Water, Water every where!!!!

The Orange River is about to reach a new peak and already lands that were flooded in the last high are under water again. Much of the levies that were damaged then have now given way which means even more losses for the farmers of our district. Our tourist attractions and accommodation establishments have also not escaped the ravages of the River. Boegoeberg Dam Resort has its camping area and access roads under water and Kheis Riverside lodge has suffered great losses and is also in parts still under water.

It is likely that the Grootdrink bridge will again have to be closed. Enquire before using.

Other images of the situation today at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2104130&id=1525502476&l=27c703cf18

Dankie

Orange River Floods Again

Just when everyone thought the flood of 2010 was the last big one for a while, nature has given us an even bigger flood this time with much damage to agricultural land and cutting off communication routes for many.

As I write the road to Boegoeberg Dam is impassable and the road bridge at Kakamas has been closed as has the aproach road for the Augrabies Falls National Park. The peak of this flood has still to reach us, so we expect more closures and damage. To see some of the pictures follow the links below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/andrew.hockly/AugrabiesFlood20110112

Share this album with anyone by sending them this public link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2101762&id=1525502476&l=bc5939caa4

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2101502&id=1525502476&l=3be388ad82

Nuwe Voorsitter

Vir al ons lede en belangstellendes wat nie die Boegoeberg Eco Roete se

vergadering op Vrydag 5 November 2010 kon bywoon nie, sal dit interessant

vind om te weet dat mnr. Jaco Kriek verkies is as nuwe voorsitter van

hierdie vereniging.

Die Boegoeberg Eco Roete was verlede jaar deur die Byna Bo Landbou Unie

geïnisieer met die doel om toerisme binne die gebied vanaf Boegoebergdam tot

by Upington te ontwikkel en bemark. Carin Husselman en Graham Page was die

eerste voorsitter en ondervoorsitter en onder hul leiding is reuse vordering

die afgelope jaar gemaak om hierdie visie 'n werklikheid te maak.

Die webwerf www.boegoebergecoroute.co.za is deur Graham geskep om die

streek te bemark en Carin het behalwe al die ander verantwoordelikhede as

voorsitter ook die toerisme sentrum by die OWK proelokaal ingerig en beman.

Ons wil graag namens almal in hierdie streek, hierdie twee bedank vir hul

toewyding en persoonlike opofferings. Hulle was nie beskikbaar om weer in

hierdie posisies gekies te word nie, maar gelukkig is hulle weer op die

bestuur van die vereniging gekies en is ons gelukkig om hierdie kundigheid

binne die organisasie te behou en verder te benut.

Die nuwe voorsitter nl. Johan Kriek en sy vrou Liza met hul twee kinders het

hulle die afgelope jaar in ons streek gevestig. Die gesin is oorspronklik

vanaf Gauteng maar is passievol oor dié streek, dié natuur en sy mense.

Jaco en Liza ons weet julle sal baie gelukkig hier wees en baie sterkte met

jou rol as voorsitter van hierdie organisasie.

Wine cellars are "tops" at Spar

South Africa’s foremost retailer-driven wine competition, the Country Cellars Cellars Competition for the Winemakers and Viticulturists of Oranjerivier Wine Cellars, was this year dominated by the Grootdrink Winery in the Northern Cape. Grootdrink, one of the five wineries in the stable of Upington-based Oranjerivier Cellars walked off with the prizes for Champion Wine Cellar for 2010, Champion Winemaker (Johan Dippenaar), Best Red Blend (Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon) and Best Red Cultivar (Petit Verdot). This unique wine competition, now in its ninth year, aims to celebrate the relationship between the SPAR Group which includes South Africa’s top wine retailer – Tops - and Oranjerivier Wine Cellars, the country’s largest winery which also supplies the wines for SPAR’s own Country Cellars brand, as well as to incentivise winemakers towards improving wine quality. For this annual highlight in the winemaking calendar, winemakers from Oranjerivier’s five wineries – Upington, Groblershoop, Grootdrink, Kakamas and Keimoes – each submit a number wines, some of which are specially made for the competition. This year 29 wines from a total of 110 were entered into the finals tasting for scrutiny by a panel of judges. The judging panel for 2010 comprised Tinus van Niekerk, one of South Africa’s foremost wine experts who is also wine consultant to the SPAR Group, Joaquim Sa from cork company Amorim, journalists Neil Pendock and Fiona McDonald, retailer Caroline Rillema from Caroline’s Fine Wines and winemakers Guy Webber from Stellenzicht and Johan Joubert from Klein Zalze. At the awards function the judges were unanimous in commenting on the improvement in quality from wines emanating from the Northern Cape. “Having been involved in the competition since its inception nine years ago I can say that the improvement in the quality of the wine from this region is astounding,” said Caroline Rillema. “Focused production, lowering yields and the partnerships between viticulturalists and producers have led to a marked improvement in wine quality, with real excitement in both red and white categories.” The importance of viticulture in improving wine quality was emphasised through the introduction this year of the Khamkirri Award for Viticulturalist of the Year which went to Stefan Jordaan from Keimoes Winery. Ray Edwards, liquor executive of the SPAR Group, says the competition underscores the important relationship between Oranjerivier Wine Cellars and SPAR. “Oranjerivier is a major supplier of wines to our in-house Country Cellars wine range, delivering some 2,4m litres to us annually,” said Edwards. “This competition between the region’s wineries has become an important incentive for the winemakers and grape growers to continuously work towards making the best wines the area is capable of and showing the rest of the country – and the world – what Oranjerivier is capable of.” The full list of winners: Great Gariep Award for Best White Cultivar - Riaan Liebenberg, Groblershoop, with a 2010 Chardonnay. Aukarabis Award for Best Red Cultivar - Johan Dippenaar, Grootdrink, with a 2010 Petit Verdot. Kathu Award for Best White Blend - Chris Venter, Keimoes, with a 2010 Colombard/Chenin Blanc blend. Kalahari Award for Best Red Blend - Johan Dippenaar, Groootdrink, with a 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz/Merlot blend. Riemvasmaak Award for Best Dessert Wine - Chris Venter, Keimoes, with a 2010 White Muscadel. Grootdrink Award for Best Dessert Wine - Bolla Louw with a 2007 White Muscadel. Kokerboom Award for Best Single Vineyard wine - landowner Erno Krapohl of Grootdrink Cellar. Kanoneiland Award for Best Runner-up Single Vineyard Wine - landowner Kerneels Nortjé of Groblershoop Cellar. Khamkirri Award for Viticulturist of the Year - Stefan Jordaan of Keimoes Cellar. Oranjerivier Award for Runner-up Champion Winemaker for 2010 - Chris Venter of Keimoes Cellar. Country Cellars Award for Champion Winemaker for 2010 - Johan Dippenaar of Grootdrink Cellar (Sponsored by the SPAR Group Ltd). SPAR Award Grand Champion Wine Cellar for 2010 = Grootdrink Cellar (Sponsored by Ray Edwards, SPAR Group Ltd).

Stefan Jordaan, the winning Viticulturist. Johan Dippenaar, Winning Winemaker with Ray Edwards from Spar SA. Grootdrink’s winning team: from left – Stefan Lourens, viticulturist, Johan Dippenaar, cellar manager and winemaker and Jim de Kock, winemaker with Ray Edwards, SPAR Group liquor executive.

E-mail Safety

The internet service providers association(ISPA) has some very good advice for your safety:

"419 Scams

A particular form of Internet based con job is that of using a seemingly plausible story involving large amounts of money, which the sender promises to someone who helps them out. Initially it involves the recipient sending a bit of their own money to the fraudster.

One of the more common frauds in the newspapers is that of the 419 scam whereby someone is sent an email allegedly from someone in West Africa claiming to have millions available with the help of the right foreign party who is able to help get the money out of the country, but often only if they can help with some initial costs. Some people have been defrauded of large sums of money already and some people have also been arrested for perpetrating the scam.

Reporting a 419 Scam (South Africa)

Please contact:

Superintendent P Allen

Commander of the 419 Task Team addressing Scams

Telephone: 012 401 3345

E-mail address: 419scam@saps.org.za

Also please fax the Scam documents, especially Nigerian Scammer banking data, to the US Task Force at 202-406-6930 appropriately marked South Africa – Loss ( or No Loss as the case may be ) – For Your Database. Please be SURE to state if there is any US Connection to your 419ers’ operations, particularly if there is US Banking Data on them. You may also email such relevant data,if you prefer to do it that way.

The South African Police Service maintains a 419 Scams/Nigerian Letters Alert on their website at www.saps.gov.za/crime_prevention/commercial_crime/419_scams/419_index.htm . For a look at a short Anti-419 Pamphlet issued by and available from the South African Police Service see image.."

You have been warned.......(again)

Don't forget the Kalahari Kuierfees starts on the 23rd and goes through to the Saturday the 25th. Lots of fun and plenty entertainment if you are in the Upington area. See http://www.kalahari-kuierfees.co.za for more info