BAE’s foundation was made of tours
Janet said it developed into regular meetings, with people taking plates of eats and men also taking part.
Chairperson of the Bedfordview Association for the Elderly (BAE) Janet Brodrick recently took a trip down memory lane to the signing of the BAE Constitution on July 20, 1988.
“In the late ’70s and early ’80s, the Bedfordview Clinic operated from a little house down Hawley Road, close to where the Murray & Roberts parking is now. On Wednesdays, elderly citizens of Bedfordview went to have their blood pressure checked. While they waited to be checked, a woman named Babs Leask and her daughter, Bea Roodt, founding members of the BAE, started serving tea. That is where it started,” recalled Janet.
Janet said it developed into regular meetings, with people taking plates of eats and men also taking part.
She said the meetings later moved to the new clinic after it had been constructed.
Thereafter, BAE began preparing tours, which are still a very big part of the association today.
Also read: BAE do Kruger National Park
“Anna Tindell, a member of BAE, taught at Bedfordview Primary School for many years. She used to take her Grade Seven class on a tour every year. She began organising tours in 1958,” said Janet.
She said Anna retired in December 1986 and joined BAE in 1987.
“In 1988 she took a group of 46 people to the Cape, following the same route she took,” said Janet.
Janet said with the profit from that tour she bought eight tables, 80 chairs, an urn, eight trays with teapots, hot water jugs, sugar bowls, crockery, cutlery and glasses to be used at the club.
Also read: Association seeks new members
“They decided to have a braai as a monthly function. They then began to serve pie and salad on Wednesdays for a small price. That never really caught on, so a monthly outing became the norm,” said Janet.
The places visited were Bronkhorstbaai, Cullinan, Sammy Marks Museum and Ludwig’s Roses near Hammanskraal.
Annual visits were made to Garden World and Pretoria zoo, and trips to Skipper’s Lodge in Margate were arranged for many years.
“Anna also used to take groups to the Alhambra Theatre each month. Now she likes to organise two to three live shows each year, such as Cats and Cinderella on Ice,” said Janet.
Anna has also taken groups to Russia, the Baltic, Malaysia, Croatia, Egypt, England, South America, Alaska and Zimbabwe.
Also read: Kelly shares Kili experiences with Bedfordview elderly
Janet said that 10 years ago Anna met Martie Craig from Fouriesburg Country Inn, who was leading tours to Katse Dam and Eastern Free State.
“There is a law where tour guides have to be trained and registered. This meant that Anna could not legally lead tours, but now Martie is qualified and takes tours to Katse Dam and Botswana.
“Anna buys tours from her and no profit is ever added,” said Janet.
Janet said that presently, Anna organises trips to the Blue Marlin twice a year, which are very popular and very good value.
“Anna is such a huge part of BAE. Without her we would never go anywhere. We all appreciate her,” said Janet.
For more information on the BAE contact Janet on 0726796461 or email janet7@vodamail.co.za
