Festive recipes

page 6

Champion horse does it again

page 10

Protecting our Planet competition

page 5

Admin Symposium

page 4

LandCare and SRM staff excel

page 3

Inside this issue...

InternalNewsletter ofthe WCDoA

ISSUE 13Summer 2016

The Events Committee felt the lack of a departmental year-end function left a gap

and so the idea of an event where staff would get the opportunity to interact on an informal basis in a relaxed atmosphere was born. At the same time, staff with an entrepreneurial spirit got the opportunity to make some money for Christmas or their upcoming holiday.

Goods sold included delicious hot food such as chicken wings and chips, boerewors rolls, potjiekos and more. For those who wanted to take something home with them or with a sweet tooth there was a variety of scrumptious, homemade treats such as tarts, cupcakes, pies, sweets, biltong and ginger beer. The fresh produce stall was also very popular. Other Elsenburgers took the opportunity to display and sell their arts and crafts such as jewellery, hand made soap and wooden bowls. For the greenies, there was even a solar energy stall.

It was a jolly occasion and everywhere groups of staff could be seen relaxing on the hay bales provided, some under umbrellas, others not, enjoying their meals or just chatting and soaking up the sun. The soccer was also a

First Market Day a roaring success

big hit, with teams from various programmes competing, to great delight of the spectators, who cheered on their favourite teams. It was a close call, but the OSS team emerged as the winner.When asked afterwards how they experienced the event, comments from vendors and visitors were mostly positive and included remarks such as “well organised”, “loads of fun” and “an occasion to remember”. All proceeds were donated to the Elsenburg Student Fund, which assists financially challenged students with books etc.

The Festive Market Day will become an annual event and will, without a doubt, become bigger and better with each passing year.

Festive Market Day

The first Festive Market Day, held on the Elsenburg rugby field in November, was a huge success. Whether you were buying or selling, there was a variety of interesting things to see.

Staff members at the first Market Day held for staff by staff.

More photos on page 2...

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Editorial Team: Petro van Rhyn: Final Editor; Giselle Terblanche: Editor; Gizelle van Wyk: Photographs; Ricky Pietersen: Photographs.Contributors: O’Brien Pêrel, Andrew Par-tridge, André Roux, Vanessa Barends, Kate Hurst, Janine Lombard, Giselle Terblanche.

Dear Staff

Another year that has rushed past, so quickly, and 2017 awaiting all

Message from the HOD

of us with expectations, deadlines, targets and achievements. A heartfelt thank you to all of you for your hard work, dedication and commitment. The department has excelled because you cared, you are competent and you took accountability. We are breathing and living the values of the department, and this is reflected in our achievements.

Christmas is a time for family, resting and reflecting on a year almost done, so take time out to celebrate your family and show them (and your colleagues) your appreciation. But this is also the time to prepare for 2017 and to take stock of the future and remembering the past, especially those colleagues that have passed

away in 2016. Appreciate and celebrate life!

With 2017 awaiting all of us, stay safe and come back refreshed and energised, so that better together we can tackle the challenges ahead.

Again, thank you and enjoy the festive season.

RegardsJoyene IsaacsHead of the Department

Die eerste Fees Markdag, wat onlangs by Elsenburg gehou is, was ‘n reuse sukses. Dit was ‘n lekker, informele kuiergeleentheid vir die personeel waar

entrepreneurs ook ‘n ekstra geldjie kon verdien vir die vakansie. Daar was iets vir almal se smaak: Van boereworsrolle tot handgemaakte sepies.

Ibe nempumelelo enkulu intengiso yokuqala kwiMarike yeHlobo, nebibanjwe kutsha-nje e Elsenburg. Ibe ngumsitho ekumnandi

kakhulu ukubona abasebenzi bezonwabele, nalapho abathengisi bafumene ithuba lokuzenzela ubugcwabalalana bemali phambi kweeholide zehlobo. Akukho mntu ungazibambelanga eyona ayithandayo, ukususela kwi boerewors rolls de kwathengiswa nozenzele wesepha yobuso.

Afr

Xho

Market Day article continues ...

Staff enjoy themselves at the Market Day.

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At the 2016 National Wetland Awards two staff members were awarded the winner’s trophy in their respective categories.

They were: Hans King: Science and ResearchHannes Muller: Stewardship André Roux, Chief Director: Sustainable Resource Management said: “I wish to congratulate not only Hans and Hannes, but all involved in the implementation of the projects that we undertake to protect our wetlands, one of our most valuable natural resources.”

Sustainable Resource Management staff excels

LandCare makes a clean sweep at conference

The department had a strong team of 80 people at the conference consisting

of emerging and commercial farmers, NGOs, 10 learners and their teacher from the Sibabalwe Primary School in De Doorns and some LandCare staff. The team walked away with the following awards:

• Best Veld Care project: Silver Award to the Dassenberg Coastal Catchment Partnership

• Best Local LandCare Committee: Silver Award to the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve

• Best LandCare Coordinator: Silver to Rudolph Röscher

• Best Junior LandCare School: Bronze Award to Sibabalwe Primary School in De Doorns

• Best Junior LandCare Out of School: Bronze Award to our Candidate Engineering Technicians programme.

• Junior LandCare Amazing Race competition: Three learners from the Sibabalwe Primary School in De Doorns won a gold, silver and bronze award respectively.

André Roux, Chief Director Sustainable Resource Management expressed his gratitude toward

his staff for their time and commitment to making this event a humdinger. He went on the say: “The Western Cape team exhibition was brilliant and the exhibition team prepared well and set a standard that made the entire conference proud. They even used it as background for the television interview”. The department’s speakers dominated the scene and their presentations were well received. Very positive feedback was received from participants in this regard.

Staff Achievements

PHOTO FLTR: Hannes Muller and Hans King proudly holding their awards.

During the recent LandCare conference held in Kimberley the department’s team excelled again and won a number of awards.

The winning team

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Symposium inspires admin staff to “do better”

Admin Symposium

The 5th annual Administration Symposium was held in September at the Percheron Hall, Elsenburg. The theme was “Let’s do better”.

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Booklet teaches children to care for environment

Minister Alan Winde officially launched the Soil Blanket booklet at the Sustainabil-

ity Institute. The event coincided with National Arbour Week 2016.

Developed by LandCare, the booklet outlines the importance of soil to sustain life on earth. The booklet is trilingual (Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa) and will be made available to pupils between Grade 5 and Grade 7.

With this booklet, 7 000 children at schools across the country

will be reached. Booklets will be distributed at 100 schools in the Western Cape and 3000 copies will be distributed to other prov-inces.

Minister Winde said the booklet is a great resource “because by tar-geting the youth, it is aimed at the future of the agriculture sector.”

This is the fourth booklet in a se-ries. Another edition, with a focus on the management of water, is set to be completed later this year.

Publications

Green Committee

A booklet aimed at teaching South African children how to care for the environment was launched recently.

The purpose of the competition was to help enforce the values of the

current waste management system on the research farms and to encourage everyone living and working on the farms to look after their environment. This competition further supported the Western Cape Green Economy Strategic Framework for climate smart agri-

The department’s research farms hosted a Protecting our Planet

Entry by Adrian Willemse (Child category – Oudtshoorn) Entry by Sofia Croy (Adult category – Langgewens)

Competition enforces green values

production i.e. sustainable farming practices, balancing farming and conservation needs, resources efficiency and waste minimisation, as all the research farms of the department have adopted a recycling system.

Prizes were awarded per farm for the best art display (made out of recyclable waste), story or poem by an adult working on the

farm and best essay, poem or drawing by a child living on the farm (whose parent/s are employees of the department). Entries submitted had to relate to the “Protecting our Planet” theme. A judging panel was selected from the Green Committee and consisted of three judges.

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Yummy Festive Recipes

Recipes

Loes Alexander’s Speculaas (Dutch Spice Biscuits)

Speculaas is one of the recipes Loes often uses over the Christmas period. Being Dutch, she loves baking Dutch biscuits and has shared this recipe with us. Ingredients125g soft brown sugar100g butter250g cake flour1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon cinnamon3/4 teaspoon cloves1/2 teaspoon nutmeg1/2 teaspoon allspice1/2 teaspoon ginger3 tablespoons milk/water

Instructions• Cream sugar and butter

together. • Sift flour, baking powder and

spices together. • Add to butter and the milk. • Mix together to make firm

dough. • Let it rest for 30 minutes.• Roll out and press out stars or

other shapes. • Bake at 180˚degrees for

10 minutes or until lightly browned.

*Loes is a librarian at Elsenburg College

Maresa Fourie se Peppermint-Crisp Karameltert

Maresa sê die tert is vir diegene wat glo hulle kan nie bak nie. Dit is vreeslik maklik en vinnig om voor te berei. Die smaak is “to die for!”

Bestanddele1 x 380g blik karamelkondensmelk2 x 125ml sakkie Orley Whip1 x 200g-pakkie Tennisbeskuitjies50ml suurlemoensap2 x 50g stafies pepermentsjokolade, gerasper

Instruksies• Meng karamelkondensmelk en

suurlemoensap goed saam. • Klits die Orley Whip

tot styf en vou in die kondensmelkmengesel in.

• Smeer ‘n langwerpige glasbak 20 x 30 x 5 cm of bespuit dit met kleefwerende middel.

• Pak ‘n laag beskuitjies op die boom van die bak en smeer ‘n laag kondensmelkmengsel eweredig oor.

• Sprinkel gerasperde pepermentsjokolade oor.

• Herhaal die lae totdat die beskuitjies en kondensmelkmengsel op is, eindig met ‘n laag gerasperde pepermentsjokolade.

• Plaas die tert in die koelkas.

Om die Kersfeesgevoel te kry, kan jy groen en rooi gesnyde kersies bo-op plaas.

*Maresa is ‘n dieretegnikus

(Veeartsenykundige dienste.)

Charmaine Willoughby’s Butter Chicken

As a child, Charmaine’s mom always made this butter chicken dish and it was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. She was not very fond of the dish then, but as she grew older she experienced the flavour and the aroma especially, drew her attention. Years later she hooked onto this yummy dish and makes it at least once a month now.

InstructionsUse 1 kg of cubed chicken fillet. Wash and drain. Heat 50 g butter and some oil. Braise 1 finely sliced onion until golden brown. Add chicken and cook until almost done.

Add the following ingredients: • 1 1/2 Tblsp of Wet Butter

chicken Masala; • 1 1/2 Tblsp of dry Butter Chicken

Masala powder; • 200 ml plain yoghurt or

buttermilk; • 2 Teaspoons tomato paste. • Add 1 Teaspoon red chilli paste. • Allow to cook until done. • Add 200 ml fresh cream and 1

teaspoon brown sugar. • Simmer on low heat for ± 15

minutes, stirring from time to time.

• Only add salt to taste. Garnish with freshly cut coriander leaves.

• Serve with Roti, Basmati rice OR Naan bread.

*Charmaine is PA to the Acting Chief Director: SAET

We asked staff to share some of their favourite festive recipes with us.

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Stuart Knott tragically passed away on 1 October 2016 from a heart attack incurred

whilst running. The news came as a complete shock as he had no previous heart conditions and maintained a very active and healthy lifestyle.

Stuart began working for the Department’s Agricultural Economics Services programme in 2015, but to those of us working with him in the programme it felt like he had been with us for much longer. He was a valuable member of the programme, always working hard with a no-fuss attitude and producing work of the highest standard. But more than this he will be remembered

Stuart Knott: A life ended too soon

In search of empathy

- By Andrew Partridge

In Memoriam

Vets

Stuart Knott

Presenters Louise and Johan van der Merwe.

The participants engaging in a group discussion

for his friendly nature, always eager to greet his colleagues with a smile and bring an air of positivity to any conversation. Whether engaging on matters of work or on personal issues, conversations with Stuart would always leave his colleagues feeling better about the situation.

It is with a deep sadness that we say goodbye to a colleague and good friend, but at the same time we are left feeling blessed that we were able to have our lives touched by him and as we move ahead we should take a note from his book and look to reflect the friendliness and positivity with which he lived his life.

The focus of the workshop was the search for empathy and how humanity has over

the years been desensitised in order to survive negative circumstances such as abuse, poverty, hunger and violence. A growing concern is that animal abuse is often a precursor of worse crimes. Phil Arkow, author of Child Abuse, Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse, points out that there is often a link between animal abuse and human violence. Animals are usually the first to be impacted by a loss of empathy, which can spiral to other forms of abuse. He says ‘When animal abuse is present, it is often a sure indication that child abuse, domestic violence etc., although hidden from view, are very much part of the community.’

But how can children, born with empathy, grow up to become abusers of animals, gang leaders, murderers etc. It has been proven that life choices are often linked to the environment and circumstances the individual develops in. When children are constantly faced with violence, pollution, abuse from the media,

Louise and Johan van der Merwe from the Humane Education Trust recently presented the first workshop of its kind to state vets, compulsory community service vets and animal health technicians at Elsenburg.

their own neighbourhoods or their schools it desensitises them.

As an example, the presenters shared the story of a child that was sickly at school and constantly laughed at and bullied, who then turned into the bully as a form of gaining attention, albeit negative. At age eight his father was sent to prison for murder. He started walking his neighbour’s pitbull dog for pocket money, which in his community was seen as a sign of status and power. This boy then began the descent into dog fighting. After a few years he was arrested and sent to Boy’s Town and was then introduced to the Humane Education workshop. They redirected his love for animals (his pitbull was his pride and power) which was used as a selfish tool of destruction into something good and he is now an animal welfare assistant working at an animal welfare institution.

The Humane Education Trust has made it their mission to promote the teaching of empathy with an emphasis on our relationship with animals, how we utilise them and how this impacts our

psychological development. They host workshops for teachers on how to incorporate the development of core values into the curriculum, by using the syllabus already set out. They are also involved in the rehabilitation of offenders that have been involved in animal abuse or crimes such as dog fighting.

For more information regarding the workshop or material please contact Louise van der Merwe (Humane Education Trust) at avoice@yebo.co.za

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Elsenburg se kleurryke geskiedenis onthul – Deel 8

Dans sonder orkes

Gedurende 1923 het ‘n dans sonder orkes op Elsenburg plaasgevind. Die Elsenburg Annual beskryf dit soos volg:

“The second big dance was held in the Manor House on Friday, 28th September. Unfortunately the orchestra (Marks) did not turn up at the appointed time. We were forced to start dancing without it at about half-past eight. Mrs Lange played for us. Later Mr Horex was awakened from his pleasant dreams to come and relieve Mrs Lange. However, the orchestra turned up at a quarter to twelve. Mr Marks made most profuse apologies for his having arrived late, and guaranteed that he would play until we were tired. The whole programme was played through, and a really enjoyable evening was terminated at the end of the thirty-third dance at twenty minutes past three.”

Elsenburg 80

Elsenburg 80 is gedurende September 1978 gehou om die Kollege se 80ste verjaardag te vier. ‘n Spesiale brosjure is uitgegee en die Winterreën-Nuus het ook verslag gedoen oor die gebeurtenis.

Tydens die geleentheid het bykans 400 oud-studente, oud-en huidige personeellede van oor die hele land en sover as die destydse Rhodesië, op Elsenburg bymekaar gekom. Klasmaats en ou vriende het mekaar na jare weer raakgeloop en lekker gesels oor Elsenburg se jong dae. Die middag het groepies studente die nuwe uitbreidings en moderne fasiliteite gaan besigtig en teen die aand was almal dit eens dat Elsenburg baie goeie wyn maak.

Elsenburg se trapkarspan van 1980.

Geskiedenis

In hierdie deel van die reeks kyk ons na ‘n paar interessante berigte en verhale wat ‘n blik bied op Elsenburg se ontwikkeling deur die jare.

Mev van der Merwe, die matrone, en haar personeel het gesorg vir ‘n keurige buffet-ete in die koshuis. Die adjunk-Minister van Landbou, Oubaas Malan, ‘n oud-personeellid, was die ere-gas en hoofspreker. Hy het almal laat skaterlag oor hul kaperjolle en die patriotisme vir Elsenburg het hoogty gevier. Die reünie was ‘n reuse sukses.

Trapkarwedrenne

Sedert 1972 het Elsenburg elke jaar ‘n trapkarspan ingeskryf vir die wedren wat deur studente van die Ingenieursfakulteit van die US gehou is. ‘n Span het bestaan uit ses jaers wat om die beurt jaag en ‘n wedren het ses ure geduur.

So ‘n wedren het ‘n hoë mate van fiksheid en energie geverg en daar is gedurig probeer om die karre ligter te maak en beter ratverhoudings te kry. Daar was wye belangstelling in die wedrenne en inskrywings is van regoor die land ontvang.

Lees in die volgende uitgawe meer oor interessante gebeure by Elsenburg oor die jare.

Uittreksel uit: Elsenburg deur Jozua Serfontein 1986

English Summary

In this part of the series we take a look at interesting events which took place at Elsenburg through the years e.g. competitions and social events.

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Training tomorrow’s agriculturalistsO’ Brien Pêrel: Agricultural lecturer

Where are you based?I am based at Elsenburg College.

Which subject do you teach?Agricultural management.

Why did you choose to become a lecturer?I chose this profession because it’s very exciting; you learn a lot from the subject you teach and from the students you lecture. I enjoy being in class, sharing knowledge, facilitating learning and stimulating students in their field of study. Teaching provides a platform from which you can engage with and influence students positively and to me that is really important.

What training did you undergo?I did a three-year degree at the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, specialising in animal production (small and large stock). I then studied at the University of the Free State, where I did my BAgric Honours in Agricultural Management. I have also done an assessor’s and moderator’s course, as well as other teaching courses and workshops such as PREDAK.

Is there a type of personality best suited to this work?Yes, a lecturer engages not only with students, but also with people from various spheres and backgrounds, so it’s important to be versatile, friendly, kind and supportive. You need to be approachable, and be energetic when explaining concepts.

Is experience as important as formal training for your kind of work?I would say that experience is critical. When you lecture on a certain topic, it is important that the students hear that you speak from experience. They will pick it up if you don’t! You need to read, research, attend conferences and

symposiums, as well as workshops, to increase practical knowledge and be better equipped as a lecturer.

Describe a typical day on the job.In the morning I prepare the slides and information that I’m going to teach. Then I’m in class for about 45 minutes, lecturing to and engaging with the students. After class, I read my emails and prepare for the next class.

What do you like most about your job?I like the preparation and the actual lecturing. It’s a privilege to work with such diverse students. Then, of course, seeing the students graduate and become a product of the institute is a proud and humbling moment.

Which aspects of your jobs are you least enthusiastic about?I would say the assessment and marking. On the other hand, it is always nice to see how the students have done in their assessments.

What’s been the highlight of your career at the department?When I was given the opportunity to go to Canada to represent not only the Institute but the department. It was a huge privilege for me.

What are your goals for the future?I would like to obtain my Masters in Agricultural Management,

continue teaching, and become more involved with coaching and mentoring at the institute or outside the college.

What advice would you give to someone starting out?They have to be sure that they enjoy talking in front of people and explaining concepts or content. Getting a degree and practical experience is critical. A lecturer also needs to take responsibility for doing continuous research and studyin order to keep abreast of all the latest developments.

Describe your job in three words.Interesting, exciting and humbling.

O’ Brien Pêrel: Agricultural lecturer

Focus on Careers

The third party in our series, aimed at improving staff’s knowledge and understanding of their collegues’ jobs.

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Elsenburg’s champion horse wins prestigious award

Elsenburg student winemakers among SA’s best

Elsenburg College

It’s not only the human employees of the department that is winning prestigious awards, but also the four-legged ones. Horse Elsenburg Manford, owned by the department, won the SA Champion Working Hunter title at the recent Adult Championship show in Port Elizabeth.

Manford has the distinction of being the only horse who has won both the novice Working Hunter title in 2012 and now the Open title as well. When he is not winning championships, he fulfils his duties as a normal horse used by the students for riding and lungeing subjects. He was ridden by a student who studied at Elsenburg and is now doing level two international Instructors Certificate as a part time student.

Manford has a wonderful temperament and always gives 110% to any activity he is doing. ‘Mannie’ was a very good racehorse who raced until he was seven years old and amazingly stayed sound and with good legs so the transition to champion show horse was not so difficult!

Well done, Manford!

It’s no secret that Elsenburg produces the majority of top winemakers in the country. This was proven again recently when Elsenburg winemaking students received gold status for their Elsenburg Muscat d’ Frontignan 2015, at the VERITAS Wine Awards. The awards took place in October at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Minister Alan Winde congratulated the students.

“The VERITAS wine awards are often referred to as the Oscars of the South African wine industry. It celebrates excellence, honouring the

Photo 1: Manford shows off his prize.

Photo 2: Manford in action.

Photo 1

Photo 2

best wines and brandies. The Elsenburg Muscat d’ Frontignan 2015 is the only Muscat d’ Frontignan which received recognition at the prestigious awards. I’d like to commend the winemakers on this outstanding achievement.”

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Funny Farm

Staff based at research farms and outside offices participated with great enthusiasm in their local Better Together Games. Unfortunately the Metro Games had to be postponed until early next year. The pictures right feature Cape Winelands staff playing their hearts out in the soccer games.

Congratulations to Hilton Abrahams (lecturer: Elsenburg

College). He wins a sport bag and flashlight set.

Previous edition’s winning entry

The reader who provides the funniest/cleverest/most appropriate answer will win a prize. Answers can be sent to loerie@elsenburg.com by

no later than 31 January 2017.Answers should contain no more

than 15 words.

Awesome Animals Competition

Fun in the sun at the Better Together Games

Girls, I don’t know how

we’re getting down.

I know. Security,

Desmond!

What do you reckon the mommy duck is saying to her ducklings?

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Writing Competition

An article that appeared in Time Magazine (1994) titled “How man Began”

stated that “no single essential difference separates human beings from animals.” According to the authors, all evolutionists admit that communication via speech is unique to humans and that it is the single most important thing that separates humans from animals.

Communication is the process of conveying information from one point to another. A sender, message and receiver are needed for the communication process to be effective. This process is only complete when the information is delivered and understood by the receiver and results of the interpretation will be the understanding.

Communication can be seen firstly as the process by which one person sends a message (dependable variable), which has an effect on the other (independent variable). Secondly it is seen as a negotiation and exchange of meaning.

Communication is very important to connect people, businesses, organisations, communities, etc. It is the reflection of understanding, interpretation, actions, conflict, body language, facial expressions, temper, and mood. It can be carried out in various customs, manners, approaches and feelings. It contributes to frustration, anger, happiness, productivity, performance, and attitude. It is imperative to all levels of command. It can determine the success or failure of a project. Without

The importance of communication

communication nothing can be done – no one would know what is expected of them, how it needs to be done, why, where etc.

Communication can be looked at from an organisational viewpoint. An organisation can be a family, church, university, hospital, business, etc. Every aspect that takes place in the organisation that include interaction such as conflict and cooperation between members of the organisation, planning and even creating and maintenance of relationships are part of and reflected in communication. Organisations have existed for millions of years and according to articles on the subject, primitive people used organisations to group themselves in order to protect them against elements, predators, to hunt successfully and to settle in communities. Communication is the glue that sticks an organisation together.

Communication is easily overlooked in a working / business environment although the ability to communicate effectively is integral to carrying out the thoughts and visions of that specific company. Through communication, directions are conveyed and synchronisation provided. Without communication there is no way of expressing thoughts, ideas and feelings. Communication in a business environment is carried out through various means such as via phone, email, websites, social networking, websites and more. Effective communication is an important process in everyday life and it is crucial that people communicate

effectively on a personal and professional level.

Media is an important medium through which communication connects people, businesses, organisations, culture, etc. Media is used to convey mass communication, which is normally recognised as newspapers, magazines, television, radio and the internet.

Communication connects the whole universe. It is by far the most important and powerful tool that connects people, places, environments, business, organisations, communities, etc. As soon as everyone realises that, they will understand how and why it is so important to communicate effectively in order to receive the desired outcome.

Winning Story

Communication has existed for more than 400 000 years, when Homo sapiens developed the ability to utter sounds and used it to interact with each other through speech.

Congratulations to our winner, Theresa-anne Philander (FSD, Ceres).

Are you walking around with a story you’ve been dying to pen? Now is your chance! We want to encourage our employees to write, so help us by sending in your stories. The best stories will be published in upcoming editions of the newsletter and each of the winners will receive a prize.

Guidelines

Stories should be between 500 and 700 words. Names can be changed. Email your story to us at loerie@elsenburg.com.

Stories for the next edition of the Loerie must reach us by 31 January 2017. It must be your own, original story. One story will

be chosen for each edition. Only stories written by employees of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture will be accepted.