Blog

During 2012 Kingsmead Mynahs were in discussions with Mike Procter to assist him with developing his initiative with Rodney Malamba at the Ottawa Primary School.

John Arthur and Colin Chater visited the school and witnessed what with limited funding, mostly by Mike Procter, who was paying Rodney to coach, and, feed the children. There were no sporting facilities, and, they being coached sport on overgrown grass.

Colin Chater approached a politically connected person, who brought television cameras to the school around September of that year, and, intimated that he would arrange for Cricket nets to be installed. After numerous meetings with Mike Procter, and, at other times with Colin, unfortunately nothing materialised.

John Arthur and Colin Chater got together with Mike Procter late 2013. Kingsmead Mynahs then decided to take decisive action, and, Colin approached Geoff Bentham who has been involved in asphalt for many years, and, John approached Bruce Sommerville of All Round Builders.

Bruce immediately got working on the project in November 2013, and, layed the concrete strips within a week. He also got Ian Ross of Mica Waterfall to donate 15 bags of cement. The fields were overgrown and before Bruce got started he approached Neil McLemen of Paddy’s Garden Services to brush cut the cricket area.

In the meanwhile, Colin Chater approached Colin Love of Woodrite Timber Products for poles, Mark Vermeulin of Alnet for netting, who also put him onto Vyash Ramlaggen of Adiya who installed the netting and very kindly also put place in stainless steel poles.

With the help of Harold Rencken, Colin Chater and Mike Procter were taken to Danie Hollenbach Motors and approached them for a sponsored car. Unfortunately due to bad experiences on sponsoring sportsmen vehicles, they had changed their policies, but, were very open to sponsoring needy causes, or, golf days, that was being planned at that time.

One evening after a meeting with Mike Procter, Jebb MacIntosh of CMH was approached by Colin Chater, for a sponsored car. After a brief meeting that evening with Mike, Colin and John Arthur, there was a second meeting with Mike, Colin and Mike Ward that resulted in a sponsored car. On the same Friday afternoon Mike Procter pointed out that the Ottawa Primary would be without food the next week. Colin phoned Ray De Sissing (a Mynahs member) of Tiger Brands, who arranged after the call at approx. 16h00, to have Trade Port Wholesalers to deliver food for the week. The food was delivered by the following Tuesday.

The last part was to finish off the surface, and, John Arthur approached Beier Industries for carpeting. Unfortunately they had discontinued that sporting section of their business. He is at present in negotiations with a prominent astro turf company who have indicated as soon as they have enough offcuts they’ll finalise the nets.

“JP” Talbot and Dale Otto have approached other companies, and, Dale confirmed with me Nip Lennon of Tenecon has responded favourably. Kingsmead Mynahs Club is very appreciative that the nets will completed in the near future.

It’s very encouraging to see Tich Smith assisting the Mike Procter Foundation, Mike Ward putting in a lot of work, Lindsay Leppan of Young Rubicon Advertising promoting the venture (Lindsay has supported Kingsmead Mynahs many times, including The Legends of Cricket Golf day ), and, Paddy Steytler of Futura Sports Academy helping Mike and Rodney with coaching.