Women’s club ends year on a high note

OUTGOING president Elsie Pretorius looked back on an action-packed year at Tuesday Rostrum’s 27th annual general meeting at Mbango last week.

It had been a most successful year, with diverse speakers discussing a wide range of subjects and passions.

“I have always felt uplifted or challenged after every luncheon,” said Elsie.

However, it had been a year not without sadness, she said. Georgie Strydom, a past president of the club, had died after a brave fight against illness.

In April last year, the ‘friendly, thinking women’s club’ started the financial year with a horse ride around South Africa with guest speakers Lloyd and Isabel Gillespie. In June Sean Davison provided a thoughtful and compassionate viewpoint on the controversial subject of euthanasia.

Jonathan Johansson, an Idols 2013 contestant, provided the entertainment at the midyear musical break. One of Tuesday Rostrum’s favourite speakers, Patricia Glynn, returned to tell a story about her tough and emotionally taxing journey into the Kalahari with a bushman family. Professor Chris Nicholson encouraged Tuesday Rostrum to think out the box when he gave a talk, ‘One Hand Washes the Other’ in September.

Tuesday Rostrum explored the Trappist trails on their doorstep with Steve Kotze in October and listened to sea survivor Brett Archibald’s amazing story in November.

As usual the annual Christmas brunch, at The Estuary, had been the greatest fun. This year, veteran performers Des and Dawn Lindberg, had provided the top notch entertainment.

A first class storyteller, Rob Caskie had been a great hit when he’d taken Tuesday Rostrum ‘South With Scott and Shackelton’ in February. Finally, a surprisingly upbeat and hopeful talk by journalist William Saunderson-Meyer – best known for his somewhat jaundiced views – wrapped up a particularly stimulating year for Tuesday Rostrum.

Elsie thanked the Mbango team for the fine lunches and table decor, Yvonne Lee for providing transport from Durban for the speakers and the South Coast Herald for its support. She had a special little message for all her committee members who had worked so hard to make the year so successful.

Elsie, who has served a two-year term of office, then handed over the reins to incoming president Phyl Bennett. She welcomed Angela Kruger and Denise Millar onto the committee.

After the meeting members and guests enjoyed lunch and a polished talk and slide presentation, ‘From Dinner Jackets to Leather Jackets’, by music guru Sean Brokensha. Sean is best known for his Talk Radio 702 ‘Musicguru’ feature.

His fascinating, in-depth and slickly-presented illustrated talk took his listeners on a musical journey through time, starting with the era of the big bands and crooners through to the evolution of rock ‘n roll and RnB. He also discussed how music had reflected the broader changes in society.