The Husky Rescue Centre hosted their first-ever potjie competition in order to raise funds for the organisation on a sunny 12 June in Chartwell. Six teams entered in hopes of winning the best potjie dish and kept an eye on their pots for most of the afternoon.
Gilli Read, who is in charge of fundraising at the centre, said she is hoping to have more competitions like this in the future, considering the great turnout on the day. “Hopefully when Covid goes, we can have a bigger and even better one. We really need to raise the funds as well as the awareness.”
“While raising funds is brilliant, raising awareness is what will bring the much-needed funds in.
A lot goes into running a place like this, and we really are hoping to have more of these this year,” she said.
During the harder periods of lockdown due to Covid-19 restrictions last year, a number of volunteers came to the centre to assist with the dogs. Fundraising initiatives were moved online.
Dishes that were cooked included chicken curries, creamy pasta with biltong and cheese, and a seafood potjie meal. Alongside small dishes of the various meals on sale, there was a number of items relating to huskies and raffle tickets to be purchased.
Jakes the dog was a specially ‘fussy judge’ and was given a taste of all the dishes cooked. She had chosen a dish from team Santa Paws who made a pasta potjie with biltong, cheese and mushroom. The winner chosen by the judges was team Curry Woofers for their chicken curry and rice.
Read concluded by saying, “It was really great to see the turnout today. A lot of people came to support, which is fantastic. Even though two teams had to pull out because of Covid, it is a sign of the times. We are still happy about the support today.
“Looking to the next event, we’d like to maybe do a painting class where people can learn to paint a husky.
“With 947 [Ride Joburg] coming up, we always put in a team, so having people ride for us would be great as well.”
