Spare some coins to dip into the Humansdorp Tourism Bureau donation tin as every rand counts! See it as an investment for 2010 when South Africa hosts the Soccer World Cup or more profoundly for the future. A benevolent Mr Carl Ferreira has been doing a fine whole hearted job at the Humansdorp Tourism office for two and a half years. It is inexact to state when the office began operating but Mr Ferreira suspects it was over fifteen years ago. In the initial visitor's book, the first date recorded was the 29/12/89.
There is a frayed, aged certificate dated from "77 attesting to the fact of Mr Ferreira"s worldly travels. It is pasted on his cabinet, which he brought into the office. Mr Ferreira could be said to be one of the Humansdorp's GRANDFATHERS, the backbone of the town. He may have white hair but it certainly does him proud, as it serves as a token of the wisdom he lavishes on his work along with a keen knowledge of the local area. He is adamant on acting out his wish to promote the town. Unfortunately, accordingly to Mr Ferreira the Fynboos (shrub type of plants) Festival has been scrapped, yet he hopes it can be re-established.
The festival should be less costly, more locally plant orientated and only for a day in Mr Ferreira's view. The Fynboos Festival at least brings attention to plant life, which we pay little regard to. We are so technologically obsessed that we sort of have lost the wonderment about and usefulness of plant species. Humansdorp offers its own unique fynboos species. If you wish to know more, just ask Mr Ferreira! As luck would have it, Mr Ferreira was indeed a professional teacher for thirty one years. He taught at a school in Grahamstown and at two schools in Port Elizabeth. While spending time with Mr Ferreira, one certainly does bear witness to his generosity and patience. It is unfortunate that his working environment is so dire. For now, the office only has a functional well used fax machine (kindly donated by Mr and Mrs Oosthuizen, owners of Sugar 'n Spice stationery shop) and a telephone. Unfortunately the office does not have toilets.
If a tourist or visitor needs to use a toilet he/she is taken to the municipality offices next door (which is an inconvenience to the municipality staff) or the Wimpy. In each case it is dismal for tourism. Mr Ferreira even stated that he has used the “tree at the back” when his bladder is full. Yes, there is a toilet also at the back but a filthy one and supposedly for the workers. Workers should be using proper clean toilets as well! Hopefully (especially with the help of benefactors) two clean operational toilets (one for males and another for females) will be built soon on the premises. Even a kitchenette is desired and would promote hospitality to the rand spending tourist! Any spare donations given would be gratefully utilised towards purchasing and hanging international flags and attractive lights to highlight the tourist office to travelling guests. If any generous benefactor wants to make a contribution towards the tourism office please visit or phone 02742 295 1361 during office hours.
You may sometimes be greeted by Brenda Badenhorst, who is a voluntary assistant. Working on a meagre salary of R2500, Mr Ferreira is certainly not in this for the money. R11000 is allocated to the offices every three months to cover salary, telephone, postage, building up keep and other costs. The office falls under the Kouga Tourism, which provides this grant. Although promised a salary increase but yet to be enforced, Mr Ferreira is still dedicated to his work. You can help out! To all the businesses in Humansdorp; Mr Ferreira wishes to express that people support the “tourism forum” for 2010 especially in the sense that our town is clean and accommodating to provide side line attractions for the visitors.
Remember you can pay a nominal fee (variable options to suit your requirements) to the tourism office to be advertised on street maps and in other tourist reading print media. If there ever are signs of community commitment and love of a town, one such sign must surely be street sweeping. Despite transient arthritis, Mr Ferreira is an active and proud street sweeper on his street! Any one can support tourism to help elevate Humansdorp up to the tourist spotlight. If we all work together to keep the town clean, operational and most of all friendly, it can only be beneficial for all.
