Johann Stander, Chris Parr and John Mack

[Gregg]

Greetings

Does anybody know the whereabouts of

Johann Stander, Chris Parr and John Mack?

Thank you

[John Creedy]

Think John Mac went to ARGYLE mine in AUSSIE.   There is a photo of him and Ronnie Potgieter in the old Number one plant days.

[Michael Alexander]

This was posted under the topic, "My Oranjemunder Emails", about August 2007...

"From the Macks!.

"Hi Michael,



We, John and Jean Mack with the children Georgina and Nolan, are ex-residents from 1970 to 1981.  We left for Australia after being headhunted by what was then the Ashton Joint Venture in Australia and is now Argyle Diamond Mines in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.



I originally joined CDM as a youngish Metallurgist based at No 4 Plant R&D section.  Previously we had spent various periods at Kimberley and Finch Mines and a two year spell of the very beginning of the Orapa Mine.  When we moved up there it was just a prospecting plant and Jean and I took the total staff complement up to six people all living in tents with food cooked over an open fire.



I rose through the ranks to Assistant plant Superintendent then Plant Superintendent at No I Plant, I commissioned and ran No 3 Plant and was then promoted to Divisional Plant Superintendent looking after No3 and No 4 Plant, the Recovery Plant, the 50G sampling plant and the prospecting sites up the river.  One of my success stories was to lead the team that researched, developed and commissioned the Boulder Bounce Plant attached to No 4 Plant – it nearly got me fired – but we won through in the end.



As Chairman of the Angling Club and the Photographic Club we have many happy memories of the place.  Great golf and parties at the Golf Club, cray fishing trips and the fabled Meob Bay trips to our fishing camp up the coast.  (I have just written an article for publication about the latter but have lost my photos – so if anyone has any photos at all of any Meob Bay trip I would be most appreciative)  We put life into the Camera Club and together with Dieter Heiser we took the little shop from a mere R500 a month revenue to over R10,000.  Plus we had all our costs paid by the Recreation Club – as a very wealthy Club we could afford to bring top professional photographers up to the mine for weekend workshops.  Some fantastic club trips were made to the Richertersveld, Bakers Bay, Chamois and Elizabeth bay.



In Australia – I continued to work for the Argyle Mine as a senior manager until 1977 when I took 'early retirement'.  We had bought a 65Ha rundown property 20 kilometres out of town and developed it to a fully developed commercial farm growing bananas, citrus and sugar cane...... what was that I said about 'retirement'!!  We built a beautiful house on the property overlooking a gorge and would probably still be there but for a fall from the top of the double storey roof in late 99'  I spent three month in hospitable trying to get al the bits functioning again – with some success - these days I just think it is just "Knackered Old sh*ts Syndrome" that slows me down!



We finally sold the farm and really retired in 2005 – set off to follow all the back tracks, outback and remote beaches in our Bushtracker Caravan. That is the life we still enjoy though we still have not managed to get out of Western Australia yet.  We paused in our travels late last year to manage 1.35 million acres of ex-pastoral (cattle) country.  It is now owned by the Dept of Environment and Conservation as is planned to be a future conservation reserve.  We are pretty remote – often just the two of us and the nearest neighbour is 75km away.  Having worked to eradicate all the feral cats and other non native nasties they are planning on releasing some endangered native species in the next couple of weeks.  We plan on continuing our travels in November and will head to the coast for a fishing fix and after lolling around in the wine regions for a while we will catch up with our daughter Georgina



She also worked for many years at Argyle Mine and is now in Perth working for Newmont Mining in the IT field.  Not married (too busy) but she has a beautiful rammed earth house up in the Perth hills and hope to retire to being a full time investor in the next couple of years.



Nolan, who was born in Oranjemund, still lives in the Kimberley region of WA and works for the mine.  He was a shift Boss in the pit and now works in Mine Planning.  He also hopes to become a full time property investor.  Neither is married though Nolan has a partner who has three children which he now supports.



To all of ex-residents and current residents still at the mine – "Hi" from Australia.  We hope to come over a visit you sometime in the not overly distant future.



Regards



John and Jean"

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

I have occasional contact with John

They live in Aus and are always on the move with the mobile

Last year they also spend some time in England and returned again to Aus.

John was also member of the Cam Club, you can see him in one of my films ( short shot) Richterveld


Film 1. John drives one of the Landrovers

http://georgswa.ning.com/video/richtersveld-1

Film 2
http://georgswa.ning.com/video/richtersveld-2

Film 3 with Charles Löffler, the pilot name ??, Kevin ( Computer Tech on the Plants also Cam Club, in the Radio " The enclosed Community interviewed"

That recording is here on my music page last 2 entries

http://georgswa.ning.com/music/playlist/popup?a=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fgeorgswa%2Ening%2Ecom%2Fmusic%2Fplaylist%2Fshow%3Ffmt%3Dxspf%26id%3D2671287%253APlaylist%253A26&t=1&s=0&r=0
http://georgswa.ning.com/video/richtersveld-flight

[Gregg]

Thanks to all for info on the Macks.

I worked at Recovery/#4 Plt when he was the #3/#4 Plt Divisional. When he left the then CDM in the '80s he gave me his long-haired siamese cat (Which we promptly renamed 'Mr Mack"). Must still have photo somewhere....

To John...
Ronnie Potgieter... yet someone else I remember from the '80s. Where is he now?

To Georg
Unlikely John will remember me but if you talk to him again please give him my regards (mention the siamese cat, might jog his memory)

Once again, thanks for info.

[John Creedy]

I put a photo of John Mac and Ronnie on the web site.  They were both at plant.  Last I saw Ronnie was in Koffiefontein mine.  He came for a braai.  Long time ago.  Pity Roy McLaughlan isnt on the site.  They are related. Roy would know.  Ronnie was a Springbok rugby player and lived in Pretoria.

[Hooter]

Johan Stander lives in Cape Town somewhere. Married to Mirna.
I last saw him when he was visiting HENNIE LOOCK . The Loock's retired and  lives in Kimberley
I will try and contact Hennie Loock re info about Johan Stander

[Gregg]

Hennie

Thanks for info.

Last I heard from Johann he was working for some Apple juice place, That was just after his son was born which was in last '80s or early '90s I think.

Give my regards to Hennie Loock. He may, or may not recall that we worked together for a short time in 4 Plt area in the '80s.

Man, this site is wicked for bringing back all the OLD memories!

BTW, are you Hennie Kruger (ex Instrumentation)?

[Gregg]

For those who might want to know...

Just received an email from Chris Parr - He now lives in Bath, UK.

[Charmain Meier (Heusdens)]

Hi Everyone

Johan's wife Mirna's cell phone no is 083 384 3194. They are still living in Worcester, that she confirmed the last time I spoke to her some time ago.

Charmain

[Hooter]

Hi Greg Elliot
Re Johan Stander . He lives in Robertson . Tel number 023-6261612 . He still works for the fruit & Vege canning factory at Ashton , about 30 km away from home . His wife Mirna died last year August . Cancer . She was the daughter of Piet and Lizelle Small living around 12 ave far east end [ If I remeber correctly ]  Piet died while still in O'mund of a heart attack many yaers ago . Mirna's mother is still living in Worcester .
Johans Father " Oom Hannes " was the postmaster for amany years in OM and he celebrated his 80 th birthday recently . Johan's mother auntie Stienie is also still going strong
I do hope that the info will help you to get hold of Johan Stander , formally lab tech at 4 plant CDM.

[Hooter]

hi Gregg. Yes me as well as Hennie Loock do remember you quite well , Greetings from him and wife Alta . and Yes you're right HK ex Instrumentation

[Carl Zeelie]

HALLO HENNIE!!!!!!!

Hoe gaan dit met Elsabe en die res!!!

[Gregg]

Thanx you guys. Remember Oom Hannes and Aunt Stienie as they were still in OMD in my early years. Sad to hear about Mirna. Will try to contact Johann over weekend.

To all you ex-Oranjemunders that knew me in the 'good ole days', Regards and thanx for your news and info.

[Hooter]

Hallo Carl , goed om van julle te hoor !
Elsabe is OK , en werk 2 dae per week by Woodlands  , dis die mense wat lang lewe melk maak - ek spot haar en sê sy melk 'n paar koie daar ! ons is OK . Ek verstaan van Hennie Loock dat Dup Du Preez [ dup Telefoon ]  eers van CDM en later van Kimberley asook sy vrou Annetjie oorlede is. Duppie het by 'n plek wat batterye verkoop in KMB gewerk ,en wat ek verstaan het hy 'n klient tegemoet geloop het en net eensklaps morsdood neer geval het .
hoe gaan dit met jou en Juliana ? en die kinders . wa is julle in die wereld ?