Hospice helps all terminally ill patients and their families who are referred to it. This we do regardless of colour, language, religion or age. As a result of government funding, we also care for a number of chronically ill patients who are too ill to go to clinics.

At the last census, Knysna had a population of about 70,000, made up of approximately 52% coloured, 24% white and 24% black. Our patient base roughly mirrors this with about one third of the patients being in each race group.

Our youngest patient is only a year old and the oldest well beyond three score and ten. Of our patients 40% have Aids, and their treatment costs are totally funded by organisations such as the Government, Community Chest and the National Lottery. Our patients live in every suburb and township of our beautiful town - from Sedgefield, Belvidere and Karatara in the West to Nekkies & Harkerville in the East.

We are a truly a "New South African" charity. Our staff of 30 is drawn from all sectors of our society. They serve all sectors.

Truly - "Locals Caring for Locals."

PETER GODSELL

For the first time in our existence we have been able to fund a full time doctor and it is with great pleasure that we welcome Dr JANET STANFORD to our staff.

She was born near Kokstad and went to school at Epworth Girls School in P'Maritzburg. Studied medicine at UCT and moved to Rheenendal in 1987.

She worked at the Edendale Hospital in P'Marizburg, King Edward Vlll in Durban, Knysna Provincial Hospital and for the last 12 years at Knysna Municipality as clinic doctor.

She has Postgrad studies:
1.Diploma in child health 1983
2.M Phil (maternal and child health) 1996 UCT
3.M Phil (palliative care) 2005 UCT


Welcome to ANNIE OGILVIE
Our new Secretary at Bond House. Born in George, then moved to Rhodesia where she did her education. Moved back to South Africa in 1980 and worked as a Veterinary Nurse and Veterinary Pharmaceutical Rep for 9 years. She then ran her own business of motivational and life skills programmes to primary school children for 10 years. For 6 years she was employed by the Calvary Methodist Church in Midrand as a full time lay Pastor involved in all avenues of pastoral care, counselling and church life activities. Annie says, "It is indeed a great joy to now be part of Hospice and I celebrate the wonderful work and dedication of all the people I have met and continue to meet. l so look forward to a long and meaningful association with Hospice and all whose sacred stories I will have the privilege to encounter."

Welcome to BERLYN SEPTEMBER
Berlyn has started part-time at the Hospice Shoppe in town and is in charge of the crockery and cutlery hiring service. She is from Knysna and had been working for a company for 14 years making pottery birds. She said, "I am thrilled to be working for Hospice, doing such wonderful work in people's lives in Knysna."

Welcome to CECILY van HEERDEN
Our new Sister at Hospice. Cecily has worked for 15 years at the Municipal Clinics. She is thrilled to be doing home based caring now in the areas of Knysna and Sedgefield and we are so glad to have her aboard.

Farewell to Dr Des le Roux - Like a good Port Wine
Dr Des le Roux seems to have been in Knysna forever. During many years in private practice he became a well-known and much loved family Doctor. His work at the Provincial hospital broadened his knowledge of our community and increased the circle of those who have been blessed by his care. It is almost impossible to talk to anybody in our town without them saying "Oh yes, Des looked after mydad/mom,best friend..."
Des's work as a part-time doctor at Hospice covered all sectors of our society. He has this wonderful ability to dispense compassionate care and feel "at Home" to every patient whether in a mansion at Belvidere or a one-roomed wooden home in Nekkies.
As the years rolled by he seemed to get better and better. He now leaves Hospice for what we are sure will be a wonderful and well deserved retirement. But like a good port wine, we believe, he will simply continue to improve with age. Thanks a ton Des.

Farewell to DAVE & FIONA RAMSAY
Yet again, Dave & Fiona Ramsay are making the long journey to the KZN to see their family, but this time they will not be returning. This is the year they start their retirement with their family in the Natal midlands. Sadly we have to wave farewell to this dear couple who have been such key contributors to Hospice and such wonderful friends.

Dave has been the manager of our Shoppe and a member our board for some 5 years. He is a compassionate & sensitive person who likes working with and helping people. He is one of those individuals who can always be relied on, he is always there when needed. Fiona has helped Hospice in so many ways. Her contribution has covered areas such as event organizing, catering, hospitability, fundraising and anything that needed to be done. She has an amazing ability to organize everything involving event catering we will all miss her outstanding meals. She is a warm, empathetic person who is quick to connect with people. Both ofthem have made a huge difference at Hospice. Thank you so much.

We will miss both of them immensely and trust that they will find opportunity to share their skills, warmth and compassion with newfriends in their new home area.

The never ending call for Hospice care for the terminally ill requires an ever increasing income.We now have 30 full time staff and some 200 volunteers caring for about 300 patients on a monthly basis.We are therefore appealing to members of our community to assist Hospice by joining Hospice Donor Club which involves making monthly donations in multiples of R50 (per unit).

The Donor Club has now been in operation for over two years and with your help, we hope to contribute R30 000 to Hospice income in the 2006/07 financial year.

We had two types of membership:

• The full monthly donation goes to Hospice fund raising. The total donation may be deducted from income for tax purposes, up to a maximum o f R30 000 p.a.
• The second participates in the quarterly Lottery draw. In such cases half of the monthly donation will qualify for a tax deduction.

The Lottery operates thus:

• Quarterly Prizes are drawn where 50% of donations are allocated as follows:- First prize 60%- Secondprize25%- Thirdprize 15%
• Draws take place under the supervision of the Hospice Knysna Executive Committee. Winners are notified by telephone or email and the results are placed in the local press.

Knysna Hospice Shoppe has, for many years, been the major contributor to our local fund raising. Situated in Long Street opposite the Knysna Primary School. It is run by Maria Borchards and a team of volunteers managed by Michael O'Grady. The Shoppe is open Monday to Thursday from 10.00 a.m to 2.00 p.m., Friday from 9.00 a.m.to 5.00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9.00 a.m.to 12.00 a.m.

For Knysna residents, please phone Maria on 382 6353 or Annie at B.O.N.D. House 384- 0593 if you have any items you no longer need,or would like to hire crockery or cutlery.

The Sedgefield Shoppe is situated in the Forest Lodge Complex. Karen Rotherham is the shoppe co-ordinator. The shop hours in Sedgefield are 1Oh00 to 12h45 Monday to Friday and 9h30 to 11h45 on Saturdays.

The Shoppe's rely on our local community to donate items of clothing, linen, curtains in fact any household goods that are no longer wanted. We have arrangements to sell furniture and kitchen appliances.The other major service provided is the hire of cutlery and crockery. This has proved to be a boon to residents who should book their requirements weeks in advance! The Sedgefield Shoppe is the main source of income and the proceeds are entered into the fund raising account, which ultimately benefits the community.

The shoppe has just undergone a face-lift, due to severe damage during a flood at the complex several weeks ago.

Fashion Show - this is a much acclaimed event and an eagerly awaited highlight on the Sedgefield social calendar. This is successfully organised annually by Margaret Beattie.

Edinburgh Tattoo Video -The showing of this video is also organised by Margaret Beattie. Being Scottish, she has a video copy of this annual event sent out to her and is has proven very popular amongst the locals, resulting in two screenings.

Daycare - Sedgefield Daycare is held every second Monday at The Anglican Church in Smutsville. A dedicated medical team and Care Givers are in attendance. It gives the patients an opportunity to socialise and try their skills at a hobby.

Details of the above events from Yvonne Hartman 343-2170.

Our building project is at an end. As result of a very generous grant from the lsisombululo Programme we have been able to build a new clinical wing, a double storey admin/training wing, storage area and parking. Andrew King, our pro-bono architect, has done a magnificent job of blending the old with the new. He has also managed to about double the size of the premises and at the same time improve the aesthetics of B.O.N.D. House. Two other volunteers Des Wearne & Midge Mitchell have played a huge roll in turning a magnificent plan into a magnificent home. We are deeply indebted to all three.

The expanded facilities will enable us to:

• Accommodate a fulltime doctor (ongoing funding provided by Lotto).This is the first time we have been able to address the expanded demand for Doctor's service.
• Expand our day-care clinic service.
• Provide a common room for our expanded nursing staff. We have grown from 3 and no auxiliaries, to 6 nurses and 2 auxiliaries.This provides areas to prepare statistics, update patient records,and have briefing meetings.
• A two-bed sickbay.
• Medicine supplies andequipment storage areas.
• Open plan offices to accommodate support staff and support volunteers.
• A training room that will be used not only for training Knysna staff & volunteers, but also thosefromother NGO's.
• And lots of parking!

The name Isisombululo means "The Solution". Those who work in B.O.N.D. House know only too well how desperately we needed more room. lsisombuluo was true to it's name - thank you for being our solution.

1. "Few people realize how much of their happiness is dependant on their work, upon the fact that they are kept busy and not left to feed upon themselves. Happiness comes most to persons who seek her least and think least about it. It is not an object to be sought. It is a state to be induced. It must follow and not lead. It must overtake you and not you overtake it. How important is health to happiness, yet the best promoter of health is somethingto do.
   
   Blessed is the man who has some congenial work,some occupation in which he can put his heart and which affords a complete outlet to all the forces there are in him.
   
   Keep the currents moving don't let your life stagnate." John Burroughs
2. "The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." Joseph Addison
3. "You matter because your are, you matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all that we can not only to help you die peacefully, but to live fully until you die:" Dame Cicely Saunders (Founder o f the Hospice Movement)