The Rhosarian November 2022

2 The Rhosarian November 2022
The Rhosarian NATIONAL EDITORIAL
November 2022 3
NATIONAL
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2022
ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT
Because of the ongoing pandemic and travel difficulties our last AGM was a Zoom meeting
held on 18 September 2021.
We have, in addition, held Zoom meetings as needed and kept electronically in touch with
the branches during the past year. During this period our national secretary, John Redfern’
has suffered from failing health and we are all hoping for his recovery. There have been various
problems with aims and methodologies which will be dealt with at the AGM in May.
MEMBERSHIP
Our membership is, through natural wastage, dropping and we are left with only three
remaining branches. During the past year we lost the Highveld Branch through dissolution.
BRANCH ANNUAL LIFE PRIVILEGED TOTAL
Durban 43 31 4 78
Cape Peninsula 68 5 0 73
Pretoria 469 197 12 678
TOTALS 580 233 16 829
Membership at the end of 2020 stood at 1024 which means a loss of 195 members.
WELFARE
Stilfontein homes remain our main project. We have sold one house, but the cost of maintaining
Stilfontein is becoming extremely heavy. Rising Municipal charges and the Municipal
inefficiency have reached an all time high.
Unfortunately there is the usual clique problem and all our manager/caretakers seem to
have had difficulty dealing with this.
We continue to support Zimbabwe Government Pensioners with Grateful Gran and
widows of two Government Pensioners continue to receive grants from OSPA.
Each branch has welfare responsibilities for those who do not qualify for Grateful Gran.
These should be reflected in their Annual reports.
ZIMBABWE PENSIONS
Mary Redfern deals comprehensively with Zimbabwe pension problems and tries to help a
difficulties with the dreadful “administration” at the Zimbabwe Pensions Office in Harare.
During the past year, with the assistance of Mr Lazarus Name at the Pensions Office, she
has had limited success.
Annual Report continued on page 4
Rhodesia has been Vindicated by History
11 November is packed
full of meaning for anyone
whose relatives fought
in the World Wars and
for all of us who had the
privilege of growing up in
Rhodesia. 57 Years ago on
Thursday, 11 November
1965, at the most solemn
moment of the 11th hour of Armistice Day,
Ian Douglas Smith, the Prime Minister
of Rhodesia, signed Rhodesia’s Unilateral
Declaration of Independence from Great
Britain. Throughout the English speaking
world, the 11th November is observed as a
Remembrance Day to solemnly recall the
end of hostilities of World War One at the
11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month
of 1918. In time, it has come to be observed
as a Memorial Day for all who died in both
World Wars and in other subsequent conflicts.
Numerous Memorials have this Scripture
verse etched into the stone: “Greater
love hath no man than this that a man lay
down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
This year, as we remember the determined
attempt by Rhodesia to make a brave stand
against the advance of Communism in
Africa, we should remember the many
courageous soldiers and civilians who gave
their lives in that fight against terrorism and
Marxism and the many innocent victims of
the terrorist onslaught. As Prime Minister
of Rhodesia, Mr. Ian Smith, declared: “We
were never beaten by our enemies, we were
betrayed by our friends.”
In standing firm against Communist aggression
for 15 years, Rhodesia indeed won valuable
breathing space for the free world.
In much the same way as the 300 Spartans
held up the enormous invading force of Persians
at Thermopylae and as the courageous
knights of St. John resisted the Islamic invasion
of the small island of Malta, I believe
that, in time, history will recognise that
the sacrifices and courage of Rhodesians in
resisting Communist terrorism contributed
to the ultimate collapse of Communism in
Eastern Europe in 1989. Had Rhodesia not
resisted, the consequences for South Africa
could have been absolutely disastrous. Had
South Africa fallen to Communism during
the Cold War, the strategic Cape sea route
and vital minerals essential for Western
industry and defence, would have fallen into
the hands of the Soviet Union—with catastrophic
consequences.
The reign of terror and state sponsored
terrorism of Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF
regime in Zimbabwe have only vindicated
Rhodesia’s position. In time it will become
even clearer that in no small measure
Ronald Reagan’s successful stand against
Communist expansion in the 1980s was
made possible by Rhodesia’s stand against
Communist terrorism in the 60s and 70s.
Freedom is never free, it needs to be purchased
and protected by sacrifice. “You have
never lived until you have almost died and for
those who fight for it, life has a flavour the
protected will never know.”
Flame Lily Foundation continues to keep
the flame of Faith and freedom alive,
through our branches, communities, publications
and events. We are also making use
of social media and the web. Please visit our
https://flf-rasa.co.za/ website and Flame
Lily Foundation–Cape Peninsula Facebook
page. Share these links with your friends and
relatives. Invite them to our events. Rhodesia
was super. Let us continue to remember
a super country and do our part in improving
the lives of those around us.
Dr. Peter Hammond
Chairman Flame Lily Foundation–
Cape Peninsula
peter@frontline.org.za
www.flf-rasa.co.za/rasa-cape-peninsula/