Zandvlei Trust

 The AGM and Clifford Dorse presentation – 25/05/2005.

A good turn out of about 50 members and friends came to go through the election process of the incoming Exco for 2005 - 2006. Also to listen to the presentation by Clifford Dorse.

 

Just some of the members and friends who attended.

The formal side of the meeting returning acceptance of the previous minutes, treasurers report, audited accounts (posted to members and available at the meeting ). These were all accepted, the Honary Auditor Peter Perry was thanked and his services were accepted again for the incoming year.

The new 2005 - 2006 committee elected;

Chairman –         Gavin Lawson
Deputy Chairman –  Position vacant
Secretary –         Lucia Rodrigues
Treasurer –          Henk Schreuders
Exco member –   Una Hartley
Exco member –   Ludine Lee Wright
Exco member –   Vincent Marincowitz

The post of deputy Chairman is available for nomiation by any member, for co-option. Our organisation cannot operate effectively without your input and help.
You have chosen to live in the area, if you want things to happen, the "new way" is you have to get invovled.

Ward 64 Councillor,  Demetri Qually (also a member) acted as the presiding officer for the election of the new Executive Committee in discussion with Vincent Marincowitz (outgoing Chairman).

Then what everyone came for was to hear and see the excellent presentation on the recent research visit to Tristan da Cuna, Gough, Inaccessible and Nightingale Islands.
The objective was to research the Spectacled Petrel and do numerous other counts rehabilitation, monitoring of the fauna and flora on these Islands. Clifford accompanied Peter Ryan a scientist at the FitzPatrick Institute (an authority on these British protectorate Islands).

Clifford Dorse.

The boat trip from Cape Town takes 6 days to reach these volcanic islands south west of Cape Town in the Atlantic Ocean. 
As Clifford explained it rains almost every day and landing on these islands is at times precarious, as they do not have beaches or protected coves. These islands cliff edges rise many meters vertically out of the sea.
The top of Tristan Island is about 2000 meters above sea level and snow capped in the middle of December (summer), the crater lake was part frozen.
He illustrated how very delicate the plant life, animal and bird balance is and the exotic man introduced species could easily sway this balance if it is not closely monitored and controlled.

We saw some beautiful photographs (Cliffords and Peter Ryans) of bird, plant and general island scenes and some of the work they did while there.
Some of the humerous sounding incidents were the playing of recorded calls of the petrels into bog burrows, to confirm for occupation, then sticking arms into the burrows while lying on their stomachs in the cold water and mud and on top of that having to endure the birds biting fingers and hands.

The evening ended with av lively informal discussion and refreshments.