Our February meeting got off to a good start and a bit late with 14 chaps on parade and 8 apologies. We had one Sunset Call; Moth Kevin Fergusson lost his fight with cancer recently. The candle remained lit for the duration of the meeting – We Will Remember Him. Moth Bob Makin has had some skin cancer removed and has lost most of his right ear but is up and running and in good spirit. We need to consider forming a raiding party to go Visit Bob some time. The Wiring in the Shellhole is in bad shape and needs to be redone. The city council is watching the situation closely. Our quarterly financials should have been in last month but the bookkeeper has been away and the auditors require a few details from us as an association. We had a letter from Cosy Corner, thanking us for our participation at their Delville Wood Parade. The Pro Patria Parade in the Lowveld will happen on Saturday 13 February 2010. Province have informed us that the Smart Edge fees are now up to R 500 odd from R 100 odd and we need to pay up or else. Does not sound like a very efficient system and cost effective system to us. There is no technical support and only two people in the district know how to use it. The old Bill has sent a letter to Dist/Prov/GHQ regarding the Tank Saga and we have not had feedback due to the holidays. With regards to the rental of the hall for functions, we will offer it out at flat rate of R 500.00 per function with a R500.00 up front deposit. MOTH members are subject to a negotiated discount. The palisade fences are now up at the MOTH Cottages. They were installed by John Jansen van Rensburg and he now wants to move in. The city council are wanting R350.00 per cottage but only two cottages have paying tenants. MOTH Eric Brown will not be standing for Cottage Chairman for the next financial year. MOTH George Veliotes says that they have done a most excellent job with the fences. We will be hosting our first Pro Patria Reunion Parade on Sunday 21^st February 2010 at 10:50 for 11:00 at Reveille. Regt Oos Rand is 50 this year and they will be hosting a Potjiekos Competition on Saturday 6^th March 2010. Pots will be fired up at 09:30 and judging will take place at 13:00. Entry is R100.00 per team. We offered to donate R 3000.00 to their formal dinner. The Late MOTH Kevin Fergusson’s sister, will donate his blazer to the Shellhole. MOTH Charlie Brown told us about some of his antics while on radio duty at Jan Smuts Airport in 1968 and alleged diamonds on a flight that crashed near Windhoek. MOTH Martin Thompson said that there was a meeting for the crew going up to Angola and that things were looking promising. Will know more details soon.

Well that’s a wrap chaps, we do hope to see you at the next meeting on Tuesday 2 March 2010.

"Problems are opportunities in work clothes." – Henry Kaiser.

Best regards,

Andrew Leece