New floodlights for Kenton Bowling Club
IN A lavish display of generosity, Kenton businessman Eugene de Witt has bought floodlights for the Kenton Bowling Club which allows members to play at night.
The club, which had never had floodlights before, had started a fund to purchase lights, quoted at R35 000. They had only raised R1000 and “had many pancakes to sell” to reach their goal.
De Witt heard about their project while he was attending the club’s annual trips competition sponsored by Kenton Garage, the business he has owned for the past eight years.
Kenton Garage has a long association with the club, having sponsored the trips for the past 40 years.
“I decided on the spur of the moment I would sponsor the lights in honour of our labrador retriever Chubby, who died on December 13, the same day as the trips,” De Witt said.
He and his wife, Ruleen, had had Chubby for 14 years.
The lights ultimately cost R37 000. They were switched on for the first time last Friday night by the De Witts, after which Eugene had the honour of delivering the first bowl of the competition on the lit-up “A” green. He and Ruleen recently joined the club.
The club expressed their appreciation to the De Witts for their generosity with a standing ovation.
De Witt said suppliers had been very helpful to curtail the cost of the lights. He thanked Andy Holland of Nomathemba Electrical for the supply of poles, John Chowles for the electrical work, B-Tech for the floodlights and John Sure Build for the excavation and digging. Riaan Human from the Kenton Garage workshop made and galvanised the brackets.
“The club has been struggling with aging members. Hopefully this will encourage new members,” De Witt said.
He said Kenton Garage was committed to doing a similar project for the benefit of the Kenton community every year.
“We invite all communities to come up with proper written proposals for something tangible with a lasting impact for the community – in which we can make a difference,” he said.
“This is something we want to build on.”