Do anyone remember the sirens that went off every day to remind you of the time?

[polla1]

I remeber those damn sirens every morning going off at around 05:00 in the mornings and then at certain times during the day. I see there are still one or two of the siren poles still standing.

[georg ruf jr.]

Don't remember 5 in the morning. There were sirens for the begining and ending of the lunch hour and shift end I think.

[Cheleen Koekemoer(Pretorius)]

I remember the sirens.  There is still a pole standing near our old house in 8th avenue.  They used to go off in the afternoons at about 5ish or 6ish.  They were damn anoying.

[georg ruf jr.]

Everybody gets what he deserves.
Now I hear the church bells (about 300m) at 6:00 am and sundays at 9:00 am. It's about the same.

[Stephen Hockney]

That afternoon siren was at 16:05 will never forget it,  as its the time i had to be home everyday hahaha i remember it well

[georg ruf jr.]

And up into bed by 16:30pm without supper for being.... hahaha

[Yvette Kroukamp (Biccard)]

Ok I hope I dont offend with my comment, but reading posts on this topic, something very sinister popped into my head. De Beers really milked everyone, of so much, lives for one! How about all the pensioners giving everything to them and for what, a golden bloody handshake. -Wake up people, you lived and danced to DB's tune all your lives.  What did you get in return, nothing. I remember when my folks left town, I applied to the GM for an extension to stay on at least 3 times. I couldnt leave, Omund was all I knew. Eventually I got kicked out! Memories, yes aplenty, your own, created by you and possibly because you are all human after all. But anything else? Its like they chewed and spat people out. Sparing no thought about anything but their absolute greed. Yes, they gave us jobs, yes we had royal lives. How else would they have kept everyone happy and working, and those bloody sirens, to tell you when to wake up, when to eat lunch when to work. Makes you wonder?

[SandyB]

Good  comment , it has been echoed so many  times on this forum ...

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

Yvette, you just made me think of a new logo for DB  -  an animation pic of Pafloff feeding his dog with a bell in hand!

Also - DB has created many an "addict"  - victimising the employer then kicking him out with no "rehab" plan.  Meaning the company gave lots of free benefits, creating Ethopia for the employers, but once those people left OM, they could not cope with life 'outside'.  Not everyone -  but lots of people just sort of went under once they left. 

[SandyB]

Strangely enough for  me , I knew deep inside that it was  in  some  ways a "fools paradise " saw  people  arrive  with nothing and  leave with nothing , the  there were people  who realised this and knew they ahd to invest for the lean days in the outside world  , saved invested  bought property  etc etc ,, .. when I made my decision to leave I knew that things would change ,but actually welcomed it , rent to pay ,power to pay etcetc .. it was actually a pleasure to  have  to  learn  turn  every rand over twice when I moved to CT .. it  felt  good .. and  was  part of  growing  up . but  then  again the comment of  why could  those that  wanted   to  stay after  they ahd  retired not  stay  remains  valid .. it  was a  great  place to  be ..  each  to  their  own ..

[Michael Alexander]

Yvette, my sentiments exactly..... DeBeers did not go that extra mile , sure to an extent they looked after their employees quite well, but that little bit at the end went missing.....

[Charmain Meier (Heusdens)]

Yvete

You description of the sirens is spot on. The bottom line is that there is life after Oranjemund. I lived in Oranjemund for almost 12 years and left due to personal circumstances. I do not regret the time i spent in Oranjemund and it was surely the most wonderful and careless time in my life. But once you have lived in the city I think it will be hard to go back to a small town like Oranjemund. Crime in Gauteng is very high, but you learn to live with it.

[Michael Alexander]

At night in omund.. you feel safe.... the stars are brighter...the jackal howls....... No Thanks! I'm just a country boy.....

[Yvette Kroukamp (Biccard)]

Charmaine you hit the nail on the head! wanted to make that point too. Hey, as much as I loved growing up in Omund and have stunning memories, well lets just say no regrets here. Truth be told, sh*t happens everywhere! There is no perfect paradise. Dont be afraid to make that move Mike!!!!

[Michael Alexander]

Mike... does'nt want to move... he wants everyone else living here to go......   e180