Oranjemund Online

ORANJEMUND DISCUSSIONS! => Things I Remember About Oranjemund! => Topic started by: Clint Ebstein on July 08, 2007, 05:40:33 PM

Title: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Clint Ebstein on July 08, 2007, 05:40:33 PM
Nothing was better than the first avenue bushes. Dense bushes where we made dens and played for hours,it was also a great place to find earthworms for fishing..........the good old days
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Robert Bruce on July 08, 2007, 05:42:55 PM
The trees! The bamboo. Great place to play Robin Hood. Also learnt hoew to fall our of those fir trees.
Great fun.  ;)
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on July 08, 2007, 06:08:13 PM
And the dens we built, the traps on the pathways and the Ovambo toilets.....

Oh and the fire's we made now and again , that almost burned our bushes away...

hehehehe!

Oh and don't forget the dumps behind town garage!

;D
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Robert Bruce on July 09, 2007, 08:56:44 AM
I liked the dens we built in the sand. Also the forts from the fencing! Those things got pretty sophisticated in their designs.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Ann Gander (nee Greenway) on July 09, 2007, 12:37:58 PM
My memory was definitely of the "Trees" in the 60's.  Forbidden, of course, for play but all the more exciting for it!  I understood they were grown as a windbreak but now you say they have gone?
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on July 11, 2007, 12:42:10 PM
Anne, a chap called Keith Ager, who worked for Parks & Gardens had them cut down in the early 80's as they were a security and fire hazard. They have been replaced by new tree's that look like sticks and do not grow, I will put a photo up in here in the next few days....

:o
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Warren Weidemann on July 11, 2007, 01:37:05 PM
The first avenue bushes?
That's where I received my first bee sting. Aaah the memories...
If I remember correctly it was at Paul's 10th birthday party (or some such thing) and somebody decided that it wouldn't be such a bad thing to go and throw rocks at a massive beehive in the bushes. It turned out that I was slower than most during the frantic get-away dash through the undergrowth and the bees made me pay. Boy did they make me pay...

These days they have jumping castles at birthday parties.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Sandy Buchanan on July 12, 2007, 11:59:57 AM
Keith Ager ? was he  not  a fitter  at  one  time?  .. name  is familiar ...   anyhow  I find the  idea  that  the  trees  were  a  fire  and  security hazard  quite crazy ...   never knew  of  any real  big  fires   in all my  time  of 24 years   ...   as  a  windbreak they were  damm  good .. as  a  magical  jungle  for  us kids   to  play  in  they  were  fantastic ...   As Rob said .. the bamboo   facing the  desert and the wind , then  the  port  jackson  type  trees  and  the  conifers  and then  a  mixed  bag  of  trees  fronting  1st Ave ..  In  the  middle  were  the irigation  channels  and in  a  couple of  places   there  were  small  dams .about 2-3 M wide ..   these  were  our  little  lakes ..   we  made  foofie  slides  with  bloudraad   spanned  between  two  trees  and  20mm  conduit ..  your  drop  off  before  you  smashed into  the  next tree  was a pile  of  leaves .. sometimes a  newcomer  would  freeze  and not  let  go . ending  up   flat  into  the  next  tree ...  the  tree  dens  . the  underground  dens   and  the  splitpole  forts .. they  were all  god  healthy  active   fun  for us  as  kids ...
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Ann Gander (nee Greenway) on July 12, 2007, 01:34:11 PM
Foofy slides!  Now that's a word I haven't heard for ages.  They were great wherever you had them set up.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Sandy Buchanan on July 12, 2007, 01:49:58 PM
Anne ..  question  I wanted  to  ask ..   tried  to  send to  your email  but it  bombed ... you  mentioned Miss Hattingh  the  art teacher  ... I  recall  her  Nickname  being Barry  which was  strange  for a woman ..  But  her  Surname  when  she  got married  .. I'm damm  sure  it  became   Solomon  ,  he  was  in  security .. maybe I'm way  off track  but I can  hear my  Moms  voice saying  the  name  ...   kind  of  imprinted in  my  head ..     help ??
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Nada Ulbrich (Rall)(RIP) on July 12, 2007, 03:28:12 PM
Sandy< I seem to recall that name.  Barry was most probably short for Barendina or something.  Who remembers the foofy slide at the beach?  It was later built on Lovers Hill(north east end of town), now known to the young, reckless, drinking, partying teenagers (we were never like that! ::)) as the quarry. Yes, the first avenue bushes is but a memory.  I remember the fights that the Boere had against the Souties, trying to find their dens and destroying it. There used to be talk at times of baboons and monkeys but we never saw any and I cannot remember ever hearing of any child that was bitten by a spider, scorpion or a snake.  They must have been there but it did not bother us. My children don't believe me when I tell them of these things.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Ann Gander (nee Greenway) on July 12, 2007, 05:52:21 PM
Sandy - I'll check the married name of Miss Hattingh.  Munro sprang immediately to my mind but I can check with the family
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Ann Gander (nee Greenway) on July 13, 2007, 12:02:08 PM
Sandy, you're right! It was Mrs Solomon (Mrs Munro was my art teacher in Kimberley!).  Also, I do recall her being called Barry but never knew why.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on July 13, 2007, 01:11:14 PM
Thanks to Robert who sent in this picture of the Foofie slide... I'll post this pic on the main site later.

Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Robert Bruce on July 13, 2007, 01:21:03 PM
Mike,

You better thank Bev for the photo. I just used some magic to extract it and to trim it into shape.

The photo is Bev's and I think it is Bev hanging onto the foofie while coming in for a bumpy landing!

Strange that over the past few months I have seen two foofies here in UK. One was setup at our local village fair. The other was at a large event. Must be some SAFFERS on the Entertainment committees!
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: SandyB on July 13, 2007, 02:29:53 PM
To  Anne  ..  re : Barry  Solomon  yes  could  not  get  rid  of  that  voice in my head  that  keeps  on repeating itself  ,, I  suppose  because  my  Mom  was  fond  of  her   as  she  was    just  that  bit  different    and  slightly  more  laid  back  than   other  folk  , she  nurtured  the creative  spirit  no  matter  how stunted  or  good  in the  children  under  her care ( remember  the smocks  we had to  wear  for  art  class )  In  being  diferent she  from  what I  can  gather  from Robs  comment  from iscatterling  was  that  she  helped  an ovambo  artist   to  grow ( check  the  story  with  Rob )   and yes  in  those  days  that was  being  different ..
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on July 16, 2007, 11:41:58 AM
As stated earlier, not much remains of the 1st Avenue bushes, cleared ground with houses going up...

Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Ann Gander (nee Greenway) on July 16, 2007, 12:53:13 PM
How sad!
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Ann Gander (nee Greenway) on July 16, 2007, 12:56:17 PM
To Sandy - Yes, I too remember as a lovely, calm person who nurtured those with talent and "did her best" i.e. me, with those of no talent.  I remember as always thinking of her as very exotic.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Bev Coates (Now Walker) on July 20, 2007, 04:19:48 PM
yes thats meeeeee, i sent the other pics ive been telling you i had mike so hopeyou got them ok........did you get to take any pics of my old house on 2nd ave yet?
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on August 02, 2007, 12:22:15 PM
Just remembered those long removable metal water pipes, with the sprayers mounted on them, that ran along the footpaths in the mighty first avenue jungles, on a hot day they were cool to play in and during a battle against the boertjies they made good cool awesome waterguns......!

:)
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: SandyB on August 02, 2007, 12:36:05 PM
The  water  pipes .. Mike  an  extract  from  something  I sent to  Robert ( wisely  saved )

The  sprinkler system  ..   school  fields  cricket  fields  soccer  field
> ...apart  from  the school   the  whole town  had  sprinkler systems  ..
dad
> always  used  to say  that  in  O'm  they  grew  grass  on money ...   the
> amount  of  work   and  time  put  into  it  ...   fertilising .. top
> dressing .. spiking .. scarrifying ...  always  something on  the go  with
> all  the  green  lawns  we  had  in  the  town ........  by  1980  the
town
> was  very green ...  like I  said  a  jewel in  the  desert ... as  you
hit
> the  entrance  to  the  town .. there  was  the slight  hill  that  we
used
> to  launch  ourselves  down  on  our  skateboards  ..    the cause of many
> falls ,scars  and  painful  scabs ...   you  would  travel  through
desert
> scrub   and  suddenly  the eruption of  trees  and  lawn with  well  kept
> flower  beds   as  you  entered  town .. invariably  somewhere the pipes
> laid  down and  the sprinkler  heads   going  Chih! Chih! Chih! dispensing
> the  life  giving  water   that  we  could  draw  in abundance  from  the
> river  ...
> We  sometimes  used  to  play  ,, talking  down  the pipes  .. our
version
> of  long  distance   communication  ..    we  would  even " borrow  " them
> to  use  as  part  of  the  roofing   support  for  our  underground  dens
> ( lightweight  and  strong ) Another  method  of communication ... in  the
> trees .. from one tree to  the  next ...  the  string with   the  tins
with
> the  holes  drilled in  ?? ... pull  string  taut  hold  tin  to  mouth
and
> the  other   person   in other  tree  hold  tin  to  ear ..  basic
> communication ..   Over  and  out .. swop  position  of  tin ..  I  tried
to
> devise a  multi user  system  with  more  than one  tin  tied  to  string
..
> it  appears  the  knots  interfered  and  all  " users" had to  try  keep
> their  string  taut .. this   sucked  out  or  interfered  with
> transmission  of sound ..
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Sharon on August 09, 2007, 07:19:54 PM
Talking about the bushes, who remembers the big rope swing just behind our house (Fields) at first avenue and the huge tree house, I remember I MADE Wendly Lujeko jump from that swing, please forgive me Wendy......Who has her email add.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: SandyB on August 10, 2007, 09:31:10 AM
The  first  avenue  trees ..  our  forest .. our jungle .... Me  the  dreamer  at  one stage  thought  that  I  could  build  an  aeroplane  and  fly  .. imagination  has  no  boundaries  for  a  child  but  reality  always  brought  us  back to  earth  .. I used  to  dream  about  this  plane  I  made  out of  a  cardboard  box   with  wings  and  the propeller   driven  by  hand ..  well I made  my  wright brother  cardboard  plane  ..   first reality  check , it  would not  take  off  .. so imagination  said  it  needed  to  be launched , so  Robin Holland  and I went  into  the  trees  climbed  nice  and high in a tree  balanced  sid  craft  on  some  branches .. I  climbed  in  got  the  propeller  spinning  and  asked  Robin to  launch  me on  maiden  flight ..   The obvious  happened , me  making  straight  drop  to  waiting  ground  below , me  scrunched  into  this  box  landed  with a  thud   thankfully  upright , only  problem  was  I  was severely   winded  from  the impact ..  It  must have  been a picture  to see  me  gasping  and wheezing in the box  and Robin  trying  to  prise  me out ...   That we  as kids  did  not   get  killed  by falling out of trees  etc  was a  miracle ...
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: barb (Fry) on August 10, 2007, 08:07:08 PM
Yea, falling out of the top of the trees, we climbed high and lay in the hammocks of ivy growing on the top.  With the usual consequences.
Sprinklers, you could redirect the spray,  and we spend afternoons, dodging the sprayers that where on automatic, tick,tick tick, if you timed it right you could run right through without getting wet.
Also remember the rocks seen in a picture somewhere forgotten until then.
What about the spiky plants at the enterance to town, the tips could be removed and grafitti type messages where scratched into the leaves of the plant.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on August 11, 2007, 05:28:18 AM
What about writing on the tar roads  with those white rocks you could find down at the gun club..... move aside Michaelangelo, the Oranjemund kids are here....  ;D
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on October 05, 2007, 10:55:41 AM
A bit late , but here's a snap of an "Ovambo toilet"..they were scattered all over town and especially down the first ave bushes...this one in particular is the one behind the squash courts....

Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Delia on October 05, 2007, 11:25:32 AM
those white rocks were amazing - we used them to draw our hop scotch squares on the road.

barbara, i also used to love seeing if i could make it thru those sprinklers without getting wet - ducking and diving as they came around.  backwards and forwards i'd go just to prove to myself it can be done. 

i have a faint memory of that high swing in the 1st ave bushes being taken down 'cos someone fell and a stick went into their ear and pierced their eardrum or something??  management thought it too dangerous and took it down.........not that that ever stopped us kids from just putting up another one  ;D 

thanks guys for so many beautiful memories which have lain dormant within me only to be resurrected on reading about them - mike, all thanks to you for starting this brilliant site - it's brought back so many happy, happy memories of the best childhood anyone could ask for...........just shows, even tho' we're generations apart, we all basically got up to the same s...t. 

Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee) on October 08, 2007, 12:53:21 PM
Don't remember who the guy was that had his ear pierced way back then, but I remember I was there that day - I think Hugo van Rooyen was there too - and as our house was the nearest  (63 1st ave) we went there to call someone for help. The piece of branch, about as thick as a pencil, pierced the poor guy's ear and we still had to brake him free from the main branch so he could get up from the spot where he was "pinned" down.   My dad cut down our ropes.  ( Lucky for the guy his eardrum was'nt damaged but I suppose he was a kind of trendsetter.  All the kids nowadays put studs in their ears from top to bottom. )  We later had two ropes up the tree and that led to a few mid-air crashes, but I don't think anyone ever klikked about an injury again for fear of my dad cutting down the ropes again.  What my dad never knew, and we never told him till the day he died, was that we "stole" one of those ropes from his tool-pondok!
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Bev Coates (Now Walker) on October 09, 2007, 11:54:06 PM
Heres me up a tree in our garden on 2nd ave, the love of climbing trees never left me and i still cant resist the challenge...at 50.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee) on October 11, 2007, 11:36:25 PM
Bev, what good hope you give us "youngsters", in the naughty 40's age group:  jippee, at age 50 you can still reach the highest branches; that's if you're willing to climb.  And why not act out a few 'aapstreke' while you are at it? 
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Bev Coates (Now Walker) on January 14, 2008, 01:00:04 AM
Hi Darlene......I have only just seen you message....i still get verrrry confused by this site ha ha..........what is aapstreke????
I havent got a clue ....but i like a challenge ha ha hoolahoop1
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee) on January 14, 2008, 08:51:21 AM
The word aapstreke is figure of speech for any funny antics you try - being humerous, pulling the odd joke on someone else, something you do that might be an embarrassment to yourself (but you accept it that way) - one usually use it when speaking to children  -  the English translation for it is Monkey Business.

So, do go about your aapstreke the way you want to  -  it's yours!
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on January 14, 2008, 12:54:10 PM
 beautiful   50 is the new 40    cheers  to us  hoolahoop1
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Clive Symes on January 14, 2008, 08:06:20 PM
Just saw the picture of Bev climbing the tree's in her garden in second ave.

I remember all the trees my Dad planted especially the fir trees in the garden in first ave, from the top of these you were able to see the sea on a clear day.
Kids that lived in Oranjemund certainly learned to climb trees like monkeys.
At one time you could move from one end of the 1st ave trees to the other end and back without touching the ground
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 14, 2008, 08:13:32 PM
@Clive, I remember trying to do that, the Ovambo Toilets and the big green substation (where the angling club is today) always proved to be an obstacle...

Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: wayne wilson on January 14, 2008, 08:28:48 PM
hi CLIVE,MIKE.i was caught climbing trees by BERTIE HAWKINS who was in charge of parks and gardens.i told him my name was teddy coffin who was my cousin.unfortuatly he knew my folks don and sybyl wilson and noreen and joe coffin (my aunt and uncle)so didv not get away with it.i had to work at the rec club gardens 4 2 weeks as punnishment.you could not pretend to be anybody else those days everybody knew everybody in town.news was quicker than the phone ,before you got home your folks knew everything you had done that day even though they had been working the whole day.regards WAYNE.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: georg ruf jr. on January 15, 2008, 04:42:06 AM
How true that is Wayne.
laughpoint
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on January 18, 2008, 12:17:35 PM
I recall Diane Young and I bunking out one night,my father discovered this and came looking for us. Well we cleared the Lisser's back fence,(ok Diane did after pushing me up and over) run into the first Ave trees and hid.My father must have seen us because all of a sudden he was shinning the cars headlights into the trees missing us by millimetres lighting up a gemsbuck breathing down our necks.Well we stood very still and sh*t ourselves untill father dearest ,gave up and went home.  The both of us have never forgotten this story and bore people sh*tless with it after we've had a few  quickdop
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee) on January 19, 2008, 07:13:43 AM
Wonder how many others can also blame the "brake marks" in pants on a gemsbok.  Not many other people from the 'world out there'. Not ashamed of it, so I can add my name to the list as well.  I personally know the ledgend from the Kalahari - Tiens Spanneberg - who catches gemsbok bare handed from his bakkie window, but that's maybe the only other person in the world who has had such an encounter with a gemsbok, but cannot add the sh*t part to it.  Him and his fearless tjommas will never admit that they have ever had an encounter where they were afraid of something.  That's where we lots are unique in our ways - we can admit even the red faced moments of our lives and laugh about them, 'cos no matter what, they are part of your life and you can't wipe it away.  Like Sandy on his Bike  -  ha ha ha  - would have loved to see that.  Miracle how one's body can sometimes keep the balance on moving things when your brain is so toppled over already.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: angus Buchanan on January 19, 2008, 08:06:56 AM
Hi Clive,
Yes - we all tried that and succeeded on occasions but we had many a fall in the process (starting on one end of the bushes and jumping/swinging/falling from tree to tree until the end) Do you remember the parks and gardens bloke -"Hawkeye Hawkins ' - he was the person who always chased us out of the trees/broke our dens/broke our "great escape" tunnels etc.? Many a good day was had in those trees.

regards Angus
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Bev Coates (Now Walker) on January 22, 2008, 01:27:24 AM
Hi Angus, .........pleased to meet you on here..........Im really hopeless re finding messages ect......but i saw one from you saying you were good friends with Percy Barratt,   I posted a message a while ago asking if anyone knew Percy.....and not 1 person responded.
Were you friends with him from 1964-66 do you remember,  If so i would love to ask you a few things........

I spent a couple of weeks with Nicolene last year, but she cant remember the stuff about Percy i was hoping she could........I was really sad that he had died before i found them,...........

Luv Bev x

Ps to Clive.........Hi Clive....dont know why i didnt think of this before.......ive always remembered my old address......that is untill i asked mike to take a photo for me.....and having taken me a couple.....ooops of yet again the wrong house....i realized that since getting involved with this site my brain has turned to mush and i dont rememebr anything ha ha......never thought to ask you..........which house number did i live at on 2nd ave.......then maybe i dare ask again if mike has the time  pls
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: angus Buchanan on January 23, 2008, 03:54:55 AM
Hi Bev,
Yes Percy, the Castle brothers and myself were friends in those days (Percy And Phillip were the seniors and Peter and myself the juniors). We lived in 55/2nd ave (between the 2 Barratt families - the Castles were accross the road from Percy and the Hockney familiy were accross the road from us). I do not know where Percy is - have heard nothing about him for years.i remember the Coates girl/s somewhere in the back of my memory bank - we all used to play together many years ago. I will post some of the antics that we used to get up to at a later date.

Regards Angus.

PS. Looks like you people do not sleep over there!
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: SandyB on January 23, 2008, 07:14:31 AM
Ok  good  to  see  Gus  doing some  writing  .. I  been  doing  a  lot   up  till  now ..  right  now  got  lots on  my  plate  .. builders  at  the  house  ..  projects  at work  etc   so  will  be going  into  a  sort of  semiretiremnt  from  the site for  a  few weeks   ..  so  dont get woried  and post  a  where    the @#$% is  Sandy ? topic  Ok ??

@ Mike  what  is  the  name  of   an independent hardware  store  in   O'mund  ??  or does  the  name  Harold  Webster  ring  a  bell ??
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 23, 2008, 11:39:14 AM
Pupkewitz Hardware, the big boys in the country, Harold is the manager, a lot of People call him Harold Pupkewitz, like the owner of the business.....
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: SandyB on January 23, 2008, 12:41:02 PM
@ Mike .. a colleague   of  mine  knows  him  personally .. just tell  him johan vd Westhuizen  sends  regards ..
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 23, 2008, 02:32:21 PM
Harold is a member on the Forum, and he knows a lot of people, anyhow, I sent him the message......

Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Bev Coates (Now Walker) on January 26, 2008, 02:58:51 AM
Hi Angus, great to hear fromyou....i lived next door to the castles across the road from you.......Percy actually died a few years ago....think it was a brain tumor. He has a son who is the image of him and who i did meet last year.......I remember you....but sandy was more my friend.......ill post a pic of me in the garden on 2nd to see if it jogs your memory...............yes angus normal people sleep at this time..... vampire
ha ha
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 26, 2008, 05:50:00 AM
There you go Bev, you got the hang of the picture thing now.......
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Bev Coates (Now Walker) on January 30, 2008, 01:38:49 AM
 BierSuip   Yes Cheers Mike ...you were very patient with me.....however i haven't resized anything .........its cause you changed the allowed size....so they fit anyway....... :emot19:  you could have saved your self that hour....and got to bed before dawn if youd told me that at the begining yesno
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Richard Opperman on January 30, 2008, 06:36:43 AM
Hi Bev,

I have noticed that you have been mentioning Percy Barrat in quite a few of your postings?

I remember Percy very well and I am sorry to hear that he has passed away.

Did his cousin Glen also not die of a brain tumor?

Keep well.
Richard
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Bev Coates (Now Walker) on January 30, 2008, 12:12:41 PM
Hi Richard,   Great to hear you knew Percy,  I was very best friends with his sister Nicolene, and cousin verona,   I so wanted to speak to Percy as an Adult to ask him to explain his action towards me as a child.......and thought any close friends of his might remeber now i cant speak to him.
I cant say i remember his cousin....but i will find out.
Were you in O/M in 64-66.....

Good afternoon to all of you who dont believe i can be awake during day light.. e154..................and no im not still here from last night ...
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on January 30, 2008, 01:20:23 PM
Yes Glen Barrett did have a brain tumor and passed away Dec.1996(not sure of the year guessing now.)
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Richard Opperman on January 30, 2008, 04:08:15 PM
Glen was Verona's brother (Verona and I were in the same class from std 5 to matric) and lived in Table View when he passed away.
Diana did he not attend the reunion in 1993?

Cheers
Richard

PS: Diana should I post the "Madonas with the big boobies"? he he! 
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Richard Opperman on January 30, 2008, 04:28:05 PM
Sorry Bev, yes I was in Oranjemund from 1961 to 1979 and we Oppermans lived in E11/6 Avenue.
We were two girls and two boy, namely Liz, Cathy, Gary and Richard.

Our group in high school were teenagers such as Verona Barrat, Denise Barrat, Paul Lisser, Dianne Young, Diana Boehme, Dave Eyre, brother Gary, Sandy Buchanan, Jan Rootman, Rianer Siebers, Peter Pote, Erwin Lisser, Michelle and Eillen Ockwelle and Dany Belelie.

Kind regards
Richard 
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 30, 2008, 05:49:17 PM
@ Richard, that would be THE FALLEN Madonna with the big Boobies!

:emot19:
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on January 30, 2008, 08:40:05 PM
Michael go eat sh*t. You horrible boy.
I will first have to check it out,but then you have a new camera and no MIchael I did not break the other one.
But you aint posting nothing yet my dear Richard
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 30, 2008, 08:58:24 PM
Man! I miss Paula, at least she was'nt nasty towards me.....    :emot19:
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on January 30, 2008, 09:07:31 PM
Me nasty     e154
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Richard Opperman on January 31, 2008, 04:13:30 PM
Mike you right, yes it is the "Fallen Madonna with the big boobies" - very good BBC series.
Diana please answer my question to you, see above (Glen question?)

Tot later.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on January 31, 2008, 05:25:12 PM
 idontknow
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Bev Coates (Now Walker) on February 04, 2008, 12:20:34 AM
Hi Richard......im sure our paths must have crossed at some time....and i do remember a cathy and a richard from my time .........i must look back to see if youve posted any pics of you all from 66 ish...........I spoke to nicolene about Glen......he was married and had a son, him and his wife had parted when he died....but sorry i forgot to ask what year it was verona nursed him and it was a obviously a very distressing time for them all.

Are you going to the reunion.....

BierSuip
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on February 04, 2008, 01:04:22 PM
Bev there are many photo's of Richard on the site during that time.
I recall Glen's illness well,as Diane Young also nursed him during that time,he passed away on Christmas morning 1996 or 1995(if I remember correctly)
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Bev Coates (Now Walker) on February 04, 2008, 04:28:22 PM
Hi Diana.......Yes Nicolene told me al about it and said dyan and verona cared for him..........to be honest i dont even remember verona having a brother........and not something V has spoken about............, so i was quite surprised to hear the story.....I asked nic.

And by pure chance i found an old pic richard....and i remember his face and kathy's but nothing else....




OOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW I CANT :emot19: WAIT FOR NOVVVVVEMMMBEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Teel on March 11, 2008, 04:18:41 AM
I remember my brother Richard making a treehouse way up high in the trees while my sister and I looked on in amazement as the whole tree then fell down in front of us , Richard, treehouse and all!  I also remember whenever my parents went out at night, which was often, my sister and I used to dress up in Mum's nighties and high heels and run down 1st avenue and into the trees!  Clive Symes I remember coming to your house and your Mum used to call me Teely Bum which always shocked me but made me laugh.  She used to spoil me rotten and I was always very fond of her. 
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Melanie Jonker on March 24, 2008, 04:59:07 AM
I remember the Castle family who lived in 2nd Avenue. We (the Jonker family) lived at 53/1st Avenue and the Castles lived behind us. I was so scared of Mrs Castle. She used to drive around in that little three wheeler car. I also remember the Hockneys - my sister and I used to think David Hockney was so handsome.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on March 24, 2008, 06:47:40 AM
I think everybody remembers the Hockney's   .... as for MRs Castle... nobody will ever forget her.....
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Stephen Hockney on March 27, 2008, 11:42:39 AM
HAHAHA,  LIKE FATHER LIKE SON ,LOL.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Bev Coates (Now Walker) on March 27, 2008, 09:30:55 PM
Hi Melanie....i remember you and richard......i lived next door to the castles........but i dont remember the number......do you know what number the castles were at ....i think i was at 52....but not sure......
Great having you here x
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Melanie Jonker on March 28, 2008, 07:52:48 AM
Hi Bev, I think it was number 52 as I recall seeing that number in another post. Check out the photos Mike has loaded into the Your Photos area and see whether you can recognise Richard or I. My sister also has some photos loaded on that site.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Bev Coates (Now Walker) on March 30, 2008, 12:48:43 AM
Hi Melanie....i do remember you....but more richard...i think he was my age....51 now,  Im still not sure which number i lived at.......i did remember all my life .....right up to joining this site......and now my mind goes blank on stuff.......lol.......
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: DUNJA WRBKA on April 04, 2008, 04:38:10 PM
Oh those bushes bring back so many memories.  Remember stealing ciggies from my dad and then going into those bushes to smoke them.  Not that I really knew how to smoke.  Use to think we were big shots because firstly we stole the smokes and then we were big stuff because we were doing big  peoples stuff. hehehehe  We stayed in 1st Avenue so use to get the Gemsbok that use to come through those trees at night. More often then none our dog would dissapear into those bushes and chase the gemsbok.  How he survived for as long as he did, only god knows ....  Do not quite remember who it was that I use to smoke with but Collette Burgess seems to ring a bell.....
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on April 04, 2008, 06:21:06 PM
Mark Tyler and myself always seemed to attract the fire engine to the 1st avenue bushes.....   meanpuff
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Keith Margetts on April 05, 2008, 05:39:19 AM
Hey Oppie,

I was saddened to see that you had left my name off the list of teenagers who hung out together in the early 70's . . . R U getting old my good friend?

That Canadian Guy,
Keith.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: SandyB on May 01, 2008, 12:01:44 PM
 @  BOBBYSMITH   .. NAUGHTY  THINGS  DONE  AS  A  CHILD .. LOOKS  LIKE  IT  FITS IN  HERE  . IT  HAPPENED  IN  THE  TREES  >>>>>

Thinking  back  to Bobbys  story  of  peeing  to  mark territory  .. I  think  this   habit  goes  back  to  his  childhood  , in  fact If  I  remember  correctly  Bobby  was  involved  in this  one  ..  Bobby  cast your  mind  back  .. when  you  stayed  at  the  top  of  2nd ave ..  + -  4- 5 yrs old ... I  think  some  of  the  Gotsch  boys were  also  involved ..
A  crowd of  us  stole  a  chicken  from  one  of  the  houses  took  it  into  the  trees  , decision  made  to  now  cook  the  chicken  and  eat  it  like  wild  men  of  the  bush  .. no  matches  to  light  a  fire ..  no  prob .. some  bright   spark  said  pee is  warm  so  if  we  pee on  the  chicken it  will surely  get  cooked .. ( the  power  of  childish  imagination  and nothing  is  impossible )  so  there  we   go  all  taking  turns  to  pee  on  the   poor  hapless  chicken  and  whoever  trying to  hold   it   still  getting  splashed ..  the  proposed  feast of  peecooked  chicken  being  cut  short  by  the  owner  of  the  chicken  having  been  told  that  it  was  taken  into  the  trees  by  a  bunch  of  young  reprobates ..  we  were  all  caught  out  red  handed  in  the  middle of  the  cooking  session ..  once  again  in trouble ...

Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: DUNJA WRBKA on May 01, 2008, 02:09:09 PM
Teel & Melanie Jonker...

We use to live at 55-1st Avenue from 1975 - 1984
Why don't I remember any of you? hehehehe
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: SandyB on May 01, 2008, 03:31:39 PM
Our  mischief  went down in  the  early 60's ....
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: SandyB on May 01, 2008, 03:32:34 PM
Oh  yes and  remind Carl  he  owes the story  on maja the bee ..... I  want  to see it ......
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: DUNJA WRBKA on May 01, 2008, 05:22:58 PM
 fireworks1  The good old sixties ....
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Rhona on May 01, 2008, 07:03:55 PM
@ Sandy  e154 once again you have me in tears laughing - you boys must have had some explaining to do getting caught giving the chicken a golden shower..........  laughpoint
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: georg ruf jr. on May 02, 2008, 12:49:57 PM
Quote from: SandyB on May 01, 2008, 12:01:44 PM
@  BOBBYSMITH   .. NAUGHTY  THINGS  DONE  AS  A  CHILD .. LOOKS  LIKE  IT  FITS IN  HERE  . IT  HAPPENED  IN  THE  TREES  >>>>>

Thinking  back  to Bobbys  story  of  peeing  to  mark territory  .. I  think  this   habit  goes  back  to  his  childhood  , in  fact If  I  remember  correctly  Bobby  was  involved  in this  one  ..  Bobby  cast your  mind  back  .. when  you  stayed  at  the  top  of  2nd ave ..  + -  4- 5 yrs old ... I  think  some  of  the  Gotsch  boys were  also  involved ..
A  crowd of  us  stole  a  chicken  from  one  of  the  houses  took  it  into  the  trees  , decision  made  to  now  cook  the  chicken  and  eat  it  like  wild  men  of  the  bush  .. no  matches  to  light  a  fire ..  no  prob .. some  bright   spark  said  pee is  warm  so  if  we  pee on  the  chicken it  will surely  get  cooked .. ( the  power  of  childish  imagination  and nothing  is  impossible )  so  there  we   go  all  taking  turns  to  pee  on  the   poor  hapless  chicken  and  whoever  trying to  hold   it   still  getting  splashed ..  the  proposed  feast of  peecooked  chicken  being  cut  short  by  the  owner  of  the  chicken  having  been  told  that  it  was  taken  into  the  trees  by  a  bunch  of  young  reprobates ..  we  were  all  caught  out  red  handed  in  the  middle of  the  cooking  session ..  once  again  in trouble ...


:

:emot19: :emot19::
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: SandyB on May 06, 2008, 09:22:49 PM
@ Bobby .. you  still have  not commented  here .. I am begging  for  correction or  confirmation .. but  my rattly  grey cells  seem to  remeber  you  being  involved in this  escapade ??
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michele Alexander (Voden) on June 07, 2008, 06:16:05 AM
Yesterday evening whilst taking Shadow for a walk I came across two boys building a den. On the piece of grass opposite where the old shopping centre store used to be there are now 2 private houses and the boys were using old tree stumps and bits of wood - it jut goes to show that not all kids these days are happy to sit in front of the tv/pc/etc.

Will have to take the camera next time and see if the den is still there.

allgood

Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: SandyB on June 07, 2008, 06:58:28 AM
Yes  do  take a pic .. maybe if the den is  sound enough a  family of " informal settlers "  will have moved in ?
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on March 11, 2009, 02:01:30 PM
There is no longer a first avenue bush, The trees were removed back in the 80's..... Government homes were built on th eland , with a smattering of private company homes...... cheap B grade company family units were also constructed along the stretch down towards the town garage side.....

Here is a snapshot of the last dying piece of the 1st avenue bush...
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Michael Alexander on March 11, 2009, 02:02:42 PM
.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: georg ruf jr. on March 11, 2009, 02:07:03 PM
This is where I inhaled my first fag... lol No place to hide anymore.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on March 11, 2009, 08:18:03 PM
 sorriso2  I think we all did Boy Georg.
This is sooo sad those trees served us all well through the generations.  They could have at least built nicer houses.
Title: Re: The first avenue bushes
Post by: Alfred Boehme on March 12, 2009, 07:57:59 PM
There is only one thing left in the first ave bushes and that is the the substation behind the angling club the rest is all gone and a few new trees planted oops and the old ablution blocks