The Stanford Spectator Issue 03

Top: Royal Horticultural Society Gold Medallist, Tokyo-born Mieko Ishikawa, seen here with her

matic 3D painting of fynbos, which she completed on a recent visit to Grootbos. Ishikawa’s painting is part of a collection of watercolour paintings done by

and international artists of the region’s unique floral kingdom and are housed in the

Florilegium Art Gallery at Grootbos (PAGE

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!

Shooting for the stars – yes, we are doing just that . . . and why? Because we want to be the best we can be, creating a quality publication that reflects the mood, the ambience and the challenges that make the Stanford Valley such a special and awesome place to live and visit.

From the beginning of October, the village has had so many things going on it was difficult to know which direction to take, but in this edition, I think we have managed to capture the buzz, including many exciting first time events.

At the end of last month, the Stanford Spec tator made its first appearance in a printed format to coincide with the launch of our new Stanford News Agency in Queen Victoria Street – gold pots and all. Yes, of course we were nervous! The feedback we got from the online edition, which readers seem to love, was that many people like to read something

that they can hold and feel. So that was the decision – to print a certain number of the first two editions with a small price tag – to see how they went down. Within 48 hours they were all gone, sold. So now we know which way we must go!

And talking of stars, planet Jupiter has come the closest to earth in almost 60 years. You can see it plainly in the night sky, shining even brighter than Venus. Our starlit sky in Stanford is beyond awesome, and so would love it if someone could tell us more about what we can see after dark.

Until next time, keep aiming for the stars.

Virtually yours,

LIZ CLARKE

Publishing Editor

Photography |

MELISSA

Disclaimer: Great care has been taken in the preparation of this publication. However, Stanford News Agency cannot accept responsibility for any errors which may inadvertently have occurred. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and/or persons interviewed, and do not necessarily reflect the views and values of Stanford News Agency. Any comments, suggestions or complaints may be forwarded to liz@stanfordnewsagency.co.za or melissa@stanfordnewsagency.co.za.

STANFORD GARDENING CLUB VISITS

BOTANICAL

Florilegium Gallery

Writer: Liz Clarke

In Spring they dapple the countryside with an extravagant array of colour – brilliant yellows, vivid blue, splashes of magenta, snowy white and deep orange. These are the natural branding colours of our unique floral king dom, now celebrated through the eyes of the world’s top botanical artists at an exclusive gallery 20 minutes up the road.

Wildlife artist, Marian Binder, will tell you that being selected to paint the wild yellow daisy that runs riot in springtime in this part of the Overstrand – and nowhere else - was a lifetime experience.

“I’ve known this plant forever. I’ve walked through fields and wild spaces where its yellow carpet has lifted the spirits after a long winter. Now I know it like a close friend.”

Marian is one of 44 national and interna tional botanical artists invited by the Grootbos Foundation to paint, in fine detail, the ancient flowers and flowering plants that make up the Floral Kingdom of the Overstrand region, and share this unique natural treasure with the

rest of the world.

Welcoming the Stanford Gardening Club to the new botanical “Florilegium” Gallery at Grootbos, Chris Lochner, botanist, artist and curator said the florilegium concept was part of the greater Grootbos mission to change global thinking through educational and con servation-based initiatives.

“To create the marvellous art pieces you see here, the artists worked from live specimens. That way they were able to gain a deep understanding of each plant’s unique anatomical structure before they got down to drawing.”

One of the unusual elements of each of the water colour paintings on show was to identify and include the pollinator - be it bee, beetle, or baboon - that make their survival possible.

“Our idea was to allow the artists to bring their own interpretation to the paintings, which makes for interesting viewing.”

People wanting to view the exhibition can email art@grootbos.co.za for more informa tion.

Top right: Stanford artist Marian Binder was among the international artists chosen to display their work at the new Florilegium

Below right: Visitors admire the gallery’s fynbos art

Below: Chris Lochner, botanist and artist

OF MUSIC, MATHS AND A HINT OF

Scotland

Writer: Liz Clarke

Music For All – That’s Andrew’s Message

The poignant sounds of Scotland and the village byways of Macmerry, 12 miles east of Edinburgh, are the forever postcards of Andrew Herriot’s childhood.

He remembers the stories of his great grand pa, an immigrant from the mountain Italian village of Picinisco, becoming a popular street musician in Ipswich before the family moved to Edinburgh. He remembers how his Italian mother, an usherette at a local cinema, would regale him about the stories in the movies, and how aged 15 he was asked to join a band.

In his unmistakable Scottish accent, this family man and jazz musician will tell you that from as far back as he can remember music and movies were the love of his life.

“When I first heard the sound of a piano coming from next door, I knew that music would be a big part of my life. Later when I had a piano of my own, the keyboard was my passion, learning classical music, then jazz.”

He says the genius of great jazz expo nents like Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, and the legendary jazz bands of Duke Ellington and Quincy Jones, were a constant source of inspiration.

“The 50s – ah yes, that was the golden age of jazz. How can you ever forget those rhythms and that counterpoint. It was an age when musicians had the freedom to explore and express fine music.”

But rhythms – fascinating or not – were set aside when he left his East Lothian school.

“You will never get rich playing music, get yourself a degree” was his grandma’s advice.

Andrew took his grandma’s advice, gaining an honours degree in applied mathematics, becoming a maths teacher and later a math ematics education consultant to the British government.

Following his teaching stint in the Solomon Islands, Andrew and his wife Cathryn retired to Stanford several years ago. That is when the keyboard and his enduring love of jazz were once more centre stage.

“I was able to do gigs again – it’s my show time background – and teach, something I loved doing.”

He was also able to write a comprehensive history on jazz and the story of his life.

“It was just something I wanted to do –more for friends and family.”

Now there is an even greater reason to pro mote music in the Village, he says.

“Music is a healer; it brings people together and removes divisions.”

To this end Andrew has become a founding member of the Village’s new Musical Fellow ship, promoting and showcasing talent in greater Stanford – everything from children’s choirs to instrumentals and local songsters.

And don’t forget the movies. Andrew has an open house policy when it comes to show ing iconic movies of the past, donating all proceeds to the Butterfly Centre for learning needs children.

“The movies are my mum’s influence,” he adds. “Oh, and I forgot to tell you I love ice cream – that’s because my Italian grandfather had an ice cream parlour near us.

Just one more of those precious postcards from the past!”

Above left: Andrew Herriot, a jazz musi cian promoting a new chapter in Stan ford’s musical heritage

FOR THE LOVE OF our village

Writer: Liz Clarke

Sarah James has lived in Stanford for over a decade and is known village-wide as the driver and initiator of much-needed support and funding to maintain programmes that endorse the country ambience.

So it wasn’t surprising to see her earlier this year encouraging artists to submit small paintings for her art-on-a string project – which this year was held on a glorious Spring morning at Egret and Owl’s new home in Queen Victoria Street. Funds raised from the sale of small paintings, plus money coming in from a secret auction of an artwork, plus raffled framed paintings, will go towards the Stanford Conservation Association to support their initiatives, including ongoing clearance work on the Wandelpad. Sarah thanked the artists and crafters for their generosity. “We are a very caring village – that’s what this project proves,” she said.

Top: Delighted with their paintings are (from left): Sue Lundst edt, Rotary chairman Annie Ranger, Chrissie Curnow, and Janine Adendorff

Middle: Raffle winner Caro Swarts proudly displays her new painting Above: Raffle winner Chrissie Curnow – a winning day

Writer: Melissa Mc Alpine

‘Semigrate’ is the latest buzzword doing the rounds, and while the semigration trend isn’t entirely new, the last two years have seen a significant increase in the number of people semigrating.

In a nutshell, semigration refers to the action of moving from one part of a country to another for various reasons. Until today, those reasons included better job opportunities or job transfers, a change in lifestyle or people looking to retire. Now, it is more about living with less stress in terms of traffic congestion, pollution, increased crime levels, poorly man aged municipalities and the hustle and bustle of overcrowded cities.

The Covid-19 pandemic, it would seem, has sparked a new wave of semigrants, particularly from provinces such as Gauteng and KZN, relocating to areas like the Western Cape, for example. This drive to semigrate stems from people wanting a better lifestyle for their families as well as for themselves. You could say that Covid-19 was a wake-up call for many

FOR WHO ISN’T?!

who realised just how quickly everything can change.

If there is one thing the pandemic taught us, it is that there are better and smarter ways of learning, working and doing business. Covid restrictions forced companies and people to change the way they were doing things, to ‘think out of the box’ so to speak.

Remote working and schooling quickly became the norm, and this in turn triggered the realisation that moving to a more favourable part of the country was in fact easier than anticipated, making the decision to semigrate more appealing and realistic for many seeking a better-quality way of living.

Not only is semigrating great for achieving a better lifestyle, but it also reaps benefits for lo cal economies in that entrepre neurs and small businesses can contribute towards the local

community, thereby ensuring a win-win for all.

greener pastures?

The semigration trend looks set to continue, but home buyers who are considering such a relocation, especially to a small town, should first do their homework, spend some time in the new area before relocating, so that they know what to expect and know what they can and can’t do.

LOOKING AT A CHANGING LANDSCAPE

Writer: Liz Clarke

A few years ago, a referendum on whether Western Cape should become an indepen dent state would have been seen as an out landish and slightly dotty notion. But events and the weakened state of government have changed the political landscape to the point where alternative options are being seriously considered.

If Neil Kish expected a small handful of people to listen to his spiel on independence for the Western Cape at Stanford Kitchen this month, he was mistaken. The place was packed, standing room only.

Representing a single-issue political pressure group promoting independence for Western Cape, he argued that while a ‘Cuban’style of government based on a brand of eth nic nationalism was the norm for the country and would certainly prevail should an ANC/ EFF coalition come to power in 2024, it was not an ideology that suited the Western Cape.

“We believe that we would be far better off adopting what Singapore has done – rejecting all forms of nationalism in favour of an inclu sive and strong market-based economy.”

What we have asked the DA for, Kish told his audience, is a referendum on whether the

Western Province should secede and become a separate state.

“If we have a 51 percent or more majority vote, the door would be open for the next phase of implementation.”

He stressed that the group was not a po litical party, but a lobby group with a mission to establish what ordinary people wanted for their region.

“We know the facts – the country has run out of money, more and more people are looking at the Western Cape as a preferred place to live and seek work, we predict that the outcome of the elections in 2024 won’t be in our favour and that our “bubble” in paradise is under threat. We only have a small window of opportunity to make decisions – and those decisions will affect this province for many generations to come. Time is not on our side.”

It was a narrative that those in the Stanford Kitchen were not accepting without a wad of questions. Some were openly skeptical, oth ers said while they were unconvinced before the talk, they were now changing their view point. Whether secession is successful or not what is abundantly clear is that a “devolution package” is in the air for the Western Cape and that the political landscape is changing very quickly (see sidebar).

Top left: Do we need our own police force?

Above: Neil Kish chatting to residents of Stanford

DEVOLUTION AND WHAT IT MEANS

History was made last week when the first multi-party working group on devolution for the Western Cape held discussions on future governance.

Devolution involves the transferring of power from a centralised source - e.g., government - to a local governing body. It is sometimes called Home Rule or decentrali sation of power.

The first salvo involved the issue of policing and the agreed acceptance that the “province’s hands are tied” when it comes to law enforcement. It was accepted that the Western Cape would do a better job of combatting crime and maintaining law and order than central government. To this end plans are underway to hold a referendum on the policing issue.

While the question of secession was not part of these initial discussions, some po litical observers see it as the beginning of a progressively changing form of governance for the Western Cape.

In attendance were organisations includ ing the DA, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party, Cape Indepen dence Party, AfriForum, Cape Independence Advocacy Group, Action Society, Cape Forum, and several legal experts.

RADIO ALEC HOGG’S INTERVIEW WITH WESTERN CAPE INDEPENDENCE LOBBYIST PHIL CRAIG

WC Independence lobbyist Phil Craig

Cape secession

and an antidote to ANC/EFF alliance.

EIGHT YOUNG BOYS; THREE DAYS

Writer: Vanessa Tedder

One camp with one goal: to give young boys support and guidance to steer them to becoming men of substance and value in their homes and in our community. The very first of its kind, the pilot camp project which got underway at Wortelgat on Friday, 23rd of September, is the brainchild of former SAPS member and trauma counsellor, Nelly Roodt, who identified a need for mentorship programmes aimed at empowering underprivileged children. In collaboration with Stanford CPF & Stanford Security Services, the camp doesn’t just end when the boys go home on Sunday. People like Roodt, and the CPF’s Anchelle Damon, will be monitoring and mentoring these boys on their journey going forward ensuring no one gets left behind and that they all reach the finishing line as young men and adults with purpose and promise.

WIN A WONKI WARE DINNER SET!

This is the last chance to get your raffle tickets for this beautiful 16-piece Wonki Ware dinner set!

All funds raised will go towards SAWS. Raffle tickets can be pur chased at SAWS Charity Shop in Queen Victoria Street (Friday 7th October - 11am and 2pm, & Saturday 8th October - 10am and 12pm). There will be a lucky draw on Saturday the 8th of October where the winner will be announced and contacted directly. Don’t delay, get your ticket today!

SAWS STERILISATION DAY

A BIG thank you to everyone involved in making SAWS Sterilisation Day, held on the 28th of September, a great success! A total of 15 dogs and 11 cats were sterilised.

A special thank you goes out to: -

Team EberVet

Vets Judy Sampson & Floris Kruger

SAWS volunteers

Die Bron Primary School for the use of their premises

would not have been able to do this without you!

ALWAYS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS

Writer: Lana Coates (Stanford Rotary)

Rotary is all about making a difference in the lives of people in need all around the world. In Stanford we see that on a regular basis but at times we have the opportunity to not only make a difference but to have an impact on an individual’s life.

During this year we have been able to assist canoeists with pocket money when they’ve travelled to other areas for canoe ing events. The main event, however, came in September when three of our canoeists qualified for the two events taking place in Europe – the Olympic Hopes Regatta in Slovakia and the World Champs in Portugal.

Sibongeleni – CJ as he likes to be called – lives at Die Kop and is one of the most dedicated young canoeists in the club. So, when he qualified to go to Slovakia – along with Amy Duffett – we simply had to assist him. Between Canoeing South Africa and Grootbos Foundation they sponsored all of CJ’s costs, but he needed pocket money and some personal items. It was great fun shopping for some casual clothes such as jeans, tackies and undies, but also toiletries and snacks. We were able to provide pocket money for both CJ and Amy as well as Neriyah Dill who was going to Portugal.

This was the trip of a lifetime for CJ who had never been on an aeroplane before let alone travelled anywhere other than to KZN. It is an experience he will never forget, and we at Stanford Rotary, are super proud to have been able to be there for him on this part of his life’s journey. These experiences are not always about the achievement – rather, they’re about what the individual takes from that experience and the future development of that individual.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

MARKET, TO MARKET

we’re on a roll!

Writer: Liz Clarke

What a weekend – two iconic markets bursting with country-style energy, welcoming locals, and visitors to the unique Stanford Valley. End of the month Friday night saw the first sunset market back on the Village Green after a few cold and rainy winter months. Wonderful to see not only the residents and local business es soaking up some new-found village buzz, but also plenty of out-of-town visitors, many of them experiencing the old-time village green ambience of fun, food, wine, and laugh

ter. Probably the most striking change is the number of young people and young families who are enjoying this laid-back village lifestyle, where the pace is not too hectic and wherever you look there are eateries offering delectable nibbles, wine bars and assorted goodies.

The same goes for the brand spanking new Saturday Village Square market that on its first showing had a hugely positive response. From the moment Overstrand Mayor Anne line Rabie cut the ribbon to close of business, the square was hub of activity, from piping hot vetkoek to the snip-snip of a friendly

barber, crafting, plants and leather goods and a great choice of coffees and brunchy style snacks. The Village Square Market is beauti fully suited to embrace the heart of the village from the historical village green, towards the restaurants, stoep market and local busi nesses – all within the sounds of the Church’s 100-year-old chiming clock, recently restored.

The Sunset Market: Last Friday of every month (6pm – 8pm)

The Village Square Market: Every Saturday morning (9am – 2pm)

OPINION PIECE

The two main grocery shopping precincts in Stanford – the one not yet occupied and the other, we are told, is due for an upgrade.

If controversial, it might upset someone. If unsaid, there could be consequences down the line. If there are no discussions about things that matter, it’s difficult to move forward and find solutions.

Having said that, the village’s new Ward 1 Forum is managing to unbundle some log jams and key issues that affect people’s lives and businesses, elevating many of the points raised to higher forums. They have open discussions twice a week and work towards addressing what they can – particularly in areas like com munity safety and the promotion of business interests.

The revitalisation of Stanford with its new market square and picturesque traffic circle, the birth of the Stanford Culinary, the clean up of the Millstream are all part of the renewed post Covid energy and we are all the better off for it.

But things that appear not to be openly discussed, are of greater concern. So here, for what it’s worth, are issues that perhaps need more airing, but in an atmosphere of good sense and a common understanding.

It’s often said that what Stanford’s high street needs is a country haven that people come to for Sunday lunches or traditional high teas, cream scones, cucumber sandwiches, etc. One could suggest that our magnificent heri tage hotel would be the right place for it. We might also benefit from an old-style pub with regular opening hours priding itself on country ale, friendly chatter and bangers and mash.

It’s maybe something for a public forum where helpful and meaningful ideas could be put on the table.

The proposed new housing estate in the Orange Block on the road to Caledon, near the new circle, is another issue for discussion.

We are informed that sanitation, water delivery and wastewater treatment are major concerns going forward.

While public comment has been asked for on the housing estate, it’s difficult to comment on things you don’t know, like water and san itation challenges, beyond saying you think it is – or isn’t – a good idea.

Other areas worthy of wider discussion would be:

• The quarry on the hill above the R43 scenic route, which appears to be getting bigger

and wider every day

• The likelihood of a new grocery store – who will be first and when – the revamped OK or the Spar?

• The Willem Appel “Dam” that needs unplug ging to get the Millstream properly going. Come Summer the stagnant water and clumps of slimy toxic sludge will stink as it always does. It’s too sensitive to talk about yet, we’re informed. So, we need to know when is the right time?

If you have views about what has been said in these columns or can offer positive solutions to issues that affect the village and its surrounds, the Stanford Spectator would love to hear from you!

Contact: liz@stanfordnewsagency.co.za

PUBLIC MEETING ON A SMALL SCALE

EMBEDDED GENERATION AND SURPLUS ENERGY

Writer: Liz Clarke

On Monday, the 17th of October, at approxi mately16h30, the Overstrand will hold a meet ing in the Hermanus Auditorium to discuss how small businesses and households with approved small scale embedded generation installations can sell their surplus energy to the municipality. According to the Mayco member of investment and infrastructure, Councillor Clinton Lerm, Overstrand Municipality has been accommodating small scale embedded generation since July 2016, and currently has 33 approved applications with a combined installed capacity of 20k va.

Through this programme consumers are given the opportunity to have a grid-tied con

nection and feed all excesses back into the Municipal grid which they are compensated for at an approved annual tariff.

The meeting will be open to all small busi nesses who have rooftop PV systems and are interested in selling excess energy to the Mu nicipality. Discussions around independent power producers (IPPs) who are interested in developing their own generation facilities will not be covered at this meeting.

Should you wish to attend the meeting, please download the SSEG guidelines docu ment from the Overstrand website www.over strand.gov.za. Click on documents and the electricity tab (Electricity: (overstrand.gov.za))

Please indicate your intention to attend via email to mharmse@overstrand.gov.za.

Below: Dudley Coetzee - Ward 1 Municipal Councillor for Stanford

Misty Mountains

WINE ESTATE

DOUBLE GOLD CHAMPIONS

Misty Mountains Wine Estate on the R43 be tween Stanford and Hermanus has excelled at the 2022 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards. Our Estate Sauvignon Blank and Pink Sauvignon Blanc received a double gold and the Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc a gold. Wine maker, Neil Moorhouse and General Manager Robert Davis are super proud of this amazing achievement.

The two Misty Mountains winners were among the record number of 1650 wines. The Michelangelo awards differentiates itself from other wine competitions by inviting predominantly international experts

to judge the wines. The judging panel com prises British Masters of Wine, sommeliers, wine and spirits producers, educators and influential journalists from Europe, the Far East and the Americas.

The 2022 Estate Sauvignon Blanc is a rich, full bodied wine displaying aromas of goose berry and kiwi fruit on the nose. Flavours of green tropical fruit and passion fruit on the palate, lead to a fresh vibrant acidity ensur ing a long and lengthy finish.

The 2022 Pink Sauvignon Blanc is made by adding a splash of Syrah, to create a unique Rose styled wine. Medium bodied with bright fruit on the nose, the wine shows aromas of

guava, stone fruit, and passion fruit, along with a vibrant fresh acidity on the palate.

Misty Mountains offers unique South African wine heritage, exceptional food, and luxury self-catering accommodation. Look out for the opening of our Farm Stall from October 2022. Next year we will enter our four crafted gins and 4-year-old crafted rum. Watch this space.

Neil Moorhouse and Robert Davis

STANFORD CONSERVATION CELEBRATES 30TH BIRTHDAY

Writer: Liz Clarke

This year is Stanford Conservation Associa tion’s 30th birthday. But before we blow out the candles, we need to look back to why the organisation was created in the first place. It was in 1991 that the peace, tranquility, and heritage ambience of the 130-year-old village was impacted by the then Municipality’s approval of an industrial area to be built in the wetland above the R43.

Dark days indeed! A flurry of objections en sued but they fell on deaf ears. In a true spirit of activism, a group of concerned residents formed an organisation one year later “to protect and conserve the environment and heritage resources in an around Stanford and to conserve it for future generations.”

At this year’s AGM, Stanford Conservation Association’s Chairperson, Karin Pohl, praised the committee for their ongoing efforts to fund and support the organisation, with founding committee members recalling the challenges and successes of three decades.

Here are some of the memorable highlights of those 30 years:

• In 1995 the Stanford Heritage Area was proclaimed, encompassing most of the “old village” thus protecting buildings older than 60 years, “graded” buildings (that have heritage-worthiness) as well as properties in a Proclaimed Heritage Area.

• The Wandelpad (translated into English means “wander freely or roam on foot” was established in 1992 (30 years ago) by volunteers living in the village and is still maintained by SCA team of volunteers. It’s a key tourist activity: used by walkers and birdwatchers, as well as the Hermanus Camino and Race to Stanford triathlon. This natural walkway starts (or ends!) at the bottom of Sannie Badenhorst St adjacent to the R43 bridge, goes along the river and then up to the top end of the village and on to the new cemetery. The route includes the picturesque Milkwood Forest and a section adjacent to Vlei St. It’s predominantly

PLANT A TREE:

Writer: Liz Clarke

Overstrand Municipality has committed to plant 160 trees during Arbour Month at schools, sport fields and public open spaces across the Overstrand.

The trees were donated by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), as part of the 10 Million Trees Programme, which aims to plant at least two million trees each year for five years across South Africa.

Last week, learners at De Bron Primary School in Stanford rolled up their sleeves and got digging to assist the Munici pality’s Parks Department in planting 70 Sand Olive trees (Do donea angustifolia) outside the school, along the boundary fence to beautify the area and to reduce the dust from the dirt road outside the school.

Overstrand Ward 1 Councillor, Dudley Coetzee, asked the learners to adopt the trees and to make sure that the trees are watered and cared for.

“By planting one tree, we are expressing positive thoughts and hope…even if we are not there tomorrow, the trees we planted today will be there,” he said.

Principal of De Bron Primary, Lionel Pedro, said he was happy to learn that the Overstrand Municipality was taking part in the Trees in Cities Challenge.

The greening project supports the United Nations Econom ic Commission for Europe’s (UNECE) commitment to build sustainable, more resilient, and greener cities for tomorrow.

Trees suited to our climate are, amongst others, the Tarchon anthus camphoratus (Camphor bush or Vaalbos as it is known here), Celtis africana (White stinkwood), or the Harpephullum caffrum (Wild plum).

on municipal land and should be partially maintained by the municipality. However, the SCA volunteer team does most of the big maintenance work along the 4km of the pathway, funded by members.

• Last year the SCA team negotiated with the Roads Department to prevent the laying of grey interlock bricks on the Stanford Circle. With much negotiation the Roads Depart ment finally changed the scope to a planted circle.

• Established some years ago, the Stanford Conservation ‘Swop Shop’ has a simple concept: Pick up recyclable litter in your area and bring it to our container next to the Stoor on designated days, where it will be weighed and exchanged for tokens that can be swopped for, amongst others, clothing, school stationery, toiletries, warm blankets, household items, and even dog food.

Those who would like to become members can contact: stanfordconservationtrust@gmail.com.

leave a legacy

Above left: Arbour Month aims to encourage South Africans to do their bit to help replenish what has been lost because of deforestation and urbanisation, by planting more indigenous trees. Seen here are Asenathi Mongameli, Sibahle Shologu, Amila Nxele and Qhama Mkolase of De Bron School with ‘their’ tree. Above right: Razeida Moses and Feronique Dunsdon from De Bron Primary School get busy planting their tree.

Oh gosh!

WHAT WAS THAT THAT JUST FLEW ACROSS?

went on a three-day visit to Prince Albert and the Swartberg Pass. Stanford News Agency’s Liz Clarke went along to learn just what birding is all about.

Writer: Liz Clarke

To serious birders, Cape rockjumpers are spo ken of with an air of reverence. If you see one, it’s tantamount to finding the holy grail. If you don’t – well, you can always come back anoth er day and try again. So, it’s not surprising that on the recent Stanford Birding Club’s three-day trip to areas where rockjumpers are supposed to inhabit – that the question on most people’s lips was “have you seen one yet?”

For a new birder like myself, rockjumpers, and the unlikely prospect of seeing one, were the furtherest thing from my mind as our convoy of big-wheeled vehicles negotiated the Swartberg Pass. My only concern was, what if we fall off!

Thankfully, our team leader Peter Hoch felden seemed quite unnerved by the fact that we were virtually travelling in the sky, that the jaw-dropping S-bends had no sides, and that the height we were at was 1 583 metres above sea level. At this point, the earth below had disappeared into the mist like Brigadoon with only a ghost of a road visible, no wider than a darning needle.

But once you have managed to set all that aside, you soon learn that birding is not just a

hobby, it’s a deep and lasting passion.

My birding mentor on this journey was legendary birder Jansie Besaans, who said that her bird species count stood at 837 sub-Sa haran birds out of a possible 990. “Whatever I have to do, wherever I have to go, I am deter mined to close that gap to nil,” she says.

Jansie was able to spot birds with a naked eye 200 metres away and once the binocs were at her eyes, she would immediately iden tify the species and their habitat, plus what they ate, and whether they were endemic to that particular spot or not.

During the three-day rustic getaway, I learnt among other things that the familiar chat flaps its wings twice, and the sickle-wing chat flaps its wings once. That’s how you know which one’s which. And in birding language, these are the sort of things you need to know.

It is truly extraordinary the lengths that bird ers will go to to seek out a particular bird, one that is missing from their sighting list. On one occasion, the rough, almost impassable track had large boulders that would ordinarily deter any further travel.

“Don’t worry, I’ll just go slowly over the rocks and we should be OK,” says Peter. And so we did, in search of white storks at a far-off dam. The fact that there was not another living soul to be seen was not a deterrent. As you will discover, birding is not just a fun thing to do, it’s a way of life, rocks, and all!

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I finally got to see a rockjumper – and what’s more, I even took a picture of it. Was I excited? You bet I was!

FACTFILE ON THE CAPE ROCKJUMPERS (Chaetopidae)

handsome little birds exist only in Alpine Fynbos. A striking, gregarious

bounces about on rocky mountain slopes and crags in fynbos habitat. The sexes differ: the male has a dark rufous belly and rump, a black throat, and a white moustache; the female is duller, with a streaked chest. Pairs and small groups

on

ground and forage for

shrubs.

TIME FOR ACTION –TIME FOR SOLUTIONS

Writer: Liz Clarke Images: Linden Morris

The task is so daunting, that it’s difficult to imagine anyone taking it on! Last month’s first official walkabout of the Millstream and its precincts provided a close-up view of a unique aquatic system that without urgent intervention faces almost certain obliteration.

Sheraine van Wyk is a project coordinator from Whale Coast Conservation. She knows the history of the Millstream wetland backwards. She knows what must be done. So does her team of conservationists, many of them volunteers with unique skills in the field of restoration and the greening of disturbed environments.

“We are not miracle workers” she says. “Just people who understand that when critical wetland biospheres like this are facing destruction, action is required.”

The positive aspect of this is that the approved Millstream restoration master plan of 2018 is already well underway, with open spaces and Milkwood foresta tion now visible for the first time, allowing for views of Stanford from the southern side of the village, and the mountains beyond, not seen for several generations.

It began, van Wyk explains, with large-scale cutting back and management of reeds that clog the system and the removal of pollutants and mountains of domestic and human waste that cause excessive reed growth and the destruction of frog, dragonfly, and plant habitants.

“We are beginning to see the water moving again and some indigenous plant growth, but it’s going to be a long journey. The clean-ups by local school kids has been amazing and we are hoping that with awareness programmes the whole community will get behind us.”

The first showcasing walk began at the corner of De Bruyn and Bezuidenhout Streets, the haunt of the endangered Leopard Toad, where Van Wyk and her two Whale Coast conservation interns – both Stanford South residents – led the way. Along the way newly cut paths meander along the stream’s course and take us up through a recently cleared milkwood forest used as an outside learner’s class room and across a cleared swathe of grassland dotted with wildflowers, stopping at a patch of water – the first indication, say conservationists, that a unique wet land is on the road to recovery.

Writer: Liz Clarke

Well before the village of Stanford was created, a stream of water ran uninterrupted from a spring above the R43, known as The Eye (Die Oog) and was dispersed into the Klein River. On its way, rocky pools formed, which in later years became a happy playground for local children and at certain times of the year, was bursting with arum lilies. Dragonflies, frogs, toads, and water birds were in abundance.

The name Millstream is a reference to the Mill built on its banks in the 1800s which ground the wheat into flour for bread.

At about the same time part of the stream was diverted at source to carry water to individual properties to irrigate vegetable gardens, while the remainder was left to flow naturally. Today certain stretches of the village and homes along what is known as the “leiwater” system enjoy a regular supply of free water.

All was well and good until human folly and a blatant disregard for the environment, intervened. Giant bulldozers arrived some record “one morning out of the blue” and started removing great chunks of soil from the stream’s bed for use as topsoil for a com munity rugby field. The bulldozing process included the building of a wall, making the once pristine wetland look like a dam.

In no time at all, what was left of the riparian area was a large hole that during the following rainy seasons rapidly filled with water with the wall blocking the natural flow of the stream.

While the rugby fraternity may have enjoyed a nice rugby field, the borrow pit, now erroneously referred to as the Willem Appel Dam, has been a contentious issue for local folk and environmen tal warriors, ever since.

In 2016 a citizen science frog monitoring project run by Whale Coast Conservation (WCC) determined that no aquatic frogs per manently occupied the main body of the stream, or the so-called dam and the area was heavily polluted. Low levels of faunal and floral biodiversity were present in the lower three-quarters of the stream where a massive reed encroachment existed.

In 2018 a comprehensive Millstream improvement project, drawn up pro bono by professionals in their field of environmental management was given a municipal thumbs up. However, with Covid nothing much could go ahead.

Fast Forward to 2022 when restoration work has begun, and views of the village not seen in generations are starting to appear.

(See previous page for the first official walk-about of the stream precinct and the restoration work being done to the wetland sys tem between the R43 and Vlei Street).

Above: Built around 1800 the Stanford Old Mill on the stream, has now been lovingly restored

OH HAPPY DAY!

There have been many complaints from locals and foreigners going around that the festival does not support the local businesses and is not unique to Herma nus and the Overberg region. We were at the beer festival and there were no local wines for sale. Only cheap wine that tasted like vinegar. The local restaurants should be supplying the food at these festivals. The markets should only be from local businesses. Local businesses in Hermanus should be making the money, and not vendors from Cape Town. (Edited)

- Karien Sturmair, Hermanus

What are your thoughts on the Hermanus Whale Festival?

Credit:

Glorious day! The Stanford Spectator makes for a great read! Best Sunday ever. Summer is on its way…

- Janine Bath, Stanford

DIE

LEGACY FOOD

Writer: Liz Clarke

Gastronomy is probably too big a word to be associated with Die Kop, an informal and isolated community living on a windswept hill outside Stanford, hidden and often over looked by the community below.

But what Die Kop might lack in refine ments, is offset by the pride it has in its Food Garden whose name “Zizemeleni” can be loosely translated as “get up and do it for yourself.”

The garden with its neat rows of vegetable and herb growth was the setting this month for a UNESCO culinary experience of tradi tional Eastern Cape food and drink, show cased for the very first time in the communi ty’s migrant history.

As a prelude to a traditional Xhosa feast, Cecilia Cyster, a super chatterer with an ency clopaedia of knowledge, guided visitors on a tour of the food and medicinal gardens, now bursting with spring growth.

Garden produce was used in the meal, served on a bright red tablecloth with spring blossoms as decoration. In the mix were seafood frikkadels on a bed of baby spinach, braaied snoek, an unusual side dish of greens cooked with mealie meal, washed down with a tangy tribal beer.

“We have faith in our garden” says Cecilia as we tuck into the food. “We need faith. When the ‘devil’ wind comes it can uproot crops, even people. When fire comes like it did last year it destroys everything. But then, we start again. Giving up is not an option.”

Roland Stevenson is the admin guy. He explains the holistic organic approach that is used to maintain and foster the gardens during long periods of low rainfall and the innovative way they structure employment on a ‘choose when I want to work basis.’

“Today we have more community and municipal support, which helps maintain the gardens as a viable employment and food distribution hub.”

Saying goodbye, Siyabonga Siwa, maker of the delicious, steamed bread we had with homemade jam, presented the group with his recipe, neatly written out. “Share it with the world” he says. “It’s from my granny. I want people to know what we can do.”

See his recipe below.

Siya’s Steamed Bread Recipe

History of Die Kop

According to residents, Die Kop used to be a farm workers camp. Their relatives would come from the Eastern Cape to look for jobs and stay with the farm workers. Over the years, when there were many people, the farmer chased everyone off the farm and the community built its shacks on municipal land on top of the hill above the R43 five minutes from Stanford in and around 1989. Currently, there are 1 500 people living in Die Kop.

THEY SAY IT TAKES A VILLAGE…

Writer: Etienne Janse Van Rensburg

Disclaimer: If any offense is taken, it's not the intention.

Conservation and heritage were like vloekwoorde when I first got to the Village. I recently attended the 30-year celebration of the group of people that has worked tirelessly to preserve, protect, maintain and a whole other bunch of verbs describing what they do and did over their 30 years in existence.

So, in Afrikaans, a verb is a "werkwoord.” A work word. And that pretty much sums it up. It takes work to execute all those verbs. If it weren’t for Jaco from the Agri attending, I would have been the youngest person there. And then it made me think of something.

In my 20's I inherited my parent's 67 Mercedes 230S, complete with red genuine leather seats and all the bells and whistles Mercedes could offer at the time. But I was 20 something with long hair, listening to heavy metal. The surfboard that nearly drowned me looked kinda odd on the bulged roof and put ting it in the boot (which was very possible if you know the 230s and its boot that could ac commodate the whole soccer team), was not cool enough. I mean, I wasn't really a surfer. It was all about being spotted with a surfboard at the beach. That was what attracted the hot chicks. So, for me, it was just an old car.

I was looking for ways to pimp it up a bit. You know, maybe put on mags, or paint it with flowers to hippiefy it a bit. I even consid ered grinding off the top to make it a convert ible. Yes Karen, I know they were stupid ideas, but we were all 20 something once and stupid was the number one "werkwoord" we execut ed quite successfully. But getting to the point is that if I had listened to my father then, to preserve and look after the car in its original state, it would have been worth quite a sum today. Saying that, I realise a car is probably not a good example here, but it was the only reference that popped into my head.

Stick with me here, this story is going somewhere.

When speaking of heritage and conserva tion, one must really look hard to find well preserved areas in this country. We're excep

tionally good at donnering things up. That's why we are the rainbow nation. Everyone wants to paint something a different colour in their own way, not realising that a rainbow is only beautiful when all the colours are kept together in equal parts and in the same direction.

Almost there. I promise this is going some where.

I'm on the last leg of my thinking process while I stood there listening to what Stan ford Conservation did and what they are still doing.

And this is the part where offense might be on the cards, but cry me a river Karen, or go cry at the river – ain’t nobody got time for dat.

When you invested in property in Stanford proper, it was no secret that it's a Heritage Village. The one thing that sets us apart from many other small towns. And frankly, the one thing that has probably made your property value what it is today. If I were allowed to swear, I would have added an extremely useful adjective before the word "expensive" here. And that is largely due to the preserva tion and conservation efforts by a few.

Yes, i’s very frustrating to be told that you cannot paint your house purple with gold trims and live by rules and restrictions, but somewhere we have to realise that it's the mandate of the heritage committee to pre serve what makes us unique.

On the other end of the scale, I think that maybe the circle could be a bit bigger around the table where these decisions are made. You know, maybe add a vibe. Bring in the kids. And by that I mean the 40-plusses. The next generation of conservationists to help preserve with a bit of a curve. I know that I for one hated it when my parents discussed stuff behind closed doors. It confused me because I had no idea if they were discussing me or my delinquent brother. I only know that when they came out of the room to delegate chores and I asked why, the answer was always "because we say so”. If they had included me or discussed it around a dinner table, I would never have been the rebel I was.

I told someone that evening that I think we have one thing standing in our way of great

ness, and that is perception.

And most of the time we are wrong when perceiving something to be the truth when in fact we don't know anything other than what we've heard from everywhere else except from that one source.

So now everyone can draw their own lines between an old Mercedes, a young rebel and conservation. Decide if you want to be offend ed, irritated, or enlightened. But do consider being part of the effort. Young and old. Purple or heritage green.

Parents, open your doors.

Kids, participate.

Everyone, roll up your sleeves.

They say it takes a village...

PRODUCTS

S h o p 1 , 1 4 Q u e e n V i c t o r i a S t r e e t , S t a n f o r d , 7 2 1 0

L i z C l a r k e

P u b l i s h i n g E d i t o r A r t i c l e s | P h o t o g r a p h y | R e p o r t i n g 0 6 0 6 2 7 9 6 4 4 l i z @ s t a n f o r d n e w s a g e n c y c o z a

M e l i s s a M c A l p i n e C o m m u n i c a t i o n s D i r e c t o r A d v e r t i s i n g | M a r k e t i n g | S o c i a l M e d i a 0 7 8 3 2 4 5 6 9 2 m e l i s s a @ s t a n f o r d n e w s a g e n c y c o z a w w w s t a n f o r d n e w s a g e n c y c o z a

N e w s a g e n c i e s t o d a y w h e t h e r i n b i g c i t i e s o r s m a l l v i l l a g e s l i k e o u r s h a v e b r o a d e n e d t h e i r s c o p e t o i n c l u d e e v e r y t h i n g f r o m n e w s p u b l i c a t i o n s a n d m a g a z i n e s , t o n o v e l t y g i f t s , s t a t i o n e r y , b o o k s a n d c a l e n d a r s .

W e ’ r e a n e w s a g e n c y w i t h a d i f f e r e n c e !

O u r m i s s i o n a t S t a n f o r d N e w s

A g e n c y i s t o b e a t r u s t e d s o u r c e o f l o c a l n e w s , i n f o r m a t i o n a n d a d v e r t i s i n g c o n t e n t t h a t i s b o t h u s e f u l a n d v a l u a b l e t o t h e r e a d e r s w e s e r v e w i t h i n o u r c o m m u n i t y W e a i m t o b e t h e v o i c e o f t h e p e o p l e , a n d t o c o n t i n u o u s l y p r e s e n t i n f o r m a t i o n i n a f a i r a n d a c c u r a t e m a n n e r

O u r v i s i o n i s t o u n i t e t h e p e o p l e o f , a s w e l l a s v i s i t o r s t o , o u r v i l l a g e b y m e a n s o f a n u p t o d a t e a n d c r e d i b l e n e w s & i n f o r m a t i o n h u b , a n d o n e s t o p s h o p f o r :

• N e w s & A d v e r t i s i n g

• B r a n d i n g

• P r i n t i n g

• P a c k a g i n g

• S t a t i o n e r y

• G i f t W r a p p i n g

O u r m a s c o t i s t h e C a p e S u g a r b i r d , a f r e q u e n t v i s i t o r t o m a n y o f o u r l o c a l g a r d e n s a n d a n i m p o r t a n t p o l l i n a t o r f o r m a n y f y n b o s p l a n t s T h e s e b u s y l i t t l e b i r d s h a v e l o a d s o f c h a r a c t e r a n d s p u n k T h e y ’ r e i n q u i s i t i v e , q u i c k a n d c a n b e r a t h e r c h a t t y j u s t l i k e u s h e r e a t t h e S t a n f o r d N e w s A g e n c y !

A s i d e f r o m o u r b i m o n t h l y n e w s p u b l i c a t i o n , t h e S t a n f o r d S p e c t a t o r , w e a l s o h a v e t w o o t h e r p r o d u c t s o n o f f e r : b e s t o f w h a t S t a n f o r d h a s t o o f f e r )

S t a n f o r d S e e k e r ( a q u a r t e r l y b u s i n e s s A d d i r e c t o r y ) , a n d S t a n f o r d S t y l e ( a g l o s s y f e a t u r e s h o w c a s i n g t h e v e r y

W e a i m t o m a k e c o m m u n i c a t i o n j u s t t h a t b i t e a s i e r a n d t o m a k e S t a n f o r d N e w s A g e n c y y o u r g o - t o p l a c e f o r l o c a l a n d n a t i o n a l n e w s , p r i n t i n g , p a c k a g i n g , a n d m o r e !

N E W S & A D V E R T I S I N G

S t a n f o r d S p e c t a t o r

t a n f o r d S e e k e r S t a n f o r d S t y l e P r i n t A d v e r t i s i n g D i g i t a l A d v e r t i s i n g

S T A T I O N E R Y

N o t e b o o k s & J o u r n a l s

n v e l o p e s & F o l d e r s

e n s & P e n c i l s

i g h l i g h t e r s & M a r k e r s

a l e n d a r s & B o o k m a r k s

h e r i

R A N D I

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n p o p i n t

u r s h o p o r g i v e u s a b u z z !