Monday, 3 February 2014
Monday, 27 January 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.
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
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 4th 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
Saturday, 29 June 2013
Paul Roux Festival Planned for 5/6 April 2014
2014 - 5/6 April
|
A
|
major weekend of celebrations is being planned
for the 5/6 April 2014 to mark the 100th 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.
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
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.
Monday, 13 May 2013
Paul Roux Resident's Forum Chairman's Message March/April 2013
We had lots of good rains this summer which has been fantastic
as poor Senekal has had hardly any. However, the heavy rains did do a lot of
damage to our village roads which had been looking really good. But I am
thankful to Ruben and his team for filling all the potholes in the tar, and the
municipal sidewalks and the park etc have been nicely cleaned up.
We had the Maluti Antique Auto and Machine Club have a breakfast
run to the Rosenhof Hotel where we enjoyed a truly excellent breakfast – the
food was commented on by all – I was proud of the spread. I also used the
opportunity to tell people some of the history of Paul Roux and some of our
plans moving forward. Within the Car Club were two members who had both been
Head Boys of the Paul Roux School in their youth, and over 50 years ago
had partied at the Rosenhof Hotel when it was owned by its original owner. For
them it was a nostalgic moment. They were so pleased with how well the Rosenhof
had been restored.
Pink Tricycle hosted a lovely art viewing evening where Carolise made all welcome as usual.
We now have 10 horses in Paul Roux that are ridden about the
village, it’s great to see Paul Rouxsters out and about on their horses. We
certainly intend to encourage more of the horse riding community. I recently
bought a mountain bike to enjoy the local scenery only to discover that we have
several cyclists in the village, and so hopefully we can do a Paul Roux group
ride one day.
I must congratulate Emmarencia and Lourens Gouws on their Dino
Antiques shop and tea garden – it is really looking good and I know all the
hard work that has gone into it. It has made a huge difference to the
Kaallaagte Road entrance to the village.
Cedric has now opened a restaurant next to the Rock and away
from the pub where people can dine in a quieter environment and they intend to
also start with breakfasts, cakes and coffee. We now have the petrol station
well and truly open and operating 7 days a week from 6am to 8pm. Along with the
garage there is a quickshop also open from 6am to 8pm and they sell,
apart from the usual, fresh meat, veggies, take-aways, cell pre-paids etc.
There have been houses sold and houses bought, renovations
continue around the village, and I predict that when the historic problem of
‘Paul Roux has a water problem’ has gone with the new pipeline, that we are
going to see a lot of interest in this village. Visitors that weekend with me all leave loving the place.
Please try and get involved in things happening in the village
when you can. Some people make their lives count and others watch as life goes
by. Make sure you are making a difference. Get out and about and enjoy the weather as well – soon it will
be cold again.
Richard Lewis
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)