Mashatu 2007

Paul the Southern Cross and the Gecko

The Southern Cross
So brilliant does it shine
In the southern hemisphere
I was amazed to find
That there are stars that shine
In the southern heavens
That do not shine up north
With guidance and patience from a great heart
Paul helped us find the Cross
But little did we know
Dear Paul and all he knew was soon to depart


The heavens the earth all creatures great and small, to Paul, were precious
No part of nature to be abused
Everything has its use

A land shell seemed empty and deserted
It seemed now without its purpose
Explained to us by Paul
Was now, a gecko’s safe haven from spiders dread
For if the spider chased the gecko
The shell was waiting there for hiding
The spider grabs the tail tip and bites it off, and lets the gecko go.
Happy now, the spider thought that it had won and will depart

So much about the heavens and the land
Left to be learned without our great heart, Paul
Little did we know that when we said goodbye
Their would be no tomorrow
What will we do?

The Southern Cross remains
More eyes to be amazed
The shell the spider and the gecko too
How I wished that things were left unchanged
With Great Heart Paul to teach us more


In memory of Paul Grobler 08/08/08
Pete’s Pond
Mashatu

It's two months today and still so hard to believe...

On behalf of Paul's family, friends and co-workers I would like to thank you all for your support and wonderful words. Paul was really a very very special person and one can tell by reading your postings that he made an impression on all of you.

He will never be forgotten.

Greg, I hope you won't mind me quoting part of your posting, but it tells exactly how I, and many others, feel...

"The world is a poorer place without Paul. What a person, what a loss"

Thank you everyone.

Afke 

 I just searched for Pauls address in the www, cause my husband and me had a wonderful time with him in july this year in Mashatu-we are totally shocked about the things happened! How can that be? He was such a lively, strong person- and a unique character!!!Sad news! Condolences to his family and friends.

Esther and Markus

To all my friends at Mashatu, and to all of Paul's family and friends, my sincere heartfelt condolences.  The loss of such a wonderful person causes such deep sorrow.  Paul gave us all such a tremendous gift for which he will never be forgotten - he will live on in our hearts forever.

My thoughts are with you.

Heather

Hey Afke,

I have just found out about this sad sad sad event. I am so sorry, I saw during my time there that you and Paul were close. I remember Paul helping me get over my Elephant phobia during my filming trip there, by placing me fairly and squarely amidst a group of some twenty animals just as the day turned to night!! What an experience. 

I am sure Paul will be missed. What a great man he was, his naturally occuring smile bought great pleasure to all who made his acquaintance.

Be well my friend, we will see each other again.

Condolences to his friends and family.

Mark.

My prayers to Paul's family...your memory lives on!

 Dear Afke

The world is a poorer place without Paul.  I had the privilege of working with Paul at Mashatu and he left his special mark on my life.  What a person, what a loss. 

Greg

 We are deeply saddened by Paul's passing.  Our condolences to his family and friends. 

Linda and Kathy / San Francisco

 I just want to add my thoughts and prayers are going out to all those who knew and loved Paul. We will never understand why he was taken at what seems to be the prime of his life, but I truly believe that he is doing something else that was needed for him to do now. He lives in in memories, pictures, and the people who will carry on in his stead.

Hugs to all

Kelley

 Don't cry because it's over. . . .Smile because it happened

Sudden death for any reason is so hard to accept because we have no chance to prepare for the loss of people who are close to us or are so important to something we hold dear.  In the case of Paul the sudden, unexpected loss of a member of our family is hard to understand.  I was away from the net when this happened and just signed in, having fun reading all the wonderful things in our many NGS Forums and then saw this upsetting news.  Though I was not fortunate enough to have met Paul personally, like many of our family have already said, we were fortunate to experience his love for the land and animals in the Mashatu area.  Farewell great Paul! 

but, dear Afke, I am posting this just to say that we all are saddened by Paul's death and if we reflect that by posting our sadness on your behalf it is only because you have become, to almost all of us who have been here since the beginning of the livecam, the public and very friendly face and voice of the Pete's Pond wildcam.  So, it is quite natural that we turn to you to express out sympathy...not because you are pushing yourself forward (as an earlier message you sent hinted at by regret), but because for so many viewers, you and the pond and Mashatu have become so closely linked.  So, my sympathy to you and to Pete and to all the good people who work at Mashatu to help the wildlife on your collective loss and if we address our remarks specifically to you that's because you're the person we know best from Mashatu...at least those of us who have not been foertuate enough to visit.

Abrazos, mi amiga!

--Palmer

 My thoughts and prayers to Paul's family, Afke and everyone that had a chance to know him and be a part of his life.  Let your memories of him comfort you.

hugssssssss 

Makena, thank you for posting that link. The last picture of Paul in the sunset is just breathtaking. He certainly will be missed.

Hello Everyone,

Mary has asked me to relay to you all the request of a couple forum members to make a donation to the WildCam program in Paul Grobler’s name.  Paul has left a legacy at WildCam and had a large group of devoted friends in the WildCam community.  Below are directions for donating to Wildcam in Paul’s name.  We have arranged for our development office to track the donations and a letter to Paul’s family will be sent at the end of August on behalf of the WildCam community donors to pay him tribute. 

At the bottom of the donate to WildCam page is a Tribute section. 

Fill in

Name: Paul Grobler,

Type: In memory of

Any personalized messages in the Comments or Description sections may be quoted in the letter to Paul’s family.

Thank you,

Rachael

 Afke and all the people at Mashatu,

I am devastated.   I had several chats with Paul last August and this July at Mashatu.  We talked about the race and he was so looking forward to it.   Last August, one of the young girls in our group got poison from a plant in her eye and Paul drove 90 miles to get special medicine for her.   He was such a gentle, fine person and had a great smile!  Please let us know if they find the cause of death.

I know how close all of you are at Mashatu.  It is such a special place and there will be a huge void there without Paul.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the Mashatu family.

Tammy and Ranny Chitwood

Greenville, North Carolina

USA

 I too am extremely sorry to hear this very sad news. I have not posted before on these forums, I didn't even know about them until today, and reading this thread I felt I had to sign up to post a message. My thoughts are with everyone who is missing Paul at this time.

Christine x

Here are some beautiful photos of Paul that were taken by Johan during his 3 week stay at Mashatu in June 2008.

http://www.aardvarktravel.net/chat/viewtopic.php?t=36814

Afke, I wish you peace on your journey to Paul's funeral. I lost my mother suddenly last week and know the fresh pain and confusion of sudden loss.  There are angels among us.  Sent to be a part of our life for as long as we need them.  When they leave I believe their spirit stays with us as our Guardian Angel. He will never be gone - just different.  How wonderful Paul is yours.  Peace to you and joy for having known him.  

 I'm truly stunned.  Paul was so full of life that it's really difficult to imagine he is gone.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all who loved him and appreciate the man he was.

Marian

 Dear Afke and pondies,

After returning from vacation I am very saddened to learn about Paul's passing. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with each and everyone. Blessings to Paul's family and friends, both known and unknown.

Peace be with you all.

Deb

I have been away a few days and just got the terrible news. I would like to add my condolences to Paul's friends and family. Paul will be remembered and cherished by many around the world. He was one of those rare people who do make a difference and change the world for the better.

I have been asked to copy and paste a message from a friend of Paul here

I see that there is a forum for the webcam community dedicated to Paul.  I’m not on it, but would appreciate it if you could put my comments on the site.  I’d like to express my thanks to Paul in a public forum 

I had heard and I have no idea how to express my sadness. Paul was such a massive part of my Mashatu memories and enjoyment. He was a gentle Man, who had become such a large part of the Mashatu landscape.  It distresses me that someone who had so much to offer is no longer with us.  I shall never be able to look up at the Mashatu stars and not think of Paul.

Bill

On behalf of "the extended Mashatu family" here at National Geographic, I would like to extend our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to Paul's family and all his friends and coworkers at the Pond.  I regret that I never had the chance to meet him in person, but I know he had a profound and inspiring influence in making  WildCam Africa what it is today, and in cultivating such wonderful rapport with so many of the Pondies.  He truly embodied National Geographic's most fundamental mission:  to inspire people to care about the planet.   We will always be grateful for all the time he dedicated to us, and for inspiring all of us to live life to the fullest, doing what you love.

May all your good memories of Paul soon dispel the void that must seem so large in the bush right now.  Our thoughts are with you.

-Torre