Friends of Rotary recognised

The Friends of Rotary initiative has been running for a few decades as a way of acknowledging the tireless work of the charitable people and organisations in Krugersdorp.

Dennis Pretorius and Dehlia van Staden, who also run the West Rand Chamber of Business and Tourism and are members of The Rotary Club of Krugersdorp (RCK) were the minds and guiding hands behind the West Rand Show until its final event at the now dilapidated Bob van Reenen Stadium in 2001.

When the festival was no longer viable, largely because it became too expensive to operate, its organisers invested the remaining funds wisely.

“Most of us were Rotary members at the time, so we placed the money into a trust with the RCK, knowing it would be in safe hands,” Dehlia explained. “We wrote a provision so that it would go on forever, even when we’re no longer there.”

The idea was that the money would accrue interest over time that could be used each year to help other organisations.

“When the West Rand Show closed down, some of the accumulated festival funds were given to three charity organisations, which received R125 000 each. The remaining R435 000 went into the trust. Every year we have a function where that money, with funds raised by the Rotary, is divided among various organisations,” Dennis said.

During this year’s Friends of Rotary awards held at the Golden Age Village on Thursday, September 30, donations were made to the Gideons Bible association, The Gateway School, The Cradle of Hope, The Bethany House Trust, The Tower of Life, House Nehemiah and The Thoughtful Path, while other important figures in the community received awards of recognition for their hard work in and around Krugersdorp.