Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary Newsletter / Nuusbrief #50 August, September and October 2019
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| Newsletter / Nuusbrief #50 | August - October 2019 | ||
Message from Oscar A grand Hello! to you all.
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Annual General Meeting in Cape Town |
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Our 12th Annual General Meeting took place on Saturday 3rd August 2019 at the Old Mutual Business School in Pinelands. Some 65 people attended and enjoyed an afternoon tea before the meeting began. Reports on all aspects of our work were presented using slides and videos. Copies of our annual Audited Statements are to be found on our website. If you would like a hard copy please let us know. The following members were elected to the Board:
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Three events for you in the Valley |
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| McGregor Report-back at Eseltjiesrus on Thursday 15th August at 3pm To ensure that our local friends do not miss out on our news, we present an informal version of the official AGM at the Sanctuary, in the afternoon to make it easy for you to attend. Join us for snacks, tea/coffee or a glass of wine and see and hear what we have been doing the past year. Please RSVP to assist with catering to adopt@donkeysanctuary.co.za or phone: 023 625 1593. Donations to cover the cost of catering will be appreciated.  Music for all 2019!Diarise the date: Sunday 15th September at 3.30pm. Many of you will remember our 10th birthday celebration with the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in the Robertson Oos-kerk in 2017. Well – they are back! Come and share in an afternoon of glorious Music for all and support donkey welfare at the same time. Tickets are on sale from 1st August at the Sanctuary, Tourism Offices in McGregor, Robertson and Montagu, and Dr de Wet’s veterinary practice in Worcester, or phone 023 625 1593 or email to adopt@donkeysanctuary.co.za . Early bird special prices: From 1st to 25th August: adults only R60 and children R30 From 26th August: Adults R75 and children R35 If you are unable to attend, please consider sponsoring some tickets for less privileged persons. We will allocate them to needy people. Please contact us to confirm your donation. Our annual St Francis Day and Remembrance Service will be observed on Sunday 6th October. Diarise this date, bring your companion animal on a lead and enjoy a peaceful interlude with our donkeys. Details to follow. |
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Our recent Book Fair |
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| Our Book Fair in May was a resounding success and brought in an amount greater than our budget expectation. Many expenses still have to be accounted for, but we are thrilled with and grateful for your support. Remember that we sell books in the Visitors' Centre at the Sanctuary all through the year. | ||
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At the Sanctuary |
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 We and the donkeys are delighted that the new extra-large shelter has been completed and taken into use, thanks to your generous support. A special thank you must go to ABSA Trust who also donated a large amount to this project. The new shelter enables us to use the Olive Field fully and leave donkeys there overnight as they have shelter. More effective rotation of our fields means better grazing for all. Popeye has been with us for just over a year now and is vastly more comfortable on his feet after corrective farriery, better diet and careful pain monitoring and management. His feet were X-rayed again and we were pleased to see that the internal structural problems were no worse. We will keep him comfortable and spoil him with lots of attention.  A selection of our oldest donkeys had dental examinations and treatment from Bennie Walden. Huge appreciation to Juanita and her team for getting these donkeys amenable to being handled – they behaved so well! A number of problems were identified, even in donkeys that showed no signs of discomfort or weight loss. This shows how stoical donkeys are. It also reminds us of the suffering of so many donkeys that never get seen by a dentist. This aspect of good care is so often neglected.  We welcomed a group from the Khaya Lokukhanya Children’s Home, Barkly East in the northern East Cape. They were on a comprehensive tour of the Western Cape and Eseltjiesrus provided a tranquil space amidst all the excitement of the city entertainment. We hope you will visit again!  Mandela Day: We could have asked for help, like so many other organisations do on this day, but instead we chose to give something back to our community. Our staff again visited the Byekorf Crèche in McGregor where we planted some new shrubs, the overgrown lawn sections were mowed and rubbish collected to take for dumping. We spoiled the children with a story and some delicious treats. It was heart-warming to see the positive spirit with which our entire team tackled this experience. Refurbished Visitors’ Centre and new Bistro During May and June urgent maintenance was done on our Visitors’ Centre building which is over 100 years old. A new coat of paint and attention to defects and furnishings resulted in a sparkling new image. Appreciation to our Board members Mariana and Barbara who advised on this process and were involved in the refurbishments.. Our restaurant re-opened as Eseltjiesrus Bistro, serving teas, coffees, refreshments and light meals as well as craft beer and our own wine. We welcome Jeandré, Miceala and Eveline to our team. The Visitors’ Centre is the ideal venue for meetings such as Book Club, church groups, small birthday celebrations or just a coffee and chat gathering. Contact us and we will put together a package specifically to suit your needs. |
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News Snippets |
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Outreach and advocacy We continue to advise and refer people with donkey questions. We were asked about the care of a foal whose mother had died of tetanus, and also handled queries related to donkeys in Worcester, Bloemfontein, Amahlathi and East London. Where practical we put people in touch with welfare organisations in their area. We note with sadness the passing of the Honourable Patricia Cavendish O’Neill, at Broadlands in Somerset West. Pat O’Neill was an animal lover of note and sent a group of rescued donkeys to Eseltjiesrus in 2007. Many of them are still with us. RIP, Pat. Have you received your Section 18A tax certificate from us? These were issued in April but many folk have mislaid theirs or not received them. Please let us know if you need yours re-issued. If you would like to be a member of the Eseltjiesrus family and receive regular progress reports on a special donkey: do become an adopter! Adoption makes an ideal gift and we handle all the work: the recipient receives an adoption certificate, history and regular reports on the chosen donkey as well as a picture and our newsletters. Coming to meet your adopted donkey is always a very special occasion. We can even produce last-minute adoption gifts: on numerous occasions we have sent the adoption in time for a birthday after the giver has only remembered on the day! You choose the amount you want to give, monthly or once-off, and you get a tax certificate! What other gifts offer all these benefits as well as promoting donkey welfare? Our Donkey Shop is a source of income for the costs of caring for our rescued donkeys, and provides a happy memento of your visit. Here you can also purchase bottles of our three wines to take home with you as well as craft beers from Saggy Stone Brewery. Stock varies as donated items arrive, so do pop in regularly. Our book sales area in the Bistro is also regularly re-stocked and there are real bargains to be found (both new and fresh second hand books). |
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Donkeys for Africa |
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 This communication portal is independently funded and is gaining recognition globally, reporting on donkey welfare developments throughout Africa. A special edition of the newsletter was produced in July. This was devoted to recent research in parts of South Africa, examining the economic value of donkeys to their owners: whether as domestic labourers or as the source for the export of skins. Please visit www.donkeysforafrica.org to see the newsletters and reference library. |
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Het u geweet?
Omdat donkies dikwels die laaste diere is wat op oorbeweide veld gesien word, word hulle verkeerdelik geblameer vir die vernietiging van plantegroei. Die feit is dat hulle die enigste spesie is wat steeds op sulke veld kan oorleef – hulle is nie die oorsaak daarvan nie.
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Promoting the welfare and status of donkeys through a culture of caringEmail: info@donkeysanctuary.co.za ▪ Telephone: 023 625 1593 ▪ Fax: 086 614 7777
www.donkeysanctuary.co.za ▪ PO Box 29, McGregor, 6708, South Africa Patron: David Kramer ▪ NPO: 056-575 ▪ PBO: 930028734 |
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Please support usDonations, adoptions, renewal of adoptions and wine orders can now be made online on our new website www.donkeysanctuary.co.za through PayFast which accepts Credit/debit cards and instant EFTs.If you use the SnapScan or Zapper options to make your payment please send us an email giving us details of the transaction so that we can thank you and record details of the payment.
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Bank detailsEseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary
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You will hear from us again...Adopters will receive a new donkey report during September 2019.You will hear from us again in our next newsletter during November 2019. If you currently receive our communications by post but can change to email, please let us know as it is more reliable.
Please inform us of any address changes.
Sincere thanks to all our Donkey Ambassadors for your support – and we look forward to seeing you at some of our events. Hartlike dank aan al ons Donkie-Ambassadeurs. Ons hoop ons sien julle by ons verskeie geleenthede.
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