Dagaboys Newsletter
DAGABOYS NEWS APRIL '04
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What changes, time continues to fly
by, a glance at the calendar the other day reminded me that it's now
in excess of three months since last I last put pen to paper. Since
then I have dropped incoming mail and other snippets of information
into various folders all over. I'm not overly confident at the moment
that all the various bits and I planned to include will be found.
· Memorial service - Roger MacFarlane
· Lofty Stokes
· Dagaboys news.
· Meeting up with a few old friends.
· Snippets – Some news on lost colleagues.
· New e-mail addresses
· “Dagaboy” – The terminology and an interesting observation.
· Where
are.......?
· “My Place in The Sun” by Margaret Peach (Haslam)
· The renaming and restructuring of the Department
· Conservation Issues
· Hunting leopards with hounds
· Lion
Hunting & Quotas
·
The 2003 Hwange Game Count
·
Bits and Pieces on Mana
·
In closing
Roger
MacFarlane:
Roger's memorial service was
held on Thursday at noon in Gweru on Thursday the 1st of April. Commenting
on the service Ginny Bithell, a close friend of Roger’s wrote “I was totally overwhelmed by all the
messages received from ex National Parks friends - unfortunately none
of them were able to get to the service.
The
service was held on Thursday 1 April at the Presbyterian Church Gweru
at 12noon. Friends arrived from all over the country - more especially
his bowling friends from as far a field as Harare. It was a very
special service with three carefully chosen hymns - beautiful roses
adorned the Church and I had the pleasure of playing the organ. The
service was conducted by Doug Darby, a good friend of mine. The
"wake" was held at the Gweru Sports Club Bowls Section and
one of his bowling friends and my ex boss Ernie Hatchett from RM Insurance
Company supplied all the drinks - a wonderful gesture - but further
showed everyone just how highly thought of Roger was.
A few days latter I received a email from Roy,
Roger's brother, in gratitude for all the messages of condolences received
Roy requested his letter be circularised:
"My name is Roy MacFarlane and I am Roger’s
only brother & the last MacFarlane. I live in Jhb South Africa.
I wanted to drop you a line, to thank you and all the Dagaboys who sent
their best wishes and condolences for Roger via Ginny.
Ginny was a good friend of Rogers
and she currently lives in Gweru and has been a true friend to Roger
especially through his sickness and fight against cancer.
A friend once
said to me that you only live once, but if you live it right, once is
enough. I like to think that this was exactly what Roger did. The few
times I spent with him at Mana Pools & Tashinga, he truly loved
the bush and to say, so did his work colleagues from Parks. There were
certainly some characters and this I’m sure is where most of the Nat
Parks legends were made.
Mike please
could I ask you to forward this mail onto the Dagaboys and please ask
them to contact me via e mail if they wish as many asked questions about
the last couple of years with Roger. I have given the e-mail addresses
to Phillippa Marrett in Harare and hopefully she can also be contacted.
I understand that she knows most of the guys from Parks.
Take Care and
Best Wishes
Roy MacFarlane"
E Mail roym@maxiprest.co.za <mailto:roym@maxiprest.co.za
_________________________
FH
(“Lofty”) Middleton-Stokes:
I learnt from Margaret Peach
(Haslam) late in January of the death of
“Lofty” Stokes in New Zealand, I am not sure of the date of his
passing but albeit our condolences are now very much belated, our deepest
sympathies go to Kate his wife and their two daughters.
Most of us who joined the Department
in the mid ’60’s will not have met or known “Lofty” who was one of the
original members of the Southern Rhodesian Game Department holding the
position of “Senior Conservation Officer” prior to the amalgamation
of the two departments in 1963. Thanks to Dave Blake who has kindly
given me a copy of the “Department of National Parks and Wildlife Managements
Staff Newsletter No 2 – December 1963” I can provide you with some information
on one of our first “Dagaboys”:
“Known as “Lofty” for obvious reasons, he is yet
another ex-policeman who spent a number of years with the Tsetse Fly
Department before becoming a game ranger. For a long time, Lofty was
in charge of the Matusadona Game Reserve, and for the last year has
been in charge of Marangora. He is married and has two daughters. Lofty
is a keen photographer, and one of his photographs may be used to form
one of the new Southern Rhodesia stamps. Unfortunately, Lofty will be
leaving us at the end of January for New Zealand.”
_____________________________
Dagaboys
news
1.
USA
Rob &
Paddy Francis:
I
must admit I enjoy receiving news and updates from the Francis’s. Paddy
writes with such enthusiasm that her emails are always a pleasure to
read.
Early
in the year they popped across to the UK for the best part of a month
and, from all accounts, thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
Apart
from their refurbishing and on going house maintenance programme Rob
and Paddy are preparing themselves for their new season, checking on
equipment, retraining staff and attending to other necessary bits and
pieces.
This
is to be their last year in the States and Rob, according to Paddy,
cannot wait to get back to the Falls!
2. New Zealand
Rob & Anne Murray
I received a long email from the Murrays in the latter
part of February and another a couple of weeks back.
In the former I was particular interested to learn that
there are governments that actually care about the welfare of their
folk:
Early in the February Anne notes that
as a result of a fall she broke two bones in her foot, which resulted
in a plaster cast and her, being off work for a month.
” They have a wonderful scheme here though and if
it is a genuine accident, the state pays for everything until you are
able to return to a normal life. They
even phoned me up and asked if I needed someone to come in and clean
the house, if I had any children that would needed to be seen to, someone
to do cooking or laundry for the family, and even if I needed help with
bathing or showering. Needless
to say I declined all of the offers.” (One wonders whether a system
such as this would work in Africa!!!)
In her email of the 26th March Anne notes
that she’s walking or more correctly hobbling about now without crutches
and is due to have a check up shortly.
Other than that just a couple
of matters of interest - Rob
and Anne have just become Grand Parents, congratulations to you both
and secondly Rob is due out here shortly. I will be seeing before he
moves onto Gweru where he will be finalizing his affairs in Zimbabwe.
As a foot note – Rob has come
and gone, life’s not easy in New Zealand but they’re certainly make
a good go of it.
Rob is disposing of a few
firearms - 357 Colt Python and 44mag Smith & Wesson 6”, Browning
9mm pistol, a 1
x 7.62mm rifle (Heckler and Kock model HK SL7) comes with wooden stock
- very good condition. NB:-
comes with "Quick detachable"
mount system. A 12 bore shotgun (Remington
model 870 "Wingmaster"- pump)- condition as new. A .22 rifle
(Remington - bolt action - tubular mag.) condition good but old weapon.
Also: 1 x Sight
system - "Aimpoint 5000" (New never used)
1 x
telescopic sight - "Weaver 4x"
1 x
laser range finder - "Bushnel" (New)
1 x
Compound bow - Browning - 100lb peak weight
2 x
Compound bow - Bear white tail - 60 lb peak weight.
If anyone is interested please either email me or phone me on 091
239 845.
3. South Africa
Generally little news from chaps
in South Africa apart from feedback on the whereabouts of a number of
“lost” Dagaboys. The information received is appreciated and contributes
greatly to the completion of the Parks Role.
I did meet up with a number
of Dagaboys during my recent trip down south, news of the few I managed
to see appears further on in this newsletter. Time was sadly too short
for me to see every one I would have like to and, for this, I do apologize.
Hopefully I can fill in the gaps and visit many others the next time
round. This will necessitate some planning and possibly one or two of
you could organize a “mini” get together which would be great.
Jeremy Anderson
From
Jeremy I learnt that he is a partner in a consulting company – “International
Conservation Services” - Most of their work is related to protective
area planning/management issues in Southern Africa and on occasions,
abroad.
Jeremy
has also been able to provide me with the news and “whereabouts” of
a few other Dagaboys:
“Charles
Williams is in the States and heads the Legendary Adventure Company,
which also owns Tanzania Game Trackers the safari Company they used
to own Safari South in Maun. Charlie’s email address will be detailed
under “New Email Addresses later in the newsletter. Niels Jacobsen ended
up with his Doctorate on reptiles of the Transvaal and is semi-retired
near Plett or Knysna phone 044 8770309”
Chris
Lightfoot is running Tanganda or one of the big Estates near Mutare.
Peter
Wright was in Durban and working at the University, but I guess he is
long retired now”.
Here, I would ask for some help
in making comms with Niels, Chris and Peter. Apart from our telephone
system not being overly efficient international calls are very expensive.
I do need e-mail address, if some one could make the necessary enquiries
and let me have the information it would be really appreciated.
John van der Meulen
It was with quite some surprise
that I learnt that John and Pam live in Polokwane (Pietersburg) – I
called in and had some coffee with them en route to Johannesburg. John
is still in the game management, capture and translocation business
and as a “side line” breeds heart water resistant springbok, I’m not
sure how many of these delightful little antelope he had in his pens
but I’ve yet to see springbok in such good condition, they’re fat!
In their spare time and on the
social side both John and Pam play golf.
Tony Conway
Tony is still with Kwa Zulu Natal Wildlife and heads up conservation
operations in the Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park (325 000 ha) and includes
Kosi Bay,Lake Sibaya,Coastal Forest Reserves,Sodwana, Ozabeni,uMkhuze,False
Bay,St Lucia Lake,Estuary and surrounding Reserves (Cape Vidal and Charters
Creek) and 3 APU's.
Obviously a position with immense responsibilities when one
considers that Tony’s operating budget is in excess of R20 million.
He has fourteen managers plus several hundred other members of staff
accountable to him.
Here I would like to pause and reflect for a moment
and note that it never cease to amaze me how well members of the “old
department” have done in the fields of conservation and business since
they were either forced or choose to leave Zimbabwe. Just think where
we would be today if we were all still together, there would not be
a wildlife or conservation agency anywhere in the world that could hold
a candle to us. Well done Tony we’re all very proud of you.
On a personal note Tony writes
that both his children are overseas earning “megabucks” and doing very
well for themselves.
Dale Kenmuir
Jean Junor writes that Dale & Raggie live in Fishoek and
that since their move to Cape Town have seen Kenmuirs several times.
Jean mentions that Dale has continued with his writing and
notes “ His publishing list is four pages long and aside from scientific
journal articles, other magazine and press pieces he has been published
by well known houses such as Matthew Miller Longman and De Jager-Haum.
The Dagga Boys would be interested in, and may have read some
of his non-fiction works.
- WILD
MAMMALS a field guide and Introduction to mammals of Rhodesia.
Illustrated by Russel Williams (killed in action*) - Lomgmans
Salisbury, Rhodesia
- A WILDERNESS
CALLED KARIBA. The wildlife and natural history of Lake Kariba. Illustrated
by Rusel Williams and Morag Kenmuir (Runner up of Kingston's Literacy
award} Wilderness Publications Salisbury Rhodesia.
- THE
ART OF EDMUND CALDWELL VOLUME II Co-author Dr Frank Bradley University
of Cape town.{ Patron the Queen Mother}
Caldwell was the artist for "Jock
of the Bushveld" Frank Read Press Mazoe Zimbabwe
- FISHES
OF KARIBA illustrared by Morag Kenmuir and Russel Williams Longmans
Harare Zimbabwe
-
In preparation “LIVINGSTONES LEGACY” - The saga of Northern Rhodesia / Zambia. Seven parts-- 80 chapters
* Russel Williams was, at the
time of his death, a Technician attached to the Wankie Research Unit.
He was killed in a skirmish in Wankie National Park in either late ’77
or early’78. Russel, a territorial Selous Scout had volunteered to be
part of the follow up team!
Novels
1. THE TUSKS AND THE TALISMAN De Jager-HAUM Pretoria
( prescribed reading at schools)
2. SONG OF THE SURF ( short listed for Young Africa award and
adapted for stage Johannesburg Youth Festival) Maskew Miller Longman
3.DRY BONES RATTLING De Jager Haum Pretoria
4. OL'TANGLETOOTH De Jager Haum (selected by Book Chat
as one of the children's books of the year)
5. SING OF BLACK GOLD De Jager Haum ( Translated into
Braille)
6. THE CATCH Maskew Miller Longman (Runner-up Young Africa
Award and selected one of the children's books of that year by Book
Chat)
7.TOORBAND EN IVOOR – De Jager Haum {Afrikaans translation
of “The Tusks and the Talisman”)
I won’t even attempt to list his press and journal articles
or his scientific publications there are too many.
I found his novels interesting reading for adults as well as
the older children they were intended for. He has a most
delightful way of imparting real and factual environmental facts through
adventure stories. The adventure plots are imaginative but could have
quite plausibly occurred. It is achingly poignant reading of those
beautiful areas especially the Zambezi Valley, in good flowing English.
The list of Dagaboys that have
come to the fore since they left the department seems endless!
To add into your list Dale and Raggie's e-mail is dalemor@netactive.co.za
Their phone number is South Africa is Cape Town 021-7822551
3 Banglad
Heather Forbes
I feel sure the word “Bangladesh” caught your eye as
it would have mine, at the same time I would have wondered who or in
the “clan” was living on the sub-continent. Well it’s Heather Forbes
former Aquatic Biologist and Officer-in-charge Nyanga Trout Research
Centre from 1985 to 1900. Heather is now with the British Foreign and
Commonwealth Office and is the Assistant Director British Council (Bangladesh).
Initially I thought working for the Foreign Office was a far
cry from being an ecologist and managing the research centre in Nyanga
but, reading a little further, I discovered that Heather had, subsequent
to her days in Zimbabwe, obtained an MBA. With this I guess the career
change more or less falls into place.
Heather will be moving to Kenya in July and hopefully will
keep us appraised as to what she’s doing.
4. Malawi
Hans van der Heiden
A few days ago, on the off chance of contacting Hans on a “bushmail”
address of which I might add, I was none too sure of, I dropped the
van der Heidens a quick note and was most surprised to receive a reply
from New Zealand of all places!
Hans and Val are down under visiting their daughter Tammy and
son in law Craig and will be returning to Malawi in the second week
of May.
Hans writes “We still have our safari businesses
in Kariba, but not doing well, and my youngest daughter, Sally, and
her husband Willem look after that side for now. My son, Craig in Florida
doing a PhD and is about to start research on the black rhino in the
Liwonde NP where I
am based.” Concluding Hans notes that he is pleased
to be contact again and will send further updates when gets home.
More news on the van der Heidens
appears in “Snipets – some news on lost colleagues” further on in this
newsletter.
5. Zimbabwe:
Mike Bunce:
Early in February and completely
out of the blue I received a phone call followed by a visit from Mike
Bunce. I guess it’s been a good thirty years since our paths crossed
so it was great to do a bit of catching up.
Mike and his wife Gerry are
now living in Bulawayo and he’s still professionally hunting on a freelance
basis.
Reflecting on the record tusker
shot by Verster in the then Gonarezhou Controlled Hunting Area
in the mid sixties Mike recalls
chasing this magnificent bull out of the Guluene/Chefu Tsetse corridor
on a number of occasions noting too that it was often seen in the Nyamtongwe
area of the park. According to Mike, Geoff Gillitts a Tsetse Field Officer
stationed at Chipinda Pools, was the only person he knew to have photographed
this bull before it was shot.
As it would be of great interest
to see the pictures or better still get copies I need to ask if anyone
knows where Geoff Gillitts is or whether he’s still alive?
Ian and Carol van Heerden
I was very pleased to make contact
with Ian and Carol again. I’m not quite sure when last I saw them but
it’s a good few years back.
Ian is no longer hunting and
now works with Carol for the Horticulture Division of Anchor Yeast where
they hold the posts of project and horticultural managers respectively.
Tommy Orford
Tommy’s still hanging in there,
he’s not in the best of health and still has little use of his left
arm. He does manage to get around a little albeit with the aid of a
stick. I am sure Tom would appreciate receiving a few words from some
of his old mates – If you would send your mail via me (mikebromtaxidermy@gatorzw.com) I will deliver it with the greatest of pleasure.
07.05.04 – Tommy appears to have taken a bit of a turn for the worse,
he’s lost a lot of weight over the last week and a bit, nobody seems
to know why. He is being watched carefully but things presently don’t
look too rosy.
Viv Wilson
Although Viv and I have lived
in the same town for several years now some how our paths have just
failed to cross! It was therefore with quite some surprise that I “bumped”
into Viv a few weeks back in Barclays Bank of all places. Obviously
not the most congenial spot to chat for any length of time coupled with
the fact that we both had business to attend to but I did learn in our
brief encounter that Viv is still widely involved with various projects
on an International bases. Hopefully we can get together when he returns
from a trip down the Amazon; he leaves on this three-month expedition
shortly!
Sharon Beffa (nee Brennan)
The haste in which I put the
December newsletter together resulted in several omissions and oversights
on my behalf including my failure to include Sharon’s news of the 28th
November’03, my apologies!
Sharon writes: “After leaving Parks, I worked
as the manageress of Sounds Power (Pvt) Ltd, the chain of record bars
operating out of Power Sales. I
left in 1997 to work with my husband, Chief Research Officer at Matopos
Research Station. In 1999, we moved to Harare to start the Livestock
Identification Trust, the initiative agreed upon by stakeholders to
ensure that exports of Zimbabwean beef meet the stringent EU tractability
requirements.”
Is now working as a personal assistant
___________________________
Meeting up with a few old friends.
In the middle of February I
headed south on a few days “time off.” Ostensibly my plans were primarily
to sort out an income tax issue in Johannesburg and then see my sister
during their visit to Wilderness from the UK. Although my initial idea
was to fly from Johannesburg to George I re-thought the whole issue
and decided to drive down, spend a few days with my family, then head
north up coast to see a little more of the southern coastal region and
call in on a few Dagaboys during my travels.
Having only a relatively short
time to play with I grossly under estimated the time involved in travelling
such distances, in the two weeks away I covered over six thousand kilometres
and was on the road for six days, just a little too much! As mentioned
earlier I had hoped to see quite a few more friends and renew some old
acquaintances, I can only apologize to Deryk and Joan Langman in Port
Elizabeth, Tony Conway who lives in the St. Lucia area, Peter Thomson,
Billy Howels, Ed Ostrosky, Hans Grobler, Dick Nash and others who reside
in and around Pietermarizburg and in Natal – I’m sorry but hopefully
we can get together at possibly a braai or what ever in the not so distant
future.
Frank and Jean Junor
My visit to Wilderness coincided
with the Junor’s move from Port Alfred to Cape Town and we got together
for a few hours at a quaint B&B in the village.
If I can touch briefly on the
reason for their move before I continue – Frank has cancer and has opted
basically to be a human guinea pig, one of a few chosen I gather in
the testing of new cancer treatment. If I hadn’t known that Frank was
desperately ill I would certainly not have guessed it – for seventy
odd he looked pretty good, his eyes sparkled and the joy of living and
sheer positive ness radiated from him. I have kept in touch with Jean
and can report that she remains as hopeful and positive as she can under
these difficult and trying circumstances.
“On the 20th of
March Jean wrote “Frank
is on the programme at last….This is a new trial being done in the states
Britain, Canada, Australia and here. Frank has three medications and
although two have been on the market overseas the third has never been
marketed commercially. The stats on cancer mass reduction by these drugs
are very favourably recorded by the trials { which started earlier than
ours} in Britain and the United States.
We
are hopeful of containing the cancer but do realise that Frank may have
joined the programme too late. He is older and further advanced
in his condition than the others on the trial.
Frank
is very positive about the whole affair and interested in the various
methods of testing and recording and the innovative treatment such as
portable drips etc.
We
do enjoy getting news from people from "them old days" and
have had some lovely e-mails from dagga boys.”
Although we chatted and talked
about many folks and events during the late afternoon one of the first
things Frank did, when we got together, was to hand me a large envelope
containing a number of photos of yesteryear together with the 1975 Wildlife
Report. Included in the pictures was a series of photographs of possibly
the last annual Shangaan fish drive on the Lundi River -mid sixties,
if I recall correctly. Included amongst some of the other photos were
“snaps” of a few of the original Game Department staff no, not in the
field but behind desks in an office where they were being lectured on
legislation and other matters pertinent to their work. Amongst those
present were Archie Fraser, Rupert Fothergill, Tommy Orford, Lofty Stokes,
Frank and I think Tinky Haslam. I need to get these photographs copied
and sent down to Frank and have him position and name those present.
You’ve read Jean’s comments
as to how much Frank enjoys hearing from his friends and colleagues
so I can only ask that those of you who have a moment or two to spare
to please drop them a note – They would appreciate it.
In Jean’s email of the 16th
April she mentions that a stomach bug necessitated Frank take a short
break from the medicine. He’s now back on treatment and “sailing
smoothly along”
The Junor’s address details
are:
Email: fjunor2@telkomsa.net
Tele: + 27 21 685 1594
Postal: 8, Upper Paradise Road, Claremont
7700. South Africa
Don Parry
Don and Mary kindly drove through
to Wilderness from Kynsna for a couple of hours. For those of you who
knew and remember Don he hasn’t changed one iota, he’s very happily
married and Mary is a delightful lady.
The “Parry” is finding living
in town pretty stressful so I doubt whether he will really settle down
in Kynsna. From what he says he’s hoping to find a small holding in
the George area where he can raise a few cows, sheep and chickens and
continue with his social and ministerial work.
I did suggest to Don that he
should utilize one the local Internet cafes and keep in touch with his
friends via email – I would like to think he might do just this.
Dave Blake:
En route to the north coast
I arranged to meet up with Dave Blake on the outskirts of Scottburgh
where, I guess we chatted for a half an hour or so. Dave and Jill are
living on the Crooks Brothers Estate. Dave is, in his own words “semi
retired” and despite having had a triple by pass a couple of years back
looks pretty fit.
Anyone who has had dealings
Dave will recall his amazing ability to keep and maintain accurate records.
Many may have thought he was too fastidious but who else would have
been able produce a copy of the second ever National Parks staff newsletter!
Dated December 1963 it was basically a “who’s who” of the Department.
I certainly found reading up on the characters of yester-year, the original
Dagaboys, to be very interesting. In addition Dave also handed me photocopies
of the position charters of both “National Parks” and the “Game Department”
prior to the amalgamation.
I don’t know what other bits
and pieces of history Dave has “hidden away” but would, by copy of this
newsletter, urge him to scratch around a little more – every scrap of
information we can gather together is needed.
Thanks Dave for being so meticulous,
we certainly wouldn’t be short of material if every one had been a fraction
as conscientious with regards to their paper work as the “Blake”
Patricia Tomlinson
I spent an afternoon and an
evening with Patricia in Mtubatuba before turning starting back on my
return journey. Patricia kindly drove me around and showed me a portion
of the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park. Unfortunately time was short
and the weather a bit other wise but it was great to see some of the
work being done to rehabilitate this magnificent area.
Patricia, amongst others, is
particularly miffed that as a result of the introduction of elephant
into the reserve extended walking or hiking along the beaches has been
restricted!
Cliff and Wendy Freeman
Although I had been given detailed
instructions plus a “map” I got a little lost trying to find the Freemans
– looking back I guess I should have read through everything a little
more thoroughly rather than just giving the sketch and notes a cursory
glance, when you’re stupid you suffer!
Nothing could have prepared
me for the magnificence of the Prince’s Grant Golf Estate where Cliff
and Wendy live. In short a great deal of thought and planning has gone
into this huge project which is still being developed. The narrow roads
that wind through the course or estate have been designed for golf carts
one of which was parked in the Freeman’s garage! Being on one of the
estate boundaries Cliff and Wendy’s house borders onto indigenous forest.
What with this and having wonderful view of the Indian Ocean they have,
without a doubt the prime site on the estate.
It was good to sit down have
some coffee and chat with Cliff, unfortunately Wendy was working at
the time of my visit which was really pretty much an unscheduled call.
Time has been good to Cliff and although he was recovering from an “op”
to his Achilles tendon and was not quite as mobile as he would have
liked the “retired” ex Provincial Warden Matabeland south, hasn’t changed
much over the years.
As I mentioned in my last newsletter
the Rovos Rail bird shooting expeditions keep Cliff and Wendy fully
occupied during the “bird season” during which time they travel as far
north as Tanzania. Zimbabwe no longer falls part of the itinerary, I
wonder why!
Bruce Couper
On my last day in Johannesburg
Bruce kindly drove in from Hartebeestport to see me. Apart from catching
up with news of the family and that of other Dagaboys in the area we
did toss around thoughts and ideas of a trip to Zimbabwe for the Coupers.
It’s all going to take a little planning and time as Paula cannot unfortunately
just “up sticks” and take leave.
Once we have more ideas as to
when it might be I will contact his mates and other Dagaboys and see
whether we can organize a mini get together. I ‘m presently chasing
up Bruce to renew his passport!
Snippets – Some news on “lost” colleagues
From
Rob and Paddy Francis
Angus
Anthony:
Was in Kimberly with de Beers game ranch
Kim Hodierne: Until recently (??) a geologist with a mining company
in Palaborwa, RSA
Ian Middleton: Was at Triangle, Clem might know more
Peter Moore: Died years
ago, Em has contact details for Delores, who has remarried and lived
just outside Harare
Henry Pringle: Died some years ago, in RSA, we were contacted
by his widow
Trevor Thompson: Was working for a conservation organization,
I am sure Scratch will have details
From
Jeremy Anderson:
Charles Williams
is in the States and heads the Legendary Adventure Company, which
also owns Tanzania Game Trackers the safari Company, they used to own
Safari South in Maun. Charlie’s email address will be detailed under “New Email
Addresses” later in the newsletter.
Niels Jacobsen
ended up with his Doctorate on reptiles of the Transvaal and is semi-retired
near Plett or Knysna phone 044 8770309
Chris
Lightfoot is
running Tanganda or one of the big Estates near Mutare.
Peter Wright
was in Durban and working at the University, but I guess he is long
retired now.
From Margaret Peach (Haslam)
Hans van der Heiden
and Val are now at Mvu Camp in Luwonde National Park, Malawi. We only
discovered this recently when we read the latest Fisherman’s magazine
Here, I would ask for some help
in making comms with the chaps noted above, with particular reference
to those living south of the Limpopo. Apart from our telephone system
not being overly efficient international calls are very expensive. I
do need e-mail address, if some one could make the necessary enquiries
and let me have the information it would be really appreciated.
________________________
New E-mail Addresses
John van der Meulen africanadventures@pixie.co.za + 27 15 2899 404
Brian Sherry bri.anne@openworld.com
Ron van Heerden sanron@lantic.net
Ian van der
Lingen vdlingen@gds.co.za
Roger MacDonald rmacdonald@plastique.co.zw
Roger Parry bushwise@mweb.co.zw
Mike Bunce mbunce@mweb.co.zw + 263 9 243
377
Ian van Herden anchorflower@zol.co.zw + 263 9 882 906
Doug Evans chundukwa@zamnet.zm + 260 3 324 452
Don Parry
+ 27 44 382 2120
Angus Anthony bizzybees@mweb.co.za
Colin Welensky info@gover norscamps.com
Anne Moore esflight@zim.co.zw
John White whitefam@zol.co.zw
Hans & Val van de Heiden WS33@bushmail.net
_________________________________
“Dagaboy” – The terminology and an interesting
observation.
“ Zimbabwe has a proud history of hunting and conservation.
This we all know and have known from the days of the “Daga boys.” As
far as I can tell, the term “Daga boy” is associated with the once poorly
paid National Parks employees who had an “unhealthy” love for hardship,
wild areas and even wilder animals and a disregard for the material
benefits of the modern world (except perhaps women and beer).
Daga boys, along with a handful of similar eccentric
bush types, are synonymous with the origin of professional hunting,
high ethical standards and visionary conservation initiatives. Conservation
was their life, it had intrinsic value and was natured and cared for
accordingly.”
The above “definition” if I may call it that has been
taken from an article entitled “Ethical Questions” (African Hunter Magazine
No 6 of 2003) and is written by Patrick Aust*
I guess not too many of us have sat down and given the
term “Dagaboy” any real thought other than to assess, or compare the
similarities of the characteristics we might think we see in ourselves
and that of an aging buffalo bull bespattered with mud.
Well, I guess we never quite see ourselves as others
do, the former “definition” certainly gives credence to what has been
muted for many years – The staff, with their loyalty and dedication
made the department the finest wildlife agency of it’s kind!
* Patrick Aust is the son Lt. Col. Charlie Aust (O/C
RLI ’79-80)
___________________________
Where are…….?
Thanks to every ones contributions and efforts the numbers
of “missing” Dagaboys has been reduced dramatically. I will continue
to send out the list as a separate email shortly after the completion
of this newsletter. I would appreciate whatever feedback you can give.
____________________________
“My Place in the Sun”
I am very pleased to advise you all
that Margaret Peach's (Haslam) book entitled "My Place in the Sun"
has just been published. I think the short dissertation on the rear
cover speaks for itself.
MY PLACE IN THE SUN
My Place
In The Sun is written very much from the perspective of a resourceful
wife and mother who was closely involved in life out in the bush at
a crucial and interesting time in the history of this particular part
of Africa. Her account of the triumphs, tragedies and daily incidents,
takes the reader through twenty years of a somewhat nomadic existence
in a wild and beautiful country which, for most of that time, was going
through a period of great unrest. It is even more poignant to read about
it today in the context of the current political situation in Zimbabwe.
"My Place in the Sun" can
be ordered direct from Margaret - email address -
lewmarg@netactive.co.za
The price of the book is R 80 and to
this should be added the following charges:
Packaging & Postage, airmail but NOT registered ..... R
8.00
Total R 88.00
Margaret's bank detail's are:
MLPeach, ABSA Bank, Montagu Branch, a/c no..9076679048, Savings account.(please
ensure that your details are included on the transfer form)
Zimbabwe
- Dagaboys living in Zimbabwe - Funds should be paid into Margaret's
daughter's account and a copy of the deposit faxed through to 071 6806 - as this is a Bindura Haulage number please mark "For
attention Raye Reid"
Bank details : TJ REID
A/C No. 0107126
Barclays Bank
Bindura
Branch Code
2518
Books will be sent by airmail
- this unfortunately does increases the total costs by R 17.00 to R 97.00 - when doing the conversion from
Rand to Dollars the "auction rate of the day" will have to
be used.
If, by any chance, you experience
problems trying to get through to Bindura please fax me a copy of the
deposit slip with your name and postal details. I will advise Margaret
– my fax number is – 09 476 197 Please mark for my attention.
I have received feed back on “My Place in The Sun” from
the Junor’s, Jean wrote “wonderful to read of the “old times” – it brought
back many memories.
Mike Fynn, Richard Peek and I have ordered copies as
has Stu Hulley-Miller and a couple of other Dagaboys.
___________________________
The renaming and restructuring of the Department
The Department of “old” is now defunct and has been renamed
and replaced by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
The senior post is that of Director General who comes
under the Public Services, all other staff are employed by the authority.
Other notable changes:
·