View Map of Que Que/Kwe Kwe (Southern Rhodesia) in a larger map
Aaron and Morris Sloman sent me this wonderful resource they are creating with Google Maps and I thought I should share it with my audience. As time allows, Aaron and Morris are adding their memories in a format that is very different than mine, but equally as compelling.
Click on satellite to view the detailed street layout and zoom in.
As an additional resource, I’ve posted this map with street names, courtesy of Brenda Viel and the Que Que High School Facebook site. (Click on the image to see the larger version.)
106 Comments
rochelle Sloman
January 15, 2011please add me to your mailing list so I too can enjoy your reminicing
Rochelle
Diana
January 15, 2011Rochelle,
I will add you to my email list. I post every Friday at 8 am Pacific Time. Alternatively you can subscribe to oncecalledhome and make comments there. Either way I look forward to hearing from you from time to time.
Aaron and Morris invited me to add to the Sloman Que Que Map and I’ve added a few entries and will work on it some more this weekend. Its a unique format for telling stories in the context of place although the satellite map reflects the present day population of 200,000 as opposed to the population of 2200 Europeans, 7000 Africans and 250 Asians and Coloureds in 1953 (which was almost double the 1947 census).
I’m hoping someone will come forward with a map of the times…
Diana
chayne
January 29, 2011I so enjoyed this walk down memory lane. My grand mother Isobel Campbell worked for Slomans for many years and then the Teppersons…as did my Mum Jeannette. I have fond memories of the shop and the bakery….
Thanks for doing this….
Vic Jenkinson was my uncle.
Diana
January 29, 2011Cindy, Aaron and Morris Sloman started the map in 2009 and I just added to it. Its a format I never thought of using to tell a story, but its very powerful. i’m glad you like it! Your family certainly has a history with Slomans through the generations. They started in 1920 or so. I’m not sure of the Tepperson history but remember the bakery and all the wonderful goodies well. Perhaps one of the readers can fill us in. Thats what the blog is all about. Vic designed all the QQ icons I think…the angular winged Civic Center at the one end and the onion dome of the Islamic Mosque at the other. He was mayor for a number of years (in the 70’s I think?)
Diana
Aaron Sloman
April 29, 2011I have only just discovered this web page, and the Campbell names rang a bell.
I think Ursula Campbell (have I got that right?) was in my class in Que Que primary school (before I was sent to boarding school in CapeTown in 1948, because my parents (mistakenly) thought I should have a bar-mitzvah, which required two years of preparation. If I remember correctly, Jeanette was Ursula’s older sister. Both were beautiful girls.
I don’t know how much to trust 63-year old memories in a nearly 75 year old brain!
Aaron
Diana
April 30, 2011Aaron, Cindy Van Heerden commented on one of the blogs that her mother Isobel Campbell and daughter Jeanette both worked for Slomans. I could put you in touch with her if you are interested.
Morris must have had almost a birds eye view from his office of the carriage yesterday at the wedding of the century. Did you go and hang out with him?
Nice to hear from you.
Diana
gillian midgen
February 13, 2011I lived at 18 Burma road, just down from the Slomans, The Bradt [?] family lived near the shul. The Rick families also lived on Burma rd,as did the Teperson’s.
My maiden name was Schattil.
Diana
February 13, 2011Gillian,
Great to make contact! I wasn’t quite sure if I got the Jewish Community Center location exactly right…can you confirm that? Again I wasn’t quite sure of the location of the other Jewish homeowners on Burma Road. The Teperson’s lived opp. Dr. Dewe and the Campbells lived on the other corner…but not sure of the house numbers or cross streets. The Ricks owned a butchery. Your Dad owned Schattils Store in Redcliff if I remember rightly? He was one of the early comers to QQ. You must have a fund of stories to tell and photos to remind you of the times. Do share them with me…I would love to know more.
Diana
Devan Rick
July 20, 2012Dear Gillian and Diana,
Sam and Sally Rick are my late grandparents.
Sam is the brother of Isaac Rick (the butcher) and sister of Freda Teperson (Rick) whom you are referring to. They also lived in Kwe Kwe possibly in the same street to where Sams brother and sister were living (Burma Rd).
I’d be very interested in knowing any information that you have about Sam Rick. I believe he was the owner of a furniture shop where a Bertha Haimowitz worked.
He passed away in Kwe Kwe in 1955. He had two boys Meyer and Sydney (my late father).
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Devan
Diana
July 21, 2012Devan, Yes, Sam Rick owned the furniture store next to Kluckow’s (?sp) Cafe on Main Street facing the Railway Park. It was a big store and he sold new downstairs and secondhand upstairs. It was managed as you say by Mrs. Haimowitz, a widow, who was almost bent double with a back complaint but she would weave her way between the juggle of stacked sofa’s and so on and knew every piece. Mr. Ashkenazie, a very handsome bachelor, (everyone called him Ash) also worked there. Between the two of them they did a handsome African trade as well and serve the European community.
Mrs. Rick moved to Johannesburg in her later years and became good friends with my mother there and I remember her well. I don’t have a clear memory of Sam as I was only nine when he died. I can put you in touch with Simon Teperson if you have lost touch with him (Freda’s youngest son). He is in Johannesburg.
gillian midgen
July 21, 2012Diana, please pass this on to Devan…..I remember your father Sydney as a very young boy when I lived in Que Que, we lived on the same street. We met again in Durban ,just before you were born, your mom is Dallas Sieradzki? She was good friends with a friend of mine ,Robyn Lazarow. , and your dad played golf with another friend of mine Neville Bernstein.
Unfortunately I have no info on your grandfather, but just wanted to let you know I knew your parents briefly before we left to come to the states.Some where amonst my old photos I think I have one of your dad at my birthday Party in Que Que. Will look and send to you. Diana has my email address.
Diana
July 22, 2012I’ll pass this on to Devan. Thanks for the sharing the info.
John Nee
March 30, 2011Isaac Ehrman(sp?) the rabbi’s son lived at 7 Winston Way. They left Que Que in about ’62.I think Bill Ogley bought their house. Alan Malkow lived next to the swimming pool. Lucille Kerel (sp?) lived near the pool. The Teppersons you know. Simon pinched his mum’s cortina stationwagon and we went joy riding – he turned it over. Their neighbours were the Woods. Then there were the Schattils, Slomans, Ricks – I cant remember the rest of the jewish community. I’ve given les Ogley (Vic Jenkinson’s daughter) this contact – she recently left Kwe Kwe for Bulawayo but her sister Gail still lives on the banks of the Kwe Kwe River.
Diana
March 30, 2011John, Yes, the Ehrmans went back to Israel and Gillian Schattil is is still in touch with them as well as Cecil Fine’s daughter, also in Israel. Gillian is in Seattle. Len and Molly Wood were good friends of my parents. Lucille Keril is in Boston. Simon Teperson must have been in for the high jump after the joy ride!
I do marvel at how life goes on as usual in QQ despite the economic meltdown. I do admire their tenacity.
Love to hear from them and more from you.
Diana
Kate Doble nee Bunnett
January 7, 2012We lived next door to Len and Molly Wood for many years and my sisters and brothers remember swimming in their pool. We had a Jewish family living opposite us on Greenham Ave later, but for the life of me I cannot remember their names.
Diana
January 8, 2012Kate, The Jewish Community was rather small. The Shattils, Bradts, and Tepersons all lived along Burma Road and the Ruben Slomans on Rhodes Highway. The Mottel Slomans and Kerils and the Malkows lived very near the QQ Municipal swimming pool.
Lionel and Phoebe Pratt and Helen Bunt nee Pratt
April 3, 2012Their names were Ronnie and Lorna Samson
Chris Dewe
April 24, 2020Hi Kate,
You actually lived next door to us (the Dewe’s) and the woods were over the road, next to the Sampsons. I stayed in contact with your late, larger than LIFE! brother Nick and had a great week on the Zambezi with him a year or so before his sad passing
Tony Morkel
August 14, 2011Loved your Dad like a father. Together with messrs Browne, Addlington, Dewe et al they formed the best of the best. Shared a rail compartment with your brother probably mid 60’s. A memorable experience with life long memories of him being a particularly great guy. Paul Savory was a neighbour in his first year of life.
Ozzie Ashton was a great inspiration. It would be good to hear from Paul Savory and please remember me to your brother with my very kindest regards.
I had a novel published in 2003 – Rhodesian Dawn, Zimbabwe Darkness … necessity! 2nd edition re-published by Sable Publishing House in my efforts to establish a new life in UK…a very different environment to Zim farming.
Best wishes with your publishing venture. As a Q resident from birth in ’49 till early 70’s I look forward to travelling the journey of your memories. When is it likely to hit the press?
Diana
August 14, 2011Tony, Congratulations on your fait accompli. I look forward to getting a copy of your book Rhodesian Dawn, Zimbabwe Darkness, and doing a critique of it asap. Seems the more I write the more there is to do. Enjoying the process and the blog, in my isolation it is a great moral booster, keeping me connected and motivated.
Yes there were lots of good people in QQ working hard to make a difference.
The Rhodesians have proved themselves so adaptable in coping creatively with sanctions and the war. Farming to publishing! What different worlds. I went to the Willamette Writers Conference in Portland, OR last August to get a handle on that end of it. Complicated business that’s going through such an evolution. Not quite ready for it yet. I’ll let you know when I’ve got a clean manuscript.
Meanwhile, hope you’ll have time to check into my blog weekly and look forward to you comments.
Diana
September 5, 2011Tony Wood
Hi Diana
I tried to post the following on the QQ Map page and failed. My Java and Cookies settings are OK. Maybe it is because I use Opera as a browser ?
Anyway this is what I tried to post…………..
What a lot of familiar names !! Teppersons were 40 Greenham Ave on the Burma Rd corner and we were on a double plot next door – number 44. My brother Michael was with Simon when the pranged the Cortina !! Next door to us at 42 was Ronnie and Ida Sampson. Going towards Rhodes Highway Elaine and Larry Jenkinson were at the top end on the right and opposite them was Brig. Dunlop with the Dewes next door to him. On the other side of Rhodes Highway looking down Greenham Ave was Queenie Gilbeys Dutch Gabled house. She had a son Bernard. I wonder if all that is accurate ?
Cheers
Tony
Chris Dewe
April 24, 2020Hi Tony,
As I mentioned to Kate Doble (nee Bunnett)they were next door to us on the one side(#41) and on the other side (corner of Greenham Ave and Rhodes Highway)were the Hawkins family (brother of MP Roger Hawkins). I only ever visited Brig & Mary Dunlop on the ranch; I don’t think they had a house in town! The rest you got right.
Nic Hall
September 26, 2011Hello Diana,
I lived in KweKwe, (or Que Que is I knew it), from 1960 – 1966. aged from two to seven. From memory I think my parents and I lived at 11A Greenham Ave.
Seeing the blog thread mentioning Dr Dewe triggered a few memories as I believe he was our next door neighbour. I’m not sure how many children he had, (I’ll ask my dad later), but I remember playing with Douglas.
My parents are Eileen and Alan Hall who were from England originally, emigrated to Rhodesia so my father, who was an Electrical Engineer, could further/pursue his career. (We first lived in Sinoia.)
Rhodesia has been on my mind a bit lately as my wife Kiri has been doing a few papers on Rhodesia as part of her Anthropology studies.
We now live in Auckland New Zealand, as do my parents, after leaving Rhodesia when Ian Smith declared independence. My father thought we should move to a country that was safer to bring up a family. My mother was hoping to move back to the UK. Suprisingly they are still together and have just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Regards,
Nic Hall
Diana
September 30, 2011Nic, Perhaps your father replaced Julius Youdakin (?sp) as Que Que’s town electrical engineer. His son Martin and I were swimmers representing the Midlands in 1960. Some time after that they became disillusioned with politics after Whitehead lost his re-election bid in 1961.
Dr. Douglas Dewe was not part of my father’s medical practice. The Dewes lived opposite the Tepersons (of Midlands Bakery) on the corner of Burma Road and Greenham Ave. (not far from the QQ Junior School). Their son’s name was Peter, but he was a bit younger than me and I didn’t know him at all really. Mrs. Dewe worked with my mom on Self Help, an organisation to teach African girls to do sale-able crafts after the Smith government cut back on black education in 1969. I’ll be writing about that soon on my blog…Glad your family has stayed in tact all these years. Congratulations to you all. Diana
Chris Dewe
April 24, 2020Hi Nic,
I remember you and you parents well. We originally owned #41 Greenham Ave, but Dad sold to the CAPCO, and you parents were the first occupants of the house built there. I had 3 (Roddy, Mike and Peter) brothers but the eldest (Roddy) was already in the UK when you lived there. Being the closest in age to you, we played together – my Dad’s name was Douglas!
Tony Wood
October 4, 2011I remember the Halls ! They were opposite us – I am sure the house was an ESC house as the Bunnets were there after the Halls ! Dr Dewes wife (2nd or 3rd I think !) was Barbara and the youngest son was Christopher. He would have been born in 1955. Older than Chris was Peter who joined the BSAP and was instrumental in the recapture of Aiden Diggeden after one of his many escapes. There was an older brother called Roderick. Why do we remember these things ?
Tony
Diana
October 4, 2011Tony, Heaven knows why we remember, and those memories have holes in them! I think the Bunnets had twins or they were close in age and were the stars in Babes in the Wood, one of Mom’s panto’s. I think they were good swimmers as well, but quite a bit younger than me. (I’ll be 65 in November!). Diana
Nic Hall
October 4, 2011Hi Tony,
i’m digging into the mists of time here,but with you living opposite us and your name being Wood strikes a chord as one of my teachers from the Junior School was a Mrs Wood I think.
And now that you’ve filled in the details along with Diana on the Dewe’s, of course it was Christopher who we used to see a lot of and I played with, not his dad.
When we arrived at 11A the house, (which was a dark almost black klinker brick and tiled roof I seem to remember(, was on a completely bare piece of land. Dad along with our garden boy, (Peter. Thinking back to the idea of servants seems very colonial), “landscaped” it into a very lush piece of England. Something he repeated in New Zealand a number of times where I became his “garden boy”. of sorts.
I’ll be seeing mum and dad on the weekend and will delve through their thousands of slides and get them scanned/downloaded. Dad was a very keen amateur photographer as well, including having a set of “studio” lights.
Why do we remember these things? The memories have been sparked by a sense of what is lost in Zimbabwe, in our lives and I think of what has happened to the people who were sort of in our care, (and I mean the servants), as well as neighbours, long lost friends etc.
Regards,
Nic.
Diana
October 5, 2011Nic, Tony’s parents Len and Molly Wood were stalwart supporters of my father’s politics over the years.
Look forward to the pictures you download to spark those memories. We just got back from a tour of eastern Oregon and their history is so well preserved. It’s a tragedy that all we hoped and worked for has been lost and the post independence suffering has been cruel beyond anyones imagination. (Presume you have read Peter Godwin’s The Fear).
Yes, our gardens were a symbol of the lush color, exuberance and productivity we brought to SR. Have a great weekend with the carousels! I am sure you have lots of gems there. Diana
Chris Dewe
April 24, 2020Hi Tony,
We originally owned the plot over the road from you and Dad sold it to Capco (Central African Power Corp). The main CAPCO power distribution center for Rhodesia was out at Sherwood. Both Allan Hall and Peter Bunnett worked for CAPCO, not ESC (although they may have worked for ESC at some time of their lives before or after Capco.
You were right about my brothers; Peter (passed away last Nov at 70) and Roddy (passed away last March aged 84). You forgot Mike (turns 80 this year, living in NZ). I last saw you in 1995; your joined us at Nick Bunnetts for a braai)
Julia Bunnett Heaney
December 18, 2011Diana – thank you for this marvellous memoir! Christopher Bunnett found your site first and sent it around the world to his brothers and sisters. I am the eldest and I remember your parents well, especially your Mum. We came to QQ in 1964 – Dad was with the ESC, later moving to CAPCO – and I attended QQ Junior for two years before going off to boarding school. During that time I was a Girl Guide and I remember a fabulous camp at Victoria Falls with your mum in charge! And how my mum manufactured a sleeping bag for me with blankets and safety pins! There’s lots more we all remember (Hi Tony Wood from across the road!) but the loveliest thing for me was to hear that you had married Jan Polisensky – Polly and Joan were very good friends of Mum and Dad and we kids adored Aunty Joan and her loving heart! The ‘twins’ in “Babes in the Wood” were Nick and Claire – not twins but 18 months apart and both blonde. In the panto at the end of 1965 (I think) I was going to be the fairy, and then threw the panto and the family and the MO into a tizz by contracting typhoid and putting everyone into quarantine for 6 weeks!
Diana
December 18, 2011Julia, I am so glad you found the blog, and are enjoying it. Yes, I’ve got lots of pictures of Babes in the Wood. It was after I left QQ but Mom cherished her Guiding and Panto photo albums above all else. The Panto’s were always subject to medical crisis’ of one sort or another…in 1955 it was polio and the panto had to be cancelled that year! Mom had hired a horse costume from The Empire Theatre in Johannesburg as a really special prop and it had to be held over for another year. After that Mr. Nimo of the G and P fashioned all the props…camels and oysters that opened etc. Judith DeBeer got very ill with something I can’t remember what and wasn’t allowed to do any physical activity. So as not to be left out Mom made her a mermaid and put her in the oyster and it opened up and she blew bubbles. That was Peter Pan I think. Lovely innocent days.
I am glad you remember the Polys well. Jan and I have been married 29 years now! He has been a wonderful father to my two sons and we retired to the Central Oregon Coast. Hana is in Port Edward, Margie also in SA, Fran in England.
Diana
Julia Bunnett Heaney
December 18, 2011Diana – thanks for a marvellous memoir! Christopher Bunnett found it first and sent it to his brothers and sisters around the world. We came to Que Que in 1964, when Dad was transferred with the ESC; I had two years at Que Que Junior (1964 Mrs Bath and 1965 Mrs Bradley) before going off to boarding school, but I was a happy Girl Guide in that time with your mum, and I remember an exciting camp at Victoria Falls with her in charge! And my mum creating a sleeping bag for me out of blankets and safety pins! The twins in “Babes in the Wood” were Nick and Claire, 10 months apart and very blonde so they did look like twins. I was supposed to be a fairy in the panto at the end of 1965, but contracted typhoid and put the whole family into quarantine for 6 weeks, and the MO into a spin! The nicest memory for us tho was to see that you are married to Jan Polisensky – we knew Joan and Polly well, and they were very good friends to Mum and Dad and we all adored Joan and her loving heart!
Diana
December 18, 2011Julia, I also had Mrs Bradley in Std 4. I was terrified of her. She was very gruff. Mrs. Bath was Std 3 I remember, not so intimidating. The Guide camp to Vic Falls was really special I believe, it was after I left QQ. but Mom’s life was Guiding. Love the sleeping bag! How we made do in those days and improvised. You had a big family as I recall, all so blonde and beautiful, perfect for Babes in the Wood and as I recall you were all in the Dolphin Swimming Club and swam like fishes. Diana
Fran Lamusse
January 1, 2012Diana, I have only just gone on to this part of the blog. Julia has reminded me of the innovative sleeping bags and the camp over in Bulawayo when the water froze in the enamel basin that was left outside the tent.
I was Michael in Peter Pan and helped to sew the costumes for some pantos in later years.
I think teachers were much more respected than they are today and I too have fond memories of many but especially Pheobe Pratt who taught me Latin.
Auntie Pru, Julia’s mother was a dear friend and a great support when Mum was in hospital for 5 months while I was preparing for M levels
Diana
January 6, 2012Fran, Glad you have caught up with the blog. I have done over 90! Really overdue to get the book out, although the blog and drawn many people together and I am happy it has jogged your memory of happy times, as well as the difficult ones. That must have been a tough final year at school. I heard from Phoebe Pratt last year, a great friend of my Mom’s. Yes a lovely person.
The camps for me did follow the dictum anticipation is best and remembering is next, the actual event to be endured!
Barbara Goss nee Sinclair
March 5, 2012Wonderful memories of Que Que! And lots of familiar names in the comments. I taught at QQ Junior in the mid sixties, with Mrs Wood, Mrs Bath, Mrs Engelbrecht,Mrs Gilbey and all…. Paula Bunnett was one of my star pupils. Met my husband Paul in QQ and both sosn were born there – Dr Ward was our doctor but Doc Hirsch was often on hand when needed. What a happy time. We have now been in Australia for 30 years – can’t believe it.
Diana
March 6, 2012Barbara, I remember! Fancy connecting with you from those junior school days. The Bunnett’s were also the stars of my mothers pantomime Babes in the Wood, and I’ve heard from them. The five doctors made a fine team, it was a partnership that lasted for thirty years before my mom and dad left in 1976, Diana
Lionel and Phoebe Pratt and Helen Bunt nee Pratt
April 3, 2012Hi, Miss Sinclair – you were my KG2 teacher and later you played bridge with my Mom and Dad. they remember your son declaring that 2 diamonds called at bridge was quite wrong as you had one in your ring not 2! we’re in East London, RSA now – Mom at 82 and Dad 89 and still going strong and enjoying their bridge and chess!
Diana
April 5, 2012I have a lovely letter from Phoebe about the early days in Que Que, (before my parents arrived as well as after). It was full of wonderful details. Do say hello to her from me and tell her I am using it a couple of the incidents. Glad all in good health still. I will be seeing Ronnie and Ida Samson’s daughter Lynette in London in May.
Barbara Goss nee Sinclair
April 5, 2012What a delightful surprise to hear of the Pratt family. Of course I remember you well , sweet shy Helen! and of course Phoebe and Lionel. Actually our connection goes even further back because Miss Masson (Phoebe) taught me in Umtali in 1953…. love to you all. We are happy in Brisbane enjoying bridge and granddaughters.
anopa silver
June 21, 2015ohh i have been reading your blog and i found it interesting .i ddnt know that Zimbabwe lived many whites and also my school queque high …it was a very good thing..
Barbara Goss nee Sinclair
March 7, 2012Diana I have unearthed the official photo of the teachers at QQJunior, 1967 or 68 I think.
I can idetnify most of them…
I wondered if you would like me to send it to you>
Diana
March 8, 2012Yes, do! I’ll send you my email address so you can attach it. Lovely
Ilona Meyer
June 22, 2012Hello Diana – I am a newcomer to Kwekwe and have been delighted to find your site. This is still such a lively, lovely place to live, by far the best in Zimbabwe – and I have lived in many towns in Zim!
I write a little newsletter which is called Gold Dust, and am always looking for interesting snippits to put in it. Would you allow me to put some of your stories in the newsletter? It is only emailed to some Kwekwe residents, although my mailing list is slowly growing. I would certainly not use them if you do not want me to!
I am friends with some of the older ladies here, whom you may remember, like Alice Cameron, Heather Thiesen, Alison Gardner and Jenny Thedvall – we all play Mahjong together on Thursday afternoons!
Perhaps I can get them to send some memories to you!
Diana
June 22, 2012Ilona, Nice to here from you and know Kwekwe is thriving. In London I recently had a champagne tea with Jane Maxim the daughter of my dad’s nurse Paddy Shaw who reportedly also played mahjong on the G and P Mine in ’49. We ran out of time but she promised to get back to me with details of the goings-on at those get togethers…send me yours and we will see how its changed (or not) over 60 years. Say hello to Alice from me…fine memoires of Ian in the pantos…Alison Gardner must be the sister of Julia, who was in my class I believe?
Ilona Meyer
July 5, 2012Dear Diana – Ilona showed me your message dated 23/06 in which you mention Jane Maxim and I just had to tell you that her mother has been a dear friend of mine since 1948. When I was in England in January 2005, I stayed with Paddy and her husband and met Jane. Jane brought a friend to dinner – the friend was Lynette Samson who used to live in Kwekwe and was one of our “dancing girls”. Her parents were Ronnie and Ida – do you remember her? She brought a photo album with her full of snaps of old pantomimes – such fun! Love and all best wishes, Alice Cameron
Diana
July 5, 2012Yes, Morris Sloman and his lovely wife, Ruth, hosted a wonderful six hour lunch at his home in London and Aaron came down from Birmingham to join us, as well as Lynette. Lynette is as gorgeous as ever…just like her mother. She didn’t bring her album but I do have my mom’s albums…lots of pictures of Ian in them. He was a star of a different sort!
I had hoped to meet Paddy Maxim but unfortunately she passed away while I was in Oxford. I had a champagne tea with Jane in a return visit to London, and she brought her album along…unfortunately I didn’t recognize anyone in the album…(I only turned two Nov. 48). There were no titles on the pics, wish you had been there Alice to help out.
Do give me a history of Mahjong going back to 48 to the present. Perhaps we can blog about it. Diana
Barbara Goss
June 22, 2012Hi Ilona. Please give very best wishes yo Heather Thiesen – can’t believe she is still there! I happened to be looking at some photos of an NHR conference we organised in Que Que and there she is in the photos…that was 1976. I don’t suppose I have seen her since then………..
Sarah
August 8, 2016Hi Ilona
I have stumbled across this blog and have been reading the posts and replies with interest.
I wonder if you still write your newsletter or are in contact with the older ladies you mentioned? If so I would love to know if anyone remembers the Woodger family? Annette Woodger, my Mother-in-Law, was born in 1937 in Que Que. Her father Henry was a small scale gold miner, owning various operations during his time, lastly Snag mine in Gatooma. Henry died in 1948, but Annette’s mother, Mary continued to live in the area until her death in 1999 (I think she might have lived her later years in Bulawayo?)
Annette left for the UK sometime in the mid 1950’s having met an English test pilot working for Vickers who I understand was staying at the hotel where she worked as a receptionist (this may have been The Grand Hotel Bulawayo).
I am pleased to say Annette (and her husband Michael) is very well, and often regales us with tales of life in the bush and her unusual childhood. She will be 80 next year, and we are trying to find any information/memories anyone may have – it would be lovely to put together a “This Is Your Life” style book to present to her on the occasion of her landmark birthday.
I realize it is a long shot bearing in mind the number of years that have passed but I hope you don’t mind me asking anyway!
Ilona
August 9, 2016Hello Sarah,
I have just read your message to me and will be delighted to put your request to the ladies at Mahjong on Thursday afternoon! Will contact you soon…..
Sarah
August 11, 2016Marvellous – thank you Ilona – fingers crossed!
Tatenda
November 9, 2012Hie,is there anyone who knows anyone who used to live at Camberwell Farm in the 1960’s about 25km along Gokwe road from Que Que.Realy need to get intouch with them please help.
Frank Tennick
July 15, 2013Hi Diana,
I have been reading these comments with great interest simply because of the photo of the Plumtree School, Lloyd House cross country team of 1955 which then led me onto finding out more about yourself.
May I compliment you on what you have done. — because it has brought back so many wonderful memories for me – hence the questions which follow!.
I was too young to remember anything when my parents first arrived in Que que but my father, Peter Tennick, a miner from the Sub NIgel, S Africa worked on the Piper Moss, just north of Que Que,. for a short time, circa 1939-40, It was here that my parents met & became friendly with the Chalmers’ family who were also on the mine. The Chalmers family moved much later to the Blanket Mine near Gwanda.
.
Their daughter, Treasure, shares a birthday with me, (poor girl!) in fact, she is my twin, born on – 7 September 1938. What has happened to her? Would love to know!
One of the other reasons for responding & reminiscing is that, much later, as a geologist & then working for the Southern Rhodesian Geological Survey,(1962-1976) & based in Bulawayo, I was responsible for looking at, advising & helping with geological information at mines in the Midlands area. I visited such places as the Primrose, B.D., Indarama, Sherwood Starr, etc mines in the Que Que area
.
What happened to Dennis MacDonald, the manager of Indarama mine when Norman Levin opened it up after Goldfields of S. A. deserted & pulled out after the declaration of U.D.I.?
You will realise that my comments are from a mining background; Que Que was blessed with some wonderful gold mines, such as the Globe & Phoenix & the Gaika Mines. Some of the best mineral specimens of visible gold were found at the Globe & Phoenix – the Singer Collection in the Bulawayo Museum – is unique – is the collection still intact or has it been stolen?
Que Que’s history is inextricably entwined with gold mining.
I remember meeting, Alan de Beer, the manager of the Roasting Plant, also situated in Que Que. This plant was set up by the Rhodesian Government, I think, after World War I, to help ex-servicemen who became smallworkers & who were unable to treat the processing of difficult, metallurgical ores by traditional methods – roasting the ore at high temperature liberated the gold from its associated sulphides for easy recovery. Is the Roasting Plant still functional?
On one of my visits to Que Que i was privileged enough to stay at Cecil John Rhodes’ famous “Paper House”. i have a painting of this house in my dining room.
Is that still standing – it should be declared a Heritage Site – probably been vandalised?
Kind regards
Frank Tennick
Hermanus, South Africa
Diana
July 15, 2013Frank,
Well I am so glad you are enjoying the Que Que blogs as well as the Plumtree School ones. The QQ ones go back to my parents immigration in 1946 from South Africa after his war service. These blogs begin in April 2010 and you may find them interesting (see the archives). I have published 180 blogs in all since then…here are a few you might find especially interesting about the Gaika, Roasting Plant and the Paper House. Incidently, there is a reader who asked to purchase the Paper House painting (featured in the blog) but it is not for sale. Perhaps you are interested in selling yours? I can hook you up if you are interested.
Perhaps some of my readers will fill you in on the Piper Moss…I think the Wiggins family lived there. They were good friends of the Gervas Hughes family…all the mine names you mention are familiar to me and I know my father visited them all in some medical capacity or as part of the constituencies he canvassed politically…too bad he is long gone.
I have been in touch with Lee John the Australian who bought the Globe and Phoenix and the Paper House still stands. Bill Atkinson the last manager of the G and P set up a mining museum there, including the Paper House and it’s all still there last time I heard (a year or so ago but there was talk of moving the Paper House and not sure what if anything has happened with this idea. Lee John was against the idea as he thought it would not stand up to a move). Perhaps a Zim reader will update us.
Alan De Beer of the Roasting Plant passed away last year.
Here are the blogs of particular interest to you…but enjoy browsing and I look forward to your comments.
http://www.oncecalledhome.com/2012/07/to-scrap-or-not-to-scrap/
http://www.oncecalledhome.com/2012/07/poison-or-prophylactic/
http://www.oncecalledhome.com/2012/08/fun-and-games-on-the-gaika/
Perhaps you have a good picture of a Rhodesian mine dump for me to update the poison blog…always looking to add to the history and a picture is worth a thousand words…look forward to any contributions you can make.
Diana
July 15, 2013Frank, Here is one more blog you might find especially interesting about the Gaika Mine.
http://www.oncecalledhome.com/2012/09/the-depression…es-lucky-break/
Treasure Tomlin(nee Chalmers)
June 9, 2014Hi Frank,
Jenny Sly (my neice) sent me your e mail, I was one of the first pupils at the new high school. My uncle was Charlie Robinson who built many bridges and the post office.
I am widowed and now live in Gloucester UK.
Good to hear there are so many of us still around, my younger brother Hudson lives not far from you.
Kind regards,
Treasure (Marie Ann)
Diana
June 10, 2014Treasure, Frank has replied on email and I will forward his letter to you from there. Lovely to make the connection.
Katherine Martinez
June 4, 2016Dear Frank,
Can you let me know if your father Peter Tennick originally came to South Africa from Cornwall (UK) – Angel House, Mount Charles, probably in 1927?
Regards,
Katherine Martinez
Frank Tennick
November 3, 2022Dear Katherine,
Huge apologies for not replying sooner!!
Yes, Peter Tennick, my father, came to South Africa from Cornwall – his mother Nellie Tennick lived in Angel House Mount Charles, St Austell.
please keep in touch
Regards
Frank Tennick
Frank Tennick
July 17, 2013THE PRIMROSE GOLD MINE, QUE QUE
The life of a trammer- a wheelbarrow boy!
The mention of the Wiggins family reminds me of a visit I made to the Primrose Mine -circa 1975 – it was owned & run by Hal Wiggins. His manager at the time was a Mr Annandale – as I recall, also a well-known mining family from the Que Que area?
The entrance to the mine was via an inclined shaft – you descended by riding in a skip (gollivan or cocopan) with 4 wheels running on rail tracks – the gradient hadn’t been too well designed or worked out so it was a bit like riding a hurdy-gurdy switchback – equivalent to the Big Dipper at a fun park but not as comfortable! Because one person sat in the bottom (myself) & the owner (Hal W.) stood above me by balancing his feet on the bridle of the skip & holding onto the steel rope.
The trip was made more memorable simply because Hal Wiggins had named certain parts of the mine after places he was familiar with – for example, in one place where he had lost the reef he then probed almost in every direction to try & locate it again – he virtually went round in a circle – he aptly called this section of the mine – “Piccadilly Circus”! Unusual to say the least!
The other recollection I have is that the underground workings were poorly lit up ; no electric lights – visitors like myself were very privileged to be given a proper miner’s lamp which you attached to your hard hat – with a good, strong, beam to see the different geological features & obstacles as you walked in a crouched position along the twisting tunnels. Hal W. ran a tight ship – so there were no frills – like straight tunnels where you could walk upright!
The size of the tunnel was basically determined by the jackhammer operators who drilled the holes which were later charged with explosives to blast open & break up the rock & advance the ‘face’. As bonuses were paid on the number of feet the ‘face’ was advanced each month – the smaller the opening, the greater was the advance, the higher the bonus! The smaller size meant that the cost of development per foot advanced was also low – Hal approved of that – remember he ran a tight ship!
Walking along these tunnels even with a good light still required careful negotiation as draw points or ore boxes would loom up out of nowhere.
But spare a thought for the African workers, like the jackhammer operators, lashers & trammers – they only had the use of carbide lamps – a small flickering flame reflected by a shiny back plate.
The ore, once blasted, was moved from the working face along the winding tunnel to the shaft – to be hoisted out of the mine – by men pushing heavily laden wheel barrows – the trammer (wheelbarrow man) used his carbide lamp by perching it on top of the pile of ore in his wheelbarrow – this was the equivalent of the headlights of his car as he pushed & negotiated the obstacle course, hunched over to prevent banging his head against the roof, or hitting his face against a plank hanging down from a draw point plank & so made his way through the narrow, twisting tunnel to get to the shaft & deliver his load!! This was some feat with a lot of instinctive feel!
But he had to do this probably 30 times during his shift – this was his task or ‘gwaza’ for the day – but done with amazing skills & levels of endurance.
At the end of each trip, as he reached the shaft station, he would place a small stone in a shallow hole – these were his counters and NOBODY, but NOBODY touched those counters – it was hallowed ground & reserved only for the trammer!
Once he had completed his task for the day – say 30 wheelbarrow loads, he could exit the mine. Normally he would not have the luxury of getting a ride in the skip to surface as it was busy hoisting ore out or letting down materials so he would have to ‘walk out’ – that is, climb the ladders installed at the side of the rail track in the inclined shaft – a journey which could take at least 30 minutes – the end to an exhausting day- but the joy of seeing the sun & daylight again!
Frank Tennick
Hermanus, S.Africa
Bill Corrigan
July 17, 2013Great blog! I’m trying to remember…
Ian Page
October 28, 2013I was born in Que Que in 1953 & attended the Que Que Junior School from 1959 until 1965. We left mid 1965, moving to South Africa. A couple of class mates that I remember are Hugh Drummond, Ivor Prior, David Maritz, Roger Curle and Larry Jenkinson. We lived at 7 Burma Road, next to the Catholic Church. My dad, Alf Page initially did his apprentiship at the Globe & Phoenix mine and later worked at Risco. (Redcliff)
Diana
October 29, 2013Ian, nice to hear from you. You are a little younger than me, but Nigel and Clive Prior have been in touch as well as Les (Jenkinson) Ogley. The G and P and Risco were the main employers–both closed now I believe.
Johnny Creel
January 25, 2014Diana:
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your writing and especially the notes from all of your fellow Rhodesians/Zimbabweans. Please add me to your email list so that I can enjoy reminiscing with everyone. That said, Diana, I am American born and bred but was lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time visiting your beautiful country in the late 1980s through the late 1990s. It was then that I adopted Rhodesia as my home country. I hope you lot do not mind but I call myself a Rhodesian, by choice, not by birth. I still have a few friends left in Zimbabwe but sadly I have not returned there since 1996. Keep up the good work. It has been a joy. Regards. Johnny Creel of Birmingham Alabama USA.
Diana
January 27, 2014Johnny,
Great to have you on board. It was a wonderful country to choose, with so many challenges and opportunities. I am working hard to finish of the first of my quartet of novels based on our experience in Que Que 1946-65 so stay subscribed….
robert birch
April 18, 2014Diana
Greetings from Boston MassUSA. I lived on Clare Park farm outside QueQue from 1944 to 1953, went to school at REPS and Plumtree, parents divorced went to Kenya, Brasil, Scotland and the moment I qualified as a CA went to work in Boston ma where i still live with family now,10 strong .lots of memories of QueQue- Ackerman and old mans corner, Dr Dewe his eldest son and I are still great mates,I was a director of his co in London, we meet up in London and Venice.Incidentally the original ClarePark was the Birch family home in Hampshire.
If any of this is useful I would love to be in touch and will be interested in your book
yours aye, Robert
Diana
April 29, 2014Robert, amazing the connections that we have made through the blog. My oldest son lives in Boston. Perhaps when I visit later this summer we could meet up for lunch.
Jillianne Treamer
July 9, 2014I am looking for information on the Beretta family that owned Beretta’s bakery, that was once on main street, would like info on what happened to the beretta’s, and if anyone can recall them having a daughter named Jennifer.
many Thanks.
jillianne.
Juliet Carter (nee Beretta)
November 27, 2019Hi Jillianne, I am the granddaughter of the Beretta family that owned the bakery. My father is Tony (Anthony) Beretta. My aunt is Virginia Moore (nee Beretta) and, at that time, there was a second dughter, Jennifer. As it so happens, I am going to Cape Town next week, and I could ask my aunt Virginia about Jennifer. I do not have contact with Jeniifer. My father also lives in the Western Cape, with my mum. Both of my grandparents are deceased. My grandfather passed away during my dad’s teen years, and at that time they lived Oudtshoorn.
Juliet Carter
Johanesburg, South Africa
Diana Polisensky
December 13, 2019I think Beretta was Portuguese and set up their bakery opposite Teperson and Malkows Midlands Bakery in the early 60’s or so. By then the town had grown and there was room for competition. Beretta made a spectacular wedding cake decorated with royal icing for my wedding which was held at our home on top of a steep hill in Hillandale. It was quite a job to get it delivered in one piece! It was the talk of the town.
Irene
August 26, 2014Someone please help me.
I am looking to know if St. Edward’s Church in QueQue still exists. I need to contact them for archived information going way back to 1964. Their previous postal address was P.O. Box 273, QueQue.
If anyone knows their current address and phone number, please help me out. I left the country many decades ago.
Thank you.
Diana
August 27, 2014Irene, Hope one of my readers has the info. you need.
anopa silver
June 21, 2015hi ..yes it still exists the st edwards church..i am from Queque and thus where i live ,thanks
Bernadette Parfitt
August 1, 2015Diana
I have just discovered your website and spent a very enjoyable nostalgic hour reading various peoples’ comments……am I correct in thinking you have a brother David? I remember meeting him through Morris Sloman – my Dad (John Fynn) worked for Slomans from 1969 to circa 1976. I also admired your Dad’s political efforts and read a book which he wrote “Decade of Crisis”. Do you perhaps have an email contact for Morris Sloman? Would love to catch up on the last 40 years! Gosh I can’t believe so much time has passed. I would love to read your book, I presume it must be published by now as I’m a bit of a “Johnny come lately” to your blog, am I able to get it on Amazon? Hope to hear from you and thank you for sharing these memories. Best regards, Bernadette Parfitt (nee Fynn).
Diana
August 12, 2015Bernadette, so glad you have happy memories of QQ. Yes, David is living in Jo’burg and Morris is in London.
Whitewashed Jacarandas is hot off the press and available on Amazon as a paperback and also Kindle.
ISBN-13: 978-1515366829 book
ISBN-10: 1515366820 kindle
I hope the book reflects those times in Southern Rhodesia. Please post your comments here on oncecalledhome or Goodreads or Amazon.
Christopher Martin
August 5, 2015My father is Mr. Martin Martin and he was born in 1939 and had a son in 1969 his name christopher martin, thus myself. Can i know his whereabouts as i parted him the same year, i was born(1969)
Christopher Martin
August 5, 2015Sorry name of my mother Juliet or Rudo, names known by my father.
Michele Frangos
October 23, 2015A fascinating discussion. Does anyone have any information about SHERWOOD STARR a Gold Mining company?
anopa silver
October 25, 2015Michele Frangos
yes what information do you really want about sherwood?
Christopher Martin
December 7, 2015Thank you Bernadette Parfitt (nee Fynn)with such information concerning my father Martin Martin of Kwekwe Zimbabwe in 1969 and him born in 1939. If possible want his last known physical address so that i can try and trace him as hi is my father. We last meet soon after my birth in 1969 only up to today. please help.
Skatie Fourie
December 23, 2015Hi most enjoyable, my folks farmed on Hopewell farm on the Gokwe road, eventually ‘Had’ to sell out. I mined on G and P Gold mine in 1959. I have never seen so much visible gold in my life. I ran six machines, and almost lost my life in the mine flooding. I would love to hear from someone who can tell me if the old farm is still running, it is situated just before the Skipper Copper Mine.
Can you guys out there remember the Falcons Baseball side, they were awesome.
Frank Tennick can you contact me, I live in Fish Hoek 021 785 5620
Frank Tennick
December 23, 2015Dear Skatie,
got your message & will contact you by phone as well.
Kind regards
Frank Tennick
Reg williams
February 19, 2016Diana.Ilived in indusrtria road que que 1962 renting a house owned by Mr Davies the Chemist.I also was friendly with Aileen when she was teaching in Wankie.
Diana Polisensky
February 20, 2016Reg, I am sure you have many happy memories of your time in Que Que and Wankie. You will enjoy my historical novel, Whitewashed Jacarandas which will give you a comprehensive view of small town challenges and politics in the context of world events. See my ‘praise’ page for reader reviews and add yours to it when you have read the book. Ask your local library to stack it on their shelves and spread the word yourself, thats the very best recommendation I can get.
CARROL ADAMS
June 20, 2016I have just spoken to my sister, Barbara Kaulback, who is in New Zealand and she told me about this web site. Seems from the messages that it has been in operation for a long while – but better late than never! I’m in the Western Cape in a beautiful wine-producing village called Riebeek Kasteel, just an hour’s drive from Cape Town itself.
Diana Polisensky
June 22, 2016Carrol, yes oncecalledhome will endure! So glad you are enjoying the beautiful Western Cape.
David Cameron
December 17, 2016I chanced upon this site quite by accident ….. I am in the U.K.
My father’s brother (my uncle) was Ian Cameron; he and his wife Alice lived in Border Road (no.11)
My cousins are their children, Alastair and Fiona.
We used to visit them in QQ several times – as my dad worked for the airlines and could get staff rates tickets.
I remember some of Alastair’s friends …. Christopher Dewe was one; Dave and Tim Johnson were others.
Alice (Cameron) still lives in Kwekwe. I shall forward this website onto Alastair (who is in Natal) and see if he can add anything to it. Fiona is somewhere in the north of England but I have not seen here for a few years.
Diana Polisensky
January 30, 2017David,
Yes I remember Ian Cameron very well. He was a great performer and played an ugly sister in my mother’s pantomime “Cinderella” amongst others. I hope Alice has had time to read Whitewashed Jacarandas. I’ve been overseas but am back at work neatening up the sequel “The Flamboyant Years”. I look forward to Alistair and Fiona’s comments and stories.
Bob Urron
February 27, 2017Hi everyone,
I have had an enjoyable time reading the comments,stories findingaps etc. My parents Tom and Louise Urron moved to Zimbabwe with me in 1980. My sister was born in Gweru in 1982 and we move to Kwekwe shortly after. My Dad worked in the gold mine and my mum was a teacher at a nursery ( I can remember the name) I went to Fitchlea and Goldridge after Dad had worked building with other parents in 1984.Our first house was 7 Silver oaks road, however we kept moving up the road the longer my Dad worked at the mine.The only friends of my parents that I remember were called Rob and Nicky. I remember having rock shandies at the club.The friends that I remember fondly were Anton Murangany( apologies if I’ve spelt that wrong) who was my neighbour and his father worked with mine and Andrew Williams who I went to Fitchlea with.I believe they moved back to Wales before we left Zimbabwe.I’m aware that we were there only a few years but they were the best years of my life. We moved back to Newcastle 1985 as my Dad got ill. I know live in Thailand in a town called Lopburi. I believe this has happpened as I am searching for my own kwekwe.
Thanks for somewhere to write. I hope all is well there even though I know times have been better.
Best wishes to all
Bob Urron
Diana Polisensky
March 3, 2017Bob, wishing you all the best to find your own Shangri-La in Thailand.
You might find my historical novel Whitewashed Jacarandas of interest as background to your family’s experience in Zimbabwe. It is written from memoirs, letters and many contributions from the readers of this blog that offered me unpublished family memoirs, and shared family secrets to broaden the books scope to reflect small town life in SR post WWII.
Jenifer Barry
July 4, 2017Dear Diana,
Your name and web page was mentioned to me by my friend, Sean Burke, Editor of the Rhodesia Study Circle Jouranl.
From 1963 to when we were kicked off farmed at Long Valley Farm, Hunters Road. I remember the name Jenny Saunders and Barbara Kaulback.
For many years we grew Table Potatoes and Slomans were amongst the outlets where I would deliver them besides other outlets in Que Que. I knew John and Joan Wiggins when they still owned/worked the Primrose Mine.
I now live in Somerset West in the Western Cape.
Oh those were the days – lovely to read all the tales of the past.
Jenifer Barry
Diana Polisensky
August 8, 2017Jenifer,
So glad you have enjoyed the look back at the place we once called home. Jenny Saunders is in the Transvaal and Barbara Kaulback is on the South Island, New Zealand. Slomans sold out but the iconic name remains.
Sean Burke was good enough to give my historical novel, Whitewashed Jacarandas, a great write up in the March issue of his Rhodesia Study Circle Journal. You can purchase it on Amazon as a book or kindle edition. Locally you could request The Book Lounge in Cape Town (owned by a nephew of the Slomans) to order and stock it.
yokim
November 21, 2017is there anyone who stayed at magnolia street in kwekwe masasa park ,i am looking for debbie johnson
Katherine Martinez
December 22, 2017Dear Katherine,
My apologies for not responding to this earlier – I missed it completely!
Yes, my father Peter Tennick (christened Frederick Paul) once lived as a young boy at Angel House near St. Austell in Cornwall. I am not sure when he came to South Africa.
Did you know him?
Best regards
Frank Tennick
Tracy Bentley
August 8, 2018My dad’s name was Norman Bentley and we stayed at the top house next to the swimming pool on Indarama mine. I would love to know what happened to Penelope Macdonald the granddaughter of old man Mac. We left Zims in 1983. I have so many found memories of those days.
FRANK TENNICK
August 23, 2018Dear Tracy,
I can only offer the following information.
I only got to know the Indarama Mine when it was owned by Norman Levin Gold Mines (Pty) Ltd., in the late 1970’s. He brought it back into production after Goldfields of South Africa,the earlier operators, pulled out in the late 1960’s
The Manager at the time when Norman Levin was operating Indarama was a man called Dennis Macdonald.
I’m not sure if this is the same Macdonald you are looking for?
I got to visit the Indarama Mine when Dennis Macdonald was manager. At that time I was working as a geologist for the Rhodesian Geological Survey & from 1976 – 1980 as an Exploration Geologist for African Associated Mines who ran the asbestos mines at Shabani & Mashaba.
Sadly Norman Levin & his wife, Rosemary, have deceased – they would have been able — maybe to assist you?
Rodney Pingstone, a contemporary of Dennis Macdonald, also worked for Norman Levin – I don’t know if he is still alive but he may be able to provide some clues?
Best regards
Frank Tennick
Hermanus, South africa
Jeanette Clement
August 6, 2020Hello to everyone here – I’m hoping someone can help me.
A few years back I discovered I was adopted – a secret my adoptive parents took to the grave with them along with the fact that my adoption wasn’t legally recorded. I’ve recently had a bit of info come to me from the daughter of the midwife who delivered me, who confirmed the small amount of info given to me by living relatives.
I was born in Que Que in Dec. of 1958. My birth mother already had 3 children, possibly all girls, and I was to be #4. Her husband may have deserted her. She reluctantly gave me up as she didn’t know how she was going to afford to keep the family fed. This was a decision she later regretted and may have tried to reverse.
From the DNA matches that have shown up, my guess is that my birth father was either Scottish or Scottish descent. I don’t know if he later returned or not. As I seem to have a lot of DNA matches from the Gauteng area of South Africa, my guess is that her family may have originated from that area.
So I’m looking to find someone who would have been a single mom with 3 young kids in 1958-9. I have no idea what part of town she lived in but the house was old, and had a verandah around it.
If any of this jogs a memory, I would be grateful for any further info anyone can provide. I don’t know if my birth mother is still alive or not, but I’d love to be able to make contact with her and let her know I turned out ok and alleviate any guilt she may have harboured.
Thanks
Jeanette Clement
Benjamin Cooper
May 22, 2021My mother who was born in 1921 left a document from the Victoria League in May 1934 which “linked her for correspondence” with Geraldine Bradley, Public School, Que Que, S. Rhodesia, S. Africa.
I assume Geraldine would have been a pupil, also of similar age. I understand the League’s purpose was to cement relationships between different nations and cultures of the Empire. Whether correspondence took place, I don’t know but it would be interesting if someone could comment on the Bradley name and the school?
Vic Thackwray
September 15, 2021Very interesting site, I did all. My schooling in Kwe Kwe 1946-1957 My Father was a Moulder on the G and P mine
And we lived at 2 Mashuma Lane.
I returned to the Area and commanded 5 Engineer Squadron at Redcliff 1978
Diana Polisensky
September 15, 2021It was a great place to grow up.
Michael G Theunissen
February 13, 2022left QQ in 1981 at age 10. Went to QQJS. Mrs Barnard, Mrs Eales, Mrs Kingcome, Mr Hayes, Mr McCartney, Mr Lopez, Mrs Young, Mrs Hepple, Mr McGrady are a few I remember. How I long to see our old House…8 Hibiscus Avenue Msasa Park.
My parents were Mike and Liz. Margie was my Mom’s sister. They had a brother named Hans. My Oupa and Ouma….Jannie and Malie Combrinck stayed out on the Bembezaan. Their neighbours were Manie and Margaret Grove.
Dad’s folks were Pop and Sophie Theunissen…they stayed at 48 Quorn Road, Redcliff and were friends with Dez and Maisie Lund.
One of my friends was Moses Matarise…a star athlete at QQJS.
Diana Polisensky
February 19, 2022Fond memories of all.
Doug Remedios
July 29, 2022My Grandfather, Cornelio dos Remedios lived in QueQue in the 40’s and my father Mathias dos Remedios was born in Gatooma in 1942. My grandfather passed when I was very young and I never had a chance to meet him. My father came to America in the late 60’s and it was diffiuclt to connect with his homeland. We lost my father a few years ago and are only now getting a chance to, thanks to technology, connect with family still in Zimbabwe. Thank you all for sharing your stories.
Diana Polisensky
July 29, 2022Doug,
My pleasure. All the very best in uncovering your family’s story one day at a time. It is a great journey.
Bridget Smith
November 17, 2022I wonder if anyone here remembers relations of mine who moved to QueQue late ‘60 early 70’s I believe? Marion and Jack Francis. They had two daughters, Ann (Julia Ann) and Irene.
Jack and Marion worked Skipper Mine I believe.
I’m trying to fill in the gaps!
Any leads are welcome. Thank you.
Leave A Response