Chairmans Report March 2020 and March 2021
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT MARCH 2020 AND MARCH 2021
I hereby submit a somewhat delayed Chairman’s Report for March 2020. Unfortunately, the country-wide lockdown due to COVID 19 prevented a timely submission. However, it gives me great pleasure to present it to you now – the Chairman’s Report from a Covid-free ‘normal’ year of March 2019 – March 2020.
I will also be incorporating the Chairman’s Report of March 2021 in this Report. The year of March 2020 – March 2021 was certainly unlike any other. The COVID-19 Virus and lockdown impacted Member activities which therefore limits a comprehensive Report in its own right, but will be included here for the sake of completeness.
MEMBERSHIP
At the time of writing our memberships stands at just under 3000.
Although I would have liked to have seen more gains in this number, realistically, with COVID-19, the lack of new membership is not surprising. However, new members and active participating members is something to work on once normality resumes.
Sadly, we have lost much loved and highly esteemed members. They are ABC Human (23 November 1967 -3 May 2020) and Mr. Nazir Jensen (20 February 1947 – 3 January 2021). Their passing is a huge loss to many members on both a personal and Organisational level – myself included. They will be dearly missed.
ACTIVITIES
2019
In 2019 we hosted 4 x .22 baanskiet, 1 gong challenge, 1 centrefire shoot, 1 Obali Veldskiet, and our multi-discipline year end shoot.
I am proud to say that Sentraal also participated and won the Inter-branch Shoot. The winners deserve a special mention here.
They are Ludi Stark, Greg Sykes, Wesley White and Rohan Meyer. Thank you for bringing the trophy home!
2020
A limited number of Shoots were held in 2020 – in January we hosted the .22 Baanskiet, in February a Centrefire shoot and a Flakskiet in March.
In November we had the Chairman’s/ABC Human Memoriam shoot in honour of a much loved and highly respected member and friend.
MEMBERS’ EVENINGS
2019
We had a number of guest speakers namely Jack Nel in February on the subject of long-distance shooting; in March we had Professor Gous and in April we had an enjoyable evening wine pairing. In May we learnt about preparing wild meat, in September Kobus Smit gave us a talk on snakes, in August LRPs were the topic of discussion by Moshin Tajbhai and Andre Stander was guest speaker in October on black powder. To finish off the year we had a year-end function – a social evening – held in November with a lovely meal.
RAFFLE
A raffle was held in 2019 and the lucky winner of the prize – a 6.5 Creedmor – was Gerhard Mostert.
ACHIEVEMENTS
2019
One of the highlights of the year has got to be winning Branch of the Year. I’m immensely proud of this achievement and appreciate the recognition from Head Office of the hard work.
SPONSORS
Sincere gratitude to all of our sponsors namely:
Guns & Bows
Safari and Outdoor
Hi Q Amandla
VGK firearms
City Guns
Their support for our organisation is very much appreciated and their sponsorship goes a long way into making Kaapjag successful. Thank you.
GRATITIDE
I am grateful to my 2019 EXCO namely Henri Du Toit, Ludi Stark, Richard Henkel, Anton De Bruin, Eben Strydom, Jack Nel, Ismail Kajee, Greg Sykes, Bakkies Ekstein, Jan Barkhuizen, Mariuus Kotze, Mimi, and last but certainly not least, Heinrych Aylward.
Your hard work and dedication not only ensure that our events and Organisation are run as efficiently as possible but that we are recognised as Branch of the Year. Without you all, it would not be possible. Thank you.
New members to the EXCO are Bertus Cilliers who replaces Richard Henkel as Treasurer, and Jacque Buckle who replaces Jaco Frankin as Secretary. I welcome and look forward to working with you.
And lastly, but certainly not least, thank you to all of our members. Seeing the love that you have for this sport, and your participation in the events has made all the work worthwhile.
THE YEAR AHEAD
It would be remiss of me to not say a few words regarding the difficulties that are continued to be faced by many people due to COVID 19. For many hunting farms that rely on foreign tourists, the impact of COVID 19, lockdown and lack of foreign hunters, continues to be devastating. As a responsible organisation, it is sometimes not enough to concern yourself with only the interests of the immediate Organisation but also the wider community. Let us therefore support the farmers as best as we can, in particular now during the hunting season.
Although government regulations at the time of writing permit indoor gatherings, I would rather err on the side of caution as many of our members’ evenings are attended by senior members. We will resume them with a host of interesting speakers as soon as it is safe to do so.
The year ahead still has its challenges but Regulations and safety permitting, we will host events when we can.
Here’s to a safe and hopefully better year.
Thank you.
Yaseen Hanware
Chairman Sentraal Branch