I'm seriously upset... I do not get why this forum has "died" 'cos yes it actually has. There seems to be a bunch of O'munders that still live in O'mund chatting up a storm here other than that...its 4 or 5 of us others passing by. PLEASE I'm not knocking or blaming anybody its really none of our faults. I just don't get why ? Yet suddenly On FB there is a whole bunch of stuff and photo's going on that has already been covered here in greater depth.....I will be honest and say I do comment there so now and again but can't bring myself to post anything in depth ....I've done it here already...what is it with us... that have to repeat ourselves over and over just because it's a different space.....how do we get O'mundonline back????? "cos our History is here. OK Shiraz Rant Over 3d smiles(281) drinking-41
Hear Hear Diana. I have not been a member of this forum for long but yes. Looking back through a lot of posts over the years I can see that there has been a decline in people posting.
So COME ON Oranjemunders old and not so old, living in Oranjemund or not. Get posting.
I have had loads of fun reading through the posts, looking at old and new photos posted by lots of people. It has brought back some really good memories of living in Oranjemund.
In fact I have recently got in touch with the Willson girls and we have had a lot of fun talking about OM. If it wasnt for this forum I dont think I would have found them. strangely enough, Paula and Julie only live about 30 odd miles from where we live. Its a small world.
To all that read and post here on a regular basis..... A very well done to all of you.
A special thanks to Mike A for keeping this forum up to date and spending a lot of time on here. (He has obviously got loads of time to spare...) Kidding Mike.
Keep up the whole hearted support of the grape growers Diane, and of course keep smiling that lovely smile of yours.
XX
Just maybe.[ commenting from my perspective ]. People often think that their wider experiences & memories & foto's of OM will be of no interest to others .
therefore they do not post it , and Facebook is just not the right place for in depth discussions
Maybe people who never lived in OM migt not be so interrested in this forum - But we can accociate with one another . eg the very nice pictures you posted from your grandfarthers album ,
And the pictures of grandma's German teaset . Think about Bob's stories. By the way - Adriaan / Mike V and others . I saw Gert Vermaak about a 2 months ago. He visited me when I was in Hospital . and he and wife Alida is still going strong
agreed , even me been sort of quiet on this site , dwindling activity and my being very distracted .. I have done my fair share of posting on this site , and yes due to my increased activity on facebook , one to do with Woodstock and the shop promoting .. I see the Oranjemund on facebook and have started to add stuff that I had posted on Oranjemundonline and mention so ..hopefully it will create interest ...
Absolutely Sandy.....I hear you...you and I along a few others have remained the stalwarts of this forum in fact we should all drink to that :-) I do not have a problem with the Fb page and do enjoy reading it from time to time but most of what I'm reading is already here......what I don't get is that we have to repeat there what is here and then read it and react to it as if its the first time we've seen it...then 3/4 of those members are members here.... I just don't get the point. It realy isn't a big deal to flip from FB to O'mundonline. drinking-41
OI There Mike A........haven't seen you here in a while...are you still alive 3d smiles(281)
I hang my head in shame, Sorry guys, I only saw this posting now.... tsk!Tsk! and I am sober....
I have not has too much time over the last 6 weeks to spend on the forum, me being in retail and December being our busy period.... then I had the English staying over, rushed off to the Helderberg for a quick holiday and back into work.....
We have covered the topic about the forum and the dwindling numbers who frequent it.... I can see by the stats that we have plenty of folk lurking, but not a posting.... partly my fault, as I need to get my arse into gear and release more historical material, including more of Tuys;s video and the 300 odd Newsletters under my desk at work.... time, time and time..... Tactics being to release a bit of the material every few weeks, get to send all the members on our listing an email and they all return to view the material.... However, as per usual, most just lurk and move on after a day or two without commenting.....
As mentioned before , the number one priority of the forum is to preserve memories, wether it be , video, material, tales of friendships ..... well after 5 years, we have just shy of 5 gigs worth, with more to come....
For what it's worth, I appreciate all 23 of you die harders that continue to post on a regular basis.... the heart still beats.....
have a great night....
are-you-there New-Year2 allgood
One thing you can count on in life, work and online forums - change is inevitable. In the case of this and millions of other online forums, Oranjemund Online is no exception to the rule of passing time and dwindling interest and participation.
Sadly, everything that is new and exciting and which creates a community buzz does inevitably fall foul of the laws of being surpassed by new interests,daily life and family responsibilities.
The only cure I know of for a forum is to nurture the site via a lot of daily work to stimulate input from the memberbase. And herein lies the problem - who would want to be the one to take on this responsibility of devising a well constructed plan and then implement the project to stimulate renewed interest in Oranjemund Online?
I wonder (respectfully he said) if part of the "problem" is that this site is about history - about "when we" - an inevitable path to an end point. A dimming memory of intermittent remembering. I notice too a collapse in interest in a visit to O"Mund planned at the FaceBook page, without a reply to my query as to who asked for it, how many, why it collapsed, etc .
I have a humble suggestion - make the site more about the current and future. Why are the houses empty? Why is nobody phoning the Council about the pipes? Why are O'Munders not doing something about the parks, gardens, flies etc etc. Why is there no interest in my previous queries about access to information about shops, routes, camp sites, tourism etc etc? If the houses are empty and there is a hospital, golf course, river etc, can O'Mund become a retirement village (for some)? From a distance there seems to be so many opportunities, but (again, from a distance) I just hear nihilism (not sure if I spelt that correctly, Mr Zandhuis). If O'Mund has a population of 10 000+, why no newspaper serving the town and surrounding area? Does any O'Munder have anything positive to say about O'Mund's current and/future situation?
Mike
Thank you for your perspective. You are correct. We need to look to the future. In large part this online forum/website is devoted to record/recount and share the personal and collective historical narrative of Oranjemunders wherever they may now be.
Your post brings to mind the oft repeated phrase about recollecting days gone by as being the 'good old days'. Well, the saying ends with a reminder that these are the 'good old days' we are experiencing, so lets enjoy and talk about them too.
Perhaps this forum could be ideal to rejuvenate interest by introducing some poignant communal issues which need addressing.
Thanks for your response. Perhaps the biggest thing we can do for our parents and predecessors is not to let O'Mund die. Perhaps (No.2!) some project(s) will/can provide a focus for support and effort from O'Munders wherever they may be - a bit of putting back into the community, not to relive the past, but to help build for the future. I realise O'Mund is part of an independent country, but having recently camped along the river I was amazed at the vibrancy of the tourism and co-operation by the Namibian Government. In contrast, I never read anything positive about O'Mund (except the past, and then that's ignoring the larger reality for those who were not at the receiving end of the largesse), whether at this site or the FB. Its all dismal negativity. Its no surprise that the envisaged recent reunion to O'Mund imploded, and given the negativity of the feedback of the one person who did visit, it must come as no surprise to anyone that that feedback will be a further turnoff. Does anyone have anything positive to say about the current or future O'Mund?
Mike,
An important question is - how long will Oranjemund remain in situ as a diamond mining town? Is it still an economical investment opportunity? Or do we need to raise funds for a permanent memorial to be created and stuck in the ground for future East winds to sandblast away at whatever material it is made from?
How many years worth of diamonds remain within the sperregebiet to make the town's continued existence an economical proposition?
Reality checks are required as this will help to compile a funding priority schedule for OM. For example how vital is a recreational facility to a dwindling population? What alternatives are there available that require little or no investment for recreational purposes?
I feel sure that the finance people at Windhoek have their 'what if' or 'pull the plug' scenarios being routinely updated and discussed.
No better illustration exists nearby Oranjemund about the fragility and fallibility of the diamond resource than Elizabeth Bay and Kolmanskop. History is filled of examples of ghost towns across the planet which were once thriving communities. We know there is a time coming when economic efficiency will dictate the future for OM.
Has the doomsday trigger for Oranjemund already been pressed?
To the manne and mannine of the past , As like Mike i am allso part and parcel of this unique town ,it was with utter dismay and disgust i read the comments and saw photos of Oranjemund that portrayed this town as falling apart.Nobody posted photos of the nicer side of Oranjemund .Yes the town took a knock and a very hard one a few years ago and i will put my money on it that if it had happened to any other community they would have fallen apart.Not so Oranjemund is slowly rising,the mine is now geared to mine untill 2050 thanx to brilliant innovation and of course technology..You should know we are mining about 400 metres into the sea.
You cannot compare the old CDM to the now Namdeb mine,yes those were the golden years.land of milk and honey.. This mine has stood up time and time again because there are serious profesionals working here.We are looking to the future now.. The town will eventually open but thats life ,we have to embrace it,but we are still living in a safe environment.Wildlife is abundant and of course the scenic beaches is a must to see,sO PLEASE keep the negative comments to yourself as i have seen on facebook ... .We still live here .......my two cents...
Adriaan, I agree.
I went back to Oranjemund for the first time in 30 years. I've also read and heard many negative things about the town in the last few years.
Well, I was PLEASANTLY SURPRIZED. I didn't expect everything to be the same, and prepared for the worst.
Yes, some things have changed, and some things might be perceived as being "neglected", BUT.... There were a few things that actually looked BETTER than when I was a youngster in Oranjemund.
Examples:
* The streets were exceptionally clean, houses looked fresh and painted, the fencing have definitely been redone with two layers of bricks at the bottom, much better as in our time...
* Yes, some parks were not as lush, but if you know me, you know I like my "greenery" - and there were plenty. Loved it, still do!
* I walked through the school while the kids were in class - Buildings all beautifully painted, gardens beautifully kept, the few kids I saw greeted me with such respect, and the discipline I could see is definitely higher than ANY school in SA, and I know they are lucky to get the education I got many moons ago...
* The people were friendly wherever I walked the streets, and of course, the Alexanders gave me a cooling ale (brownie points)...
* The wildlife seemed to be even more abundant and in the less than 48 hours I spent in town, I got to see 3 of the animals I was hoping to see again (gemsbok of which there seemed to be thousands, the silver back jackals, and the white desert snails...)
I can go on and on about how much I still wish I could go back. If my circumstances were different my bags would be in the car right now.
So, I do not see many negative comments, maybe I'm just not part of those groups (by choice OR by simple character), which is good.
In short - I would LOVE to move back. Changes or not, I still had the most soul-enriching, peaceful feeling when I visited, and if some people see the "bad" only, I feel sorry for them, for I experienced the pleasure and goodness I was hoping for when I returned after 30 years.
Just saying.
Now, help the chap in E10/11 pack and move, so I can go HOME!
Hi Bertie,..what a refreshing paragraph ,i just wish everybody would be as pos like you .... yes a lot changed but i can vouch for every word ... it does seems that the parks is slowly being rectified,remember its not parks and gardens anymore but contracters who now and then needs a kick in the backside ... i drove past the lush hockey field this morning,and there were a bunch of kid playing soccer between a herd of gemsbok and neither one seemed scared of one of another,as that particuliar herd og gemsbok were all born right in this town ...so who has playnig rights...or grazing rights ,..hehhe ,and i will see if we can.... spook your guy in that house,,, apparently father inlaw and you guys were neighbours ,Frans Pieterse,and my wife sends greetings,small world ...
Dankie Adriaan and Bertie, great to here some positive news from Oranjemund.
I still like my idea of an O'Mund e-newsletter with regular news about the town, the outsourcing, the school, what's happending in the mine, upgardes to the tar road. There's seems to be so much to talk about that O"Munders living in O'Mund can share with us now outsiders, who don't know what's happening.
Adriaan, nice to hear kids can still play outside without the need for parental oversight! Nice to hear the animals are good. Nice to hear the school is good. Nice to hear the parks are being maintained after a fashion. Nice to hear ....
Correct me if i am wrong ,but this is the only town in the world where kids can go and play without being mugged and all that wrong things that can happen.I grew up here ,my kids grew up here ,Mike A grew up here and his kids as well ,so what more positive does people want,or does being locked up in your own home means its fine,no sir the kids still enjoy their freedom and that means this town is doing something right,watch this space we will add some photos ... but allso nice to read your comments...
Adriaan, I think the profile of OM's safety seems to be similar to smaller towns in South Africa. you can walk in the streets of McGregor etc in completely safety. However, the city is a different story altogether. I live in Rondebosch, cape Town. My family cleared and developed the municipal field next to our house and developed it into a park. We mowed the field for over 15 years and pruned the trees. The trees and other plants are donated by neighbours.The security fence was paid for by the neighbours. Sniper security has two security guys sitting in the park as a fulltime job, and a security hut up the road in Milner Road. My son;s friend was robbed in the park by kids jumping over the security fence from Athlone. About 75% of Rondebosch residents pay over R700 per month to RCID (rondebosch community improvement district, which is basically a cover for ADT patrols) while SAPS patrols are like that picture of three monkeys , the one not seeing, the other not hearing etc.. Sniper also does patrols. There have been at least 15 burglaries in my road and adjoining road over the last 3 years. we fix potholes. One was a gun robbery of a car following pizza-buying residents home. Our president said in his parliamentary opening speech this year that all is OK in the DA's Rondebosch.
Not sure what you pay fro schooling but here for the better state schoold like SACS, Westerford or Rondebosch you are looking at R2500+ a month, not taking into account "Voluntary donations" (usually another R1000 per month, which you sign for when applying to get your kid into school!)
And then of course there's loadshedding, not enough gas ...
And then of course the lack of infrastructure - Rondebosch bridge still same width as 100 years ago!(single lane each way)
No wonder Bertie wants to come back!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like O'Mund is still the land of honey and milk!:) Enjoy! I'm envious (and it seems turning into a grumpy old man although only age 56)
hahaah grumpy old man ,next month i am 55 hehe still feeling like 30 though,must be all this fresh air ,no loadshedding and yes we are still not paying for water,housing elec allthough we will be in the future ,jeez,all that security and they still get mugged ,and then you get some really spoilt people here in Oranjemund that actually moan about going through the border posts and then security ,,,for flips sakes and they don't pay a cent for security..honestly i don't know ,some guys left a while ago telling me .they were so glad to see the last of Oranjemund,believe you me that same guys wants to come back now scarcely two years down the line.. in a few years they will open the town up ,but as some guys will tell you it is a very expensive town to try and stay af you don't have a job,as this area is declared as a national park,the chances tthat every tom dick and harry will erect a shack will be slim ,or so we hope...In due time you will be able to buy your house so lets take it from there,as this could well develop into a very good tourist attraction..and as we have allready seen,a lot of tourists ..... i think when they eventually display the 500 year old shipwreck .it would indeed be a big attraction..
just to make your day (today), did I mention:
1. Nearly every suburb in the southern suburbs now has privately owned (by CID's such as RCID mentioned yesterday) cameras which monitor all vehicle movements, so they know movements. Rondebosch has about 20 such cameras. So if you lived here some okes will know when and where you leave particular areas of Rondebosch. This is using a numberplate recognition system. rather a scary invasion of privacy.
2. Regarding your comments about kids playing freely in the park, we have a massive problem with residents having large dogs, but refusing to put them on leashes, as required by law. I have laid criminal charges against a woman in the street for her dog attacking me. A neighbour across the park pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm after assaulting a neighbour's kid in the park. The guy three houses from me has been warned that his dog will be destroyed after his dog has attacked 6 other dogs. Another two women have been issued with compliance notices. En so gaan dit aan buite OM ........
Enjoy the peace my friend!:)
(It was with tremendous amazement to read from you that in addition to your peace, parks, animals etc you have free water, electricity and housing. Besides our mortgage bond, our electricity and water rates are "loaded" because we live in a "wealthy" suburb and the state schools like SACS, Westerford and SACS receive state subsidies that if they are lucky enough covers their water bills, and the parents cover more than half the salaries (by way of employing additional teachers).
Regards from the grump one!
Mike T ..regardiing the dog issues ,i seriously recommend the shock batons thats available in any security shop Even the small ones will give a big dog such a nasty shock i doubt that he will ever come near you...
Yes, I really want to go back. I tell everybody that the moment I drove past the gates at Swartkops, I immediately started to feel safe and so much at peace, it was SO good... For those 40+ hours I had absolutely nothing to worry about, a feeling I felt being torn away on the way back to the Cape on the long drive.
Mike T, you'll be shocked to hear the horror stories from the South African "small towns". I live in one, in fact, less than 30 minutes' drive from McGregor which you mentioned. Local unrest, drugs, gangsters, theft, plundering.... now all part of the previously tranquil, peaceful towns - it's scary. The only thing that saved my plot from being torched (twice) during violent protests in the last 3 years, was the fact that I've been very kind to the locals and treated them like human beings. More than once I heard single voices ring out through the chanting and hateful masses wielding knopkieries, golf clubs, and burning torches: "Leave the dentist.... leave the dentist!" and they marched on. Nobody wants to go through something like that. And it's unfortunately here to stay, I do not see it getting better.
Adriaan, jy is voorwaar gelukkig. Ek wens ek het die kans gehad om aan te bly in Oranjemund.
Groete aan die familie!
yES Bertie,i have made my choice so dis a lot of other residents too ,I am extremely happy here ,I mean this is my home town where I grew up... why woulkd I want to go and stay somewhere else,only to live like some caged animal ..the fishing is not too bad here ,within three years the rosh pinah road would be tarred ,connecting us with the road network of Namibia. woo_hoo
Okay,Mike T .the photo is for you ,kids playing at the hockey field with the gemsbok grazing nonchalant nearby...