Delving into the past
Saga was founded by Gladys Evans and her guide dog, Sheena, in 1953.
This week we look at the Advertiser’s May 5, 2006, edition.
• Pool blues
Tests done on a pool at a Selcourt home have shown a high level of phosphates in the water.
This follows complaints from Austral homeowner Brian van Malsen about a black, soot-like substance covering his pool.
“I’ve cleaned out my entire pool several times but the substance keeps returning,” said van Malsen.
Karen Bush of Professional Pool Services said in an article in The Advertiser they have had a number of problematic pools.
After the conventional treatments were tried without success, Bush took a sample of van Malsen’s pool last week for testing.
“The phosphates found in the water mean there is pollution in the air,” said Bush, but she was unable to pinpoint where it’s coming from.
Also read: Delving into the past
• Wheelchair project a rolling success
Thanks to Springs’s good Samaritans, the Addie is celebrating its 90th birthday in the true spirit of giving.
In only 20 days, a total of 75 wheelchairs have been sponsored for the Addie/Rotary Club of Springs’s 90 wheelchairs in 90 days for 90 needy people.
Since last week when 66 donations had been made in only 15 days, another nine have been sponsored by Selcourt Stationers, Red Wine Club, Foster and Mildred Gould and the Pedal family.
The wheelchairs will be assembled and distributed locally by the Rotary Club of Springs.
Nine of the special wheelchairs will also be given to the 94.7 Highveld Stereo Christmas Wishlist.
The Addie would like to thank everyone who has pledged their support so far in helping those in need.
• Rotary goes to the dogs
Two special guests – Ronnie, a golden retriever, and Humphrey, a Labrador, recently visited the Rotary Club of Springs.
Ronnie accompanied his owner, Pieter van Niekerk, who was born blind and for the past four years has been the spokesperson and fund-raiser for the South African Guide-dogs Association for the Blind (Saga).
From the association, the Rotarians also welcomed Joel van Stabel and Humphrey.
Humphrey has been sponsored by Rotary and will now provide a blind person the gift of independence.
Saga was founded by Gladys Evans and her guide dog, Sheena, in 1953.
Also read: Delving into the past
All puppies are bred from specially selected stock, very often from dogs already bred by the association.
Every attempt is made to ensure all breeding stock is free from any hereditary diseases.
The dogs used are Labradors, golden retrievers and German shepherds.
At seven weeks, the pups are placed in private homes to begin training with a puppy walker.
A puppy walker is a volunteer who adopts a pup for 12 to 14 months and is responsible for the socialisation of the pup.
Once the dogs return from the puppy walking scheme, they begin a six-month intensive training programme.
At 18 months, the dog is presented to a blind person who receives three week’s training with the dog at the centre before graduating.
Each blind person pays R5 for the dog and R100 for accommodation while in training.
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