The Radium, Jonathan, Soccer, Tracey & the Zoo

Don't forget to book with Andrew Smythe for Wednesday Evening as soon as possible. We have a booking for 20 people but I have a feeling that there will be more than that is that is why it is important.

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Johannesburg New Dawn, Jonathan Erickson!

Jankees Sligcher introduced

Jonathan to the

Club and here he is

just prior to his induction. Please note that I am wearing a jacket for the occasion!

Here's our soccer team after practice last week. Jankees took the picture by remote control as well as securing funding from overseas to sponsor the kit. Next to him is Gift Ntshangase who spoke to us the other week and who not only manages the team but the Christ Church Christian Hostel as well. They are hoping to play in the 2010 Street Children's World Cup next year. Thanks to Ian Widdop for arranging everything. We are having two badges made for the shirts to represent the two sponsors.

Tracey Matube is ill in hospital. She had an operation last Wednesday and will be in hospital for the next two weeks. We have sent her flowers from the Club. If you believe in such things include her in your prayers; if you don't just think of her anyway, the effect will no doubt be the same.

Something went wrong with Dominic Moss last week. He was on his plane back to South Africa during our breakfast. We will schedule his talk for sometime in October.

Dominic Moss, Gift and the Radium Beerhall.

I'm not sure what Dominic is going to talk to us about. He's been to Uganda recently and is just back from a conference in Copenhagen.

I'm sure it will be a fascinating talk.

Our soccer team now have their kit sponsored by ourselves and Pas Reform Hatchery Technologies in the Netherlands thanks to

Jankees Sligchers. Here's Jankees, Gift, & Ian. The three people involved in getting our Soccer Team off the ground.

Jankees has been extremely busy sourcing small bead work items especially made to order for the Club. This is an extension of our Match Box Fund Raising Programme and so far we have an order from a Dutch Rotary Club for 100 items for Christmas. This is the tip of the iceberg as we are not only creating employment but also raising funds for the Club. Please do all you can to promote this fund raising project.

Finally, the Radium Beerhall is our official meeting next week 19,30. Radium Beerhall, Louis Botha Ave, Orange Grove with a touch of Blues. Just order off the menu. It'll be a fun evening.

Andrew Smythe is handling the bookings so phone him on 083 294 0315 0r email smytheaj@sabc.co.za

Ian Widdop and I had a tour of the Christ Church Christian Shelter a couple of weeks ago and Gift showed us exactly how it functions. I'm looking forward to his talk and I think we are very lucky to be sponsoring their soccer team as I know it will be handled well.

One thing that came out of the Business Meeting last week was a concern about attendance and the importance of apologising if you cannot come. Also the importance of finding some-one else to

replace you if you cannot do something you have previously agreed to do. Every week attendance figures are given by Graham Donet plus the number who have apologised and those who have not.

We are still busy sorting out a price for the Radium Beer Hall on the 30th September and we should know by Wednesday. There will be a Blues Duo on that night.

A Brief History of the Radium Beer Hall

The Radium Beerhall is the oldest surviving bar and grill in Johannesburg, with a genuinely historic ambience that's just as enticing as the good food on the menu; as authentic as the foot-tapping live jazz that makes the embossed tin ceiling vibrate in sympathy. The walls are covered in memorabilia, from photos of pre-war soccer teams and jazzmen who have played there, to vintage posters and press clippings that record the Radium's history.

Opened as a tearoom by the Khalil family in 1929, the Radium had a double life as a shebeen. It sold liquor to black customers who were barred from drinking "white man's booze" in that day and age. After 13 years, a wine and malt licence was acquired and the Radium Tearoom became the Radium Beerhall. The ancient scarred bar, which is now more than 100 years old, was rescued from the demolition of the Ferreirastown Hotel. During the 1922 Rebellion on the Reef, striking miners were egged on by passionate speeches delivered by a fiery female activist who stood on that very bar, brandishing the weapon which got her the nickname "Pick Handle Mary."

In 1944, Joe Barbarovich -- one of the players in the Thirties soccer photos on the Radium's walls -- took over the wine and malt licence. The Radium began to develop a legendary reputation; it was a community pub, an Orange Grove landmark at the corner of Louis Botha and Ninth St. Many tales are told of this era, about the exploits of eccentric customers and obstreporous barmen.

The spit-and-sawdust era ended in 1986 with the advent of Manny Cabeleira, a colourful character who added some Portuguese flair and replaced the billiard room with a restaurant. It was a new Radium, anticipating the New South Africa by quite a few years with a vibrant cosmopolitan mix of new customers, included blacks -- and women, who had been banned during the macho epoch. Then came live music, TV shoots and the start of a Radium Tradition -- the Fat Sound 19-piece jazz band on the first Sunday of every month.

Now the Jazzed-Up Radium has live performances by different artists four nights a week. Since 1994 it has won an international reputation, featured in overseas travel guides as a genuine South African experience, and a "must" for tourists passing through Johannesburg.

Isabel & Olga, the Homeless Project & the Rotary Spring Charity Walk

What an interesting talk by Isabel last week and how fascinating liver transplants turned out to be. Quite a surprise! We are really looking forward to having them both back to talk about the Kilimanjaro Experience.

Here are the photographs Linda Vink took of the Shelter for the Homeless in Rosebank. Paul

Kasango will be talking more about this at the Business Meeting.

Here are some of our intrepid walkers about to start the Rotary Charity Spring Walk organised by the Rotary Clubs of Morningside and Benoni Aurora. It certainly was well organised and just over 2 000 people took part. Don Lindsay & Arthur Begley arrived after the photo was taken. Linda took quite a few photos, so more next week. I wonder if Joan really was phoning for a taxi?

Just to prove it really happened here's a literally finished Club President.

According to Allan Beuthin we probably made about R20 000 between us.