Yesterday's Casual BRAAI / BBQ hosted by Bert Tuhi

ANZAKZN is in need of more members yet our functions are enjoying increased numbers over the last 18 months or so.

My assessment of yesterday's casual BRAAI / BBQ is that the food was brilliant and the hospitality was exceptional and the ambience provided the finishing positive touch.

Huge thanks to Bert, and family and those who contributed to this event.

For those that attended you can give feed back by clicking on the text "No Comments" at the bottom of this entry.

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IMPORTANT, (TO SOME), NOTICE 

1. This blogsite was established in February 2013 by Chris Wilson and Andy Tribe.
2. To date there has been 15452 page visits. The table below indicates the number of page visits in the last seven days.

Entry	Pageviews
South Africa	52
United States	16
Russia	3
Ukraine	2
Unknown Region	1
Australia	1
France	1
South Korea	1
Myanmar (Burma)	1
Netherlands	1

3. During the first week of its existence 7 people signed on as "Followers" but absolutely none since.  Followers automatically get copies of new posts as and when they are posted.
4. Anyone worldwide can also get copies of new postings by adding there email address to the "Follow by email" spot in the left column of the home page.
5. Anyone worldwide may comment on any new post either by using there name or remaining anonymous.  Less than 10 comments have been made to date besides myself. Comments can be vetted if need be though no vetting in place to date.
5. At this stage I am the only one to submit posts and repeated requests to members including committee members have failed to give feedback on past events and images.  Not so long ago we did get some details and images though recently nothing to share or to market ANZA.
6. I do apologise to those such as Pam von Aulock with photos and excellent travel experiences by Jane Walters in the "NEWS FROM AFAR" menu. A couple of years back Dave Brosnihan managed to get a vast number of images for ANZAC Day from a photographer from the MOTHS.
7. Obviously I can't monitor who has signed up to automatically receive copies of new entries and I apologise if I offend these supporters who no doubt to get ne
8. In essence I will not be continuing with this blog though I will not close it as It can never be be reinstated once cancelled. 

9. MARKETING - When I joined ANZA in the early '70s ANZA was listed in the white pages. Not anymore!
Up until recently ANZA had a successful Newsletter managed by competent authors who had the gift of the gab. But no new volunteers!

Other International ANZAs have active websites that attract large numbers of members. i.e Singapore with more than 6000 members and a regular Newsletter of several hundred pages. (Checkout the few listed ANZAs at the bottom of the HOME PAGE left column.)

Most businesses, NPOs, Social society's etc now have social networks to enhance survival. e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, 
I tried setting up Facebook but could only do so by personally signing up myself to enable setting up ANZA. I quickly got pressure every day from Facebook to list all my 300 plus contacts. Most contacts were one off entries when I requested info from various suppliers who I should now remove. I quickly chose to escape from Facebook and that was not easy either.  I would like to see someone with ANZA who knows how to set up ANZA on Facebook whilst being able to access relevant Facebook pages without being pressured into being overly involved themselves.

It is my sincere belief to survive, ANZA needs real marketing skills NOW. 
a. Advertise events in local papers as well as supply articles on charity support. 
b. Get a white pages phone entry.
c. Create an effective website.
d. Allow members to advertise on a such webpage as sponsors.
e. Create a Newsletter that can be sent to subscribers being both members and interested others. (Refusing to send to members that resign is blatant suicide)
f. Talk about being a member to friends in other social or business groups that you belong to.
g. Enable Associate Membership with full membership status after say 5 years. (Minor change to constitution required.)
 
Might be pessimistic though I believe that the comments to this entry will be close to if not ZERO.

Current El Nino status.(good news)

The following Article indicates that as of August this year the negative effects of the El Nino may have retreated to normal.

"August 2019 El Niño Update: Stick a fork in it

Author: 

Nat Johnson

August 8, 2019

The El Niño of 2019 is officially done. Near-average conditions in the tropical Pacific indicate that we have returned to ENSO-neutral conditions (neither El Niño or La Niña is present). Forecasters continue to favor ENSO-neutral (50-55% chance) through the Northern Hemisphere winter.

What’s on our plate?

The July Niño3.4 index, our primary index for monitoring ENSO, was 0.4°C above the long-term average, falling below the El Niño threshold of 0.5°C for the first time since last September. In addition, tropical atmospheric conditions have trended toward neutral, as the cloudiness and rainfall over the Pacific were near average over the past month. The trade winds also have been near average lately, indicating that Walker circulation, which weakens during El Niño, has shown signs of rebounding.

Monthly sea surface temperature in the Niño 3.4 region of the tropical Pacific for 2018–19 (purple line) and all other El Niño years since 1950. Climate.gov graph based on ERSSTv5 temperature data.

                                                         
Based on these latest indicators from the tropical ocean and atmosphere, NOAA forecasters have declared that El Niño has ended and neutral conditions have returned. Does a return to neutral mean that average weather conditions are expected to prevail around the globe? As Michelle pointed out a couple years ago, the answer is an emphatic NO.  A return to neutral means that we will not get that predictable influence from El Niño or La Niña, but the atmosphere is certainly capable of wild swings without a push from either influence.  Basically, ENSO-neutral means that the job of seasonal forecasters gets a bit tougher because we do not have that ENSO influence that we potentially can predict several months in advance (in a probabilistic form).        
A change to neutral could also impact the Atlantic hurricane season, which typically ramps up this time of year and peaks in early-to-mid September.  El Niño tends to produce hostile conditions for Atlantic hurricanes, as explained more thoroughly in Dr. Phil Klotzbach’s guest post, so a return to neutral means  that we will not get a decisive push from El Niño to the Atlantic.  The updated NOAA Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook is now available, so be sure to check how these changing ENSO conditions and other drivers are impacting the Atlantic hurricane season. 

Sea surface temperature from June 1 through July 27, 2019. The region of cool water in the tropical eastern Pacific, called the eastern Pacific cold tongue, is clearly visible along the Equator, surrounded by warmer waters to the north and south. The wavy features along the northern and southern borders between the cold tongue and the warmer waters are tropical instability waves. The waves on the north side are clearer in part due to the stronger temperature gradient on that side of the cold tongue. Map by NOAA Climate.gov from CDR data.

And just to drive home that ENSO-neutral doesn’t necessarily mean “bland and boring,” a closer look at the weekly ocean surface temperature reveals some fascinating, wavy features over the eastern Pacific. Emily discussed these interesting features, called tropical instability waves, a few years ago. These waves can produce some dramatic week-to-week swings in the Niño3.4 index, but their effects tend to get washed out in the monthly and seasonally averaged index. That doesn’t mean that these waves cannot impact ENSO – check out Emily’s post to find out more!

What’s on the menu?

Will ENSO-neutral conditions continue through fall and winter? Similar to last month, most of the computer models we consult predict that the ocean surface temperature in the Nino3.4 region will remain near average throughout this period. NOAA forecasters favor this outcome, predicting a 50-55% chance of neutral conditions remaining through winter."

Australia and Waitangi Day is our next event - 28 January 2018

Hans, our master spit braai caterer

Our Australia and Waitangi Day event celebrates the National Days of both Australia and New Zealand.

It is a very popular social event and draws the most numbers of members and visitors of any event each year.
ANZA has as many if not more South African members than Australian and New Zealanders put together.  It is a family event.

For details please click on FUTURE EVENTS menu item above.

Best wishes to all Members and Followers

A Merry Christmas from the ANZA - KZN Committee to Members, their Friends  and all Followers
Three unique Christmas Songs.    

Celine Dion

The Polka dots from New Zealand

Amber Lawrence from Australia

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Waitangi Day and Australia Day will be celebrated on the 1st February 2015

The 2015 - January/February Newsletter has been posted under the NEWSLETTERS menu item above. See this Newsletter for details of the imminent upcoming events.

1. 1st February -  Waitangi Day and Australia Day

2. 25th April - Anzac Day (This will be the 100th Anniversary of this event)

Both of these events have been very popular in the past and no doubt will continue to attract members and visitors. Members are encouraged to bring friends.

Umgeni Steam Railway Trip

A trip to Inchanga Railway station from the Stoker's Arms (Kloof Station) was a thoroughly enjoyable event. Click here to visit the Umgeni Steam Railway web site. Feedback and images will be posted once material has been collected. The event was something quite special and thanks go to Charlie from the British Cultural and Heritage Association for the professional way the event was coordinated.

A collage from Pam

There was much merriment and of all those who embarked from Kloof no one missed the return Journey. Many thanks to the employees from the Umgeni Steam Railway who offered a service second to none. Thanks to Pam von Aulock for submitting the collage of images on this post.

        click on any image to enlarge!

Farewell to Brenda Langton

This has been our last chance to say farewell to Brenda Langton from BCHA, who is returning to the UK for good, in mid July. This is especially poignant, because members from ANZA and the Cowies Hills LIONS, with which Brenda has had a close relationship, as well as the New Germany Bowling Club, where her husband Dave played bowls in the last two years of his life.

Tongue in Cheek - Are Trains male or female?

 TRAINS: Definitely male... because they always use the same old lines for picking up people.

More general images appear on the "RECENT EVENT PICTURES" page.