The Poorly Supported Santjie White Fund

[Asterix]

Dudes, I hang my head in shame and ask of thee:

1. Have you seen and read the sticky topic on the Santjie White Fund in Hangar Talk?

2. Do you think R 100 is a lot of money these days - 10 litres of fuel - an hour in the air if you are lucky with a lekker tailwind?

3. Do you think that you will never need Santjie / S&R?

Shame on thee Dudes..

[vernon11]

So dissopointed to hear that the response has been poor. COME ON FOLKS.

[DarkHelmet]

It is actually stickied in every forum on the board here, you will see it in every subforum

[Asterix]

Jip - saw it now - but still my head hangs in shame.. I don't want to see ANY post from ANY one who have not contributed next time whe have an accident report, to the tune of " way to go S&R" or "Thank you Santjie for your good work" or "Liewe Heksie you rule" etc etc.

If you make a post honoring S&R when the next rescue take place, I will go and check if you made your contribution, and if not - I will give you shit on this forum like there is no tomorrow! Believe me I CAN wash my mouth out online!

Come people - go and contribute.

[DarkHelmet]

Asterix, your passion is appreciated but I personally take offense! I have volunteered days of my own time in the past to S&R, please do not threaten like you do. Each person contributes in their own way and you are coming across as donate money or get nuked...

You are implying that no-one has a right to S&R if you do not contribute, some people just cannot, some contribute on the forum here with own experiences. We ALL learn from each other!

I applaud those that have come to the fore with their pledges in whichever way or form.

[Asterix]

R 100 is nothing. If not - make it R 50. Or R 20. Or volunteer your time. Too many people are quick to praise, yet never put their money / time / etc where their mouths are.

I am only trying to get people to contribute to a good cause. And if I have to make a little threat or two - so be it. Those who know me - they will take it with the pinch of salt that should accompany it.

I find it amazing that so many people have viewed the topic, yet so few has made a contribution. Yet, next time there is a tragedy we read pages and pages of "condolences / RIP fellow aviator / may you fly forever etc. etc."

The "you" in my post is not aimed at YOU - Dark Helmet - it is aimed at the READER of my post, who has done nothing yet in terms of time / R5 contribution / etc.

That is all.

[DarkHelmet]

Asterix, you imply apology and I accept unconditionally! Would love to meet you! I am planning to be at Aeroden on Saturday am...

I fully agree with your sentiments, thanks for the speedy clarification. The S&R efforts are tremendous and expensive.

Thanks for your passionate follow up regarding this!

Good cop, bad cop... I (and many other less outspoken) share your feelings, keep up the good work!

[Asterix]

Ja,well, I only wanted to get people fired up to donate some money, as the original request from AVCOM asked. Sorry about that.

Flying to my parents tomorrow morning 06h00 for the weekend. Put in a day of leave. Will only fly back Monday morning. Have got S&R number on my phone.

[DarkHelmet]

Geen probleem Kaptein! I just needed to speak up for our more silent members, your clarification and passion is observed, NEVER STOP! Dit was nie 'n uitkak nie, I just felt I needed to speak for those that contribute in other ways!

Enjoy your trip! Be Safe!

[DarkHelmet]

As an afterthought, to aid in S&R, I will make a subforum named - "My Intended Flight Plan" and people can share their plans and maybe get some folk to join on trips? You are going to your folks, no-one knows where they are, state your plans there and this will also aid S&R

[ZULU1]

Asterix and others, I really wasn't intending to reply to his post, anyway here goes...

A few years back, Rob Thomas (121.5 on Avcom) approached me and explained the serious issues that the Mountain Club have in communicating in S&R situations. I was interested as he explained that he couldn't find anybody to manufacture a communication system allowing the S&R teams to communicate on Air Band, the 2 metre ham and PMR band and also a cellphone with a intercom in a Oryx helicopter. All this in a very high Helicopter downwash and high noise environment. He advised that he had heard our Chatterbox systems and these worked in a very high wind environment. Rob flew to Durban and we discussed the project at length. It was also understood by both parties that they had zero development funds available. So I decided to take the project on and accepted R5,000 as a token from them. (I designed this whilst working overseas when its raining!) We drilled this in 10 minutes but advised it would take some time as no development cash means we have given free time and materials from our side. It took us two years and is now complete. The rescuers wear a harness, the Oryx has a spider box (intercom box). We sell the systems at cost +50% and almost 30 devices have been produced. The same systems are being used by counter-poaching teams, Police, AMS and also Tanzanian anti-poaching teams. In memory of the Helicopter teams that crashed the comms box is named "4022". So if anybody wishes to "do their bit" and further aid these fellows, we are intending to make a hitch up for the Oryx ICS and that needs cash ! This will allow the S&R teams to link the comms spider to the Oryx, 109/119 and also 44s and similar. It can only help.

See this

http://www.trescue.com/eMag/TRmEmag18.pdf

and also this

http://www.sml.co.za/viewdetail.php?ITEMID=101

I am led to believe that they now have a sponsor but as always after the event...

Asterix if you wish to drive this further, the product is available for counter poaching and saving our Rhinos. It is perfect if used with two Vee rabbit antennas on a trike King post, one for the PMR band and the other a Air Band radio. This could be sold on similar terms. But somebody has to drive the project...

I am not insulted but there are people out there "doing their bit" so there are things happening behind the windows.....Contact Melanie and she will co ordinate this.

Zulu1

[Tumbleweed]

Don't judge people on what they say they're going to do, monitor the results.

Some okes only get paid this weekend, others might have to devise a scheme to bypass a transaction around the domestic minister of finance and some might prefer not to disclose their contribution.

[Bugwar]

Some causes are just closer to peoples hearts than others. Some donate to the S&R fund, others feed homeless kids or buy school clothes for the neighbors kids who lost their father and others help the old and needy.

Be careful to judge people who do not donate to YOUR priority cause. Canvas for your cause of choice by all means but keep reason in mind.

Geniet die naweek menere en andere en vlieg asb veilig

[John Boucher]

For those who know Santjie would understand that the Witch on the Broom is driven by passion for keeping us alive! To her a simple "we have good news for the loved ones" is reward enough For her, a simple THANK YOU Santjie for keeping a watchful eye over us and knowing you are there is payment enough for her compassion for us!

The last thing she would want is her name to be coupled to any negativity for whatever noble action - because that is not who or what she is about!

If you can contribute please do chaps.... if you can't, that's alright.... if you support another cause - by all means!

[John Boucher]

Without malice or ill intent.... how many realise how this forum is funded, the history, the cost? Lots of just causes....