GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Many people in the Graaff-Reinet community recently participated in a drive-by of the Marais home in Somerset Street to pay their respects to Dr Dakman Marais and his family after the tragic loss of his wife, Karin.
The drive-by was organised by a group of Kroonvale residents: Denise Grootboom, Loy Bosch, Salome Hartney, Melanie Koeberg and Amber Jack.
Many residents made donations at Pick n Pay where some trees were purchased, which was kindly and ably facilitated by Cheryl Wadelow and her helpers.
Dr Marais asked that the donations be used to purchase indigenous trees to be planted in the whole of Graaff-Reinet, and that part would be a donation to Boundless, the Graaff-Reinet Protective Workplace, where Karin was the voluntary CEO and where she has spent so much of her time.
The Heritage Society had asked Sharon Shell and Judy Caryer to represent them on the Municipal Tree Committee. A meeting was held with Melvis Pietersen of the municipality, who pledged his co-operation and also gave advice for the planting of trees on the pavements. He also said that the cutting down of the dead trees was being done.
A Trees for Graaff-Reinet Committee was established with Denise Grootboom as chair, and Salome Hartney, Loy Bosch, John Marais and Judy Caryer as members.
Salome Hartney, Lynne Minnaar, Linda Walker and Lorette Luscombe have volunteered to contact all those who made donations. This will be completed before the end of August. Donors will be asked to plant their trees and take care of them so that Graaff-Reinet will benefit. There will be a choice of an indigenous tree which will be available as soon as all donors have been contacted. Trees will be sourced from Bargain Nursery in George for R60 a tree. The available trees are Red Alder (Cunonia Capensis), Cape Ash (Ekebergia Capensis), False Olive (Buddleja Saligna), Wild peach (Kiggelaria Africana), Weeping Boerboom (Schotia Brachypetala), Karoo Boerboom (Schotia Affra), Wild plum (Harpephyllum Caffrum), Karee (Rhus Lancea), Wild olive (Olea Europaea) and Coral tree (Erythrina Caffra).
White Stinkwoods will be available only after about three months.
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