1. Woman of the year finalist from Curry’s Post2. Femme Fatales, formal waders and Flyfishing...3. Durban airshow shows us how to save a rhino4. The French connection..6. 90 year old Winner!.7. Our stupendous schools.... Don’t forget to check our regular writers out too.....

edition 118 july

Judy Stuart with Mfundo Nyanisa, a trainee farmer on a dairy farm in Curry’s Post. Pic Ross Stuart.plied

Making farMers for the future

Making farMers for the future

KZN has the second most finalists in the 2012 Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award, and one of those is Curry’s Post dairy farmer Judy Stuart.

Stuart is a finalist in the Socio-Economic Business Developers Category, and stands to win R100 000 to further the aims of her Future Farmer Project, which provides platforms for young people in agriculture and farming to become successful commercial farm managers or farmers in their own right. Dairy farming has traditionally not been an attractive industry for rural and impoverished communities but with this ap-prenticeship project Ms Stuart has made inroads into the communities mentoring young people for a future in the dairy farming industry.

She founded the project 7 years ago for ambitious youngsters from impoverished families without the means to pursue tertiary education to learn farming skills and the outstanding work ethic that is part of the farming community worldwide. www.futurefarmersfoundation.com

The training includes driving tractors, operating milk machines, controlling irrigation systems, dairy herd management and basic accounting. She sources farmers who will take the young people on as apprentices. There is also the opportunity on this project to travel to farms in other countries and enhance their skills.It has enabled young people with no opportunities to become valuable members of the community and some of them are now top farm managers with the potential to be successful commercial farmers in their own right.

To date Ms Stuart’s project has created more than a dozen skilled farm managers capable of owning and running their own farms. She says she has been amazed at the calibre of the young people in our country and sees it as her duty not to waste talent in this country by simply providing young people with opportuni-ties. www.futurefarmersfoundation.com

Ms Stuart has 30 years experience in the farming industry and says her successful dairy farm had become insignificant compared with the work she is doing now. There is no doubt that training young people is far more important. More equipped, educated and skilled farm managers will brighten South Africa’s future.

Read more on the strategy, ethos and mission of the Future Farmers Foundation on www.futurefarmersfoun-dation.com. Why is it that a model like this, harnessing the passion of young people keen to farm, handing over skills in a way that seems to be good for both the farmer and the trainee doesn’t have government funding? Perhaps the Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year nomination will make the difference.

Mzwandile at work.

Ms Stuart has been Female Farmer of the Year (Runner up twice);

S A Stud Book and Land Bank Award for Aid to Emerging Farmers;

Master Dairyman: KZN Female Master Dairy-man Award and an

Award from Landbou Weekblad for mentorship.

The Future Farmers FoundationEarn while you Learn – a simple, effective funding modelDue to the generous support of a number of institutions, including the Underberg Farmers’ Association,

the No Till Club andThe Saville Foundation it is possible to send trainee farmers overseas for practical experience, and as the interns are paid good salaries while they are working overseas, they are required to pay back the cost of sending them there. This money is then used to send another intern who, in turn, pays it back. A single donation could potentially send up to three interns overseas every year. It should take about four months for an intern to pay back costs, which include airfare, visas and so forth. That means that whatever is earned during the remaining 8 months can be saved or spent as the student wishes, including travelling in the host country.

After the apprentices have returned from overseas, they have reached a level of maturity that equips them for further study. They are encouraged to do UNISA courses in agribusiness and economics. Most of their farming skills are learned on the farms from the farmers who employ them. Farmers know what these young people should be able to deal with on a day to day basis and are willing to share their knowledge. They are very good trainers and invaluable partners in the process. Due to the success of the program some of the apprentices have become top dairy managers locally. In addition, not all of the apprentices have leadership skills but in all cases we have found positions on farms that suit each learner who has been through the scheme. The Future Farmer Project is about providing opportunities and not hand outs. So far the students who have been overseas and are in good management positions as a result, have had their salaries increased from as little as R1 500 before going overseas, to as much as R15 000 within a year of returning. There is demand amongst the farmers for these young men on their return.

The underlying and uncompromising principle of the Future Farmers Foundation is that only opportunities and mentorship are provided for the apprentices – it is up to each of them to make the most of their opportunity

The Future Farmers Foundation welcomes your questions, comments and suggestions: Judy Stuart, redcow@telkomsa.net, 083 555 0082: Sifiso Ntshinsa , 072 812 8094: Rodney Duma, 072 465 6337.

Making farMers for the future

KZN has the second most finalists in the 2012 Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award, and one of those is Curry’s Post dairy farmer Judy Stuart.

Stuart is a finalist in the Socio-Economic Business Developers Category, and stands to win R100 000 to further the aims of her Future Farmer Project, which provides platforms for young people in agriculture and farming to become successful commercial farm managers or farmers in their own right. Dairy farming has traditionally not been an attractive industry for rural and impoverished communities but with this ap-prenticeship project Ms Stuart has made inroads into the communities mentoring young people for a future in the dairy farming industry.

She founded the project 7 years ago for ambitious youngsters from impoverished families without the means to pursue tertiary education to learn farming skills and the outstanding work ethic that is part of the farming community worldwide. www.futurefarmersfoundation.com

The training includes driving tractors, operating milk machines, controlling irrigation systems, dairy herd management and basic accounting. She sources farmers who will take the young people on as apprentices. There is also the opportunity on this project to travel to farms in other countries and enhance their skills.It has enabled young people with no opportunities to become valuable members of the community and some of them are now top farm managers with the potential to be successful commercial farmers in their own right.

To date Ms Stuart’s project has created more than a dozen skilled farm managers capable of owning and running their own farms. She says she has been amazed at the calibre of the young people in our country and sees it as her duty not to waste talent in this country by simply providing young people with opportuni-ties. www.futurefarmersfoundation.com

Ms Stuart has 30 years experience in the farming industry and says her successful dairy farm had become insignificant compared with the work she is doing now. There is no doubt that training young people is far more important. More equipped, educated and skilled farm managers will brighten South Africa’s future.

Read more on the strategy, ethos and mission of the Future Farmers Foundation on www.futurefarmersfoun-dation.com. Why is it that a model like this, harnessing the passion of young people keen to farm, handing over skills in a way that seems to be good for both the farmer and the trainee doesn’t have government funding? Perhaps the Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year nomination will make the difference.

The Future Farmers FoundationEarn while you Learn – a simple, effective funding modelDue to the generous support of a number of institutions, including the Underberg Farmers’ Association,

the No Till Club andThe Saville Foundation it is possible to send trainee farmers overseas for practical experience, and as the interns are paid good salaries while they are working overseas, they are required to pay back the cost of sending them there. This money is then used to send another intern who, in turn, pays it back. A single donation could potentially send up to three interns overseas every year. It should take about four months for an intern to pay back costs, which include airfare, visas and so forth. That means that whatever is earned during the remaining 8 months can be saved or spent as the student wishes, including travelling in the host country.

After the apprentices have returned from overseas, they have reached a level of maturity that equips them for further study. They are encouraged to do UNISA courses in agribusiness and economics. Most of their farming skills are learned on the farms from the farmers who employ them. Farmers know what these young people should be able to deal with on a day to day basis and are willing to share their knowledge. They are very good trainers and invaluable partners in the process. Due to the success of the program some of the apprentices have become top dairy managers locally. In addition, not all of the apprentices have leadership skills but in all cases we have found positions on farms that suit each learner who has been through the scheme. The Future Farmer Project is about providing opportunities and not hand outs. So far the students who have been overseas and are in good management positions as a result, have had their salaries increased from as little as R1 500 before going overseas, to as much as R15 000 within a year of returning. There is demand amongst the farmers for these young men on their return.

The underlying and uncompromising principle of the Future Farmers Foundation is that only opportunities and mentorship are provided for the apprentices – it is up to each of them to make the most of their opportunity

The Future Farmers Foundation welcomes your questions, comments and suggestions: Judy Stuart, redcow@telkomsa.net, 083 555 0082: Sifiso Ntshinsa , 072 812 8094: Rodney Duma, 072 465 6337.

Sifiso and Langwabo working in the dairy

Midlands Francophiles surround Legion d’Honneur recipient Glenn Flanagan at the Fordoun celebratory French Lunch, where the Prince Imperial plaque was unveiled and commemorative wines tasted.

honour for PieterMaritzburg WoMan

Pietermaritzburg’s Glenn Flanagan, instantly recognisable to most, as the face of the French Presence in KZN, was bestowed a rare honour recently in acknowlegement of her contribution to the

French language and culture in South Africa. Flanagan received the signet of the Knight of the French National Order of Legion

d’honneur by the French Ambassador to South Adfrica, Jacques Lapouge. The award specifically recognises Flanagan’s endeavours over the past 19 years to celebrate the French presence in KZN, and the establishment of the “Route du Prince Imperial, Louis Napolean” that marks its 16th anniversary this year. In a further recognition of her contribution, Flanagan’s award coincided with the opening of an unprecedented exhibition of French paintings at the Tatham, in conjunction with the Durban Art Gallery. (The exhibition at the Taham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg continues until the 19th of August).

This exhibition forms part of the France-South Africa Season 2012/2013. www.france-southafrica.com

French-style Wine tast-ing at

Fordoun nottingham rd

A group of Midlands francophiles, including the face of the French

Presence in KZN, and recent recipient of the Legion d’Honneur, Glenn Flanagan celebrated the launch of The Prince Imperial (Syrah/Mouvedre) and the Empress Eugenie (Sauvignon Blanc) wines from Domaine des Dieux, at Fordoun Hotel and Spa in Nottingham Road. Jon Bates hosted the event, and unveiled the plaque commemorating the presence of the Prince Imperial on the property, a short while before his untimely death.

La Route du Prince Imperial, Louis Napoleon,was launched on 1 June 1996 in the precincts of the Prince Imperial monument, Uqweqwe, Zululand, in the presence of Ray Heron, the then Chairperson of the Battlefields Route Association and Jenny Bustin, the then President of the French Teachers Association of KwaZulu-Natal, is a self-drive route that actually follows the very scenic, pilgrimage route of his mother, the Empress Eugenie, who came to Zululand in 1880, to follow in the foot steps of her son. She spent the night of the anniversary of his death in vigil at the very spot, at uQweqwe, where he died in an ambush on 1 June 1879. Besides indicating the direct access to the monument of the Prince Imperial at uQweqwe, the Route offers various possibilities of exploring the province of KwaZulu-Natal. GPS information:

Dirt road after Hlubi School, some 11 km from Nqutu: S 28 11 17 - E 30 46 07“Chevrons”: S 28 08 07 - E 30 48 04Prince Imperial Monument: S 28 07 56 - E 30 47 50For further information log onto www.princeimperial.co.za or contact Glenn

Flanagan; Project Leader: French Presence in KwaZulu-Natal: La Route du Prince Impérial, Louis Napoléon NPO 080-140 Amis Siyakhula (Friends, we are growing together; Nos amis, nous avançons ensemble), www.princeimperial.co.za; 082 677 9997 or gflanagan@webafrica.org.za

Wynne’s still revving at 90!

Well-known Hiltonite, Wynne Worrod was born in London in 1922, the same year the BBC (British Broad-

casting Corporation) became the first radio station in the United Kingdom, and the Brit-ish Empire had reached its height and larg-est extent, covering a quarter of the world and ruling over one in four humans.

This June, saw the Worrod family, grandchil-dren and great grandchildren arriving in Hilton to celebrate and honour this very special lady’s 90th birthday.

Wynne who left UK in 1947, spent two war years in the WAAF as a radar operator. Essen-tially an actress (she had appeared with Stan-ley Holloway, Ted Ray and other big names), she travelled on the Cape Town Castle to South Africa in order to join African Consolidated Theatres, the entertainment giants in order to take part in the show to be staged at the then brand-new His Majesty’s Theatre in Johannes-burg. She performed in this performance with South African personalities Al Debbo and Gor-don Mulholland.

The photo on the bike was taken on Wynne’s 90th birth-day, and has in it from L to R: Dorran Bungay, Jenetta Worrod Barry, Wynne Worrod or “ShuShu” as she is known by grandchildren and great grandchil-dren, Evan Worrod, Alaric Worrod

It was whilst travelling on the Cape Town Castle to South Africa, that she met her future hus-band Charles Worrod. Together both she and Charles formed a Theatrical Review Company, and she and Charles protegeed future starts of the 50’s and 60’s, Joe Stewardson and Bill Prince the latter who became a well-known Springbok radio personality.

In the late 1950’s Wynne and Charles left for Kenya, where they continued to be active in professional and amateur theatre in Nairobi and were also theatre critics for the local Nairobi newspapers. Wynne at the same time owned and was Principal of a top secretarial college, be-fore they again returned in 1975 to Cape Town to establish another new secretarial college in Sea Point and then eventually moved and settled in Hilton in 1977. During these Hilton years, Wynne has been seen in many amateur dramatic productions.

At he age of 90, this amazing lady still lives in her own house (with a once a week maid and gardener only), drives her own car (no scratches or dents!) and socialises regularly.

bienvenue bastille baby -soPhie eMMa DreW-

The Midlands is delighted to welcome baby Sophie Emma Drew, born to proud parents Matthew and Sarah Drew, of Howick. Little Sophie arrived on the 14th of July, weighing in at 3.28kgs.

A crowd of 12,000 spectators at the 2012 Durban Air Show on Saturday were treated to the sight of a rhino being airlifted and the skills of helicopter pilots in a low-flying manoeuvre that also simulated a rhino poaching attack in the heart of Durban.

As news filters through of three White rhino shot and dehorned in a brazen poaching attack at the Hluhluwe Game Reserve last week and the national rhino poaching tally reaching 272 this year, the air-show’s inclusion of rhino poaching in their aerial displays brought the issue close to home.

In a classy display of chopper choreography, pilot Brad Hatfield from JNC Helicopters took on the role of the ‘bad-guy’ in a Robinson 22 in an imitation rhino poaching attack and was driven off by a Hughes 500 piloted by Nick Cooke from Acher Aviation as the ‘Anti-Poaching Aerial Support Unit’. The Hughes 500 then airlifted the ‘tranquilised’ rhino and flew him, upside-down, down the length of the runway to the delight of the crowd.

The third star of the show was Ralston, the full-size rhino replica and mascot of Skydive for Rhinos, an African Conservation Trust campaign to raise R10million for rhinos threatened by increasing poaching in South Africa.

The manoeuvre highlighted a rhino air-sling technique developed in South Africa that suspends a tran-quilised rhino by its ankles. It was used last year in the Eastern Cape for the first time by conservation-

ists to successfully transport 20 rhinos from re-mote and mountainous areas with no access roads to game recovery trailers, cutting down the time needed to keep rhinos under sedation. It also emphasised the role of aerial support in the rhino poaching crisis. “Aerial surveillance and the skills of helicopter pilots in rhino conservation is critical work and is one of the key issues this campaign is going to fund again,” said Sheelagh Antrobus, leader of the Skydive for Rhinos campaign and co-ordinator of the Project Rhino KZN group.

In August 2011, 40 people skydived for rhinos for the first time, raising R500,000 for rhino anti-poaching efforts in KwaZulu-Natal. Aerial surveil-lance and emergency chopper support were two activities funded: the volunteer pilot group known as the Bateleurs have been flying patrols since September last year for northern KZN game re-serves and BAC Aviation holds funds in reserve to provide immediate helicopter assistance to game reserves under a direct rhino poaching attack.

This year, the African Conservation Trust has raised the bar by setting a target of 448 people throughout South Africa to ‘Skydive for Rhinos’, with a fundraising target of R10million. 448 is the number of rhinos killed by poachers in South Africa during 2011. Already, close to R4million has been donated. Funds raised will go to improving anti-poaching measures across the country.

“Rhino poaching in this country is not declining, it is escalating,” said Antrobus. “Every day, a rhino dies at the hands of poachers. We’ve already lost 80 more rhinos compared to this time last year. If this is not motivation and reasons enough to make everyone sit up and take notice, then what is?”

At the end of July, the campaign kicks off in Rustenburg, North West province. Celebrities that include cast members of MNet’s The Wild mini-series and Cito from rock band WONDERboom are joining hundreds of ‘extraordinary’ South Africans who are raising a minimum of R5,000 in spon-sorship to take part in the campaign and enjoy a first-time experience of a tandem skydive from 10,000ft in a show of support to rhinos under threat.

The campaign comes to KwaZulu-Natal for the weekend of 17-19 August and will take place in Eston near Pietermaritzburg, before moving on to Port Elizabeth at the end of August. It culminates in the Western Cape on the weekend of 22 September, which is World Rhino Day. There are still a few places left for the KZN, Eastern Cape and Western Cape events. To sign up, visit www.skydive4rhinos.org .

Whilst the skydives are for individuals, they are merely the basis of a year-long campaign. The doors are wide open for anybody and everybody to help raise the R10million, including the business sector. One does not have to jump out of a plane to get involved, donations are also welcomed. Follow the cam-paign on www.facebook.com/skydiveforrhinos or on Twitter @RhinoSkydiver.

rhino air-lift a hit at the Durban air shoW

fly fishing, femmes fatale & formal Waders

Champagne?...Check ....Oysters? ...Check.”

This is Margie Ayl-ward, Carol Everitt, Belinda McIntosh

and Vanessa Clewlow packing their coolers on the eve of the Corporate Trophy Challenge Fly Fishing Competition in Nottingham Road. They are the first local all-girl team to enter this com-petition, which is organised by Nottingham Road’s Wild Fly Fishing.

Our ladies, The Four Ferocious Fishing Femmes, have had very little fly fishing experience, so why enter? “It looked like fun, and now that we’re locals, we thought we’d like to get involved in local activities”, they say. Belinda and Vanessa moved up from Kloof, Margie from Matatiele, and Carol from Durban North; the beauty of the Midlands and in some cases, family, being the drawcard.

To enter, they had to learn to fly fish, organise gear, and pay their entrance fee. This is where the local lads came in. The ladies had fantastic coaching, and tips from seasoned fishermen and previous winners of the competition. Rods and reels were loaned, kick boats, waders, nets. Carol tells me she had bought some formal waders. “Formal waders?” I ask, surprised, imagining sleek black waders with pin stripes. “Not formal – four ml – four millimetres thick!”, she laughs. There was much laughter during this competition, as well as a quiet determination to do well for their coaches and sponsors. Friends had donated generously, and the girls had worked hard at organising prizes to hold a raffle. “Most flies fall into one of two categories. The fly that a fisherman swears he swears by and that he will generously share with you or…the ones he hides because they really work!” – anonymous. Not so with the lads of Nottingham Road – they really helped these ladies. The result? All four of them caught fish!

At the welcome dinner on Thursday night at Notties, the entrants were given breakfast hampers, the rules, the dam draws, and told of the prizes up for grabs. Over the 11 years of this competition, 9,933 trout have been caught and released, and in this leg, the 10,000th trout will be caught. Whoever catches that trout, will win a trip to the Zambezi, worth R25,000.00. Go Girls!

Friday morning, 6am, finds the Femmes on their dams, fishing and enjoying the beauty of the mist rising from the waters. By mid-morning, a wee dram of Old Brown Sherry in silver goblets, is required, to fend off the cold. All that hard work of coaching and practice pays off, and Vanessa catches two fish, 39cm and 41cm, and Belinda, one, at 37cm!

At noon, they head off to Notties for a pub lunch and to submit catch records. An hour later, they’re given their afternoon hampers, and go in search of their next dam. This time, it’s Margie’s turn to catch - 42cm.

Saturday morning, off they go again, and today it’s Carol’s day. She catches the only fish caught on that particular dam the whole weekend – and it’s all of 7.5cm in length! As the sun sets on the dams, they pack up and head back, to shower, and meet at Notties for the final dinner and prize-giving. Vanessa wins a rod and reel for most fish caught among the ladies, and Carol a rod, reel and lingerie for the smallest fish.

Will they fish again? Absolutely – they’re hooked, and are planning monthly fishing trips to fine-tune this new skill they’ve acquired. They love the tranquillity on the dams, and being close to nature – they saw Blue Cranes, buck, and a Secretary Bird during the course of the weekend.

The sport of fly fishing is theirs now – and dare we say, that popular fly, the Mrs Simpson Purple Lady, has hooked them.

Cowan House go Karting

The Official School Page

Cowan House Go-Kart Race DayThe Grade 7 boys and girls had a great race with the go-karts that they have spent the last month making in Design and Technology classes. This is team Wicked Wheels driven by Sophie Mc-Donald with her team mates Brandon Jones and Lesedi Alexander pushing.

Pictured are the captains of the winning sports house, Ararat - Ayanda Gumede (left) and Siphiwumusa

Radebe(right), with Simon Dinkelman (2011 Deputy Head Boy).

Grace College held their annual inter-house cross coun-try event on Thursday, 28 June 2012. Although the air was bitterly cold, pupils did not hold back in giving of their best for their respective teams. Ararat won the event by a small margin of seven points, with Sinai in second place and Carmel in third place. Well done to all the runners!

Cowan House green bobbies

The Green Bobbies from the Winterkloof Conservancy had an interesting visit recently – the Grade 3 children from Cowan House took a walk from school to meet the team in Devonshire Lane. The Green Bobbies are currently working in that part of our Valley to clear the invasive plants along our verges and other public spaces. The Green Bobbies said that the children had so many inter-esting questions and they really enjoyed the time they spent with the children in their workplace! Above:Siphiwe Mofokeng, the Green Bobbies’ sujpervisor showing the Gr 3’s how to identify the good and bad plants

This note came from Jenny Healey, a local resident and their teacher at Cowan House:

Thank you so much for allowing the Green Bobbies to chat to our Grade 3 children, they learnt so much and so did we! It certainly is interesting to see how much the children pick up. The other day, after our trip into Winterskloof, I heard the girls talking about Rhus and how poisonous it is, but it looks pretty!

The boys were talking about what they had found in their own gardens so at least we are making them aware of all these invaders. I have attached some photos that we took on our walk to hear the Green Bobbies.

Kind regardsJenny Healey

graCe College inter-House Cross Country

The Official School Pagerusssell HigH does it for Mandela

Russell High girls supported Mandela Day and showed that they cared for those less fortunate by donating jeans and shoes . Sne Mkhize, co-ordi-nator of this worthwhile project, was delighted with the generosity of her fellow students. The impressive collection will be given to the organization, Youth for Choice, who will in turn distribute the shoes and jeans to those in need.

Maritzburg College 2nd Formers (grade 8’s) planted trees down Princess Margaret Drive, Pietermaritzburg, adjacent to the school to commemorate Mandela’s 94th birthday. The Camel Thorn trees will flower each year during his birth-day month.

Maritzburg College plants trees

There was barely a dry eye in the Alan Paton Me-morial Hall on break up day as the Maritzburg College Staff and Boys bid farewell to their beloved Headmaster, Ron Jury. In an address to his College family, with wife Pat and daughter Cath-erine present, Jury said, “to belong to such an institution is good for one’s ego and makes going to work a pleasant scenario. Thus it has been my fortunate lot since I joined the staff as a 27 year old to experience this positive atmosphere on a daily basis! To operate in such an environment causes one to become emotionally involved which makes those of us working at College jealously guard the all-round standards we have here. It may sound clichéd but I re-ally do not regret a second of the 34 years I spent in this fine place which has given me so much.”

a sad farewell to College’s ron jury

The boys presented him with a top of the range golf driver that he will certainly make much use of in the forthcoming days of rest after many wonderful years of guidance and nurturing. Curtis Huysamen

HoMesCHooling in Kzn

Homeschooled kids at Herb Club at Peters Gate Herb Farm in Balgowan. That was our most recent outing. The popular image of homeschooling often includes

a frumpy mother standing over her large brood of children, all of whom are sitting at the kitchen table filling in worksheets, learning multiplication tables and practicing their handwriting. Perhaps it is because most of us grew up with conventional schooling that we just can’t imagine education happening any other way.

The truth is, homeschooling is nothing like that! It is alive and well and flourishing here in the Midlands. The families involved with homeschooling are just as diverse as any you would find in a ‘normal’ school.

We have regular get-togethers, play days and support groups. Our children participate in a yearly swimming gala and sports day, as well as having other activities, such as ‘Art in the Park’ to showcase their art work and a ‘Cultural Day’ where they recite poetry, sing, dance or play a musical instrument to an audience. They can belong to a Homeschoolers Drama Club, Science Club or Herb Club. Most of them also take part in numerous sporting activites. Their lives are enriched in many ways as they are not tied down by specific timetables and time-wasting activies which have no relevance to them. Their parents believe that they are spending precious time interacting with their children, as well as having a good understanding of their child’s educational needs. Homeschooled children are able to take full advantage of learning opportunities whenever they arise and they can learn and remember more through hands-on experiences. Most homeschoolers, as they get older, retain their curiosity and their joy of learning. This helps them to keep pursuing new interests, try new ideas and accomplish new goals. They become lifelong learners- a skill which will benefit them throughout their lives. Although many people will continue to wonder why on earth we choose to do this, we honestly believe that it is the best possible option for our children, and that this way they will receive a wonderful, well rounded education, which will stand them in good stead for their futures.

The culmination of Treverton College’s six-week Toastmaster’s course was a Black-Tie event for all the participants. Among the guests were Executive Head, Mr Noel Coe-tzee and Mrs Coetzee, Deputy Headmaster Student Affairs, Mr Rob Wyatt-Minter (who was responsible for introducing this course), with his wife. Nine Treverton pupils were respectively placed in the first three positions in three categories. In the best-prepared speech section, Kerry Eglin (on the right),was placed first. These nine Treverton representatives will compete against 36 schools from greater Durban on July 27. If they are successful, they will take part in the finals in December, when a team of top toastmas-ters in KZN will be chosen.

laddswortH taste tour

treverton is tops!

Treverton Grade 10 learner, Dani Cairns (see left), recently returned from Bloemfontein where she represented the KZN In-land team at the U16 inter-provincial tournament. She was cho-sen as a member of the South African U 16 team. which will be involved in an international tournament later in the year.

Despite the poor weather conditions in Bloemfontain, the girls completed all their scheduled matches.and had overwhelming success with four girls being chosen from each team to make up 8 out of the 16 girls in the South African U16 side. Danielle has played provincially since she was in Grade 7 at the Prep and has played for the College’s 1st f XI since her Grade 9 year and at present she is the top goal scorer. At the Col-lege’s annual Easter Sports’ Festival Dani received the “Player of the Tournament” Award; she scored 10 goals at the event.

The Grade 4s at Laddsworth Primary School in Hilton recently concluded their Geography studies in the Social Sciences learning area by going on a tour of the world with a difference – with their taste buds.Different groups of pupils researched countries from around the world, including each nation’s national dress and food, and made posters about them. The programme culminated in a “Taste Tour” for which learn-ers dressed up in the national dress of their country and then prepared dishes for other learners to taste. Pictured here are some of the Grade 4s: Back row, (left to right): Andrew Beyrooti (Lebanon); Kelly Martin (Zim-babwe ); Rebecca Briscoe (Greece); Jordan van der Linde (Argentina); Jor-dyn Downs (Jordan); Georgia Harvey (Jamaica) and Emma Veness (China). Seated in front are: Callum Ross (India); Bianca Boshoff (Australia); Rebecca van der Merwe (Romania); Thato Thabethe (Kenya); and Paige Clendennen (Japan).

Hilton Pre-Primary learners devoted time on Mandela day, to helping others by making sandwiches for resi-

dents of Esther House in Pietermaritzburg.

Hilton pre-priMary Kids MaKe sandwiCHes for Mandela...

Winter in the MiDlanDs

The Zulu Kingdom’s Fort Nottingham Highland and Traditional Games, is back, and with a new date. this

year it will take place on Saturday the 11th of August and promises to be a day or “reel” good fun. With novelties like a tea garden, line dancing and pos-sibly no rain, this popular annual event promises to draw the usual crowd into Fort Nottingham, the closest thing the Midlands has to Scotland. The organis-ers are delighted to welcome to their stage this year well known local musi-cian, and 2009 Idols winner, Jason Hart-man.

Born and raised in the Kwa-zulu Natal Midlands in South Africa, singer songwriter Jason Hartman is no stranger to Midlanders. In his teens, Jason and his brother Scott joined their father and formed a 3-pieced band and spent a decade together performing at various venues and corporate functions earning their keep. It was 2009 Idols that truly put Jason on the map as one of South Africa’s finest acts. Since then Jason

has performed continuously to audiences all over South Africa. His current band consists of his brother Scott on drums and vocals and his father, Sam on guitar and vocals, as well as a bass player. Jason opened for USA Idols winner Kelly Clarkson, and was also personally invited by the Prince and Princess of Monaco to take part their wedding festivities. Jason and his band with their performances at the Monaco Grand Prix and an opening gig for the Eagles, earned them a standing ovation and celebrity status in that country. Jason describes himself, with a grin, as “just an authentic, down – to – earth guy who happens to be a muso!” he is passionate about the environment, and in particular gardening. Jason heads up an NGO called The Men of Trees NGO (www.motto.org.za) and a director of Conservation Guardians (www.conservationguardians.com).

WarM uP With the nia techniqueLove your body, love your life…!Nia is a sensory-based movement practice that leads to

health, wellness and fitness. It empowers people of all shapes and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Classes are taken barefoot to soul-stirring music in more than 45 countries. Trainings are designed for those seeking personal enrichment and professional development. Every experience can be adapted to individual needs and abilities. Step into your own joyful journey with Nia, and positively shape the way you feel, look, think and live.

the White belt intensive training - open to anyone wanting personal growth or who desires to teach Nia. In the White Belt training, you will learn about The Science of Nia and why we do what we do. Co-created in 1982 by Debbie Rosas Stewart and Carlos Aya Rosas, Nia is based in what we call The Body’s Way, an applied science of using the body in accord with its specific design and structure. The more you understand the design and function of the body, the more you can consciously make choices to redirect your actions and improve comfort, function, and overall health.

Nia is “functional fitness”, a lifestyle practice and cardiovascular program that uses dynamic music and whole-body expressive movement. Nia is a revolutionary self-healing technique that uses the sensation of Pleasure as the primary motivation force for creating change. Nia is adaptable to every age, fitness level and body type, even those with limitations and special needs.

fire alert for Mountain bikers

Many mtb and other trail users are discovering that the Howick and Karkloof trails, passionately crafted by the local mountain biking clubs, offer a fantastic opportu-

nity to enjoy mountain biking and other trail sports on a social basis.

The clubs and Sappi are concerned about the safety of mtb and other trail users. One of the biggest dangers during the winter period (May to Oct), is forest fires. A reminder of this fact was the devastating fire of winter 2007 that destroyed significant portions of Sappi’s plantations, as well as other property between Curry’s Post, the Karkloof and Howick.

In an effort to reduce the risks of being trapped in a forest fire, several steps are being taken to inform cyclists about this. As cus-todians of these trails the onus is on the clubs to ensure that cy-clists are warned timeously and appropriately about trail closures. A Trail Closure Plan has been put in place to ensure that this is done. The plan begins with a message from Sappi to the clubs/ trail cus-todians that there is a potentially dangerous period of weather (dry, hot and windy), and that the trails should be closed to trail users for a given period. The clubs have in place an emergency com-munication network, to which they then send this message. Fire Danger Index and Emergency Exit Point signage (sponsored by the LRFA) is being erected at strategic points. The LRFA operates within the area to ensure compliance with the National Veld and Forest Fire Act & supports its members by providing guidelines/rules & ad-hoc fire services in respect of prevention, control and management of fires. The Association also plays a key role in coordinating integrated fire management efforts among its members, one of which is Sappi.

All trail users are requested to please be mindful of the danger of forest fires and to pay at-tention to the communications and signage that has been put in place. Take the time to un-derstand the Fire Danger Index, and if you ever reach the trails on a dry, hot and windy day between the months of May to October, please call the Lions River Fire Protection Association on 033 330 6369 or 073 704 5862. If they inform you that it is a High Fire Risk Day, accessing the trails is strictly prohibited. It is also important to ensure that you either have a day indem-nity or annual indemnity board on you at all times. These are obtainable through the Howick (082 493 5263) and Karkloof (082 878 7251) Mountain Bike Clubs.

The Community Work Programme in KZN, spon-sored by the Department of Co-operative Gover-nance and lead by Lima Rural Development, spent the day renovating the Traditional Inkosi Offices at Maquonqgo (Table Mountain) near Msunduzi. The team also built a garden, installed a household water tank and donated helpful appliances and fur-niture to the Traditional Office as well as to nearby needy homes.

liMa goes beyonD just ManDela Day...