A GROUP of lively and vibrant women, who are members of the Green Friends Garden Club, decided to embrace the international ‘Naked in the Garden Day’ and came up with a fun idea to raise funds.
The garden club’s mature women created a semi-nude garden club birthday calendar with hope of fundraising for the Everton Conservancy as well as Mazarat Animal Rescue, an animal shelter in Waterfall.
ALSO READ: Scenic delights at Open Gardens
The garden club was formed in June 2020 by Monique Altson and Friederike Macquet.
Macquet said the group meets once a month and they learn and share garden ideas, plants and cuttings.
The group visit’s a different garden each month and discuss design ideas and plants.
The Kloof resident smiled and said it may have been a strange thing to do, but the idea was warmly welcomed and their members came on board and sent their semi-nude pictures taken in their gardens.
“It was definitely fun and it’s all for a good cause,” laughed Macquet.
She highlighted that all the women in the calendar are more than 60 years old and a few of them are about 70.
“We refer to ourselves as ‘mature ladies’ and, in the pictures, everything is hidden. Everyone can own this calendar and it’s perfect for a Christmas or birthday gift,” said an Assagay member, Jo Parker.
ALSO READ: Winston Park garden wins Garden of the Year award
She added that they hope this calendar will motivate women to be comfortable in their own skin.
Speaking about the organisations they have chosen to support, Macquet said they are very passionate about nature and animal welfare.
“With Covid-19, the organisations that rely solely on funds through fundraisers have been negatively affected.
Help animal lovers support local charities
The Everton Conservancy was established in 1991, their function is the removal of alien vegetation, picking up rubbish and the removal of snares. There is also the ongoing monitoring of wildlife in the area with camera traps,” said Macquet.
Parker, an animal lover, described Mazarat Animal Rescue as a safe haven for animals that endeavours to rescue, rehabilitate, sterilise and rehome cats and dogs.
“Their rehoming is only done after a home check and adoption papers have been completed. Animals are also vaccinated and sterilised before leaving for their new homes,” she said.
The club thanked all the companies that sponsored them to make the calendars. “we are grateful to each and every one,” said Parker.
The calendars cost R150 each. To support this green initiative, WhatsApp Macquet on 084 323 2323.
Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
