News for 2012 from the Tristan da Cunha community.

Pensioners' Afternoon Social on 6th November 2012

     

Another social for pensioners was held
in the Post Office and Tourism Centre on 6th November 2012.

Photos from Dawn Repetto
show the group of men and women
gathered for the occasion.

More 2012 Agulhas Trip Events
Report and pictures from Tina Glass

Hikers meeting en route for a climb to the base at Burntwood
on 3rd October

     

Tourism Department
Evening Bingo Session
in the Prince Philip Hall
on 1st October
raising £34 for
Tristan Pensioners Gatherings

Thirty people attended but these numbers would have been higher if there was not a flu going around the island.

The following people won full lines: Denise Rogers, Grant Pedersen, Rhyanna Swain, Alison Swain, Janice Green and Desiree Repetto.

Full house winners were Janice Green, Brian Robertson, Tristan Glass, Desiree Repetto and Christopher was lucky to win 3 full houses. The mystery prize was won by Erik Mackenzie.

The bingo prize winners

2012 Agulhas Trip
As usual the influx of many visitors for the duration of the Agulhas trip saw many special social events

Here we highlight in photographs above from Tina Glass;
Left ~ a traditional pillow dance procession during a Prince Philip Hall dance on 22nd September
to celebrate Marion Collins' 50th birthday (see also family news page)
and Right ~ golfers in the Tourism Centre for a beer after a rather wet match on the Hottentot Fence Golf Course on 27th September. Left to Right: Grant Pedersen, Simon Glass, Tony Miles, Robin Repetto, Sean Burns, Geoffrey Hienard, Erik MacKenzie, and visiting Islander Frank Rogers who won the 9 - hole competition with a round of 44.

Christmas comes early for crèche children

Report and pictures
from Dawn Repetto
showing Dentist Penny Grainger
unpacking the gifts on 5th September

Penny Granger our visiting Dentist very kindly brought four big boxes of donated toys for the Island Crèche which she delivered in on 5th September 2012.

While in UK Penny emailed friends and family to ask if they were interested in donating toys for the small children on the island. She
had a great response and then drove around to all concerned to pick up all the toys. The boxes were kindly shipped down by the Wrights Dental Company.

Boxes were delivered to Crèche today and you should have seen the children's faces as Penny helped them unwrap the boxes. I think they thought Christmas had come early!

Special thanks are sent to Andrea, Susan, mummy Granger and Vidsel Dagis.

Agriculture Department and Factory donate equipment for children's playground
after Wendy House destroyed in May gale
Report and pictures from Dawn Repetto

As we reported on our separate Storm News Page in May 2012, the Wendy House in the relatively new children's playground was destroyed by a gale on Friday 18th May. At a Heads of Department Meeting it was decided to put a small dinghy in the place of the Wendy House with oars, old buoys, nets. This was kindly done by the Agriculture Department, old buoys and nets
by the Factory and now the Playground is full again. So this initiative shows with imagination how the island has made do with what it already has available. Photographs were taken in July 2012
.

Second Pensioners' Gathering on 10th May 2012
Photos and Report from Tina Glass
The second Pensioners’ Gathering was held in the Albatross Bar at the Prince Philip Hall on Thursday 10th May at 1pm. The weather was cold and wet so the less able pensioners were transported to the hall in the Administrator's Land Rover.

Before starting, the Post Office & Tourism staff had a discussion with the ladies present regarding how to purchase hand cards for sheep’s wool. Island wool is now on the increase but there is a shortage of hand cards.

Once this was completed the afternoon began and all present chose to play either bingo or cards. The more elderly preferred to knit and chat amongst themselves, but bingo was the favourite and was enjoyed by the majority with three opting to play cards.

Knitting Group
General view of the Pensioners Gathered in the Albatross Bar
Card players Ernest Repetto, Anthony Rogers and Piers Hagan

The first bingo winners were, Mary Glass for the first line and Martha Glass for full house. The second game winners were Mary Glass again for a first line and Joyce Hagan and Janet Lavarello with a full house.

Ernest Repetto won the highest score of games for card playing.

Prizes were awarded to all winners and they received chocolates kindly donated by visitors Maria and Jurgen Meyer who visited the island in December on the Hanseatic.

The day was also special for Ida Green who celebrated her 84th birthday. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to her and she was presented with some chocolates.

Refreshments were served with cake and savouries donated by island ladies. The event was successful and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves having a chat and laugh among themselves. Bingo was the highlight of the day and everyone is already asking when are we planning the next get together.

Prize winners:
Jeanette Lavarello, Ernest Repetto,
Martha Glass, Mary Glass,
Joyce Hagan
and Birthday Girl Ida Green

Jim's 60th Birthday

Education Adviser Jim Kerr celebrated his 60th birthday with a party at home on 18th April


Photos from Tina Glass show:
Left: Jim with his birthday cakes
Right:
Jim with Ken Green, his wife Sue
and Gavin Green

Easter Egg Hunt : held on Easter Sunday 8th April 2012
Report and Photos from Jim Kerr

On Easter Sunday Sue and Jim Kerr organised a treasure hunt for the island children. Every child between the ages of 3 and 11 took part and spent over an hour racing round the village collecting items such as a purple clothes peg, a pink and white striped sock, a fresh mushroom and a three leaved clover as well as information gathered from certain locations and people such as the Chief Islander, Ian Lavarello and the Chief Executive Officer, Kobus Potgieter.

The winning teams were presented with Easter eggs that were donated by the ‘Mars’ family of chocolate bar fame who recently visited Tristan on the National Geographic Explorer. Dr. Tom Day presented the prizes and all those who took part left joyfully with far too many sweets!

Photos show Dr Tom Day presenting the prizes:
Above Jade's Team 1st
Below Left: Rhyanna's Team 2nd
Below Right: Leo's Team 3rd

First Pensioners Gathering
Report and pictures from Tina Glass

On the 6th March Marina Burns together with the Post Office and Tourism Centre staff arranged
a Pensioners Gathering in the St Mary's School Resource Centre.
It was a very successful event where they all could meet together for a chat.
Marina Burns welcomed them all and thanked them for coming.
A Tristan DVD titled "The Forgotten Island' was shown.
Refreshments were served with lots of cakes donated by island ladies.
Tristan oldest resident Helen Rogers was one of those present.
It is hoped that this will be the first of many regular Pensioners' Gatherings.