I Leisure Isle Tennis Club, a section of the LICC, has three all-weather courts, which have recently been re-surfaced. There are three categories of membership - full. country or limited. Club days for full and country members are Wednesday afternoon, Saturday afternoon and Public Holidays. Limited members have a session every Tuesday afternoon. In mid 2006 there are 56 active players. We would be pleased to welcome new players who are interested in a social tennis club that offers lots of fun.

Visitors and potential members are welcome to participate in our tennis sessions or use the court facilities outside Club days. On Saturdays visitors may only use the courts at the invitation of a Club member.

BY
ANN MALCOLM

It started as a grain of sand
And grew into a dune.
The tides and currents changed its shape
Inside a huge lagoon.

The wind blew seed, and grasses grew
The sandy isle was lush.
Now steenbok grazed its once bare slopes
And monkeys swarmed the bush.

Then men arrived in rowing boats

And fished from off its shore
They built some shacks and shared the ground
According to the law.

They joined the island to the land
A solid causeway built. Environment was no concern
Nor building up of silt.

This now became the place to live

And Real Estate moved in,
Between the mansions on its length

You scarce could put a pin.

With global warming in our sights

What will our future be?
Will all the -wealth we see around

Be swallowed up by sea?

Living as we do on an island, the daily ebb and flow of the tides is part of our consciousness, and shapes certain of our daily activities. At high spring tide the Island is completely surrounded by seawater from the tidal flow coming through the Heads. Depending on the mood of the currents, the sand of the beaches may be shaved down or deposited along the shore, particularly at Bollard Bay.

When spring tides are associated with strong westerly winds and low barometric pressure, it is not unusual for the water to breach the sea wall in several places, and to flood Steenbok Nature Park.

There is a very strict speed limit of 40kph on Leisure Isle.

This is a small island with a maze of narrow roads. It is a haven for children and older folk, who enjoy the freedom of wandering in safety on foot or on their bicycles.

With the expansion of the Island's population and the associated building activities and traffic load and taxis, and the growing number of visitors, great care has to be taken to maintain the people-friendly character of Leisure Isle. Speed humps have been introduced in places, but unfortunately fast and reckless driving is on the increase.

Please drive slowly and with the utmost care, and be on the lookout for pedestrians, cyclists and dogs

Quad bikes and motorized scooters are not allowed on our roads and parks. Municipal police ticket offenders on an ongoing basis.

Racing cyclists pose a danger and must ride with the utmost care, particularly round blind and narrow comers. Pedestrians are at risk from speeding cyclists, as then- approach, particularly from behind, is not easy to hear.

Verges are increasingly being enhanced by planting and gardens. Residents are reminded that for safety reasons an adequate pedestrian pathway of two metres must be kept free on all pavements and verges.

No public transport operates to or from the Island

Taxis run by private companies run services from various destinations to the Island from 07h00 - 09h00 on weekdays. Taxis leave the Island from 13h00 -16h00 to town. Drop-off points are at the entrance to the Island and by request along the route.

(Available from their offices at Thesen's Wharf)

Birds of the Knysna Lagoon
Boating on the Knysna Lagoon
The Knysna Sea Horse
Salt Marshes of the Knysna Lagoon
Salt Water Fishing in the Knysna Area

Memories of Knysna: personal reminiscences; edited by S Allanson, M Parkesand V Williams. Knysna, 1993
Metelerkamp, Sanni, George Rex of Knysna, Cape Town, 1963
Nell, Leon, The Garden Route and Little Karoo, Cape Town, 2003
Nimmo, Arthur, The Knysna Story, Cape Town, 1976
Parkes, Margaret and Vicky Williams, Knysna the Forgotten Port, 3rd ed.,Knysna, 2004

Storrar, Patricia, George Rex: Death of a Legend, Johannesburg. 1974
Storrar, Patricia. Plettenherg Bay and the Paradise Coast, Craighall, 2001
Tapson, Winifred, 'Desert Island Paradise', Milady, September 1965, 29-31
Tapson, Winifred, 'Leisure Isle', South African Panorama, May 1960, 34-36
Tapson, Winifred, Timber and Tides, 4th ed.. Cape Town, 1973
Uys, lan, Knysna and Plett: a journey through time, Knysna, 2003
Williams, Vicky, 'Leisure Island', unpublished talk given to LJ3A Knysna, ca 2002

ISLAND SECURITY HELPLINE:
083 330 8533

HOLISTIC MAIN CONTROL CENTRE:
044 382 1665

SECURITY MANAGER IN CHARGE:
072 346 9113

SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE, KNYSNA:
044 302 6608