Hi everybody,
Yup you all identified Dunja correctly. Hi Susan, nice to see you remember me from our schooldays in Windhoek.
I'm Dunja's brother Carl. She introduced me to this website today and I must say it was a very emotional experience going through all the photos and postings.
We lived in Oranjemund from 1973 to 1984. My mother, Brunhild, worked in the cash office at the shopping center and my dad, Alfred, at number 4 plant. At the time we lived at 55 - 1st Avenue. For those of you who can remember, we used to have the highest tree in Oranjemund growing in our garden untill about 1981 when it had to be cut down after I killed it (it was an accident. really it was). I remember all the hangouts that Michael Alexander mentions, especially the windbreak behind our house. I spent most of my childhood in that windbreak. I started smoking in that windbreak.Pity that it's gone now. Any possibility of some pics of the house Michael?
I cant really recall all of our neighbours during the time, except maybe the Tonkin family who lived at number 57 and the Bergh family at number 58. He and his wife were teachers at OPS, teaching history and I think geography. She was a fitness fanatic and was always running to the Pink Pan and back. I remember the policeman, Dirk Coetzee, lived a few houses up the road. He used to threaten to shoot our dog (the black labrador) on a daily basis. Every day when he passed by our house on his way to work and back our dog would jump over the gate and take him out.
I remember playing marbles in the streets quite well. First avenue was quite a rough gravel type of tar road and we would slip through the alleyway next to the Bergh's house to play in second avenue which was much smoother.
Living in first avenue meant we had many gemsbok visiting at night. My mother would wake up many mornings to find her prized rosebushes gone and the familiar elongated heart shaped footprints everywhere. Many evenings on my way home from the movies I would encounter a gemsbok or two at the traffic circle between the tennis courts and the GM's house.
Anyways, now that I've joined the forum, I'll share some more memories as time goes on. I've got a stack of old photos that I'll scan and post as well. It's great hearing from all you guys again. Thanks for the great website Michael!
Regards,
Carl Wrbka.
Hi there, did you see our class photo???? if not it is somewhere under photographs - school.
Stephanie Carr was asking about Andreas a few years back, maybe you should tell him about the
site.
Hi Susan,
I think I've got an old Std 5 photo somewhere. I'll have a look and post it in the forum. Andreas is living in Holland at the moment. I'll send him the url for this site.
Cheers
Carl.
PS. Do you know what became of Tony Smith (Gallagher)? He was at Centaurus with me from Std 6-8 and then his family moved to Joburg after his brother, Paul, died. I last heard from him in 1984.
already posted our std 5 photo. Dont know what happend to Tony Gallagher, maybe one day he'll hear about this site.
Great to have you back Carl, Did you remember the Meyers, also in 1st avenue..... they were Belgians.....
did they live across the road from the van Greunens?
round about 66-1st ave , I rekon, also had tall pine tree's in the garden....
Hi Mike,
Cant say I remember the Meyers, I'll find out from my mom if she remembers them.
Carl
Sorry... that was De Meyers....
I remember a Belgium family living out there. They were kind of scary. as if there was something going on....
Beetlejuice???
Carl, I am Dirk Coetzee's daughter - yes I remember the dog! Used to storm out your yard and came chasing at us.
Do you remember the people who lived in 61/1st - the one daughters name was Vasti - their house burnt down one night. There were also people living next to you who used to own a trampoline, and we would go there to jump our hearts out on it.
Welcome Carl
I wrote that in a new tread
Here you remind me of your mums name Brunhild, your dads i remebered as Alf
Hope you contribute here a lot and find old friends perhaps make new ones in the O-mund family
Georg ( Here as Georgswa ) With Son Georg jun and Marcel, about the complete Ruf ´s
Hi Everybody,
Thanks for the tremendous welcome to the forum! Then again, thats how I remember Oranjemunders. One big happy family.
Hi Dalene, I heard from my sister that your father has passed away. I was saddened to hear the news. He was a good man and I can remember him well. If only all policemen nowadays were like him. He really lived for his career and was a perfect example of what a policeman should be. He used to cycle to work and back on his "dikwiel" bicycle and whenever he passed our house our dog would give him a real hard time. Eventually, when we saw him comming, we would hide our dog in the house in case he carried out his threat. We were sh*t scared of your dad, but respected him a lot.
I remember the girl Vasti. She insisted on being friends with us even though we didn't really like her a lot. She would invite herself over to play whenever she felt like it and we eventually learnt to accept her. I can't recall the fire though. Was it after 1983?
I still remember the first time I met you. I was stealing lemons from your tree which overhung the fence in your front yard. You caught me in the act and we started chatting. Then you dared me to eat a lemon without screwing up my face! Like father like daughter... Nevertheless I remember leaving with a bag full of lemons.
Carl - yes my dad passed away in May 1999 and my mom just last year 1st Dec. Say hi to your mom from me.
Ah - the lemons! I can still eat a lemon without screwing up my face - love them.
My dad used to paddle his bike to work to keep fit after his heart operation. Also used to go swimming. What did eventually happen to your dog - it was actually a very beautifull dog - this pitch black labrador.
Hi Dalene, sorry to hear about your mom.
As for the dog, my dad shot him shortly after my parents split up. Due to CDM policy at the time us kids and our mom had to leave OM after my parents decided to split up. My dad decided that the dog was just another burden in his troubled life and took him to the dumps behind our house and shot him. I have never forgiven him for that.
Hi Dalene, yes I remember the people that lived next door that had the trampolene. I remember they had a mango tree in their garden and always use to steal those mango's. As for your parents, I am sorry for your loss. I remember your dad well too :-) He was the one that found my dad....
Carl & Dunja
Welcome!! Your mom worked with my sister at the shopping centre. My sister is Suna Engelbrecht. Where does your mom live? Suna and Eddie are living in Koffiefontein. We are planning to visit them at the end of the month. Regards to your mom.
Charmain
Hi Charmain,
I remember your sister Suna. If I'm not mistaken they lived in 2'nd avenue???? We used to play with her kids, I just cant remember their names at this moment. My mom is well and living in Pretoria.
Charmaine, I thought the face looked familiar. I remember the Engelbrechts very well. Liezl and I use to do horse riding together .... The last I heard they were living in Lime Acres in Kimberley. If you could please give Suna and Eddie all my regards. I would love to hear from Liezl so if you speak to her, please give her all my love and I really would love to hear from her....
I have a long scar on the back of my head From a bar fight in Lime acres..... but thats another story....
Carl & Dunja
What a coincidence, I also live in Pretoria. Please forward your mom's address and contact detail to me, I would love to get in touch with her. My sister is not well at all, suffering as she has emphezema. She is due for her check up in Bloemfontein tomorrow and depending on that, they will be coming to Pretoria for a second opinion. Time really flies, I still remember you guys as "klein tjokkertjies" that used to float around 2nd Ave where we lived. It is so good to know you are on the forum.
Keep well
Dunja
The kids were: Maria (we used to call her Kleintjie), Clark and Lisal. Clark and Lisal live in Cape Town and Maria in Kleinzee.
Hi Charmain, thanks for the reply. My mom lives at Selrose Park retirement village in the Wilgers. You can get hold of her at 012 8076052.
Hi Carl
Thanks for your mom's contact detail. I will surely try and get hold of her. If you do by any chance speak to her, please tell her about me and that I will be contacting her. My hubby arrives home from Iraq for his month's break, so I will only contact her after middle May.
Keep well
Charmain