Last year we were regally entertained by the North Cape Club in Hopetown. At that meeting we offered to hold this year’s meeting in Villiersdorp. Issues raised at last year’s meeting have been worked on during the year, for instance changes to the judging form for Stationary Engines. Much more had been accomplished in this past year, for ratification at this meeting.

Organisation for the meeting itself started in November with Hennie sending out provisional Agendas and reminders. At Villiersdorp we held a preparatory meeting last week to make sure we kept up to the standards set last year.

For the people arriving during the Friday, it has become traditional for the local Club to make visitors welcome with drinks and a meal. We decided to entertain them in our museum, with a fish-braai. Lee and her team from our Alwyn Vintcent Farmstall excelled themselves with the catering.

People found anywhere to eat and socialise!

Hennie and Apie, which one is which?

Saturday morning, we were back at 8.30, to meet the rest of the delegates from around the country. The meeting was held in our newly-restored house which will become the Steam Tug Alwyn Vintcent Restaurant next to our Farmstall which is already running. Villiersdorp Dominee ‘MC’ opened proceedings outside with a prayer.

The ladies, children and anybody else not actually needed at the AGM then left for a visit to Abagold Perlemoen (Abalone) farm in Hermanus laid on by Denis Usher.

….. while we got down to the business of the year….

Jaco and Johan, which one is which?

With a start at 9, and a short break for tea and a slightly longer break for stand-up lunch, deliberations only finished after 5! If you’ve come a long way, there’s no point going home without dealing with every last issue!

We were then given a tour of a state-of-the-art cold-room facility at Betko Packshed next door.

Fruit can be stored four pallets high on these moving towers, although they usually only use the first three layers.

From there we went on to Coetzee & Seuns’ private Stationary Engine Museum, just outside town.

This is where we have decided to complete the restoration of the rare Clayton & Shuttleworth Trusty Stationary Engine which can just be seen on the left, as a group project. From there we went to Eniel’s farm to look at the collections of Eniel and Johannes Uys’ ‘overflow’ which he stores there.

By the time we got back to the Farmstall/Restaurant, everything was ready for the braai, meat this time! More West Cape members joined us to socialise with the visitors.

Thanks must go to the organisers, helpers, Lee for the catering, and to the people who travelled long distances to be at the AGM!

🙂 Andy