Betty’s Bay Hack Report No 668-671

THE BATTLE OF BETTY’S BAY: REPORT ON HACK NO 668

Many Rooikrans trees were taken out by the troops on a near perfect day. The Agnew family who own the property on the corner of Goucom Road and Beach Boulevard gave permission for the huge forest around their house to be taken out. This has been an eyesore for many years as well as a generator of seed, so it was glad tidings indeed.

The tea was made by Merran Silberbauer, and the sandwiches by Di Knott. Thank you, ladies! Penguin Place again donated the bread, so many thanks to them!

The troops were: David Bossenger, Tom Dreyer, Jan and Betsey Joubert with grandchildren Jacques, Alé and Jani, David and Anne Morant, Claude Moine, Ulli Niemann, Jim Russell, Bernard van Wulven, Carole Roberts, John and Sue Weaver, Barbara Jenman, Chris Geldenhuys, Bill Dowie Dunn and sons Jared and Jethro, Lewis, Caroline and James Silberbauer, and Frik Potgieter. After tea Helga Agnew, around whose house we were hacking, joined in. Ed Silberbauer mixed and distributed the poison.

The year-end party took place at Thandiani, the magical Dell at Ed and Merran Silberbauer’s home. Thank you for having us!

Our next Hack will be on Sunday 6 January at the same venue on the corner of Goucom Road and Beach Boulevard in Silversands.

THE BATTLE OF BETTY’S BAY: REPORT ON HACK NO 669

More Rooikrans was taken down on a perfect summer day, but despite the fact that we are not finished, it was decided that the next hack will be at a different venue as limited work remain for the bulk of the hackers.

The tea was made by Merran Silberbauer, and the sandwiches by Jan and Betsey Joubert. Thank you all! Penguin Place again donated the bread, so thank you to them!

The troops were: Tom Dreyer, Jim Russell, Barbara Jenman, Chris Geldenhuys, , Frik Potgieter, Helga Agnew, Maartin and Hilary Mauve. Ed Silberbauer mixed and distributed the poison.

Our next Hack will be on Sunday 3 February on the corner of Albertyn and Nautilus Roads, Sunny Seas.

 THE BATTLE OF BETTY’S BAY: REPORT ON HACK NO 670

The February hack rained out, so no specific report for the day. The tradition is to still count the day although Hack 670 never took place!

THE BATTLE OF BETTY’S BAY: REPORT ON HACK NO 671

Thousands of Acacia Elata and the odd Blackwattle were pulled out at the Disa Jeugkamp. A major worry is the thousands more coming up next to Rod’s Trail! These are too small for removal now, but will be watched.

The tea was made by Merran Silberbauer, and the sandwiches by Jane Fearnhead. Thank you all! Penguin Place again donated the bread, so thank you to them!

The troops were: Tom Dreyer, Tim Attwell, Jim Russell, Chris Geldenhuys, Frik Potgieter, Maartin and Hilary Mauve, Ed and Lewis Silberbauer, Carole Roberts, Rosemary Fowkes, Sue Fielden, Dave Mourant, Jack Wixley, and newcomers Adele Scheepers with her grandson Chritan Booysen.

Ed’s valley was criss-crossed in search of unholy seedlings but, apart from some Port Jackson coppices, nothing was found. May we hope?

The jury is still out on the Albertyn site as there are all sorts of seedlings that cannot be identified at this stage.

Some of the Wednesday hackers wore their T-shirts on Sunday and they were much admired by the group. It was therefore decided that a Betty’s Bay T-shirt will be designed. The committee will pay for a template and we can all get our own shirts and have them printed (details to follow). The shirts will be printed front and back. Please submit your suggestions for the text. So far we have “Fynbos rescue” for the front and “Vrek julle bliksems” for the back.

It has been decided that the Betty’s Bay Hack will in future take place on the first Saturday of each month; this might encourage more hackers to join us. The next Hack will thus be on Saturday 6 April at a venue still to be decided. I will keep you posted.

– Frik Potgieter, Convenor