Ample Proof of Local Talent

The fact that most of us have some sort of artistic ability waiting to be coaxed out of us has been proven time and again.

Nowhere has this been been made more obvious that right here in Smithfield, thanks to Bets de Bruyn having started her art classes in the ever-popular Red Barn.

Our photo features four of the original five who began the process of going back to school with Bets (the fifth member of the original team, who used to travel to Bethulie for lessons each week, was behind the camera!).

From the left, with examples of the work they are producing are Lynden Lund, Susan Jewell, Barbara von Ahlefeldt, and Fabrice Rebouillat. And with them is Bets herself, who must be well-pleased with the results of her ability to enthuse newcomers to the world of creativity.

Up to 16 enthusiastic art students of all ages and both genders now are being  tutored at the Red Barn each week. And all are progressing in leaps and bounds, and showing great promise, according to Bets.  In the coming months Smiffie will print works by the newer artists.

Smithfield Gesture to Mandela Day A Great Success

More than 200 motorists travelling through Smithfield on Sunday morning, July 18 were stopped by the police – in honour of International Mandela Day. Above, people stream across the N6 road through Smithfield after being stopped by the police. They have been invited to have coffee or tea and snacks by Smithfielders in honour of Mandela Day.

The project took less than 24 hours to put into effect. Linette Swanepoel deserves great credit for being the source of the unusual idea of honouring the former president, and at the same time focussing attention on Smithfield. A group of Smithfielders enthusiastically joined in, as did the police when they were approached.

Had it not been for the presence of a couple of uniformed officers flagging down cars travelling through town from the south and west, as well as from the Bloemfontein direction, the idea would never have worked.

When stopped, the motorists were welcomed to Smithfield, and invited to celebrate Mandela Day with a cup of coffee or tea and snacks before continuing on their journey. Few declined the invitation.

The results far exceeded expectations of the organisers. People of all backgrounds and all races, from all over the country, praised the gesture to the former president and expressed delight at the idea. They said they enjoyed the unexpected break, and the manner in which they had been so warmly welcomed to Smithfield.

Large quantities of refreshments were served on the Red Barn verandah during the 67 minutes of the event. A party atmosphere developed among the crowd, who arrived as strangers but quickly got chatting to each other. The visitors ranged from students heading for a new semester at Rhodes or Free State universities, and families with young children from the Transkei, to elderly couples on holiday. Cameras were produced to record the happy event.

The contribution to the country made by the man they were honouring was the main topic of conversation.

Smithfield Awareness Campaign

Madiba could not have had his birthday remembered in a more fun way.

With the support of the police, travellers were stopped and welcomed to tea, coffee, and something to eat to break the monotony of their journey.

Linette and Henk Swanepoel from Pigout restaurant, Susan Jewell from Artists Colony, Fabrice Rebouillat from Pula House, Barbara von Ahleveldt from Bibas art and curio gallery, Linda Retief from Bokmakierie, Carmel Rickard from Trading Places, Lynden Lund all contributed to the success of the event.

Well done Smithfielders.

Art in the Garden

Smithfield Art in the Garden an exciting new event.

Fabrice Rebouillat setting out the artwork.

Art by Susan Jewell

Art by Lynden Lund

Where Do We All Stand Without Traffic Officers?

WITHOUT the knowledge of local ratepayers, a serious dispute has erupted between the municipal manager and the contractor who runs the traffic fine management system. Their dispute has now gone to court. Here’s how that dispute, and the decision that all three traffic officials are to take special leave until further notice, affects you:

• Since April 30 there has been no law enforcement in the poort or in and around Zastron, Rouxville and Smithfield;
• roads are therefore far more dangerous;
• since no traffic fines are being imposed, ratepayers are no longer able to benefit from this source which is supposed to boost municipal income;
• three key officials are not allowed to do their work because of a municipal instruction that they must stay home – but ratepayers must still pay their salaries;
• if there should be an accident in the poort or other sections of the municipality, there are no traffic officers to respond;
• Smithfield’s sole fire-fighting equipment is operated by the chief of traffic, Gerard Friederichs, who has been specially trained to deal with fires. Now that he has been put on special leave, however, he has effectively been prevented from performing this duty. During the period of his special leave, the water wagon has twice been removed from his premises by * * other municipal employees; after the first time it was returned partly broken, after the second time it was removed it has still not been returned. Even if it is still in a condition to be used for fire-fighting purposes, the name and number of the person in possession of the equipment is not available. This has already had serious consequences: when a fire broke out at the home of Greg May, on June 22, Friedrichs was not able to help as the equipment was no longer at his house and no-one knew where it was;
• The municipality approved a pay-off of R500 000 to the company that used to run the traffic fine system in Smithfield so that the new outfit could replace it before the end of the first company’s contract. The pay-off was apparently approved on the grounds that the new company would bring in more revenue to Mohokare.
• Half a million rand has however now been wasted because the dispute between the municipal manager and the new contractor has ensured that no fines are being issued nor are old fines being followed up.
• There is still no sign of an end to their legal dispute and all the legal costs incurred by the municipality or ordered by the court to be paid by the municipality will also have to be carried by rate-payers.

Despite these and other serious consequences to every person living in Mohokare, the municipality has shown a complete lack of accountability and transparency – it has not seen fit to make any statement or offer any explanation of the situation to the people it is supposed to serve and who will end up footing the bill.

Smithfield BibberChill on the map

The annual BibberChill event lived up to its name and the registration number says it all..
Photos by Lynden Lund

Charles Smith from the Volksblad had this to say about the evening events.

http://www.volksblad.com/Rubrieke/CharlesSmith/Afval-skaapkop-vir-die-winter-20100610

More photos of the event are seen here.

Smithfield Now (Almost) On Maloti Route!

By Greg May

Having decided to establish Smithfield even more firmly on the map, getting onto the Maloti Route map seemed highly desirable, as the route is so close to us, and passes through some most attractive landscape, dotted with many small Free State towns.

Smithfield Marketing Initiative approached the Maloti committee and was warmly accepted.

Now the task of putting us physically on the map has come, as most things do, at a price. By forming a steering committee which included people from all aspects of the Smithfield economic community, as well as working against a tight deadline, we managed to make it happen. Smithfield now boasts a one-and-a-third page advertisement on the Maloti Route brochure focussing on the town, with the stated promise: “Smithfield –you’ll love it!”

The support we received was overwhelming and we’d like to thank all who participated.

Next on our “To Do” list, is a winter promotion. After all, this is the season of the annual BibberChill, plus the fact that this is 2010, with soccer matches being played in Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth, and schools experiencing one of their longest ever holiday periods.

So, we decided to focus our attention on Bloemfontein and the Free State, believing that there must be some people who will want to try and escape the soccer hysteria for the tranquillity of a country dorp.

Once again, with much support and working closely with Lizette Prinsloo (who is also a member of our steering committee as well as heading up the BibberChill committee), we have managed to make it happen.

During the period from the end of May through to 27 June, four quarter-page advertisements will appear in the Volksblad’s Kontrei supplement. Two of these will feature the BibberChill, and the other two the Smithfield Winter Promotion, details of which appear on the left.

This joint advertising and promotion is first for Smithfield, so let’s all join together to make it the start of an annual event – A Winter Festival that embraces the whole of Smithfield.

We now need to look at other routes (e.g. N6 and the Gariep) as well as other promotions such as in September and January. We need the support of everybody with an interest in seeing more growth in Smithfield (which must surely be all of us).

Die Historiese St Bartholomew’s

deur Henrie Smith
Gedurende November 1879 is die geskiedkundige St Bartholomew’s Anglikaanse kerkie op Smithfield in gebruik geneem. Die plaaslike dokter en lidmaat op Smithfield (moontlik dr C W Browne) berig as volg: “The whole buidling is 65 feet 5 inches long and 17 feet broad. In the west end there are three lancet-shaped windows; the arches made in brick and the sills cut in marble”.

Nadat Rev Bell in 1863 as predikant aangestel is, is die huis oorkant die kerkie as pastorie gebruik. ’n Vertrek aan die huis is as kerk gebruik. Rev Bell berig as volg oor ’n nuwe erf: “A lady in town has given a valuable plot of ground, nicely planted with young trees, opposite the parsonage for a site. A bazaar has been held by which £200 has been gained”.

Nadat die dorp in 1848 ontstaan het was daar ’n groot erf op die dorp gesoneer vir die Anglikaanse kerk. Na die skenking van die erf oorkant die pastorie is dit verkoop en die fondse aangewend vir die bou van die nuwe kerk.

Pas nadat Rev Bell op Smithfield aangekom het, het hy reeds ’n fonds vir die bou van ’n kerk begin. Mev Bell berig as volg oor die nuwe kerk: “ The Bishop (Bishop Twells) pronounces Smithfield church to be the best in the Diocese. It is far better than anything we expected to see here, and we feel it is all owing to the dear friends in England without whom it would never have been built. We never despaired of it from the day, now some twelve or fourteen years ago, when an old black woman gave us eighteen pence towards it”.

Oor die inwyding van die kerk skryf Rev Bell as volg: “ All Saints’ Day and the church was consecrated the following morning. It is such a beautiful church. It is truly a comfort and blessing to have the privilege of worshipping in a real church”.

Met die kwynende getal Engels-sprekende lidmate vanaf die begin van die vorige eeu, het Smithfield ’n belangrike deel van sy kulturele samestelling verloor, wat bygedra het dat die kerkie in onbruik geraak het. Bewaring van hierdie geskiedkundige gebou is egter noodsaaklik!

(Bogenoemde inligting is verkry uit die boek van Karel Schoeman The Free State Mission of the Anglican Church in the OFS). Kerk in Smithfield

Farmers Market A Huge Success

Welcome smiles, a wide range of products and the inevitable wors-rolls, all that and more at the Smithfield boeremarket. It has now become a monthly event.

All at Nicks Place. Check the map for details.

And now there are Three

Just think of how wonderful the journey will be once the road is complete!