The Mini Zoo!

[Michael Alexander]

When I tell the people that there was a mini zoo, opposite the bank today, they don't believe me. Who else recollects those gages with the monkey's and birds in them. Next to the Youth Club, where the pre-primary is today?

???

[Ebben]

Huh, when?

[mike]

Before 1976..... I remember the monkey's especially.....

8)

[Sandy Buchanan]

Hi  there Michael ,
                             yes I remember  the  park  with the  cages  in  the  middle  with  birds etc  in  them  , call it a zoo ? yes  to  us  it  was  our mini  zoo .... Are  you  Jock  alexanders  son ?? If so  give  him  my  best  regards , I  will  never  forget  the good  times  and  the  warm openness   of  Jock  and Vi  and  their unconditional  friendship , and yes  our town  was a  special  place to  grow  up  in .. keep  on  remembering and  sharing .

           Sandy

[Michael Alexander]

Hi Sandy, yes I am indeed the eldest Son of Jock & Vi (deceased) Alexander.... My father got it right to be the first person to retire in Oranjemund without having to open a business, he bought a Parkhome from one of the Contrator company's down at "Pigsville" and is now retired here....

I phoned him to tell him about you, and he remembers you and your brothers very well.... In fact Gus was my Foreman at PTF plant when I was an Appie back here in the late 80's......

I'm trying to drag him into the world of the internet.... but whisky has more favour with him..... He is looking for a photo at the moment where my mom played the accordian at some plaque unveiling for one of your late parents.... good scots.... my dad muttered on the phone earlier today.....   :D

[Sandy Buchanan]

Hi Michael ,
                       yes  your  Mom with  the  Piano Accordion  or  squashbox as she  fondly  used  to  call it ..   I  used to  work  in  sportsmans  arms  and  suddenly  her  familiar  voice   with  its  beautiful  accent  and lilt  would  burst into song  , and  many would  then join  in   .. spontaneous   .. in  her  moment ...  and  thats  what made  the difference ...   I  felt  heartsore  when  I read  the  obit  in  the  argus .. Once  again  lets  all  keep  on remembering  and  sharing .    Sandy

[Vikki de Jager - Summers]

Yes, I remember the 'zoo' - it was next to the Playschool and we were allowed into it at 'break time'. I seem to remember there being a porcupine in it as well.

[Susan Kintscher (Lineker)]

The Zoo had many animals but i also seem to remember the monkeys with there blue ...... !!
The mounts for the cage are still there today....

[Michael Alexander]

I remember how the whole town was rep en roer, when one of those monkey's escaped, a whole gang of people moving from tree to tree as the monkey swung along!

;D

[Susan Kintscher (Lineker)]

Bet you, one of my brothers were right in front with the monkeys..........

[Michael Alexander]

Whilst walking past the pre-primary the other day, I stopped and stared at where that Zoo was..... the only thing left, are those tree's (Bluegums?) They must be close to 30 metres high these days....

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

Only just found this topic. Oh YES I remember that "Zoo" well. I must have been around 8yrs old then,so thats 43yrs ago err 1964.Jeez, they could very well had Dinosaurs there as well.I remember breaking my foot on the "witches hat" in the park right next to those cages.We would do something called a "death ride" slamming the "hat" part against the centre pole,jammed my foot in between. Then rode home crying all the way,I had the honour of sitting with the teachers during assembly while my foot was in plaster.Felt very important. (I'm sure my mom still has photo's of the Zoo somewhere.

[Michael Alexander]

Riding the witches hat should be a death defying topic all to itself!

[barb (Fry)]

This mini zoo was definitely there, monkeys with blue **** and all,
30 metre trees, you say, gosh,
I remember the new nursery school being build, I went to nursery in the old site,
witches hats, yes, gosh the playgrounds were dangerous back then. I have stolen the photo of the "witches hat with gemsbok" off the site from somewhere and have it as my desktop picture. It epitomizes my youth for me - wild and care free.
and what about the horse thing that 4 or 5 people could sit on and rock on outside the guide hall it was there for yonks until it rusted and wore out and fell over crushing and breaking someones foot (can't remember who) in the process, to be removed and never replaced, anyone.???

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

Yes that horse had a chip out of its ear. Why on earth I should remember that.