Former Springbok Ruben Kruger pass away

Ruben Kruger, former Springbok flank and 1995 Rugby World Cup winner, has died in Pretoria on Wednesday night after a protracted battle with brain cancer. Kruger made his Test debut on November 6, 1993 against Argentina in Buenos Aires aged 23. He played his last Test on November 4, 1999 against New Zealand in Cardiff aged 29. He played 36 Tests in total, scoring seven tries. He also played in 20 tour matches.

Kruger was named as SA Rygby Player of the year for 1993.

Kruger is survived by his wife Lize and two daughters Zoe and Isabella.

This past week Kruger began feeling unwell again and was admitted to hospital

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

In words of SA Rugby

“Ruben Kruger was the epitome of the Springbok flanker, tough, indomitable and with an outstanding work ethic,” said Mr Oregan Hoskins, president of the South African Rugby Union. “When Ruben was on the field you always knew that the Springboks would not be beaten without a tremendous battle.

“Our prayers have been with him through his battles against illness and it is very sad to hear of his early passing. Our thoughts are with his young family and we extend to them our sincerest condolences.”

Springboks

At the end of his rugby career, he became a camera salesman. He owned a Minolta franchise in Pretoria.

He was portrayed in Invictus a film about Nelson Mandela and the 1995 Springboks, by Grant Roberts

Ruben Kruger died on Wednesday, 27 January 2010, after battling cancer for a number of years. He was 39.^t

He played his first test match for the Springboks on 6 November 1993 against Argentina (won 29-26).

Springboks

• 36 caps
• 7 tries (35 points)
• Caps by season : 2 in 1993, 2 in 1994, 9 in 1995, 13 in 1996, 6 in 1997, 4 in 1999.

World Cups

• 1995 : world champions, 5 selections (Wallabies, Romania, Samoa, France, All Blacks).
• 1999 : 2 selections (Spain, All Blacks).

George Lodge focus on the Garden Route: Do you know how much water you are using

George Lodge focus on the Garden Route: Do you know how much water you are using.

Email for help for Ashlyn Strydom

This is an email thats busy doing its rounds for a little girl in need of help in South Africa so please guys and girls lets help her it doesn’t cost you a thing to do this just read below and follow thats all they ask of you. We added the english part to for those that don’t understand the afrikaans.

Afrikaans

 STRYDOM Kyk asseblief eers na my foto voor ons verder praat. Liewe oom en tannie, Ek wil myself eers voorstel, daarom stuur ek `n foto van my saam met die e pos; My naam is Ashlyn Strydom en ek is agv my vroulike nuuskierigheid ses en `n halwe weke te vroeg in Nelspruit gebore op 12 Januarie 2010, ek is 41cm lank en het `n hele 1.65 kg geweeg by geboorte. Nou dat julle my ken wil julle seker weet waarom ek vir julle `n e pos stuur. Wel kom ek vertel gou. Gister aand het ek wakker geword toe iets nats op my voel, en toe ek my ogies oopmaak kom ek agter dat dit `n traan is van my Mamma ,Leanne wat oor my buk, en langs haar staan my Pappa,Biaan met trane wat ook oor sy wange rol. Dit was toe wat ek hoor die oom dokter sê dat die vog wat hulle van my longetjies afgetrek het, het `n bloederigheid in gehad wat hulle laat toets het. Dit was toe hy groot woorde soos :…..”daar is kanker selle in Ashlyn se bloed gekry”… sê,.wat my Pappa en Mamma se oë so vol trane geword het. Die oom Dr het my onmiddelik verwys na die enigste en beste spesialis ter wêreld wat my gesond kan maak. Hulle noem Hom “LIEWE JESUS” en Sy kontak besonderhede is BID. Ek het my oupa gevra om die e pos namens my te stuur, want hy het my vertel dat die oproep wat niks kos na LIEWE JESUS `n kragtige uitwerking het. Ek wil al die ooms en tannies vra wat die e pos kry net om `n kort gebedjie vir my op te sê, en jy kan maar kyk op my foto, my ogies is reeds toe, jy kan maar net begin bid. Liewe Jesus, U sê in Jesiah 45:19b… ”Wat Ek die Here sê bring redding, My woorde gee lewe” ek bid nou U woord van lewe oor Ashlyn Strydom. Baie dankie dat U my gebed verhoor. AMEN. Baie DANKIE, u gebedjie maak my hartjie bly. Met al my Liefde Ashlyn Strydom. Xxx

English

Please pray for a little baby girl, Ashlyn Strydom from Nelspruit, South Africa. She was born 6 weeks prematurely, on 12 January 2010, weighing only 1.65kg. When doctors drained fluid from the lungs, they noticed blood which was tested and contained cancer cells.

This baby is fighting being born to early. She is on the respirator and is doing well. As soon as she is stabilized she will be transferred to Johannesburg to undergo tests etc.

Please pray for this baby girl and her folks, Leanne & Biaan.

We trust in the Lord for a miracle in this dear baby’s life. She has already touched so many people, to God all the glory.

Sandy Nienaber ties herself to SARS chair in East Londen

Sandy Nienaber a business woman of East Londen decided to tie herself to a chair in SARS to force them to refund her R140 000.

“I’ve been here so many times the security knows me by name” Nienaber said

“The R140 000 has been owen to her since the completed her 2008 tax returns” said Sandy

It may have paid of the manager  gave her a written agreement that the money would show in her bank account on Friday

 

NEW AIRPORT IN KZN – Durban gets its name

The new airport in KZN-Durban got its name it was always just called airport X  as per Council’s chairperson advocate Tommy Ntsewo but not anymore the new airport in LA Mercy near Durban will be known as King Shaka International Airport. The airport will open  2 May and the Durban International Airport will be decommissioned after the Soocer World Cup

The passenger terminal will initially have 18 passenger aircraft stands and a size of 19,500m², which is expected to cater for both domestic and international travel (six million a year). The initial capacity will allow for 7.5 million passengers a year with opportunities for significant expansion, should it be required (figures are projected at 45 million passengers by 2060).

The runway will be 3,700m long to accommodate the latest New-Generation Large Aircraft (NGLA) including the A380 Airbus, with the space to expand to 4,000m if needed. The passenger terminal will have greatly expanded retail concession opportunities.

The airport will be able to host the new A380 if required.

Facilities for police, military, VIP, general aviation and aircraft maintenance operations will also be provided.

Nicole Flint has been crowned Miss South Africa. Chris Barron asked her .

Why did you want to be Miss SA?

Since I was a little girl I watched the pageant, and I always wanted to be somebody special.

Does this make you somebody special?

I think so, yes. It’s a privilege and it’s a special title. I believe I did it for the best of me.

What does that mean?

I did it for myself, I did it for others. It’s always been my dream and it’s been an amazing journey.

Let’s face it, you did it for the prizes too.

No, I didn’t. Not at all.

What are the prizes?

I only found most of the prizes out today, actually.

You didn’t know what you stood to win?

All of us, when we started, we knew there was a car and we knew there was a cash prize, but other than that, nobody knew about the prizes. That’s not why a Miss SA takes part in these pageants. It’s to represent their country and to be an ambassador.

Represent the country how?

Especially at 2010. I got asked, how do you feel about a white person representing the country in a black 2010, and I said it’s not a black 2010. It’s not about two races coming together, it’s about a nation coming together and it’s about being an example to the rest of the world to show them that we as South Africa can do this.

 Do you like being a commodity?

I do, of course. But for me it’s more about just being yourself.

But you’re owned by the organisers now, aren’t you?

Yes, you’re basically employed by Sun International for the year.

They wheel you out for promotional purposes whenever they need you?

They do. For charity work, for every sort of thing. But you know about this. Before you take part in a pageant like this, you know that Sun International is an amazing organisation.

Do you like being ogled?

You know what? Since I was a little girl, you know, people do look at you . but I don’t think it’s about that. A lot of people said, do you think you won because of your beauty? And I honestly don’t think that. You just need to be yourself, you need to be a strong person in yourself.

Surely this is about who’s got the best boobs, nicest legs and best smile?

No, I don’t think it’s about that at all.

What is it about?

I think it’s about brains.

So you’re not only the best looking, you’re also the brainiest?

Not at all. I think every single girl who took part in the pageant this year had such an amazing opportunity. Any one of them could have been in my seat. Obviously, the judging panel is quite strict about what they’re looking for.

What were they looking for?

They were looking for an international face, for somebody to represent South Africa on an international standard, having the brains, the beauty, the whole package. That’s why the top 12 is the hardest competition because every single one of those girls had something. If you’ve got a pretty face you’ve got to use it to your advantage, otherwise you’re just another pretty face.

How do the judges decide you’re not just a pretty face?

Well, they ask what you’ve done. You can’t just have come from school and not done anything. Like after school, I studied TV and radio presenting. I’m going into journalism now, actually.

If you become a brilliant journalist you’re always going to be remembered as a former Miss SA. It’s always going to be the most important thing about you in the eyes of most people. How do you feel about that?

I understand what you mean. I think that, as a Miss SA, your platform is just going to be amazing. It’s going to provide you with a whole bigger platform to work off. Being a journalist, obviously I want to go into journalism, but my end result I’d love to be in TV presenting and also own my own company one day. So many of the Miss SAs have shown that you can do that.

Are you nervous when you’re up there on the stage?

Oh yes, definitely. You’ve just got to know how to get those butterflies to fly in formation. My dad being a toastmaster has taught me that from a young age. And I did toastmasters and public speaking at school, so that helps. But I’m always nervous. If you’re not nervous, you’re not normal.

Newest family member to the George Lodge International

We would like to welcome our newest member to the George Lodge International family

 

As from next year the George Lodge International will be doing tours and transfers keep a close eye on our blog for more details on what we will offer in 2010.

GEORGE DAM LEVEL AFTER A BIT OF RAIN

On Monday George received some heavy rain but looking at the dam levels it didnt make that much of a difference but like they say all bits help.

50mm rain received at George Dam

31mm at the Airport Dam

They believe that the level will rise a little more and become stable for a while

BUT below average rainfall predicted for January February and March

STRICTER WATER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE AS OF THIS WEEK

George dam levels dropping fast

George dam level dropped double this weeks then in other weeks. The dam is standing on 23,2%. The weather in George is hot and windy and if this weather pattern prolongs and George don’t get rain then who will know how long water will last. The average water per household used per day is between 25 and 27 ML but must be brought down to 20ML per day. We can ask everyone to save water but at the end it starts with yourself so what do you do to save water?

2010 Soccer – Home for Japan

 

President of the Japanese Football Association Motoaki Inukai said on Sunday that George has always been a lucky venue for the Japanese just looking back on the 2005 Fancourt Women’s Golf World Cup this tournament was won by 2 Japanese ladies Rui Kitada and Ai Miyzato. The Japanese Football team will be training at the Outenqua Park stadium. Garden Route may get another team the Russian team that will stay at Oubaai in Herold’s Bay nothing has been confirmed as yet.

George Lodge is proud to say that we have been booked out for the duration of the world cup.