ON TREES BEING FELLED -comments to Mike Garden

Thank you for continuing to send out your readers' responses regarding the removal of Cypress trees both damaged and undamaged. The various viewpoints make interesting reading and there seems to be overwhelming agreement that they should be removed. I am also keen to see indigenous trees planted more widely along roads, in public spaces and on private properties for most of the reasons already given, however, as with exotics, this must be approached with caution. I say this because it appears that some readers lump all indigenous trees together without regard to their suitability. For example, although many indigenous species are drought tolerant amongst other attributes, some popular species are naturally found in areas of the country which receive higher rainfall than Harare and which may also receive rainfall at times during the dry season. Planting such species in Harare may not be a problem if you can water them sufficiently through the dry season but, for many, this means accessing the city's underground water reserves. With what we are learning about the critical state of these reserves planting such species should be avoided to help save water for basic needs for all. However, there are alternatives if you absolutely have to have such species such as recycling grey water to use in the garden.

Regarding Jacarandas, whilst they are exotics I do not know what their water demands are. They obviously thrive in many parts of the country, even very dry places, and are certainly invasive under certain conditions. Since they are invasive I would certainly not recommend their propagation and planting except in the case of our famous Jacaranda avenues. Harare is famous for these avenues, the vast majority of which do not receive any irrigation unless someone is watering their verge, God forbid! I believe these avenues should be maintained and protected, and any trees needing to be replaced or gaps to be filled should be with Jacarandas to maintain the appearance.

Speaking of invasive exotics may I also add that far more of a problem than Jacarandas and being extremely invasive are the exotic Bauhinias (not to be confused with the indigenous ones) found in many locations along our streets and in gardens. Beautiful they may be in flower but look at how they are spreading! In much the same league are some species of Lantana, Wattle, Water Hyacinth, Pines, Eucalyptus, Cedrella (Toona cillata) and so on, and look at the problems they are causing.

Since I am adding my comments to the Cypress debate along with my views on Jacarandas and invasive exotics in my last email I might as well carry on! Just this morning I was reminded about the few mature Flamboyants growing at intervals along Sam Nujoma on the Royal Harare Golf Course side between Downie Avenue and Josiah Tongogara, which appear to have had a large peg knocked into the trunk below the main fork then painted white in this location. They also appear to be either weeping a dark sap down their trunks from these pegs or have been treated with something. The pegs and paint on each tree look too uniform to be vandalism of some sort. Might any of your readers or those in council and responsible for these trees be able to comment on this?

Thank you. Regards Fergus

Some Travel News

I did the KweKwe Lupane route on Saturday. Quite passable river bed where the broken bridge is, however only in a four wheel drive. The river bed is very sandy and loose. Regards Trevor

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We did the route last week, the bridge is still damaged but there is a road made now just above the bridge, but you need a 4x4 as the "road" goes through the river bed and there is a lot of river sand.

 

We did it in 2x4 and got stuck briefly, if we had been carrying any weight we would have been in trouble. Hope that helps. Kind regards Nikki

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We travelled that road today. The bridge has not been repaired. We crossed the sandy river bed without a problem. You would have to have a 4 X 4.

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I drove that road back in December . Not sure what it is like now . I did here a few weeks ago that one of the bridges had washed away. Personally I would not risk it again. My 4x4 has not been the same since...

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THE 4X4 CLUB – ZIMBABWE

THE 4X4 CLUB – ZIMBABWE

Newsletter No: 110

April 2014

 

P O Box HG 594 Highlands   Harare   Zimbabwe                                   The Motor Sports Club House,  2 Annan Road, Eastlea, Harare.

The Chairman and Editorial Team:

CHAIRMAN:      Peter Benzon                0775.009.218                      petebenzon@hotmail.com

EDITORS        Mike & Pat GILL  (M) 0778.843.843 (P) 0778.731.288  gill@zol.co.zw 

4x4 Club Website         http://www.4x4.co.zw                   Face Book Site:           The 4x4 Zimbabwe Club - Zimbabwe

The 4x4 Club is affiliated to the Zimbabwe Motor Sports Federation - ZMSF

Our Club is a member of the Mashonaland Motor Sport Association Club House, situated at: 2 Annan Rd. Eastlea.   It is available for hire for weddings, conferences, kid's parties, 21^st birthdays, etc.

News, comments and opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Club or the Committee

 

 

 

THE EDITOR’S DESK        -   Michael and Pat Gill

We do have such a lovely sport and so do the Mountain Bikers.   We see parts of our country where mere mortals fear to tread.  We were asked by Alan and Sheryl Winterton of the MTB to, once again, do support for the Iron Will Charity Eco Challenge, in the Matopos this year.  We spent a week at Camp Dwala on Eastern side of the National Park in a World Heritage Site. A lovely site, five kms off the road near the Matobo Mission on the Old Gwanda Road, 60 kms from Bulawayo.   There are reputed to be in excess of 2000 ancient rock paintings in the area.  From there we bombed out most days to do control points and time the cyclists in, we spent one night on the banks of Mtshabezi Dam, another day up a  kopje to the Plaque to commemorate the battle of Nkantola in the Matebele rebellion dated  20^th July 1896.

There is no power at Camp Dwala, they use inverters, solar power and generators and it was so good to be out in the bush again.  Which caused me to coin a phrase:  "Being in the 4x4 Club we see parts of our country that cricketers and rugby players are never privileged to see."  

Drive well; enjoy the wide open world out there.     Pat    

 

 

CHAIRMAN'S CHATTER:        -    Peter Benzon

The 20th HP Lubes Jamboree is drawing near and things are going full steam ahead in preparation. It is going to be a great event!

I was looking at buying a Toyota Surf the other day and in the process we noticed that the airbags had blown. It had not had any obvious heavy body damage so I was intrigued and did some research. I came across a story on the internet of a guy in his Surf. He was helping his friend cut down some fir trees. No problems until it came time to remove the stumps from the ground. They dug around them and attached the Surf using a chain. The first stump came out easily. The second stump was more firmly attached to mother earth. The guy tried once and it didn’t move so he reversed back a couple of feet and took off. As he reached the limit of the travel of the chain he came to an abrupt stop. The airbags blew with a massive bang. He was blown against his seat; the passenger airbag blew the plastic dash cover straight off and into the windscreen shattering it. Quite a serious "Oh Shit Moment" you will agree.

The upshot is this poor guy has to spend two grand on airbags for his car, not only that he has to replace the front seatbelts because they are equipped with explosive pretensioners.  And to add insult to injury he has to replace his windscreen.

So there is a lesson to be learned.   If your 4x4 is equipped with airbags do some research and find the fuse that will disable the system. When you are attempting a hard recovery remove the fuse. It may save your wallet and your heart!                    Peter Benzon

 

NEW MEMBERS:

John PARKER:  John heard of our next expedition and decided this would be the life for him.  He is a miner in the Shurugwe area and drives a Jeep. 

Andrew WATERHOUSE;   Does anyone know Andrew, he joined us for the Ngomo Kurera run in January and regret I do not have a Membership Application form from him so cannot add him to our mailing list.                     Contact me:  Pat Gill 

 

MEMBER'S NEWS:

David and Ria ROCK are on their annual pilgrimage to the north of Namibia and we look forward to hearing their stories when they return.

Pam and Bob Crook accompanied the Rocks but a g/box out repair to the crankshaft seal and a wheel bearing on their Landy caused them to return home. Sadly Bob's Mother had passed away too. 

Peter Ellis and Tammy:  The time bomb is ticking towards the wedding our chairman and the lovely Tammy Ellis on the 10^th May. The air is almost palpable.  We wish them a long and happy life together. 

 

 

Water in the carburettor
WIFE: "There is trouble with the car. It has water in the carburettor."

HUSBAND: "Water in the carburettor? That's ridiculous"

WIFE: "I tell you the car has water in the carburettor."

HUSBAND: "You don't even know what a carburettor is. I'll check it out. Where's the car?

WIFE: "In the pool"

 

 

 

TECHNICAL TIP

Dropped the cell phone in the pool?  Electrical gadgets do not like swimming but there is a First Aid you can try.  Not guaranteed to work but worth a try.  First get the battery out as soon as possible. There are several ways to dry it out so here are a few.

Store it in Rice for a couple of days, place it in the hot sun or under a strong light for several hours, soak it in Gin (Alcohol), Then find someone to check if it is repairable.

 

 

SUBS:

On checking the Nite Extreme entries I note a number of "members" entered who had not paid their 2014 subs.  You naughty boys, I know who you are and I will get you!!  Play the game. 

 

PAST EVENTS 

NITE XREME

A HUGE thank you to Fuchs Lubricants and their team for all their sponsorship and prizes, without it this event wouldn't have been such a success. Our first major event of the year and what a way to start off.
Thanks to all the competitors, especially the ones from Bulawayo and Mutare.
Thank you to Amelia Bennett for being Clerk of the course. To Roger Ellis thanks for organising the marshals, thank you to the marshals for keeping the drivers and public in check.
Thank you to my committee for their hard work. 

A big thank you to Mr Cruiser; Mica Q Hardware; Jim Perry Transport; Sendem; Supreme Butchery; Specialised Floor Services; Hukuru Chickens; Kiggen Construction; Stainzim; LR Manufacturing & Sales; Sawpower Blades (STIHL); Premier Auto; Prime Bond; Ezytrack; and Big Sky. 

Although named the Nite Extreme it started off with a Jamboree launch to thank all the sponsors of the forthcoming Jamboree in May.  This all took time and due to the competitors getting their cars to their respective test courses, and the marshals being briefed on penalties in the tests, some of us missed the fun and games with Castrol, again our major sponsor on the Jamboree. 

Two 'Rescue' cars, Mike Gill and Pete Jenkin, waited to pull cars back on their wheels or out the mud but, unlike last year, they had nothing to do.  Oh yes, several "Door handles, Roof, Wheels" did occur but all were push back by willing helpers.  I think the crowd enjoyed watching a car roll, get back on its wheels and continue with the test.  We had a very good crowd and I hear the caterers were sold out.

Results:     Class One - Standard and standard modified

1.       Alex Hawkins / Chad Bruford              Jeep

2.       Yesper Kirk / Matt Kelly-Edwards      Cournil

3.       Dale Kiggen / Geoff Clack                            Land Rover

                   Class Two   -     Special

1.       Adrian Watt / Jason Smith                Cournil

2.       Costs Dobropolous / Jason Landos       Jeep

3.       Mass Kirk / Thomas Kirk                    Cournil

 

 

FUTURE EVENTS:

JAMBOREE -   DONNYBROOK 24 / 25^TH MAY 2014

Preparations are hotting up.  Course building days are getting closer.  A new repair centre is being prepped with a pit, cables laid for power and communications.  The grass is being cut and a hundred and one other things done.  This all takes a lot of work and we thank our hard working team for their input. 

Always remember the Jamboree is the only event in the year where we earn any money from the gate.  If you are looking for a job (voluntary of course) then we would be very grateful

for your help.  Contact Roger Ellis his details are below in the Committee List. 

 

 

Zambezi Expedition       12 – 15 June 2014 

Plans are underway and as soon as we have some concrete details we will let you know.  To date we have 23 entries.   If you would like to be on the waiting list please advise us by email.  This will be a true 4x4 social, bush event with wild camping but please no trailers. 

 

 

Watch out for flyers which go out before every event. 

Keep an eye on our Facebook site for Club activities.  

4x4 Club Diary   -      2014

Note the date changes in yellow.

These dates change as the year progresses, but flyers will be sent out before each event.

(A) Social Family Day. (B) Touring/Camping (C) Comp Car 4x4 driving.

Saturday       3 / 4 May                 Course building day                     (A)      Donnybrook

Sat / Sun       17 / 18 May                        Course building to fine tune courses (A)

Sat/Sun 23/25 May   Hp Lubes 4x4 Jamboree   (C)   D/brook

Thurs/Sun    12/15 June               Zambezi Expedition                       (B)       Escarpment

Sat/Sun         2 / 3  August            Bulawayo Jamboree                      (C)       Bulawayo

Sat /Sun        13/ 14Sept               Training day/ Junior Jambo         (AC)    Donnybrook

Fri/ Sun         26/ 28Sept               Bushpig                                             (C)      

Sat/Sun         1 /2    Nov                 3 hills                                                           (B)       

Fri / Sun        7/ 9    Nov                Mutare Jamboree                          (C)       Mutare

Sunday          7          Dec                 Christmas run                                (A)

Note some dates may be changed as circumstances dictate.

 Expedition dates are still under scrutiny. 

No doubt there will be extra Trail Drives fitted in for your enjoyment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In hindsight I should have posted my Facebook status as: "I've blown the head gasket on my 2000 XR3i" rather than "I've just buggered a 14 year old escort".

The police still haven't seen the funny side, my laptop's been confiscated, and the wife has gone off to her mum's.

 

 

 

 

YOUR 4X4 COMMITTEE FOR 2014. 

CHAIRMAN                            PETER BENZON                      petebenzon@hotmail.com                0775.009.218

TREASURER                            KELVIN WEARE                      weare@telfordmica.co.zw                 0772.326.687

SECRETARY                            CAROL WEARE                      theweares@zol.co.zw                         0733.400.496

CHF MARSHAL/D.BROOK    ROGER ELLIS                          ellisr@barzem.co.zw                           0772.219.154

MEMBERSHIP                        WILMA HOEFNAGELS          wilmatembo@hotmail.com                0774.342.648

ENVIRONMENT                      MUZZA BLACK                      muzza@zol.co.zw                                 0772.241.000

EVENTS                                   JASON YOUNG                      jason@telfordmica.co.zw                   0772.918.878

EVENTS                                   JESPER KIRK                           tsoko22@gmail.com                            0772.414.281

EVENTS                                   MATT KELLY-EDWARDS       matthewkellyedwards@gmail.com  0772.384.404      

NEWSLETTER                         MICHAEL AND PAT GILL      gill@zol.co.zw                                       0778.731.288 

JAMBOREE CHAIRMAN        TIM THORBURN                    timthorburn.zim@gmail.com             0772.645.518      

 

DONNYBROOK

To enter Donnybrook Park on a non-event day it will cost you $2 per car, providing you have you membership card.  Non-members will be charged $20 per car.  You must sign the book at the gate and put your name, your Club and membership number.   Do not pay without signing the book.

Please note:  If you wish to go to Donnybrook to play and there is another event on, then the organizing club can charge what they like for you to enter.  They will have hired the entire complex for that day. Please don’t try and argue with the gate attendant, they will just be doing their job.  Either pay-up or go away and come back on a free day. 

 

FACE BOOK

We have a Face Book site "The 4x4 Zimbabwe Club – Zimbabwe" which is used daily by members to keep in touch with photos of events, etc. 

Motor Sports Association Club House

MSA Membership: The Club House bar works on a Swipe Card basis and any member of an affiliated club can join.  Pay your $20 Club House subscription and get your card.  Bar prices are double for non-cardholders. 

Hall for Hire - Hire our affordable Club facilities for parties, Wedding Receptions, meetings, seminars, courses and other functions.  Assist us in this way to obtain funds for the Clubhouse.

 

 

Till next time.                  

Michael and Pat GILL

Phone:   04.494028    (M) 0778.843.843   (P) 0778.731.288

 

Memorial for Judy Dunjey

With regard to the get together in remembrance of Judy on Saturday the 26th at her sister's house, could I ask anyone who intends to come to let me know as soon as possible at hull@zol.co.zw or phone me on Harare 861617 or text me on 0772 429175 so that we have some idea of numbers. Judy's sister Lou is asking that everyone brings a plate of SAVOURY snacks/eats as we will be there over lunch.There will be plenty of tea and coffee and some wine and beers.

Thankyou,

Judy’s Thanksgiving service is to be at 11am, Saturday the 26th April at Louise’s  house, 133 Harare Drive, Marlborough. 

Judy is to be cremated and her ashes scattered in the Matopos as was her wish.  

Please bring chairs and, if possible, a plate of eats.

I will send out a reminder a day or two before the service.

God Bless

Mike

 

Directions, ex Di Hull so they will be exact -  Going towards the Lomagundi Road from the Golden Stairs Road it is JUST before the junction with Lomagundi on the left. You can see the junction ahead. There is a big tree overhanging the entrance and a big green electric gate.  If on the other hand you come up Lomagundi Road instead towards Westgate and you turn right at the lights with Harare Drive it is a few metres on the right! 

Win Andrews

Sadly I most notify you of the passing, on Thursday, of Win Andrews, she was 96.

Many will not remember Win who was the tourist officer at the Falls for years and years, I don’t know how many but it was long, long time - she was all but a fixture!

As a resident of long standing, Win knew everyone and all there was to know about the Falls, as a T.O. she was gem; I remember her well and how she often looked over her glasses when she spoke to you.

Win, like all the ‘old timers’, Dagaboys and your many friends we will miss you.

God Bless

  
Psalm 62:1 My soul find rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.

 

History of the Borrowdale Road Trees

In the early 1920s a gentleman named Power bought a sub-division of Borrowdale Estate which he named Dungarvan after the town in Ireland which is a centre for the Power clan – anyone who has visited it will vouch that just about every shop and business bears the name of Power.  The property was about 250 acres in extent on either side of the Borrowdale Road stretching roughly from where the traffic lights are now to Dungarvan Close – n.b. the name has been misspelt as Dungarvon on a number of the street signs.  At the time of the purchase the family was living in a house on Third Street which ran without obstruction from North Avenue to Manica Road (in old money).  The road was used by farm wagons bringing maize to the mill on Manica Road and, as it was not tarred, the result was a lot of dust in the house.  When Mrs Power found out that the new property was next to a farm road she insisted that  trees should be planted to provide a dust screen.  The remains of the screen is the line of cypresses between the traffic lights and Garth Road on the west side of the road.  I can’t vouch for the others along Dungarvan West Road or on the opposite side of the road.  The fact that they were planted as a screen explains why the trees are so close together and their size by the fact that they were planted about 90 years ago. Best wishes David   

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It is not for firewood, the timber is being used for cheap pine furniture, roof trusses, children’s toy houses etc. When these so called loggers come to cut down these Fir/Pine trees, they are cutting them in lengths of 4,5 or 6 meters. It is cheaper to cut down the trees in Harare then procure the trees in Nyanga (wattle)

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The fir trees, or Cyprus trees are REGULARLY blow down in strong winds. I recall a few years back when some unlucky individuals had to be cut out of the car they were travelling in along Carrick Creagh Road when a Cyprus fell on them. Those trees along that road have now been sensibly removed. It seems the Cyprus trees just have root structures too shallow for our rich red soils, maybe these trees are indigenous to places where the rocks bind the roots or maybe there are never any strong winds there, but they really do not cope with the thunderstorm winds have here. The wood seems to very brittle too, often the tress snap off in the wind.  The other species growing in Harare generally do much better, certainly our indigenous trees do.

 

As for bird life, I have never seen any bird, or any other animal, nest in these trees, I will go check on the claim about herons, but I suspect those are eucalyptus trees. Certainly the odd crow sits at the top and I can imagine that eagles also perch there, but we are not really that short of other perches. As for the effect these trees have on the soil beneath them, anyone who has tried to grow their garden beneath one will testify to the impact of the strong resin in the leaves. I doubt this will be of much importance to most of your readers, but do any of you remember climbing these trees as a kid? They are horrible for climbing; sticky, scratchy and no-where good to sit and rest! I propose that everyone who has a Cyprus (or Fir if you like) tree that is tall enough to fall onto a powerline or a public road, be required to shorten the tree or remove it.  L

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I understand that Jacarandas may not be planted in Jozi any longer. Their root system  is vast and pervasive. p

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I know how sad some may be to see the trees being cut down, but lets replace them right away with beautiful indigenous trees. Some Acacias perhaps which our urban wild life might enjoy and take refuge in (bush babys etc). Trees are important especially to the people that live there as they can be used to block out the noise from the busy road. So unfortunately out with the dangerous old and in with some colourful new indigenous trees :)  http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/ Kind regards Zim Flora Fan

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Can anyone recommend a reputable Tree Doctor? This would be useful information for a lot of us who would like to be erudite but actually don't have a clue! One Mouse
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Death Notices

It is with a heavy heart I must advise all of the passing of two Dagaboys - Mark Ellement and Fred Duckworth.

 

Battling cancer with a fighting spirit Mark sadly passed away in Bulawayo on the 6^th, last Sunday morning, I understand he was surrounded by family and friends. Many of our older Dagaboys and those not resident in Zimbabwe will not have known Mark - I first met him in the early millennium when he was hunting for Matapula Safaris and only fairly recently learnt he was in the Department, mid 80’s for about a year - he resigned to go aboard a ship bound for the Antarctic. On Facebook (Dagaboys) there are many tributes to Mark from his colleagues, hunting associates and friends across the world -.he was held in high regard and loved by all.

Mark’s memorial service will be held at the Ellement’s home this Saturday (12^th) at 12.30. At this time of great sadness we reach out to Karen and the family - our thoughts and prayers are with you all, letters of condolences to markellement@gmail.com

 

I only recently heard that Fred Duckworth’s passed away in the Netherlands in his 80^th year on the 21^st of March; our deepest sympathies go to Elise, Fred’s wife and companion for many years. Fred was in the Department in the mid 70’s - his last posting was to Sinamatella. Elise’s needs our support - her address is international33@kpnplanet.nl. Rest in Peace Fred - Our thoughts and prayers are with you Elise.