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Meetings
When: Second Thursday of every month
Where: BKS Boardroom, Hatfield Gardens, Block D, Cnr Grosvenor and Arcadia Street, Hatfield, Pretoria
Time: 18:30 for 19:00
Contact details
Postal address:
PO Box 72754,
Lynnwood Ridge,
0040
President:
Gawa Pritchard
gawapritchard@gmail.com
Correspondence Secretary:
Busi Bhebhe
bbhebhe@iafrica.com
Minutes Secretary:
Malebo Lefhiedi
malebo.lefhiedi@up.ac.za
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Gawa Pritchard (left) takes over the reigns from Alta van Os (right) as President of the SI Tshwane Club.
Alta van Os, SI Tshwane Club President, in action at one of the club's seminars for girls.
Soccer fever ran high in South Africa during the FIFA World Cup 2010 - also among Soroptimists. The SI Tshwane Club had the World Cup as theme at their June meeting and all came dressed for the occasion.
Club members joined on Mandela Day,
18 July 2009, to pack hampers in aid of Potter's House, Pretoria mid-city.
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Club focus
Soroptimist International Tshwane club was chartered on 25 April 1987 and its work focuses on adding value to the lives of young and old - from toddlers infected and affected by HIV/Aids to young girls in vulnerable environments and the aged.
Projects
Girl's Seminar
Our Girls' Seminar is an annual event where close to 150 girls from disadvantaged communities are treated to a day of talks ranging from the serious to the light-hearted - all geared to equip them for their adventure into womanhood. The girls receive sponsored 'goodie' bags and have the opportunity to listen to and engage with experts on topics such as self-defence, sexuality, career choices, self-acceptance, and how to identify and reach one's dreams - despite challenging circumstances.
Mohau Home
The Mohau Home for children affected and infected by HIV/Aids is supported by our club through various means, notably the sponsorship of two children to attend the Motheong Independent School. There they flourish because of the care they receive, while still enjoying being children in a 'regular' school.
Princess Christian Home
The Princess Christian Home for the elderly is visited by our club members at least once a year for a sing-along. On this day the aged are given the attention many of them no longer enjoy from family members. We also support other fundraising activities they may have.
Lerato House
Lerato House was established in 1998 in response to the rising number of young girls in crisis, living on the streets and in prostitution. Under the auspices of Pretoria Community Ministries (PCM), our club is especially concerned with the residential facility that houses some 18 girls between the ages of 11 and 18-years.
Christmas in July
Hampers are packed at the beginning of winter for needy families. The food parcels are then handed over to PCM for further distribution.
SOS Children's Village
The SOS Children's Village in Mamelodi looks after children at risk and provides a 'family' experience. Through our club the children receive a monthly fun, but educational, magazine and one of the houses receives stationery or other supplies as necessary.
The annual Nestlé Awards is supported by our club and by SISA.
We also undertake and support ad hoc fund raising or advocacy opportunities.
We remember
Toni Aspinall
 Toni Aspinall, SI Tshwane President, passed away on
17 April 2009 after a short illness. We will greatly miss this enthusiastic, generous, hard working, caring, fun Soroptimist, both as friend and as Sister.
Toni became a Soroptimist when she joined SI Tshwane in 2004. Typically Toni, she jumped in at the deep end and attended the SISA Conference in Johannesburg before she had even attended a club meeting! We soon realised that she was a most valuable asset to our club and SI South Africa. She always did more than was expected for her community and for all of us in the club.
Toni was elected to the portfolio of Vice-President not long after she had joined the club, and took over Programme Action two years later. She took this portfolio very seriously and served the community with dedication. Everywhere we go, people still comment on how committed she was and how hard she worked for our club's beneficiaries.
She will also be remembered for her wonderful hospitality to Soroptimists. In the time that she was a member she opened her home to no fewer than two SIGBI Presidents, two SISA Presidents and other officials.
Toni, who obtained a BA Honours degree in Archaeology in the UK, worked in the South African book supply trade for sixteen years. She was admired for her in-depth searching for, sourcing, procuring and supplying books to academic, corporate and individual clients. Together with Joe, her husband of almost 40 years, she built the business to a thriving enterprise.
Toni was born in Liverpool from Irish stock in 1952. She married Joe Aspinall soon after she had left school and worked to support him while he studied. When he had completed his degree, it was her turn to study and she accomplished this with flair while raising two small daughters, Lucy and Jennifer. Laura was born a few years later.
Twenty years ago, the Aspinalls decided to move to South Africa. She gave the country her all and, even thought she never obtained citizenship (though not through her own choice) she was the most loyal of South Africans. Apart from her loyalty to SA, Toni will be remembered for her loyalty to the Blue Bulls rugby team! She was an ardent fan and found much pleasure in attending matches at Loftus with Joe.
There is no question that the memory of Toni's selfless giving and persistent spirit will inspire her Sorops Sisters for a long time to come.
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