Looking for friends from the Amporaha camp in Nosy Be

Beautiful work, congratulations on this huge effort! However, I can't seem to register as a member—the system keeps stubbornly asking for my email address, which I’ve already provided.

Best regards, bv

Good evening neighbor 101 Exactly about registration and some other features, that’s what I meant by: Not all features are active yet. Sorry, but we (Phil Guillotin and I) are missing the third Sunday paddler (Christian Grévisse) to move the canoe forward faster (you should see the size of the beast too!). He gets back from vacation on Wednesday. Yeah, with three newbies in this, we’re not off the island yet. I’ll give a shout as soon as land is in sight, and now that we’ve got the wind (varatraza) at our backs, it shouldn’t be long. See you soon, the Nosy Be local

hi, I just discovered the site... what a surprise to find names I’d almost forgotten! I’m Martine BURRET and I was at Amporaha in 70-71. I have a few photos I’ll try to post. Cheers to everyone

Hi Martine, I’m so happy to see you here on this amazing site. You’re lucky with those photos... ours are slides, and we’ll have to put them on a CD to share them with everyone!!!! But I don’t know how to do it!? Have you seen any other people you know from Cité Foch in Tana? Have a great day! Big kisses, Cathy

hello cathy no, I didn’t find anyone from Foch! I’ll post some photos of the site, the parties, the tarot competitions, and pétanque. for the slides, I have a scanner that handles transparencies... so I can digitize the slides. My dad and I had started last year—what a shame he didn’t know about this site... just a few weeks too late. He would’ve loved to see his buddies again! I left you a message on Facebook. cheers

I just read your message on Facebook—Nosy Be for me was July ’71

Thanks, Martine, for bringing back those great memories! ... despite the events!!! If it doesn’t bother Francis and our other friends, I also have some printed photos from the parties organized at the cité!! Have a good day Cheers

camp friends...... hey Francis!!!! just to let you know I can’t sign up on the new site?? Do you need a hand to "paddle"?? Needless to say, it’ll be soon......best regards to you all....see you soon jlou82

Hello,

I attended the Aporaha summer camp in 61/62/63, where we followed my father, Jean Pierre Boireau, who, as a nurse at BA 181, was detached every year for one month to Nosy Be. So many wonderful memories from that time—pirogue trips to the islet across from us with one of Monsieur Emile’s sons, fishing trips, the "young people’s table," island visits, and more. I’ve kept a few names in my memory from the different groups: Bouvier, Breton, Caillé, Galland, Lebechec, Damour, Gregoire, Matignié (apologies for the spelling), and others. By chance, about ten years ago, I found my father’s big album (he’s 84 and still with us). It’s full of sunny photos, laughter, and joy. If I could reconnect with the Breton family (children Yannick and Nadine, I think) and the Damour family (Joëlle, with whom we won quite a few junior cups on Lake Ambohiboa?), what a joy that would be.

I’m actively preparing a trip to the Big Island and the Small Island for January 2010, if my medical team gives me the green light—I’ve been undergoing chemotherapy for four years now.

With or without this trip... know that life has been beautiful and rich, and a big thank you to all of you for contributing to making it so. Michel Boireau "No matter what they say, as long as I can say it, my greatest love story is You." Barbara

Welcome to the club tine6433! I’m sorry about your dad. Your photos are amazing—some of the "former campers" might recognize themselves. As soon as the photo library on ivato-nosybe.com is up and running, you’ll all be able to post your photos. Best wishes to everyone, Francis, the Nosy Be local

lenosybeen@orange.fr

Welcome to the club Mios33! What a small world Michel! Regarding the Bretons, please message me privately. I’ll wait for your email and we can talk on the phone. @ + Francis from Nosy Be

lenosybeen@orange.fr

Hi Yannick,

What a pleasant surprise!!! I’m Michel Boireau, and I’ve always kept the best memories of our battles on the CSMI Vauriens at Ivato, as well as the water fights with Nadine in the lake to see who’d have to stay on the pedalo. Francis and I had a long chat last night, and the emotion was really there. I felt like I was still that kid from the 60s... You can reach me privately to exchange phone numbers. Best,

it was the first steps of the rascals at Ivato

Friends from the "camp" The photo below is from the 70s; I took part in regattas on Lake Ambohibao during my stay with OM... I found my helmsman's certificate from that time.... Best regards to you all......

Your father, being in the health service, must remember the dentist LE MENN, who was a former professional footballer for Stade Rennais, did his military service, and with whom I often spoke, being from Saint-Malo myself and a student in Rennes (so I watched the matches).

Best regards,

Hello, I knew this camp from 1962 to 1964; my father Henri BOUVIER was an air traffic controller at IVATO. So many great memories!

Hi, I spent summers 1962 and 1963 at this camp—my dad was an air traffic controller in Ivato. So many great memories!

Hello, I just read your message. My father was stationed in Ivato from 1961 to 1964. We knew the dentist Lemenn well. After his military service, he opened a dental practice in Rennes in 1969. He had two children, including a son, Jean Christophe, if I remember correctly. His dental practice was near Pontchaillou Hospital, and he lived near Boulevard de la Duchesse Anne. Best regards, Paule BOUVIER

Good evening,

My father remembers Monsieur Lemenn very well, and so do I, having been in his care!!! Big scares stay in your memory... He was a very nice man and a good dentist (luckily, since he was the only one for miles around), or so he told me. He also thinks he remembers you—he’s currently digging through his memories (he kept a daily journal). As for sailing, the president was indeed the commander you mentioned, but he doesn’t recall the name of the Fleet Captain right now (maybe Lachaud), whose son teamed up with Monsieur Boutefroid’s son. They were later replaced by Monsieur Lebechec and Monsieur Damour. Best regards, Michel

Hello, I spent summers 1962 and 1963 at this camp. My father, Henri BOUVIER, was a chief warrant officer at the Ivato air base, working as an air traffic controller. There were four of us kids, and we lived in the apartment buildings at the exit of Ivato village. It was a dream vacation. Best regards to everyone

Hello, I was in Amporaha in June '65, and I also knew Maryvonne Le Bechec.... maybe you’ve found any trace of her? I went back in April '07 and I’d like to send her some photos. Her father was a commander at the time, and I saw him again in Antony in 1967. Thanks