Kirkwood (F 15)

Name: Kirkwood

Addo, Sunlands and Kirkwood boast with South Africa's "Big 7". Elephant, Rhino, Leopard, Lion, Buffalo, Great White Shark and Whales are all viewed from this area.

The citrus route also offers other attractions and wild life, such as;

•National Addo Elephant Park
•International Class accommodation
•Worlds best citrus, local and export
•Annual Rose festival
•Bird watching
•Adventure Sports and team building
•Lion cub handling
•Top Class restaurants
•Crocodile Parks
•Beautiful view of the majestic Sundays River Valley
•Warmest Hospitality

The ever exciting crocodile and lion farm specially catering for big school and educational groups.


Google count: 75,300 for Kirkwood with Safesearch on Date: 14 January 2010
75,600 for Kirkwood with Safesearch on Date: 26 January 2010


Historic fact:

Town of Kirkwood is situated in the heart of the Sundays River Valley and can be considered the citrus capital of the Eastern Cape. It is hard to believe that this beautiful valley was witness to bloody border wars between the Xhosa tribres and white settlers (British and Boer) a mere two hundred years ago. Also a place where, a little more than a 100 years ago, Afrikaner farmers (Boers) fought for freedom against the British Empire.

The 250km (156 miles) long Sundays river, with its origin in the Compassberg mountains near Nieu Bethesda (highest mountains in the old Cape Province), is the fastest flowing river in South Africa. It flows into the Indian Ocean at Algoa Bay near Port Elizabeth. The river winds its way through the Zuurberg mountains and passes Kirkwood in the fertile Sundays River Valley. Kirkwood is 80 km (50 miles) from the ocean and 100 meters (330 feet) above sea level. The weather bureau recorded a temperature of 50.3 C (122.5 F) in 1928. This is still the highest temperature recorded in South Africa. All these factors add to Kirkwood's subtropical climate and make it ideal for the growing of citrus fruits.

At the turn of the 19th century, the Sundays river formed the eastern border of the then Cape colony. This is one of the few areas where all of the South African ethnic groups were at war at one time or another. Khoi against Xhosa, Khoi and Xhosa against Boer and British, and finally Boer against the British. During the Anglo Boer war, General Smuts and his Commando of 250 men passed through the valley on their epic quest to the northwest. The three men who died the furthest south during the war, were killed on Cecil John Rhodes's farm, "Brakkefontein". Arri van Onselen and Henri Rittenberg were buried in the Kariega cemetery, which is next to the main road towards Jansenville. Cornelius Vermaas was buried in Uitenhage. After these casualties, a major battle ensued on the "Bedrogsfontein" mountain pass.

In 1814, Governor Cradock awarded the first Sundays River Valley farms to leaders of the successful burger commandos for their role in the victories in the border wars of 1811 and 1812. Magistrate Cuyler (originally from America) of Uitenhage received "Geelhoutboom" (later Dunbrody), Commandant Ignatius Muller received "Klaaskraal" (just outside Kirkwood) and Fieldcornet J.S. van Niekerk received "Gouwernements Belooning" - the farm where Kirkwood would be established almost 100 years later.

James Somers Kirkwood, an auctioneer from Port Elizabeth, arrived in 1877 to auction off the farm "Gouwernements Belooning". A flooded Sundays river prevented him from reaching the farm and instead he climbed a hill, known today as The Lookout, from where he had a view of the entire valley. He also had a vision of the valley, overgrown by valley bushveld at the time, being transformed into lush green irrigated fields with fruit trees. His vision also included farm produce being delivered via river barges connecting the fertile valley with Port Elizabeth.

Shortly afterwards, James purchased "Goewernements Belooning" and other farms in the valley. He established the Sundays River Land and Irrigation Co and also the small village Bayville. He started preparing irrigation land on a big scale. In spite of a very positive prospectus and tons of publicity, he failed to attract any interest in buying stock in this big venture. It coincided with the big diamond rush to Kimberly. Everyone was investing in diamond companies. His company eventually failed due to a lack of public interest and was declared bankrupt. Kirkwood died a financially and spiritually broken man in 1889.

Like many pioneers, James Somers Kirkwood was ahead of his time. His vision became true in the next century with the Sundays River Irrigation Project and eventually the Orange River Water Project. His name lives on in the town of Kirkwood that originated on his first farm, "Gouwernements Belooning", in 1912.

www.kirkwood.co.za/pages/history.htm

Other interesting info:

Kirkwood is one of the largest citrus-growing regions in South Africa.

ABSA Kirkwood Wildsfees - 4 Junie 2010 - 6 Junie 2010

Where to stay:

Story:

TWO volunteers from America have started a programme that allows parents to make a quilt depicting the dreams they have for their children’s future.

Eileen Kugler, 59, and her husband, Larry, 60, organised the quilting programme at Addo’s AV Bukani Primary School in a bid to increase parent involvement at the school.

Eileen said: “There is a lot of research showing that when parents are actively involved in a school, pupils do better.

“When a parent is involved, the child tends to pay more attention and do homework more often.”

She said it was a worldwide problem that parents had little contact with schools. Only if a problem arose would the parents be contacted.

In cases where the families did not have had a good education themselves, or worked long hours, there was often no connection felt with the school, Eileen said. “So they tend to stay away from the school ... they think it is the teachers’ job to educate their child.

“Creating the quilt is a non-threatening way of getting parents involved.”

A parent, or grandparent in some cases, of each pupil has made a square, with the squares then being sewn together into a quilt that will be presented to the school.

The squares illustrate the hopes and dreams the parents have for their children. “On many there are children with graduation caps, to say they want their child to graduate.

“Some have specific careers depicted, like a medical doctor. Others are very personal and are decorated with things that are important to the families.

“One parent wants her child to become a social worker. So she put on a hand, saying we must always be willing to help someone and that a social worker must have a good heart.”

So far there have been seven meetings where parents work on the quilt and discuss ways of bettering their children’s school performance and future. At the end of each meeting, the parents receive a full meal, prepared by several mothers in the community.

Eileen said she and her husband had picked Addo’s Nomathamsanqa township because it was a rural area where they felt they could make a difference. This is their second visit here and they look forward to coming back next year. “The quilt is only the beginning, ” Eileen said.

The quilt will be presented to the school at a farewell for the Kuglers later today. It will then be hung at the school.

Source: Esté Coetzee, HERALD REPORTER


Websites:

www.myaddo.co.za/