PAUL ROUX VILLAGE FESTIVAL 2014 A GREAT SUCCESS

The Paul Roux Village Festival which took place on 5 April 2014 turned out to be a real country village experience. It took place in the park in front of the Rosenhof Hotel and the Pink Tricycle Restaurant, and the event was blessed with fantastic weather.  Marques, gazebos, veteran and classic cars, boere sports, live music, good food, fine art, strong coffee, interesting stalls, cold beer and chilled wine were the order of the day and a wonderful festive spirit ruled.

The stalls were of a particularly high standard where local folk reminded visitors about what good old fashioned baking was all about.

 Some of the talented ladies selling their wonderful home made food and confectionaries.

Then the competitions started - sack races, egg and spoon, egg throwing.......
and of course passionate cheering for the 4 adult teams formally fielded for the 'tug-of-war' - the Paul Roux Forum, the NG Kerk, the AP Kerk and the Maluti Antique and Auto Machine Club - it was eventually won by the Forum but they were heavy battles indeed.











And it made for interesting entertainment.

Generally the weather could not have been better. Many people arrived and enjoyed the event for hours, spending time reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. The idea was that every effort would be made to ensure that the festival keep a real village feel and that the activities would be kept together in the park so that the energy stayed alive; and it did. A good sign was that the music had to keep going a full two hours after the official end of the fair.

 Apart from jolly socializing, eating, drinking and art and stall browsing, the boere sports made for a lot of laughing, joking and teasing. There was also a singing competition which was eventually won by Andrew Smith who promptly donated his R1000 cash prize to the Bethlehem SPCA.

The weekend had started off on the Friday night with an art preview cocktail party, and the eats and sparkling wine was accompanied by visiting singers Andrew Smith and David Daniel, and followed by a preview of the art exhibition which had exceptionally high quality works by 8 artists some as far afield as Cape Town and Rustenburg and which included local Paul Roux artists Rosemarie Schutze, Nana Brits and Edward van den Berg. I was bowled over by the generosity of my friends from Jhb who have no stake in the Village other than being friends and who both contributed such wonderful food (Dean Kelly) and sparkling wine (Rodney Hill) for the cocktail party.  After the festival on Saturday, visitors had a choice between a smart dinner hosted by the NGK or a party at Dino’s Antiques and Restaurant. On Sunday, people gathered to celebrate the centenary service of the Paul Roux NGK, to enjoy the service, the classical music and the tea and cake which brought the weekend to a wonderful conclusion. God had looked down fondly on the village and the village had a very proud smile on its face.

Here are some more photos - all photos were taken by 'Paul Rouxster' artist and photographer Hanli de Lange

All thanks to Festival Committee:

Richard Lewis - Committee Chairman and Paul Roux Forum

Ds Hennie Smit - NGK

Emmarencia van Aardt - NGK

Illona Botha - NGK and Municipality

Jess de Klerk - APK

Hennie Olivier - APK

Hendrik Smit - APK

Jasper van Schalkwyk - Horse Outride

Carolise Appels - Pink Tricycle 

Edward van den Berg - Paul Roux Forum

Rosemarie Schutze - Paul Roux Forum

Tertius Du Preez - Maluti Antique Auto and Machine Club

Special Thanks to:

• Emmarencia and Louwrens Gouws and family - Dinos - stage, boere sports and sheer hard work
• Hanli de Lange ( Simi-G photography)
• Ruben Evans and Daniel Lerata - Paul Roux Municipal Office
• Pens and Petro Maritz - Forum and owners Ster Café - superb party eats
• Dean Kelly - owner Mugg and Bean - Woodmead - superb party eats
• Rodney Hill - Independent Wine Merchant - free sparkling wine for the party
• Roy Law - Paul Roux Forum - art tent lights
• Sean Jones - Paul Roux Forum - construction of art exhibition frames
• Joggie Naude - Paul Rouxster - awesome MC and DJ and live entertainment
• Andrew Smith - great singer from Durban for entertaining
• David Daniel - superb tenor also from Durban for entertaining
• Cedric von Steiger - the use of the Rosenhof Hotel
• Theuns van Rooyen - use of Pink Tricycle
• Jaap Zietsmann - for so kindly cutting the lawn of the Sports Centre
• Suzanne Naude - for the traffic and car officials - enthusiastic school kids.

And of course to all the people who participated in some way and of course the Proud Paul Rouxsters who attended the festival and made it so awesome.

Finally to God for no problems, no injuries and possibly the most perfect weather anyone could have asked for!

Paul Roux Art and Music Society Art Preview and Cocktail Party 4 April 2014

PAUL ROUX FESTIVAL 5 APRIL 2014 WITH HORSE OUTRIDE AND CYCLE RACE



Accomodation may be booked at Dunlin B&B or Rosenhof Country Lodge, Paul Roux, and if full, then in Bethlehem.

New Future for Paul Roux Sports Field and Hall

 More than a year ago, a discussion arose at the Forum about the Sports hall and field that has been degraded and stripped by vandals over the years. At that time about 15 Paul Rouxsters expressed an interest that I chat to the owners, the Opwag Boerevereniging, to enquire as to whether we could possibly purchase it and renovate it.

 

As discussions got more serious, the initial group of interested Paul Rouxsters reduced until eventually a deal was struck recently whereby three Paul Rouxsters Richard Lewis, Sean Jones and Roy Law have an agreement with Opwag, and the conveyancing process is now under way. We have plans to have the walls rebuilt, windows and doors replaced, fencing, new gates and restoration of the toilets and lights and floodlamps, and in time hopefully some stables at the back.

 

 

We are hoping that this new life to the property will add to the village as it means a venue where we can hold functions, agricultural shows, car shows, music festivals, horse shows etc. The possibilities are endless.  

 

Wish us luck! We hope to have it up and running by next year April when we have the big festival as we would like to hold a limited-overs cricket game on the Friday 4^th April 2014 and then a braai there afterwards. I am sure that those of you who remember the venue when it was still alive will be very happy to hear that it is to come to life again.

 

Richard Lewis

Paul Roux Residents Forum - Chairman's Message August 2013

The browns of autumn in Paul Roux and all the Sandstone makes for a lovely almost victorian setting for my Bentley 1961 S2 here seen in the gates of Dereck Petersons home Folly Cove with the NGK in the background which celebrates its centenary in 2014.

 The beautiful things about this time of the year is that its really not all bropwns at all but an array of colours with their own seasonal beauty. Here the koppie behind Paul Roux as seen from my back garden.

The good thing about winter time is that there is less to do in the garden and it’s great to be able to get down to maintenance on the houses we have.

I have seen a lot of people repainting, doing additions and touching up here and there. Those that are building have had fine weather to do so, and much progress has been made. Ruben and his team at the Municipal Office organised to have the roads regraded again after the damage caused by the last rains we had and this is much appreciated.

I would encourage those that have holiday homes in Paul Roux, or those that are away on leave, to please get a low energy night sensor globe for your front and back door or stoep. Leaving your house in darkness for weeks at a time is tempting for people who may pass through looking to steal. We want to discourage this and maintain our very low crime rate.

We have had new people move into Paul Roux – permanent residents that have already started on the houses and gardens and the Forum bids them a hearty welcome to the Village.

I am thrilled that an art and music society is being formed in the Village – it will be a wonderful platform for anyone involved in the arts to be able to network, showcase and create an energy with like-minded people as they in their own way seek to add to the vibe and feel of this haven we call home.

I continue to be thrilled with the way in which barriers continue to be broken down within the various groups in the Village – it seems more and more residents are supporting the concept of being a Paul Rouxster first and foremost, and to understand that it is ALL of us who live in this village that will make it what it is – so you can either add positively or not – I am glad to see so many more people are engaging and adding positively. Thank you.

Enjoy your fires while you still can – and by the time you receive the next edition of the Paul Roux Telegraaf, it will be well and truly SPRING.

God bless

Richard Lewis

Paul Roux Festival Planned for 5/6 April 2014

 

PAUL ROUX SANDSTEENFES AND NGK CENTENARY

2014 - 5/6 April

A

 major weekend of celebrations is being planned for the 5/6 April 2014 to mark the 100^th anniversary of the NG Kerk and to revive the Sandsteenfes that used to be so popular and well supported from far and wide in years gone by. A Committee will be set up to drive this process consisting of the major stakeholders and to ensure that we really enjoy a magnificent day.

      Our initial thinking is along the following lines – :

• Agricultural show
• NGK and APK Church bazaars
• Horse riding clubs for a Fun outride and Mountain biking /Cycling fun race
• Motor Car clubs  and Motor Cycle clubs exhibiting
• Art  and craft exhibitions and Flea market
• Live performers – hopefully names that will draw crowds
• Various activities – pellet gun shooting contest, hot dog eating contest, egg throwing partner contest, pootjie contest
• Bowling competition at Bowls club, Children’s tractor-trailer rides, Motor car rally and Street Braai etc.

It is expected that the appropriate venues such as The Rock, Pink Tricycle, Dino Antiques, Dunlin B&B and the Rosenhof Country Lodge will also develop activities/promotions and accommodation specials for that weekend. Saturday afternoon would end with a live performance from a well-known performer which then leads into a dance.

Sunday morning will have the commemorative church service where all are invited, and where it is intended to have a well-known gospel singer to perform and an invited organist to give a short recital on the pipe organ. After the church service, hopefully lunches will be offered at the eating establishments in the Village. We will also ensure maximum media coverage in print and radio and every effort will be made to try and get TV coverage as well. We now have less than a year to go so we intend to begin right away with invites, arrangements etc. If we do things right, this should be a really major event and I hope that all of you will make an effort to do your part.

If you have any ideas as to what we can add to the list above, or where you would be keen to participate, please let me know. Richard Lewis

paulrouxvillage@gmail.com

Paul Roux Forum - Chairman's Autumn Message June 2013

Autumn is a time for mixed feelings – it signals the end of warmth, long days, green fields and the slowing down of life for many things – some animals go into hibernation, plants retreat or seem to die off, dogs sleep a lot more, mornings are darker and colder, and evenings arrive earlier in the day. One seems to have so much to do but less time to do it in.

 

But with Autumn, also comes the changing of the countryside into seas of gold and bronze, trees seem to be ablaze with yellow glory, as if soaking up all the last of the warm rays of sunlight. People lucky enough to have fireplaces light them again, and they, with their pets, have the opportunity to all sit around and enjoy the warmth. Others braaing, or sitting around their bomas, are warmly dressed and wear scarves and beanies – and red wine, a fine whisky or piping hot coffee or milo makes for conversation around these pools of warmth and which are so typical for many of the Paul Roux experience.

I believe I can honestly say that these past few weeks have probably been some of the finest weather I have had the pleasure of experiencing in my life. The days have been sunny and pleasant. There has hardly been any wind, we had late rains which kept many gardens still looking green and full of colour, and the morning sunrise and evening sunset awash with the early pink glow, or the golden end of day shimmer, has been perfect for walking, cycling, horse-riding and meeting one another.

I read a report last year in my capacity as Chairman of WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of SA), that the greater Johannesburg area could expect its population to double within the next 10 years, and most of the new inhabitants would not be tax or rate paying citizens and many would be the unemployed. There is an expectation that there will be an increase in crime, lack of service delivery or maintenance around water, waste and sewage and energy/power problems will continue. More and more fortified residential estates are going up as ordinary residents feel threatened in stand-alone houses in suburbs. This is happening to many of the cities, and as it does so people with the ability and funds to be able to make a lifestyle choice are once again looking towards country village living.

 

We, the fortunate ones who live and have property here need to fully understand how fortunate we are to be able to live safely, walk our dogs, have kids riding their bikes in the streets and the beautiful countryside we are enclosed in. In addition, we have a beautiful road to Bethlehem, just 20 minutes away where practically all the facilities and amenities that we need are at hand.

As we attract visitors to Paul Roux – we are especially reaching out to the horse-riding community ( we have gone from 2 – 13 horses now), arts ( 8 artists) and crafts (several people doing pottery), writers, professionals and anyone willing to bring their talents and positive energy to the Village, I am predicting that it will continue to grow into the jewel which I see emerging.

I am a very Proud Paul Rouxster!!!.  Please support the Forum by becoming a member – we really are making every effort to ensure that our Village has a magnificent future. Regards Richard.