contents 10
PHOTO feature Mike Ruthnum 42
FOSTER Update
@ Flaviana Kupczyk
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Running For Beginners
Learning To Run
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Santareme Phase One
Cameras, Security Patrols and Safety
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Wine On Water
St Francis Bay Canals
EDITORS COMMENT
What a wonderful late summer we are having. The weather has been warm, there has been a little rain about, and there has generally been a good vibe.
CO VI D S E E M S T O BE ON TH E WA N E , A N D TH E WO R L D I S S LOW LY G O IN G BA CK TO WHE R E IT SHOULD BE .
Wind (issue 1 – 5), and they can now be re-read on St Francis Today, starting with the first issue right here:
We have rediscovered the missing issues of The West
(might take a little while to load, so hang in there)
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https://stfrancistoday.com/ the-west-wind-issue-1/
Two points of interest in the area: Wine On Water is taking place in a few days, and the Santareme Phase One Group is currently trying
to muster the Santaremers for upgraded security and cameras. Read all about it in this issue.
Photo feature Mike Ruthnum MR I MAG E S
I moved to JBay in 2007, relocated for brief periods to other countries but always considered Jbay home since then and moved back permanently in 2017. I’ve been taking photos using basic point and shoot cameras. Mostly on travel adventures. I started upping my game as a photog about 18 months ago. I enrolled in 10
a photography course run by my good friend and Kalk Bay local Stephen Cruickshank. I had some severe health issues ( near death) in
2019, which trapped me in hospital in CT for 7 months, 3 of which I spent in ICU on support machines. I was discharged with PTSD and required more surgeries to correct the problem. So the couch became my home.
ON E DAY I WA L K E D A CR O S S FR O M W H E R E I LIV E D WIT H
A B R I DGE CAM ERA, P O IN T ED I T AT M AT T M CGI LLI V RAY, F IR E D OFF A FEW S E Q U ENCES , A N D T HE RES T I S HIST O RY. That camera got me out of the house every morning at Sunrise to capture those fantastic colours. 11
TH E N , W H E N T HE WAVE S S TAR T E D T O A R R I VE , I FR O T HE D EVE N H A R D E R T O SHOOT FO O TA G E O F MY FRI E N D S. I shoot with a Canon Eos R6 Full Frame Mirrorless and an RF100-500mm and an Rf24-105mm ( both L series) and a smaller Eos M6
Mk11 with a few EF mount lenses. I also love my little Lumix FZ2500, a powerful bridge camera that’s always in my bag as a backup. DJI mavic air 2 for the aerial stuff and a GoPro hero8 if I need to get water shots. I’m seriously considering getting a water housing for my main rig. I’m busy setting up to shoot video footage this year and have started doing some of my own editings.
@ Ronel Coetzee - Mike Ruthnum, in his element.
Recently I’ve been branching out. ‘I’ve been shooting events, surf lessons, functions and kiteboarding. I just got my first enquiry to do a wedding from a wonderful couple I met on the boardwalk in Jbay.
TH E BE S T P A R T OF W H AT I D O IS UNDO UBTE D LY
T HE S TOKE I B R IN G TO PEOPLE O N C E I CAPTURE S O M ETHI NG EP I C T HE Y DI D I N THE O C E AN. LOV I NG WHAT Y OU DO ALS O M A K ES I T EAS I ER TO R O L L OUT OF BED IN T H E DARK ON
TH O S E FRE E Z IN G W I N TE R S WE L L S. The worst thing has to be people being unappreciative of what we do. Impatient people also rattle my cage. If I’m shooting all day, it would require an additional day to
Ari Kraak in his Chopper.
sort and edit the shots, but people always want their photos the same evening. My pet hate is when people ask me when they see me all rigged up on the beach,
“A R E Y OU GET TI NG A N Y NI CE S HOTS ? ” .
I ’M S O TE M P T E D T O RE PLY, ‘ N O, JU ST KAK ONES!’ Also, people asking for shots for free saying they’ll give me credit for the picture is a pet hate.
The only credits I like are on our bank statement. The JBay Open has been absent for a while, so it’s great that this event returns in 2022. Jords will win his 3rd JBay open this year.
Sunrise Supers.
Shelly Rankin, Surfsense.
Greg Smith.
Dreamy watercolour dawn.
Dale Staples.
@ Nick Christy - Mike Ruthnum, drone descending.
Nick Christy.
Michael Hill.
Lineup Aloes.
Joel Dace.
Lineup Aloes.
Sunrise Lineup.
Sunset Rainbow.
Phosphorescence.
FOSTER Update AG M PLA NN E D F O R 3 R D M ARCH AT 1 8 H 0 0 AT C S F R E S O R T FOSTER had a very good year in 2021, more than doubling its membership and with the help of generous donors was able to complete some important projects. Such as the Two Bay Trail, the new website and of course the alien plant removal project.
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This was in addition to the ongoing reserve maintenance, as those who use the trails for walking and cycling will be able to attest too. We were also with the help of Working on Fire, able to do a lot of work on fire breaks which will help protect properties and life when the next fire breaks out.
TH E DE TA I L S A N D OUR PLA N S F O R 2 0 2 2 W I LL B E CO VE R E D AT T HE
A G M W HI CH W I LL BE HE L D AT THE CAPE S T F R ANCI S RES ORT O N 3 RDM ARCH AT 1 8 H00. This will be the first live AGM since COVID started and all members and supporters are urged to attend. There may well be some changes to the committee and nominations from the community are most welcome for people with an interest in conservation and preserving the reserves in our area.
I N TE R E S TI NG LY EN O UG H D E S P IT E TH E I N CRE ASE D USE OF TH E RE S E RVE S , WHIC H I S A VE R Y P O SIT IV E DE VE LO PM E N T, T HE FA UN A OR WIL D L IF E SEE MS TO B E O N TH E I N CRE ASE . With some sightings of Grysbok and a honey badger which we have not seen in a while. Some of the recent sightings from our camera can be
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seen below. Importantly we want to continue maintaining and improving our 4 reserves and of course that takes funding, in part sourced by the fees paid by our members. So please, remember to pay your membership fees of R300 pre family or R200 for an individual and donations are most welcome. Details to be found at www.foster.org.za. We will be sending out reminders as well in due course.
The FOSTER Committee looks forward to seeing you on 3 March at 18h00 at the CSF resort, who are kindly sponsoring the venue hire
for the AGM and talk by Prof. Cowling. All are welcome and you do not need to be a member to attend the AGM.
Running For Beginners LE A R N I N G T O R U N The greater St Francis Bay area is a dream for runners of all shapes and competencies. Unless you’re on the R330. Then you need to be careful. You might think that running is grabbing a pair of running shoes and heading out there. So it is, pretty much, but there are a few possible complications that one should be aware of. 48
So here are a few tips and tricks for those who want to start running, even if you’ve never run before. Always run on the opposite side of the road as traffic.
I N OTH E R W O R D S , RUN W I TH C A R S CO M I N G TO WA R D S YO U.
T O A LL RUNNERS O U T THERE, DON ’ T R U N I N QUI ET AREAS B Y YOURS ELF.
This is for basic safety. If you can see a car coming towards you and something doesn’t look right, you can jump out the way of it and hopefully be alright. However, if you are running with your back to the traffic, you can’t see anything.
If you’re going to run on the Wildside or through the Nature Reserves, always run with a friend. Or two. There is always comfort in numbers.
LADI E S I N PAR TI CULAR , B U T
Don’t overdo it. Don’t push yourself too hard if you’re just starting out as a runner. If you damage or pull a muscle, it will be a while
before you’re back in the game.
I N S TE A D, TA K E IT EA S Y A N D WA L K A S M UCH AS YO U WA N T – WAL K IN G I S S I M PLY R U N N IN G SL O W LY, BU T IT USE S TH E S A M E MU S CLE S . Don’t run too much on the beach. It sounds silly, but running on soft sand can be detrimental after a while. It
works different muscles in the foot, and running on a high tide camber can cause some muscle damage if you’re doing it too often. The general rule of thumb, if you’re training, is to have one barefoot run on the beach in a week. Increase gradually. The general rule is to not increase your mileage by more than 10% every week, but this can be pushed a little bit. That means that if you’re running 5km a day, that can be increased to
5,5km the following week, but it should be ok to push it to 6km (20%). Don’t overhydrate. So many people get jittery about their hydration and just drink all the time, but it’s not necessary. Make sure you hydrate an hour before you run, and just drink to thirst while running.
EN J OY Y OU R SE L F. RUN N I N G H A S I TS UPS A N D DO W N S , A ND S O M E
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M O M ENTS ARE T IR ING AND BRUTAL. In between it, though, there are beautiful moments, and there is an endorphin rush called a ‘Runner’s High. It’s not as good as, say, the local mushies going around, but it is pretty good. St Francis Runners https://www.facebook.com/ StFrancisRunners St Francis Park Run https://www.parkrun.co.za/ stfrancis/
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Santareme Phase One CAME R A S , SE C U R IT Y P AT R O LS AND S AFETY
Come on, Santaremers - we need your active support. We have around 110 positive supporters for our camera and extra security patrols in Santareme Phase One area. Still, we need to get to about 90 property owners we have not been able to contact or have not responded. Please check with your neighbours and friends if they have agreed to support our enhanced security plan for the area. This is 54
a community project, and we would like everyone to buy into the program. 60% support means a cost of R300, and 90% represents
a cost to each of us at R200per month.
W E H AVE HA D T O SET A DE A D L IN E OF TH E E N D O F FE BRUA RY F O R O U R FULL S UPP O R T T O CO M ME N CE WIT H TH E S I G N U P O F DE BI T ORD E R S A N D TH E I N S TA L L AT IO N OF 1 6 PO LES A N D 4 8 CA ME R A S . There will be access to
@ Flaviana Kupczyk
coverage in St Francis, provided you have a police case number. We want the most proactive, effective system we can afford that complies with all required legislation and governance rules. Atlas and Calibre however have access to the live footage as a crime is happening. We will look at a back-abuddy system for those who really can’t afford the total amounts but support the project. So talk to us, please - don’t remain silent.
@ Flaviana Kupczyk W E H AVE HA D SO M E I N FORM ATIO N O N TH E I M PR O V E M E N T I N TH E VI LL A G E A N D CAN A LS S I N C E T HE CAME R A S Y ST E M WA S I N TRO D U C E D . TH E O VE RAL L DR O P I N VAR IO U S CR I ME S OV E R T HE LAS T Y E A R IS M O S T SIG N I FI CA NT. Let’s not have our area exposed whilst we lack cameras and extra security
patrols from 6pm to 6am daily on top of the standard security company responses to alarm calls in our area.
T HE S M ALL IN F O R M AL C O M MI T TEE I S WO R KI NG HARD T O D RI V E UP S U P P ORT. S TI LL, A S A COM M UNI TY, WE N EED TO ALL S T E P UP AND TAKE A C T ION . United, we shall succeed!
W E WA N T T O H AVE A S E C U R IT Y SYS TE M TH AT H E LPS DE TE C T A N D PR E VE N T C R IM E A N D PR OVI DE S E V ID E N C E FO R FUTUR E PR OS E CUTI O N S . Whilst our courts need to refocus their activities and put more criminals in jail, we can’t just adopt a standby attitude and do nothing.
@ Flaviana Kupczyk
We are actively campaigning for a better response from our prosecutors in court. We know prisons are overcrowded, but that cannot be used as an excuse to not take effective action against repeat criminal offenders.
P L E A SE M AKE Y OUR V O IC E S HEARD I N T HIS REGARD. TALK T O Y O UR WARD C O U NCI LLORS .
@ Flaviana Kupczyk
SAN TA RE M E R S , T HIS I S Y O UR CHA N C E TO BE PA R T O F A PO S I TI VE PL A N T O PR OTE CT Y O U R RE S I DE N TI A L A R E A A N D A DD VA L U E TO Y O UR PR O P E R T Y I N VE S TME N T. Contacts to add your support are: Nina Cloete e. nina@rangecom.net t. 063 100 4075.
Nigel Harvey e. guff.harvey@hotmail.com t. 076 430 2101. Johan Viljoen e. johan.viljoen@ pamgolding.co.za t. 078 349 5450 David Harpur e. david@harpur.co.za t. 082 441 4486. David Harpur, on behalf of the Santareme Phase One camera and security committee.
Wine On Water ST FR A N CI S B AY C A N A L S
There has been so much talk about Wine On Water. More so with the event being cancelled and rescheduled, as we all followed the whim of Covid rulings. That’s all over now (he said, optimistically and hopefully). The world is busy recalibrating and restarting. Part of that recalibration of which we are all so thankful about is that the Wine On Water festival is happening in a few weeks. 62
WHAT :
Wine On Water is a wine-tasting event never seen before. The wine tasting will be done in private homes, and wine tasters will be transported to the stations by barges and transporters on the water. Sadly the event is completely sold out, so those who didn’t
manage to book will have to wait for next year!
WHEN:
After a couple of false starts, the Wine On Water (WOW) Festival presented by Investec will take place on 25/26 February 2022.
WHERE:
The WOW Festival will take place on the canals and at the homes of those with tasting stations. The hub for the event will be The Quays.
HO W:
For ticket holders, WoW packs can be collected at the ticket desk from 12h00 on Thursday 24th February and from 10h00 to 16h00 on Friday 24th and Saturday 25thFebruary at the ticket desk at Quays Restaurant in Sea Glades Drive. Once you have your WoW pack and wrist band, you can plan your route and start from 12 noon on both Friday 25th & Saturday 26th at
any point on the WoW map. Remember you can move between tasting points by barge, vehicle or on foot. Your pack will contain your Map and information booklet containing everything you need to know along with notes on event etiquette, handy tips on what else to do and other useful information, as well as your wrist band (which must be worn at all times during the event), and your souvenir tasting glass with sling and lanyard to hang around your neck as you travel. Please note Covid protocols
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apply and must be followed at all times!
WHY:
The WOW Festival presented by Investec is a charity event run by the Rotary Club Of St Francis. Various charities have been assigned to receive funding and donations when the event has concluded.
WHO :
Run by Rotary, the attendees will be a mix of locals, visitors, and homeowners arriving to attend the event from various locations across the country.
I T LOOK S T O B E O N E OF TH E BI G G E ST EVE N TS ON T HE CALE N DA R , A N D N O O N E WAN T S T O MIS S OUT. Wine On Water website: www.wineonwater.co.za Direct email: wowrotarysf@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ WoWRotarySF Instagram: @wowstfrancis/ Youtube: https://youtu.be/mkFGkSVdKE
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