Cape of Good Hope branch of Flame Lily Foundation 2024Chairman's Annual Report Over the last year, Flame Lily Foundation, Cape of Good Hope has organised regular meetings at the Fish Hoek Bowling Club, at 10am on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Often historic Rhodesia Information Service films were screened and sometimes we have had guest speakers. Special Easter and Christmas teas were also organized with prizes awarded for the best Easter bonnets and gifts for members and guests at our Christmas event. We celebrated Rhodes and Founders with a banquet at St James Hotel and we also had a special Luncheon at St James Hotel for Independence Day 11 November. This is the same hotel where we set up a memorial plaque in honour of the last Prime Minister of Rhodesia: Ian Douglas Smith. Every year, we organize a Remembrance service on the 1st Sunday of November at Fish Hoek Methodist Church, this last year with Piper James playing the bagpipes. The MOTHs always join us for this memorial service. This year's Remembrance service will be at 13:00pm on Sunday the 3rd of November. Last year we also hosted the AGM of Flame Lily Foundation at Livingstone House where the Rhodesia Heritage Library is preserved. This year’s Rhodes and Founders luncheon will be held at St James Hotel on the 12 July. Please RSVP with: Rosalie Holmes - 082 877 1301 - [email protected] Last year, FLF CGH increased our welfare payments to destitute and needy members in the Cape peninsula. FLF CGH has 65 members. We are supporting 9 welfare recipients. Each of whom has been visited in the last three months and re-evaluated. On social media, I maintain the Flame Lily Foundation, Cape of Good Hope Facebook page: FLAME LILY FACEBOOK PAGE We have over 3000 followers. Some single posts have reached over 200,000 people with over 14,500 engagements (comments, likes and shares). I also set up the Friends of Rhodes Memorial Facebook page which has over 1800 followers: FRIENDS OF RHODES MEMORIAL FACEBOOK PAGE We also maintain the Flame Lily Foundation website which Decent Digital Solutions is currently rebuilding & hosting. See the new site here... FLAME LILY WEBSITE Cape Town has many important historic links with Rhodesia. The Founder of Rhodesia, Cecil John Rhodes, was also Prime Minister of the Cape, and we are blessed by Kirstenbosch Gardens and the Groote Schuur Estate which the Founder gifted to the people of the Cape, along with Newlands Forest. Rhodes Memorial, which the people of the Cape erected to his memory, and Rhodes Cottage, where CJR passed away are also in our area. Barely a mile away from Rhodes Cottage is St James hotel, where the last Prime Minister of Rhodesia, Ian Douglas Smith, passed away. We also have a famous statue of Cecil John Rhodes in the Gardens of Cape Town. In this volatile age of Rhodes Must Fall cancel culture, arson attacks and pulling down of historic monuments, as Chairman of Flame Lily Foundation- Cape of Good Hope I have had the privilege of Standing up and articulating the case for CJR at public meetings, on radio programs, TV programs and in interviews and Letters to the Editor of local community newspapers and overseas magazines. We have also been involved in mobilizing manpower for several work parties in helping to repair, clean up and preserve Rhodes Memorial and support Rhodes Cottage events. These initiatives were reported on in local community newspapers. Since the FLF AGM 2023 unanimously agreed to fund the protection, restoration and renovations of Cecil Rhodes Cottage, we have made much progress on our partnership with the Muizenberg Historic Society for the protecting, renovating and preserving of Rhodes Cottage. This vital project is firmly within the stated objectives of Flame Lily Foundation: to preserve the History and Heritage of Rhodesia Decisive and effective action at this time, with these projects, in helping to restore Rhodes Memorial and Rhodes Cottage and museum, could well motivate more to become active members, inspire more support and lead to an increased capacity to support vulnerable and destitute members of Flame Lily. Those who claim that this restoration and preservation project is beyond the constitution of FLF are wrong. The stated objective of Flame Lily Foundation is to preserve the History and Heritage of Rhodesia. We have undertaken intensive further investigation as agreed at the previous AGM. Our investment in time, talent and treasure, in Cecil Rhodes Cottage will inspire more support worldwide to this worthy project as progress is seen and reported on. We are convinced that this really is a critical moment upon which the future of Flame Lily Foundation depends. If we continue to take the initiative and make a positive difference in preserving this historic monument and museum of the Founder of Rhodesia, it will inspire more support for the project from other bodies and probably raise more recruits and members for Flame Lily Foundation, especially from the younger generation (including our children and grandchildren) who are essential for the continued existence, development and growth of FLF. I am convinced that this is a decisive moment and if we renege on our commitment and fail to maintain the initiative in this battle for our heritage, FLF will condemn itself to irrelevance and will fade away. FLF - CGH asks: What more important project is FLF involved in to preserve the history and heritage of Rhodesia? Project for the Repairs, Restoration, Security, Preservation and Caretaking of Rhodes Cottage in Muizenberg The Flame Lily Foundation shares the concern of the Muizenberg Historic Society for the preservation and caretaking of Rhodes cottage. Accordingly, we are partnering with MHS to renovate and protect this historic site and tourist attraction. We believe that the first priority is Security: 1. Erecting an aesthetically pleasing, but effective, wrought iron fence upon the stone wall perimeter facing the main road (similar to the neighbouring property) and planting hedges that would eventually encompass the fence. We need to ensure that Rhodes cottage is secure from arson attacks and that fire hazards such as the dry wood piled up near the side gate is promptly removed. 2. Changing the locks to Rhodes cottage and limiting access to the keys (the security has been seriously compromised by contractors and casual labourers having been issued with keys to the cottage). During the renovations it may be wise to also hire a security guard to protect the property and building materials at night. 3. Ensuring that the thatched roof is protected by an effective sprinkler system and smoke alarm, so that any fire would be automatically and effectively dealt with by sprinklers installed on the apex of the thatched roof (fed by a 5000 L water tank placed on the hillside to ensure good water flow/pressure). As the property has its own water spring, this should be utilised. Secondly, the Repairs and Renovations to the building itself which includes dealing with the rising damp, the damaged sections of windows, shutters, roof and beams. An experienced and trusted renovator, Anthony Stander: [email protected] walked around Rhodes cottage with curator Tony Rozemeyer and I to assess the damage and evaluate what is needed. He informed us that, as this is a heritage site, we need an architect to draft the necessary plans and changes. I believe MHS has suitable architect contacts and friends to turn to for this. Tony, in his report, also mentions an evaluation by a fireman. We need to ensure that the cottage is protected by an effective alarm system which must include a smoke detector alarm connected to the sprinkler system. Thirdly, we should seriously consider renovating the attic space which was operational in the days of Cecil Rhodes and restoring the bay window in the attic. The attic conversion could provide a suitable venue for a Cecil Rhodes Library and Study Centre. Fourthly, the fynbos garden above the cottage can be better utilised and enjoyed by constructing some pathways and benches. Flame Lily Foundation Cape of Good Hope is partnering with MHS to repair, renovate and restore Rhodes cottage and its exhibits and help care for this historic monument and museum and attractive tourist destination. Our FLF-CGH Committee: Flame Lily Foundation - Cape of Good Hope Dr. Peter Hammond-Chairman 021 689 4480 [email protected] Tony Rozemeyer-Vice chairman 021 788 7274 061 817 6054 [email protected] Rosalie Holmes-Treasurer 082 877 1301 [email protected] Margaret Matzener-Secretary 073 261 4136 [email protected] Val Mason-Committee Member 082 538 5019 [email protected] Shirley Sleight-Committee Member 021 786 4718 083 447 7382 [email protected] Alec Murray-Committee Member 021 782 1443 079 812 0235 [email protected] Stephanie Markey-Committee Member 083 270 7272 [email protected]
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CategoriesArchives
November 2024
AuthorFrontline Fellowship |