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The inaugural Sedibeng Tourism Awards was held on 20 April 2010 at the Riverside Hotel & Conference Centre in Vanderbijlpark. The awards, aimed at local tourism and hospitality businesses in the Sedibeng region, recognized service excellence and gave due appreciation to these businesses for achieving high standards in the tourism industry. The evening attracted high profile attendance from major tourism stakeholders in Gauteng Province as well as Sedibeng. A special thanks to Sedibeng and all the contestants who took place in the event this year.
We had the wonderful opportunity with Sedibeng to represent our region at the Indaba, Durban. With over 12 000 visitors to grace the exhibition this year, what a time we had. From the opening ceremony, beach party and the breathtaking award evening, Durban really out did themselves this year.
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“This is the INDABA at which the industry looked beyond the 2010 World Cup,” says South African tourism Chief Executive Officer Thandiwe January- McLean. And surely it was, from smiles to light chatter…everybody got to know each other, later handshakes sealing possible bright futures between business men and women. Wow, what an incredible experience. |
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Vaalnest Boutique Hotel received the following certificates:
Finalist Guests House / Bed & Breakfast and Food & Beverage.
Vaalnest also received the award for best Guests House / Bed & Breakfast. |
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Vaalnest Boutique Hotel is sponsoring the venue and catering for 60 people. All other members in the Vaalwed Wedding Association is sponsoring all the other prizes for the wedding give-away |
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YES!! It’s that time of the year again… exciting days ahead as we prepare ahead for the Vaal Wed Wedding Expo, happening at the Emerald Casino on the 29th - 30th August 2010. What’s really got us all worked up and jumping around, is deciding on our many tasteful table decors and outside gazebo dressings for our much acclaimed, garden wedding settings. All this and so much more will be on show at the expo this year, from exotic wedding dresses to professional photographers, all showcasing their best work and designs. Towering cakes to breathtaking venues, every professional will be there exhibiting their very best to make that special event, unforgettably, your very own dream come true.
May 2011, marks the dream day of a special couple who will have the opportunity to have their moment in time, guided and all paid for, by Vaalwed’s professional team of associates.
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Yes, we are giving a wedding away :). Entry forms will be available to everybody at the Vaal Mall from the 22 April until the 15th August 2010. So... tell someone you know, spread the word around, let’s make a day, from once a date an unforgettable time in someone’s life. |
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I am often approached at boat and tackle shows or fishing seminars by both adults and young people wanting to know how to get started in fishing. Where can you go to get the basic information on how to fish, not just the equipment and tackle needed, but how to get started from scratch? What kind of fish to fish for, what do they look like, how do you rig the bait or lures, how do you tie a knot, what kind of rod and reel?
To most of us in the fishing world, these are things we learned growing up. But many adults have missed the outdoors and now they don't know where to go to give their children the things they missed in the outdoor world. There are lots of different kinds of fish to fish for. Catfish and carp are plentiful and primarily prefer prepared or live bait. Crappie are fun and it's easy to learn to catch them, too. |
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Now we will talk about the fish I like to pursue, bass. Bass are part of the perch family also (bream and perch), just on the larger side. We will start with the striper, hybrids and sand bass. Hybrids are a cross between a striper and a sand bass and typically do not spawn, although there have been some documented cases. Stripers and hybrids prefer live shad, perch and at times cut up shad. Stripers are typically found in river dams. Sand bass like minnows, but are fun to catch on artificial lures like small jigs, spoons and lipless crankbait-type lures. When they are surfacing (chasing shad), they can wear you out.
Smallmouth and spotted bass are usually found in deep clear-water lakes, some rivers, they are tough to catch, picky eaters and typically stay in deeper water. Black bass (my favourites) on the other hand, are probably the most pursued freshwater fish. Although they will hit live shad and shiners, most anglers use artificial baits. Black bass can be found in shallow to deep water at all times of the year. Spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, diving crankbaits, grubs and centipede type baits all work well, some better at different times of the year than others. Colours can vary also, but the best rule of thumb is dark colours on dark days, light colours on bright days and sticking to the colours that most closely resemble the food source of the fish. |
Lets look at the fishing equipment and tackle that you might need to get started. If you are just starting out and don't know or are not going to concentrate on a particular fish group, I would recommend getting a Zebco 33 rod and reel package. It comes with 10-pound line and will be good for most of the fish mentioned. The other basic tackle that I think you need include the following. Some size #6 or #8 live bait hooks, a couple of crappie rigs, a few 1/4- and 3/8-ounce bell weights, a small cork or float. This will cover any live bait fishing you may do. I would recommend that you use artificial, less trouble and not as messy. To get started with artificial you will need a package of 1/0 offset worm hooks, some 3/16-ounce bullet worm weights and a package of 4-inch watermelon and pumpkinseed Venom worms called Slammers. One or two, 1/8-ounce shad pattern spinnerbaits and a couple of 1/4-ounce chrome/blue back lipless crankbaits. For crappie, perch and sand bass, a few small white and chartreuse jig heads with the same colour small grubs. This should give you the basic tackle to entice a variety of species. |
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As your knowledge and skills improve, so will your choice of tackle change to adapt to the ability that comes with experience. If you're helping to get a new angler started, just keep it simple in the beginning and make it fun.
thanks to Bonita Staples at bassresource.com |
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May birth flower is the lily of the valley. The lily of the valley has the flower meaning of humility, chastity, sweetness and purity. The delicate white blossoms of the lily of the valley bloom snugly between the broad leaves. This May birth flower is a wonderfully fragrant and beautiful plant. The alternate May birth flower is the lily of any variety. Lily of the valley is a native of Europe. It has a flower meaning of the return of happiness. This May birth flower is used often in bridal arrangements for the sweet perfume. Lily of the valley can be grown is sun or shade and is a beautifully fragrant groundcover. Lily of the Valley has also been used in heral medicine as a poison antidote, for the heart and epilepsy. It is a favorite flower among brides and party planners as it is a wonderfully elegant flower. Lily of the valley is one of the most delicate and beautiful of the lily family.
According to legend, the lily of the valley came into being from Eve's tears after she was kicked out of the Garden of Eden. The May birth flower is also called "the ladder to heaven" due to its bell shaped flowers hanging down from the stem. The lily of the valley is also known as "fairy ladders" in Ireland. The lily of the valley is known for its delicate white flowers and light fragrance. It is the may flower on May Day on the European continent especially in France. The lily of the valley is poisonous. The only poisonings recorded have occurred when the water from a vase of lily of the valley flowers was drunk. The specific name for lily of the valley is majalis which means "that which belongs to May". |
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Spring is a time of new growth and rebirth. And the intense brilliant green of the Emerald, May’s birthstone, is as refreshing to the eyes as a spring garden after a rain. Within it’s depths are often tiny fractures or inclusions, which the French call "jardin," or garden, because of their resemblance to foliage. The Egyptians were known to engrave Emeralds with the symbol for foliage to represent eternal youth, and to bury these jewels with their dead. The ancient Romans associated this gemstone with fertility and rebirth, and dedicated it to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.
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The Ancient Egyptians mined Emeralds in the eastern desert region 2,000 years before Cleopatra’s birth, braving extreme heat, scorpions and snakes to search for the beautiful crystals. During Cleopatra’s reign, she claimed the Emerald mines as her own, as this was her favorite gem. She often wore lavish Emerald jewelry, and it is said that she bestowed visiting dignitaries with large Emeralds carved with her likeness when they departed Egypt.
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In the sixteenth century, the Spanish Conquistadors were amazed to find the native people wearing Emeralds larger and more magnificent than any they had ever seen. Although the natives attempted to hide their Emerald mines, the Spaniards soon discovered and conquered most of them. But it took twenty years before they found the abundant mining operation held by the Muzo Indians, and another thirty years to overtake this aggressive tribe. The Muzo mine was in the area known today as Colombia, and it remains the source of the most prized Emerald specimens. Other sources of Emeralds are Brazil, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Russia.
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The Emerald is a member of the beryl family of minerals. The green crystals grow slowly within metamorphic rocks and are restricted in size by the rock, making large Emeralds rare and costly. Although this gemstone is relatively hard and durable, it must be protected from blows because the inclusions found within make it susceptible to breaking.
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Some people believe that wearing an Emerald
brings wisdom, growth, and patience. And as any couple in a
long-term relationship would agree, all of these qualities are
essential for a successful and lasting love. This may explain
why a gift of Emerald for an anniversary -- or anytime -- is considered symbolic of love and fidelity.
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VAAL DAM LEVELS |
Level:
Volume:
Percentage:
Flow:
Rainfall:
Last updates:
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22.625
2635
101.2%
16
0
29 April 2010 |
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In June 1937, Canopus the first S.23 Empire Class flying boat operated by Imperial Airlines landed on Vaaldam carrying 3,500 lbs. of mail. The S.23s were also known as "C-Class" flying boats, because each was given a name beginning with the letter "C", Canopus and Centurian, to name a few that flew this route.
The S.23 measured 88 feet in length, 31 feet 9.75 inches high, and had a wingspan of 114 feet, it weighed 40,500 pounds fully loaded and fuelled. It was powered by four Bristol Pegasus XC nine-cylinder radial engines each rated at 920 horsepower, which in turn provided a cruising speed of 164 mph. It had a service ceiling of 20,000 feet and its range was 760 miles. It carried a crew of 5 accommodating 24 passengers. |
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With the lack of landing facilities across Africa, British Imperial Airways used the S.23 Empire Class flying boat built by Short Brothers to fly passengers and mail to South Africa using waterways to land and refuel. They remained in service until 1947. The wartime Sunderland was developed from this plane. Later a further development the Solent was used on the South African route until 1950 when they were replaced with land planes.
They used to take off from Southampton flying to Augusta in Italy, on to Cairo, then Khartoum, Port Bell, Victoria Falls and Vaaldam. During flights, which were at a low enough altitude, for passengers to get a good view of the Nile and the wild African landscape, the purser would lay out a cold buffet on a bench. Dinner would be "ashore" in a good hotel while the great silver craft spent the night riding at anchor under the African moon. Johannesburg-bound passengers would disembark at Deneysville, near the Vaaldam wall, an hour's bus journey from town.
The Sunderland was then developed from the successful Empire class for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers for wartime service. Flights continued during World War II and many of the Empire boats remained in service until 1947. British Overseas Airways (BOAC) continued with the flying boat service to South Africa. |
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The Sandringham was a post war development from this plane as was the Short S.45 Solent Solent which was placed into service on the Springbok run to Vaaldam. On March 10, 1948 Solent G-AHIV ‘Salcombe’ arrived at Vaaldam on the proving flight from Southampton and was followed by a special flight for the press on May 1, flown by G-AHIN ‘Southampton’ piloted by Capt. E ‘Teddy’ Rotheram. He was one of BOAC‘s more experienced captains having joined Imperial Airways in 1935 and given his command in 1938. The first commercial service was introduced on May 4, 1948 flown by G-AHIT ‘Severn’. The route was Southampton - Augusta - Cairo - Luxor - Khartoum - Port Bell - Victoria Falls - Vaaldam in 4 1/2 days. |
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On November 17, 1950, the Handley Page Hermes 4 was introduced with G-ALDR Herodotus making the first service to Palmietfontein. The following year NOTAM 53 of 1951 announced the cancellation of the aerodrome license for Vaal Dam. It was the end of the Flying boat era. |
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PERSONNEL AT THIS TIME INCLUDED:
Mr. Balborough - BOAC • Graham Bradford - Station Commander • Dr. J. Hutchinson - Port • Health Officer & BOAC doctor • Captain Norman Cook - Harbour • Captain Woodhouse - Pilot • Cucj Lomax - Water Affairs • Dr. F. Gunn - Mayor |
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INTENSIFYING THE WALK FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE RHINO SPECIESWhen: May 1 – 25 2010 ••
Where From: Madikwe Game Reserve ••
Description: INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2010 HERITAGE PARK WALK It’s time to test your fitness again. Time to Familiarize Man with His Environment!! The 2010 Heritage Park Walk will take place from Madikwe Game Reserve to Pilanesberg National Park from 20th – 25th May 2010. ••
WALK ITENERARY Day 0 – 20th May: Walkers meet at Bakgatla gate in Pilanesberg at 09h00. Walkers will then be transported to the overnight camp in Vleischfontein in Madikwe Game Reserve.
Day 1 – 21st May: Vleischfontein to Bopitikelo Picnic Site (Molatedi).
Day 2 – 22nd May: Bopitikelo Picnic Site to Obakeng village.
Day 3 – 23rd May: Obakeng village via Losmytjerrie and Welverdient to Mogoditshane village
Day 4 – 24th May: Mogoditshane via Kameelboom and Ngweding to Legkraal
Day 5 – 25th May: Legkraal to Moruleng Stadium. Make your booking early. Participation fee is R300.00 per person. Fees are payable at, Rustenburg Information Centre (Kate Nkoe and Oupa Modise), Heritage House (Florida Nchwe) Pilanesberg National Park – Information Centre (Christina Matha and Itumeleng Pooe) or deposit money in to the following bank account:
BANK DETAILS: FIRST NATIONAL BANK (FNB)
Account Holder: North West Parks and Tourism Board
Branch Code: 240 - 340 Account Number: 6200 751 6414 •• MORE INFORMATION: CHRISTINA MATHA (082 675 8524/ 014 5555 362) SAM MOCHINE (082 520 7190)
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Vaal River Meander Wine Route Starts
When: May 20 – 22 2010 •• Where: Vaal Area •• For more information visit www.vaalwineroute.co.za |
Vaalpark Kothuismark / Cottage Market
When: Friday, May 28, 2010 •• Where: Lumiére Primary School, C/o Wolwekop and Elandsberg Str, Vaalpark. •• Description: Vaalpark Kothuismark / Cottage Market Arts & crafts market, food stalls and more. •• If arts and crafts is your kind of fun, then don't miss this event! •• Times: (09:30 – 18:00) and 29 May (10:00 – 16:00) •• Organizers: Marlene Franck 083 231 7273 or 083 231 7273 |
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CONTACT DETAILS:
Physical Address: 587 Kob Street, Vaal Marina 1945
Postal Address: PO Box 725, Vaal Marina 1945
Tel: 016 372 1075
Fax: 016 372 1044
Email: info@vaalnest.co.za | Website:
www.vaalnest.co.za |
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