This Week - Manny Enever will talk to us about Biltong and similar traditional meat products.

 

Manny Enever has a business that makes biltong and other allied products.  In fact he changed my approach to biltong by showing me that I should be biltong with fat in it and how it is made from a different grade of beef.

Obviously biltong was about the only way of preserving meat in the past other than salting it.  The addition of coriander was very important as it kills 10 or 12 strains of bacteria so it's safe to eat.  The meat is prepared with vinegar, black pepper, coriander and salt and dried for about a fortnight.  More modern versions include assorted spices and other things yiu wouldn't want to know about.

Last Week

It was the last Business Meeting of the Rotary Year and you can see that new Board Members are already beginning to make their mark.

Next Week

Gary Walker will be talking on miniatures.  He is a Past President of the Miniatures Society.

He is happy to talk to us but needs to sit in with someone in the club as he is not happy handling Zoom alone.  Unfortunately I will have moved by then but will not be compos mentis so if someone would host him for the meeting  he would be grateful.

This will certainly be the last Knight & Day for a while because of the move  which will be a week today.  So my apologies in advance for meetings for the time being.

International -Canada

The gentle Norwegian Fjord horse cuts a striking figure in a hilly pasture in southern British Columbia. Get close and the cute, short animal with big eyes will nuzzle his head into your shoulder. His name, Gunnar, is a Nordic name associated with warriors and guardians, fitting for a ranch horse whose job is not to herd or to haul but to heal — specifically veterans with emotional wounds.

Gunnar and two other horses, Indie and Teddy, are part of an equine therapy program at Honour Ranch, a tranquil 120-acre parcel of land overlooking the South Thompson River 10 kilometres south of Ashcroft. The ranch is a place for military members, veterans, and first responders to receive treatment for anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Besides equine therapy, the range of programming includes music and movement therapy as well as meditation and other specialized care.

The setting is important. Wooden cabins with green roofs dot the property, which is filled with rolling hills, chirping birds, and evergreen trees. The landscape is perfect for "lots of walking, lots of trails to hike and riding bikes," says Dave Hodgson, the ranch’s 82-year-old manager. "Nothing motorized. We don’t have anything that takes away the effect of quietness. Listen to the wind. You’re back to nature on this side of the mountain. Anybody in uniform that needs a place to find themselves and put their world together, this is it. This is a place even for me to find myself."

Such havens are badly needed. Nearly one-fourth of Canadian Regular Force veterans released from service between 1998 and 2018 are living with post-traumatic stress disorder, with similar numbers reporting depression and anxiety. When you consider that there are more than 460,000 Canadian Armed Forces veterans and hundreds of thousands of first responders, that leaves many of the nation’s defenders and public safety personnel at risk for mental health issues.

The ranch, which opened in 2019, is the newest endeavour of the Honour House Society, which runs an 11-room "home away from home" for CAF members, veterans, and first responders undergoing medical treatment in the Vancouver area and their families. The house has provided 15,000 nights of accommodation since 2010.

From the start, Rotary clubs in Districts 5040 and 5050 and beyond have assisted the facility in New Westminster, modelled after Ronald McDonald Houses. Rotarians were among those who helped transform the former rest home into an accessible, hotel-like operation with free stays ranging from one night to several months; the Rotary Club of White Rock even handbuilt furniture for a self-contained unit called the Laneway Suite. Last year the Rotary Club of New Westminster donated $10,000 worth of new mattresses.

"When Rotary says they’ll do it, they do it," says Executive Director Craig Longstaff. "It’s been an absolute pleasure."

When they acquired the parcel of land that was to become the Honour Ranch, a nearly four-hour drive from the Honour House, Longstaff and the society’s founder, Allan De Genova, knew they could rope in reliable partners to help them manage it. Chief among them was the Rotary Club of New Westminster-Royal City, another longtime Honour House backer, which contributed about $26,000, including a grant from District 5040, to construct a corral, tack shop, and horse shelter at the property.

Glasgow teenager, Rebekah De Groot is celebrating after being crowned the
winner of the 2026 Rotary Young Chef Competition, sponsored by Filippo
Berio.

Talented Rebekah created the recipe for success after impressing the judges at the
national final, hosted by Rotary Great Britain and Ireland and sponsored by Italian food
giant Filippo Berio, which took place at The Grange School in Cheshire.

Rebekah was one of seven young chefs from across Great Britain and Ireland to compete
in the national final, having come through three previous qualifying rounds, including
district and regional finals.

Glasgow teenager, Rebekah De Groot is celebrating after being crowned the
winner of the 2026 Rotary Young Chef Competition, sponsored by Filippo
Berio.

Talented Rebekah created the recipe for success after impressing the judges at the
national final, hosted by Rotary Great Britain and Ireland and sponsored by Italian food
giant Filippo Berio, which took place at The Grange School in Cheshire.

Rebekah was one of seven young chefs from across Great Britain and Ireland to compete
in the national final, having come through three previous qualifying rounds, including
district and regional finals.

Glasgow teenager, Rebekah De Groot is celebrating after being crowned the
winner of the 2026 Rotary Young Chef Competition, sponsored by Filippo
Berio.

Talented Rebekah created the recipe for success after impressing the judges at the
national final, hosted by Rotary Great Britain and Ireland and sponsored by Italian food
giant Filippo Berio, which took place at The Grange School in Cheshire.

Rebekah was one of seven young chefs from across Great Britain and Ireland to compete
in the national final, having come through three previous qualifying rounds, including
district and regional finals.

Glasgow teenager, Rebekah De Groot is celebrating after being crowned the
winner of the 2026 Rotary Young Chef Competition, sponsored by Filippo
Berio.

This Week - It's a Business Meeting

The last Business Meeting of the year preceded by the joint new and old Board should give us an idea of what to expect in the new Rotary Year.

Last Week

Professor Steven Friedman spoke about the immigration and the current anti-immigrant protests, not only in South Africa but worldwide.  He explained how political parties jumped on the bandwagon and even tho parties in government tends to use the protests as a means of compensating for their inadequacies.  How statistically the hatred of immigrants was certainly a small percentage of the population and immigration was necessary for a growing economy.

Next Week

Manny Enever will be talking to us about biltong

International - USA

The deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century killed more than 100 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses on the Hawaiian island of Maui in August 2023. Searching for healing and reflection, the community group Aloha Amplified organized a twilight walk and ceremony this past September, supported by District 5000’s fire relief fund and the three Rotary clubs in Lahaina. Hundreds of people carried lanterns along a milelong route, joining together at the end in the revered song “Hawai‘i Aloha.” The event featured cultural entertainment and booths staffed by local groups, including Rotary clubs. Rotarians, many of whom lost their own homes and businesses, also volunteered at the event. “People know Rotary in Lahaina,” says Joanne Laird, of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset.

This Week - Professor Steven Friedman on Things Political.

 

That is one thing about Steven Friedman;  you don't really know what he is going to talk about until he opens his mouth.  The one thing you can be sure of is that ii will be interesting and probably controversial.

Steven Friedman is a public commentator and an academic, currently employed as a Research Professor at the University of Johannesburg. He has been writing on South African politics for the entire democratic period both as a scholar and public commentator. He has published books on South Africa’s transition to democracy, the role of the trade union movement, and current South African politics. He has also written columns and articles for several South African newspapers. His writing seeks to use academic research to shed light on current politics but to ensure that this is conveyed in a way easily understood by people who have no academic training.

Against the Tide is an emailed column commenting on current South African politics and, occasionally, on events elsewhere in the world.  It aims to offer a different perspective from mainstream news and commentary by looking beneath the surface and, where necessary,  challenging much of the thinking in South Africa’s public debate.

Last Week

It was a last minute cancellation followed by a no show, by the advertised speaker and a stopgap one.  The shortest meeting we have had this year 

Saturday saw a very pleasant Breakfast/Brunch at The Red Door Cafe. Click on the link to our Facebook Page to see the pictures.  President Luawrence presented Andrea Dawn for her hard work on our Facebook Page and our Website.  Many thanks, Andrea.

Next Week

It's the last Business Meeting of the year preceded by a Board Meeting of the Old Board Members and the New Board Members.  It should be interesting.

International - Australia

Family violence is a major health and social issue in Australia, according to the national Institute of Health and Welfare. Rotary Safe Families focuses on reducing the stigma around recognising the problem. This year the project, which was founded in 2018 and has a presence in 48 countries, is preparing to enlist Rotary clubs to sponsor a local school through a programme called Towards Respectful Relationships. It fosters “safe spaces for kids to talk about family violence and respect,” says programme founder Dorothy Gilmour, a member of the Rotary Club of Hawthorn. “It has been a long, bumpy road to get Australians to discuss the taboo topic of family violence.” More recently, though, “I have noticed that family violence is becoming less taboo.”

This Week Tony Giles talk to us about Maths with a Welsh Accent.

 I know very little about Tony Giles except that he privately tutors students in mathematics and he grew up Welsh speaking and only learnt English when he was at school.  I am sure this will result in a fascinating talk.  I just bumped into him at a restaurant that we both frequent.

I don't have  a photograph of him so you will have to have a cartoon instead.

Don't forget our Social Brunch from 9:30 on Saturday 23rd May at The Red Door Cafe 26 5th Avenue, Edenvale.... there is off street parking up an alleyway on the opposite side of the road to the Cafe.  I will put a poll on the Club WhatsApp Group 

Last Week

Claudette Medefindt gave a very interesting talk on hereditary eye diseases and how they are recognised, medically and some instances can be treated or certainly their affects ameliorated.

She spoke at some length on how sufferers can be assisted with the various aspects of deteriorating eye sight and how we should all be aware.

Next Week

I am trying to arrange a speaker at the moment.

My time is taken up with the move, and when is it going to happen, packing ....all of those things which is turning into a nightmare.  That's a bit of an exaggeration but it takes up all my time so I will have to be absent from Rotary Meetings and Secretarial Duties for a while and Knight & Day, of course.

International - Tunisia

When Yassine Harzallah was alerted to overcrowding in a primary school, he paid a visit and witnessed children studying on the floor and in corridors, with their notebooks on their knees. He snapped a photo, and “that image alone was enough to convince every member of our club that we had a responsibility to act,” says Harzallah, president of the Rotary Club of Ruspina Monastir. In December, the entire contingent visited the school, an hour drive from the club’s base in Monastir city. Members brought supplies, including hygiene products, cleaning items, a printer, a wheelbarrow, shovels, and hoes. A member architect drafted blueprints and watched over a local contractor who assembled a modular room off-site at a reduced cost. In January the structure, a new reading room, was delivered.

 

This week our old friend, Claudette Medefindt of Retina SA talks about Retinal Genetics

 

It's an interesting topic and sure many of us no someone or have a relative who has suffered from one of the hereditary diseases that eventually destroy sight completely.  I cannot think of anything more depressing than knowing that you will one day, become totally blind if you live a long life.

My godmother saw her mother's sight decline into total blindness knowing that she would share the same fate.....and she lived till 105!

Last Week

It was a Business Meeting but unfortunately many board members were unable to attend the previous board meeting owing to various factors so the main discussion was on fund raising resulting in a decision to use Back-A-Buddy for our Comrades Marathon run by Rotarian Terence Baker.  It was also decided to have our May Social Brunch on Saturday 23rd.

Next Week

Tony Giles will be talking about maths with the accent on Welsh..

International - Costa Rica

Lush rainforests and world-renowned birding help draw hundreds of thousands of travellers to Costa Rica every year. That backdrop belies many needs, including for children in the country. Stéphane Dähler, a Swiss expatriate who works in the tourism industry, reports his Rotary Club of Belén, northwest of the capital of San José, is committed to improving education and health outcomes. In February, members worked at the Español School to assemble, sand, and paint 112 desks funded by the club, District 4240 in Costa Rica, and Rotarians from District 5280 in California. The following month, Belén Rotarians visited the Santiago Alpízar School to drop off books. To help fill gaps in health care, the club held a medical camp in rural Puriscal in December to offer blood screenings and a toy distribution. The club “has become a bridge that unites Costa Rican industry with the common good, showing that the private sector and volunteers can generate a positive and sustainable effect,” Dähler says.

This Week It's a Business Meeting

 We have a cartoon.

Last Week

It was our Social Evening at Fahrenheit Seafood and Grill.  9 members and partners attended and it was a very good evening.  

There was a 15% discount for pensioners and

some of our younger members must have looked older than I thought as we all received the discount.

Thanks to Andrea Pearson for the photographs.

Next Week

Claudette Medefindt of Retina SA on Retinal Genetics.

Hereditary eye diseases are genetic conditions causing vision impairment, ranging from childhood blindness to age-related vision loss. Key disorders include retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, inherited glaucoma and congenital cataracts often diagnosed via genetic testing. Treatments include gene therapy, such as for Leber congenital amaurosis.

International - India

The city of Thane, northeast of Mumbai, is recognised for its arts and culture scene. It’s
home to drama troupes, an art expo, international film festivals, and comedy venues. What it was lacking, says Atul Bhide, of the Rotary Club of Thane Hills, was a large showcase for aficionados of the written word. To amend that, the club (which also sponsors a book-reading initiative for youth) launched the Thane Literature Festival. Over two days in November, bibliophiles toasted 22 authors and poets who read from their work and participated in panel discussions. The event honoured journalist and writing coach Bachi Karkaria with the Thane Literature Festival lifetime achievement award, and judges critiqued entries in a short-story contest. “Encouraging reading habits and love for literature for Gen-Next is also our motive behind this literature festival,” says Bhide.

 

This Week - Adri Visser, National Council Of and For Persons with Disabilities

Adri Visser

 

 The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) is an NPO, established in 1939, that plays an integral role in shaping South Africa into a country where persons with disabilities have access to equitable opportunities and rights. For eight and a half decades, we have been running awareness programs, influencing government policies, promoting physical and social access, and facilitating economic participation for and with persons with
disabilities.

NCPD Vision

An all-inclusive and equitable society where the human rights of all are upheld and protected.

NCPD Mission

Advocating, lobbying and raising awareness for and with Persons with Disabilities in achieving collaborative social and economic inclusion through innovation, partnerships, research, development and services.

Last Week

Johann de Wet gave us a very interesting talk on Dewetshof Wine Estate and specifically on Chardonnay.  It was much appreciated and stimulated many questions.

Next Week

It's the 5th Wednesday of the Month and we will be having an evening meal at Fahrenheit Seafood and Grill  Cnr Terrace, 1 Hudson Ave, Eastleigh, Edenvale, 1609

We have been there a couple of times before and for our more elderly members we will get 15% off the bill.  I will put a poll up on WhatsApp as well as on the non member WhatsApp.

International - Mexico

Within hours of deadly floods and landslides that struck Mexico in October, Rotary members were responding. In hard-hit Poza Rica, Rotary and Rotaract members brought residents to safety, ploughed mud-laden streets, and moved house to house to clean properties. The effort was supported by clubs throughout District 4185 and by neighbouring districts and others abroad. The Rotary Club of Poza Rica joined the nonprofit Planet Water Foundation to install four water towers and a water block in the neediest area and deliver purified water elsewhere. The club also coordinated with World Central Kitchen to provide hot meals. Still, “we desperately need help to get back on our feet and return to our normal lives,” says club member Pepe Badillo. “The houses were a total loss. Everything was destroyed, from a single plate to the bedrooms on the second floor.”