Orania

Frozen landscape

John — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:17:50 +0000

Frozen flowers

After a few glorious days we had quite a freeze this morning: as cold as some hearts I know!

Afrifiksie for Afrikaans!

John — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:23:20 +0000

An outhabitant of Orania who will go to any length to promote science fiction in Afrikaans, is Gerhardus Thompson. He presently works in Taiwan, and maintains his website www.afrifiksie.co.za with the aim of convincing writers to write in Afrikaans. He also sponsors money prizes and medals for winning entries.

The latest winner is Francois de Vos with Hades, with John Strydom following up with Nagevolge van navorsing on genetic manipulation.

Francois de Vos and the Little Giant

High flyers

John — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:51:14 +0000

For Afrikaners 14 August is the day the Afrikaans language was officially born. Orania celebrates it as a holiday, and one of this year’s activities was a homemade kite fly-in. From a massive 10 m monster to frilly little bumble bees took part in very little wind, but fun was had!

This 10m wingspan considered weight-lifting.

Cornerstone

John — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:56:50 +0000

Prof Boshoff with the "cornerstone" of his house

Building fever has taken a terrible toll in Orania! Even one of the founders, prof CWH Boshoff, has seen fit to upgrade. In the spirit of “doing it ourselves”, he lay the first brick of his new compact unit where he can be “surrounded with books”.

His is one of several new houses being built in Orania at present. Despite the recession there is quite a demand for plots and housing, and expansion is presently being planned in conjunction with several consultants.

Plan to expand

John — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:26:34 +0000

Orania has entered a phase of increasing growth, and wanting to do proper planning, all the professional consultants involved were invited to attend meetings in Orania during the week 12-16 July. Exceptional demand dictates proper planning, and thus all the different aspects were considered and integrated. We are looking forward to well planned and healthy growth.

Carel and Elisma Boshoff busy with technical measurements for the mapping of Orania

Orania show 2010.

John — Fri, 07 May 2010 13:50:08 +0000

Our annual show was a cheery event in perfect weather. From the parade at the opening, right through to the oval track motor racing at the end everything went as it should.

The floats arriving at the showgrounds.

Running with weights: strongman competition.

Lise impressing the judge.

What a beauty!

Horses and bicycles race over a 10 km course on the second day of the show:

Carel psyching up his horse.

But the cyclists need no such trickery.

And after all is said and done, the smiles say it all!

This is better than working!

And so until 2011! By the way: a horse won the race!

To Europe!

John — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:53:14 +0000

Mr Frans de Klerk, executive chief of the Orania Movement, will be visiting Europe to raise support for the idea of self-determination of the Afrikaner as it exists in Orania.

He will visit Antwerpen (Vlaandere) on the 20th of March, Veenendal in the Netherlands on 26th March, London on the 27th March, and Frankfurt (Germany) on the 29th of March. More information can be obtained by writing to inligting@orania.co.za . Adv. Riaan Genis will accompany Frans.

Looking up.

John — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:57:35 +0000

The Day of the Vow is celebrated and kept annually with a formal program followed by socializing. This year prof Matie Hoffman from the Boyden Observatory in Bloemfontein lectured on the incredible wonders of the evening sky. Even young children had the opportunity to view images through a decent telescope that he brought with for the occasion.

Surviving.

John — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:21:33 +0000

Life can be tough, and our children need survival skills!
A formal program of entertainment awaits every visitor during the summer holidays, and this contest has entrants compete by attaching the greatest number of pegs to their faces! They also attempted eating the most pepper-flavoured cakes, carrying a “wounded” friend furthest, and cooling off in the Orange river!
There IS life after television and Playstations!

Fire!

John — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:20:32 +0000

Smothering an oil fire.

Inhabitants want medical services, emergency services, and then well run local services if the comments of visitors are anything to go by.
At least one of these services received attention recently when employees of our technical services underwent intensive training by contractors from Gauteng. An audit is also being done on optimum placing of fire hydrants.
As always, prevention is better than cure.