4th July 2007, Page 13 - Edition 196

The Midlands Herald

Page 13 — 4th July 2007

Surviving the fire On the Gorge Walk for the second time

Above: Jenny Uzzell and her members of staff — Andy, Precious, Vincent, Cynthia and Hlengiwe — posing at the renovated and spruced-up Gorge View Restaurant in Howick.

Above: They may be smiling for the camera, but in truth last Sunday when it was taken Arthur and Zoë Duncan of Dovehouse Organic Farm were feeling the emotion of the previous week. In the background is the farm shop whose verandah posts had just begun to burn before they returned after earlier evacuating the property on Monday 25th June.

The Dovehouse Organic Farm just six kilometres up the Karkloof road from Howick is still operating seven days a week, despite having lost all its crops in the fire last week. “Planting again will take place soon, but it’ll be about three or four months before any harvesting can take place,” proprietor Arthur Duncan said last Sunday. When the fire came through Arthur and Zoe Duncan could only think of the last time it had happened — on 27th August 1980 when they and their young children were living on the D507 opposite Everdon Estate. Then their thatched house had gone up in flames and they had lost everything. Today one can still find amidst the pines on the land that he sold to Sappi the tall chimney that remained. Today Arthur and Zoe live just a few kilometres away at Dovehouse with their son Paul, daughter-in-law Shereen and their grandsons Keira and Taur. When The Herald called on Dovehouse last Sunday, the family was feeling tremendously emotional as two bushbuck that had been badly burnt in the fire and had subsequently sought refuge in their garden, had finally to be put down. Last Monday as the fire raged, from the farmstead it seemed initially to be confined to Curry’s Post. As the day progressed it became evident that it was coming their way, and that evacuating the farm was all that they could do, which they all did at 10:30 pm. As the road to Howick was blocked by the flames, and likewise the dirt road to Curry’s Post, they headed out towards the Karkloof and found parking at the Karkloof Club, waiting until they felt it would be safe to return. Because of the immense heat with the fire passing the club just half a kilometre down the road, the mid-winter air was not too cold. “When we arrived back at 2 am back we thought that everything had gone,” Mr Duncan said. “We found that two sheds had been badly

burnt and that the verandah posts of the shop were starting to burn, so we were able to put that out quickly and save the shop.” Unfortunately, also amongst the loss were the crops that two staff members were growing for themselves. Having trained two staff members in organic farming, Paul had allowed them to establish patches of land from which to start their own businesses. Like the rest, these will now need to be re-established. However, you can help the Duncans. In order to restart the organic farming process, they need material for mulching, such as grass, hay or leaves. The telephone line should be restored anytime now. Telephone 033-330 2690.

Gorge View Restaurant spruced up, guides ensure no incidents on Gorge Walk We can report that the gardens at the Gorge View Restaurant near Howick’s famous Falls are looking very neat after much cleaning up over the last six months. Of course, a water feature always makes a difference, too. In the outside dining section, staff are currently erecting bamboo screen walls to shield customers from winter draughts and have created a new wheelchair-friendly path for the bathrooms (which have been renovated). They have also built bamboo fences to screen the backyard. The adjacent Bush Golf course — surely one of the most scenic in the country! — has been renovated, and weeds pulled out so that the indigenous plants can flour-

ish. Down in the gorge below, staff have pulled up “tons” of balloon vine growing there, have cleaned up the walk generally and have repaired certain sections of the path. There have been no more incidents on the walk, Jenny Uzzell tells us, but to be on the safe side, is insisting that guides accompanying all walkers — with the exception of five males in a group, if they wish to go down alone. Walks depart every 90 minutes and this system is working very well. In addition, Jenny is chairman of Howick Tourism and is enthusiastic about the area and its attractions. We know that you will enjoy your visit! For enquiries, telephone 033-330 3076.

Former Howick resident, guitarist/singer Jerry Day performing at the Red Tap Pub & Grub in Howick recently. Proprietors Peter and Roxanne Allan plan to organise music evenings like this with old (and new) popular numbers for their patrons to sing along to on a regular basis. Watch the press!