Georgians Stand Against Abuse

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Just after the end of Women’s Month, of August 2019, the country was alarmed to the continued abuse of women and children. A story that made headlines was that of the University of Cape Town student, Uyinene Mrwetyana, who was raped and murdered by a post office employee. President Cyril Ramaphosa went to visit the family of the student concerned in the Eastern Cape. Georgians were also not quiet. As part of the Total Shutdown Initiative, a group of protesters outside the post office took on a silent vigil (see picture). During the Friday evening, residents of Thembalethu were walking the main street in Thembalethu, holding candles and singing songs that are directed to the fight against women and children abuse. The recent spate of shocking violent crimes against women and children has led to the people calling on the president to bring back capital punishment. #StopTheViolence.

Dead fish in rivers

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Letter from André MoutonFor some weeks now dead fish has been spotted /picked up by Sanparks (ebb & flow’s ) rangers along our coast from Swartvlei up until WildernessSwartvlei, Touwriver mouths has been closed for months , maybe even more than a year…Greatbrak river mouth same story…Finally the authorities woke up yesterday and opened Hartenbos river mouth , the results is sickening , dead fish were everywhere , some cob even up to 8kg were laying around dead…Do we now want the same to happen everywhere along our coast, are there still conservationist around who care or is nature also being commercialised these days.Anglers along the south coast are being harassed for permits , which we by the way take out year in , year out…Poachers are operating on a regular basis especially at Touwriver , they are not harassed for their actions nor does law enforcement taking place to bring them to book.Anglers along the coast are crying out about our river mouths but it falls on deaf ears or people are in denial of what’s going on around them. What needs to happen first before the powers that be wakes up. Kind regards André Mouton 0732794873

THE OCC PAY TRIBUTE TO JUSTINE ASHER

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In her Twitter bio, Justine Asher describes herself as a wife, mother, artist, dreamer, Paralympian para-cyclist and double world champion.Although this may not exactly be the life she once envisioned, she has become an inspiration to all women.Fresh out of High School and with a blossoming modelling career ahead, Justine dreamed of visiting exotic locations and walking the ramps of the fashion capitals like Paris, Milan and New York.However, while still only 18, she was injured in a car accident and left a quadriplegic.  Doctors told her she would never walk again, but that did not quite resonate with her.  By the end of her months of rehabilitation, she had regained the use of her arms and some use of her hands.She met her husband, Shaun, at the age of 26.  The two have now been happily married for 21 years, have two teenage daughters and run a successful real estate business in Cape Town.Having always been fitness-conscious with a love for running, swimming and just being outdoors, she decided to embark on a new challenge when she turned 40.“I started para-cycling in 2012 when I got my first-hand bike. In early 2013 I competed at OCC winning my first 42km race.  In a few years I rose from rookie Para cyclist to competing internationally around the globe on the world stage winning many world cups and eventually being titled the world champion in 2015 in the Switzerland.  In 2016 I was selected to represent South Africa at the Rio Paralympic Games.  In the years that followed Rio, after retiring from competing, I participated in the 2018 and 2019 Cape Town Cycle Tour, 109km in distance.  In 2018 I won the title for the 42km OCC finishing in the time of 1:29:56.”She competes in the H2 Category which includes athletes “with impairments corresponding to a severe lesion at C7/C8 or above.”  Athletes in this category compete on a hand cycle with a rigid frame in a recumbent position.Despite being the victim of a medical scam which promised a miracle stem-cell procedure to cure her paralysis and fracturing bones in both her feet in 2013, Justine was named the 2014 South African sportswoman of the year with a disability.Ernst Van Dyk, one of our most loved OCC participants, has been particularly impressed with her rapid rise to among the elites of the sport.“We don’t have many female hand cyclists in South Africa and Justine has come through very fast and has raised the interest of other females wanting to get into the sport,” Van Dyk said. “She is very dedicated in her training and she is going through a fast learning curve as we head for World Championships.”Justine loves the freedom of being out on her bike with no limitations and believes that, with hard work and dedication, women can reach the highest level in any sport.The Outeniqua Cycle ChallengeThe 17’Th OCC, a wheelchair race which attracts athletes from all over the world, will take place in George on Saturday 14 September 2019!A wheelchair race exclusively for disabled athletes!And – every year it is getting bigger and better! The number of entries has increased dramatically, with disabled athletes and other persons in wheelchairs flocking to this annual event.The Challenge is not only unique as being the first and only event exclusively for the disabled in South Africa, but it is staged in the picturesque town of George, in the heart of the spectacular Garden Route in the Western Cape, situated at the foot of the splendour of the Outeniqua Mountains.Athletes in racing wheelchairs, adapted bicycles, hand cycles, basketball chairs and ordinary wheelchairs have made this into the premier sporting event for the disabled on the South African sporting calendar. It undoubtedly has the potential to develop into one of the best events of its kind in the world!Apart from the George Municipality, Lancewood and the Department of Cultural Affairs & Sport is supporting the event.  Halfway Toyota is the venue host for the event.Contact Details:Event Organising Body: Disabled Road Race Foundation (DRFF) Race Organiser: Alewijn Dippenaar Mobile: 082 457 5675 Email: dyndev@mweb.co.za Website: www.georgeocc.co.za Facebook: www.facebook.com/OCC.Wheelchairchallenge Online Entries: http://georgeocc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/OCC_DRRF_Entry-Form14September2019.pdfApart from the George Municipality, Lancewood and the Department of Cultural Affairs & Sport is supporting the event.Press release on behalf of the Road Race Foundation: interface by goji mimi finestone |  mimi@gojipr.net  |  +27 84 583 3144https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/i-hoped-id-be-able-to-walk-says-scam-victim-288417https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/justine-asher-para-cyclist-campaignhttps://www.rnews.co.za/article/18609/george-airport-takes-outeniqua-wheelchair-challenge-to-new-heightshttps://www.paralympic.org/news/asher-hopes-inspire-othershttps://prowomenscycling.com/2016/09/14/2016-paralympic-handcyclists/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FShDCE6nnT0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg4fhvBMqIIhttps://www.georgeherald.com/News/Article/General/another-successful-occ-hosted-in-george-201802180245https://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/South-Africa/Modise-sports-star-of-the-year-20141201https://inspiringwomentoday.biz/a-new-adventure-justine-asher-south-africa/ https://gsport.co.za/role-model-woman/

Self-defense training no quickfix!

Article by Sors GrobbelaarGood day all. As of recent I have received many inquiries on “self-defense” classes and if we provide them. I must say well done for asking this and looking into the options of learning these skills. A some of you might know, I have been involved as an Combat Sports athlete, instructor/coach and club owner for many years. Let me be the very frank in stating that there is NO QUICK FIX OR SEMINAR to quickly empower you in the skill of self-defense. In order for you to be able to defend yourself and get empowered with these skills and abilities to defend yourself, you need to sustain it on an ongoing basis. You need to enroll and actively train in a form of combat sports such as Boxing, Kickboxing, Muaythai, Karate, Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo and wrestling to name but a few, to hone and develop your newly acquired skill. And even then it will never be a guarantee that you will tower over your attacker, foot on head as if you just shot the big bad monster.One of the biggest motivating factors for people NOT TO DO one of the above mention combat sport (some more than others) is the fact that it doesn’t suit you. Things like “euww its sweaty” or “I don’t like it when people are in my personal space” or “I don’t like getting hurt” or “girls should do this” or “I don’t like it when I have to train with men/boys”. Guess what, when that person is there holding you down, have you in a choke or submission of some kind, standing over you and kick/punching you or if he has violated you and is busy forcing himself on you with his sweaty body and stinking breath, will it still not suit you and you comfort zone?What makes this even worse is that there are many perpetrators that actually have skill in combat and handling of weapons. As a professional athlete your train 6 days a week, between 4-6 hours a day for anything between 6-12 weeks in preparation to compete against someone ells. The outcome of those fights someone looses and from time to time get serious injuries. Now what if the circumstances are not in a controlled environment (where there is rules, a referee & judges) but of life and death. When someone is willing to kill you to take your property or have sex with your against your will. Or are there still people that believe you live in a safe community or it will never happen to you…. This year my home was burgled 3 times in 6 weeks. This is in George….IN GEORGE. People invaded our privacy, took our belonging and roamed around in our sanctuary without our permission. They were still in my home when I arrived back from work, TWICE, one of the times where my girls were with me.Enrolling in combat sport and learning correctly taught realistic OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIVE TECHNIQUES under realistic conditions by competent, accredited and experienced instructors/coaches might just be the difference between you being a victim & part of the gruesome crime statistics in South Africa or a VICTOR in a situation where your skills enabled you to successfully defend yourself and you could walk away from it. It is never a guarantee that any technique will work and in a perfect world under the perfect situations (you know, those ones that gets created for you by the people simulating unrealistic attacks and behavioral patterns that’s taking your money), you might be lucky. Realistically people should kick, hit, submit, choke and smother you in order to experience the discomfort and realistic feel to what would closely, if possible resemble to real situation. Not all forms of combat sport are the same and we will not all like all of them that are available. Make the efforts and find one for yourself that you feel fits you best.But unfortunately we live in world where we have strict children and obedient parents. We hand out participation prizes and we are just too happy for that. When kids do something like combat sports and they are expected to put in some work, the discipline expected from them is to strict, they received a kick/punch on the belly or the instructor/coach is to serious/strict, the tears come flowing and they move onto the next activity. Mommy and Daddy obviously jump as their angel can’t be wrong and they want to do is cover them in cotton wool. REALITY CHECK…The big bad world out there when we become adults and what our your children are now exposed to, HITS HARD. It wants to hurt you and take everything from you. It’s about survival and how hard you are willing to work. It’s about earning your place and winning it from the guy/girl that wants its just as much, if not more from you. Parents, the biggest gift you can give your children in the times we live in today is a platform for them to empower themselves and learn how to defend themselves. Over and above that it contributes to their discipline, health, concentration, social cohesion and they might even possibly be the next world champions should they choose to be competitive. This is the one investment you will make that can be the difference between life and death.In addition to enrolling in a combat sport, be responsible and adapt to situational awareness: Don’t walk around alone, Male or Female. Don’t walk and text. Stay in public places Refrain from sharing personal sexual content with other people. Observe around you when you are in your vehicle and you stop at traffic intersections. When you done shopping or whatever and you get in your car, lock your doors immediately and drive off. Don’t pick up strangers, as hard as it might be. If somebody gabs your stuff, let it go. At that point in time that is what they want, not you. Always inform people close to you where you are going and notify them once you are there. Don’t ever get into a vehicle or a room with people you don’t know. If you are forced in, put up a LOUD FIGHT Most importantly, if it feels wrong and uncomfortable, trust your gut and get away from it.As part of my efforts to help with my plea to each and every person to start training any form of combat sports available in George, training for people interested in starting at our gym, Scorpions Martial Arts Academy, will be free of charge for the month of September. Please feel free to contact me should you be interested in making use of this offer or to enquire what other combat sport academies/gyms/dojos there are in George. I am blessed to have a full time career that I love and work hard at, so believe me I am not involved or teach students with money as my motivation. It is my duty to share my knowledge and experience with my community and it is a privilege to do so and like me, there are several other instructors/couches that share the same sentiment. Therefore I humbly request (not challenge) other gym/dojo owners to open up their doors to their respective communities they serve and help empower our fellow South Africans in this fight that are all of our responsibilities.Stand up to crime and prepare yourself. Look out for each other and lets be each other’s keeper. Good luck and please be safe.Free training/tuition for our respective communities for the month of September is something I feel many of us can offer as some sort of a attempt to unite against violence as the combat sports community.If you are willing, as as a gym/club owner, please send me a direct message so we can inform the South Africa public where they can go to receive help. It will only require your time and knowledge that will make a huge difference to so many people.Please send me your gym name, location and contact details so a consolidated directory can be shared. Please feel free to share with your network so we can post it by Monday 9 September.https://www.facebook.com/sors.grobbelaar

THE OCC PAY TRIBUTE TO PIETER DU PREEZ

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.  2“Actuarial Analyst in the Actuarial & Insurance Solutions Department at Deloitte & Touche in Johannesburg and Motivational Speaker” does not sound like the CV of a C6 Quadriplegic.(He holds a BSc and an Honours Degree specializing in investment management from the University of Johannesburg).And, neither does “World record holder over 10 000 m, Ironman world record holder or having successfully completed the 8 km swim from Robben Island to Cape Town”.Add “Husband and Father” to that and you begin to see the CV of a truly remarkable man.Yet these are only a few of the highlights in the career of Nicolas Pieter du Preez.Growing up in Randburg, Pieter was an avid athlete, swimmer and triathlete.  In 2003, at the age of 23, he was hit by a car which left him with a broken neck, femur and knee.Pieter spent 42 days in ICU, unable to move anything.  Over the next two years, he regained the use of his wrists, biceps and shoulders.  He now has 15 per cent of the functionality of an able-bodied person.“I’m now a C6 quadriplegic, which means I don’t have any triceps, I can’t move my fingers or hands and I’m completely paralysed from the chest down”, he is quoted as saying in a 2017 interview with In the Bunch.Pieter competes in the Athletics T51; Hand Cycling H1, and Swim S1 classes.Here are the highlights of his remarkable career:
  • SA wheelchair rugby team 2005,
  • National Champion hand cycling 2006-2019,
  • National Champion wheelchair racing 2009-2019,
  • Multiple Africa record holder 200, 800, 1500, 5000, 10000, marathon,
  • World Record holder 10 000m,
  • 2 x Midmar mile finisher,
  • First C6 Quad to swim Midmar receiving Courage Trophy,
  • Silver and bronze medallist Athletics World Champs 2011,
  • 7 x Berlin Marathon champion (T51) 2012 –2018, course record holder,
  • 5x Padua International Marathon champion (T51) 2011, 2014 –2016, 2019, course record holder,
  • 3 x Oita International marathon champion (T51) 2015–2018, course record holder,
  • London 2012 SA Paralympic team, 6thplace 100m 2012 Paralympics, London,
  • Paracycling4 x World Champion, 8 x World Championship medallist, Multiple World Cup medallist,
  • Paratri2014 Silver medal at SA and African champs,
  • 4x Finalist at SA Sports Awards (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018),
  • World First Quadriplegic in history to finish & current World Record holder of IM70.3 and IM triathlon,
  • 4x Ironman finisher as quadriplegic,
  • 2016 Laureus World sports award finalist,
  • Robben Island Swim 8km –World first SCI (Quadriplegic) in history.
The Robben Island swim was particularly challenging as he is unable to regulate his body temperature in the icy water.  Hypothermia set in with 2 km to go, but he was determined to finish.“I always want to be the first. Everyone knows who the first guy on the moon was; nobody knows who the second guy was,” he told In the Bunch.In the same interview, Du Preez explained his ventures were not just for himself and that they often inspired others with disabilities.“It’s not that I want other quads to go do an Ironman, but, by doing the impossible things, others can start to see it is possible.  We all have that power to create hope, inspire and create a better life for those around us.”But there’s more to come, Pieter is determined to swim the English Channel, break the marathon world record and finish the Ironman in under 12-hours.“I won’t make this years’ OCC for first time in 14yrs as the date falls over UCI Para cycling world champs in Netherlands, so very sad.  I have won the 42.2km quad hand cycle race 12 or 13 times now if my memory serves me correctly.”The Outeniqua Cycle ChallengeThe 17’Th OCC, a wheelchair race which attracts athletes from all over the world, will take place in George on Saturday 14 September 2019!A wheelchair race exclusively for disabled athletes!And – every year it is getting bigger and better! The number of entries has increased dramatically, with disabled athletes and other persons in wheelchairs flocking to this annual event.The Challenge is not only unique as being the first and only event exclusively for the disabled in South Africa, but it is staged in the picturesque town of George, in the heart of the spectacular Garden Route in the Western Cape, situated at the foot of the splendour of the Outeniqua Mountains.Athletes in racing wheelchairs, adapted bicycles, hand cycles, basketball chairs and ordinary wheelchairs have made this into the premier sporting event for the disabled on the South African sporting calendar. It undoubtedly has the potential to develop into one of the best events of its kind in the world!Apart from the George Municipality, Lancewood and the Department of Cultural Affairs & Sport is supporting the event.  Halfway Toyota is the venue host for the event.Contact Details:Event Organising Body: Disabled Road Race Foundation (DRFF) Race Organiser: Alewijn Dippenaar Mobile: 082 457 5675 Email: dyndev@mweb.co.za Website: www.georgeocc.co.za Facebook: www.facebook.com/OCC.Wheelchairchallenge Online Entries: http://georgeocc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/OCC_DRRF_Entry-Form14September2019.pdf Headline Sponsor: George MunicipalityGolden Tear Sponsors:   Dept. of Cultural Affairs & Sport and Lancewood Venue Host: Halfway Toyota George Product Sponsor: SafariPress release on behalf of the Road Race Foundation: interface by goji mimi finestone |  mimi@gojipr.net  |  +27 84 583 3144https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/i-hoped-id-be-able-to-walk-says-scam-victim-288417https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/justine-asher-para-cyclist-campaignhttps://www.rnews.co.za/article/18609/george-airport-takes-outeniqua-wheelchair-challenge-to-new-heightshttps://www.paralympic.org/news/asher-hopes-inspire-othershttps://prowomenscycling.com/2016/09/14/2016-paralympic-handcyclists/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FShDCE6nnT0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg4fhvBMqIIhttps://www.georgeherald.com/News/Article/General/another-successful-occ-hosted-in-george-201802180245https://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/South-Africa/Modise-sports-star-of-the-year-20141201https://inspiringwomentoday.biz/a-new-adventure-justine-asher-south-africa/ https://gsport.co.za/role-model-woman/

Thembalethu dumping site clean up before and after cleaning

The George Municipality Cleansing Department supported Sikhula Sonke Cooperation  business by giving them garden tools, masks and gloves to clean illegal dumping sites in Thembalethu recently.  The Sikhula Sonke Cooperation  asked the Municipality to assist them in helping the community of Thembalethu. The group from Sikhula Sonke Cooperation started the operation “eliminate illegal dumping site” to turn the dumping sites into gardens and play parks for children. The organisation uses some of the materials they find at the dumping sites to upcycle and re-use materials when building benches  and more. The Municipality uses a JCB to remove all the rubble the organisation does not use for recycling.  They have started the first phase of the operation on Friday, 23 August 2019 when the group  cleaned the first dumping site at All Bricks Community Hall, Tabata Street, Thembalethu. The cleaning process and planting of flower gardens and building parks is a work in progress. Attached is a picture of the site as it looked before the cleaning operation and after pictures of the cleaned site. Sikhula Sonke must still put chairs and benches made of plastic containers on the premises. If people have plants or compost they can donate to this worthy cause please email Lunga Pieters at lunga8520@gmail.com

George Mayor hosts attendees of the IERM Convention 2019 at cocktail function

George Municipality hosted the annual IERM Convention this year with the theme of Public Spaces and Places – Current Trends, Future Opportunities and Global News. The Institute of Environment and Recreation Management (IERM) was established in 1936 to allow networking opportunities for municipal managers who are responsible for the management of public parks, open space and recreation facilities.
At the event are from left Coenraad Loubser, Manager: Parks and Recreation, Parks and Recreation, Priscilla Burgoyne, Superintendent: Parks and Recreation, Ald Melvin Naik, Executive Mayor of George, Bishop Ngobeli, President of the IERM, Executive Deputy Mayor, Cllr Charlotte Clarke and Hilton Spies, Superintendent Parks and Recreation.
The IERM is a non-profit association with 1000 members including 100 municipalities with the mission being to be the leading public sector organisation that promotes sustainable and integrated environmental and recreation management practices. This year’s convention was being hosted at the Oubaai Hotel and Spa last week ( 4-6 September)
At the event are from left Coenraad Loubser, Manager: Parks and Recreation, Parks and Recreation, Priscilla Burgoyne, Superintendent: Parks and Recreation, Ald Melvin Naik, Executive Mayor of George, Bishop Ngobeli, President of the IERM, Executive Deputy Mayor, Cllr Charlotte Clarke and Hilton Spies, Superintendent Parks and Recreation.

THE OCC PAY TRIBUTE TO ERNST VAN DYK

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Ernst van Dyk is probably the best known and most watched athlete in the history of the Outeniqua Cycle Challenge.  He has been the star attraction and has been instrumental to the success of the event.  For that George and the OCC is eternally grateful.Ernst was born with congenital absence of both legs.  His parents, two provincial-level athletes, recognized his athletic abilities and encouraged sports participation.“I thought I was given a disability to overcome and that was part of my process of growing up and how the Lord wanted to teach me to be a better person. I realized He had given me a talent to perform well on the world scene, to inspire people and to make people realize that when they think there is no way out, that there is actually a way out,” he told Beyond the Ultimate in 2012.While at school in Kimberly, he competed as a swimmer nationally in his teens.In 1992 he began his studies at Stellenbosch University and competed in the Barcelona Paralympics as a swimmer and wheelchair athlete before concentrating on wheelchair athletics as a 17-year-old.In spite of all of his sporting success, Ernst believes that his biggest achievement is being the first disabled person to graduate with a degree in Sports Science.The cheering crowd at the athletics track in Barcelona persuaded him to concentrate on wheelchair racing, but after the Games he lost his sponsorship.  “It felt like being fired from the job,” he said at the time, “I quit training for nine months until I reminded myself of a commitment I made to my father.”Since then Ernst has competed in every Paralympics to date.  He won numerous silver and bronze medals along the way before finally winning gold in Beijing in 2012.Ernst has won a record 10 Boston Marathons, including six straight between 2001 and 2006.  The ninth, in 2010, was a record for that event for any class.  Apart from Boston, he has won the New York City Marathon and the Los Angeles Marathon twice as well as the Paris Marathon and the Great North Run.The South African government has also recognised Ernst’s contribution to sport.  He received the Presidential Golden award for sport in 2002 and 2004.  In 2010 he was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in silver.Internationally he was also awarded the Laureus World Sports Awards for Sportsperson with a Disability of the year for 2006 and voted Commonwealth Sports Star of the year for 2004.Van Dyk’s company, Enabled Sport, deals in equipment for athletes with disabilities. He lives in Paarl with his wife and daughter.The Outeniqua Cycle ChallengeThe 17’Th OCC, a wheelchair race which attracts athletes from all over the world, will take place in George on Saturday 14 September 2019!A wheelchair race exclusively for disabled athletes!And – every year it is getting bigger and better! The number of entries has increased dramatically, with disabled athletes and other persons in wheelchairs flocking to this annual event.The Challenge is not only unique as being the first and only event exclusively for the disabled in South Africa, but it is staged in the picturesque town of George, in the heart of the spectacular Garden Route in the Western Cape, situated at the foot of the splendour of the Outeniqua Mountains.Athletes in racing wheelchairs, adapted bicycles, hand cycles, basketball chairs and ordinary wheelchairs have made this into the premier sporting event for the disabled on the South African sporting calendar. It undoubtedly has the potential to develop into one of the best events of its kind in the world!The Outeniqua Cycle ChallengeThe 17’Th OCC, a wheelchair race which attracts athletes from all over the world, will take place in George on Saturday 14 September 2019!A wheelchair race exclusively for disabled athletes!And – every year it is getting bigger and better! The number of entries has increased dramatically, with disabled athletes and other persons in wheelchairs flocking to this annual event.The Challenge is not only unique as being the first and only event exclusively for the disabled in South Africa, but it is staged in the picturesque town of George, in the heart of the spectacular Garden Route in the Western Cape, situated at the foot of the splendour of the Outeniqua Mountains.Athletes in racing wheelchairs, adapted bicycles, hand cycles, basketball chairs and ordinary wheelchairs have made this into the premier sporting event for the disabled on the South African sporting calendar. It undoubtedly has the potential to develop into one of the best events of its kind in the world!Apart from the George Municipality & George Business Chamber, Lancewood and the Department of Cultural Affairs & Sport is supporting the event.  Halfway Toyota is the venue host for the event.Contact Details:Event Organising Body: Disabled Road Race Foundation (DRFF) Race Organiser: Alewijn Dippenaar Mobile: 082 457 5675 Email: dyndev@mweb.co.za Website: www.georgeocc.co.za Facebook: www.facebook.com/OCC.Wheelchairchallenge Online Entries: http://georgeocc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/OCC_DRRF_Entry-Form14September2019.pdfPress release on behalf of the Road Race Foundation: interface by goji mimi finestone |  mimi@gojipr.net  |  +27 84 583 3144

George Trails…the reason to play outside.

Article & Photos: Werner RallSo here we are well into 2019 and I am pretty sure many of you have already given up on your new year’s fitness and weight loss resolutions. It’s not easy and there are many factors that can be contributing to giving up, but let boredom not be one of them.Nature is calling and George is the most diverse natural playground you will ever find anywhere in SA based on trails and routes on offer. There are no more excuses for the thousands of couch potatoes in George because a healthy lifestyle packed with adventure, awaits. We have plenty of free trails and routes right on our doorstep. So much so that George Trails is the biggest route network for mountain biking in the country based on accumulated kilometres.Nowhere else in the country will you find mountains, oceans, rivers, dams, indigenous forests, fynbos, pine plantations, farmlands and semi-desert (Karoo) all within 20km of a town or city centre. George’s trails offer incredible diversity and it was there for dubbed the ‘Trail Republic’. Currently there are 22 routes through 5 routes systems, totalling 800km. Route mapping is an ongoing process and when the project is complete there will be close to 2000km of total routes around George that can be explored.As an eco-tourism project our goals are two-fold namely to attract the fast growing trail tourism market to George to the benefit of local businesses and job creation and secondly to offer locals with information on where to run, ride and hike, in order to create a healthier community.The project have had its challenges with thousands of rands worth of vandalism to route markers and trail signage a year ago. This prompted Green Sport to take the project mostly online so the George Trails website (www.georgetrails.org.za) is a hub of information of where you can run, ride or hike and how to do it safely and responsibly. The great thing is that you can download all the routes easily on you GPS devise or smartphone to navigate with. The Facebook page keeps you up to date with news and events so give it a like.The website furthermore give information of where to shop for your gear, what clubs you can join, where permits are needed, trail safety, etiquette and you can even book accommodation or a tour through it.Trail sports are growing at a rapid rate and George Trails will be exhibiting with George Tourism at the UCI Mountain Bike Work Cup Expo in Stellenbosch in early March and are inviting all cycle related businesses around George to join us. Our aim is promote George as a top trail tourism destination with world class infrastructure and various events.Because of the not for profit nature of the project assistance is always needed so if you wish to donate or volunteer it will be much appreciated. There are also a variety of cost effective advertising and sponsorship opportunities available.                                        www.georgetrails.org.za*For more information please contact Werner on 083 444 3738 or info@greensport.org.za.Oorspronklike artikel was in Ultimate Lifesyle Ed.4

In ons Piekniek mandjie!

Spek en kaas happies8 snye brood – korsies afgesny1 koppie gerasperde kaas8 stukke skouer spek¼ koppie botterRol die snye brood plat. Plaas kaas op elke broodjie en rol toe. Draai die rolletjie toe met spek en steek vas met ‘n tandestokkie. Voorverhit ‘n pan met ‘n bietjie botter. Doop elke rolletjie vinnig in die res van die botter en maak seker dat die brood kante bedruip is. Braai nou in pan tot spek verbruin is en kaas gesmelt is. Zucchini mielie poffertjies4 koppies zucchini – fyn gerasper1 en half koppies gaar soetmielies¾ koppie spriet uie fyn opgesny1t Oregano1t Tiemie1¼ kwart koppie ertjie meel1t sout en peper na smaakBotter of olie om in gaar te maakMeng alles deeglik bymekaar. Los vir so 5 min sodat die meel die vog van die zucchini kan absorber en ‘n deeg vorm. Verhit ‘n bietjie botter in pan oor lae hitte. Skep nou lepels vol mengsel in pan en braai 3-5 min aan weerskante tot lig bruin.Artikel & Fotos: Rosalyn van ZylOorspronklike artikel was in Ultimate Lifestyle Ed.4