Bob Skinstad

Day 5 – Knysna calls

Written by Cat Pritchard Friday, 26 February 2010 19:47

Day 5 - a rainy start to the day but we don’t let this get us down because we know that this area, which has suffered a prolonged drought, is so happy about their good fortune. Perhaps the songs and good cheer that greet us as we arrive at Sunridge Primary are more to do with the rain than our visit, but we are happy nonetheless.

The school has 1300 learners and no school hall so the children congregate around the outside quad, sheltered by the classroom levels above. As we gather the 500 school shoes, the stereo system belts out the tune “hier kom die bokke, hier kom die bokke” and the learners grow excited with every beat. Bob arrives to a heroes welcome, with their cheers and applause rising above the sounds of the stereo and the rain. The shoes will be distributed to 5 schools in the area.

A 40 minute drive and we are in George, where we visit Thembalethu Primary on its fringe. Here we are told of the many learners that must walk 5kms to get to school, many without shoes. The team fit and distribute another 250 shoes, and receive the first public rendition of “thank you Bob for the shoes” as a personal gift over and above the many other beautiful songs sang on our behalf.

A short drive away and we arrive at Tyhlora Primary, where the principal likens our visit to the rains that are now soaking the scorched earth. We are touched by the analogy and work hard to show that we get as much from these visits as they receive from our gift of 250 shoes.

We then venture into the center of George to a more fortunate school, George South Primary. The reason for our visit is very different to the previous, but no less important in our eyes. One of the Grade 5 classes had heard about our campaign in the press and had taken it upon themselves to give of their own pocket money, raining R200 for the cause. As is often the case, other learners wanted to contribute and, in the end, the grade 5 classes collectively managed to raise R2000. Bob thought this sentiment well worth a visit – much to the excitement of the hoards of rugby-mad learners who were well pleased with their autographs.

1000 shoes distributed – our biggest day yet, but we are saddened to think that only a few more schools lie ahead in the completion of our first (but certainly not last) Walk This Way campaign.

Day 4 – Finding our way in Mossel Bay

Last Updated on Friday, 26 February 2010 06:08 Written by Administrator Thursday, 25 February 2010 12:05

Day 4 – A boiling hot day greets us as we arrive at Isalathiso Primary on the outskirts of Mossel Bay. The township is like many others we have seen, poor and suffering from high unemployment, but the school is run like a tight ship.

The 990 young learners are neatly turned out and very disciplined as they stand in their rows in the blazing heat. Believing this to be a landmark occasion for the school, the principal, governing body and many parents took a few hours off their day to come and witness 250 of their learners receiving school shoes.

SABC radio and local journalists also turned up to document the occasion and enjoy the beautiful singing (this has really been a theme of our trip).

At Imekhaya Primary School, we were greeted by the Executive Mayor, Mrs Ferreira who had come to lend her support, even though it was by election day. As we descended the mud bank to the large hall below, the team detected something slightly different about the school and its learners. But we couldn’t quite put our finger on it because some things were still the same – the children sang and the teachers greeted us with warmth, but it was definitely there, an underlying sadness.

After unloading the boxes and fitting the children, the children gathered for an assembly and the principal got up on stage to thank “Mr Bob” and revealed the reason for their pain and suffering – the school had just lost two young learners to a drowning in the rough Mossel Bay seas. They were still very much in mourning. The principal said that Mr Bob’s visit and gifts of school shoes was here to bring healing to the school. It was quite moving and heartbreaking at the same time.

After these visits, we popped past the Executive Mayor’s office, as she wanted to personally thank us for our work and hand over a donation to the cause. Bob impressed with his thank you speech which he delivered in pretty decent Afrikaans. All those years of rugby certainly rubbed off on our banana boy.

The day ended as it should in this beautiful part of the country – on a golf course with one of the best views in the country (or so we were told by a local), as Bob spread the awareness campaign to a group of businessmen at the local country club. Needless to say, many rugby questions were asked and strategies formulated from his abundant knowledge.

Another day, another beautiful town on the coastline. Next stop – Knysna.

 

 

 

 

Day 3- Hermanus adventures

Last Updated on Thursday, 25 February 2010 05:37 Written by Administrator Wednesday, 24 February 2010 21:43

Day 3 - The team wakes up to a cold and cloudy Hermanus but spirits are still high. Bob and Ron (MD: bobsforgood) decide to celebrate with a quick dip in the ocean. The boys come back with a wide-eyed expression that only a double shot of espresso or a seriously cold Benguela current could cause. Lesson learnt.

About 15 minutes outside of this famous whale town lies Lukhanyo Primary School in the heart of Zwelihle township. On our way to the school, we drive past a group of school children preparing for a drum majorette parade, thinking that someone special must be visiting soon. Minutes later we discover that we are actually the VIP guests  (well, us and the major, Theo Beylevveldt) and we soon get to enjoy the drums, singing and dancing that is on display.

The school really impresses with their attention to detail, including welcoming and thank you signs and gumboot dancers. As usual, the choir is outstanding, but with such a wide repertoire base that you start wondering where they find all the time to practice. Incredible.

The team leaves feeling impressed with the level of discipline and pride that is evident in the small school and the children wave us goodbye sporting well-deserved school shoes (not that school shoes need to be deserved mind you).

An hour later and it’s time to meet up with the mayor and his team for an informal chat about education and  the state of the nation, or at least the quiet state of Hermanus. We are grateful for his time as it turns out to be the day before a very important by election, so every minute counts.

in the afternoon we start the trek to Mossel Bay, three hours North. Along the way we get an exciting call – Geoff Brink is unicycling past, would we like to meet up at Raka wine estate? Hell yeah.

If you haven’t heard about Geoff Brink, his story is going to blow you away….

Freelance photographer, Geoff, has been cycling on a unicycle from Durban to Cape Town (a 2000 km trip) to raise funds and awareness for the anti-landmine organisation, The Sole of Africa.

Fred Hatman is supporting Geoff on the epic adventure and is documenting every kilometer at so you don’t have to miss out ….for updates go to: http://fredhatman.co.za/%u2028Twitter: http://twitter.com/The_Heartman

The team caught up with Geoff three days before the end of his epic epic adventure, so you can imagine how tired he was, both mentally and physically. Of course the team all wanted to see how tough it really is on a unicycle so many attempts were made to get up and stay up…which most did by way of a white-knuckle grip on the bakkie.

We salute Geoff for his crazy antics and hope that he raises more cash than he did eyebrows on his 2-month tour.