Christmas Greetings 2011 from the Ozols

Christmas Greetings to all our family and friends in Europe, Africa, North America and Australia 

These two photos exemplify the meaning of Christmas. While some people in these photos are paid, most are volunteers in South Africa, supporting people living (and dying) with HIV/AIDS. In our material world, pause and give thanks for the blessings we enjoy wherever we are.

Seasons greetings
Eddie and Linda










2011 has been a year of significant change for the Ozols 
family!

85th  birthday celebrations with the family Oct 2010

While 2010 ended with plans for an overseas trip mid 2011, this was put on hold after Linda's father Roger entered hospital on 4 January following a sudden deterioration in his mobility which eventually resulted in the need to place him in aged care. Prior to discharge to aged care a brain tumour was diagnosed as the cause of the sudden deterioration and he remained hospitalised until he died on 30 May. This time was very special to Linda and the rest of the family who were able to share many memories with him as he faced death confident that this was a new beginning for him.

The beard coming off with a travelling barber engaged

In February Eddie had an epiphany, making the decison to leave the public sector after 39 years. Within a month he had four approaches (the first within a few days) to join non profit agencies and in May after giving his boss plenty of notice, joined Lifestyle Solutions, a support service for people (lifestylesolutions.org.au)  as the NSW Disability Development and Change Manager. The highlight of his farewell was a challenge to shave off the beard before he left. The last day was fun filled with activities including a travelling barber who took off the beard after Eddie's Target of $1000 for African AIDS Foundation was reached. A brief holiday at Nelson Bay  was enjoyed before starting the new job in May.

Stephen Bomford, Headmaster at St Peter's
Campbelltown  highlighting Linda's qualities

Linda's birthday this year was celebrated with family and friends from various areas of her life. The principal of her current school and the previous school deputy,  attended as did friends from Young World Singers and a Vietnamese family who we have known for 30 years.  

Our family after the funeral(f)

Sadly Roger died on 30 May. The funeral was pre-planned by Roger ten years ago and  his forward planning meant he left clear instructions for Linda to ensure all arrangements were understood. Those who knew him will understand that he was well prepared for everything. Merrin flew home from Canada for the funeral service and this afforded us the first opportunity since 2006 to have all our family together for a photo opportunity together with daughter in law Nell, wife of Ashley.

Felix at 9 weeks

After over eight years with Macquarie Bank Ashley decided to move to a smaller company. After tendering his resignation he was required to take 3 months "gardening leave" before he was allowed to start with his new employer in September. Ashley and Nell had their first child - Felix Roger - who was born on 12 October. Ashley was able to have a week off to assist when Nell came home from hospital despite only a month with his new employer. 

Having completed his degree mid year we were pleased to attend Rowan's graduation as a Bachelor of Project Management in October. This was the completion of four long years including   travel from Manly to Penrith by public transport for lectures. He  continues his cadetship with Buildcorp  working on the rebuilding of St Barnabas Church on Broadway. Rowan's girlfriend will be joining us for the extended family day after Christmas.

Home for a week in June for grandpa's funeral, Merrin returned to Canada where she has lived and worked since February 2009 with long term partner Carl. They left Banff for the summer and worked at Tofino on Vancouver Island . In between seasons they travelled with a group and had an extended holiday in Mexico before returning to Canada where they now have work in Fernie for the current winter. Merrin has commenced a Journalism Degree - her long held ambition.

After significant consideration (a discussion with dad helped) Corinneyoungest daughter CJO decided not to continue at university. She holidayed with long time friend Laura in Thailand after semester 1 (this was a long term commitment from years ago) and on her return headed to Queensland to the Gold Coast in August, obtaining a job with patent attorneys.  



She has settled in to her new position and was able to purchase a unit given the depressed market where 

 she lives. 

Philakahle 2011

These are some of the Philakahle staff who deliver various support to people in the Okhahlamba area. The ladies to the left are the Home Based Carers who coordinate the Referral Network. They come in weekly for training and meetings from the villages.

My last day at Philakahle was spring cleaning day. A special meal was cooked marking the end of the year and also I was invited as this was my last day in South Africa.

A Zulu Wedding

On Sunday 4 December 2011 I attended the wedding of Bongi Radebe and her fiancée Isaac Shabalala. Bongi has been instrumental in the development of the African AIDS Foundation School Partnership project between St Peters Anglican Primary School and Intumbane Primary School in South Africa.

All ready to start the wedding ceremoy

The wedding was a simple affair in the Shabalala home which comprises a number of buildings in a typical Zulu kraal where extended famly share the ground but have their own living quarters. Pastor Titus, Lutheran Pastor at Escourt about 100kms away conducted the ceremony.

There were four medical students with me from University of Western Sydney and they were able to get a better understanding of Zulu culture and prac tice which is changing slowly. .




However apart from the Australian contingent  there were less than 15 adults in attendance, most being siblings and extended family of Isaac and some of Bongi's friends from Intumbane.

We arrived about 11am having made a number of enquiries about the location from locals. There are no street addresses - simply unsealed roads off the main road. It was not easy to find. Bongi greeted all of us with her usual big smile and introduced us to those present which included four of Isaac's brothers, one of their aunts, a sister of Isaac and her children plus friends of Bongi including Thuli from school and a number of others helping with the preparations. As we sat waiting for things to commence, Isaac spoke to us and told us how fortunate he was to be marrying the woman he loves. It was clear from his discussion that he saw himself as privileged to be marrying Bongi.

The wedding took place in the lounge room of the main house. Everyone except Bongi and Isaac and the pastor were seated. Much of the service except for the vows was translated for our benefit in English. Once Isaac had said yes the Pastor had a bit of fun (and Isaac looked very worried during this time) when he said "well eveything is now up to Bongi. Will she say yes and confirm this man's future as a good one or will she say no." Everyone was laughing except for Isaac and Bongi looked like she was just wanting the question asked.

A worried Isaac as the pastor delayed asking Bongi if she took  this man etc...

Eventually the question was asked and Bongi had no hesitation in responding in the affirmative. There were tears from both and Bongi on more than one occasion wiped Isaac's face. The homily was from Ecclesiastes 9:9 and a passionate exhortation was given to them both about the future ups and downs. Then the exchanging of rings took place with Isaac stooping on one knee to place the ring on Bongi's finger.

The meal was served with us Aussies being served first. One of the students asked the question why were we eating when no one else was? Bongi explained the order was we were the special guests (and acknowledged as such during the ceremony by the pastor), then the women served the men (who in true Aussie style were seated outside under  a tree) and then the women and children ate (women were seated in the kitchen).

There was no formality and no speeches after the ceremony. The afternoon was spent just chatting and socialising. We Aussies we privileged to speak to people about village life and culture. The wedding was a long time coming and my visit provided the convenient reason to have a low key wedding without the huge party which may have included 500+ guests.

The women in the kitchen

With the boys

Rolling pap in my hands

I was called out to join the fellas late in the afternoon around the tree. There I saw a wooden dish known as an igwembhe filled with a chicken roasted on flame abd pap which is corn meal mixed with water and a staple of the African diet across many cultures. This was my first experience of eating by hand since my childhood. I was taught how to roll the pap into a ball and took pieces of chicken (which turns out to be Zulu chicken, a leaner and brown free range bird about six months old) which were more flavoursome than what we eat at home.

Bongi lives against the spectacularly beautiful backdrop of the Drakensberg