News ” Golf course’s donkeys face eviction by Valorie Lennox The Review An octet of donkeys now living on Ardmore Golf course are about to be turfed after 14 years on the property. A two-to-one decision by the three-member Ardmore golf course board has decreed the don- keys must be removed this month, said Olga du Temple. Olga and her husband, Wally, first moved two donkeys to the golf course 14 years ago, when the property was owned by Wally’s mother, Alice du Temple. The donkeys have been kept in a fenced area on the golf course. They keep the grass surrounding the reservoir cropped short. If the donkeys are not allowed to remain on the golf course, Olga predicts herbicides would have to — be used to control weeds and grass around the reservoir. Wally, who is an Ardmore direc- tor, believes the donkeys should Stay on the property. He is opposed by the other two directors, Barry du Temple and Betty Snobelen. Director Barry du Temple, con- tacted by The Review, declined to answer any questions on the issue. Olga hopes those who have enjoyed visiting the donkeys over the past 14 years will petition the directors to allow the animals to remain. “So many people come. to the golf course only to see the don- keys,” she said. “They are loved by the neighborhood.” The first two donkeys were moved to the golf course in 1978, in an effort to keep grass surround- ing the golf course reservoir in check, she explained. An earlier attempt to use sheep to control the grass on the four- acre site was unsuccessful, since the sheep could not easily navigate the sloping sides of the reservoir. BUDDIES 10 years ago were colt Randy and Evan du Temple. “Donkeys are very sure- footed,” Olga said. “It tumed out to be the best solution.” The two white donkeys, Flipper and Indra, were originally pur- chased as family pets. In 1978, they were moved from the du Temple*s Braemar Avenue home into a fenced enclosure on the golf course. The donkeys cropped the grass surrounding the reservoir and, as a bonus, also chewed up the thistles TheReview Wednesday, May 6, 1992 — A115 HOCKEY NIGHT IN SIDNEY Don’t let cooking interrupt your game. Order our Hockey Special tonight. SNACK PAK 2 pieces of Chicken with fries or wedgies & salad g sf 49 $3. 25 . SPECIAL Phone ahead for fast pick up. Free delivery on orders Ww $9.00 & over. ON TAKE ey Foon 31, HOME OF THE / £6 “WEDGIE FRIES” SN 9816 4th Sireet, Sidney A NATURAL PART for donkey Nadine was the role of the Christmas donkey in downtown parades through Victoria for several years. and blackberry bushes trying to encroach on the area. Every year the grass seemed to grow a little more thickly. The original two donkeys produced a little help themselves. Randy was foaled on May 7, 1982. Crowds of people came to see the little foal, Olga recalled. Another mature donkey, Ard- more, was added to the small herd. In 1983, Indra and Ardmore pro- duced Ebony, bringing the group to five donkeys. : PRESSED FLOWER CARD KIT But the grass kept getting thic- ie ee ker. ““We still had too much grass,” Olga recalls. Then the golf course was offered three gray donkeys that had to find a new home: Buttercup, her son Balaam and Nadine. Nadine earned a measure of fame as Victoria’s ‘Christmas APRIL 29 - MAY 10, 1992 yw 10% OFF ALL OUR PACKAGED FOOD x yx 15% OFF ALL BULK FOODS x* SAVE $9.00 Plus 10% off on Jug Wine Kits | All Beer Kits, Reg. $28.95 equipment & Special $19.95 |: additives SoS CRE YOLR OWN PRESSED FLOWER CARDS donkey.’ For several years, the Create Your Own es Pe Bey donkey camied “Mary’ | ppESSED FLOWER CARDS = through downtown streets in a and Give Mother’s Da Christmas parade sponsored by that Extra Special 4 FREE! From Our Bakery Mustard Seed Church. Personal Touch! “FRESH APPROACH” - A VEGGIE ROLL for orders over $10.00 A photograph of the donkey with “Mary’ and ‘Joseph’ was 2496 BEACON AVE. made into a Christmas card and 655-7171 sold to raise money for the Mus- Weekdays: 9:30 - 5:30 p.m tard Seed mission, Olga said. sin: tees ~ an ini P 7060 W. SAANICH RD., BRENTWOOD BAY 652-6312 or 652-1211 She estimates the donkeys now range in age from nine to 25 years. With care, they can reach 40 years ae ae would like to keep them,” Mother’s Day is May LU Oth Olga said. She suggests members of the public can support keeping the donkeys on the golf course by writing to the directors c/o 930 Ardmore Drive, Sidney, B.C. V8L 3S1; leaving messages at the golf course on West Saanich Road or by calling 656-4621. 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