Douglas' Bankie

Hello friends and family.

Many of us have agreed to keep Douglas' blog up and running as a good way to communicate with all who knew Douglas and to let everyone know news from Wilmien, Oliver and Ella and also from the rest of the Lederles and all his friends.

On Saturday the 29th of March Wilmien, Oliver, Ella and many of Douglas' friends took the bench (or bankie) that Douglas' friends had made in his honour, up to the saddle or saaltjie in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. Most of us went up in vehicles on the winding tracks leading up to the spot chosen by his friends and some joined us on their mountain bikes.

The weather was perfect and we had a few glimpses of a pair of Verreaux's or Black Eagles flying around the mountain. We dug the needed foundation for the bench and mixed some concrete and with many a chirp and a laugh we set the bench in its now permanent spot. There was of course the due champagne and a few beers to celebrate the occasion and of course the usual banter of what and how to go about mixing cement, more rocks needed, dont paint against the grain, more to the left and another 101 advisory tips from the group of 'builders' helping to set the bench in place.

I have posted a few pictures of the day and also of the view one has from the bench looking toward Table Mountain.

As many of you are aware, Douglas had a great interest in the Cape Leopard Trust run by Quinton Martins and beacuse of this passion he had for this rare and misunderstood predator, we are planning to adopt one of the Cape Leopards in the Cape Leopard Trust's monitoring projects in the Cederberg or the Swartberg areas in living memory of Douglas. There has been a post in the latest newsletter on the website mentioning Douglas' involvement in the project from it's inception. Check out www.capeleopard.org.za and go to 'Latest News'.

I met with Guy Sampson over the weekend so we could get the ball rolling in terms of adopting one of the leopard in the area. We will be setting up an account, trustees for the Douglas Lederle Memorial Fund, etc. and will then use this blog site to let everyone know the details of where we are in terms of the project and how much money we have put together. The entire project will cost R30 000.00 which will cover capturing a leopard, vets fees, a tracking collar and a few other costs involved. We have decided to go for a young male and as sponsors we will be able to name the leopard - so please forward ideas either to myself at greg.lederle@molori.co.za or to Guy at guy@wsp.co.za - this is for names, more information or any questions that you may have regarding this idea.

If you are one of the sponsors involved in Douglas' Leopard, one is able to arrange - in advance of course - to go in to the area where the leopard is, in order to track the animal. This could be an awesome outing for a group to head into one of the most beautiful parts of the country to track such an awesome animal and to be doing it in the memory of someone that meant so much to us, and to whome nature was so important.

And so it is that I will sign off on behalf of Wilmien, Oliver and Ella and the rest of the Lederle clan and looking forward to hearing news from you all that you have been to Douglas' bankie and spent some time admiring a place that meant so much to him and to all those who new him (- dont forget to take a Milk Stout Beer or 2 up with you!!!).

Watch this space for further news...

Greg