The Village News 1 November 2016

Village

NEWS The

1 November 2016

Cape Whale Coast

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JUMPING FOR JOY A large pod of Common Dolphins recently visited Walker Bay. The Common Dolphin is very social and they live in large pods numbering in the hundreds. They have a very complex hierarchy that keeps them orderly and they tend to create subgroups based on age and other factors. Common Dolphins can be seen taking part in a variety of different behaviors, including somersaults, pitch poling, breaching, and bow riding. They are very active and seem to be able to move through the water almost effortlessly. They are also playful so they spend time teasing each other.

PHOTO: Ken Moore

A step closer to new CBD De Waal Steyn

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he much anticipated revitalisation of the Hermanus central business district (CBD) is one step closer to becoming a reality, after Council approved the regeneration framework that was presented for public comment late last year.

The approval was ratified at a council meeting last week.

According to Stephan Müller,

Director: Infrastructure & Planning at the Municipality the approval means that the envisaged regeneration projects will now become part of the 2017 to 2021 Integrated Development Plan. This in turn will enable the Municipality to prioritise and budget for the redevelopment plans.

The report makes provision for the regeneration of the CBD through six separate projects. These projects are the upgrading of the taxi rank and the municipal precinct,

the upgrade of Swallow Park, the redevelopment of the Mitchell Square area, the pedestrianisation of High Street, the improvement of Lemm’s Corner and the Old Harbour Precinct.

According to Stephan the upgrading of the taxi rank and the redevelopment of Mitchell Square are priorities, while the rest of the projects will be ranked according to the available budgets. “We will be looking to do some of the developments through

public partnerships and in the case of the upgrade of the taxi rank, we will apply for funding from both the provincial and national governments,” he says.

Detailed development plans for most of the projects still need to be completed and finalised through public participation. For plans such as the creation of an esplanade on Marine Drive in front of the Windsor Hotel, an environmental impact assessment will first need to be done.

According to the framework, compiled by GAPP Architects and Urban Designers, competition from new out-oftown malls means that the CBD needs a new impetus to remain competitive.

“This framework is intended to provide a plan for the ongoing upgrading of the public environment to ensure that the Hermanus CBD remains a vibrant, safe and attractive place for locals and visitors to spend time,” says Barbara Southworth of GAPP.

“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.

“With its unique coastal site, fine grained street network and rich historic features, the Hermanus CBD has all of the ingredients to remain a vibrant commercial and tourism destination.”

Read more on P4

1 November 2016

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6 Royal Street, Hermanus Tel: 028 050 1319

dewaal@thehermanusnews.co.za

By working together, we can ensure a bright future

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he ratification of the CBD regeneration framework by the Municipality needs to be lauded. With the Whale Coast Mall set to open its doors this time next year the CBD needs to put its best foot forward.

This integrated development plan to rejuvenate our town will go a long way in keeping Hermanus a popular holiday destination. Although much of the envisaged projects still need to go through extensive planning and approval processes it provides a useful roadmap for business owners and developers.

As a community we need to accept that our towns will keep on growing and that we need to cultivate that growth to ensure the survival of our CBDs. These areas lie in the heart of what we offer as a destination.

cooperative spirit between the Municipality and business it is heartening to see that public/private partnerships will become a reality in order to drive certain of these projects. Without mutual support neither the Municipality nor business would be able to realise these plans. As can be expected lively and robust debate will take place with regard to the various projects, but this must be viewed as a healthy ingredient of cooperative government. (Read more on P4)

With a growing sense of

In the same breath the

Editorial Comment

By De Waal Steyn

embankments separating Sandbaai and Zwehlihe came under the spotlight in the last few weeks. The embankments were referred to as both a wall of shame for separating communities and a blessing as an attempt to help curb crime. Whatever the opinion the issue has raised awareness of the area and highlighted the common problems suffered by both communities. It is heartening to report that regular patrols by the SAPS and Law Enforcement will take place, the pedestrian crossings will be upgraded and the need for street lamps will be

addressed. (Read more on P3) With such a spirit of community it is no wonder that several businesses and individuals take time and money to assist those in need. As part of our Helping Hand project in conjunction with Talisman Hermanus we highlight wonderful work being done to create a new school for children in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

Through selfless acts of charity people are making a difference in the lives of children by giving them the opportunity to rise above their circumstances.

That is the Good News – Ed.

Letters and opinions Content Editor

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

Marketing Manager

Kathy Mulock-Bentley 083 581 7219 kathy@chartwellsupport.co.za

Design and Layout

Nickey Jackson 079 408 7722 nickeyjackson.hermanus@gmail.com

‘Tis the season to be present Of all seasons Christmas certainly highlights the wonderful tradition of celebrating family life.

Families – the safe harbour from the storms, the carriers of our legacy, the place called home.

An often overlooked aspect of family traditions is that quality time trumps all else.

That’s right – quality time outshines the latest Xbox game or 5-star lodge (yes, your child or partner may disagree now, but people remember the times, not necessarily the gifts). It is important to note: quality time is not quantity time.

Spending all holiday in the same house (quantity time) is not the same as spending an hour a day, for example, interacting uninterrupted with each other (quality time).

Quality time is the treedecorating, feast-preparing,

We also congratulate The Village NEWS on excellence in presentation and content.

Aly Verbaan 060 700 0542 alyverbaan@icloud.com Ombudsman The press exists to serve society. Its freedom provides for independent scrutiny, and is essential to ensuring democracy. It enables citizens to make informed judgments, a role that is recognised by the Constitution. The Village NEWS subscribes to the South Afri can Press Code and thus to the South African Press Council and the South African Press Ombudsman. Should you feel our report ing 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 on 011 484 3612/8, or e-mail pressombudsman.org.za or pay a visit to www.ombudsman.org.za

We often work so hard to try and give our children the best toys, clothes, etc. (or our partners the most expensive gifts or holidays), but in my 13-plus years of working with families, I have seen again and again that the biggest gift, the one gift that children appreciate more than any

other gift, and the one that outlasts the wear and tear and glitter of all the others, is the gift of quality time with you. This is true in the poorest of poor (economically) as well as the richest of families.

So this Christmas, forget about what you can or can’t afford to buy, spend less time engaging with social media competing and comparing – and instead engage your time to have fun with your children and one another.

Unwrap your imagination and the possibilities are priceless!

The holidays offer a wonderful opportunity to make lasting memories and even entwine them into forming a tapestry of your own unique and special family traditions.

TN Luttig (Couples and Family Counsellor)

Thanks to all our Bhuki friends The Friends of Hermanus Library are delighted to read the first ‘Write Angle’ book page and wish it all good things and rapid growth.

Journalist

present-wrapping (regardless of the size of the gift or feast), and belly-laughing togetherness of Christmas that creates the memories. It is the baking cookies, taking walks, picking up shells, playing games, acting silly, the being present that matters most. This counts for toddlers, teens and adults alike. These moments - this time - not only uplifts the mood, but can affect your long-term beliefs regarding your self-worth. It builds confidence and gives a sense of security. A true refuge from the storms.

May it too, go from strength to strength.

Thank you to all the generous Bhuki volunteer bakers, our regular Friday supporters, and the members who donate books so frequently. Nothing goes to waste and there are

often hidden treasures in the library's For Sale section.

Everyone's welcome at The Bhuki Café. We love the interchange of ideas, thoughts and recent good reads.

Hettie Roux Chair FOHL

Embankments may be the way In reply to Theo de Meyer's comment about the sand embankments in Sandbaai along Schulphoek Road from the new mall development: Just a thought. In the Middle Ages in Europe and the UK, the peace loving inhabitants lived close to a castle with a moat and drawbridge.

When they were threatened by invaders, they simply retreated into the Duke’s castle with their families and possessions where they had a reasonable chance of surviving the onslaught.

Physical barriers like these embankments may be the way to safeguard the innocent from the present onslaught by criminal elements who are robbing, raping and otherwise terrorising the minorities who respect human rights but are victimised for their trouble.

If Theo feels so strongly about non-segregation perhaps he should move to Mount Pleasant or Zwelihle.

(Letter edited.)

Tommy Madden

DID YOU KNOW? The pansy shell is in fact not a shell, but the skeleton of a burrowing sea urchin that lives in shallow sheltered bays and estuaries along the Cape south coast. The name pansy shell comes from the five-petal flower pattern they have on the top of the skeleton. In living individuals the skeleton is covered by a skin of velvety spines that are in turn covered with small hairs. Coordinated movements of the spines enable the urchins to move across the seabed and burrow sideways into the sand. These creatures are overexploited and now classified endangered.

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De Waal Steyn

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he sand embankments on Schulphoek Road between Zwelihle and Sandbaai that have elicited strong reaction from residents of both suburbs, will be lowered to 1,5 m.

The embankments were elevated in excess of 5 m in height with soil that was removed from the construction site of the Whale Coast Mall and were referred to as “the wall of shame” because it separated Sandbaai from Zwelihle.

The decision to lower the embankments was taken at a council meeting on 26 October after councillor Simphiwe Tebele from Zwelihle reported an increase in crime along the road.

According to him, the embankments created an unsafe environment, especially for pedestrians, with a number of attempted robberies and assaults being reported.

The fact that the embankments impede the view onto the Schulphoek Road reserve, the absence of street lights and security cameras along the road and unsafe pedestrian crossings were also mentioned as contributing factors to an unsafe environment for pedestrians.

Council also found that the embankments are in contravention of municipal regulations that state no embankment may exceed a height of 1,5 m. No prior approval was obtained in terms of the zoning scheme regulations for deviation before the embankments were elevated.

According to Municipal Manager, Coenie Groenewald the excess soil will now be moved to the site of the new sports complex next to Hermanus High. “The soil will be stored there before being used to rehabilitate the parking area at Grotto East that was damaged during flooding more than a year ago,” he said.

The excess soil from the embankments will be moved to the sports complex by the developers of the Whale Coast Mall.

Construction of the new Whale Coast Village Mall is underway in all earnest. The groundwork started during the second week of May and concrete pylons are dotting the site. The construction area shows the extent of the 30 000 m² mall that is expected to open its doors in October 2017. More than 60% of the available retail space has been let. Jannie Kruger, CEO of the developers, Dorpstaat Property Fund says almost all the available space has been taken up, with Checkers and Woolworths as anchor tenants. “The mall will offer a wide range of both national and local tenants. We have had a very positive response from local businesses looking to form part of the mall,” he says. The proposed tenant list includes Dischem, Old Khaki, Sterns, @Home, Cape Union Mart, Total Sports, Markhams, Due South, Sport Scene, Exact, Queens Park, Foschini, Truworths, Mr Price, Identity, Wimpy, Spur, Shoe City, House & Home, PEP, Fashion Express, PNA, cinemas and Ackermans.

PHOTO: De Waal Steyn

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Future projects for CBD regeneration De Waal Steyn

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ccording to Town Planner, Riaan Kuchar, there will be an impact on the CBD when the new Whale Coast Village Mall opens its doors in October next year.

“But the impact will be different to that which we have seen in towns like Mossel Bay, George and Worcester. Our CBD lends itself to becoming even more of a unique attraction.”

Riaan says with the proximity of the ocean, the Old Harbour, the Cliff Paths and the unique historic buildings, the Hermanus CBD has the potential to become a unique commercial and residential hub, much like an open-air mall.

The Hermanus CBD offers a unique retail experience with a mix of brand name retailers and local boutiques. Its commercial core and distributed parking provides an accessible range of commercial and social activities within a comfortable walking distance of 400m which is comparable to the walking distances within Somerset Mall.

However, the quality of the pedestrian environment is very poor and incomplete.

Sidewalks are uneven and often too narrow or even nonexistent and the CBD lacks safe,

comfortable pedestrian connections between key destinations.

The CBD street network does not connect strongly with the Cliff Paths and the Old Harbour. The heavy traffic flows and car dominance of Main Street are a significant barrier to easy pedestrian connections between the street grid of the CBD core and the coastal edge.

Existing zoning plans indicate the gross lettable retail area in Hermanus CBD to be about 35 000m².

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-utilised. The main ideas are to introduce new developments, landscaping and pedestrian improvements that can establish a clear sense of arrival and 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 welllandscaped public squares that open onto the Royal Road circle. These squares

should connect into the pedestrian routes to the municipal office precinct and library.

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 undermined by the fact that it is surrounded by roads with parking bays.

The concept proposes that the park interfaces with the surrounding properties. These areas should be improved so that the buildings on the park edges open up 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.

Traffic improvements, including a traffic circle on Main Road, are proposed to resolve access and egress from the filling station on

the corner of Main Road and Park Avenue. It is also proposed that access to the Spur parking area be relocated. 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.

3. Mitchell Square redevelopment The development of Mitchell Street Square has the potential to become the heart of the Hermanus CBD as a vibrant public amenity.

The proposal allows for the development of a highquality public square with ground floor activation with new businesses such as café and restaurant opportunities.

This proposed intervention is a key investment in the public environment in the core of

the CBD, knitting together key destinations and pedestrian routes along High, Mitchell and Long Street. 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 coastal Cliff Path.

4. High Street The main idea for High Street is to transform it 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 highquality 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 temporary art installations 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 pro-actively explored with the Museum Trust to investigate the adaptive re-use of buildings to accommodate commercial opportunities, such as restaurants, venues, whale listening facilities etc.

The amphitheater 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 cannon to the amphitheater space will continue to improve the value of the precinct as a positive destination and public attraction.

Springbok’s Squaddies in fast cars, on foot...

In those dark days before colour TV illuminated our lounges, folks would sit spellbound around the radiogram listening to their favourite programmes, while watching the loudspeaker intensely. There were game shows, action dramas, serials, murder mysteries and the ubiquitous soap operas. These were aimed at the Mills and Boon in every housewife, who would then hopefully rush out to buy the sponsor’s detergents, which apparently had such incredible whitening powers, sunglasses were recommended on wash days.

I remember listening wideeyed to serials like Mark Saxon, Jet Jungle, Taxi, and Squad Cars on Springbok Radio. Well, that was before TV. This box of joy bearing visual gifts like The Brady Bunch and Dorian Berry

Wit’s End

Murray Stewart sure beats watching the radio.

But despite the closing national anthem and flag being more entertaining than some of the programs, it slowly brought the springbok to her haunches.

A few soapsies slipped through the net and the

format remains today, but the function of radio has changed significantly since my preteen days. Back then, LM Radio was the only dedicated music station for youngsters, and I remember relishing Sunday nights when David Davies’ LM Hit Parade would be broadcast. I also recall The Beatles having an unmatched nine songs in the top 20.

About 15 years later, during the last few years of Springbok, I found myself working as a sound engineer in the very production house that recorded and produced some of those serials.

Now, whereas Squad Cars was sponsored by a motor corporation and not a soap powder, the recording rituals remained the same. Actors were called for nine on a

Friday morning, and they’d kick off the session by sitting around the big table in the studio, drinking tea and going through the script with the director. Characters would be created, various SFX duties assigned (like tea pouring or footsteps), and adjustments made to the script where necessary.

At the same time the sound engineer would be marking his own script for the many sound effects he’d be spinning in. These would include the usual car sounds, gun-shots, traffic noises and car doors to name just a few.

He’d then pull the SFX discs from the library, and arrange them along the racks above the eight turntables for quick access. Then there’d be a runthrough, which would be a stop-start affair as glitches in

character portrayals or SFX wrinkles were ironed out.

After the rehearsal they’d take a ten-minute smokebreak and drink more tea till the director called time.

Everyone would take up their positions, the record button would be punched, and we’d play in the opening billboard.

“They prowl the empty streets at night. Waiting, in fast cars, and on foot…” etc.

For the next hour all hell would break loose for the hapless jockey spinning in the SFX discs at breakneck speed to keep up with the dialogue.

When the actors had all gone home to drink more tea, we would run through the tape again to overdub any missing SFX, or tighten gaps between sentences or music stings.

Once finally packaged, copies would have to be sent – believe it or not - to the Chief of Police and the Head of Correctional Services for their approval. This, one can only assume, was to ensure that they weren’t portrayed as inefficient, brutal or thick. Inexplicably, none was rejected.

Anyway, one Friday near the end of Squad Cars and Springbok Radio, a drawing mysteriously appeared on the notice board in the studio reception area. Sketched very simply - like a four-year-old would - was a side-on of a police car with lights on the roof, two cops sitting in the front and a police dog in the back. Instead of wheels, the car had legs and feet, and the childish scrawl below read: “They prowl the empty streets at night. Waiting, in fast cars on foot.”

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Trouble plaguing MCM, but is victory in sight?

The fight against poaching is more than that — it is the fight against gangsterism and crime in the entire Overstrand Aly Verbaan

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n a calm, flat day like last Thursday, the good news was that there were no poachers in the water.

This was due to two factors: the first was simply the luck that the ocean bottom was sandy, so poachers would have difficulty reaching their prey; the other was due to the fact that a recent blitz in Buffelsjag by Marine Coastal Management (MCM) hauled 11 000 shucked abalone, and poachers are running a little scared.

But, they’ll be back as soon as the water gets rougher, uncovering reefs of treasure.

Operation Phakisa - meaning “hurry up” in Sesotho - could not come a moment sooner, if it is not too late already, say the sceptics. Operation Phakisa is a joint enterprise between CapeNature, the Police Task Force, the SA Police Sea Borderline Control (and Waterwing, which has the boats).

Speaking to The Village NEWS last week on condition of anonymity, as several threats of execution have already been levelled at various members of MCM, a spokesperson described the poaching from Kleinmond to Gansbaai as “out of control”.

The situation is “highly sensitive” as a number of gangs are involved - the 26s, 27s, 28s, The Naughty Boys and a clutchful of others are bleeding our coastline dry, they are heavily armed and care not whether it is day or night - their poaching continues on an astronomical scale.

When the sea is amenable to poaching, these thieves are taking out three to four thousand crayfish tails a day, and in Gansbaai the abalone tally is between three and five tons daily. In one day, the officials caught poachers with 1,3 tons in their possession.

The Department of Environmental Affairs is the front-runner in this operation.

They recently announced that they are creating 22 new Marine Protected Areas – increasing the area of South Africa’s oceans under formal protection from 0,7% to 5%.

They believe this move would stop prospecting in the areas, and ensure that marine stocks are sustainably managed.

It is estimated that more than 200 poachers live in Hawston, and in Gansbaai between 300 and 500.

Professor Nadine Strydom, an associate professor in the Department of Zoology at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, says the inclusive nature of Phakisa means the plans include a wide range of thinking.

However, the government says the answer is Operation Phakisa. Launched two years ago, the crash course in establishing “an ocean economy” has started to yield some easy pickings. If successful, it is projected to add R177 bn a year to the country’s gross domestic product by 2033. If it works.

Research by the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University says an ocean economy could create 316 000 jobs – government thinks it could create a million.

Says Timothy Walker, a maritime specialist at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria: “It is very ambitious, especially in light of the fact that South Africa has been historically blind to the ocean bordering it on three sides.

“You are trying to create a whole new way of thinking about the ocean in a short space of time. Until now, there has only ever been a token acceptance of the oceans as paths to import and export goods. It’s an exciting moment, if South Africa seizes it. We just need sense to win in the clash between politics, economics and crime.”

This is critical given the current problems faced by South Africa’s ocean ecosystems, she says.

DESTINED FOR EXPORT Marine and Coastal Management have a mammoth task ahead of them. Poachers are stripping the coastline by the ton, and gangsters are threatening the lives of those who are trying to save our marine life. Here marine officers confiscate tons of abalone, but what is important is to keep the abalone alive in the water.

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The poaching from Kleinmond to Gansbaai is out of control

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“At the moment our marine life is in dire straits.

Wherever there is pressure to make money off the ocean, we need to make sure we are sensitive to the renewability of resources.”

But here in the Overstrand the situation is nowhere near under control. Gangsters are using underage children more than ever before to join their ranks, giving them tik and guns, apparently with which they must prove their eligibility to become full members.

“Basically, they are being trained to become soldiers,” says the source. Furthermore, there are violent internal disputes among the 28s, which are adding to the ruthlessness.

The solution is not short blitzes and raids, but a long-

term plan, with a Waterwing in Gansbaai - the only dilemma is that poaching will then move further up the coast should this prove in any way successful.

This is not to say that our local Phakisa hasn’t made any inroads. So far, Operation Phakisa has had its fair share of victory: currently the operation is keeping five tons of live abalone in the water in the Gansbaai area alone per day, so in the past four days, 20 tons of perlemoen have been saved from shucking, drying and export.

But the fact is, MCM are understaffed and under threat.

And the problem is far more expansive than our oceans.

The escalating crime rates in the Overberg can be largely linked to the presence of poachers and their side businesses of drug dealing and enslaving children who should be at school, leaving them no option but to fall in with gangs.

Neighbourhood watches are definitive in this fight, but poachers are armed, and the safest thing is to notify the authorities rather than take any poachers on.

Contact MCM’s 24-hour number on 028 313 2703, go to www.facebook.com/911 Abalone or email 911abalone@caap.org.za if you have any information.

Your anonymity is guaranteed.

A Facebook page - Community Against Abalone Poaching (CAAP) has also been set up for people to observe and report poaching.

Despite numerous attempts to contact MCM head office, they refused to comment.

W

e just keep doing it. The Overstrand Municipality scooped four awards at a ceremony for the Greenest Municipality Competition, hosted by the Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell. Fourteen local and four district municipalities participated.

This competition rewards innovative municipalities that are dedicated to developing a cleaner and more sustainable future, with an improved quality of life for residents through initiatives like solar energy projects, greening programmes and

1 November 2016

programmes that reduce greenhouse emissions. Overstrand received four awards at the annual Western Cape Awards function on Friday 21 October.

Winner in the Water Management category

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Winner in the Waste Management category

Said Johan van Taak: “We are absolutely delighted and the success of the Overstrand can be attributed to a team effort, hard work and diligent management.

“Many of today’s environmental challenges cannot be addressed by regulation alone. They require a broader mix of solutions and the Municipality has many exciting and successful programmes already in place.”

ON SHOW Representatives of the Overstrand Municipality at the Western Cape Greenest Municipality awards: Piet van Zyl (Head of Department: Environmental Affairs and Development Planning), Benjamin Kondokter (Environmental Officer), Johan van Taak (Manager: Solid Waste), DA Member of Western Cape Provincial Parliament, Masizole Mnqasela, Lauren Rainbird (horticulturist), Cllr David Botha, MEC Anton Bredell and Municipal Manager Coenie Groenewald.

The Overstrand has won this category three times in the last four years. The evaluation criteria for water management include the following: strategic planning, water balance trends, financial planning, operation and maintenance, monitoring of water quality, effluent management, emergency planning, and public awareness. A site inspection is also conducted by the evaluators to verify the validity of the information submitted in the questionnaire.

The Overstrand has won this category six times in the last eight years. Waste management is evaluated on refuse removal services, waste collection and waste infrastructure projects, waste information systems, waste recovery and diversion, waste minimisation and recycling projects, job creation and capacity building, marketing and awareness, audits of facilities, by-laws and integrated waste management plans and support to other municipalities.

Innovation Project Award

Third Greenest Municipality

This award is especially unique as it is one of the first to recognise alternative land use for waste water treatment works. It saves significantly on the rehabilitation cost of the landfill site, whilst ensuring the long-term beneficial use of the site to the advantage of the community.

Hessequa Municipality (lower Breede River to the west and the Gourits River to the east) won the Greenest Municipality in the Western Cape, followed by the Swartland Municipality on the West Coast, and Overstrand Municipality third, with prize money to the tune of R50 000.

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Botanist Sean Privett counting his way to 1000 Drive, dedication, role models... and a little bit of luck is Sean’s advice for youngsters today Aly Verbaan

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hey say you make your own luck in life. I have never known who precisely “they” are, but Sean Privett is living evidence that “they” must be right. Yet we all know that success is not based on luck, but on passion and dedication, something Sean has in abundance.

Besides his wife Michelle, the lucky recipient is the fynbos kingdom of the southern peninsula, to whose conservation he is devoted.

Sean is one of the lucky few who has always known what he wanted to do. Growing up in the southern suburbs of Cape Town in a family that loved camping, hiking and the outdoors, he knew from an early age that he “wasn’t suited to a desk job”.

In 1997, as resident botanist at Grootbos and whilst still studying for his Masters, Sean began one of the most detailed vegetation studies of fynbos ever undertaken. This survey resulted in a total of 307 species being recorded on the reserve of which 32 were Red data species and one was new to science.

Says Sean: “Somehow the value of the environment and nature has always been inherent to me and when I finished school at Wynberg Boys High and went to UCT, the choice to study botany and environmental science came naturally. But I was lucky when I was at varsity we had such inspirational lecturers, mentors really, that my interest was doubly peaked.

“I think it’s important to seek out role models and inspirational figures in life. You could find it anywhere, it doesn’t even have to be a person, but find your passion and follow it. Take a chance. For me, my fascination was with botany and ecology in parti-cular, but it was as much to do with the people I associated with as with the subjects themselves.”

“Up to 90% of this land belongs to them, and while trying to farm and make a living, they don’t always see the importance of the ecology. Unless someone goes out there and shows them the value of the fynbos they have on their land, some of which are very tiny, they are not aware of it. Once they do know, most are very willing to work with us in preserving the value of our flora heritage.”

Sean has, with the help of interns, documented some 780 species of fynbos on Grootbos alone, and discovered six species never before known to science. In conclusion, Sean points out that, “Fynbos is not like the Big Five - it’s about the miniscule details and patterns in nature, and it’s up to us to continue their fascinating stories.

Sean had planned to do his PhD, but of course, man proposes and God disposes.

“I loved academia and I saw my life going in that direction.

But one weekend I came to Stanford to visit a friend, Barry Heydenrych, who was working for the Botanical Society of South Africa. I came to help Barry for a few bucks, as one does as a student, and happened to meet Michael Lutzeyer, who was just starting Grootbos Private Nature Reserve.

“He hired me in a factotum capacity, clearing alien vegetation, documenting fynbos, tour guiding and studying sustainable harvesting of fynbos. And I’m still doing it 20 years later!”

While Sean was getting involved in the management of Grootbos, love of a woman hit. In 2002, he met Michelle, his future wife, and they married in 2002. At first Michelle didn’t want to live in the “outback” of Gansbaai, and the newlyweds moved to Cornwall in the UK. Pioneering as always, Sean helped set up the South Africa Dome there (a UK NGO) in conjunction with the Flower Valley Conservation Trust, in which a fynbos biosphere “dome” was constructed to exhibit fynbos in a sustainably harvested manner.

As Sean says, “It’s important to show people that humanity as a whole is dependent on plants in every respect.”

But after a year in the cold climes of the north Michelle decided she was willing to live out near Gansbaai after all.

They brought an English horticulturist, Hillary Boscher, back with them and, along with Susan Lochner, started working with Michael again, but this time focusing on how they could help the people of the area as well as conserving the surrounding environment.

Project number one was Green Futures. Established in 2003, the Green Futures Horticulture and Life Skills

VALUABLE GOODS Sean Privett of Grootbos and the Agulhas Nature Reserve (among many other cape he wears, always knew his career would be involving nature.

College provides educational training to 8-12 unemployed young adults each year. The aim is to give student candidates the skills and confidence necessary to market themselves and become employable, while at the same time contributing to the conservation and promotion of our region’s unique biodiversity.

The fully accredited (AGRISeta) course combines essential life skills like personal finance, business skills, computers, driving and health education with knowledge of environmental and conservation issues, and skills of horticulture and landscaping.

On completion of their course, the students are awarded a nationally (SETA) accredited certificate in horticulture and are assisted in work placement. Successful students can also apply for a second year of tuition in (FGASA) Field Guiding Level 1.

Since its inception, over 150 young people have graduated, and more than 90% of graduates have found employment on completion of the course.

“

Be brave.

Be innovative.

Take a chance.

Find your passion and follow it.

”

They subsequently set up Future Trees, an indigenous fynbos nursery, the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy, an alien vegetation clearing project, and an ecological research programme Siyakhula Organic Farm, providing skills development in organic agriculture, sustainable animal husbandry and beekeeping to members from the local community, particularly to local women.

In addition, their Football Foundation runs football, netball, hockey and athletics training sessions in Gansbaai, Stanford and Hermanus, which engages approximately 2 000 youths each week.

The foundation also runs programmes centred on HIV/Aids education, female empowerment, environmental education, proper nutrition, enterprise development and integration.

This flagship programme aims to uplift communities by empowering individuals through sports programmes, including accredited skills training and leadership opportunities, and simultaneously promote education, health, social integration and participation through sports.

Today some 7 000 boys and girls from the Overstrand area partake in this enterprise six days a week. They also offer facilitating programmes in other areas of the Western Cape and organised weekend excursions, matches and fixtures.

But for now, Sean’s tenacity is focused on the 26 private landowners who live within the Aghulas National Park.

Sean feels that the “private and state reserves are now very well under control, but the problem lies with individual farmers and landowners who fall into these reserves.

“I suppose it’s the combination of the diversity, the high number of plants and the uniqueness. So it’s not only that there are so many plants in the Cape Floral Kingdom, but two thirds of them are found nowhere else in the world.

“We’re very fortunate that we’re in a country where there’s still a lot of open space and nature, but as populations grow and as human pressures increase, there’s more and more threat to the flora. We live in a country and in a time when you can’t just conserve for the sake of conserving – you have to look at people’s needs, so it’s all about getting that balance and that’s really the challenge.

Apparently Sean is just the man for this: Ruth Chrichton, operations manager at the foundation, says when she first went hiking with Sean and explored the fynbos, she “didn’t get it”, but after his narratives of the plants “and the absorbing way he has of telling them, I was immediately transfixed”.

So accomplished is Sean that it has been known to be said that an internship and recommendation from Sean is worth more than a degree - probably now more so than ever.

1 November 2016

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GOOD

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Local photographer in the limelight W

hen we placed a scenic photograph of the Overberg’s canola fields on the cover of the 6 September edition of The Village NEWS, we had no idea that it would lead to fame and recognition for its photographer, Annalize Mouton, a long-time resident of Stanford.

Shortly after the publication of that issue, a photography enthusiast from Vermont, Annatjie Uys, contacted The NEWS to ask for a contact number for Annalize. As a member of gurushots.com, an online platform for photographers from all over the world, Annatjie was so impressed by Annalize’s front page photo that she wanted to encourage her to enter the GuruShots Challenge, with the theme ‘Mellow Yellow’. Which Annalize eventually, albeit rather reluctantly, did.

She had to enter four photographs and, much to her surprise, they garnered the most votes of the almost 20 000 images sent in by 4 948 photographers from around the globe. “I couldn’t believe it,” says Annalize. “I got 5 676 votes and since then I’ve been contacted by all sorts of people, organisations and

photographer, in 2003, we started producing the magazine Village Life. That and digital cameras have allowed me to revive my latent interest in photography, this time with constructive criticism and guidelines from Maré who had worked in journalism, graphic design, photography and public relations in South Africa and Namibia.”

THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR Annalize enjoying a cup of coffee with her staunch supporter, Annatjie Uys. publishers. It’s amazing how such a small thing can lead to bigger things.”

Annalize is particularly excited that a collection of her photographs will be exhibited in December at the Thessaloniki International Contemporary Art Fair in Greece. She’s also been approached by Dossier Magazine to contribute to their annual 200 page Photo Issue.

“Maybe this could lead to a new career,” says Annalize, who’s already had several in her lifetime, ranging from

high school teacher, church organist and genealogical researcher to restaurant owner and dressmaker. She’s also had a passion for photography since childhood and enjoys using the medium “to tell stories”.

Inspired by her father, a keen photographer and artist, she was given her first camera, an Agfa, when she was about eight years old. “Many years later, in 1992, I upgraded to a Pentax SLR film camera. After meeting and marrying Maré Mouton, an experienced graphic designer and

The couple also co-produced a glossy coffee table book, Stanford 150: Portrait of a Village, in 2008, with more than 500 photographs by Annalize. She had taken over 60 000 photographs in a period of 6 months, in addition to doing all the research and writing for the book to celebrate the town’s 150th anniversary.

“I prefer to work with only available light and believe that a photograph should be made when it is taken, not later on a computer,” she says.

Annalize is a prolific blogger and her work can be followed on Facebook and annalizemoutonphoto.wordpress.com - Hedda Mittner

PHOTO FINISH Two of the four photographs depicting scenes of the Overberg countryside, which won Stanford resident Annalize Mouton the GuruShots Top Photographer award in the Mellow Yellow Challenge.

GOOD

NEWS

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1 November 2016

Pebbles brings hope to Hemel-en-Aarde Hedda Mittner

I

t is no mystery how the valley between Hermanus and Caledon got its name, Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth). With its rolling hills covered in fynbos, fruit orchards and vineyards, this stretch of earth surrounded by scenic mountains paints an idyllic picture and has garnered global attention for the exceptional quality of its coolclimate wines.

Helping Hand Sponsored by Talisman Hire Volunteer Peter Hodgskin with Sophia Warner, founder-director of The Pebbles Project and Elizabeth Naudé, project manager of the Pebbles Hemel-en-Aarde Education Project in front of the building on Bergplaas that will become the new ECD Centre.

But the reality of life for the farm workers of Hemel-enAarde paints a harsher picture – one that is fraught with hardship and a lack of opportunities, especially for the children of this farming community.

“Seeing young children along the road walking many kilometres to school in all weather, sometimes without proper shoes or warm clothes just broke my heart,” says Carolyn Martin of Creation Wines. As a wine estate in the upper reaches of the valley, known as Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Carolyn feels a keen responsibility towards the community of farm workers in this remote area. While most of the younger children attend Diepgat Primary School and the older children go to Overberg High School in Caledon, the distances to and from school are a challenge.

“I found out that over 30 children in the area are not going to school at all because of a lack of transport,” says Carolyn. “There is also a huge need for nursery school and day-care facilities for children who are left at home all day while their parents work on the farms.”

Determined to rise to the challenge, Carolyn’s “pie in the sky” vision of establishing adequate facilities and services for the children finally became a reality when two key figures came on board. The first one is Sophia Warner, a special needs teacher from the UK and founder-director of The Pebbles Project, and the second is wellknown local environmentalist and philanthropist, Antony van Hoogstraten.

One of Antony’s properties is a large farm in Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge called Bergplaas, which is located adjacent to Diepgat, and when Carolyn learnt there were several unutilised buildings on the farm that Antony would be willing to rent out, she immediately contacted Sophia.

Says Carolyn: “I knew of the wonderful work Sophia had been doing among the farming communities in the Cape Winelands and she was the ideal person to head up this project.”

and the centre will function as a feeder school for Diepgat Primary which accommodates children from Grade R to Grade 7. Their next priority is after-care facilities for children from Grade R to matric, which will also offer a safe environment for local high school learners who attend Overberg High.

The Pebbles Project is an educational trust and nonprofit organisation, founded in 2004 by Sophia, shortly after making South Africa her new home. “My sister had been living in the winelands since 1998 and I often visited her from London,” says Sophia. “It became harder to go home after every visit, until I decided to move here permanently in 2003.”

“Once the ECD and ASC are up and running, we’d also like to provide special needs education and introduce a clinic at Bergplaas to provide healthcare for the children and their families without the need to take a whole day off work to visit a clinic or hospital in Hermanus,” says Sophia.

With her sister working in the wine industry, Sophia experienced first-hand the devastating effects of alcohol foetal syndrome (FAS) on the children in the area, especially those of farmworkers.

“I desperately wanted to help these children,” she says, “until I realised that they were not the only ones who needed support. There was a huge lack of healthcare, early childhood education (ECD) and after-care facilities for the children growing up on the wine farms, and I realised the importance of supporting a whole community rather than individual children in isolation.”

Working with farm owners and their workers to find solutions, Sophia launched the Pebbles Project on the Villiera wine estate near

Stellenbosch, where farm buildings were made available for a fully equipped ECD centre and an afterschool club (ASC) where older children could spend their afternoons in a safe environment and complete their homework assignments under supervision while their parents are still at work.

Since then, 43 different facilities have been established on several farms in the winelands, stretching from Somerset West to Wellington, as well as Citrusdal and now Hemel-enAarde.

“I’m more South African now than English,” says Sophia, who has also adopted two children, now aged 7 and 12, since moving to the Cape. On the Pebbles Hemel-en-Aarde Education Project, she will be working closely with project manager Elizabeth Naude, who recently relocated from the winelands to Hermanus with her husband and threeyear-old son.

Together, these two women epitomise the Pebbles Project’s motto Changing Lives. Their main emphasis will be ECD education for children from birth to 5 years,

“But at the moment, one of the most crucial aspects of this project is transport. We are currently fund-raising for a 22-seater minibus to transport children to school in the mornings, to after-care after school and finally to their homes in the late afternoon. The cost of the bus is over R600 000 and we are about two thirds of the way there, having raised R213 000.”

Creation Wines recently hosted a Charity Sunset Serenade, co-sponsored by De Hoop Collection Nature Reserve, to help raise funds for the minibus, visitors to the Creation tasting room are also invited to make a donation, joining a growing group of supporters that include the Cape Wine Auction, Standard Bank, the

Beare Foundation and Ford Hermanus. None of these generous donors is working harder than Peter Hodgskin, widely known as Dizzy Pete, who lives on Bergplaas where he has been clearing the land of aliens for the past 7 years.

Dizzy Pete has volunteered his labour and skills to oversee the renovation of the buildings on the farm and the establishment of an outside play area and sustainable vegetable garden.

“It is so exciting to see the progress being made at Bergplaas,” says Sophia. “We can not thank Antony and Dizzy Pete enough. There are still many items that we need, but we are confident that we’ll be able to open the ECD Centre in January next year.”

Local individuals, organisations and businesses can also support the Pebbles Hemel-enAarde Education Project by donating any of the following much-needed items: sand, cement, paint, tiles, windows and doors, security gates, outside shading, fencing, sanitary ware, outside furniture, a weed eater, double kitchen sink, fridge, washing machine, stove, crockery and cutlery, pots and pans, baby cots, work tables and chairs, stationery, books and educational toys.

Contact Pebbles Hemel-enAarde project manager Elizabeth Naude on 071 160 2454 / 072 284 0378 or elizabeth@pebblesproject.co.za For more information, go to www.pebblesproject.co.za

1 November 2016

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James Gray, at the United Church, at 10:00. R40 pp donation to charity.

• U3A Course on Gothic Architecture: The topic of this week’s presentation is Chartres Cathedral, Parts 1 & 2. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00.

Wednesday 2 November • OAK Movie Night: The next monthly movie to be screened by Overstrand Arts/Kunste is the spy action-comedy, Kingsman – the Secret Service, starring Colin Firth, Samuel L Jackson and Michael Caine. At the Municipal Auditorium, at 18:00.

Tickets at the door are R45 (R30 for OAK members).

Contact René du Plooy on 082 940 4238.

shine. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome.

• Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market: In the courtyard at HPF cellar, The Village, from 09:00-14:00. Where wine and food lovers both local and international meet.

Thursday 3 November • Hermanus Bird Club: The next monthly outing will be to De Mond, a CapeNature coastal reserve that is a highly rated spot for bird watching.

Departure will be at 07.00 from the Fernkloof Nature Reserve parking area and the walk will be led by Chris Cheetham. Participants are advised to bring snacks, drinks and lunch for a picnic. There will be an entrance fee unless you have a Wild Card.

For more information, contact Petra Hoeben on 082 440 9842.

Shop and Garden evening during the First Fridays Artwalk from 17:00 – 20:00, and on the Saturday from 09:00 – 15:00. The garden should be at its best. Call 028 312 3422.

Friday 4 & 11 November • Hermanus Hacking Group: Meet at the bottom of Roraty Way at 06:45 for 07:00 every Friday to join the hacking group in clearing aliens until 09:00. All volunteers welcome. Contact Charlyn Vosloo on 082 558 8731 for more details.

• Bhuki Café: Enjoy tea, coffee and eats at the Hermanus Library for only R20 (2 eats) or R30 (3 eats), every Friday, 09:00-11:30.

• Sumaridge Brunch: Chelsea garden designer and TV personality Janey Auchincloss will be the speaker at an exclusive brunch at Sumaridge Wines, from 11:00 – 14:00. Janey will talk about the pleasures and pitfalls of exhibiting at RHS Chelsea.

Enjoy a glass of Wayfarer on arrival and a glass of Sumaridge wine with a buffet brunch. Tickets are R250 pp. Numbers are strictly limited. Call 028 312 1097 to book.

• 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.

• Kevin Leo live: Popular comedian Kevin Leo will perform at the Blêr Theatre at Hermanus High School, at 20:00. Tickets are R100 pp. To book, call Amanda on 082 870 6744.

Friday 4 November • U3A Course on Gothic Architecture: Of all religious architectural styles, the Gothic style is the most successful, most prevalent, and most iconic.

The topic of this week’s presentation is Early Gothic Architecture and the Notre Dame in Paris. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00.

• The Hermanus Country Market: Next to the cricket field, Fairways Avenue, from 09:00-13:00.

Stunning food, fresh and wholesome goodies.

• Market in the Garden: At St Peter’s Church in Main Road, 09:00-13:00. A wonderful market set amongst the trees in the heart of town.

• Stanford Saturday Morning Market: The Stanford Hotel, 09:30-12:00. Farmers, crafters and hobbyists bring to you homemade and homebaked goodies.

• ‘Kolwyntjie-Teetuin’: Senior citizens in the area are invited to enjoy a sweet treat and tea or coffee at the Service Centre (‘Dienssentrum’) of the Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus for only R30, every Friday between 09:30 and 11:30.

• Swallow Park Market: Browse the new market at Swallow Park between 09:00 and 13:00.

Saturday 5 November

Tuesday 8 November

• Elim Wine Festival: Once a year, the wine farms at the most southerly tip of Africa come together to celebrate their unique cool-climate wines.

Enjoy a host of activities exclusive to this farm community, including live music, sporting events, a country market, and local wines, food and craft beer. Meet and mingle with the winemakers or join them for an intimate tutored wine tasting during the day. At Black Oystercatcher Wines, from 10:00 – 17:00. Visit www.elimwines.co.za for more.

• Negosie Amateur Theatre: Mariana du Preez presents an evening of amateur theatre at Die Groen Deur Gallery in Onrus, at 19:00. Negosie is about a woman who after many years pays a visit to the ‘negosiewinkel’ (general dealer) in her home town in the Karoo. What she finds there becomes a journey of love. Memories are related in a multisensory way through the fusion of words, music, smells and tastes. Art by Mariana du Preez and Kitchen by Arina du Toit. R220 pp. Book now on 082 949 0452.

Saturday 12 November • Cliff Path & Grotto Beach Photography Workshop: Meet at Dutchies on Grotto at 06:30 to join this three-hour workshop presented by thephotowalkers.com. Learn a variety of photographic techniques from accredited SA Professional Photographer Leanne Dryburgh as you meander along the Cliff Path and beautiful beaches. Max 8 people. The cost is R500 pp. Secure your place by contacting Leanne on 083 293 7208 or funtimes@thephotowalkers.com.

• My Camera Basics: thephotowalkers.com present a photography workshop that will help you to understand your camera better and how to use it well. From 14:00 – 16:00, at The Photo Shed on Market Square (opposite Oskars). Max 8 people.

The cost is R500 pp. Secure your place by contacting Leanne on 083 293 7208 or funtimes@thephotowalkers.com.

• St Peter’s Parish Fete: Food, crafts, children’s entertainment and much more. Come and do some early Christmas shopping. In the garden of St Peter’s Church in Main Road, from 08:00 – 14:00.

• Betty’s Bay Church Bazaar: Enjoy a morning of traditional treats, music and entertainment for the children, at the Dutch Reformed Church, Betty’s Bay, from 09:00. There will be craft stalls with unique Christmas gifts, pancakes, curry vetkoek, boerie rolls, a coffee shop, white elephants, books and so much more. Bring the whole family!

• Food and Music Fair: The Hermanus Montessori Pre & Primary School host a fun evening with food, live music, beer on tap and wine tastings and sales.

Tickets are R150 pp and the kids activity is R50. Call 028 312 4301 for more information.

Sunday 13 November • U3A Course on Star Trek - The Final Frontier: The topic of this session is Make It So - the social structures of Star Trek. Presented by Dr Robin Lee. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00.

Wednesday 9 November • Photography Chit-Chat: This fun movie night will be thephotowalkers.com’s last get-together of the year, with the screening of Salt of the Earth - a biography/documentary about the life and work of the brilliant photographer, Sebastião Salgado. From 18:30 – 21:00, at 25 Berg Street, Onrus. Bring a chair and beverages of your choice.

• Fernkloof Holistic Faire: Enjoy a day of healthy good food, special crafts and interesting therapies at Fernkloof Nature Reserve from 10:00 – 15:00.

Relax with friends and family in the beautiful gardens set in peaceful and inspiring surroundings.

For more info, call Lucia on 028 316 5321.

Monday 14 November • BirdLife Overberg Monthly Talk: Featuring Rick Nuttall, the curator of the National Museum in Bloemfontein, who will talk about the waxbill family. Rick is generally regarded as a world authority on this topic. RSVP: Helé at birding@southernartceramics.com or 073 456 0393 to reserve your spot. Find all the details at www.westerncapebirding.co.za

Wednesday 9 & Thursday 10 November

• Wines 2 Whales: This popular MTB Adventure will start at the picturesque Lourensford Wine Estate in the Winelands of Somerset West and riders will cross through (and over) 13 wineries, 26 private farms, six mountains, historic roads and mountain passes, nature conservation areas (including the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve) before finishing at the Onrus Caravan Park on Sunday 6 November. For more information contact Chris on 083 760 3158 or visit www.wines2whales.co.za • Hermanus First Fridays Artwalk: Join the 19 art galleries in the centre of Hermanus as they remain open until 8pm for the HFF Artwalk. Follow the orange as you stroll from gallery to gallery, and mingle with the artists and fellow art lovers.

Savour a glass of wine from one of our local vineyards and enjoy the astonishing range of art and fine craft on display. Find the HFF map on P12 of this issue.

• Tutamen Open Shop & Garden: Tutamen at 15 High Street, Hermanus will be having an Open

• Little Leopards Eco-Adventure: Join Whale Coast Conservation on a western leopard toadlet rescue in Stanford. This Eco-Adventure starts at 07:00, followed by breakfast at 08:00. Adults R160; children R75 (incl breakfast). Booking essential; max 20 persons. Contact 083 242 3295 or anina.wcc@gmail.com

Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 November

Thursday 10 November

• Elgin Open Gardens: This is the second weekend of this popular annual event, when 20 spectacular gardens will be open to the public on both days from 10:00 – 17:00. A number of gardens will have plants for sale, and offer teas and light meals. There will also be various art exhibitions, and the many wine estates making up the Elegantly Elgin Wine Route will be open, with many offering special events. Full details with a map can be downloaded from www.elginopengardens.co.za.

• Introduction to Lightroom: Join thephotowalkers.com for a three-hour workshop that will take you through the fundamental steps of starting your post production journey through Adobe Lightroom, a program created for photographers that is essentially the ‘Digital Darkroom’. Lightroom is logical and easy to use if you are taught the correct process from the beginning. From 14:00 – 17:00 at 25 Berg Street, Onrus. Max 8 people. The cost is R500 pp. For more details, contact Leanne on 083 293 7208 or funtimes@thephotowalkers.com

Saturday 5 & 12 November

Friday 11 November

• Hermanus parkrun: Meet at Hermanus Forest in Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley at 08:00. Free timed 5 km walk or run come rain or

• Hermanus History Society: Talk on the SA roll in the Battle of Delville Wood in WWI, which took place exactly 100 years ago. Presented by Dr

Tuesday 15 November • U3A Course on Star Trek - The Final Frontier: The topic of this session is Beam Me Up, Scotty or Set phasers on stun - technology in Star Trek. Presented

by Dr Robin Lee. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00.

• Beginner’s All-round Social Dancer course: Join the Hermanus Social Dance Club on a six-week course and become an all-round social dancer for any occasion. Every Tuesday for the next 6 weeks from 18:30 – 19:30. R400 per person or R700 per couple includes entrance to one social per week, every Wednesday at 20:30. To book, call Lani on 072 316 5787.

Village

EXPLORER The

FOOD • WINE • ART

Night of 1 000 drawings

T

he Hermanus First Fridays (HFF) Artwalk is now firmly established as a not-to-be-missed occasion on the social and cultural calendar, drawing large crowds of residents and visitors alike. The number of participating galleries has risen to nineteen, an astonishing number given the relatively small area within which the event takes place.

Underneath the surface Hedda Mittner

T

he first thing you’ll notice when meeting Hugo Maritz is that he smiles easily. No sign of the proverbial dark and brooding artist here – he’s friendly, relaxed and unassuming. Hugo admits that he’s in a “happy space”, both in his personal life, which has been transformed by the birth of his son Dawid 15 months ago, and in his professional life as an artist.

“I have walked a very long road and after 20 years of experimenting with different styles, techniques and compositions, I finally feel that all the puzzle pieces are coming together and I’ve found my ‘voice’,” he says. “I’m very excited about my upcoming exhibition, ‘Underneath the surface’, which will be my 15th solo exhibition with Jozua Rossouw.”

Born in Windhoek in 1975, Hugo is a self-taught artist who studied Philosophy and Psychology before pursuing art as a career. “As a child, I was always drawing,” he says.

“Stylistically I moved on from comic strip characters towards realism, which laid an important foundation, and finally to more abstract work.

I was also fortunate that wellknown art critic and lecturer Nico van Rensburg took me under this wing and taught me more about composition and painting.”

Working in acrylics and oils, Hugo’s paintings make use of sharp contrasts in black and white which are then refined to different scales of colour from dark to light. The final work is revealed by modulating the strength of contrasts to create a dance of focal points that gives aesthetic pleasure to the eye.

Hugo’s keen interest in psychology is evident in his

subject matter. “In my paintings I focus on solitary figures to explore all the vicissitudes of the human condition. I have always held the belief that an unexamined life isn’t worth living. But to explore your own psyche also means to explore the lives of others. My paintings are based on the understanding that, as humans, we have more in common than whatever individual differences divide us. So I believe that coming to an understanding of yourself is also to understand the people around you, which is why my figures are intended to be ‘everyman’ (or everywoman).

My figures stand alone, inactive, and the focus is on the internal world of thoughts and feelings.”

Jozua was one of the first gallery owners to take an interest in Hugo’s work after he settled in Hermanus. “I have been part of Rossouw Modern since 1996 and Jozua

has been the most constant critic of my work since I was 23,” he says. “We’ve had 14 solo shows together, always as a collection of my latest works, but with this exhibition - Underneath the Surface – I’ve had the time frame to consciously explore the hidden worlds of my subjects and to make the images even more emotive. I love capturing those hidden states of existence that are sometimes dark, sometimes tragic or perhaps just commonplace. I have also tried to make my use of colour more evocative than before and am pleased with the results.”

Underneath the Surface opens at 17:30 on Friday 4 November at Rossouw Modern SPACE Gallery, with an artist walkabout on Saturday at 12 noon, and drinks with the artist on Sunday at 12:30. RSVP at info@rossouwmodern.com or call 028 313 2222.

On the evening of 2 December, HFF galleries will again host Night of 1 000 Drawings.

This much anticipated annual event is based on the concept that we should all be able to enjoy the indulgence of purchasing an artwork – even if it is modest in terms of size and price.

Over the coming weeks, anyone who feels they have any artistic ability, is encouraged to produce a painting, drawing, sketch or illustration, be it on paper, card or board, whether in oils, watercolours, pastels, ink, pencil or charcoal, of a landscape, seascape, portrait, abstract or still life. In fact, the only stipulation is that the artwork should be sized A5 and the artist must be willing to donate it.

Blank A5 cards can be collected from Liz Coates at Pure South in Main Road. The completed artworks can then

be handed in at Pure South or any of the participating HFF galleries in town. In addition to the artworks sent in by members of the public, gallery owners will be approaching the professional artists who regularly exhibit in their galleries and ask them to contribute their own artworks.

These will be mixed in with the other donated works, and the total body of collected artworks will then be divided among the galleries.

During the Night of 1 000 Drawings on Friday 2 December, the artworks will be displayed at all the galleries and available for purchase – at R100 per artwork. The proceeds from the sale of the artworks will be divided between three charities. Any Hermanus charities wishing to be considered as beneficiaries should drop a letter of application off at any of the galleries or send an email to hermanusfirstfridays@whale mail.co.za. The letter should give a brief description of the charity, its history and objectives.

Last year’s Night of 1 000 Drawings raised a total of R64 000. This would not have been possible without the active participation of the Hermanus community, and the HFF galleries are once again inviting artists and art lovers to be part of this joyful event.

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Village Explorer

1 November 2016

A closer look at sculpture

T

oo many pictures? No room for another one on your walls? Surely not. I have heard that, when a new purchase is made or an artwork is given to you, the other pictures quite spontaneously bunch up a bit to make room for the newcomer.

But let me suggest, if your pictorial art portfolio is full, that it may be time to look more closely at 3D art. Our appetites have been whetted by the challenging displays of sculptures co-curated for FynArts by Jaco Sieberhagen on the cliffs of Gearings Point, but I am thinking here more of domestic-scale sculptural works bearing the marks of their creators and available in our local galleries.

Materials vary and you will find glass, stone, wood, metal, ceramic and other media used by artists to realise their ideas. And every piece of art 'in the round' has the potential of changing as the light strikes it. We know how important it is to light a picture properly but a threedimensional work can alter radically as the day progresses. Different facets come to the fore, different moods are evoked and the viewer's pleasure is enhanced as the natural lighting changes.

Art

By Patrick Chapman In Bellini Gallery I saw the bronzes of Anna Barth, in particular a pair of wood pigeons of breath-taking simplicity. Smaller than a bowl of flowers on your table, these could give you pleasure and attract favourable comment for years. The shapes are pure, the patina seductive. Casting bronze does not come cheap but these pigeons will be around and exerting their appeal long after we have moved on.

The ceramic designs of Erna Dry have been a staple of Hornbill Studio for years and with good reason. Their simplified shapes, whether Nguni cows with accurate patterning or delicate human

figures, arms held aloft imploringly, are also now on view at The Art Gallery in Royal Lane. This gallery is owned by Jeandre Marinier, Lize Van der Walt, Christine Henderson and Erna, a perfect outlet for their combined talents.

The ability to transform a gnarled stump of wood into an artwork of great appeal, rich textures and glowing tones, that is the gift of Boniface Chikwenhere at Malcolm Bowling's gallery, located down Warrington Place off Harbour Road. Boniface hails originally from Zimbabwe, which has produced some serious stone sculptors. At Art Thirst in High Street, Leon Muller is showing weathered driftwood crafted into mobiles and super-tactile pieces which will work well in your seaside cottage.

Next time you meander round our galleries, perhaps on a First Friday (4 November is coming up), spare a glance for the three-dimensional artworks on display alongside the oils, watercolours and acrylic works.

Each gallery, you may be surprised to find, has objets which we could miss if our eyes are focussed only on the walls.

The third dimension is on view now at a gallery near you... seek it out and enjoy.

Art pays The winner of the October HFF Artwalk lucky draw was Jack Davis, who won this Nguni print from Malcolm Bowling Gallery. Artwalkers are reminded to enter the lucky draw every month by purchasing a small themed gift at any of the galleries for a mere R20 you could stand a chance to win an original artwork donated by one of the HFF artists or gallery owners.

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Ceramics exhibit at Bellini

B

ellini Gallery in Village Square will be hosting an exhibition entitled Pot-Luck which opens on Friday 4 November. Featuring the work of ceramic artists Christil van Vollenhoven and Lina Kapp, who both live in Vermont, the exhibit will open during this month’s Hermanus First Fridays (HFF) Artwalk and run until the end of November.

Owner of The Book Cottage, John Morris, with publisher Pippa Parker of Penguin Random House, Georgina and Mike Muirhead, Marie Muirhead with granddaughter Jemima, and author David Muirhead who dedicated The Bedside Ark to Jemima.

Take a walk on the wild side Hedda Mittner

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reelance journalist and author David Muirhead drew a large audience of book lovers to The Book Cottage on Saturday afternoon, where he gave a talk on his latest work, The Bedside Ark – a riotous assembly of unrespectable creatures, published by Struik Nature (Penguin Random House).

Wildlife and conservation being among David’s favourite topics, this delightful book comprises 42 short accounts of southern Africa’s vibrant collection of wild animals. The author points out in his preface that the book does not follow the strict alphabetical list Noah laboriously ticked off on his clipboard, and after starting with the one-of-a kind aardvark, the motley collection of animals slowly descends into “alphabetical chaos” with the zebra, which usually has to wait at the end of the queue, climbing aboard somewhere in the middle.

Other unrespectable fauna that made it into the limelight range from the wilfully ignorant ostrich and the Houdini-like honey badger to the precariously specialised klipspringer; and from the curvaceous, sports-model springbok to the recklessly insensitive hyena. Many of the

stories are illustrated with delightful line drawings.

Two creatures that may be of particular interest to Hermanus residents are our local inhabitants, the dassie and the baboon. The way in which David introduces the former illustrates the light and humorous, but also informative style of the book.

“If you happen to be introduced to a dassie at a cocktail party, within minutes you’ll almost certainly be told that it’s closely related to the elephant. You’ll hear that the family connection goes back millions of years. It’s a humbling bit of information, especially when all you can come up with in the way of distinguished relatives is your Great-uncle Bob who did quite well in the furniture trade back in the 1960s.”

Readers will also be surprised, given the epic proportions of the baboon problem in our neck of the woods, by David’s introduction to this controversial animal: “Baboons usually make the news for all the wrong reasons, but once upon a long time ago they worked in law enforcement.” In order to learn more, you’ll have to buy the book which, incidentally, is very reasonably priced at R160 and would make a wonderful gift.

At the book launch, David

said that many of the creatures featured in his book are facing extinction and the sad fact is that it’s all our fault.

“I wanted to present the animals in a different way to elicit empathy. We tend to view animals through a lens that lumps them all together, but in fact they are as uniquely different as individual human beings and their lives are not that different to ours – they get born and they die, and in between they have to find a place to live, select a mate and procreate, find food to feed themselves and their dependants, find a way to live together in a group, keep the peace with their neighbours etc. The only difference is that they don’t whine about their challenges, frustrations and hardships, or their lot in life – they just get on with it.”

David and his wife Marie have been living in Vermont for the past four years. Finding their way here was a rather random process: wanting to retire in a smaller town, they took a map, drew an 80km circumference around Cape Town and started to explore every town within that area, from Tulbagh to Napier.

Unsurprisingly, Hermanus ended up being the pick of the bunch. To my question, “What do you like about Hermanus?” the answer was, “My gosh, what’s not to like?”

Indeed.

As a primary school teacher in Johannesburg, Christil did pottery as a hobby while raising three sons. It was only in 1991 that she decided to study fine art and ceramic design, first at the Witwatersrand Technikon and, when the family relocated, at the Durban Technikon. After qualifying she taught at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg and Millenia College in various subjects, before settling in Vermont in 2003. She works from a studio at her home and is often joined by Lina Kapp, who lives within walking distance.

Both artists love working with clay. “My work is pure in shape and form, and I aim to create simple lines and pristine forms,” says Christil.

“Their frailty speaks of lightness and gentle humour.

I like to add quirky little touches such as giving my pots ‘legs’ to dance on. I also love the sensuality and earthiness of clay and take delight in the tactile surfaces.”

Christil continuously experiments with new forms and methods and her latest works include Raku and sawdust fired pots. She is a member of Ceramics South Africa and exhibits at various art galleries in Johannesburg and the Western Cape.

Lina started taking pottery classes while still living in Parys in the Free State in 1981. When she later relocated to Knysna with her husband, she ran her own pottery studio and shop for 10 years. Creativity clearly runs in Lina’s family as she is also an accomplished painter, and both her daughters are artists and qualified architects. “I enjoy painting but I find ceramics much more satisfying,” says Lina.

“Clay is such an individual and expressive medium.”

Lina also settled in Vermont in 2003, where she met Christil through the Vermont Art Circle.

“We immediately became friends and often work together in Christil’s studio,” she says.

Their work, however, is very different.

Inspired by the famous architect Hundertwasser, Lina says she became tired of neutrals and now makes enthusiastic use of colour and pattern in her ceramics. “I don’t aim for perfection and prefer working with unusual lines and shapes. Form and colour delight me and that is what I express in my work.”

Both Lina and Christil have been exhibiting at Bellini for many years and were part of their opening exhibition in 2006.

- Hedda Mittner

Ceramic artists Lina Kapp and Christil van Vollenhoven have been friends for 13 years and often work side by side in Christil’s studio in Vermont. Their work will be on exhibit at Bellini Gallery from 4 November.

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here are many changes afoot on the culinary front in Hermanus, especially in our beautiful valley. Last month I met Nick Oosthuizen, previous owner of the award-winning guesthouse and restaurant in Swellendam, Roosje van de Kaap, who was set to take over The Restaurant @ Newton Johnson from Eric Bulpitt after he left at the end of September to open a new restaurant at Avondale in the Winelands.

Sadly, the much anticipated reopening of The Restaurant @Newton Johnson this month is no longer happening, following an accident that has left Nick with serious health problems. So the restaurant remains closed at this time, although chef Warwick Taylor of Source will step in to host the pre-booked functions at the venue.

Chef Warwick, who opened Source in The Village in May this year after two years at Creation, has been hosting some very successful functions at Source in the evenings, including wine clubs and private parties. I attended one of these functions recently, for a group of 20 women who came from far and wide to get together for a school reunion after more than 30 years. About half of them had spent their whole school career from Grade 1 to matric together at the Holy Rosary Convent School in Edenvale, Johannesburg, and spent the weekend together with local resident Lindy Richardson acting as host and tour guide.

Having visited all the tourist attractions in Hermanus, including a Wine Hoppers tour of the wine route, all agreed that their evening at Source was a highlight. The enchanting venue, the level of service and the excellent food paired with local wines made for a memorable evening.

While Source has been closed for general dining trade in the evenings during the last few

1 November 2016

delightful ELL Ethical Eatery at Spookfontein. The restaurant, which is adjacent to the winery and enjoys one of the best views in the valley, will be taken over by Francois Barnard of Harbour Rock, in partnership with his general manager Vaughan van Blerk, who has worked with Francois for 13 years. “The restaurant will focus on fresh country food from the valley,” says Francois, “and we’ll probably reopen within the next month.” We’ll keep you posted.

Restaurant News

By Hedda Mittner

ELL @ Spookfontein (above) has closed its doors and will soon reopen under the auspices of Harbour Rock’s Francois Barnard, in partnership with his GM Vaughan van Blerk, while former owner Norah Hudson (below) is starting the first vegan restaurant in Hermanus, called ELL 269.

The walls of Source are now adorned with artworks from Rossouw Modern Art Gallery, on loan from their regular customer, Jozua Rossouw. Chef Warwick Taylor (above) has been hosting several evening functions at Source, including a recent school reunion (below). Source will reopen for evening dining this week.

months, they will reopen on 2 November for evening dining from Wednesday to Saturday.

They also serve breakfast and lunch seven days a week from 08:00 - 16:00. Call 028 125 0025 to book.

Bruce and Christine Henderson’s legendary restaurant, B’s Steakhouse, also in The Village, was the scene of a devastating fire in September which reduced this popular venue to rubble.

But within days, the staff had set up a pop-up restaurant outside where they’ve been serving up delicious steak rolls to the public on Saturday mornings to generate income for their staff members.

Good news is that Bruce is back in the kitchen this month, at La Vierge Restaurant in the Hemel-enAarde Valley. The restaurant had been closed for some time now after the departure of the previous owners, Stephen Nandes and Yusuf Sujee, known as the Tikka Boys, who won the 2014 Ultimate Braai Master competition. Bruce and his team will open the restaurant this week from Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 - 16:00 and for dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings. Call 028 313 2007 to book.

Another popular venue in the valley that closed at the end of October is Norah Hudson’s

The owner of EAT, Sheena Bruce (above) on Charlie Crowther’s pig farm, Glen Oakes, which now supplies EAT with pork. Chefs Connel Massyn and Innocent Cengule (right) are now making the restaurant’s own artisinal sausages and will soon be producing charcuterie.

Norah Hudson will be bringing her culinary skills and food philosophy closer to Hermanus by opening ELL 269 at The Carriages centre premises where@ Food & Wine used to be, and Zulu was supposed to open earlier this year in April – only it never did, for reasons that were not revealed. Norah is busy as a bee getting the restaurant fitted out and will be opening – dare I say it – soon!

Known for her dedication to animal rights (“animals are friends; not food”), Norah has decided to live out her passion for ethical eating. No animal products will be used at ELL269 and the entire menu will consist of plant-based foods.

“I’ve been experimenting with recipes for a whole year and am very excited about my new vegan venture,” she says. “I want to show people that eating in a healthy and ethical way is easier than you might think – and just as delicious.”

Norah informed me that 269 is the global vegan code, which I’d never heard of, but my trusted friend Google reveals that it refers to Calf 269, a male calf that was rescued by animal rights activists in Israel in 2013, just days before its planned slaughter. His ear carried a tag numbered 269, and his rescue led to protests in Israel that were followed by protests in England and other parts of the world. The calf is apparently still alive today and has led to the creation of an animal liberation movement called 269 life.

Village Explorer

1 November 2016 While I’m no vegan or even a vegetarian, I’m all in favour of more ethical practices and am quite ready to be seduced by Norah’s vegan creations. This will be the first restaurant of its kind in Hermanus and I’m sure she will have many supporters, especially since she will be able to cater for any dietary requirements such as diabetes and gluten or lactose intolerance. ELL 269 will also have a deli section with readymade meals to take home, so we can all start experimenting with healthier eating.

Another restaurant that is taking ethical eating to heart is Eat in The Village. Owner Sheena Bruce says diners are more inclined these days to enquire where the food on their plate comes from, and Eat is always searching for local, reliable and ethical sources.

Glen Oakes certainly fits the bill and earlier this year I accompanied Sheena and chef Connel Massyn on a visit to this 300 ha farm in the valley near Solitaire, where we encountered the happiest pigs we’ve ever seen.

Owner Charlie Crowther’s freerange porky family of approximately 300, from piglets to retired breeding sows, all enjoy a natural, healthy life. They are given the

freedom to roam and explore, grazing on pastures and foraging for grubs, acorns and roots. Their lives are stress-free and they do not receive any growth hormones or antibiotics. This promotes even marbling of fat in the meat and results in pork with an unusually rich flavour profile.

Having secured Glen Oakes as a supplier, Sheena and Connel were inspired to embark on a whole new venture into the world of charcuterie. Immersing themselves in the study of curing and smoking, Connel attended two courses to learn from the masters of the trade – an Italian charcuterie workshop by Lorenzo Ciman, the “singing Italian pig farmer” from La Masseria, and a French charcuterie workshop at Moreson in Franschhoek by Neil Jewell, “South Africa’s charcuterie king”, who is also one of Glen Oakes’s few select clients.

“We’ve been testing and experimenting since February and are now ready to go,” says Connel.

Eat already has a spacious cold room to work in so that freshness and quality are guaranteed, and they have purchased various new equipment ranging from a

stainless steel table to stuffers, mincers, slicers, smoking guns and an upright smoker. Most important of all is the new curing chamber which they’ve imported from Italy and which should arrive within the next few weeks.

While curing is a long and complex process that takes months and even years, which means we’ll have to wait at least until next winter before tasting Eat’s air-cured meats such as salami, pancetta, prosciutto and Parma ham, Connel is already putting the smoker to good use with their artisan sausages, hams, ribs, bacon and even cheeses and butter.

Customers can look forward to enjoying special platters at Eat this season with pates, rillettes, sausages, hams and a selection of artisanal cheeses from Stone House Estate near Stanford, served with pickles, chutneys, preserves and fresh stone-baked bread. Eat will also be able to supply other restaurants, tasting rooms, caterers and accommodation establishments with their new products.

Eat is open from Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 to late and on Sundays from 11:30 - 15:00.

Call 028 316 2348 to make a booking.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT The Eatery’s deli, The Foodshop, has moved from its separate location in Long Street Arcade into the restaurant, where customers can still find all their old favourites. With the deli now forming part of this popular coffee bar & lunch room, you can stock up on freshly baked breads, croissants, biscuits, rusks and cakes, or select a ready-made meal to take home with you. Other deli products include spicy rubs, pickles, pestos, preserves and jams, as well as a range of Stone House cheeses.

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17

It’s the Season of Sauvignon

he changing season offers more changes than a wardrobe transformation. Out with the warm clothing, in with the short sleeves and sandals.

Another spring-clean is necessary for our wine cellars.

Out with the heavier reds and in with the lighter white wines.

Spring is the season for Sauvignon Blanc. Spring brings more light and more sun essential ingredients for outdoor living and seaside picnics. Being close to the coast means that we have plenty of opportunity to pitch a chair on a white beach and crack open a bottle of wine to enjoy with the salty sea air, while watching the sun setting over the Atlantic. Good life and good wine. Wine that we don’t have a shortage of. From Elgin to Elim, we have many great examples of quality wines that are perfect partners for easy summer living.

Don’t underestimate Sauvignon Blanc when it comes to the variety and styles in which it is produced. From the usual stainless tank fermentation to barrel fermented and oak aged. From 100% Sauvignon Blanc to blends with small portions of Semillon for depth and finish.

Sometimes even with a bit of Chardonnay. Bottom line is that Sauvignon Blanc refreshes.

It revitalises. It is not as straight forward as it seems and this wine should not be judged on first tastes. Regional influences play a significant role in the taste profile. Where the fruit comes from is paramount to what you experience when sipping away on your Sauvignon.

Recently the FNB Sauvignon

depict the Southern Right whale that visits our shores on their label and the association is immediately made with good times and memories of breaching whales.

Wine

Black Oystercatcher, Ghost Corner and Strandveld are three Sauvignons from Elim where the cooling Atlantic breeze adds distinction to these southernmost vines. They can be tasted this weekend at the Elim Wine Festival on 5 November.

By Frieda Lloyd

Sophie te’Blanche is favoured by many and named by the Elgin vineyard workers who decided that it was time to give Sauvignon a nickname. Today Sophie is synonymous with Sauvignon. And no Sauvignon Blanc story is complete without mentioning Bartho Eksteen.

This Hermanus based largerthan-life winemaker’s Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc is no fluke. Masterfully crafted in true Bartho style.

Blanc Top 10 wines were announced and one of our favourites, Hermanuspieterfontein Nr 5 Sauvignon Blanc 2013, features in this prestigious line-up. The Nr 5 is a wooded Sauvignon, oaked for ten months in 500 litre French oak barrels, which results in a hay-coloured wine. These barrels are twice the size of the barrels usually used for aging wine. There are aromas of green apples with a crisp acidity on the palate and a clean finish.

Hermanuspietersfontein winemaker, Wilhelm Pienaar, worked at JC le Roux and Nederburg before moving to Hermanus in December 2014.

With two MSc degrees in viticulture to his name, this winemaker knows what he’s doing and is putting his skills to good use in the Overberg.

TIP: Don’t worry about chilling this wine below 10°C. Because Sauvignon Blanc is naturally aromatic it does not lose its bouquet when chilled.

As we are heading to summer, it is time to invite a few friends, pick three favourite Sauvignon Blancs from different areas and decide which of the Sauvignon flavours you want to take to the festive season’s many parties.

An interesting exercise to while away the longer evenings.

Other Sauvignon Blancs that are loved as much for their quality as for their brands are Southern Right, Creation, Stanford Hills, Black Oystercatcher, Ghost Corner, Strandveld and Sophie te’Blanche. The first two both

No blues for this Betty Hedda Mittner

I

t’s official. According to the Eat Out Mercedes Benz Everyday Eatery Awards, our very own Betty Blue is the best bistro in the Western Cape. The announcement was made at an awards ceremony in Cape Town on 18 October.

According to Betty Blue’s elated owners, Rayno and Celia Rabie, they had no expectations of winning this coveted people’s choice award.

“It came as a wonderful surprise and it’s a very special compliment to us because we were rated by our customers over an extended period of a whole year instead of by a panel of judges,” says Rayno.

This was only the second year

that these awards were presented provincially, with the winners from the other provinces announced in Johannesburg a week later.

The winning restaurants are those with the highest average ratings given by Eat Out website users between 1 October 2015 and 30 September 2016. One fan described Betty Blue as a “gem” and went on to say: “I might just have to drive from Cape Town to Hermanus to enjoy this bistro again.

Absolutely amazing! Friendly owner, fast service and flavourful food. Number one in Hermanus.”

And now Betty Blue, which opened barely a year ago, is officially number one in the Western Cape and the public’s favourite bistro in the

whole province. The award now takes pride of place next to several others on the wall in Rayno’s office, including Chef Rôtisseur and Chef de Table from Châine des Rôtissuers, and membership of Petit Futé Etablissement Recommande and L’Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs. De Kat magazine also devoted nine pages to a feature on Betty Blue earlier this year – not too shabby for such a young gal.

But clearly she has class, and lots of it.

“Yes, Betty was a huge risk,” says Rayno. “We took a gamble not only on the location, but also the name, the décor, and the type of food we serve. It is gratifying to see how our concept is appealing to a younger market – and the tourists love it!”

Of course, the Rabies have 15 years of experience that is serving them well, having previously owned Savannah Café and Burgundy Restaurant, and consulted on several hospitality projects.

“We are very grateful for the opportunities we’ve had to contribute to the new level of excellence in the restaurant industry,” says Rayno.

“The restaurants in Hermanus have become a huge drawcard for visitors and now offer a more sophisticated dining experience, with top chefs and good service. There are so many positive things happening in our town and we should all continue to work together and support each other for the good of Hermanus.”

Celia Rabie with Betty Blue’s Eat Out award for Best Bistro.

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1 November 2016

The value of community and security - and fynbos and wine

R

emember when children used to play or ride their bikes in the street outside their houses without their parents fretting over whether they’d be kidnapped or run over?

Much has been said about the attributes of living on a residential estate, and lifestyle and security appeal are crucial drawcards. In addition, the fact is the sound investment value both in terms of capital appreciation and potential rental income also speaks volumes to property buyers across the country.

Estate properties have staying power and usually perform better than the value of the property in neighbouring suburbs.

Based on actual sales, according to the Lightstone’s data for the national residential property market (Lightstone collates and analyses data from official sources such as the Deeds Office registry and Surveyor General regarding residential property transfers and delivers the results on a monthly basis via the House Price Index report) for August, house prices reflect average price inflation of 5%. In contrast, the Association of Residential Communities (ARC) website states that annual house price inflation in estates is 7,5%.

Property

per property, which is three times greater than the estimated national average of R700 000 per home outside of gated communities.

Further statistics from ARC make an interesting point – that today golf estates comprise only 12% of the total estates in South Africa, and that only 60% of those who live on golf estates actually play golf.

CEO of Pam Golding Properties, Dr Andrew Golding speaks to The Village NEWS about estate living, security,value for money and lifestyle choices.

In terms of value, currently estates account for around 22% of the market’s total sales value - up from 20,5% pre-recession and remaining fairly stable since late 2013, while unit sales in estates currently stand at around 14% of total market sales.

Over and above the investment potential and price appreciation already being achieved, undisputedly the desirability of living on a secure estate continues to increase exponentially.

But living on an estate is about far more than security.

There are numerous factors that attract people across all generations to an estate lifestyle.

Indicating the popularity of estate living, according to ARC there are currently approximately 6 000 gated communities in South Africa with a total value of some R650 BN.

The new trend is towards socalled lifestyle estates which encompass a “live, play, learn, earn and shop” tenet - all within a secure environment that provides a sense of community, as well as easy access to educational facilities.

These comprise about 320 000 residential properties at an average value of R2 M

Some estates even provide schools on site, while the leisure amenities encompass

a host of features, with the accent in newer estates on a broader lifestyle offering rather than, as was previously the case, focusing mainly on one aspect.

These facilities can also include gyms and other sports facilities and even shopping complexes.

In the Western Cape’s Helderberg region, as well as the Somerset West and Stellenbosch areas there is a strong demand for estate living, which is fuelled by a number of factors such as proximity to major business centres and schools, security, quality lifestyle attractions such as leisure and sports activities, aesthetic and scenic appeal, quality and design of houses, and resale potential.

In the Overstrand you have Arabella Country Estate, Hemel-en-Aarde Estate, Fernkloof Golf Estate, Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate, Innesbrook and Mariner’s Village, for example.

As Carolyn Martin, co-owner of Creation Wines, says: “For the kids it’s great. There’s not an iota of a chance they will become mall rats: they spend their time surfing, playing

tennis, cricket, rugby and golf. We have teachers from Cape Town coming to take ballet classes and there are art classes, Mastermaths and plenty of academic support.

The local primary school produces some great results and gives the children a good dose of reality at the same time.

“There is also a private school, Curro Hermanus, which was initiated by me and a friend about three years ago. It has about 500 learners and is growing. It is part of a large group of well-established private schools across the country, so there is something for everyone.

“We also have a great MediClinic and doctors in Hermanus, which is reassuring when you’re raising a family. I think smalltown living is what you make of it.”

A further drawcard within residential developments is the fact that the sizeable monthly costs for water, electricity and garden maintenance incurred for large, freestanding properties are replaced by shared costs and hassle-free estate management.

Arabella, which is managed

by Pam Golding Properties, is listed in the top 10 estates in the country by New World Wealth, a global wealth intelligence and market research company.

While some high-end buyers are investing considerable capital in building their dream homes with cutting-edge design, the latest technology and eco-friendly features, estate living is also becoming more accessible and attracting a younger generation of home buyers, with in excess of 70% younger than 49 (Lightstone).

Catering for this market, which includes first time buyers, many estates have introduced sectional title opportunities starting at prices below the R1 M mark and offering excellent value for money.

At the other end of the spectrum, luxury homes of substantial size are being constructed, which are estimated to fetch prices from R20 M to R30 M and upwards.

A floral diversity second to none, and award-winning wines virtually littering the valley, your decision lies not in which area to live - that’s a given - but what kind of residential lifestyle you choose.

- Aly Verbaan

GOOD

NEWS

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1 November 2016

Sea the world in a whole new way T

fabulous eateries and menu options for every palette which make the cruise experience great for families. Child-friendly cuisine, alongside fine dining choices, make family dining an enjoyable event. From worldrenowned chefs to hearty steakhouse dinners, every taste, occasion and budget is catered for, and that's just on board! Every port stop will serve up a new culinary experience, so if you're a foodie, a cruise holiday will certainly whet your appetite.

here is no doubt that taking a holiday is the best way to unwind.

Cruising is the perfect holiday for many people because you can really do as much or as little as you want. Whether you're an adrenaline junkie, lounge lizard or a bit of both, there is something for all tastes and ages.

There are as many reasons to cruise as there are types of cruises on offer. From the weeklong getaway to the round-the-world trip of a lifetime, a cruise holiday lets you explore regions of the world in comfort and affordable luxury.

In recent years, the number of cruise lines, and cruise options, has expanded which is indicative of an overall trend in the travel world. Themed cruises such as family cruises, singles' cruises and golf cruises are available for travellers seeking a unique brand of fun and relaxation.

There are many reasons why cruises are so popular.

Here are our top 5 reasons why we recommend cruising.

1. Exceptional value A cruise holiday offers many benefits to the traveller with a variety of options to explore in one location. This is part of the reason why cruises have become increasingly popular with individuals and families who want to get the most out of their vacation experience.

Cruises offer great value for the traveller on a budget because everything can be purchased (booked) in one package.

Inclusive meals and most onboard sports and activities are included in the cost of your cruise. That makes it easy to budget for those extras such as drinks, dining at alternative restaurants, spa treatments and shore excursions. You can enjoy every day to the full without blowing your budget.

4. A Good Family Vacation Option

Flight Specials Alaska Cruise: 13 May 2017 from R33 999 pp Special offer valid for a limited time only - booking and deposit due on or before 7 November 2016 Cruise itinerary: 13 May 2017 14 May 2017 15 May 2017 16 May 2017 17 May 2017 18 May 2017 19 May 2017 20 May 2017

Seattle, Washington At Sea Juneau, Alaska Skagway, Alaska Glacier Bay National Park Ketchikan, Alaska Victoria, Canada Seattle, Washington

Depart 16:00 Arrive 11:00 Arrive 06:00 Arrive 06:00 Arrive 07:00 Arrive 19:00 Arrive 07:00

The above price include: • Return flights Cape Town / Seattle/ Cape Town on Emirates • 7 Nights on-board the luxurious Ruby Princess in an inside cabin ( Category IF ) • Sail to/from Seattle (USA) and visit Juneau (Alaska), Skagway (Alaska), Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska), Ketchikan (Alaska) and Victoria (Canada) • ALL meals, entertainment and taxes • Transport airport/pier/airport on arrival and departure in Seattle • Soda & More drinks package 2. You are having a holiday while you travel There are not many other holiday options that offer the all-in-one experience like a cruise vacation. While on a cruise you can visit multiple destinations while not changing rooms and having to constantly pack and unpack your luggage. There

are activities on board for whatever mood you're in, you can do as little or as much as you like. Most cruises offer nightly entertainment, which may include comedians, live bands, and other live acts.

Also on offer are dancing, casinos, and additional entertainment options for children. The deck offers sunbathing, swimming and

Depart 22:00 Depart 20:15 Depart 15:00 Depart 13:00 Depart 23:59

•

Excursion in either Juneau OR Ketchikan (2½ hours)

Excluded from the price above: • Gratuities (recommended US$13.50 pp per day – payable on board) • Shore Excursions not mentioned above and meals whilst on excursions • Pre and post cruise accommodation • On-board expenses (items of a personal nature) • Travel Insurance & visa costs Prices subject to ROE and availability outside activities. All of this can be enjoyed while travelling between destinations. When the ship docks, the various locations may be explored and local culture sampled. There is no need to scour the phone book and maps to find restaurants, they are right there on the ship. Whether you would like to explore a

new city or relax next to the swimming pool on-board, the choice is yours. Cruising is a way to spoil yourself by waking up at a new city every morning and enjoying what the world has to offer.

3. Join the feast Speaking of food, cruise holidays are renowned for

Many cruises focus on creating a holiday experience for the entire family, offering childfriendly facilities where children can enjoy activities designed just for them. At the same time, parents can enjoy some grown-up time with peace of mind knowing their kids are having fun in a safe and secure environment. Many cruises also offer family friendly entertainment for families who want to spend more time together. While on a cruise, families can spend a week or more together without getting in the way of each other's plans.

5. Showing the world to those who want to see Cruising is all about expanding your horizons and immersing yourself in all the rich colours of the world’s cultures.

Depending on your itinerary, cruising includes experiences such as learning hula dancing in Hawaii, feeling the rhythm with a steel pan drum lesson in the Caribbean, watching a traditional Maori dance performance in New Zealand or tasting Alaska’s local seafood.

Days are filled with possibilities discovering something new everywhere you turn.

Wherever you are sailing, whatever your pleasure, whenever the time, cruising will let you see the world in a whole new way.

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NEWS A mindful approach to health, fitness and wellbeing

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1 November 2016

Hedda Mittner

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hysical fitness does not necessarily equal health and well-being, says Yasmin Lambat, a mindfulness coach, somatic therapist and BodySensing facilitator who is offering various classes and workshops at her new studio in Sandbaai, aptly named I Feel Calm.

Having worked as a fitness trainer, aerobics, Pilates and yoga instructor since 1994, Yasmin has developed a unique practice which flies in the face of everything we think we know about fitness.

It all goes back to the UK, where Zimbabwean-born Yasmin moved with her family at the age of 14. Fitness became her main pursuit and livelihood, until she became a single mum and ventured into IT recruitment in order to pay her bills.

As a head hunter, she experienced first-hand the pressures and stress of the IT and other corporate environments and how it was impacting on people’s lives and well-being. Branching out into business and life coaching set her on a whole new path which

hinged on the fundamental question: How can I help people lead better lives?

“We all have inner wisdom,” she says, “but the problem is that we ignore it. We struggle to cope and instead of listening to that inner voice, we use various aids such as drugs and alcohol to relieve the stress and keep us going.

In my case I became a gym junkie – it is an addiction for many people because the release of dopamine gives us that ‘feel good’ sensation.”

Yasmin continues: “How we receive information and process it entails both sensory and cognitive processes. I realised that I needed to slow down and start ‘feeling’ my body. That was the point where my whole approach to personal fitness shifted. Whereas it had been very goal-orientated and achievement-driven before, and focused only on physical fitness and strength, I felt the need to become quiet and listen. Guided by integrity and inner wisdom, I was able to adopt a more gentle and holistic approach which embraces both body and mind.”

Relocating from London to Johannesburg in 2007,

shifting your body to shift your mood,” says Yasmin. “When you are able to observe yourself calmly, the nervous system is at rest and old habits, patterns and addictions can be rewired through BodySensing.

It is also a very effective therapy for people who are experiencing chronic pain.”

well “ Move Feel well Live well

”

Yasmin says it is vital in today’s world that we look after our own well-being with kindness and compassion. “Self-care is very necessary and we have to stop being so hard on ourselves.”

Yasmin Lambat excudes an air of serenity and well-being. As a somatic movement specialist, she has developed a BodySensing practice to alleviate pain, stress and anxiety.

Yasmin started to develop her BodySensing practice and facilitate workshops.

BodySensing is based on the premise that, in order to be beneficial, movement need not involve effort and stress.

“Our bodies are designed for movement, from babyhood throughout our entire lives,” says Yasmin, “and BodySensing is all about

working with the wisdom of the body instead of fighting it. Our muscles don’t work in isolation and movement also involves our bones, and the tissue connecting the muscles and bones. This tissue is called fascia, now recognised as the sixth sense, as it’s influenced by sensory information such as feelings, language, vibrations and pressure.”

BodySensing involves feelgood movements and mindfulness that restore the body-mind connection and make your whole being feel better. Designed to be softening, joyful and restorative, the movements influence the entire nervous system, restoring calm and revitalising energy.

“It’s about being at ease, and

Having swopped the fastpaced lifestyle of Johannesburg for the tranquillity of Sandbaai a year ago, Yasmin says, ”My partner and co-facilitator Nick and I feel very blessed to have found this place where we can live our lives and do our work with integrity. Hermanus is a very healing place.”

Yasmin offers mindfulness and BodySensing workshops, as well as individual and group sessions at her studio, I Feel Calm, at 6 Fynbos Crescent, Sandbaai. She also runs educational workshops for physios, chiropractors and other movement specialists.

Contact Yasmin on 076 848 3778.

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1 November 2016

Polio - it’s back. Time to vaccinate the kids Aly verbaan

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hroughout human history, viral diseases have had their way with us, and for just as long, we have hunted them down and done our best to wipe them out. In the developed world, vaccines have made once-common scourges such as measles, rubella, mumps and whooping cough rare to the point of near-extinction.

Only once, however, has any virus been flushed from its last redoubts in both the body and the wild and effectively vaccinated out of existence.

That virus was smallpox, which ceased to exist outside highsecurity labs in 1977. Since that day, humanity has been free to put the vaccines against the disease - and the terror its periodic outbreaks would cause - on the shelf forever.

Now we are treacherously close to another such a monumental epidemic dilemma. This time the disease in the medical cross hairs is polio, and there’s no minimising the progress made against it. Just 25 years ago, polio was endemic to 125 countries and would paralyse or kill up to 350 000 people the overwhelming majority of them children - each year.

Polio is a highly infectious virus mainly affecting children under three years of age and spreads rapidly from one person to another. Polio is a viral infection that can result in permanent paralysis.

One in every 200 children infected with the virus becomes paralysed, and since there is no cure for polio, vaccination against this disease is imperative.

There are two types of polio vaccines: Oral polio vaccine (OPV) The OPV is a live but weakened form of the virus which makes the body produce antibodies against it without developing into the disease. Given as oral drops, it protects not only the person who has taken them but also others living around him.

From 31 October till 18 November, the Western Cape’s Department of Health will be rolling out a supplementary immunisation campaign aimed at children from birth to 59 months.

Parents are urged to take their children to the nearest clinic or one of the campaign posts that will be set up in various areas within communities during this period.

Alternatively, parents whose children attend a crèche, preschool, children’s home or day-care centre can sign a consent form to have the oral polio vaccine administered by a representative from the department. Note that the vaccine administered during this campaign is only supplementary, and children should still receive their routine vaccinations as indicated by their local clinic

OPEN WIDE A health official administers a polio vaccine to a child in Kawo Kano, Nigeria. Polio is reaching epidemic status in both Africa and India. or paediatrician.

Immunisation Schedule The inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is usually given at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6–18 months, and 4–6 years.

Though the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) is still used in many parts of the world, it has not been used in the United States since 2000.

mended if your child: has a severe allergy to neomycin, streptomycin, or polymyxin B; or has a severe allergic reaction to a previous IPV shot.

Caring for Your Child After Immunisation

Possible Risks

IPV may cause mild fever, and soreness and redness at the site of the injection for several days. Depending on your child’s age, pain and fever may be treated with ibuprofen. Check with your doctor to see if you can give either medication, and to find out the appropriate dose

Side effects include fever and redness or soreness at the site of injection. There is a very small chance of an allergic reaction with any vaccine.

Polio, an infectious disease caused by a virus that lives in the throat and intestinal tract, was once the leading cause of disability in America.

When to Delay or Avoid Immunisation

Since the introduction of the polio vaccine in 1955, the disease has been eradicated in the US. But the disease is

Using IPV eliminates the small risk of developing polio after receiving the live oral polio vaccine.

The vaccine is not recom-

Hermanus Pharmacy celebrated the opening of its revamped premises with a cocktail function on 27 October attended by clients and friends of owner Brenda Kotzé. The interior of the historic shop has been reconfigured and offers a bright and airy atmosphere. On hand at the function were Brenda, her husband Frans van Rensburg, daughter-in-law, Marié Kotzé and her pharmacist husband Philip-Ben as well as Brenda’s daughter Lisa.

still common in developing countries and needs to be eradicated worldwide.

been vaccinated against polio, you should get three doses of IPV:

If you had the polio vaccination prior to 2000, you may have received the oral polio vaccine (OPV), which was made from a live poliovirus. Although the live virus vaccine was highly effective at protecting against polio, a few cases of polio per year were caused by the oral vaccine itself. Using an inactive (dead) form of the virus that cannot cause polio, the IPV is given as a shot in the arm or leg.

The first dose at any time The second dose one to two months later. The third dose six to 12 months after the second.

Who Needs the Polio Vaccine

Pregnant women who fall into one of the groups of adults listed above should speak with their doctors about receiving an IPV according to the recommended schedule for adults.

Because most adults were vaccinated as children, routine polio vaccination is not recommended for people ages 18 and older. But three groups of adults at higher risk for coming into contact with the poliovirus should consider polio vaccination.

They are: Travellers to other parts of the world where polio is still common; people who work in labs handling specimens that might contain polio viruses; healthcare workers who have close contact with a person who could be infected with the poliovirus.

If you fall into any of these three groups you should speak to your health care provider about the polio vaccination. If you have never

If you have had one or two doses of polio vaccine in the past you should get the remaining one or two doses. It doesn’t matter how long it has been since the earlier dose or doses.

Who Should Not Get the Polio Vaccine

Risks and Side Effects of Polio Vaccination However, the polio vaccine, like any medicine, could potentially cause serious problems, such as a severe allergic reaction.

The risk that the vaccine could cause any serious harm is extremely small.

For more information about the campaign and the vaccination posts available in your community, contact your nearest clinic.

Alternatively, call Natasha Peterson on 082 313 7487 or send an e-mail to Natasha.

Peterson@westerncape.gov.za.

The Hermanus Pharmacy team consists of Cheryl Loader, Edith Sharp, Hettie Ferreira, Sophie Adams, Brenda Kotzé, Adri van Zyl, Suzaan Di Giannatale, Zigi Franz, Dawn Whiting, PhilipBen Kotzé, Rowayda Adams and Charmain Delehunty.

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1 November 2016

Go-go-go trio addicted to adrenalin Lindy Richardson

JUST DID IT Forget Nike, Lindy Richardson put her money where her feet are.

H

eard the one about the girly girl from Sandton who, by year end, will have 50 medals, ranging from moderate to madness, under her belt? Did I mention she is 50? So, 50 under 50, that’s the goal: 46 down, four to go.

change her lifestyle. She went back to Jozie and started making immediate plans to get down here - exchanging the pearls and polished nails of corporate Johannesburg for small-town living in Hermanus. And here she is.

Lindy Richardson never exercised, never wanted to.

Until she lost a bet on Christmas eve five years ago.

Some us have to force down a tequila for losing a bet but Lindy had to do the gruelling 109 km Argus – one of the largest timed cycle races in the world.

Lindy has not gone down the path of marriage or motherhood but she has eight “children”- five dogs and three cats. In between her job at Hemel-en-Aarde Estate and taking care of her animals, she trains four days a week, getting up at 5am to go to the gym or run on the beach, and competes on the weekends. “It’s been tough and I’m getting a bit tired now, but I’ve come this far so I have to finish!”

Lindy rose to the occasion on her old mountain bike (at the risk of stating the obvious, the Argus is a road race) and finished in a very respectable six and a half hours without breaking a sweat. “I felt fine!” she says, and that’s when she realised “I can do this”.

Next thing she threw out her yuppie clothes, bought a new bike and cycling gear, joined a gym, dived straight into training and hasn’t stopped since. In her first four years of cycling, she won 65 medals now she’s aiming for 50 medals in one year! She does a trail run, MTB or road race practically every weekend (and sometimes two or three events on the same day) and admits that she’s had no social life this year.

Although it all started with a bet, Lindy says she’s not one to say no to a challenge. And this year, she set her own challenge of 50 medals in celebration of her 50th birthday. “I’m doing it for me.

I have done trail running, road running, mountain biking, the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse, swimming, road racing, Xterras, triathlons - I love them all.

The sense of achievement, just to get the medal, is what it’s about for me. It’s not about time or winning - I just want the validation that I can do it.

You may well ask how the move from the polar ends of the plant happened: Sandton to Vermont. Some 15 years ago a couple of pals and Lindy were on holiday here when she made the split decision to

”Yes, my friends think I’m batty - maybe I’m having a midlife crisis, but whatever I’m enjoying myself tremendously! Of course, it’s a cliché, but really, if I can do it, anyone can!”

Jacqui Jackson

Anél Henn

ADRENALIN RUSH There’s no stopping Anél and Francois, whether it comes to work or racing.

O

ne would think painting houses - a lot of them - and having two children in primary school might be enough to keep your average person busy. But you would be wrong, because Anél Henn has energy enough to put us all to shame.

Now 40, Anél was talked into cycling on a large scale by her older brother Francois (42), with whom she is very close. She’s always been a runner, and at school at Huguenot High School in Wellington she played hockey for South Africa, Boland tennis and ran for Boland too.

Anél later coached DF Malan High School hockey for two years, as well as playing hockey for the Tygerberg Senior Club. But when she rode her first race with her brother as her teammate, she decided she “quite liked it”.

And there’s been no stopping her since.

Married to constructor Hennie Henn, she helps him with his house building and renovating, and he helps her pay the phenomenal costs involved in the cycling lifestyle. The couple met at a wedding in Bredasdorp 10 years ago, and have a daughter, Nicola (8), and a son, Thomas (6), both of whom have also caught the cycling bug.

In 2015, Anél and Francois were the only sibling team to enter and complete the Absa Cape Epic.

Anél is not interested in winning - as she says, “I am competing against women in their 20s and 30s and I don’t want to race in an age category. If I had started cycling when I was younger, maybe I would have taken winning more seriously, but this is about the challenge and the personal sense of achievement. It’s a total adrenalin rush for me and I certainly have no plans to give it up!”

Her first cycling race, exactly four years ago, with Francois, of course, was the Lourensford MTB Classic over a distance of 35 km and that’s when Anél says “die gogga het my gebyt”.

Her list of achievements is long, as are her future planned races. So far she and Francois have competed and completed Sani2C twice, the Knysna MTB Cycle Tour, Ride the Rhino and Karoo to Coast.

She has also done the Xterra: “It’s not very long - only 27 km - but it’s tough, really tough.” Due to Francois suffering injuries, they have never got round to doing a Wines2Whales together. Anel has done the race four times alone, but this week the duo will attempt this three-day challenge together.

After the Wines2Whales, the brother and sister team will be preparing for the Absa Cape Epic in March next year, which this time has a new route - starting in Hermanus.

Ultimately, says Anél, “it’s a lifestyle - you don’t like it, you live it!”

TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT Extreme MTB and road cyclist Jacqui Jackson ups her own ante every time she races.

J

acqui Jackson has two iron men in her life, a mountain bike and a road bike. Walking into her home in Kwaaiwater, one is struck by the metal artwork of a bicycle on the wall, the cycling tattoo on her left arm, and the heaps of cycling and medical kit paraphernalia, all quite at odds with this blue-eyed blonde with perfectly styled hair and manicured nails. She certainly doesn’t look 54.

Most people know Jacqui through her eight-year-old estate agency business, Whale Rentals and Sales, from her work with ABSA for nine years before that and her spinning classes that she gave up in 2012 when a client suggested she try outdoor cycling.

The passion grabbed her, so much so that she says her true career should have been a cycling tour guide: “I need to be out there, showing people our amazing trails.”

What they don’t know is she’s always been a sporting overachiever - she was a Western Province highjumper at school at De Kuilen High School in Kuils River, played hockey for Boland after school, and was always one of those learners who was in the first team of all sports on offer. Not only that, but she was the uncontested victrix ludorum.

Jacqui moved to Hermanus in 2004, and knowing there weren’t many jobs going, she created her own by becoming an estate agent. Then she

started another company, Shoreline Shuttles, and in November she is attending a course that will make her a fully accredited tour guide. She then plans to take clients on cycling and wine-tasting tours in the area. Her forte is mountain biking, so she is well qualified to take cyclists of all levels out and about. In addition, next year she intends on completing a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) coaching course so that she can coach children up to 14 years old.

Jacqui says one of the best aspects of competing is that she has seen so much of the country, although she still rates Wildekrans near Bot River and Asara Wine Estate in the Bottelary Conservancy near Stellenbosch as her favourites.

In January she will partake in her third Fairview Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge, described as “South Africa’s toughest extreme one-day mountain bike race”. From Oudtshoorn to Great Brak River on the Garden Route, this 121 km challenge is one that some pro MTB male riders have been known to decline.

Jacqui says her worst qualities are her impatience and what has become her almost infamous competitiveness, but she says she is in fact competing with herself.

“I compete in my age group it would just be silly to race women in their 30s - but ultimately I am only trying to beat myself, and it’s taken over my life!”

- Aly Verbaan

Riders ready to defend W2W titles South African National Marathon Champion, Robyn de Groot and Swedish Marathon Champion, Jennie Stenerhag will team up on the weekend of 11 – 13 November to defend their title at the 2016 FNB Wines2Whales Mountain Bike Race.

PEDAL POWER: Ariane Kleinhans is one of a strong lineup of female mountain bikers who will take part in the Wines2Whales race that will take place on the weekend of 11 – 13 November.

PHOTO: Craig Kolesky

Riding for Team Ascendis Health, De Groot and Stenerhag claimed gold in

2015 after completing the race in 9:46:19.

“This will be the third time that I take part in the FNB W2W MTB Race,” says De Groot. “I love the event. It features fantastic mountain biking, has one race village with no moving around and there’s a superb atmosphere.

Jennie and I always race to win, but even as a professional athlete it’s

important to have balance and enjoy the experience along the way. This year W2W announced that its already healthy prize purse has been increased. As a result I expect the ladies racing category to be very exciting.”

According to Stenerhag, the FNB W2W MTB Race is one of her favorite races. “Taking the win with Robyn was a great feeling. It was a tight and

exciting ladies race. That made the win even more special. Our goal will be to successfully defend our title. Of all the stage races that I have done, W2W has the most fun route.”

Current reigning Swiss Marathon Champion, Ariane Kleinhans, is however confident that her team is up for the challenge. “Our goal is to win, but also to enjoy the amazing event as much as possible.”

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This summer’s innovative DIY garden ideas

W

hat is the drawcard that has seen countless feet through the doors of the Overstrand’s garden nurseries this month? A tended garden certainly affords significant visual, as well as intrinsic reward. But as our gardening elves know, just add a dash of creativity and a pinch of innovation into the Bounce back and LAN mix and voila, you are in for a healthy burst of floral magic.

My Home

chairs and benches, or furniture made of metal and plastic can be used again. It is good for the environment and saves money.

Meindert Jonge Poerink of Fynbos Gardens proposes beautifying your garden using a recycled wash basket or even an unused cat litter tray! By planting mature trees and shrubs, you create an instant effect if privacy or time is an issue. Meindert is also passionate about creating living walls – create living art in otherwise unusable garden areas. Create gardens that are water-wise and easy to maintain. Spice these up with ceramic pottery, metal artwork and ornamental figurines.

The green fingered sages of the Overstrand’s nurseries give us an inside scoop on wonderfully creative ideas for the summer months.

The hard part will be deciding which one you’ll try. When you make items yourself, you can choose projects that suit your tastes, create them in your choice of colours and textures, and then use them to your heart’s content. Whether you’re aiming for decoration, fun or selfsufficiency, there’s an awesome DIY project just waiting for you.

Judith Oakley of Walker Bay Nursery creatively ‘pours’ colour into her garden. A wooden barrel turned on its side is the ideal flower bearer, pouring pansies, petunias, alyussm or flowering groundcover into your garden. Vegetable and herb gardens are space-saving, water wise and enliven a wall indoor or out, or even a fence. Before you toss out those old teapots and old-fashioned containers that are passed down through generations, see if they can’t be used in or outdoors, depending on your flowers of choice.

Here are just a few that you might like to try out - and may help keep the kids busy during the long summer holidays.

Marietjie Dalbock of Wonderland advises you not to throw away that old tree trunk that’s been lying languidly in the garden. “Turn it into a mini garden instead. Youngsters will love painted tyres in the garden too! Appealing to their senses of touch, smell and taste, they can also admire the plants in them.”

Sias Nel of Afdaksrivier Nursery suggests a bird feeder wreath. All that’s needed is a circular mould, wide ribbon, some birdseed and melted suet to attract our feathery, chirpy friends. Or what about a butterfly feeder of over-ripe fruit or homemade butterfly nectar? String-wrapped painted jars are ideal for outdoor evenings. Just paint the jar and when dry, pull the strings away to reveal gorgeous holders for tea lights or candles. A useful snippet … use citronella candles to keep those pesky mozzies away.

An upside down tomato planter? Just save

How about putting your right foot forward in using your old shoes to house herbs or flowers in the garden too? Don’t hurry to throw out old pieces of furniture! Use your imagination to turn something old into an interesting decorative element for the garden. Recycling old or broken things and used furniture is a green way to cope with the disorder and to design creative garden ideas through unique decorative accents. Used

WALKER BAY NURSERY

AFDAKSRIVIER NURSERY

Established in Hermanus back in 1997, we have many years of experience and a strong understanding of the environment and plant life in the region.

Afdaksrivier Farm has been in the Delport family for over 150 years.

The farm is situated only a 15 minute drive from Hermanus on the R43 towards Cape Town. Many farming activities have taken place over the years and a nursery has been added to the history.

We listen to our customers and work with them to solve gardening issues and select plants wisely to ensure that they have successful, thriving gardens. We have a very wide range of plants and trees, as well as planting boxes, large and small pots, plant food and garden fertilisers, garden tools, garden décor – and everything in between!

We also offer landscaping solutions through our associated landscapers.

Hemel en Aarde Village 11 Village Lane Tel: 028 316 3831 judith@wbn.co.za www.wbn.co.za

Bill Harling, owner of Walker Bay Nursery, has built a strong reputation for developing a well-run nursery that offers friendly, sound advice and ensures customers return again and again. His sister, Judith, joined him in the Nursery in early 2016.

Karwyderskraal Road R44 072 316 5787 www.afdaksrivier.co.za

FYNBOS GARDENS

FYNBOS GARDENS Fynbos Gardens Landscaping, Maintenance, Irrigation & Nursery 15 Mimosa Street Industrial Area 028 313 1763 www.fynbosgardens.com

Fynbos Gardens is known for its quality service and personal attention, we strive to deliver the best at all times.

Plant a plant today and help build a healthy environment.

WONDERLAND LYFESTYLE NURSERY

Meindert Jonge Poerink has been landscaping since 1982 and upon moving to Hermanus in 1998 founded Fynbos Gardens.

As a company we have built up a vast knowledge and experience over the years and have grown into an allencompassing garden business that covers the entire spectrum of gardening. We only use organic products in our gardens, from fertilizers to compost. It is far easier in landscaping to work with nature, rather than against it. Our designs and philosophies are not based on the latest trends but on tried and tested gardening concepts and principles.

Adhering to the trusted concept of creating veld gardens, where nature is brought back into the garden, our philosophy is simple, “Less is more!”

Sias, eldest of 3 sons, started the nursery on a part time basis in Nov 2005 and it has since grown into a thriving concern. A coffee shop will soon be added to provide customers with a more enjoyable visit. We offer a sizeable variety of plant species as well as general garden maintenance, irrigation and landscaping. Gardening is great fun for the whole family. Come and visit and you’ll be sure to come back.

Owned by Marietjie Dalbock, Wonderland Lifestyle Nursery is set in a cool, unhurried atmosphere offering a selection of indoor and outdoor plants, trees, garden furniture and home decor to beautify both home and garden. Grab a light meal at Wonderland Café while the children take delight in the animals and enjoy the safe play areas within the nursery.

Super Plants Park Cnr Main Road & R43 Sandbaai, Hermanus 028 316 3311 www.currentlifestyle.co.za

We stock a wide range of home décor accessories, perfectly suited to your indoor and outdoor living spaces.

Browse our shop for patio and garden furniture, wooden benches and bistro sets. Our imported ceramic and local indoor and outdoor pots, contemporary and traditional Christmas decorations, modern glass vases, jugs and jars, silk flowers and candles, botanical inspired gardening gifts and ornaments make for exciting home decor shopping. We are a Green Nursery and run on Solar power.

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your plastic cold drink bottles, cut the bottoms off, ease in a tomato plant seedling and cover in earth. Hang it up, water it regularly and watch your tomatoes grow. This also works well for herbs and peppers.

Another idiosyncratic idea is that of outdoor vintage flower buckets. Flower vases and pots can be quite expensive nowadays, but do not despair, says Sias– you can now get some lovely outdoor vintage flower buckets that all your guests and neighbours will envy.

All you need is three silver buckets and some fresh paint to colour-code or number them.

Then plant your favourite flowers (perennials usually work best in this case) and place them right at the entrance. They will add colour and joy to your home.

Lastly, if you love the baboons but find home invasions a little too much, Wonderland offers the “friendly baboon”, just to show you care.

Here’s to some inspired summer magic!

1 November 2016

Gardening tips for fynbos The soil in your garden is probably the most important element of a successful fynbos garden.

The soil must be slightly acidic and somewhat sandy or free-draining. Clay soil is not going to work for a fynbos garden unless you are able to alter its sticky structure through the addition of a lot of lime and larger organic particles of matter.

Fynbos also is fussy about rich soil, preferring impoverished soils without a lot of minerals. Rich inorganic fertilisers do more harm than good and one should rather switch to organic fertilisers such as Bounceback and Seagrow if your plants are needing a boost. Mulching with organic material such as leaves or wood chip helps to naturally add nutrients into the soil, prevents weeds and preserves water in the soil. Using pine needles as a mulch in a fynbos garden works particularly well, as they make the soil acidic as they break down too.

When designing with fynbos it is important to consider the different requirements plants have for water. If your soil is supportive of fynbos, then half your battle is won and the soil should retain the moisture your plants need. Winter rainfall is very important to fynbos plants, of which we usually get plenty in the Cape.

Fynbos is very sensitive to root disturbance so avoid at all costs digging in your soil near the roots. Similarly fynbos does not take to being transplanted, so think and plan well before you plant to avoid losing plants when you change your mind.

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ON THE ROAD The logistics of getting large numbers of children to their weekly match fixtures, regional and provincial trials is always a major challenge for the Grootbos Foundation, which is operational at six sites in the Overberg, six days a week, making a difference to over 5 000 children’s lives a year. Therefore, Kia Motors Hermanus’s contribution to a shiny new silver Kia Picanto to assist, couldn’t have come at a better time. Sean and Pauline Smith of Kia Motors Hermanus identified the need to support the local community and have been very generous in their support and understanding of the challenges that are faced. Kia Motors Hermanus opened four years ago and were awarded KIA Dealer of the year for 2015. “Dealing with them, one can see that this accolade is well deserved. They were extremely thorough, efficient and quick in their processing of the car and an absolute pleasure to deal with,” says Ruth Crichton, marketing manager of the Grootbos Foundation.

ON THE BALL The Hermanus Netball Club were crowned the 2016 champions of the Overberg Netball Federation’s (ONF) Super League. The Hermanus team were unstoppable during the season and won all the league matches.

Famke Boonzaaier (above), who was selected to play in the Westen Cape B team that participated in the Spar National Netball Tournament in Durban, was selected as the ONF Sport Woman of the Year.

CERTIFIED Director of Protection Services, Neville Michaels (centre) attended a certificate handover ceremony where Law Enforcement officials were awarded certificates for completing courses in Fire Arms Training, Security and Skipper’s License. An elated Michaels stated, “I am very proud of all of you for this remarkable achievement. By embracing every opportunity that is presented to you to enhance your skills base, you will assist the Overstrand in its quest to be a centre of excellence and provide the community with the best service offering.”

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1 November 2016

Young Hermanus girl shines all round Sport M

ignon van Zyl, a tenyear-old learner at Curro Hermanus, displays rare talent not only academically but also in the world of sport.

Mignon has participated in karate since the age of four and in September this year, she was awarded Protea colours, representing South Africa at an International Karate Championship in Mauritius. She competed against 8 other nations in the 10-11 year age group, winning a silver medal in the Kumite event in which 12 other girls participated.

Sensei Ronnie Knott has been Mignon’s instructor since she was four years old. Ronnie is a 6th Dan in Shotokan karate style, achieved at the Japanese Karate Association's headquarters in Japan, and Mignon is honoured to be under the tutorship of this experienced Karate-Ka. Mignon has had many other noteworthy achievements in karate, including a Junior Black Belt at the SA JKA Hermanus

Centre since she was four years old.

At Curro she participates in netball and cricket and to add to all the above, Mignon plays violin, piano and guitar. She also participated in the Overberg Eisteddfod English 1 language poetry (unprepared reading) and was rewarded Cum Laude (over 95%).

She attained the same distinction for Afrikaans 1 language, and in the piano duet event, she and her partner received Gold.

By Tony O’Hagan grading this year. In 2015, she was part of the South African Japanese Karate Association team which participated against 9 other African countries in the JKA Africa Cup, winning gold in Kumite and silver for Kata.

Mignon was 7 years old when she attained Overberg and Western Province colours in 2013. In the same year she competed in her first major tournament, winning gold in both Kunite and Kata disciplines at the Western

Ladies’ tennis champions have their day

Due to illness of one of the players, the ladies’ Club Championships were delayed by some weeks and were finally played on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 October. In the Singles, 15-year-old Nicola Streicher (left) beat Maretha Sauer (right), while in the Doubles, Maretha Sauer and Danny Grib aced Lyn Bouchier and Anna Federisky.

On the academic front, she has received a Top 5 accreditation in all four semesters of this year for Grade 4.

Sensei Ronnie Knott with Mignon, dad Johan and mom Hester van Zyl. PHOTO: Hansie Oosthuizen Province All Styles Karate Championships.

Her prowess in sport is not confined to karate, as she qualified for South Boland junior provincial colours in athletics. She is also a dedicated swimmer and has

swimming coaching under the guidance of Corné van der Merwe of the Cape Orca Swimming Academy.

This multi-talented young girl has also passed the Royal Ballet School of London's grade 3 examination and in

August she passed the Modern Dancing grade 2 examination. She has been a member of Andriette Roux's School Of Dance since 2010.

Mignon is a keen horse rider and has been a student at the Klein Paradys Equestrian

Mignon was the 2014 Overberg Sports Council Junior Sportswoman of the year and runner up in 2015. Last year she received the M-Net Super Sport Let's Play Best Junior All Rounder in Hermanus award.

Quite a talent! And a Curriculum Vitae way beyond her years. Well done to Mignon and her proud parents, Johan and Hester van Zyl.

Pakistan veterans display their cricketing skills A team of Pakistan veterans will be visiting our shores to play a 30 over cricket match against the Hermanus 1st Cricket X1 on Thursday 17 November. The Pakistani team is scheduled to play other matches in Mossel Bay, George and at Newlands in Cape Town. The Hermanus leg of the tour has been made possible by the Pakistani connections of Mahmood Malik, owner of Tikka Palace restaurant.

The touring party is made up of 16 members, with an age group of 45+. There are also a few players of vintage age in the group but the Hermanus team should not be complacent, as these Pakistan veterans have serious abilities with bat and ball. This team

Majid Kahn and Sadiq Mohammad were perhaps the most successful opening pair in Pakistani test cricket history. participates in the competitive Pakistan Veterans League, with matches over weekends and net practices during the week.

Most of the touring team have played professional cricket in the past and a number have represented

Pakistan at international level.

Some of these stars of yesteryear include PJ Mir, who was in the Pakistani squad for a previous World Cup, and Majid Khan, an allrounder who played 63 tests in 20 ODIs for Pakistan. Other members include Mohammed Nazir Junior

(14 tests and 4 ODIs) while the vice-captain of this team, Saleem Elahi, played 13 tests for Pakistan between 1995 and 2004. The latter was 19 years old when he became the first Pakistani to score a one day century in ODI cricket. He achieved this on debut against Sri Lanka. The 30 over match will take place at the Hermanus Cricket Club with play commencing at 11am and a break for lunch. The match promises to be an exciting duel between the younger Hermanus outfit and an experienced Pakistani line up.

The Hermanus Cricket Club invites the community to come out and enjoy the cricket, with the clubhouse offering food and beverages. Should be a real festive occasion!

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Schools Forest Fun Run a howling success

FRIGHT NIGHT Children dressed in all manner of Halloween horror and fairy fantasy enjoyed the Forest Fun Run on Friday evening at the Forest Theatre in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. There was a choice between the Fairy or Scary 5 km Trail Walk along the parkrun route. The evening’s proceeds went to Camphill School and the Overstrand Training Institute. From left are Anita Taylor with twins James and Amy, and their ‘Aunty Lindy’ Richardson; Gabriel and Benjamin Heunis with Dylan Raybank; Megan Hugo and Carmen Fouché; Maela Roux; Anna van Zyl; and Alida Calitz with Bernard Conradie.

PHOTOS: De Waal Steyn

Budding chefs create art on a plate

Montessori learners Gabriella Moosa (Gr 6), Kioni Caravias (Gr 6) and Tamara Bronner (Gr 7).

Wyatt Swarts (Gr 3) from Hawston Primary.

A select group of learners from five schools in the Overstrand had the opportunity last week to become chefs for one day when they were invited into the kitchen by Warwick’s Chef School on International Chef Day.

and his staff took the children through all the steps to create healthy and nutritious meals that included whole-wheat pasta with a tomato and vegetable sauce, and banana and blueberry flapjacks with fresh fruit.

As an initiative of the World Association of Chefs Society and the South African Chefs Association, the event was all about teaching children healthy eating habits. Kevin Warwick

The theme was Art on a Plate and the budding young chefs presented their dishes with flair and creativity. All the ingredients were sponsored by the Valley Farm Stall.

Paula Richards (Gr 5), Curro Hermanus.

Zwelihle Primary learners Matshobi Sisipho (Gr 4), Ashley Tumburuku (Gr 3) and Siphosethu Mgwima (Gr 5) with assistant chef Viwe Nyangiwe.

PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner