Delivering a hospital to Bosnia

Two fascinating talks are on the U3A's calendar in February. At the armchair travel gathering on Tuesday 11 February at 10:30, Johan Viljoen will deliver a presentation titled The SAS Outeniqua - not your average cruise ship.

In 1993 the SA Navy was tasked to deliver a mobile hospital to Bosnia. The hospital was to be transported to Trieste, Italy, aboard the SAS Outeniqua. This voyage was also asked to deliver aid to Kenya and to foster relations between the SA Navy and other navies.

The voyage lasted over two months and included the circumnavigation of Africa, a distance of more than 32 000km. Viljoen served in the navy for 28 years, mostly as an intelligence officer, but also as naval attaché in Chile.

On Friday 14 February at 10:00 Cassie van der Westhuizen will talk about 'The absurdities of life'. This is a philosophical consideration of whether our lives are absurd - or not. In philosophy, "the Absurd" refers to the conflict between the human tendency to see inherent value and meaning in life, and human ability to find any in a chaotic and irrational universe.

Cassie has an honours degree in history, but she also has a keen philosophical mind which she likes to apply to some of the anomalies that we encounter in our daily lives.

These events take place at Emmaüs in Memorium Street. Tea will be served at the Friday lecture. Entrance is R5 for members and R10 for visitors, who are always welcome.

The hospital was to be transported to Trieste, Italy, aboard the SAS Outeniqua.