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Fundraising


Southern Cross School Bush Banquet


Tintswalo Lodge	Royal Malewane - Andrew Nyati and exec chef John Jackson	Djuma place setting	Shiluvari Lodge


Makalali - Adelaide head cheff started as a waitress won gold 3yrs ago	Winning table in Silver Cluster Leaf; Alan Mc Smith and Umlani	Best table in Golden Orb - Hamiltons and Imbali	Mr & Mr Plodd - Michael Cowden and Greg Gibbs were the policemen to check for no cheating (but were according to their badges OTB = open to bribery)

Three tons of fun and more!

The best party in four years was enjoyed to the limits of the early hours of the morning by the guests and participants of this years Laborie African Bush Banquet, held in aid of Southern Cross Schools 'Reach-across' community education program. Entertainers: 'Three Tons of Fun' - from Cape Town - were absolute showstoppers and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.
Earlier in the day the rain set in and soaked the area good and solid - it looked set to stay, while lodges were arriving from far and wide, to participate in the annual cookout. They continued as per normal setting everything up as best they could, chairs and tables covered in plastic. The organisers had moments of serious concern, but for most the lodges continued with business as usual. Every Bush Banquet has its challenges and it was very obvious that lodge management and staff are all used to working - out in the environment - and making the most of all situations. Thank the 'rain-queen', the rain lifted and later presented beautiful star filled skies and an almost full moon to crown the evening.
As always the table settings - representing each of the participating lodges - in the founder's circle, were extraordinary and around the back at the cooking areas, teams went to extra effort, not only with their food, but with their kitchen designs too.
The lodges that participate are a never-ending source of creative energy, and the presentation of the kitchens, tables and food is as fresh and surprising, different and creative, simply more unbelievable every year!
The atmosphere in the kitchen arena, sited on the outer circle of the school is always one of fun and camaraderie. With smoke fires burning and a hustle and bustle of guests moving around viewing the contestant's efforts. People are welcomed into the bush kitchens with drinks and snacks served as guests and judges mingle and relax into the evening. This year there were no less than forty three international guests - from the UK, USA, France and Holland -- who were specially visiting South Africa in order to attend the Bush Banquet.
No detail is overlooked or forgotten, in every corner there is some special little item that will add that unique touch to the meal or the garnishing of the dinner.
The Bush Banquet has taken on a life of its own. Featured this year on the SABC News, nationwide. It is fast becoming a powerful marketing tool for the participating lodges, while also serving as a wonderful learning platform for developing junior chefs and cooks from some of the smaller lodges. It is encouraging to see the tremendous development that has taken place in some of the lodges that have participated in previous banquets. The camaraderie that happens between the chefs and the competing lodges is one of the most special aspects of the Banquet. It is not often that lodge staff ever get together and have the opportunity of comparing notes and sharing their herbs and spices, or a quick glass of wine over the fire, and the Bush Banquet is certainly a platform where this has begun to happen.
A surprise addition to the Tammy Trophy prize for: Best Food in the Golden Orb category came as a donation of a cooking trip to France by Marlene van der Westhuizen (one of the highly accredited judges).



Tracey Englebrecht and Martin Den Dunnen	Best dressed 'Afro-Chic' couple Mikki and Henk Schmidt	Franscois Bruwer of KWV and Laborie wines our main sponsor, with Sue Godding and Zani Kunz	Topsy Venter - Acclaimed Food Judge


Three Tons of Fun entertainers from Cape Town		Left chef (Gawie le Roux) and Harrie Siertsema of Graskop Hotel at the banquet


Royal Malewane		Birkenhead - winning dish in Golden Orb - slowly roasted lamb shank


Graskop Hotel waitrons - won best overall service		Djuma Game Reserve kitchen


The Laborie African Bush Banquet is where lodge management and staff go all out to impress both guests and judges. The Banquet is judged by a formidable panel of 'foodie' judges, described so aptly by Hilary Prendini Toffoli in her Earthyear article as "a collection of, foodies' before whose discriminating taste buds even the Naked Chef would cover himself". Each year the lodges rise to the challenge. Leaving no stone unturned and no detail spared. They prepare tables, kitchens and food styles that are more astounding each year. Winners of Best Table for the second year in a row, Alan Mc Smith Safaris (who teamed up with Umlani Bushcamp) once again not only stole the show with the 'look' of their table, but again brought a message. Portraying the importance of the campfire as: "Africa's meeting spot, a hypnotic focal point and essential place for the meeting of souls, sharing of stories and myths. Campfires encourage communication and get people outside where they can hear the sounds of the bush and enjoy the starlit skies - it brings families together, away from television," says a creative Sarah Mc Smith. Each of their guests also received a handmade leather pouch with a strength-stone inside, and a quotation from environmental guru Ian Player: "Find yourself a strength-stone" he says "that will act as natures reminder of strength, to saying no or indeed yes in an endeavor to uphold morals and integrity as one of life's most stressful lessons. A piece of nature carried close can in the face of difficulty, strengthen ones resolve."

TAMMY TROPHY FOR BEST FOOD OVERALL Golden Orb 1st Birkenhead House 2nd Tintswalo 3rd Tanda Tula & Constantia Uitsig 4th Royal Malewane 5th Makalali Silver cluster leaf 1st Umlani and Allan Mc Smith Safaris 2nd Shiluvari Lake Side Lodge 3rd Makalali 4th Kuname 5th Rissington Inn BEST TABLE Golden Orb 1st Hamiltons Tented Camp 2nd Tintswalo 3rd Graskop Hotel 4th Birkenhead House 5th Royal Malewane Silver cluster leaf 1st Allan Mc Smith Safaris and Umlani 2nd Mosate Hotel School 3rd Makalali tie with Jos Mac's 4th Kuname 5th Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge BEST SERVICE Golden Orb 1st Graskop Hotel 2nd Mosate Hotel School 3rd Tintswalo 4th Hamiltons Tented Camp 5th Mosate Hotel School Silver cluster leaf 1st Jackalberry Lodge 2nd Sefapane Lodge 3rd Mosate Hotel School 4th Cotton Club Café 5th Makalali LABORIE BEST FOOD & WINE PAIRING Golden Orb 1st Royal Malewane 2nd Hamiltons Tented Camp 3rd Djuma 4th Graskop Hotel 5th Makalali tie with Tanda Tula / Constantia Uitsig Silver cluster leaf 1st Umlani and Allan Mc Smith Safaris 2nd Kuname 3rd Sefapane 4th Rissington Inn 5th Motswari CHAINNE DES ROTISSEURS TROPHY FOR BEST WAITRON Golden Orb 1st Tintswalo - Johan Silver cluster leaf 1st Jackalberry - Sakhile & Sefapane - Irene SPECIAL THANKS The banquet committee would like to thank all of our sponsors who contributed to making the evening a huge success. KWV & Laborie Wines Sefafane Air Charter Royal Malewane Lodge & Liz Biden The Chenne des Rotisseurs Budget Rent a Car Mc Farlane Safaris The Drum Cafe Game Ranch Management Services Property Projects ST Wildlife Property Management Baobob Recruitments Jordan Properties Tintswalo Lodge Camp Jabulani Kapama Lodge Thornybush Lodge Kruger2Canyon La Bamba Mosate Hotel School Contact Communications Bombyx Mori Silk Chipkins Falconwood Ridge Juices The Coach House Nougat Sidersky Tsukudu Game Lodge Pick and Pay Wimpy Aucor Eastgate Airport Nexor We are all looking forward to the Laborie Bush Banquet 2006 Sincerely The Banquet Committee: John Jackson of Royal Malewane, Henalie Steyn, Sue Godding of 24 degrees South, Heidi Lee Smith of Kruger2Canyon, Nicky Williams of Welcome Tourism Services, Viv Mc Farlane of Mc Farlane Safaris and Zani Kunz as the Southern Cross School staff liaison.<