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Crater Shellhole awards a Certificate of Comradeship for a Non-Moth to Vicky Mentz for doing and outstanding Job for the Shellhole. Date Saturday 26^th June 2010

Photo Vicky Mentz Recieves the Certificate and Button from Crater Shellhole’s representative

Coalfields District MECSA UNIT, Sound Memory Cottages, arranged a surprise farewell function to bid Sound Memory Cottages Manager, Vicky Mentz, farewell on her retirement.

The function was in good taste and members of the Committee under the guidance of Moth Neville Lynn can rightfully feel proud of the arrangements.

During the official proceedings, Crater Shellhole also did a short presentation in honor of Vicky. One could sense the pride and appreciation when Vicky received the MOTH Certificate of Comradeship from the Crater representative. The following citation was made: "Me. Vicky Mentz has since her appointment as Manager at Sound memory Cottages in 1976 until present ,(34 years) through all those many years, done the Order proud in that she has cared for members of this Order, their spouses, Non-Moth residents and their families in a conscientious manner. She carried out her duties meticulously and thoroughly. The management of Sound Memory Cottages as well as the quality of care was praiseworthy!

It is without hesitation that we suggest that she be awarded with the Certificate of comradeship for Non-Moths on Shellhole Level."

Photo Moth Neville Lynn presenting Vicky with a gift from the cottages Committee

Story behind Churchill Plaque

Crater Shellhole supports North South Bowls tournament in "force"

On Sunday the 21^st March 2010, Crater Shellhole sported no less than three Bowls Teams to take part in the North versus South Annual MOTH Bowls Derby held at Herbert Park Bowls Club, Turfontein. All enjoyed the day and although no silverware arrived at the Dugout in Witbank, lots of friendship were renewed and concluded. Crater Shellhole salutes the organizers of the tournament for a wonderful day. The photo above shows Crater’s first bowls team with Seargent Major Brian Engelbrecht, Coaldfiels District Old Bill and MOTHs Piet Nel and Andy Myron with the romantic old Herbert Clubhouse in the background. Chris Sonnekus

Crater Shellhole members surprise MOTH "Snowy" Weigelt on his 90^th Birthday Sunday 21^st March, 2010

In the early morning of Sunday the 21^st March, at 06h35, MOTH "Snowy Weigelt was busy having his first cup of coffee for the day when a knock on his front door was followed by the words; "MOTH Snowy please show yourself this is a raid. Great was his surprise when he opened the door to see a group of CRATER SHELLHOLE members awaiting him with a birthday cake and best wishes. The group of fellow MOTHs was on their way to Johannesburg to support the MOTH North South Bowls tournament and thought it good to start the day off singing "Happy Birthday" to this grand old timer and passionate member of the order. Photo below; Crater Shellhole members with Snowy Weigelt holding the "birthday Charter" Chris Sonnekus

An OLD TIMER at CRATER SHELLHOLE TURNS 90!!!

With a colorful life experience behind him, popular MOTH "SNOWY" Weigelt, of Crater Shellhole will turn 90 years young on the 21^st March 2010, being one of three MOTH members in Coalfields that celebrates their 90^th birthdays in 2010. Albert Otto Weigelt was born on the 21^st March 1920 in Johannesburg. After his exiting school years, he enrolled as a motor mechanic apprentice and was soon conscripted to the Union of South Africa’s Defence force and allocated to the Transvaal Scottish Regiment. He saw service in World War π. In 1952 he returned to his trade, working for Arbor Farmers, S.A.S.&H. and eventually joined Tweefontein Colliery in 1960. He became a legend as both Transport supervisor and Recreation Club Manager, a position he passed on to his son OTTO when Snowy retired in1985.Snowy is also a mean bowler and represented various Bowls Clubs and Shellholes in league games and tournaments, being a staunch supporter of the MOTH’s Annual Bowls Tournament.In the photo above "Snowy" proudly sports his MOTH installation Certificate dated 1952!! He joined the Order on the 6th January 1952 becoming a member of African Star Shellhole, moving to various Shellholes as some become redundant or due to relocating. He served a few times as OLD BILL (Gondar Shellhole). In 1968 he and his wife Joey, accompanied a selected group of 45 MOTH couples on a boat trip to the U.K. The highlight of the excursion being having "morning tea" with Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. Snowy is also a founder member of SAGES and in 1977 he won a "Cheesah Labuschagne" best barman competition with the first prize being a 10 day holiday in Swaziland. Snowy lost his wife Joey after 47 years of marriage. We wish Snowy, Grace and his children Otto, Albert and Jenny a wonderful birthday party on Sunday 21^st March 2010.

Crater Shellhole overall winners Dicky Fritz
Annual MOTH Bowls tournament 30th August 2009
From Left to right the team Piet Human,Brian Engelbrecht, Chris Sonnekus
Andy Myron.

Moth Raymond Cane and Moth Albertus Swanepoel from CRATER SHELLHOLE arrange a traditional South African "Braai" for the elderly residents of Coaflields MOTH COTTAGES

Sunday 2^nd November saw some 120 residents of the MOTH COTTAGES having great fun at the COALFIELDS DUGOUT braai area where they were all invited to a braai and a fantastic spread all arranged by the above two members of Crater shellhole.

Some of the "eldery" with the helpers and MOTH RAYMOND and MOTH SWANIE (Albertus)

For and on behalf of Raymond Cane and Albertus Swanepoel:

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who donated towards the barbeque for the elderly.

Neville lynn, Brian Hickson, Chris Sonnekus, Redmond Lennox, Ratel Shellhole, Okkie Schoeman, Grace Wiegeldt , Marie and Edna Cane, Shiela, and all the staff at the cottages.

And last but not least the two young men and the lady that did all the barbequing and dishing up.

We hope that this can be a regular event , and once again thank you all so much.

Kind Regards.

A Swannepoel

Coalfields District walks away with some strange honours at the Annual General Meeting 2009

WOW!! And we here in Witbank think it is all work when our poor representative have to slog it out at the Annual General Meeting of the ORDER!!

Congratulations to our representatives and their spouses who also brought home the silverware for the "best dressed" couples in the Hobo-fun evening event

Now Crater member here is a chance to win a free drink at the "Hole in the wall"

Just guess right who these four characters below are.

COALFIELDS DISTRICT’S CRATER, RATEL and GONDAR SHELLHOLES REMEMBRANCE PARADE IN STYLE!

Sunday, 15^th December, saw the Ameristar’s Day Parade of Ratel,Gondar and Crater Shellholes, Witbank, being held with military precision and proud participation by related MOTH members, NGO organisations, and Military representatives from The Parachute Battalion and Special Servicers Battalion, Cottages, Boys Scouts and individual members of the public.

The program included an opening ceremony by District Old Bill MOTH Len Bowker, MOTH Remembrance Salute led by District PRO MOTH Neville Lynne, Prayer and scripture readings by representatives of Church Denominations and Wreath Laying.

In particular, one needs to thank MOTH Neville Lynne and his ever-helpful wife Ann Lynn for the public sound system and Ann’s great assistance behind the "Hole in the Hall." Ratel & Gondar Shellhole members are complemented with the other logistics such as the flagpoles and seating.

We thank each MOTH, friends and sponsors of the MOTHS and the public in general for their support, participation and contribution towards a successful day and an equally preceding successful fund raising collection day on the 14^th. We do not forget Vicky’s team behind the scenes and thank our bugler/trumpeter for adding zest to the wonderful moments.

We also salute Witbank Golf Bowls Club for assisting with refreshments for the occasion.

Recruiting at Crater Shellhole is BOOMING!!! for the boomers!!

With many of the boomers now closing retirement and because of a concerted recruiting campaign CRATER SHELLHOLE can boast about no less than three new members that have joined the Order in the past two months, with a further promising three possible new recruits in the pipeline. Said Coalfields District PRO, MOTH Neville Lynn at the last District meeting:"adding Gondar’s Shelhole’s new member and with Ratel Shellhole’s recruiting also looking positive, Coalfields District is experiencing a fantastic growth in membership"

District Old Bill, MOTH Len Bowker is adamant that there is still a large number of legitimate candidate members of the Order around and it is up to the the Shellholes to do some serious recruiting.

This photo features the newly installed Crater Shellhole MOTHS: Pieter Roedolph Daniel Nel; Johan Daniel Gerber and Arthur Giles Taylor. Crater Shellhole is proud to present our latest three members to the MOTH Website readers.