The village NEWS 26 September - 2 October 2017

Village

NEWS NEWS The

Entrepreneurial winner 2017

26 Sept - 3 Oct 2017

Cape Whale Coast

FREE COPY

ABERDEEN STREET

WHALE FESTIVAL

COASTAL CLEANUP

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Looking at its history

Full programme

Locals jump in to help

WINNERS Sam Bantu (left) accepted the trophy for Environmental Conservation on behalf of Sheraine van Wyk of Whale Coast Conservation while Conrad Strydom was awarded Junior Achiever. Ann Wright won Woman of the Year and Johan Hugo of Heart of Abalone was awarded the trophy for Tourism Development and Marketing, while De Waal Steyn was awarded the Entrepreneurial trophy. Michael Lutzeyer received the award for Achiever of Excellence. With the winners is Overstrand Mayor Rudolph Smith (centre).

Read more on P 3. PHOTOS: Bernard Jordaan

Liquor law proposes big changes De Waal Steyn

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which has been approved by the Provincial Cabinet, details how it plans to clamp down on alcohol consumption in the region.

f the Western Cape Government (WCG) gets its way the liquor industry will be in for serious changes. The province aims to make alcohol more expensive and as hard as possible to buy‚ while at the same time increasing enforcement.

Should the proposals become law it will have a serious impact on the Overstrand and Overberg region with its 5 wine routes and close on 10 breweries.

The WCG’s ‘Alcohol Harms’ Reduction Policy White Paper,

Some of the major changes that can be expected include a

provincial tax to increase the cost of alcohol and the implementation of a new minimum pricing system, lobbying the National Government for a national ban on alcohol advertising that is visible to any persons under the age of 18. And if that is not achieved the WCG plans to prohibit advertising, marketing and promotion of alcohol products and companies at all WCG public facilities and events organised by the WCG.

Furthermore, it is proposed that municipalities place a limitation on the time of day that bottle stores and other stores can sell alcohol.

According to the White Paper trading hours must be restricted in a standardised way. The paper does not give a recommendation on trading hours but cites a study that says reducing business times by two hours can cut consumption. Hours of trade would differ in tourist

venues‚ in residential areas and places of business. In the Overstrand bottle stores are allowed to sell alcohol from 08:00 to 20:00 every day of the week.

The White Paper also proposes the removal of all bottle stores attached to grocery stores within five years. Bottle store owners could retain their licences‚ but outlets cannot be within 50 metres of a supermarket.

Bern van Niekerk, co-owner of five Spar stores in the region, says this will have a negative impact on their businesses. “The proposed legislation was not thought through from a practical business point of view.

Apart from the fact that we have leases that are longer than five years it is also not clear how the removal of bottle stores from supermarkets will help alleviate the problem.

Read more on P 5

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26 September - 2 October 2017

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The Team 6 Royal Street Hermanus

028 312 2234

Publishing Editor dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Content Editor

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

THE

NEWS

OPINION Matters

Do not miss the Expo Next week Tuesday, 3 October the first Cape Whale Coast Local Business Expo will be held at the Municipal Auditorium in Hermanus.

The aim of the Expo is to showcase local businesses, promote buying local and offer residents the opportunity to see the wide array of businesses that are available on our doorstep. Together with the Expo a full day of business training will be offered free of charge. The idea is to assist in empowering local entrepreneurs in creating economically sustainable businesses and to promote ethical and responsible business practices in our area.

We invite all our readers to visit the expo and take the opportunity to personally connect with business owners. Everyone is also invited to attend the business training sessions that will be held every hour from 10:00 to 15:00. Full details of the schedule and programme will be posted on Facebook in the coming week. Entrance to both the business training and the Expo is free of charge.

To celebrate business excellence on the Cape Whale Coast, The Village NEWS will publish a special business edition on 3 October. The newspaper will be filled with news about the movers and shakers in our area and stories on the businesses and their service offerings.

Keeping the local economy buoyant is important for all of us and we need to work together to achieve success.

Design and Layout

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

Supporting local is the good NEWS – Ed

WHERE TO FIND US

Office Administrator

Tania Hamman admin@thevillagenews.co.za

Marketing Manager

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

The Village NEWS is published fortnightly and the next edition will be available on 3 October. The NEWS can be found at over 100 distribution points on the Cape Whale Coast, from Kleinmond to Gansbaai.

Get your FREE copy from major retail stores such as Spar, Checkers and Pick n Pay, and at restaurants, tasting rooms, galleries and shopping centres. Should you wish to receive a copy, call us on 028 312 2234 or 083 228 7523 or pop into our office at 6 Royal Street, Hermanus.

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

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

The natural environment lifts the human spirit

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n a magnificent spring day in September 2017 a commemorative ceremony was held on the Hermanus Cliff Path. It was a moving occasion, remembering a particular soldier whose bravery in the midst of the horrors of the First Word War, earned him the Victoria Cross. He survived being gassed and seriously wounded in that terrible war. But nevertheless he enlisted again in the Second World War. Why was his bravery and fortitude commemorated in Hermanus, on the Cliff Path?

Major William Henry Hewitt VC retired to Hermanus in the 1960s, asked for his ashes to be scattered off Sievers Punt and had a bench erected in his memory at the same point. This is the spot where he used to sit, staring out to sea. Here he found healing from the memories of the trenches and the lost comrades.

The natural environment not only lifts the human spirit, but has many other benefits, especially for children in the electronic age.

A review by experts at Stanford University found clear evidence that education in and about the environment provides a variety of benefits. Not surprisingly, the studies clearly showed that students taking part in nature-based education

gained knowledge about the environment. But learning about the environment is just the tip of the iceberg.

Studies in the review demonstrated that environmental education has led to a number of positive impacts, from improving academic performance, to enhancing critical thinking skills, to developing personal growth and life-building skills including confidence, autonomy, and leadership. In addition, a number of the studies showed that engaging with the environment increased civic engagement and positive environmental behaviours.

Whale Coast Conservation (WCC) offers overnight camps in nature for children during the school holidays. Highly successful camps have been held in Gansbaai, Stanford and Betty’s Bay. The camps focus on immersing children in their natural environment, but the outcomes are so much more.

Children have participated in citizen-science projects that emphasise specific critical thinking skills central to “good science” – questioning, investigating, forming hypotheses, interpreting data, analysing, developing conclusions, and solving problems.

Using outdoor settings like wetlands, beaches or fynbos reserves can infuse a sense of

richness and relevance into a traditional school curriculum.

Said one headmaster: “Our learners have shown significant improvement in their writing and language skills because they were choosing to write about what interested them, which was the environment.”

WCC’s next overnight ecoadventure camp is for children in Grades 6 and 7 and based at Amana Camp Site in Vermont.

The camp will run from 27 to 30 November. Campers will learn about the salt pan, plants, creatures and wetlands. They will explore the birds and dragonflies at the pan as well as doing frog and chameleon monitoring at night. The beach is 1,5 km away and needless to say, they will be going there daily.

The programme will take place under the guidance of the WCC education manager, Sheraine van Wyk, assisted by Shirley Mgobosa. There will also be senior young environmentalists (Grade 11 Marine Science learners from Gansbaai Academia) who will oversee small groups of campers. Accommodation and camping fees are sponsored, but learners are required to pay R400 for food and incidental costs.

Contact WCC on 028 316 2527.

– Anina Lee Whale Coast Conservation

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26 September - 2 October 2017

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Mayoral Awards celebrates local achievers of excellence

he 2017 Mayoral Awards ceremony which took place at the Municipal Auditorium on Thursday evening 21 September was a joyous occasion where members of the Overstrand community were rewarded for their efforts and commitment to honour, uplift and conserve our area.

There were seven categories this year, apart from the Special Award which went to Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and a special nod to educators in honour of their services to Overstrand communities beyond the call of educational duty. The six principals who each received a certificate of excellence are Lionel Pedro of Laerskool Die Bron in Stanford, Tommy Wilson of Gansbaai Academia, Tommy Volkwyn of Gansbaai Primêr, Julius Swart of Hawston Primêr, Johannes Mouton of Curro Hermanus and Morris Tsabalala of Lukhanyo Primary in Zwelihle.

The Overstrand’s most illustrious resident, Archbishop Tutu, was honoured for his life-long devotion to the wider South African communities, and contributions made to the promotion of the Overstrand as a sought-after lifestyle and retirement destination. The archbishop was unfortunately unable to receive his award in person due to ill health, but received enthusiastic applause from the audience in his absence.

In Category 1: Achiever of Excellence, the runners-up were Nols Jonas who was honoured for his wide-ranging care of stray and neglected pets through BARC; Elma Hunter of Stanford Conservation & Recycling, for the social impact made in the Stanford community through conservation education and their recycling programme; Hennie Niemann Snr of the Nika Trust for his pro-active efforts in poverty alleviation, through the rendering of support to disadvantaged individuals, families, and communities of the Overstrand; and Nellie Nokwanele Tebele, in honour of her years of dedicated and pioneering service to the community of Zwelihle.

There were two winners in this category and the Achiever of

online ventures; Margaret Motsoene, for her entrepreneurial spirit and contributions to entrepreneurial skills development; and Gilbert Muchanyara, who was honoured for his entrepreneurial success in the catering industry.

The winner of the Mayoral Award for Entrepreneurial excellence was The Village NEWS’s very own publishing editor, De Waal Steyn, who was honoured for his contribution and success in the industry of print and online media.

Overstrand Mayor Rudolph Smit with The Village NEWS publishing editor De Waal Steyn, who was the winner in the Entrepreneurial category of the 2017 Mayoral Awards.

Excellence trophies went to Michael Lutzeyer, in honour of his contribution to the development of responsible eco-tourism through the establishment of the Grootbos Nature Reserve and the associated Grootbos Foundation; and Gladys Gillion, for her continued contribution to the social upliftment and promotion of education in the community of Hawston. Gladys was unfortunately not able to attend the ceremony.

There were four runners-up in Category 2: Woman of the Year – Carolyn Martin, in honour of her pioneering business acumen and contributions to social development with the promotion of the Hemel-en-Aarde wine industry; Tronel Meintjies, for her charitable contributions made to Overstrand communities as the founder of Hermanus Staan Saam; Johanna Lidia Morgan, in honour of her contributions to the social upliftment of the community of Zwelihle; and Julie Cheetham, for her extensive contribution to youth development in the Overstrand through the Grootbos Foundation.

The Woman of the Year award went to Ann Wright, in honour of her invaluable contribution to community upliftment through her work with various charity organisations,

including the Sustainable Futures Trust and Rotary Hermanus.

The runners-up in Category 3: Environmental Conservation were the Grootbos Foundation Conservation Team, in honour of their contribution towards the preservation and conservation of Fynbos in the Greater Overstrand Area; Antonio da Silva-Swart, for his passionate contribution to the conservation of our coastline and beaches; Duncan Heard, for his long-standing contribution to conservation in the Greater Hermanus area; and Dr Vic Hamilton-Attwell, in honour of his passionate contributions to conservation and education in the fields of Botany and Zoology.

The winner of the Mayoral Award for excellence in Environmental Conservation was Sheraine van Wyk of Whale Coast Conservation, in honour of her invaluable contribution to nature conservation as well as socio-environmental education, especially among the youth.

Sheraine could not be at the ceremony and Bantu Sam received the trophy on her behalf.

In Category 4: Entrepreneurial the three runners-up were Jan Lutzeyer, in honour of the successful establishment of innovative

Category 5: Junior Achiever honoured the youth of the Overstrand and the runners-up were Camden Jansen, Tairemo Pietersen and Marlen Plaatjes. These three children were honoured for their exceptional effort in caring for animals and volunteering at the Hermanus Animal Welfare Society. The Mayoral Award for Junior Achiever went to Conrad Strydom, a former Hermanus High School learner who is now a first year student at Stellenbosch University. In 2016 Conrad was the top performing matriculant in the country and he was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the promotion of education in the Overstrand and South Africa.

There were two finalists in Category 6: Tourism Development and Marketing. The runner-up was Jan Lutzeyer who was honoured for his contributions to the tourism industry and promotion of the Overstrand as a world-class travel destination. The winner of the Tourism trophy was Johan Hugo of the tourism company Heart of Abalone, for his services to the Overstrand community, including the development of a unique tourism product and contributions to Local Economic Development.

In Category 7: Overstrand Official of the Year there were three winners – Aden Johannes, in honour of exceptional client service and dedication beyond the call of duty; Liezl de Villiers, for her innovative solution towards baboon control in the Hermanus area; and Marzaan Middleton, for exceptional and versatile service delivery beyond the call of duty.

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26 September - 2 October 2017

Eco-detective Rob helps homeowners and businesses go green Leigh-Anne Hunter

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obert A Fryer is one impressive guy. As many of the folks walking into Whale Coast Conservation’s offices in Vermont asking for the green-fingered expert’s advice on sustainable technology will attest to.

Alas, free advice doesn’t pay the bills and as we know conservation is sadly at the bottom of the funding pile.

And so Rob and WCC co-pilots, Dr Anina Lee and Sheraine van Wyk, put their heads together to come up with a solution… ‘Whale Coast Technologies’.

This income-generating arm of WCC was launched last month.

Think of it as a one-stop shop for all your environment-related needs, says Rob, the man running the show. Who better, after all, than a trained electrical engineer?

There are two parts to the business, which targets both private individuals and businesses – namely, selling “sustainable lifestyle” items, from solar and wind-powered energy systems (Rob will even get on your roof to install them), and consultancy services.

Rob explains that clients will have the added benefit of knowing that their hard-earned moola will go towards funding WCC’s longstanding educational and environmental projects.

“A specialist energy survey of your home can result in significant energy savings with simple, low-cost changes,” says Rob, who does such home assessments for clients. He reminded me a bit of a detective when I met him at one Hermanus home, where a thorough inspection led to the source of the crime.

Rob even plans to use himself as a guinea pig by adding a solar chimney to his house, which can be used for demonstrations. “It is essentially an air duct with a large surface area that faces the sun, which heats the air inside the duct and causes a convection current.

That current can be used to warm the building, or, by changing the position of the dampers, draw air out of the building to cool it.”

Rob says that while the concept has existed since Roman times, he has yet to see a solar chimney in South Africa. So, of course, he plans to build one.

Eco-Retrofitting 101: Rob’s top tips The ideal, most cost-effective solution is to green your home when you start building it, says Rob. Luckily, he says there’s a lot we can still do in our existing homes and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Here are two good ways to get started.

1. Plug those energy leaks Before installing any solar or wind energy-generation system, make sure you are not wasting money by installing a larger system than is necessary, Rob says.

“The first step is to do away with energy-inefficient devices so you can spend less on solar systems. Start by looking for the things that use most of the energy in your home.” One clue? Look at the rooms where you spend most of your time, says ecodetective Rob. He adds that hot-water geysers, cooking appliances, space heating and cooling, and refrigeration, use the bulk of household energy, so it makes sense to examine these in particular, with an expert in tow.

2. Know thy energy usage At a client’s home, I watched Rob attach a small device to the distribution board. “What’s that thingie?” I asked Rob (because to me everything electrical is a thingie). I now not only know its name (an electronic energy monitor), but I also want one for Christmas, please.

As Rob explains: “It enables you to see at any moment what your energy usage is, what energy has been used in the day, week, and month, and, if you continued to use energy at the current rate, what your average kilowatt hour (kWh) consumption will be in 24 hours.”

The monitor costs from about R1 000 to R1 500 for the deluxe model, which can be integrated with your smart phone. I love this because now you can phone hubbie while out shopping and tell him to stop watching so much TV and he’ll think you have psychic powers. “The device can incorporate alarm functions,” Rob says, “so that you can manage your energy consumption within limits that you set.” This could potentially save you a whack of money.

For help with implementing any of these tips, or a home assessment, contact Rob on 028 316 2527 or wcc.greenhouse@gmail.com

ENVIRONMENTAL WATCHDOGS Anina Lee with Stripes the eco-cat, Sheraine van Wyk and Rob Fryer at their headquarters, The Green House in Vermont.

Let the sun shine in

Energy-saving makes cents

Rob explains that solar-electric installations need to be tailored to the specific needs of each household, and so costs will differ…

If you don’t have the capital for the big-ticket solar tech, no worries. There are many affordable ways to green your home.

Rob crunches the numbers for us.

$ From R35 000 to R72 000 for a basic system that delivers 2kWh to 9kWh per day.

■ Having an expert fit a geyser blanket for about R500, and install a programmable electronic geyser temperature controller for about R1 600, can reduce your water heating energy usage by between 25% and 35%.

■ Priced at about R600, a counter-top induction cooker, which cuts cooking time by half, is about 60% more energyefficient than a conventional stove plate.

■ Insulating ceilings for about R50 per square meter could reduce space heating and cooling energy consumption by as much as 75%.

■ Replacing a refrigerator with a high-efficiency refrigerator could cut the unit’s daily running time in half with commensurate energy savings.

■ Installing solar water heating or heat pumps (typically around R20 000 per geyser) can reduce electrical energy consumption for water heating by 70% or more, depending on the house.

■ Traditional incandescent lamps and fluorescent tubes are high-energy users. Replacing these with LED lights with equivalent light output can reduce energy consumption in this area to a mere fraction.

$$ R75 000 to R100 000 for a more powerful system, delivering from 9kWh to 13kWh per day. $$$ R120 000 and up for a fully off-grid system.

We don’t want to give any reader cardiac arrest so here’s the good news: these systems will likely save us money in the long-run.

Using Overstrand Municipal electricity tariff scales, Rob outlines one typical scenario. “If a household averages 700kWh per month, the prepaid meter bill will be R1 784 per month. Installing a solar system that provides an average of 390kWh per month will reduce the prepaid amount to R660 per month – a saving of R1 124 per month.”

Such a 390kWh-per-month solar system will cost about R100 000 installed. “So the payback period will be between five and six years, assuming the electricity price increases at the rate of 6% per annum,” Rob says.

Arguably, you also can’t put a price on peace of mind. “All these systems offer automatic battery-inverter backup when municipal supply fails. Larger systems offer the potential for utilising solar for most electrical energy requirements in a home.”

“For example, a four-foot fluorescent consumes 40 watts (W), while an LED equivalent, costing around R150, consumes less than 20W,” says Rob. Typically, LEDs have a long lifespan – 20 000 hours or more. “Alternatively, for between R6 000 and R8 000, you can have a solar light tube installed in a room that requires lighting during the day and completely remove the need for using artificial light.”

Sheraine van Wyk with her colleague Sam Bantu holding the trophy that was awarded to Sheraine as the winner of the Mayoral Award for Environmental Conservation.

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26 September - 2 October 2017

‘Proposals impossible to police’ Onrus transfer station to close From P 1

“Well operated and regulated bottle stores such as those that form part of national retailers are not the problem. The problem lies with the unregulated shebeen industry and independent sellers who sell cheap products and in bulk. None of our stores will allow anyone to buy more than 150 litres without producing a liquor licence. Neither will we allow any bulk sales if we suspect that it will be resold,” says Bern.

It is also proposed that no drinking and driving be allowed under the age of 21 (even if under the legal limit), or alternatively within the first three years of having received a driver’s licence, as well as a dedicated liquor enforcement centre and increased sentencing for alcohol-related offences. On the cards is the introduction of community service for drunk drivers who haven’t caused harm. This will reduce the lengthy process of going to court while ensuring drunk driving has a penalty.

The WCG aims to lobby National Government to encourage manufacturers to reduce alcohol content in drinks – without

changing flavour – so customers inadvertently drink less alcohol.

The paper cites concerns over high alcohol abuse in the region and states that this abuse is ultimately being subsidised by the taxpayer. “Despite the profits of the liquor industry‚ the public sector experiences a net loss‚ spending more to address harms than it raises from tax and excise," states the White Paper.

“We acknowledge the importance of the alcohol industry, particularly in the Western Cape. The economic contribution is however dwarfed by the costs of alcohol-related harms and that – along with the other social harms – necessitates a revised policy focus aimed at reducing alcohol-related harms,” states the paper.

Some of the other measures that are proposed are: Fining outlets that repeatedly serve underage drinkers or breach other laws by up to R100 000; tracing the outlets where drunk drivers who cause harm or accidents had their last drink, to hold them accountable; compulsory training for

people who need a liquor licence‚ such as the managers of restaurants‚ bottle stores or clubs; bringing the approximately 3 400 illegal liquor outlets (shebeens) into a legal‚ regulated market; using neighbourhood watch groups to report illegal alcohol outlets so that the unregulated sale of alcohol can be policed; and setting up a district court specifically for alcohol offenses.

Frieda Lloyd, Cape Whale Coast Tourism Manager, says while the concept of wanting to reduce alcohol abuse is important, some of the proposals are unrealistic and the policing thereof will be all but impossible.

“We have already seen the positive economic impact that wine sales on a Sunday at a cellar has. In our neighbouring areas cellars that are not allowed to sell wine on a Sunday are under pressure.

Visitors who take the time and effort to visit a wine farm on a Sunday for a tasting or lunch expect to be able to buy wine from the cellar. If this is not allowed the sale has been lost completely as they will not return on

another day to buy,” she says.

According to Frieda wineries in the Hemel-en-Aarde have already, in the spirit of the proposals, lowered the alcohol content in their wines. “These wineries have been on the forefront of the international trend to lower alcohol levels.

But should the price of alcohol be increased it will have a detrimental effect on our region. The economy is already under strain and price points have become a serious consideration among consumers. To hike prices will not be the solution. It is more important to address the social issues that cause alcohol misuse.”

Several industry role-players said that the proposed changes will be all but impossible to police. “While on the whole the changes, apart from the increase in costs, will not have a serious negative impact on restaurants, the implementation and policing of some of the proposals will be impossible. It will be like the law that bans smoking. It is there but it is never imposed,” says Rayno Rabie, owner of Betty Blue in Hermanus.

The mini waste transfer station at the Trading Post Centre in Onrus is set to close before the beginning of December, says the Overstrand Municipality in a statement.

This follows continuous complaints about the safety and health risks posed by the facility. The decision to close the station was taken after it was proposed at a public Ward Committee meeting in September.

According to the statement several other options were considered and a survey was done to determine who uses the transfer station. Because the facility is located on municipal ground the tenants of the centre cannot be expected to take responsibility for the station.

“It was never the intention that residents could dump their rubbish, including garden waste, at the facility. It was erected in 2006 to give visitors the opportunity to put out their garbage if they leave before the normal refuse service can collect it. The idea was to prevent black bags from lying on the sidewalks,”

according to the statement.

Don Kearney, Municipal Area Manager for Hermanus, says even though the transfer station was built, visitors still left their bags on the sidewalks.

The site has also become a gathering place for a growing number of homeless people. “It becomes disruptive for shoppers at the Trading Post and it does not create a good impression at the entrance to town. We are also noting an increased number of baboons in the area and we are worried that they ‘discover’ an easy feeding place,” says Don. The transfer station will not be summarily. It is aimed to close the station by 30 November.

The Municipality has called on residents, especially those who rent out holiday homes, to make alternative arrangements for the handling of rubbish in good time before the season starts. It might be possible to arrange with a permanent resident to put out the garbage drums and bags on the scheduled delivery days.

Municipal garbage removal takes place on Mondays in Vermont and Tuesdays in Onrus.

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26 September - 3 October 2017

THE

NEWS

‘Marooned ship’ will do little to enhance beauty of Hermanus

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

Is proposed New Harbour development a joke?

When I picked up a copy of the 12-25 September issue of The Village NEWS, I did a double take when I saw the cover article. Was it April 1st? Was this a joke? I am referring to the design proposal for the New Harbour which proposes building a huge ship profile on the cliff above the harbour.

The developers claim, among other things, that it “could transform the existing underutilised and often dilapidated facilities in the harbour into a vibrant hub for local tourism…” and further that it focuses on core principles such as “social, economic and natural environments… through a diverse, balanced and animated waterfront”, and also that it is “celebrating the harbour’s heritage through excellence in design”.

Having been partly responsible for the introduction of design education into the South African National Curriculum and having spent the best part of my life teaching applied design to students and examining it at university level, I have to say that I have seldom come across a less suitable design proposal for a harbour

development than this one.

If one of my students submitted this for an architectural assignment, I would fail them outright! With all due respect to the developers, there is little, if any design sensitivity in this proposal and it is corny in the extreme! Stylistically it is inept and lacking in any originality and one has to conclude that this proposal shows a lack of architectural design integrity as well as a lack of under-standing of what constitutes good, environmentally sensitive design.

I say this with due respect to the past work of the developers. If the intention is to commemorate a sunken ship through architecture, surely there are more original ways of doing it than by recreating a literal vestige of a ship’s profile in such a Disneylike fashion? This is both simplistic and childish and is not a way of improving the design of the harbour. There are many more sensitive and original ways of creating architectural solutions that will make a positive statement and become a proud feature of our Hermanus coastline.

Where is the “excellence”, the “diversity” and the “animation” in a sand castle profile of a sunken ship?

South Africa has some very fine young designers who could show their off skills in a development like this. Have they been given the opportunity to contribute? The developers must spend more time looking at precedents of this type of development elsewhere in South Africa and the world. We have an opportunity here to do something that showcases our understanding of good design and that our foreign visitors will marvel at for many years to come.

Recently, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront developers chose to use a UK architect, Thomas Heatherwick, to design the new MOCCA building for the Cape Town Waterfront extension which will house the very best of African contemporary art. I have always maintained that this was wrong and that it should have been given to a local designer to do, but if our local harbour designs resemble this one, I can now see

why they chose him!

If this development wants to achieve all that it says it does, why not choose a design that utilizes interesting forms, that instils a sense of our vast oceans, with their myriad of colours, forms and moods, or perhaps even some of the character of the sculpted cliffs where the harbour is situated?

Integrating some of these elements with subtlety into a new design, rather than doing it in such an obvious way as a ship’s profile, would be a far better and respectful way of celebrating South African design and would certainly enhance the harbour area.

If this design is accepted, it is very likely that it will become the laughing stock of recent harbour developments in our country and an embarrassment for Hermanus and I appeal to all who have an interest in our future to demand much more than this.

The Malton II will forever be sinking if this design is implemented!

Keith van Winkel Onrus

Baboons – there are solutions I would like to refer to Frans Laubscher’s letter, published in the 29 August 29 – 11 September edition of The Village NEWS, entitled Rogue Baboons cannot be rehabilitated. I have also been in the field of nature conservation for the past 30 years; however, I would hesitate for anyone to be quoted that the virtual fence will not work.

There is proof at Gordon’s Bay with the Human WildLife Solutions virtual fence method being an effective deterrent.

Speak to the residents in Voëlklip who had no baboon conflicts for three weeks when the fence was operational.

Also when people use the word euthanize, let’s be quite frank and say “destroy these animals”.

These quite healthy animals are not on the verge of dying due to ill health, so let’s not sugarcoat this.

It is only with good reliable data that one can make sound management decisions on which baboons are rogue and

what actual population numbers we have in our area.

So, Mr Laubscher, please furnish us with sound data before you make assumptions.

The team that was monitoring the baboons and activating the virtual fence have observed that if you destroy the alpha male that is presently collared in the Fernkloof troop, there are no mature males to take over the leadership and the troop will disperse, making control of this troop virtually impossible.

So please let’s not make decisions out of emotions.

Regarding the destruction of baboons in the Kruger Park, it is a very sad day when lodges and camps are built within the core of the reserve… what do you expect? There are wild animals all around. These camps should be built on the periphery of the park boundaries where the humananimal interactions are virtually zero.

We need to return to sound

ecological management that is based on the dollars. Where has our great reasoning gone?

Just because you want to erect a facility in a wild area we must now destroy the very animals that live there?

I would like to encourage the readers of this great newspaper to view this situation in the context of destroying only one species in a reserve. Are we too going to exterminate the baboons? Make qualified decisions before you run out with a rifle!

The following article refers: https://www.nationalgeograp hic.org/media/wolvesyellowstone/ Wolves were systematically hunted in Yellowstone and much of the western United States from the 1800s onwards. Yellowstone's last pack was eliminated in 1926.

Amid controversy, grey wolves (Canis lupus) were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995.

A decline in abundance of mature aspen, willow, and cottonwood trees during the 20th century was documented. That decline started soon after the extirpation of wolves in the 1920s, and is thought likely to be due to elk overgrazing. With no fear of wolves "[elk] browsing had been preventing any seedlings from getting taller".

However with the reintroduction of wolves forests have now grown tall. Beavers utilise these trees to build dams which control and purify rivers. And this is from single specie!

I fully support the Environmental Department of the Overstrand, Cllr Kari Brice, Human WildLife Solutions and concerned residents in their endeavours to look at solutions.

Giorgio Lombardi, MSc (Rhodes) Warden: Vogelgat Nature Reserve

By way of introduction, my wife and I have recently moved from Pietermarirtzburg to this beautiful part of South Africa. I think that everything should be done to maintain the architectural theme of Hermanus which appears to be a mixture of Dutch and French building styles.

Pietermaritzburg was once a beautiful city that embraced Victorian architecture.

Regretfully, after World War II, and perhaps because of financial considerations, the new buildings destroyed the beauty of Pietermaritzburg and today it is an unappealing mess.

This then brings me to the picture of the New Harbour development that is on the front page of your latest

edition of The Village NEWS (12 – 25 September 2017). It appears to be a ship that is marooned on the rocks and candidly is really ugly. I think the architects are missing an opportunity to highlight the beautiful architecture of the Dutch and French style buildings that are prolific in Hermanus. The waterfront in Cape Town is beautiful because the architects obviously attempted to adhere to the style of architecture of that city.

I am aware that my taste is subjective but I think that the citizens of Hermanus should be asked for their views before this marooned ship is built. In my opinion it is really unattractive and will do little to enhance the existing beauty of Hermanus!

Ronnie Kuhn Stanford

Respect harbour’s true heritage The front page article of your 12 September edition (Major proposal for New Harbour) refers.

Frankly, I hope that the design proposed for the redevelopment of Hermanus’ New Harbour is a joke in poor taste. Let’s be clear – I fully support the objectives of the plan which I understand to be: • To develop an infrastructure which will add value to the tourism industry of Hermanus • To increase the number of employment opportunities The Cape Town Waterfront has led the way and we can certainly follow its example, but please let’s do it with good taste and in keeping with the history of Hermanus. The article refers to a waterfront which “will celebrate the harbour’s heritage through excellence in design” but the proposal meets neither of these objectives.

Its heritage is that of a harbour for small craft; not multi-deck ocean liners. The design team has obviously not consulted Dr Robin Lee, the author of the only history of the New Harbour.

Hermanus has never been

home to ocean liners and of dozens of people questioned, not one had ever heard of the “Malton”. Could there really have been such a cruise vessel in the first half of the 19th century? I could find no reference to a ship by the name of “Malton” on the Internet. Please guide me.

Incidentally, whilst on history, Wikipedia defines a snow sailing vessel as “a vessel with two masts, fore and main, both of which are fully square-rigged. Stepped immediately behind the mainmast is the so-called snow-mast on which a trysail with a boom is carried.”

Please see sketch below which is very, very different to what is being proposed.

The excellence of design must have a sole proprietor – the design team at CSM Consulting and Neptune’s Divers and Cruises. Nobody else seems to think that the design is anywhere close to being excellent. Most residents think / hope that it’s a joke in bad taste.

Please do not turn the New Harbour into a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; respect its true heritage!

Max Leipold, Eastcliff

7

26 September - 3 October 2017

Thank you to Hermanus Golf Club Management Following my complaint regarding cigarette butts sullying the Hermanus Golf Course (Support WCC’s butt bin project, The Village NEWS 20 June 2017), how happy I was to see the notices at the club appealing to people: “Don’t be a Butt-head, bin your buts and for those people wanting to smoke please bring your own ash trays along and take your butts home.”

This is addressing the problem

at its core. When last at the club I noticed far fewer butts and I trust this is because litterers are taking responsibility and it is not as a result of the green-keepers picking up butts – which was one proposed option.

Thank you for taking positive action and in a humorous and non-threatening manner.

Kathie Buley

Ship design will have negative impact Re the Proposed New Harbour Development on the front page of The Village NEWS (12 – 25 September issue): I am hoping that this ship design is a joke. If it is serious, I am shocked that this garish apparition could

even be considered. It will negatively impact the credibility of Hermanus’s image as a place of natural beauty.

A Genuine Local

Bad architecture lacks imagination As an architect and a designer who have worked in the Arab Gulf States for 40 years, we are no strangers to ‘pastiche’ architecture.

question the new hotel development that is proposed for the New Harbour in the shape of a boat.

It seems to delight wealthy Arab potentates to have buildings made in all manner of shapes, like crossed swords, boats and sails. Emirates Airlines even has a training centre in Dubai that’s shaped like the front of an airplane.

Hermanus has many very delightful traditional buildings and some excellent new ones. The town is famous for its elegance and we guard that standard carefully, trying to build upon it. Why, then, construct something that is not only ugly but verging on the comic? It lacks imagination and it looks, frankly, cheap. It may not be in the centre of town but that’s no excuse for bad architecture.

Therefore, we feel that we should break it to those who haven’t seen these monstrosities, that they never work as good buildings. They become boring jokes in fairly short order, often dysfunctional and compromised by their design requirements and, therefore, we seriously

We hope the design will be reconsidered.

Val and Adrian Kwaan (RIBA)

We need a cinema in Hermanus My husband and I would like to add our voices to that of your correspondent who was upset by the news that we are not to have a proper cinema in the new mall (What, no movies? The Village NEWS, 12 September 2017).

I wonder how persuasively the case was made to the film distributors because I suspect there has been a failure to understand how very, very much people were looking forward to the simple old-

fashioned pleasure of being able to go out and watch a movie. Was there ever a survey of local opinion? We don’t know anyone who wouldn’t like to go to the cinema from time to time.

Hermanus, and its greater catchment area, is no longer a little village. It’s a town with a lot of visitors, and as was noted, we have plenty of venues for our festival concerts. We don’t need another. We need a cinema.

Val & Adrian Kwaan

Development should enhance harbour atmosphere Let's develop the New Harbour, but I hope the Malton II idea sinks without a trace. I am sure there are creative and professional

designers that can produce a building that can enhance the harbour atmosphere.

Jan Rabie

Deflecting INsults with the Art of OUTsulting At some time or other, we’ve all suffered the slings and arrows of some jibe or insult, and in the heat of the moment, probably flung some back in defense. But how often, while driving home, have you conjured up a crushing response to that snide put-down you received about your hair, your lover, your musical preference or whatever.

Sadly, by then it’s too late. If only you’d thought of it at the time. Bugger.

Well, fear not. Ancient papyrus scrolls, smuggled clandestinely through the centuries to King Arthur and his brother Bob have the answer. These meticulously preserved archives in the Duck ’n Fiddle’s Explanation of Everything, offer invaluable insight as usual.

In the interest of social intercourse we’ve compiled an

Wit’s End Murray Stewart thevillagemuze@gmail.com

educational manual in the fine art of the insult, plus the finer art of the retort, called INsults and OUTsults 101.

Firstly, when insulting, at least two parties are involved – the insultor and the insultee. If the insultor demeans or ridicules a whole group of people, this is known legally as a ‘class action’ insult.

Anyway, I’m sure we’re all familiar with Churchill’s response when accused of being drunk by a lady with an unlucky face. His retort that he’d be sober in the morning,

but she’d still be ugly prompted her from then on to wear a Halloween mask whenever insulting people.

Perhaps the same lady told him that if he was her husband, she’d poison his coffee.

“If you were my wife, madam,” he countered, “I’d drink it.”

President Nixon, when caught lying and reminded that two wrongs don’t make a right, immediately suggested, “Try three.” Some presidents seriously believe it’s worth a try, and still get away with it. Ring any bells? And talking of presidents, there’s

the Trump Method – guaranteed to win any verbal tussle. Just create your own set of alternate facts, keep repeating them, and fire anyone who disagrees.

Simple.

Guests watched slack-jawed as two well-botoxed socialites at a banquet were at each other’s throats.

“You’re nothing more than a strumpet,” yelled the insultor.

“You’ve been on more laps than a table napkin!”

“And you have the sort of charm that rubs off with tissues and cold cream,” the lap-sitting insultee retorted.

“But don’t go away. I want to forget you exactly as you are.”

Ouch.

For ladies tired of being hit on by creeps with corny oneliners like “Haven’t I met you

someplace before?” here are a couple of answers you could use: “If you have, you should be more careful where you go.” Or, “I’ve heard better one-liners in alphabet soup.” You could also act shocked. “OMG! Look at you!

Was anyone else hurt in the accident?”

After being berated by an unpleasant theatre critic, Groucho Marx just flashed his pearlies and said, “Madam, I never forget a face. But in your case I’d be glad to make an exception.”

Some other insults to keep up your sleeve for the right occasion include lines like: 1. What were you when you were alive?

2. You must have a sixth sense. There’s no sign of the other five.

3. You’re the kind of person who lights up a room when

you leave.

4. You’re as useless as a chocolate teapot.

5. Darling, if that is mink, then there are a lot of dassies living under assumed names.

Mark Twain flung out a rather confusing insult. “Wagner’s music is better than it sounds.”

And while on the arts, two rival impressionists were overheard arguing at an art exhibition.

“Oh George!” said the insultor, “you leave your pictures in such a sketchy state. Why do you never finish them?” The insultee had a quick response.

“Dear Oscar, why do you ever begin yours?”

Well, out of ink again, but this was just a snap-shot of the many jibes, taunts and retorts captured in the compendium of INsults and OUTsults 101. Copies available from the editor. Bulk orders only.

8

26 September - 2 October 2017

Aberdeen Street in history – 1870 to 2017 On 24 September South Africa celebrated Heritage Day. But regrettably, Hermanus has consistently destroyed its heritage of domestic residential buildings, most of which were in the fisherman’s cottage style. Not one of the streets in central Hermanus looks at all as it did originally, but Aberdeen Street is one of the few that still retains a sense of history, writes Dr ROBIN LEE of the Hermanus History Society.

M

Their daughter, Elizabeth du Toit, who is curator at the Old Harbour Museum, now owns the home.

any of the sites in Long, Aberdeen and High Streets were surveyed for the first time in the 1870s. In due course, there were buildings on all of them, mainly residential, although many were later converted to business premises. Aberdeen Street used to run roughly parallel to Long Street and Main Road from Magnolia Street to Mitchell Street. In the 1920s it comprised some 14 residential buildings, one boarding house and one service station.

Life in Hermanus was very different 100 years ago. The surveyed plots originally sold for around £5. The houses did not cost much more and were built of stones and boulders, fixed with clay. The paint used on the exterior was made of crushed shells (probably perlemoen) treated in a lime kiln and mixed with water. No house had a toilet indoors; toilets were at the bottom of the yard furthest from the house. Inside, chamber pots were used and the contents thrown into the bucket in the outside toilet. Buckets were removed by municipal employees in a cart with a bell to alert home owners to bring out the buckets.

There were very few retail shops and everyone had vegetable gardens behind the house, and kept chickens for food and eggs. Some owners also kept cows and horses on the plot.

Fish was the cheapest form of protein and essential in every family. Midwives delivered babies at home and until 1928, when Alex. Grant Pharmacy opened, all medicines were home-made. The plot on the corner of Aberdeen and Royal Street, which is still vacant, was a popular playground for local children. They usually went to school barefoot and shoes, often handed down, were only worn on Sundays.

Since the original survey, there has been some consolidation of adjacent plots and there are now 16 buildings. A few years ago Aberdeen Street was divided into two very unequal parts by Royal Street, the relief road around the CBD. Numbers 1, 3 and 5 are now on the northern side of Royal Street, while all the other numbers are on the southern side.

At number 2 Aberdeen Street, renovations were done to the house in 1958, by the owner Jack Funston. He added a bathroom at the cost of £100, but the lavatory remained outside. Japie du Toit bought this property in the 1960s and lived there with his wife Johanna and their four children.

At number 4 Aberdeen Street two sets of people of importance lived at different times: the Warringtons and the Woensdrechts. James Warrington came to Herries Bay (now Hawston) in 1854, married Elizabeth Henn and moved to Hermanus in 1857. This branch of the family was involved with the establishment of the first shop in Hermanus, which also served as the first Post Office.

The Woensdrecht family also go back to the origins of the town, arriving in the 1860s. In the early 20th century, Danie Woensdrecht became famous for his position as the ghillie of Sir William Hoy. He organised the construction of Sir William and Lady Hoy’s graves and headstones at the top of Hoy’s Koppie.

Many of Hermanus’s original homes, built in the fisherman’s cottage style, still stand in Aberdeen Street today.

Number 2 Aberdeen Street is owned by the curator of the Old Harbour Museum, Elizabeth du Toit, whose parents renovated the house in 1958.

Number 4 Aberdeen Street was once the home of the Warrington and Woensdrecht families, who first arrived in Hermanus in the mid-1800s.

Number 6 - 8 Aberdeen Street was once owned by William Hugh (’Meester’) Paterson and occupied by his son Roderick who served in the British Navy in World War II.

‘Meester’ Paterson lived at number 10 Aberdeen Street, which he named Mountain House. It now belongs to Dr Anthony Kelly.

Historically the most important family to have lived in Aberdeen Street was undoubtedly the Paterson family, who lived at numbers 6-10. William Hugh Paterson (1873-1963) was an immediate descendant of one of the first families to settle in the village. From boyhood he showed a strong intellectual capacity and became Principal of the St Peters School in 1895.

In this position he was addressed as “Meester” (Master) and this became his title as far as everyone in the village was concerned.

In 1904 he became the first town clerk and was elected Mayor in 1920. Meester loved the mountains and knew and climbed every peak around Hermanus. He had a vast knowledge of Cape flora and in 1923 he took ‘wild flowers’ (fynbos) from the Hermanus region to England where they were much admired by the English. He had as many as 40 pickers in the mountains and for years afterwards he exported flowers to Germany and the UK. Most popular were dried ‘Everlastings’ which were used to stuff mattresses.

In 1955, on the centenary of Hermanus, Paterson wrote and published the first history of the town, which has been required reading for all later historians. In 1960 Meester Paterson was the recipient of the Freedom of Hermanus. He died in 1963, aged 89. He named his own home (number10) ‘Mountain House’. It now belongs to Dr Anthony Kelly.

Number 12 Aberdeen Street, which now houses Seaside Interiors and The Barefoot Cook, was the home of a school teacher, Miss Gericke.

Numbers 14 - 16 Aberdeen Street were consolidated and is now occupied by Romantiques, a well-known antiques shop and vintage cinema.

The Paterson family occupied the remaining four houses for different times. Meester’s eldest

9

26 September - 3 October 2017 son, Roderick lived at number 8 from about 1947 until his death in 1955. He practised as a journalist, served in the British Navy in World War II and then became a war correspondent.

He organised a historic photographic exhibition in Hermanus in 1947. Phelan Footwear is the current occupant of the house.

Number 12 was originally owned by Miss Gericke, a schoolteacher at the Klipskool and known to the pupils as a ‘kwaai tannie’ (fierce auntie).

She had all kinds of fruit trees in her back garden and the children used to dare each other to steal fruit from her garden. Seaside Interiors and a popular restaurant, Barefoot Cook, are presently on the site.

Numbers 14 and 16 were consolidated by a Mrs Taylor who added several new buildings to the original house.

This was used as a holiday home for her and her children.

After a long period of occupation by Hubbard’s Cupboard this site is now occupied by Romantiques, a famous antique shop and cinema. The property is owned by Mrs C Van Hoogstraten.

Numbers 18 and 20 were also consolidated from an early date and housed the butchery known as Vorster’s Meat Market.

This was a joint venture by the

van Blommestein family and Alwyn Vorster. Later, it became known as the Meat Lovers Market. The buildings are now occupied by several businesses, including El-Al Funeral Services and Caroline’s Closet.

Number 11 is the site of the original Magistrate’s Office in Hermanus. This was established in 1947 for the first resident magistrate Mr H P van Niekerk, who had previously visited Hermanus by horse cart from Caledon every three months for a 3 day sitting. The property is now privately owned and used as a holiday home and a small business.

The building at number 13 was once the very well-known Aberdeen Guest House. The owners were Mrs Grace Geldenhuys and husband Piet (Muishond) Geldenhuys. It was home to 6 – 7 unmarried young working people at any time, as it was within walking distance of church, school, work and shops.

Mrs Geldenhuys was famous for her sunday lunches, which were open to the public. Takeaway lunches were also available during the week.

When Grace retired some close relatives took over, but sold it in 1980. The buildings are presently occupied by My Design and Procom.

Number 11 Aberdeen Street is the site of the original Magistrate’s Office in Hermanus, established in 1947.

The buildings that are presently occupied by Procom and My Design at number 13 once formed part of the well-known Aberdeen Guest House.

Number 15 on the corner of Aberdeen and Mitchell Street was zoned for a service station from the start and originally owned by the brothers Gillespie. It was built by Owen Thorpe Snr out of concrete blocks, at a cost of £4000. It was built as a

Cliff Path commemoration of Major William Hewitt You can learn a lot by reading a description someone gives of the most important event in his or her life. This certainly applies to Major William Henry Hewitt who, almost exactly 100 years ago carried out an action during World War I that earned him the Victoria Cross, the highest honour that can be bestowed

by Britain on a soldier.

Soon after the event Hewitt wrote his account of it. It is a typical document of that era, full of slang army terms; for instance what we call an ‘improvised explosive device’ (IED) was known at that time as a ‘jampot’. Literally, it was a jam pot (or tin), taken out of the rubbish dump, filled with nuts and bolts, with an explosive device and then thrown at the enemy if all else had failed.

This is what Hewitt did to win his VC. He was ordered to demolish a German pillbox, manned by 15 enemy soldiers. Within a minute of advancing his entire platoon was killed by an artillery shell.

He advanced alone and threw a grenade into the pillbox. A jampot was thrown at him and hit him in the face: “…apart from blowing off my gasmask and half my clothes, knocking out four teeth, breaking my nose,

giving me a couple of black eyes, with a lot of little cuts here and there and knocking me backwards into a convenient shell-hole, it didn't really do any damage – only made me damn mad.”

Hewitt went round the back of the pillbox and pushed his last grenade though a breathing hole. It exploded inside, killing all the occupants. He ran around the front to deal with any survivors, only to hear a Sergeant of a relieving platoon say: “There's fifteen in there Sir, and they've all had it.”

The Hermanus History Society and the Cliff Path Management Group jointly organised a memorial

Number 15 on the corner of Aberdeen and Mitchell Street was zoned for a service station from the start.

gathering for Major Hewitt on Sunday 17 September.

He carried out his feats on 20 September 1917.

Hewitt lived for more than 10 years in Hermanus towards the end of his life, with his family in Voelklip.

He loved the Cliff Path and especially a spot between Sievers Punt and Klein Eiland, which is where the event took place. Short addresses were made by representatives of the organising groups and exservicemen’s organisations.

Funding was generously provided by Sumaridge Estate Wines.

– Dr Robin Lee

service station. It has been known as Sterling Auto since 1991.

Members of the Hermanus History Society researched and photographed Aberdeen Street’s buildings in 2016. The full document is available in pdf

format on the History Society website (www.hermanushistory-society.co.za) and can be downloaded. The Aberdeen Street research was collected by SJ du Toit, Angela Heslop, Corrie Smit, Michael Clark and Julius Sell. Photographs by Dinkie Marais and Ronnie Hazell.

The History Society is currently researching another historic street, High Street, as part of the CBD revitalisation project and an article will be published in the near future.

Contact Dr Robin Lee at robinlee@hermanus.co.za

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26 September - 2 October 2017

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Good Guide

REGULARS Every Saturday

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Friday 29 – Sunday 1 October

Wednesday 4 October

the heart of Onrus on every first Saturday of the month. At the De Wet Hall in Roos Street, from 09:00 – 12:00.

■ Hermanus Whale Festival: Join in the fun when the 26th Whale Festival comes to town. There will be live music performances, street parades, great food stalls and quality crafters, a vintage car show, an interactive marine-themed eco village, eco-marine talks, children’s entertainment and adventure activities. Find the full programme details on P 18.

■ 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 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.

Friday 29 September

■ Stanford Sunset Market: Everyone’s favourite evening market is back! Enjoy great country food, top-notch wines, craft beer, gifts, live music and friendships – there is no better place to be on the last Friday of the month. At Market Square, Stanford from 18:00 – 20:00.

Saturday 30 September ■ AfriCamps Opening at Stanford Hills: Join Stanford Hills Wine Estate in celebrating the opening of the brand-new AfriCamps facility on the farm. There will be awesome entertainment for the whole family, including food stalls, wine tasting, live music, horse rides and a farmer’s market with fresh produce from neighbouring farms. Free entry. At Stanford Hills, from 10:00 – 16:00.

■ FinGlobal Cliff Path Night Run: The FinGlobal Night Run is coming up in October and entries for the race are now open. Previously known as the cashkows Night Run, this fun event is held every year on the famous Cliff Path of Hermanus and entries are limited to only 250 runners. There is a 6 km race which sets off from The Marine and a 10 km race which starts at the New Harbour. Both end at Grotto Beach. Online registrations (www.entrytime.com) close on 2 October, however, late entries will be accepted on the day. Get all the details at www.hermanusadventures.co.za

Thursday 5 October ■ Hermanus Bird Club: Join club members for a

birding outing to Jessie Walton’s farm in the Elgin Valley. The walk will be led by Mike Ford. Meet at the Onrus Trading Post at 07:30 to consolidate transport. For enquiries, contact Craig Holmes on 083 227 9003.

■ Art Exhibition: Works by the Gr 12 students of the Hermanus Visual Art & Design Centre will be exhibited at the Municipal Auditorium, from 17:30 – 19:00. Wine and snacks will be served. For more information, contact Jeandré on 060 676 8652.

Friday 6 October

■ Birkenhead Beer Fest: Bring family and friends and celebrate in style with live music, games, prizes and a jumping castle for the kids.

Birkenhead has brewed a new Weiss Beer especially in honour of the traditional German Oktober Fest. Entry at R50 per head includes a branded glass, a beer mug for the gents and a Belgian glass for the ladies. Two live bands will perform from 12:00 – 18:00. At the Birkenhead Brewery, Stanford, from 11:00. For more information, contact Paul on 082 456 8631.

Monday 9 October ■ BirdLife Overberg Monthly Talk: The speaker is Antonio Da Silva-Swart of Coastal Cleanup Conservation who will talk about the need for coastal cleanup campaigns aimed at addressing the negative impact that plastic litter and other pollutants have on our coastline and wetlands – and the birds that are dependent on these ecosystems. Catering at R80 per head; remember to bring your own drinks and glasses.

At the Mollergren Community Hall, Hermanus, at 18:30 for 19:00. RSVP: Helé at birding@southernartceramics.com or sms to 073 456 0393.

■ Astrophotography: Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre (HAC) for a presentation on Nebulosity at Deon Krige’s house, at 19:00.

Contact deonk@telkomsa.net

Wednesday 11 October ■ Cuppa for Cancer: Join Cansa for a High Tea fundraiser in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The speaker is Jo Da Silva, with entertainment provided by singer & songwriter Neels Moir. In addition to the Chef’s High Tea, there will also be a live auction and lucky table draw. At Arabella Hotel & Spa, from 13:00. Tickets are R180 pp. For reservations, contact 028 284 0000 or lomari.rauh@africanpridehostels.com

Sunday 1 October

Monday 2 October ■ Cosmology: Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre (HAC) for an in-house discussion on Quantum Mechanics. At the Catholic Church Hall, at 19:00. Contact Pierre Hugo at pierre@hermanus.co.za

■ Market in the Garden: Set among the trees in the heart of town, at St Peter’s Church in Main Road, from 09:00-13:00.

Every Sunday ■ Lemm’s Corner Market: This popular Sunday market offers exclusive fine arts and crafts, locally manufactured clothing, accessories and home décor, as well as delicious specialty foods, craft beers and a wine bar. On the corner of Main and Harbour Road, Hermanus, from 10:00 – 15:00.

Every Monday ■ Classic Monday Bridge Club: Duplicate Bridge, every Monday at 13:00, at Fernkloof Hall.

To join the club, contact Riekie on 072 230 9179.

Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday

■ Hermanus First Fridays: Join the hugely popular HFF Artwalk as the galleries in the centre of Hermanus remain open until 20:00. Follow the orange as you stroll from gallery to gallery, meet the artists and mingle with fellow art lovers. (Find the HFF map and more info on P 12.)

■ Lemm’s Corner Night Market: This popular

■ Izibusiso Fundraising Concert: Hermanus Pro Musica Choir, the Gansbaai Marimba Band and A Volente Trio will perform a variety concert to assist Izibusiso in raising funds to keep this home running. Izibusiso provides a place for abused and neglected babies and children up to six years of age where they can feel safe, loved and cared for. Tickets are R130 pp, including wine and snacks, available from Sheila Lyle on 028 314 1390 or 073 778 2777 or through the United Church Office. At the Grobbelaar Hall, at 15:30.

■ The Hermanus Country Market: A favourite among the locals, young and old. Fresh local produce, wholesome goodies, and home-made crafts. Next to the cricket field, Fairways Avenue, from 09:00-13:00.

Sunday market also trades on the first Friday evening of the month to coincide with the Artwalk.

You’ll find exclusive fine arts and crafts, locally manufactured clothing, accessories and home décor, as well as delicious specialty foods, craft beers and a wine bar. On the corner of Main and Harbour Road, Hermanus, from 17:00 – 20:30.

■ Quiz Night: St Peter's is hosting another exciting Quiz Night in the church hall. Teams of six will be seated at tables in full view of the slide presentation. Tickets are R85 pp (R510 per team).

Proceeds after expenses will go to the Winter School started by St Peter's Church this year. Ticket prices include a choice of home-made soups and a selection of breads. To book your table, contact Anne Philip on 082 399 3925 or Grazia, the church secretary on 028 312 1325 (mornings only) to book a place at a table.

Saturday 7 October ■ Onrus Markie: Join this community market in

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

■ Adventure Travel Talk: Come aboard the HMS Overstrand Auditorium and experience the journey of a lifetime as oceanographer, wildlife photographer and expedition leader Pierre Malan shares his colourful presentation of his unusual journeys to places you have never dreamed of – St Kilda, Tromso, Curacao, Svalbard, Longyearbyen. This is a fundraiser in aid of the Sustainable Futures Trust. Wine and snacks will be served. At the Municipal Auditorium, at 17:30 for 18:00. Tickets are R150 pp. EFT: Standard Bank, Hermanus, Sustainable Futures Trust, Acc no.

082257531, Branch code 050312. Use SFT plus your name and surname as reference. RSVP by 7 October to ann52wright@gmail.com

Thursday 12 October ■ U3A Open Meeting: The guest speaker at U3A Overberg’s Open Meeting is Dr Don Mingay, whose talk is entitled Why politicians and scientists disagree about man-made global warming. At the Municipal Auditorium, at 17:30.

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

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

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

Every Friday ■ Hermanus Hacking Group: Meet at the green reservoir off Mountain Drive, close to the Gateway intersection, at 07:15 for 07:30 until 09:30 every Friday. All volunteers welcome.

Contact Charlyn Vosloo on 082 558 8731 or mcvosloo@mweb.co.za ■ ‘Kolwyntjie-Teetuin’: Everyone in the area is invited to enjoy a sweet treat and tea or coffee at the Onrus Care Centre (‘Dienssentrum’) of the Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus for only R30, every Friday between 09:30 and 11:30.

■ Bhuki Café: Enjoy tea, coffee and eats for only R20 (2 eats) or R30 (3 eats) to support the Friends of Hermanus Library, every Friday from 09:00 11:30.

Village

EXPLORER EXPLORER The

FOOD • WINE • ART

A paradise of fauna, flora and fine wine extinct and has now been brought back to the Nuwejaars Wetlands.

Hedda Mittner

This really is a paradise for nature lovers, including birders. The highly threatened lowland fynbos that grows here gives life to threatened bird species such as the Southern Black Korhaan, Secretary bird and Hottentot Buttonquail, which thrive around the Nuwejaars wetlands and rivers. Of the 1 850 plant species found in the area, at least 315 are of special concern and many are found nowhere else in the world. The wetlands and rivers that cross the Agulhas Plain here ultimately feed the De Mond Estuary – a Ramsar Site of International Importance.

W

inemakers from the Elim wine ward played host to a group of invited guests and media last week to introduce them to the biodiversity-rich landscape of the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area (SMA), which includes the historic missionary town of Elim.

Comprising 46 000 ha of private land on the Agulhas Plain owned by 25 farmers intent on protecting this biodiversity hotspot, the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA is a unique conservation model. By incorporating their farms and signing title deed restrictions, these landowners have committed themselves to the conservation of the unique fauna and flora of the Nuwejaars Wetlands, and the development of a sustainable ecology in harmony with farming.

Among them are several wine producers, including Conrad Vlok of Strandveld Vineyards, Dirk Human of Black Oystercatcher, Johan de Kock of Zoetendal, Pierre Rabie of The Giant Periwinkle and Francis Pratt of The Berrio. Combining their passion for winemaking with their love of nature, these down-to-earth farmers are united in their deep love of the land and the challenge of producing premium wines in harsh conditions.

In fact it’s a challenge they seem to thrive on with unbridled enthusiasm.

While visitors’ first impression of the Agulhas Plain might be of an inhospitable wilderness battered year-round by fierce winds blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean less than 20 km away, the Elim winemakers know that extreme conditions are often conducive to the production of exceptional wines.

WINEMAKERS ON A CONSERVATION MISSION Gathered at the Buffalo Boma at Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA, from left: Jean-Pierre Daneel (Jean Daneel Wines), Francis Pratt (The Berrio), Dirk Human (Black Oystercatcher), Pierre Rabie (The Giant Periwinkle), Jason Snell (The Drift), Brett Sander (Brunia Wines), Jan Becker (Zoetendal) and Shawn Thomson (Land’s End). In front are Conrad Vlok (Strandveld Vineyards), Geoff McIver (Lomond) and Dawid Niewoudt (Ghost Corner).

The cool winds keeps the vineyards disease-free and play a critical role in the slow ripening of the grapes. This results in wines with a greater intensity, while the unique soils impart a layered complexity that has captured the attention of wine connoisseurs around the world.

And there certainly was no shortage of wine at the buffalo camp in the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA, where guests gathered at the boma around the braai. The winemakers took turns to introduce their wines and even the most practised of wine tasters had trouble keeping up with more than a dozen of the finest, from Jean Daneel Chenin Blanc to Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc to Brunia Pinot Noir to Strandveld Adamastor to The Drift Moveable Feast…

Mercifully, lunch arrived just in time and we managed to remain upright while tucking into an impressive selection of braai meats and seasonal salads, followed by a delicious pavlova with melktert ice cream.

(With no kitchen in sight and several kilometres of rugged terrain separating us from the nearest farm, all these culinary delights seemed to appear as if by magic.)

Buffalo, hippo and hartebeest, once extinct on the Agulhas Plain, have been reintroduced to the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA after an absence of 200 years and guests had the opportunity to view a herd of buffalo after lunch when they came close to the boma to drink from the dam. The area was also the original home of the bontebok, which was once nearly

Dirk Human, whose family has farmed in the region for four generations, is the owner and founder of Black Oystercatcher Wines. He has served as chair of the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA since its launch. Guided tours are now offered to the Nuwejaars Wetlands on Saturdays, departing from the Black Oystercatcher winery. The Wildlife Guided Tour (R200 pp) starts at 09:00 and the Sunset Wetlands Tour (R220) at 17:00. Booking is essential; contact 076 833 6341 or book@nuwejaars.com Combine your tour with a wine tasting or lunch at the Black Oystercatcher Restaurant, or extend your stay by booking into one of the selfcatering cottages on the farm.

Another good reason to visit the area is the annual Elim Wine Festival which is hosted this year on Saturday 4 November at Black Oystercatcher.

There will be a festive offering of the region’s unique cool-climate wines, craft beers, intimate tutored tastings, great local food and a country market craft, live music and a host of activities. Get all the details at www.elimwines.co.za

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26 September - 2 October 2017 HFF RAFFLE WINNERS Local artist Christa Clark was one of the winners of the September HFF Artwalk raffle and received these plants donated by the Hermanus Botanical Society from Ed Bredenkamp, co-owner of Lembu Gallery, where Christa bought her ticket. The winner of the first raffle prize, a floral painting by Charmaine de Jongh Gelderblom, was purchased by a Capetonian visitor from Kunskantoor Art Gallery.

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.

On the evening of 1 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 Gallery 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 1 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@whalemail. co.za. The letter should give a brief description of the charity, its history and objectives.

A record number of donated A5-sized artworks were purchased at R100 each by the public during last year’s Night of 1 000 Drawings, raising over R70 000 for charity. This would not have been possible without the active participation of the Hermanus community, and the HFF galleries are again inviting artists and art lovers to be part of this joyful event.

For more information, Liz Coates can be contacted on 028 312 1899 or 072 367 4025, or send an email to amzam@polka.co.za

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26 September - 2 October 2017

Double vision – when art, friendship and mentorship overlap

M

entor - 2 Visions is the title of an exhibition that opens at Rossouw Modern SPACE Gallery on Friday 6 October, showcasing the works of two very disparate artists which happenstance brought together in Hermanus – local artist Jenny Jackson who is 82 and hails from England, and young Zimbabwean artist Obert Jongwe who is in his early thirties.

Obert & Jenny: Two Visions

Obert has been part of the Rossouw Modern stable since 2004 and was working towards a more contemporary style of painting when he met Jenny in 2015 and Jozua suggested she mentor Obert.

She lent him illustrated art books on Classical and Impressionist artists and, while encouraging him to retain his culture, suggested experimenting with softer colours and a wider range of subjects, including still lives.

The show’s purpose is to document the interaction between two people from completely different backgrounds and the influence they have on each other, illustrated through art.

Jenny, inspired by Obert’s unusual receptivity and fast evolving creativity, found herself challenged to up her own game – to leave her comfort zone and tackle larger canvases, becoming more playful with colour and images.

Jenny Jackson It was in 1995 that Jenny Jackson first heard, with amazement, the magic words that were to transform her life: “You are a painter, Jenny. Go home and paint!”

With no art training or experience, but a lifetime of studying the work of artists in galleries around the world, Jenny began painting. Jozua Rossouw gave Jenny her first solo exhibition in 2011 and a second one a year later at the Rossouw Modern, both so well received that she was inspired to continue her journey as a full-time artist.

Today, in her own gallery in High Street, Jenny is at her easel every day. “I am lucky to have a studio at my gallery so I can paint and meet people. For me, the huge benefit of selling my own work is the interaction with everyone who likes it as well as my clients.” Jenny’s main subjects are portraits, real and imaginary, and still lives. She paints in oils, using a palate knife. “Life’s too short to spend time cleaning brushes,” she quips.

Jenny’s work hangs in homes around the world. She exhibit-

Their artistic journey is set to continue into the future to the professional benefit of both painters. The upcoming exhibition ‘Mentor – 2 Visions’ is the direct result of that journey.

“Meet me at the cliff path at dawn,” was the invitation extended to Jenny Jackson and Obert Jongwe by internationally acclaimed photographer Leif Hansen, who took this striking image of the two artists on the rocks in the early morning mist. ed at the 2015 International Art Fair in London and one of her still life paintings was also illustrated in the publicity catalogue alongside the works of artists such as David Hockney.

Obert Jongwe Born in a rural village in Northern Zimbabwe in 1980, Obert became interested in drawing during his school years and, with limited information available, he

started visiting galleries and learning as much about art as he could.

highly regarded by galleries in both Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Inspired by the work of Zimbabwean artist Tendai Nhavira, Obert started painting with the conviction that he was fulfilling his destiny. Inspired by the native scenes around him, he used vibrant colours and bold forms that reflected the moods of his subjects with a brutal honesty. From the very beginning, his work was

Since 2015, inspired by the people and landscape of Hermanus, Obert’s subjects have transformed to urban scenes and also some still lifes. Still in brutal honest conversation with the viewer, he connects you through the familiar expression of movement, posture and placement of his subjects.

In anticipation and preparation of the show, Jenny has let go and allowed the still life objects to find their own spaces; at the same time moving away from her signature blues to French greys.

By preparing the canvas with black primer, Jenny found, to her amazement, that the fruit and vegetables sometimes appeared in the negative.

Soon she was allowing different objects to appear, some of which could be considered peculiar, giving the artworks an exciting edge.

Jenny’s lifestyle still influences the objects that appear and they leave the viewer with a biographical footprint of who Jenny Jackson the artist is. “My latest works illustrate a new

“

The show’s purpose is to document the interaction between two people from completely different backgrounds and the influence they have on each other, illustrated through art

”

way of seeing things, hopefully without being too challenging, while still appealing and elegant. For me, they have a dream-like quality and are quite different from the still lives that people have come to expect from me,” says Jenny.

Obert had a major breakthrough in the past months.

Following Jenny’s mentorship, he embraced his new surroundings in Hermanus and found new subjects in the urban environment. His process also changed from a technical point of view and he now makes sketches before he paints, giving him a broader perspective. Under Jenny’s influence, he has softened his palette.

“Rather than a complete storyline, I seek a moment in time by isolating the characters and creating a visual silence where the eye is drawn,” says Obert.

Mentor – 2 Visions will open on 6 October at Rossouw Modern SPACE, at 17:30. The exhibition will run until 23 October. Find SPACE at the end of Warrington Place off Harbour Road, Hermanus. Contact info@rossouwmodern.com or 028 313 2222.

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A

friCamps is all about luxury camping (glamping) at the most beautiful working farms and estates around the country.

They found the perfect venue for their Whale Coast location at Stanford Hills Estate.

Here, guests are personally hosted by owners Peter and Jami Kastner and invited to enjoy the natural beauty and variety of activities the farm has to offer.

Aside from the popular Tasting Room restaurant on the estate, highlights include horse riding, wine tasting, hiking and whale watching flights from the farm’s private airstrip. It’s the perfect base from which tourists can explore the whole area and the

26 September - 2 October 2017

Glamping it up at Stanford Hills numerous diverse attractions it has to offer.

The five custom designed boutique camping tents are spacious and fully furnished with excellent kitchens, comfortable bedrooms and shower rooms.

Each private deck has an outside braai and offers breathtaking views over the Stanford valley. They offer guests the freedom and flexibility of a self-drive holiday, the closeness to nature of a camping trip and the luxury and convenience of a beautiful self-catering unit.

Stanford Hills is hosting an Open Day on Saturday 30 September from 10:00 – 16:00

to showcase their AfriCamps facilities and some of the area’s highlights. And what better excuse than the AfriCamps launch to host a Stanford Farmers’ Market Festival?

It is open to the public and there is no entry fee. Bring friends and the whole family to enjoy live music, wine tasting, food stalls, horse rides, tram and tractor rides, Zorbing, children’s activities and a whole lot of fun.

For more information, call 072 639 6135.

The AfriCamps tents are available for rental as of 1 October; make your booking soon to avoid disappointment. Visit www.stanfordhills.co.za

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26 September - 2 October 2017

Fabio’s Ristorante: A taste of Italy in the heart of Hermanus Hedda Mittner

White Shark Projects, a local shark cage diving operator that is dedicated to marine conservation, research and education as well as social upliftment, has joined forces with several restaurants in an effort to eliminate the use of plastic straws in the local hospitality industry.

W

hile restaurants in the town centre regularly change hands or relocate to other premises, one of the few that have stood the test of time – a whole decade, to be precise – is Fabio’s Ristorante. Tucked away in St Peter’s Lane opposite St Peter’s Church, Fabio’s is also the only restaurant in the Overberg acclaimed as authentically Italian by the Italian Chamber of Commerce, which awarded it the prestigious seal, the Ospitalita Italiana.

Owner Fabio Lenci believes the main characteristic of Italian cuisine is its simplicity, and this philosophy is reflected in the restaurant’s deep respect for Italian dishes and traditions.

Fabio’s family hails from the town of Lecco on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy, and he immigrated to South Africa as a young boy with his parents and two brothers. All Italian boys love their mama – and Fabio is no exception. From a young age, he often helped his mama Silva in the kitchen by standing on a chair next to the stove, learning the art of authentic Italian cooking.

“The whole family usually gathered in the kitchen,” says Fabio, “and everyone was involved with the family meals – from the setting of the table, the preparations and the cooking right through to the washing up. We had no TV and we sat down as a family to a three course meal every night – we still do!”

However, Fabio only pursued his passion for food full time after venturing into the corporate world for 20 years. It was during a holiday in

The Last Straw

Fabio Lenci (right) with his management team, son Claudio and Wietske, who over the years has also become part of the Fabio’s Ristorante famiglia.

Hermanus with his family in 2007 that he heard of a restaurant for sale. “I immediately knew that this was my destiny,” he says, and promptly swopped the life of a businessman in Pretoria for the life of a restauranteur in Hermanus.

Now celebrating their 10th birthday, Fabio’s Ristorante has become a firm favourite among locals and visitors alike. What you’ll find at Fabio’s is an unpretentious restaurant with true Italian heart – a place where traditional cuisine, great wines and fabulous conversation come together in a warm, relaxed and family-oriented ambience.

Their specialities include home-made pasta, lasagne, cannelloni, gnocchi and panzerotti served with a choice of home-cooked sauces; delicious Italian thincrusted pizzas with a variety of traditional toppings; an array of seafood dishes, including a delicious Zuppa di Pesce; and meat dishes made the Italian

way. The latter include Ossobucco with polenta; Tuscan lamb shanks; veal liver alla Veneziana; and matured steaks (fillet or rump). Be sure to try their veal dishes, especially the Involtini – veal medallions filled with Parma ham and parmigiano cheese, rolled up and cooked the Italian way with wine, rosemary and a hint of garlic.

The dessert menu specialises in Italian frozen desserts, ice creams, sorbets and several home-made desserts such as Tiramisu and Semi Freddo Zabaglione. The awardwinning wine list includes a range of local wines as well as a wide selection of Italian imported wines, grappas and after-dinner liqueurs. And don’t forget to pop into their deli, which stocks imported Italian pastas, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, polenta, Arborio rice, cold meats, cheeses, canned tomatoes, and Italian coffees.

The team is made up of Fabio (aka The Don), his cousin and

business partner Antonie (The Hammer), Patricia (The Wizard) and her kitchen team, front of house manager Wietske (The Hawk) and barman Wayne (The Gentle Skollie). This close-knit team is dedicated and committed to great service from the moment you set foot in the door.

Fabio’s son, the charming young Claudio, has now also joined the affari di famiglia after spending several months overseas. He adds great value to the restaurant by speaking four languages – English, Afrikaans, Italian and German.

“Claudio is passionate and enthusiastic, honest and reliable,” says his proud papa.

“There can be no greater delight than having my son follow in my footsteps and continuing the family business.”

Find Fabio’s Ristorante at 60 St Peter’s Lane, Hermanus.

Open 7 days a week from 11:00 – 23:00 (kitchen closes at 21:30). Call 028 313 0532 to book a table.

The Last Plastic Straw is an initiative of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, a growing global alliance of individuals, organisations, businesses, and policymakers working toward a world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on humans, animals, waterways and oceans, and the environment.

In only the past twenty years, people have come to expect plastic straws in every drink, in an example of extreme waste being generated for minimal convenience. These short-lived tools are usually dropped into a garbage can with no further thought, instantly becoming a source of plastic pollution.

Every piece of plastic ever produced is still in existence today, in one form or another.

This is a horrifying fact, especially if you consider that we throw “away” 300 million tonnes of plastic every year. As our population and our addiction to plastic continues to grow, so does the tonnage of plastic. What we need to realise is that there is no “away” – it all has to go somewhere – and at least 8,8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in our oceans every year.

One of the easiest single-use plastic items to put on the elimination list is the humble plastic straw. It may seem harmless, but the damage a straw can (and does) cause marine life, is horrific and heart

breaking. Who can forget the harrowing video of a sea turtle with a straw lodged up its nose which caused an outcry when it first went viral more than two years ago?

The Last Plastic Straw initiative responded by urging consumers to say no to the straws we receive on a daily basis with our drinks. Closer to home, likeminded and ethically inspired restauranteurs and business owners have just begun to join in the movement, encouraging their customers to go straw-less or even taking it upon themselves to stop offering them altogether.

Join forces with White Shark Projects, La Pentola, LB Seafood Bistro, The Eatery, The Bistro and Heritage Cottage and let’s make Hermanus restaurants completely straw-free. Plastic straws are an unnecessary single-use plastic that we, and our customers, can live without. Hygiene is no excuse; if your glasses are not clean enough to drink out of, then your cutlery won’t be clean enough to eat with. For clients who absolutely have to have a straw, we suggest that you offer them a paper, glass, steel or starch straw instead. Add an additional fee to the drink to cover any costs incurred.

This initiative can be spread across all your single-use plastics, especially plastic water bottles.

La Pentola is already offering patrons a carafe of reverse osmosis water, instead of bottled mineral water. If you own a coffee shop, why not look at some affordable reusable cups, have your logo printed on it and then sell it…

Change is possible, especially if we all work together. To take up the challenge, contact admin@whitesharkprojects.co.za

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26 September - 2 October 2017

29 September - 1 October 2017

The 26th Hermanus Whale Festival, the oldest and largest festival on the Cape Whale Coast, is a celebration of our whales and all marine life, above and below the ocean. As in previous years, the 2017 Whale Festival from 29 September – 1 October will be packed with community and cultural activities, dishing up great food, quality crafters, exciting sporting events, children’s entertainment, street parades, a music stage with performing artists, a Vintage Car Show, an interactive marine-themed eco village, ecomarine talks, adventure activities down in the Old Harbour and of course whale watching from land, boat and air.

Eco-Marine Festival

Eco-Marine themed exhibitions

The Eco Marine Tent partners with a number of our local, internationally awarded, eco- tourism operators to share their information whilst interacting with visitors. These operators are a valuable commodity that drives sustainable practices most important to marine tourism on the Cape Whale Coast.

The interactive exhibitions are largely aimed at the youth, our future conservationists. We believe that by reaching children at an early age, we can instil in them a love and respect for marine wildlife and the knowledge to preserve our blue planet.

A festival with a focus on the Southern Right Whales The Hermanus Whale Festival is acutely aware that if we don’t look after our environment, we’ll no longer be able to promote the Cape Whale Coast with pride and purpose. Our main focus remains to create awareness and celebrate the annual return of the Southern Right Whales to our coast.

Friday

We therefore highlight local efforts to protect the whales from extinction, through ocean-themed activities and exhibits that emphasize education and environmentally responsible adventures and products.

Join the thousands of people who will again celebrate our beautiful seaside village!

Event

Venue

All day

Kiddies Entertainment

Market Square

All day

Arts & Crafts Market

Market Square

09:00 – 17:00

Eco-Marine Village Interactive Exhibitions – Explore, Educate & Discover

Marquee Tent on Waterfront Piazza

09:00 – 17:00

Orchid Show by the Walker Bay Orchid Society (R15 pp, pensioners R10) Orchids & refreshments for sale

St Peter’s Church Hall

09:00 – 17:00

Clivia Show. Seed and young plants for sale as well as a raffle. Entry R15

Grobbelaar Hall

12:00 – 15:00

Hermanus High School sports field Sporting Chance Coaching Clinic.

4 – 5 years: Multisport; 6 – 13 years: Cricket, Soccer or Hockey.

Bookings via www.sportingchance.co.za/coaching-programmes/ Music performances: O’Ryan Winter Renier van Rooyen Courtney Foster Denise Carstens Bianca Lombard

Coke Live Music Stage, Gearing’s Point

13:00 – 13:45 14:00 – 14:45 15:00 – 15:45 16:00 – 16:45 17:00 – 17:45 14:00 – 19:00

Good Hope FM broadcasting live

Market Square, above the Old Harbour

18:00

Quantum 7s Rugby. Entry free.

Stalls & refreshments available

Mount Pleasant Sportsgrounds

20:00

Watershed Live. South Africa’s leading acoustic rock group. Tickets available on Webtickets at R150 pp

Coke Live Music Stage, Gearing’s Point

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26 September - 2 October 2017

Saturday

Event

Venue

All day

Children’s entertainment and exciting kiddies’ rides

Market Square, above the Old Harbour

All day

Arts & Crafts Market

Market Square

08:00

Quantum 7s Rugby Entry R15 with a free Coke Women’s 7s Rugby Netball Tournament

Mt Pleasant Sportsgrounds

Whales & Wheels Vintage Car Show.

Over 250 vintage and classic cars dating from the 1920s through to the 1980s

Hermanus Primary School

09:00 09:00 08:00

09:00 – 17:00 12:00 – 14:00

Eco-Marine Village Interactive Exhibitions – Explore, Educate & Discover Pirates and Mermaids Treasure Hunt for Kids up to 12 years (Pre- & Primary School)

Marquee Tent on Waterfront Piazza

09:00 – 16:00

Clivia Show. Seed and young plants for sale as well as a raffle. Entry R15

Grobbelaar Hall

09:00 – 16:00

Orchid Show by the Walker Bay Orchid Society (R15 pp, pensioners R10). Orchids & refreshments for sale

St Peter’s Church Hall

09:00 – 16:00

Good Hope FM broadcasting live

Market Square, above the Old Harbour

10:00

Street Parade – including the Coca-Cola Truck, Vintage Cars, SA National Defence Force, SA Army and Cape Highlanders drums and pipe bands.

From Swallow Park along Gearing’s Point and Market Square to The Marine

10:00 – 13:00

Sporting Chance Coaching Clinic.

4 – 5 years: Multisport; 6 – 13 years: Cricket, Soccer or Hockey.

Bookings: www.sportingchance.co.za

Hermanus High School sports field

11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00

Lecture Room, Whale Museum Eco-Marine Talks Els Vermeulen – Southern Right Whales Allison Towner – Necropsy of Great White Sharks linked to Orca predation Theanette Staal – African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary Meredith Thornton – Conservation of whales of the Overstrand Dickie Chivell – Shark Week

11:00 – 11:45 12:00 – 12:45 13:00 – 13:45 14:00 – 14:45 15:00 – 15:45 16:00 – 16:45 17:00 – 17:45

Music performances: Mishca Bianca Lombard Kaycee Anton Oosthuizen London Louw (Idols) Garner Nel Jarrad Ricketts

Coke Live Music Marquee, Gearing’s Point

18:00 – 21:00

Oldies but Goldies Tribute Show with duo James Marais and Monique Cassells. Tickets available from Webtickets at R120 pp (adults) and R70 (U18s).

Coke Live Music Marquee Gearing’s Point

20:00

After-match Dance with DJ Challa. Entry R30.

Cash bar. No U18s.

Mt Pleasant Sportsgrounds

Event

Venue

All day

Children’s entertainment and exciting kiddies’ rides

Market Square, above Old Harbour

All day

Arts & Crafts Market

Market Square

09:00 – 15:00

Good Hope FM broadcasting live

Market Square

Eco-Marine Village Interactive exhibitions – Explore, Educate & Discover Pirates and Mermaids Treasure Hunt for Kids up to 12 years

Marquee Tent on Waterfront Piazza

09:00 – 17:00 12:00 – 14:00

Sporting Chance Coaching Clinic.

4 – 5 years: Multisport; 6 – 13 years: Cricket, Soccer or Hockey.

Bookings: www.sportingchance.co.za

Hermanus High School Sports field

Music performances: Jaco Losgelaat Anton Oosthuizen Garner Nel Jarrad Ricketts London Louw (Idols)

Coke Live Music Marquee, Gearing's Point

Sunday

10:00 – 13:00

10:00 – 10:45 11:00 – 11:45 14:00 – 14:45 15:00 – 15:45 16:00 – 16:45

Marquee Tent on Waterfront Piazza

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26 September - 2 October 2017

Harcourts opens new office in Onrus

H

achiever since joining Harcourts.

arcourts Hermanus opened its doors this month under the leadership of principal Jana Smith at their new premises in the Rheezicht Centre in Onrus.

Her dynamic team comprises daughter Minét and son-in-law Igno Vivier, long-time colleague Charmaine Vogel and newcomer Johan du Preez.

Apart from Johan, who relocated to Hermanus from Potchefstroom last year, the whole team hails from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province, where Jana worked in the property industry for over 30 years. She was one of the founder members of Homenet, which later became affiliated with the Harcourts International Real Estate Group.

With over 10 000 sales consultants in over 800 offices in 10 countries, Harcourts is one of the fastest-growing real estate groups in South Africa.

Harcourts Hermanus is quite the family affair, with Minét taking charge of electronic media and marketing, Igno doing sales and Jana’s other daughter, who still lives in Louis Trichardt, taking care of the accounts. Charmaine is almost

With their exceptional skills, experience and commitment, the strength of the Harcourts brand, superior technology, and proven marketing tools and strategies, this professional team strives to assist their clients in building their future through realistic, truthful and relevant guidance and advice.

“We are dedicated to making the whole property experience easier, less stressful and far more rewarding,” says Jana. ”We live by the Harcourts values of putting people first and doing the right thing, but we also believe in laughter and having fun because we enjoy what we do.”

THE HARCOURTS HERMANUS TEAM Johan du Preez, Charmaine Vogel, principal Jana Smith, Minét Vivier and Igno Vivier. like family too – back in Louis Trichardt she worked with Jana for 15 years before moving to Hermanus a few years ago. The new addition to the group is Johan, who is looking after rentals.

“It’s a big change and a big challenge,” says Jana.

“Everything is different – the climate, the culture, the people. We have definitely stepped out of our comfort zone but we are loving it!

Hermanus is a very dynamic town that is on the move and offers many opportunities.”

Listening to Jana chat about

her involvement over the years with the business chamber, the ratepayers association, child welfare and other charitable organisations and causes back in Louis Trichardt, I have no doubt she will immerse herself in her new environment in no time.

What binds this highly

professional team together is their mutual passion for property and for working with people.

“Just as your home is more than just brick and mortar, selling or buying is more than just paper work – it’s personal,” says Igno, who has been a top

So wherever you are on your property journey, Harcourts Hermanus is there to guide, assist and support you. Find them at Shop 4, Rheezicht Centre, c/o Main Road and Rheezicht Crescent, Onrus. Contact the office on 028 316 2980 or send an email to hermanus@harcourts.co.za - Hedda Mittner

21

26 September - 2 October 2017

Guarding our Gifts Unique qualities have made Hermanus and Walker Bay piquant places to be proud of – and to protect, writes HARVEY TYSON.

H

ermanus is near the centre of one of the longest municipal boundaries on Earth; long enough to contain South Africa’s biggest city as well as its administrative capital city.

Three times as long as the coastline of Belgium. Walker Bay’s municipality encompasses some of the world’s most spectacular unspoilt coastline – huge seas and sea-life; high mountains; flat beaches; cool, spectacular lagoons, and more.

Much more.

These are boasts which need to be kept within the Overstrand community itself if its unique values are to be maintained. But it is necessary to be constantly aware of all of its qualities in order to protect them sufficiently.

For instance, Hermanus’s four ethnic peoples of different languages, arriving here at different times in recorded

history, all came in peace. The population’s cultural and political balance is sound, but an increasing threat of industrial strife and ethnic divisions could destroy the region’s remarkable civil record. The problems of industrial and population growth and their potential imbalances require special attention.

However the Overstrand Municipality, with Hermanus as its centre, has many extraordinary assets for so small a community. Among these assets are: • a number of public libraries, including a fine mobile school library • two hospitals and a stateof-the-art medical health centre • two local newspapers, its own radio station and other news media • two formal music societies, attracting national talent

• at least six major festivals celebrated annually • more art shops and bookshops probably than any other community of its size • one of the longest paved sea-front cliff paths (12 km) on record • access to a new wine route that may soon rival the world’s best in scenery and service The municipality accommodates the astonishing number of four golf courses, two of them attracting international attention, and facilities to accommodate sightseers from across the world for sharkdiving and whale-watching.

These latter two tourist activities now require special care and attention much more than they did in the past.

With its expansive borders the municipality also contains an original pristine coastal forest, many coves and several caves

(one in the mountains with pre-historic paintings) that once accommodated South Africa’s earliest clans. It has several nature reserves, including those that still contain leopards and other rare fauna and flora.

Fernkloof Nature Reserve in Hermanus is in the midst of “one of the hottest of floral hotspots on Earth”, according to a visiting expert. The municipality has 330 species of Proteas; 235 species of Ericas and 340 of the world’s 420 species of Restoids, and 183 species of Geophytes (bulbs).

It is possible in this supremely rich floral kingdom to walk across two hectares and find each of them to be entirely different in their fynbos. And new species continue to be discovered! Among the recent ones was a new species named Gladiolus Overbergensis. And more

recently, another very rare plant– a flower in the middle of the sea-sand in Walker Bay’s dune-field.

Clearly our community now has a huge responsible in trying to preserve these riches.

At present the expansion of agriculture is the main threat, followed by the introduction of alien plants. But growth of industry and population will soon be the greatest danger to this precious, natural, world asset.

Be aware The first step in ensuring that Walker Bay remains the unique, beautiful place it is, must surely be for our entire community to have awareness of its unique gifts.

It requires an extension of the laudible hard work done voluntarily by a small handful of citizens. It requires a

massive local input of all of us to bridge the differences in our society and educate the least aware visitors and especially our own under-privileged residents.

What else makes Hermanus unique, and important – not only to its community but to the nation and the world?

Undoubtedly it is the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) quietly monitoring our skies, educating Space scientists and ensuring that everything, from the world’s airlines to their cellphones are warned of the solar storms that could affect them.

The SANSA observatory in Hermanus, which has been tracking, among many activities, this year’s exploration of Saturn’s rings, has to be one of Hermanus’s finest assets.

It will be the subject of the next article in this series.

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26 September - 2 October 2017

Cryptocurrencies: a financial technological revolution There has been much talk and speculation about Cryptocurrencies, especially BitCoin, during the last few months.

Although this is not a new phenomenon it is becoming increasingly popular. JANA FOURIE of PSG Wealth Hermanus Portfolio Management and Stockbroking explains what all the hype is about.

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hat are cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Steem, Ethereum, and Litecoin?

Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that make use of cryptography (encryption) for security. Let’s use Bitcoin as an example. It is described by Satoshi Nakamoto, the unknown person(s) who ‘invented’ it, as a “peer-to-peer electronic cash system”. It is a decentralised person-toperson payment network with no intermediary or central authority that facilitates and records transactions and issues new money. Instead users of the Bitcoin software collectively confirm and record transactions in a shared digital public ledger

called “blockchain”. This technology protects the records from tampering.

How is the value of a cryptocurrency determined and where can I see it?

One of the fundamental principles that govern an economy is the law of supply and demand. This also applies to cryptocurrencies. However other factors that are relevant to the valuation of digital currency include public perception, regulatory uncertainty, technological challenges and media influence which make the price of digital currencies fluctuate significantly.

The value of cryptocurrencies can be viewed on traditional

currency exchange websites such as xe.com but also cryptocurrency exchanges such as Coinbase, Kraken and Bitstamp. As a matter of interest, the value of one Bitcoin as at 22 September 2017 was approximately R51 000 (reference: www.luno.com).

If it's all digital currency, how do you get money?

Like ‘ordinary money’, cryptocurrencies can be exchanged for goods or services. Well-known South African online retailers such as Bidorbuy, Takealot and Runwaysale accept Bitcoin (via PayFast). Pick n Pay recently tested Bitcoin payments at the point of sale which involves the scanning of a QR code.

There are even cryptocur-

rency debit cards that allow consumers to spend cryptocurrency at stores that have Visa or Mastercard payment terminals.

Is it a sound Investment?

Currency traders exploit the volatility of currencies, buy and sell it and bank shortterm profits. There seems to be a common misconception that this kind of ‘investing’ makes currency an asset class, but it doesn’t. It is trading.

Trading is speculative in nature and requires an active approach which involves short-term buying and selling.

Currency itself is not viewed as an economic asset because one cannot assess whether a currency (including

cryptocurrency) is over- or undervalued on a standalone basis which means that it lacks intrinsic value.

The cryptocurrency market is still in its infancy and the price of cryptocurrency is extremely volatile. This volatility is indicative of the speculative nature of the market which affords traders the opportunity to try and buy low and sell high to realise profits. It should therefore be apparent that there are significant risks attached to the trading of cryptocurrencies.

One aspect many market commentators agree on is the future investment possibilities of the underlying technology used by cryptocurrencies

called “Blockchain”. Blockchain refers to a type of data structure that identifies and tracks transactions digitally and shares this information across a distributed network of computers, creating a distributed trust network.

If in any doubt, consult a reputable financial advisor and heed the words of the great Warren Buffet, “Never invest in a business you cannot understand”.

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

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26 September - 2 October 2017

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Dutchies launches It’s my Shop project

new self-empowering initiative that aims to empower women in Zwelihle was launched at Dutchies on Grotto Beach on 20 September. As the brainchild of Dutchies owner Joke Gonggrijp, the objective of #itsmyshop is to aid disadvantaged women to own and run a small home-based enterprise and earn a sustainable income.

No stranger to charitable causes, the Gonggrijp family manages the Sluyter Foundation, which focuses on supporting projects in the field of education, the disabled and sports. Their latest project is a simple one – and everyone can make a difference in three easy steps.

Joke explains: “We are asking all of you, as valued friends of

Dutchies, to walk through your house and take a critical look at your belongings. Will you ever wear that dress again?

Do you have a kitchen appliance that you never use? Is there a décor item or a piece of furniture that you’ve never really liked? If it is still clean and in a good condition, then we will drop by your house to pick it up for free – anywhere from Gansbaai to Cape Town. These unwanted items could have a whole new ‘useful’ life!”

The owners of #itsmyshop are a group of unemployed women in Zwelihle who are unable to work or otherwise generate an income. “The reason for this is usually that they have to take care of their children and/or other relatives,” says Joke, “and we would like to afford them the opportunity of providing for themselves.

• Step 1 is to collect any usable items in your home that you do not need or no longer use.

• Step 2 is simply to give #itsmy-shop a call on 076 139 1539, contact them via Facebook or whatsapp, or send an email to info@itsmyshop.co.za

“Of the goods collected with your support, they will get the first 50 items for free, which they can sell from their home shop at a self-determined price.

If they want more items, they can buy them from us for the price of R10 per item. Every R10 we receive in this way will

• Step 3 will see one of their team members collecting your donation at a convenient time and place.

At the launch of #itsmyshop at Dutchies on Grotto Beach last week, several lucky diners who donated 50 usable items were treated to a signature dish and a glass of wine for free.

Among those who dropped off donations was Cllr Kari Brice (second from right) who showed her support for the Gonggrijp family, (from left) Daan, Joke and Just.

benefit the Sluyter Foundation, in collaboration with the Spencer Foundation.”

The items that will be most useful for this project include pots and pans, kitchen utensils, Tupperware, linen, blankets, pillows and duvets, curtains, crockery, clothing, household appliances, electronics and tools. The items must be in a good condition and working order.

Joke says the project serves two purposes: it enables the #itsmyshop owners to earn a sustainable income and increases their chances of providing for themselves and their families, while attaining flexibility for the Sluyter Foundation to support new projects.

– Hedda Mittner

The Story of another African Farm Readers of The Village NEWS may be familiar with our regular Wit’s End column (well, we hope someone reads it) written by Murray Stewart, a gentleman with a most peculiar brand of humour.

Every second Tuesday Murray does double duty by helping us to distribute the newspaper, which has prompted more than one reader to refer to him as our “delivery boy”.

I’d like to inform them that our Murray is a man of many talents and much knowledge – you would do well to have him on your team at Quiz Night.

During his eventful life he has been a sound engineer, jingle

writer, radio producer, advertising guru, would-be farmer – and an author, although modesty prohibits him from taking credit for his book The Story of another African Farm and he’ll have you believe that it was his dog Snowy who wrote it.

Snowy’s account of the kindly ‘Minear’ who took him in after he’d been abandoned, is filled with astute observations such as: “From a sound engineer to a decidedly unsound handyman is a hell of a leap in anyone’s book.” Which is rather unfortunate for Minear, a cityslicker who soon realises that his daydream of becoming a

bona fide farmer entails all manner of handiwork, from putting up fences to building a house and a storeroom to constructing a dam.

Fortunately for Minear, he can always seek comfort in the bosom of the rural Duck ‘n Fiddle pub when this farming business gets too much. Here Snowy makes the acquaintance of several characters (human and canine) that our Wit’s End readers might recognise – Druiwe du Toit, Mrs Mitsy, Sparky, Henrico, Mandla... You’ll also get to know new ones such as Sis, Swaer, Appels, Dogless Danie, Oom Koos and Pa Boer.

The Story of another African Farm is a delightful book but comes with a health warning for those of a sensitive nature: Its pages are peppered with local expressions and Afrikaans words of a rude nature that might leave you gasping for air – whether from hilarious laughter or shocked horror depends entirely on the reader.

The book is available from the Quirk & Leopard at R150. I hesitate to recommend that our readers all rush out at once to buy a copy lest he decides to give up his delivery job and become a full-time writer.

– Hedda Mittner

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26 September - 2 October 2017

BirdLife rolls out projects to conserve coastlines and estuaries

International Coastal Cleanup Day

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ollowing the BirdLife Overberg Coastline and Estuary Workshop hosted in Hermanus at the beginning of September, chairperson Anton Odendal has announced the organisation’s decision to prioritise the spending of available funds and future fundraising and conservation efforts by focusing on the Overstrand region’s coastline and estuaries.

“In the long term we want to roll out and sponsor meaningful and sustainable educational campaigns towards the conservation of the unique birdlife along our coastline and estuaries,” said Anton. The workshop, presented in collaboration with the Nature’s Valley Conservation Trust, featured prominent speakers who showcased their projects and shared their experiences.

Other role players that participated in the two-day workshop included Dyer Island Conservation Trust, CapeNature, Whale Coast Conservation, Coastal Cleanup Conservation, Paddavlei Eco Group, Rethink Single Use Plastics, Overstrand Municipality: Environmental Department, the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, BirdLife South Africa and several bird clubs.

The workshop was followed by a brainstorming session to find the way forward and six projects were identified. “These projects will be done as casestudies that will be reported to the Western Cape Birding Forum regularly in view of other clubs possibly implementing similar actions in their regions,” said Anton.

PROPOSED PROJECT 1 Identifying breeding sites of African Oystercatchers and White-fronted Plovers on beaches along the Cape Whale Coast during the summer of 2017/2018. Possible causes of breeding failures will also be

investigated. Educational campaigns will be launched at key breeding sites, largely based on posters, brochures and media releases developed by the Nature’s Valley Trust.

This project has already been launched and Anton has requested that anyone who finds African Black Oystercatchers and White-fronted Plovers that are breeding or raising chicks along the Overstrand beaches, please report it via email to birding@overberg.co.za Kindly also provide the GPS coordinates of the nest sites and ensure that the birds are not disturbed – do not go within 30 yards from the nests and keep dogs on leashes.

It will also be appreciated if bird lovers could spread the word to like-minded people or organisations that might be in a position to assist with this project. More information is available at www.westerncape birding.co.za/overberg/news/ 2370/kindly_assist_by_locatin g_beach_breeding_birds PROPOSED PROJECT 2 Undertaking more regular Coordinated Waterbird Counts (CWAC) along the Klein-, Uilenkraal and Bot River estuaries. They will be done in support of the work being undertaken by Dr Giselle Murison of BirdLife South Africa and Pierre de Villiers of CapeNature, aimed at the development of management guidelines for these estuaries.

PROPOSED PROJECT 3 Distributing fishing line bins along the Cape Whale Coast

coastline, in association with the Dyer Island Conservation Trust which has already implemented this project with huge success. It is proposed that this project initially be implemented in Onrus and Vermont and later expanded to other areas, based on the need for it and available funds.

PROPOSED PROJECT 4 Distributing cigarette butt bins in association with Whale Coast Conservation, which has already successfully implemented this project in Hermanus, initially installing them in Onrus and Vermont and later expanding to other areas.

PROPOSED PROJECT 5 Collecting marine litter at specific problem areas that have already been identified

by Antonio Da Silva-Swart of Coastal Cleanup Conservation.

Antonio will address this issue at BirdLife Overberg’s monthly meeting on 9 October (see The Good Guide on P 10 for details).

PROPOSED PROJECT 6 Investigating the possibility of presenting a birdathon type of event in the medium to long term, largely aimed at getting children involved in birds and birding. During 2018 members of BirdLife Overberg and their partners will disseminate the BirdLife South Africa bird of the year resources on the African Oystercatcher as widely as possible to schools in the Overstrand region. This will be done in association with Dale Wright, the regional conservation manager of BirdLife South Africa.

Some of the 110 Hermanus Primary and Hermanus High pupils pose with 'Coastal Sheriff' Antonio Da Silva-Swart, front right, of the Coastal Cleanup Conservation Trust during the Grotto Beach cleanup on 16 September. The children and around 40 accompanying adults retrieved a total of 18 bags of rubbish from the Blue Flag beach itself, along the Kleinrivier lagoon and 3 km along the shoreline towards De Kelders. Antonio was given permission from Nature Conservation to drive on the beach to broaden the geographic spread of the cleanup and to assist with the retrieval of the bags. The braai that was held afterwards was sponsored

by Checkers and Dutchies. Among the items found were 241 plastic food wappers (sweets, chips etc.), 88 plastic bottle caps, 86 metal bottle (beer) caps, 86 glass bottles, 58 plastic bottles, 690 plastic pieces, 140 glass pieces, 9 disposable nappies, 56 non-branded plastic bags and 25 branded plastic grocery bags. Below is the total tally of the Overstrand cleanups on International Coastal Cleanup Day. PHOTO: Sarah Taylor

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26 September - 2 October 2017

Beach cleanups bring communities together Not even the threat of rain or the icy north-westerly wind could deter the crowd of volunteers who gathered to assist in the beach clean-up operations that took place at Kleinmond Main Beach, Grotto Beach, Sandbaai beach, and along the Gansbaai coastline on Saturday 16 September.

This cleanup project formed part of International Coastal Clean-up Day and saw local residents joining a global throng of nearly 12 million people, reported to be the biggest volunteer effort to protect our oceans and coastlines. The industrious locals certainly did their bit to contain the increasingly damaging effects of plastic litter and pollution on marine life and the eco system.

On Tuesday 19 September

Overstrand Executive Mayor Rudolph Smith in turn opened the Paddavlei Cleanup in Hawston with a warm and insightful address that was well-received by the group of Hawston Primary School learners, Overstrand’s environmental and waste management teams, councillors, municipal officials, Whale Coast Tourism and various stakeholders in attendance.

Alarmingly, statistics have shown that plastic litter in particular has been found in 62% of sea birds and almost all sea types. Another growing concern is that, with plastics being non bio-degradable and breaking down into ‘microplastics’ that either float or sink to the seabed, there is the constant risk of these

particles being ingested by marine animals and making their way up the food chain to eventually be consumed by humans. An increasingly insidious problem that, by most accounts, has become a health hazard and has proven to be detrimental in many ways to a number of living species.

On a local level beach cleanup projects such as those recently embarked upon along the Overstrand coastline and waterways are encouraging as they afford the opportunity to make a difference in keeping our local environment clean and pristine, while contributing to global environmental conservation efforts.

A group of 60 super kids from Zwelihle Primary, Lukhanyo Primary, Zwelihle Swop Shop and Curro Secondary joined Whale Coast Conservation in their cleanup efforts in Sandbaai and Zwelihle. It was found that this part of the coast desperately needs more attention.

Di Marais, chair of the Hermanus Botanical Society and editor of Fernkloof Nature Reserve at the launch of this ultimate guide to Fernkloof on the eve of the Hermanus Flower Festival.

Fernkloof at your fingertips Sarah Taylor

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s an avid hiker and very amateur botanist, one of my favourite websites is the Fernkloof Nature Reserve’s Monthly Flower list. Soon after I return from ‘out there’, I call up my go-to page (www.fernkloof. org.za/index.php/allplants/monthly-flowers) to identify the exquisite blooms I’d ogled in Fernkloof.

Now that the Hermanus Botanical Society (HBS) has published a field guide to the reserve, you can carry ‘hard copy’ with you, wherever you roam, without having to rely on your Google ‘brain’.

The publication of the guide, titled Fernkloof Nature Reserve, which was launched last week, is a celebration of 60 years of the reserve’s existence and is a veritable love story of dedication to this 1 800-hectare treasure of the Cape Floral Kingdom.

Fernkloof contains part of the dramatic Kleinriviersberg, which soars to Maanskynkop at almost 1 000 m and plunges through rich, indigenous forests and across golden beaches into the Atlantic Ocean.

Kleinmond resident Charlotte Floris eagerly participated in the beach cleanup, saying “I want my children to be able to enjoy the beauty of the beach and the lagoon in the same way I did when I was growing up.”

The guide’s 294 flower photographs, arranged according to colour, make identification a cinch. While the spectacular diversity of the fynbos flora in Fernkloof is the dominant material in the guide, also included are sections on the reserve’s history, geology and fauna – birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals. It also documents the hiking paths.

This exquisite handbook is the result of the hard work of 16 volunteers, each with their own field of interest and expertise. Di Marais was the overall editor of the independently published book.

Mayor Rudolph Smith (second from left), Cllrs Arnie Africa and Elnora Gillian (centre back and first right) and Overstrand Manager: Solid Waste, Johan van Taak (second right) assisted learners of Hawston Primary at the Paddavlei cleanup on 19 September.

Of the team, Marais said: “The authors are 15 strong and no one is younger than 70 and a few are in their 80s… It was a

great team exercise and we all learnt so much.” The team comprised David Beattie, Jane Crawford, Geraldine Gardiner, Vic Hamilton-Attwell, Ronnie Hazell, Liz Hutton, Sandy Jenkin, Anina Lee, Di Marais, Pat Miller, Deirdre Richards, Margaret Stanway, Jim Sweet, Frank Tennick, Christine Wakfer and Frank Woodvine.

In reference to engineer Ion Williams’s vision to create the nature reserve and its 60 km network of gently contoured paths in both Fernkloof and neighbouring Vogelgat, which he owned, Councillor David Botha told a packed Fernkloof hall: “If it weren’t for the people who came before us, what would be before us now?”

For 60 years, Fernkloof has been cared for by a band of enthusiastic volunteers – the Hermanus Botanical Society members. Botha said, as custodians of nature, humans were responsible for ensuring that future generations could also experience nature and encouraged the society to draw younger members to its ranks. “We also need to bring the children here… and introduce them to nature, big and small.”

In his keynote address at the launch, John Rourke, former curator of the Compton Herbarium at Kirstenbosch, recalled a 1959 visit to the reserve with Harry Wood, manager of Harold Porter’s private garden and the first curator of Fernkloof.

“That was a mere two years after former mayor Otto Prillewitz supported by Eric Jones, had succeeded in having Fernkloof proclaimed a nature reserve in 1957. It was no mean achievement as the benefits of nature reserves were not always appreciated then as they are today apart from a few deep-thinking, farsighted individuals.”

In 1959, said John, “the whole area was recovering after a burn and the lower part was dominated by a huge ugly gravel pit. The situation looked very disheartening.

Harry Wood did not stay very long.

“But then in 1960, the Hermanus Botanical Society was founded and private enterprise rose to the challenge, turning Fernkloof into what is now one of the most effective reserves in the Cape Floristic Kingdom, all through the efforts of a membership averaging about 250.”

He said the reserve was enlarged from its original 192 hectares to its present 1 800 hectares and includes the coastal cliff paths.

After erecting a few essential buildings and consolidating the reserve, John said, “developing a herbarium was the next logical project… an essential step to assess and audit the botanical assets of the reserve.

This was a task to which many contributed, but especially Prof Jimmy Orchard, not forgetting Sheila Williams who specifically collected the flora of the cliff paths.” These collections, some 4 000 of them, have since been digitised and are available to researchers worldwide.

He said it took “great commitment to sustain these facilities” and applauded the stalwarts who are still alive, noting Belle Barker, Lee Burman, Priscilla Drew, Anne Bean, and “that prodigy of energy”, Frank Woodvine. Erich Kuschke, a retired former ENT specialist now living in Voëlklip, is credited with creating the reserve’s extensive South African aloe garden.

John urged the Hermanus Botanical Society to retain its independence and not be subsumed into the National Botanical Society of South Africa. “Continue to do it your way and I have no doubt Fernkloof will have a long, secure future.”

■ The field guide Fernkloof Nature Reserve is sold at R200, alongside floral wrapping paper (R20) and bookmarks (R10), available from Fernkloof Nursery as well as local bookshops and tourism offices.

Proceeds from sales will go to the HBS for the continued preservation of FNR.

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26 September - 2 October 2017

Healthy living, one small step at a time

e all have that Eureka moment when it comes to actively deciding to live a healthier life and I remember mine very clearly. It was the simple question: “Do you know that Dry Lemon contains more sugar than any other soft drink?” This was not even directed at me – I overheard a conversation – and it felt as if my world came to a standstill.

Prior to this revelation, I was working in the hospitality industry and more precisely the Food & Beverage department. I love food, I mean I really love food (after ten years my husband is still amazed at my appetite) and have always been blessed with a good metabolism that definitely did not keep me stick thin but considering the way we were eating, it could have been worse. Anybody in the restaurant trade will tell you that you live on coffee and adrenalin and it is no strange thing to be eating a greasy dinner at midnight.

Amanda Hofmeyr I fell pregnant in 2013 and made what I thought was a conscious decision to eat healthier and to give this baby the best from the onset. So I started eating breakfast and no longer ate greasy food, but replaced it with healthier veggie options. (I mean it’s not like I don’t like vegetables, it is just easier to get take-out late at night.) This went well for about three weeks and then morning sickness kicked in and all my plans went out the window.

Nothing seemed to help until someone gave me a sip of Dry Lemon and it worked like magic. I felt like I could deal with the nausea and the moment that I was feeling the

onset of another wave I would simply take another sip. So now I was eating better and I had this morning sickness under control, so how could it be anything but smooth sailing from here on out? And to a degree it was.

But then the weight started piling on. I remember becoming a bit concerned but also kept telling myself that I am eating healthy so it can’t be anything but water retention and my growing baby. I lived in this delusion until the day that I went in to give birth and tipped the scale at around 40 kg heavier than at the start of my pregnancy.

Post-delivery I started losing

weight quite steadily at the rate of around 1 kg per day and I remember thinking that in six weeks I will be back to normal. But then, after I’d dropped the first 15 kg (there was a lot of water loss), the scale stopped and for the first time in my life I had to lose weight. I was bombarded with sayings like “don’t worry – breastfeeding will make you lose everything in no time”, but guess what – it didn’t!

It was in this space that I found myself on that fateful day in early December of 2013, when my gorgeous son was eight months old and I overheard that simple sentence uttered. I was still stuck at 25 kg heavier than the day he was conceived and I remember thinking to myself that this person has absolutely no idea what he is talking about – everyone knows that Coke is the one to be avoided. Plus Dry lemon contains 6% real lemon juice and lemon juice is good for you – everyone knows that as well. I couldn’t

wait to finish work and get to the nearest shop to bust this sugar myth.

I remember grabbing hold of a can of Lemon Dry and read on the label that it contains 739 kilojoules. Then I realised that I had absolutely no clue as to whether or not this was excessive or not so I did the only logical thing – I compared it to the one can that we all know is bad for you and found that Coke contains 586 kj. This means that Dry Lemon contains 153 more kilojoules.

I still had no clue as to what it meant exactly but I knew it could not be good.

So I started reading and researching and was absolutely shocked at what I found.

At how I’d thought that I was living a fairly healthy life but that I was still poisoning my body with sugar, processed food, chemicals and preservatives. Once you know there is no going back, but there is the danger of knowing too much too fast.

That is exactly what happened to me. I wanted to apply all the things I’d learnt without thinking how to do it sustainably – and kept failing.

Over the last couple of years I have managed to slowly but surely find my balance and have learnt how to incorporate healthy, sustainable changes into our everyday life. We have managed to add a beautiful daughter to our family (and this time around I gained only 7 kg during the pregnancy). Now we are looking to continue our journey in health and wellbeing by constantly tackling one area where we feel we can improve and live better.

As an added bonus, living with a healthier diet has definitely started to rid my body of those extra kilograms so who knows, for the first time in many years I might actually be beach ready this summer.

Find Health @ The Village Shop at 82 Main Road, Hermanus.

Call 028 312 1308.

26 September - 2 October 2017

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Just Care Centre growing, brick by brick

t has been all systems go since Just Care Aftercare received their Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse funds as the 2017 Ladies Walk’s charity of choice.

Following the ground-breaking ceremony at the end of July, construction is proceeding at a brisk pace. The boundary wall is complete, the foundations have been laid and walls are going up.

The double storey building, situated in Malva Street, Mount Pleasant, will have a reception area, canteen and library downstairs, with classrooms upstairs and a garden where the children can play. The adjacent field will also be used for sports. The centre will be

able to accommodate approximately 120 primary school children who are currently cared for after school hours at Mt Pleasant Primary.

Just Care not only assists children with their school work, but also offers arts and crafts, sports and other stimulating activities, as well as a cooked lunch and early dinner. It is a safe haven for the many children whose parents work full time and who were previously left to their own devices after school hours, without proper care, structured activities, guidance or supervision.

The Just Care trustees have

expressed their sincere thanks to the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse ladies, The Antonie Roux Stigting Trust, Janeske Brits from Detail Design, Engineer Ion Williams, Build It Hermanus, Build It Cape Town Head Office, Building Consultant Robert Johnson, Talisman Hire, Plumber Hugh Jones, Lenvalco, Duram paint, Youngman Roofing, Delightful Electricians, BUCO, Tafadzwa Mandava and all the individuals who have made personal donations, for coming on board and helping them to turn their dream into a reality.

To find out how you can assist this project by making a donation, taking part in their Buy a Brick Campaign or by sponsoring an underprivileged child for just R150 pm, visit www.justcare.co.za/donations – Hedda Mittner

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The beneficiary of the 2018 Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse (L2L) Ladies Walk was announced on 11 September and the management team of the Hermanus Senior Centre was overjoyed to hear that their application was successful. This is the ninth year that the centre, which was founded in 1991 and provides home caring services to senior citizens, has applied. Other charitable organisations that were on the short list are Anima Therapy Centre, Camphill School, Hermanus Animal Welfare Society, Flower Valley Early Learning Centre, Hemel-en-Aarde Community Project, Ella Gordon Crèche, Overberg Wheelchair Association and Whale Coast Conservation. The Hermanus Senior Centre’s manager Annarie Nel, administrator Lizel Kuchar and marketer Ilze Peters-Cloete will also be participating in the 2018 L2L Ladies Walk.

The target set for the walk is R500 000. Each walker is responsible for raising a minimum amount of R4 000 to contribute towards the set goal.

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26 September - 2 October 2017

Safety is key when installing solar panels

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ver the past 20 years, more and more homeowners have turned to solar power to heat up water and provide light and warmth in their homes. It is also becoming increasingly popular in sectional title complexes and estates as owners seek to reduce energy costs and to become less dependent on municipal power supplies.

“Solar is much cheaper than running generators, for example, and also much ‘greener’, but homeowners and trustees should focus on the long-term savings and not try to cut costs too much when getting solar geysers, panels and storage batteries installed,” says Cornel Janse van Vuuren, Principal of RealNet Hermanus.

“It is very important to use knowledgeable and qualified installers who will make use of good quality materials and adhere to all the necessary safety codes because, like it or not, solar systems can be a fire risk if they are incorrectly set up and not properly maintained.”

She says there has been a steady increase in the number of reports from all over the

THE

NEWS

MY Home

world of home fires being caused by faults in solar power systems and especially banks of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels. “And most of these seem to originate not in the panels themselves but in poor quality isolator switches, faulty wiring, and worn or damaged components.

“Fire departments in many countries have also noted that rooftop panels incorrectly placed and cables and switches that are not properly insulated can also make their job much more difficult and dangerous if a fire does start.

In addition, the weight of the panels means that burning roofs will collapse faster.”

With SA being a sunny country, says Cornel, solar power seems like an obvious choice for homeowners who want lower-cost electricity – and for the many shopping centres and office buildings

that are now also installing PV panels on their roofs.

“However, the key word here is ‘electricity’. That is what is being generated by the panels on your roof and it needs to be treated with the same caution as the electricity running through conventional home wiring systems. Consequently, we recommend that solar geysers and power systems should be regarded as forming an integral part of the home’s electrical network – and that homeowners should have any existing systems certified as being safe by a qualified, independent electrician.

“They should also ensure that panels are cleaned regularly and inspected for damage from the weather, birds or rodents, along with their associated switches, cables, inverters and batteries.”

Meanwhile, she says, those who are contemplating new installations should not be guided only by price. “There are a lot of ‘cowboys’ out there using sub-standard products so they can undercut the qualified installers, and taking advantage of the fact that a lot of homeowners are not familiar with how solar really works.

“To be safe, you should only use a reputable supplier who can provide references – such as a member of the Sustainable Energy Society of SA (see www.sessa.org.za).

“You should also ask your installers to specify exactly which brand of panels and inverters they will use so you can check that these are

safety-approved. And you must make sure that the installation will be done by a qualified person and that the work will be guaranteed.”

Then finally, Cornel notes, you should check with your insurer to see if or how your homeowners’ cover might be affected by a solar installation.

29

26 September - 2 October 2017

Security officers respond to medical emergency in Fernkloof Reserve Local private security officers worked with emergency rescue services, to come to the aid of a man who had broken his leg while swimming in a dam in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve.

vicinity at the time, while staying in constant contact with Emergency Services,” says Boshoff.

When he reached the injured man, Van der Westhuizen noticed that the young man had broken his right femur and would have to be stretchered down the mountain.

The Fidelity ADT Security monitoring centre received a call for help from a client on Thursday 7 September, telling them of a medical emergency in the Reserve.

WINNERS Hermanus High School recently announced the winners of their Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year. Niveena Jantjies was named Junior Sportswoman for her performance in 4 different sport codes. She was chosen for the Boland athletics and rugby teams, won the trophy for best U15 netball player, and plays cricket for the school’s 1st team. The Junior Sportsman for 2017 is Adam Lawson Smith who excelled in three different school sports throughout the year. Adam represented the school at the interschool athletics meeting, was selected for the South Boland cricket team and was chosen for the Boland U16 B hockey team.

Michael-John Otto was named Senior Sportsman of the year. He was selected as captian of the Boland U18 Craven Week team and represented the Boland atheletics team in shotput and discus. Jaiden Dickson was chosen as the Senior Sportswoman. She represented the Boland athletics team in javelin and shotput. She was also selected for the U17 Overberg netball team and was awarded the trophy for best U17 netball player. She also played in the SARU Rugby Week for the Boland U18 girls rugby team, and plays cricket for the shool’s first team.

“The caller explained that he was hiking up one of the mountain peaks in the reserve when he came across a hiker who was looking for help for a friend, who had broken his leg while swimming in a dam higher up on the mountain,” explains Marius Boshoff, Hermanus Branch Manager for Fidelity ADT Security.

The monitoring centre contacted Area Manager Donovan van der Westhuizen (photo) to assist with the response, as he knew the

mountains well and could explain the quickest way to reach the injured person. It was a hike of at least three kilometres to reach the dam and the injured man.

“Donovan decided to make his way to the area while he also made contact with the Fire, Rescue and Ambulance Services. He then proceeded to hike up to the mountain while accompanied by a German student who was also in the

“Together with Fire and Rescue, Mountain Rescue, CapeNature, and Fidelity ADT, the young man was stabilised and slowly carried down the mountain. On arrival at the base of the mountain, he was handed over to the ambulance services and transported to hospital,” says Boshoff.

“Everyone worked together to come to the aid of this young man who had broken his leg.

Donovan and our partners in other emergency service agencies all deserve praise for going the extra mile. This just proves again why this is such a winning town,” says Boshoff.

30

26 September - 2 October 2017

Brian McFarlane - A different kettle of fish

Petanque lovers should start polishing their boules in preparation for the thirteenth Whale Charity Boule Challenge being held on the lawn in front of The Marine Hotel on Saturday 14 October from 10:00.

Sarah Taylor

H

ermanus local Brian McFarlane (69) has been selected as one of five South Africans to be invited to participate in the 1st Master World Championship Shore Angling competition.

The competition will be held in Peñiscola, Spain from 30 September to 7 October and is for male competitors only who are at least 55 years old. It is organised by the International Federation of Sea Fishing (FIPS-mer).

Brian, owner of Great White Shark Tours and a member of the Hermanus Angling Club, was awarded his Springbok colours for fishing five years ago and has been fishing competitively for more than 10 years.

Four years ago he was chosen to represent Boland and competed inter-provincially.

Annually in December, he represents South Africa against Namibia in shore fishing competitions.

Brian was a professional diver and skipper and has always made a living from the sea. He started diving for perlemoen (abalone) at a young age, then moved on to become a commercial fisherman for six years and spent another six years diving in search of wrecks along the southern coast of Africa. This was followed by diving for diamonds from the sea bed for the next 20 years.

With his fascinating tales about the sea and his underwater experiences, Brian has become a local legend. During the time when shark fishing was still allowed, Brian caught Great White Sharks, some weighing more than 1 ton. Today, he dearly regrets this and now spends his time and efforts in locating Great Whites to be observed and photographed at close range. Brian has an

Join annual boule tournament at The Marine

Legedary fisherman, skipper and diver Brian McFarlane. uncanny knack to attract sharks. Before the disappearance of the Great Whites in January 2016 and again in April 2017, he only had six non-sighting days in 10 years.

Great Whites as these are a protected species) – weighing around 170 kg or more,” explains Brian. “We’re going for big fish, which we release after weighing them.

He began fishing as a boy with his father, also Brian, along Die Plaat. “My dad had the first 4x4 in Hermanus and we were still allowed to drive on the beach in those days and we’d catch galjoen and steenbras. He had an ex-army Wyllis Jeep after the end of the Second World War. Before that people would come along on their bicycles,” reminisces Brian.

“This competition, however, is a whole different ball game: we’re going to be catching only fish weighing less than half a kilo, like mackerel, sole as well as dorados, eels and rays. The bait we normally use to catch fish off our shores is going to be bigger than the fish we hope to catch in this competition! That’s all that’s left in the Mediterranean, it seems.

“The competition in Spain will be very different from what we are used to. We fish along our shore with big rods, big hooks and big lines. We catch sharks mostly (although not

“It is a great honour for me to be chosen for this competition. I’ll be a bit like a fish out of water, but I’ll give it my best!”.

challenge. A light lunch will be served, courtesy of Checkers.

This elegant “bling” event with a French flavour has earned itself a reputation for classy and tenacious competition, fashionable team outfits, and loads of fun, all with the spectacular backdrop of whales in the bay.

Teams of two, with three boules each, will compete in a round robin knock-out format with the finals commencing directly after lunch. Teams will vie for fabulous prizes and tastings sponsored by The Marine, Checkers, Durbanville Hills Wine, Pongracz, Amarula, Bains Whisky, Southern Right Charters and more. In the event of inclement weather the tournament will be played on an alternative date.

Competitors will be welcomed with a glass of bubbly and receive goodie bags filled with fabulous giveaways. There are also prizes for the best dressed team, so do take up the

The cost is R180 per player and R130 per supporter (including all the frills of goodie bag, tastings, light lunch etc.) Bring your own boules. A limited number of

teams will be accepted – first paid, first in. No entries will be accepted on the day. Organiser Kari Brice can be contacted for more info on 083 650 4206 or tikari@hermanus.co.za Bank Transfer to: Tikari, Nedbank, Cheque Acc No: 1345 029810, Branch code: 198 765 EFT deposits ref: Boule and name Payment confirms entry. No entries will be accepted after Friday 6 October. Please advise the team members’ names as name tags will be provided.

The charity recipient for the last two years was the Hermanus Night Shelter Association and this year the Baboon Operation Project will benefit.

Last year’s best dressed couples Peter van der Merwe and Ken Maurice, and Avis and Richmond MacIntyre with the previous general manager of The Marine, Annemie Parker.

From left are Hugh and Lynne Frangs, Helen and Greg Forbes, last year’s winners of the Whale Charity Boule Challenge, Etna and Ben Pfeiffer, organiser Kari Brice and runners up Denny Cronshaw and Robbie Lapping.

31

26 September - 2 October 2017

G

Hermanus Open soars like an eagle

reetings once more from your friendly Hermanus Golf Club.

The Putting Pirate put a lot of effort into the Hermanus Open last week; the previous year we didn't run one as we struggled to get enough players. This year though we had 50 golfers, which is a good number as even at clubs over them mountain, they often play with only 20 to 30 players!

The Putting Pirate Julian Shaw

My shop has undergone some wonderful renovations and really looks the part, and at present I have some shoes and clubs on a tremendous 50% sale – all must go before new stock arrives so pop down and find a bargain!

The handicaps ranged between +4 to 9. Our course received rave reviews, indeed the greens were rolling at 10 on the stimp and were nice and firm! Well done to Malcolm and Golf Data.

The Hermanus Open was first played in 1973 and some notable winners included eight time club champion Jimmy Bredenkamp, De Wet Basson, Jean Hugo, Sammy Daniels and Hennie Walters. And for the first time we had three ladies competing. In the end after 36 holes stroke play there was a tie for the lead at 141, three under par, between Ryk van Schoor (Worcester Golf Club) and Cedric Rooi (Montagu Golf Club), so we proceeded down the 10th and 18th in a sudden death playoff! The gladiators halved the 10th and after a very clever run-up approach shot to a tight set back pin. Cedric managed to hole out for a birdie and take the title. A really worthy champion!

Our top lady golfer was Lynne Behagg on a very credible 150 and the best nett of the tournament was an “old toppie”, Dave Johnston, on 139. Well done to all!

Other news about the Club is that we are at present in the middle of our spring maintenance program, a necessary evil for all golf clubs, so as to maintain the high standards we expect. The good news of course is that we do charge less to play at this time of year.

In the next edition I will have full coverage of the Boland

Ladies Championships which I have been avidly watching.

We really have some wonderful young lady golfers coming through the ranks, which is great news for the future!

Last laugh As with most pirates of my age we are reasonably computer literate but one deviation from the norm and we are screaming for the technical department for rescue. This aid normally comes in the form of my 14-year-old son who will casually take a nano second to fix the problem, usually followed by an appropriate humorous poke at my age or ability, and I of course retaliate with threats of

walking the plank!!

Last week however my wonderful wife was the source of my aid and it went something like this: “Darling what's the password for this document?”

Says she: “Start with a capital S, then 123.”

Says I: “It doesn't work.”

Says she: “Start with a capital S 123.”

Says I (heated): “It doesn’t work.”

Huff, huff, huff.

Says she (more heated): “How difficult is this,” as she comes over and types ‘Start123’.

I love my wife.

Until next week, keep calm and go golfing.

Scores at a glance

Pictured above are Ryk and Cedric (on the right) after their tussle on the last play-off hole. Below committee member Mike Frost, on behalf of the tournament sponsor Chas Everitt, hands over the coveted trophy to Cedric.

Ladies Tuesday 5 Sep: no golf due to inclement weather.

Tuesday 12 Sep: Individual stableford Silver division winner: Val Vlok 42 points counted in Runner-up: Pat van Renen 42 points counted out Bronze division winner: Ann Lloyd 42 points Runner-up: Pippa Adams 40 points Men Wed 6 Sep: better ball medal 1st: Carl Grobler, Jan Mulder nett 60 2nd: Ettiene Rossouw, Lance Nel 62 nett counted in 3rd: Tony de Beer, Hennie Theron 62 counted out Ball pool 65, best gross Desmond Sauls 77 Wed 13 Sep: individual medal A division winner: Tyron Davidowitz nett 71 B division winner: Harold Barker nett 68 C division winner: David Shutte 42 points.

Best gross and medal winner: Tyron

Davidowitz 69 Altogether Saturday 9 Sep: Individual stableford Winner: Cheryl Richardson 41 points counted in (also winner of the Founders Trophy) Runner-up: Pierre Husselman 41 points counted out Third place: Andre du Plessis 40 points Best gross: Lynne Behagg Ball pool paid to 36 Attendance draw was sponsored by Sotheby's Realty and won by Jan Cloete Saturday 16 Sep: Four ball better ball bogey plus Winners: Andre Gouws and Andre-Pier Gouws +10 Runners-up: Clive Day and David Boers +9 Third place: Brian Taylor and Gary Combrink +8 counted in Best gross Christoff Garbers 75 Ball pool paid to +8 Attendance draw sponsored by Glassmen Hermanus and won by Butch Zeederburg

32

THE

NEWS

26 September - 3 October 2017

MY Sport

Hermanus Bowls ready to roll for summer season The new bowls season has now opened and the Hermanus Bowls Club is set for a busy summer schedule.

The Boland Men's and Ladies' Open Trips competition will take place on 14 and 15 October, with the final on 21 October.

Three ladies from the club, Jean Greyling, Ena Linde and Anneke Thorpe, have progressed to the finals of the Open Singles Championships in Worcester to be concluded on 8 October.

Keith Kruin will contest the finals of the men's singles at the same venue.

The Ayala Tournament, sponsored by Personal Trust, will be held on 11 and 12 January 2018 at the Hermanus Bowls Club. No fewer than 144 players will compete for the 90th edition of this prestigious tournament.

The Ayala Cup is reputed to be the longest uninterrupted bowls tournament in South Africa.

Also on the agenda for the New Year are the Ladies Gateway Super Spar event, scheduled for February, and the VW Rola Classic in May 2018.

There are also numerous one day tournaments planned

Offside Tony O’Hagan

for the summer season.

Founded in 1936, the Hermanus Bowls Club is a thriving entity with just over 200 active members who play social and competitive bowls every day of the week, bar Mondays. Mondays are set aside for coaching, which is available to prospective players at no charge.

With annual subscriptions at R1 835, Club President Pieter Linde believes the bowls adventure to be a real bargain.

"A game of bowls takes around three hours and one will walk about 2 km on an even surface in comfortable shoes, breathing fresh air straight from the sea," he says. Camaraderie, friendship and laughter are the order of the day and new members, young and old, are welcome to join this happy band of bowlers.

Anyone interested in experiencing the benefits of playing bowls can contact Pieter Linde on 028 316 4787 or 072 234 7845.

SPORT NEWS? Share your sport news, results or photos with us! It has never been easier. Just send the information or image to sport@thevillagenews.co.za and we will gladly consider it.

Competition results, a friendly rivalry, a funny anecdote, a onceoff feat or a major improvement – all news is welcome. We would like to feature our community’s major sport stars as well as its unsung sport heroes – just let us know. We look forward to hearing from you.

Hermanus power lifter wins gold Local resident Johan Kruger, who was chosen to represent South Africa in the Master's division of the Power Lifting discipline at the Commonwealth Games, earned two gold medals in his division.

Johan competed in the 120 kg weight class at the recent Games held in Potchefstroom.

Power Lifting comprises bench press, squat and dead lift.

Johan won gold in the dead lift and the overall weight division.

Our other Hermanus representative, Michelle Hamman,

encountered very stiff competition in her weight division.

She performed very well but came up a little short in her quest for honours. Her selection for South Africa is a great achievement and she can be proud of her efforts.

On his return to Hermanus, Johan will commence classes in power lifting and strongman. He is contactable on 073 166 3489. Congratulations to Johan from us all and particularly from his colleagues at the Pro Active Gym.

Johan Kruger who won gold in the Master’s division of power lifting at the Commonwealth Games.

Cricket Club in to bat for the season ahead After feeling the winter chill, the Hermanus Cricket Club is anticipating a warm outlook for the new season.

After warm up games against St Augustine and Altius United cricket clubs, our cricketers are ready to vie for honours in the various divisions of the Boland leagues. The 1st team is entered in the Boland Premier league and after ending mid table last season, the team is confident of greater success in 2017. The 2nd and 3rd teams will also strive for top honours in their respective

divisions of the league.

The club has some exciting young talent coming to the fore this year and this augurs well for the season and for the future. One of the club's standout players is Fresico Adams, our opening bowler, who captained the Boland team in the recent Africa T20 competition. He was also the recipient of numerous honours at the annual Boland awards.

The popular Business league, sponsored by Build It, is in full swing and commenced on 18

September. There are 18 teams participating in this competition and matches are played every week from Monday to Thursday at 17:30. The format is 10 overs per side with Team Fusion, the defending champions.

The club is very welcoming and invites our local community to spend a pleasant summer's evening watching the participants in the Business league with a glass of beverage available at the clubhouse.

All fixtures and club results can be followed on cricclubs@ app