Melville Koppies – 41 days of lockdown notes
Undaunted, she was inspired by Italian poet and scholar, Boccacio.
More than 600 days ago, the lives of South Africans changed when everyone was confined to their homes as a pandemic swept across the globe.
ALSO READ: Keeping you safe on Melville Koppies Central
For Wendy Carstens, who manages Melville Koppies on behalf of the Melville Koppies Management Committee, her daily work and exercise on the Koppies degenerated into “monotonous laps around the garden”.
Undaunted, she was inspired by Italian poet and scholar Boccacio.
“During the Black Death in Italy in the 14th Century, he and 10 young Florentines went into seclusion in a villa for 10 days,” she said.
“While they were there, each person told a story every day – hence 100 stories, most of them with the themes of love and lust.”
Carstens began to write “a Melville Koppies-related snippet every day” and posted it on Melville Koppies Facebook page.
Other Melville Koppies volunteers (school-going ones too) joined her, “there were lots of things to love, and maybe even some lusty titbits”, while volunteer Anthony Paton updated the page “with his passion for birds – the feathered kind.”
And when the first lockdown was extended, the daily snippets continued until 41 days was reached.
Those interested can read all these posts on www.mk.org.za
Alternatively, visit Melville Koppies Central (Nature Reserve and Heritage Site) every Sunday from 08:00 to 11:30.
There is no need to pre-book. Entry costs R80 for adults and R40 for children.
All income from the sale of ticket of used for maintenance and security of the Koppies, which amounts to R22 000 per month.
Security on the Koppies is provided and visitors can park in secure parking opposite the entrance at Marks Park in Judith Road, Emmarentia.
For more information contact wendavid@mweb.co.za
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