The Rhosarian 2021

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The Rhosarian 1/21 NATIONAL October 2021 2 NATIONAL CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2021 Membership As at the end of December 2020 we had a total of 1024 members compared with 991 members in December 2019. This represents a nett increase of 33 members. During the previous financial year we lost the Pietermaritzburg Branch through dissolution. Highveld Branch was on the verge of dissolution before the end of this financial year. (The Branch has subsequently been dissolved.) Welfare Skatie Fourie came took over as caretaker of our Stilfontein Homes in April 2020. We are selling 30 Godwin Street to support the remaining four properties. The cost of subsidising Stilfontein tenants needs to be reviewed, as it cannot be sustained. We continue to support several Zimbabwe government pensioners through the Grateful Gran fund. Two widows of pensioners receive their grants from the OSPBS (Overseas Service Pensioners Benevolent Society). Each branch has welfare responsibilities for those who do not qualify for Grateful Gran support. Zimbabwe Pensions In 2020 a counsellor at the Zimbabwe Consulate in Johannesburg visited our FLF office in Pretoria, where we had a useful meeting with the official. Despite his apparent eagerness to assist with pensions problems, he has not been able to achieve as much as we had hoped. Mary Redfern has a comprehensive database containing details of pensioners whom we have assisted to have their pension reinstated. The burden of dealing with pensioners who have not received their dues has fallen upon her. Lack of cooperation from the Pensions Master makes this very difficult. Even our contact in Harare struggles to get assistance with queries passed on to him. Culture A portion of the FLF’s Reference Library was transferred to the Cape Peninsula Branch headquarters in Cape Town during the year. The RFMC (Rhodesian Forces Memorial Committee) organised and videoed a virtual annual Remembrance Day service at Dickie Fritz MOTH Shellhole in September 2020. This was first screened on YouTube on 8 November 2020 and has so far received over 21,000 views. Finance Our finances remain sound but are under severe strain, especially due to our homes in Stilfontein. For this reason we decided to sell one of our Stilfontein properties. Information We published and distributed The Rhosarian magazine in November 2020. Because of postage difficulties, we have placed the magazine in digital form on the Internet. Branches have sent copies by email to some of their subscribers. We provided printed hard copies for branches to distribute to their members without email. Our webmaster died suddenly in August 2019. Peter Hammond is providing us with the services of his Mission’s IT department. Goals We are facing many challenges, not the least being the increasing average age of our members (estimated 82) and the inability to get more 50-plus age-group Rhodesians involved with management. We must endeavor to keep alive our history and heritage for posterity. Mike Russell, National Chairman, 16 September 2021
The Rhosarian 1/21 NATIONAL EDITORIAL October 2021 3 The Rhosarian magazine It was a privilege to be was first published in raised in Rhodesia. Hardy 1998, with two issues pioneers transformed the per year. Prior to this it wilderness into a paradise. was known as the RASA As John Edmond’s song National Bulletin, intended so eloquently put it: The mainly for members of first word in Rhodesian is RASA branch committees. The Rhosarian Rhodes. The last name in became the flagship publication of the Rhodesian is Ian. Flame Lily Foundation, enhancing its corporate identity. We in Cape Town have the privilege Like most magazines, The Rhosarian of many important historic links to has transformed over the years from an the life of Cecil John Rhodes and also annual magazine with text and photos in to Ian Smith. Cecil John Rhodes gave monochrome on bond paper, into a glossy more to the people of the Cape than any full colour cover and centrefold. Until other single person. It was his foresight this year, the magazine had 44 pages, but and personal generosity that bought with the demise of two FLF branches it up Newlands Forest and what became now has 40 pages. Another innovation Kirstenbosch Gardens, to be preserved has been producing a digital version of from logging and urban development, the magazine with colour on most pages. to be enjoyed by all the people of the This can be sent as an email attachment or Cape. The University of Cape Town is downloaded from the Internet. another legacy of Cecil John Rhodes. The 2020 issue of the magazine In Cape Town we have: the magnificent was a joint editorship venture, with a Rhodes Memorial, which offers an view to handing over full editorship of unparalleled, panoramic view of the the magazine to Dr Peter Hammond, Cape Flats and Hottentots Holland chairman of our Cape Peninsula Branch. Mountain range, the famous statue of Peter volunteered to take it over in order Cecil Rhodes pointing North to the to relieve me of some of the pressure and Hinterland in the Company Gardens, stresses I was facing in 2020. Therefore the Groote Schuur Estate, which he this is my last direct involvement in bequeathed to the people of the Cape production of The Rhosarian. It will and the humble Rhodes Cottage where no doubt morph again under Peter’s the Founder died on 26 March 1902. editorship, as is already evident from the Several FLF-CP members have served as style in which he has presented his Branch curators at Rhodes Cottage which houses contribution and other items in this issue. many historic treasures and mementos It is with a measure of sadness that I precious to our heritage. Nearby is the hand over ‘my baby’ to Peter, but I know St. James retirement hotel where the he has the enthusiasm, capability and honourable Ian Douglas Smith passed resources to “keep the Flame alive” in the away on 20 November 2007. future. Above all, this should continue to be a magazine for Rhodesians by Rhodesians, reflecting pride in our history and heritage. John Redfern It is our privilege and duty to help preserve these important historic sites for future generations to appreciate our Continued on page 4
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