Glendee Yacht Club sets sail for new development and Dam Jam Festival
"We are gearing up for the first ever Dam Jam here – and there will be 11 bands jamming throughout the day on September 23 for a full, family day out,"
The times have been lean for the Glendee Yacht Club. The crippling drought reduced the Tom Worthington dam in Hattingspruit to a mud pool for over 18 months.
Members could not use their boats on the water and events at the old Clubhouse dried up.
Established 61 years ago, the Club was in real danger of being shipwrecked.
Thanks to the welcome late summer rains, the dam now stands at around 80%. The advent of spring has seen the new enthusiastic committee, comprising members from Dundee, Glencoe and Newcastle, working hard to steer the Club into a new direction.
Members last week started painting the Clubhouse a fresh white colour and repaired the old thatched roof. Rundown chicken runs and other clutter have been cleared away.
Why all the activity? “We are gearing up for the first ever Dam Jam here – and there will be 11 bands jamming throughout the day on September 23 for a full, family day out,” explained members, Alex Kirstein and Ronnie Kriel, with whom the Courier caught up at the Clubhouse along with their team of painters. More on the Dam Jam: Bring and braai and own refreshments. There will be boat rides for the children and lots of fun.
Free camping Saturday night only. Enquiries: Musicians: Monty Steele 082 856 1972; bookings, stalls and camping: Alex 082 372 6333. Stall fee: minimum R50 (to be prepaid).
The committee hopes that funds raised will go towards replacing the thatch. There are also plans to host a raft race at the dam and more Dam Jams to give local musicians a chance to get some much-needed exposure.
Spring has certainly sparked new life into this old Club and hopes are high that GYC will continue to sail on the high seas with renewed vigour.
