Predeparture Roadtrip

Our first week of presentations in South Africa has passed successfully. We got some valuable feedback from all four of our presentations: in Queenstown, Port Alfred and twice in Port Elizabeth. It has given us the opportunity to iron out some flaws and get used to the nerves, and it has allowed our sponsoring clubs to share an aspect of our GSE experience.

(Pic1: Trevor & Norah-Ann working)

(Pic2: The Team, with Etienne, the President of RC Port Alfred)

Queenstown also allowed us the opportunity to spend time with PJ and Grant's families.

(Pic3: Three of Pj's beautiful daughters - they take after their mother)

(Pic4: Grant's mischievious sons - they take after their father)

Final Planning

The Team is meeting in Queenstown this weekend for our final planning meeting and for our first presentation. We will be accommodated by Rose Lodge B&B for the weekend. We look forward to seeing our newly printed brochures and our corporate clothing. In addition we will do a presentation for the Lukhanji Sunset Rotary Club which will provide us with good practice before a week of presentations to the Port Alfred Rotary Club on Tuesday morning, 17 February; followed by a presentation with the Sunrise and PE West clubs in Port Elizabeth on Thursday evening, 19 February; and finally to the King William's Town Rotary Club on Thursday night, 26 February. Our final SA presentation prior to departure will be to the East London Rotary Clubs on Thursday, March 05, the night before we fly out. The trip and GSE experience are starting to become a reality after 9 months of planning. Everyone is very busy tying up loose ends for the GSE trip, and attempting to complete our usual work responsibilities in a manner that will leave our colleagues glad to see us upon our return in April.

More about us...

PJ CLOETE

My name is Peter John Cloete and I am known as PJ. I live in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape where I was born as the 4th son of six children. I am a third generation Rotarian. My life centers around my wife Rensie, to whom I have been married for 20 years, and our 5 children, Rosemary (17), the triplets - Jennifer, Mariska and Jonathan (12) and the baby of the family Amy (8), together with our 4 dogs, 3 cats, and Charlie, the African Grey Parrot.

I was educated at Queens College Boys High. After School I spent 8 years in the South African Defence Force obtaining my Bachelor of Military Science from the University of Stellenbosch in 1984. In 1987 I resigned my commission as a Captain and Squadron Leader of an Armoured Car Squadron receiving the Southern Cross Medal for Distinguished Service. I returned to University to attain a Post Graduate Degree in Law (LLB) at Rhodes University. I am a qualified Attorney at Law, Notary Public and Conveyancer and currently practice law at Smith Tabata Inc one of the largest legal firms in the Eastern Cape, as a Director and head of the Queenstown Branch. I am also a local preacher in the Wesley Methodist Church in Queenstown. I served as a Local Government Councillor within Lukhanji Municipality until 2006 on a full time basis being appointed to the Mayoral Committee as Head of the Finance Portfolio. I have a passion for serving those less fortunate and I served as a member and Chairman of Queenstown Child Welfare and on the Regional Council of Child Welfare of South Africa as well as being a National Board member. Currently I am the Patron of both the Queenstown Child Welfare Society and Tsolwana Child Welfare Society and Sparrows Children's Home. In addition I serve as Chairman of the School Governing Body at Balmoral Girl's Primary School.

I am a Paul Harris Fellow and a Past President of the Rotary Club of Queenstown and Charter President of the Rotary Club of Lukhanji Sunset. I have served on all the Club Committees as Chair; and at District level have been D9320 Membership Chair for 3 years; Convener and Chairman of the District Conference in 2006/07; and I currently chair the District Youth Exchange Committee and serve as secretary of the D9320 Youth Programmes Association. The Exchange promises to be a highlight in my Rotary Career.

NORAH-ANN DE WET

I was born in the small town of Montague in the Western Cape in 1981. I grew up on a sixth generation farm just outside of Robertson. The farm, Excelsior, is known for its wine. My early school years were spent at a small school in Ashton and at the age of 13 I moved to a boarding school in Cape Town, St Cyprian’s. Upon completing my schooling, Stellenbosch University was my next port of call where I completed a BSc Consumer Science Foods. Whilst at university I met my future husband, Shaun Hayes, a structural engineer.

After university I started working for The Cape Herb & Spice Company that specialised in retail spices for the local and foreign market. It was here that I became interested in International food legislation and I subsequently completed my certificate in International food law via correspondence from the University of Michigan, USA. After 3 years at The Cape Herb & Spice Company, I started my own consultancy, Focal Food, dealing with: Food legislation, new product development and Food safety management system implementation. The consultancy has since extended its services to include grassroots level training in hygiene in factories.

Two years ago my husband and I moved to Port Elizabeth from Cape Town. When not working, I can be found running along the seafront in Port Elizabeth, travelling to small towns in the Eastern Cape or in the kitchen with my husband and preferably a glass of wine!

TREVOR HARBOTTLE

My name is Trevor Harbottle. I am 30 years old and I am the guy in the middle being tickled by my younger siblings. My brother, Bruce (24), is an industrial designer and my sister, Wendy (26), is a TV producer. I live in King William’s Town which is well known for the excellent school located there. I teach at this school: Dale College. Dale College is 148 years old, educates around 500 boys a year and has a reputation for the fine sportsmen that it produces. I teach English and Business Studies to the seniors in grades 10–12. I moved to King William’s Town in 2007 and much of my motivation for moving was to be nearer to my parents in Hogsback.

Hogsback is an hour’s drive from King William’s Town. I lived in Hogsback for 4 years whilst I managed the local petrol station and supermarket. Later I moved to Port Elizabeth where I completed a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Business Management and Sociology. Following that I completed my Post Graduate Certificate in Education and in 2005 I began my teaching career at a co-educational high school in Kwazulu-Natal.

My parents live in Hogsback and I enjoy close relationships with them. My father, David, is an accountant and lectures at the nearby University of Fort Hare, whilst my mother, Jeannette, is the administrator for a local Non-Profit Organisation, HIVHope Project. HIVHope assists with the supply of medicines and food to people affected with HIV/AIDS, Rotary supports them in this work and together they are making a difference in the lives of many people.I love meeting people and conversing with them, especially over a good cup of coffee, and I thrill at learning new things. I hope to meet you soon on our GSE to district 7570, and I am very excited about this opportunity afforded to me by Rotary International.

GRANT BUTLER

My name is Grant Butler and in the picture above you can see my wife, Sonya and our two boys, Luke (8) and Daniel (6). We spend most of our family holidays together at the beach; reading, relaxing, fishing, surfing, camping and ‘exploring’. We live in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, where I was born and raised. I completed a Diploma in Education through the Port Elizabeth College of Education as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Psychology at the University of Port Elizabeth. Because of my involvement in the Methodist Church, I studied part-time to complete a Diploma in Theology and I am currently a local preacher with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.

I have taught for fifteen years, I accepted my current position at Grey, a well-respected school for boys established in 1856. The school presently caters for over 1 700 boys from Grade 1 (Age 6 – 7) through to Grade 12 (Age 17 – 18). I am Head of English at Grey Junior School, and teach both English and History to Grade 7’s (Age 12 – 13), as well as being part of the school’s Leadership Team.

The Xhosa people of the Eastern Cape have a saying: “Ndinohlaba weAfrika phakathi Kwenzwane”. It means, “I have the African soil between my toes”, and it is true for me. Although South Africa will always be the place where my feet are firmly on the ground, I am tremendously excited at the opportunity to meet and learn from people whose social and professional experiences are different from my own.

ANNELIZE CLOETE

I am Annelize (Anna) Cloete (28). I live and work in Port Alfred as a Draughtsperson for a Structural and Civil Engineer. I have been in the Building Industry for the past seven years.

My family is a very important part of my life - I'm the eldest of three children. We enjoy spending time together outdoors - most of our holidays are spent on the family farm or on the beach. My brother and I live together, with our three dogs. I am a sports enthusiast and participate in field hockey, swimming, squash, tennis and cycling. Rotary plays an important role in my life and I am currently the Treasurer of the Port Alfred Rotaract Club. Cooking and entertaining family and friends are also favourite pass times, along with anything outdoors and adventurous.

I am excitedly looking forward to my GSE experience – to discover a whole new world and to make many new friends in Virginia, through Rotary. A new Rotary Adventure... a new Life Changing Experience!