Die organisasie is deur vrywilligers gedoen, met die hulp van die Drakenstein Munisipaliteit.

Vrydag het skole en ander vrywilligers in hul onmiddellike woon- of werkomgewing skoongemaak en Saterdag is die sakekerns getakel.

Die gedagte is om die aksie op 'n blywende grondslag voort te sit en daar word al reeds gekyk na 'n plan. Net om dié idee te ondersteun, het die Allandale Korrektiewe Dienste gister die arboretum skoongemaak.

'n Vergadering word ook op Dinsdag 10 Desember om 08:30 by De KostInrichting in die Paarl gehou om planne te bespreek.

Allmal is welkom.

PARTY mense kla, ander doen. En Jacob Mars van Piet-my-vroustraat 6 in Amstelhof, Paarl, is beslis een van die doeners.

Die oomblik as 'n mens by sy huis, een van 'n hele ry Termhuise, stilhou, weet jy hier is 'n man wat sy drome in planne omskep.

Die huisie is 'n vrolike ligblou geverf en omring met welige plantegroei.

Elke duim van die stukkie tuingrond word benut. 'n Netjiese sementpaadjie, versier met stukkies keramiekteëls, kronkel tussen die fyntuin deur.

Langs die huis is 'n gerieflike braaiplek en agter selfs 'n visdammetjie.

"Die visse sal een van die dae kom," vertel hy entoesiasties.

Langs die dammetjies staan 'n kraanvoël van gietyster en keramiek, alles self gemaak.

Die tuin het sy oorsprong gehad in die ou vullishoop waar daar deesdae groente geplant word.

Mars se handewerk stop ook nie by die tuin nie.

Op die stoep staan 'n bad, netjies ingebou met teëls en al - net die ding vir die Paarlse hitte.

Binne die huis is daar niks te sien van al die probleme waaroor die omliggende eienaars kla nie.

Mars, 'n bouer van beroep, het sy werk in 1992 verloor en sedertdien leef hy van los tuin- en ander werk.

So drie, vier jaar gelede het hy besluit om iets aan die huis te doen waar hy en sy suster, Jeanette Jantjies, woon.

Nou spog die voorkamer met 'n netjiese dennehoutplafon, die huis het teëlvloere en die huis het 'n splinternuwe dak.

Mars het ook eiehandig twee vertrekke aangebou.

Stanley Cupido, sekretaris vir die ANC-tak in Amstelhof, het Mars geloof vir sy werk.

"Mense moet ophou wag dat die regering alles vir hulle doen en self iets aan hul heil doen."

* A Paarl man has turned his garden into a showpiece.

DIE Franschhoek Polisie loods van 23 November tot 8 Desember 'n spesiale kinderprogram in vennootskap met die Departement van Veiligheid en Sekuriteit, kerke, skole en organisasies soos Nicro, Flac en Mozaik aan.

Dit is deel van die "Hands off our Children" (Hooc) veldtog en beoog om veral vroue en kinders te bemagtig, te beskerm en bewus te maak van ongehoorde kriminele gedrag teen hulle.

Gesinsgeweld

Daar sal daagliks 'n program aangebied word met opvoerings, werkswinkels oor gesinsgeweld en arbeidswetgewing asook optogte teen drank- en dwelmmisbruik.

Die kinders sal ook besoek bring aan tronke en fabrieke.

DIE byeenkomste van die Afrikaanse Krabbel-klub vind gereeld plaas by die Afrikaanse Taalmuseum, Pastorielaan 11, Paarl op die eerste Donderdag van elke maand.

Die volgende byeenkoms is op Donderdag 5 Desember om 19:00.

Hulle nooi ook alle hoërskoolleerders uit om te kom saamspeel op Dinsdag 10 en Donderdag 12 Desember om 11:00.

Beginners en kenners van die spel is almal welkom en hulle sal sorg dat spelers min of meer volgens hul vaardighede ingedeel word as hulle dit so verkies.

Ledegeld beloop R30 per jaar. Lidmaatskap sluit ook 'n gratis lidmaatskap van die Vriende van Afrikaans in waarmee lede die gereelde skrywersaande van die Taalmuseum teen halfprys kan bywoon.

Belangstellendes kan vir Brönnhilde Ekermans skakel by 872-3441 vir meer inligting.

A MARCH to promote action against Aids will be held in Mbekweni on Friday. It is organised by the police in co-operation with the community, who will be encouraged to wear red ribbons or caps. The march starts at the Blue Max Garage at 09:30 and ends at the Mbekweni community hall.

Sunday is World Aids Day and the national theme for this year is "I care enough to help."

The Government's Khomanani (Caring Together) campaign has asked the nation to join in by "Lighting a Flame of Hope" at 19:00 on Sunday.

The local district committee for HIV/Aids has decided to focus on truck drivers this year. Personnel from Agapé will be at the Huguenot Tunnel from 09:00 to 13:00 tomorrow with a Condom Bash.

"People are uninformed about Aids and therefore they don't become involved and are condemnatory towards sufferers," said Logy Murray from the Christian Aids Bureau at Huguenot College at a recent workshop for churches in Paarl.

"Attitudes can only be changed with information," she said.

Speakers at the workshop were, among others, Shahida Hendricks from the Ikhwezi trust, Iris Cupido (HIV/Aids co-ordinator for Paarl District, Miqlat and Paarl Hospice).

This gave interested people the chance to get information on the various projects in the Valley and ways of getting involved.

In the mean time a study by Statistics South Africa on the main causes of death in South Africa, other than unnatural causes, has confirmed that HIV/Aids is the main cause of death in South Africa.

Last year's study commissioned by the Medical Research Council showed that 40 percent of deaths of people between the ages of 15 and 49 in 2000 was due to Aids.

If government starts providing patients with anti-retroviral treatment it does not mean that 1 million people who are HIV-positive will have to be treated overnight.

Only patients that are sickand have reached a certain scientifically determined stage can benefit from this.

Bannerthon Challenge

Romatex in Paarl has adhered to a challenge to participate in a fundraising and awareness Business Bannerthon for International Aids Week this year, which runs from 26 November to 1 December.

The objective of the Business Bannerthon is to unite South African business in an effort to show that business does care about staff and others living with Aids and, at the same time to raise much needed funds for children infected and affected by the Aids pandemic in South Africa. 

For more information, to track the progress of the Business Bannerthon or to join the challenge, visit www.bannerthon.org.za

* Another Paarl company, Spilo, put up a banner, stating: "Spilo Platex cares - Do you?".

THE wineries of the renowned Simonsberg Wine region on the slopes above Stellenbosch will present a weekend of gastronomic and vinous indulgence to celebrate the start of the holiday season on 14 and 15 December from 11:00 to 17:00 at Delvera.

The Simonsberg Fine Wine & Food Fair has become a firm commitment in the diary of those purists who hold the pursuit of excellence in wine and food close to their hearts. 

The winemakers will present their wine alongside a selection of experimental and personal wine cuvees which you will have the opportunity to indulge in.

Wander lazily through the food stalls, sample the myriad of local delicacies, chat to and share a drink with the winemakers and their families, listen to the rhythmic jazz on the rolling lawns all while taking in the magnificence of the Simonsberg mountain.

The fair takes place once a year, so don't miss out in joining these prestigious properties in the final days of relaxation before the frenetic preparations for 2003 harvest gets them going again.

Delvera Agri Tourism Centre is located next to Laibach and opposite Kanonkop on the R44 between Stellenbosch and Paarl. Tickets are R50 including unlimited tasting and glass (children R10).

Tickets are available from participating Wineries or Adéle Toua (tel 888-4615 or 082-809-9878).