The Village NEWS 30 January - 12 February 2018

NEWS NEWS

Village

The

Mayoral Entrepreneurial Winner

30 Jan - 12 Feb 2018

Cape Whale Coast

FREE COPY

KLEIN RIVER

REGENERATION Plans for Old Town

NEW IN REVIEW

Stanford’s big cheese

Books for your shelf

PAGE 16

PAGE 11

PAGE 5

HERMANUS HIGH SCHOOL COLOUR SPORTS DAY Michele Kotzé and Kelsey Block dash to the finish line during Hermanus High School’s colour sports day on Friday, 26 January. The blue, white and green teams battled it out while the cheerleaders made sure there was no lack of school spirit and encouragement for the athletes from the pavilion.

More photos on pages 25 & 28.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer Titanium Photography

How will Cape’s water woes impact Overstrand?

De Waal Steyn

A

s the much-feared Day Zero looms, when the taps will run dry in the Cape Peninsula, the Overstrand is set to face its own waterrelated challenges.

“There has been a notable influx in the number of ‘water tourists’ to the Cape Whale Coast, arriving here with the

prospect of doing their laundry, having a relaxing bath or shower and filling up their water containers to the brim,” says Whale Coast Tourism Manager Frieda Lloyd.

“Water tourists include people who own holiday homes in the area or who book accommodation to have access to more water. From 1 February residents in the Cape Metropole will be allowed

only 50 litres of water per person per day.”

According to letting agents there has also been a surge in residents from over the mountain renting properties here and commuting to work to escape the impact of Day Zero, now estimated to be on 12 April.

With the level of the De Bos Dam at close to 50% (down from 62.8% at the end of

local and international tourists are informed about the water situation and enquire about what the limits for water usage is here,” says Frieda.

November last year) compared to 87.9% at the end of December 2016, the Overstrand Municipality says it is continually monitoring our water reserves and will implement stricter water restrictions before the 40% level is reached. If the De Bos dam reaches the 40% level residents in Hermanus can expect to pay an increased tariff on water consumption.

Apart from more pressure on our water resources by visitors, there are additional challenges that need to be addressed as soon as possible, says Coenie Groenewald, Municipal Manager.

“What is notable is that both

“A strategic planning session,

that will include members of the Infrastructure and Planning Directorate as well as from Law Enforcement, Safety and Security, and Community Services will be held shortly to discuss plans to safeguard our water supplies.

“We have to look at all possible scenarios when the taps run dry in the areas surrounding the Overstrand and people come looking for water here.”

More on P3

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30 January - 12 February 2018

WS E

The Team 6 Royal Street Hermanus

028 312 2234

Publishing Editor dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Content Editor

Hedda Mittner 083 645 3928 hedda@thevillagenews.co.za

Design and Layout

Nickey Jackson 079 408 7722 nickey@thevillagenews.co.za

THE

NEWS

OPINION Matters

Saving water is your duty With a real prospect of the taps running dry in Cape Town and surrounds, the public outcry regarding the availability of drinking water is reaching deafening proportions.

On the Cape Whale Coast, we are fortunate enough to still have access to enough water to meet the demand and we currently only find ourselves with Level 1 restrictions in the Greater Hermanus Area. This is in large thanks to the Hermanus Business Chamber, which in 1998 commissioned research into the viability of boreholes to supplement the supply from the De Bos Dam. This came after calls that all new development should be halted as Hermanus would not be able to meet the future demand if growth continued.

The Business Chamber forwarder the report to the Municipality and after verification by a team of consulting engineers it was determined that the use of groundwater was indeed a viable option. The rest, as they say, is history.

The NEWS was admonished by a reader late last year after we reported that the region has “ample water”. According to him this was a reckless statement which would lead to people not taking the water situation in our area seriously and thus lead to them wasting water.

With what is happening right on our doorstep it is impossible for anyone to not take the scarcity of water seriously. Although we have access to enough water to meet demand, the reader is correct in saying that even now, we all need to make a conscious effort to save as much water as possible.

We call on our readers to start taking water saving measures seriously and on the Municipality to rather err on the side of caution than allow our water levels to drop.

We invite everyone to share their saving tips on The Village NEWS Facebook page.

This is the good NEWS - Ed

WHERE TO FIND US Office Administrator

Tania Hamman admin@thevillagenews.co.za

Marketing Manager

Rina de Wet 083 604 0808 rina@thevillagenews.co.za

thephotowalkers.com

The Village NEWS is published fortnightly and the next edition will be available on 13 February. The NEWS can be found at over 100 distribution points on the Cape Whale Coast, from Pringle Bay to Gansbaai.

Get your FREE copy from major retail stores such as Spar, Checkers and Pick n Pay, and at restaurants, tasting rooms, galleries and shopping centres. Should you wish to receive a copy, call us on 028 050 1319 or 083 228 7523 or pop into our office at 6 Royal Street, Hermanus.

Ombudsman The press exists to serve society. Its freedom provides for independent scrutiny, and is essential to ensuring demo-cracy. It enables citizens to make informed judgments, a role that is recognised by the Constitution. The Village NEWS subscribes to the South African Press Code and thus to the South African Press Council and the South African Press Ombudsman. Should you feel our reporting is not fair, free or unbiased and without prejudice, or that serious errors have been made, you are welcome to lay a complaint with the Ombudsman.

Reach him on 011 484 3612/8, e-mail pressombudsman.org.za or visit www.ombudsman.org.za

It’s hard to kill a clivia The prolonged drought in the Western Cape is posing many challenges, not least for local gardeners who are watching in despair as their gardens wilt in the heat.

So it may come as a surprise that the beautiful Clivia miniata is an unexpected survivor in my drought-stricken garden.

Even the most inexperienced gardener will find it difficult to kill them.

Clivias are shade plants, native to the forests of the Eastern Cape. I had always associated shade-loving plants with a need for plentiful water.

Apparently not so.

I first became aware of the clivia’s amazing survival ability when I ordered some plants from a supplier in KZN. To my amazement they arrived by parcel post packed in a cardboard box. Just like that – roots washed clean of soil. When I expressed my amazement that

the plants should survive more than a week in a box, the supplier told me an incredible story. Some years ago when we had the postal strike, a consignment of clivias he had sent to a client never made it to its destination. Six months later the parcel was returned to him by the post office. He unpacked the plants and replanted them.

Every one survived.

Clivias are not only a splendid sight in any garden. They are also a wonderful subject for teaching children about plant reproduction: flowers pollinated by bees to fertilise seeds, seeds germinating to grow new plants. The seed pods are large and easily harvested when they are ripe (the pod colour matching the colour of the flower). The seeds can be easily removed from the pod and germinated in the good old-fashioned way between two layers of wet cotton wool.

Better still, the single-use plastic containers that now

seem obligatory for packaging fruit in most supermarkets can ideally be repurposed for this function.

Children love to watch for the seeds to start sprouting. The seeds can be placed partially imbedded in potting soil in the plastic container. After a good watering the container is closed to form the perfect ‘hot house’ – drainage and ventilation holes ready-made. Place the container in the shade and watch them grow, checking from time to time that the soil is still moist. When the little plants reach the ‘ceiling’ the container can be opened.

Transplant the seedlings into the shady garden when they have two leaves. They will start to flower when they have five leaves. Be patient and you will be rewarded. If you are less patient, ask a friend for some plants when they next divide theirs.

Anina Lee Whale Coast Conservation

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30 January - 12 February 2018

Emergency housing for Paradise Park residents approved De Waal Steyn

A

pproval by the Council has been granted for the erection of 120 emergency housing units in Stanford for the residents of Paradise Park who were served with an eviction notice last year.

In a special council meeting held on 24 February a report was tabled indicating that in the circumstances where an eviction is sought and may be granted, the Municipality's Constitutional obligation to provide emergency accommodation is triggered.

“A Municipality is obligated to provide housing opportunities or, if these are not immediately available, emergency accommodation, which is a plot, with shared services, and an informal structure of a minimum of 24m². If this is not provided, the Municipality may be found to be in breach of their Constitutional obligations,” reads the report.

According to the Frank Frans, Manager: Housing Administration,

the emergency housing can be accommodated at the Breaking New Ground housing project in Stanford.

He states in the report to Council that the number of households that will be affected was calculated by a social worker who was appointed by the new owner of Paradise Park.

Last year it was reported that the new owner will develop an upmarket housing estate at the site located next to the Vermont Salt Pan. According to Sable Cape Developments, the development will include a clubhouse, luxury apartments and medium density village and country homes. Work on the development has yet to start after an eviction application was served to the current residents in terms of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction (PIE) Act. Frans states in the report that a total number of 770 housing sites are earmarked for the incremental development of the Breaking New Ground project. Work on the project will start in January of this year and it is expected to be completed by October.

The total housing demand in Stanford is for 532 houses, thus it will be possible to accommodate the 120 extra emergency structures, with a surplus of 118 serviced sites.

“Emergency accommodation is not formal housing and is temporary, and the beneficiaries, when they qualify for other housing opportunities or can accommodate themselves, will move from the emergency accommodation. The criteria for emergency accommodation are simply that the households will be genuinely homeless, if evicted or if they find themselves in a crisis situation. The normal national qualifying criteria do not apply. In other words, if they will be genuinely homeless, it does not matter if they were previously homeowners or whether their income exceeds the minimum threshold for Breaking New Ground housing,” states the report.

Council’s Senior Manager: Legal Services, Lionel Wallace states in the report if any occupiers are likely to be left homeless because of the eviction order,

the Municipality must outline, in a housing report, what steps it proposes to put in place to address and alleviate such homelessness by way of the provision of alternative land with services and a structure or emergency accommodation. The report must be filed in the High Court by February 2018.

The proposal was unanimously accepted by Council with the ANC commending the DA for its proactive handling of the situation. Cllr Simphiwe Tebele of the ANC requested that Council discuss the provision of further emergency housing for residents from other areas in the Overstrand. “In our communities we are faced daily with backyard dwellers being unlawfully evicted by homeowners.

We need to be able to look after those who are most vulnerable,” he said.

Acting Mayor, Dudley Coetzee said in terms of the law the provision of emergency housing can only be afforded to those who are evicted by a court order, but that the provision of housing for backyard dwellers who are evicted will be put on the agenda.

2017 drier and hotter than normal From P1 “We will look at access to water infrastructure like public taps as well as fire hydrants, which we need to secure in order to prevent people from filling their containers or tanks at these points.

“We also constantly monitor the dam and aquifer levels. We futhermore request homeowners, especially those who have holiday homes, to secure their outside taps to prevent any water theft,” says Coenie.

While the current Level 1 water restrictions in Greater Hermanus only apply to the watering of gardens and washing of vehicles

with hosepipes, there is no limit on the amount of water that may be used. It is therefore possible to fill containers with municipal water as long as it passes through a municipal meter and is paid for. It is, however, illegal for individuals to sell water.

“This is a moral dilemma. In the Overstrand we have access to water and there is no immediate threat of the taps running dry. But with more than 4 million people living in the Cape Metropole, what does one do when thousands of them pitch up here to fill their tanks? On the one hand one cannot refuse people in need, but on the other hand charity does begin at home,” says Coenie.

Rainfall figures from the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) indicate that Hermanus received 49.9 mm of rain in December compared to a mean average of 22.6 mm over the last 70 years.

However, the figures indicate the total rainfall for 2017 at 569 mm compared to an average of 608 mm over the past 70 years. During 2017 the average monthly rainfall was below average for 8 out of the 12 months. May was the driest month with only 9.3 mm measured against an average of 59.8 mm. According to the statistics, in 2017 the average temperatures were higher than average for 9 out of the 12 months.

The average daily water demand of Hermanus during December 2017 was 13.0 million litres per day, compared to 15.98 million litres per day during December 2016. This amounts to a saving of 18.6%, or 92.1 million litres of water in December compared to the previous year.

The Buffels River Dam, which supplies water to Rooiels, Pringle Bay, and Betty’s Bay, is still close to 100% full, as is the Kraaibosch Dam at Gansbaai and the Pearly Beach Dam. The boreholes supplying Hermanus, Stanford, Baardskeerdersbos and Buffeljagsbaai have not been adversely affected by the drought at this stage.

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30 January - 12 February 2018

Help to beautify our cemetery

With over 5 million people without access to clean water and the Western Cape in the grip of the worst drought in 1 000 years, as reported

by The Daily Maverick in October 2017, there is no denying that South Africa like many countries has serious water issues that aren’t about to disappear anytime soon.

Hedda Mittner

F

or many years I have cringed every time I drive past the neglected and forlorn Hermanus Cemetery off Magnolia Street. Despite its pleasing location at the foot of the fynbos-clad mountain, the cemetery itself is a dust bowl of uncared for graves, dead flowers, a crumbling road and a few struggling shrubs and trees.

While many residents probably share these sentiments, there is one who decided to go over into action and do something to improve this eyesore. Having spent many years living in Switzerland, Melanie Moore was inspired by the lovingly tended cemeteries in Europe with their neat and colourful gardens. Now settled in Hermanus, Melanie set out in October last year, with the help of her husband and daughter, to give the cemetery’s memorial wall a fresh coat of paint and plant hardy, drought-resistant shrubs such as bougainvillea.

Melanie says, after relentless appeals to the Overstrand Municipality (OM) for assistance, she now has their support and horticulturist Lauren Rainbird, is assistsing her in procuring hardy indigenous shrubs and trees. About two dozen Safari Sunset shrubs were recently planted along the front boundary wall and more will be planted in the near future.

Melanie pays regular visits to the cemetery to water and tend to the new plants, but volunteers are sorely needed to support her in her efforts.

“This is an excellent example of a public-private partnership,” says Kari Brice, Ward Councillor for Ward 3. “We should all stop complaining, get off our backsides and come together as residents to improve our neighbourhoods. Anyone can approach their ward councillor with workable ideas.

“I will shortly be commencing my one-hour fun, hands-on

Water Explorer teams up with WCC

Access to clean drinking water underpins everything in society and having recognised the opportunity to engage with this critical issue, schools and community groups such as Applewood Preparatory in Grabouw, Generations School in Hermanus and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust in Kleinbaai have registered with the International Water Explorer programme to prove their commitment to implementing sustainable living practices.

The Hermanus Cemetery has deteriorated over the year and become a blight on the landscape.

Essentially, Water Explorer (www.waterexplorer.org) is an online fun, inspiring and educational programme that empowers students to lead joint action on environmental issues looking through a ‘water lense’. Supported by GAP UK and funded by HSBC the programme started in 2014 and is implemented by local partner, ACT (African Conservation Trust) in South Africa. Water Explorer South Africa also won the Water Conservation Award for 2017 in the Nationally recognized, Eco-logic Enviropaedia awards. The new branch of Water Explorer, Western Cape is implemented at a local level in partnership with the Whale Coast Conservation.

Schools earn points as they complete a variety of water ‘challenges’, which are CAPS aligned, action-orientated lessons on various water issues. As teams enter their results online they start to ‘replenish’ a virtual online wetland. They also use the blog space or newsreel to report on their efforts with write ups and photographs to document their efforts.

As their virtual wetland improves, so do their water saving practices at school and home.

Melanie Moore and her family has invested their own time, money and effort in beautifying the memorial wall of the cemetery. sessions with Melanie to tackle identified areas. Let us unite in restoring the cemetery to a beautiful and peaceful place to visit and reflect.”

According to Melanie, the Municipality has undertaken to have the road which runs through the cemetery resurfaced and she is currently engaged in acquiring white crosses for the unmarked graves. In order to finance this project, she has enlisted the help of her neighbour,

Gawie Delport, who also happens to be a farmer. “He has generous-ly agreed to donate a sheep and I’m selling raffle tickets at R50 each,” says Melanie.

There seems to be no stopping this energetic retiree. “I’m retired and want to spend the time I have at my disposal in a meaningful way. The cemetery is in such a visible location and it doesn’t do Hermanus proud.

It doesn’t have to look this way!”

Anyone who would like to support this project can contact Melanie and arrange to join her in watering the plants and trees and beautifying the graves in the cemetery – or to buy a raffle ticket.

The winner will be drawn by Cllr Kari Brice on 28 February.

To get your ticket or to volunteer your support for this project, contact Melanie on 071 239 6646 or melanie.ronell.moore@gmail. com

Water Explorers stand to win many appropriate prizes to assist them in achieving their water goals. Every year the top 15 teams win a small amount of funding to assist them on their mission. The top 5 teams are invited to a national event where one team is nominated to represent South Africa at the International Event in London in October 2018.

Water Explorer gives students the opportunity to collaborate with their fellow Water Explorers across oceans on an international scale. It has proven to be a fresh, innovative way to enthuse future generations to be global citizens, acting locally and thinking globally.

Registration is free. Sign your team up at www.waterexplorer.org (schools, cubs/scouts teams, enviro-clubs, Sunday school groups, and environmental groups are all encouraged to enroll). Contact Louine Boothway for more info at lboothway@gmail.com or 079 053 9034.

- Anina Lee Whale Coast Conservation

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30 January - 12 February 2018

Renewed energy for renewal of Old Town De Waal Steyn

T

he regeneration of the CBD is set to receive a new impetus with the creation of the Hermanus Old Town (HOT) initiative under the auspices of the Hermanus Business Chamber.

“At the end of 2017 a group of likeminded business owners came together to share and discuss their vision for the regeneration of the CBD and to build up renewed energy for preserving our old town, its character and its charm,” says HOT Chair, Hamish Hofmeyr.

“The idea is to demarcate the Old Town as a branded tourist attraction that draws visitors to the historical landmarks and places of interest to visit. We want to further enhance the town through greening the area with trees and plants, encouraging outdoor settings along the streets, repainting and repairing buildings where necessary and improving the paving and sidewalk surfaces. We have already had some success with two owners of buildings agreeing to repaint their properties.”

HOT has in mind to further beautify the town by painting selected blank walls in some of the lanes with murals depicting the significant features of the Old Town. This will include maps to connect the historic and significant landmarks not only in the Old Town but also to attractions such as Fernkloof and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

“We are also planning on improving visual signage of which there is a dire lack at the moment. It is important to link all the sights together and at the same time highlight the unique his-tory of your town.

Creating walkways in certain areas will lead to the creation of street markets and entertain-ment, much like in many European towns and cities,” says Hamish.

According to HOT they also want to appeal to landowners to consider subdivision of large empty premises for smaller businesses to be given the opportunity to afford rentals in the Old Town. “One of the important focus areas will also be to create a visually pleasing entrance to town. The outdated welcoming sign needs to be replaced with something artistic and aesthetically pleasing. All the random signage that creates visual pollution as you enter town also needs to be removed,” he says.

“The CBD Regeneration Plan that was drawn up by GAPP Architects and Urban Designers was adopt-ed

by Council in 2016 and in-cluded in the 2017 – 2022 Integrated Development Plan of the Munici-

pality,” says Director of Infrastructure and Planning, Stephen Müller.

“The problem is that there is no money available in the current budget to implement the plan in its entirety. We are, however, committed to the preservation and regeneration of the town. We would welcome any input and actions from the private sector and look forward to working together to make the Old Town as accessible and pretty as possible,” says Stephen.

According to him some of the larger projects such as the upgrade of Mitchell Square and the taxi rank will be dependent upon the sale of municipal land and finding developers who are willing to undertake the developments.

“

We'd like to brand the Old Town as a tourist attraction that draws visitors to the historical landmarks and places of interest to visit.

utilised. The main ideas are to introduce new developments, landscaping and pedestrian improvements that can establish a clear sense of arrival and a gateway into the CBD. The tennis courts and adjacent land are earmarked for sale and redevelopment. This lends itself to developments that can accommodate mixed use tenants and well landscaped public squares that open onto the Royal Road circle.

2. Swallow Park and Marine Drive Swallow Park is a significant green space and public amenity, ideally located to integrate the CBD with the Cliff Path. However, its amenity and sense of safety are under-mined by the fact that it is sur-rounded by roads with parking bays. The plan proposes that the park interfaces with the surrounding properties. These areas should be improved so that the buildings on the park edges open onto the park and the pedestrian connections through and around the park are improved.

The current layout of the Main Road / Marine Drive Link / Park Avenue intersection needs to be improved. The concept proposes that the Marine Drive link to Main Road should be closed and incorporated with Swallow Park allowing the retail and restaurant activities to open onto the park.

”

“There are, however, short-term projects that can be implemented with relative ease. These include the upgrading of High Street by improving the sidewalks and beautifying the street,” says Stephen.

Several CBD business owners who are part of the HOT initiative have expressed their concern over the amount of business that has moved from town to the new mall. However, the Regeneration Plan, as adopted by Council, states that, “International evidence shows that vibrant, small town CBDs and main streets can be more economically successful than malls if they can provide a safe and well-maintained public environment and a balanced retail offering.”

Facilities for cyclists must be provided and Swallow Park upgraded to make provision for seating, lighting and public toilets.

Swallow Park can also be improved with a pedestrian avenue and cycling link across Marine Drive serving as a gateway to the coastal and biodiversity walks that are enhanced with a pedestrian promenade along Marine Drive. Traffic flow becomes single direction along Marine Drive between Park Avenue and Harbour Road. The sidewalk along the coastal edge of Marine Drive can be widened for the promenade space.

As reported in The Village NEWS of 8 March 2016, the Regeneration Plan includes six focus areas:

3. Mitchell Square redevelopment The development of Mitchell Street Square has the potential to become the heart of the Old Town as a vibrant public amenity. The proposal allows for the development of a high quality public square with ground floor space for new businesses such as cafés and restaurant opportunities.

1. Taxi Rank and Municipal Precinct Upgrade Undefined and unused vacant land, haphazard parking, trading and taxi operations are an eyesore and the Royal Street end of the Municipal precinct is under-

This proposed intervention is a key investment in the public environ-ment in the core of the CBD, knitting together key destinations and pedestrian routes along High, Mitchell and Long Streets. This will establish a

strong central square at the centre of the CBD, intended to connect Station Square/ Woolworths as well as Market Square and the Cliff Path.

4. High Street High Street can be transformed into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly retail street that connects the current “anchors” of the Station Square and Woolworths developments with the proposed Mitchell Square Development.

High Street will be landscaped to create a high-quality pedestrian priority mall. Traffic circulation within the CBD does not allow for the exclusion of all vehicular traffic from High Street, however there is a lot of scope to transform the street to a pedestrian dominated space while still allowing traffic to pass through.

5. Lemm’s Corner Lemm’s Corner is the knuckle that connects the core CBD with the coastal edge. The main ideas are to make improved provision for pedestrians through widened sidewalks, tree planting and improved crossing points. This flexible “village green” open space can be used for many events from markets to art instal-lations and exhibitions.

The proposal includes raised pedestrian crossing points at the Main Road and Harbour Road intersection; linked pedestrian connections through the alleyways from Marine Drive with pedestrian crossings; a raised pedestrian intersection where Long Street intersects Main Road; and improved pedestrian sidewalks and signage down Main Road.

6. Old Harbour Precinct The Old Harbour precinct is a valuable asset to Hermanus, particularly as a tourist attraction.

It is proposed that development opportunities are proactively explored with the Museum Trust to investigate the adaptive reuse of buildings to accommodate commercial opportunities such as restaurants, venues, whale listening facilities etc.

The amphitheatre space is a significant asset to the precinct and small interventions that would improve the unity between the Old Harbour Museum, Bietang’s Cave, and viewing points around the war memorial canon to the amphitheatre space will continue to improve the value of the precinct as a positive destination and public attraction.

Hamish urges all businesses in the CBD that would like to support the HOT initiative, to send an email to info@hermanusoldtown.co.za.

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30 January - 12 February 2018

THE

NEWS

Let’s Talk Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

The killing of a Town A Town is not just a conglomerate of brick and mortar and somebody living in it. A Town is a community of people with common purpose and interest living together, and in harmony with its environs and natural surroundings. A Town has a Soul.

Such a Town was Hermanus.

Regular visitor ‘horrified’ by litter at Three Dams

Driven by the urge for “progress” and “development” the OM has allowed pockets of development without apparent cohesion. The result has been a ribbon of numerous “villages” or “estates” along the R43 from near Hawston to Hermanus, each surrounded by electrified fences or walls. Within places like Sandbaai one now finds long streets of walls and electric fences and even in the centre of Hermanus the Golf Club is surrounded by gated “villages”.

As a frequent visitor to Hermanus and a keen mountain hiker, I was horrified to see the garbage discarded randomly by visitors or locals in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve at the bottom of the Three Dams (see photos).

The garbage containers were overflowing and rubbish was strewn all around the bins. I was immediately concerned about the baboon population which could be in danger of injury, particularly by the broken glass and plastic containers. The beautiful and sensitive Fernkloof Nature Reserve does not deserve this type of ignorance and disregard.

My suggestion is to remove the bins completely, and erect a sign requesting the public to carry out their rubbish (what you carry in, carry out!). Hopefully, this would help the situation at least partially. Environmental education, particularly in the schools with a strong emphasis on protecting nature would hopefully make inroads into at least the mindset of the future generation in Hermanus.

Pete Kaiser, Bad Wörishofen, Germany

Any student of town and environmental planning needs no better case study for the destruction of the Soul of a Town than what Overstrand Municipality (OM) has achieved over the past 20 years or so.

It is hard to recognise the community spirit of a Town when the residents live in isolated pockets and have no access to major parts of their

Town without having to pass through guarded gates and only by prior invitation.

With the construction of that Temple of Mammon, aka The Whale Coast Mall, I wondered what effect it would have on our Town. A quick walk through the Mall will show no new facility or services. What it shows is a duplication of existing facilities, only bigger and brighter, or an enticement of banks, Telkom and other businesses to relocate their premises, often at the inconvenience of residents. The only beneficiaries are the developers and major corporates.

It is too early to assess the impact of the Mall on the various business nodes of Hermanus but I fear that in the absence of a plan for the rejuvenation of the Hermanus CBD it is likely to degenerate into a cluster of cellphone shops and R5 stores. Time will tell.

But now the OM has given notice of the final assault on the Soul of our Town and its natural environments, particularly Fernkloof Nature Reserve.

Despite vigorous public objections, and without evaluating what effect the new Mall will have on traffic

flow into Hermanus, the OM is pushing ahead with plans to cut a swath of destruction through the Reserve, sports fields and the Country Market for the R43 bypass. It makes no sense.

A recently released draft of an Integrated Management Plan for Fernkloof Nature Reserve proposes that a major part of this world-class Nature Reserve be reclassified as a “development area”.

There are no specific details but the IMP suggests different activities which are totally incompatible with the basic objectives of a nature reserve and would only benefit investors. The IMP fails to make any argument that would justify such activities or how these would contribute to the conservation of Fernkloof Nature Reserve’s natural flora and fauna.

It is regrettable that the OM seems to be insensitive to the voice of the residents and others as expressed at public meetings, many letters of objection and long lists of signatories objecting to the proposals. One can only hope that good sense will prevail.

SAVE OUR TOWN Piet van Zyl Voëlklip

Please, turn down the volume

Thank you for your suggestion. See the letter from the Hermanus Botanical Society on P 7 about the new bin-free policy in the Fernkloof Botanical Garden. Perhaps this should also be implemented at the Three Dams and rest of the reserve. – Ed

My wife and I, and many of our friends, are regular diners in restaurants and coffee shops in Hermanus. We love to go there to have a good meal and/or a coffee break and have a relaxing chat and just enjoy the fellowship and exchange news and views, or just sit and read the newspaper.

What bothers all of us, and is most annoying, is that the

restaurant owners seemingly think that we have come there to listen to their choice of music and at loud volume.

More often than not the owners are not even there and the staff put on their own brand of music to "entertain" us.

Every time we go to a restaurant we have to ask the staff to please turn down the volume as we can hardly hear our-

selves speaking unless we shout at each other.

Please, restaurant owners; we all have radios, TVs and Hi-Fi systems at home. We do not mind soft relaxing music in the background, but keep the volume down and consider your patrons. When we do require loud music we will go to one of the disco clubs or bars.

Hugo Götze, Chanteclair

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30 January - 12 February 2018

Ignore “the people” at your own peril I have been noting with great interest the letters, debates, com-plaints, public outrage, agony and frustration over the goings-on regarding the draft IMP for Fernkloof Nature Reserve. I have also noted with interest the re-sponses, replies and positions of those Overstrand Municipality (OM) officials involved in driving the process of changing the reserve from what it is, to something else.

Despite massive public protest and overwhelming public outrage by residents and a number of highly-regarding organisations in Hermanus, the Directorate: IMP is pushing ahead regardless. Rob Fryer and Pat Miller’s letter in The Village

News of 12-18 December 2017, Which is the dog and which is the tail, hits the nail on the head.

All that remains is for me to make the following points to the OM when this matter eventually comes before Council to make a decision: Fernkloof does not belong to the OM, the Directorate of IMP or other officials driving the changes envisaged at Fernkloof, but to the people of Hermanus and the region.

Per-haps the Directorate and officials behind this process need to be directed to a simple word in the dictionary – DEMOCRACY! Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg ad-dress in 1863 defined democracy as

“government of the people, by the people, for the people”.

Governments (and councils, municipalities, etc.) are elected by the people to run their countries, provinces, regions and municipalities for the benefit of the people, not themselves or their officials.

In the case of Fernkloof, virtually the entire town is opposed to the “destruction” of Fernkoof as a nature reserve as we know it (because that is what is intended). Residents of Hermanus have come out in massive opposition and outspoken outrage to this plan: in meetings, committees, letters, opposition movements (e.g. “hands-off Fernkloof” T-shirts worn by hundreds), as well as

numerous reputable and influential organisations in the town and region. Yet despite all the opposition, protest and anger, OM officials feel they know better than the residents, better than the people who elected them, better than the people who pay their salaries, and better than numerous pieces of legislation designed to keep such persons in check. They are simply thumbing their noses at the very people who elected them to run the town for the benefit of all who live in it. They are arrogantly saying “buzz-off, we know better”.

Well, let’s remind them that there can be a rising of mas-

sive opposition to the sitting party at the next municipal elections. Look what happened to a number of provincial governments in Gauteng, Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay which the ANC lost, and a few other municipalities which only remained in the hands of the ANC after it formed coalitions with other parties.

People were angry and had enough of officials, politicians and political parties who ignored the electorate and thought they knew better than the people who elected then. Also, if the Fernkloof IMP goes ahead in violation of Section 151 of the Constitution, Section 25 of the Municipal Systems Act, Section 35 of the IDP and NEM:PAA, the

Directorate: MP and OM should take note of the cases of government politicians and their cronies who were taken to court by “the people” for violating the law – by “people” organisations such as Freedom Under Law and the Helen Suzman Foundation.

If the plan goes ahead in the face of opposition by an overwhelming majority of the residents of Hermanus and the region, the DA will face a massive backlash from these people at the next election.

Remember – “government of the people, by the people, for the people”. Ignore “the people” at your peril.

Prof Roy du Pré

Fernkloof Gardens are going bin free Dustbins and baboons have an ongoing relationship in the gardens of Fernkloof, disastrous for both. The dustbins, made of heavy artificial wood, are at present lying forlornly on their sides for the most part, contents strewn in all directions. Baboons are probably having digestive problems from their dangerous diet of leftover plastic, usually sugarcoated!

This is a no-win situation on both sides. There is plenty of

delicious baboon food available, especially at present.

Figs from the Ficus sur trees in the amphitheatre are abundant, on and off the ground. Satisfied grunts in baboon language bear testimony to their enjoyment.

Then there are the berries from the towering Cape Ash trees and also from the Tree Fuchsias, Halleria lucida, which grow all the way up the dry river bed. Odd pincushion flowers add to the menu.

The bins have been in some cases wired to suitable trees, supplied with locks and notices asking visitors to take their litter home. All to no avail. Strong baboon muscles lift them and throw them with ease, releasing catches and even pulling off the notices for good measure. Who says baboons can’t read?

For these reasons, the Hermanus Botanical Society has decided that, like their big

sister botanical gardens, Kirstenbosch and Walter Sisulu, and many more worldwide, the gardens will from now on be BIN FREE. All visitors are asked to take their litter back home.

Please help keep the rolling lawns and leafy picnic areas pristine, clean and unpolluted.

Deirdre Richards Hermanus Botanical Society

Sandy and Brent Jenkin installing the bin-free notice at Fernkloof.

Updating The Duck ’n Fiddle’s archive of collective nouns Every year around Christmas, an eerie stillness settles like a shroud over the archives at The Duck ’n Fiddle’s Explanation of Everything headquarters. These vaults, you may recall, safeguard a compendium of ancient revelations compiled originally by King Arthur and signed by his brother Bob. These annals contain historical truths hidden from ‘conventional wisdom’, and reach back to before Adam had an apple.

The shroud of stillness is due to our intrepid researchers – collectively known as the elves – having taken their Christmas break to head north and help an old friend wrap presents for those kids who bothered to write letters of request. Those who just sent text messages got nothing but a curt reply: LERN 2 RITE! Anyway, with everyone away, I had time to update the filing

Wit’s End Murray Stewart thevillagemuze@gmail.com

and sift leisurely through any new contributions, which we receive regularly from academics and scientists worldwide.

Professor Phyllis Tyne from Chunderwell University in Glugalong near Darwin, sent us some official additions to the list of regular collective nouns in everyday use. These were published on Garlge, an Australian Google-like search engine sponsored by a popular local brewery, Glug ’n Chunder. Now we all know the usual ones like a flight of stairs or a swarm of bees, but she suggested a few, not yet

comprehensively documented in the Explanation of Everything.

As you can imagine, a misbelief of painters caught my attention. In medieval days portraits were commissioned by wealthy patrons to hang in their wood-panelled drawingrooms after they’d snuffed it.

The artist’s job was to strike a balance between reality and flattery. Back then misbelief meant an erroneous or misguided belief, rather than a refusal to believe. So to guarantee future commissions the painters learned to create – almost unbelievably – a life-

like illusion of beauty or power, even if none existed.

Andy Warhol would have starved.

of waiters, but you probably didn’t know those blokes who fix your loo are collectively called a flush of plumbers.

A murder of crows and a parliament of owls, are seldom used in daily chatter because they’d cause sniggers and snorts, as would your mentioning a bloat of hippopotamuses, or a bask of crocodiles. And I wonder what the gay community thinks of a flamboyance of flamingos? I’m not making this up. Gargle it.

Included is a list from Woody Hardwick who put forward a clique of photographers and, although not entirely accurate, a prudence of vicars.

Some collective nouns can refer to more than one group, like a flock of sheep, a flock of birds or flock of polisiekarre for local music followers.

With the advent of social media, newer terms have invaded the lexicon. Computer boffins are referred to as a cloud of data scientists or an asylum of programmers, and teenagers hunched over their phones in shopping arcades are currently known as a twitter of mallrats. Now, a nucleus of physicists is selfexplanatory, as is an absence

Another update worth mentioning involves the initial building of the Alps by the Vikings, lead by Ulrich the Unwashed during the Spaghetti Wars in Europe. As we all know, this was long before the Romans continued the construction to keep the elephants out, but Ruud Bönker from Reykjavik took exception to Ulrich’s

‘unwashed’ nametag.

“He washed with almost religious fervor every summer solstice,” claims Ruud. “He would sometimes even remove his clothing, so he should rather be remembered by his middle name, Wilhelm. We, as the Viking Heritage Society, propose ‘Well-washed Willy’ as a more fitting title.”

Sadly, Mr Bönker, we can’t alter history and determine facts by popular opinion, or we’d all have a peripheral view of the truth. So however well-washed a part of him was, the perception that the rest of him wasn’t, is how history remembers him.

Anyway, gotta go, I can hear bells jingling –the elves are returning from up north. But keep the updates coming, especially any new collective nouns. A slither of pole-dancers, perhaps?

8

W

30 January - 12 February 2018

Hermanus High learners honoured for excellent matric results

ith the announcement of the recent 2017 matric results the Western Cape Education Department produced the third best provincial results in the country. More importantly, the Overberg again took the top spot as the best performing school district in the province.

At the Overberg Education District annual awards ceremony for the matric results of 2017 held on 13 January, Hermanus High School received awards for excellence and improvement in the following individual subjects: Excellence in Mathematics, Physical Science, Engineering Graphics & Design, English Home Language, and Information Technology. The school was also presented with awards for Best Improvement in Mathematics, English Home Language, and Information Technology.

Hermanus High School is extremely proud to have produced four of the Top 10 matric candidates in the Overberg District: 3rd position Francesca Middleton 93.3% 4th position Meaka Garland 91.7% 5th position Chizelle de Wet 91.2%, 10th position Daniël Landes 90.2% Francesca Middleton was also the top performing learner in the Overberg District in Accounting (98%), while Klara van Rooyen took the top spot for English Home Language (94%) and Franco Swarts for Information Technology (91%). A Special Director’s Award was made to Zola Kanyisa Sapepa who excelled in the final examinations despite experiencing challenging conditions. Zola achieved an aggregate of 75.2%.

Furthermore, Hermanus High was also given an award for Good Overall Academic Performance.

Not only did the school produce a 100% pass rate but it also produced the highest percentage of Bachelor’s passes (77%) in the district.

The school’s top matrics of 2017 were again honoured at Hermanus High’s annual Dux ceremony held on Monday morning, 22 January.

Principal Greg Hassenkamp referred to them as “an inspiration to all” when awards were made to the top performing learner in the school in the following subjects: Mathematics: Francesca Middleton - 97% Physical Science: Daniël Landes - 96% English Home Language: Klara van Rooyen - 94% Afrikaans Home Language: Misha van Zyl - 95% Accounting: Francesca Middleton - 98% Engineering Graphics and Design (EGD): Dabin Kim - 98% Information Technology (IT): Franco Swarts - 91% Computer Application Technology (CAT): Terek Janczik - 92%

SHINING STARS Among the top performing 2017 matrics who attended the Dux ceremony at Hermanus High School on 22 January (not all were present as some had already left for university) were, at the back from left: Georgia Moore, Jean Barkhuizen, Adie Heunis, Dabin Kim, Franco Swarts, Natalie Austin and Klara van Rooyen. In front: Amy Hess, Kayla Swarts, Meaka Garland, Francesca Middleton, Zainab Khafif, Malaika Jones and Ann Marie Swart.

Six learners from the school also featured on the Western Cape’s merit list in specific subjects: In 4th position was Dabin Kim for EGD; in 7th position was Alissa Coetzee for Tourism; in 9th position were Natalie Austin for EGD, Meaka Garland for Life Orientation and Danielle Smith for Tourism; and in 10th position was Daniël Landes for History, Chizelle de Wet for Life Orientation and Shana Horn for Mathematical Literacy.

“These awards once again highlight the exceptional quality of the education offered at Hermanus High School,” said Hassenkamp.

“Hermanus High School would like to once again congratulate the above mentioned learners as well as the entire Matric Class of 2017 on their outstanding results. These results continue to ensure that Hermanus High School remains an institution of academic excellence and a flag ship school in the district, province and country.”

Francesca Middleton (right), the school’s top performer of 2017, thanked the school, her teachers, family and friends for their support.

Close friends Chizelle de Wet and Meaka Garland (above) attended the Overberg District Awards together on 13 January. They were both among the Top 10 matric candidates in the district and said “Hermanus High is a truly great school with outstanding teachers”. Chizelle will be studying to become a vet this year at Onderstepoort while Meaka is taking a gap year to travel.

9

30 January - 12 February 2018

New learners take on big school With brave smiles and great anticipation, new grade 1 learners quickly settled into their new environment at Hermanus’ primary schools. Moms and dads were on hand to help calm nervous newcomers, while their teachers quickly made them feel welcome. With a long road ahead of them over the next 12 years, the learners will be in capable hands in one of the country’s top school districts. While the grade 1s made themselves comfortable, the grade 8s in the town’s high schools were put through their paces on the first day of orientation.

Lilly Neal’s mom, Tania Pretorius-Neal (left), spent a while in the classroom on her daughter’s big day at Hermanus Primary School.

PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner and Taylum Meyer, Titanium Photography.

In front are Cwebeni Sinentlahla and Lithabo Fihla, with Janekwana Endinoko and Foxo Onwabile behind them, on their first day in the grade 1B class of Miss Bukiwe Dyan at Lukhanyo Primary School in Zwelihle.

Ansua Eloff, Adé van Jaarsveld, Helouise Havenga, Emma Lemmer and Amelie Myburgh were very excited to start their first day of Grade 1 in Miss Minette Archer’s class at Curro Hermanus.

Chanlyn Coert was all smiles as her dad, Shane Booysen of the Overstrand Fire Department, escorted her to her classroom at Hermanus Primary School.

Milani Mohle and Masumpa Luphumlo, and Zenzile Athule and Mqnana Azukile behind them showed no sign of nerves on their first day in ‘Big School’ at Lukhanyo.

This groups of new grade 8 learners at Hermanus High School had to learn a song and a routine to be performed in the school hall as part of their orientation.

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30 January - 12 February 2018

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Wednesday 31 January

■ Blue Moon Beach: What exactly is a ‘blue moon’ and how often is ‘once in a blue moon’? Join Whale Coast Conservation on this exciting eco-adventure to explore the night sky and watch the wildlife feeding. Adults R100, children R50, including a complimentary drink at Dutchies. All proceeds go to environmental education. Booking is essential; contact anina.wcc@gmail.com or WhatsApp 083 242 3295. At Grotto Beach, from 19:30 – 21:30.

Thursday 1 February ■ Hermanus Bird Club: The club’s monthly outing will be to Rooisand Nature Reserve, led by John Saunders. Bring your own refreshments. Meet in the parking area at the Onrus Trading Post at 07:00 to consolidate transport.

Friday 2 February

■ Burns Supper: Dress up in black tie or lounge suit – or as a Highlander – to celebrate the life and poetry of the Scottish bard Robert Burns. Tickets for the Burns Supper featuring traditional Scottish fare are R250 pp. Pre-booking and payment of individual and table bookings essential. Contact Alastair Lyle on lyle@hermanus.co.za or call 028 314 1390 or 073 778 2777. At Hermanus Golf Club, at 19:00 for 19:30.

■ Ancient Egypt: U3A Overberg will continue their DVD series on the History of Ancient Egypt with a session of four lectures. The first in this series is Ancient Egypt: The 2nd Intermediate Period – The Hyksos and Biblical Joseph, presented by Gert Claassen. In the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00.

for this life-saving organisation, send your details to deon@searescue.org.za and he will contact you.

Or get all the information first-hand by attending their recruitment drive. At Station 17 in the New Harbour, from 14:00 – 17:00.

Visual Group. To find out more visit www.hermanus photo.co.za. For any queries or to become a member, contact Daniel Reddie at info@hermanusphoto. co.za. In the Hermann Swart Hall, Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus, at 19:00.

Sunday 4 February

Thursday 8 February

■ Afdaksrivier Crafters’ Market: Enjoy this open-air market on the first Sunday of every month and browse the stalls of homemade arts & crafts, including wood and leather products, bonsais, jewellery, soaps and skincare products. Organic juices, smoothies, pancakes, breakfasts and other treats will be served at the Café Tango coffee shop.

At the Afdaksrivier Nursery, on the R43 at the Karwyderskraal turnoff, from 10:00 – 14:30.

■ Creation & Chef Thomas: Michelin-starred chef and author of several bestsellers on gastronomy, Thomas Rode Andersen from Denmark, joins the Creation culinary team for one special dinner. Experience the finest of European cuisine expertly paired with Creation’s awardwinning wines. To book your place at the table at R595 pp, contact reservations@creationwines. com by 5 February. At Creation Tasting Room, from 18:30 – 22:00.

Monday 5 February ■ History of Scotland: U3A Overberg is resuming their popular DVD series on the History of Scotland with Episode 6: God's Chosen People, presented by Dr Robin Lee. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00.

■ Hermanus Astronomy Centre: HAC will present the final two lectures in the series Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos, entitled The Really Big Stuff – The Origin of the Universe and Looking Back and Looking Forward.

For more information, contact Pierre Hugo at pierre@hermanus.co.za. In the Catholic Church hall, at 19:00.

Tuesday 6 February ■ Friends of Hermanus Library AGM: FOHL is in need of new volunteers for their weekly Bhuki Café.

Anyone who is interested in getting involved is welcome to attend their Annual General Meeting.

At the Hermanus Library, at 10:00.

Wednesday 7 February

Saturday 3 February ■ L2L Practice Walk: Join the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse ladies on one of the practice walks in aid of Hermanus Animal Welfare Society (HAWS).

Walk 1 is from De Kelders to Grotto Beach (19 km).

Registration on the day (R120) at Grotto Beach at 06:30, with transport to De Kelders provided at 07:00. Walk 2 is from Grotto Beach to Sopiesklip and back (12 km). Registration (R60) at Grotto at 08:00, departure at 09:00. Walk 3 is the Wiggle Waggle Walk with your dog on Grotto Beach (choose own distance). Registration (R30) at Grotto, departure at 08:00. For more info call 082 225 5789 or 082 901 8643. At Grotto Beach, from 06:30.

■ Onrus Markie: Join this friendly community market every first Saturday of the month. At the De Wet Hall in Roos Street, Onrus, from 09:00 – 12:00.

■ NSRI Recruitment Drive: Hermanus NSRI Station 17 is in need of sea-going crew, shore crew and controllers. If you are interested in volunteering

■ Movie Nights at South Hill: Join South Hill in the Elgin Wine Valley on the first Wednesday of the month for sunset drinks from 18:00, main course supper at 19:00 and the screening of Dunkirk at 20:00. The cost is R135 pp. Mid-week stay-over packages available that include supper, movie, accommodation and farm-style breakfast from R685 pp sharing. Contact events@southhill.co.za or call 021 844 0888 / 083 627 7950 to book your seats, to be included on their movie mailing list or for more details. At South Hill, from 18:00.

■ Hermanus Photographic Society: Everyone is welcome at the first meeting of the year, from the beginner to the advanced photographer. An exciting year lies ahead with interesting monthly outings, challenges, workshops and the revitalised Audio

Friday 9 February ■ Ancient Egypt: The next lecture in U3A Overberg’s DVD series on the History of Ancient Egypt is The Fabulous XVIIIth Dynasty and Queen Hatshepsut, presented by Gert Claassen. In the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00.

■ OAK concert: Overstrand Arts / Kunste present two young artists from Belgium, Nikolaas Kende (piano) and Jolente De Maeyer (violin), who will play works of Felix Mendelssohn, Lodewijk Mortelmans, Robert Schumann and Ludwig van Beethoven. Tickets are R140 (R60 for students), available from the Tourism Office in Mitchell Street (028 312 2629). Further enquiries can be made to Secretary René du Plooy on 082 940 4238. At the Municipal Auditorium, at 19:00.

REGULARS Every Friday ■ Hermanus Hacking Group: Meet at the green reservoir off Mountain Drive, near the Gateway intersection, every Friday at 07:15 for 07:30. All volunteers welcome. Contact Charlyn Vosloo on 082 558 8731 or mcvosloo@mweb.co.za ■ Bhuki Café: Friends of Hermanus Library will be back on 19 January, serving tea, coffee and eats for only R20 (2 eats) or R30 (3 eats). At Hermanus Library, every Friday from 09:00 – 11:30.

Every Saturday ■ Hermanus parkrun: A free, timed 5 km walk or run, come rain or shine. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome. Meet at Hermanus Forest in Camphill Road, Hemel-enAarde Valley, every Saturday at 08:00.

■ Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market: Where wine and food lovers both local and international meet. In the courtyard at Hermanuspietersfontein winery in The Village, every Saturday from 09:00 – 13:00.

■ Hermanus Country Market: A favourite among the locals, young and old. Fresh local produce, wholesome goodies and homemade crafts. Next to the cricket field in Fairways Avenue, every Saturday from 09:00 – 14:00.

■ Market in the Garden: Set among a treed garden in the heart of town. At St Peter’s Church in Main Road, every Saturday from 09:00 – 13:00.

Every Sunday

Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 February ■ Lighthouse to Lighthouse MTB: This annual MTB race stretches along a scenic route from Danger Point Lighthouse in Gansbaai to the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse on day 1 and back again to Danger Point on day 2. The total distance of the route is app. 180 km along gravel roads, farm trails and magnificent fynbos. Riders can choose to participate either in one of the events on the Saturday or Sunday (R700) or the 2-day event (R1 000). Book online at www.entrytime.com before 4 Feb or register on the Friday, from 16:00.

For enquiries, call 072 789 3627 or 066 218 8155.

At Danger Point Lighthouse, at 07:00.

■ Stargazing: Join the Southern Cape Astronomy Club for an evening under the stars in Pearly Beach exploring the sixth largest constellation, Eridanus (‘The River’), which contains an impressive number of double and multiple stars. Every-one is welcome.

Contact Kos Coronaios on 079 148 4934 or via email at elephantcastle@lantic.net for more details.

At Pearly Beach, from 20:30.

Monday 12 February ■ Hermanus History Society: The speaker at the HHS’s Annual General Meeting will be Professor Bill Nasson from the University of Stellenbosch. The title of his presentation is Memories of a history conference speaker and everyone is welcome. In the Catholic Church hall, at 16:00.

■ Lemm’s Corner Market: This popular Sunday market offers exclusive arts and crafts, great food, craft beer and wine bar. Come and enjoy the relaxed vibe and live music. On the corner of Main and Harbour Roads, from 10:00 – 15:00.

Every Monday ■ Classic Bridge Club: Duplicate Bridge, every Monday at 13:00, at Fernkloof Hall. To join the club, contact Riekie on 072 230 9179.

Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday ■ Walker Bay Walkers: Join this group of about 30 walkers who meet 3 times a week and do 3 different routes of between 6 – 9 km. Meet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Hermanus Bowling Club, at 07:30. For more info, call Lynn on 082 471 3637 or Angela on 082 445 8376.

Every Thursday ■ Rotary Club of Hermanus: Weekly meetings every Thursday at Mollergren Park, at 19:00.

Visitors welcome. Contact Ian Wallace on 082 895 8738 or Metcalf Fick on 082 568 2193.

Send your events information to hedda@thevillagenews.co.za

Village

EXPLORER EXPLORER The

ARTS • FOOD • BOOKS

Klein River Farmstead– Stanford’s Big Cheese Friela Lloyd

T

ime flies when you’re making cheese and having fun in the countryside! It seems like just the other day, but it is almost three years since Mags and Peter Baleta settled in the Overberg and took control of Klein River Cheese on the outskirts of Stanford.

In the Baleta tradition of adding value to a product and taking it to market, they embraced cheese making with the same zest they’d applied to turning magoes into spicy pickled achar in Limpopo. But achar was not enough for this dynamic team and, after farming near Tzaneen for 32 years, they started looking for a new challenge. When opportunity came knocking in the form of Klein River Cheese, the Baletas knew immediately they’d found their match. They wrapped up affairs in record time and moved from their thriving achar business, which Peter still manages, to cheese making – an industry in which they had no previous experience.

Today the business represents cheese, picnics and family. This combination forms such a strong part of Klein River Artisan Cheese that it was incorporated into their core branding strategy from the outset. Supporters of Klein River may have noticed their new-look logo, which features a circular shape that reflects a head of cheese, surrounded by swirls that echo the growth rings in a tree, ripples of water, and the wind that whirls through the Stanford valley. The concentric circles also define them as a family unit.

The Baletas manage Klein River Cheese in the spirit of family orientation, with their three children all contributing to the farmstead. Daughter Hannah has a doctorate in water science and is currently living in Myanmar and working for WWF. Hannah and her husband Raymond will return to the Overberg to join the family business in 2019. Nicholas, a marine engineer, lives in Cape Town but helps with all the farm maintenance. Matthew, their youngest son, has a Masters in Agri-Business and puts his qualification to good use by mapping and managing the farm’s land use. The family-oriented farm itself houses a never-ending playpark and furry farm animals which attract families from across South Africa. These factors make Klein River

The Klein River Artisan Cheese team is dedicated to living and working in tune with their environment, community and farmstead.

Cheese Farmstead a family destination and an ambassador of Agri-Tourism.

every 4th wedge of Klein River Cheese is made by the sun.

On the production side it takes 10 litres of milk to produce 1 kilogram of cheese. Klein River Cheese processes roughly 3 000 litres of Jersey cow’s milk per day which produces 300 kilo-grams of handcrafted cheese on a daily basis. All the milk is sourced from three local dairy farms within a 20-kilometre radius. This ‘local is lekker’ philosophy is a thread that runs throughout the farmstead. Mags counts herself a locavore – someone who primarily eats food from the region they live in. The family has made Stanford, and its people, the centre of their universe. Mags is extremely grateful for the way in which the community continues to support the family and the farm. In this spirit, the Baletas actively participate in Stanford Tourism and are set on leaving a legacy that makes a difference in the lives of their employees and the environment.

There might be new owners at the helm but in the factory all 16 members of the production staff are still following the lead of cheesemaker Jacko van Beulen, who has been with Klein River from day one, over 25 years ago. Four styles of cheese are slowly and purposefully hand-crafted – Washed Curd Cheese, Brushed Rind Cheese, Hard Cheese and Young Cheese – with a total of 11 different types of cheese.

Jacko manages to set time aside between busy production schedules to train the rest of the team and make sure his skills are transferred across generations. Mags believes the real reward is in the tasting of the cheese every morning. A company favourite is the Oak Smoked Stanford. Smoked at the Aphrodisiac Shack in Villiersdorp, this cheese pays homage to the region where the product originates.

In particular, Trees for Tourism struck a chord, and the Baletas have started a reforestation project that has resulted in more than 350 indigenous trees being planted. Sustainability practices on the farm include an impressive solar panel installation which has allowed them to save 3 tons of Carbon Dioxide and 3 MWh of power per month since its inception – an energy saving of almost 25%. This implies that

And the accolades keep coming in – in 2017 alone Klein River Artisan Cheese won a slew of awards, including Gold for their Oak Smoked Stanford, crowned as the Best Smoked Cheese in the World, plus Silver for the Gruberg Mature and Bronze for the Havarti, at the World Cheese Awards 2017-2018 held in London. At the South African Dairy Championships hosted by the agricultural society Agri-Expo, they again won

The Klein River Farmstead offers an idyllic setting for a picnic on the sprawling lawn that runs down to the Klein River.

three Golds, one Silver, three Bronzes, and a Qualite award. The latter is presented to products for "outstanding quality" and the Klein River Gruberg Extra Mature was one of only 16 out of nearly 900 products that received the prestigious award.

Klein River Artisan Cheese can be purchased at Woolworths and Food Lover’s Markets nationwide, Checkers in the Western Cape, selected Spar stores, and several delis and farmstalls in the Western Cape. Or you could visit the Farmstead, which is situated 7 kilometres from Stanford on the R326, from Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 16:00. Laze on the lawn and enjoy a picnic while the children play on the jungle gym or interact with the farm animals.

Love comes in many forms – shredded, sliced and melted – and from Wednesday 14 February until Saturday 17 February The Picnic Shed will host a special offering for couples at R495 per couple. There is limited availability and couples should book in advance at picnics@kleinrivercheese.co.za.

For further information, contact 028 341 0693 or info@kleinrivercheese.co.za or visit www.kleinrivercheese. co.za

The owners of Klein River Artisan Cheese, Mags and Peter Baleta, with cheesemaker Jacko van Beulen.

12

30 January - 12 February 2018

Become a Friend of FynArts

E

xcitement is mounting for this year’s FynArts Festival from 8 – 17 June and the programme booklet will be available this week.

Bookings for Early Bird tickets as well as vouchers open on 9 February, while Friends of FynArts will be able to book tickets for all their chosen events from this week Tuesday, ahead of the general public.

8 - 17 June 2018 taining, stimulating, and enormous fun.

The sixth FynArts Festival will not only welcome familiar faces back to Hermanus but also introduce festivalgoers to some new and exciting additions to the programme. The long line-up will again offer 10 days of cultural events ranging from visual arts to talks, demonstrations, music, films, workshops, wine tastings and pairings, a children’s programme and more in between.

Go to www.hermanusfynarts. co.za and subscribe to their newsletter for all the updates – or better still, become a Friend of FynArts. By doing so, you will not only invest in the sustainability and ongoing growth of this proudly local festival but also enjoy special privileges. An annual contribution of R300 (single) and R500 (couple) or a once-off, life-time contribution of R3 000 (single) and R5 000 (couple), qualifies FynArts Friends to:

An exciting first on this year’s FynArts Festival programme is the ballet performance of the Cape Town City Ballet. Other new twists to the programme will range from a panel discussion on investigative journalism to floral workshops; and from ten top chefs to another supper club evening that all promise to be enter-

• book tickets for all their chosen events in advance of the general public • be invited to a welcoming cocktail function before the Opening Concert • be invited to attend the Annual General Meeting as well as at least one annual Friends-only event before the Festival

Friends of FynArts will be listed on the official FynArts website and given a special card and booking code to make their reservations, either online via Webtickets or at the FynArts office next to Hermanus Tourism, from 30 January. The Friends initiative is coordinated

by FynArts volunteer, Joanna Hardie.

Application forms can be obtained from the FynArts office or online at hermanusfynarts.co.za and either submitted to the office with your payment or emailed to admin@hermanusfynarts. co.za, with your receipt of payment referenced with your surname and the word FRIEND. For more information, contact FynArts Administrative Coordinator Chantel Louskitt at admin@hermanusfynarts.co.za or call 060 957 5371.

– Hedda Mittner

13

30 January - 12 February 2018

The Mission’s House is on a new mission

T

he Mission’s House Gallery, which has been a historical landmark in Onrus for over three decades, has sadly closed its doors. But the good news is that owner Glenda Pope’s framing business runs on and she will be in attendance at the studio to assist and guide clients as before.

Remaining at Glenda’s side is the highly-skilled Leroy Henn, who has been responsible for the framing side of business for 15 years. Glenda says their skills are complementary, and with her art background and his resourceful frame-making experience they make a formidable team.

The framing What is so special about Glenda’s framing? Well, her input is always ten-tative as she listens to the client – consultative, cooperative and honest without being brutal. Unlike selling artworks, framing skills cannot be short-circuited by a search on the internet and a visit to the artist after a leisurely look at their work on display in a gallery.

Some who do this are quite unconscious of the inevitable result for a business. If this is

Art News Patrick Chapman

indeed the way it is going, galleries will simply be increasingly wary of showing living artists – a vital function in the art world.

With a fine arts degree and a background in lecturing and teaching art, Glenda worked with Johans Borman at the Onrus Gallery for 13 years before turning her home into a gallery and framing studio with the blessing of Johans, who was moving to Cape Town. She thrived because she had the know-how and the eye, and was fair to her clients and her artists.

Now, she says, it is time to step back from active gallery work and focus on her framing business.

The house What will happen to The Mission’s House itself? Onrus was but a sleepy village back in 1980 when Glenda and her husband purchased what was then a dilapidated old house.

But Glenda was charmed by the modest sandstone cottage built by Moravian missionaries from Genadendal in 1820 and used by the missionaries as a holiday home.

The house had retained all its original features and character, and over the years Glenda lavished it with love and care while raising her children, Bevan and Braelea, and later establishing the gallery and framing workshop.

The heritage building does not lend itself to being chi-chied up as a restaurant or retail space. At present Glenda has dipped her toe in the Airbnb market with a delightful apartment upstairs at the rear, looking on to the leafy courtyard and far enough away from the Caravan Park to be peaceful. This has proved so successful that the rest of the house is being stylishly revamped and will soon be available for holiday lets too.

Glenda’s daughter Braelea is

Glenda Pope and Leroy Henn in the framing studio of The Mission’s House in Onrus. managing this side of the business with the same flair that she brings to Mission’s House’s internet presence on Instagram, Facebook and website, missionshousegallery.co.za Artists’ colony Hermanus will be sad to say farewell to The Mission’s House. (The extra “s” came on advice from a numerologist who found the original name inauspicious.) Glenda has been a link between the original artists’ colony and its position today as a characterful extension of Greater Hermanus.

During the era of Jan Rabie and Marjorie Wallace, of Gregoire Boonzaaier and

Audrey Fourie, of sculptor Bill Davis, of Tertia Knaap and Maxie Steytler with their art school and the quaint Greek chapel among the milkwoods, Glenda has interacted with them all in addition to her current stable of artists who will be snapped up by other galleries.

The Studio Framing will continue under Glenda’s expert eye. Call 072 828 4705 if you want to ensure her presence. The landline is 028 316 2269. The best framing will still be available, archival paper, conservation standard, handfinished spacers. Art lovers are aware how framing can enhance a work significantly.

Sometimes all that is needed

The Mission’s House in Onrus, then and now.

is a new mount or a replacement of cracked glass; a fresh look at minimal cost.

“I shall miss the friends, the festive season regulars and swallows, the families whose collections I have helped build up,” Glenda muses with misty eyes. And indeed clients and their young often feel they have had an educational experience in the nicest way so they always planned a visit to the gallery while on holiday.

Don’t stay away, says Braelea, come by and continue to enjoy the framing or pop in to see the fresh bright décor of the accommodation, part farm house, part beach house. The old order may be changing but The Mission’s House remains to welcome you.

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30 January - 12 February 2018

Local eateries shine in Eat Out 500 Best Restaurants

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recently got my hands on a copy of the glossy 2018 Eat Out guide which, amongst all manner of interesting news about the latest restaurant trends in South Africa, features the 500 Best Restaurants in the country.

What’s Cooking RESTAURANT NEWS Hedda Mittner

This ultimate list of where to eat now includes a section on ‘Beyond Cape Town’ and there, among Franschhoek, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Somerset West and Strand’s finest eateries, is a section on the Overberg.

It is interesting to note that restaurants do not elect to be judged, but are handpicked by the Eat Out community and scored by a panel of anonymous critics who dine at the restaurants. These professionals include seasoned journalists, bloggers, writers, chefs, caterers, lecturers and former restauranteurs. The restaurants are judged on the quality of the food, including menu composition, seasonality, presentation, ethical awareness, value and wine; the quality of the service; and ambience. Only the highest scoring restaurants make up the Eat Out 500.

So which of our restaurants made the cut? Listed in alphabetical order, the local establishments are: Betty Blue Bistro in Hermanus; Creation Tasting Room in Hemel-enAarde Ridge; Gabriëlskloof near Bot River; Havercroft’s in Stanford; the Hickory Shack on Thandi Wine Estate in the Elgin Valley; Hook, Line and Sinker in Pringle Bay; La Trattoria in Stanford; Manor House at Stanford Valley Guest Farm; Mariana’s in Stanford; Mogg’s Country Cookhouse in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley; Springfontein Eats near Stanford (also a Top 10

The Creation Tasting Room in Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge.

The Manor House Restaurant at Stanford Valley Guest Farm.

Gabriëlskloof Restaurant on the Gabriëlskloof Wine Estate between Bot River and Caledon.

nominee); and The Tasting Room at Stanford Hills.

It is interesting to note that six of these restaurants are in the Stanford area, which has become quite the culinary hot spot for such a small village, and well worth the short drive for an exceptional meal in pleasant surroundings.

We can be rightfully proud of all these Top 500 establishments that have upped their game to world-class levels and go beyond quality and consistency to a commitment to excellence. Having said that, there are many restaurants in our area that still have a long way to go. Inconsistency, in my experience, is one of the main challenges. It has happened all too frequently that I enjoy a fantastic meal at a restaurant and can’t wait to return, often with special guests in tow – only to be horribly disappointed (and embarrassed). I am then left wondering if this could possibly be the same restaurant where I’d dined just a few weeks before!

In this column I have written about several of these Eat Out 500 restaurants in our area, but I was curious to see what “the experts” had to say. Here is a summary of their comments: Betty Blue Bistro – Rayno and Celia Rabie’s bistro, which was also awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in the coffee shop category at the 2017 Best Everyday Eateries, is described as a “pretty spot that will lift your mood with its pops of yellow and quirky touches.

The sunshine floods into the food, too.” Recommended dishes include the yellow

breakfast of corn fritters, scrambled eggs, peppers and tomatoes; the yellow salad loaded with pineapple, passion fruit, sweetcorn, almonds and coconut flakes; the smoked salmon pancake with guacamole and baby spinach; the pulled pork burger; and the green Thai curry. The stylish ambience, and friendly and efficient service also get the thumbs up from Eat Out. Creation Tasting Room – Eat Out rates the “stand-out experience” at Creation as their seven-course tasting paired with estate wines.

Other options include charcuterie platters, chocolate pairings and a blackboard menu, with the emphasis on local, ethical suppliers. The ambience is described as “a charming country bustle in this light-filled space with stellar views”, with further mention of the personable service from waiters who know the wines well, and the artworks displayed in the fynbos gardens.

Gabriëlskloof – The restaurant at this Bot River winery is recommended for its relaxed ambience and hearty “farmstyle fare”, including the roosterkoek with bobotie mince, poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce for breakfast; and for mains the generous pork belly with spring onion mustard mash and a piquant pickled apple and fennel salad; or Asian-style duck leg with harissa pumpkin purée.

The milk tart souskluitjies (dumplings) with burnt honey custard for dessert also gets a mention.

Havercroft’s – This low-key country restaurant is considered “one of the must-visit

spots in the Overberg” by Eat Out. The “feisty service” from Innes Havercroft is described as part of the restaurant’s charm, while husband and chef Brydon’s signature dishes and seasonal plates come highly recommended, including the devilled lamb’s kidneys, pork belly with beetroot and apple chutney, and the perfectly cooked chicken ballotine with Dijon sauce. Brydon’s famous chocolate éclairs also deserved a special mention. Many locals may know Brydon from the Stanford Saturday Market where he sells his delicious goods.

The Hickory Shack – Those who often travel over the mountain may do well to include a stop at this eatery just off the N2. Eat Out describes it as an “old-fashioned Texas barbecue restaurant” situated in an old barn on the Thandi Wine Estate. Meals are slowly prepared in a traditional smoking pit, with the focus on brisket, glazed ribs, pulled pork, sausages and chicken, served with sides like buttermilk mash, corn salad and coleslaw. According to Eat Out, “only the best free-range pork, beef and chicken is served”. The healthy farm atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and children and animal friendly.

Hook, Line and Sinker – Chef Stefan Kruger and his wife Jacqui have been running this unique eatery for 20 years.

Seafood reigns supreme, cooked over flames in the open kitchen. Think rich, creamy mussels; Durban hake with a lightly spiced tomato and onion salsa; tuna in a signature bourbon sauce; and wild prawns in Malaysian oil… The graffiticovered walls are testimony to the history of this eatery, with

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30 January - 12 February 2018 the ambience described as “cosy, intimate and rustic”.

La Trattoria – According to Eat Out, “some of the best Italian fare in the Cape is dished up in this homely restaurant”.

Owner-chefs Corrado Giovanetti and his son Lionella whip up authentic Italian cuisine from scratch and are always in attendance. There is a “bright and cheerful” ambience both in the restaurant and outside in the garden. The monthly jazz evenings are not to be missed.

Manor House at Stanford Valley – Situated in a restored farmhouse, this owner-run restaurant impressed Eat Out with its “inventive country cooking” and “well-priced local wine list”. Popular options on the menu include artichoke hearts with silky peppercorn aioli as a starter; seasonal waterblommetjie risotto or pork belly with teriyaki glaze for mains; and classic malva pudding for dessert. Their service is highly rated, as is the ambience and “wonderful hospitality”.

Mariana’s – Run by Mariana Esterhuizen and her husband Peter, this country bistro has become legendary. For Eat Out, the magic lies in “a selection of seasonal dishes with much of the fresh produce coming from the gardens a few steps from

your table or from near-by suppliers and producers”.

Expect real comfort food, and warm and genuine hospitality.

Mogg’s Country Cookhouse – After two decades, Jenny and Julia Mogg “continue to offer some of the best country cooking in the Cape”, according to Eat Out. “The compact menu focuses on homely fare made with care.” Friendly service and a sprawling lawn for the children to play complete the picture.

Springfontein Eats – Expect warm and charming country hospitality at this highly rated restaurant on Springfontein Wine Estate, where “chef Jürgen Schneider blends his Michelin-starred background with local produce to conjure up an impressive multi-course dining experience”. Feast on a succession of amuse-bouche plates before tucking into a starter such as the local trout done three-ways or a flavourpacked ravioli of wild mushrooms picked that morning on the farm. Mains include duck breast in a rich jus and an intense oxtail, followed by inventive desserts such as the wood sorrel ice cream with orange couscous.

For those who are contemplating a visit to the Overberg

town of Swellendam, there are two establishment that met the Eat Out 500 Best Restaurants criteria: La Sosta – This cosy restaurant with “attentive, friendly and well-paced” service is the popular spot of the charming Giovanni Ariotto and his partner, Christiana. They serve stylish Italian cuisine, with a choice between land, sea or garden tasting menus, “all beautifully plated”. For starters, Eat Out recommends the cured salmon carpaccio with cubes of cucumber and celery jelly, wasabi mayo, apple spheres and lemongrass milk; or ravioli filled with pork and beef, served with a corn and taleggio cheese sauce and porcini. Main course highlights include springbok shank with creamy mash, and blackink bucatini with a calamari ragoût. Accommodation is also available if you’d prefer to stay over.

Tredici – The focus is on artisanal bread and goods baked on the premises daily.

The menu offers an assortment of healthy breakfasts and lunch options run “the gamut from soups (served with house-made bread) and antipasti platters to share to gourmet sandwiches, burgers, pies, substantial salads, pasta, pizzas and risotto”.

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What’s new in review

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30 January - 12 February 2018

The village bookshop with a city selection

presented by

Historical novel weaves a tale of mystery and intrigue

n her masterful new novel, Under Glass, award-winning author Claire Robertson weaves a fascinating tale set among the sugar-cane farmers of Natal in the nineteenth century.

Penguin Random House

arrangement for the purchase of land. But there are conditions to his generosity that will have a lasting effect on the Chetwyns, especially on their youngest child, Cosmo, born years later.

Cosmo appears separate from his elder sisters Sophronia, Verity, Chastity and Maude, and as the family settles into its new life in the Natal hinterland, the intrigue around this laatlammetjie grows. Cosmo’s parents’ intentions are impossible: schemes to do with false

It tells the story of a young Englishwoman who arrives in Port Natal from India in the 1850s. Mrs Chetwyn has travelled for 11 months with her eldest daughter and her ayah, to join her husband on a sugarcane farm. Her father-in-law has staked them their passage, a sum for settlement and an

marriages, and raising a family in an arrangement that has a lasting effect on the family, not least on Cosmo. The reader begins to understand that there is something strange about Cosmo, something that must be kept secret.

At once a deeply researched historical novel and an intriguing mystery, Under Glass is a high-stakes narrative of deception and disguise that also offers a carefully-drawn meditation on the colonial history of Natal. It is a great

new novel by one of the country’s finest novelists.

Under Glass is Robertson’s third novel. With more than 30 years’ experience as a journalist, reporting from South Africa and overseas for newspapers, magazines, radio and television, she made her debut with The Spiral House, which won the 2014 Sunday Times Fiction Prize and a South African Literary Award.

When Michele Magwood reviewed her second book, The Magistrate of Gower, which was shortlisted for the

2016 Sunday Times Fiction Prize, she remark-ed: “In just her second outing, Claire Robertson takes her place with the established South African greats.

“She has the crispness and economy of Coetzee, the subtle, oblique depth of Vladislavić, the storytelling spell of Galgut and Mda. She is technically faultless and intensely imaginative. But she has something more, an affecting, profound humanity that is entirely her own.”

– Hedda Mittner

Tafelberg

A razor-sharp thinker offers a new understanding of our post-truth world and explains the American instinct to believe in makebelieve, from the Pilgrims to P T Barnum to Disneyland to zealots of every stripe… to Donald Trump. In this sweeping, eloquent history of America, Kurt Andersen demonstrates that what’s happening in this strange, postfactual, “fake news” moment is not something entirely new, but rather the ultimate expression of America’s attachment to epic dreams and epic fantasies. In Fantasyland, Andersen brilliantly connects the dots that define this condition, portrays its scale and scope, and offers a fresh, bracing explanation of how the lines between reality and illusion have become dangerously blurred.

With gleeful erudition and tell-itlike-it-is ferocity, Andersen explores whether the great American experiment in liberty has gone off the rails. – goodreads.com

Lesley Beake is a Scottish-born writer and editor of children’s stories who lives in Stanford near Hermanus. Her career spans 25 years and more than 80 books that are all set in Africa. She won the 2017 Sanlam Gold Award for Youth Literature for her latest novel, Hap. The story centres on Lucy, a troubled 16-year-old girl from New York, who is recovering from a recent traumatic experience. She joins her father on an archaeological site at the fictional Barclay Bay, on South Africa's west coast, where she identifies with the fossil of a young woman whom she names Hap. While slowly making sense of her ordeal, Lucy cannot help but also be affected by the characters around her, including that of Hap. In her state of heightened emotion and perception, Lucy seems to sense the experiences of her early ancestor who lived in the area. Recommended for 12 – 18 year-olds. – Tafelberg.com

This is the English translation of the phenomenally successful Afrikaans novel, Kamphoer, a true story of a woman who was brutally raped during the Anglo-Boer War and left for the vultures. With the help of a number of benefactors she escapes the clutches of death and dedicates her life to the healing of exactly the kind of trauma to which she was subjected. And in the process, as a psychiatric nurse in a British military hospital during World War I, she re-encounters her rapists from 16 years ago in a concentration camp in Winburg, who are now among the traumatised soldiers she has to bring back to the light.

In The Camp Whore the resilience of the human spirit is weighed up against the equally persistent influence of trauma.

It is a psychological thriller that will hold you in its icy grip till the very last page.

– nb.co.za

Venture Publications

Ebury Press

After 50 years and dozens of published books – roughly 30 fiction titles and 17 travel narratives, but no memoirs – Paul Theroux has finally taken the plunge with Mother Land, a wickedly funny autobiographical novel that the author refrained from publishing until after the death of his mother just days shy of her 104th birthday. The author insists that the protagonist, Jay Justus, isn’t a carbon copy of himself, but this beautifully crafted 509-page opus gives us plenty of insight into a large Catholic family on Cape Cod very much like Theroux’s own crazy family, and furnishes us with an enjoyable opportunity to assess what’s fact and what’s fiction at each turn.

Alliances and allegiances shift and turn, rivalries and grievances simmer, and the dialogue and situations are so real that Mother Land reads like a delicious family confession. – lareviewofbooks.org

Tafelberg

Penguin Random House

Other must haves for your bookshelf

Birds of Namibia is written with the insight and knowledge of an accomplished Namibian observer and, as a photographic journey, highly entertaining as well. This is orthopaedic surgeon and avid photographer Pompie Burger's second title on this topic and, together with his striking photography, he offers the reader his impressions and thoughts on ten birdwatching hotspots in Namibia, as well as a chapter on a favourite birding haunt of his in Botswana and on a visit to Antarctica. He also turns the reader's attention to aspects of bird anatomy, birds' nest-building skills, and to a couple of bird families, like babblers, rollers, bee-eaters, cuckoos, raptors, sunbirds, and swifts and swallows. Written in a comfortable and conversational style that is marked by a healthy and selfdeprecating sense of humour, Burger's book is not only a pleasure to read but also a treat for the eyes. – namibian.com.na

Marcel van der Merwe II is the founder of the Rewilding Forum: Untamed Since 2016, an environmental organisation involved in various aspects of rewilding, from consultation and landscape architecture to wildlife reintroduction and reforestation.

His love for the natural world inspired a journey of research to areas in the three Cape Provinces that had experienced the most exploitation and destruction at the hands of humanity. Painting an elaborate portrait of former ecosystems that had been lost and how they can be regained for the appreciation and benefit of present and future generations, these research articles culminated in the production of Rewilding the lost Wilderness. Share in the author’s passion for the lost and forgotten Cape wilderness as he explores the ancient landscapes, its wildlife, its people and their intricate relationships and interactions with one another. – rewildingforum.wordpress.com

30 January - 12 February 2018

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SHINE: Inspiring a love of reading children are assessed at the start of the programme and again at the end – and in the past two years the results have been phenomenal.

t can be a frightening experience for many young children whose home language is not English, to transition to this language when they start going to school. In order to assist them in acquiring the necessary reading skills and to give them the support and encouragement they need to succeed, several locals have volunteered their services to Shine.

Launched at Lukhanyo Primary School in 2015 by the Enlighten Education Trust, the aim of the Shine programme is to assist those Grade 2 learners who are struggling with English reading and comprehension, and at the same time to foster in them a love of books. One adult volunteer works through a structured but fun programme with two children at a time.

They meet twice a week throughout the school year. The

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Ben Pheiffer with one of “the little ones” at Lukhanyo Primary School. Ben is one of Shine’s volunteers who reads to the children twice a week.

Among the local volunteers is someone who is better known for his music than reading skills – ‘Piano Ben’ Pheiffer. Ben says he contacted Shine coordinator Rothea Kleynhans when he heard about the programme from a friend. “I soon found myself involved in one of the most fulfilling and uplifting projects I have ever experienced,” he says with enthusiasm. “I would like to urge citizens of Hermanus with some time on their hands (as little as 90 minutes a week) to join our friendly and dedicated group of ‘professors’ reading with these eager-tolearn young children. As a retiree, I find this a stimulating and rewarding activity – to

such a degree that I look forward to my sessions with the little ones every week!”

Ben adds that there are more than 200 learners in Grade 2 at Lukhanyo, and only sufficient volunteers to coach approximately 26 little ones for the year. “The need for additional volunteers is therefore huge,” he says.

Another volunteer, Kathie Buley. Says: “As a person who loves books and also someone who believes in the importance of early childhood development, being part of the Shine programme has given purpose to me in my retirement. In addition, the shocking realisation that over 70% of grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read was the impetus to get me to stop whinging and to try to make a difference.

“However, volunteering at Shine not only benefits the children – I too benefit from an incredible sense of joy working with these children.

Volunteering at Shine affords any one of us the opportunity to really make a difference. Just consider this quote from Victoria Barnsley of The Guardian UK: If I had one modest wish, it is that, at least for a day, we ponder the real and spiritual poverty of a life without the ability to read, without the sheer joy of escaping into a good book.”

If you are at all interested in hearing more about this wonderful programme, please contact Rothea Kleynhans on 082 327 3531 or send an email to r.kleynhans@telkomsa.net. A training session will be held at Lukhanyo Primary School on 16 February from 10:00 – 13:00 and everyone is welcome to attend.

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30 January - 12 February 2018

Good Guide Every Saturday ■ Saturday Morning Market: Come and feast your eyes on Stanford’s veritable delectables, from home-made cakes and pastries to pies and rusks, an array of homemade sheep and goat milk cheeses and wood-fired ciabattas, to farm vegetables, flowers and herbs, artisanal sausages and meats, pickles, jams, preserves and sauces, and fabulous homespun, fynbos-dyed wools. For more information, contact Caro on 082 448 0237. On the Stanford Hotel Stoep, from 09:00 – 12:00.

Every Wednesday ■ Graze Farmers Market: Reduce your carbon footprint by filling your basket with fresh, seasonal veggies. Stay for coffee and breakfast. Contact Tabby and Alex on 076 243 1930. At Graze Slow Food Café, from 09:00 – 12:00.

Wednesday 31 January ■ Stanford Full Moon Walk: Join Stanford Tourism for a sunset walk under a full moon.

Children and dogs welcome. R30 for adults and R10 for children includes complimentary refreshments.

Call 028 341 0340. Meet in the Tourism Courtyard, at 17:30.

Saturday 3 February ■ Sushi Saturday: Join the Zesty Lemon for their first Sushi Saturday and enjoy a range of funky platters. From R140 per platter. To book, call 028 341 0347 or 082 405 1280. At The Zesty Lemon Restaurant, Sir Robert Stanford Estate, from 12:00 – 14:30.

Wednesday 7 February ■ Workshop for female entrepreneurs: A FREE

2-hour workshop for women who want to have a business that is aligned to their Soul Purpose.

Learn the three steps to your purposeful and prosperous business! Refreshments for your own account. Book by 2 Feb with facilitator Dina Marais on 082 825 0060 or dina@dinamarais.com. At The Zesty Lemon on the Sir Robert Stanford Estate, from 18:00 – 20:00.

Wednesday 14 February ■ Stanford Harvest Valentine’s Dinner: Enjoy a lovely three-course Valentine’s dinner with live music. To book, call 083 409 8126. At Stanford Harvest Restaurant, from 17:30.

■ The Zesty Lemon Valentine’s Dinner: Enjoy a cosy picnic at sunset surrounded by vineyards and a lily pond. Your basket with exquisite treats and a waiter at your service for drinks will be ready when you arrive – it doesn’t get any more romantic than this! For the full menu and to book your exclusive spot on the lawn, send an email to zestylemonrestaurant@gmail.com or call 028 341 0347. At The Zesty Lemon Restaurant, Sir Robert Stanford Estate, from late afternoon.

Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 February ■ Stanford Classic MTB: This two-day, untimed stage race is aimed at experienced mountain bikers who happen to be new to stage racing, and long-time stage racers looking for a change of pace. Choose between a long route (total distance: 86 km and 1 805 m elevation) and a short route (total distance: 58 km and 1 295 m) that both include jeep track and flowing single tracks. Visit www.stanfordmtbclassic.co.za, select your race package and enter online. For more information contact Anneke Viljoen on 084 228 0414 or anneke@freebody-sports.com.

Departing from Stanford Valley Guest Farm, at 07:30 on both days.

Panthera Valentine's Day sunset visit

Panthera Africa have arranged a special sunset visit on Valentine's Day! Come and enjoy the early evening of Wednesday, 14 February with your loved ones as the sun sets and the cats come alive after a long day of rest. You’ll get to meet the latest addition to our current pride of lions, tigers, leopards, caracals and jackals – the two 13-year-old brother and sister cheetahs named Jampa and Pema, who have arrived safely at Panthera Africa over the holiday season after many trials and tribulations. This special Valentine’s visit is only for persons of 16 years and older. The duration of the visit is 2 hours, from 18:00 – 20:00, and the cost is R490 pp. Prebooking is essential as there are only 25 places available for this experience. Book now to avoid disappointment by sending an email to info@patheraafrica.com

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30 January - 12 February 2018

PSG Wealth Hermanus Portfolio Management and Stockbroking 028 312 1508 10 Magnolia Street www.psg.co.za/hermanusstockbrokers

2018 affords investors opportunity to cherry-pick A play on the famous Forrest Gump quote reads: “Investing is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are gonna get". Effective stock picking will help you to ‘get’ some rewarding stocks, writes JANA FOURIE, assistant portfolio manager at PSG Wealth Hermanus.

P

olitical uncertainty, risks of further credit rating downgrades, rumour mongering and policy uncertainty are bound to cause share price volatility in 2018. Such volatility has the potential to highlight opportunities for lucrative long-term investments whether it’s focused on a specific sector or otherwise more stock specific What is stock picking?

Investopedia describes stock picking as “a situation where an analyst or investor uses a systematic form of analysis to conclude that a particular stock will make a good investment, and therefore, should be added to his/her portfolio”.

Stock picking involves discovering investment opportunities that have been overlooked, ignored or simply missed. Provided one has sufficient information, tools, competence and insight, these can be profitably exploited.

If you acquire investments at fair

value, and preferably at below fair value, you are usually generously rewarded. Fair value is determined by thorough analysis of variables and value drivers. These would include factors such as earnings and dividends, an assessment of the share price in relation to its book as well as its net asset value, and an assessment of the attractiveness of the return to existing shareholders on their investment in the business.

The more attractive the values of these variables become in relation to reliable benchmarks, the larger the margin of safety enjoyed by the investor should the markets turn unfavourable.

Markets usually become attractive after a meaningful correction and/or when stock prices do not adequately reflect attractive determinants of value. Equity markets have had a good run of late and in a number of instances could be perceived to be trading at or above fair value. Such perceptions in many instances create concerns about possible correc-

tions with increasing probability of price volatility. This in turn means stock picking becomes the name of the game.

How to go about stock picking?

A useful point of departure is to decide whether stock picking should focus on 1) securing attractive dividends to ensure a dependable income stream or 2) capital appreciation which will increase the value of your shares.

The demographic and investor profiles of our readers suggest that most of them will favour shares offering attractive dividend yields and sustainable dividend growth prospects. Such picks most of the time also reward investors with attractive capital appreciation over time.

Any company earmarked for investment should have a distinct competitive advantage. This means it should be superior to its competitors in at least one critical success factor, for example providing the best quality in a certain price range. You would also

want to establish that adequate barriers to entry exist deterring new competitors, so that the company enjoys a dominant market position that is also sustainable.

An evaluation of management should confirm depth of experience and competence through major ups and downs of the business cycle, a creditable track record when it comes to managing the risks that the company might encounter on a daily basis, financial performance and highly regarded strategic management skills.

All of these factors should be considered in conjunction. Dividend yield and sustainable dividend growth are of paramount importance. Similarly, earnings growth potential is important. Investors should be careful not to rely only on priceearnings(P/E) ratios which provide indications of the perceived value that investors are willing to attach to a company’s expected

earnings/profit. The underlying metrics to P/E ratio calculations need to be carefully analysed and understood as accounting policies and practices could have a marked impact on the validity of using P/E ratios as a stock picking tool. Always compare apples with apples.

You should aim to reliably establish the so-called free cash flows of companies shortlisted for stock picking. Simply put, free cash flow is the cash that a company is able to generate after taking capital expenditures into consideration. Sustainable free cash flows indicate that an ability to pay dividends in the long run. This task requires in depth analysis.

Particularly in the case of investment companies, e.g. Remgro and PSG*, the discount of market price to net asset value can highlight attractive stock picking opportunities. It is, however, important to realistically assess the valuations of assets that are not listed on an exchange, as these

are valued on subjective basis by management.

Stock picking is clearly not about sharing ‘tips’ at the braai. It requires reliable information subjected to competent analysis and requiring skills which most of the time reside with investment professionals. *PSG Konsult (of which PSG Wealth is a division) is partly owned by PSG Group. The opinions expressed in this article are the opinions of the writer and not necessarily those of PSG. The information is provided as general information. It does not constitute financial, tax, legal or investment advice and the PSG Konsult Group of Companies does not guarantee its suitability or potential value.

Since individual needs and risk profiles differ, we suggest you consult a qualified financial adviser, if needed.

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30 January - 12 February 2018

Oh buoy, lets jump in and help save lives

ll of the 5 child drownings in the Overstrand could have been prevented if the children were trained on how to be safe in and around the water,” says Deon Langenhoven, Station Commander of Hermanus NSRI Station 17.

“To this end we are committing ourselves to forming partnerships with youths in areas like Zwelihle to assist us with broadening our Sea Rescue Water Wise programme, aimed at training children how to be safe in and around water.”

According to Deon Station 17 will also deploy Pink Torpedo Buoys equipped with a safety line at danger spots around our coast. The Pink Buoys initiative was launched in November by the NSRI countrywide and the devices have already saved 5 lives during the high season in the areas where they were deployed.

“True to the warm and giving spirit of our community, two Pink Buoys have already been

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HELPING Hand Sponsored by Hermanus

sponsored by local businesses and will be erected at the Onrus and Kleinmond lagoons,” says Deon.

“But the need is great as there are several spots along our coast that pose danger to bathers. We also have several rivers, streams and dams in the area where this kind of device will be invaluable, and we are asking the community to become involved in sponsoring Pink Buoys. There are two types, a standard size at R2 000 or a light version at R1 000 and companies that become sponsors are welcome to add their logo to the signs. The Pink Buoys will be maintained by the NSRI,” he says.

Pink Buoys have already been erected at unprotected beaches along the Southern Cape Coastline and parts of the Eastern Cape Coastline, with the aim to reach around the coast, and to bolster another initiative by NSRI that saw flotation devices placed at some farm dams.

According to the NSRI the rollout of the information boards

with the Pink Rescue Flotation Buoys started early November in a project that NSRI have worked on for over a year. The project is being made possible by corporate and public donations and makes up part of an extensive National Drowning Prevention Campaign started by NSRI during 2017.

The flotation buoys are bright pink so that they can be easily spotted on the water by responding resources and they are unique to NSRI allowing them greater public participation and cooperation in the protection of the Buoys on the beaches.

Deon says these brightly coloured rescue devises are being placed at high risk areas, especially where there are rip currents and no lifeguards on duty.

“The information sign, which can be attached to a pole or drilled into a wall, holds a Pink Torpedo Buoy. The idea behind the project is to get emergency flotation to someone who is in

danger of drowning as fast as possible while calling for professional help. Graphics on the sign advise that the buoy should be thrown to someone in distress, that an untrained rescuer should not get into the water to try and rescue someone, and provides two telephone numbers to dial for help.

Each Pink Torpedo Buoy sign also has a location number so that bystanders can tell Sea Rescue volunteers exactly where they are.”

If you are interested in sponsoring a Pink Buoy for Station 17 you can mail Deon at deon@searescue.org.za or phone 082 772 2984.

The Village NEWS will sponsor two Pink Buoys, one on behalf of the newspaper and one on behalf of Talisman Hermanus who has been graciously sponsoring the Helping Hands column for almost two years. With the total of Pink Buoys now on four, we challenge other businesses on the Whale Coast to do the same – ED.

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30 January - 12 February 2018

Support Abagold in making a difference years and now has more than 1 000 learners,” says Lou-Anne, “An environment that is conducive to learning was sorely needed in order to improve the learners’ performance.”

Hedda Mittner

F

rom its humble beginnings 30 years ago, when Dr Pierre Hugo realised his dream of cultivating, harvesting, processing and selling abalone with a handful of employees, Abagold has developed into a world-class aquaculture facility and the biggest single employer in the Overstrand.

Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Tim Hedges, Abagold not only continues its commitment to sustainable success in business but also in environmental and social responsibility. In 2011, the Abagold Development Trust was established with the objective of developing and supporting the communities in Hermanus, where the majority of Abagold’s employees live and raise their children.

But because it was built on municipal land, the school did not qualify for funding from the Department of Education. Not one to give up easily, this prompted Lou-Anne to approach the then Minister of Education Donald Grant about the need for a new school and adequate funding. She also engaged with the Overstrand Municipality to start the process of having the land transferred to Province.

MD Tim Hedges with Abagold’s team of employees who participated in a fundraising event for the Overstrand Association for People with Disabilities at Grotto Beach last year.

At the helm is Human Resources Director Lou-Anne Lubbe, who joined Abagold in 2012. Making a positive impact on society is something that lies close to this energetic woman’s heart. “We have a moral obligation to make a systemic contribution to our town,” she says. “We can’t always expect someone else to do it for us – we must do it. It is our town, after all, and we all want to live here and see Hermanus flourish.

If we don’t have a strong and integrated society, crime and other social ills will only increase.”

One of the first initiatives the Abagold Development Trust became involved with was the Partners for Possibility programme, which they introduced at Qhayiya Secondary School in Zwelihle. This programme establishes partnerships between business leaders and school principals from underresourced schools, who then work together to improve the school leadership that is so vital to educational outcomes.

The next step was the implementation of the School of Excellence initiative, which Abagold has funded since 2013.

Focusing on the quality of results, the School of Excellence programme is offered by Productivity SA which supports educators in motivating their learners to be goal orientated.

“The results that have been achieved since implementing this programme at Qhayiya have been most gratifying,” says LouAnne. In 2010 the school’s matric class of 65 learners achieved only a 32% pass rate. In 2014 there were 116 matrics and the pass rate had gone up to 75%. Last year the matric class numbered 170 learners with a pass rate of 83.5%.

These results are even more impressive if one considers the fact that Qhayiya was originally built in the seventies with funds from Danish donors to accommodate 300 learners. “The school has literally been falling apart for

Abagold employees devote their time and assistance to Izibuziso Foster Home and several ECD centres in Zwelihle on a regular basis.

The new Abagold ECD centre will be built on a tract of land adjacent to the Abagold Head Office in Church Street.

Win R3 500 with Abagold design competition Design a logo for the Abagold Development Trust and stand a chance to win R3 500 for the winning design!

The logo must depict the goals and ethos of the Development Trust.

Email your design to louanne@abagold.co.za

The Abagold Development Trust ABAGOLD DEVELOPMENT TRUST IT3446/2007

Firmly believing that school infrastructure should not be a barrier to learning, Lou-Anne was instrumental in driving the application and approval processes that would lead to the construction of the new Qhayiya High School for the growing number of new learners in Zwelihle. “Once the land had been transferred, we had to wait for the Temporary Relocation Area to be built before the informal settlement on the school land could be cleared. Finally, in April last year, the construction of the new school could begin and is scheduled for completion on 17 July 2018.”

The much-anticipated new school will be the beginning of a new era for Qhayiya and, according to Lou-Anne, “our goal is to continue supporting them in reaching a 100% pass rate in the near future”. The trust will also continue its Abagold Bursars programme, which funds a number of promising students at university while working for Abagold during their holidays to gain practical work experience. Lou-Anne knows each of these bursars by name, where and what they are studying, and how they are progressing. “They are all doing us proud and not one of them has failed,” she says with a big smile.

Realising the importance of a solid foundation, however, has led Lou-Anne to direct the trust’s attention, focus and funds towards Early Childhood Development (ECD). “We started at the top, almost like an upside-down pyramid, but our audacious new plan for 2018 is to turn it around and work from the bottom up,” she says.

“It is very difficult to be successful in high school if you have to play catch-up and overcome the deficits of inadequate education during the crucial foundation phase. The creation of a healthy and successful society starts with optimal childhood development which requires more than just a healthy environment – a child needs supportive experiences, nourishment, active stimulations and a safe world in

which to flourish.”

Education has been part of the company culture at Abagold for many years, with employees giving freely of their time to assist several ECD centres with maintenance work and improvements. One employee is involved with the Enlighten Art Project, while another coaches’ soccer and rugby at Just Care Aftercare, both of which are funded by Abagold. One of their employees also serves on the governing body of both Qhayiya and Mount Pleasant Primary.

In 2018, Lou-Anne says they are aiming to make an even more significant impact on the foundation of ECD and education in Hermanus, with the establishment of the Abagold Early Childhood Development Programme & Centre. A tract of land adjacent to Abagold’s head office has been allocated and plans have been drawn up for a new ECD centre for their employees’ children and those of other surrounding businesses. In addition, Abagold will actively support the upliftment of selected ECD’s in Zwelihle and Mount Pleasant and form partnerships with educators and parents by facilitating Positive Parenting workshops at all these ECD centres.

The Abagold Development Trust needs financial support to turn this vision into a reality. “In our 2017 budget, even though we experienced an incredibly difficult year for the company due to the red tide, Abagold donated R1 million to the trust to enable the establishment of our ECD Programme and to initiate the Centre,” says Lou-Anne. “We are still in the recovery stage and need the assistance of the Hermanus community to raise the additional R4 million needed for this programme. The funds will go towards the establishment of the ECD and critically also towards the upliftment and development of other ECD’s in Zwelihle.

“We are hoping that businesses and individuals will see this as an opportunity to contribute in a positive way to help build a healthy community. This is not someone else’s community – it is ours, and it is a blessing to be able to make a difference.”

For more information, please contact Lou-Anne Lubbe on 028 313 0253 or louanne@abagold.co.za Banking details: Abagold Development Trust, ABSA Bank, Acc no: 4077341994, Branch code: 632005 Your contribution to this project is tax deductible and a Donations Tax Certificate will be sent to you. Please email your proof of payment to philip@abagold.co.za and copy in louanne@abagold.co.za

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30 January - 12 February 2018

Getting healthy does not have to be costly

ew year. New resolutions. New beginnings.

That is what we promised ourselves when the clock struck midnight and we all waved goodbye to 2017. We all entered 2018 determined that this is the year we will be healthier, fitter, stronger, more successful…

Amanda Hofmeyr

Most of us start off well and try to keep going for as long as possible – until reality kicks in.

How do we make time for this new exercise regime and fit it into our old lifestyle? Do we really have the money in today’s struggling economy to join a gym or a training programme?

Then of course we are also bombarded with opinions coming from everyone wanting to share their own new-found knowledge that is going to change your life.

So more questions are raised about diet and exercising issues such as banting versus vegan or weight training versus cardio.

What is right and who is right and how do we know that what we are doing is even helping?

Firing up our good friend Google

and searching for any of the above mentioned will deliver both positives and negatives, which once again will leave us completely baffled. The easiest thing to do then is to simply quit and before we have even reached Easter weekend all these ideals have become nothing more than something we think of with a bit of regret.

The year pro-gresses and be-

fore we know it we are once again anxiously looking for a quick fix to get ourselves beach-ready for the summer months.

This is a cycle that has repeated itself in our house so many times that I cannot believe that four years have passed since we started this journey. So with all the excuses out in the open,

how do we move forward?

How do we take back 2018 and say, “this year I will do it – this year it will be different”? In a way it is simple – just ask for help and advice you can trust.

I have often marvelled at the phenomenon that in this day and age we look down our noses at professionals in their field. Whether it is a sommelier, a personal trainer, a pharmacist, a financial advisor, or even a medical specialist, we all feel that we know better because of something we read on the internet. We have become so “knowledgeable” that we sometimes forget that it is okay to not know something and to ask for advice from those who have dedicated their lives to a specific industry.

When it comes to wanting to become fitter, healthier and stronger, why should we not turn towards these professionals for assistance every step of the way? The difference between buying clothes off the shelf and having them made to fit every curve and line of your body is so vast that I often have

to wonder why we won’t tailor our diet and exercise programme to suit us as individuals in the same way. Is it not better to strive for maximum (and sustainable) results as opposed to hopping on to the bandwagon of the latest craze doing the rounds? And I know we do that, because we all have at least one piece of exercise equipment lying around that was bought in the hope of some instant fix promised by an infomercial.

While many may argue that it is simply too expensive to join a gym or hire a personal trainer, it is also often the case that the little bit of disposable income we have floating around is being spent on exactly those things that are contributing to our current unhealthy lifestyle.

So I did this little experiment and calculated how much a gym membership plus two personal training sessions per week would cost me. I then took this amount and divided it by the 30 days in the month, which gave me an amount of around R65 per day. I then spent the next few days really

focusing on what I was spending my money on and discovered that on most days I would be able to let go of that cup of takeaway coffee or something in my shop-ping trolley in order to make up the R65.

So now the excuses are slowly falling away, especially once I calculated that to be a member of a gym in Hermanus will cost less than R20 per day. Is there really nothing worth R20 in my day-to-day life that I can give up in lieu of a healthier me?

For those of you who are still unable to make the sums work or who are still not convinced that gymming is for them, how about joining the parkrun every Saturday or going for a nice long walk on any one of our beautiful beaches. Or rediscover what all the fuss is about and go hiking in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve.

This can be the year that’s different – if we redevelop our sense of community and fellowship and support one another in becoming improved versions of ourselves by the time we welcome 2019. Come on Hermanus, we can do it!

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30 January - 12 February 2018

Sister Martin: Just what the doctor ordered work responsibilities to study for a B Cur degree through UNISA, majoring in Community Health and Nursing Education, followed by a medicine diploma from Medunsa, qualifiying her to prescribe up to Schedule 4 medication.

Elaine Davie

I

’m enjoying my work more now, at 68 years old, than ever before. If I can go home at the end of the day knowing that I was able to help someone, I’m happy,” says Sister Sandra Martin with a smile.

A dedicated nurse who has devoted 50 years of her life to the profession, Sister Sandra has a wealth of knowledge and experience, loves people and is passionate about primary health care. As the clinic nurse of Alex Grant Pharmacy in the Gateway Centre, many longtime clients remember her as the very first pharmacy-based sister in Hermanus.

Not that any of this was part of Sandra’s plans. After she matriculated from La Rochelle Girl’s High School in Paarl with stars in her eyes, all she had in mind was to become an air hostess.

But her practical mother – one of the ‘Muis’ du Toits of Rawsonville – was having none of that.

“How do you think you’re going to be an air hostess when you can hardly say hello and goodbye in English?” she pointed out. “No, after the holidays, you will go straight to Worcester

By 2000 she was living in Hermanus and after a stint as a theatre sister at the Hermanus Mediclinic, it made absolute sense for her to start up the clinic at Alex Grant Pharmacy, where she was often the point of first contact for patients seeking assistance, many of them amongst the poorest of the poor.

Sister Sandra Martin in her clinic office at Alex Grant Pharmacy.

Hospital and begin training as a nurse.”

“Well, that was that, no argument,” laughs Sandra. She entered the hospital as a trainee nurse in January 1968 and was launched on a career that would span every aspect of nursing over the next 50 years. Having qualified in general nursing, midwifery and theatre technique, the latter at Tygerberg Hospital, she was recruited by her former tutor, then matron of Karl Bremer Hospital near

Cape Town. “I wanted to learn everything, experience everything,” she remembers. And so she worked in as many different departments of the hospital as she could. The only one she didn’t enjoy was the ICU. “I’m not a machineperson, you see,” she says, “it’s people I love.”

This characteristic no doubt contributed to her promotion in1985 to a position in the Western Cape Department of Health where she was responsible for the training of

primary health care nurses in the rural dorpies of the province, from Port Nolloth to Beaufort West and Calvinia to Caledon. “I loved it,” she recalls, “and I set very high standards, too. They had to work hard to get through their exams. After they had passed through my hands, those nurses were good!”

Given her passion for primary health care and her hunger for more knowledge, it is no surprise that Sister Martin found the time between her

Before long her experience in manning a clinic of this kind attracted the attention of Abagold and they invited her to establish a clinic for their 400 farm workers. This was the ideal opportunity for Sandra to implement low-cost primary health care services, where medical problems could be identified and treated when they first become apparent, and, if necessary, referred for specialist attention. For the next seven years she gave it all her energy and enthusiasm.

And then, at last, she decided to retire – but not for long. She’d hardly had time to put on her slippers and put up her feet when she was back in the saddle, performing locums at pharmacy clinics across the region. At the moment she is happy to be back on familiar turf – Alex Grant Pharmacy, her old stomping ground – alternating with Albertyn Pharmacy in Kleinmond. She’s saving up, you see, to take a holiday in Italy. Somewhere deep inside her that footloose air hostess is still waiting to get out. And she fancies Italian men, she adds, with a twinkle in her eye.

The canny mother who chose this life-long career for her daughter was fond of saying, “You must never be ashamed of your past or be afraid of your future.” She has taken this advice seriously and feels she has served her purpose if, each day, she has done something for someone and meant something to someone. Having a good laugh along the way also did nobody any harm. “Ja,” sighs Sister Sandra, leaning contentedly back in her chair, “I can’t say I have anything to complain about. Life has been good to me. I’m satisfied with what I’ve accomplished.”

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30 January - 12 February 2018

Western Cape house price growth continue to slow

E

xamining the FNB House Price Indices for the country’s major regions, gradually slowing price growth in what has been the country’s top performing region in recent years, the Western Cape, continued in the 4th quarter of 2017, according to research by sapropertyinsider.co.za.

The year-on-year average house price growth for the Western Cape measured 4.4% in the 4th quarter, slower than the 4.8% revised rate of the previous quarter and now significantly slower than the 11.1% multiyear high recorded in the 1st quarter of 2016.

This means that, not for the 1st time in recent years, the Western Cape House Price Index growth rate finds itself moving in the opposite direction to the other 3 of the “Big 4” provinces.

In the 4th quarter of 2017, the other 3 major provinces showed some growth acceleration again, the Eastern Cape from a lowly 1% year-on-year in the prior quarter to 1.5%, Gauteng from 2% to 2.4%, and KZN from 6% to 7.9%. This slowing in the

THE

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MY Home

Western Cape, while other major regions have been “picking up some speed”, is not too surprising. The Western Cape has significantly out-performed the rest of the country over the past 5 or 6 years, and in the process, has seen its affordability deteriorate markedly.

In addition, we suspect that the severe drought in that region may be starting to impact on the more Agriculture-driven parts of that province outside of the Cape Town Metro.

“We believe that the slowing in Western Cape average house price growth is largely outside the City of Cape Town Metro, because the 4th

quarter 2017 FNB Cape Town Metro House Price Index was still roaring along at a relatively strong 9.4% year-onyear, which is slightly faster than the previous quarter’s 9%,” according to the website.

The KZN House Price Index’s recent growth outperformance is perhaps tougher to explain than the slowing in the Western Cape. The prospects for the economy had started to improve late in 2017, with certain Leading Business Cycle Indicators having risen, and interest rates did get lowered slightly last July.

Link this to the fact that we had seen very slow growth in house prices in recent past

years in all of the 4 major provinces bar the Western Cape, translating into some affordability improvements in terms of average house price relative to household incomes, and some recent house price acceleration in these 3 provinces is not too surprising.

But the recent outperformance of KZN’s house price growth over Gauteng is a little surprising (although it must be remembered that all regions remain in single-digit price growth, so nothing is booming).

We say this because our FNB Estate Agent Surveys for the major metros point to a greater supply-demand

imbalance in the all-important Ethekwini Metro in KZN (and Ethekwini’s recent house price growth acceleration has been a contributor to KZN Province’s overall house price growth acceleration), with the 4th quarter estimated average time of homes on the market in that metro being a stilllengthy 20 weeks and 6 days, compared to Greater Joburg’s shorter 17 weeks and 1 day, and Tshwane Metro’s 13 weeks and 2 days.

During 2017, Gauteng’s Major Metro regions also saw strong rates of 1st time buying compared to all 3 Major Coastal Metros, suggesting that they have less of an affordability challenge than down at the coast.

Therefore, despite a recent superior price growth performance in KZN, we believe that price realism and affordability in Gauteng are better than the other major regions, and that Gauteng is all round the healthiest and most wellbalanced housing market. The “superior” price growth performance in KZN may thus not be sustainable for too long.

The FNB House Price Index for the 5 Smaller Provinces (Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, Northern Cape and Free State) showed further negative growth in the 4th quarter of 2017, from -0.4% year-on-year in the prior quarter to -0.9% in recent years.

Mining regions’ economies in the smaller provinces have been under pressure since around 2011, while more recently many of the strong Agriculture regions’ economies have been under pressure from drought conditions. Their housing markets’ underperformance is thus perhaps not altogether surprising in such challenging economic conditions.

Cumulatively, over the past 5 years, from the 4th quarter of 2012 to the 4th quarter of 2017, the Western Cape’s house price growth has far outpaced the other major regions, rising by 50.4%, with KZN being a distant second recording 31.9%, Eastern Cape 25.6%, Gauteng 21.9% and the 5 Smaller Provinces 17.1% Source: sapropertyinsider.co.za

30 January - 12 February 2018

HERMANUS HIGH COLOUR SPORT

Deon Loubser passing the baton to Timo-Ben Lerm (on the right) in the relay event for Boys U19 at Hermanus High’s Colour Sport Day on Friday, 26 January. See more photos on P 28.

Jana Bergh set a new record in the 800 m event for Girls U19.

New grade 8 learner ChantĂŠ Roux caused a sensation by breaking records in the 800 m, 1 500 m and 3 000 m events.

Elana Coetzee (on the right) led the pack to win the 100 m for Girls U19.

Marco Muller soared over the hurdles to win the event for Boys U19.

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30 January - 12 February 2018

Business League Bowls on a roll

T

he popular Business League bowls event started on 22 January, with the first week set aside for practicing, and this week the competition phase of the League commenced.

The first round is decided on a draw for teams and thereafter the 3 sections compete on a strength versus strength basis. An overall winner is declared, once the final results are completed.

Last year's overall winners were cashkows A.

This year 42 teams will participate with 4 players in each team. The individual matches are decided over 10 ends and sections divided into A, B and C categories.

The event is not only for the seasoned bowlers but also a way of introducing first time bowlers to the game.

Competition is stiff but much enjoyment resonates around the greens. Rookie players in the Business League have the opportunity to be coached by

members of the Hermanus Bowling Club. Most teams walk away with a prize and as usual the club’s barman is looking forward to a very busy week, keeping the teams refreshed.

Participants agree that the tournament is huge success every year, due to the great organisational skills of the bowls committee.

The event culminates with a braai and a host of prizes on Friday evening, 2 February.

30 January - 12 February 2018

G

Very, very welcome rain and new toys

reetings to one and all!

This week we saw 10 mm of extremely welcome rain and we could literally hear our golf course breathing a sigh of relief. We only wish it was more and much more widespread but we are grateful. This week we also saw a return to normality from the heady numbers of golfers over the festive period and an increase in our overseas tourists – may we wish you all a hearty welcome to our shores.

For this issue I decided to concentrate on a couple of new toys coming onto the market as most are introduced around this time of year.

Exciting new products from Taylormade This week your pirate is especially excited as we have new toys on the horizon.

Whenever new swords and cutlasses are intro-duced to the ship we do get a little upbeat, but this new intro-duction is

The Putting Pirate Julian Shaw

equivalent to a double-edged, double-length cutlass weighing half the nor-mal weight. Indeed a weapon to behold!

Taylormade has always been a leader in developing technology; indeed it was Taylormade that first introduced the metalheaded wood in the seventies that became so popular. I can still remember the day I saw it: I had my persimmon wood in the bag and a friend of mine on the tour (whom I always used to out-drive) had bought the new metal wood from Taylormade. He promptly hit the ball 30 yards past mine and as straight as a dye – I couldn’t believe it and that was the death toll for the woodenheaded driver!

Well, Taylormade has invented a multi-faced wood they call “twistface” and it is already on the main tour being used by the pro’s, and to great effect, with the likes of Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy hitting it fantastically. Anyway the world launch is on 15 February and I have an advanced look at it on the 6th! So you can expect an

honest critique of the product.

Personally I can’t wait!

Well done to Lynne Harvey This week I really need to continue the congratulations to our PGA Professionals that are doing a great job teaching the game to our golfers young and old. Lynne only joined us late last year and is doing a fantastic job. She has been teaching for many years and has a huge pedigree that is showing through with every lesson.

Lynne is a dedicated teaching professional and over a short space of time has performed miracles with some seasoned golfers. I always joke with some golfers that all I can do is apply for miracles, I can’t do them, but I think Lynne may have

gone one step further! Peter Sulley had struggled for a while with his game when he started going for a couple of lessons with Lynne and has now dropped 4 shots in his handicap. Then she waved her magic wand over Mike Dunoon-Stevens who had one lesson before returning to Jo’burg, where he shot an 81 with 10 pars off a 19 handicap and walked whatever competition he was playing and of course was cut immediately! Nice work, Lynne, keep it going!

New one-size-fits-most Staying with the theme of new innovations this week, it’s always a great idea to be able to hold one’s sword as well as possible as you can lose a hand very quickly in the thick of battle if you lose grip! On the course some swings often resemble battle and can be quite disconcerting (Andrew Philip) albeit in some cases quite effective, but it does help to wear a glove.

The reason why right-handed players wear one glove on the left hand is the left-hand grip is more a palm grip whilst the right-hand one is a finger grip, so a solid non-slipping grip is always encouraged on the left hand. Big Max has introduced a one-size-fits-most glove, both in all-weather texture and

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Scores at a glance LADIES TUESDAY - 9 JANUARY Betterball Stableford - 30 players: Winners - Chris Tyley and Edith Armour C/I 45 points 16 JANUARY Medal and putts - 44 players: Winners: Silver division - Emma Hayter nett 70; Bronze division - Kira McCarthy nett 68 MEN’S WEDNESDAY - 10 JANUARY Individual Stableford - 161 players: Winners: East course - GP le Roux 42 points; North course - Mikki Milne 42 points; South course - Dave Schutte 46 points; Best gross - Tony Behagg 73. 3 x two clubs. Ball pool pays to 38 17 JANUARY Betterball Stableford - 152 players: Winners: East course - Isak Krige and GP le Roux 48 points; South course - Albert Streicher and Jacques du Toit 49 points; North course - Neil Malan and Jan Kuhn 49 points. Ball pool pays to 46. 8 two clubs SATURDAY ALTOGETHER- 13 JANUARY Alliance bogey plus - 174 players: Winners: East course - P Richardson, K Middleton. R Pybus, R Pybus +23 C/I; South course - A Gouws, A P Gouws, J Clifford, J Clifford +23; North course - L Bester, P Ben Kotse, M Krause, C van Zyl +22; Best gross John Stergianos and Desmond Sauls on 74. Ball pool pays to +20. 11 two clubs paying R25 each 20 JANUARY Betterball bonus bogey - 77 players: Winners: East course - Audie van Noordwyk and Jan Swanepoel +8; South course - Gert Keuler and Donald Munro +10; North course - GP Le Roux and Paul Vorster +11 Ball pool pays to +7. 4 two clubs

leather, and is quite remarkable and well worth a try. Whether you have a small or extra-large paw, amazingly it fits! Big Max trolleys are a well-known German product holding 70% of the European market and are

now in the glove market under the name “zoom”. The only thing I can tell you is “wow”.

Have a great couple of weeks all, and remember “golf is the new golf!”

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30 January - 12 February 2018

MY Sport

Sports day of colourful fun Hermanus High School kicked off the new athletics season with their Colour Sports Day which saw the blue, white and green teams vying for the coveted shield on Friday, 26 January. Several records were broken as the participants displayed their athletic prowess, cheered on by their fellow learners from the pavilion. The blue team won the procession cup (photo right), while the green team took home the spirit cup (below). Green also reigned supreme as the overall winners of the day with 984 points. The blue team finished in second position with 799 points and the white team third with 744 points. On the photo bottom right DonnĂŠ van Schoor and Matthew Smith proudly hold the shield. The Senior Victor Ludorum was JW Human (U19), and the Senior Victrix Ludorum was Mari Carstens (U17). The Junior Victor Ludorum was Adriano Prag (U14) and the Junior Victrix Ludorum Caitlyn Otto (U15).

The best performer of the day was Mari Carstens for her new record in shotput. A total of 14 records were broken on the day. See more photos on P 25.

PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer - Titanium Photography.