A very good day to everyone out there……

Well well well…..we find ourselves in a New Year, but in the most strange circumstances that I have experienced at this, normally joyful, time of the year…. At the outset, may I take this opportunity to wish everyone who is taking the time out to read this message, a very happy new year….I trust that this year will present wonderful opportunities and experiences to each one of you.

At this time of the year, we would have already hosted our cricket 6-a-side tournament and all staff would be furiously cutting grass and trimming edges, cleaning bars and washing glasses in anticipation of the new sporting year beginning and the carry over of our joker draw…..but at present the Club is strangely quiet….there is no laughter or joy, no clinking of glasses or sounds of wood on willow, no pre- season training for soccer and rugby….as we experience another “lockdown”….

And as we face the prospect of the “second wave”…I think that the reality of the situation is hitting home with all of us….as suddenly we have friends and family that have been or are being affected by this dreaded COVID….could I please ask that each and every one of you be extra careful….wear your mask, sanitise and maintain social distancing…..and to please keep those in mind who have been affected, either directly or indirectly, in your prayers..

There are a few little stars in the dark sky of doom and gloom of level three lock-down restrictions…

• As some you may have noticed, there has been some frantic activity at one of the unused tennis courts near the cricket nets….and with that “Young Guns” cricket academy has been introduced to the North…… They have altered the one tennis court into some pretty impressive net facilities…..so welcome to the Young Guns….I trust that our association will be a long and mutually beneficial one….under the current restrictions, the academy have to follow full COVID protocols but are able to coach individuals at this facility…
• Hockey 5’s has made a return to the Astro….playing circumstances are still very difficult, with registers, check-ins and full COVID protocols being maintained…additionally no spectators are allowed, so the parents and friends have made grandstands of the pavements on the side of the fields, in order for them to watch their loved ones on the fields….
• Rugby, soccer, bridge and baseball are still under a “no play” rule….so there is unfortunately no prospect of any sport under these banners at the North in the foreseeable future…..Bridge are competitively playing on some on-line platforms, but I have heard that although it is very enjoyable…it is not the same as a face-to-face competition….

And while we are under the level three conditions, means that our bars are officially closed…..and that means that the Joker draw is also not being held….which of course is not good news for the club, as there are still expenses that need to be fulfilled monthly…electricity, insurance, waster disposal and of course the lifeblood of our staff…..wages….

Our President, Doctor Witstock initiated a staff challenge last year that was wonderfully supported by our Members, that funded a food voucher of R500 every fortnight for all staff…..the last payment on the challenge was made in January….so a new effort will now need to be started again in order for us to continue this initiative….

We are also needing to come up with other innovative ideas to fund our staff costs….and details of these initiatives will be published on our Facebook page, our website or using this newsletter….

Please could I please make a call on all Members to settle their Main Club subs…. this is one of the simplest methods for Members to show their support….and will produce the much needed funds that the Club will require in order to “balance the budget” in these difficult and trying times…. Our subs were significantly down last year when compared to the previous years….if we could reverse this trend this year….it will be greatly appreciated….

Hopefully we will be able to have a more positive outlook when our country’s President announces the next set of regulations….please hold thumbs….that we can move forwards in our quest to beat this dreaded disease….

Take care and stay safe…..
Rod