Rick’s Oranjemund history lesson

[barb (Fry)]

Question: How did Lamb's Park get its name, and what was its original function?

As Sandy said  "Lambs park was the lounge area off Kateys bar  where  children coould sit with their parents if they  wanted to  go out for a drink .."

So it was an open air area with seating (for socializing) - where the "lambs" the children.......and the "park" the grassed area with the fish pond.

[Michael Alexander]

On behalf of Rick:

"Last week's question: How did Lamb's Park get its name, and what was its original function?



Pretty much on the money Sandy and Barb!



Answer: The chronicles tell us; "An area outside the Recreation club was opened and George Lovett called it Lamb's Park, after a nursery school. It was an open air café where mothers could bring their "lambs", and The Silver Band, started in 1954 and conducted by Jack Hockney played at the opening. It was a very popular area and was frequently used on a Sunday morning. This was the only eating place open at this time (I believe Cora's place opened soon afterwards). Families would gather and genial conversation (read gossip) flowed in equal proportion to the drinks, and at times it was hard to imagine that it was all happening in such a remote desert environment".



Forever "migrants": (Part 2) A day in the life....



After an early breakfast at the compound, the Owambo "house boys" would set off to the various homes for another day's work (this would start at 7am at Villa Barron), the fortunate ones by bicycles, but for most it was a case of "shank's pony" (foot slogging) in whatever elements that particular day would produce. Once again, without belabouring the point, the wind and sand were just part of another day in the life of anybody (permanents or migrants) in the pre-windbreak days of O'mund. With the compound being at the end of 11th/12th Avenues, the poor fellows that worked in 1st/2nd/3rd etc must have had it much tougher than those working closer to the compound.



On arrival for a new contract each Owambo would receive a coloured wrist-band on which his particular employee number would be punched. I was under the impression that the different colours would denote the length of service (number of contracts), but be that as it may, there is a more detailed topic dealing with that as well as the wage structure elsewhere on this site. This band was not to be removed until the end of his contracted period and with his "pass card" was to be in his possession at all times! The card would be signed on his arrival at his place of work, and signed off at the end of his shift (overtime hours would also be entered on this card). As for the curfew imposition, while it was in place, oftentimes overtime (babysitting etc) would be worked, but as long as he arrived at the compound within a certain period of time after the card was signed off, no problems arose.



After seeing to breakfast for the children and pets many had to accompany the children to school, before returning "home". Shopping would be the next item on the agenda, and after getting the shopping lists from the lady of the house (without which, their presence in the town would be regarded as suspicious) they would walk or cycle to the shops, often with a push-chair (with infant), wheelie-basket and/or family dog/s in tow. As mentioned previously, they were very proud of the young children in their "family" and would brag about their charges to anyone who would listen. Each specific "shop", the Store, the butchery, the market, the post office etc. would have an Ovambo entrance, and they dared not set foot in the main buildings, and loitering was 'verboten'! Back home the daily chores would be taken care of before it was back to school to fetch "their children".



Oftentimes while on their shopping trips, or on their way back to the compound at the end of a shift, they would study the clothing (hats and shoes being very popular) in the display windows of the store. Then they would find a willing "accomplice" who would  enter the store to procure said item for them, although fitting or changing was not on, so if they ordered a particular style of shoes, size 8, that is what they got! If the shoes did not fit, their only recourse was to sell the shoes to a fellow Ovambo at the compound. The same thing would happen, albeit much more surreptitiously, where alcohol was concerned. The authorities were extremely strict regarding alcohol yet a number of "shebeens" did a steady business in the hostels.



While the Ovambos did have their own "store" at the compound, mail-order companies flourished (non prescription spectacles were a favourite). In fact many "permanents", with permission and accompanied by a hostel official, would shop at this store, as while it might have lacked in the fashion stakes, its clothing items were recognised for their quality and durability. My father swore by the shirts bought at the Ovambo store, and always had a few in stock.



Between about 5pm and 8pm when the breadwinners of the family would arrive home, a steady stream of "house boys" would wend their weary way back to the compound, to the hostels and their friends.



What was absolutely amazing about the "apartheid" that existed in O'mund was the lack of personal crime attributed to these fellows. My mom, who was not really one for gossip, recalls only ONE incident of alleged "indecent assault" in twenty-one years! (It must be said that although the man in question was relieved of his duties, most of the townsfolk believed that a particular bored (staff) housewife had instigated the incident in question.)



So while many families curled up in their beds at night in a place we called home, our Owambo friends would, until an unanticipated new dispensation in the distant future, remain ...................forever "migrants".



As a post script, and relative to the fact that the "migrants" were not allowed into the shop, my Mom tells me of a time when my father finally remembered their wedding anniversary after about twenty years.  My father would never enter the 'Store' in his work clothes, but only realised the quandary he was in on arrival at the front door. While standing sheepishly at the entrance and trying not to look too embarrassed, he finally saw a lady friend that he knew and asked her to buy a card and a box of chocolates for my Mom. He filled in the card (very romantically I am told, changing all the "I"s to "We"s) and proudly presented them to my Mom. It was only a few months later that she heard the full story, and was able to thank the kind lady who had helped father out of the pickle in which he had found himself, it was none other than ................................ .Eleanore Buchanan!



P.P.S.  Did you receive my mail Barbs?"

[SandyB]

Thanks for that one Mike ... warm and mushy again .. 

[SandyB]

To add  to the  Lambs park and Domestic  topic ... and old pic of the lambs park area .. my Mum and dad  must have been pretty young then ...maybe was born yet or not .. no idea ??   and then  Mom in the old shop ...also of interest .. the old bowling green ... cant  remember if I  posted it before ..
and yes i love the quip on our domestics  with their adopted children  comparing and complimenting .. 

[Bertie Horak]

Wow Sandy, that picture of your Mom and Dad at the pond with the water lilies is just beautiful.  Don't know why, but to me it is just an amazing picture that gives me a peaceful, calming feeling.

[SandyB]

Yes Bertie ,, i get the same feeling at the energy that picture  emanates ... its like  i remember  when we used to go on our  holidays .. we  always  used to  stay at the  old  highstead Manor Hotel  corner of  St Johns Rd and High  level road sea Point ...  the  beach was about  a  500 m walk away .. we  would  be  swimming  in  milton Tidal pool  and I  would  see my  Mum and dad  walking  along  sea point   promenade , hand in  hand ,, tender to each other  freed of the  daily  worries  of work and life  and now with time to  really give  some  quality attention to each other ..  and I  used to  feel  proud ,  good  and reassured  inside ...  its  the  rigours of life that  cause drift  but  each holiday i suppose was like  mini  honeymoon  that kept it all nicely  cemented together ..   Magic   

[Bertie Horak]

You hit it on the nail - simply MAGIC!

[SandyB]

On that  subject of love ..  a nice pic of my Mum and dad  still in scotland .. after the war ..  my dad holding Peter my oldest boet .. looking and  smiling at my Mum .. they made a  handsome couple , young and with a bright future ahead of them ...

[Bertie Horak]

Sandy, another great "good feeling" photo that speaks to you!  Wonderful.

[Michael Alexander]

Great Pics Sandy, especially the top one..... I never remembered Lambs PArk, I always thought that was the area between the main Rec club hall and the single quarters.........

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

Wow I'd forgotten about that fishpond......thanx Sandy B bunches of memories

[barb (Fry)]

yes Ricky Thank you

[Michael Alexander]

Why did this awesome topic go quiet? Ricky ! You on leave or what?