SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
December 2003 edition
South Africa's poor performance in the recent Rugby World Cup came as no great surprise.
The blame for this should not however be pinned upon Rudi Straeuli's notorious and bizarre "Kamp Staaldraad" boot-camp training methods, but more because of the rapid decline of South Africa as a nation and society.
The complete breakdown of law and order and infrastructure in South Africa has not only caused massive and increasing emigration from the country, particularly among the young, but has also meant that great dangers entail from merely venturing out of "fortress" homes at night, even to attend training sessions. As a result the potential "pool" of world-class players for the Springbok squad has diminished significantly.
From the dizzy heights of being World Cup winners (albeit controversially) on home soil in 1995, South Africa were eliminated in the semi-finals in 1999, and only reached the quarter-finals this year. In future competitions they will probably fare even more badly.
This is no idle speculation. Both South-West Africa and Rhodesia (when playing as provinces in the Currie Cup competition during the good old days) always fared well against visiting national touring sides. In this year's World Cup competition, however, SWA (now forced to play under the nomenclature of "Namibia") were slaughtered 142-0 by Australia. "Zimbabwe", moreover, didn't even qualify for the finals, losing out to such other traditional rugby powers as Georgia and Uruguay. South Africa's decline may not be so pronounced, but even so in the long-run is inevitable.
The only way by which the Springboks can return to rugby's elite is by the restoration of civilised rule in the country - but of course there are other far more important reasons apart from sporting excellence why this is essential.
Meanwhile President Chirac of France had the gall to claim that England's magnificent triumph in the competition was somehow "a victory for Europe". It was of course no such thing, but just as in all other Rugby World Cup competitions a victory for the British Commonwealth. If France had somehow beaten England in the semi-final then President Chirac should be assured that the vast majority of British rugby fans would have supported their Commonwealth brothers Australia in the final, rather than the French!
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SPRINGBOK CLUB UDI DAY DINNER
This year's Springbok Club UDI Day Dinner proved to be an encouragingly successful occasion, with a high turnout and a most enjoyable atmosphere. The Guest of Honour, former Rhodesian cabinet minister the Hon. W. Denis Walker, gave an interesting and well-received after-dinner speach in which he outlined how he first became involved in Rhodesian politics and entered Parliament, and went on to tell something about his ongoing work for the Rhodesian cause through such organisations as the "Rhodesian Christian Group" and the "Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Relief Fund". Special thanks are due to Jim Sinclair who produced and presented a signed framed picture of the Hon. Ian Douglas Smith to Denis Walker, Joan Simpson who organised a magnificent bouquet of flowers for Mrs. Jill Walker, and Mike Harrison-Graeme who took a series of photographs of the event, one of which now appears on the Springbok Club web-site.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB'S DAY OF THE VOW COMMEMORATIONS
The Springbok Club will be holding its annual Day of Vow celebrations on the actual anniversary of the Battle of Blood River this year, December 16th, and are most honoured to be able to welcome as Guest of Honour Mr. Andrew Hunter MP. The details of this event are as follows:-
Date : Tuesday 16th December 2003
Times : Assemble from 17.30 hrs onwards, main activities to start at approx. 19.15 hrs.
Venue : The CLARENCE (the upstairs Function Room), 4 Dover Street, Mayfair, London W1 (just off Piccadilly - nearest underground station: Green Park).
Andrew Hunter has represented Basingstoke in Parliament since 1983, being elected for the Conservative Party, though now sitting as an Independent Conservative. He contested the recent Northern Ireland Assembly elections on behalf of the Democratic Unionist Party, only narrowly failing to gain a seat in the Lagan Valley constituency. As well as being a good friend of Ulster he has also proved to be a good and long-standing friend of South Africa, having sat on both the British-South Africa and the British-Bophuthatswana Parliamentary Groups.
A splendid array of buffet-snacks will be provided at this function, and admission charges will be £5.00 per head for Life, Honorary and Full Members of the Springbok Club, £7.50 per head for Associate Members, and £10.00 per head for non-members. Although payment may be made on the night, it would help to gauge numbers if all those interested in attending could let this be known in advance. This can be done either by writing to: The Springbok Club, BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, or by ‘phoning: 07711-188430. [All payments for this function should be made payable to "Patriotic Press".]
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB ACTIVITIES
The Springbok Club's 2004 AGM is due to take place in January, and all fully paid-up members of the organisation will be informed of the precise details in due course.
In February 2004 the Springbok Club will be staging a visit to the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol, probably over the weekend of 8th February. This will be a weekend activity for all those who are interested, and for overnight accommodation it is intended to patronise a hotel run by an ex-Rhodesian friend in south Gloucestershire.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB BRANCH ACTIVITIES
The London Branch of the Springbok Club is planning an informal Yuletide social gathering during the afternoon/early evening of Sunday 28th December. This will take place in the main bar of the Morpeth Arms, 58 Millbank, Westminster, London SW1, and it is anticipated that the visiting U.S. co-ordinator of the Springbok Club, Ferdi Fourie, will be in attendance.
The Kent Branch of the Springbok Club is planning a trip to a re-enactment of the Zulu Wars which will be taking place at Brompton Barracks, Gillingham, from 22nd to 25th January 2004. The precise date of the Springbok Club's visit has still to be finalised, but full details will be given in next month's SCN.
The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club now provide an excellent internet news and commentary service. If you would like to be added to their circulation list then e-mail them at: nispringbokclub@hotmail.com
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LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE EVENTS
The London Swinton Circle staged three most enlightening meetings last month, which were addressed respectively by John Whittingdale MP (the Shadow Cabinet spokesman for Media, Culture and Sport), the Rt. Hon. John Redwood MP (the former Secretary of State for Wales and Conservative Party leadership contender), and Mr. Nick Seaton (Chairman of the "Campaign for Real Education").
The most significant of these was probably that addressed by John Redwood MP, which was very well attended and illustrated by a "PowerPoint" display (copies of which are available from the LSC on request). Speaking on the theme of "Labour's constitutional vandalism and how to clear up the mess", Mr. Redwood demonstrated that threats to democracy and parliamentary government in the UK did not lie entirely from the European Union, but also from actions initiated by the Blair government, such as the rise of consultants and "spin doctors", the sidelining of Parliament and the growth of "quangos".
Details of the next London Swinton Circle meeting are as follows:-
Date : Monday 8th December
Time : 18.45 hrs for 19.00 hrs
Venue : Room W1, Westminster Hall (enter the Houses of Parliament via the St. Stephen's entrance, then once passed through security turn sharp left into Westminster Hall, where the various committee rooms are situated down a small stairway halfway along the Hall on the left).
Guest Speaker : Mr. Roger Gale MP
Roger Gale is the highly-respected Conservative member for Thanet North, having originally been elected in 1983 (when interestingly he defeated Cherie Blair). A former BBC producer (specialising in children's programmes, and having produced such series's as "Blue Peter"), he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party under Iain Duncan Smith. He sits on the Parliamentary Chairmen's Panel and on the Broadcasting Select Committee, and takes a keen interest in animal welfare, sporting and media affairs. He has a good "Euro-sceptic" voting record, and has twice introduced bills attempting to restore the death penalty.
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CONSERVATIVE MONDAY CLUB MEETING
The Conservative Monday Club staged a most informative meeting last week which was addressed by Gregory Campbell MP, the DUP member for East Londonderry. Mr. Campbell spoke about the implications resulting from the recent Northern Ireland Assembly elections, and the significance of the DUP's triumph. His overall attitude was one of great optimism for the future, for, as he emphasised, not only had the DUP emerged as clearly the most dominant party of Unionism, thus putting a halt to Trimble's appeasement of SF/IRA, but also whereas the broad Nationalist vote had declined slightly, the broad Unionist vote had increased substantially.
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HOME BILTONG MAKERS
Biltongmakers.Com! runs a monthly competition which is free for anyone to enter. There are some great prizes to be won each month. Some of the prizes during the last couple of months have included a Skottel Braai, Biltongmakers, Barbecue Utensil sets and Potjies!
To enter please go to: www.biltongmakers.com and follow the competition link!
Biltongmakers.Com! have created a special order page just for subscribers to the SCN at:-
http://www.biltongmakers.com/biltong09_sc_orderplacing.html
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RHODESIAN ON-LINE STORE
The Rhodesian on-line Store supplies Rhodesian and South African flags (full, mid-size and table-top) CDs including Wrex Tarr, John Edmonds and many more, and other Rhodesiana.
Based in Canada, their web-site can be accessed at: www.Rhodesiawassuper.com
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BOOK OFFERS
The Springbok Club is now retailing copies of the book "AFRICA PAR ADVENTURE", an anthology of African stories edited by Peter Ward. The book is priced at £14.95 per copy, plus 20% for p.& p. (though copies may be collected at Springbok Club activities for no extra cost.) Payments should be made payable to "Patriotic Press" and forwarded to: The Springbok Club, BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
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"GOODBYE OZ CULTURE" is a well illustrated and easy to read expose of what politicians have done to the Australia we loved as a homogeneous and peaceful society. Many of our suburbs have now lost all semblance of being "Australian". Meanwhile the families of servicemen have been threatened by strangers in our midst, we now need an army in the rear to protect the backs of our troops.
Price Aus $12.00 including postage. Send to: Nick Maine, 2/30 Holland Court, Broadbeach Waters, Gold Coast, Queensland, 4218, Australia - or e-mail: nmaine@optusnet.com.au
[Nick Maine's earlier book "HEY! WAIT FOR ME", an account of his army experiences during WWII, is shortly to be re-published. Contact him direct for more details.]
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"WAY OUT OF LINE" by Trisha Jackson is a novel which tells the story of the profound impact that an innocent youthful love affair has on the lives of two young lovers. The plot moves from a cult and a maximum security prison in the US to the savannah grasslands of Mozambique and Zimbabwe - this makes for adventure, suspense and melodrama. Packed with conflict and sexual tension, anyone who loves romance, passion and excitement should enjoy reading this story.
Trisha Jackson was born and grew up in Rhodesia. She immigrated to the USA with her husband and three children in 1990. She and her husband live in a unique, rural community in the Tonto National Forest in the eastern mountains of Arizona.
For more information visit Trisha's web-site at:-
www.youngarizonarealestate.com
or you can order a copy of the book directly from the publishers at www.publishamerica.com - in the "search" sector, type in the title "Way out of Line" or "Trisha Jackson". NOTE: It is case sensitive and you should not include quote marks. You may also order by phone at 877 333-7422
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"GOVERNMENT BY DECEPTION" by Jan Lamprecht details the disasters of Mugabe's Zimbabwe, and illustrates the similarities between Mugabe's rule and that of Mandela/Mbeki in South Africa. It can be ordered on-line at: www.AfricanCrisis.org
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Margaret Peach (nee Pearce) was born in Pietermaritzburg and spent her early years on a farm at Winterton in Natal. After completing her training and travelling around Europe she accepted a nursing post in 1960 at Kariba Hospital in what was then Southern Rhodesia. There she met and married Tinkey Haslam, one of the game wardens involved in "Operation Noah", which was a huge exercise in nature conservation, rescuing animals as the waters of the Zambezi began to fill up the massive newly-constructed Kariba Dam.
"MY PLACE IN THE SUN" is written very much from the perspective of a resourceful wife and mother who was closely involved in life out in the bush at a critical and interesting time in the history of this particular part of Africa. Her account of the triumphs, tragedies and daily incidents takes the reader through twenty years of a somewhat nomadic existence in a wild and beautiful country which, for most of the time, was going through a period of great unreast. It is even more poignant to read about it today in the context of the current political situation in Zimbabwe.
"MY PLACE IN THE SUN" is priced £6.99 (plus £1.50 for postage) and can be ordered from: Jennifer Barclay-Coulder, 62 Westfields Avenue, Barnes, London SW13 0AU, or e-mail: polyphrenos@ukonline.co.uk
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BILTONG SALES IN THE UK
Biltong Brother produces top quality, handcrafted biltong. 100% British beef is used, no artificial flavourings or preservatives.
There are 5 types, Traditional, Garlic, Pepper, Hot & Spicy and Ostrich.
To order, just click on:-
www.biltong-brother.co.uk
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ZIMERICK COLUMN
For Zim it could be the last ditch
When Bob's team takes it's stand on the pitch.
They might lose each wicket
Playing his brand of cricket
To embarrass the son of a bitch.
- Johan Geelvink
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BOERWORS AND BILTONG
From deep in the heart of Africa to you...
CAMPBELLS ORIGINAL FARM STYLE BILTONG, BOEREWORS, BOERE BURGER PATTIES & DRY-WORS.
Made from our tried and tested recipes in both Rhodesia and South Africa since 1965. Now made in the UK from 100% pure British meats, with no glutens or ingredients added, just our own secret blend of spices.
We would love to be of service to you too, so please give us a call on: 01803-380712, e-mail us at : ron@biltong-boereforafrica.co.uk, or visit our web-site at: www.biltong-boereforafrica.co.uk
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BUSINESS CONSULTANCY SERVICES
"Business and Government Strategy" offer a range of marketing and consultancy services, specialising in Spanish and French translation and classes. For more information e-mail: gerefwereld@aol.com, or visit their web-site at: www.dynamicUK.biz
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.61 : Mrs. JENNY TOMS
Jenny Toms came from Bulawayo and was once runner-up in the Miss Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland competition. After the fall of Rhodesia she moved to Natal, where she became active with both the Durban and Ballito/Stanger branches of the "Save Rhodesia Campaign". She was a highly successful P.R. woman, and had a son and two beautiful daughters. A number of people would very much like to know where she and her family members are now.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
All those who weren't able to attend any bonfire celebrations this year might be keen to get a bit of the flavour of the festivities by visiting an excellent bonfire photographs web-site which we have been recommended. It can be accessed at:-
www.bonfirepics.cjb.net
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
BLACK WAVES
Sir,
Early every weekday morning two minitaxis (the local name for VW Combis) coast silently down the hill to a small thicket of pine trees not far from the nearest houses. The twenty or so Black occupants emerge, and sitting under the trees, devour their substantial breakfasts. They then arise, lock up the minitaxis, and splitting up into ten gangs set to work. Their prey is the many White housewives trying to get their children to school in time. They ring the bell, wield the knocker, then, if the door is not immediately opened, kick it hard. When opened they address the lady of the house in hoarse tones "I'm hungry!", repeated as necessary. The embattled housewife may give them a piece of bread and butter. Then it turns out they are thirsty as well. A glass of water is produced and spurned. They want tea! Contact having been made they now make it known that they want money. The housewife is by now terrified by these primitive louts. Once the money is in their pockets they take their departure without saying thanks or goodbye, and try their luck at the next house.
These Black tramps made their way to civilisation shortly after 1994. Prior to this there was hardly a Black to be seen in the Western Province. Many Whites think they would be better off where they came from. An idle dream brother. 'Here we are and here we stay. If the Whites don't like us so much the better.'
Naturally the situation could not be allowed to remain as it was. Appeals to authority drew the reply that these Blacks were simply exercising their democratic rights. Rights to do what were discreetly veiled. So those residents who could afford it raised huge walls not only in front of their houses but all round. But as Blacks can climb just as well as the marsupials they so closely resemble, great coils of razor-edge wiring had to be placed at the top of the wall. However only about half of the owners can afford such monstrosities as these walls. All the same, many houses once well known for their wonderful gardens are now secured from the public gaze by them.
H.G. Wells once told us that we were living in the best of all possible worlds. It is to be wondered what he would say were he living in it now!
Yours etc.,
Richard Deane, Cape Town.
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HOWARD'S WAY
Sir,
You cannot possibly say that Michael Howard leans towards the Romanian political culture as opposed to the British political culture. Bernat Hecht escaped Romania in the 1930s as it was moving towards totalitarian rule. He believed Britain to be a beacon of freedom in a hostile and dark world. Michael Howard was born in Llanelli in 1941 and has never lived in Romania. He was a candidate for the Tory pary at Liverpool Edgehill in 1966 and 1970, so he has been a conservative for 40 years.
Personally, I have always enjoyed hearing Michael Howard speak and am willing him to give him the benefit of the doubt until proved otherwise. I did lose confidence in IDS myself. His mistakes continued well beyond his first year in office.
Yours etc.,
Allan Robertson, Treasurer, the Springbok Club.
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ROGUES GALLERY
It was with disbelief that we say the name of a certain John Hiddleston appearing as an official candidate for the Ulster Unionist Party in the Belfast South constituency during the recent Northern Ireland Assembly elections.
Long-standing subscribers to "S.A.Patriot" will undoubtedly remember Hiddleston's notorious name well. When the magazine was founded by the original "White Rhino Club" in 1980 none of the WRC ExCo members were in a position to take on the editorship officially, either because of their employment positions or because they were slating for South African citizenship. Two de facto editors were appointed however, an Afrikaans gentleman and a British emigrant who had been in South Africa for four years. Hiddleston had only arrived in the country a few weeks earlier, and was known to the British emigrant through their earlier mutual membership of the [British] National Front. At the time the NF had two distinct factions, a democratic wing that the British emigrant belonged to, and a neo-fascist wing that it transpired Hiddleston was associated with. As Hiddleston had previously been editor of the NF's Northern Ireland magazine "The British Ulsterman" he was therefore approached to become the nominal editor of "S.A.Patriot", a position which he readily accepted. Would-be power soon went to Hiddleston's head however. He unilaterally opened up a separate bank account for the magazine, with himself as sole signatory, independent of the WRC, which caused many misgivings. He also started to try to influence editorial decisions, becoming an "instant expert" in South African affairs after only being in the country for a few short months! Matters came to a head, however, when he bretrayed his neo-fascist sympathies by advocating that anti-Semitic items should be included in the magazine, an idea which was of course vetoed by the others on the editorial board. Shortly after this Hiddleston mysteriously disappeared down to Cape Town - and immeditately withdrew all of the magazine's funds from the bank account for his own personal use! To make matters worse he even issued a "bouncing" cheque to the magazine's printers! "S.A.Patriot" of course managed to survive this disaster, but Hiddleston sinisterly re-appeared in Durban a couple of years later, and attempted (unsuccessfully) to cause yet more troubles for the magazine.
It might be supposed that Hiddleston could have matured and moderated his views over the years, but we have recently learnt that he now edits a broadsheet called the "The Ulster Watchman" which has clear anti-Semitic undertones, albeit in the guise of anti-Israelism.
Quite clearly, therefore, the UUP's vetting processes must be non-existent, and they must be scrapping the bottom of the barrel if they are prepared to adopt a proven scumbag such as Hiddleston as one of their candidates. We advise all readers who may have any relevant contacts or influence to make these facts about Hiddleston's disreputable past known as widely as possible.
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See you again next month!
