The Rand Club, Johannesburg, Friday 8th October 2021
The Johannesburg Branch held their Annual General Meeting at the Rand Club, in Loveday Street, Johannesburg earlier today.
In attendance as guests of the Joburg Gunners were amongst others Mr Teddy Daka, the Honorary Colonel Designate of the Sandfontein Artillery Regiment, Mr David Williams and the Officers and RSM of the Sandfontein Artillery Regiment.
During his Chairman’s report, Gunners Tiaan Steyn thanked all those who supported him during his tenure as Branch Chairman. He was sorry to stand down as Chairman, but he had no other option due to his current work commitments. He stated that it was an honour and privilege to have been Branch Chairman and wished the branch well in the future. His parting wish is that people need to see and speak about the branch as the branch becomes more visible in the future.
The Johannesburg Branch managed to host eight branch lunches over the last 18 months during especially trying times and despite the restrictions of the National Lockdown due to the Covid-19 Global Pandemic. The average attendance at the functions was 15 members, allowing the branch to raise a tidy sum of R 3 491.00 for our various charities.
The incoming branch committee was elected and congratulations to the following members who have been elected to the following positions:
Branch Chairman – Gunner Albert Pestana
Branch Deputy Chairman – Gunner Trevor Taute
Branch Secretary – Gunner Sifiso Nene
Branch Sergeant at Arms – Gunner Robert Marks
The incoming chairman has committed to closer cooperation and working together with the East Rand Branch and the Pretoria Branch and support them in their branch activities, as well as to enhance the support given to GEM Homes from the Johannesburg Branch.
After the lunch, the members moved to the Rand Regiment’s Room in the Rand Club and the National President, Gunner Roy Andersen unveiled the Transvaal Horse Artillery Display in the Rand Regiments Room, which consists of the Regimental Silver and on boards inscribed with the Regiment’s Officers Commanding, Regimental Sergeants Major and Honorary Colonels and another board depicting the Regiment’s Campaigns from 1904 to 2019.
The National Chairman, Gunner Niel Wiid and the outgoing Branch Chairman Gunner Tiaan Steyn, also made use of the occasion to hand over a special gift to Maj Gen R.C. Andersen from the Gunners’ Association on the occasion of his retirement from active military service earlier this year.
Gunners’ greetings to all branches.