Spring brings new life to Kambula

IT WOULD seem that a new crop of farmers are sowing the seeds of a new life for the Kambula Farmers’ Association (KFA).

The association’s activities always centred on the KFA’s farmers’ hall and tennis club, which is located next to the Vryheid-Paulpietersburg road, opposite the Kambula store. There was a time when every weekend the hall and tennis club was a hive of activity, with the six tennis courts fully occupied. It was the centre of social discourse for the farming community of Kambula.

Then, for various reasons, its popularity waned, and the social centre of Kambula took on an abandoned look. It may have been the security situation; it may have been satellite television and international rugby over weekends; it may have been the financial turmoil of the late 20th century; it may have been simply that the “Old Guard” of Kambula farming families simply weren’t as young and energetic as they used to be!

It is the new generation of Kambula farmers who have planted the seeds for a revitalised KFA. At a function on September 1, the hall was re-opened and blessed by Pastor John McKenzie, and Selwyn Schefermann spoke about the history of the hall and the association, a history that goes back as far as 1928. In time, two of the tennis courts will also be rehabilitated. Thanks go to the many sponsors whose generosity has made the revamping possible.

Kambula is a mixed-farming area, contributing hugely to the economy of Vryheid with its production of timber, maize, beef and soya etc. It is a tightly-knit community who realise that they don’t exist in a vacuum, and are creating links with other sectors of the Kambula community, for example the schools. The association recently donated a weedeater to the nearby Khaleni Farm School.

The Kambula Farmers’ Hall is available for hire. Contact either Ken Taylor (083 232 7429) or Hagen Gevers (082 650 6958) for more information. This weekend, on Saturday 21 September, there will be a Barn Dance in the hall. Phone the above numbers for more information and tickets, or tickets will be available at the door.