OPPENHEIMER VISITS TO ORANJEMUND

[Charmain Meier (Heusdens)]

Who of the older generation remembers how everything was in spick and span for the Oppenheimer family's visits many moons ago.  I clearly remember the clean up that used to take place before Harry or any of the other Oppenheimer family used to visit the mine.  The kerbing along the tar roads were painted again and the streets were so clean, one could eat off them.

Then the catering department used to prepare all the good food for the visit.  The accommodation, those years run by Tannie Miemie de Witt, was upgraded and prepared to house the visitors.

Come on Clive Symes, you should have a clear picture of that.

Charmain Meier (Heusdens)

[Vikki de Jager (Summers)]

Yes, even as a child one could easily tell that someone important was coming to visit. Flowering plants appeared in all the beds around the centre of town, trees were pruned, potholes filled, white lines on the roads and the kerbs in the centre of town were painted, litter disappeared ... even the see-saws, jungle gyms and swings in the parks got painted. Often buildings in the centre of town also got a lick of paint.

[Michael Alexander]

And there was always some big do where all the booze and food was on the house... that was until the bigwigs left the building, then the bar would suddenly turn to a cash bar or close.....   :-\

[Clive Symes]

Com'on Mike be generous, you know how soon the bottles went over the wall outside Lambs Park.

If you could find, the appointed custorian of the cash, we could always ( sorry usually) squeese something out of the kitty.( Derek Moor was obliging)

However I must agree in later years, it got more & more difficult, people couldn't seem to find the nuts for the decision / responsibility. ( Or perhapse were not left with the discretionary amount)

[Michael Alexander]

I remember about 20 years back, everyone would be drinking castle lager, that was the beer of choice back then, 96% of the whites drank the stuff, and a few lions.... Now a couple of whites drank Tafel lager or Whk lager back then, and we were always mocked that we were drinking piss beer, then when the new GM turned up, Keith Whitelock, he drank Tafel Lager, the next company function that occured all the buggers were suddenly drinking Tafel, to stay in step with the Number  man.....

[georg ruf jr.]

You would have this feel in change of athmosphere.

[SandyB]

Michael  .  you must be  referring  to the  always present  brown  nose  club ..   My  dad  had  little  time or  regard  for people  like  that....

[georg ruf jr.]

Hey that makes me sick. I'm breakfasting!

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

The Chairman Harry Oppenheimer in O-mund in 1978

[Michael Alexander]

.... and quite a big club it was.....