Garden Route Clubs

“Some emotion was stirred when reading a letter composed by Alwyn(Roets) dated 7 January 2004, stating his own, and Diane’s intended resignation from the George Camera Club. They served there for over ten years,” reported Elizabeth Nicholson in the February 2017 issue of Photizo, the official newsletter of the Eden Photographic Society (EPS). Information was supplied by Diane Roets.

With the help of Jacques Cronje (APSSA), Alwyn called a Founders Meeting for the Eden Photographic Society (EPS) on Wednesday, 7 January 2004. The founding committee consisted of Jacques Cronje as chairperson, Amelia Cronje as secretary, Alwyn Roets as treasurer and Tracy Saunders as the promotions co-ordinator.

The Photizo newsletter was founded almost the same time as EPS, reports editor Elizabeth Nicholson. “It was not clear who drafted the first copy and in which formats it were distributed. No record of it could be obtained.”

“Interesting to note that both English and Afrikaans were the official languages of the club at its inception, and club meetings were held each third Wednesday of the month,” continues Elizabeth.

The Mossel Bay Advertiser publicised the founding of the club with an article on 16 January 2004. “The article was accompanied by a photo entitled “Herbertsdale Farm” taken by Jacques (Cronje),” wrote Elizabeth. In subsequent years, the various activities of the club were often featured in this community newspaper.

Eden members have become familiar faces at PSSA congresses, most recent at Nieu Bethesda and Greyton in 2022. They also supported the regional Cape Photographers’ Congresses.

By the end of 2004, Eden Photographic Society (EPS) had 19 registered members. At the first Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 16 November 2004, a new committee was elected with Alwyn Roets as chairperson and promotional co-ordinator, Jacques Cronje as vice chairperson, editor and registrar, Amelia Cronje as secretary and Diane Roets as treasurer. Herman and Annette Bosman were appointed as the organisers of the hall and refreshments. Bonnee van der Walt was appointed as the print co-ordinator, with Marthinus and Sienie Koekemoer as slide coordinators.

In 2022 they found new meeting premises at the Diaz Hotel.

Workshops clockwise from the top: Car light trail workshop, Light paint workshop, ICM workshop, Moon photography workshop (last two).

EPS members are keen to learn as much as possible to improve their photography. Numerous workshops and outings are organised throughout the year on various topics, with workshops often conducted by senior club members. A few examples are a Light Trail Workshop by Elizabeth Nicholson, a Macro/Close Up Workshop by Johan Steyn, Multiple exposure, Light Painting and and Moon photography workshop by Johan van Aarde, a Star Trail workshop by Pierre Jordaan, an architectural information session by Michael De Nysschen, to name a few.

From top left: the architectural information session by Michael de Nyssen, the Macro workshop, the Star Trail workshop by Pierre Jordaan and the Multiple Exposure workshop.

In September 2024 EPS launched the PSSA 70^th Anniversary Travelling Exhibition by offering to host the first exhibition of 70 prints by 70 photographers as part of the Mossel Bay Music and Arts Festival. See more here. Images by three club members were among the 70 prints selected for the exhibition from the 850 images entered by more than 200 PSSA members. They are Milky way with baobab by Mariana Erasmus, Bushman by Liana Hoffman and The Square Leaf by chairperson Elizabeth Nicholson (see above).

In 2022 and 2024 Eden was the top performing Garden Route club in the PSSA Premier Club Competition, based on the points members earn in the Impala Trophy competition during the year. In 2023 EPS was the runner-up in the Garden Route.

At the end of September 2022 EPS club members attended the first regional Judging Accreditation Program (session), conducted by Paul Rixon (see above). Five club members subsequently attended the national PSSA JAP programme in 2023 and received accreditation as national judges.

Eden Photographic Society (EPS) successfully hosted PSSA salons in 2020 and in 2022.

Club founder Alwyn Roets sadly passed away in 2015. A tribute is paid to him here as one of PSSAs Memorable Members, who contributed much to photography. His wife Diane served as EPS committee member and secretary for many years.

Danie Pretorius, a club stalwart who contributed to the growth of the club in many ways, among them by inspiring young photographers with his constructive comments as a judge, sadly passed away from cancer in 2024. He was 66 years old.

Earlier in the year the club presented him with a scroll (left), commemorating his huge contribution to the club. On the scroll chairperson Elizabeth Nicholson described his contribution to photography as memorable, as attested by the many medals and awards he earned with his excellent photographs .  

“Had there been a medal for humour and the ability to make everybody laugh, for artistry, creativity and original thought, it would have been awarded to him,” the club told the regional newspaper Mosselbaai Nuus.

“At one stage Danie was one of the most brilliant Garden Route photographers and featured quite high on the Impala Trophy Log,” says Elizabeth.

Kolie Visser is another founding member of EPS who is an exceptional photographer. He turned 80 in 2024 and is no longer actively involved in taking photographs. He owns a Fotofirst branch in Mossel Bay and an iconic photograph he took is Featured in many local businesses because it captures the essence of the town so well.

Brian Taylor and Joan Taylor are another iconic couple who have been dedicated EPS members for many years. They still regularly enter their images in monthly competitions, despite Brian (89) being constrained to mainly taking photos in his house and garden due to mobility issues. They are both 5-star members and used to actively enter salons, where they earned many acceptances.