The South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australasia (SAMVOA) is proud to bring to the Australian and New Zealand public, the opportunity to visit some of the battlefields that their forefathers might have fought on more than a century ago.
A group of local South African and Zimbabwean expats will this week launch an advertising campaign to thank Australia and their new hometowns on the Sunshine Coast for the warm welcome received upon their arrival to the community.
Jonathan Butler made a name for himself in the U.S. with his self-titled album, Jonathan Butler, back in 1987. Twenty four years later, he is a Grammy nominated guitarist and singer who sings and plays across many genres, including contemporary jazz, R&B, gospel and adult pop. Through it all, he has remained true to his musical and cultural heritage, weaving the rhythms of his native South Africa into his music. Since the apartheid system officially ended and was replaced by a democracy in 1994, Jonathan Butler was free to return to his homeland, after many, many years, and make music.
Last November, I flew to Johannesburg to spend some time visiting relatives and do some travelling before I begin a new job in Melbourne, in February this year. When I decided to go over to SA in about May 2011 my initial plan was to work for my Aunts business as I would be based at her home in the South of Johannesburg. By the time I actually booked my flights, it was close to the end of August and I then began thinking about the fact that I did not actually need to work and would rather spend my time volunteering. I decided immediately that I would visit Nkosis Haven, a home for destitute HIVAIDS infected mothers, their children, and resulting AIDS orphans (infected or not). At the end of September, I then decided to do some fundraising; my initial goal being $500.
I sometimes wonder why I need to be twelve thousand kilometres away from all the precious memories that had become engrained in me. Maybe this is for me to hear a touching story of people that do not necessarily share my culture, a story that has stayed with me since I heard it. Grantham is a tiny town west of Brisbane, in the Lockyer Valley that was devastated by flash floods on the 10th of January 2011. Many people have tragically lost their lives, homes and businesses with much of the town destroyed. The town has become known as Australias Ground Zero. (Yahoo News, 15 January, 2011)
SAMVOA (South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australasia) was formed in Melbourne, Victoria on 3rd of June 2004. Currently there are branches in all the Australian capital cities and two in New Zealand.
My in-laws were avid collectors of South African artists. My husband use to tease them by saying their house looks like an art gallery. After their passing, our home has become the gallery.
Local Gospel artist; Sifaniso has been nominated for Best Songwriter and Best Praise Album at this years Crown Gospel Awards. Akehluleki is Sifanisos debut album which was released in 2010 under Shammah Records (owned by award winning musical couple, Tshepo Mngoma and Swazi Dlamini). Since then, it has reaped much success having won last years Best Jazz album at the 2010 Crown Gospel Awards.
ONE of the challenges for new migrants to overcome is a feeling of lost identity as they struggle to fi nd their place within a new community. Feeling disregarded for lacking local understanding and knowledge, it takes tenacity to earn recognition for who they really are and what they can achieve.
An exhibition inspired by life experiences from Zimbabwe to Kununurra, expressed in a collection of work by local award winning artist Paula Wiegmink.
How do you respond when hearing frightening statistics like these? Reported statistics of the AIDSHIV pandemic in South Africa
Federal member for North Sydney Joe Hockey, sporting legend Laurie Daley and Mrs Australia, Karen Gee, are among the North Shore pizza lovers supporting a fun charity event for South African AIDS orphans next month.
Zimfest is a celebration of food, music and culture. It brings together all members of the community and allows businesses and entrepreneurs to showcase their goods and services, as well as creating the opportunity for entertainers to perform and show off their talents. It started off as a small festival in London and has continued to grow ever since, spreading to cities around the world.
We received the following request from Veronica Prins:
The Hunter African Communities Council is hosting a spectacular celebration in October called Halala the City of Newcastle. Africans from eleven different countries who live in the Hunter wish to join together in bringing their amazing music and dance to Newcastle. Its a showcase of diverse cultures, rich cultural heritage and traditions as there will be collaborations of African, Indian and Aboriginal music and dance.
A group of Australians, based in Sydney, have formed an association to support a group of women in Durban who are on the front line helping children that have been sexually and physically abused.
Zimbabwe-born Ionna Vlachos is embarking on an epic fundraising adventure by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in February. The challenge is on behalf of Cure Cancer Australia, an organisation that is dedicated to funding outstanding young researchers as they break new ground towards a cure for cancer. The 12 day adventure will see Ionna trekking through some of the worlds most diverse landscapes, camping under the stars, passing through glaciers and ice cliffs and pushing to the summit of the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
Dans had good results from seed packets bought from an Australian seed company called Green Harvest. The seeds are under the name Cucirbito Pepo (gem squash). The website address is www.greenharvest.com.au.
The traditional South African sport of ringball, which was originally known as korfball, is soon to be introduced in Australia.
Rainbow Kids Chorus The Rainbow Kids Chorus was established in Sydney recently to celebrate cultural diversity through music. Under the direction of founder and artistic director Beryl Segers and musical director Rick Bowers, the choir is building a vibrant choral repertoire and aims to fill a void in performing cultural music from the African continent.
The Brisbane-based South African Australian Multicultural Associations Carnival Band recently recorded a South African medley that has been included in a CD called Songs of Hope.
Starting out from Harare at 5am on Easter Friday, we were all eager to get to the Andora Harbour launch at Kariba and onto our houseboat, Tahilla.
Only in Oz A column about little things that are deceptively similar, yet decisively different. Read and be prepared.
After the Gold Coast South African Rugby team was featured in Issue 17 of SAbona (Australian Springboks?), Melbourne took up the challenge and the city now has its own South African rugby team the Melbourne South African Rugby (MSAR) team.
The orphans and vulnerable children have been greatly impacted. These rejects of society feel so important and worthy to have had a group of important overseas visitors just give them the time of day. Just merely being spoken to makes them feel wanted and important. The hugs and having their photos taken made them feel like movie stars. You have made a great difference by just treating them as worthwhile human beings. These words are contained in a letter of appreciation written by the principal of the Dunamis Christian School in Welkom, South Africa after Charmaine Wheatley, who was born in South Africa, visited with a team of Australian volunteers recently.
After adopting the Australian Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, we were impressed by how she would push lettuce leaves through the bars of her cage, offering food to wild cockatoos that would visit her.
Some two years after arriving in Australia, and at the age of just 12, Marc Polmans is making his mark on the tennis court. He was the number one in his age group when he left South Africa, and is currently tenniss number one ranked 12 year old in Australia. Marc started to play tennis at the age of four when his family lived in Amazimtoti, South Africa. Says his father Gavin: Marcs mother Nicola and I both come from a sporting background and I noticed that from a very young age he had very good handeye co-ordination. He very seldom missed kicking or catching a ball. We decided to try tennis at the local club.
The current life of Wallaby flanker Dave Pocock is a far cry from his childhood when he grew up on a Zimbabwe farm. Nevertheless, the 21 year old relishes life in Australia and, while he truly considers himself an Australian, there is still a place in his heart for Zimbabwe.
The Boere Bikers (Skoon lug, groen valley en fietsryvriende, Issue 14), also known as Bles and Boepens, Bald and Brave, Benoude Boude, a group of expats from the south point of Africa recently headed off on their bikes to Texas, a little place on the border of Queensland and New South Wales.
Abrama: Iemand het eenkeer gese die lewe is n lied, maar jy moet jou eie een skryf - Nou ek reken Jean du Plessis, my gas vandag, het hierdie gedagte tot dusver pragtig uitgeleef. Jean, jy is gebore en getoe in Khorixas, Namibie. Jean: Ja, Abrama, my pa was die skoolhoof van Damara skool in Khorixas - n skool net vir swartmense, so ek kon nie eers by hom skoolgaan nie. Daar was slegs 500 blanke mense in Khorixas.
Read the afrikaans version at Van Khorixas tot Shanghai! Abrama Ahlers and Erik Vosloo host a show on Radio Pulse 94.7FM in Geelong, Victoria. Abrama recently interviewed Namibian-born Jean du Plessis.
Every day more than 200 street people used to attend our street church, which was held underneath the bridge next to the campanile in Port Elizabeth. For six years I preached to them, listened to their sad and sorry stories and prayed with them. I personally fed them and clothed them. I visited them at their secret hide-outs on cold winter nights and gave them blankets. I heard them silently singing around little street fires.
Moving from Roodepoort, Johannesburg to Sydney five years ago when I was 14, I had my head in the clouds with the dream of becoming a pilot. When I heard about the Australian Air League, I thought that getting involved might be an opportunity to help me achieve my dreams.
When you buy your loved one a gift from Oxfam Australia and Operation Uganda, youre bringing joy to the recipient of the present, as well as joy, and so much more, to people in Africa.
The secret to success in ANY situation is really quite simple: Focus on the solution, not the problem. With the global financial crisis, many businesses are suffering and people are struggling to survive. This may sound like its easy for me to say, but you simply cant just focus on the fact that you have bills to pay.
Candida lives naturally inside our intestines in balance with beneficial bacteria. However, when the yeast or fungi are balanced with other micro-organisms, they create toxic metabolites that begin to degrade the intestinal walls leading to a leaky gut and inflammation. This deterioration of the intestinal walls allows the yeast by-products and other inappropriate food molecules to enter the blood stream. Once in the blood stream, candida, as well as its by-products and other substances, have access to the whole body.
Afrikaans radio shows broadcast from the Australian towns of Geelong, Bundaberg and Fremantlewho wouldve thought? Abrama Ahlers and Erik Vosloo host a show on Radio Pulse 94.7FM in Geelong, Victoria, Rochelle Nieuwenhuizens show Afrikaans is broadcast on Coral Coast Radio 94.7FM from Bundaberg, Queensland, and Erika von Kaschke hosts Oppiestasie on Radio Fremantle 107.9FM in Perth. The hosts had no previous experience in radio and responded to advertisements from the radio stations looking for people from different ethnic groups who would host their own programs.
In the circle of life Gold Coast clothing designer Joanne Burger has made more than just a few u-turns. The attractive brunette has a New Zealand passport and supports the All Blacks, yet spent most of her life in Zimbabwe.
Winning last years Miss Africa Perth beauty pageant was a catalyst for Fadzai Matambanadzo to start achieving her lifelong dream to make a difference in Africa. Fadzai - her name means Happy has been living in Perth for 10 years, and is an Australian citizen. But she was born in Zimbabwe and her heart is pure African gold. Ive always wanted to make a difference in Africa.
22-year-old Sonti Rametse recently did South Africa proud by being crowned the first princess in the Miss Africa Perth competition. The event was attended by over 450 people including politicians, African elders, diplomats, fashion editors and socialites. It was truly a star-studded affair with guests treated to a red carpet arrival and photo shoot, and entertainment provided by local and international artists.
When things go belly-up, we can turn things around and we can climb every mountain. Never, ever give up. There is always another way. This is the advice from Mark Elsing, who faced seemingly insurmountable challenges in his immigration journey, but has emerged determined to assist others. I am in awe of this mans energy and inner motivation. It is inconceivable that only nine months ago he could not see the path ahead and was willing to end his life. I am no longer embarrassed to tell people what happened because of the positive outcome. Sometimes you just have to get out there and show you can overcome obstacles, he says.
Many South Africans arrive in Australia and live well and prosper, but unfortunately some immigration experiences are not smooth sailing, and some people face immense difficulties or traumatic incidents in a country where they have little support as a result of havingrecently relocated. Since being contacted by Mark Elsing (see Never Give Up, Article 1502), and with an increase in people being made redundant, Sabona has been called on to assist more and more Southern Africans living in Australia.
The University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) has presented an outstanding student award to a South African born student, Kerry Voller. Now employed by The Buzz PR, Kerry was presented with the award for excelling over other graduates in the business facultys promotions management course.
My name is Ceanna Jayden Loots and I was born on April 20, 2009 in Pindara Private Hospital on the Gold Coast. I weighed 3.14kg and was 46 cm long. My mummy and daddy had to go all the way from South Africa to New Zealand to meet each other. My mummy, Annelize Loots, was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. She lived in Robertsham until she immigrated to New Zealand with her parents, Hugo and Karin van Zyl in 1997. My daddy, Johnny Loots, was born in Kempton Park, South Africa. He lived in Ballito and Port Owen before he moved to New Zealand with his parents, Johann and Ursula Loots in 1999.
Being in Australia on April 25 it is quickly evident that ANZAC Day is a significant holiday in the lives of many Australians. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and the day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC Day was officially named in 1916.
In February this year, two South African boys, 15 year old Rick Fortier and his four year old brother Marcus, were badly burned when a drum in which they were burning rubbish exploded. The boys, together with their parents Frederick and Nerina and their two sisters, were living on a farm in Condamine, about four hours west of Brisbane.
Canberras Despina Voudouris was so moved when she visited a sanctuary for vulnerable children in South Africa that she set up an organisation in Australia to support their work. Planning a trip to South Africa in 2003, Despina made a last minute request to a friend in Johannesburg to organise some volunteer work at an AIDS orphanage. Within three hours of her arrival in Johannesburg, Despina was at Cotlands, which was established in 1936 as a care centre for unwed mothers and their infants, where she was to spend three days doing volunteer work. Cotlands has evolved into an organisation offering shelter for abused, abandoned, HIV-positive, orphaned and terminally ill children up to the age of 14. It also provides community based services to vulnerable children in five provinces. Cotlands impacts more than 4,200 families either through home based and residential care or through outreach, capacity building, counselling and psychosocial support
During the first week of this year I attended Job Search classes. I did it, not because I dont know how to search for jobs I do know how to write a CV and a cover letter. I did it purely because it was a pre-requisite of applying for unemployment support in Australia, and because I find myself between contracts, which means I am technically unemployed. But I soon decided to discontinue my brief pursuit of Australian government unemployment support, as it is too long-winded (I was expected to do 100 hours of job readiness training), onerous (I had to keep a time-sheet detailing all job-hunting activities and listing the names and contact numbers for every company I approached in search of work).
Changes to Qld legislation effecting Property Management and ALL existing leases for tenants and owners as from 1 July 09, are announced: OwnersAgents will have to give Tenants on either a FIXED TERM OR PERIODIC tenancy: ▪ TWO (2) months notice to leave without grounds. This notice is to be given prior to the end of a Fixed Term tenancy.
Taking time out to recharge the batteries is so important, and sometimes you can be lucky and create some of those once-in-a-lifetime moments. We recently took a short family break to Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort on Moreton Island, a short hop across the bay on Brisbanes doorstep. Well I cannot recommend it enough, even for those living interstate it is well worth a holiday trip in its own right.
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