Athlone my old home town situated in the Western Cape of South Africa has changed dramatically over the years. My first awareness of Athlone and its surroundings was approximately at the age of four. My father was employed by the Municipality (City Council Corporation) and was stationed at the Disposal Works (nice words for sewerage) :-) in Athlone. He worked there for a period of 15 years. His famous quote whenever someone lied to him was to say: Don't talk sh*t to me as I worked with it for 15 years!
I
remember this place very well. The first time I saw it was when I accompanied one of my sisters who had to take my father's lunchbox to him. The Disposal Works was situated on a hill with steps leading up to it. There were three wide circular concrete tanks filled with black water. My father always became saddened when he recalled how much human foetus (some far advanced) that had to be removed from the tanks. This unwanted was obviously flushed down toilets by mothers to be or abortionists (mainly woman that one could approach at that time - for a fee no doubt!) Father showed me a white dog (a bitch that was advanced in pregnancy) but how was I supposed to know that at that young age! She was a stray who had taken up home there and had settled herself in between two of the tanks.
Imagine my surprise some weeks later when he brought me a beautiful pup. This whelp resembled a wolf cub - colour and all. Rusty, for that was the name we gave him proved to be one of the most loyal, brave and trusted dogs we ever had! He was part of the family for 14 years. A high age for a dog.
Years later, the Disposal Works in Athlone was decommissioned; as a more modern one was built in Kewtown (a suburb of Athlone). This Disposal Works is still in operation today. My father later found employment as a Journeyman Ruler at a Stationery Printing Works where he also served as the Father of the Chapel. He retired from there a
fter 25 years.
I
remember this place very well. The first time I saw it was when I accompanied one of my sisters who had to take my father's lunchbox to him. The Disposal Works was situated on a hill with steps leading up to it. There were three wide circular concrete tanks filled with black water. My father always became saddened when he recalled how much human foetus (some far advanced) that had to be removed from the tanks. This unwanted was obviously flushed down toilets by mothers to be or abortionists (mainly woman that one could approach at that time - for a fee no doubt!) Father showed me a white dog (a bitch that was advanced in pregnancy) but how was I supposed to know that at that young age! She was a stray who had taken up home there and had settled herself in between two of the tanks. Imagine my surprise some weeks later when he brought me a beautiful pup. This whelp resembled a wolf cub - colour and all. Rusty, for that was the name we gave him proved to be one of the most loyal, brave and trusted dogs we ever had! He was part of the family for 14 years. A high age for a dog.
Years later, the Disposal Works in Athlone was decommissioned; as a more modern one was built in Kewtown (a suburb of Athlone). This Disposal Works is still in operation today. My father later found employment as a Journeyman Ruler at a Stationery Printing Works where he also served as the Father of the Chapel. He retired from there a
fter 25 years.The photographs featured here ( From top to bottom) are the present day Church of Nativity (which in those years was an open space), Hazendal Community Hall (which once housed the offices/laboratory - one other building constructed of timber was demolished some years back), Church Hall and part of Spes Bona Secondary (where the actual three tanks were situated) and the Rectory of the Church of Nativity (which also housed a laboratory.
More to follow :-)
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