C.A.A. News - December 1959

 

The first Father Xmas to make his appearance in Salisbury, arrived from Never Never Land in a Beaver piloted by First Officer Rodney Van Rooyen at Salisbury Airport on 14th November. On landing, he gave sweets to hordes of cheering youngsters. Later, he was driven to Greatermans in Salisbury (by C.A.A. bus) where he distributed presents to 40 children from the Rhodesian Children's Home.

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A Christmas Message from the General Manager

A Christmas greeting should not, in my humble opinion, be an occasion for originality, wit, nor for exhortations for greater effort, for more stringent economies and for increased efficiency (however desirable all of these may be at all times of the year(!).)

Christmas is a religious holiday and a time when the heart warming words, Peace on Earth and Goodwill Towards All Men should really mean something.

Christmas is surely a holiday to be enjoyed to the full but not selfishly. The family reunion, the holiday spirit and relaxation from work should not obliterate all thoughts for those amongst us who for one reason or another may not be able to experience to the full their share of happiness.

Coming as it does at the end of the year Christmas is a good time for a moment's reflection and for mental stocktaking of the shelves of our existence which should help us to recognise and to appreciate how much we owe to the land in which we make our homes and to the airline which provides our livelihood. Too often our thinking is back to front and we dwell in our minds on how much we imagine is owed to us.

Though by no means unique in such respects many of us do jobs which impose anxieties, strains and pressures, and for some there are particular home problems and worries. To live and work in harmony and as friends we need to practice a high degree of understanding and toleration and to make generous allowances for the human frailties from which we all suffer. Above all we need to exercise at all times the mutual respect to which each of us, whatever his or her position, is entitled remembering that as men and women we are all equal in the sight of God.

I am glad that there has been this opportunity to wish every member of the staff of CAA—in the Federation, in Britain, Kenya, and in the Union of South Africa—husbands, wives and children—a very Merry Christmas and Happiness and Health in the years ahead.

Sincerely yours,
MAX STUART-SHAW

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Through a Glass, DarklyWith Christmas but a few days away, there is already ample evidence that the festive season is well advanced. Each morning we open our newspapers at the breakfast table and read graphic accounts of parties which terminated only a few hours previously.

How these professional newshounds manage to cope with their social assignments at Yuletide completely defeats us. Your Editors, having breakfasted on cigarettes and aspirin, have considerable difficulty in piecing together their fragmentary recollections of parties attended the previous night.

One thing remains gin-clear in a haze of muddled memories: that there is only one way to run a Christmas party. All you have to do is to provide adequate supplies of liquid refreshment: the party will then run itself.

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Miss Maureen Smith on counter duty at our new office in Durban.

End

 

Extracted and recompiled by Eddy Norris from the December 1959 publication which was made available by Dave Vermaak.

Thanks to Dave for sharing his memories with ORAFs.

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