant infestation - excess nutrients in the system - has not been addressed. The result is a re-growth of water lettuce and Mexican water lilies. The Source to Sea project is now taking a more holistic view of the problem. Hopefully, over time, this will reduce the nutrient load and improve the situation. Many thanks John Fowkes.

Some more good news: After ten years of what is called citizen science around the plants of Zandvlei it’s time for a celebration;
In this venue on Wednesday evening of July 20th we are going to celebrate and launch the ZANDVLEI HERBARIUM.

Ordinary citizens across the world are becoming increasingly involved in a wide range of environmental activities in and around the places in which they live. The Zandvlei community is no exception and for the last ten years local residents have been involved in developing an impressive collection of the 300+ plants of the Greater Zandvlei Nature Reserve (GZNR). This herbarium is now ready for use and will be officially launched on the 20th July 2011. Besides describing the history of the creation of the GZNR herbarium, Professor Timm Hoffman, Director of UCT’s Plant Conservation Unit will explore the role of citizen science, more generally, in local, national and global conservation initiatives. The potential for local residents to make a lasting and meaningful contribution to conservation is vast. Come along and find out how one such group has achieved this and how you can be involved in other citizen science activities which focus on Zandvlei. Ladies and gentlemen, this is one of our members’ evenings; no doubt refreshments will be served and a fire will be glowing. That’s Wednesday July 20th three days before the next Open Day on Saturday 23rd. Thanks Timm Hoffman and your team, including Robin and Patricia Burnett for your consistent support and work in making this herbarium possible.

Let’s not forget our youngsters: Mark Arendse, the Environmental Education Officer for the reserve has been doing some sterling work amongst the schools situated around the vlei. The five Primary schools targeted are Capricorn, Zerilda, Steenberg, Foundation Christian and Levana Primary. Although Sharon McCallum is not here today I know she has been very involved in supporting these school visits to the Reserve. Sharon has also been instrumental in making many children from Vrygrond aware of the wild out there. The Trust has also funded transport for these schools and we often receive enchanting letters from both the schools’ educators and the students. Once more this is all well documented on our website. To Mark, Sharon and Mr Solomon for safely transporting the children to and from the Reserve, many thanks.

I have managed to secure July 27th, a Wednesday for another fun hilarious comedy Gala Fund Raiser evening of Theatre at the Masque. This time it is "THE HAUNTED THROUGH LOUNGE AND RECESSED DINING NOOK AT FARNDALE CASTLE". Yes it's a long title which we could shorten to "THE HAUNTED...FARNDALE CASTLE". Here is the write up about the show:
In this hilarious comedy, members of the audience become spectators at the annual production by the Farndale Avenue Town's women's Guild, a small but industrious local guild of dedicated community-minded women. Their presentation of a play about a mysterious castle is beset with all the challenges facing every amateur dramatic society, from props to costumes to the lack of men to play the male roles. This delightful comedy will warm your winter evenings and leave you chuckling for days afterwards.

Another source of enjoyment, peace and tranquility is Park Island. Pam Hepple together with Nimrod and Adrian have had numerous challenges this last year. One of them being vandalism and theft; nothing that can’t be addressed like plastic taps. The Island carers are waiting for responses from a few funders, meantime the Trust will probably be employing a few more to help clear up the backlog of litter. I appeal to members especially those living in the Marina to make further donations so that when you set foot on this island you will have a better sense of ownership. Many many thanks to those of you who are already donating so generously. Keep up the good work Pam I know there are many, not only Trust members, who enjoy an afternoon stroll through Park Island. Seldom do my in-laws, who live in Somerset West, seldom do they visit us without a stroll to your bird hide.

One more person who needs mentioning is Dr Alice Ashwell, who since it was first placed on the table has bent over backwards and forwards over her computer to compile a proposal to have eco-camps for the local schools around the Vlei. This project came about after Alice realised the importance of eco-education when she held summer eco-classes last year. It has been a monumental task and we wish her every success and hope and pray that the Lottery will be kind in awarding the Trust the amount required for these camps. Having been endorsed by WESSA’s Patrick Dowling and Councillor Dave Dalton I think we stand a good chance of seeing youngsters in canoes learning about conservation and enhancing the quality of life around, in and on the Vlei. Who knows, one day soon the Trust will be more rainbow than we are today.

Let me not forget the Newsletter triumvirate of Muriel Darke, Sharon McCallum and Peter Kruger and there distribution team of Lucia Rodrigues, Joyce Brandt and Gavin Lawson. These fellows have done a stalwart job in seeing it gets to you. We have often debated going totally electronic. I don’t think that will ever happen although the current newsletter has been sent to Gavin to place on the website, which means that our window to the world will have a little more attractive ‘colour’ in it. The committee has also always stood up to the plate. Our secretary, Julie Dunkerley has never missed a beat when called upon to do something. Our prayers & thoughts go out to Julie whose mother passed on recently. Gerrard Wigram our Honourary Treasurer has done an excellent job in keeping the figures on the straight and narrow and keeping me up to date with finances; I am not a paper person - while Vincent Marincowitz has dutifully and swiftly answered every demand and paid all our creditors in time.
And our auditor, Ian McKay who no doubt will be auditing next year as well. To all of you who have worked so hard for so little you know as well as I do the rewards appear in the oddest of places. Many many many thanks. Thanks to the Imperial Yacht Cub for giving us this venue once a month and tonight.

Pick ‘n Pay supplied the eats tonight, many thanks to their marketing man, Mark Jennings and Christo Kuhn, manager of the Capricorn, Pick’ n Pay for annually doing us proud with their platters of scrumptious food.

Finally I wish to make a plea to all of you tonight. Most of us will go home tonight, brush our teeth, pop into our pyjamas and snuggle up in a warm cosy bed; safe, warm and dry and dream of a perfect world. Most of us that is. There is one fellow who won’t be however much as he would like to and it’s through no fault of is own. This fellow is Nimrod whose home was destroyed in the recent fire in Masiphumalelo. I am going to pass a hat around; please dig deep and if you haven’t any shekels then do an EFT to the Trust - the bank details are on the back page of your newsletter. Be sure to put the reference down as Nimrod. Many thanks...

D G Muller.

Chairman 2010 - 2011.