Ken Nortje's Cyber Memorial Service
5 Things That You May Not Have Known About Ken:-
1. As a lad, during the school holidays, Ken used to ride his bicycle from Salisbury to Marandellas to visit his grandmother, and then several days later, he would ride back home again.
2. Ken volunteered to be a rear gunner in Lancaster Bombers in 1944. This was considered the most dangerous job in the WWII Allied armed forces at the time. [Fortunately, the war finished before he made it into the air, and he was sent home again.]
3. At one time, Ken was a very successful businessman, before buying the farm in Bromley, and the canning factory in Marandellas. He was a share-holder in Patton and Palmer where he worked, and he invested wisely in other companies, and in property.
4. For many years Ken sailed dinghies with EV, and he was heavily involved in the annual Sailing School, which taught dozens of kids and adults how to sail. Ken and EV once saved a man from drowning in a regatta in Beira. This man, went on to save another man in a separate near-drowning accident some years later.
5. Ken preferred Lion to Castle beer, but of course he didn't drink a lot either.
Ken will be coming down the mountain when he comes
He'll be tired but so elated Happy that at last he's made it,
Now the long drive home is worth it Don't loaf around. let's just get going
All aboard and we'll be moving, Here comes Kenneth down the road.
He'll be wearing his green shirt when he comes,
With his scarf and special woggle, And his Gilwell beads a wobble
His hat brim flat as marble. His scouter plumes a marvel,
He'll be looking very spiwy when he comes.
He'll be climbing rocky kopjes when he comes
Then when he's reached the summit, He will take a jump right off it
He knows his knots and ropes Will work just as he hopes
He will abseil down the kopje when he comes.
Ken will be working on his Landie, But the BM always comes in handy
Don't slam my car doors ever, Please just shut them gently
Wipe your feet before you enter, Or you will be walking and not riding Understood
Don't ever point your finger, That's what gets my dander
Get a graze or cut your finger, Oh you silly little child
Well at least it's only mild, Just put a bandage on it
Or perhaps just even suck it, Be Prepared
He'll crew a boat with EV, Racing or just idle cruising
Oops, another capsize, how amusing, Get it up and go on smiling
He'll help the kids at sailing, Always without complaining
Ken will be sailing on Kariba, when he comes.
5 More Things That You May Not Have Known About Ken:-
1.Ken was heavily involved in scuba diving. One of his greatest achievements was exploring and 'mapping' Sinoia Caves, which entailed lowering tanks of compressed air to the various levels of overhanging, split level, cave floors under water.
2.Ken loved Indian Cuisine, and he liked to order it 'hot!'
3.Ken used to make his own home-made ice-cream, preserves, chutney and wine. He also made his own pitons and abseiling gear.
4.At various stages Ken managed to break:
a) His neck [He fell over the gate into his strawberry patch.]
b) His foot [He caught it in the Landie door, as the Landie was overturned by an elephant near Victoria Falls. He then walked nearly 20 km to get help.]
c) His ribs [Too many to count, but quite a few care of his 650 cc BMW motor-cycle.]
d) His arm [Also from the BMW motor-cycle, the day after he returned from having ridden from Bromley to Cape Town and back with no falls.]
5. Ken gained his light aircraft pilot licence in the mid 70s.
Some More Things That You May Not Have Known About Ken:-
1. During his time with Patton and Palmer, Ken had the extraordinary ability to run his finger down a column of figures in an accounts ledger, and then note the total at the bottom. He wasn't often wrong.
2. When Ken visited Australia in 1988, he drove from Brisbane to Perth on his own. A distance of 4,300 km if you go the short way!
3. At one time, Ken part-owned a house in Kariba.
4. Ken was deeply religious, and he was quite active in the churches that he attended [living in different places] around Zimbabwe over his lifetime.
5. At one time Ken owned two dogs and a cat. The first dog was called 'Dog.' The second dog was called 'Big Dog.' The cat was called 'Cat.'
6. As we all know, Ken's eyesight was not the best. This was a source of immense frustration for him, especially when diving, because he could not wear his glasses and a mask at the same time. Ingeniously, he inserted lenses into his face mask, using 'Canada Balsam' - a yellow translucent glass adhesive of the time. The 'yellow' filtering effect also helped him with close up work underwater.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteosness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
23 Apr 2016
GONE HOME
Ken Nortje
The Chief Scout, Commissioners, Scout Leaders and Scouts of the Scout Association of Zimbabwe, are sad to announce the passing of Leader Trainer Ken Nortje on Thursday 14 April 2016. We offer our condolences to his niece Doreen and husband Bob, nephews Shaun and Ken and his family.
Ken, who would have celebrated his 90th birthday in October, joined the Scout movement as a Wolf Cub (Cub Scout) and continued through the ranks of Scout, Senior Scout and Rover Scout. For many years he was an Assistant Scout Leader and Scout Leader in the 2nd Salisbury Scout Troop (2nd Borrowdale). He was directly responsible for the training of many of the Senior Scouts in his Troop in their gaining the highest Scouting award a Scout under the age of eighteen can aspire to, namely the Queens Scout Award. Ken and his Senior Scout Troop where actively involved in the development of Ruwa Scout Park, approximately twenty kilometres from the city of Harare on the Mutare highway. Their lasting contribution in the Park, being the construction of the altar in the Parks Chapel, with granny Lillian Scamell embroidering the altar cloths.
Among his Scouting expeditions he participated in, was his Troops climb of Kilimanjaro, numerous Scout expeditions to the Okavango Swamps, hikes in the Chimanimani Mountains and Matopos, South African National Patrol Leader Training camps, and American Camporees including one National American Jamboree. In his late seventies, he moved form Harare to Mutare where he continued with the training of Scout Leaders in that city until fairly recently. He joined with the 1st Bulawayo (Pioneer) Scout Troop in his last climb in the Chimanimani mountains at the age of seventy-nine, completing the grueling three day hike carrying his own rucksack and sleeping on the ground under the stars.
As a Scout Leader, Ken attained his Scout Wood Badge, followed later by his Assistant Leader Trainer third bead and finally his Leader Trainer fourth bead, thus becoming a member of the Mashonaland Leader Training Team. Whilst still actively involved in the uniformed section of the movement, he was elected on to the National Scout Council, where he held the position of National Treasurer for many years.
In recognition for his devoted services to the Scout Movement, Ken was awarded The Medal of Merit, The Silver Eagle and The Golden Lion; Zimbabwean Scoutings highest award.
His other interests were; scuba diving, he gained his light aircraft pilot license, a lover of nature and was a keen yachtsman, who will be remembered for his contribution at a number of annual Sailing Schools on Lake MciLwaine (Chivero).
Ken was deeply religious, being a server and later sub deacon in his parish church in Marandellas (Marondera) a town where he was involved in Carolina farm, growing and canning fruit.
Ken was without doubt, the longest actively serving member of the Scout Association of Zimbabwe. We, salute Kens valuable contribution to Scouting and mourn his loss, now that he has
"GONE HOME".
|
| |