TO RELAX & DE-STRESS OR KICK START HEALTHY LIVING! Retreat to our haven where physical health and mental well-being can be restored through pampering treatments, healthy eating, moderate regular exercise and stress management. Why not take time out between your child's school commitments for a quick pamper at our Day Spa or treat yourself to a relaxing and rejuvenating 2,3,4 or 6 night stay at the Hydro. Tel 033 266 6208 www.brookdale.co.za GIFT VOUCHERS, DAY SPA AND SHOP AVAILABLE Michaelhouse, the Anglican Diocesan College of Natal, was founded in 1896 and is a South African boarding school for senior boys, with an international reputation. Situated on a secure estate in the beautiful Midlands of KwaZulu- Natal, the school has a fully residential staff which facilitates a high level of pastoral care and interaction with the pupils. The distinctive architecture of inter-linked quadrangles inspires a sense of belonging amongst the 550 boys. Values To live our lives according to the Christian values of integrity, humility, compassion and courage in service to our community and country. Mission To provide a dynamic and progressive education for boys that respects individual needs and embraces diversity and change in pursuit of academic, sporting and cultural excellence, while providing social and leadership skills and nurturing spiritual growth. Vision “Our aim is to make, not accountants, not clerks, not doctors, not clergymen, but men; men of understanding, thought and culture.” Founder Canon James Cameron Todd (Speech Day 1897) MICHAELHOUSE A Message from the Rector MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR Q he writing of the introduction for the Chronicle is a wonderful opportunity to ponder on the activities of 2013. As I have thought of the year, memories and recollections have come flooding back - a rich tapestry of endeavour, achievement and success. The challenge is, of course, what to report on. The development of a holistic educational curriculum is an ongoing and never-ending series of thought and process, with no year quite the same as the previous one. This is one of the great joys of Michaelhouse, as well as a challenge. I know that this yearbook will capture our activities in great detail, with thoughtful reporting on the activities of the boys and the life of the School. 2013 will go down in the annals of Michaelhouse as the year in which we achieved the finest set of academic results ever. Not only were they markedly better than any that came before, but they were also very competitive countrywide. A great debt of gratitude is owed to the fine teaching staff we are privileged to have here, as well as to the magnificent Men of Michaelhouse who responded so wonderfully to their challenge. This result is the culmination of many years of academic and social development of the boys and staff; it’s the clarification of both our expectations and the heightened expectations of the boys themselves. We know that this will set the scene for the years to come, and early indications are that the Class of 2014 is hard at work to scale the peak of their predecessors. I would also like to highlight the community-based nature of the campus. Having experienced this first hand as the “new boy” to the staff at the beginning of the year, I can comment that the energy created by this has positive spinoffs in all areas of School life. There is a constant, ongoing conversation about relationships here, between staff, staff and boys, and the boys. Only by optimising these relationships, constantly exploring them and building on them do our many achievements become possible. I would like to thank all staff at Michaelhouse for their efforts this year - academic, administrative and support. Their efforts are central to everything here, and their successes are palpable. I would also like to thank the Michaelhouse Board, so ably led by Mr Gary Ralfe, for all that they do in the stewardship and governance of this fine institution. And to the Michaelhouse Trust, led by Mr Jamie Inglis, a huge debt of gratitude is owed. Their efforts in the development of funding for capital projects on the campus continue to be an astounding success. Thank you also to the greater Old Michaelhousian movement for their support, love of and loyalty towards the “Old Place”. Our OM movement is the envy of schools everywhere and we are indeed richer for it. Thank you to the parents of the boys not only for their financial support and the decision to send their fine sons here, but also for their active support of school activities and their

file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] / \ It ads dignity and carefulness to our efforts to remember that a “Chronicle ” exists James Cameron Todd, 1897 Message from the Rector k obvious enjoyment of these. I have not felt at any stage that any of the activities here are unsupported or that the boys play lonely fixtures or perform to empty audiences at any stage. I have no doubt whatsoever that the boys greatly appreciate this. Lastly, a large thank you to the boys themselves. Always enthusiastic, they are the energy that fuels St Michael’s Red Brick Fortress, an engine that burns at its core. They are remarkable and I have greatly enjoyed working with them. This was our 118th year of existence, and the year was built on the solid foundations laid in the past. Happily, I would like to think that we will look back on 2013 as being a great contributor to the efforts and endeavours of the future. A significant year. Editor: Mr Murray Witherspoon Editorial Committee: Rector Greg Theron, Mr Murray Witherspoon and Mrs Colleen Cook Advertising: Mrs Colleen Cook Formal Photograph Administrator: Mr Greame Calway Informal Photographs: Mr Murray Witherspoon, Mrs Colleen Cook, Mr Elmar de Klerk and Mr Ian Crawford Design & Layout: TerraNova Strategic Marketing Printers: Interpak Books (PTY) LTD Contact: Private Bag XI, Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal 3275, South Africa. Tel: +27 33 234 1153, Fax: +27 33 234 4611 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.michaelhouse.org 03 A Leadership & Staff Michaelhouse, the Anglican Diocesan College of Natal, was founded in 1896 and is a South African boarding school for senior boys with an international reputation. The School is governed by a Board made up of significant South Africans who give freely of their time and expertise in steering policy and macro-management. Michaelhouse is a school of established heritage with an innate respect for the individual. At the heart of this endeavour is a fully resident academic staff complement whose daily role it is to nurture, guide and encourage our boys. BOARD OF GOVERNORS: Back Row: Ms Katherine Butcher (Secretary), Mr Ross Armstrong, Mr Charlie Burton (Bursar), Mr Anthony Hewat, Mr Simon Weaver, Mr Gordon Bruins, Mr Chris Lister-James, Mr John Cheshire, Prof Owen Skae (President OBC), Mr Nigel Porter Front Row: Mrs Yvonne Magashula, Dr Dolly Mokgatle, Bishop Rubin Phillip (School Visitor), Mr Gary Ralfe (Chairman of the Board), Mr Greg Theron (Rector), Mr Nigel Tatham (Deputy Chairman), Dr Zola Songca Absent: Mrs Lorato Phalatse, Mr Charles Nupen, Mr Martin Mohale, Mr Peter Harris, Mr Rob Strachan 04 Leadership & Staff k BOARD OF GOVERNORS SCHOOL VISITOR Bishop Rubin Phillip, Bishop of Natal GOVERNORS Mr R Armstrong Mr G Bruins Mr JD Cheshire Mr PJ Harris Mr A Hewat Mr CM Lister-James Mrs Y Magashula Mr MN Mohale Dr D Mokgatle Mr C Nupen Mrs LWC Phalatse Mr NI Porter Mr GM Ralfe (Chairman) Prof FO Skae (President - OBC) Dr Z Songca Mr RH Strachan Mr NR Tatham (Deputy Chairman) Mr S Weaver Mr GF Theron (Rector) Mr CB Burton (Bursar) ASSOCIATE GOVERNORS Mr LL Dippenaar Mr JG Inglis Mr D Sacco TRUSTEES Mr PG Armitage Mr SL Crutchley Mr BG Dunlop Mr K. Fleischer Mr RWJ Gush Mr N Jonsson file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] MICHAELHOUSE STAFF MANAGEMENT Mr Greg Theron, BA (Hons), MSc, HDE (PG) Wits, Rector Mr Charlie Burton, BCompt (Hons,) CPA (SA), Bursar Revd Canon Alan Smedley, BCom, Dip Theol, Chaplain Mr Paul Fleischack, MSc, HDE, Deputy Rector (Co- Curricular) Mr Allan Laing, HED, FDE, MEd, Deputy Rector (Pupils) Mr Alan Adlington-Corfield, BSc, PGCE, BEd (Hons), Deputy Rector (Academics) Mr John Crawford, BA, UED, BEd, Senior Master (Sport) Mrs Melanie Wester, Director of Marketing (left 30/03/13) Mr Murray Witherspoon, MA, Director of Marketing, (wef 01/04/13) Mr Nic Cahill, HED, Senior Housemaster Mr Michael Schwartz, MSc (Physics), HDE, Senior Master -Academics (wef 01/07/13) HOUSEMASTERS Mr Michael Bownes, BA, HED, M.U.R.P, Founders Mr André van Wyk, HED, MEd, East Mr George Ferreira, BA (Hons), HDE, West Mr Michael Schwartz, MSc (Physics), HDE, Farfeld Mr Nic Cahill, HED, Tatham Mr Peter Huntley, BA (Hons), HDE, Pascoe Mr Johan van Rooyen, BA (Hons), HDE, Baines Mr Iain Guthrie, MSc, HED, Mackenzie HEADS OF DEPARTMENT Mr Richard McMichael, BCom, HDE, Accounting, EMS, Senior Tutor - Founders Mrs Louise Erwee, BA, HDE, Afrikaans, Home Room - East, Tutor - Media Mrs Julie Flanegan, BSc (Info. Proc.), HDE, Computer Applications Technology, ICT, Tutor - IT Mr Tim Jarvis, BA (Hons) (Ed), BA (Hons) (Psych), Counsellor, Life Orientation Revd Canon Alan Smedley, BCom, Dip Theol, Chaplain, Divinity Mrs Asha Royappen, BA, PGCE, Dramatic Arts Mrs Win de Wet, BA, HDE, Economics, EMS, Home Room - Farfield, Intern Admin Mr Elmar de Klerk, HED, Engineering Graphics & Design, Senior Tutor - Mackenzie Mrs Mary McMichael, BA, HDE, English, Home Room -Mackenzie, Tutor - IT Ms Martine Planteau de Maroussem, BA, PGD, HDE, French Mr John Alexander, BA (Hons), HDE, Geography, HSS, Tutor - Founders Mr Mike Thomson, BA, HDE, History, HSS, Tutor - East Mr Sizo Chalufu, BEd (Hons), IsiZulu, Tutor - Tatham Mrs Lynn van der Vegte, MSc, Media Centre, Media Studies, Tutor - Media Mr George Ferreira, BA (Hons), HDE, Life Orientation Mr Paul Snyman, BSc, HED, Life Sciences, Natural Science, Tutor - Mackenzie Mr Bailey Coxon, BSc (Hons), HDE, Mathematics, Tutor - Baines Mr Abri Venter, BMus (Ed), Music, Tutor - Music Mr Matthew Higginson, BSc (Hons), HDE, Physical Science, Natural Science, Tutor - East Ms Joy Preiss, HDE (Art), Visual Arts, Home Room -Founders, Tutor - Media 05 A Leadership & Staff MANAGEMENT: Back Row: MrNic Cahill, Mr John Crawford, Mr Alan Adlington-Corfeld, Mrs Melanie Wester Front Row: Revd Canon Alan Smedley, Mr Paul Fleischack, Rector Greg Theron, Mr Allan Laing, Mr Charlie Burton ACADEMIC STAFF Mr Dean Forword, BCom, PGCE, Accounting/EMS, Tutor - Mackenzie Mr Ryno Combrinck, HED, Afrikaans, Director of Rugby, Senior Tutor - West Mrs Heléne du Toit, BA, HED, Afrikaans, Home Room -Tatham, Tutor - IT Mr Hannes Ebersohn, MMus (Performance) UVLM& UOLM (Piano & Organ), PGCE, Afrikaans, Music, Home Room - West, Tutor - Music Mr Chris van der Berg, MA, HED, Afrikaans, Tutor - Baines Mr Johan van Rooyen, BA (Hons), HDE, Afrikaans Mrs Carlien Walters, BDram, PGCE, Dramatic Arts/ Afrikaans Mrs Kate Smedley, BA, HPTD, Divinity, Home Room -Baines Mr Andrew Brown, BCom (Hons), HDE, Economics, EMS, Tutor - Pascoe file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Mr Linda Linda, BEd, Dip Tourism & Administration, Economics, EMS, Tutor - Founders Mr Msizi Mchunu, BEd, Economics, EMS, Accounting, Tutor - Farfeld Mrs Colleen Cook, BA, HDE, English, Assistant Librarian (left 30/04/13) Mr Peter Dennyson, MA, Dip Ed, English (left 22/08/13) Mr Chris Waldburger, MA, PGCE (wef 19/08/13) Mr Peter Huntley, BA (Hons), HDE, English Mrs Tanith von Meyer, BA, PGCE, English, Tutor - IT Mr Richard Snowden, BCom, PGCE, English, Tutor - Farfield Mr Jonathan Smith, BA, MTh, PGCE, English, Tutor -Baines Mr Michael Bownes, BA, HED, M.U.R.P, Geography, HSS Mr John Crawford, BA, BEd, Geography, HSS Mr Sibusiso Ncamani, BEd, Geography, HSS, Senior Tutor - Baines Mr Bernard Whitaker, BEd, Geography, HSS, Senior Tutor - Tatham Mr Dominic Gruijters, BSc (Hons), Information Technology, ICT, Mathematics, Tutor - Pascoe Mr Righardt Kotze, BSc (Hons), PGCE, Life Orientation, HK & Sports Sciences, Life Sciences, Senior Tutor - Farfield Mr Nic Cahill, HED, Life Sciences, Natural Science Mr Paul Fleischack, MSc, HDE, Life Sciences Mr Iain Guthrie, MSc, HED, Life Sciences, Natural Science Mr Alan Adlington-Corfield, BSc, PGCE, BEd (Hons), Mathematics, APM Mr James Bullough, BEd, HDE, Mathematics, Senior Tutor - East 06 ACADEMIC STAFF: Back Row: Mr Gavin Ross, Mr Shaun Thompson, Mr Ryno Combrinck, Mr Andrew Duncan, Mr Elmar de Klerk, Mr Bernard Whitaker, Mr Jaap van der Vegte, Mr Andrew Laing, (?Mr Sibusiso Ncamane), Mr Halalisana Xulu, Mr Deon Royappen, Mr James Bullough, Mr Michael Stead, Mr Craig Pieterse Fourth Row: Mr Nhlaka Nzimande, Mr Justin Randall, Mr Paul Snyman, Mr Abri Venter, Mr Linda Linda, Mr Matthew Higginson, Mr Dominic Gruijters, Mr Hannes Ebersohn, Mr Righardt Kotze, Mr Dean Forword, Mr Hayden Henderson-Everill, Mr William Silk, Mr Richard Snowden, Revd Canon Fred Pitout, Mr Karl Swartz Third Row: Mr Sanele Zikhali, Mr Sizo Chalufu, Mr Sandile Sibiya, Mr Peter Stevens, Mr Jonathan Smith, Mr Andrew Brown, Mr Ian Crawford, Mrs Mary McMichael, Mr Mike Thomson, Mrs Tanith von Mayer, Mr John Alexander, Mr Thabiso Nkabinde, Mr Bongumusa Cele, Mr Bailey Coxon, Mr Rodney Zondi, Mr Graeme Calway Second Row: Mrs Lynn van der Vegte, Mr Chris van der Berg, Mr Msizi Mchunu, Ms Lisa Hardie, Ms Martine Planteau de Maroussem, Mrs Colleen Cook, Ms Joy Preiss, Mrs Louise Erwee, Mr Tim Jarvis, Mrs Julie Flanegan, Mrs Candice Smith, Mrs Win de Wet, Mr Richard McMichael, Mrs Hélene du Toit, Mrs Asha Royappen, Mrs Carlien Walters Front Row: Mr André van Wyk, Mr Johan van Rooyen, Mr George Ferreira, Mr Mike Bownes, Mr John Crawford, Mr Nic Cahill, Mr Paul Fleischack, Rector Greg Theron, Mr Allan Laing, Revd Canon Alan Smedley, Mr Alan Adlington-Corfield, Mr Michael Schwartz, Mr Peter Huntley, Mr Iain Guthrie, Mr Peter Dennyson Leadership & Staff k Miss Lisa Hardie, HDE, Mathematics, APM, Home Room -Pascoe, Tutor - Media Mr Allan Laing, HED, FDE, MEd, Mathematics Mr Peter Stevens, BA, HDE, Mathematics, Tutor - West Mr Deon Royappen, NPDE, ACE, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Tutor - Pascoe (deceased 15/08/2013) Mr André van Wyk, HED, MEd, Mathematics Mr William Silk, MMus (Performance), Vocal Training & Conducting, Music, Choral Director, Tutor - Music Mr Gavin Ross, BSc (Hons), HDE, Physical Science, Natural Science, Senior Tutor - Pascoe Mr Jaap van der Vegte, BSc (Hons) (Chem & Wildlife Management), BEd, Physical Science, Natural Science, Tutor - West Mr Michael Schwartz, MSc (Physics), HDE, Physical Science, Natural Science Mrs Janet Emanuel, NTSD, DSE (Rem), Academic Support Mr William le Cordeur, MA (Drama & Performance Studies), Theatre Director Mrs Sandile Sibiya, Visual Arts STUDENT & INTERN STAFF Mr Bongumusa Cele, Tutor - East, Mathematics Mr Ian Crawford, Tutor - Farfield, IT, Home Room -Farfield Mr Andrew Duncan, Tutor - Mackenzie Mr Hayden Henderson-Everil, Tutor - Tatham Mr Andrew Laing, Tutor - Pascoe Mr Thabiso Nkabinde, Tutor - Baines 07 A Leadership & Staff SCHOOL PREFECTS: Back Row: Cameron Bird, Murray McDonald, Merrick Pringle Middle Row: Ciaran Furniss, Kura Maswera, Cian Grendon, Stephan Bosch Front Row: Mr Allan Laing, Ryan Thompson, Rector Greg Theron, Matthew Potter, Rev Canon Alan Smedley file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Mr Nhlaka Nzimande, Tutor - Founders Mr Craig Pieterse, Tutor - Baines Mr Justin Randall, Tutor - Farfield Mrs Candice Smith, Tutor - Founders Mr Michael Stead, Tutor - West (left 30/09/13) Mr Karl Swartz, Tutor - Founders Mr Shaun Thompson, Tutor - East Mr Halalisani Xulu, Tutor - West Mr Rodney Zondi, Tutor - Pascoe Mr Sanele Zikhali, Tutor - Mackenzie Mr Michael Simpson, Tutor - West (wef 01/10/13) Mr Murray Daniel, Tutor - Tatham (left 28/02/13) IT SUPPORT Mr Brad Flanegan, BSc (Hons), Network Manager Mr Simon Dottridge, BCom, Snr Network Technician Mr Sbusiso Dlamini, Network Technician Mrs Naveshree Baldavoo, IT Support Secretary / ICDL Co-ordinator / Test Supervisor (left 31/03/13) Mrs Gwynaeth van Aardt, IT Support Secretary / ICDL Co-ordinator / Test Supervisor (wef 01/07/13) SPORTS Mr Graeme Calway, UCB Level III (Cricket), Sports co-ordinator, EGD, Tutor - Tatham SUPPORT STAFF Mrs Zanele Ndlovu, Life Sciences Lab Mr Sipho Zikhali, Life Sciences Lab Mr Raymond Duma, Science Lab Miss Patience Ngubo, Visual Arts Centre MEDICAL OFFICERS AND SANATORIUM Dr Jonathan Cook, MA (FA), HDE, MB, BCH Dip. for Med (SA), School Doctor Sr Joanne McMillan, SRN (Dip), RM (Dip), RCN (Dip), B. Tech: Primary Health, Snr. Sanatorium Sister Sr Leisa Albertyn, SRN (Dip), RM (Dip), Community Health, Psychiatry and Midwifery, Sanatorium Sister Sr Lauren Richmond, SRN (Dip), RM (Dip), Pharm (Cert), Occupational Health (Cert), Sanatorium Sister Mrs Noelene Burton, Sanatorium Accounts Clerk Leadership & Staff k ARCHIVES Mrs Robyn Gruijters, Archivist BOOKROOM AND TRANSPORT Ms Shy Bhugwandeen, Bookroom Manageress / Transport Clerk BURSARY Mr Charlie Burton, BCompt (Hons), CPA (SA), Bursar Mrs Susan Dawson, Assistant Bursar (Admin) Mrs Pushpa Ramharack, Bursar’s Personal Assistant / Debtors ’ Controller Miss Rita Bhugwandeen, Cashier /Accounts Clerk Mrs Sheena White, Debtors Clerk Mrs Pushpa Govender, Photocopier /Clerk Mrs Sue Walker, Accounts Clerk Mr Poobie Govender, Creditors Controller CONFERENCES AND FACILITIES Miss Mandy Rouillard, Conference & Facilities Co-ordinator DATA ADMINISTRATION Mrs Dorathea van Rooyen, Data Administrator ESTATE / MAINTENANCE Mr Miles Alexander, Operations Manager Mr Danie Griessel, Workshop & Maintenance Manager Mr Gunther Heynecke, Grounds Manager Mr Russell Stickley, Assistant Maintenance Manager Mrs Amanda Jarvis, Gardens Manager HOUSEKEEPING Ms Kelly Royden-Turner, Housekeeping Manageress & Safety Officer HUMAN RESOURCES Mrs Nancy Rouillard, Human Resources Manager Mrs Cindy Freese, Human Resources Secretary / Admin Clerk KITCHEN Mrs Carol Holyoak, Project Manager Mrs Juliette Bricked, Catering Manager Mr Jonathan Kalika, Catering Manager Mr Simon Xulu, Storeman file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] LAUNDRY Mr Neil Akal, Laundry Manager MARKETING Mrs Melanie Wester, Director of Marketing (left 31/03/13) Mr Murray Witherspoon, Director of Marketing (wef 1/04/13) Mrs Colleen Cook, Marketing Officer (wef 1/05/13) Mrs Sian McDowell, Admissions Officer Mrs Catherine Maitin-Casalis, Marketing Secretary (wef 1/03/13) MANAGEMENT SECRETARIES Mrs Sally Berriman, Personal Assistant to the Rector Mrs Kathy Butcher, Secretary to the Rector & Board of Governors Mrs Katriona Russell, Secretary to the Deputy Rector (Pupils) / Snr Master / Sport Mrs Cillia van Wyk, Secretary to the Deputy Rector (Academic) Mrs Joanna Hume, Secretary to the Chaplain & Counsellor MEDIA CENTRE Mrs Lynn van der Vegte, Librarian Mrs Colleen Cook, Assistant Librarian (left 30/04/13) Mrs Leigh Kotze, Assistant Librarian (wef 01/05/13) Ms Zanele Mchunu, Library Assistant Mr Phlorian Mnikathi, Media Centre Mr Simon Zondi, Media Centre MUSIC SCHOOL Mrs Leigh Kotze, Secretary / Theatre Clerk (left 30/04/13) Mrs Angela Jonsson, Secretary / Theatre Clerk (wef 01/05/13) OLD BOYS’ CLUB AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Canon Fred Pitout, Old Boys’ Club Secretary, Community Partnerships Manager Mrs Michelle Huntley, Personal Assistant to Canon Fred Pitout Mr Nkosi Mahlaba, Community Partnerships SECURITY Mrs Caroline Higginson, Security Analyst TELEPHONISTS Mrs Shakila Moola, Snr Telephonist Mrs Rose Mlotshwa, Telephonist TRADE-INN Mrs Trish Akal, Manageress Mrs Ronel van der Berg, Assistant Ms Roxanne Akal, Assistant (wef 01/11/13) TUCKSHOP Mrs Champie Narassa, Manageress Mrs Varsha Pillay, Assistant Manageress TRANSPORT Mr Kees Grinwis, Manager (left 30/09/13) Mr Gordon Rubidge, Manager (wef 01/11/2013) Mr Robert Duma, Driver Mr Denver Kalika, Driver Mr Eric Ngcobo, Driver Mr Albert Moletsane, Driver Mr Thula Sikakane, Driver Mr Cornelius Sithole, Driver 09 A Leadership & Staff STAFF LEAVING Quring 2013 we said farewell to two members of Staff who had served at Michaelhouse for less than ten years: Mr Linda Linda (Economics) and Mrs Carlien Walters (Drama and Afrikaans). Intern Staff members Mr Murray Daniel, Mr Michael Stead, Mr Hayden Henderson-Everill, Mr Nhlaka Nzimande and Mr Quinton Moolman also left during the course of the year. We bade farewell once again to Mr Peter Dennyson who made his teaching expertise as a locum available to the English Department for much of 2013. TRIBUTES TO STAFF LEAVING AFTER MORE THAN TEN YEARS’ SERVICE Mrs Melanie Wester Written by Mr Charlie Burton It is often said that there are two unavoidable issues in life: death and taxes. In the life of an independent school today, there are also two unavoidable needs: Marketing and Finance. For some people in independent schools, each of these needs is equally unpalatable, so it is appropriate that the Bursar has the privilege of paying tribute to the Director of Marketing. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Melanie commenced employment at Michaelhouse in June 2003 as the Marketing Officer, at a time when the school was aware that Jan (Marketing Director) and Slash Esprey were thinking of retirement. Jan Esprey had laid solid foundations for marketing and had set the school on a path towards a more professional and effective marketing strategy and delivery. Following Jan’s retirement, it was a very simple decision to appoint the well qualified and accomplished Melanie Wester as the new Director of Marketing. In the Rector’s appointment letter for Melanie as Director of Marketing, he stated: “I would like to take this opportunity to wish you every success in the new position and I have every confidence in your ability to take the department to new heights.” Melanie certainly did take the Marketing Department to new heights as she quickly set about revolutionising it with immediate and tangible increases in professionalism, enthusiasm and efficiency. Clear and decisive marketing plans were drawn up and implemented. Pupil numbers rose from 536 in 2005 to an over-subscribed 562 in 2013, with ever- growing increases in annual registrations and resultant fierce competition for places at Michaelhouse. Melanie’s written and spoken words were of the highest order and her organisational ability (sports festivals, prospective and current parents’ days/evenings, New Boys’ Day, Orientation Weekend, The Chronicle, the compilation of the school’s corporate ID manual and “protector of the brand”) remain legendary. Melanie has accumulated an astonishing amount of marketing data which is readily available for trend analyses and other purposes required by the school. Melanie has been an absolute professional and has always had the best interests of Michaelhouse at heart. She has shown dogged determination, tempered at the right times by a dash of diplomacy. They say that behind every successful man there is a successful woman. Whilst the Rector has deservedly enjoyed the limelight, there can be no doubt that the facts, figures and support given by Melanie to the Rector over the years has ensured that Michaelhouse has consistently had the “full House” sign up. Melanie’s role at Michaelhouse was not confined to Marketing and Admissions only. She served on the EC Forum (employment equity) and the job grading committee; was a key participant in the Vision 2015 project; was the protector of the Michaelhouse brand; and was a valuable member of Management. Melanie’s ability to provide Management with an alternative view and opinion, often informed by parents, prospective parents and boys, was invaluable. As the sole female member of Management, Melanie ensured that there was a fair amount of “whizz, crackle and pop” at Management meetings. Melanie resigned and officially left Michaelhouse on 30 June 2013, and the lasting memory will be of a lady who had an incredible passion and love for Michaelhouse, who gave her all for the well-being of the School and went way beyond the call of duty on a daily basis. I am aware of the personal sacrifices made by Melanie for Michaelhouse. Michaelhouse is deeply indebted to Melanie for what can only be described as a job excellently done. Farewell, Melanie, and thank you. 10 Leadership & Staff Mr Kees Grinwis Written by Mr Charlie Burton I have always wondered why we pronounce KEES as CASE. I think the latter is more appropriate as it reminds me of the tractor, but nevertheless it is to Kees Grinwis, our Transport Manager, that we say farewell. Kees’ association with Michaelhouse has been anything but short. Kees was employed at Michaelhouse in 1986 as a mechanic. In 1989, he decided to seek work experience elsewhere and travelled to the UK, where he was employed by an automotive engineering company. It gave Kees the opportunity to work on prestigious cars like Rolls Royce and Bentley. Kees returned to Michaelhouse at the end of 1989 for a short while, but left again in 1992 to work at the Rosetta Garage - perhaps the entrepreneurial bug had bitten. With a great deal more varied experience under his belt, Kees was re-employed at Michaelhouse in 1994 and was promoted to Transport Manager. Between 1994 and 1999, Kees explored a number of business ventures before returning to the position of Transport Manager. His re- employment on so many occasions is a tribute to the quality of the man. On first meeting Kees, you can be forgiven for thinking that you are dealing with a no-nonsense, serious type of guy. No doubt Kees has been upset by people who’ve been reckless with his vehicles, but describing him as serious, no- nonsense and grumpy couldn’t be further from the truth. After interacting with Kees for a very short time, you’re bound to experience a smiling, caring man who’s always willing to help. There are so many reports of Kees going the extra mile in both his work and private lives. Kees seems to have done something that few of us are able to get right - he has found the right balance. At work, he file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] has been meticulous, loyal and dedicated. Sheena White, his twin sister, says Kees is the cleanest mechanic she knows. I am not sure if Sheena only knows one mechanic, but the state of the workshops suggests that Sheena’s views are accurate. Kees has always been fair, compassionate and supportive of his staff and I have no doubt that they will miss him as their Manager. Kees has involved himself fully in School life, the local and broader communities, and no doubt his circle of friends extends far and wide. He has been a dynamo on the squash courts playing for Michaelhouse in the Midlands Squash League, representing us in every league from second to seventh - we assume that with growing age has come more wisdom which has allowed him to dominate the T. Kees has appeared in various local fund-raising productions and in at least three of four Stars performances at Michaelhouse. Who can forget the sight of Messrs de Klerk, van Rooyen, Grinwis and others dressed in tutus and receiving a standing ovation for their ballet performance on the Michaelhouse theatre stage? Kees is well known for his singing - it’s a pity that he hasn’t entered the SA Idols contest. Along with his usual “partner in crime”, Nancy Rouillard, Kees has kept us entertained in song at many functions. That boyish, somewhat mischevious glint in his eye as he belts out a number with Nancy says it all. We are grateful for the fond and fun memories he has given us. Kees leaves Michaelhouse for the fourth time to take up the position of Operations Manager at a large complex in Umhlanga Rocks. Although we would love to have him stay here, we nevertheless wish him and his family every happiness and success. r i “The academic HODs and I remain convinced that our primary goal is an excellent education and great results are merely a by-product of such an excellent education. So instead of chasing distinctions, we are pushing ourselves hard to provide a truly excellent education for all boys of all abilities. ” Mr Alan Adlington Corfield, Deputy Rector, Academics L j A Leadership & Staff Mrs Naveshree Baldavoo Written by Mr Brad Flanegan It’s like the end of an era: Navesh, Simon Dottridge, Julie Flanegan and myself have been together for 11 and a bit years, so the departure of a core team player can be quite traumatic. A feather in her cap is that just about everybody at Michaelhouse, from boys to Admin and Academic Staff, has interacted with, or been assisted by Navesh in her time here. Never once have I ever received a complaint about her work, behaviour or attitude. She has conducted herself in a proficient, friendly and professional manner ever since she arrived as a wide-eyed school leaver. Navesh does, however, have some weaknesses: filing has never been a strong point and a tidy stockroom isn’t her forte. She also lets you know in no uncertain terms that she never has to be asked twice to do something, so don’t ask her if something has been done, you can safely assume that it has. From this, you can ascertain that her pros completely outweigh her cons. We wish Navesh all the best for the future. Mrs Katriona Russell Written by Mr Allan Laing Katriona joined Michaelhouse in February 2001 as Secretary to the Chaplain and School Counsellor. Some time later she became the Secretary to the Deputy Rector - dealing with Pupils and the Senior Masters, as well as Sport and Academics. Right from the start Katriona proved to be efficient and professional in all she did. She developed many template documents that will be used for a long time to come. Her office administration has been outstanding and she has proved her efficiency time and time again. Katriona will also be missed in her job as coordinator of the DRO notices that are published on a daily basis, often with a smiley face attached. We wish her all the best in her retirement. Hopefully, now she will have more time to spend with her grandchildren. “In 1928 Michaelhouse pioneered the 3-2-1 scrum formation against DHS, much to the disapproval of the Natal Mercury at the time. ” Derby Day, South African Schoolboy Rugby, Laugh It Off Publishers, 2008 file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] J 12 Leadership & Staff k * 4.' - v Miss Patience (Thanda) Ngubo Written by Mrs Robyn Gruijters Thanda has always been a firm believer in the upskilling of adults within our local community and has given many the opportunity to develop and improve their English and life situations. To this end, she has been an integral part of the ABET (Adult Basic Education & Training) Team at Michaelhouse for many years, even going to study a Diploma in Adult Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal to equip herself adequately to teach the adult learners in our area. Thanda was one of the driving forces behind the setting up and implementation of the ABET Programme, and she assisted two afternoons a week, with both the theory and practical lessons. Her encouragement and support for those in the Michaelhouse community has seen our ABET class grow. Her dedication to the programme as well as the nurturing and caring she has shown to the adult learners in the class have earned her widespread popularity and respect. We will miss her and her contribution very much. OBITUARIES Mr Deon Royappen Mr Deon Royappen died suddenly and tragically on 15 August. He leaves behind his wife, Asha, and his two young sons, Nivan and Kivar. He contributed much during his short time at Michaelhouse and will be sorely missed. Tributes to Mr Deon Royappen by the Squash fraternity A gentle giant, Deon was somebody I knew firstly on the squash court and later as a friend. Deon was a remarkably humble man with a wonderfully easy-going manner. He Mr Deon Royappen was affable and non-judgemental, always had a kind and supportive word and was never critical of others. I have never seen a person hit a squash ball better than Deon, with grace and ease. He was the envy of anybody who saw him play, and the way in which he played the game and conducted himself on and off the court was an example to everyone. Deon always had time for others and was willing to share his skills and expertise both in the classroom and on the squash court. D’s, as he was affectionately known, was one of the most gentle, caring and considerate people I have known, and I will miss him very much. Written by Mr Derek Redfern — Squash team and parent A real gentle giant of a man - truly a gentleman in all he did, be it teaching, playing squash or tutoring in Pascoe House. The Jesters credo - “gentleman of the court” - could not be more appropriate. Written by Mr Peter Huntley - Head of Pascoe and Squash Deon’s quiet demeanour and hearty laugh will be sorely missed. Nothing was too much for Deon; he would approach all tasks with the same enthusiasm and he carried out his duties in a dignified and professional manner. I never heard Deon raise his voice or become flustered or irritated. His humility and strength of character were the true mark of a gentleman. Written by Mr Bailey Coxon - HOD Mathematics 13 A Leadership & Staff Mr Royappen was a phenomenal man, someone you could look up to and a role model to all because of the values he possessed. A great man that this world was lucky to have, he always had time for you and was always smiling. It was a privilege to know him and we’ll miss him forever. Written by Nic van der Bos - Pascoe, A Block From the moment I met Mr Royappen, I found him to be a very kind-hearted man who always had positive things to say. Because of this, and the way he conducted himself on the court, I would consider him a role model of mine. He was a talented man, but more importantly, he was a good man on and off the court. Written by Luke Stevens - Farfield, A Block Mr Royappen was a man of character, one of the happiest men I’ve known. He always had a smile on his face, no matter what. He was one of the most talented squash players and if you were beating him at any point, that was shortlived. He is the only person I have known who could make the ball roll out of the comers on every attempt. Written by Kenyon Smith - East B Block file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Raphael Bhengu Raphael came to Michaelhouse in March 2007. He was employed as a general handyman in the Maintenance Department, beginning in the maintenance stores and then moving on as a handyman. Raphael had different skills and was well known for fixing everything from fridges to air-conditioners. He was an active member of the Balgowan Health and Social Development Committee and assisted with the electrical work during the construction of the St Raphael’s Care Centre. He passed away tragically and leaves his wife, Thoka, and two young children. URaphael wafika eMichaelhouse ngenyanga kaNdasa ngonyaka ka-2007. Waqashwa njengo-handyman emnyangweni wakwaMaintencance, waqala ngokusebenza emaintenance store wabe esedlulela ekusebenzeni njengo-handyman. URaphael wayeyindoda enamakhono ehlukene futhi aziwa ngokukhanda amafriji kanye nama-air conditioners. Wayeyilunga eliqavile leBalgowan Health and Social Development futhi waba nesandla kakhulu esiza ngomsebenzi kagesi ngesikhathi kwakhiwa iSt Raphael’s Care Cente. Wadlula emhlabeni ngokuzuma, washiya umkakhe, uThoko, kanye nabantwana ababili. Written by Canon Fred Pitout NEW STAFF During 2013, we welcomed the following new Staff to Michaelhouse: Mr Greg Theron (Rector) Mr Jonathan Smith (English Department) Mrs Tanith von Meyer (English Department) Mr Chris Waldburger (English Department) Mrs Asha Royappen (HOD Drama) Mrs Cathy Maitin-Casalis (Marketing Secretary) Mrs Gwynaeth van Aardt (IT Secretary) Mrs Angela Jonsson (Music Secretary) Mr Gordon Rubidge (Transport Manager) Teacher interns Mrs Candice Smith Mr Andrew Duncan Mr Andrew Laing Mr Sanele Zikhali Mr Quinton Moolman Mr Michael Simpson INTERN PROGRAMME Master in charge: Mr Michael Schwartz “To grow the next generation of great teachers for our School and our country.” The Intern Programme continues to go from strength to strength. The aim of the programme remains to develop excellent teachers for South Africa. The programme caters for different types of students, but they all leave Michaelhouse as capable and confident teachers who are well equipped to start teaching at any school in South Africa. The following new Interns joined us in 2013: Andrew Duncan, Andrew Laing, Candice Smith, Michael Simpson and Thabiso Nkabinde Each Intern is assigned a mentor teacher in a subject specific department. The role of the mentor is to assist the Intern on the quest to becoming qualified teachers. Besides their studies and leading academic lessons, each Intern is assigned to a House and they will also coach sport throughout the year. A number of Interns completed the programme in 2013. Mr Quintin Moolman has joined Thomas More where he will finish his studies. Mr Ian Crawford joined Michaelhouse on a part time basis, teaching IT to the juniors. Mrs Candice Smith finished her PGCE and his now working and studying in the Art Department. Mr Hayden Henderson-Everill is now a member of the Cowan House staff. Mr Nhlaka Nzimande has gone overseas for a few years to pursue his teaching career. Mr Michael Stead has taken up a teaching post at Kingswood in Grahamstown for 2014. Mr Thabiso Nkabinde went back to UJ to complete his studies. Mr Murray Daniel left to join the private sector. The group of interns in 2013 was 17 strong. They all made a valuable contribution to all aspects of School life. For 2014, it is envisaged that the group will remain the same size. 14 WINE OF ORIGIN VOOR PAARDEBERG SOUTH AFRICA [email protected] D Facebook www.vondelingwines.co.za Q Twitter A Annual Reports An important part of the ongoing development of facilities at Michaelhouse are funds which are provided by the Michaelhouse Trust. The School has been well served by far sighted Old Boys, interested parents and a host of donors who contribute to the Chairman’s Club Fund which is administered by an enthusiastic group of Trustees under the file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Chairmanship of Mr Jamie Inglis. THE MICHAELHOUSE TRUST Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2012 Investment markets Equity markets showed good returns in 2012, although it was a year of two halves. In the first half of the year, markets were essentially flat as Europe slid back into recession, economic data from the US remained unconvincing and emerging market economies, particularly Brazil, entered a soft patch. If there was one single inflection point in 2012, it was a statement in July by Mario Draghi, the new head of the European Central Bank, that Europe would do “whatever it takes” to keep the Euro together. This statement was accompanied by the announcement of a number of policies which gave commitment to the conviction. Probably the most important of these was the announcement that the ECB would enter the market to buy bonds of distressed sovereigns in order to ensure they retained market access. The impact of this was extraordinary: over the rest of the year, European bonds rallied strongly; for example, the yield on Italian and Irish bonds declined from over 6% to 4.4%, whilst the yield on Greek bonds declined from 25% to 12%. In the US, monetary policy remained highly stimulatory. There were renewed phases of quantitative easing and for the first time, these were targeted at asset back securities issued by the principal mortgage lending parastatals. Gradually, the impact began to be felt and clear-cut gains were registered in key economic indicators such as housing starts and levels of employment. Given a more stable economic backdrop and improving confidence, equity markets performed strongly in the second half of 2012, as can be seen from the following table: Movement ($) Jan - June % Movement ($) July - Dec % Movement ($) 2012 % MSCI UK 1.1 9.6 10.8 MSCI Europe 2.7 16.9 19.9 MSCI US 8.2 4.9 13.5 MSCI World 6.3 9.7 16.5 MSCI Emerging 4.0 14.2 18.7 In South Africa, the economic backdrop, if anything, deteriorated during the year. Declining commodity prices as well as mining strikes put pressure on the country’s balance of payments, with the widening deficit on the current account increasingly, and more precariously, funded by foreign inflows into the local bond and equity markets. The country’s growth rate was revised down from 3.5% to 2.7% and government revenues were adversely affected. Consumer demand, however, remained buoyant 16 Annual Reports k. and the differing fortunes of the mining and industrial sectors of the economy were reflected in the price movements on the JSE: Move (%) (R) JSE Resources Index +3.1 JSE Financial Index +37.8 JSE Industrial Index +44.5 JSE All Share Index +26.7 The Rand continued to depreciate during the year, declining from R8.07 to the USD at 31 December 2011 to R8.50 at 31 December 2012. Sentiment towards the currency was adversely affected by such incidents as the Marikana debacle and the deterioration in the current account of the balance of payments. Investment performance The Trust’s investment manager, Melville Douglas Investment Management (Pty) Ltd, achieved a return of 25.2% for the Trust in the year to 31 December 2012. This compares with the return in the benchmark set by Trustees of 23.2% and the median return of 20.4% recorded in the Alexander Forbes SA Large Fund Manager Watch Survey for 2012. Good stock picking was largely responsible for the incremental return achieved by the Trust’s investment manager in 2012. Distributions to the College In view of Michaelhouse’s continued excellent financial results, the Trustees and the Michaelhouse Board of Governors took a decision in the best interests of the Trust and the College to reduce the budgeted income distribution from the Trust of R2 571 483 to R1 765 641 for 2012. Trustees adapted the MIT formula for distributions to Michaelhouse for 2012 as follows: 80% x the prior year file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] distribution increased by the average monthly CPI in the preceding year, plus 20% x 5% of the smoothed average market value of the fund in the preceding year (2010’s average monthly CPI and smoothed average market value were used for 2012’s income distribution calculation). This change in calculation method was hoped to provide a consistent annual increase in distribution to the College whilst ensuring that there was acceptable capital growth in the fund. Using 201 l’s average monthly CPI of 4.98% and 201 l’s smoothed average market value of R51 799 873, the income to be distributed to Michaelhouse was calculated and approved by Trustees in the amount of R2 677 633 (2012: R2 571 483). 2012 2011 2010 R R R Net income for the year before distribution 1 766 975 1 290 726 1 291 271 Distribution to Michaelhouse (1 766 975) (1 617 099) (970 000) (Excess distribution)/retained earnings for the year ( 326 373) 321 271 Realised capital surpluses distributed 5 102 Retained earnings at beginning of year 321 271 Retained earnings at end of year 321 271 Net income for the year before distribution increased by 37%. This increase reflects the benefit of significant cash inflows from Michaelhouse (contingency reserve, core cash resources and a project specific donation) and reflects the changed asset allocation implemented by the new fund manager. Points of interest include the following: • Dividend income increased by 44.3%, due in the main to the new fund manager’s good stock picking reported on earlier. • Interest income increased by 44.7% largely as a result of a Trustees’ decision to encourage greater investment in property and bonds, but greatly assisted by the additional funds from Michaelhouse available for investment. • Expenditure increased by R232 810 or 76.5% over 2011. The major increases were as follows: net investment income allocated to Saint Michael’s Diocesan College (Michaelhouse) increased by R168 083 after cash inflows during the year for investment of R9 750 000; management fees increased by R65 762 with greater investment activity by the new fund manager. 17 A Annual Reports College utilisation of distributions received Income distributed by the Trust to the College has been utilised as follows: 2012 2011 2010 R R R Unexpended income - beginning of the year - 970 000 1 021 033 Income from The Michaelhouse Trust 1 766 975 1 617 099 970 000 1 766 975 2 587 099 1 991 033 Capital expenditure and work in progress (1 766 975) (2 587 099) (1 021 033) Unexpended income - end of the year - 970 000 Trust income distributed to the College for capital expenditure has been applied to the following projects: 2012 2011 2010 R R R Accommodation in Houses 1 766 975 2 587 099 Staff accommodation 1 021 033 1 766 975 2 587 099 1 021 033 “Accommodation in Houses” was a large building project with the aim of returning boys to their Houses from the VIth Form accommodation. The project included upgrading English/IT teaching facilities which attractively and effectively formalised the Pennington Quad, converting the VIth Form facility into four new classrooms which provided the Afrikaans Department with a home of their own. Founders, East, West and Mackenzie were also extended as part of the overall project. Mrs Julie Flanegan in one of the newly upgraded IT facilities. Annual Reports k BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS Written by Mr Charlie Burton Qt takes a dedicated, enthusiastic and competent team to maintain the School’s facilities in world-class condition and for this we extend our sincere thanks to the Operations Manager, Mr Miles Alexander, every Support Department file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Manager and all support staff. We also record our thanks to the Chairman of the Buildings, Grounds and Environmental Committee, Mr Gordon Bruins, who has added a new dimension to meetings and who brings his considerable experience in a range of areas to bear on the School activities for which his Committee is responsible. We have become accustomed over the past few years to many building developments at Michaelhouse. 2013 was no different with the continuing upgrade of ablutions in the Houses, and accordingly, Baines, Pascoe and Tatham were completed. Unfortunate circumstances during the year resulted in the need to build additional staff accommodation, to be called Sarsden Views 3 and 4. Work on this commenced towards the end of the year, and as a result, the ablution upgrades for Founders (commenced in December 2013) and Mackenzie have had to be deferred to 2014. We were pleased to see the completion of the swimming pool seating and shade project along with the inclusion of a new fence around the swimming pool precinct. The result adds a bit of beauty to the area around the pool and our thanks go to the School Architect, Mr Nick Grice, for his design, patience and perseverance. Other projects included an upgrade of the Centenary Centre (Mrs Amanda Jarvis’ talent was again much in evidence and was greatly appreciated); ongoing upgrades of classrooms; the replacement of curtains and mattresses in Houses; an extension of the security camera system; and the purchase of various necessary items of equipment for Estates. Included in the latter was equipment to enable us to increase the speed of the outfield on the School ovals. Planned capital expenditure for 2014 amounts to nearly R12 million, with the most significant items being as follows: the completion of Sarsden Views 3 and 4; Founders and Mackenzie ablution upgrades; staff housing upgrades; the replacement of tired equipment in the kitchen, laundry and estates; four new vehicles in accordance with our vehicle replacement policy; and significant expenditure on energy-saving devices. The Board of Governors have approved a very well balanced list of items which take every aspect of the School’s life into account. The estate, buildings and all facilities are critical features of a boy’s life at Michaelhouse and are integral to the comfort and happiness of all of the Michaelhouse employees who live here. We have unlimited beauty around us and we have world-class grounds, buildings and facilities. Top image: The newly extended under cover seating at the swimming pool. Bottom Image: The Centenary Centre remains an elegant multipurpose facility. 19 A Prize Giving nr\ During the course of each year, two events are traditionally held to recognise academic endeavour and to celebrate excellence. Prize Giving, which takes place in the first quarter, acknowledges academic performances by boys during the latter half of the preceding year; while Speech Day, now held annually in the Indoor Centre during the third quarter, acknowledges academic, cultural and sporting contributions by boys at Michaelhouse. PRIZE GIVING - 21 FEBRUARY 2013 Address by the Rector, Mr Greg Theron Qood morning, Michaelhouse. Great schools are built on a number of different things. First and foremost are the things they stand for: their values. Next is how the present body of scholars at the School embraces these values. Do they internalise them and accept them as part of their lives? Another important part is how they remember these as Old Boys. Do they keep them up when they leave school, or in our case, when they walk down Warriors’ Walk one last time to go out into the world? A part of our values is that we are aspirational. We keep asking whether we are the best we can be. And we expect you to ask the same of yourselves. Are you doing all you can to be the best you can be? This is particularly true in academic endeavours; which is why we are here today. Clearly, if we look at the successes of last year, many of you have taken this to heart. Well done and thank you. But I must add a warning here. Only you and God will know whether you have achieved these marks by trying your best. Some of you may be getting an award this morning having not tried particularly hard at all. The opposite is also true. Some may have worked to the best of their ability and will not receive an award this morning. Please know that that is an unfortunate part of your life. But know that your considerable reward is still coming. Please don’t stop persevering and working. Moving on to the bright light of celebrating academic achievement this morning. I hope it has been gained through hard work, and if it hasn’t, I hope to see some of you up here next year with even better results. I hope this morning inspires you. We start by acknowledging the efforts of the class of 2012, who as you know, gained the best results ever seen by a file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Matric year group at Michaelhouse. Let’s give them a hand. SUBJECT PRIZES JOHN W HAMILTON SCHOLARSHIPS Awarded to the top boy in each Block in 2012 who does not currently hold an academic scholarship: B Block: Dominic Pretorius C Block: Luvuyo Khuzwayo D Block: Nicholas van Niekerk E Block: Mkuzo Kuwani SIR HENRY STRAKOSCH SCHOLARSHIPS Awarded to the top two boys in each Block for the best marks achieved in Mathematics and Science in 2012: B Block: Steven Clowes and Dominic Pretorius C Block: Gianluca Truda and Robert Perrott D Block: Ben Adey and Nicholas Anderson E Block: Rowan Mockler and Armin Prinsloo E BLOCK GABRIELLE MASSEY PRIZES Luke Bayett, Alessio de Luca, Christopher Dowsley, Carlisle Hartman, Sean Joubert, William Lister-James AFRIKAANS First in Subject: Salmon Janse van Rensburg, Armin Prinsloo and Marcel van Niekerk-Edwards Diligence: Thomas Dean, Matthew Hoar, Matthew Kiln, Cuan Macnab-Holding, Rowan Mockler and Joshua Winter 20 Prize Giving k. Second Prefect, Matthew Potter with Rector Greg Theron, Deputy Rector Paul Fleischack, Guest of Honour, Mrs Jackie Thompson and Senior Prefect, Ryan Thompson at the Prize Giving ceremony. ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES First in Subject: Rowan Mockler and Armin Prinsloo Diligence: Callum Deeble, Dante Gutu, Matthew Hoar, Matthew Kiln and Joshua Winter ENGLISH First in Subject: Angelo Lissoni Diligence: Thomas Erskine, Fergus Hathorn, Matthew Hoar, Matthew Kiln, Scott Norris-Jones and James Redfern FRENCH First in Subject: Mkuzo Kuwani Diligence: Dante Gutu and Alex Sickmueller HUMAN AND SOCIAL SCIENCES First in Subject: Nicholas Forshaw Diligence: Jason Boulle, Matthew Kiln, William Lister- James, Rowan Mockler and James Redfern MATHEMATICS First in Subject: James Overmars Diligence: Matthew Baynes, Fergus Hathorn, Tristan Herwood, Angelo Lissoni, David Pachonick and Armin Prinsloo NATURAL SCIENCE First in Subject: Armin Prinsloo Diligence: Graham Davies, Dante Gutu, Matthew Kiln, Rowan Mockler and David Pachonick MERIT CERTIFICATES (Aggregate over 80%) Matthew Armstrong, Nicholas Forshaw, Ross Nalson, Christopher Broadley, Dante Gutu, Scott Norris-Jones, Keagan Chasenski, Matthew Kiln, James Overmars, Graham Davies, Mkuzo Kuwani, Armin Prinsloo, Callum Deeble, Angelo Lissoni, Gerhard Serton, Christopher Dowsley, William Lyle, Alex Sickmueller, Thomas Edley, Rowan Mockler and Marcel van Niekerk-Edwards Third in Block: Mkuzo Kuwani Second in Block: Rowan Mockler First in Block: Armin Prinsloo 21 A Prize Giving D BLOCK GABRIELLE MASSEY PRIZES Alexander Hayman, Richard Johnsen, Kurt Martin, Dalingcebo Maseko and James Smith AFRIKAANS First in Subject: Zander Prinsloo Most Improved Mark: Dasyan Nair file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Diligence: Rory Allan, Geoffrey Blore, Thomas Greig, Samuel Jarvis and Dasyan Nair ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES First in Subject: Dasyan Nair Most Improved Mark: Mogale Makgekgenene Diligence: Wesley Biggs, Thomas Brink, Thomas Greig, Matthew Menear and Justin Miller ENGLISH First in Subject: Nicholas van Niekerk Most Improved Mark: Thomas Greig Diligence: Duncan Boyes, Thomas Brink, Thomas Greig, John Haines and Shingirai Vambe FRENCH First in Subject: Victor von Rosty-Forgach Most Improved Mark: Ibukunoluwa Shonibare Diligence: Devan Cowley HUMAN AND SOCIAL SCIENCES First in Subject: Christian Botha Most Improved Mark: Samuel Jarvis Diligence: Geoffrey Brink, Thomas Greig, Nicholas Harrison, Daniel Roberts and Bruce Rouillard ISIZULU First in Subject: Thandokuhle Mnguni Most Improved Mark: Siyanda Mazibuko Diligence: Michael McCarthy MATHEMATICS First in Subject: Ben Adey Most Improved Mark: David Maritz Diligence: Joshua Cullinan, Alexander Hayman, Charles Houston, Pule Ngwenya, Michael Riddell and Shaun Tratschler NATURAL SCIENCE First in Subject: Ben Adey Most Improved Mark: Samuel Jarvis Diligence: Matthew Menear, Justin Miller, Bruce Rouillard, Jordan Sesink Clee and Blake Springate MERIT CERTIFICATES (Aggregate over 80%) Ben Adey, Thomas Brink, Dalingcebo Maseko, Nicholas Anderson, Dante Ceronio, Michael McCarthy, Ryan Anderson, Daryn Flanegan, Thandokuhle Mnguni, Richard Beckett, Frank Goble, Zander Prinsloo, Wesley Biggs, Thomas Greig, Blake Springate, Geoffrey Blore, Nicholas Harrison, Nicholas van Niekerk, Duncan Boyes, Charles Houston, Victor von Rosty-Forgach and Christian Botha Most Improved Aggregate: Mogale Makgekgekene Third in Block: Charles Houston Second in Block: Nicholas van Niekerk First in Block: Ben Adey C BLOCK GABRIELLE MASSEY PRIZES Kingsley Corbett, Matthew Davies, James Hadley-Grave, James Hallier and Gianluca Truda ACCOUNTANCY First in Subject: Angelos Geranmayeh Diligence: Nicholas Egberink and Lorenzo Scribante AFRIKAANS First in Subject: Aidan Friend Most Improved Mark: James Hadley-Grave Diligence: Alasdair Bruce, Kingsley Corbett, James Laidlaw and Angus Usher COMPUTER APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY First in Subject: Khulekani Zungu Diligence: Murray Church DRAMATIC ARTS First in Subject: Angelos Geranmayeh Most Improved Mark: James Hallier Diligence: James Hadley-Grave ECONOMICS First in Subject: Robert Lee and James Quin Diligence: James Hadley-Grave, Luvuyo Khuzwayo, Henri Strydom and Gregory Vogel file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] ENGINEERING GRAPHICS AND DESIGN First in Subject: Cameron Hampson Most Improved Mark: James Pearson Diligence: Dale Tratschler ENGLISH First in Subject: Gianluca Truda Most Improved Mark: Patrick Botton Diligence: Brendan Bergs, Steven Harris, Lorenzo Scribante and Matthew Potgieter FRENCH First in Subject: Bryan Hall Most Improved Mark: Joshua Markides Diligence: David Broadley GEOGRAPHY First in Subject: Gregg Gilson Most Improved Mark: Damon Hinchley 22 Prize Giving k. Diligence: Sasha Brook, Cameron Hampson and Helger Pretorius HISTORY First in Subject: Henri Strydom Diligence: James Hallier ISIZULU First in Subject: Mayibongwe Mkhize Most Improved Mark: Tsakani Baloyi Diligence: Juan-Luc Clackworthy INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY First in Subject: Gianluca Truda Diligence: Jonathan Doyle LIFE ORIENTATION First in Subject: Gianluca Truda LIFE SCIENCES First in Subject: Gianluca Truda Most Improved Mark: Lorian Douglas-Dufresne Diligence: Douglas Byrne, James Laidlaw, Robert Perrott and Kyle van Greunen ADVANCED PROGRAMME MATHEMATICS First in Subject: Gianluca Truda Diligence: Angelos Geranmayeh and James Laidlaw MATHEMATICS First in Subject: Michael Schram Most Improved Mark: Gary Porter Diligence: Sasha Brook, Benjamin Crow, Mayibongwe Mkhize, Robert Perrott and Jason Schwegmann MATHEMATICAL LITERACY First in Subject: Matthew Nuttall-Smith Diligence: Daniel Nuttall-Smith MUSIC First in Subject: Robert Perrott Most Improved Mark: Robert Perrott Diligence: Dillan van der Westhuizen PHYSICAL SCIENCE First in Subject: Gianluca Truda Most Improved Mark: James Laidlaw Diligence: Sasha Brook, Chad Fourie and James Quin VISUAL ARTS First in Subject: Jonathan Doyle Most Improved Mark: Ross Firth Diligence: Kyle Baird MERIT CERTIFICATES (Aggregate over 80%) Luke Baber, Angelos Geranmayeh, Robert Lee, James Quin, Shawn Bailes, Campbell Green, Robert Lynn, Nicholas Richardson, Cameron Chaplin, Cameron Hampson, Bradley Mallett, Jacques Swarts, Simon Cheshire, Steven Harris, Mayibongwe Mkhize, Gianluca Truda, Jonathan Doyle, Luvuyo Khuzwayo, Robert Perrott, Aidan Friend, James Laidlaw and Ross Purbrick Most Improved Aggregate: Kingsley Corbett Third in Block: Angelos Geranmayeh Second in Block: Bradley Mallett First in Block: Gianluca Truda B BLOCK GABRIELLE MASSEY PRIZES Bruce Arnott, Branagth Cooper-Botha, Matthew file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Landsberg, Robert Leclezio and Matthew Potter ACCOUNTANCY First in Subject: Mitchell Bird Most Improved Subject: Robert Leclezio Diligence: Nicholas Schram and Nicholas van der Bos AFRIKAANS First in Subject: Stephan Bosch Most Improved Mark: Aidan Quin Diligence: Branagth Cooper-Botha, Patrick Hughes, Nicholas Schram, Kent Simmons, Jonathan Thurling and Leonard von Stackelberg COMPUTER APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY First in Subject: Christopher Schoeman Most Improved Mark: Connor McMillan Diligence: Connor McMillan DRAMATIC ARTS First in Subject: Dominic Pretorius Most Improved Mark: Sibusiso Mavuso Diligence: Nicholas Stephenson ECONOMICS First in Subject: Steven Clowes Most Improved Mark: Matthew Landsberg Diligence: Stephan Bosch, Christopher Brownlee and Jan-Frederick Krumhoff ENGINEERING GRAPHICS AND DESIGN First in Subject: Nicholas Stembridge and Ryan Thompson Most Improved Mark: Thiroshan Naidoo Diligence: Gareth van Wyk ENGLISH First in Subject: Matthew Potter Most Improved Mark: Stuart Riddell Diligence: Steven Clowes, Jasper Epsom, Kura Maswera, Michael McDonald and Mark Wood FRENCH First in Subject: Anthony Berten Most Improved Mark: Jasper Epsom Diligence: Robert Leclezio 23 A Prize Giving Michael McDonald, recipient of the Michaelhouse IT Award, Recipients of awards at Prize Giving: Bruce Arnott, Kethin Nair pictured here with the Ralfe Cup, and Head ofTatham, Cian and Ben Clark. Grendon with the Academic Shield. GEOGRAPHY First in Subject: Dominic Pretorius Most Improved Mark: Robert Leclezio Diligence: Justin Clarke, Kwezi Majola, Justin Morkel and Hayden Weaver MATHEMATICS PAPER 3 First in Subject: Batebang Mapetla Diligence: Lonwabo Mgoduso MATHEMATICAL LITERACY First in Subject: Benjamin Clark Most Improved Mark: Connor McMillan Diligence: Luke Macnab HISTORY First in Subject: Matthew Jennings Most Improved Mark: Barrie Forrester-Smith Diligence: Mark Wood ISIZULU First in Subject: Phila Mtshali Most Improved Mark: Christopher Schoeman Diligence: Lonwabo Mgoduso INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY First in Subject: Nicholas Schram Most Improved Mark: Nicholas Schram Diligence: Branagth Cooper-Botha and Kwezi Majola LIFE ORIENTATION First in Subject: Dominic Pretorius Most Improved Mark: Kethin Nair LIFE SCIENCES First in Subject: Steven Clowes file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Most Improved Mark: Ayanda Ngcobo Diligence: Christopher Kelland, Michael McDonald and Luke Stevens ADVANCED PROGRAMME MATHEMATICS First in Subject: Dominic Pretorius Most Improved Mark: Nicholas Stephenson Diligence: Mitchell Bird MATHEMATICS First in Subject: Mitchell Bird Most Improved Mark: Kent Simmons Diligence: Christopher Kelland, Merrick Pringle, Stuart Riddell, Nicholas Schram and Kent Simmons MUSIC First in Subject: Joy Mhlanga PHYSICAL SCIENCE First in Subject: Dominic Pretorius Most Improved Mark: Darren de Beer Diligence: Michael Burn, Joshua Geldenhuys, Michael McDonald and Neo Ngcobo VISUAL ARTS First in Subject: Dominic Ferreira Most Improved Mark: Timothy Dommett Diligence: Timothy Dommett MERIT CERTIFICATES (Aggregate over 80%) Mitchell Bird, Jonathan Goschen, Matthew Potter, Stephan Bosch, Sebastian Holzbach, Dominic Pretorius, Michael Burn, Matthew Joubert, Nicholas Schram, Justin Clarke, Kwezi Majola, Ryan Thompson, Steven Clowes, Michael McDonald, Adrian Wolfson, Darren de Beer, Lonwabo Mgoduso and Dylan Zoutendyk Most Improved Aggregate: Seth Banda Third in Block: Steven Clowes Second in Block: Mitchell Bird First in Block: Dominic Pretorius HOUSE ACADEMIC AWARDS Academic Achievement (Fleischer Shield): Tatham Academic Effort (Ralfe Cup): Tatham 24 smg<3 Proud supporter w of Michaelhouse At SMG, perfection is a daily pursuit. From our state of the art dealerships, to our powerful, stylish and luxurious cars, we constantly strive to set new standards in customer satisfaction, quality of service and dynamic efficiency. To pursue perfection, visit your nearest SMG dealership. 031 314 5300 I www.smg.co.za HILLCREST WWW.Smg.CO.Z3 HILLCREST Á Speech Day Chairman of the Board, Mr Gary Ralfe, Guest of Honour, Mr Andrew Zaloumis and Rector Greg Theron after the Speech Day ceremony. SPEECH DAY - 22 AUGUST 2013______Address by the Chairman of the Board, Mr Gary Ralfe Q adies and Gentlemen, we cannot get far in this ceremony of Speech Day without expressing the grief and sympathy of the Michaelhouse community at the double tragedy of Hilton College last week. We do this in the presence of Hilton’s Headmaster, Mr Peter Ducasse, and of Hilton’s Marketing Director, Mr Paul Guthrie. At such dreadful moments we are not two families but the same family. Mr Zaloumis, Guest of Honour, Rector Greg Theron, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Men of Michaelhouse, today we celebrate the first Speech Day of Greg Theron as Rector of Michaelhouse. I have introduced the new Rector on many occasions. Quite apart from Speech Day last year, when I introduced him in absentia, most of the parents would have heard me at special functions of introduction in Pietermaritzburg, Durban and Johannesburg. Old Boys heard me on Old Boys’ Day and then at dinners in Johannesburg and as far afield as Cape Town. So it would be boring for me to make another introduction of the Rector and 1 know that he would also find it embarrassing. I have also run out of new angles to bring into my introductions. There is one occasion that I do want to recall because it goes to the heart of this great School. On the very first Sunday of the first term back in January, I was present in the Chapel for the sacramental installation by Bishop Rubin, Bishop of Natal, of Gregory Frank Theron as the fifteenth Rector of Michaelhouse. It was a long walk for me up that great aisle; a walk that I had not taken during a Chapel service ever since my last year at Michaelhouse in 1962 when I would walk up to the lectern to read the lesson at the beginning and the end of every term. But I was proud to do it again on this occasion so that I could formally present Gregory Theron to the Bishop as the fifteenth Rector of file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Michaelhouse. His installation reminds us that this School was founded as a Christian institution, specifically Anglican: and an abiding feature of any Rectorship is that it should enjoy God’s benediction and blessing. In the course of last year, while we were looking for a new Rector, I was in correspondence with a man who had been Head Boy here at Michaelhouse in the 1990s. His name is Ben Parham. I am deeply moved by the words that he uttered when he gave his speech as Head Boy at Speech Day in 1997. Those words are inscribed on the fountain that is behind the Library and Media Centre. They say: “If a boy walks so tall that he cannot stoop to help those that have 26 Speech Day k. fallen, then he knows nothing of the spirit of Michaelhouse.” I asked Ben in our correspondence how the words had come to him, and he told me that it was while he was in the sanatorium recovering from a rugby head injury and thinking of what he would say on Speech Day that he had this providential inspiration. He wrote: “At the time, they were words from the heart uttered about something I felt strongly enough to speak out about. I never expected the words to have the impact they did, and yet I am happy that they were not just printed in the one Michaelhouse Chronicle and then soon forgotten.” The words go to the heart of the values that the School espouses. And they also reflect the brotherhood that is felt among current and Old Boys. We cannot claim a monopoly of such a brotherhood, but it is a unique feature of schools such as ours. Perhaps it is because we are one of the rare all-boys, all-boarding establishments around the world that we manifest this deep sense of brotherhood. That brotherhood is strongly felt by the outgoing President of the Old Boys’ Club, Owen Skae, and by the incoming President, John Cheshire. John’s father was also a President of the Old Boys’ Club and they are one of the rare Fathers and Sons in our history both to be Presidents. John epitomises the passion for Michaelhouse that makes the Old Boys a fundamental stakeholder of and support for the School. Legally, the Old Boys have no power in the School. Their Club has no writ over the way the School is governed. Those powers belong to our Board of Governors. But it is significant that on the Board of Governors there is, not because we wanted it so but because that is the way that it has turned out, a majority of Old Boys. And only two of those Old Boys sit on the Board ex officio, the President and the President Elect of the Old Boys’ Club. If these Old Boys are Governors, it is because they care so much about their old School that they are prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to be Governors of Michaelhouse. Ben Parham’s words are exemplified by something that really did happen. Some years back in Northern Natal, a long distance-race took place among the local junior schools. Some way before the finishing line the leading boy stumbled and fell. Instead of racing past him to claim the winning position, the runner-up stopped and helped the fallen leader to his feet, allowing him to go on and win the race. Exactly the spirit of Michaelhouse that Ben Parham’s words refer to. The runner-up’s noble deed came to be known about locally in Dundee, not because he advertised it but rather because the winner told his teachers. It came to the knowledge of a philanthropist, anonymous to this day, but who we assume to be of the Dundee district and a Michaelhouse Old Boy; through an intermediary he approached the parents of the runner-up and offered to pay for his education at Michaelhouse. The man who stooped to help his fallen comrade or adversary and who, through providential dispensation thereby earned himself a place at Michaelhouse, was Kevin O’Brien. Coming to Michaelhouse was for him the turning point in his life. His sense of service has meant that he has been President of the Old Boys’ Club not just once but twice, and he has served on the Board of Governors. Last year, we took our leave of the following retiring Governors: Frank Bradford, John Brand, Chris Brown and Zuzi Buthelezi. In their place we elected Yvonne Magashula, Ross Armstrong, Anthony Hewat, Simon Weaver and Gordon Bruins. Three of those, namely Anthony Hewat, Ross Armstrong and Simon Weaver, are Old Boys and Yvonne Magashula and Gordon Bruins are past or present parents. Simon Weaver has the added distinction of being Headmaster of Cordwalles Prep School, which was founded as the feeder school for Michaelhouse. In front of this great gathering I thank the Governors for their devoted, selfless service to Michaelhouse, always in an honorary capacity. And I reserve a special word of thanks to my long-standing deputy, Nigel Tatham. The finances of the School are in sound shape and we are grateful to the Bursar, Charles Burton, for his dedicated stewardship. It is a relief that we were able to hold the fee increase for this year at 6%, at the level of CPI as we had previously undertaken, and not, as has gone on for too long in the private schools, at a rather higher educational price index. In so doing, I can assure you we have not sacrificed standards or lost any teachers of outstanding ability. Michaelhouse takes no pride in being one of the most expensive schools in South Africa, but it does take pride in being a school where there is no compromise on standards. We are driven to excel in what we offer your sons in their education, growth and development from boys to young men. No vocation can be as noble as the vocation of education, and we are privileged that as an institution we are able to devote so much in the way of financial resources to this mission. Through scholarships and bursaries funded by the Bursary Endowment Trust, 30% of our Boys enjoy financial assistance towards their school fees. The School has been involved in a steady regimen of capital file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] improvements, the last and most recent of which is the upgrading of the ablution facilities. It is of no consequence that the Chairman of your Board remarks that these facilities now look like those of a five-star hotel and not like the spartan facilities which he put up with fifty years ago. Michaelhouse moves with the times and we are pleased to bring all the living facilities of your boys up to a standard that they expect in their own homes. One large project is looming and that is the upgrading of the Science Block. The present Science Block was completed in my last year at Michaelhouse in 1962. At the time, it was state of the art. When I visited it with my fellow Governors a year or two back, we realised how dismally antiquated it was. “A school magazine has become in the present day almost indispensable in any school which tries to enjoy the full current of school life. ” James Cameron Todd, 1897 r 27 Á Speech Day Ladies and Gentlemen, we commend our Academic and Pastoral Staff for fulfilling their noble vocation towards your Sons. With them we mourn the untimely death of their colleague, Deon Royappen; we mourn also with the boys whom he mentored in the Maths classroom and on the squash court. We commend the support Staff who house and clothe and feed your sons and maintain their living and working quarters, and their sporting facilities. And we commend the peaceful industrial relations that presently reign on this campus. It is to the ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, that we ascribe the words “in life the only constant is change”. If Michaelhouse has thrived for the last one hundred years or more, it is because of periodic changes and renewals. Renewals that are perhaps best captured in a change of Rectorship. Each Rector brings with him a new sense of priorities, a new way of doing things. Without disturbing the values and the traditions that underpin Michaelhouse he looks for ways to improve the School. And the very fact of change is in itself invigorating to the whole community. The Board is confident that Greg Theron is leading a spirit of renewal at Michaelhouse. With his enthusiasm for the awesome job he has taken on, but with respect for the values and traditions that underpin Michaelhouse, he is ready to explore new avenues of growth and development and ways of renewing and reinvigorating the great mission of Michaelhouse. Ladies and Gentlemen, I know that you join the Board in giving the new Rector your loyal support. Thank you. Address by the Rector, Mr Greg Theron ^r Chairman of the Board and Mrs Ralfe, Mr Chairman of the Old Boys’ Club and Mrs Cheshire, Guests of Honour and in particular our guest speaker, Mr Andrew Zaloumis, Heads of schools - Mr Ducasse from Hilton, Mr and Mrs Weaver from Cordwalles, Mr and Mrs Channon from the Ridge, Mr Sadowski from Weston, Mr and Mrs Langley from Howick High School, Mr and Mrs Hagspihl from Durban Girls College, Mr David Arguile from St Anne’s, Mr and Mrs Majola from Clifton Nottingham Road, Mr and Mrs Bemdsen from Cowan House, Ladies and Gentlemen and Men of Michaelhouse. It gives me great pleasure to deliver this Rector’s address, which - assuming one per year - will be thr 118"' in the history of Michaelhouse. Thank you, Gary, for your kind words. I am continually reminded of the strength and support of the fine group of people who so selflessly serve on the Board of this School, and there has been no greater service than yours. Thank you for all you do. As you pointed out, this is the next set of speeches that we have delivered since the beginning of the year - to boys, to existing parents, to prospective parents, to Old Boys and to members of the Chairman’s Club. This support has ensured an easy transition for the Theron family into the warmth and meaning of Michaelhouse. It has been a joy to be part of, and has ensured that we are able to look forward to our tenure here with anticipation rather than trepidation. We have greatly appreciated it. Thank you too to the parents who have so graciously welcomed us, many of whom are sitting here in the audience this morning. For your genuine warmth and interest in our welfare and for your understanding in introducing yourselves as A or B and we met in C at the D. Teachers are good with names and faces, but such has been the flood of people meeting us that I would have been a snivelling wreck without your help. And lastly, I would like to thank the Staff and Men of Michaelhouse, one and all. I had heard that you were a fine group of people before I arrived, but we did not expect the extent of the concern and friendliness accorded us. I truly enjoy your company and look forward greatly to working with you in years to come. To start with the obvious, Michaelhouse is a school. But it is not just any school. It is a boy’s boarding school in the Balgowan Valley of the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. It is one of only a handful of similar schools in the world. Furthermore, despite our rural and relatively remote setting, file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] we have been here for a long time and have thousands of old boys who are still intensely loyal and interested in the day-to-day happenings of their School. Our Vision Statement could well be: A beautiful and influential rural school with a global presence. Rector Greg Theron. Speech Day k. It isn’t but it could be. This setting poses a series of unique challenges for us. Apart from the broad curriculum offered at Michaelhouse, and of developing boys in a holistic and rich environment, our primary purpose is to build ourselves in community. To neglect this goal would be to misunderstand what we are trying to achieve, and this would spiral the organisation downwards into meaninglessness. Let’s ask the question then: How are we doing? Well, in my opinion (and as a whole), we behave very well as a community - everyone is generally aware of their roles and what is needed from them. They easily pick up the nuance and operations of the thousand or so souls that exist here at any one time. But as I said, that is my perception. Let’s rather put the question to you, the audience. How do you think the community here works? How healthy is it? I am not asking for a show of hands, rather some quiet contemplation. Living in community is not for sissies, asking the individual constantly to think of others as well as themselves; and to think of the impact on the collective that their individual comment or action will have. Living in community is also about deciding as an individual to do something about the narrowing of community flow where this happens. The psychologist, Scott Peck, talks of a community which pretends that it is already a community without doing much about it, in which the component individuals who make it up have only superficial differences and there is no cause for conflict. An abiding theme for such a group of people is to paper over individual differences where these are found. Such groups shy away from any behaviour that could cause meaningful disagreement and the opportunity to truly engage with each other. Which is a fine recipe for a fractious dinner party, not for a diverse and difficult organism such as a school, and especially the School that calls itself Michaelhouse. He calls these groups “pseudo communities”, and I describe them as a warning of that which we should never become. Community by definition requires deep and authentic communication. We generally do this very well, and have begun to work even more earnestly on it. The Staff, as you know, have committed themselves to a process of leading boys on a path of significance. They are excited and energised by this process. In turn, the boys have defined their biggest need, to be respected. They are not of a mind when it comes to defining what respect is, which is why we continue to work on it. For example, at Assembly on Monday, I said we would democratically select one of their definitions as the one that mostly represented their feelings. I said I would use this occasion to give you the winner, but I will list the three that are running neck-and-neck as we have based these on the findings of 28 out of the 40 home room groups. They are as follows: • Respect is a way of showing that you look up to someone and it has nothing to do with age or gender or status. Respect has to be earned and it depends on kindness, good manners and honour. Respect is to acknowledge that someone is worthy of care and appreciation and praise. • To acknowledge and have consideration for someone or something, regardless of race, religion or culture. • Respect is earned and not given. You can’t force it; people decide by what they see you do and say. If you respect someone, they will respect you back. Respect is mutual in most cases and also requires self-respect. When we finally sort this out, it will become an important rallying cry in future, something that we can turn to in times of indecision. I would like to thank the boys for their participation in this meaningful process. It has been good to be part of it. Cameron Holenstein and Van Wyk Venter pictured on Speech Day outside the Inglis Indoor Centre. “We really are lucky to be part of an environment that both embraces diversity and encourages us to grow and develop as individuals. ” Christopher Brits, Senior Prefect 2012 Á Speech Day Darren de Beer (Marie-France Ralfe Trophy for Classical Music), Tumi Mahlare (Bijfs-Smith Family Award) and Luke Stevens (Des Sacco Award For best all round A Block sportsman) at Speech Day. Moving onto the other accomplishments of Michaelhouse, it is customary not to dwell on the School’s and boys’ individual and collective achievements. These have been well communicated during the course of the year; suffice to say that it has been another exceptional year in the long history of the School. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] My sincere thanks go to everyone - the wonderful Staff sitting here in the first row and who work so selflessly on the grounds and in the classrooms; parents, Old Boys, the Board under the inspiring leadership of Jamie Inglis, the Trust, and last but not least, the boys themselves who have so wonderfully contributed to our success this year. I have truly enjoyed and been amazed at the breadth and excellence of endeavour at Michaelhouse. As always, Speech Day is the occasion where we say goodbye to Staff where this is necessary. Happily, we have no staff departure to announce and the only changes that we need to acknowledge are those of an important internal nature. Mr Johan van Rooyen was appointed as Housemaster of Baines 13 years ago, and he has served excellently and with great dedication since then. I tried to get stories out of the boys about him but they steadfastly refused, so loyal are they towards their House and to Mr van Rooyen. He has, however, always run a wonderfully cross-cultural House where all boys have a place, and is deeply respected because of that. Happily, Mr van Rooyen continues on the Staff as an Afrikaans teacher. We thank him for all of his efforts and for the great and positive difference he has made to the lives of generations of Baines boys. As you know, Mr Mike Schwartz has been appointed as Senior Master, Academics from the beginning of this term, a job he has been doing with a great amount of enthusiasm and energy. He expressed a wish to stay on as the Housemaster of Farfield until the end of the year and then to hand over to the next Housemaster. He has been Housemaster for six years. Always professional, composed and committed to the boys, he has been exceptional in his position and will be greatly missed. We thank him for his efforts and wish him well with his continued success in his new position. What are the A Block going to do without their weekly braai? We will have to speak to the new Housemaster about this. And of course, I would like to end this section by remembering the efforts of Mr Deon Royappen as a Maths teacher and squash coach par excellence. His sudden passing just a few short days ago was a tragic event that has left us all numbed and in a state of shock. There have been tributes aplenty and a massive acknowledgement of the impact he had on Michaelhouse in the short time he was with us. Michaelhouse has responded magnificently to support Mrs Royappen so far, and I know this will continue. Furthermore, we acknowledge the contribution of Mr Raphael Bhengu, both at Michaelhouse as an enthusiastic and energetic member of the Maintenance Department and as a solid and meaningful member of the communities he served in. He will be greatly missed in both of these areas. I gave him a lift to the doctor last week and he was describing his philosophy on life to me. He was optimistic and real, and I will miss him. Happily, Mrs Bhengu is now out of hospital and hopefully on the road to recovery. We have an opportunity next week to pay our respects at his memorial service. I would like to end with a consideration of the themes we have discussed this year as a School and their future impact. I have mentioned respect but now look to the core values of significance and what it means to be a good man. This has been a very interesting exercise with a great deal of discussion, some disagreement, but happily much consensus. Interestingly enough, most of the consensus comes from the discussion on what being a significant good man isn’t. Everyone knows how he doesn’t behave and most people know which paths lead to a life of insignificance. Michaelhouse works well around themes such as these as the School is first and foremost about values. Those great tides of life, slow to change and powerful. They are formed early in life and only harden as we get older. They are different to attitudes and opinions, which are shallower and more easily changed. And a lot of modem education is about opinion, about how it has gone wrong and how it should change. They may also have an attitude toward education that is shaped by present feeling or a press release and which may sway according to those that have the loudest voice or the most to say. Most of these tend to be one-dimensional, easily understood and easily explained. But values are different. They are tried and tested. They exist as foundational 30 Speech Day k. cornerstones for all to see. They are unaffected by marketing fads and emotion. And for everyone who enters Michaelhouse, they are clear. We produce young men who enter the world as holistic and rounded humans, aspirant, loyal, hard-working and aware of opportunity. We believe that this makes them leaders in whichever community they find themselves. We look to that wonderful piece of scripture from Luke 12 for guidance here:“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” We know that the boys who walk down Warriors’ Walk for the last time in a short while are not one-dimensional, we know that they don’t only look to a future that is defined by the job that they will do. We know they will be aware of their responsibilities as husbands and fathers, citizens and people who make moral decisions about the ethical issues of the times that they will find themselves in. We also know they will be fully aware of the multiplicity of cultures and file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] groups that they will confront in our world. And it is an increasingly complex world that has dramatically transformed over the past 10 000 years or so. Since industrialisation, little is left of the environment for which our brains are optimised. If you spend 15 minutes on an average day in the Midlands Mall, you will pass more people than our ancestors saw in their entire lifetimes. I challenge anyone here to predict what the world will look like in ten years, because I know you will be wrong in a year’s time. Everything is more sophisticated, but also more complex and Address by the Senior Prefect, Ryan Thompson Qood morning, everyone. For my eighteenth birthday my Dad bought me a book called The Wicked Wit of Winston Churchill and in it I found a quote which sums up fairly well how I am feeling at this present moment. “It may be an honour, but never a pleasure. There are only a few things from which I derive intense pleasure, and speaking is not one of them.” It is so comforting to know that one of the greatest orators of all time had similar feelings to myself. Before I begin, I would also like to extend a warm welcome to our guest of honour this morning. Mr Andrew Zaloumis, I know we are all looking forward to hearing what you have to say. Every year, the Senior Prefect stands before you and delivers a message. Each year, he tries to deliver something original and hopefully, a suitable conclusion to encapsulate the end of his five years at this unique place. One thing, however, that remains consistent about each speech is the sincere gratitude expressed to everyone who plays a part in the weird and wonderful product that emerges from Michaelhouse. To Mr Ralfe and the Board of Governors: I am not highly knowledgeable about your job description, but from the boys’ perspective it looks extremely important, and on behalf of the boys it must be mentioned that you hold a lot of respect in our eyes. interdependent, ensconced in relationship. And it is against this backdrop that we are painting the image of the significant good man. Morals are important. So is decision making. So is rational thought and so is intuitive thought. More so than ever, the challenge of solving problems with clear thought is important. If you are looking for the central thrust of future Michaelhouse endeavour over the next while, you need look no further than that. As I have said frequently since the beginning of the year, meaningful and modem schools use the structure of past tradition where this is appropriate, and marry this to the problem solving demanded in the here and now. We believe both are important looking forward. You cannot be only one or two of the three. All are necessary. And we are all incredibly excited by this. I would like to end with a quote by Sóren Kierkegaard: “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, but the martyr dies and rule begins.” We could change this to “the successful man dies and his life is over, while the significant man dies and his influence begins”. This is a sacred journey that we embark on together with the Men of Michaelhouse. We believe there is nothing more important. Thank you for your patience and for your attendance this morning. So much so that our Second Prefect, Matthew Potter, has informed me on more than one occasion that Mr Ralfe is an important role model of his. Á Speech Day * ^ WÊÊÊÊÊ -#rmjf j » ' VP » A S' ^ j -#** % ■r. - '9SËs\ibrrl ‘ elk / áífc Jonathan Thurling, Justin Clarke, Matthew Joubert and Nic Stephenson on Speech Day. I realise that Matt is probably going red behind me, but after all the trouble he has given me this year, I owe him one. Matt, you and the School Prefects made my job far less demanding than it could have been and it gave me so much confidence knowing that I had friends like you by my side. It has been interesting for me to see your different personalities come through in your various leadership roles. One thing I can say is that I believe I have had the privilege of working with a very strong body of School Prefects. To all the Staff at Michaelhouse and in particular Mr Bownes, Mr Laing and Mr Smedley: your undying commitment, enthusiasm and support are forever appreciated. I have always believed that to be great at what you do, you have to have a passion for it. When you are a teacher, this is even more important because you have to inspire your learners to find their own passion year in and year out. Sadly, this type of passion and commitment appears to be lacking in many of the schools around our country today. It is indeed a privilege to have attended a school where this is not a concern. Michaelhouse is more than a school, it is a community. For this reason, the whole family becomes affiliated with the red and white, and so it is only appropriate that I am grateful to all the parents and families here today, without whose support, there would be no brothers-in-arms. Another thing I have learned at Michaelhouse is that there is definitely the opportunity for an illegal brownie trade file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] to develop. According to my fellow Founders men, the monetary value of one of these homemade brownies is R50. Mom, at least you know where your next business venture could be. On a slightly more serious note, Mom and Dad, despite how excited I have told you I am to move to Cape Town next year, I have always been grateful to you for the huge sacrifices you continually make to put me through this School. I know we have had some tough times in the last few years, but Kyle, Jenna and I could not have asked for better pillars of support, love and guidance. Both of you are responsible for nurturing me into the person I am today. Whether it was overloading my tuckbox or making the effort to come up early on a Saturday morning to watch my rugby game, it was all appreciated. You may have noticed that I left out a fairly important person, but I assure you this was done deliberately. When I met Mr Theron for the first, time I was in Nelspruit on a rugby tour and he was still the Headmaster of Penryn. I knew from the moment I shook his hand there would be no beating about the bush with this man - a virtue I admire and respect. I was not incorrect in my assumption, but what I could not have predicted was the warmth and affability he graced the position with as well. Michaelhouse fully welcomed him within his first few weeks and I think he serves as a great father figure or role model to many of the boys. Matt and I have really appreciated the opportunity to get to know him 32 Speech Day on a personal basis in the past few months and I cannot wait to see the positive impact he will have on this School in the future. We have now reached the part of my speech where I am given the opportunity to offer, hopefully, a few pearls of wisdom. Before I attempt this, however, I believe it necessary to mention that I have been made fully aware by some of my friends that there is a certain amount of pressure on me this morning. To quote Joshua Geldenhuys: “If you do not make me cry, you have failed as a Head Boy!” Josh, standing up here at the moment, I cannot explain how much I want to make you cry. I must confess that I was guided in the right direction by some of the greats. Besides my Dad, the first great I turned to was Confucius and he said: “By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest.” The connection shared between any person and St Michael’s red-bricked fortress is an intimate one. It is a connection experienced by each of us in our own unique way, and so we owe it to ourselves to reflect on our time here. As I near the twilight of my career at Michaelhouse, I find myself reflecting more than what is probably considered healthy. Very few people in the world can claim to have been educated in as beautiful a place as the Balgowan Valley. It is something Chris Brits highlighted last year in his speech, and rightly so. When driving down Warriors’ Walk on day one, it is the first of many things you find yourself in awe of, and inevitably, something you begin to fall in love with. In combination with the red-brick architecture, our little valley creates a distinct romanticism that can be appreciated not only for its beauty but also for the significant role it plays in the development of a Man of Michaelhouse. Snowy days, starry skies, a tranquil Roy Gaythorne or a battle scarred Meadows, pink winter sunsets or a lazy afternoon at the tennis courts... whatever the moments are for you... do not let them fade because they are the bones of which a man of Michaelhouse is made. Another characteristic unique to the Michaelhouse experience are the traditions we proudly uphold. I believe it is under a fair amount of deliberation in current times and when we reflect on this aspect, we need to do so honestly. Our traditions range from seemingly trivial practices such as sacred patches of lawn to more integral ones such as the Cack/Cop system and the values that a Michaelhouse Man is expected to live by. These traditions, beliefs or systems may be different to what other schools endorse, but I believe they are entirely necessary. Our mission statement, our value statement and our vision come to life through these various guidelines for the Michaelhouse way of life, and I truly believe that there are no longer any traditions in the School that could be deemed maligned. The problem arises when these systems are abused or manipulated by a minority who do not truly understand what it means to be a Man of Michaelhouse. Interestingly, we have seen very few incidents this year and in fact, the pressure the leaders of 2013 felt, I believe, mostly stemmed from happenings in previous years. My Block can reflect on its year as custodians of these characteristics of our mission statement, and they can do so with a sense of accomplishment. They will tell you that it was not easy and perhaps not even the fairytale Matric year they dreamed of, but pushing through some of the tough times is what builds character, and it was certainly worth it to uphold the traditions in the best way we could have. I have no doubt, however, that the younger generations of Michaelhouse will meet the standards and better them. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] The challenge is there for you guys to meet. You will soon be in the position that my Block has been in for the past year. That is to say, you will soon be the leaders of this fine establishment. A good establishment only made great by a few unique characteristics, two of which I have mentioned already: our pristine environment and our proud tradition. As a Man of Michaelhouse you will have the privilege, the honour and the responsibility of preserving them. Do not let them fade, because they are the bones of which a Man of Michaelhouse is made. To complete this difficult but rewarding task you will need one thing more than anything else, and that is the ability to look at the men around you and tell them, without reservation and with absolute sincerity, that they indeed are your brothers-in-arms. The life-long relationships forged between our red-bricked walls are fundamental for each Block’s success as a Matric body and they serve as the glue that holds our Block together. Do not let them fade, because they are the bones of which a man of Michaelhouse is made. Unfortunately, in a rugby team one needs a combination of both good relationships and talent, which evidently, we lacked this year - but fortunately, looking at some of the younger teams coming through, this will be addressed. Having said that, we have heard on more than one occasion this year that success does not necessarily equate to significance. And as familiar as we may be with this message, it is so true. “A superb School where we spent some of our happiest moments during our two sons ’time there. ” Sandra Hardie Á Speech Day Ultimately, what one should take from an institution like Michaelhouse is worth far more than simply success or victory. Michaelhouse offers an infinite amount of unique lessons, but it is up to the individual to find them. Hopefully, I have encouraged you to reflect on a few of them this morning. I would like to end off by paraphrasing one of our very own greats, Mr Dennyson: “... and so brothers, look back in wonder on these years. These friends, the fields, these walls will never fade. They are the bones of which a man of Michaelhouse is made.” Address by the Guest of Honour, Mr Andrew Zaloumis EJcn of Michaelhouse, Board of Governors Chairman Mr Gary Ralfe, Rector Mr Greg Theron, members of Staff, parents, Old Boys and honoured guests. Twenty four May this year started like many other autumn days in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. A light mist was hanging over the grasslands and the sun’s rays were struggling to break through. And then it came - the SMS whistle of my Samsung Galaxy S4. If your phone isn’t on, turn it on and look for this SMS on twitter @ AndrewZaloumis. It was a Code Red. The blood drained from my head as everything went into slow motion. I got into the Cruiser and drove to the killing fields. I parked, stepped out, walked closer and found myself standing in the middle of a massacre. The silence was deafening and the cloying smell of death hung in the air. Four majestic, lumbering creatures had been brought to their knees; noses down in the dirt. Their faces were crudely hacked off. Congealed blood, brains and splintered bones stared back at me. Another Samsung whistle - it was an email from the Rector asking me to speak today. We had just taken a brutal body blow in the war against rhino poaching. Well-informed and competent shooters had simply walked through our front door. Forty six rhino had now been lost on my 13-year watch. As my failure magnified itself in my mind, I thought: What could I possibly have to say here to you? Over the next four days, I began to reflect. I realised three things: firstly, that we had established in iSimangaliso South Africa’s fourth largest rhino population; secondly, that the Park had been listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site - acknowledgement that not only is it one of the world’s greatest ecological assets, but also confirmation that there is no other place like Lake St Lucia on earth; and finally, I realised that the dunes of Lake St Lucia had been rescued from titanium mining. iSimangaliso means ‘miracle’ in isiZulu, and it is just that, the place of miracles. In the last few years, seven new species previously unknown to man have been discovered and another 11 probable new species are currently undergoing DNA analysis. The 332 OOOha iSimangaliso Park was listed as a World Heritage Site for its Outstanding Universal Values (OUVs) - its range of ecosystems, bio-diversity and superlative natural beauty. (This natural beauty is an intangible - simply put, I know my wife, Tracey, is beautiful but if all of you agree, then she can be made a world heritage site). Comprising eight interlinking ecosystems from the mountains to the sea, iSimangaliso includes 9% of South Africa’s coast, is home to 100 coral species, four RAMSAR wetlands of world significance, some of the last remaining swamp forests, and three major lake systems. One of these, Lake St Lucia, is Africa’s largest estuary and includes about 800 hippopotami and 1 200 crocodiles big enough to eat you. Importantly, it is home to the Thonga and Zulu people, who have shaped its ecology over eight centuries and are still able to give expression to their culture and heritage through file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] the conservation of their land. Borrowing from the Irish playwright who also co-founded the London School of Economics, George Bernard Shaw, “but for a few unreasonable men who would not adapt themselves to the world”, iSimangaliso should never have been. The area had been a playground for security forces during the apartheid era, when the government of the day had experimented with sisal, commercial plantations and missiles. Forced removals continued well into the late 1980s. 34 Speech Day k. In fact, the region had been systematically underdeveloped and exploited from the time it had become an English Protectorate in the late 1890s. By 1994, it had become South Africa’s second poorest region. This, in spite of its abundance of natural wealth. So maybe there is a story here, after all. My love affair with the area that is now iSimangaliso started when I was a young boy accompanying my late father, Dr Nolly Zaloumis, on his dentistry trips to eManguzi Missionary Hospital. These trips always afforded some opportunity for him to pursue his other passion - wetlands ducks. One of my earliest memories from these trips is being left hanging on a bending pool net pole inches above crocodile-infested water, while he chased off after an escaping pygmy goose. This deep connection with the area would be reaffirmed years later, when as a reckless ponytailed university student trying to dodge the draft, I plunged my skuroskuro VW Beetle into the Kosi Bay lake. The Beetle-turned-row boat and I were swept straight into the life of the 75-year-old Mshwayisa Tembe. Mshwayisa, who would become a second grandfather to my children, lived high up on the Nkovukeni dunes which lie between the Kosi lakes and the sea. It is only accessible by foot. He was the natural bom leader of the 90 odd souls who lived on this spit of land. Once, as we sat under his mdoni tree, he told me: “Ngihlala phakathi kolwandle kanye nechweba umoya wolwandle uyangivuselela futhi uyangiphilisa” (I live between the sea and the lake and the wind keeps my spirit alive). He taught me the value of kinship and friends, and the interconnectedness of all things. This is best explained using the ecologically encompassing word “umuzi”. Umuzi is used to denote a vine, a grain basket made from the vine, a cluster of homesteads where people belong together under one Umnumzane (head of a homestead). He saw people and nature as one. Mshwayisa always left some mielies for the monkeys when he harvested his crop because he said they too needed to eat. He shared his catch of fish with the old and infirm, and with friends and relatives. People around that area frowned on those who cut down trees rather than just branches when they needed hut poles. Mshwayisa’s children were buried around him and when I asked where, he pointed to groves of trees, one for each of the seven children he had buried. Alongside him I came to have a different view of conservation, a view from the other side of the fence informed by 800 years of traditional practices. It was not something that happened from behind a gun and a fence - it was inclusive. And so I took up the fight for land alongside Mshwayisa and his kin. Forced removals in the name of conservation were the order of the day at that time, from Kosi Bay to Sodwana and then west at the Tembe Elephant Park. Conservation authorities were complicit with security forces and parks were being used as covert training areas for official and unofficial armed forces, linked to the apartheid-era government. We would go into these parks and cut the fences that were being put up to keep out the people who had been forcibly removed. It was not long before we attracted the attention of the security branch and conservation authorities. We didn’t have cell phones or any of the fancy equipment you see in movies. I remember walking by night with my trusty Jack Russell, Tom, being smuggled through gates in car boots, and moving from homestead to homestead. When the struggle was at its fiercest, the escapades became more bizarre. At one time, we based ourselves at the late David Webster’s Thonga-styled reed research shack overlooking the breathtaking Lake Nhlanga. David, a Wits anthropologist, had been murdered by a Civil Co-operation Bureau hit squad a few years previously after returning from Kosi Bay to Troyeville. We were awoken one night from our Black- Label-induced sleep by the call of my name and then the bark and taps of a few shots being fired at close range through the pine door. There must have been something funny in seeing an adrenalin-charged man in his jocks doing the 50-yard dash through a reed wall, chased by his dog. I don’t think the men in balaclavas laughed, however. As South Africa’s new democracy was being heralded in, the David and Goliath fight to stop the mining of the dunes of Lake St Lucia came to a head. My father, Nolly, chaired the public campaign against Richards Bay Minerals. Public opinion, 500 000 anti-mining signatures and the support of President Mandela won the day. In 1996, Mandela’s Cabinet took a “no mining” decision. This sent out a signal to the world that nature-based tourism can be more beneficial than smoke-stack industries, and that it can promote a natural form of wealth redistribution in deep rural areas. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] During this time, I was involved in transformation of Webster’s research shack into a wholly community-owned and run tourism camp, a first for South Africa. Suddenly, though, in the new South Africa, we had become too left and too radical for most funders. It was Medico, a German funder, who gave us the R30 000 start-up grant. The then Minister of Land Affairs, Derek Hanekom, came and stayed at Webster’s. At a mass community meeting he said that there would be no more forced removals at Kosi Bay. Mshwayisa and his kin had won. I decided it was time for my gap year. r------1 "We are today reaping, in comfortable buildings and splendid playing fields, what was sown by the faith of the past. ” Chronicle 1934 35 A Speech Day Four weeks after that decision, I received a message inviting me to present myself in Durban. Through the office of the then KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Affairs and Tourism, Jacob Zuma, I was told to come up with a spatial development initiative for the Lubombo region. This region links Swaziland, South Africa and Mozambique. The aim to reduce poverty in one of Southern Africa’s least developed but most beautiful regions. I was also instructed to shave off my beard, cut the dreadlocks and to duly present myself at Casanova - a high-end clothing store frequented by the Shaik brothers and others who have often since appeared in the daily papers. My sarong was swapped for an Armani suit and the ruck sack for a Louis Vuitton briefcase. President Mandela, President Chissano and King Mswati backed the initiative. The plan was simple: deal with the fundamentals first - malaria, roads, borders - and then use the region’s natural assets to begin to end the paradox of human poverty amidst natural plenty. In South Africa, this meant establishing the iSimangaliso Wetland Park as the anchor project to drive the region’s economic development. It was also an opportunity to put the knowledge I had gained from Mshwayisa into practice and to shift the conservation paradigms of this country. I remember my first presentation to the then CEO of the Natal Parks Board (now Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife), Dr George Hughes. After I shared with him government’s vision for iSimangaliso he said: “we always welcome the ideas of enthusiastic amateurs.” I then knew my work was cut out for me. We also faced the struggle of making conservation relevant and meaningful to people whose only association with conservation was harassment and oppression. Much has been achieved since then. Malaria has been brought under control, roads have dramatically improved, and 16 different parcels of land have been consolidated in iSimangaliso under purpose driven national legislation. The boundaries of the Park are being extended. The battle against commercial plantations was fought and won. Thousands of hectares of gums and pines have been clear-felled. New models for land restitution have been developed and land claims against 80% the Park have been settled. Game including elephant, rhino, cheetah, wild dog, tsessebe and oribi that was last seen a century ago on the banks of Lake St Lucia has been introduced. Lion are still to follow. Tourism, once in decline, has grown significantly. Through iSimangaliso thousands of jobs are being created, along with significant economic ownership by local people. Importantly, the notions of empowerment and benefits from conservation have been shifted and a more inclusive conservation practice in South Africa is being shaped. opportunity for recreation for those who can afford it OR the economic benefits from tourism? I keep coming back to the challenge former President Mandela gave to us when elephants were returned to Lake St Lucia in 2002 after 100 years of absence: “to recreate the wholeness of nature”. I think conservation areas are places we go to, to find our souls. They are places of huge spiritual value, of restitution and nature’s healing. In hindsight, many things have shaped my outlook and helped me to become Bernard Shaw’s “unreasonable man”. Not least of these was my time at Michaelhouse, where the sense of adventure that I had flirted with as a lighty at home and in the wilds became a part of me. I remember having to harness my fear whenever we jumped from the waterfalls at Caversham and Sarsden, exploring Lion’s Head and the Oribi Reserve, beating the challenge of Inhlosane and back in time for late Sunday breakfast, and my ultimate: kayaking on wild and untamed rivers. I learnt through my relationships with various seniors and teachers that you could learn from people even if their ideology was different to yours. That the biggest gift you could give a man is to imagine what it is like to walk in his shoes. That you have a choice to go with the flow, or when necessary, of standing up and making a difference. I also learnt that you carry the weight of your decisions long after you have made them. From Mshwayisa and my father I learnt that circumstances cannot keep down an indomitable spirit. In Nipun Mehta’s May 2013 graduation address to an elite Silicon Valley school, he said: “Materially, we humans have never been better off. The average person has never been better fed, infant mortality rates are at their lowest, life expectancy is at its highest, child-labour and illiteracy are no longer global norms. Simultaneously, suicide rates among file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] our youth are at their highest and instant gratification of the ‘Me, Me, Me generation’ is the order of the day. Atmospheric levels of carbon have surpassed 400 ppm for the first time in human history and our honey bee colonies are collapsing, threatening the future of our food supply.” This is the baton that is being passed to you. I was lucky to be at this School and so are you. When I look at you I know that you are all different. I know that all of you can make a difference and be that relevant good man for the environment or any other worthy cause, because the rhino and your children to come need you to make that difference. You can and you will. And about those poachers. We got ’em four days later. Forensics has linked their gun and axe to at least eight of those 46 murdered rhino. Yet I keep asking myself this: What is the value of iSimangaliso and other land like Kruger that has been set aside for conservation? Is it the contribution that they make to eco-systems services now and in the future? Or as benchmark areas in the face of global warming? Is it the I wish you luck. Thank you. 36 Speech Day k. SUBJECT PRIZES AND AWARDS Diligence: Bruce Arnott ABLOCK GABRIELLE MASSEY PRIZES (Awardedfor Oral Work in English) Seth Banda, Jonathan Goschen, Kura Maswera, Neo Ngcobo and Mark Wood ACCOUNTING First in Subject: Mitchell Bird Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12 —June ’13): Nicholas Stephenson Diligence: Matthew Joubert and Joy Mhlanga AFRIKAANS First in Subject: Joshua Geldenhuys Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12-June ’13): Jonathan Thurling Diligence: Patrick Hughes, Victor Monkoe, Nicholas Schram, Gareth van Wyk COMPUTER APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY First in Subject: Drew Shiel Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12 — June ’13): Drew Shiel Diligence: Kelby Green DRAMATIC ARTS First in Subject: Dominic Pretorius Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12-June '13): Julian Liebenberg ECONOMICS First in Subject: Christopher Brownlee Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12 -June ’13): Kethin Nair Diligence: Steven Clowes, Kethin Nair and Matthew Woodhouse ENGINEERING GRAPHICS AND DESIGN First in Subject: Thiroshan Naidoo Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12 -June ’13): Gareth van Wyk Diligence: Stuart Riddell ENGLISH First in Subject: Nicholas Stephenson Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12 — June ’13): Justin Morkel Diligence: Cameron Bird, Steven Clowes, Jasper Epsom, Matthew Joubert and Mark Wood FRENCH First in Subject: Anthony Berten Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12 -June ’13): Coulsey Savory Diligence: Mark Wood GEOGRAPHY First in Subject: Dominic Pretorius and Dylan Zoutendyk Most Improved Mark (Nov '12-June ’13): Michael Hinchley Diligence: Darren de Beer, Matthew Jennings, Jan-Frederick Krumhoff and Craig Lea file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] JÉL Building Your Son’s esT'>ouaiBDis>a''- Foundation for Life Cordwalles PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR BOVS www.cordwalles.co.za Your Son's Foundation For Life. ‘Your Son’s Foundation for Life’ begins here at Cordwalles Preparatory School where boys from Pre-Primary to Grade 7 are introduced to real, exciting and relevant learning opportunities. Each boy is encouraged to develop personal excellence, respect and empathy for others and a belief in himself. Cordwalles offers spacious sporting facilities, a boarding house for boys from Grade 4-7 and an excellent academic, cultural and music environment. Before your son enters high school why not consider giving him ‘his best foundation for life?’ Telephone 033 342 3077 | 101 Howick Road Pietermaritzburg | Email [email protected] 37 A Speech Day HISTORY First in Subject: Matthew Jennings Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12-June ’13): Dylan Rice Diligence: Mark Wood INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY First in Subject: Nicholas Schram Diligence: Michael McDonald ISIZULU First in Subject: Joy Mhlanga Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12 - June ’13): Ayanda Ngcobo Diligence: Jabu Magubane LIFE ORIENTATION First in Subject: Matthew Potter and Dominic Pretorius Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12 —June ’13): Ryan Zoutendyk LIFE SCIENCE First in Subject: Coulsey Savory Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12 - June ’13): PG Buys Diligence: Jan-Frederick Krumhoff, Jabu Magubane and Merrick Pringle ADVANCED PROGRAMME MATHEMATICS First in Subject: Michael McDonald Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12 —June ’13): GuyTatham Diligence: Dominic Pretorius MATHEMATICS First in Subject: Nicholas Schram and Joe Sutton Most Improved Mark (Nov '12-June '13): Coulsey Savory Diligence: Sebastian Holzbach, Matthew Joubert, Justin Morkel, Merrick Pringle and Kent Simmons MATHEMATICS PAPER 3 First in Subject: Batebang Mapetla Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12 - June ’13): Mitchell Bird Diligence: Matthew Potter MATHEMATICAL LITERACY First in Subject: Ben Clark Most Improved Mark (Nov '12-June ’13): Daniel van der Leeuw Diligence: Mark Wood MUSIC First in Subject: Darren de Beer Diligence: Joy Mhlanga PHYSICAL SCIENCE First in Subject: Nicholas Schram Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12-June ’13): Shehan Randeria Diligence: Mitchell Bird, Michael Burn, Joshua Geldenhuys and Gareth Jooste VISUAL ARTS First in Subject: Michael Burn and Dominic Ferreira Most Improved Mark (Nov ’12-June ’13): Michael Burn Diligence: Cian Grendon AGGREGATE PRIZES Merit Certificates: June Exam Aggregate (80% and over) Mitchell Bird, Joshua Geldenhuys, Lonwabo Mgoduso, Joe Sutton, Stephan Bosch, Jonathan Goschen, Matthew Potter, Guy Tatham, Michael Burn, Sebastian Holzbach, Dominic file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Pretorius, Ryan Thompson, Christopher Brownlee, Matthew Joubert, Coulsey Savory, Jonathan Thurling, Justin Clarke, Khwezi Majola, Nicholas Schram, Adrian Wolfson, Steven Clowes, Michael McDonald, Nicholas Stephenson, Dylan Zoutendyk Most Improved Aggregate: Coulsey Savory Third in Block: Mitchell Bird Second in Block: Dominic Pretorius First in Block: Nicholas Schram SPECIAL PRIZES Rector’s English Verse Prize: Christian Botha (Athlone Park Primary) Old Boys’ Essay Prize (English): Dominic Pretorius (Howick Prep) JL Sisson Prize (English): Nicholas Harrison (St David’s Marist Brothers) Stubbings-Dyson Prize (Mathematics): Ngcebo Maseko (Nardini Convent) Bishop Baines Memorial Essay: Robert Perrott (Clifton Prep, Durban) Michael Barry English Prize: Matthew Potter (St Peter's Prep) Proctor Science Award (Physical and Life Sciences): Coulsey Savory (Musikili School, Zambia) isiZulu Progress Prize: Senior: Fergus Magor (Cowan House) Junior: Busisa Mtimkulu (Cordwalles) Hindson History Essay: Matthew Jennings (Pridwin) “You cannot measure character by the yard or by the gallon; nor can you set examination papers to test it; the only criterion by which to judge a good school in the long run is by the men and boys it turns out. ” Guest of Honour, ex-Headmaster of Hilton College Mr William Falcon, Michaelhouse Speech Day 1934 38 Speech Day k. Peter Bell Memorial Prize (English Literature): Nicholas Stephenson (Durban Preparatory High School) WR Hindson Prize (English Literature): Matthew Potter (St Peter's Prep) Nedbank Life Science Prize: Steven Clowes (Underberg Primary) Rector's Afrikaans Essay: Joshua Geldenhuys (Thomas More) PD Barnard Memorial Afrikaans Prize: Senior: Tyran Faber (Durban Preparatory High School) Junior: Gillespie Dougall (Virginia Preparatory School) Tatham Memorial Essay (Best Life Science Essay): Matthew Potter (St Peter's Prep) John Allen Memorial Art Prize (Drawing): Michael Bouwer (Westville Senior Primary School) Kevin Graham Memorial Prize (Geography): Dominic Pretorius (Howick Prep) Godfrey Immelman (Mathematics): Gianluca Truda (St David’s Marist Brothers) Hutchinson Memorial (Mathematics Prizes): Senior: Joe Sutton (St Peter's Prep) Junior: Nicholas Forshaw (Cowan House) Music Prize: Senior: Robert Perrott (Clifton Prep, Durban) Junior: Andrew Henderson (Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School) Collins Prize for Music (All-round Musicianship): Joy Mhlanga (Pridwin) Marie-France Ralfe Music Trophy (Classical Music): Darren de Beer (WHPS) Chick Henderson Award: Ryan and Nicholas Anderson (Pridwin) Smithies Shield for Vocal Arts: Van Wyk Venter (Drakensberg Boys’Choir School) JL Robinson Award (Physical Science): Nicholas Schram (Highbury) Kevin King Memorial Award (Science Project): Nicholas Schram (Highbury) Biffs-Smith Family Award (Sodalis Digmus) For a non-School Prefect who best demonstrates qualities of Care, Compassion, Concern and Communication: Tumi Mahlare (WHPS) Andrew Henderson Prize (Agriculture): Fergus Magor (Cowan House) Lion’s River Conservation Prize: David Long (Home Schooled) Des Sacco Award For best all-round A Block sportsman as voted by his peers: Luke Stevens (Westville Senior Primary School) Andrew Crutchley Memorial Award (Leadership on the C Block Journey): Nicholas Richardson (St David’s Marist file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Brothers) Michaelhouse IT Award: Michael McDonald (Ruzawi, Zimbabwe) and Nicholas Schram (Highbury) Tim Patrick Memorial Prize (Contribution to Societies): Nicholas Schram (Highbury) Richard Hedden Memorial Prize (Service): Branagth Cooper-Botha (The Ridge) Rob Matthews Award (Courage in the face of Personal Adversity): Joshua Geldenhuys (Thomas More) Herbert Fisher Award (Best aggregate in the June exams): Nicholas Schram (Highbury) Anthony Evans Trophy (Dux 2012): Tom Burne (Cowan House) Top image: Dan Roberts, Thomas Fenn and Khwezi Kgalema making their way to the Inglis Indoor Centre on a chilly August morning. Bottom image: Boys seated in the gallery of the Inglis Indoor Centre - the new traditional venue for the annual Speech Day ceremony. 39 Á Academic Reports Michaelhouse writes the examinations of the Independent Examinations Board (IEB). The standards of the IEB are held in high regard by international and South African tertiary institutions. In their first two years at Michaelhouse, boys participate in a nonspecialist academic programme where some of the subjects that are regarded as core disciplines are combined into broader learning areas. This exposure to broader areas of learning enables boys to make an informed decision about the subject package chosen for their matriculation course. A package of seven subjects is then selectedfor a three-year course, from C Block through to A Block (Grade 10 to Grade 12). A large number of subject package options offer the opportunity to gain a National Senior Certificate with university entrance dispensation. Our 570ha classroom allows for a myriad of opportunities to develop academic discipline in an educational environment specifically geared towards the ways in which boys learn. ACADEMIC REPORT Qhe A Block of 2013 have set a new benchmark for Matriculation success and can be proud of their collective performance. With an average of 2.9 A symbols per student, this achievement is truly remarkable and along with being the highest average of any independent boys’ school in the country, it also reflects a significant improvement on 2012’s very good results. Of the 107 boys who sat the examinations, 101 achieved degree entry certificates with the balance of six boys passing with diploma entry certificates. An average grade of 73% was achieved by the class. The results reflected a balanced group with an incredible 42 of our Maths students achieving a distinction, more than half the Physical Science class earning an A symbol and both Music students taking home an A symbol for the subject. Twenty nine of our boys earned an aggregate of 80% or above (more than double the 14 candidates in 2012) and a further 42 scored an aggregate between 70% and 80%. This means that two thirds of the Class of 2013 obtained an A or a B aggregate. Steven Clowes with nine distinctions and an aggregate of 91% is Dux for 2013. Steven achieved an incredible 99% for Mathematics and an equally impressive 98% for Economics. To crown these fantastic academic achievements, Steven was placed in the top 5% in South Africa in six or more subjects. Matthew Potter also achieved nine distinctions and was placed in the top 5% in South Africa in five subjects. Nicholas Stephenson also earned nine distinctions. Proxime Accessit for 2013 is Nicholas Schram with eight distinctions and an aggregate of 89%. Nicholas also featured in the list of the top 5% of candidates in five subjects. Also with eight distinctions each were Mitchell Bird, Justin Clarke, Jonathan Goschen, Dominic Pretorius, Khwezi Majola and Nicholas Stephenson. Jonathan also excelled in appearing in the top 5% in five subjects list. Dominic Pretorius must also be commended for earning a place in the top 5% in South Africa in six or more subjects. In all, 302 subject distinctions were achieved with 76 of these being 90% or more. Top Achievers Nine Distinctions Steven Clowes (Top 1% of all IEB candidates for Economics, Mathematics and Physical Science) Matthew Potter Nicholas Stephenson Eight Distinctions Mitchell Bird (Top 1% of all IEB candidates for Accounting) Justin Clarke Jonathan Goschen (Top 1% of all IEB candidates for Economics) Khwezi Majola (Top 1% of all IEB candidates for Geography) Dominic Pretorius (Top 1% of all IEB candidates for Geography and Maths Paper 3) Nicholas Schram (Top 1% of all IEB candidates for Accounting and Mathematics) file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Michael McDonald 40 Academic Reports k. Seven Distinctions Michael Burn Darren de Beer Matthew Joubert (Top 1% of all IEB candidates for Accounting) Lonwabo Mgoduso Adrian Wolfson Ryan Thompson (Top 1% of all IEB candidates for Physical Science) Six Distinctions Dominic Ferreira Murray McDonald Kyle Pyne-James (Top 1% of all IEB candidates for Maths Literacy) Coulsey Savory (Top 1% of all IEB candidates for Life Sciences) Luke Stevens Matthew Woodhouse Batebang Mapetla was also listed in the Top 1% of all candidates for Maths Paper 3 result zzi Majola, Platinum Division winners of the Provincial Minquiz Science Quiz. Stephan Bosch Joseph Sutton Guy Tatham Jonathan Thurling Five Subjects Tyrone Arnold Joshua Geldenhuys Jan-Frederick Krumhoff Batebang Mapetla Dylan Zoutendyk Sebastian Holzbach Four Subjects Christopher Brownlee (Top 1% of all IEB candidates for Economics) Timothy Dommett Top Subject Results Mathematics: 42 distinctions (49% of candidates) Life Orientation: 32 distinctions (30% of candidates) Physical Science: 28 distinctions (51% of candidates) Economics: 23 distinctions (44% of candidates) Geography: 22 distinctions (35% of candidates) Life Science: 20 distinctions (38% of candidates) Maths Paper 3: 20 distinctions (71% of candidates) Drama: 13 distinctions (72% of candidates) Advanced Programme Mathematics: 10 distinctions (53% of candidates) Engineering Graphics and Design: 9 distinctions (64% of all candidates) Art: 5 distinctions (71% of candidates) Music: 2 distinctions (100% of all candidates) 41 A Academic Reports MICHAELHOUSE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Ejichaelhouse provides a range of merit-based Scholarships for students of outstanding academic, musical, sporting and all round abilities. Awards are made to boys entering Michaelhouse in Grade 8 and are valid for the five-year duration of their career at Michaelhouse, subject to an acceptable level of performance being maintained. The Academic Scholarship examination is written by invitation, at Michaelhouse, and awards are based upon the candidate’s performance in the Scholarship examination. Sports Scholarship awards are based upon the submission of a curriculum vitae and personal sport assessment conducted at the School. The Music Scholarship awards are based upon the submission of a satisfactory curriculum vitae and an audition with an external adjudicator. Michaelhouse takes great pleasure in announcing the following Scholarship Awards for 2013: Major Open: Richard Fleischer (The Ridge Preparatory School) Major Open: Antony Fleischer (The Ridge Preparatory School) Open Exhibition: Tlou Maenetje (The Ridge Preparatory School) Open Exhibition: Nicholas Forster (Highbury Preparatory School) Open Exhibition: Jason Song (Waterkloof House Preparatory School) Open Exhibition: Nicholas Mundell (Waterkloof House Preparatory School) Open Exhibition: Katlego Mhlongo (Dainfem Preparatory School) Major Trust: Richard Johnston (Arbor Primary School) Minor Trust: Matthew Gerrish (DPHS) Closed: Shane Maartêns (Cowan House Preparatory School) Closed: Odirile Losaba (Pridwin Preparatory School) Closed: Daniel Hughes (Clifton Nottingham Road) Sports: Nicholas Kershaw (DPHS) Sports: Sean Gilson (DPHS) Sports Exhibition: Thomas Price (Clifton Nottingham Road) Sports Exhibition: Kuhle Khumalo (Cordwalles file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Preparatory School) Sports Exhibition: Simukai Madiro (St Stithian’s Preparatory School) Sports Exhibition: Oliver Calvert-Evers (Pridwin Preparatory School) Music: Michael Craig (Waterkloof House Preparatory School) Allan Gray Orbis Foundation — Michaelhouse Scholarship: Sicelo Mkhumbuzi (Isipingo Hills Primary School) Allan Gray Orbis Foundation - Michaelhouse Scholarship: Ndumiso Ntombela (Cordwalles Preparatory School) Allan Gray Orbis Foundation - Michaelhouse Scholarship: Thabiso Ntshulani (Cordwalles Preparatory School) VISUAL ARTS Qead of Department: Ms Joy Preiss Part-time Staff: Mr Sandile Sibiya Support Staff: Miss Patience Ngubo Awards: Colours: Michael Burn, Michael Bouwer, Timothy Dommett, Dominic Ferreira and Cian Grendon Our year in the Art Department has been a busy one, filled with a mix of hard work, fun, outings and exhibitions. The senior students have attended and participated in a number of events, the most well-known one being the annual KwaZulu-Natal Art Exhibition, which is held at the Tatham Art Matric Art works by Michael Burn and Dominic Ferreira. 42 Academic Reports k. Gallery in Pietermaritzburg. This year Chris Taylor, Stephan Hartman, Russell Anderson and Neil Varty, all students from 2012’s Art class, had their works selected by the Tatham judges for exhibition. The other important event on our calendar is the annual combined exhibition with the Matric class of The Wykeham Collegiate. It was clearly evident that the work done by the girls is exceptionally well executed and diligently finished, whereas the boys’ work is a great deal more adventurous and exciting, both conceptually and visually. The overall standard of the work is outstanding and the exhibition formed a great backdrop for the activities taking place in the theatre foyer over the week of the staging of The Phantom of the Opera. Over the year, the Schlesinger Theatre gallery has consistently been filled with a diverse selection of artworks, ranging from the exciting Pop Art Portraits created by the D Block boys, the B Blockers’ My Space drawings, the A Blockers’ Phonography artworks and the C Blockers’ very successful water colour and acrylic landscape paintings. The other event which features annually is the exhibition of the Community Partnership Competition winners. This coincides every year with the Choir Competition and is a great event showcasing the talents of the children in the rural schools around Michaelhouse. The final Matric Art Exhibition was opened on Friday, 18 October. Parents, friends, the Rector and staff gathered to admire the final examination pieces of the Matric Art students. They were privileged to have Ms Alana Leigh officially open the exhibition and appraise their work. Ms Leigh, herself an artist, comes from a long line of famous South African artists: the Everard Group. She taught Art at Epworth High School for many years, and her late father, Professor Dick Leigh, taught at Natal University. She currently teaches at Russell High School in Pietermaritzburg. Cian Grendon with his work “Absent Lineage" at the opening of the Michaelhouse / Wykeham Collegiate Art Exhibition. Ms Leigh congratulated the boys on the quality of their work. She also inspired all present with the value of taking Art as a subject. Aside from the technical competencies acquired, Art develops critical thinking together with social and emotional awareness. But most significantly, Art develops ‘cool’ people. Another important aspect of the Visual Arts Department is the outings which the Art students go on. This year, the senior boys have been to Durban to visit the artSpace Gallery and the K.ZNSA gallery. They have also visited the Tatham Art Gallery on numerous occasions, the latest visit being to see the 2013 Standard Bank Visual Arts Winner, Mary Sibande’s exhibition. By being able to experience the real thing in these galleries, the boys have their blinkers removed and their vistas widened. The B Block students also go every year to the VEGA campus, where they spend the day in the various studios and are introduced to the concept of studying Media Communication after school. It is seldom that our Visual Arts students are able to receive any Cultural Awards due to there being so few opportunities for them to exhibit their work in the public arena. This year, we are thrilled to have been told by the Educational Officers of the Tatham that artworks by Michael Bums, Michael Bouwer, Timothy Dommett, Dominic Ferreira and Cian Grendon have been chosen for next year’s Matric Exhibition in March, and so these boys were awarded their Colours for Art at their final assembly. We congratulate them on this achievement. We have been very fortunate to have had the services of Miss Patience Ngubo, who has been our Visual Arts Technician for the past three-and-a-half years. She also worked in the ABET programme, assisting with the further education of many of the adults from the Estate Departments. It is with great regret that we have had to say goodbye file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] to Patience due to her ill health, and we thank her for her diligent service during her time here. DRAMATIC ARTS Qcad of Department: Mrs Asha Royappen Staff: Mrs Carlien Walters The boys who study Dramatic Arts are passionate about what they do. They are bursting with creativity and energy, and the stage is where all this comes to fruition. How incredible to be able to do what you love as a subject at school. American mythologist Joseph Campbell says: “Passion will move men beyond themselves.” The boys have certainly moved beyond themselves in the pieces of work they have produced this year, simply because their work is their passion. The A Block year has ended remarkably well. On 10 October, they performed their practical examination for an external examiner, Ms Moira Filmer. She was very impressed with 43 A Academic Reports different genres, and were most impressed with the Flagship production, Solomon and Marion. The playwright, Lara Foot-Newton, is also the playwright of their A Block text, Tshepang. On 15 September, the A and B Block were also invited to audition for bursaries to study at the New York Film Academy. The Academy was very impressed with the boys, and of the 11 boys who auditioned, all were offered some form of bursary. I was informed via e-mail that they were one of the strongest internationally, and the strongest in the country. The C, D and E Blocks have also been privileged to be taught by Mrs Carlien Walters, who unfortunately will be leaving us at the end of this year. She will be focussing on her family next year and we wish her all the best in her future endeavours. She will be replaced by our very capable theatre director, Mr William Le Cordeur, whose novel and creative thinking will certainly add a new dimension to the department. The boys were also treated to workshops during the year. All Blocks attended a workshop by visiting artist Sparky, who is part of a Physical Theatre Company. This workshop was an intense workout for the boys and had them totally out of breath by the end. That is exactly what 2013 has been: breath-taking. Matric thespians Joshua Geldenhuys and Julian Liebenberg performing in the A Block Drama practical examination. The examination was a huge success, with each of the boys producing outstanding pieces of work. This was followed by a cocktail party, and it was a night not to be forgotten by the parents and boys. The boys worked consistently throughout the year and this has resulted in the execution of their exceptional performances. The pieces were diverse and covered a range of genres. Versatile performer Dominic Pretorius’ autobiographical monologue earned him one of the top spots for monologues. Batebang Mapetla was a very convincing Shylock, which was very much in contrast to his humorous scene with Barrie Forrester-Smith which had the audience in stitches. Dylan Rice played an army officer in White Men with Weapons; he obviously had fun with his role, and this energy was evident on stage. The menace was appropriately captured in Kyle Pyne-James’ Joker, and he also produced brilliant work in the play, Grey Days, which he scripted himself. We also loved the romantic and sensitive piece portrayed by Bruce Arnott. Nicholas Stephenson, Julian Liebenberg, Ntobeko Ntombela, Ciaran Fumiss, Connor Grealy and Daniel Kramer were hilarious in their comic duos; the audience laughed uproariously. One of the compulsory aspects of the boys’ productions is a third skill. The movement piece performed by Dominic Pretorius and Murray McDonald had us spellbound with its strength and sensitivity. In contrast, we were in awe of Kethin Nair and Mark Wood’s piece inspired by the silent movies of Charlie Chaplin. the standard of work they had produced and believes they are extremely talented and skilled. The Dramatic Arts boys have attended numerous productions during the course of the year. B Block and C Block have also attended Jongosi Day, which is part of the Hilton Arts Festival and offers the most contemporary productions and workshops. The boys were treated to three plays of 44 Academic Reports k. PERFORMING ARTS Qead of Department: Mr Abri Venter Permanent Staff: Mr William Silk, Mr Hannes Ebersohn Secretary: Mrs Angela Jonsson Part-time Staff: Mr Nigel Fish (Cello), Mr Bernard Kisbey-Green (Saxophone, Clarinet, Drumkit), Mr Leandros Stavrou (Guitar), Mr Ian Turnbull (Bagpipes), Mr Brett Udal and Ms Zillah Holcroft (Violin) Awards Honours (Music)-. Robert Perrott, Dillan van der Westhuizen, Bryan Hall and Shawn Bailes Colours (Music)'. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Constantin von Stackelberg, Neo Molope, Robert Perrott, Kyle van Greunen and Khulekani Zungu Colours (KwaZulu- Natal Midlands Youth Choir): Bryan Hall, Dillan van der Westhuizen, Kyle van Greunen, Shawn Bailes, Greg Reynolds, Carlisle Hartman, Luke Crouch, Tshiamo Mogopudi, Luke McDonald, Vuyo Mkhize, Neo Molope, Khulekani Zungu, Andrew Henderson, Van Wyk Venter and Dalingcebo Maseko Colours: Appointed as Leader/Deputy Leader of an Official Music Group Chapel Choir Head Chorister: Batebang Mapetla Deputy Head Chorister: Joy Mhlanga Jazz Band Leader: Joy Mhlanga Deputy Leader: Leonard von Stackelberg Half Colours: Two Years in the Chapel Choir, Marimba Band or Jazz Band: Nicholas Forshaw, Zuko Fukula, Vuyo Mkhize, Vincent van der Westhuizen, Mthobisi Cele, Carlisle Hartman, Jonathan Maitre, Luke McDonald, Tshiamo Mogopudi, Greg Reynolds, Gerhard Serton, William Lyle and Alex Sickmueller The following boys were members of the Midlands Male Youth Choir: Bryan Hall, Nick Forster, Robert Ellison, Dillan van der Westhuizen, Joy Mhlanga, Kyle van Greunen, Greg Reynolds, Van Wyk Venter, Batebang Mapetla, Neo Molope, Andrew Henderson and Carlisle Hartman Introduction The Music School started off the year with music registration where 110 boys signed up for practical lessons. We were privileged to have some extremely talented boys, 13 in total, taking Music as a subject this year. CHAPEL CHOIR: Back Row: Luke Crouch, Jeremy Tratschler, Liam Furniss, Mulalo Sadiki, Luc Maitre, Hayden Weaver, Kyle van Greunen, Stephano Raciti, Van Wyk Venter Fourth Row: Wesley Turkington, Nicholas Forshaw, Khulekani Zungu, Neo Molope, Richard Johnsen, Jonathan Maitre, Carlisle Hartman, Gerhard Serton, Jonathan Henderson, Trafford Melville, BenAdey, Nicholas Forster Third Row: Sicelo Mkhumbuzi, Bruere Venter, Toivo Khumalo, Luke McDonald, James Smith, Mthobisi Cele, Greg Reynolds, Stuart Ferguson, Vuyo Mkhize, Ian le Roux, Solomon Marx, Evan Thomas, Daniel Smart Second Row: Luke Thomson, Khanya Tutu, Ross Cheshire, Isaac Jarvis, Brandon Jones, Michael Craig, Nnaedozie Ajogwu, Joshua Maher, Robert Ellison, Tshiamo Mogopudi, Matthew Gerrish, Cameron Fellner Front Row: Dillan van der Westhuizen, Edgar Lubinga, Tsakani Baloyi, Lonwabo Mogoduso, Kura Maswera, Mr William Silk, Batebang Mapetla, Mr Abri Venter, Joy Mhlanga, Joe Sutton, Joshua Geldenhuys, Bryan Hall, Dalingcebo Maseko. 45 Á Academic Reports JAZZ BAND: Back Row: Kurt Martin, Chad Fourie, John Robins Middle Row: William Lyle, Alex Sickmueller, Ben Adey, Michael Craig Front Row: Robert Perrott, Leonard von Stackelberg, Joy Mhlanga, Batebang Mapetla, Constantin von Stackelberg. Overview of Activities @Bandroom.Live: 1 March Eighty-two people attended this function and an array of performances, including those by a Brass Ensemble, the Jazz Band, the Chapel Choir and the Marimba Bands, entertained the guests. Some own compositions and a voice quartet were amongst the excellent musical items presented to a very appreciative audience. Michaelhouse Choir Festival: 20 April Choirs from Clifton, the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands Youth Choir, Martizburg College and the Michaelhouse Chapel Choir joined forces to entertain parents on a fun-filled afternoon. St Mary’s Festival: 21 April The Michaelhouse Chapel Choir was invited to perform at the St Mary’s Choir Festival on 21 April where their performance was outstanding. Tea@Michaelhouse: 2 June The Michaelhouse Music School hosted the first Tea at Michaelhouse for 2013 on Sunday 2 June. Mr Hannes Ebersohn (organist) performed works by JS Bach in the Michaelhouse Chapel, with more than 60 guests braving the gale force winds to enjoy the high tea as well as the recital. Grandparents’ Day: 15 June With the sun shining, the enthusiastic Marimba Bands entertained the guests outside the Chapel with various upbeat numbers enjoyed by all. This was followed by a recital in the Chapel by Messrs Hannes file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Ebersohn and William Silk along with Bryan Hall and Dillan van der Westhuizen. Music Tour to Namibia: 25 June - 6 July A group of 30 pupils, made up of Choir, Marimba and Jazz Band members, set off early on the morning of 25 June to experience an amazing road trip through Namibia. The boys had various sightseeing opportunities and experienced the best that Namibia has to offer, stopping at Augrabies Falls National Park, enjoying a boat trip round the harbour at Walvis Bay and climbing Dune Nine just outside 46 Academic Reports k. MARIMBAS: Back Row: Jonathan Smith, Liam Furniss, Mulalo Sadiki, Nicholas Anderson, Van Wyk Venter Middle Row: Jonathan Henderson, Jonathan Doyle, Ryan Anderson, Constantin von Stackelberg, Luke Barrell, Lesedi Mokoena Front Row: Tsakani Baloyi, Lonwabo Mgoduso, Mr Abri Venter, Jabu Magubane, Batebang Mapetla. Swakopmund - singing the School Song from the very top. The boys performed various concerts throughout this tour to standing ovations and high praise wherever they went. Well done to them. St Anne’s Women’s Day: 9 August We were privileged to be invited by St Anne’s to join in their celebration of Women’s Day. The Marimba Band spent a wonderful afternoon entertaining their guests. Speech Day: 22 August Parents were entertained in the Chapel by the Choir, who performed various numbers including a melody from the sold-out performances of The Phantom of the Opera. The Jazz Band then kept everyone entertained in the Inglis Indoor Centre. Golden Harvest Church, Kamberg: 1 September The Music School performed various items to a sold-out audience of members of the congregation of the Golden Harvest Church. Sunday at Michaelhouse: 6 October The Jazz Band did not let the weather put a dampener on their performance and spent a wonderful morning entertaining potential new parents and boys in the Main Quad. Nottingham Road Women’s Institute Concert: 8 October The Nottingham Road Women’s Institute had their last meeting of the year in the Band Room of the Music School, where they were entertained by a variety of songs performed by our boys. They thoroughly enjoyed numbers from The Phantom of the Opera, as well as guitar and voice solos and piano recitals. All agreed that they would be back again next year. @Bandroom.live: 11 October The final @Bandroom for 2013 was a great success and was thoroughly enjoyed by the 100 guests who attended. The evening was packed with various solos, ensembles and own compositions. The audience joined in the spirit of the evening with lots of encores requested and an excellent standard of 47 Á Academic Reports performance was delivered by all. The evening was rounded off by the Jazz Band as well as both the Junior and Senior Marimba Bands. Marimbas, Mozart, a Mass and a Meal at Michaelhouse: 13 October This was a first for the Music School and for Michaelhouse, with the concert being held in different venues all over campus. Guests were treated to a starter in the foyer of the Schlesinger Theatre, followed by wonderful performances from the Epworth Marimba Band and the Junior and Senior Michaelhouse Marimba Bands. The audience then braved the cold and made their way to the Memorial Hall where they enjoyed lunch whilst being entertained by various solos, duets and ensembles from the great composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The afternoon proceeded with everyone congregating in the Michaelhouse Chapel to be treated to the Haydn Missa Brevis (Kleine Orgel Messe), expertly performed by members of the Kwazulu-Natal Youth Choir and an ad hoc orchestra from Durban. This wonderful event was rounded off by dessert being served in the Crypt. Recording Studio Workshop: 18 October Our music students enjoyed a comprehensive one-day recording studio workshop with Mr Andrew Roos where they were taught the fundamentals of audio recording skills and tutoring on Cubase-Midi and Audio. Nottingham Road Primary School: 19 October We were privileged to be asked to join the Centenary Celebrations of Nottingham Road Primary School. A group of enthusiastic students entertained the guests with various songs dating from 1913. A lively performance from our C Block Band returned the audience to the present day. Tea@Michaelhouse: 3 November file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] The final Tea@Michaelhouse took place on a bright and sunny morning with high tea being enjoyed by the guests outside the Michaelhouse Chapel. They were then treated to a wonderful morning of works by Bach, Brahms, Mendelssohn and Guilmant, expertly performed by organist Mr Hannes Ebersohn. Christmas Carols@Barbs: The Music School was invited to perform at a special Christmas Carol Concert at Barbs in Nottingham Road. A group of enthusiastic boys performed Carols from aound the world to a sold-out audience. The event was a huge success and the end of the evening was marked by a standing ovation and an invitation for a repeat performance next year. Jazz Band The Jazz Band consisted of 11 very keen musicians who grew in confidence with some fantastic performances throughout the year. They practised on a Monday at 5pm and on a Thursday during the choir period. Their first performance was held on 1 March during @Bandroom.live. Recently, they performed at the Sunday at Michaelhouse and Speech Day concerts. Joy Mhlanga was the leader and Leonard von Stackelberg was the deputy leader. Marimba Band The highlights of this year’s Marimbas were definitely the tour to Namibia and the Triple M Concert, which had audiences on their feet. Chapel Choir The Chapel Choir started the year off rehearsing for a concert and choir festival to be held at St Mary’s in Kloof. This was followed by a number of concerts throughout the year at Michaelhouse and the surrounding area, including the Triple M Concert where choristers from the Chapel Choir performed Haydn’s Little Organ Mass with a professional string ensemble. Sixteen Michaelhouse boys were accepted into the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Youth Choir for 2013 and represented KwaZulu-Natal at the National Youth Choir Festival in Pretoria. The Youth Choir also competed in the Animato National Choir Competition, where they were pronounced the best choir in South Africa, having won the Youth Choir and Overall finals in Johannesburg. Nicholas Forster and Albert Prinz von Preussen performing Mozart in the Memorial Hall for the MMM Concert. The Marimba Band performing on the Terraces for Grandparents 'Day. Academic Reports k. EXTERNAL MUSIC EXAMINATIONS The Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music PRACTICAL RESULTS NAME GRADE INSTRUMENT PASS Fergus Hathorn 1 Piano Merit Stewart Grant 2 Organ Distinction Vincent van der Westhuizen 2 Guitar Merit Dillan van der Westhuizen 3 Guitar Pass Dillan van der Westhuizen 3 Piano Pass Nicholas Forshaw 4 Piano Pass Bruere Venter 4 Voice Distinction Carlisle Hartman 4 Voice Merit Stefano Raciti 4 Guitar Merit Jonathan Henderson i 6 Voice Distinction Alex Sickmueller 6 Trumpet Pass Alex Sickmueller 6 Piano Pass Jonathan Henderson i 6 Piano Pass Richard Johnsen 6 Piano Pass Richard Johnsen 7 Voice Distinction Dillan van der Westhuizen 7 Voice Distinction Van Wyk Venter 8 Voice Distinction THEORY RESULTS Dillan van der Westhuizen 5 Theory Merit Darren de Beer 6 Theory Passed TRINITY GUILDHALL PRACTICAL RESULTS file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] NAME GRADE INSTRUMENT PASS Charles Houston 2 Saxophone Distinction Emanuel Zaloumis 4 Saxophone Pass William Lyle 5 Saxophone Merit Kurt Martin 5 Saxophone Pass Dillan van der Westhuizen 6 Voice Distinction Andrew Vogel 8 Trumpet Pass Van Wyk Venter 8 Voice Distinction TRINITY ROCK & POP PRACTICAL RESULTS NAME GRADE INSTRUMENT PASS Solomon Marx 1 Guitar Pass James Newton 2 Guitar Merit Bruere Venter 2 Guitar Distinction Odirile Losaba 2 Drums Distinction Anele Songca 3 Drums Merit Kurt Martin 3 Guitar Pass Van Wyk Venter 3 Guitar Pass Gianluca Truda 4 Guitar Merit Luke Crouch 4 Vocals Pass Cameron Fellner 4 Drums Pass Joshua Cullinan 5 Guitar Merit Joy Mhlanga 6 Bass Guitar Merit Kyle van Greunen 6 Vocals Merit Liam Furniss 6 Drums Distinction John Robins 6 Drums Distinction Robert Perrott 7 Guitar Distinction Ben Adey 7 Guitar Merit Neo Ngcobo 7 Vocals Distinction UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PRACTICAL Vincent van der Westhuizen 4 Piano Pass THEORY Vincent van der Westhuizen 4 Piano Merit Top image: The Chapel Choir performing with the St Mary’s Choir Bottom image: Bryan Hall performing at the ever popular @BandroomLive performance 49 A Academic Reports ACCOUNTING 0cad of Department: Mr Richard McMichael Staff: Mr Dean Forword The accounting class of 2012 did well in the final exam. Out of a group of 23, seven boys achieved an A symbol (30%), four a B symbol (17%) and seven a C symbol (30%). There were no failures. A decision by both Management and the Board to limit subject choices resulted in Accounting being moved from two subject lines to one at the start of 2012. As a result, the subject is still struggling to revive the numbers of boys taking Accounting to Matric, but there has been an improvement for 2014. Report on the B Block Accounting Tour to Johannesburg Written by Reece Butler (Farfield) On Accounting Tour we went to many different, distinguished businesses in order to gain a broader and more insightful view into possible career paths and choices for our future. Nedbank At Nedbank we learned the many different aspects that a bank incorporates, as well as the various types of jobs that are done. Nedbank is one of the biggest banks in Africa and has thousands of employees all over the continent as well as overseas. Nedbank is involved in almost every aspect of business and so the positives of working at a place like Nedbank would be that even if you do not enjoy what you are doing, there are so many other parts of the business to be involved in that you can almost certainly find something you would enjoy. They also have overseas offices, so working overseas is possible and gives you even more options. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] JSE At the JSE we were given an inside view of the workings of the Stock Market and a glimpse into how unpredictable it is to an outsider. We were shown how many businesses that do not have the finances to expand and grow ask for cash input from investors in exchange for shares in their businesses. Investors can also make profits by getting dividends if the company they have invested in does well. Some grow faster than others, while some fail dismally and never really start running. It was interesting to gain insight into how our economy in South Africa works and what it is like compared to other markets around the world. PriceWaterhouseCoopers PWC is the biggest accounting firm in Africa and visiting their offices was a unique experience. It was interesting to learn how the common perception of an accountant (just auditing books etc...) is actually a misconception, as only about 50% of people qualified as accountants go into auditing. The opportunities are vast and lines of work range from managing a business to consulting with big multinational firms to working in schools or the mining industry. Credit Bureau The credit bureau collects information on consumers who buy on credit. It then sells this information to other companies who have an interest in consumers’ credit histories. The credit bureau also keeps credit scores on each person in the country. People have the right to see their credit score free of charge once a year. Banks and other businesses that give loans and work on credit use this information to see whether or not a credit customer is likely to pay and if so, how quickly. If a person has a bad credit score, then they will find it harder to get loans approved or to buy things on credit. Mpact Mpact is the largest paper and plastic manufacturer and distributer in Southern Africa. It has an annual revenue of about R3.5 billion and is also heavily involved in the recycling industry, with a significant chunk of its revenues coming from recycling and re-using paper and plastics. The tour in general was an awesome experience and a learning opportunity which will definitely (one way or another) have an effect on my future. It was very interesting learning to understand the different businesses and how they work and function on a day-to-day basis. B Block Accounting boys, Mayi Mkhize, Luvuyo Khuzwayo, David Broadley and Simon Cheshire visiting the Stock Exchange. 50 Academic Reports k. COMPUTER STUDIES Qead of Department: Mrs Julie Flanegan Staff: Mr Dominic Gruijters, Mr Ian Crawford Our A Block IT (Information Technology) and CAT (Computer Applications Technology) boys once again did us proud in the November 2012 IEB exams. IT is very demanding of the boys’ time and many long hours spent programming and preparing user documentation were well-rewarded with some outstanding results. The IT boys (15 in total) achieved 12 A symbols and 93% of the boys achieved an A, B or C symbol. This is the best set of results that we have ever had for IT at Michaelhouse, with an average percentage of 80%, which is 12% higher than the IEB average. In total, five of our 14 CAT boys achieved A symbols and 100% achieved an A, B or C symbol. Andrew Christodoulou and Luke Strachan were placed in the top 1% in the country for CAT which was a great achievement, considering that they took CAT as an extra subject. In the first quarter, Computer Studies staff attended the IT and CAT IEB conferences in Johannesburg. Mr Dominic Gruijters, in his role as IEB IT Practical Examiner, presented at the IT conference and he has also fulfilled a role as one of the IEB Provincial Regional Moderators for IT. Dominic attended the Google in Education South Africa Summit at Parklands College in Cape Town in September. We hope to integrate some of the Google Apps into our curriculum in 2014. The Computer Programming Olympiad is one of the oldest and largest events of its kind in the world. This year, there were 4 747 entries for the first round which was held in March. Seventy-seven of our boys from Grade 8 to 12 participated in this Talent Search. Our top achievers received certificates: Name Block Rank Michael McDonald A lstMHS/ Is1 Grade 12 Khwezi Majola A 2nd MHS Nicholas Stephenson A 2nd MHS Luvuyo Khuzwayo B Is'Grade 11 file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Bradley Mallett B 1st Grade 11 Gianluca Truda B 1st Grade 11 Wesley Biggs C 1st Grade 10 Christopher Broadley D 1st Grade 9 Antony Fleischer E 1st Grade 8 We had 27 boys in the first round of the Computer Applications Olympiad this year and were delighted that Gianluca Truda was invited as one of the 11 finalists to participate in the final round in Cape Town in June. Gianluca was awarded a Silver Medal in the final round, a fantastic achievement, considering there were initially 17 000 national candidates. Our top achievers received certificates: Name______Block Rank______Gianluca Truda B Is'MHS / 1st Grade 11 Kyle Pyne-James A 2nd MHS / Is' Grade 12 Robert Wood C 3rd MHS / 1st Grade 10 A number of our senior boys participated in the Programming round of the Olympiad. To add to our delight, Gianluca Truda was selected as one of 13 participants nationally to participate in the final round of the Programming Olympiad at the University of Cape Town during September. Due to other commitments, Gianluca was unable to make the finals, but he did achieve second place in KwaZulu-Natal. Considering that Gianluca was a silver medallist in the Applications Olympiad in June, this is a fantastic achievement. Name Block Rank Gianluca Truda B Is'MHS / 1st Grade 11 Nicholas Richardson B 2nd MHS Khwezi Majola A 3rd MHS / 1st Grade 12 Nicholas Schram A 3rd MHS /151 Grade 12 Robert Wood C 1sl Grade 10 olympiad Winner of the Silver Medal in the Computer Applications Olympiad, Gianluca Truda. 51 Á Academic Reports We upgraded to Moodle 2.0 and we continue to use Moodle in our classes. Moodle is a free and open-source learning course management system designed to help educators provide online material. The use of Moodle provides the opportunity for boys to upload their work for teachers to mark digitally and return electronically to avoid the use of so much paper. We started a new ICDL class for staff and currently have ten staff attending lessons once a week. In addition, 12 staff members have registered for an ICDL Self-Study course. The ICDL course is also offered to boys on a voluntary basis to improve their computer literacy skills. In keeping with our vision to develop responsible digital citizens, we will continue with our mission, which is to provide dynamic and progressive IT education by engaging and inspiring the boys, integrating the latest technologies and encouraging teamwork and collaboration, ensuring that the boys acquire the necessary 21st century skills for a changing world. COUNSELLING [Qcad of Department: Mr Tim Jarvis A Good Man At the start of the year I had the privilege of being involved in the International Boy’s School Coalition conference at St Albans in Pretoria. The theme of the conference was A Good Man. Speakers were varied and covered topics ranging from advertising to sport, all around the theme addressed the issue of how we help our boys become Good Men? My role, along with my colleague Mr Paul de Wet from Hilton College, was to facilitate a discussion and to wrap up the conference. In doing so, we identified eight action areas in helping to develop Good Men that had been highlighted throughout the conference. These were as follows: 1. Role of culture and environment in shaping masculinity 2. Success versus significance (taking the long-term view) 3. Media and advertising 4. Sport 5. Technology 6. Role of women in boys’ schools file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] 7. Identifying and developing boys’ strengths 8. Risk taking - Am I man enough? On our return to Michaelhouse, we were able to bring these thoughts back to School in the form of a Good Man focus term. This included a Twitter Feed, Home Room Programme, Enrichment Speakers and appropriate Chapel Services themes. II ÏX0F ' la HASHTAG INFLUENCED!! DF APPEARED 146 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH Its first peak, and Iasi appearai* m 45 Appearances on peak day ■HMSH IHEMDST INFLUENTIAL USER DN PEAK DAY: 1 1» ” 52 Academic Reports k. Participants were invited to consider what makes a Good Man. The popular social media platform, Twitter, was used to excellent effect, attracting input from a diverse range of commentators. What came through strongly was the importance of being significant as opposed to merely successful. This generated plenty of discussion and was a recurring theme in many of the talks given in Chapel. In 2014 we can look forward to developing some of these themes further. Courage to Connect Over the last seven years at Michaelhouse, we have been running a Father and Sons weekend in recognition of the key role that fathers play in their children’s lives, particularly in the lives of their teenage boys. We call this weekend Courage to Connect — A Father and Sons Experience. This year, the weekend was run for the eighth time. On this occasion, it took place on the banks of the Tugela River at Em’seni campsite. Over the two days, fathers and sons from Michaelhouse shared a time of interaction, discussion, information, debate, activities and ultimately of affirmation of each other and their relationship. Below is feedback from participants in this year’s course: “What a fantastic weekend..., I have encouraged every parent I have spoken to recently to do this course with their sons.” “I can honestly say that the content of your weekend and most importantly, the manner in which it was presented and facilitated was absolutely perfect. I was blown away by ALL the sons; their openness, honesty and maturity was truly remarkable. I am more than happy to admit that they taught me a number of valuable lessons over the weekend.” “Congratulations and well done on the course; I will happily recommend it to other dads and have already chatted to colleagues in the office about F and S. Your course really helps to bring Fathers and Sons back to earth.” Part of the weekend involved the Drakensberg Canopy Tour. This allowed fathers and sons to enjoy time together around an activity and also provided appropriate levels of adrenaline and excitement. Not forgetting the Mums... This year, we were once again able to run our Strong Mothers-Strong Sons course, facilitated by Cape Town psychologist Mrs Megan de Beyer. We have run this course with great success for several years. Megan continually updates her courses, ensuring that they remain relevant for all mothers of teenage boys. Counselling and Support As always, the Counselling Department provides one-on-one support for our boys as and when the need arises. A large part of the Counsellor’s job involves proactively interacting with boys through hiking, sports coaching, School camps and in fact, through any opportunity to connect with boys. This year, working with the U14A soccer team and taking part in the C Block Journey were highlights. Riding through a one kilometre tunnel, abandoned by all but a bat file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] colony, with 30-odd screaming boys is not something one forgets easily. Programmes and Courses Throughout the year, there are a number of programmes run to deal proactively with issues faced by teenage boys. A few are mentioned here. D Block Sexuality Course This gave the D Block boys a very thorough grounding on the subject and focussed on equipping them with skills to make informed decisions in this area. The boys were encouraged to work through a decision-making process now, so that they are prepared for what lies ahead. Sister Ruth Loubser, a qualified Sexual Health Educator led this course in her typically frank and direct way. “Let us preserve a record of our thoughts and doings, so that the Michaelhouse boys of five hundred years hence may learn something of their predecessors from the pages of the St Michael’s Chronicle. ” James Cameron Todd, 1897 53 Á Academic Reports Self-Directed Search This year, the whole of B Block did an assessment called Self-Directed Search. The SDS is the ideal assessment to help clarify each boy’s interests and to spark ideas in terms of possible careers that might appeal to them. Accompanying websites allow the boys the opportunity to do some further research around careers that interest them. Work Exposure This takes place at the end of the third quarter each year for B Block boys. The aim is to expose boys to the world of work as part of continued career guidance. D Block Subject Choice Making decisions about subjects and eventually a future career path is not a once-off event. Rather, it is a process that is being constantly influenced by each boy’s own personal growth and maturity in step with the ever-changing world of work. All D Block boys get a full morning’s guidance on this issue as well as the chance to complete the Ideas: Interest Determination, Exploration and Assessment System. This assessment includes an interest questionnaire and a workbook which is filled in and enables the boys to narrow their search to their top three interests to better find related jobs to match these interests. This can then help them with their subject choices. Academic Support With the demands of high school education there are many boys who need academic support. Our gratitude goes to Mrs Janet Emanuel, our Academic Support teacher, who is available to the boys at the School three days a week and reliably ensures all applications for academic concessions are done professionally and on time. LIFE ORIENTATION Qead of Department: Mr George Ferreira Staff: Mr Righardt Kotze, Mr Tim Jarvis, Mr Halalisani Xulu, Mrs Candice Roodt-Smith Life Orientation as a subject provides opportunities to formally teach life skills to the boys and to assess their mastering of the various Learning Outcomes. In our department we employ team teaching and the boys are exposed to all three teachers, who focus on their respective areas of expertise. Mr Tim Jarvis, the School Counsellor, prepares the boys for future studies and careers, and deals with aspects of personal development. Our Sports Scientist, Mr Righardt Kotze, focusses on physical wellbeing and recreation. The learning areas of responsible citizenship and social development are covered by me. Mr Halalisani Xulu and Mrs Candice Roodt-Smith, two Intern students, assist with our D and E Block classes. We strive to Academic Reports k. Enrichment Speaker, Jes Foord with James Bekker and Stephan Bosch and Ryan Thompson with Jason Hartman at the Michael Craig. promotion of Rock ‘n Ride 4 Rhino at Michaelhouse. apply all the learning outcomes to practical situations which the boys will encounter during their time at Michaelhouse and when they enter the world beyond school. No examination takes place since all assessment is based on tasks which are done throughout the year. As in 2012, Michaelhouse was one of the pilot schools that introduced a research task into the Grade 12 syllabus. Twenty-four boys did their research task in Life Orientation. Enrichment Speakers file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Jes Foord Jes Foord, a rape victim, decided immediately following her incident that she would not just be another statistic or a victim, but instead a Survivor. Jes has taken her negative experience and is turning it into a wonderful positive vision. Her speaking out and her inspirational talks have empowered other rape survivors to come forward and, in so doing, start their own healing process. Jes has made it her mission to educate people about rape in South Africa and how they can make a difference in their community. This was her second visit to Michaelhouse, and as in the past, the Michaelhouse boys made her feel very welcome. TruLife The D and E Block boys thoroughly enjoyed two productions by TruLife, a non-profit organisation that serves to challenge and inspire young people, giving them a platform to be the Change. Their stage production for the D Block boys dealt with issues of sexuality, and the production for the E Block boys addressed bullying. Rock ’n Ride 4 Rhino Rock ’n Ride 4 Rhino is an ambitious conservation project created by Jason Hartman, Damien Mander and Dave Estment, which entailed an epic 9 999km motorcycle adventure around Southern Africa. The target was to spread the conservation message to 70 000 school children. At Michaelhouse this was done through an interactive presentation by the crew and music performed by Jason Hartman, a former Idols winner in South Africa. In response to the presentation, the Michaelhouse boys raised an amount of R15 782 under the guidance of Ryan Thompson, our Senior Prefect. Jason Drew Jason Drew is a self-confessed environmental capitalist. He argues that sustainability has to have an economic impact and moreover, an economic reward, if it is to strike a chord with a global audience. He believes that whilst capitalism may have caused many of the issues we face, it may be the only tool we have that is strong enough to fix the problems. Described by Leadership magazine as one of “Africa’s most inspiring green leaders”, he is sharp, witty and above all, an environmental realist with a no-nonsense motivational approach. Jason is the published author of books, a successful public speaker and a ‘planet motivator’ for the future. The Michaelhouse boys found his talk and business ventures fascinating. Dr Ben Coetzee Dr Ben Coetzee currently serves as a senior lecturer and programme leader for the Sport Science post-graduate programme in the School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science (BRS) at the Potchefstroom campus of North West University. His research interests focus primarily on sport performance determinants, sport conditioning techniques and the influence of different conditioning and intervention techniques on the physiology of athletes. He addressed the boys on the latest trends in sports conditioning. 55 Á Academic Reports Corrie Campbell Current father, Mr Brendan Grealy, entertained the Michaelhouse boys with his one man show Beyond the Box. In his keynote address on the subject of change, Corrie Campbell, postmaster of the fictitious Nuga Moya Post Office, explains in a hilarious way how he has learned through years of hard experience about how unthreatening and refreshing change can be. STARS web page Mr Righardt Kotze oversees the STARS web page, which is the internet newspaper of the LEAP programme, where the boys can find information which assists them in maintaining their personal well-being. HUMAN KINETICS faster in Charge: Mr Righardt Kotze The Michaelhouse Human Kinetics programme is unique and unmatched by any other school in South Africa. The Michaelhouse years offer a vital opportunity to shape the attitudes and behaviours of our young men so they do not become sedentary adults. The programme encourages healthy physical training and activity. Boys need information about fitness; they need to develop an understanding of health-related fitness concepts. Our boys need to participate in developmentally appropriate fitness learning experiences, and they are fortunate to enjoy the resources and opportunities to participate in community sports, gymnastics, dance and recreational activities at Michaelhouse. Physical education (HK) is an essential school subject that helps students become successful at physical activity and to value health-enhancing physical activity. Fitness testing, learner participation and movement performance are assessed and reported each term. After file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] participating in the HK fitness tests, the boys are encouraged to set personal goals based on interests and fitness needs. The students are then provided time during the set HK lessons to work toward these goals through Calisthenics and appropriate weight training circuit sessions. It is important to remember that the one allocated time Michaelhouse E and D Block students have for physical education per week is not enough time to make significant fitness improvements. Our boys need to be regularly active in their own time too. EAPS (Extended Academic Programme for Students) faster in Charge: Mr Matthew Higginson Since my arrival at Michaelhouse, I have wanted to get the Science Department to save energy. With the Board agreeing to the upgrade of the Science Block, I have contemplated the feasibility of making the Science Block completely green. I started a project last year with a group of brilliant young men, but due to time limitations the project fell away. This year, I reintroduced the project and I have had the pleasure of working with eight outstanding C Block boys for the second half of the year. An ex-Michaelhouse Science teacher, Mr Tony Carter, has kindly offered his time and expertise to the programme. Mr Carter is extremely passionate and enthusiastic about green energy; he has been the glue holding the project together. Our aim is to take the Science Block completely off the ESKOM grid. The boys are in the process of investigating the best ways of producing electrical energy. Some of the aspects that the boys are considering are feasibility and aesthetics. Research is going into solar energy, wind energy, insulation, heating, cooling and design. Earlier this year, the boys visited a house in Rosetta which is almost completely off the national grid. The home owner, Mr Bill Perry, has been investigating the pros and cons of going green. Mr Perry gave the boys a presentation on what he has done to his house to make it green. He too shared a huge amount of his own research with the boys of what is working and what is not. Mr Perry is in the construction business and has a great deal of knowledge on the topic of green energy. He explained a few of the cost and time implications of the project. One of the most beneficial aspects of the visit was where Mr Perry showed the boys what has failed and why it has failed. The boys have presented their ideas to a few of the Management members. Management has given the boys a few specific questions that need to be answered and a few deadlines that have been put in place. The boys have now split into groups of two and have formed focus groups. These focus groups will be responsible for investigating certain aspects of the project. The boys meet once a week to discuss the way forward and show the group what information they have accumulated. This project has no limitations and if conducted correctly, we will see the Science Block off the grid, when the new Block is built. This will hopefully see more of the School going green in the not-too-distant future. B Block Group TARPs Inter-Schools’ Quiz The inaugural Michaelhouse Inter-Schools Quiz was an initiative of the B Block TARP students (Top Academic Reward Programme). Gianluca Truda (Mackenzie), Bradley Mallett (West), Robert Perrott (Tatham), Angelos Geranmayeh (Baines) and Luvuyo Khuzwayo (East), under the guidance of Mrs Lynn van der Vegte of the Media Centre, were responsible for designing the poster and invitations, 56 Academic Reports k. and drawing up the quiz questions in preparation for the event. The quiz was held on the evening of Thursday, 17 October in the Inglis Indoor Centre. It attracted participation from 18 teams of Grade 9 and 10 pupils. Quiz Master, Mr Dominic Gruijters, together with the TARPs team, produced a slick show that seems set to be repeated next year. Michaelhouse teams were joined by teams from Hilton College, St John’s, The Wykeham Collegiate, Howick High and Grace College. After the initial three rounds, the top four teams went through to a fastest-finger-first final. Michaelhouse finished first, second and fourth, with a team from Hilton College taking third position. The winning team was made up of Luke Crouch, Kurt Martin, Charles Houston (all from West) and James Smith (East). ECONOMICS Qead of Department: Mrs Win de Wet Staff: Mr Andrew Brown, Mr Linda Linda and Mr Msizi Mchunu Interns: Mr Karl Swartz, Mr Hala Xulu and Mr Nhlaka Nzimande I was delighted with the Economics results achieved by the Class of 2012. Twenty-six boys out of 53 achieved an A (49% of the boys) and 92% achieved an A, B or C. These are certainly our best Economics results to date. I really file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] appreciate the hard work that the members of the Economics Department put in to ensure that our boys achieved their potential. The department consists of four full-time Economics teachers and three Interns who are observing classes and teaching lessons as well. My aim is to help develop teachers who are well qualified and who, by the time they leave Michaelhouse, are capable of teaching Economics to Matric level. The experience they gain from working in the Economics Department and at Michaelhouse in general must be able to give them a head start on any other candidate for an Economics post at another school. In February, the Economics Department hosted an Economics teacher from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. She is a first year teacher who wanted to be able to sit in on some of our classes and share ideas. The Michaelhouse Economics Department has established a name for itself amongst IEB schools in terms of the way we teach and the number of boys who choose to study Economics. Once again, Economics is one of the biggest choice subjects, with 70 of the current D Blockers opting to study Economics in C Block in 2014. We are slightly behind Science (78) and slightly ahead of Geography (64). The subject is relevant and interesting, and certainly enhances the boys’ general knowledge. Staff development is an important aspect of the Economics Department. Members of the department continue to be involved in the IEB Economics examining and marking process. In March, Mr Linda Linda attended a Thinking Skills workshop in Durban and Mr Msizi Mchunu attended the IBSC at St Albans. Two of our Interns had the opportunity to attend a seminar on the National Budget at the ICC in Durban, and Mr Msizi Mchunu attended the Provincial Budget review at the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business. Mr Andrew Brown and Mr Linda Linda attended the State of the Nation breakfast in Durban in October where two respected analysts, Justice Malala and Mr Clem Sunter, discussed the social, economic and political issues that are currently affecting South Africa and the world, and what measures need to be taken to address them. Once again, all the C Block Economics pupils will participate in the JSE/Liberty Investment Challenge. The competition starts in March and runs through to September. We believe that investing on the Stock Exchange, tracking shares and researching how various businesses are doing are life skills. Not only are we encouraging the boys to track their shares on a daily basis, but many of our assessment tasks are based on the JSE and what the boys are learning through buying and selling shares. We say farewell, after six years, to Mr Linda Linda at the end of 2013. He is leaving Michaelhouse to head up the Economics Department at Reddam in Cape Town. Linda has been an asset to the Michaelhouse Economics Department and we wish him well in his new position. The South African economy is facing many challenges - a weak Rand, high fuel prices, an inflation rate that crept above the upper limits of the SARB’s inflation targeting objective (albeit briefly), labour strikes and unrest, low growth rates, a drop in foreign direct investment (FDI), a huge deficit on the current account, a decrease in credit ratings and a high unemployment rate. All these issues certainly make for very interesting Economics lessons. / \ “Keen we must be, enthusiastic, alert, taking a pride in everything we do, the way we talk, the way we walk, the way we dress, the way we play, the knowledge we gain, the work we show up, the pride in our religion, our House, our School. ” Chronicle 1944 57 A Academic Reports ENGINEERING GRAPHICS AND DESIGN Qead of Department: Mr Elmar de Klerk Staff: Mr Graeme Calway Intern: Mr Craig Pieterse At the beginning of 2013, Mr Craig Pieterse and I attended a two-day AutoCAD 2013 Advanced Course to keep abreast of the latest trends and methods of drawing with the help of a computer. Computer aided drawing is an integral part of the Engineering Graphics and Design syllabus. In their final year, the boys write an advanced Paper III and this gets acknowledged with a certificate of competency in computer aided drawings. The A Block pupils of 2013 completed their portfolio project on developing a user-friendly granny flat built on to an existing house. I was most pleased by the quality of their working drawings and their final proposals. These portfolios will be part of their final mark in the IEB examination. The B Block boys have been monitoring any new building projects at Michaelhouse to assist with all civil engineering drawings. We visited the new Nature Reserve project and also new Staff houses that are currently being built on campus. The B Block pupils also had the opportunity to design, draw and finally weld a wired car. I was impressed with their file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] final products. The C Block boys were involved in the building of micro steam cars. Pupils first learnt about burners, combustion and steam pressure. They mastered the skills of soldering, cutting metal and balancing a turbine wheel. They were also given the opportunity to assemble a model technology car kit and then draw the car using a computer programme. GEOGRAPHY Qead of Department: Mr John Alexander Staff: Mr Mike Bownes, Mr Bernard Whitaker, Mr John Crawford and Mr Sibusiso Ncamane During the course of 2013 the Geography Department has made a concerted effort to continue to establish itself as a centre of excellence and innovative teaching. To achieve this aim, the department has successfully implemented the following: 1. Increased use of inquiry-based teaching methodologies. This has allowed the boys to accept that they are also responsible for their learning and led to a greater sense of engagement. Collaborative learning and positive class interaction has been stressed. In Figure 1, the B Block boys are taking part in a Globalisation/Economic Geography simulation game that highlights the effect of global trade and levels of development. 2. There has been a strong initiative to maintain and build on the number of excursions that the boys attend. To this end, the B Block have been to the Markets of Warwick in Durban, D Block have been to the Spring Grove Dam and to the Mandela Capture Site and have carried out Settlement and Climatology work in and around Pietermaritzburg. E Block have done river work at the Bog Stream. C Block had a break from excursions in the third quarter due to the C Block Journey. r- “The experience shared at Michaelhouse transcends the age barrier. ” Alan Redfem - Michaelhouse 1985-1988 L. ma 58 Academic Reports k. The D Block excursion to the Mandela Capture Site. E Block boys conducting field research in the Bog Stream. 3. The Geography Staff have also been busy with their own professional development. Each staff member has been presenting a module that they are particularly passionate about to the rest of the department. These have ranged from iPad applications and structural geomorphology to interactive teaching methodologies. The Head of Department, Mr John Alexander, also represented Michaelhouse at the 2013 UK Geography Conference and will be presenting a paper at the 2014 Conference. The Department has completed the second year of the One Research Project and the projects are currently being assessed. It has already become evident that the standard has increased and superb dissertations have been handed in. D Block boys at Springrove Dam. Mr John Crawford discusses elements of Settlement Geography with D Block boys. 59 A Academic Reports HISTORY 0ead of Department: Mr Mike Thomson Intern: Mrs Candice Roodt-Smith After the disappointment of not achieving any Matric A symbols at the end of 2012, the History Department has had a year of consolidation and concentration on the skills and techniques involved in answering History questions in order to resolve this weakness that became apparent at the end of last year. At the beginning of 2013, we welcomed Mrs Candice Smith into the department as an Intern, the first we have had for quite a while. She has proved very helpful in the department and has been a welcome ear for me to bounce ideas off. She has been invaluable in assisting with the moderation of exam papers. In E Block this year, the syllabus was unchanged from last year, although the section on the French Revolution has been streamlined and improved. The classes have enjoyed themselves again with this and have, of course, lapped up the work on the History of Rock ’n Roll. Hopefully, next year we might get an extra period a cycle and we hope to introduce a detective-style module involving Jack the Ripper. In D Block, the format was switched this year to involve teaching Geography in the first and fourth quarters, with file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] History in the middle two quarters. The History syllabus was altered with the introduction of a new topic in the second quarter, as we embarked on a section called Democracy and Dictatorship, A Study in Tyranny. Here the classes looked at the story of Adolf Hitler, but with a focus on how he got to where he was and how he stayed there. There were also comparisons with him and other dictators. The third quarter saw the students looking at apartheid and more particularly, resistance to it. In C Block, while I had hoped to commence with an international computer-based course entitled Big History, we had to fall back on our normal South African-based syllabus, as we were beset with technical problems in both the delivery and our ability to access the course and its materials. However, with Mrs Roodt-Smith introducing a whole lot of new materials and emphasis in a number of areas, it was a most enjoyable year and they managed to finish the syllabus, despite the disruptions of the C Block Journey and Confirmation Camp. In B Block, after looking at the development of the two Super Powers in the early 20th century, the second half of the year involved us commencing the newly revamped Matric syllabus for 2014. This syllabus has had the section on Globalisation removed, and a section on the study of post-colonial Africa has been added. The format of the question paper has also been changed and with this in mind, I have altered the format of the end of year examination in both B and C Block to fall into line with the IEB Matric requirements for 2014. The new syllabus has enabled us to make greater use of media sources in B Block and the class has been able to watch movies like Malcolm X, a searing biography by Spike Lee, as well as Made in Dagenham, Mississippi Burning and parts of the documentary on the Woodstock Music Festival. The A Block have worked consistently this year to complete their syllabus and their project work, while concentrating particularly on technique in answering questions. To that end, we involved ourselves again in a combined Trials Paper, where the papers were set by a collection of teachers from Michaelhouse, Treverton and Grace College, with input from Hilton and Kearsney as well. The boys also attended a lecture on The Source-Based Essay given by Mrs Urashsa Ramnarain, a Senior Sub-Examiner from St Anne’s. We also completed an interesting field trip to Johannesburg, where the boys, accompanied by Mr Thomson, visited the Hector Peterson Museum in Soweto, the Apartheid Museum and the newly opened Museum at Liliesleaf Farm, the former headquarters of Umkhonto we Sizwe. Thus, after a positive set of Trials results and the knowledge that the class size in C Block is pleasing in number, the department looks forward to a good year in 2014. Ciaran Furniss, Mark Wood and Otlotleng Mokgatle stand outside the front door ofLiliesleaf Farm in Rivonia, the former headquarters of Umkhonto we Sizwe. 60 Academic Reports k. AFRIKAANS Qead of Department: Mrs Louise Envee Staff: Mrs Heléne du Toit, Mr Johan van Rooyen, Mr Chris van der Berg, Mr Ryno Combrinck, Mrs Carlien Walters and Mr Hannes Ebersohn Intern: Mr Quinton Moolman It was wonderful to start a fresh new year in our new Afrikaans block, which we had moved into halfway through 2012. It made such a difference. We were particularly pleased by our A Block’s 2012 IEB results. It was gratifying to see the number of A symbols being achieved; 52% A, B and C symbols shows considerable progress, bringing us ever closer to the 60% that is our aim. We extend our heartiest congratulations to Carel Swarts, who was placed in the top 1% in the country for Afrikaans. This is a tremendous achievement. In February, Mrs Heléne du Toit, Mr Johan van Rooyen and I attended the IEB National Conference at Birchwood. We were fortunate to be able to attend a presentation on the new novel for A Block 2014 by the author Derick van der Walt. We had already started working on this novel with the B Block. We also attended a presentation by author Leon van Nierop, who wrote the book Wolwedans in die Skemer and the screenplay for the movie which will be our film study in 2014. It was Heléne’s bright idea to invite him to come and speak to our pupils about aspects of the film study which will form part of the Matric portfolio in 2014. As a result, he will be here as a guest of Michaelhouse on 31 January 2014 and we will host a variety of schools who wish to make use of the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the ins and outs of filmmaking. This will help us all to better understand the genre of film studies - a portfolio requirement of the IEB. Halfway through the year, we welcomed Mr Quinton Moolman as a young Intern into the Afrikaans Department. In June, our A Block boys attended an excellent drama production by Pitt Productions held at Hilton College, during which the prescribed novel and poetry components for the 2013 IEB examinations were dramatised. It was enjoyed by all and the visual stimulation is always a great help to the boys when writing examinations. as file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Afrikaans Department overlooks the Mackenzie Quad. Quarters, 61 A Academic Reports The last quarter was spent preparing our pupils for final examinations. Matric portfolios (written and oral) were completed and finalised for SBA submission and we concentrated on revision. We feel that our pupils were well prepared. We have again raised the bar with regard to the expectations of our pupils in our bid to achieve 60% A, B and C symbols and ultimately to continue to improve upon our final IEB results. I was again a regional moderator for the IEB SBA portfolios, moderating the work of ten Durban and North Coast schools. During December Mr Johan van Rooyen will be doing IEB marking and I will moderate portfolios on a national level. Our involvement in these activities is good, as we are able to impart the IEB requirements to our pupils and staff members and thus be better prepared on all fronts. We are sad to lose Mrs Carlien Walters at the end of this year. She spent six years with us as a part-time teacher. Her enthusiasm for the subject will be sorely missed by pupils and staff alike. She is an excellent teacher and has managed to inspire and enthuse her pupils to heights they would otherwise not have achieved. We are grateful to Mr Hannes Ebersohn for his dedicated input, but respect his wish to be more involved in the Music Department, where he is happiest. We thank them for their dedication and commitment and will miss them. Johan will now be involved in the Afrikaans Department on a full-time basis, since he will no longer be fulfilling the role of Housemaster. His experience in the subject will be welcomed. Mr Quinton Moolman spent a few months with us as a willing Intern and will be leaving us now for Thomas More. We have now welcomed Mr Shaun Thompson as our new Intern and hope he will find his time with us to be a valuable experience. Die Mooiste Plek In Die Wêreld.... André du To it (A Block) Ken jy so ‘n plek? Ek is bevoorreg genoeg om die mooiste plek in die wêreld te ken. Om die waarheid te sê, ek was al daar! Deesdae is dit nie te sê dat jy die plek waarvoor jy die liefste is, al in lewende lywe besoek het nie. Ons kan mos op die Internet reis - hulle noem dit rusbankreis! Dankie tog dat ek vandag met ‘n skoon gewete kan sê dat ek my voete al in die rooi stof van hierdie plek kon neersit. Hierdie mooiste plek is vir my die Zambezievallei in Zimbabwe. Mense kan maar sê wat hulle wil van Zimbabwe - niks kan vergelyk met die natuurskoon wat ‘n mens daar ervaar nie. Ek sê ‘ervaar’, want wanneer jy daar van die klein vliegtuigie af op die stofpad afklim, is dit jou siel wat die plek ervaar. Dis baie meer as net die gesig van die bos en die sonsondergang oor die magtige water van die Zambezierivier - dis ‘n ervaring van diere- en voëlgeluide, bosreuke en die koel aandwind op jou vel. Dan weet jy, jy het naby aan God en die natuur gekom. Hierdie spesiale plek is genesing vir my siel. Hier kan ek vir ‘n slag ontspan en net myself wees. Hier kan ek my passie vir die natuur voed. Ek kan kilometers ver tussen die bome stap, ek kan ‘n buffel of ‘n olifant jag, ek kan ure op ‘n boot deurbring om uiteindelik ‘n knewel van ‘n tiervis uit te trek, of ek kan net rustig met vriende en familie om die kampvuur kuier. Dis met ‘n traan in die oog dat ek afskeid neem wanneer die vleigtuigie sy laaste draai oor die bos maak. Ek weet egter vir seker- die afskeid is nie finaal nie, dis net tot weersiens.... Hierdie jaar was ‘n goeie jaar Armin Prinsloo (D Block) Van: [email protected] Aan: [email protected] Onderwerp: Hierdie jaar was ‘n goeie jaar. Liewe Pieter Ek het die mees fantastiese jaar gehad! Ek wens jy kon al die dinge saam met my beleef het. Ek het aan die einde van die jaar in die top 5 vir akademiese prestasie beland! Kan jy dit glo? Ek het ook vir die A-span rugby gespeel. Ek het ook vele nuwe vriende gemaak en ek het my verhouding met God sterk gehou. Hierdie jaar het ek geleer hoe om mense rondom my te hanteer. Ek het geleer dat mens altyd vriendelik moet wees. In die toekoms sal ek hierdie wysheid gebruik om respek vir mense te hê. Ek sal nog meer vriende wil maak, en ek sal ‘n aangename persoonlikheid hê. Ek hoop jy het jou jaar ook so baie geniet. Groete Armin Prinsloo. Hierdie jaar was ‘n goeie jaar file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Carlisle Hartman (D Block) Van: [email protected] Aan: [email protected] Onderwerp: Hierdie jaar was ‘n goeie jaar Ek kan nie glo dat hierdie jaar al verby is nie. Dit het so gou verbygegaan! Dit voel soos gister toe ek verwonderd en vol hoop die jaar begin het en nou voel dit soos gister toe dit alles begin het. Ek is mos aan die begin van die jaar gekies om saam met die KZN Jeugkoor te sing en ek besef nou eers hoe baie ek dit geniet het en hoeveel ek geleer het, maar 62 Academic Reports k. ek onthou dat dit baie harde werk was. Ek het hierdie jaar geleer hoe belangrik vriende en mense se lewens is en wat dit beteken om goeie vriende te hê, veral in hierdie tye wanneer meeste mense nie veel moed het nie. Ek sal altyd onthou om my vriende te help, want hulle red my elke dag! Groete. Carlisle ENGLISH 0ead of Department: Mrs Mary McMichael Staff: Mr Peter Huntley, Mr Jonathan Smith, Mr Richard Snowdon, Mrs Tanith von Mayer and Mr Chris Waldburger Interns: Mr Craig Pieterse and Mr Nhlaka Nzimande Two new brooms in the form of Tanith Von Mayer and Jonathan Smith swept into the English department at the start of this year and without raising too much dust have settled cheerfully and easily into our department. Peter Dennyson again came to our rescue when we were unable to fill the third post until September. Peter picked up the senior phase classes while Colleen Cook and later Craig Pieterse and Nhlaga Nzimande taught the E block boys. I am most grateful to Craig and Nhlaga for so willingly and competently teaching the E block classes. I trust that Nhlaga’s teaching experience will stand him in good stead next year when he travels to the East to teach. Craig remains as an intern at Michaelhouse and although he has been conscripted to EGD and Maths he knows he is most welcome in the cultural fold. Colleen has now moved full time into the marketing department and we wish her great success. The ‘new boy’ in the department Mr Chris Waldburger arrived with his wife Lara and young sons, Max and Jack at the start of the Trial exams having just come from marking Trials papers at Cornwall Hill College. Chris has quickly made a name for himself as a guardian of the classics. In his alter-ego as enthusiastic soccer captain he led our department to an unexpected quarter -final penalty shoot- out at the interdepartmental soccer day. The other ‘youngster’, Jonathan Smith is to be congratulated on his thoughtful and erudite interview on SAFm radio recently. He was invited to speak about the power of words especially with regard to balance in gender power dynamics. This came as a follow up from an article he wrote for The Daily News. Early in the year our regional conference at St Marys (Kloof) gave some of us the chance to listen to other excellent speakers including Pieter- Dirk Uys. On 5 March this year, entrants from Grades 10 to 12, wrote the three-hour English Olympiad examination. The theme this year was “Secrets and Lies” and the mixed media anthology, compiled by the South African Council of English Education, was entitled “In Camera”. Gianluca Truda was placed 65th in the country of over 7500 candidates. Other results include 5 gold, 5 silver and 11 bronze awards. The Rector’s Verse and the Old Boys’ Essay competitions produced some good creative writing and the two awards handed out at Speech day went to Christian Botha (verse) and Dominic Pretorius (essay). Both these boys were placed in the top 3 of the Douglas Livingstone creative writing completion and Dominic was able to attend the awards ceremony in Westville where he read his poem. Unfortunately Christian was on the C block Journey at the time. Many boys took the opportunity to submit poems for local writing competitions and ‘English Alive 2013’, a long standing and well-respected publication of writing from high schools and colleges in southern Africa, published short stories by Kyle Pyne-James and Matthew Jennings. This year I was also invited by the Master at Magdalen College School (UK) to submit our boys’ poetry to HMC Sixth Form Poetry competition. Many boys were keen to take part in this and some excellent poetry was mailed off to the UK. As the matrics begin their final IEB exams we wish them well and look forward to good results in January. Peter Huntley and I (the only English teachers over 35) have loved the rejuvenating spirit of our new staff and we look forward to another year of friendship and work with our new colleagues. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] “He who thinks he leads but has no followers, is only taking a walk ” Rector Greg Theron, 2013 V 63 Á Academic Reports Budding writers Christian Botha, Dominic Pretorius, Matthew Jennings and Kyle Pyne-James. Heart of Snow Dalingcebo Maseko C Block Past the heavenly peals of toiling anthems Into the cave of policy Sat a tree, naked. Like the sovereign pontiff of its own life, [unsustained] it stood - proud and reticent. With reverence, I asked, “Who is God?” And, under a burka of light, It blossomed. A Continent of Fire Nicholas van Niekerk C Block Thunder across vast plains, hordes marching from ocean to ocean. Flesh split like paper, bowels bitten, bones splintered; Glossy spittle, crimson as the blooming rose. Kindle, Africa, kindle What will become of a toddler with matches? What will become of disillusioned masses given weapons? What will become of humanity? Ignite, Africa, ignite. Leaders so bent on leading that peace is not an option. Peoples so set in their ways that killing is but a way of life. Egotism so rife that defeat is unthinkable. Bum, Africa, burn. Jesus vs Allah? Supposedly. Christian vs Muslim? Supposedly. Brother vs Brother? Truly. Weep, Africa, weep. Every weapon, every manoeuvre, every warrior Manifests a theft from those who have nothing, Those who hunger, thirst and cry. Mourn, Africa, mourn. A continent consumed by flames of hatred Yet we’re standing with garden sprinklers. Why, Africa, why? The sun is setting softly Dominic Pretorius A Block The sun is setting softly; I clasp his shoulders tight like a trophy not caring whether life or death is winning. I don’t gaze into his eyes, as drugs drape them with a ghostly glaze like those flimsy old curtains blocking the brilliant bowing sun. “I’m sorry you are in so much pain,” I say. “We all love you.” I’m not sure why I utter we, it’s weak, But I didn’t want to cheat because it was my first time and it felt like I would be favoring death. I wanted to say it though, but the gasp wouldn’t grasp it. No expression because death defeats conversation. All that is heard are the rough ripples of those gruesome gargles That gradually grow soft. Maybe that is the only language of death. His breathing calmed and in the silence death could be heard. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] He had had his share. I breathed his last short sharp gasps with him 64 Academic Reports k. The Loss of Innocence Ryan Price C Block As I glared into the mirror, I was greeted by an unfamiliar horror. That image that I dearly adored was no more; I crouched behind the bathroom door So taken aback was 1 By what I saw. That little boy who once stood upon a stool, To see a smiling face staring back at him too, Was now only a figure of his ever failing imagination For there he stood, streams rolling down his pale, pale face As he wondered how he had got to this dark, dark place. So bad a state had he become That he knew not who he used to be. So lost was he in all his insecurities, So lost was he beyond compare, Soon to be beyond repair. How had he become so dependent on escaping reality; A reality that used to make him feel young and free. Now here I stand and what I see Is a child no more. A child I used to be. 1996 James Hallier B Block 1996 A hungry spirit is created to change The lenses of its goggles are clear from fog Unlike the rest but shattered No The ways of the world have been set The battle of the sexes is over Man considers himself as Complex Only the simple are gifted enough to see “Without the root there shall be no fruit!” Shouts an Indian man from across the street He does not understand He has been taught to be afraid Of what he does not understand Malleable to man’s ideals So he walks on Knowing full well what might have Happened if he had just taken his goggles off Been opened to the world of peripheral vision A world that does not exist A Academic Reports FRENCH Qead of Department: Miss Martine De Maroussem On the Academic front, the department was very pleased with the Matric IEB results of 2012, with a 100% pass rate and achieving three A, six B and two C symbols. The internal results were also very pleasing. The A Block class of 2013 has had a busy year and they completed their written portfolios at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The oral moderation also went well. A few of the boys who were chosen for the moderation had written the DELF exam the week before. It was certainly a positive experience in boosting their confidence on the day. The DELF sessions were held at Hilton College at the beginning of October and learners from A and B Block took part in the examinations. We had a 100% pass rate and obtained results ranging from 60% to 90%. The A Block boys attended their annual French dinner at St Mary’s. On the menu, the learners enjoyed a singing performance by the French learners from Eden College. This was followed by a slide show by Mrs Hawthorne, Eden College’s French teacher, detailing her recent tour to France. The Matric French Class of 2013 joined Mrs Isabelle Schweyer for a farewell lunch in Howick after writing their French Paper One examination. The D Block class attended an afternoon of fun and games at St Anne’s College at the beginning of the third quarter. They enjoyed a variety of activities ranging from Bingo to Pétanque and a general knowledge quiz on France. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] They also discovered the Lancement de Tong competition, along with the C Block class, while reading a magazine on Magazine Day in class. The flip-flop throw competition originates from Lacanau and the world record is a throw of 34,77m. Our local hero and winner, Toby Francombe, did very well, winning the competition with a throw of well over 20m. In August, The E Block class invited a few Grade 8 learners from The Wykeham Collegiate to join them for a picnic and fun activities at Michaelhouse. Despite the weather closing in, boys and girls thoroughly enjoyed the day. The event started with a French dating activity to get both groups to meet each other. This was followed by lunch and the day was concluded with a game of Ambassador, before saying goodbye. ISIZULU Qjcad of Department: Mr Sizo Chalufu Part-time Staff: Mr Rodney Zondi Intern: Mr Sanele Zikhali Our 2012 Matric results were very pleasing despite any disruption which might have been caused by having three different teachers in one year. There was a lot of improvement in the bottom end and this can be attributed to the right attitude towards the process of teaching and learning that took place in the third and fourth quarters of 2012. A number of D and C Block boys wrote the National isiZulu Olympiad. The boys performed very well, with five of them making it all the way to the finals. This is commendable considering that we were participating for the very first time in this event. C Block attended the isiZulu cultural function hosted by Thomas More College in Kloof. Our boys enjoyed Michaelhouse flip-flop throwing athletes. French Students Joshua Markides, Lorian Douglas-Dufresne, Kenyon Smith, Jonty Barrie, Christopher Broadley and Bryan Hall. 66 Academic Reports k. socialising with other isiZulu learners from different independent schools around the province. The standard of performances was very high and the boys were culturally enriched by various performances which included plays, music, poetry and dancing. In this event, our boys performed isicathamiya, which is Zulu a cappella singing that involves slow movements. On the following day, they travelled up to Shakaland in Eshowe. Once again, the boys were exposed to rich Zulu culture and customs. E and D Block visited Ecabazini near Albert Falls Dam, where they were introduced to the ways of the Zulu people, particularly their farming system, diet and spiritual rituals. We are looking forward to an even better 2014. LIFE SCIENCES 0ead of Department: Mr Paul Snyman Staff: Mr Iain Guthrie, Mr Paul Fleischack, Mr Nic Cahill and Mr Righardt Kotze Intern: Mr Michael Stead Laboratory Manager: Mr Sipho Zikhali Laboratory Assistant: Miss Zanele Ndlovu We bade farewell to Mr Michael Stead, a teacher Intern, in September this year after he accepted a Life Sciences teaching post at Kingswood College in the Eastern Cape. His contribution to the department and to the boys he taught and mentored over the past year-and-a half has been of great value. He will be missed, but we are pleased he has decided to make a career of teaching. This has been an exciting year, particularly in the knowledge that a new Science Block which will house both Physical Science and Life Sciences will be built in the near future. As part of the planning process, the recently built laboratories at St Anne’s were visited earlier this year. This, along with information gathered from other schools, enabled us to plan our ideal laboratory layout, consisting of a theory teaching area and a linking practical space. The new laboratories will certainly improve the teaching environment and facilitate the practical nature of both subjects. The results which the Life Sciences Grade 12 group of 2012 achieved were very pleasing. Eighty one percent of the 31 candidates achieved an A, B or C symbol. Six boys achieved an A symbol, which is significantly higher than the IEB average. More importantly, there were no failures. Our school-based assessments were moderated regionally, and the moderator commented favourably on the high standard of our assessments. An important development to be implemented in 2014 will be the internal appointment of a Natural Science Co- ordinator to focus on enhancing the D and E Block curriculum. It is felt that more attention should to be allocated to this foundation phase. The 2014 A Block Life Sciences group is the biggest we have had in recent years, with 53 boys. Similar numbers apply to B Block, but disappointingly, a much smaller number of boys have elected to take Life Sciences in C Block. Primary research is an important part of Life Sciences and we support the IEB initiative to develop these essential skills amongst pupils. This is the second year that we have been involved in the pilot study which aims to improve the file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] current school-based assessment (SBA) for Grade 12. This year, 34 A Block boys elected to do a Life Sciences research project as the main component of their school-based assessment. The boys conducted their primary research at Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve. We feel strongly that emphasising the research process encourages independent and critical thinking. It also better prepares boys for the rigours of David Long on the microscope. B Block boys Jamie Hadley-Grave and Jonty Barrie doing primary research for their Life Science project. 67 A Academic Reports tertiary education. We have introduced new strategies to develop these skills in C and B Block. The C Block biologists got an opportunity to visit the Northern Water Treatment Plant in Durban as well as a government-funded tilapia farming project outside Pinetown; the project is in a final stage of development and will ultimately provide local communities with a good source of protein once suitable dams are built in local areas. It is important to expose boys to the potential of bio-technology and how it is being applied in our province. D Block boys took part in a biomimicry workshop, facilitated by biomimicry professionals, as part of their Integrated Studies Programme earlier this year. The workshop was designed to demonstrate some of the applications of this new scientific discipline. Besides the achievement of the boys we teach, one of the main objectives of this department is to foster an interest in, and an appreciation for the natural environment. We are fortunate to have staff members who are passionate about this cause and we believe we are moving in the right direction. MATHEMATICS Qead of Department: Mr Bailey Coxon Staff: Mr Alan Adlington-Corfield, Mr James Bullough, Mr Dominic Gruijters, Miss Lisa Hardie, Mr Allan Laing, Mr Peter Stevens and Mr André van Wyk Interns: Mr Bongomusa Cele, Mr Craig Pieterse and Mr Thabiso Nkabinde It is with great sadness that I write this short tribute to Mr Deon Royappen, who passed away in August 2013. Deon joined the Michaelhouse Mathematics Department in January 2012 and during this short time, he and his family became a well-loved and integral part of the Michaelhouse community. As a member of the Mathematics Department, Deon’s quiet demeanour and hearty laugh will be sorely missed. He was well-liked and respected by the boys in the classroom. Nothing was too much for Deon; he would approach all tasks with the same enthusiasm and carried out his duties and responsibilities in a dignified and professional manner. His humility and strength of character are a true mark of a gentleman. I remain impressed with the calibre of staff in the Mathematics Department. Their passion for Mathematics Education in general and their willingness to go the extra mile has made for a wonderful and positive 2013. It is pleasing to note that the staffing in 2013 has remained relatively stable. Mr Gruijters and two Interns, Mr Pieterse (Epoch and Optima Intern) and Mr Nkabinde (ISASA Intern), joined the department in 2013. These Interns have embraced their responsibilities in a professional manner and have started teaching various classes. Mr Pieterse has assisted in the weaker D Block classes and there has already been a marked improvement in their performance. Mr Nkabinde was with us for only six months as he had to return to the University of Johannesburg to complete his training. Below are the results obtained in the 2012 NSC Examination: Core Mathematics: 71% average, 30% distinctions. Mathematical Literacy: 80% average, 63% distinctions. Paper 3: 72% average, 22% distinctions. APM: 59% average, 13% distinctions. The broader aims for the Mathematics Department remain the following: • To ensure a safe environment: physically, emotionally and psychologically • To challenge, stimulate and inspire • To promote independence and confidence • To have fun and maintain a sense of humour Two of the most important areas in which staff can develop lie in attending the User Group Conference and becoming a sub-examiner for the IEB final examination. Both these activities broaden the knowledge base of the subject, especially in the way of assessing and evaluating. These activities also enable staff to mix with like-minded people who have novel and interesting ideas to share. The camaraderie and networking that takes place at these events is invaluable. At the end of 2012, we had five staff members who marked for the IEB: Mr Bailey Coxon - senior sub-examiner Paper 1, file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Tom Fleming sitting the first round of the National Maths Olympiad. Academic Reports k. Mr Deon Royappen - sub-examiner Paper 2, Mr André van Wyk - sub-examiner Maths Literacy Paper 2, and Miss Lisa Hardie and Mr Alan Adlington-Corfield - sub-examiners Paper 3. The Core Mathematics User Group Conference was held in Johannesburg this year and was once again a great success. I was fortunate to attend the Director of Mathematics Conference prior to this. The presentations were both thought provoking and challenging, and much discussion has resulted from them. I was then joined by four staff members for the conference: Mr James Bullough, Miss Lisa Hardie, Mr Deon Royappen and Mr André van Wyk. Apart from the examiner’s report back and comments on the SBA, the conference focussed on the new CAPS syllabus in Grade 11: the introduction of Geometry and Probability. The Mathematical Literacy Conference was held in Durban in March and Mr Deon Royappen and Miss Lisa Hardie attended. I have also attended two Epoch and Optima training sessions held in Durban this year. They were both presented by Prof. J Basson, who is one of the authors of the text book we currently use and who was on the panel for the development of the new CAPS syllabus. A number of staff showed an interest in the free online courses offered by Cousera this year. Mr Bailey Coxon, Mr Alan Adlington-Corfield and Mr Deon Royappen completed the Calculus Single Variable course. Events and Competitions Hilton/Michaelhouse Evening The annual Hilton/Michaelhouse evening was held at Hilton this year on 6 March. An enjoyable evening was held with challenging questions, interesting insights and a wonderful game of Maths 30 Seconds. The Michaelhouse Team narrowly missed the mark, allowing the Hilton Maths Staff to keep the trophy. Maritzburg College 150th Celebration Maritzburg College held a Maths Competition as part of their 150"' Celebrations. The event coincided with World Maths Day (6 March). The competition involved a series of challenges at a junior and senior level. We entered seven teams from various Blocks, each team being made up of four boys. Michaelhouse did extremely well: Senior Level: Robert Perrott, Ross Purbrick, Bradley Mallett and Jonty Doyle - First Place Senior Level: Nick Anderson, Ryan Anderson, Richard Beckett and Charles Houston - Second Place Junior Level: Arinin Prinsloo, Alex Sickmueller, Mkuzo Kuwani and Dante Gutu - Won the puzzle prize Harmony Gold Mathematics Olympiad Round 1: 14 March 99 Juniors, 146 Seniors Round 2: 14 May 22 Juniors, 88 Seniors Round 3: 9 September One Senior: Joe Sutton Based on the results obtained in the second round of this Olympiad, the following boys came in the top 95 in the province. They were invited to represent the Midlands Region in the Interprovincial Mathematics Olympiad (IPMO), which was held at Hilton College on 27 September. Juniors: Christopher Broadley, Bongi Fleischer and Matthew Gerrish Seniors: Michael McDonald, Nick Richardson, Joe Sutton and Gianluca Truda Hilton College Mathematical Experience The Hilton Mathematical Experience was held on 7 August and was an evening of mathematical presentations, quizzes and prizes. Michaelhouse took 30 senior boys and two staff members to this event. The first presentation was by Mr John Luis, who is the Core Mathematics Paper 2 examiner. His presentation was on SONA Sand Drawings from Africa, which was most interesting. Mr Francois Kassier, a Hilton old boy studying at Yale University, then spoke about some negative societal stereotypes associated with Mathematics, which turned out to be very informative. Mr Paul De Wet then ended the evening with a fun talk on Just How Eccentric Are You? From all accounts the boys thoroughly enjoyed the evening and are the richer for attending. The Wykeham Collegiate Grade 8 MATHS FEST Ten E Blockers were invited to The Wykeham Collegiate for an evening of friendly competition on 14 August. More than 150 pupils from schools in and around Pietermaritzburg participated in this event. All pupils were randomly file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] mixed and placed in teams of three; each team had four rounds of questions to complete. Most of the boys who attended this evening found it to be challenging and fun. Pi Day International Pi Day (14 March) was celebrated at Michaelhouse for the first time this year. The D and E Blocks were involved in this event and they learnt more about Pi through puzzles and videos. All pupils then had the opportunity to recite Pi to as many digits as they could, with the best from each class entering the final that evening. The incentive: the winner would receive R1 for every correct digit memorised and have the opportunity of throwing a cream pie in the HOD’s face! Toivo Khumalo (E Block) took the honours by reciting Pi to 213 digits. 69 A Academic Reports MEDIA CENTRE Qcad of Department: Mrs Lynn van der Vegte Staff: Mrs Colleen Cook, Mrs Leigh Kotze, Ms Zanele Mchunu and Mr Simon Zondi Adapting to Current Needs According to renowned author Neil Gaiman, “libraries are about freedom. They are about education, about entertainment, about making safe spaces and about access to information”. This new perception of libraries makes them exciting places to be - not just warehouses for old books. Providing a space which satisfies Gaiman’s list of criteria for the modern library requires a shift in mindset on our part with regard to the type of service we offer. It’s a change which is both challenging and stimulating. 2013 saw us move quite a long way down the road to changing the way the library functions as a result of the demands of the digital world. We continue to watch for opportunities which will ensure that the Media Centre remains a relevant part of the School. The daily activity which the Media Centre enjoyed during 2013 hopefully reflects that we have created, in the words of British architect David Adjaye, “a place for people to see beautiful things, be inspired and just exist”. A Bona Fide Piece of Printed Matter Yes, they’re still standing their ground and being enjoyed by all - printed books. The quote which serves as the heading to this paragraph is taken from The Great Gatsby. A visitor to Gatsby’s library was impressed that the rows of books on the shelves were not just a facade of cardboard book spines but the genuine article. The printed book is currently under threat from the digital deluge, but our experience has been that it is digging in its heels with dogged determination to retain its place as the first port of call for leisure reading. Although many of the boys and staff do have e-readers and tablets, the Media Centre continues to keep the bulk of the staff and boys happily reading with our eclectic range of printed books. We have, however, subscribed to the Wheelers e-book platform which allows borrowers to download e-books onto their own devices. The demand for e-books, however, has not necessitated that a huge collection of books be offered from this platform, although its popularity in the future is sure to grow as more titles become available. Film adaptations of books once again played their role in promoting reading this year. Suddenly, there were not enough copies of The Great Gatsby on the shelf and a lengthy queue developed for The Life of Pi. Stephen King shot back onto the list of popular authors as the TV series Under the Dome took the small screen by storm. With Catching Fire and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom still to be released this year, reluctant readers may well become more easily convinced that reading can be exciting. The “Best Books of the Week” - four of the most recently published books which are displayed at the Issue Desk each week, continue to catch the eye and ensure that some of the latest books are available and circulated quickly. E Block Champion Readers receiving their certificates in the Media Centre. 70 Academic Reports k. “I am A Visual Thinker, Not A Language-Based Thinker” This quote from Temple Grandin, a professor in animal behaviour at the Colorado State University, is rounded off with the sentence, “My brain is like Google Images” - which aptly describes the digital world in which young adults function these days. This underpins the necessity for displays to have a major visual component if they are to be successful. All displays in the Media Centre are now a combination of both print and digital images, with a touch of text to add the necessary academic flavour to the topic which is being explored. Books, however, do still play a large role in these displays. The digital technology entices - the book will hopefully be picked up to fill in the gaps. The events of 2013 once again made it relatively easy to link with the boys via displays. Both the Organisation of file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] African Union (now the African Union) and the occasion of the capture of many of the apartheid activists at Liliesleaf farm celebrated their fiftieth anniversaries this year. Displays relating to these events provided us with the opportunity to link topical issues with themes in the syllabus such as colonialism and the apartheid struggle. The spectacular production of The Phantom of the Opera which was staged by Michaelhouse created the ideal opening for exploring the history of other productions of the play, and the resultant display provided an excellent link between drama, theatre and literature, with Gaston Leroux’s book enjoying a rare sojourn from its regular place on the shelf. Making the Connection The weekly Media Centre e-news continues to keep both the staff and the boys up to date with what is happening at the Media Centre. The newsletter was revamped this year and is now a colourful .pdf-file which discusses the latest books, includes links to digizines and other interesting websites, and provides information about the displays in the Media Centre. A Twitter tag @MHSMediaCentre has been added to the Media Centre webpage and is used to send out tweets about new releases, winners of book prizes, etc. A Facebook page - Michaelhouse Media Centre - has also been launched. This venture into the arena of social networking has been an attempt to encourage more lively exchanges of book reviews and suggested reads, but sadly, it has not been as successful as we had hoped - one of the challenges for 2014. Audio/Visual Department The Audio/Visual Department has experienced a relatively quiet year. The plethora of websites offering educational video clips for teaching purposes has somewhat superseded the necessity to provide teachers with educational DVDs. The number of boys watching DVDs in the afternoon has also dwindled as a result of the diversion which activities such as social networking now offer. Nevertheless, we have added some popular new movie titles to the shelves and will ensure that the collection continues to grow. The department was extremely efficiently run by Mr Simon Zondi and my sincere thanks go to him for his commitment to offering a professional audio/visual service to both the staff and the boys. Conclusion I would also like to thank Mrs Colleen Cook for the incredible vibrancy which she brought to the Media Centre through her displays and many other ideas in our drive to keep the Media Centre relevant in this time of the digital reform. Colleen’s professional and intelligent approach to whatever she tackles is my loss, but thankfully not Michaelhouse’s loss - she will be a much valued asset to the Marketing Department. OUTDOOR EDUCATION ^ichaelhouse actively adopts an holistic Education Programme and making use of the rich classroom of our natural environment is a key component of this endeavour. The aim of the programme is to educate boys and staff to appreciate and deal with environmental issues and to administer and manage the School in environmentally sensitive ways. In particular, the E, D and C Blocks embark on outdoor education excursions which also promote self-awareness and personal growth. At the same time these outings encourage an understanding of group dynamics, tapping into individual strengths and weaknesses, and the dynamics of teamwork. We believe that boys should be educated in ways that will ensure long-term conservation of our natural resources and through this understanding, be able to provide leadership in creating a sustainable environment in the future. Our Environmental Education Programme is integrated into various levels of the School - academic studies, outdoor studies, conservation and rehabilitation of the environment, creative and economically advantageous waste disposal, conservation of power, and pollution management. “The gentleboys that represent this brilliant School are defined by their ability to protect those in need, their respect for themselves and those around them and their unique and adventurous nature. ” Thoughts of a future Michaelhouse boy 71 Á Academic Reports Keynan Knox and Murray Judge loaded up to set off on the E Block Survivor Camp. Gerhard Serton viewing the Nature Reserve through a spider's web. E BLOCK SURVIVOR CAMP Master in charge: Mr Elmar de Klerk The E Block Survivor Camp was once again the major component of the E Block Outdoor Education Programme. This year, boys camped in the vicinity of the new Environmental Centre in the centre of the Nature Reserve. The camp activities are designed to teach basic outdoor skills and teamwork. Ant Fleischer and Shane Maartens wrote: file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] The E Blockers woke up and could feel the buzz of excitement in the dorms as we checked our bags and got ready for the outdoor camp. Although we had all been on camps before, this was the first time we would have to work together as a House group to satisfy our needs. We set off from Willows and after only a few minutes we were already complaining about the hot sun and the weight of our packs. The walk was long and mostly uphill, and when we finally arrived at the camp, having been overtaken a while back by the House that started behind us, we were exhausted. Our first task was to set up our camp. We had to build a fireplace, an area to cook and somewhere to sit. Basically, a little home for a few days. We had a few poles and two tarpaulins for the roof and floor. After it was built and we were cooling down inside, hiding from the dry, hot spring sun, our tent collapsed so we had to build it again with a slightly different design. Our main task for the camp was to fetch supplies and build a raft. We fetched the poles without trouble and headed home to start cooking our meal. On the menu was mince and rice. We cooked the mince till it was like the rocks we were sitting on and the rice turned into a white mud. We decided to get over it and went to sleep. Wake up! Time for some food! This meal was more of a success and we set off to fetch our barrels full of food and joy. After collecting all the components of our raft, we headed down to New Dam. We built our raft and we were keen to get across that dam, win the race and get some extra food for the night. 3.2. 1. GO! We jumped aboard our raft and it broke into pieces. So much for winning. We got back to the camp to see live chickens. Chickens. Up step the farmer boys and without a worry we have a chicken ready to be cooked. It was delicious! An early sleep after a long, hard day was deserved by all and the camp was quiet. We woke up hurriedly, ran down past New Dam on to Willows, quickly did our legend Farfield anthem that we had made, and showed off our flag that contained our motto: Does One, Does All. As the first one ran off to the showers, so did everyone else and we started to chat about an experience that we wouldn’t forget for a while. D BLOCK HIKE Master in Charge: Mr Righardt Kotze D Block again hiked on a triangular route from School to their first camp on Connemara Farm, from where they continued cross-country to Glamoor in Fort Nottingham. The aim was to prepare the boys for their C Block Journey next year; to become familiar with a heavy rucksack, leam to pitch a tent, and to gain a feel for different terrains and distances. Mr Richard Butcher and Mr Barry Hulley kindly allowed the boys to camp on their farms. Matthew Kiln provided the following perspective on this hike: In the morning on the first day of camp, we had to do orienteering, which was equally as challenging mentally as it was physically. We had the option of splitting up as a group or not and then had to find and solve a cryptic puzzle before running back to be the first group to hand in all the answers, hopefully correct. The group that finished first with the most 72 Academic Reports k. correct answers in a fast time would be the first group to depart. The groups left in 15-minute intervals, so for the last groups there was still a long wait ahead of them, but luckily we were the first House to leave. This definitely set the tone for the camp. Once we had departed, it was up to us to find the next checkpoint where there would be a challenging cryptic clue and a refill of water bottles. The spaces between the checkpoints were a fair distance apart, giving us a nice, challenging walk in-between them. From early on it was becoming quite evident that some guys would struggle more than others, especially with those heavy backpacks. At about midday, there was a checkpoint at the river, where we were able to rest from the walking and have a relaxing swim. After that we all proceeded to devour our lunch of hotdogs. We had all been given our rations the day before which we had to carry for the duration of the trip. After a relaxing break we headed on to try and find the next checkpoint, which proved to be quite challenging due to our group veering off track. After a long forest section we were well on our way to our first night’s camping spot. When we eventually arrived, it was a massive relief knowing that we could relax for the rest of the day and our walking was over. After we had pitched our tents, we were able to take a relaxing dip in the reservoir in the field. We had a braai that evening where we were given wors, steak and pap that we had to make ourselves. After a restless night’s sleep on the hard ground, we were up and ready for another day of long walking. The order in which the House groups left was reversed from the day before The walk on the second day was slightly longer than the first day but seemed even longer due to stiff legs and our backpacks feeling five times heavier. After the last checkpoint there was a big challenge ahead, unbeknown to us. At first it started as a gradual uphill, but when we came over the crest of the hill we saw what lay ahead of us: a very high mountain. So at the discovery of this mountain, many groups debated taking a short cut as we knew where the camp was, thanks to the aid of our map. With file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] four House groups taking the short cut, it seemed like the best idea and we would get there before the others while skipping out that massive mountain. We learned, soon after taking this short cut, that this was forbidden and were sent back to go all the way back and around. It was tough to accept and the groups that got sent back were bitter about it, but learned a good lesson, namely to do something the first time properly instead of trying a sneaking trick to cheat your way to your destination. Head Office: Tel: 033 - 394 0310 Fax: 033 - 394 3580 121 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg 3201 PO Box 3572, Pietermaritzburg 3200 Email: [email protected] www.capitolcaterers.co.za Capitol CATERERS 73 Á Academic Reports It was a huge relief to arrive at camp with a very long day behind us. We pitched our tents near a dam where we were given the opportunity to fish for bass. Unfortunately, no one caught anything. After a good, wholesome meal of chicken and rice for dinner, we proceeded to go to bed after a long day of walking. The next morning, there was excitement among us as we were all going back to School. We left fairly early as a large group. There were many guys determined to get back as soon as possible, but we had to finish as a group and one thing the camp had definitely taught us thus far was that you are only as fast as your slowest man. As we were at our most tired and just wanted to stop because of blisters and other niggles, Michaelhouse finally came into sight. What a relief! We were almost there and were more determined than ever to get back now with many Houses picking up the pace substantially on the home stretch to School. We had done it and we were all so chuffed that we could now retire to our Houses for a lovely warm shower and to put on some fresh clothes. I think the hike was highly beneficial for all the groups and helped us to learn more about each other in a way that we hadn’t seen each other before. C BLOCK JOURNEY Master in Charge: Mr Paul Fleischack Team Leaders: Mr Paul Fleischack, Mr William Silk, Mr John Alexander, Mr Peter Stevens Cycle Team: Mr Mike Thomson, Mr Andrew Brown, Mr Sipho Zikhali, Srs Joanne McMillan, Leisa Albertyn and Lauren Richmond Paddling Team: Mr Paul Snyman, Mr Richard Snowden, Mr Alan Smedley Staff: Mr Jonathan Smith, Mrs Candice Roodt-Smith, Mr James Bullough, Mr Tim Jarvis, Mr Bailey Coxon, Mr Hala Xulu, Mr Michael Stead, Mr Rodney Zondi, Mr Nhlaka Nzimande, Mr Quinton Moolman, Mr Andrew Laing Rations: Mrs Jacqui Snyman This year saw the running of the third C Block Journey. Routes have been reviewed and in some cases, changed. Boys travelled again by foot, bicycle and plastic kayaks on a route which extended between Michaelhouse and the Spioenkop area north of Winterton. The Journey entailed climbing to the summit of the Drakensberg, cycling approximately 160km, hiking a distance of about 90km and paddling approximately 40km on the Thukela River. This year again, the rest day comprised a forty-hour period of solitude. Our new sit-on plastic kayaks proved to be wonderful craft and allowed us to navigate a low river with ease. So comfortable were they that the Rector added about 8km to his route in search of yet more riverine birds to add to his list for the day. We can now use more predictable sections of the river and ensure that each paddling day is rigorous, but also safe and achievable. We are grateful to the hospitable and suportive community who host our boys and to the generous sponsors who provided vehicles (Hillcrest Toyota), Buffs (Jonsson Workwear) and Race Food (Wedgewood Nougat). Daryn Flanegan and Brandon McLeod have written the following insights about the Journey. Solitude Before I embarked on the much-anticipated C Block Journey, solitude was the one thing I was most nervous about. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] The thought of being alone in the wilderness for two nights, with minimal amounts of food, no one to talk to and nothing to do, tormented me for days on end. How was I going to cope? Once the Journey had started, and the perilous days of cycling, hiking and camping started to tick by, the thought of solitude turned into one of relaxation, reflection and peace. A perfect rest day. During my solitude, although I sometimes got bored, I always had some form of relaxation to complete, such as bathing in the river, reading my letters or sitting in my tent contemplating life, whilst the birds sang and the brilliant pink sun fell below the horizon. For me solitude was an integral part of the whole C Block Journey experience. It was unforgettable and unfortunately, not everyone will have the privilege of experiencing what C Block Journey: Group Three against a panoramic view of Giant's castle. 74 Academic Reports k. I did. As my Granny wrote in her letter to me, “Keep the memories to record for your children! They probably won’t have the privilege of the environment as we know it!” Amazing things happened to me whilst on solitude, memories I’ll cherish forever - such as when I was sitting on the river bank writing the letter to my parents: a lone kudu cow crashed into the water ten metres from where I was sitting. I watched it swim gracefully through the river and skip onto the bank across from me. Then it disappeared into the bush without a care in the world, never to be seen again. Like me, every human being needs an extended period of time to themselves. Mine was sitting in the sunlight, amongst the trees, rolling thoughts through my head as nature danced about around me... Mine, was solitude! - Daryn Flanegan Paddling The start of the canoeing leg of our C Block Journey was staged at Em’seni on about day nine. The group was faced with oddly shaped yellow crafts known in the canoeing world as plastic sit-on-tops. With paddles in hands we were paired up with our partners and after a quick sprint upstream to make sure everyone knew what they were doing, we were off down the Tugela River. Day one took us about 18km downstream of Em’seni. We paddled off past our various solitude venues, each describing the challenges we faced throughout the experience. We paddled through many flats and shallow rapids as some boys struggled to get used to using the muscles required for paddling. Some found it more challenging than others, but all were relishing the opportunity to spend a day off our feet, without our bags. After a good, hot day on the water, we reached our overnight stop. Meals were served and we bedded down for a compulsory night out under the stars. The second day was slightly longer and flatter. During the day we were fortunate enough to see a herd of kudu grazing on the river bank and even a fish eagle carrying a sock! There were sections where the river widened and choosing the incorrect line through rapids resulted in our becoming stuck on a pile of rocks. We all made it down safely and in one piece and after loading the boats and having lunch, we set off on the walk to the Schievers’ farm. All in all, it was a wonderful two days. I think if a survey had to be handed out, it would probably say that the paddling was the section on Journey which we enjoyed the most. - Brandon McLeod Top image: Members of Group One prepare Lunch. Middle image: David Maritz and David Karam of Group Two setting camp for the night. Bottom image: Richard Beckett and Frank Goble negotiate a stream on the C Block Journey. 75 Á Academic Reports D Block boys ascertaining the height of Trafford Melville and Nicholas van Niekerk. the Bell Tower. B BLOCK LEADERSHIP CAMP AT EM’SENI Master in Charge: Mr Allan Laing This annual camp, attended by all B Blockers, comprises an intensive programme of leadership training activities including problem solving, relationships, self-knowledge and responding to relevant scenarios. Boys and their Housemasters work together to evaluate aspects of life in their respective Houses and at School and then to set goals for the boys’ A Block year. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Gianluca Truda summarised the camp experience: The B-Block leadership camp, held at Em’seni, brought our entire block together for four days to focus on the finer details of principles of leadership. The central concept was 360-degree leadership which we investigated through lectures on the topics of standing up to one’s superiors, leading one’s peers and inspiring those in one’s care. We also took part in a variety of team-building activities and spent evenings together discussing the prospect of our impending Matric year. The entire Block was wholly receptive to the exercises (which included everything from a morning of solitude to Inter-House volleyball) and the atmosphere at the camp was one of productive conversation and positive attitudes. By the end of the week, each House had produced a mission statement and proposed solutions to potential problems of next year. Overall, the experience was enriching and constructive and I believe that it assisted many of the boys in improving their leadership abilities. SCIENCE 0ead of Department: Mr Matthew Higginson Staff: Mr Gavin Ross, Mr Jaap van der Vegte and Mr Michael Schwartz Lab Assistants: Mr Raymond Duma and Miss Zanele Ndlovu There was excitement in the air at the start of the year throughout the Physical Science Department. Not only did the School get a new Rector, the IEB also changed the 2014 Matric Syllabus, which we started teaching to our B Block boys this year. It is a two-year syllabus which allows more time to get stuck into the content rather than the current more superficial Matric syllabus. The encouraging news about a refurbishment or a rebuilding of the Science Block is very exciting for our department. We have been talking a great deal about what is required for a modern Science Centre. Mr Paul Snyman (HOD Life Science) and I spent an afternoon at St Anne’s with their Life and Physical Science teachers interrogating them about their new Science Block. We are very grateful to the Board for their decision to upgrade. The overall Physical Science results for 2012 were pleasing as the group managed to achieve a 65.9% average, which is above the IEB norm. The total number of A symbols was a little disappointing as we were hoping for 11 distinctions; the Matric group of 2012 only managed to obtain eight A symbols. This means that 16% of our boys achieved an A symbol. 76 Academic Reports k. I must take this opportunity to thank the School for allowing the entire Science Department to attend a Chemistry workshop and the IEB conference held in Johannesburg at the end of January 2013. The IEB have noticed that the Chemistry marks are traditionally lower than the Physics marks and as such, are increasing the importance of the subject by holding biannual workshops where chemistry syllabus-specific topics will be discussed. As mentioned earlier, our Matric syllabus has changed for 2014. For the first time, the 2013 B Block boys will be writing an IeBT exam at the end of the year. This is a benchmark exam and will allow us to see how our boys are handling the new content and how we compare to other schools who are writing the exam. The exam is very section specific and as such, we have adjusted our planning to fit in with the sections that will be tested. Once again, we have extended our boys and have gone on a number of outings with our top set A and B Block boys. Our A Block boys visited the new Spring Grove Dam in Rosetta. Some of our B Block top set visited the Pump Storage System in the Drakensberg while others visited UKZN Pietermaritzburg Campus to spend a day in the Science Department. Thanks to Mr Schwartz for running the Science Expo this year with our C Block boys. This year 25 participated in the annual FFS Expo for Young Scientists. We are hoping that the boys learnt what is required in order to be successful in the scientific field - by growing their scientific methodologies. Many boys had great ideas and were rewarded for their efforts. The following boys achieved gold and silver standards: Gold: Nicholas Harrison and Duncan Boyes Silver: Wesley Biggs and Robert Wood Minquiz report 2013 During May Joe Sutton, Khwezi Majola and Michael McDonald (three of our A Block boys) travelled down with Mr Matthew Higginson to the UKZN Edgewood Campus to compete in the KwaZulu-Natal section of the Minquiz Science Quiz. The quiz is billed as South Africa’s premier national Science competition for Grade 12 learners. It is a well-supported competition with 47 schools participating; 23 in the gold division and 24 in the platinum section. The quiz focusses on skill in Maths, Physical Science and general knowledge - particularly in geology. The first round involved a written test where the competitors wrote individual tests. Michaelhouse was placed second overall in the written quiz but had the highest team aggregate in the platinum class. The second round took the form of an oral quiz. Only the top five schools in each category went through to this round. After 25 questions Michaelhouse was tied first with Northwood and Westville Boys. A sudden death tie-break followed file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] to decide the winner. Michaelhouse did not get one answer incorrect, managing to secure a victory over the other two teams. Michaelhouse was placed first in the platinum division of all the schools in KwaZulu-Natal. This is the first time that Michaelhouse has won this event since 1997; we came second in 2004 after losing in the sudden death competition. Joy Mhlanga, Mr Jaap van der Vegte and Mr Matthew Higginson during an outdoor Science lesson. 77 Á Spiritual 1 Michaelhouse is an Anglican Foundation school in the Diocese of Natal and the Bishop of Natal, the Rt Revd Rubin Phillip, is the School Visitor. The resident Chaplain, Canon Alan Smedley, together with the Rector, assumes responsibility for the spiritual welfare of the boys. The Chapel and the spiritual life of the School are seen to be central to the education Michaelhouse seeks to provide. We believe is it fundamental that each boy who passes through this School should have had the opportunity to be exposed to Christian worship and values. For some this will occur during their time here, whilst for others we trust that the seeds which are planted in their lives will germinate in later life. However this occurs, it is our hope that young men of Michaelhouse will acquire a spiritual foundation which will not only equip them to live whole andfulfilled lives, but which will also enable them to practice a life of Christian servce in the world. Whilst being a Christian foundation school, the necessity for religious tolerance is recognised and our boys are taught to respect the beliefs of other world religions and philosophies. SPIRITUAL______Written by Revd Canon Alan Smedley Christian Focus Week The highlight of 2013 was the Christian Focus Week (CFW), which was held from 3 to 10 February. We hold a CFW every four or five years to ensure that every boy who passes through the School will experience one during his time here. The last was held in February 2009, when our current A Block were in E Block. The objective of the week is to give the Michaelhouse community the opportunity to re-examine the Christian faith: to provide an opportunity for every member of the community to take a fresh look at Christianity in an intelligent, responsible and unpressurised way, and to consider the claims of Christ and the implications of following Him. The theme this year was God, Our Father. On Sunday evening 27 January, in preparation for the week, Dr Michael Cassidy preached in Chapel. He told a number of very funny stories about his time here in Pascoe House and then related that to his spiritual journey, ultimately encouraging the boys to take full advantage of the CFW which was to start the following Sunday. “My greatest experience has been discovering myself. ” From C Block Journey, 2013 A team of fourteen people were here for the duration under the leadership of Mr Xavier Moran, the National Director of Scripture Union in Independent Schools. A number of them were OMs: Mark Slaughter, Greg Wynn, Steve Green and Ben Bradford. The others were: Ross Ducasse, Matt Lewis, Dan Nambassi, Kendrick Walsh, James Walker, Alice Fabian, Candice Smith, and Helen Nel. On the Sunday evening and on Monday, we were fortunate to have OMs Cameron McIntosh, Craig Stuart and Patrick Lambie here as well. The CFW was launched at a Full School Evening Worship service. Xavier Moran was the preacher. The programme for the week included the following: Each day began with a Chapel service. This provided an opportunity for continuity. At 12.50pm, the whole School then went to the theatre to listen to an enrichment speaker. In the evenings there were voluntary gatherings in three different House dayrooms taking place simultaneously. After the evening meeting, the team split up and again went into the Houses to spend time with the A and B Blockers. The team also met with every class in the School on two occasions. They had all their meals in the dining rooms which provided further opportunity for informal interaction. The morning chapel services were addressed by different members of the team, some of whom shared their personal stories; others gave a talk on basic principles of our faith. It was a fantastic, rich variety of input. We were very fortunate to have outstanding enrichment speakers as well, who wove their personal faith into their life stories. Through these different men the boys were confronted not only by excellent role models, but also by credible people who clearly had a living and meaningful relationship with Christ. 78 Spiritual k Sean Young, Charlie Seabrook, Likhona Camane, Sam Timson and Jordan Sacks with Pat Lambie during Christian file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Focus Week. On Monday, OM Dr Cameron McIntosh spoke about his experiences at Michaelhouse, particularly as a member of Baines House. He then shared his story of how he went to the Beijing Olympic Games as a member of the South African team, taking part as a slalom canoeist. Since then he was briefly involved in politics, practised as a medical doctor, and is currently specialising to become an Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon. He then gave a Christian perspective on the topic, Power, Pennies and Panties! On Tuesday, Mr Karabo Che Mokoape shared his life story and how his faith had been crucial to it. He was Head Boy of Hilton College in 2002 and is currently a member of their Board of Governors. After school he joined Mercy Ships and travelled around the world. He then headed off into Africa and became a journalist, covering the major conflicts and war zones at the time. His work took him to various countries, from Somalia to Afghanistan. Currently, he is a businessman based in Durban. Karabo is a charismatic and disarming speaker who interspersed his story with lots of humour. The boys loved him. On Wednesday, Mr Brendon Smith shared his story. Brendon completed an honours degree in Business Administration before travelling overseas and going to Sandhurst, where he obtained his Commission in the British Army. After doing various other courses, he went to Afghanistan where he experienced the horror of war. He spoke about how his faith in Christ sustained him through the whole experience. On Thursday, three Sharks rugby players visited the school. They were Keegan Daniel, Jacques Botes and Patrick Lambie. The three formed a panel and Xavier Moran interviewed them. This was an excellent presentation. Xavier enabled the men to relax and he drew out their humanity, their love for their sport and of course, how their faith impacted upon their lives. They provided the boys with outstanding examples of successful people who were nevertheless human, with all our frailties, but who found their security and identity firmly in the love and grace of God. On Friday, we were privileged to have Mr Angus Buchan as our guest speaker. Angus is a remarkable human being who travels the world speaking to hundreds of thousands of people. His faith is simple and direct, and he exhibits an extraordinary love and passion for God. Within a few moments after he started speaking, he had the whole School’s rapt attention and at the end of his talk, challenged them to become serious followers of Christ. 79 A Spiritual Thomas Edley and Graham Davies with Sharks rugby captain, Keegan Daniel during Christian Focus Week. Wesley Biggs and Guy Schiever meet Angus Buchan. During the week, there were also some other special functions. The Revd Dr Sue Van Niekerk gave a talk to the ladies of our community. Michael Cassidy addressed a Men’s Prayer Breakfast on the Wednesday morning. About 30 staff attended. In addition to this, some members of the team had supper with the School Prefects and we had lunch with the Christian Fellowship Committee. Lastly, at lunchtime on the Sunday at the end of the week, we hosted a gathering for parents. About 50 attended. At this meeting we reported back on the week and then Xavier Moran gave a talk on Teenagers and Spirituality Today. All in all, it was a wonderful week and we were greatly blessed. It is, of course, very difficult to completely assess its impact on the community, but the feedback so far has been incredibly positive. All the boys and staff I have spoken to have said how much they appreciated it. To God be all the glory for what He did amongst us. My prayer is that the seeds which were sown will germinate and grow into strong Christian faith for all our boys and that this will become a firm foundation upon which they will build their lives. Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race This took place at 6.15pm on Tuesday 12 February, when the whole School gathered in the Main Quad after supper. For this relay race each House must field a team consisting of one boy from each Block. The runners are required to carry a frying pan and flip the pancake once between each corner created by the fixed benches. Over the years, the kitchen chef has managed to produce more and more durable pancakes, and this year was no exception. This did the trick and the boys flew round the track whilst their Houses yelled and cheered. Ash Wednesday Full School Eucharist On Wednesday 13 February at 7.30am we held a Full School Eucharist. Mr Dominic Gruijters was the preacher. He gave an excellent talk on the significance of Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent. It was both educational and inspirational. A Good Man During the first full week of the second quarter, the School had a focus week with the theme of A Good Man. The intention was to explore in Chapel, at Assembly and in Home Rooms what it is that makes a Good Man. On the file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Sunday evening of 21 April, at the first Full School Eucharist of the term, Rev Fred Pitout spoke on the subject. This was followed by thought-provoking sermons over the following days by Messrs Allan Laing and Michael Stead. However, a highlight for me was the talk given by Rob Perrott (Tatham B Block) at the Chapel service on Wednesday 15 May. His talk was entitled What is a bad man? As one would expect, he gave the antithesis of the contents of the other talks. What struck me was how much thought and research he put into 80 Spiritual the subject. It was well illustrated with reference to Biblical figures, a PowerPoint presentation and real-life scenarios of boy life at Michaelhouse. It was an excellent talk and as is so often the case when a fellow pupil speaks, the boys are more attentive. Ascension Day Service We celebrated Ascension Day with a Full School Eucharist on Thursday 9 May at 7.30am. After the administration of the elements, the choir sang a beautiful anthem. It was a fitting way to remember the glorious ascension of Christ. Mr Iain Guthrie was the preacher and in his sermon he challenged us to be ready and anticipate that one day, Jesus will return with great authority and splendour and majesty. Unity Meetings On the first and last Monday evenings of each term, the members of the Christian Fellowship Committee attend a Unity Meeting at Hilton College or St Anne’s. These meetings are for boys and girls from the CF Committees at Independent Schools in the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands area. They are organised by Mr Ross Ducasse, who is the Natal Field Worker for Scripture Union in Independent Schools (SUIS). It is a wonderful opportunity for our boys to meet with other young people tasked with the same responsibility in their schools, and to receive encouragement and teaching about their roles. Christian Fellowship The Christian Fellowship group got off to a good start this year under the leadership of Steven Clowes. The other members of the committee were Devon Bownes, Jabu Magubane, Batebang Mapetla, Thomas Robertson, Hayden Weaver, Mike McDonald, Dom Pretorius, Steven Harris, Dale Beckley, Cameron Chaplin and Tsakani Baloyi. They have continued to meet each Wednesday evening at 8.20pm in the Crypt and there are usually about 80 boys who attend. The CF Band has led the worship under the direction of Devon Bownes. As has become the pattern, they usually begin with a time of worship, followed by a talk from one of the boys, and then they break into year groups to discuss the content of the talk. The Committee meet every Thursday evening at 8.20pm in the Vestry to evaluate the previous meeting and plan for the following week. I attend both these gatherings, but in an advisory capacity. The boys feel very strongly that CF should be a boys-led programme in the life of the School, and by and large they do it very well. Christian Representative Council The CRC for 2013 was chaired by Dominic Pretorius and consisted of the following: Khwezi Majola, Joe Sutton, Steven Clowes, Jabu Magubane, Batebang Mapetla, Mike Mcdonald, Ryan Thompson, Cian Grendon, Cameron Bird, Kura Maswera and Matthew Potter. They were a wonderful group of boys who were of great support to me and the spiritual life of the School. Chaplain's Conference This year, it was the turn of the Chaplains in the Free State to host the conference. The KwaZulu-Natal Chaplains once again joined together and drove to Bloemfontein on Sunday 21 July and returned the following Friday. We spent Sunday and Monday in the city and then drove to St Augustine’s Conference Centre at Modderpoort, near Ladybrand, where we remained for the rest of the week. There were a variety of seminars and discussion groups which included topics like the role of a Chaplain and what defines a Church School. We also visited moSomaria, an organisation which works with HIV/Aids education. At St Augustine’s we had a retreat where we observed silence for a day. It provided a wonderful opportunity for prayer and reflection. As always, it was the informal interaction which I found most helpful - the opportunity to share ideas, compare notes and have fellowship with people who are involved in the same work that I do. Wordspace visit to Christian Fellowship On Wednesday 31 July, Mr Andrew Vaughan and an assistant from Cape Town visited the Christian Fellowship group. Andrew works for an organisation called The YouthHub, which is based at St John’s Parish in Wynberg, Cape Town. They had been travelling around Southern Africa on motorbikes promoting a daily devotional for teenagers called Wordspace. Every day a devotional message is posted onto various platforms - Whatsapp, Facebook, BBM, file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Twitter, email etc. It is a wonderful ministry and many of our boys are now receiving these words of encouragement. Question Panel in Chapel At the Informal Service on the Sunday evening of 4 August, at the instigation of Dominic Pretorious, who is the Chairman of our Christian Representative Council, we decided to do something completely different. In place of the sermon we had a panel of four staff members - Messrs Tim Jarvis and Iain Guthrie, Mrs Candice Smith and me - and we tried to provide answers to questions posed by the boys. During the previous week, the School had been asked to submit anonymously any questions about the Christian faith which they would like to have addressed by the panel. We then tried to condense them into a format where we could deal with the essence of the issue. The questions we managed to consider, in the limited time available, were: • How can there be a God of love when there is so much suffering in the world? • Why doesn’t God always heal people when we pray for them? • Why doesn’t God answer my prayers; my parents are getting divorced and he hasn’t done anything about it? • How can you trust the Bible? • Is there a conflict between Science and Christianity? Of course, all these subjects require considerably more time than we were able to give. Nevertheless the answers went some way to help the boys realise that there are, in fact, good answers to these real life questions. 81 Á Spiritual Old Boys’ Day Chapel Service On 8 June, we held the annual Chapel Service as part of our Old Boys’ Day programme. Each year, I try to invite an OM who is a committed Christian to come and share whatever he feels is appropriate with our community. Over the years, we have had a variety of men who have given us different perspectives, shared their personal stories and presented challenges about the Christian faith. This year, Mr Simon Weaver, OM 1980, was our preacher. Simon spoke about the challenges facing young people today, particularly concerning the issues that have arisen with advances in technology. It was very informative and I am most grateful to him for being our guest. Grandparents’ Day Every year on Grandparents’ Day, we have a Chapel service. The Chapel was full and it was a great pleasure to welcome all our guests to Michaelhouse. The service included a talk by the Rector. Mr Hannes Ebersohn, Mr William Silk and Dillan van der Westhuizen sang a beautiful rendition of You Raise Me Up. It was a wonderful occasion. Weddings I thought I would include in this year’s report a brief note regarding weddings in the Michaelhouse Chapel. A number of years ago, we decided that we should share our beautiful facility with whoever would like to use it for Christian weddings. Consequently, it is available for the general public as well as Old Boys and members of the Michaelhouse community. It is a special pleasure to reconnect with OMs a number of years after they have left the School and to be able to touch their lives once again. Confirmation At the end of the half term weekend on Monday 26 August, 108 C Block boys arrived at Em’seni near Winterton for the annual Confirmation Camp. Mr Matthew Tribe from St Dunston’s in Johannesburg also joined us, as well as OM Steven Green. Mr Ross Ducasse from SUIS and his staff of five completed the team. It was a wonderful group of people who all contributed enormously to the success of the week. The programme was led and designed by Ross Ducasse of SUIS. In essence, it was to give the boys the opportunity to rethink the claims of Christ and Christianity, in anticipation of possibly being confirmed. This year, over 50 boys publicly responded to the invitation to be filled with the Holy Spirit. As always, it is impossible to accurately measure what really happened in the boy’s lives, but their openness to God and overwhelmingly positive response to the whole experience was very encouraging. From my perspective, it was a meaningful and significant week where God revealed Himself to many boys in new ways. The Confirmation Service This took place a week later on Friday 6 September, and 98 boys chose to be confirmed. Of these, 16 were baptised. The service was conducted by Bishop Nkosinathi Ndwandwe, one of the Suffragen Bishops of the Diocese of Natal. It was a deeply moving and special occasion where God, by His grace, touched the lives of both boys and parents. Unity Camp The newly elected Christian Fellowship Committee, plus members of the CF Band, attended the annual Unity Camp at Em’seni. The Camp is run by Scripture Union in Independent Schools and is for CF committees from Independent Schools in the province. It is a training camp designed to equip the boys and girls to fulfil their responsibilities for the file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] following year. The boys reported that it was a worthwhile experience where they learnt a great deal. Remembrance Day The Remembrance Day service took place on Sunday 10 November. Mr Donald Guthrie and Mr Roy Gathome laid a wreath on behalf of the Army; Mr Basil Hersov on behalf of the Airforce; Mr Iain Guthrie on behalf of the Navy; Mr Grant Murray on behalf of Prisoners of War; and the Rector, Mr Greg Theron, and Senior Prefect for 2014, Robert Lee, on behalf of Michaelhouse. As we did last year, in place of a sermon, the eight Heads of House each read the story of an OM who had died in one of the two World Wars and they then lit a candle and placed it on the altar. After this the Roll of Honour was read. It was a moving occasion and is an important part of our annual calendar. Fundile Nkuta, Cameron Chaplin Rob Lee and Rector Theron lay a Members representing the various Armed Services and Cameron Hampson light wreath at the altar. on Remembrance Day. candles in remembrance of fallen Old Boys. 82 Spiritual k Weddings of Michaelhouse Staff and Old Boys Date Groom Bride Details 06 April Warren Dyer Che Kershaw Old Boy 2001 13 April Brian Garrett Caron Louch Old Boy 1994 13 April John Firth Sarah Erasmus Old Boy 2005 25 May Michael Gormley Hayley van der Walt Old Boy 1989 29 June David Tennant Leigh Winter Old Boy 2002 06 July Jabulani Sithole Sindy Zuma MHS Staff 10 August Brett Balsdon Nickola Bales-Smith Old Boy 1992 21 September Neill Posthumus Laura Jones Old Boy 2001 22 September Rowland Whitehead Stacy de Lange Old Boy 1995 28 September Andrew Davidson Ilsa Nell Old Boy 1986 05 October Matthew Fendick Bridget Henderson Old Boy 2000 12 October Stuart Scott Lisa McGeary Old Boy 1999 19 October Rowland Acutt Lindy Homer Old Boy 2002 26 October Brandon Akal Monique Rogiers Old Boy 2001 26 October Duncan Bam Zelda van der Westhuizen Old Boy 2001 02 November Ivan Ortlepp Sarah Queripel Old Boy 1999 23 November Zwakele Masondo PriscaNdlela MHS Staff 07 December Charles Hackland Chloe Webb Old Boy 1998 Chapel Preachers The following people were our preachers this year. All of them, except two, are members of the Michaelhouse Staff. Mr Greg Theron Mr Michael Schwartz Mr Tim Jarvis Ms Joy Preiss Mr Michael Bownes Mr Dominic Gruijters Mr Linda Linda Mr Paul Snyman Revd Canon Fred Pitout Mr Alan Adlington-Corfield Mr Allan Laing Mr Jonathan Smith Mrs Candice Smith Mr John Alexander Mr Paul Fleischack Mr John Crawford Mr Iain Guthrie Colonel Reggie Purbrick Mr George Ferreira Mr Michael Cassidy Mr Xavier Moran Conclusion As I have done in the past, I would like to conclude this report by thanking all those who have given so much to the spiritual life of the School during 2013. Each person has contributed in a particular way and has played a valuable role in our lives. The Layministers: Messrs Greg Theron, Paul Fleischack, John Crawford, Allan Laing, Tim Jarvis, Alan Adlington- Corfield and Iain Guthrie. Mrs Kate Smedley, who once again has continued to ensure that there are flowers in the Chapel each week and who has faithfully taught Divinity to all the boys in E and D Blocks. Revd Amos Nkosi, who replaced Pastor Sipho Zuma, has ministered to the isiZulu employees of the School and to the members of Zinzane village. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] SILENCE SERENITY SOLITUDE 83 A Cultural Clubs and Societies The Clubs and Societies of Michaelhouse provide a wonderful opportunity for self-development as well as an excellent vehicle for getting to know boys in a quite different environment. Opportunities for leadership experience also exist since most clubs have a committee responsible for organisation, motivation and administration. With the exception of certain senior societies, membership extends to boys from all Houses and all ages. This enables boys to enjoy time spent in the pursuit of shared passions and interests. Perhaps most of all, it is within this framework that lifelong friendships are forged. AFRICAN AFFAIRS SOCIETY UJaster in Charge: Mr Msizi Mchunu Chairman: Jonathan Goshen Vice Chairman: Jabulani Magubane Secretary: Mark Wood The African Affairs society continues to thrive, drawing membership by invitation only from the senior boys. We discuss and vigorously debate African issues which arise. The society discusses various current topics that happen in South Africa and within the African continent as a whole. It has about twelve regular members and tries to meet twice a term on a Sunday evening. This year, the society has been chaired by Jonathan Goshen with Jabulani Magubane as the vice chairman. Mark Wood is the society secretary. The topics discussed range from politics to news headlines, business and anything else of interest. The members put forward their views which may be challenged or debated without making anyone feel left out. It has been a pleasure to see the young men grow in confidence and become able to put their points across without the fear of offending or insulting anyone. We look forward to new members who will be asked to join next year. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY [2Jaster in Charge: Mr Iain Guthrie Chairman: Fergus Magor The Agricultural Society continues to elicit significant support from the boys. The main attraction of the year remains the annual trip to the Royal Agricultural Show. This year, cattle breeds formed the focus of the show’s attractions. The Pinzgauer breed proved to be a favourite. The rabbit, pigeon and poultry houses proved to be popular too, and only one guinea-pig was concealed on the bus returning to Michaelhouse. Once again, the society was involved in a number of cattle-related activities in the Michaelhouse Nature Reserve. Boys were able to be involved in vaccinations, weaning, dipping and various other aspects of herd control. These activities give real hands-on experiences to the boys and are generally enjoyed. Well done to Fergus Magor, who won the Andrew Henderson Prize for Agriculture for his contribution to the society. David Long places a weaning ring on a year old calf. Clubs and Societies Cultural L. BIRD CLUB 0taff Member in Charge: Mrs Kate Smedley The year seems to have flown past with our members being as busy as ever with all the opportunities on offer here at the School. As has occurred in past years, time for outings over the weekend is at a premium and so this year we decided on a new format. Approximately two to three times a quarter, we would meet in the evening to discuss various and unusual sightings that the boys had observed within the School boundaries. On a few occasions, presentations were given by a boy on a topic of his choice. Graham Davies began these talks with a very interesting slide show on one of his favourite birds, The Crowned Eagle. Stewart Grant was up next, with Birds of the Bible - a fresh insight into bird watching. Being a regular early bird, David Long told us of his numerous visits to the Nature Reserve, usually at sun up before School gets going, where he has made many interesting sightings. Next year, we hope to become involved in a release programme for rehabilitated raptors, and David is eager to take responsibility for it. Tristan Herwood spent a fascinating time during one of his holidays as a volunteer for the KwaZulu-Natal Crane Foundation and reports the following: “I did volunteer work at the Hlatikulu Crane and Wetland Sanctuary and the KwaZulu-Natal Crane Foundation. I was profoundly privileged to meet such kind people. During this time, I helped raise a Wattled Crane chick called Trinity. It was an extremely overwhelming experience.” Definitely a place for us to visit in the future. Marcel van Niekerk-Edwards keeps us up to date on the birds of Botswana and the wildlife adventures he experiences with his family there. Matthew Gerrish does the same on the file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] birds of Zululand. All the boys are very keen members and it is a pleasure to spend time with them and share our varied and interesting sightings. Building nest boxes remains on the agenda and we really hope to complete them in the coming year. Spring this year seems to have been one of the busiest in recent years for birds; never before have we seen and heard so many varieties, they just seem to be everywhere. There is not a passage or corridor in the quads where some small bird - usually a Cape Sparrow or one of the many kinds of martins and swifts - is not busy making a nest or feeding a chick, usually using a crack in the wall or a ventilation hole with sticks poking out of it. The Weeping Boer-bean (Schotia brachypetala) in the Usher Quad has literally been a hive of activity, with 30 or more Malachite sunbirds which can’t seem to get enough of the delicious nectar. A Brownhooded Kingfisher has been spotted on several occasions in the vicinity of the Bog Stream, as has a Paradise Flycatcher, and more than once a Fish Eagle cry has been heard in the distance. The boys have been encouraged to observe our beautiful campus as the birds here are as many and as varied as you could wish for and there is always something new for them to report on. We intend to become regular volunteers at Free Me in Howick to help with the rehabilitation of the injured birds there. The variety is amazing and one can work close up with anything from the raucous Hadedah to a belligerent owl or a rowdy Blackcollared Barbet. Although our numbers are few (eight in total), we are a most committed group of birders and we look forward to another great year of birding. BOOK CLUB Qtaff Member in Charge: Mrs Lynn van der Vegte The Book Club does more than just discuss books. 2013 saw us attending three book launches, going out to the movies and participating in a variety of quizzes. Lewis Pugh’s discussion of his latest book, 21 Yaks and a Speedo, was inspirational and signed copies were proudly brought back to School, together with the bragging rights of actually having spoken to the man himself. Patricia Glyn’s presentation of her trip through the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park with Bushman Dawid Kruiper and his family was fascinating. This trip formed the basis of her latest book, What Dawid Knew - an interesting insight into the Bushmen’s history and culture. At the launch of his new book, Panorama, Pieter-Dirk Uys kept the boys entertained with his usual scathing attack on the legacy which apartheid has left on South Africa. A trip to see the movie, The Life of Pi, led to some interesting discussions about how well it had captured Yann Martel’s original story. Most comments were favourable and those boys who hadn’t read the book added it to their to- read lists. Stay-at-school meetings, however, still seem to be the boys’ favourites. During these meetings, the boys have the opportunity to swap ideas about various books, make recommendations and pick up on some authors and titles which they hadn’t considered before. These meetings usually end with a game of some sort about books and authors, which invariably brings out the competitive edge between the C and the D Block boys. A core group of the Book Club just love participating in quizzes. Kurt Martin, Luke Crouch, Charles Houston and Ben Adey finished second in the Midlands leg of the BDO Inter-Schools Quiz and then went on to finish seventh in the final round of the quiz - the highest place attained by a Midlands school. This success and the boys’ keen interest in quizzes resulted in Michaelhouse hosting its inaugural Inter- 85 A Cultural Clubs and Societies Aidan Quin and Stephan Bosch with Boxing Club coach, Mr Phlorian Mnikathi. Schools Quiz for schools from the Midlands on 17 October 2013. And the winners were ... Kurt Martin, Luke Crouch, Charles Houston, once again, with newly co-opted team member James Smith. Amidst the plethora of exciting activities which are on offer at Michaelhouse, it is gratifying to know that the Book Club continues to provide a forum for those boys who love to read and still get excited when new titles hit the shelves. local members. This was an eye-opening experience for the boys both culturally and from a boxing point of view. Our boys came away richer from the experience. Unfortunately, Siyabonga Malinga passed away shortly after our visit and the boxing community will miss his community service. We have recently had our first two boxers taking part in bouts. Aidan Quin has won both his fights and Stephan Bosch has won his first bout. They have both been selected to represent the Umgungundlovu District. BOXING CLUB Qoach: Mr Phlorian Mnikathi Captain: Stephan Bosch National Representation - South African Middle Weight Champion: Aidan Quin 75kg file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Provincial Representation - Umgungundlovu District: Aidan Quin 75kg, Stephan Bosch 81kg Boxing continues to grow as a club at Michaelhouse, with between 15 and 25 members, depending on other sport commitments at any time. The boys train on a Monday and a Wednesday with coach Mr Phlorian Mnikathi. We have been on one outing to the Ladysmith Boxing Club, where we trained with Siyabonga Malinga and the This is the report Stephan Bosch made after his first bout: “There have been a few times in my life where I contemplate the reasoning behind decisions. Contemplate the risks versus the rewards and yet both seem so extreme. One end of the spectrum is victory, success, joy and a feeling of pride which few can comprehend. The other end of the spectrum is failure, injury, disgrace and disappointment. Few have experienced the spectrum, yet so many believe they can comprehend these emotions that come with it. Few know the feelings of victory and defeat like we do. Welcome to the world of boxing. To many the sport of boxing may seem pointless. A sport contested by brutes who just want to beat each other. I used to be one of these individuals. Whilst watching the sport, I would often wonder why individuals would want to beat each other. This was before I experienced first hand the training, Clubs and Societies Cultural L. hard work, dedication and skill which this sport requires; that in fact, this was a sport which wasn’t for brutes but individuals who knew how to play the game better than their opponent; knowing when and how to strike whilst avoiding being struck themselves. Most important is understanding that boxing is a sport which requires discipline like few others. I lay awake sleepless in my bed that Friday night, visions of my boxing match playing through my head like a movie. Anticipating what moves 1 would throw and how I would defend myself, anticipating glory but always remembering that there is always a chance of defeat. The Saturday finally arrived and we set off at 7.30am sharp for the Eastwood public hall. Upon arrival, we were weighed and paired with an individual in a similar weight category. Unfortunately for me, a 21 -year-old male stood before me as my opponent. One can only imagine the fear that ran through my mind in the anticipation of a beating. As the day progressed and fights were underway, I realised that size, strength and brutality had no place in this sport. It was the faster, more skilled fighter who persevered and succeeded. Finally, it was time for my bout. I remember standing staring at a well-built boxer in front of me. An individual who seemed to have no fear in his eyes, but he was staring straight back at one. “Enter battle fully determined to die and you will live, wish only to survive in the battle and you will die.” These words echoed through my head right before the fight. I was ready, let’s do this. I won my bout by technical knockout. And upon the official referee raising my hand to declare my victory, I experienced a feeling of achievement, pride, joy and happiness; the end of the spectrum which few will be able to comprehend. In conclusion, boxing is so much more than a sport. It is an opportunity to discipline oneself in the art of something great. Boxing, I believe, does much more than one would think: a simple bout of a three-minute round brings the local community together like a Sunday at church. To interact with the local community truly renews your sense of appreciation as you experience life through the eyes of the underprivileged. You challenge yourself and put yourself out of your comfort zone, you discover so much about your character in nine minutes. You experience something great, something unforgettable.” DEBATING SOCIETY 0taff Member in Charge: Mrs Louise Erwee Staff: Mr Michael Stead Chairman: Jonathan Goschen Debating and Public Speaking at Michaelhouse are alive and flourishing. We have enjoyed an awesome year. By the end of the first quarter, we had completed three rounds of the Interhouse debating competition for both Juniors and Seniors. The finals took place during the very successful Cultural Week, which was first instituted in 2012. The Senior debate was won by Founders and the Junior winner was Pascoe. During the April holidays, Gianluca Truda and James Hallier participated as members of the South African team against 120 competitors from around the globe in the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Competition, held in Durban. James was placed 57"' overall and his best results were 31st for Impromptu Speaking and 35lh for Debating. Gianluca was placed 62nd overall and his best placings were 18,h in Impromptu Speaking and 68lh in Debating. What an amazing experience this was for us all. By the end of the second quarter, we had completed eight rounds of debates in the Midlands League and both the Junior and Senior teams emerged victorious in the finals -worthy Midlands champs. The Senior team was made up of Jonathan Goschen, Gianluca Truda and Nicholas Schram. The Best Speaker award went to Gianluca Truda. The Junior Mrs Louise Erwee, James Hallier, Gianluca Truda and Mr Michael Stead representing South Africa at the World file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Individual Debating and Public Speaking Competition. Dalingcebo Maseko, Jonathan Goshen, Mixie van der Merwe (Treverton), Mrs Louise Erwee, Gianluca Truda and Christian Botha at the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Debating Tournament. 87 A Cultural Clubs and Societies team consisted of Christian Botha, Dalingcebo Maseko and Nicholas van Niekerk. Christian Botha was declared the Best Speaker. During the first weekend of the mid-year holidays Jonathan Goschen, Gianluca Truda, Ngcebo Maseko and Christian Botha, together with Mixie van der Merwe from Treverton, participated in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Debating Tournament, held in Pietermaritzburg, against 140 participants from 20 teams. Our boys were placed sixth with both Jonathan and Ngcebo in the top 20. The first debate took place on the Friday evening soon after arrival. On the Saturday each team participated in four debates, finishing after 10pm. The semi-finals and the finals were held on Sunday, comprising as many rounds as were necessary to establish a winner. From there Gianluca went straight to the airport to fly to Cape Town in order to attend the Computer Applications Olympiad awards ceremony. On 18 July, we had a wonderful afternoon of debating against a touring team of girls from St Michaels in Bloemfontein. Our boys were judged worthy winners. The boys worked hard, preparing for the National Individual Public Speaking and Debating Championships, held at St. Stithians during the September holidays. Gianluca Truda, James Hallier, Ngcebo Maseko, Christian Botha and Nicholas van Niekerk participated. The participants all take part in four compulsory categories: Persuasive / After Dinner Prepared Speeches, Prepared Readings, Impromptu Speaking, and Unprepared Debating over an exhausting two rounds, in front of completely different judges in each round. Final results are tabulated to the nth Degree. All the boys had participated in either Nationals or Worlds before, and were really keen to make the South African team that will participate in Lithuania in March 2014. This tournament was the highlight of the debating year, as Gianluca Truda emerged as the South African winner against very stiff opposition from 87 of the country’s best debaters. Dalingcebo Maseko was placed ninth and thoroughly deserved his placing. Gianluca Truda: 1st 95.75% Dalingcebo Maseko: 9th 91.63% James Hallier: 29lh 88% Nicholas van Niekerk: 34lh 87.19% Christian Botha: 5T 81.44% Awards Honours: Gianluca Truda Colours: Jonathan Goschen Nicholas Schram Dalingcebo Maseko Christian Botha Nicholas van Niekerk Debating Society Prize for dedication and commitment: Nicholas Schram Coyle Prize for outstanding dedication and commitment: Jonathan Goschen FIRST AID SOCIETY UJasier in Charge: Mr Michael Stead Chairperson: Mark Wood Deputy Chairperson: Lonwabo Mgoduso Secretary: PG Buys The society started the year off, as usual, with the training of new recruits at Level One. This has taken the total number of trained First Aiders at Michaelhouse to 45. Of these, approximately 15 to 20 boys are regular duty performers, with our younger members enthusiastically putting in the most hours on the side of the rugby field. Mark Wood, the Society’s able and eager Chairman, led by example, and could always be found assisting the physiotherapist beside the First XV at every home game. Our A Block members must be commended for the effort they have put into the First Aid Society. Since the beginning of 2012, four Intern staff members have been trained at Level One. This has meant a greater adult presence beside the First Aiders at our home games. This has enabled the younger members of the society to gain in confidence, and in the heroic and tireless presence of our Sanatorium Sisters, fulfil the requirements of the BokSmart Academy. Considering that the majority of our games have been played away, the First Aiders have had a fairly quiet Winter Sports season with regard to the number of duties performed. All the First Aiders performed their duties professionally and confidently, and must be commended. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Despite the quiet season at home, we have experienced an increase in the number of injuries, and in particular, what one could classify serious injuries. This year saw some of our worst concussions and an increase in the number of broken limbs, most notably clavicles, arms, knees and ankles. These injuries have highlighted the importance of adequate and trained basic First Aid at all matches. The Sanatorium Sisters continue to monitor and follow up on players with concussions through the IMPACT programme, performed in-house through the Sharks Academy. Also, the few mouth injuries that occurred this year have highlighted the immense importance of gum guards in the protection of players’ teeth. “Michaelhouse is indeed a tremendous experience ” William Andrew Moxley - Michaelhouse 1967-1971 Clubs and Societies Cultural L. MOUNTAIN BIKING CLUB Qtaff Members in Charge: Mr Elmar de Klerk and Miss Lisa Hardie Chairman: Matthew Nuttall-Smith "My fiancé and I were pleasantly greeted by three boys from Michaelhouse as they exited a school minibus. Dressed very smartly in uniform they addressed us as “sir” and “m ’am To show so much respect to us was truly a breath of fresh air. I hope when I have boys of my own that they will be lucky enough to be accepted at your fine school. ” Member of public A new development that started this year, on a trial basis, has been the opportunity for some of our more senior society boys being allowed to shadow the medics at Kings Park Stadium during Sharks home games. This has been facilitated through our connections with the Sharks Academy. Feedback from our boys has indicated that this has been a very worthwhile endeavour, and one that has been enjoyed thoroughly by the few A Block boys who have attended. I’ve accompanied our Sanatorium Sisters down to our away games as a support driver, where we can aid our injured and facilitate their transport to and from hospital for X-rays and other scans for injuries sustained during these away games. This, I believe, has given our boys more confidence, knowing that friendly and familiar faces are present at a time when a large amount of support is needed. Mrs Debbie Ludgater, the School’s physiotherapist, continues to travel with the First XV, providing valuable support and strapping for our boys, in addition to assistance provided by our Sanatorium Sisters. These situations continue to highlight the vital services that our medical staff perform for the School and more importantly, the boys of Michaelhouse. FLYING CLUB ^Qasier in Charge: Mr William Silk At the beginning of the year, six boys registered at the Society fair for the Mountain Biking Club. Our aim for the year was to participate in two races a term as most of our events take place on a Sunday. It was, however, unfortunate that some of the best races took place over our long weekends or during holidays. We participated in the following races this season: Howick Highlander, Eston Illovo, Karkloof, Cedara and the Greytown Classic. Most of the boys opted for the 25km intermediate races. Kelvin Green, Murray Church and Matthew Nuttall-Smith achieved podium positions in some of the races. We are currently replacing the Michaelhouse cycling shirt with a more practical and comfortable alternative. It is always a pleasure to see the support from parents and I would like to thank them for their continuous presence at races throughout the year. I would, however, like to see more boys entering races over weekends and making use of the opportunity to cycle in all these well-organised races and to experience the beauty of the Midlands and other parts of KwaZulu-Natal. xero ... excuses xero ... delays xero ... disappointments You're ready for REAL Business. www.xtec.co.za

XTEC PMB [PTYJ LTD Authorised XefOX Platinum Partner Pietermaritzburg Ladysmith Newcastle 033 394 7474 036 631 2886 034 312 6281 The Flying Club has been meeting most Wednesdays this year, and members have been lucky enough to have Dr Richard Dunning lecturing them on the importance of Flying Safety as well as Flying Law and other examinable sections. We moved our practical flying lessons from Light Flight to Pietermaritzburg Flying Club at Oribi as Light Flight file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] could only offer LSA (Light Sport Aircraft) Licences, whereas PPL (Private Pilot Licences) are offered at Pietermaritzburg Flying Club. We would like to congratulate Tom Fenn and Stuart Beach on going solo and wish them safe high flying. A Cultural Clubs and Societies PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Mrs Carlien Walters with her son David, pictured with James Smith, Ngcebo Maseko and Duncan Boyes gathering support for the Performing Arts Society during the Clubs and Societies Expo. 0tafF Member in Charge: Mrs Carlien Walters The Performing Arts Society is a theatre appreciation society which gives students who do not take Drama as a subject, the opportunity to watch performances elsewhere. They also take part in workshops facilitated by professional artists. Apart from the range of performances here at the Schlesinger Theatre, Mr Tristan Jacobs ran a theatre workshop where the members explored physical expression. Members also saw Pictures of You and Edge of Glory in the first semester, as well as the annual Funk performance presented by surrounding schools at Hilton College. In the second quarter, society members attended three acclaimed performances at the Hilton Arts Jongosi Schools Festival, which they enjoyed thoroughly. Gcina Mhlope’s storytelling, especially, was a novel experience for the boys, who are so used to multi-sensory stimulation. Finally, the society closed the year with more common entertainment - a 3D movie at the Liberty Mall. The society will hopefully continue to offer all Michaelhouse students a chance to enjoy plays and all things dramatic in 2014. faster in Charge: Mr Graeme Calway Secretary: Joshua Cullinan The Camera Club enjoys popularity during the Lent and Pentecost quarters, when there is opportunity aplenty for photographing the Winter Sports in season. In addition to this, we also travelled to Pietermaritzburg for the Maritzburg Camera Club meetings. Interest unfortunately waned during the third quarter and very little happened for the rest of the year. We are hoping to resurrect the society with a different format in 2014. “The vision - so far in advance of his day - of James Cameron Todd; the faith and wisdom of Frederick Baines; the ardent generous spirit of Frederic Tatham; these are the foundation stones on which Michaelhouse has been built. ” Rector Currey - Chronicle 1935 90 Clubs and Societies Cultural L. PRESIDENT’S AWARD faster in Charge: Mr Paul Fleischack Chairman: Mark Wood Awards Bronze Medals: Nick Baber, Connor Grealy, Michael McDonald, Matthew Potter, Thomas Robertson, Nicholas Schram, Henri Strydom, Richard Beckett, Wesley Biggs, Nicholas Harrison, Luke Maitre, Ryan Price, Blake Springate, Cameron Holenstein and Thomas Erskine Silver Medals: Mark Wood and Joseph Coyne The President’s Award Society offers its members the opportunity of using all the activities offered at School to qualify for the three levels of award: Bronze, Silver or Gold. Each level requires greater commitment and higher levels of participation. Each level requires that boys participate in a sport, a recreation activity (usually a School club or society), complete an expedition and complete community service. The Outdoor Education programmes in D and C Blocks meet the expedition requirements for Silver and Bronze levels respectively, and shorter Berg Hikes or other outings are offered for those boys wishing to complete the Bronze award before they embark on the formal Outdoor Education expeditions. This year, the Tugela Paddle took a small group of boys to Em’seni where we paddled a full but placid river and slept on the terraces beneath the riverine bush. This provided the expedition for those boys hoping to earn their Bronze medals prior to the C Block Journey. ROCK CLIMBING Qlaff Member in Charge: Mr John Alexander Chairman: Nick Richardson Deputy Chairman: Robert Wood During 2013, the boys have increased their skill levels in climbing. This has been due to their coaching on the climbing wall as well as more exposure to climbing on real rock at Umgeni. Recently, two boys managed to ascend Long Boh to Freedom on Swinburne. This is an eight-pitch route to the top of the spire. The new indoor climbing wall in the gym is now complete and boys are regularly bouldering on the wall and setting new challenges. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] 91 A Cultural Clubs and Societies RUGBY CLUB faster in Charge: Mr Ryno Combrink Chairman: Sean Rice This club is pupil-driven and was well led by Sean Rice this year. Under his leadership boys were able to contribute to the enjoyment and ethos of rugby here at Michaelhouse. I want to thank Branagth Cooper-Botha especially; he is a hockey player who enthusiastically led a number of boys in his portfolio over the last couple of years. His innovation and energy will be sorely missed. the old stock; selling what we can, disposing of what is not needed and recovering the rest so that we can get our fleet up and running again. We would ideally like to have two Miracles and three Lasers on the water. We need to consider changing our fleet to a set of 420s as these boats are more in line with the current international racing boats. Nicholas Forshaw was awarded his KwaZulu-Natal colours for sailing earlier in the year. Nicholas has been training extremely hard and has entered a number of regattas; he would ideally like to have a Michaelhouse crew to sail with on a weekly basis during the season. Nicholas will be competing in the Youth Nationals at Midmar Dam in December and we wish him all the best. Nicholas Forshaw receiving his KwaZulu-Natal colours for sailing. The Scuba Diving Club training in the pool for their Open Water One course. SAILING faster in Charge: Mr Matthew Higginson Staff: Mr Richard Snowden Although the Sailing Club has grown in numbers over the last two years, the number of outings that the club has enjoyed has decreased. There are a number of boys who have never sailed before and to see them get onto the water with such enthusiasm is extremely rewarding. The boys are keen to get sailing up and running at Michaelhouse. With the enthusiasm of the D and C Block boys, the club will grow next year. 1 am extremely excited about the future of the sport at Michaelhouse and look forward to a number of successful years. I am confident that with the support of boys, staff, parents and the Board, the Sailing Club will regain its status in the School. One of the issues at the moment is that we have a lot of old equipment lying around and it takes time to sort through all of the gear before actually getting onto the water. We will need to spend some time at the dam going through all of SCUBA DIVING [faster in Charge: Mr Michael Schwartz Staff: Mr Andrew Duncan and Mr Paul Snyman A number of boys registered for their Open Water One and Advanced courses this year. Social divers piggy-backed on these courses, along with one other social dive weekend during 2013. The year started with nine boys registered to do the Open Water One course. Mr Andrew Duncan joined the boys to refresh his diving skills. The theory part of the course was completed in February and the boys passed their exams at the beginning of March. The boys did their swim test on Friday 1 March and their pool session on Sunday 3 March. The group then completed their sea dives over the next two Sundays. On Sunday 17 March, the social divers were planning to dive at Veggies, at 92 Clubs and Societies Cultural L. the Durban Sea Club, but this was called off due to terrible weather. Not many social dives took place this year, but on the weekend of 3 and 4 August, the social divers went down to Aliwal Shoal. The Raggie sharks traditionally start arriving at this time of the year, so the first dive took place at Raggies where a number of sharks were seen. Although one is prepared for the experience, it is still a little unnerving swimming close to the sharks. The sea was quite rough on the Saturday which did have a negative impact on the enjoyment of the dives. Most boys enjoyed two dives on the Sunday and for once, all four dives were completed over the weekend. During the third quarter, a number of divers completed their Open Water and Advanced courses. Aliwal Shoal still poses some real challenges with regard to boat launching, currents and rough seas, but when conditions are good, the diving is excellent. Here’s hoping that 2014 will be a great year for the Scuba Diving Club. SPORTS ARCHIVES Utaff Members in Charge: Mr Ian Crawford and Mr Dean Forword Chairman: Steven Harris Deputy Chairman: Dale Beckley The Sports Archives Society numbers grew for the second year running and this year, the society had a number of new enthusiastic members. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Michaelhouse is a very busy place and it was often extremely difficult to meet as a society due to many other School commitments. The main aim of the society in 2013 was to help the archivist, Mrs Robyn Gruitjers, with a few tasks which were successfully completed. These were the refurbishment of the Cricket Pavilion and taking various pictures around the School of items on display in cabinets, on walls, etc. which are of sentimental value to the School. These images were then documented for inclusion in the digitisation of the School’s archives - a massive but exciting undertaking. The boys are excited about the archives museum which will be built in the near future. TOASTMASTERS Qlaff Members in Charge: Mr Dominic Gruijters and Mrs Mary McMichael Chairman: Kura Maswera Deputy Chairman: Matthew Potter Secretary: Nicholas Schram Awards Dudley Ford Trophy - Promotion of Excellence: Jonathan Goschen and Nicholas Schram John Pluke Trophy - Most Improved Speaker: Michael Burn Jack Crutchley Trophy - Excellence in Public Speaking: Matthew Potter Membership of the Toastmasters Society continues to be much sought after at Michaelhouse. Of the 57 applicants who applied at the end of 2012 we were only able to select a group of 30 new members to add to the existing members of the society. In addition to the complement of boys, the society is fortunate enough to enjoy input from various Staff members, some invited guests and other permanent masters. While the committee is always a critical part of the success of Toastmasters, this year was indeed extraordinary. The three committee members not only performed their duties with due diligence but also led, promoted and upheld the society with passion and determination. In doing so, they have left Toastmasters an even better society than they found it. Many thanks to them for their contributions. As in previous years, the society hosted two formal evenings each quarter. Formal in nature, each meeting saw both prepared and impromptu speeches being delivered, with an evaluation for each speaker provided by the boys. At the conclusion of each evening, Best Prepared Speaker, Best Impromptu Speech and Best Evaluator were awarded. Each meeting has a unique theme which guides the boys in preparing and delivering their speeches. This year saw a variety of topics chosen by Staff and boys, including: You Shall Not Pass..., Apocalypse, and quotes from various authors. Boys are encouraged to think creatively and focus on the content, structure and delivery of their speeches. As is the norm, the boys delivered speeches and evaluations of an excellent standard. This year, we focussed on developing the structure and quality of impromptu speeches and the response of the boys was mixed. Impromptu speeches are challenging and the default is to waste the allotted time with jokes instead of relying on structured content. Boys who took the lesson to heart were Ciaran Fumiss and Matthew Landsberg, both of whom delivered excellent impromptus. Another highlight was the ice-breakers (an introductory speech required by each new member), most notably by Seth Banda and Angelos Geranmayeh, who both delivered personal, poignant and memorable debut speeches. This year also saw two Staff members as guest speakers. Mr Jonathan Smith and Mr Pete Dennyson delivered speeches in "Do things properly... treat people decently. ” Farfield Motto 93 A Cultural Clubs and Societies their capacity as guest speakers at two meetings and the boys learnt a great deal from their excellent style and content. The highlight of the year was undoubtedly the Parents and Sons Evening held on 6 September. This saw the A Block members showcasing their oratory skills to their parents and teachers alike. The theme of the evening was It ought to be lovely to be old and the speeches varied from humorous and flippant to serious and poignant. Dominic Pretorius received a standing ovation for his prepared speech, which took the form of a eulogy to his recently deceased grandfather. His content and Slam Poetry style were superb and brought more than a handful of people in attendance to tears. Matthew Landsberg had the audience in stitches with his witty and humorous impromptu speech. All parents and Staff in attendance were astounded at the maturity of the content and the speaking skill of all who spoke on the evening. We also said goodbye to Mr Michael Stead at the end of 2013. Mr Stead, an Intern teacher, has made a significant contribution to Toastmasters over the past two years. The society appreciates his hard work, effort and skill and wishes him well for his new post at Kingswood College in file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Grahamstown. Looking forward, the end of 2013 sees the addition of 22 new boys to be added to the existing 15 members. The new members are incredibly talented and the society will no doubt have another fruitful year in 2014. TOASTMASTERS: Back Row: Cameron Bird, Kyle Pyne-James, Nicholas Stephenson, Thomas Robertson, Steven Clowes, William Lotter, Michael Schram, James Hallier, Steven Harris Third Row: Joe Sutton, Jonathan Goschen, Neo Ngcobo, Robert Lee, Otlotleng Mokgatle, Stephan Bosch, Seth Banda, Lonwabo Mgoduso, James Hadley-Grave, James Laidlaw, Jabu Magubane Second Row: Ryan Thompson, Nick Richardson, Gregg Vogel, Matthew Landsberg, Adrian Wolfson, Matthew Davies, Mark Wood, Cameron Hampson, Angolos Geranmayeh, Jason Marshall Front Row: Michael McDonald, Michael Burn, Matthew Potter, Mr Michael Stead, Kura Maswera, Mrs Mary McMichael, Nicholas Schram, Batebang Mapetla, Joshua Geldenhuys 94 Clubs and Societies Cultural L. TRAIL RUNNING 0taff Member in Charge: Mr Jonathan Smith The Trail Running Club comprises those for whom running is a passion, a challenge and an excuse to get out into the heart of nature. Running through forests and veld, across rivers and in tunnels under dams, over mountains and through valleys in unpopulated landscapes adds to the thrill and enjoyment of completing rough courses. A recent innovation to the trail running circuit is the night race. It takes the form of running a tough- single track course at night with the only light being the one emitting from your headlamp. One can imagine the adventure of running down a pass, hopping from boulder to boulder with only your own light source guiding the way. The club attended a few Mweni night runs in Pietermaritzburg which were highly enjoyable. The highlight of the fourth quarter was the participation in the annual Spur Trail Series Challenge. This was the third time that the extremely popular Spur Trail Series took place in KwaZulu-Natal. It lured more competition, and with that faster times than the previous year. The first race of the series was a day race, run at Inanda Dam East, with a long course of 12.5km and a 5km short course. The second race was a night race at Giba Gorge, again with the options of a long and short course. The Michaelhouse boys performed exceptionally well, as the results below indicate. They enjoyed not only the experience and winning of prizes, but also just being out of their normal routine and finding themselves at one with nature. Inanda Dam: Day Race 5km Emmanuel Zaloumis: First in Sub-Junior Category Craig Heenan: First in Junior Category Jason Boulle: Third in Junior Category 12.5km Charles Houston: First Junior and third overall Giba Gorge: Night Race 5km Jason Boulle: First in Junior Category Craig Heenan: Second in Junior Category Carlisle Hartman: Third in Junior Category 12.5 km Alan Houston: First Junior and fifth overall Perhaps Paul Maurer says it best when reflecting on the resolution of running: “Running is about the sweat in your hair and the blisters on your feet. It’s the frozen spit on your chin and the nausea in your gut. It’s about throbbing calves and cramps at midnight that are strong enough to wake the dead. It’s about getting out the door and running when the rest of the world is only dreaming about having the passion that you need to live each and every day with.” TraitfViM) Jason Boulle and Craig Heenan after the Inanda Dam Trail Running race. 95 A Cultural Clubs and Societies TROUT CLUB faster in Charge: Mr Alan Adlington-Corfield We have a large club membership this year and Masters Mr Righardt Kotze, Mr Allan Laing and Mr Andrew Laing have been of great assistance on the outings. We had outings to the Kamberg and Loteni areas in the first quarter. At the start of the Easter holiday, the trout club went on their annual camp in East Griqualand. The group comprised ten boys, four dads and three staff. As for many years prior, the camp was hosted by the Cathcart family, at their farm, file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Belmont. The weather over the five days was simply magnificent, as was the scenery in this beautiful part of the world. The boys were able to fish at some of the most sought-after trout waters in the country, from mountain streams to self-stocking still waters. The conditions for trout fishing were simply perfect and the boys and dads had incredible catches at every location fished. Well over 200 fish were caught over the five days, including a new Michaelhouse club record of a 10 lb 2 ounce rainbow hen caught by Richard Béchard in a dam belonging to Mr Lance Rorich. A number of other boys also managed to catch a personal best sized fish. An incredible camp in all respects. A huge thanks to our very generous hosts, Murray and Bimpy Cathcart, and the very kind land owners, Lance and William Rorich, Andrew and Keith Gilson, and Martin Firth, who all make this camp possible. Since the camp, we have had Sunday outings to two Kamberg farms, Loteni, the Dargle and Mount West with varied successes. The demand to be a member of the club and to participate in the outings remains pleasingly high. In 2014,1 hope that we will be able to explore the fine art of river and stream fishing more as most of our outings this year have been to still waters. Mr Chris Brown has kindly offered his section of the Bushman’s River as a start. “The first aeroplane to be seen in South Africa, landed at Balgowan ” Derby Day, South African Schoolboy Rugby, Laugh It Off Publishers, 2008 Trout Club members, Matthew Menear and Richard Béchard landing their personal best sized fish at the annual East Griqualand Camp. 96 In the pursuit of perfection. In an age of digital interaction and impersonal client contact, why does SMG strive to be different? In a word, it’s ‘connecting’. While we know that technology changes the way people do business, we don’t believe it should change the way in which we connect with them. After all, our success is due to the personal relationships we have built with our loyal customer base. Founded in July 2003 by Sean McCarthy, the SMG Group has grown significantly from its original 2 dealerships, SMG Durban and SMG Pietermaritzburg, to now include 8 dealerships. The SMG Approved Repair Centre in Marseilles Drive, Briardene, opened in September 2006, then in 2008 we welcomed Hillcrest Toyota to our growing group of dealerships. Our state-of-the-art SMG Cape Town, situated at the entrance of the Canal Walk Shopping Centre, opened in February 2009, and SMG South Coast opened in July 2011. SMG Rocks, KZN’s exclusive MINI dealership, opened in December 2012, and the latest jewel in our crown is Jaguar Land Rover Hillcrest, which opened its doors in April 2013. SMG Durban is managed by Dealer Principal Trevor Meyer, and Jan Venter heads up our bustling Pietermaritzburg branch, with Selvan Govender running our busy Panel Shop. Our South Coast dealership is in the capable hands of Darren Staats and SMG Rocks has Dealer Principal Peter Caley at the helm. SMG Cape Town is ably run by Mark Ross, while Warren Demmer holds the reigns at Hillcrest Toyota. Our latest SMG dealership, Jaguar Land Rover Hillcrest, is managed by Andrew Potgieter. Thanks to a great team and fantastic support from our loyal customers, we are proud to be among the top performing dealerships in the country, and with our partnership with Mvelaphanda Holdings, founded by Mr Toyko Sexwale, we hope to go from strength to strength. We are the proud recipients of a number of awards, including Metro Dealer of the Year, Aftersales Dealer of the Year, Rural Dealer of the Year, and Most Improved Repair Centre, as well as numerous awards for Customer Service, and Finance and Insurance Services. At SMG, perfection is a daily pursuit. From our state of the art dealerships, to our powerful, stylish and luxurious cars, we constantly strive to set new standards in customer satisfaction, quality of service and dynamic efficiency. Managing Director Sean McCarthy, believes that SMG's success can largely be attributed to the loyal support of our customers, who motivate and inspire our staff to continually perform at the highest level. To pursue perfection, visit your nearest SMG dealership: SMG Durban, SMG Pietermaritzburg, SMG South Coast, SMG Rocks, SMG Approved Repair Centre, Hillcrest Toyota, Jaguar Land Rover Hillcrest, or SMG Cape Town. SMG www.smg.co.za SMG Á Environment & Community file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] A major focus at Michaelhouse is to develop a lifelong service ethos in our boys. Coupled with this, Michaelhouse actively adopts an holistic Environmental Education Programme ensuring that our boys are constantly aware of the social, environmental and economic environments they inhabit. The School's Community Partnership and Environmental programmes are aimed at educating boys and staff to appreciate and deal with environmental and social issues and to administer and manage the School in appropriately sensitive ways. THE MICHAELHOUSE NATURE RESERVE Rasters in Charge: Mr Paul Fleischack and Mr Iain Guthrie Staff: Mr Andrew Laing The proclamation of the Nature Reserve has been finalised and we now await the publication of this in the Government Gazette. This is a major step forward and has significant implications for the management of the reserve as well as for the land use in the vicinity of the School. After much deliberation and planning, the Education Centre is finally under construction. Roofing sheets are being secured as I pen this report. This development has been made possible by the generosity of a number of donors. The centre will provide a wonderful venue for outdoor and environmental education, breakaways, House groups and general recreation in the Nature Reserve. The first booking has been received, even before the building is off the plan. Tucked away in a quiet spot at the head of Gleneagles Bush, the centre will be hidden from general view and surrounded by the canopy of the indigenous forest and grasslands. The dominant sounds will comprise birdcalls and flowing water. The site will provide an authentic and unique wilderness experience for those who use it. The reserve will provide clean water, either harvested from rainfall or gravity fed from a nearby perennial stream. Only renewable energy will be used and composting toilets will further reduce the ecological footprint of the centre. These will provide boys with an opportunity to experience newly proclaimed Michaelhouse Nature Reserve. Environment & Community k. the practicalities of alternative power and low-energy, sustainable living. The construction will be functional, comfortable and rustic. Walls will be built with a combination of local stone and brick. Ceilings will be treated gum lats. The north side will be open to the forest while the south side will be walled to provide protection from the elements. Eradication of alien plants has continued. Ezemvelo has provided herbicides which are being used to control bramble encroachment as well as wattle and gum re-emergence subsequent to the fires. In compliance with the management plan imposed by Ezemvelo, the cattle numbers have been reduced to 60 LSU. The herd remains the main bulk grazer in the reserve and is essential in conditioning the veld as we seek ways to reduce the use of fire in the reserve. THE MICHAELHOUSE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Written by Revd Canon Fred Pitout OUR GOAL: To ensure that Michaelhouse develops a lifelong service ethos in its boys and facilitates meaningful economic, social and environmental contributions to the development of the local community (Vision 2015). We started the year with a thorough review of the Community Partnership Projects - those with the boys’ involvement and those which are donor funded. We have continued with two major thrusts: Education and Community Health. We also had a change of staff with Rev Nkosi Mahlaba replacing Pastor Sipho Zuma. During 2013, there have been 16 Interns involved with different projects. Hlanganani Primary School Mr Milton Ncolosi has continued to grow the school, combining Indezi Primary School with Hlanganani Primary School and in so doing, bringing total numbers of children to 220. Boys from Pascoe House have continued to visit the school every week and have assisted with computer homework, coaching of soccer and the painting of the inside of classrooms. Woodberry Forest School from the USA visited again this year with a team of six young men under the leadership of Mr Ben Hale. They spent a week with us at Michaelhouse and worked every day at Hlanganani School doing repairs and maintenance work required at the school, as well as interacting in the classroom situation with the children. A student intern, who originally visited Hlanganani School as a Michaelhouse boy, commented on the substantial progress the school has made over the past five years. A large donation (500kg of polony) was received from Eskort Factory for Hlanganani School. Quite a challenge to collect and find storage for. This has meant 16kg of polony delivered to the school for 220 children each week - roughly six months’ supply of food. With ongoing support from OM, Mr Jon Bates, the Computer Laboratory has finally been upgraded and all systems are file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] in place. A service agreement with a computer company has been signed to ensure that the system continues to work and that the school is visited every month for at least eight hours during the month to assist with any problems. Thanks to various donors for their ongoing support. Choir and Art Competition Mr Paul Barnett (Michaelhouse, 1947-1950), now in his 80th year, has been our major benefactor over many years and was able to visit us this year over the period that the competition was held. The Choir Competition attracted some nine schools. They had to compete in three different categories. The standard was unbelievably high this year - much improved. The winner was Curry’s Post Primary School, followed closely in second place by Dabulamanzi Combined School. Mr Petrus “Fish” Ndlovu, Ground Staff member at mind • heart • soul The Wykeham Collegiate is an independent school committed to educating girls from Grade RR to Grade 12. It offers a top-quality, progressive and holistic education based on Christian values in a happy, caring environment. For further information, contact Mrs Rose Harries Private Bag 9094, PMB, 3200 Tel: 033 342 0752 • Fax 033 394 5589 Email: [email protected] www.twc.org.za Educating Women for the Real World 99 Á Environment & Community Billy Dean, Canon Fred Pitout, Albert von Preussen and Dominic George Rowles at work with the Smile Programme. Pretorius lend a hand to victims of the shack fire which ravaged Nottingham Road. Michaelhouse, assisted three of the schools with their set songs. Prizes were extended to a different school for each of the three categories in which they participated - Prescribed Song, Traditional Song and Own Choice Song. We had around 1 000 entries from local schools for the Art Competition. The theme this year was The Four Seasons. Each School was given R1 500, 00 worth of art materials. The winning entries made a spectacular display in the Schlesinger Theatre foyer. Following on from the Art Competition, we held a six-week course with a staff member from each school, thanks to the contribution of the Nina Campbell Quine Trust. Mrs Joy Preiss, HOD Art, working in collaboration with Mrs Jane Cahill, provided six weekly seminars for teachers in rural schools. Some 450 children were transported to and from the Art Exhibition and Choir Competition by local taxi owners. Mobile Library Rev Nkosi Mahlaba, now known as “Baba Books”, continues to make an impact on the lives of children at Crystal Springs Primary, Curry’s Post Primary, Jabula Primary, Asithuthuke Primary and Hlanganani Primary Schools by providing a weekly library lending and reading laboratory service for a total of 1 500 children. Sponsorship is still received from N3 Tolcon. We are now in a position where we need more children’s books and have requested Michaelhouse boys to assist us where possible. Nkosi also ran a reading competition amongst the children from the various schools. This was well supported by the children and was judged by our own Mrs Lynn van der Vegte. Mrs van der Vegte was hugely impressed with how the children are now reading. SMILE The SMILE project continued as per last year, in excellent vein. The recipe of three good teachers of English (Mrs Kate Smedley, Mrs Charlie Ross and Mrs Helen Bownes), assisted each week by 12 B Block boys and armed with a sound curriculum as well as teaching materials, all combined to benefit the 72 Grade 4 and 5 pupils from Crystal Springs Primary School in Lidgetton. From the start of the second quarter, the demand was such from Crystal Springs Primary School that we asked Mrs Angela Theron to take a fourth class. This proved to be hugely beneficial, involving more B Block boys and allowing 96 children from Crystal Springs to learn basic English skills each week. ABET Mrs Robyn Gruijters continued with this programme. The ABET classes have continued to run on a Tuesday afternoon for two hours in the IT 2 and 3 labs, and on a Thursday for two hours in two of the English classes. Attendee numbers average between 30 and 33 learners per class, a substantial increase from last year. The classes are made up largely of Michaelhouse employees - either wage earning or domestic worker staff, but of late we have had a number of outside learners enrol from the likes of Ardmore Ceramics and Nottingham Road Primary School. The majority of our learners are on Level 1 and 2 English, with a small group on Level 3. Our Mother Tongue Group (pre-level 1) has grown 100 Environment & Community k. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] to a group of five and is handled with great care by Mr Nkosi Mahlaba. First exams were written in October. Each learner who wrote contributed half of the examination fee, with the balance being funded by Community Partnerships once again. Our aim for 2014 is to start offering the basic ABET numeracy course as well. E-Learner/ICDL Classes Mr Ian Crawford, an Intern, continued E-Leamer classes with a new group of 13 eager Michaelhouse staff from various departments who registered for the e-Learner computer literacy programme at the beginning of the year. This programme, endorsed by the ECDL Foundation, equips learners of all ages with a solid foundation for progressing to the ICDL (International Computer Driving Licence) qualification. It is currently being offered in 20 countries in Africa alone. The courseware for the E-Leamer is unique in that it does not only teach ICT skills, but also integrates life content into the lessons. It is flexible as the learners can move at their own pace in any order and it is comprehensive in that all resources required to complete each lesson are supplied in an electronic booklet. With the help of the facilitator, Mr Ian Crawford, the group has worked steadily through all the lessons and has already taken five of the seven exams. This group will progress to the ICDL programme once the basic skills of managing files, web browsing and e-mail, word processing, drawing, spreadsheets and presentations have been taught. We hope to start a new group in 2014 in order to provide this opportunity to more Michaelhouse staff members, as well as extending it to the outside community. Thanks are extended to Ian Crawford and C Block learners Thomas Greig, Aidan Friend and Guy Schiever for facilitating these staff members and providing the necessary encouragement and effort. A programme such as this cannot be undertaken without the required sponsorship and we extend our thanks and appreciation to the generous sponsors. Sizanani Widows Support Group Gogo Olga Mashego and her four helpers continued to provide a hot meal each day for 150 orphaned children from child-headed households. We have been able to assist with groceries and electricity cards on six occasions this past year. Murray McDonald and Ciaran Fumiss (A Blockers in Farfield and Pascoe, respectively) and some of their friends did a blanket collection towards the end of June and these were handed over to all the children in this group. They were overwhelmed by the continued assistance that Michaelhouse is providing. Esther Zuma Creche - Lidgetton We were able to assist this creche this year by providing fencing around the property in which permanent buildings are to be erected by the Ken Collins Charity Trust. Local unemployed workers were used to complete this project. Mrs Boo Lewis has long championed this cause. Michaelhouse Support Staff Choir Mr “Fish” Ndlovu, who is a lawnmower operator on the Estate, has started three new choirs: one is for children at Asithuthuke School, another is at Zenzani Village and the third at the single quarters for support staff. We received a major donation from Prosound, in the form of amplifiers, speakers and microphones to the value of R45 000. The children’s choir from Zenzani Village performed at Caversham Restaurant on Saturday 18 May 2013, whilst the Asithuthuke Choir performed at the Nottingham Road Primary School Family Day. Asithuthuke Combined School During the year, we have been working in the school’s Computer Laboratory, installing new equipment, upgrading computers that were donated by Proline and networking the E Block boys participated in a friendly soccer match against a scratch team from Curry’s Post. 101 Á Environment & Community laboratory. All this work is complete. Michael McDonald and Jasper Epsom worked hard at this as part of the Peter Brown Award. Nottingham Road Squatter Camp Fire Following the fire damage to the Nottingham Road Squatter Camp, we asked the Michaelhouse Community for support in whatever way they could. We were overwhelmed by the many clothes, blankets, food and cash donations which flowed into the Community Partnership Office. All donations received were handed over to All Saints Anglican Church in Nottingham Road, where they were sorted and handed to different affected families. The fire-ravaged shacks had been homes to more than 500 people. Balgowan Health and Social Development Committee St Raphael’s Care Centre building was completed and was opened and blessed by the Bishop of Natal, Rubin Philip, on April 2013. About 400 people from the community attended the ceremony and lunch. A major donation has largely file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] funded this. Following the opening, a donation of R25 000 was received from the Anglican Diocese of Natal. A number of local farmers’ wives have offered to help with the daily administration, with additional help offered by other local people. The Care Centre has eight beds. Five locally trained home-based carers provide basic nursing. Soccer Tournament Eight local schools were invited to participate in a primary schools’ soccer tournament. The tournament was organised and run by Rev Nkosi Mahlaba from our office. It was held on 3 August at Nottingham Road Primary School. A very successful, well organised and sponsored tournament was enjoyed by all. Amathole Abomvana (The Red Bulls) - Michaelhouse Support Staff Traditional Dancers A group of seven support staff got together and formed the Amathole Abomvana Group. Financial assistance was given for them to get their uniform and djembe drums. So far they have performed at the opening of the St Raphael’s Care Centre, the Highland Games hosted at Michaelhouse, Cultural days in Lidgetton, and at the Michaelhouse Community Partnership Choir and Art Competition events. Service Projects We remain focussed to ENSURE that EVERY boy becomes involved. B Block boys are involved in the weekly SMILE Programme. Four professional teachers, along with a good curriculum, good administration and good Michaelhouse boys, make this work well for the 96 Grade 4 and 5 children. C Block boys are only involved in the first two quarters of the year as demands of Confirmation Camp and the C Block Journey prevail. Groups were involved in English reading together with students from Asithuthuke Combined School and Jabula Combined School. The Elephant Whisperer provided a challenging read. D and E Block boys are involved on a House basis, the challenge remaining that we have to juggle this with the congested School curriculum. Other obstacles are a plethora of sporting and extra-curricular activities, the availability of transport and too few PDP licensed drivers. Within these parameters, D and E Block boys from each House remain involved in their House projects: Founders: Asithuthuke School (Sport and Homework) East: Zenzani Village (Painting of Jungle Gyms and St Raphael’s Care Centre) West: English Reading Project with Nottingham Road Primary School and Support Staff children Farfield: Asithuthuke School (Maths and Science Lessons and Homework) Pascoe: Hlanganani School (vegetable gardens, painting of classrooms, soccer training) Baines: Sunfield Home for the Mentally Handicapped Mackenzie: Khazimula Shelter in Lidgetton D Block Integrated Studies Programme In the week after mid-year exams, as part of the programme, each set of D Block boys attended a whole day of school at Nottingham Road Combined School. This educational and social experience is unique to Michaelhouse. Matthew Joubert exemplifying the spirit of service. 102 Á Sport The educational programme of any top school should reflect a balance between academic, cultural, environmental and sporting activities. In this respect Michaelhouse endeavours to remain at the cutting edge of each pursuit. Michealhouse offers a vibrant sport programme with a choice of 16 sport options. We are fortunate to enjoy some of the finest sporting facilities in the country. Our boys ’athletic talents are acknowledged at zonal, provincial and national level, wtih inter schoolfixtures played at first league level. Michaelhouse has produced in excess of 120 sportsmen who have played at international level. AQUATICS - SWIMMING faster in Charge: Mr John Alexander Captain: Darren de Beer Awards Honours: Tyran Faber Colours: Brandon Landsberg and Brandon Mottram Swimming during the 2013 season has resulted in some highs and lows. The low point has been the inclement weather, which has caused a few galas to be cancelled. The depth of talent has also been a concern, which has meant that Michaelhouse has struggled against schools in the area in the relay style galas. On a high note, the galas have been characterised by individual excellence, particularly in butterfly and age relays. Michaelhouse attended the Midlands Swimming Trials, where Michael Greer managed to achieve excellent Colours times for Midlands. On Wednesday 23 January, 23 swimmers set off to compete at Maritzburg College’s 150"1 Anniversary Swimming Gala in Pietermaritzburg. It was a co-ed gala and Michaelhouse was paired with Girls High School. As a team, we file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] were outclassed by the opposition in the form of Hilton and College but managed some individual successes, especially in the U16 and U15 age groups. Overall, we finished third. Man of the gala was Charles Janse van Rensburg. At the Howick B Co-Ed Gala we were again teamed up with GHS. Boys schools competing were Michaelhouse, Voortrekker, Treverton, Howick, Wartburg and Wembley. Officially, we came second amongst the boys schools, but since we were teamed up with a girls school, we won on points overall. We also broke five gala records. The Howick Gala Records broken were: Boys U17 50m Freestyle: Tyran Faber Boys U16 Breast Stroke: Charles Janse van Rensburg Boys 4 Age Medley Relay Team: Brandon Landsburg, Charles Janse van Rensburg, Tyran Faber and Darren De Beer Boys U17 50m Butterfly: Tyran Faber Boys 5x50m Age Freestyle Relay Team: Antony Fleischer, Michael Greer, Brandon Mottram, Tyran Faber and Darren De Beer Unfortunately, we were unable to attend the Independent Quadrangular Gala at Kearsney College, as a major accident on the N3 prevented our busses from reaching the gala venue. Gloomy, overcast weather rolling into the Balgowan Valley once again heralded the annual Inter-House Gala on the Open age group champions, Mitchell Bird (Gold), Ryan Thompson (Bronze) and Darren de Beer (Silver) with guest of honour, Mrs Cecilia de Beer. 104 Sport k. SWIMMING TEAM: Back Row: Thomas Walker, Jaryd Kleynhans, Michael Hanbury, Justin Miller, Joshua Cullinan, Brandon Landsberg, Cameron Hampson Middle Row: Julian Smart, Tristan Hughes, Callum Deeble, Antony Fleischer, Michael Greer, Jordan van Rees, Christopher Ringwood, Bongi Fleischer Front Row: Tyran Faber, Ryan Thompson, Mr John Alexander, Darren de Beer, Mrs Candice Smith, Stephan Bosch, Jonathan Smith evening of Wednesday 20 February. Spectators huddled closely under the newly erected pavilion for warmth and protection from the intermittent drizzle; but with five records being broken and the Staff relay team managing a back- to-back victory over the boys in the final event of the evening, the action in the pool more than compensated for the dismal weather. East were eager to clinch a hat-trick of victories in 2013, and it was only a disqualification in one of the final events of the evening that allowed Baines to nab glory from under their noses by the slimmest of three-point margins. Baines enjoyed a strong swimming reputation in the ’80s, winning seven Inter-House Galas between 1982 and 1989, but the House has had a lean time of it in the pool in the past 24 years. First: Baines (262) Second: East(259) Third: Farfield (217) Age Group Champions U14: Gold - Ant and Bongi Fleischer, Bronze - Christopher Ringwood U15: Gold - Angelo Lissoni, Silver - Christopher Dowsley, Bronze - Keagan Chasenski U16: Gold - Charles Janse van Rensburg, Silver - Brandon Mottram, Bronze - Jordan van Rees U17: Gold - Tyran Faber, Silver - Brandon Landsberg, Bronze - Jonathan Smith Open: Gold - Mitchell Bird, Silver - Darren de Beer, Bronze - Ryan Thompson Trophies Junior Individual Medley - Angelo Lissoni Senior Individual Medley - Tyran Faber Junior Victor Ludorum - Ant and Bongi Fleischer Senior Victor Ludorum - Mitchell Bird 20 Man Trophy - West Open Freestyle Relay - East House Relays - Baines Champion House - Baines 105 Á Sport Records U17 50m Butterfly - Tyran Faber, 28,14 (previous record 28,20 - 2002) file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] U15 4x25m Medley Relay - Baines, 59,31 (previous record 1:02,00 - 2011) U16 4x25m Medley Relay - Farfield, 57,18 (previous record 58,30 - 2006) U17 4x25m Medley Relay - Pascoe, 55,63 (previous record 57,00 - 2007) U17 4x50m Freestyle Relay - Pascoe, 1:18,60 (previous record 1:50,40 - 2007) Tyran Faber achieved Honours times in his Freestyle event; Charles Janse Van Rensburg achieved Colours in Breast Stroke; and Justin Miller achieved Colours time for Back Stroke. Thank you once again to Darren de Beer, the 2013 swimming Captain who managed the team so well. AQUATICS - WATER POLO faster in Charge: Mr Bernard Whitaker Coaches: First Team: Mr Matthew Higginson (lsl quarter), Mr Andrew Duncan (4,h quarter) Second Team: Mr Andrew Duncan, Mr Murray Daniel (lsl quarter), Mr Michael Simpson (4th quarter) Third & Fourth Teams: Mr Micheál Simpson (lsl quarter), Mr Andre van Wyk (4"' quarter) U16A: Mr Bernie Whitaker U16B: Mr André van Wyk U15A: Mr Justin Randall U15B: Mr Peter Stevens U14A: Mr Peter Stevens (1st quarter), Mr Matthew Higginson (4"' quarter) U14B: Mr Bailey Coxon Captain: Merrick Pringle Awards Colours: Tyran Faber and Jason Schwegmann Provincial Representation KwaZulu-Natal U19B: Tyran Faber and Jason Schwegmann U16: Brandon Mottram and Joshua Cullinan U14: Luke Jonsson and Antony Fleischer Water polo is flourishing at Michaelhouse. Our numbers continue to grow and we are competitive across the board. Very few schools are able to match us for the number of teams we are able to field. Giving all the boys a fair amount of water time is a challenge as we do not have enough pool space. There are approximately 20 U14 water polo players; we therefore have enough players to form two teams in the U14 age group. This year, we had a number of boys who had not played water polo at all. This meant that the boys were at different skill levels. The focus of the U14 coaching team is on conditioning, with an emphasis on flexibility, body position and co-ordination. We spent a great deal of time focussing on the eggbeater and the breaststroke kick. A lot of time is spent on passing, catching and shooting, making sure technique is correct. We concentrate on basic defence and attack patterns and on trying to develop the boys to play in all positions in the pool. We do try and give the boys equal amounts of game time as all players need to be nurtured and developed for the future of Michaelhouse water polo. The U14A team participated in two tournaments in the fourth quarter: the Top Ten tournament in Durban and the Grey College U14 tournament in Bloemfontein. Tournaments are a vital part of the development of any player as teams play a large number of games (approximately eight at each tournament) in a short period of time. This allows the team to discuss the positives and negatives after each game, and in so doing, learn a great deal in a very concentrated time period. Thomas Edley competing for Tatham in the Inter-House Gala. Joshua Cullinan earning his provincial colours. 106 Sport k. 1st WATERPOLO: Back Row: Ryan Thompson, Patrick Botton, Lorenzo Scribante, Tyran Faber Middle Row: Brandon Landsberg, Joshua Cullinan, Craig Lea, Jason Schwegmann Front Row: Darren de Beer, Merrick Pringle, Mr Matthew Higginson, Chrisopher Whiting, Matthew Potter The U14A team played extremely well in both tournaments and represented their School with pride. They finished sixth out of ten in Durban and seventh out of 20 in Bloemfontein. In the U15 age group we have approximately 30 players, meaning that we can field three teams. Unfortunately, the C team has not had many games as there are very few schools that have a C team. The B team has been very competitive, and hopefully, many of these boys will start pushing for places in the A team. The A team has continued to grow as a unit, improving in every game they play. They started the season by going to play in the Selborne Tournament in East London, where they finished a disappointing ninth. After this, they played in the Top Ten Tournament at Kings Park, where they finished a creditable fourth. I look forward to this team continuing to improve. We had two teams at U16 level at the beginning of 2013, who amalgamated into the open age group at the end of the file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] year. Our U16A team were unbeaten and played with great enthusiasm, skill and flair. I look forward to these players developing even further in this game. Michaelhouse hosted an U16 Festival this year and the event was a huge success. This was attended by Hilton College, Kearsney College, Selborne, St Stithians and St John’s Harare. Besides a draw to Hilton, Michaelhouse remained unbeaten. First Team The SACS tournament is one of the most prestigious water polo festivals in the country. It is known for its fast pace, short games and attendance by the finest water polo schools in the country. The First Team squad trained hard for this tournament and the work paid off. Michaelhouse was placed in a hard-hitting group of ten schools, in which we finished 107 Á Sport Waterpolo 2013 Date MHS Opponent 4,h U16A U16B U15A U15B U15C U14A U14B 19/1 26/1 26/1 02/2 02/2 09/2 16/2 16-17/2 26/2 02/3 20-23/9 Westville Boys High Kearsney College Thomas More Northwood Grey College Treverton CBC Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Treverton PBHS Festival Falcon College Affies St Johns College St Stithians St Peters Clifton College Hilton College SACS Tour: Wynberg Maritzburg College St Johns Bishops Jeppe Grey PE DHS Pretoria Boys Selborne MHS U16Fest: Hilton St Johns Harare Selborne Kearsney St Stithians Invitation Team Selborne U15 Fest: EL Jeppe St Andrews Stirling Crawford St Albans Grey A Grey B Northwood Glenwood U15 Fest Northwood Maritzburg College Glenwood U14 Westville Boys High W 8-5 L6-20 W 6-1 W 9-5 D 7-7 W 7-2 W 6-2 W 2-0 L 6-8 W 9-3 L 6-7 L 4-8 L2-17 L 6-7 L 7-14 L 4-14 L 0-6 W 4-2 L 3-5 L 1-4 W 3-0 L 2-7 L 4-6 W 4-2 W 4-1 L4-5 W 20-10 file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] W 6-4 D 6-6 W 9-3 W 9-3 W 19-4 W 14-1 W 7-6 W 7-0 W 16-6 W 12-5 W 12-5 W 13-3 W 13-7 W 16-2 W 6-3 L4-7 L6-7 W 6-0 L 2-12 W 6-3 L 2-4 L4-5 W 6-5 W 8-3 W 3-2 L 2-5 D 4-4 W 5-2 L 2-5 W 5-2 W 5-2 W 5-2 W 7-1 W 7-5 L 3-10 L 6-8 L 3-11 L 2-4 L6-7 2-9 L 1-6 4-10 L6-7 Sport k. Date MHS Opponent______l51 2nd 3rd 4'" U16A U16B U1SA U15B U15C U14A U14B 4-6/10 Top 10 Tour: Clifton College L0-10 L 2-9 LO-9 DHS W 5-2 L 3-7 Glenwood W 5-3 L 4-5 Hilton College L 2-3 W 5-4 Kearsney W 7-6 W 5-2 Maritzburg College Wll-0 Northwood W 8-0 Thomas More D 4-4 W 8-1 Westville Boys High W 5-3 D 4-4 Kearsney W 7-6 W 5-2 Maritzburg College Wll-0 Northwood W 8-0 Thomas More D 4-4 W 8-1 Westville Boys High W 5-3 D 4-4 12/10 Kearsney College W 14-5 W 12-6 W 11-10 W 8-5 W 7-4 D 5 19/10 Maritzburg College W 5-3 W 7-2 W 7-1 W 17-4 W 13-1 L 0-19 L 6- 18-20/10 Grey Bloem U14 Tour L0-1 Pearson W 9-1 St Andrews W 6-5 Redham L 3-7 Aflfies W 8-0 Clifton College L 1-7 St Johns W 10-4 22/10 DHS L 11-16 W 8-3 W 8-5 L2-10 W 14-4 25-27/10 St Stithians Tour: Qtr Fin L 5-12 Crawford W 6-5 Hilton College L 1-4 Pretoria Boys High W 5-4 SACS L 3-7 St Benedicts W 4-2 St Johns L 3-7 St Peters L 0-4 02/11 Clifton College L5-18 L 2-13 L 5-6 L 4-7 W 8-3 L 1-6 L4 09/11 Northwood W 19-7 W 16-2 W 11-2 D 3-3 09/11 Treverton D 5-5 W 12-0 L4 16/11 Hilton College L 13-7 W 7-5 L 11-6 L 12-8 L 11-5 L4-3 L 8-5 W 9-4 L 9 “The main failing of all the long jump competitors was their neglect to approach the take-off at an all-out sprint and a want of elevation in the actual jump. ” Chronicle 1919 file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] W 109 Á Sport Academics aren ’t forgotten on tour, Ross Dolbey is pictured here keeping up to date with school work. fifth - just missing out on the quarter-finals. We played great polo with some outstanding wins against Pretoria Boys High, Jeppe, Selbome and Maritzburg College, placing us in a well-deserved ninth out of 20 teams. Top Ten The First Team left the SACS tournament as the top finisher out of the KwaZulu-Natal teams, setting high expectations for the Provincial Top Ten Tournament. Once again, we were placed in a challenging pool. Michaelhouse started off on the wrong foot with a 4-4 draw with Thomas More. However, the team bounced back strongly with a win against Westville Boys’ High. As a result, we were put in a ‘do or die’ situation with Hilton College whereby the winner of the game would advance to the semi-finals. A high-paced, tough local derby ended with a 3-2 win to Hilton. Michaelhouse contested a play-off for fifth and sixth; we beat DHS to be placed fifth in KwaZulu-Natal overall. Saint Stithians Tournament The St Stithians Tournament is a Stayers based contest, meaning that no Matrics participate. Twenty teams take part in four groups of five. We started off with two humdingers against SACS and St John’s College, going down 7-3 in both games. This again put us in a ‘must win’ situation to make the quarter-finals. The boys responded fantastically, although some wins weren’t pretty - we took them and ran. The first of the ‘must win’ games was against Crawford College, where we ran out victors. St Benedict’s College were our next victims, and as a result set us up for a game against Pretoria Boys’ High in which the winner would gain a place in the quarter- finals. A breath-taking game of polo was played by both teams. Michaelhouse won six goals to five, netting the clincher in the last minute. Michaelhouse finished in eighth position overall. Ken Mullen Trophy, Inter-House Water Polo: Pascoe Lyle Trophy For Most Valuable Player: Lorenzo Scribante Kyle Pepper Trophy for Service to Water Polo: Mitchell Bird “The extension to the music room will certainly prove a great boon to the Rector and obviate the present unpleasant necessity of boys practising in his drawing room. ” Chronicle 1917 110 ATHLETICS 0tafT Member in Charge: Mr George Ferreira Coaches: Mr Karl Swarts, Mr Peter Stevens, Mr Elmar de Klerk, Mr Righardt Kotze, Mr Richard McMichael, Mr Jonathan Smith Team Captain: Cameron Holenstein Awards Half Colours: Michael McDonald Provincial Representation KwaZulu-Natal Athletics Heptathlon Colours: Michael Greer Pietermaritzburg and Districts Invitation Team U19: Cameron Holenstein U16: Charles Houston and Nicholas Harrison U15: Callum Deeble, Salmon Janse van Rensburg and Michael Greer U14: Matthew Myers and Rory Ware 2013 Sports Day Results A Relays The 5 Age Relay (Grant Cornish Bowden Floating Trophy)'. Tatham 4 x 100m Relays (David Chance Floating Trophy): West and Farfield Senior 4 x 800m (The West 1971ers Challenge Trophy): Farfield Winning House (CRH Hariss Floating Trophy): Pascoe Age Group Champions U14: Gold: Rory Ware (Founders), Silver: Thomas Rorich (Farfield), Bronze: Mkuzo Kuwani (Baines) U15: Gold: Luke Browett (Pascoe), Silver: Callum Deeble (Pascoe), Bronze: Jarryd Kleynhans (Baines) U16: Gold: Charles Houston (West), Silver: David Karam (Pascoe), Bronze: Nicholas Harrison (Baines) file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] U17: Gold: Patrick Dillon (Mackenzie), Silver: Tyron Faber (Pascoe), Bronze: Jason Marshall (Farfield) U19: Gold: Michael Hinchley (Baines), Silver: Gareth Jooste (East), Bronze: Mitchell Bird (Farfield) Junior Victor Ludorum (Paul Nash Trophy): Luke Browett (Pascoe) U17 Victor Ludorum (Martin Rose Floating Trophy): Patrick Dillon (Mackenzie) Senior Victor Ludorum (John Odams Trophy): Charles Houston (West) Standard Points (John Odams Trophy): Tatham U19 100m Sprint (D Barford Trophy): Michael Hinchley (Baines) Best Single Performance in a Field Event (Mike Gledhill Cup): Kura Maswera (Baines) Best Single Performance in a Track Event (Steven Waidelich Floating Trophy): Nicholas Harrison (Baines) Best Single Performance in a Javelin Event (JR Cairns Trophy): SW Janse van Rensburg (West) Best Single Performance in any event (ST Evens Trophy): Nicholas Harrison (Baines) Best Middle Distance Athlete (GD Barrie Trophy): Callum Deeble (Pascoe) 20x100m Combined Age Relay (J Cahill Floating Trophy): Pascoe Juan-Luc Clackworthy. Event champions, Callum Deeble and Charles Houston at the Hilton College Meeting. Á Sport ATHLETICS: Back Row: Damon Hinchley, PG Buys, Rory Ware, Devon Bownes, Michael Greer, Mark Wood Middle Row: Phila Mtshali, Nicholas Harrison, Callum Deeble, Solomon Marx Front Row: Kura Maswera, Mr George Ferreira, Cameron Holenstein, Mr Karl Swartz, Daniel van der Leeuw Service to Athletics (M Jeffrey Memorial Tray): Cameron Holenstein (Founders) Winning House: Farfield Menlo Park Meeting Cameron Holenstein: 2nd U19 Discus Michael Greer: 2nd U15 Long Jump and 5lh U15 200m Nicholas Harrison: 5"' U16 400m Charles Houston: 5,h U16 1500m Grey College Clover Meeting Charles Houston: 4,h U16 1500m Michaelhouse Invitation Meeting The following boys achieved top three positions: Cameron Holenstein: Is' U19 Discus and 2nd U19 Shot Put Callum Deeble: Is' U15 800m and 1500m (both new records) Charles Houston: Is' U16 800m and 1500m (both new records) SW Janse van Rensburg: lsl U15 Javelin Nicholas van der Bos: Is1 U19 800m and 3rd U19 400m Kura Maswera: 2nd U19 Discus David Karam: 2"d U16 400m Daniel van der Leeuw: 3rd U19 Discus Callum Deeble produced the best middle distance performance of the day. Hilton College Meeting The following athletes achieved top three positions: Charles Houston: 1st U16 800m and 1500m Callum Deeble: 1st U15 800m and 1500m Luke Browett: Is' U15 Long Jump and 3rd U15 High Jump 112 Sport k. SW Janse van Rensburg: 1st U15 Javelin Cameron Holenstein: 3rd Open Shot Put Charles Houston: Best U16 athlete at the meeting Callum Deeble: Best U15 athlete at the meeting St Charles College Meeting The following athletes achieved top three positions: Cameron Holenstein: 1sl U19 Shot Put Charles Houston: 1st U17 1500m Callum Deeble: Is' U15 800m and 1500m file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Luke Browett: lsl U15 Long Jump; 2nd U15 800m; 3rd U15 High Jump Michael McDonald: 2nd U19 400m Kura Maswera: 3rd U19 Shot Put Michael Bucholtz: 3rd U15 800m KwaZulu-Natal Athletics League Meeting on 9 February The following athletes achieved top three positions: Cameron Holenstein: 2nd U19 Shot Put Kura Maswera: 3rd U19 Discus Michael Greer: lsl U15 Long Jump KwaZulu-Natal Athletics League Meeting on 5 October The following athletes achieved top three positions: Cameron Holenstein: Is' U19 Hammer Throw Dale Tratschler: Is' U17 Hammer Throw BASKETBALL faster in Charge: Mr Msizi Mchunu Coaches: First Team: Mr Allan Laing Second Team: Mr Rigardt Kotze Third Team: Mr Bongumusa Cele Fourth Team: Mr Msizi Mchunu U16A: Mr Sandile Sibiya U16B: Mr Linda Linda U16C: Mr Halalisani Xulu U15A: Mr Washington Chidzwayo U15B: Mr Sibusiso Ncamane U14A: Mr Elmar de Klerk U14B: Mr Johan van Rooyen U14C: Mr Msizi Mchunu and Mr Chris Waldburger First Team Captain: Mr Jonathan Laing Awards Honours: Jonathan Laing Colours: Thomas Robertson The popularity of basketball continues to soar at Michaelhouse. There are four open age group teams and a fifth team can easily be accommodated. Three U16 teams, two U15 teams and three U14 teams make up the age group numbers. We continue to experience difficulties in being accommodated by other schools who cannot match us team for team. Sadly, some teams have played only one game this term. We ended 2012 on a very high note with some magnificent wins. However, there has been a mixture of results obtained by various teams at the beginning of the new season. It has been encouraging that the games we lost could have gone either way as the losing margins were very small. However, when most teams won, these victories were by considerable margins. We hosted an U16 tournament in January and were joined by six other schools. The team managed fifth position under very trying circumstances. This prepared us for the St John’s annual tournament which we attended in mid-February. We were unlucky to be drawn in the group of death together with the eventual winners, St Benedict’s, and third place finishers Pretoria Boys’ High School. The lads were tested and learnt a lot from these two top basketball schools, and they must be congratulated for reaching the Plate Final where they lost narrowly to Jeppe. A coaches’ refereeing course was arranged on the evening of Friday 8 February. Learning opportunities like this should enable coaches to start refereeing so that we can spread the load amongst all of us. “Any prefect, and of course, especially any school prefect who arrived late, or who appeared to be unnecessarily dry, was promptly deposited in the pond. The casualties amongst the goldfishes, we are glad to report, were almost negligible.. ” Upon hearing of Victory in Europe, 1945 V 113 Á Sport 1st BASEKTBALL: Back Row: Kyle Baird, Patrick Hughes, David Broadley, William Lotter, Luke Baber, Antony Berten Middle Row: Tlhalefang Mangena, Fundile Nkuta Front Row: Neil Guiney, Mr Andrew Laing, Jonathan Laing, Thomas Robertson, Mr Allan Laing, Timothy Dommett Mr Pachonic has moved from the Karoo back to the Midlands. He has come in as our technical advisor. He has vast knowledge of the game and we hope to learn as much as we can from him. We will continue with winter basketball, during which time we encourage boys to come down to the Indoor Centre on their off sport days to work on their skills and techniques. The fourth quarter is always problematic with Matrics starting to write exams in the Indoor Centre. This means that many teams do not get to practise or have limited practice time. However, we work around problems that exist to try and get things done. The results show a continuation from the first quarter. Most teams have performed magnificently and taught the opposition a thing or two. Fillers for the teams that often don’t get games were organised and everyone got to participate. It has been a great pleasure to welcome Mr Righardt Kotze, who has taken over the Second Team. His experience has moulded the team into an unstoppable force. Mr Waldburger also joined the coaching staff and took over the U14C file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] side. His enthusiasm has been refreshing and we look forward to what he has to offer as he takes higher teams in the future. Overall, the senior age group tended to dominate the opposition except for our perennial rivals, Maritzburg College. The U16s have had a promising season and learnt a lot from the tournament they attended. Most junior teams held their own and continued to improve, with the U15 age group picking up momentum towards the end of the season. A special mention must go to Thomas Robertson and Joseph Coyne, who help with refereeing week in and week out. Without their help basketball would not have run as smoothly as it did. 114 Sport k. Date MHS Opponent Result For Against 19/01 Westville Boys’ High Lost 38 49 26/01 Kearsney College Won 54 53 1/02 American International School Won 55 50 2/02 Northwood Lost 44 45 9/02 Maritzburg College Lost 58 62 16/02 Clifton College Won 63 10 22-24/02 St John’s College U19 Invitational 2/03 Hilton College Won 45 14 4-5/10 Glenwood Won 56 44 12/10 Kearsney College Won 40 34 19/10 Maritzburg College Lost 36 67 9/10 Northwood Won 79 37 16/10 Hilton College Won 52 31 Played 12, Won 8, Lost 4, Drew 0, Points For 620, Points Against 496 Luke Baber (Left image) and Ishmael Goolam (Right image) in action on the Michaelhouse basketball courts. 115 A Sport CANOEING Members in Charge: Mr Richard Snowden, Mr Paul Snyman and Mr Iain Guthrie Team Captain: Murray McDonald Team Secretary: Robyn Tatham Awards Honours: Murray McDonald and Patrick Dillon Colours: Alan Houston Half Colours: Wilton Clark, Michael Mandy, Craig Heenan and Jean van der Westhuyzen the opportunity to participate in the many K.NCU Events. In total, a boy can participate in approximately thirty-two events which makes for a full and varied programme. Summary of KwaZulu-Natal Inter-Schools Series Overall Schools Placing lsl Maritzburg College 454 points 2nd Michaelhouse 416 points 3rd Kearsney College 160 points 4th Hilton College 63 points 5,h Clifton College 52 points National Representation South African Junior Sprint Team: Jean van der Westhuyzen Provincial Representation U14: Craig Heenan and Jason Boulle The Michaelhouse Canoe Club enjoyed a successful year in 2013. Its numbers peaked at around 40 full-time canoeists and the Red and White appeared on the podium on several occasions over the course of the canoeing calendar. Club members are expected to participate in the KwaZulu-Natal Inter-Schools Series with the aim of exposing boys to the various canoeing disciplines; namely, river marathons, flat- water marathons, sprinting, canoe polo, slalom, surf-ski and team events. In addition to this, the boys are afforded Individual Placings (Top 10) U18 6"' Patrick Dillon 7,h Murray McDonald file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Is' Alan Houston 4th Craig Heenan s"1 Jean van der Westhuyzen 9'H Brandon Macleod 1st Emanuel Zaloumis T Ross Dolbey Inter-House Canoeing First Tatham Second Farfield Third East Rector Greg Theron pictured with Canoe Club Members Patrick Dillon (Hilton/ Michaelhouse James Pearson in action. Senior Winner and Senior School Champion, Club captain, Murray McDonald (Hilton/ Michaelhouse Trophy), Alan Houston (School Junior Champion), Robin Tatham (Inter-House Trophy), Emanuel Zaloumis (Best Hilton/Michaelhouse Novice Trophy) and Master in Charge, Mr Richard Snowden. 116 Sport k. CANOEING 2013 Date 6/1 19/1-20/1 Event Ibis Point to Diptank Hi-Q Challenge NTC Drak Challenge Position (top 10 in respective age group) Alan Houston Brandon Macleod Alan Houston (U16) 1st (U16) 3rd (U16) 3rd A torrential downpour in the catchment of the Umzimkulu River wreaked havoc on the 2013 Drak to the extent that no U18 boys were permitted to paddle the first day. This notoriously temperamental river provided a true test on the second day in an event where over a third of the field failed to complete the race. Crash and Dash K1 Crash and Dash K2 Campbells to Duzi Bridge Inter-Schools Mooi River Inanda Dam to Durban Patrick Dillon (U18 Alan Houston (U16 Craig Heenan (U16 Kelvin Green (U16 Declan Clackworthy (U16 Brandon Macleod (U16 Graham Davies (U16 Jason Boulle (U16 Alan Houston (U16 Craig Heenan (U16 Graham Davies (U16 Murray McDonald & Patrick Dillon (U18 Helger Pretorius & Robin Tatham (U18 Craig Heenan & Jean van der Westhuyzen (U16 Patrick Dillon (U18 Murray McDonald (U18 file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Alan Houston (U16 Kelvin Green (U16 Murray McDonald (U18 Patrick Dillon (U18 Alan Houston (U16 Robin Tatham (U18 Craig Heenan (U16 Jean van ver Westhuyzen (U16 Kelvin Green (U16 Graham Davies (U16 Jason Boulle (U16 Patrick Béchard (U16 Emanuel Zaloumis (U14 Patrick Dillon (U18 Alan Houston (U16 Kelvin Green (U16 Jason Boulle (U16 Declan Clackworthy (U16 Craig Heenan & Jean van der Westhuyzen (U18) 8,h 6,h 8th is. 10,h 3rd 4th 6th T 9,h 10,h 117 Á Sport 9/2 Inter-Schools Sprints Murray McDonald (U18) 3rd Michael Tatham (U18)4"' Helger Pretorius (U18) 5,h Patrick Dillon (U18) 9"' Jean van ver Westhuyzen (U16) 1st Brandon Macleod (U16) 2nd Alan Houston (U16) 4th Charles Houston (U16) 5,h Kelvin Green (U16)8,h Craig Heenan (U16) 10,h Emanuel Zaloumis (U14) Is* 14/2 - 16/2 Unlimited Duzi Canoe Marathon This race is undoubtedly the highlight of the year’s calendar and is certainly the biggest challenge. Eighteen Michaelhouse boys completed the arduous three-day race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban with varying success. It is testimony to the boys and their courage that so many accomplished a feat that fails to get ticked off many a person’s to do list. Overall Position Total Time Age Group Placing 46lh Patrick Dillon 9:21:56.24 (U18) 6th 74«, Murray McDonald 9:43:42.95 (U18) 10,h 102nd Alan Houston 10:10:04.81 (U16) |S. 125* Mr Doug Tatham & Michael Tatham 10:19:59.10 49«. 205th Robin Tatham 11:06:07.33 (U18) 18,h file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] 235th Brandon Macleod 11:17:08.32 (U16) 4* SO?1” Mr Richard Jones & Dave Jones 11:44:39.03 115th 354th Mr Ant Chaplin & Cameron Chaplin 12:00:01.46 130th 406,h Helger Pretorius 12:14:10.77 (U18) 25th 434U, Campbell Green 12:22:52.80 (U18) 26th 437'h William Winship & Partner 12:23:12.91 (U18) 27,h 441« Mr Craig Springate & Blake Springate 12:24:21.69 159th 469"’ Wilton Clark 12:34:38.31 (U18) 30th 513th Mr Richard Snowden & Mrs Natalie Snowden 12:50:55.30 185th 597th Mr Paul Snyman & Mr Iain Guthrie 13:27:44.71 (SV) 84th 600,h Guy Schiever 13:28:42.39 (U18) 39th 627th Michael Mandy 13:37:09.06 (U18) 43rd 638"’ Charles Houston 13:41:01.60 (U18) 44th 657"' Tyrone Arnold & Jessica Arnold 13:49:35.08 (U18) 47th 786lh James Pearson & Partner 15:00:49.82 (U18) 56th Sport k. CANOE CLUB: Back Row: Helger Pretorius, David Jones, Declan Clackworthy, Michael Tatham, Tyronne Arnold, Wilton Clark, Michael Mandy, Charles Houston, Campbell Green, Patrick Bechard Third Row: Emanuel Zaloumis, William Winship, Richard Friend, Guy Schiever, Benjamin Strachan, James Pearson, Jean van der Westhuyzen, William Lyle Second Row: Graham Davies, Stuart Beach, Warrick Albertyn, Thomas Erskine, Craig Heenan, Cameron Rawlins, Jason Boulle, Sean Li Front Row: Alan Houston, Robin Tatham, Mr Paul Snyman, Murray McDonald, Mr Richard Snowden, Bruce Arnott, Mr Iain Guthrie, Patrick Dillon, Brandon Macleod 2/3 - 3/3 Hilton vs Michaelhouse Derby This annual event, held in Underberg on the Umzimkulu River, saw Michaelhouse continue an impressive run against our old rivals. The Michaelhouse Canoe Club asserted its dominance by taking home all the trophies on offer. The event, however, continued to strengthen relations between these two schools off the water and a wonderful weekend was enjoyed by the many parents who attended. Michaelhouse: 770 points Patrick Dillon 1st Hilton: 220 points Alan Houston 2nd Murray McDonald 2nd Robin Tatham 4,h Helger Pretorius 6"' Bruce Arnott 7lh Wilton Clark 8,h Charles Houston 9,h Michael Tatham 9'h Trophy for the best first-timer: Emanuel Zaloumis 119 Á Sport 9/3 Umkomaas Marathon Patrick Dillon & Wilton Clark (U18) Is' 5/4 - 7/4 South African Schools Sprints A change in date in 2013 led to Michaelhouse mounting a serious challenge at this prestigious event for the first time in several years. Led by the outstanding performances of new boy Jean van der Westhuyzen, we sent out an impressive message to the canoeing fraternity and finished top amongst the KwaZulu-Natal schools. Overall Placings Is* Paarl Boys High 343 points 2nd Michaelhouse 174.5 points 3,h Glenwood 152 points 4111 Martizburg College 112.5 points 5,h Rosettenville 110 points Individual Results: Individual Placing 1 000m K1 1 000m K2 500m K1 500m K2 200m K1 200m K2 5 000m K1 5 000m K2 200m K4 file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] U14 Results Emanuel Zaloumis 5lh 7u. (A final) Silver Medal 7ih (A final) Silver Medal 5lh (A Final) Silver Medal 12". Silver Medal U16 Results Jean van der Westhuyzen Silver Medal Silver Medal Silver Medal Silver Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal Bronze Medal Silver Medal Brandon Macleod 15,h 5,h (A final) 8lh (A final) 5.h (B final) 7. h (A final) 1M (B final) 5th (A final) 14"> 6lh Bronze Medal Alan Houston I7U. 6lh (B final) 8ih (A final) 6lh (B final) 7th (A final) 2nd (B final) 5,h (A final) NR 6,h Bronze Medal Kelvin Green 23"1 8,h (C final) NR NR 1« (B final) 6th (C final) Is* (B final) 28th H|h Craig Heenan 24,h 7ih (C final) NR g'h (C final) 7th (B final) 7th (C final) 5,h (B final) 19th 10,h Jason Boulle 25lh 2nd (C final) NR 9lh (B final) 7th (B final) 8.h (B final) 5th (B final) 18,h 10,h U18 Results Patrick Dillon 15lh 6lh (A final) 2nd (C final) 7.h (A final) NR 6lh (A final) 29". 8". Bronze Medal Murray McDonald 16,h 9,h (C final) 6lh (A final) 4lh (B final) 7.h (A final) 2nd (C final) 6lh (A final) 30". 8lh Bronze Medal SA Marathons Alan Houston Brandon Macleod Craig Heenan Jason Boulle Emanuel Zaloumis (U16) 9"' (U16) 11* (U16) 14lh (U16) 15lh (U14) 13lh Alex Caruthers 1 Alan Houston & Brandon Macleod Craig Heenan Blake Springate Emanuel Zaloumis Declan Clackworthy Jason Boulle Graham Davies (U16) Is' (U16) 3rd (U16) T (U14) 1st (U16) 8,h (U16) 9,h (U16) 10,h 120 Sport k. 10/8-11/8 Tugela 20/20 17/8 Inter-Schools Upper Umgeni 31/8 Inter-Schools Canoe Polo Seniors: Is1 Maritzburg College A 2nd Michaelhouse A 3rd Michaelhouse B 4th Hilton 5,h Michaelhouse C 7/9 Inter-Schools Slalom 8/9 Ngwenya 14/9 Inter-Schools Shongweni Alan Houston & Brandon Macleod (U16) ls‘ Craig Heenan & Jean van der Westhuyzen (U16) 2nd Wilton Clark & Helger Pretorius (U18) 4'" Declan Clackworthy & Kelvin Green (U16) 4lh Emanuel Zaloumis & Partner (U16) 5th Michael Mandy & David Jones (U18) 7,h Alan Houston (U16) Is' Craig Heenan (U16) 2nd Brandon Macleod (U16) 8,h Jason Boulle (U16) 9"' Emanuel Zaloumis (U14) lsl file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Juniors: 1st Michaelhouse A 2nd Maritzburg College A 3rd Michaelhouse B 4lh Hilton 5th Michaelhouse C Patrick Dillon (U18 p. Michael Mandy (U18 4th David Jones (U18 5,h Murray McDonald (U18 6'h James Pearson (U18 9,h Wilton Clark (U18 10,h Brandon Macleod (U16 2nd Justin Miller (U16 3rd Alan Houston (U16 6th Kelvin Green (U16 7* Patrick Béchard (U16 8'h Warwick Albertyn (U16 10,h Emanuel Zaloumis (U14 p. Dylan Paynter (U14 2nd Ross Dolbey (U14 4lh Michael Menear (U14 5,h Richard Béchard (U14 7'h Helger Pretorius & Wilton Clark (U18 6th Emanuel Zaloumis & Partner (U16 8th Craig Heenan (U16 9th Kelvin Green & Declan Clackworthy (U16 10,h Helger Pretorius (U18 8,h Wilton Clark (U18 9,h Craig Heenan (U16 4th Alan Houston (U16 7'h Jason Boulle (U16 9'h Graham Davies (U16 10,h 121 Á Sport Jock Claasens Emanuel Zaloumis Ross Dolbey Helger Pretorius & Wilton Clark Craig Heenan Emanuel Zaloumis & Partner Ross Dolbey (U14) 2nd (U14) 7,h (U18) 4'" (U16) 5th (U16) 7th (U14) 3rd 13/9-15/9 Olympic Hopes Jean van der Westhuyzen participated in the Olympic Hopes Sprint Kayak and Canoe Competition, held in Racice, Czech Republic from 13 to 15 September 2013. The aim of this event is to prepare young athletes with aspirations of representing their countries at the Olympics in 2016 and 2020. The event was held over three days and attracted 448 of the best kayak and canoe sprinters born between 1996 and 1998, from 22 countries. Each country is permitted to enter two boats in each discipline. The kayak sprint distances included 1 000, 500 and 200 metres. In the 1 000m event, Jean came sixth in his heat which qualified him for the semi-final. Here he came fifth, which enabled him to proceed to the B final where he was placed seventh. In the 500m event, Jean was placed second in his heat and he followed this up with a third place in the semi- final. This qualified him for the A final where he was placed ninth. In the 200m event, Jean was placed seventh in his file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] heat and fourth in the semi-final, which qualified him for the B Final where he was placed second. 27/9 - 28/9 Hansa Fish Canoe Marathon Cradock attracts those with a passion for big water from across the country, and 2013 was no different. The wild waters of the Fish River provide a serious challenge for any paddler’s river skills. Fifteen boys completed the race and the post-event stories will undoubtedly continue for many a year. Overall Position Total Time Age Group Placing 55th Patrick Dillon and Partner 5:35:40:49 (U18) 7th 65th Brandon Macleod and Alan Houston 5:41:08:12 (U16) 1st 68lh Craig Heenan and Jean van der Westhuyzen 5:41:36:86 (U16) 2nd 200* Mr R Snowden, Mr P Snyman and G Davies 6:22:01:62 K3 13th 215th Declan Clackworthy and Kelvin Green 6:25:58:72 (U16) 6th 319* Dave Jones and Guy Schiever 6:47:03:12 (U18) 21st 321st Emanuel Zaloumis and Partner 6:47:23:02 (U16) 8th 429“' Michael Mandy and Partner 7:08:20:21 (U18) 24th 495th Tyrone Arnold and Partner 7:26:42:80 (U18) 29th 510th Bradley Boulle and Partner 7:30:42:80 (U16) 12th 533ri William Lyle and Partner 7:41:17:19 241st 12/10 Inter-Schools Upper Umgeni Alan Houston (U16) 1“ Craig Heenan (U16) 3rd Patrick Dillon (U18) 6th Helger Pretorius (U18) 8th Bruce Arnott (U18) 10th Jean van der Westhuyzen (LJ16) 9th Emanuel Zaloumis (U14) 1“ Charles Houston (U16) 10th 122 Sport k. Cameron Rawlins, Jason Boulle and Luke Bayett take on some white water on a plastic craft. Club Captain, Murray McDonald on the water. Drak Challenge action. 20/10 NCC Development Race Patrick Dillon & Alan Houston (U18) 4» Craig Heenan & Jean van der Westhuyzen (U16) 4* Charles Houston (U16) 7* Emanuel Zaloumis (U14) 3rd 2/11 Inter-Schools Enduro U18 \“ Maritzburg College U18A U16 1“ Maritzburg College U16A U14 1* Kearsney U14A 2nd Michaelhouse U18A 2nd Michaelhouse U16A 2nd Michaelhouse U14A 3* Kearsney U18A 3rd Kearsney U16A 3rd Maritzburg College U14A 4th Maritzburg College U18B 4* Clifton U16A 4* Hilton U14A 5* Michaelhouse U18B 5* Michaelhouse U16B 6u> Hilton U18B 6th Hilton U16A 7* Kearsney U18B 7* Maritzburg College U16B 8th Maritzburg College U18C 8th Kearsney U16B 9* Michaelhouse U18C 9th Clifton U16B 10* Clifton U18A 10th Hilton U16B HO, Michaelhouse U18D 11* Michaelhouse U16C 12* Hilton U18A 12* Hilton U16C 2/11-3/11 SA K2 Vaal Canoe Marathon Championships 25 Craig Heenan and Jean van der Westhuyzen 5:08:24:24 (U16) 1 10/11 The Unlimited Ozzie file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Gladwin Alan Houston & Charles Houston (U16) 2nd Craig Heenan &Jeanvander Westh uyzen (U16) 5th 30/11 - 1/12 50 Miler Patrick Dillon & Alan Houston (U18) lsl 123 Á Sport 1st XI CRICKET: Back Row: Luke Stevens, Jason Marshall, Nicholas Glassock, Barrie Forrester-Smith, Brandon Tattam, Dale Beckley, George Roxvles Middle Row: Bradley Roberts, Nick Elliot, James de Chastelain, Ross Purbrick, Brendan Bergs, Julian Liebenberg Front Row: Mr Graeme Calway, Kyle Pyne-James, Mr Dean Forword, Greg Oldfield, Mr John Crawford CRICKET______Written by Mr Nic Cahill Rasters in Charge: Mr Nic Cahill and Mr Graeme Calway First XI: Mr Dean Forword, Mr John Crawford and Mr Graeme Calway Second XI: Mr Mike Bownes Third XI: Mr Richard McMichael Fourth XI: Mr Gavin Ross U16A: Mr James Bullough U16B: Mr Jonathan Smith U16C: Mr Mike Schwartz and Mr Quinton Moolman U15A: Mr Chris van der Berg and Mr Hayden Henderson - Everill U15B: Mr Ian Crawford U15C: Mr Andrew Brown U15D: Mr Deon Royappen U14A: Mr Shaun Thompson U14B: Mr Craig Pieterse U14C: Mr Rodney Zondi Awards Honours: Kyle Pyne-James, Greg Oldfield, Barrie Forrester-Smith, Luke Stevens and Nic Elliot Colours: Jason Marshall, Brandon Tattam, Bradley Roberts and Dale Beckley Half Colours: Julian Liebenberg, Ross Purbrick, Nicholas Glassock, James de Chastelain and Cameron Oldfield National Representation South Africa U19: Greg Oldfield Provincial Representation KwaZulu-Natal Inland U18: Greg Oldfield (vice captain), Kyle Pyne-James (captain), Luke Stevens, Barrie Forrester- Smith and Nick Elliot KwaZulu-Natal Inland U17: Jason Marshall (captain), Brandon Tattam and Bradley Roberts KwaZulu-Natal Inland U15: Matthew Armstrong We continued to field 15 teams this year, although there has been a drop-off at both U14 and open level. We will continue to look at 20 over cricket as a means of encouraging boys to 124 Sport k. play cricket, although this is not possible at all levels. The problems that we encounter are evident at our traditional opponent schools too. Our Junior 20 over competition is very popular indeed. I suspect that the days of declaration cricket at schoolboy level may be numbered. The First XI has had a very busy, successful and exciting season and we congratulate all players who have been selected for provincial or national teams - there have been outstanding individual performances. We have worked hard on improving the pitches and have settled into a new routine of watering, cutting and rolling, which seems to be improving things. The outfields - due to more robust mowing - are also faster. The average number of runs being scored per field has increased and those two factors must be part of the reason. We have also improved the sprinkler system and taken advice on perfecting the sharpening of the pitch-mower blades - a delicate and precise exercise. I thank our grounds man and his capable staff, along with Mr Graeme Calway and the coaches for their time and energy. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] FIRST XI CRICKET REPORT______Written by Mr John Crawford Qoaches: Mr Dean Forword, Mr Graeme Calway and Mr John Crawford First Team Captain: Kyle Pyne-James First Team: Kyle Pyne-James, Greg Oldfield, Luke Stevens, Barrie Forrester-Smith, Julian Liebenberg, Jason Marshall, Brandon Tattam, Nic Elliot, Bradley Roberts, Ross Purbrick, Nicholas Glassock, James de Chastelain, Dale Beckley, Brendan Bergs, George Rowles, Cameron Oldfield, David Geard, Marc Conlon The valuable pre-season Independent Schools’ Festival took place at Hilton after a match against Peterhouse had provided Bradley Roberts with a century early in the year. The Hilton festival, however, never really got going as rain prevented a lot of cricket. The School, elated with the news that Greg Oldfield had made the South African Schools’ team as well as the South African U19 side, were dealt a blow with the news that Greg had injured himself and a struggle to get him fit to play against England ensued. This meant that Greg was unable to play for the School and the team initially felt his absence. It must be twenty years since Michaelhouse had a SA Schools A representative. Indeed, Robbie Anderson should have been another if performances at the Khaya Majola Coke Week at the end of 2012 had been used. Performances in the early part of the first quarter were anything but memorable, but fortunes changed after the St Albans Festival. The team suddenly found form and a desire to achieve their best, and of course, with Greg Oldfield back in harness the team seemed a different unit. Success in the Sunfoil Night Series was deserved. The School last won the Night League in 2000, so the win was most welcome. Michaelhouse played Hilton in an exciting final on the Thursday night and then again on the following Saturday, and achieved another victory, so the first part of the year ended on a high note. The second half of the season started with a welcome return of an Old Boys’ fixture. The team then headed off on a frenetic Michaelmas holiday schedule. Michaelmas Week was the first on the list and victories in all four matches had people searching the record books to see if it had ever been done before. It is likely that it is a first for the School. Victories against St Johns (JHB), Hudson Park, St Stithians and Grey College are all most notable achievements. The day after the week ended, the team boarded a plane for Harare to play in the St John’s, Harare T20 festival. The team lost in the final to the hosts, who played good cricket on familiar surfaces. Exhausted but happy, the team continued to play good, attacking cricket in the fourth quarter fixtures and victories over Glenwood, Kearsney College, Clifton College, Northwood and Hilton College followed. The team played excellent, mature cricket and their record must be amongst the best achieved by a Michaelhouse First Team. Their work ethic was also great and what was very pleasing is that they were always humble about their successes. The Northwood fixture was memorable too for the visit of Mr Roy Gathome to the game. The boys certainly realised the significance of the occasion. Rector Greg Theron congratulates Greg Oldfield on his selection for the South African UI9 cricket team. 125 Á Sport Kyle Pyne-James proved to be a great captain. His determination, willingness to learn and superb management skills were instrumental in the success of the team. Kyle was named captain of the provincial side too and this was just reward. His keeping was excellent but he would have liked to have scored more runs. Greg Oldfield is a fine young cricketer and a great young man too - a humble person who was an excellent example to everyone. The school will follow Greg’s career with a great deal of interest. Luke Stevens had a remarkable U17 provincial week at the end of 2012 and carried his form into 2013. He was a wicket taker as well as being very economical. His ability to vary pace troubled every team. Luke’s batting too was consistent and valuable on many occasions. Barrie Forrester-Smith also played his part but was frustrated with an ankle injury. His spell of bowling against Hilton at the end of the first quarter was one that will be remembered for a long time. Jason Marshall, Bradley Roberts and Brandon Tattam all made the KwaZulu-Natal Inland U17 team, with Jason as the captain. They thoroughly deserved their selection. Dale Beckley forced his way into the team early in the year and may well have come close to selection too if he had been available. Nick Elliot is another returning in 2014 and great things will be expected from this talented left arm seamer. His selection for the U18 side was also well deserved. Many others shone for the team. Nicholas Glassock, James de Chastelain and Cameron Oldfield are all very talented cricketers and will be integral parts of the team again in 2014. It is difficult to visualise a game without Mr Gareth Pyne-James helping the team by scoring. His dedication to the team and the hours spent scoring at matches has been incredible. His input has just been remarkable. Excitingly, Carl file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Lubbe joined the scoring team and had a great mentor to show him the ropes. The First XI celebrate victory in the final of the Sunfoil Schools 'Night Series. 126 Sport k. 1st XI 2013 Date MHS Opponent Result 08/1 Peterhouse MHS 193/6 (B Roberts 112) Peterhouse 62 (L Stevens 3/4) Won by 131 runs 09/1 Uplands Uplands 137 (B Forrester-Smith 4/23) MHS 140/6 (B Roberts 56, L Stevens 30*) Won by 4 wickets 24/1 President's XI MHS 235/7 (J Marshall 102*, B Roberts 47) President’s XI 103 (N Elliot 3/35, J de Chastelain 3/13) Won by 132 runs 27/1 Hilton College 20/20 MHS 92/8 Hilton 94/4 Lost by 6 wickets 31/1 St Charles MHS 217/7 (B Roberts 94, J Marshall 58, B Forrester-Smith 34*) St Charles 110 (L Stevens 3/23) Won by 107 runs 02/02 Northwood Boys’ High Northwood 124 (J de Chastelain 4/16, L Stevens 3/22) MHS 78 (J Marshall 30) Lost by 46 runs 09/02 Maritzburg College MHS 154 (K Pyne-James 37, D Beckley 33) Maritzburg College 93/5 No Result 13/2 Hilton College MHS 125 (B Roberts 33) Hilton 127/4 Lost by 6 wickets 21/2 St Alban’s St Alban’s 281/5 MHS 248 (D Geard 43, B Forrester-Smith 39, K Pyne-James 34) Lost by 33 runs 23/2 St Andrews MHS 216 (B Forrester-Smith 58, B Tattam 39) and 146 (B Forrester-Smith 50, K Pyne-James 32, D Beckley 30) St Andrews 306/7 and 60/4 Lost by 6 wickets 24/2 Helpmekaar MHS 250 (B Tattam 136) Helpmekaar 110 (R Purbrick 3/3, L Stevens 3/15, J de Chastelain 3/29) Won by 140 runs 27/2 Maritzburg College Maritzburg College 94 (G Oldfield 3/17) MHS 95/3 (G Oldfield 34*) Won by 7 wickets 28/2 Hilton College MHS 192/5 (D Beckley 43, B For-rester-Smith 36, J Marshall 33) Hilton 182/9 (B Forrester- Smith 3/41) Won by 10 runs 02/3 Hilton College MHS 185 (J Marshall 40, B Forrester-Smith 38) Hilton 115 (B Forrester-Smith 6/30) Won by 70 runs 7/9 Old Boys XI MHS 266/6 (B Tattam 85 B Roberts 57, L Stevens 52) Old Boys 136 (G Oldfield 3/16, C Oldfield 3/20) Won by 130 runs 21/9 St John’s College (JHB) MHS 196/3 (B Tattam 63, D Beckley 54) St Johns 97 (L Stevens 5/23, J de Chastelain 3/16) Won by 99 runs 22/9 Hudson Park MHS 254/9 (B Tattam 94, K Pyne-James 59, L Stevens 40) Hudson Park 242/8 (L Stevens 3/26) Won by 12 runs 23/9 St Stithians MHS 259 (J Marshall 85, B Forrester-Smith 35, L Stevens 40) St Stithians 181 (B Forrester- Smith 3/30, D Beckley 3/27) Won by 78 runs 24/9 Grey College T20 MHS 147/6 (B Roberts 67, D Beckley 45) Grey College 139/8 (L Stevens 4/21) Won by 8 runs 26/9 St John’s (Harare) MHS 236/8 (J Marshall 81) SJC 179 all out Won by 57 runs 27-29/9 Falcon College Falcon 129/7 MHS 130/3 (B Roberts 41) Won by 7 wickets Prince Edward MHS 182/9 (Beckley 71) Prince Edward 151 all out Won by 31 runs St John’s (Harare) MHS 146 all out (D Beckley 34, M Conlon 31) St Johns 147/5 Lost by 5 wickets St George’s MHS 185/5 (B Roberts 87) St Georges 141 all out (J De Chastelain 3/26) Won by 44 runs St John’s (Harare) MHS 130 all out ( L Stevens 58) St Johns 134/6 (L Stevens 3/26) Lost by 4 wickets 5/10 Glenwood Boys’ High MHS 215/7 (B Tattam 61, D Beckley 54, J Marshall 30) Glenwood 181 Won by 34 runs 12/10 Kearsney College Kearsney 200/8 (D Beckley 3/33) MHS 201/7 (J Marshall 44, G Oldfield 38, K Pyne- James 32) Won by 3 wickets 2/11 Clifton College MHS 256 (L Stevens 76, G Oldfield 59, B Forrester-Smith 35, D Beckley 34) Clifton 99 (L Stevens 4/18, G Oldfield 3/8 Won by 157 runs 9/11 Northwood Boys’ High Northwood 102 (L Stevens 3/16, N Glassock 3/20) MHS 102/2 (D Beckley 52) Won by 8 wickets 16/11 Hilton College MHS 181/7 (B Tattam 88*, G Oldfield 37) Hilton 135 (L Stevens 4/29) Won by 46 runs file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Played 30, Won 22, Lost 7, No Result 1 127 A Sport CROSS COUNTRY 0taff Member in Charge: Mr Iain Guthrie Captain: Murray Church Inter-Schools Cross Country The Midlands Inter-Schools cross country season took place in April and May. Our boys participated in five of the six events at the following venues: Collegians, Michaelhouse, Grace College, Epworth and St Anne’s. Notable results were obtained by a number of boys. Callum Deeble came first in the senior boys races at Michaelhouse and Epworth, while Lethu Mthembu was placed fourth in both races and Luke Browett was placed 13lh and eighth in the same races. Michael Buchholz was placed seventh in the race at Maritzburg College but had to sit out the rest of the season due to injury. Boys had to fit in their cross country running when they could and often needed to excuse themselves from their other sports commitments to participate in races. This meant that regular attendance by athletes was not always possible. Once again, Michaelhouse hosted a race in the Michaelhouse Nature Reserve that saw more than 600 runners compete from more than 30 boys’ and girls’ schools. Billed as a difficult race, the cross country runners were at least able to enjoy views in the recently proclaimed Michaelhouse Nature Reserve. Inter-House Cross Country The Junior cross country event was run on 4 September over a distance of 4.9km in the Michaelhouse Nature Reserve. The closely contested final results are listed below: 1sl Tatham (44 points) 2nd West (43 points) 3rd Baines (42 points) Individual results: Is1 Callum Deeble (Pascoe) 21 m 2nd Lethu Mthembu (Founders) 22 m 3rd Michael Menear (Farfield) 23 m ns 0 seconds ns 53 seconds ns 02 seconds The Senior race was run the following day (5 September) over a distance of 7.9km, also in the Michaelhouse Nature Reserve. The results are listed below: 1sl Tatham (62 points) 2nd Farfield (53 points) 3rd Mackenzie (50 points) Individual results: Is1 Patrick Dillon (Mackenzie) 29 mins 48 seconds 2nd Charles Houston (West) 31 mins 45 seconds 3rd Alan Houston (Tatham) 32 mins 24 seconds 128 CROSS COUNTRY: Back Row: Luke Browett, Michael Buchholz Middle Row: Lethu Mthembu, Nicholas Herbert Front Row: Murray Church, Mr Iain Guthrie, Callum Deeble \ “We bind arms on those stands every Saturday as a testimonial to our forever enduring love of the Red and White. ” Ryan Thompson, Senior Prefect 2013 Sport k. GOLF faster in Charge: Mr Brad Flanegan First Team Coach: Mr Brad Flanegan Second Team Coach: Mr Jaap van der Vegte Captain: Brendan Bergs First Team: Brendan Bergs, Jacques Swarts, Sean Rice, Louis Albertse, George Rowles, Matt Saulez, Rory Allan, Gregg Gilson, Sean Gilson, Dale Beckley, Chad Fourie and Connor Grealy Awards Honours: Matt Saulez Half Colours: Rory Allan, Gregg Gilson and Dale Beckley National Representation South African Schools U19: Matt Saulez Provincial Representation KwaZulu-Natal U17: Matt Saulez (Capt) file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] *KwaZulu-Natal Schools U19: Brendan Bergs and Matt Saulez *KwaZulu-Natal U19: Brendan Bergs and Matt Saulez KwaZulu-Natal Inland U19A: Brendan Bergs and Matt Saulez KwaZulu-Natal Inland U19B: Louis Albertse, Sean Rice, Chad Fourie and Jacques Swarts *There are two bodies governing junior golf in KwaZulu-Natal, namely KwaZulu-Natal Schools and the KwaZulu- Natal Foundation. KwaZulu-Natal Schools colours are only awarded for bona-fide full-time scholars who are selected solely on the results of the eight qualifying tournaments. The schools Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) is held in September and not all provinces take part. South African Schools colours are awarded based on the results of the IPT. KwaZulu-Natal Foundation colours are awarded at various different age groups and have a different set of qualifying criteria. The U19 IPT is held in December of each year and all provinces are represented. The first quarter league went off as usual, with us winning all the matches except the two against Hilton College, which was probably a clear indication of form. The Seconds did very well by winning the Second League. They won all their matches, only halving with Hilton. We did manage to send four teams of four players to the KwaZulu-Natal High Schools’ Championships at Victoria Country Club, though unfortunately, our A team finished a disappointing fourth and the remainder of the teams were scattered down the order. We competed superbly on what has become an annual trip to Pretoria, courtesy of AHS (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool), where we repeated our feat of 2012 by coming second out of 12 schools in the Easter Festival - only losing in a very tense playoff against Waterkloof. As has become traditional, we were superbly hosted and once again enjoyed four of Pretoria’s best golf courses. This year, we had the honour of playing at Serengeti CC, Pretoria CC, Irene CC and Akasia GC. Jacques Swarts made a comeback to Michaelhouse at the beginning of the second quarter, unfortunately a little late to reverse our first quarter defeats. Hopefully, he will help to bolster our reserves for 2014. During the winter months, we also fitted in the KwaZulu-Natal stroke-play championships and the KwaZulu-Natal School Team’s Tournament. We were disappointing, with only the two Gilson brothers putting in solid performances. After the winter sport season, golf once again kicked into high gear and it was pleasing to note the number of nongolfers who always appeared during the first half of the third quarter, soccer and athletics being the main alternatives. Provincial Team members Brendan Bergs and Matt Saulez. 129 Á Sport MICHAELHOUSE GOLF : 1st GOLF: Back Row: Dale Beckley, Chad Fourie, Sean Rice Middle Row: Gregg Gilsonite, George Rowles Front Row: Matt Saulez, Brendan Bergs, Mr Brad Flanegan, Louis Albertse, Connor Grealy Golf in this quarter is mainly social and we arranged a few ad-hoc fixtures with St Charles and Maritzburg Colleges to keep the boys entertained. These games are played along strictly friendly lines; sometimes we play against them and other times with them in betterball or alliance competitions. It is great for inter-school harmony and the boys really enjoy the camaraderie that exists during this quarter. It also exposes boys who wouldn’t generally be involved in golf matches to the opportunity of playing competitive golf. We did have some serious golf during the quarter, with the KwaZulu-Natal Interschools Tournament being one of them. Unfortunately, we under-performed and ended a disappointing fourth out of 12 schools. Westville won with Hilton second and DHS third. 1 would love to blame the weather or the travelling, but we travelled a day early, played a practice round and played Durban Country Club in near perfect conditions, so we just have to accept that we underperformed on the two days. For the first time in Michaelhouse history, I had the pleasure of taking an U16 team to the Grey High School Links festival in Port Elizabeth, which was played over the very challenging Humewood golf course and a murderous St Francis Links (45km/h wind) course. We finished a very creditable third, largely due to the golfing performance of Matt Saulez. Grey College were first, AHS (Pretoria) second and Grey High School fourth. The boys gained some invaluable experience of proper golf and it will be very interesting to see what happens at U16 level next year, as we only have two current U15 boys playing golf. Once again, the year climaxed with the annual Douglas Cup and although we were behind by a single match after the betterball matches, we took control in the foursomes and managed to go into the singles one match ahead. However, we failed to match a superb Hilton team on the day and I am sad to say we were roundly trounced by 14'A matches to 9'A in the end. Only Matt Saulez and Sean Gilson managed to win their singles matches. Nevertheless, with the entire team again being eligible in 2014, we are hoping to reverse that result. For the first time in history, a second team also file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] took part and I am happy to report that we won that encounter by 7'A matches to 1/4. Congratulations to Captain Tom Greig and the team. 130 Sport k. For the first time ever, KwaZulu-Natal decided to split into Coastal and Inland regions for the purpose of trials. This made life much easier and certainly at least halved our travel requirements. I am pleased to report that we had two representatives in the KwaZulu-Natal Inland A team, which won the inaugural Inland vs Coastal event. We also managed four out of eight representatives in the Inland B team. Both Matt Saulez and Brendan Bergs went on to represent KwaZulu-Natal Schools A in the September IPT, held at Durban Country Club. The provincial A side ended up winning the tournament by a massive 83 strokes. KwaZulu-Natal B eventually ended up in third place, proving that home course knowledge must have some advantages. Matt Saulez was selected to represent South African Schools, our third year in a row that we have had a representative in the national team. Summary of Results: First Term League A league: Michaelhouse First Team, second out of four schools. Played 6 won 4 lost 2 B league: Michaelhouse Second Team, first out of five schools KwaZulu-Natal Schools (teams of four) Michaelhouse A 4th, B 9th, C 16lh, D 21st out of 24 teams AHS Festival Michaelhouse lost in Final to HS Waterkloof in a playoff (ten schools) KwaZulu-Natal Schools Durban Country Club (teams of eight) Michaelhouse 4"' out of 12 teams Douglas Cup First Team: lost 9Vi to 14V4 Second Team: won 7Vi to 1 Vi HOCKEY REPORT______Written by Mr Mike Thomson faster in Charge: Mr Mike Thomson Coaches: First XI: Mr Andrew Brown and Mr Paul Snyman Second XI: Mr Mike Thomson and Mrs Win De Wet Third XI: Mrs Mary Me Michael Fourth XI: Miss Lisa Hardie and Mr Alan Adlington- Corfield U16A: Mr Richard Snowden and Mr Craig Pieterse U16B: Mr Mike Bownes U16C: Mr Ian Crawford U16D: Mr Bailey Coxon U16E: Mrs Candice Smith U14A: Mr James Bullough and Mr Nhlaka Nzimande U14B: MrsTannith Von Mayer and MrSanele Zikhali Awards Honours: Henri Strydom Colours: Guy Tatham, Luke Stevens, Dominic Pretorius, Mike McDonald, Dale Beckley and Cameron Chaplin Half Colours: Juan-Luc Clackworthy, Mark Venter, Brendan Bergs, Hayden Weaver, Joseph Coyne and Gareth Macaskill Provincial Representation KwaZulu-Natal Inland: U18A: Henri Strydom U18B: Guy Tatham, Luke Stevens, Dominic Pretorius, Dale Beckley and Cameron Chaplin U16A: Gareth Macaskill and Justin Miller U16B: James Redfern, Matthew Watson and Sebastian Wadeson U14A: Nicholas Forster, Michael Menear, Julian Smart and Jason Song U14B: Murray Armstrong, Matthew Gerrish, Shane Maartens, Luke Thomson and Mpathi Zungu Khwezi Majola on the attack for the fourth XL Jason Song on attack for the U14A team. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] 131 Á Sport The 2013 season has been a most enjoyable one for a number of reasons. We had a large influx of coaches this year and this enabled us to have two coaches with at least six of the eleven teams that played this season. And, in Mesdames De Wet, McMichael, Hardie, Smith and Von Mayer, we had the largest number of lady coaches who have ever coached in a season. The First XI defeated Hilton at Hilton for the first time since 2006 and we put two schoolboy umpires, Chad Fourie and Matthew Menear, up for grading for the first time in at least ten years. We also hosted a very enjoyable and successful U14 Hockey Festival and huge thanks must go to Mr James Bullough for his exceptional energy and organisation of this event. Lastly, we had a pleasing number of our players represent KwaZulu-Natal Inland at various different age levels. In facts and figures, however, this was not our best season. While the weather did rob us of a number of games, the season statistics were: played 116 games, won 55, drew 18 and lost 43. There were 251 goals for with 211 conceded. This represents proportionally the lowest number of goals scored, the highest number of goals conceded and the highest losing percentage in the last eight years. A study of these statistics gives us the areas that we need to emphasise in the coming season. Clearly, the coaching staff need to concentrate on goal-scoring techniques, improve short-corner success rates and work seriously on defensive patterns and tackling ability. However, like all seasons, good or bad, they are never only measured by statistics, they are also measured by a whole host of human factors. I will remember this season as being one of the most enjoyable that I have had. Practices across the board were characterised not only by effort but also enjoyment, and the First XI set the tone for this. They also showed a commendable fighting spirit and a never-say-die attitude in matches that permeated to all the teams throughout the season. I will long recall the First XI’s exceptional performance in their victory over Hilton College; the U16A showing great resilience in holding out for a great draw against Maritzburg College; and the U14A grinding out two extremely gutsy wins over their Hilton counterparts. It is at this point that I must publicly express my thanks to First XI coaches Mr Andrew Brown and Mr Paul Snyman. Both have indicated that they wish to stand down from First XI coaching duties and we owe them a great debt of gratitude for their efforts over the past three and two years, respectively. They are both technically and tactically astute and they have given an immense amount to the players under their care. They are both dedicated, capable and competitive professionals who have been a pleasure to have at the helm of the First XI. They have taught their players way more than they can appreciate at present and they each deserve a break from the rigours of First XI coaching. This change will necessitate a lot of restructuring in the coaching set-up for 2014, but I know that we are in the fortunate position of having coaches who are more than capable of filling their shoes. Thus, I believe that we can look forward to the 2014 season with confidence. Michaelhouse will be hosting the U14 and U16 Independent Schools Hockey Festivals here concurrently in March/April and with 20 teams already confirmed, this should prove to be a great affair. The coaching staff have also held a meeting and not only is everyone happy with their coaching assignments for the coming season, they are also full of enthusiasm and have put forward many great ideas for the continued development of hockey at this School. The hockey coaching staff are an interested, interesting and committed group who clearly want to give their charges the best that they can. They have, as usual, kept me on my toes, but it has been a privilege to work with this group for whom no bus duty, umpiring commitment or extra coaching session has ever been too much. Hockey 2013 Played Won Drew Lost Goals For Goals Against Is' 22 8 6 8 34 38 2nd 10 5 0 5 20 17 3rd 7 3 1 3 12 13 4th 5 2 1 2 7 7 U16A 16 8 4 4 30 19 U16B 10 5 1 4 24 20 U16C 7 5 1 1 32 9 U16D 7 3 2 2 15 11 U16E 8 3 2 3 19 16 U14A 16 11 0 5 50 25 U14B 8 2 0 6 8 16 Total 116 55 18 43 251 211 ^ Cameron Chaplin in action for the First XI. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] 132 Sport L FIRST XI HOCKEY REPORT______Written by Mr Andrew Brown Qoaches: Mr Andrew Brown & Mr Paul Snyman First Team Captain: Guy Tatham First Team Vice-Captain: Luke Stevens First Team: Juan-Luc Clackworthy, Joe Coyne, Dominic Pretorius, Brendan Bergs, Basil Kearns, Chad Fourie, Cameron Chaplin, Mike McDonald, Dale Beckley, Mark Venter, Hayden Weaver, Gareth Macaskill, Henri Strydom, Jason Marshall Played 22; Won 8; Lost 8; Drew 6; Goals for 34; Goals against 38 It has been a truly memorable season, for all the right reasons. This was a stable unit. Inclusive of two festivals (the Maritzburg College 150,h Nomad’s Festival, and the Independent Schools’ Festival hosted by St Alban’s), there were just 16 players who represented this year’s team. There was tremendous team synergy and inclusivity about this group. It can be best summed up by one of their catch phrases: “When an individual is having a bad day, a great team makes it a great day.” They were a great team, led by Guy Tatham and Luke Stevens, and well supported by seniors Dominic Pretorius and Mike McDonald, so every practice day and every match day were great days indeed. Theirs was a team effort. Even the goal scoring distribution illustrates this point. The leading goal scorer was Mike McDonald on nine, who edged out the promising young Gareth Macaskill on eight; but there were no less than seven other boys who got on the score-sheet on at least one occasion; namely, Juan-Luc Clackworthy, Dominic Pretorius, 1st XI HOCKEY: Back Row: Juan-Luc Clackworthy, Dale Beckley, Chad Fourie, Jason Marshall, Henri Strydom, Joe Coyne Middle Row: Gareth Macaskill, Mark Venter, Hayden Weaver, Dominic Pretorius, Brendan Bergs, Cameron Chaplin Front Row: Luke Stevens, Mr Paul Snyman, Guy Tatham, Mr Andrew Brown, Michael McDonald 133 Á Sport Guy Tatham, Luke Stevens, Brendan Bergs, Basil Kearns and Chad Fourie. And yes, the team had a wicked sense of humour. Dale Beckley would find it remiss for me not to mention his three own goals, including two unstoppable deflections to fly past keeper Joe Coyne and find the back of the net versus DHS. This was a very capable and determined outfit. As a unit, they could only speak of one Midlands U18A player in Henri Strydom, and five Midlands B team players in Guy Tatham, Luke Stevens, Dominic Pretorius, Dale Beckley and Cameron Chaplin (with keeper Joe Coyne, a non-travelling reserve). However, they could always speak of eleven highly committed Michaelhouse players, and a couple chomping at the bit to get on the astro. They defied the odds on several occasions to stage remarkable comebacks to draw and sometimes win matches where they were seemingly dead and buried. PBHS 1-1, KES 1-1, Glenwood 2-2, Hilton (away) 3-1, St David’s 3-3, Westville 2-1 were classic examples. It happened too often to be coincidence; it happened because of character. Speaking of character, besides Jason Marshall (who went to Scotland on exchange), there are only two players who have not been mentioned so far, so it is important that I do. Both had to work very hard at the start of the year to hold on to their First Team spots, and both did it in different ways. Mark Venter moved from a striking role to a link role, and with a good first touch and probing passes, re-invented himself; Hayden Weaver was tenacity personified - when he careered across the goal mouth to pull a ball off the line against Jeppe and almost wrote himself off against the goal post, he was in effect saying: “I’m here, and I’m prepared to die for this team.” It’s never easy leaving someone like that out. Having said that, it was never easy leaving any of these guys out. Fortunately, we didn’t have to do it too often. We can pay you fellows no higher compliment. In years to come, you will treasure this season for all the right reasons - amongst them the beautiful passing game that you played; and win or lose on tour, there was happy singing from the change rooms. As coaches, we also have memories, and will remember you for all the right reasons. Best wishes for your promising futures. Awards at Hockey Dinner Butcher Stick (Most Improved): Brendan Bergs Dowie Family Trophy (Sportsmanship and Team Commitment): Mike McDonald, Dominic Pretorius, Luke Stevens Player of the Season: Guy Tatham file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] 1st XI 2013 Date Opponent Result For Against 16/03 Northwood Lost 2 5 20/04 Glenwood Drew 2 2 27/04 Hilton College Won 3 1 30/04 Rondebosch Boys Lost 0 3 11/05 Maritzburg College Drew 1 1 22/05 Kearsney College Lost 0 3 25/05 St John’s College Lost 1 5 26/05 St David’s Marist Drew 3 3 01/06 Westville Boys’ High Won 2 1 08/06 St Charles College Drew 2 2 15/06 DHS Won 3 2 22/06 Hilton College Lost 0 3 Played 12, Won 3, Lost 5, Drew 4, Goals For 19, Goals Against 31 Reinhardt Pienaar controls the ball. First XI Captain, Guy Tatham. 134 Sport L RUGBY REPORT______Written by Mr Ryno Combrinck Qirector of Rugby: Mr Ryno Combrinck Coaches: First XV: Mr Michacl Schwartz Second XV: Mr André van Wyk Third XV: Mr Matthew Higginson and Mr Greg Muirhead Fourth XV: Mr Elmar de Klerk Fifth XV: Mr Hayden Henderson-Everill Sixth XV: Mr Richard McMichael Seventh XV: Mr Righardt Kotze Eighth XV: Mr Jonathan Smith U16A: Mr Peter Stevens and Mr Karl Swartz U16B: Mr George Ferreira U16C: Mr Shaun Thompson U16D: Mr Hala Xulu U15A: Mr Brad Flanegan and Mr Andrew Duncan U15B: Mr Gavin Ross U15C: Mr Jaap van der Vegte U15D: Mr Justin Randall U14A: Mr Dean Forword and Mr Karl Swartz U14B: Mr Sibusiso Ncamane U14C: Mr Graeme Calway U14D: Mr Craig Pieterse and Mr Rodney Zondi Awards Honours: Christopher Schoeman, Bruce Arnott, Michael Bouwer, Thomas Walker and Nicholas Schram (refereeing) Colours: Cameron Bird, Nicholas Egberink, Jasper Epsom, Ciaran Furniss, Cameron Holenstein, Daniel Kramer, Christopher Whiting and Angus Usher Half Colours: Robert Lee, Jacques Swarts and Brandon Tattam Provincial Representation KZNRU 7s: Bruce Arnott (Captain), Christopher Schoeman, Michael Bouwer and Thomas Walker Academy A: Christopher Schoeman, Farai Mudariki and Cameron Holenstein Academy B: Thomas Walker and Bradley Roberts KwaZulu-Natal Referee: Nicholas Schram U16: Bader Pretorius Midlands: Cameron Holenstein, Christopher Schoeman, Thomas Walker, Jasper Epsom, Farai Mudariki, Nicholas Egberink, Cameron Bird, Michael Bouwer, Tyran Faber and Ciaran Furniss Selectors’ XV: Bruce Arnott, Bradley Roberts, Barrie Forrester-Smith and Daniel Kramer file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] U18 KZN Sevens Coach: Mr Ryno Combrinck U18 Academy B Coach: Mr Michael Schwartz U16 Grant Khomo Manager: Mr Sibusiso Ncamane RUGBY REPORT Coaches By having all our coaches BokSmart accredited and qualified, we aim to further improve the safety of players through process and coaching skills. Greg Muirhead is the only nonstaff member on our coaching team. Greg is a passionate rugby coach who adds huge value to Michaelhouse. He never misses a practice and always finds it difficult to leave our fields and return to his dairy farm. Rugby Excellence We are still an enthusiastic accredited member of the Discovery SharkSmart School of Excellence programme. Play Fair is the motto of the programme and we will continue to support this excellent initiative. This programme assists to further educate our boys with regard to nutrition, banned substances, concussion and rugby-related issues. 2013 was one of the more challenging seasons Michaelhouse has had in a long time. The impact of the fixture list we received could be seen in the availability of players, which obviously affected team selection and depth. The coaches remained enthusiastic and motivated while the players, by working together, managed to show their skill and determination with inspired performances. It was most satisfying to witness the Michaelhouse Rugby Vision finding expression during a difficult period of the season. The fixture list we received from the KZNRU High School association could not have been any more challenging. It read like a battle plan from World War One. The troops in the trenches had no other option than to move forward while trying to capture and occupy trenches, and not without casualties. It did not feel like it at the time, but the schedule 135 Á Sport ended up being the best thing that could have happened. The boys’ and even coaches’ characters were tested and it was fantastic to see boys and some coaches grow as individuals during this time. Seeing boys stand together and putting their broken bodies on the line for one another was testament to the Spirit of Michaelhouse. Those dark times also provided us with the opportunity to challenge our systems and it is encouraging to see how we have already benefitted. It will again be a challenge in 2014 as we continue operating with the overriding Michaelhouse Vision, which acknowledges that boys be given full support to actively participate in summer sports. The result is that when we are bowling, swimming, shooting hoops, etc. other schools will be playing rugby already. Yes, it’s a challenge but a challenge we look forward to as our limited time forces us to be as clinical as possible in what we do. The appointment of First XV coaches, the introduction of non-School masters in rugby structures, movement of players between schools, players ‘fetched’ from the Eastern Cape and the injection of large amounts of money into schoolboy rugby received a great deal of media attention in 2013. Long-standing relationships have been broken between some schools while others have been severely damaged. Some schools refused to play each other, there were allegations around Sharks involvement with regard to recruitment for certain schools only, there were the issues of substance abuse and winning at all costs ... all of this meant that High School Rugby in KwaZulu-Natal could have been mistaken for a soapy on television. Egos have dealt severe blows to rugby this year. What has happened to the values of rugby? It is most pleasing that in spite of all this negativity, our boys continue to learn to play this wonderful game in a stable environment where all can still see the bigger picture. Within this greater context we will strive to build and strengthen our relationships with our opposition, and we will continue to coach an exciting brand of rugby with the aim of winning, but not at any cost. Also we will continue to learn the life lessons that not many other sports can teach First XV Although Cian Grendon was appointed the captain of the First XV, Christopher Schoeman and Cian Furniss also led the team at various stages during the season. This is quite rare and paints the picture of a team that was seriously affected by injuries. Jason Schwegmann played wing, centre and flank for the First XV in one season. It must also be mentioned that the loss of Bruce Amott, who was a star player in the 2012 Craven Week team, had an immense effect on the side. We lost seven of our starting XV in the week leading up to the Kearsney match when we already were on the back foot. What was extremely encouraging was that players used their opportunities and cemented their positions in the striped jersey: Aiden Versveld’s try from full back for the Second XV against Kearsney is a case in point. The interesting fact about this season is that although they were on the receiving end of some big scores, they managed to string together some amazing performances against Northwood, St Charles, DHS, St John’s and St Benedict’s. They managed to win by margins that some more fancied Michaelhouse file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] teams of the past could not achieve. A memorable match was against Westville when the boys were one final pass and just a metre away from a victory against an unbeaten team. A number of B Block boys gained some valuable experience this season and the hope is that this investment will show a return in 2014. Nobody will ever be able to say that the team of 2013 did not prepare well or did not try; they played as a team and did so till the final whistle. Mr Murray Daniel and Mr Karl Swartz must also be commended for the work they did with regard to the conditioning of the players. It certainly did not go unnoticed as the First XV always ended the matches stronger than the opposition. Open age group The happy and energetic Third XV of Mr Matthew Higginson and their captain, Nicholas Stephenson, led the way. Only a disallowed try, after it was awarded, in the first Hilton fixture prevented them from having an unbeaten season. Well done and thank you to Mr Matthew Higginson and his team for the entertainment they provided. In general, the Open coaches and teams can be satisfied with a job well done. The Second XV also needs mentioning as they always played and performed to their potential. U16 The A team beat a Glenwood team that has dominated in KwaZulu-Natal Rugby through the age groups over the past two seasons. A gutsy performance and victory against Westville followed, and then they lost matches they should never have lost. Bader Pretorius was a standout player and scored the most points at the U16 Grant Khomo Week. Jacques Swarts gets the back line away against DHS. 136 Sport k. 1st XV RUGBY: Back Row: Tyran Faber, Jasper Epsom, Cameron Holenstein, Gary Porter, Andy Vogel, Nicholas Glassock, Brandon Tattam Middle Row: Thomas Walker, Michael Bouwer, Jason Schwegman, Nic Egberink, Jacques Swarts, Robert Lee, Daniel Kramer, Bradley Roberts. Front Row: Chris Whiting, Christopher Schoeman, Mr Michael Schwartz, Cian Grendon, Mr André van Wyk, Cameron Bird, Ciaran Furniss The B side never really got going, while the Cs and Ds can hold their heads high. Again, quite a number of long-term injuries meant that players had to play up, which had the positive result of plenty of valuable experience being gained. U15 2013 was not a season the A team players and coaches would want to remember and at some point, the season could not end soon enough. It must be said that the A team responded well to their critics by beating Hilton 39-0 in the last game of the season and turning the loss from earlier in the season into a victory. Mr Gavin Ross and Mr Jaap van der Vegte were yet again competing for the top spots at Michaelhouse this year. They have had a remarkable success rate on the field and more than likely a bigger one off the field. They continue to inspire coaches and players around them. Their B and C teams will fondly remember this time in their lives. U14 Nobody will ever be able to say that the A and B teams gave up during matches. They were known for their “never surrender” attitude. Mr Dean Forword, Mr Karl Swartz and Mr Sibusiso Ncamane must be commended and thanked as I believe that this spirit was a direct result of these coaches’ commitment and approach to their teams. Yes, lots of work is needed to continue the upward trend of these teams and only time will tell how the players will respond to the challenges 2014 will bring. Mr Graeme Calway and Mr Craig Pieterse must again be thanked for their tireless efforts in getting boys onto the Rugby conveyer belt. The fixture against Glenwood was nearly rained out this year. Most of our seven fields were waterlogged, but we managed to fit in some matches. It’s a difficult fixture but it is very important that Glenwood are back on our fixture list. Glenwood understands that they have huge depth with the G teams they frequently field and they are always willing to accommodate us. The same cannot be said for other large schools and the result was that some relationships between us and some old rivals were really tested in 2013. The First XV had earlier kickoff times for some fixtures and this change was well received. 137 Á Sport Tours 2013 The 36-man tour to Namibia was a much anticipated one and proved valuable on many fronts. Matches were played in Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund and the tour included game drives in Etosha, sand dune riding, a boat cruise and a number of sightseeing trips. It was difficult to see who was enjoying the trip more: the boys or their parents. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Both teams were challenged on the field, but in some matches the opposition was not prepared for our skills set and physicality. Some scores were not recorded as they were 40-minute matches. The last match on the Swakopmund Combined School rugby fields will endure in my memory forever. The contest was tough and the result went our way, but the stones on the pitch were the size of golf balls and made our boys appreciate the lush grass on Meadows. It took quite a while for a few boys to clear the field, and the laughter of disbelief was heard every time a stone was thrown over the nearby fence. A young First XV attended the St Andrew’s (Bloemfontein) 150,h Celebrations. The score of 119 points for, with 26 against, tells a story and St David’s, St Benedict’s and Sentraal High School were sent back to the drawing board. Only three A Block boys accompanied the team which is certainly encouraging for 2014. Well done to Ciaran Fumiss, who led the team to some memorable victories. The U16s found the trip to Paarl very challenging indeed and were mostly out-muscled. The U15s started the season well and were unbeaten at the U15 ISRF. The scores, however, were not recorded as the fixtures were 40-minute matches. Referees Mr Chris van der Berg took charge of this new initiative and under his splendid guidance boys were able to attend referees’ meetings and referees’ courses in Pietermaritzburg. Nicholas Schram’s ability was recognised by the KZNRU Referees’ Society and he was duly awarded his KwaZulu-Natal Referee’s colours, a first for a Michaelhouse boy. We look forward to seeing this society grow and by doing so, create another avenue for boys to fulfil their dreams. Old Boys Rugby is alive and well at Michaelhouse and the fact that we were represented by eight players in the Currie Cup this year is most satisfying. Only Grey College (16) and Paarl Gymnasium (10) had more players. We had three players and two officials involved in this year’s Currie Cup Final. Pat Cilliers and Michael Rhodes represented a losing WP team, while Pat Lambie was yet again instrumental in the Sharks’ emphatic victory. For the Sharks, James Fleming served as the defence coach and Dean Macquet was the head physiotherapist. The Western Province U21 team won their final and Pat Howard scored the try that proved to be the difference. Pat played a number of matches for the Western Province senior Currie Cup team. Robert de Bruyn continued with his Lions career by making his debut for the Currie Cup team. Robert has now played for every professional Lions team. Well done to our OMs. You continue to be an inspiration for our boys. Season summary: Points For Points Against AVG Points For AVG Points Against Won Lost Draw Played % Coaches 1!,XV 474 277 30 17 9 7 0 16 56 Michael Schwartz 2nd XV 396 119 30 9 8 4 1 13 62 André van Wyk 3rd XV 237 72 26 8 7 1 1 9 78 Matthew Higginson & Greg Muirhead 4,h XV 150 140 19 18 2 6 0 8 25 Elmar de Klerk 5,h XV 224 131 25 15 5 4 0 9 56 Hayden Henderson-Everill 6,h XV 190 216 21 24 3 6 0 9 33 Richard McMichael 7.h xv 44 101 11 25 1 2 0 3 33 Righardt Kotze 8,h XV 12 24 12 24 0 1 0 1 0 Jonathan Smith UI6A 234 218 18 17 5 7 1 13 38 Peter Stevens & Karl Swartz U16B 205 226 21 23 4 6 0 10 40 George Ferreira U16C 148 83 21 12 4 3 0 7 57 Shaun Thompson U16D 93 121 16 20 3 3 0 6 50 Hala Xulu U15A 175 188 18 19 3 7 0 10 30 Brad Flanagan & Andrew Duncan U15B 318 113 32 11 8 2 0 10 80 Gavin Ross U15C 210 64 30 9 6 1 0 7 86 Jaap van der Vegte U15D 167 162 28 27 3 3 0 6 50 Justin Randall U14A 129 301 13 30 2 8 0 10 20 Dean Forword & Karl Swartz U14B 179 271 18 27 3 7 0 10 30 Sibusiso Ncamane U14C 77 300 10 38 2 6 0 8 25 Graeme Calway U14C 24 65 6 16 2 6 0 8 25 Craig Pieterse & Rodney Zondi Sport k. Scrum half, Thomas Walker distributes against Maritzburg College. Grant Khomo Week No. 10, Bader Pretorius, pictured file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] with Grant Khomo Week Manager, Mr Sibs Ncamane. FIRST XV RUGBY REPORT______Written by Mr Michael Schwartz Qoach: Mr Michael Schwartz Captain: Cian Grendon First Team: Bruce Arnott, Cameron Bird, Michael Bouwer, David Broadley, Nicholas Egberink, Jasper Epsom, Tyran Faber, Barrie Forrester-Smith, Ciaran Furniss, Nicholas Glassock, Cian Grendon, Cameron Holenstein, Christopher Kelland, Daniel Kramer, Brandon Landsberg, Robert Lee, Julian Liebenberg, Farai Mudariki, Gary Porter, Merrick Pringle, Zander Prinsloo, Dylan Rice, Bradley Roberts, Christopher Schoeman, Jason Schwegmann, Nicholas Stembridge, Jacques Swarts, Brandon Tattam, Ryan Thompson, Andrew Vogel, Thomas Walker, Christopher Whiting The saying goes in competitive sport: “You are only as good as your last game.” Well, if this was true, things were looking up for the season of 2013. It was easy to motivate the boys during the off season because they all remembered how hard the A Blockers had worked the previous year and the success that they had tasted as a result. Strength and power were the order of the day and come 2013, most of the boys were in really good condition. The fitness test results were good and even the speed results showed an improvement. We were to learn a very hard lesson very quickly: that training hard in the pre-season does not always guarantee success on the field. I am not sure if it was a precursor of what was to come, but Keegan Daniel, Patrick Lambie and a few other Sharks players came and spent some time with the boys during Christian Focus Week at the start of February. Keegan said he trained hard in pre-season in previous years, and that he had not been injured because of the fact that he trained resolutely. Well, to test his resolve, he was seriously injured in his first warm-up match a few days later. The Sharks and our First XV were hit hard by injury this year. Our seasons almost mirrored each other. As I said last year, it is great when hard work pays off, but what we could not foresee was how injury would have a impact on our rugby. Lots of hard work was done: continuous training, lots of repetition, lots of organisation. The boys gave everything they had, never complaining when they trained. They made this decision before the season started and when the going got tough, they just kept on trying. Yes, the team did not always meet our goals; yes, the team may have disappointed some detractors along the way; yes, the team lost some games, but the boys who represented the First XV in 2013 tried their best. They wanted people to continue talking about rugby at Michaelhouse. They wanted to do well for the School. As a coach, there was no doubting their commitment. They did everything asked of them and sometimes they did more. This team will be remembered as the team who never gave up. Week in and week out, they gave of their best. The season got into full swing on Saturday 16 March. All we could do in preparation had been done. The First XV was chosen to play against Northwood; ten A Blockers and five B Blockers. Northwood arrived at Michaelhouse on a high. They had played plenty of matches, won most and with a strong, motivated team, they were clearly intent on an upset. There was an article written about their much-feared front row, speculating how the Michaelhouse front three were going to bear up. We played some attractive rugby and before they opened their eyes, they had been beaten. Their coach conceded that his team could not match the physicality of the Michaelhouse team. This was a great compliment because this was our first match and we’d had only ten days of contact behind us. 139 Á Sport With one match down, Namibia awaited. This was going to be a tough tour because of the number of games on the itinerary. Of the 36 boys who went, only four boys had toured before. The tour was about rugby and team building, but it was also about seeing a new country and experiencing interesting things. We played some fantastic rugby and then some not-so-great rugby. The First XV played an equivalent of four full games, one on the beach (well, almost) in Walvis Bay, and the Second Team played five matches. The boys sand boarded, climbed Dune Seven, saw Etosha and drank milkshakes. Great memories were made and everyone had an extremely enjoyable experience. I know the parents also had a fantastic time. We arrived back at School at the start of the second quarter ready to play rugby. After four weeks of the toughest rugby we could imagine and many injuries later, there were two choices for the First XV: give up and go through the motions or try harder. Unfortunately for St John’s, but positively for us, we regrouped in Johannesburg and completely outplayed the opposition. This was a turning point for the boys. We kept playing better and better, never giving up. The last 20 minutes of the home game against Hilton was exhilarating. It was a pity we could not do the same for another 20-minute patch earlier in the game. The team ended the school matches with their heads held high. There were some disappointments, but no regrets. To close the 2013 season the First XV left for Bloemfontein to represent the School at the St Andrew’s 150,h Celebrations on Wednesday 3 July. We were to play three matches on this tour. Lots of boys who represented the team file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] were either in B or C Block. This gave us an ideal opportunity to look at some players for the 2014 season. The first game against St David’s went off well and without too much fuss. Our second match was against a highly motivated St Benedict’s who were intent on beating us, but a young Michaelhouse team stood firm to win the encounter. Our final game against Sentraal was billed as the final. They were very big. They tried to bully us but got more than they had bargained for and lessons learnt in Windhoek were put to use to secure our third victory at the festival. Thus, the tour allowed us to end off our season very well. Well done to Thomas Walker for being nominated as the Player of the Tournament. So, when I look back on the 2013 season, what will I remember? Hard work, commitment, dedication, keenness, passion, improvement, tackling, kick offs, injuries. But most of all, I will remember a team who never gave up. Here are some remarks by Cian Grendon at the rugby dinner, paying tribute to each player who represented the First XV on six or more occasions. Farai Mudariki - Farai, I admire your determination and your attitude, never giving up till you got your shot. I hope to hear of you following in your brother’s footsteps and your rugby dream in the future. Cameron Holenstein - Cam, you truly are a mountain of a man. I cannot express how grateful I am that I was not on the receiving end of your monstrous runs. I wish you all the best with your rugby in the future. Jasper Epsom - Jasp, my Kenyan brother. The fact that you started your rugby journey in the U14E team sums up your relentless hard work. You took that jersey and made it indisputably yours; well done on your great season. Chris Whiting - Chris, you are a true veteran, not just of the front row but of this team. Your passion for the red and white is remarkable. I wish you the best of luck in the future. Andy Vogel - Andy, I admire the effect you’ve had at a new school and the effect you had on the team. You always were happy to do the unseen hard yards and brought a joke to the change rooms when needed. I wish you the best of luck next year. Chris Schoeman - the service you have provided this rugby season leaves the School in huge debt to you. It’s rare that a captain would not be worried when both he and the vice-cap-tain were injured. I’d like to thank you for everything you have done for this team. Gary Porter - Goofy, I’m glad you got your chance to prove yourself towards the end of the season; your progress was remarkable. I’m keen to watch you next year. Nic Egberink - I know I told you this before Kearsney, but there truly is no one else I’d rather have wear my jersey. Your guts are the cornerstone that Michaelhouse’s passion is built on. Good luck next year. Dan Kramer -1 have never met someone as passionate about Michaelhouse rugby as you are. I respect you highly and it was an honour playing with you this year. Tom Walker - you are a hard man. I will never forget the tackle you made on Dan Du Preez. That tackle speaks volumes about your courage. It was a true privilege to play with you this year. Jacques Swarts - the fact that you came back from playing golf in America to making the First Team halfway through the season says a lot about how talented you are. I will be watching your progress carefully next year. Michael Bouwer - I’m glad you moved to wing. You got the space you needed to show that step you have that kills us all at House touch. I’m glad I finally got a chance to play in a team with you. Brandon Tattam - Tats, with the way you put your body on the line it is no wonder you always have a new broken bone. Your joining the team filled a much-needed gap and I must say, you have filled Dean Stephen’s shoes very well. I wish you the best of luck next year. 140 Sport k. Ciaran Fumiss - the calmness and leadership you brought to the team were invaluable. Your injury at the beginning of the year was a big blow and I’m thankful you played the rest of the season. I wish you luck in the future. Jason Schwegmann - moving from flank to centre to wing cannot be easy in any team, never mind for a First Team. Your versatility is unbelievable and I doubt many would be able to do what you did this year. I’m keen to see your progress next year. Rob Lee - you are another one whose sense of humour helped lighten the mood at the right times. I’m glad you got the chance to play full back as I know how you were itching for it. You made the jersey yours to the point that the team did not worry when someone was one-on-one with you. I look forward to seeing your continued progress next year. Cameron Bird -1 must say thank you for being there for the team this season, especially for the calm words when I was too worked up to utter a sentence. I have never met someone so committed to putting the team’s interest first; you were completely unselfish and a true asset. Thank you for everything you did for this team. I am privileged to have played two years of rugby with someone like you. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Is' XV 2013 Date Opponent Result Score 16/03 Northwood Won 38-11 April Windhoek High School Lost 13-18 April Walvis Bay High School Won 48-8 20/04 Glenwood Lost 5-36 27/04 Hilton Lost 12-42 04/05 Kearsney Lost 5-38 11/05 Maritzburg College Lost 9-23 25/05 St John’s (JHB) Won 52-19 01/06 Westville Lost 17-21 06/06 St Charles Won 37-10 05/06 DHS Won 45-13 22/06 Hilton Lost 34-42 July St David’s (JHB) Won 40-7 July St Benedict’s (JHB) Won 52-0 July Sentraal Hoër Skool (Bloemfontein) Won 27-19 Played 15, Won 8, lost 7 The Kevin King Trophy for the most valuable U16 player goes to Bader Pretorius. The Davidson Trophy for the most improved player goes to Thomas Walker. The “Floyd” Patterson Stripes Trophy To be awarded by the First Fifteen Rugby Coach to a First Game Rugby Player who is not a captain and who, through his selfless example of courage, resilience and spirit, has contributed significantly to the atmosphere of camaraderie and honest endeavour at First Game Rugby. This award must be made to a boy who will place his fellow players, his School and the game of Rugby above his personal pleasure and honour. This trophy will be shared between Cameron Bird and Ciaran Furniss. The Jonathan Shedlock Trophy: He was seldom seen as the star of the team, yet he was always a vital part of the team. He was at all times consistent, and his courage, tenacity and enthusiasm never left him. The link man, the distributor, the solid defender, the forager, he scored tries, certainly, yet he never retained the ball when it appeared to him that the other man may have had a slightly better chance of scoring. When one reflects on the stars, one wonders, would they have been such stars without having men like him alongside them in the team? This trophy is awarded in memory and honour of Jonathan Shedlock, who was a great rugby player and a much loved team man. This award goes to Cian Grendon. Patrick Lambie Award (Players’ Player of the Year): Christopher Schoeman The Cilliers Trophy for the most valuable First XV player goes to Christopher Schoeman. 141 A Sport SOCCER REPORT______Written by Mr Chris van der Berg faster in Charge: Mr Chris van der Berg Coaches: First XI: Mr Linda Linda Second XI: Mr Sibusiso Ncamane Third XI: Mr Chris van der Berg Fourth XI: Mr Hayden Henderson-Everill Fifth XI: Mr Mike Bownes Sixth XI: Mr Andrew Brown Seventh XI: Mr Nic Cahill Eighth XI: Mr Gavin Ross Ninth XI: Mr Bailey Coxon Tenth XI: Mr John Crawford UI6A: Mr Janies BuIIough U16B: Mr Selby Sibiya U16C: Mr Sizo Chalufu file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] UI6D: Mr Nhlanka Nzimande U16E: Mr Shaun Thompson U16F: Mr Bernard Whitaker and Mr Michael Simpson U15A: Mr Rodney Zondi U15B: Mr Msizi Mnchunu U15C: Mr Ian Crawford U15D: Mr Halalisani Xulu U15E: Mr Craig Pieterse U15F: Daniel Taylor and Jeremy Butler U14A: Mr Tim Jarvis U14B: Mr Bongumusa Cele U14C: Mr Sanele Zikhali U14D: Mr Justin Randall and Devon Bownes U14E: Joe Sutton and Ben Clark (Manager: Mr Johan van Rooyen) Awards Colours: Tsakani Baloyi, David Broadley, Simon Cheshire, Kyle Dalton and Otlotleng Mokgatle Half Colours: Dale Beckley, Brendan Bergs, Nic Glassock, Campbell Green, Dominic Pickard and Bradley Roberts Provincial Representation KwaZulu-Natal U16A: Siyabonga Khoza, Mulalo Sadiki, Luke Tomlinson, Shingi Vambe, Billy Dean (reserve) and Matt Wiseman (reserve) KwaZulu-Natal U15A: Wenzile Ngcobo, Charlie Seabrook and James Seabrook 1st XI SOCCER: Back Row: Campbell Green, Nicholas Glassock, Simon Cheshire, David Broadley, Dale Beckley Middle Row: Bradley Roberts, Tsakani Baloyi, Brendan Bergs, Dominic Pickard Front Row: Kyle Dalton, Otlotleng Mokgatle, Mr Linda Linda, Domonic Ferreira, Ntobeko Ntombela 142 Sport k. The U15XI enjoyed a strong season, losing just two oftheir ninefixtur Otlotleng Mokgatlt The 2013 soccer season started with a bang when the First XI toured to Zimbabwe and the U15A Team played in a soccer tournament in East London. Both teams had a fantastic time and played some awesome football. The First XI won three, drew two and lost just one match on their tour. The U15s lost in the final of the competition and Wenzile Ngcobo was the top goal scorer at the tournament. The sport is in a very healthy condition at Michaelhouse and we were able to field 25 teams every weekend. This is in direct contrast to other schools, where there has been a significant drop in the number of players and teams. Consequently, the big challenge was to secure a comprehensive set of fixtures for all our boys on a regular basis. One hundred and sixty eight matches were played throughout the season and we managed to hold our own against all opposition. We won 101 of our matches, 20 were drawn and 47 lost. We scored a total of 436 goals and conceded 282, a positive goal difference of 154. Twenty three boys were involved in the second round of KwaZulu-Natal trials in different age groups and Wenzile Ngcobo (U15A), Charlie Seabrook (U15A), James Seabrook (U15A), Sia Khoza (U16A), Mulalo Sadiki (U16A), Luke Tomlinson (U16A), Shingi Vambe (U16A), Billy Dean (U16A reserve) and Matt Wiseman (U16A reserve) managed to gain entry into their respective age groups’ provincial teams that participated in national tournaments in Johannesburg over the September holidays. This has been the best soccer season we have had since I arrived at Michaelhouse. The results achieved were due mainly to both committed coaches and players. Soccer is definitely taken more seriously by the boys and if we manage to keep a large number of them interested, we will continue to show great strength down to our lower teams. The challenge will continue to lie in obtaining more fixtures for our lower teams. There are certain issues that still need to be resolved. On the positive side, the general organisation of the sport at provincial level has undergone a drastic improvement and it bodes well for the future. I would like to focus on getting all the boys and coaches at Michaelhouse to treat soccer as a major sport. FIRST XI SOCCER REPORT______Written by Mr Linda Linda Kloach: Mr Linda Linda First Team Captain: Otlotleng Mokgatle Team: Otlotleng Mokgatle, Ntobeko Ntombela, Barrie Forrester-Smith, Fundile Nkuta, Dominic Pickard, Nicholas Glassock, Simon Cheshire, Kyle Dalton, Campbell Green, David Broadley and Bradley Roberts file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] The following players were selected for the Midlands Squad: Simon Cheshire, Kyle Dalton, David Broadley, Tsakani Baloyi and Dominic Ferreira 1st XI 2013 Opponent Result Score Grantleigh Won 2-1 St John’s College (Harare) Drew 1-1 St George’s Lost 0-5 Bernard Mizeki College Won 2-1 Marondera High Won 2-1 Peterhouse Drew 1-1 DHS Lost 3-0 Westville Boys’High Lost 1-2 Kearsney College Lost 1-3 St Charles College Won 2-0 Carter High Drew 2-2 Hilton College Lost 1-2 Weston College Won 8-0 Kloof High Drew 1-1 Hilton College Lost 1-2 Played 15, Won 5, Lost 6, Drew 4 We started our pre-season programme with a game against Grantleigh College from Richards Bay. It was a proud and significant moment for our boys because they were wearing newly designed kit and it was sufficient motivation for us to win this game. We were able to win 2-1 and the players were now looking forward to the Zimbabwe tour. This was 143 Á Sport the first soccer tour by a Michaelhouse First Team beyond our borders. Our first game was against St George’s where we played out a 1-1 draw. I was very happy with this result because we had little time to prepare for the game and we played on the day we arrived in Zimbabwe. St John’s from Harare taught us a football lesson in the first half by playing a high pressure possession game that forced us to concede five goals in the first half. We were unable to score any goals in the match, but overall, I think we lost to a technically good side that is coached by the former Zimbabwe national team coach. We needed better tactical awareness and application in our one remaining tour game. There was more hunger and discipline in the game against Bernard Mizeki College and that resulted in our running out as 2-1 as victors. Our next encounter was against Morendera High School. It was a very tough game because we came from behind but ended up winning 2-1. The highlight of the tour was a game against Peterhouse. We have played against them twice in South Africa in recent times, winning on both occasions. They were so determined to beat us in front of their home support. They made their intentions clear in the first few minutes of the game by scoring a good goal, after which we had to chase the game and defend too deep. I was impressed by the way our players were dealing with pressure from the opposition. David Broadley scored a good goal and we should have won the game, but we missed good opportunities. The game ended with a 1-1 draw and we can only heap praise on all of our host schools for their outstanding hospitality. We returned from Zimbabwe with confidence to start the much anticipated KwaZulu-Natal soccer season. After being able to humiliate DHS 8-0 last year, we knew they would want to redeem themselves. We were able to contain them in the first few minutes of the game, but they kept on attacking, which resulted in us conceding a goal and eventually losing the game. Reshuffling our defence didn’t do us any good because we were struggling to find the right balance and to defend as a unit. Our lack of concentration led to our conceding a late goal against Westville and losing the game as a result. We had to come up with a solid game plan against Kearsney; we applied ourselves better and controlled the game more effectively. Our strikers wasted many opportunities in the game and a mistake by our defence led to our conceding a goal. We equalised with a good volley from Ntobeko Ntombela before missing a one-on-one opportunity on attack. This led to a quick counter-attack from Kearsney resulting in their clinching a late goal which was followed by another for them to take the match 3-1. I had to quickly change my coaching approach and focus on building a strong team that would be able to compete beyond 2013, rather than a results-orientated approach. I also included more young players in the squad and that gave file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] us much-needed balance. We won 8-0 against Weston, and Bradley Roberts scored four fantastic goals in that game. We played quality soccer by passing the ball very well and by keeping possession. There was more camaraderie in the team, players were enjoying themselves and results were also gradually going our way. The game against Carter was interesting and enjoyable to watch. We were able to score first and controlled the game in the midfield, but our lapse in concentration allowed Carter to equalise and the game ended in a draw. We played against St Charles in our last game of the year and our aim was to finish the season with a win. We had an attacking approach and that helped us to win the game 2-0. We were able to organise a successful soccer dinner that was well attended by parents and players. The following players received awards: Rookie of the season: Dominic Pickard Defender of the season: Kyle Dalton Midfielder of the season: Ntobeko Ntombela Most improved player: David Broadley Team spirit award: Otlotleng Mokgatle Player of the season: Kyle Dalton In conclusion, I would like to say that the future of the First Team looks great and I have no doubt that they will succeed next year. 144 Sport k. 1st SQUASH: Back Row: Lorian Douglas-Dufresne, Geoffrey Blore, Juan-Luc Clackworthy; Victor Foster Front Row: James Laidlaw, Nicholas van der Bos, Mr Peter Huntley, Luke Stevens, Kenyon Smith SQUASH REPORT QQaster in Charge: Mr Peter Huntley Coaches: Mr Peter Huntley, Mr Mike Thomson, Mr Deon Royappen, Mr John Alexander and Mrs Mary McMichael Captain: Nicholas van der Bos Awards Honours: Kenyon Smith and Luke Stevens (re-award) Colours: James Laidlaw Half Colours: Juan-Luc Clackworthy and Victor Foster National Representation South Africa U19: Luke Stevens and Kenyon Smith Provincial Representation KwaZulu-Natal U19A: Luke Stevens and Kenyon Smith KwaZulu-Natal U19B: Nicholas van der Bos and James Laidlaw KwaZulu-Natal U16A: Victor Foster KwaZulu-Natal U14A: Stephen Brown and Luke Thomson KwaZulu-Natal U14B: Richard Béchard and Robert Melouney The first quarter, as always, was another very busy one for squash at Michaelhouse, as we had the Super 8 Schools League, as well as the Provincial Pre-Season Tournament and the St Andrew’s Festival - which the First Team attended. Our First Team goal was to again win the provincial title and thereby emulate, to a certain degree, the performances of our extremely successful side of 2012. Our boys started off the year on a tremendous note, with a number of outstanding performances beginning with the KwaZulu-Natal Pre-Season Tournament, in which 16 of our boys participated. Special mention must be made of Luke Stevens and Kenyon Smith in the U19 section, who were ranked one and two in the province respectively. Victor Foster performed well in the U16 group and finished at number five in the province. Also worthy of comment are the performances of our U14 boys, in particular Stephen Brown and Luke Thomson, who placed second and third in KwaZulu-Natal at this level. The annual tour to Bloemfontein to participate in the prestigious St Andrew’s Festival is always special and this year included an added attraction in that the host school was celebrating its 150"' anniversary. This is the premier schools’ 145 Á Sport squash festival in the country, with champion teams from every province participating. Once again, Michaelhouse served notice that we would be jostling with the best schools for top honours later in the year. Our young team performed superbly, showing just how much they had learned since last October. We were delighted with our results, claiming four wins in five tough matches, with a hard fought loss to the hosts. The convincing wins over Grey High (PE) and Wyn-berg Boys High were very satisfying indeed, and then two nail-biting victories over Pretoria Boys High and Selbome ensured the success of the festival. Our outstanding domestic results would also attest to the hard work which the boys had put in, whilst also managing a plethora of other sport commitments. The First Team recorded comprehensive victories over: Hilton College 6-2, Maritzburg College 8-0, Kearsney College 7-1 (with both U16 and U14 teams also winning comfortably against these three schools) and St Charles/Epworth 8-0. A tight 4-4 draw with Westville, without the services of our number one player, showed that we would be contenders again for the KwaZulu-Natal title. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Further individual highlights were Luke Stevens’ and Kenyon Smith’s performances in the KwaZulu-Natal Open, where they finished first and third respectively in the U19 age group. Stephen Brown and Luke Thomson played in the U14 South African Open in Johannesburg and also acquitted themselves really well - Stephen finishing third and Luke seventh. The focus in this first half of the year was almost entirely on the domestic front, with the ultimate goal for our leading players being a KwaZulu-Natal Schools selection, but more importantly - our First Team contesting the KwaZulu- Natal Inter-Schools tournament. The first quarter had ended on a very positive note, with our Super 8 (First Team) campaign again proving to be very successful with another clean sweep of wins for the red and white hoops. Westville again appeared to be our strongest opponents, based on the tight Super 8 match and the seedings that suggested as much. The KwaZulu-Natal Inter-Schools Tournament saw our First Team under increasing pressure to defend the titles we had won in 2010,2011 and 2012. This recent track record has arguably earned us the right to be called the most successful Michaelhouse team of the modern era (since the inception of the tournament in the 1980s). Once again, our boys performed magnificently. We beat Kearsney and St Charles on our way to the final, where we would meet our surprise opposition - Glenwood. The team played courageously against very tough opponents who clearly believed they would unsettle our pattern with a robust approach. Percentage, pressure squash eventually won the day and Members of the First Team, Victor Foster, Luke Stevens, James Laidlaw, Kenyon Kenyon Smith on the court. Smith and Nicholas van der Bos. 146 Sport k. the final 4-1. Captain Nic van der Bos can be most proud of his team, namely: Kenyon Smith, Luke Stevens, James Laidlaw and Victor Foster. As provincial champions, our First Team again earned the right to represent the province at the SA Top Schools tournament in August. The KwaZulu-Natal Schools selections were announced and we had nine boys in the various age group teams, which is most satisfying indeed: KwaZulu-Natal U19A: Kenyon Smith, Luke Stevens U19B: Nicholas van der Bos, James Laidlaw (non-travelling reserve: Juan-Luc Clackworthy) U16A: Victor Foster U14A: Stephen Brown, Luke Thomson U14B: Richard Béchard, Robert Melouney The Boys’ Midlands Wednesday league, which sees our Second and U16 teams competing against a number of Pietermaritzburg and local schools, was also most successful and both these sides unearthed some talented players along the way. Mr John Alexander has been instrumental in fostering a love of the game in a number of these players over the term. Mr Deon Royappen also proved to be a valuable member of our coaching ranks with the U14/15 group, although rugby and hockey commitments have impacted negatively on his practices. Most of our First Team boys also played Midlands Men’s League squash and performed well in the First League team. The SA Top Schools Boys Tournament, held early in the third quarter, saw the Michaelhouse First Team representing KwaZulu-Natal for the fourth consecutive year. Our boys were seeded fifth, despite being the reigning champions, and this immediately put the team under immense pressure. Being grouped behind Paarl Boys High and Rondebosch, but with all eight teams being very strong, the competition was always going to be tough. Ultimately, the team won two out of five matches, losing to eventual champions Rondebosch in a tight 2-3 finish. Michaelhouse finished with a national ranking of seventh and certainly learned a lot over the weekend. Tragedy struck the Michaelhouse community and in particular the squash fraternity, when at a first league match in mid-August, our wonderful junior coach, friend and colleague, Mr Deon Royappen, suffered a massive heart attack and passed away. Deon was loved and respected by all and his untimely passing has left a huge void in so many lives. The fourth quarter sees high school squash played on a Stayers basis in KwaZulu-Natal. Our Open, U16 and U14 teams seemed to indicate that we again have some good depth at our disposal over the next few years. The Stayers First Team, under the captaincy of Kenyon Smith, recorded some excellent results at the Wynberg Stayers Festival, winning all five matches quite convincingly. Our boys were convincing on the domestic front too, with a 5-0 win over St Charles College, allied to a 3-2 win over Kearsney. The U16A team beat Kearsney and St Charles U16A quite comfortably, whilst the U14As also secured a good win against Kearsney. It was another fantastic learning opportunity to be invited to the Wynberg Festival in October, for the fourth consecutive year. This unique Stayers Festival sees all of the top schools in the country being invited and it is an education for the youngsters in the team to witness the level of play. It does provide the ideal opportunity to begin file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] some hard work with our new crop for 2014 and this is already on track, as reflected in the results above. We also held a successful School Squash Championship just prior to half-term, with our 16 top boys participating in the Senior Championship. Luke Stevens beat Kenyon Smith in another hard fought five-set final to take the title for 2013 and win the Bradford Cup. It cannot be too often that a school has two national players contesting their School Championships. A most memorable First Team Squash Dinner was held in the Old Boys Club on 11 October. Nicholas van der Bos was awarded the Mike and Karen Short Trophy for Sportsmanship, whilst Juan-Luc Clackworthy won the Collen Family Trophy for the Most Improved Player. A new trophy in memory of Deon Royappen, for achievement and commitment to squash, was awarded to Luke Stevens and Kenyon Smith; particularly appropriate as they had been in his league team. It was very special to have parents of every player in attendance at the dinner, especially given the distances some had to travel. All players who had regularly represented the First Team at either Super 8 or Top 6 level were awarded a citation noting their contribution to the success of the team this year. The future of squash at Michaelhouse looks promising with plenty of up and coming talent in the form of Stephen Brown, Robert Melouney and Richard Bechard. 147 Á Sport U19A TENNIS: Back Row: James Strachan, Daniel Roberts Front Row: George Rowles, Miss Lisa Hardie, James de Chastelain TENNIS 0tafF Member in Charge: Mrs Win de Wet Coaches: Mrs Win de Wet, Ms Lisa Hardie, Mr Michael Stead, Mrs Tanith von Mayer, Mrs Candice Smith First Team Captain: Steven Clowes Awards Colours: James Strachan and Daniel Roberts Half Colours: James Redfern, Nicholas Kershaw and Matthew Kiln Provincial representation KwaZulu-Natal Midlands U19: James Strachan, Daniel Roberts KwaZulu-Natal Midlands U15: James Redfern, Matthew Kiln, Nicholas Kershaw, Lethu Mthembu The Michaelhouse First Team was a very young side this year and I predict a very good team next year, and again in 2015. They lacked the experience that other schools’ players had but always gave of their best and did not give up. We were delighted that two of our boys made the Midlands U19 team and four boys made the U15 team. They played in the inter-regional tournament in Pietermaritzburg from 7 to 10 March 2013. In the first quarter we entered two open teams into the A section of the Denness League. The A team came fourth and the B team came seventh. We hosted Peterhouse from Zimbabwe at the end of April and won this very enjoyable match 9-3. In the second quarter we played the Inter-House tennis competition, where some very competitive tennis was on display. Both the Junior and Senior matches were closely contested, with two of the semi-final matches being decided by one game. The Farfield Senior team and the West Junior team were the eventual winners. The Michaelhouse First Team played in the Private Schools Tennis Tournament, held at Sun City at the end of August. This is the first time that we have been invited to this prestigious tournament. We were exposed to a very high standard of the game. The Michaelhouse team, accompanied by Ms Lisa Hardie, acquitted themselves very well both on and off the courts. The boys played five matches against very strong opposition and won two of them. We will be attending this tournament again in 2014. Hopefully, having gained more experience, we will enjoy a more successful result. In the third quarter, we entered two teams into the U15A league, one team into the U15B league, two teams into the U19A league and one team into the U19C league. In both these leagues the B teams held their own against many schools’A teams. The Michaelhouse U19A team came second, five points behind the Hilton College U19Ateam. The U19B team came sixth and the U19C team came second in their league. Our U15A team played excellent tennis and came second behind Maritzburg College. The U15B team did very well to come fourth in the A league and the U15C team did extremely well finishing second in the B section of the U15 league. Unfortunately, not many matches were played in the fourth quarter due to the weather. The top ten Michaelhouse players played against Hilton College for the John de Wet trophy, which Hilton have donated in honour of the late John de Wet, one of their past pupils who made a significant contribution to school boy tennis in South Africa. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Michaelhouse lost 10-5 but the boys played well especially in the singles matches. The front three tennis courts have been revamped and the netting around the courts was replaced during the second half of the year. The courts are lovely to play on and are looking 148 Sport k. good. We are hoping to be able to do the same to the back four courts next year. Overall, I believe we have had an extremely successful year on the tennis courts. Results: DENNESS LEAGUE 2013 SCORE CARD: Michaelhouse U19A Date League Opposition Score (team - opposition) 21 Jan A MHSB 17-1 28 Jan A Hilton A 4-14 4 Feb A Hilton B 18-0 11 Feb A College A 12-6 18 Feb A St Charles A 6-12 4 March A Treverton A 4-14 18 March A St Charles B 2-16 SCORE CARD: Michaelhouse U19B Date League Oppostion Score (team - opposition) 21 Jan A MHS A 1-17 28 Jan A Hilton B 12-6 4 Feb A College A 6-12 11 Feb A St Charles A 0-18 18 Feb A Hilton A 0-18 4 March A St Charles B 1 -17 11 March A Treverton A 4- 14 SCORE CARD: Michaelhouse U19C Date League Opposition Score (team - opposition) 21 Jan B College B 42-24 28 Jan B Wembley A 25-41 4 Feb B Wartburg A 33-33 11 Feb B Voortrekker A 20-46 18 Feb B Howick A 33-33 4 March B Hilton C 33-33 11 March B St Charles C 29-37 U15 LEAGUE 2013 SCORE CARD: Michaelhouse U15A Date League Opposition Score (team - opposition) 23 July A Hilton A 47 19 30 July A College A 25 41 1 August A MHSB 50 16 6 Aug A St Charles B 54 12 13 Aug A St Charles A 30 36 20 Aug A College B 55 11 27 Aug A Bye 3 Sept A Bye SCORE CARD: Michaelhouse U15B Date League Opposition Score (team - opposition) 23 July A St Charles B 27-39 30 July A St Charles A 51 - 15 1 August A MHS A 16-50 6 Aug A College A 25-41 13 Aug A College B 34-32 20 Aug A Bye 27 Aug A Bye 3 Sept A Hilton A 26-40 file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] SCORE CARD: Michaelhouse U15C Date League Opposition Score (team - opposition) 23 July B Carter 43-23 30 July B Grace 39-27 6 Aug B Treverton 38-28 13 Aug B St Charles C 15-51 20 Aug B Wartburg 42-24 27 Aug B Hilton B 29-37 3 Sept B Hermansburg 66-0 w/o 10 Sept B Bye George Rowles. 149 Á Sport U19 LEAGUE 2013 SCORE CARD: Michaelhouse U19A Date League Score (team - opposition) 22 July A 27-39 29 July A Bye 31 July A 41-25 5 Aug A 28-38 12 Aug A 59-7 19 Aug A 36-30 2 Sept A 38-28 SCORE CARD: Michaelhouse U19C Date League Score (team - opposition) 22 July B 32-34 29 July B 26-40 5 Aug B 41-25 12 Aug B 41-25 19 Aug B 49-17 2 Sept B 9 Sept B 33-33 (rain) SCORE CARD: Michaelhouse U19B Date League Score (team - opposition) 22 July A 43-23 29 July A 31-35 31 July A 25-41 5 Aug A 18-48 12 Aug A 25-41 19 Aug A 45-21 2 Sept A “Once more we have to apologise for the lateness of issue of the magazine. It is, however, very difficult to get it out at Easter. The Editor, like other people, wants a little rest during the holidays. ” Chronicle 1919 Mrs Win de Wet with provincial players Dan Roberts, Nicholas Kershaw, James Strachan, James Redfern and Lethu Mthembu. 150 Sport L THE PLAYING FIELDS OF MICHAELHOUSE [Joys at Michaelhouse have enjoyed world class playing facilities in Balgowan for over a century and the history of our playing fields remains fascinating reading. Cricket Previously known simply as The Oval, the modern day Roy Gathome Oval was planned and implemented by Charles “Bok” Hannah. Hannah remained on the staff for the School’s first 32 years and his impact on the development of the file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] School’s facilities is immeasurable. The Oval enjoyed humble beginnings when in 1901 a light roller was simply used to roll veld grass into some sort of level order. The first match ever played on the pitch resulted in the narrowest of one run victories against Maritzburg College. In 1903 a pitch was laid with antheap and a heavy roller and two oxen were purchased to maintain the surface signifying the School’s early intention to become a major contributor to the game of cricket in South Africa. The princely sum of £150.00 was then spent on the construction of a pavilion and a celebratory fixture against Hilton College was arranged upon its completion a year later. A draw resulted. By 1930, a genuine outfield had been established and Michaelhouse became the first School in the country to boast a turf wicket. The current pavilion was donated by the Old Boys in 1956 and in 1994 the field became officially known as the Roy Gathorne Oval. Until very recently, the pitch ran East to West and despite the famous slope of the ground, drainage remained a serious issue. Close to 100 years on, the oval was levelled, modem drainage was implemented and the pitch was switched to run from West to East. By 1918 the Colt’s Field, later to be rechristened Hannahs had been established; and just 14 short years later cricketers at Michaelhouse were enjoying the benefit of four turf wickets of which The Gathome Oval, Hannahs and Punchbowl still remain. Today our cricketers participate on seven turf wickets, the most recent inclusion being the upgrade to Willows. Hockey “Bok” Hannah was again instrumental in shaping the landscape of sport at Michaelhouse when he introduced hockey to the School in 1928. But it was only in 1954 that the boys from Balgowan first encountered what had become traditional sporting rivals in Hilton College on the hockey pitch. By the early 1970s a level grassed surface known as Knights had become the home of hockey at Michaelhouse. The site is today inhabited by the impressive multi-purpose indoor facility known as the Inglis Indoor Centre, and the epicentre of the sport was shifted to Aitkens where an all weather pitch was established in 2001. A further upgrade took place in late 2010 when the sand based surface was replaced with a water based improvement. Soccer and Rugby Rugby was introduced as compulsory for all Michaelhouse boys in 1897, the School’s founder being firmly of the opinion that educating a teenaged boy was not possible if the programme did not include robust physical activity, principally rugby. Upon the School’s establishment in Balgowan Canon Todd wasted no time in the establishment of Aitkens and Baileys, specifically for rugby to be played on. These were rough and ready surfaces at the time, but by 1930 both fields were properly levelled and grassed. In the early years of the School’s development in Balgowan the site of Holleys and Tarpeys was exclusively used for agriculture, millet being the main crop produced; but by 1932, the land was prepared for competitive sport. Baileys had become the home of the first XV but by 1953 crowds could no longer be accommodated in the limited space and Meadows was established as the new playing surface. The game of soccer made its first tentative appearances as a recognised sport at Michaelhouse in the 80s with comprehensive fixture lists being introduced by the early 1990s. At the time Holleys was home to most fixtures and the game played second fiddle to the more popular option of rugby. The decision to host Paraguay during the Soccer World Cup of 2010 was to reinvent the profile of soccer at Michaelhouse. Holleys and Tarpeys were developed into a world-class training facility and the game had earned its rightful place on the map. Today our soccer and rugby players enjoy the use of no less than nine surfaces. The A itkens Astro brings a world class hockey surface to the I boys of Michaelhouse. Á Student Life Daily life at Michaelhous is constantly informed by the concept of high quality pastoral care in the pursuit of an all- round education. The idea is to provide something to ignite every boy’s enthusiasm and enable them to develop useful and lifelong interests. Broader involvement in all aspects of student life at Michaelhouse is encouraged an engenders a great sense of civic mindedness and inclusion. Our timetable provides ample opportunity to take full advantage of these opportunities. Daily routines are designed to encourage and allow our boys to expand their involvement beyond individual focus on just academics, sport, music, art, drama, community involvement, spiritual growth or time out file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] reading a book; ensuring a more open and balanced world view. SCHLESINGER THEATRE NOTES 0013 will be remembered as the year of The Phantom, in what was another busy year for the theatre, with only seven professional productions, but with over six School productions. With the A Block production The Hawk, Cultural Week, the Spud Award and New Direction plays, The Phantom of the Opera and the variety concert, it was a year to be remembered. More than one hundred boys worked in the theatre this year, which means that more than a fifth of the School are offering their free time to cultural service in the theatre. This is, in itself, remarkable. The Theatre Programme 2013 The theatre season opened on Friday 25 January with the innovative production Hambre del Alma. Directed by Andrew Buckland and performed by the rising star Tristan Jacobs, this wordless piece of physical theatre took the audience through the weird mind of Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa. Perhaps a little too experimental for some of the audience Hambre del Alma launched a year of quality and challenging works in the Schlesinger Theatre, that was also balanced by some good entertainment. The fabulous voice of Cat Simoni in From West End to Broadway and Beyond, on 8 February, provided world class musical talent, from our back yard, in a show that was hugely enjoyed by all. The Hawk Running from 18 to 20 February the A Block production of The Hawk (a rewrite of Gogol’s classic farce The Government Inspector), was brilliantly contemporised by the Matric Drama class. The actors did very well, but special mention should be made of Ciaran Furniss and Kyle Pyne-James who helped behind the scenes with writing and directing. The Hawk ended up being a highly entertaining piece of theatre, albeit silly at times, with a political bite that makes satire in South Africa what it is. Friday 15 March saw the madcap men-in-tights of The Actors Unemployed Company, perform the international smash hit comedy The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspre (ABRIDGED). Racing through all thirty-seven of Shakespeare’s plays in just ninety-seven minutes, it was difficult to take in more than the air needed for laughter. The Schlesinger Theatre shook for precisely ninety-seven minutes. Inter-House Performances The First Quarter ended with Cultural Week on 18 and 19 March, an initiative now running for its second year, featuring a host of events in the theatre, including Inter-House public speaking, debating, music and theatre. It was Farfield who won Best Movement and Best Play went to Pascoe, thanks to Matthew Davies’ acting and directing talent. The second quarter began with the acclaimed Horn of Sorrow, played on 3 May to the whole School in the big Amphitheatre. With a new young cast playing the roles of rhinos and poachers, this hugely entertaining South African classic hit hard with the reality of the demise of our rhino population. From edu-tainment to pure entertainment, on 31 May and 1 June Annie Robinson and Paul Spence caused much laughter with The Strange Case of the Naked Socialite haunting the Cricket Pavilion with their latest, gripping dinner mystery. The next week, on 7 June, James Cuningham performed his award winning show, Sunday Morning, to a very privileged audience. The Spud Awards The final two productions of the term played on 13 and 14 June. The first was A Block writing wiz and Spud Award winner, Kyle Pyne-James’ very own play Grey Days. James Smith, a C Block theatre and film enthusiast, with his stage adaption of Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, wrapped up Schlesinger Theatre productions for the second quarter. 152 Student Life k. The Phantom of the Opera The third quarter was set aside for the majestic production of The Phantom of the Opera, running from 18 to 21 August. Choosing the correct production to produce is a director’s first challenge. There exists an almost infinite amount of options. Context, resources and a desire to work with a particular genre often act as the primary reasons behind a given choice. When the Michaelhouse Music School suggested that they wanted to stage “The Phantom,” as a director, I must admit, I was reluctant. Michaelhouse College produces a large scale musical every two years, a tradition dating back through time. It was musical time, so the genre was covered. The resources needed to mount a musical the size of “Phantom” are immense. When talking to Mr Marc Malherbe, who designs sound for Prosound, and Pieter Toerien Productions, with recent shows including Sunset Boulevard, Jersey Boys and The Phantom of the Opera; he explained that they toured “Phantom” through the Far East and Australia packed neatly into twenty-two, forty-four foot crates. That’s about three hundred metres of equipment, a long train or a small ship load. You need to think about the orchestra, the singers, file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] dancers, actors, costume, lights, sound, set, props; it goes on. We did not have those resources. The context too, was a bit thin. Why the “Phantom”, why now? When I was contemplating the question of context, I came across a blog on masks and the Phantom, where some pertinent points were made. The blog commented on the hugely popular super hero genre in films. The conclusion was that what we find most attractive about the genre is the masked hero, or anti-hero. When the hero is de-masked we see through the mystery, the power and the imagined reality of the masked crusader in his or her own world. And is this not what art is all about? Making the invisible, visible. In this frivolous time of social networks, viral You Tube videos and brilliant television series; is it not possible that we still crave the tangible evidence that we are still human? And what better way to celebrate humanity than through the glorious musical, through song and dance, through a masked hero, who is as human as all of us. Perhaps it was revelations such as this that made the rehearsal process run with more ease. From the outset we took the approach of prioritising people and their real gifts above elaborate tricks or unrealistic expectations. The performers were cast by their ability to sing the roles, rather than what they looked like or how they acted. We were blessed with an incredibly talented group, with leads Bryan Hall, Van Wyk Venter and Georgina Borros delivering professional performances from the beginning of the audition process, through rehearsals and into production. Having the skill of professional dancers and choreographers Mr Bonwa Jabu Magubane and Nicholas van der Bos Cameron Clucas, Ian le Roux and Mikhail Khan in the Main Quad, between lessons. 153 Á Student Life Mbontsi and Ms Tegan Peacock, and adult performers Mrs Carlien Walters and Mr Mike Thompson on stage, and with Mrs Kirsty Geldart-Mitchell on lights, a professionalism was introduced that added hugely to the feel of the show. The music, under the direction of Mr Abri Venter, was orchestrated with simplicity and quality under a massively sophisticated score. This was possibly one of the greatest successes of the production. The only request I had from Mr Abri Venter was, after all the intensive song training and musical rehearsals, that they be heard. So it was imperative that we had the best sound. Prosound, with gracious support from Mr Terry Acres, and under the direction of Mr Marc Malherbe, designed a complete surround sound system, provided extra mics, speakers and technical support. The set and lights were designed by Mr Mike Wiblin, another professional in the industry, with experience in school theatre and with a great knowledge of the Schlesinger Theatre. With all this support, and far more, in the end it was boys of Michaelhouse, and the girls of St Annes, who ran the show. With experts at their sides, all involved behaved and performed like professionals. The downside was that very little could captivate an audience in the wake of such a tour de force. The annual Stars Variety concert on 22 and 23 October was done differently, with an improvised pantomime and some musical variety at a time of year when fatigue had set in and the “Phantom” still haunted both audience and creatives alike. It was therefore with great satisfaction that the year was ended with the beautiful voice of Daniele Pascal, hosted on 22 November. The year’s theatre programme ended with a sophisticated, relaxed evening of French café music, sung by a South African legend. Staging a large scale musical is not easy. But the schools around Pietermaritzburg seem to ease out excellent productions on a yearly basis. 1 am grateful to work at an institution that values the arts, and supports culture, as Michealhouse does. We are lucky to be surrounded by other institutions that do the same. Supporting the arts, theatre and cultural events enriches our society hugely. It is, in this time of quick fixes, an inspiring way of celebrating humanity. EXCHANGE PROGRAMME Qhe Exchange Programme for 2013 began with a flurry of activity as we dispatched three of our pupils to the Americas and welcomed three young men to Michaelhouse. Simon Cheshire and Shawn Bailes flew off early in January to Argentina and Chile, respectively, through The Chase Foundation, while Nicholas Van Niekerk went off to Woodberry Forest School in Virginia, USA. Their places were taken by Rafael Cardoza, the third brother in his family to come to Michaelhouse from Mendoza, Michael Turley from Woodberry and Raimundo Eyzaguirre from Chile, the second brother in this family to spend a term here. Both sets of boys had exceptional experiences, as Shawn Bailes stated in his report: “The entire experience was just something that had me mesmerised daily.” The second quarter was again an extremely busy one on the exchange front, as eight of our pupils went out to various schools and we accommodated five boys in return. Firstly, Jason Marshall managed at last to fulfil the exchange opportunity at Loretto in Scotland that was denied him file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] last year through injury. Then Geoffrey Brink and James Strachan visited Christ Church Grammar in Perth, and Ben Adey went to Chile to spend a term at The Grange in Santiago as a guest of the Eyzaguirre family. Charles Houston and Nicholas Harrison went to Trinity in Canada, and Thomas Greig and Daryn Flanegan spent the quarter just outside Dublin at Clongowes Wood, where they were lucky enough to be included in a school trip to Poland and Hungary. These eight boys’ collective experiences are best summed up in the words of Charles Houston: “No matter how much I tell you what it was like and what I did, and even if I showed you every picture I have, you will never truly understand the awesomeness of it all.” In their places, we hosted three extremely friendly and likeable Canadians: Ollie Blecher, Sebastian Bonham-Carter (the son of an Old Boy) and Josh Chipman from Trinity, who even managed to squeeze a trip to Cape Town into their crowded schedule. We also accommodated Charlie Carroll and Max Browne from Ireland. These were both delightful young men and Charlie was another of our family traditions, being the brother of Billy who came here last year. 154 The third quarter is normally our quieter period. This was not to be the case this year as Ferriss Bailey and Miles Curry, two exceptional students from Montgomery Bell Academy in Tennessee, graced our portals for a few weeks. Ferriss had this to say about his visit on his blog: “The entire trip was unbelievable and I would like to thank everyone at Michaelhouse for making the trip possible. I have made good friends and memories to last a long time.” We also welcomed Aidan Williams from Christ Church Grammar in Perth and Nic Kittelty from Christ’s College in New Zealand. We were fortunate to host our first student, Lachlan Ewart, from Scotch College in Melbourne. All of the antipodeans took part in our leadership activities at the end of the quarter, either on the C Block Journey or the D Block Hike, and Lachlan underwent Confirmation in our Chapel after his experiences on the Confirmation Camp. In their places, Thomas Brink was our inaugural exchange student to Scotch College and the Anderson twins, Nick and Ryan, were split up for the first time in their lives as they went to Christ’s College and Wanganui Collegiate respectively, in New Zealand. Tom’s report sums up the collective feelings of these Michaelhouse boys about their exchanges: “Exchange for me was an indescribable experience - one that has had a profound impact on me, and it was extremely special to be able to represent my family, my School and my country in such a way.” The fourth quarter is traditionally one packed full of exchanges and 2013 proved no different. We hosted five boys. Badham Dixon was here from Woodberry Forest; Oliver Wayte came to us from Canberra Grammar; and two more Australians, Nick Stubbs and Daniel Poletto, represented King’s School in Sydney. These were all fine young men who fully involved themselves in Michaelhouse life. We also continued the family tradition, with Alexander Lyddon from Institut St Andre in Belgium spending a term with us, just as his brother, Nick, did in 2007. We also had Albert Prinz von Preussen here, following in the footsteps of his brother Oscar. The following boys represented Michaelhouse abroad last quarter: Dalingcebo Maseko at Canberra Grammar while Trafford Mellville (Cranbrook), Wesley Biggs and Matthew Menear (King’s School) completed our Australian contingent. In the USA we had Thando Mnguni at Woodberry Forest, while Zander Prinsloo and Shingi Vambe spent time at Montgomery Bell Academy. Finally, Billy Dean was placed with the Lyddon family in Brussels and later attended Institut St Andre. Student Life k. Separatedfor the first time, Nicholas Anderson outside his House at Christ's College, Christchurch and Ryan Anderson playing for Wanganui Collegiate in New Zealand. 155 Fordoun is proud of its association with Michaelhouse PO Box 17, Nottingham Road, 3280 • KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa • Telephone: +27 (0)33 266 6217 • Fax: +27 (0)86 603 8778 • [email protected] Student Life k. MATRIC BALL Qead of Committee: Rev Alan Smedley Staff: Ms Joy Preiss, Mr Hannes Ebersohn and Mrs Robyn Gruijters A magnificent evening of glamour, gorgeous girls, sumptuous gourmet dishes and exotic, exciting entertainment was enjoyed by the A Blockers and their fabulous partners on the night of 6 March this year. The theme was Cirque du Soleil and as the young gentlemen and their beautiful partners arrived on the red carpet and passed the carriage, the clowns and the balloons, they were ushered into what could only be described as an overwhelming circus venue with a Ring Master and his clowns to direct them to their seats. It was an altogether grand event. Matthew Potter, our eloquent Master of Ceremonies, kept the show on the road; our Senior Prefect, Ryan Thompson, made us proud by giving a wonderful speech; and we all rose in unison for the Loyal Toast to Michaelhouse. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Photographs were taken in the foyer against an enormous red heart, and couples were able to dress up from the ostrich feather accessories and top hats. The sumptuous meal of prawns, fillet and plated cheesecakes was served throughout the night, with photos, dancing and speeches interspersed between some outstanding circus entertainment. This was undoubtedly the highlight of the night, performed by a troupe from Durban: fire eaters, muscle men, fire dancers and tall men on stilts all added to the magic of the night’s festivities. SOCIALS faster in Charge: Mr Nic Cahill The C, D and E Blockers attended a number of socials at St Anne’s, St John’s and The Wykeham Collegiate. The E Block group of boys enjoyed, as has become traditional, Polar Bear Day early in the first quarter. This ice-breaker event, organised by the prefects of Michaelhouse and St Anne’s, is hosted in alternate years by each school. Meadows was abuzz as the St Anne’s bus arrived. An afternoon of activities designed to encourage the Grade 8 boys and girls to get to know each other then followed before a mass exchange of cellphone numbers. The more formalised socials were enjoyed by some of the boys, although we were never able to meet the required numbers. It seems that an overnight leave is more appealing for a large number of boys. A and B Block boys attended Matric formal dances at various girls’ schools. A difficulty associated with this is that it involves a very late (up to 2am) return to Michaelhouse on a Friday night. The B Block enjoyed a successful dinner and formal dance at Michaelhouse and, as usual, were involved in the Chanel Ball with St Anne’s. This was a really good fixture and our boys did themselves proud. I thank the staff who gave of their time to chaperone and help, and the drivers who spent long hours on the road at night. Wesley Turkington and Oliver Calvert-Evers on Polar Bear Day. Chris Kelland and Mike Bouwer striking a pose with their partners at the Matric Ball. 157 Á Student Life Tree planting for Arbor Day: Stewart Grant, Jonathan Laing, Connor Grealy and Mr Iain Guthrie of MacKenzie. Jaryd Kleynhans Toivo Khumalo, Aidan Schwartz and Mr Johan van Rooyen planting Baines' Wild Pear. ARBOUR DAY SANATORIUM faster in Charge: Mr Paul Fleischack This year, Arbor Day was celebrated on 4 October, when the soil temperature had recovered somewhat after the very dry late winter in Balgowan. Four White Stinkwoods (Celtis africana) and five Red Pear (Scolopia mundii) trees were planted, one by each House and one by the Staff, to record the newly arrived Staff as well as those leaving Michaelhouse at the end of 2013. The trees were planted on the north-facing slope across the stream from Willows and will extend the small arboretum which was established by Mr David Pickstone. An extract of the short presentation by Ryan Thompson, Senior Prefect, follows: “... It has been scientifically proven that the simple presence of a tree has a hugely positive effect on the emotional state of someone and can reduce stress levels quite significantly. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, ‘It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanates from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.’... From personal experience I know that certain places in my life are characterised by their unique greenery and particularly, their trees. When I see an Acacia, my mind immediately travels deep into the African bush, while an Oak tree takes me straight to Warriors’ Walk.” 0ister in Charge: Sr Joanne McMillan Staff: Sr Lauren Richmond and Sr Leisa Albertyn The first quarter saw us chasing our tails trying to complete all the Impact baseline concussion assessments. Boys became a little annoyed with the Impact programme as we had a few technical problems, with the programme freezing halfway into doing the tests. They would then have to start all over again. One lad, in total frustration, put his name down as “first name: very annoyed” and I don’t blame him. An interesting point regarding the assessement is that the American exchange students have all done the Impact baseline at home so they do not need to be done when they play rugby at Michaelhouse as we can get access to their baselines from America. The UK exchange students are still lagging behind. A group of new First Aid troops was trained at level 1 before the rugby season started. Sr Lauren Richmond and I joined the boys to keep our basic life support certificates up to date. I followed this up with the Advanced Cardiac Life Support course in the Easter holidays. We have certainly had one of the weirdest injuries this year when a boy fell on his knees, snapping the tendons that hold the patella in place in both his knees. The knee caps landed up in his thighs and both had to be reattached file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] surgically. He has made a remarkable recovery and will hopefully be back on the sports field next year. 158 Student Life k. We have now had two years of the boys being in good health, with no major flu and gastric outbreaks. We will always have a few ill boys with real or imagined illnesses that keep us on our toes, but nothing like we have had in previous years. Our School physiotherapist, Mrs Debby Ludgater, has been kept busy most of the year and started the year by visiting the School five afternoons a week. At her busiest Debby called on her partner, Mrs Di Godfrey, to assist her. Debby now joins us on Saturdays for rugby matches to help with pre-match strapping and seeing to the First and Second Team injuries on the field and afterwards. This brings Michaelhouse in line with a number of schools. Mr Paul Candler, the School’s biokineticist, now visits us three days a week. This way, he can work more closely with boys on rehabilitation programmes and monitor their compliance more closely. The Sanatorium also offers sports massage and beautician services. The three San Sisters went to the annual School Nurses Conference hosted by The American International School of Johannesburg where many relevant topics were covered. Dealing with ADHD children in the school environment, managing an anaphylactic reaction, growth problems in children, doing CPR and using a trauma board were just a few of the topics covered. We have also attended quarterly meetings with the KwaZulu-Natal Sanatorium Sisters. The fourth term speaker was Dr Sara, an ophthalmic surgeon who spoke on common eye injuries and infections. Michaelhouse hosted this gathering. Sisters Lauren Richmond and Joanne McMillan also attended a SASMA talk on the approach to, and diagnosis of common knee and shoulder injuries at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Joanne attended the SASMA 15 Biannual Sports Medicine Congress at the Wild Coast Sun. Mr Michael Stead, an Intern at Michaelhouse, has been of tremendous support to the First Aid team over the past two years. He led Mark Wood and the First Aid team efficiently and relieved the Sanatorium Sisters of a great deal of pressure. He will be sorely missed as he embarks on his teaching career in Grahamstown. “Fill your time here with laughter, fun and friendship so by the time you leave you have no regrets ” Greg Oldfield, A Block 2013 Cowan House is a proud feeder school to the best high schools in KwaZulu-Natal. "Life and learning for a primary school child should be about experiences, and we, as adults, should strive to create these experiences for our children - both in and out of the classroom environment. We must be constantly aware of imparting skills rather than teaching pure content. It is these individuals who are effectively able to leam, unlearn and re-leam, who are going to be the most significant role players of the future" Rob Odell, Headmaster COWAN HOUSE Co-educational Preparatory School Grade RRR to Grade 7 Boarding Grade 3 to Grade 7 Hilton • Kwazulu-Natal 033 343 3261 [email protected] Be Yourself • Be Reasonable • Be Caring • Be Your Best www.cowanhouse.co.za I 159 A Student Life INTER-HOUSE ACTIVITIES faster in Charge: Mr Allan Laing When opportunity knocks...... Tatham boys open the door! In 2012, the Tatham Inter-House Pancake Race team helped themselves to victory when the two front-runners from West and Baines collided and came to ground in the home straight. Tuesday, 12 February, was no different as the Tatham boys capitalised on a technical error by Pascoe in the dying seconds of the race to clinch back-to-back victories, much to the delight of their green-clad supporters. Now in its 28th year, the annual Shrove Tuesday Inter-House Pancake Race continues to offer high-speed entertainment of the highest calibre. The relay-format race pits five boys from each House against not only their opponents on the track, but also the deafening roars of encouragement and invective from 560 supporters crammed into the Main Quad. The carnival atmosphere of war cries and boys sporting outrageously partisan supporter’s outfits gives way to tense anticipation as for 90 heart-stopping seconds, one boy from each Block per House dashes around the outside perimeter of the Main Quad, flipping his pancake once between each comer bench before handing the pan over to his team-mate. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] East can lay claim to the most spectacular tumble of 2013, but all eyes were on Pascoe and Tatham, as from the start they made the event a two-horse race. Farfield and Mackenzie were always competitive, but it was Tatham’s anchor runner who was best placed to strike as in the dying seconds of the competition, Pascoe’s athlete misjudged his final flip and the crêpe flopped to the ground, allowing Tatham to claim a pancake race double. The finals of the Tug-o-War took place at the Inter-House Athletics meeting and proved to be a most exciting affair. The preliminary rounds were completed during the week and saw the Junior final being contested between East and Baines, with East the final winners. The Senior final was between Tatham and Founders, with Tatham taking the honours. The last of the Big Three, the Pushcar Race, due to be held on Friday 15 November, was postponed due to the wet weather and so was run on Friday 22 November. Again the rain threatened, but held off to allow a full field of eight cars to begin the race. Unfortunately, the East car was unable to complete the race after it left the road as a result of an altercation with the Tatham car. All other cars completed the race, some in better condition than others, with Pascoe as the eventual winners and Baines coming in second place. Inter-House Pushcar Race action with Farfield team members Matthew Woodhouse being propelled by Edgar Lubinga and James Hallier and Founders boys Robert Lee, Luke Thomson and Rocky Knox. 160 Student Life k. INTER-HOUSE PUBLIC SPEAKING ^Jtaff Members in Charge: Mr Dominic Gruijters and Mr Linda Linda Dante Gutu (West) Vincent van der Westhuizen (Pascoe) Rowan Mockler (Mackenzie) Nicholas Harrison (Baines) Heavyweights taking the strain - Senior Inter-House tug-o-war finalists: eventual winners, Tatham and Founders. The Public Speaking Society has been in existence for three years. It offers a platform for growth to all students who are interested in developing their communication skills. The main objective of the group is to help members improve their public speaking and leadership abilities. Our first activity in 2013 started with our participation in the annual society information evening, which was held in the theatre. During this event we were able to persuade those present that our society offers an appropriate platform and opportunities for Michaelhouse students to develop various skills. Our dedicated committee was able to recruit thirty five members from different grades. The society has two meetings every term where students participate in various activities such as debating about current affairs and presenting anything from impromptu speeches to prepared speeches, unprepared speeches, evaluations and video sessions. We participated in the Cultural Week which was held on 18 and 19 March. Inter-House Public Speaking First Round Speakers Juniors: James Strachan (Farfield) Richard Johnsen (Founders) James Smith (East) Seniors: James Hallier (Farfield) Jonathan Goschen (Founders) Neo Ngcobo (East) Dylan Rice (West) Nicholas Stephenson (Pascoe) Gianluca Truda (Mackenzie) Kura Maswera (Baines) Michael McDonald (Tatham) Dalingcebo Maseko (Tatham), Van Wyk Venter (Baines) and Rowan Mockler (Mackenzie) were the top three junior speakers who made it through to the final round. The senior finalists were Nicholas Stephenson (Pascoe), Gianluca Truda (Mackenzie) and Kura Maswera (Baines). The finalists were required to deliver a prepared speech on a predefined topic (Junior Topic: You can never get enough of what you don't want, Senior Topic: Ceaseless internal monologues). All the speeches were delivered with confidence. After the prepared speeches, each finalist was required to deliver an impromptu speech. Results of the Inter-House public speaking were as follows: Elizabeth Sneddon Trophy: Tatham file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Best Senior Speaker: Gianluca Truda (Mackenzie) Best Junior Speaker: Dalingcebo Maseko (Tatham) Thanks to Jonathan Smith, Jonathan Goschen and 161 Á Student Life Nicholas Schram for their expert adjudication in the final round. Ngcebo Maseko participated in the National Public Speaking Competition. Congratulations to Ngcebo, who was placed in the top ten in the competition. He will be participating in the World Public Speaking Competition in 2014 and we wish him success. We wish the current committee all the best in their future endeavours. I commend them for their participation and dedication to growing the society. Our B Block group has been very active this year and they were able to run a successful theme and a programme that everyone enjoyed. I have also been impressed by the involvement of the juniors, who are growing in confidence. James Smith and Stuart Grant made good, thought-provoking speeches during the year and I am pleased with their progress. The society is in a stable position with promising prospects for growth and I have full confidence in the incoming group of leaders. Our goals for 2014 are to increase our membership and to compete with one of the local schools in a public speaking competition. We want to ensure that every member of the society is given the opportunity to participate in the variety of activities which we have scheduled for 2014. Zander Prinsloo makes his point for Baines House. INTER-HOUSE DEBATING Qtaff Member in Charge: Mrs Louise Erwee This hotly contested competition took place over three rounds during Cultural Week at the end of the first quarter. Round One Seniors: Founders vs Mackenzie Winner: Founders Best Speaker: Gianluca Truda (MacKenzie) East vs Baines Winner: East Best Speaker: Neo Ngcobo (East) West vs Tatham Winner: West Best Speaker: Dalingcebo Maseko (Tatham) Farfield vs Pascoe Winner: Farfield Best Speaker: Nicholas Schram (Farfield) Juniors: Mackenzie vs Founders Winner: Mackenzie Best Speaker: Rowan Mockler (Mackenzie) Baines vs East Winner: Baines Best Speaker: Chris Dowsley (East) Tatham vs West Winner: Tatham Best Speaker: Richard Beckett (Tatham) Pascoe vs Farfield Winner: Pascoe Best Speaker: Vincent van der Westhuizen (Pascoe) Round Two Seniors: Farfield vs West Winner: Farfield Best Speaker: James Hallier (Farfield) “To me the sight of this school is inspiration ” Guest of Honour, Headmaster of Hilton College Mr William Falcon, Michaelhouse Speech Day 1934 162 Student Life k. Founders vs East Winner: Founders Best Speaker: Jonathan Goschen (Founders) Juniors: Baines vs Mackenzie Winner: Baines Best Speaker: Dante Ceronio (Baines) file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] INTER-HOUSE ART l^taff Member in Charge: Ms Joy Preiss Awards First: MacKenzie Second: Tatham Third: Pascoe Pascoe vs Tatham Winner: Pascoe Best Speaker: Daryn Flanegan (Tatham) Final Seniors: Founders vs Farfield Winner: Founders Best Speaker: Jonathan Goschen (Founders) Juniors: Pascoe vs Baines Winner: Pascoe Best Speaker: Christian Botha (Pascoe) Senior topics: • This House believes that strict labour laws in South Africa kill off our entrepreneurial spirit. • This House believes that sporting heroes should not receive so much media attention. • This House believes that the developing world stands to gain an unfair advantage from the appointment of Pope Francis. Junior topics: • D and E Block pupils should be allowed the use of their own laptops and iPads during prep. • This House believes that participation in sport at Michaelhouse should be compulsory. • This House believes that technology is killing courtships. Recent Results 2008 Pascoe Founders 2009 Farfield Pascoe 2010 West Pascoe 2011 Farfield Farfield 2012 Farfield Farfield 2013 Pascoe Founders It was decided by the Cultural Committee that the theme for this year’s Inter-House Visual Arts Competition would be Land Art: Endangered Wildlife, and the boys were prepared well in advance by receiving information on Land Art - by viewing the enormous Land Art structure which was erected by Mr Kim Goodwin, a local land artist, for the play Oedipus, which was performed in the amphitheatre in 2012. They were also introduced to the work of Mr Andrew Goldsworthy, a famous international Land Artist who works with natural fibres and materials to create aesthetically beautiful sculptural forms. The team for each House then collected their natural materials, were given string and metal stands to support their forms, and were given two hours to create their magical, mystical endangered creatures in the Mackenzie Quad. The rest of the School were served their lunch while they worked. Music thumped out through the quad, creating an exciting vibe for them to work to. Eventually, when all was complete, Mr Kim Goodwin and Ms Preiss judged the artworks, and the first prize was unanimously awarded to Mackenzie House for the second year in a row for the magnificent dolphins which they had woven from leaves. The dolphins were depicted leaping out of the Mackenzie pond. Tatham House came second for their amazing decorative creation of the capture of a rhino, and third was Pascoe for their exotic flying bird. 163 A Student Life NICK CROW GOOD FELLOWSHIP AWARD Q his award is made each year to a Matric boy who the A Block body adjudge to have displayed the qualities and attributes of all-round good fellowship. The recipient is decided by a ballot taken by all Matric boys and may be awarded to any A Block boy who does not hold the office of School Prefect. The award is presented annually at the Leavers’ Dinner, and in 2013, Tumi Mahlare, who is a House Prefect in Mackenzie, was a most popular and worthy recipient. THE HARRISON FAMILY TROPHY file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Q resented for the first time in 2012, the Harrison Family Trophy is awarded at the annual Leavers’ Dinner to the Matric boy who has achieved the highest points for academic attainment since E Block. In 2013, eventual Dux of Michaelhouse, Steven Clowes was the deserving recipient. In addition to his academic exploits, Steven who was a House Prefect in East will be remembered for guiding the East House E Block group to Inhlosane barefoot. When interviewed he explained: “I grew up on a farm and so spent a large proportion of my childhood barefoot. I did take my takkies along and for the first few kilometers they were hurting my feet so decided to shed the shoes ... it was a conversation starter throughout the trip with constant questions as to how my feet were surviving. Steven concluded: “It was most definitely worth doing ... It is probably one of the best traditions that this great institution has to offer. It also creates memories that will last a lifetime and is a good team building exercise for the Cacks and Prefects. I don’t think anyone can truly experience Michaelhouse and its culture without conquering Inhlosane.” "In this issue a great effort is being made to overcome the reproach -that has many times been levelled at us - that the “Chronicle ” is only of interest to the present members of the School. ” Chronicle 1924 Tumi Mahlare. Steven Clowes. 164 Student Life k 165 A House Reports Central to the Michaelhouse experience, is the House system, with each House being home to approximately 70 boys. There are eight Houses, each one in the care of a Housemaster who is supported by a management team consisting of a Senior Tutor, House Tutors, Home Room Teacher and a Prefect body. Together they are responsible for facilitating a nurturing and structured environment where every boy can feel secure and valued. Houses are the focal point ofgroup identity, friendship and relaxation, and have a healthy rivalry in sporting, cultural and academic arenas. FOUNDERS Written by Stephan Bosch ill ousemaster: Mr Mike Bownes Senior Tutor: Mr Richard McMichael House Tutors: Mr John Alexander, Mr Linda Linda and Mr Chris Waldburger Home Room Tutor: Ms Joy Preiss Interns: Mr Karl Swartz, Mr Nhlaka Nzimande and Mrs Candice Smith Senior Prefect: Ryan Thompson Head of House: Stephan Bosch Prefects: Seth Banda, Ben Clark, Cameron Holenstein, Sebastian Holzbach and Joy Mhlanga For many, 2013 marked the last year of living in Founders House, and what a privilege it has been to call Founders House my second home; a place to find one’s true self whilst surrounding oneself with friends of all kinds. 2013 also marked a year of great anticipation and excitement for many of the men in Founders as we strove towards excellence in all aspects - and in my eyes we achieved exactly that. We may not have shone particularly in any single aspect, but across the board we have done exceptionally well. In sporting or cultural activities, in ethos and in spirit, we have done ourselves proud. Michaelhouse is proud of establishing itself on a system of hierarchies which still allows great interaction and friendships to form whilst upholding principles of trust, honour, honesty, integrity, respect and compassion. For this reason I will start with the individuals who have joined us early this year and make my way through the various Blocks. 2013 brought with it a group of 15 young E Block boys who have become a very well respected and liked group of boys within the House. Homesickness, anxiety and tears weren’t a problem for this group as they all supported one another and have grown together to become a powerful and reliable unit, with each individual contributing valuable aspects. This made the time all the more memorable for everyone. Each year brings with it new challenges and problems, and this group managed to respect everyone around them as well as themselves. They created an atmosphere of fun, hard work and diligence as they not only excelled in one aspect, but rather in all the aspects of House and School life. They produced a total of ten A team sportsmen, two provincial sporting representatives and six boys who came in the top 40 academically. A truly praiseworthy and diverse set of achievements and an exciting future for Founders House. The D Block of Founders was a group which needs to be commended on the example which they have set for the younger boys. D Block boys are what many of the E Block boys regard as being what a Michaelhouse and a Founders file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] boy should be like, and the example set by them is praiseworthy. They took on the principles mentioned above which we as Founders boys are proud to incorporate into our daily lives. The D Block not only comforted the E Block boys, but also challenged one another and pushed one another to strive for greatness in all School and House activities. They motivated and were competitive in every aspect, while still maintaining a sense of excitement and enjoyment in all that they did. In summary, they produced a total of six A team sportsmen, three provincial and two Midlands representatives and four boys finishing in the top 30 in the Block. Culturally, they had boys in the Midlands Youth Choir as well as boys finishing their Grade 1 guitar exams. This group has shown the School as well as one another what they are capable of and I predict that they will continue to grow insofar as their contributions to Michaelhouse and Founders go. C Block marks a year which brings with it new responsibilities and challenges. It’s the first year of becoming a senior within the School and of taking on 166 House Reports k. FOUNDERS: Back Row: Jonathan Goschen, James Quin, Marc Conlon, Otlotleng Mokgatle, Hayden Canham, Patrick Botton, Gary Porter, Leonard von Stackelberg, Kelby Green, Christopher Brownlee, Nicholas Stubbs, Nicholas Llewelen Palmer, Tlhalefang Mangena, Nicholas Anderson, Dale Coughlan, Joshua Geldenhuys Fourth Row: Ryan Anderson, Raimundo Eyzaguirre, Constantin von Stackelberg, Cameron Chaplin, Jack Walters, Brandon Mottram, Tyrone Thompson, James Newton, Geoffrey Brink, Richard Johnsen, Kyle Thompson, Keagan Chasenski, Tom Fleming, Dominic Pickard, Bradley Young Third Row: Thiroshan Naidoo, Likhona Camane, Matthew Baynes, Thomas Brink, Freddie Conradie, Luke Barrell, Matthew Whelan, Kananelo Molobi, Robert Lee, Shingi Vambe, Lethu Mthembu, Basil Kearns, Vuyo Mkhize, James Seabrook, Charlie Seabrook Second Row: Jason Song, Warwick Brink, Evan Thomas, Sean Young, Cameron Jack, Benjamin Jonsson, Rory Ware, Oliver Calvert-Evers, Keynan Knox, Sam Timson, Daniel Smart, Thomas Price, Nnaedozie Ajogwu, Luke Thomson Front Row: Joy Mhlanga, Mr Nhlaka Nzimande, Ben Clark, Mr Linda Linda, Sebastian Holzbach, Mr Richard McMichael, Ryan Thompson, Mr Mike Bownes, Stephan Bosch, Mr John Alexander, Seth Banda, Ms Joy Preiss, Cameron Holenstein, Mr Karl Swartz, Mrs Candice Smith . the responsibilities of time management, higher working standards and of course, the C Block Journey. The C Block of Founders House for 2013 embraced all these challenges. Each individual did his part and contributed to the successes of the group. They managed to produce four A team players, three First Team representatives for various sports, as well as two provincial representatives. Academically, five boys were placed in the top 30 of the Block and culturally, we had two boys starring in leading roles in the School’s theatre production of The Phantom of the Opera. C Block also brings with it the opportunity for a few fortunate individuals within the School to get chosen to go on exchange for a term to a foreign country and to learn about that culture and society. Four boys went on exchange throughout the year, reflecting the strength and diversity which this group possesses. The B Block has always been a group which displays great diversity in all categories. Their camaraderie is something anyone can appreciate. Special mention must be made of Robert Lee and Cameron Chaplin on becoming Senior and Second Prefects for 2014. This is a fair reflection of this fine group of men. They all adopted and displayed positive attitudes towards House events and set a great example for those younger than them. They were able to produce a total of seven First Team representatives, one provincial representative and many Second and Third Team representatives. On the academic and cultural front, the B Block excelled, with boys receiving Academic Honours, starring in the School’s theatre production, becoming Head Choristers and going on exchange to Argentina. The A Block of 2013 took great pride in encouraging younger Blocks to keep a very high standard throughout the year. We hoped to leave Founders House a better place for our efforts and I believe we achieved exactly that. Although on the sporting front we may not have excelled, we shone in ethos, academics, spirit and in setting an example. 167 A House Reports Jason Song, Tom Price, Rory Ware and Cameron Jack competing for Founders in the Inter-House Relay Competition. Grade 12 is a very important year for many as the results from the various sets of exams determine the degree one is able to pursue. I expect great things of the 2013 A Block group; a total of five of them were placed in the top 20 for their Trial Examination results, with two of them in the top 10. Jonathan Goschen finished second in the grade for Trials. Throughout the year A Blockers have upheld this high standard as boys never seemed to cease their brilliant file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] academic output. On the sporting front, the A Block managed to produce three First Team representatives, one provincial representative and a variety of boys representing Second and Third teams. Culturally, Joy Mhlanga excelled not only in his performances in the Inter-House Music Competition but also in being the Christian Fellowship’s lead singer. In summary, 2013 has proven to be a very successful year for Founders House and I have no doubt that when we look back, many will be proud of what we have achieved. Salvete: Edozie Ajogwu, Warwick Brink, Oliver Calvert-Evers, Cameron Jack, Benjamin Jonsson, Keynan Knox, Thomas Price, Daniel Smart, Jason Song, Evan Thomas, Luke Thomson, Rory Ware, Joshua Gibson, Archie Connolly and Andre du Toit Valete: Seth Banda, Stephan Bosch, Christopher Brownlee, Ben Clark, Joshua Geldenhuys, Jonathan Goschen, Kelby Green, Cameron Holenstein, Sebastian Holzbach, Matthew Jennings, Joy Mhlanga, Otlotleng Mokgatle, Thiroshan Naidoo, Ryan Thompson, Leonard von Stackelberg, Patrick Botton, Evan Thomas, Edozie Ajogwu and Joshua Gibson EAST Written by Merrick Pringle QJousemaster: Mr André van Wyk Senior Tutor: Mr James Bullough House Tutors: Mr Matthew Higginson, Mr Mike Thomson and Mr Abri Venter Home Room Tutor: Ms Louise Erwee Interns: Mr Bongumusa Cele and Mr Justin Randall Head of House: Merrick Pringle Prefects: Steven Clowes, Gareth Jooste, Julian Liebenberg, Batebang Mapetla and Joe Sutton It has been a stellar year for East.The House is defined by the extraordinary boys who reside in this, the House of the Rising Sun. I am extremely proud to associate myself with the boys of East and they could not have performed better this year. East House had a very successful year in 2012, which meant that we all carried an enormous amount of House pride and spirit into 2013. With these qualities already set in stone, the aim of the year was to instil a sense of personal pride so that each boy knew that he was responsible for himself - coinciding with the Broken Window theory, which can be simply explained by fixing the minor problems in an attempt to prevent more serious problems from occurring. With the exceptional leadership of Mr van Wyk, as well as the prefect body, I feel that East House has been successful in this regard. With that being said, having a House with such ideal dynamics must as a consequence lead to achievement. It seems that East House was able to represent the School in all areas, with creditable performances in academic, cultural, sporting and Inter-House events. The most commendable were our winning of the junior tug-o-war, narrowly missing out on winning the Inter-House gala by one point and having a very high average effort score for the first three quarters of 2013. The beginning of 2013 saw 16 New Boys enter the House, of which 13 were in E Block. It was astonishing to see how fast they fitted into their new environment; within no time they not only became part of the House but thrived in it. These boys have already made their mark on the School and I have no doubt that they will continue to carry the flags of both East and Michaelhouse high. 168 House Reports k. EAST: Back Row: Luke Macnab, Neo Ngcobo, Connor McMillan, Kenyon Smith, Brandon Landsberg, Craig Lea, Sibusiso Mavuso, Gregory Jackson, Lorenzo Scribante, Wilton Clark, David Broadley, John Robins, Cameron Judge, Jonty Barrie, Matthew Nuttall-Smith, Daniel Nuttall-Smith, George Rowles, Matthew Landsberg Fourth Row: Thebe Magashula, Billy Dean, David Pachonick, Fundile Nkuta, Cuan Macnab-Holding, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Sean Joubert, Johann Winkelmann, Vidura Rajpaul, Jeremy Tratschler, Stefano Raciti, Jordan van Rees, Christopher Dowsley, Ben Crowe, Christopher Broadley, Brad Fyvie, Luvuyo Khuzwayo, Matt Saulez Third Row: Jay Naik, Khulu Mjwara, Siphe Magida, Thomas Dean, James Smith, James Rowles, Stuart Fergusson, Siphesihle Luthuli, Gregg Gilson, Matthew Armstrong, Michael Lavagna-Slater, Richard Perkin, Patrick Garz, David Armstrong, Jason Boulle Second Row: Kagiso Motau, Murray Armstrong, Lance Warburton, Emanuel Zaloumis, Kirin Ramthol, Thomas Witherspoon, Sean Gilson, Nicholas Forster, Christopher Ringwood, James Crowe, Amar Chauhan, Ross Cheshire, Matthew Gerrish Front Row: Mr Bongumusa Cele, Batebang Mapetla, Mr Shaun Thompson, Julian Liebenberg, Mr file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Matthew Higginson, Merrick Pringle, Mr André van Wyk, Steven Clowes, Mr James Bullough, Joe Sutton, Mr Mike Thomson, Gareth Jooste, Mrs Louise Erwee There are a number of notable individual achievements that I would like to acknowledge. It is fitting to begin with the E Block group. On the academic front, Nicholas Forster has shown that hard work and dedication does pay off: he came first in his Block for the first two terms of this year, and second overall in the year. On the sports field we have seen Murray Armstrong, Ross Cheshire, Matthew Gerrish and Nicholas Forster represent the U14A hockey team, with Nicholas representing the KwaZulu-Natal Inland U14A team and Murray and Matthew representing the U14B team. We are also proud of Thomas Witherspoon and Sean Gilson, who represented the U14A rugby team, as well as Christopher Ringwood and Ross Cheshire, who represented the U14A waterpolo team. Special mention must be made of Emanuel Zaloumis, who was placed fifth U14 in the South African Canoeing Sprint Champs this year as well as second in the South African K-2 canoeing marathon. James Crowe represented South Africa in the U18 polo team. It is also worth mentioning that every E Block boy completed the challenging walk to Inhlosane, showing the character and strength of this group. In D Block, David Pachonick performed well on the School’s sports fields by representing the U15A cricket, rugby and soccer teams. Thomas Dean also had a great year captaining the U15A basketball team and representing the U15A soccer and rugby teams. Christopher Dowsley, Michael Slater and Sean Joubert excelled this year in the U15A rugby team. Christopher also made the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands water polo team. On the academic front, Thomas Dean achieved a top ten academic position, while Christopher Broadley represented the KwaZulu-Natal Inland Mathematics team. The C Block is a very talented and well-rounded group. On the sports field, Matt Saulez outdid himself this year by representing the U16A cricket team, the U16A hockey team, the First golf team and the KwaZulu-Natal U19A golf team. He also played South African Schools golf, an outstanding 169 A House Reports achievement for a boy who is only 16 years old. Lee-Marvin Mazibuko and Jordan Van Rees played U16A rugby and both went on to make the U16 KwaZulu-Natal Midlands rugby side. On the cultural side, James Smith stood out this year: he directed as well as acted in the play Reservoir Dogs. He also acted in The Phantom of the Opera. He was the lead act in the play, Robin Hood, and subsequently won the award for Best Up-and-Coming Actor and Director; a praiseworthy achievement. The B Block also had a very busy 2013. David Broadley had an exceptional year on the sports field by representing the First rugby, basketball and soccer teams, as well as receiving Colours for soccer. Simon Cheshire and Fundi Nkuta also represented the First soccer team, with Simon making the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands side. We are proud of Ben Crowe for making the South African U18 polo team and receiving Colours for the sport. Kenyon Smith had yet another fantastic year on the squash court: not only has he been selected as the The Chronicle keeps the “old boys in touch with the school, and vice versa; moreover it keeps the “old boys ” in touch with each other ” Chronicle 1897 A group of East E Blockers: Back Row: Thomas Witherspoon, Sean Gilson, Kirin Ramthol, Amar Chauhan, Emanuel Zaloumis, Lance Warburton and Christopher Ringwood with Mr Justin Randall Front Row: Matthew Gerrish, James Crowe, Kagiso Motau, Ross Cheshire squash Captain for 2014, but he also represented the South African U19 squash team. Luvuyo Khuzwayo represented his group academically by being placed in the top ten of his Block throughout the year, Jonty Barrie gave a brilliant performance in this year’s school play. And last, but not least, the A Block. They are an extremely diverse group with a wide range of talents and abilities. I can confidently say that the A Block set the tone in the House in terms of leading by example. This year, Sibusiso Mavuso was the War Cry leader and it must be said that the quality of the War Cries as well as the way in which the School was motivated by Sibs was nothing short of excellent. We then had Batebang Mapetla, who was Head Chorister and who also represented the Midlands Youth Choir. He also received Drama Honours and Academic Colours. Joe Sutton, I am sure, was the best mathematician at Michaelhouse; he came in the top 100 in South Africa in the Maths Olympiad and deservedly received Academic Honours. Gareth Jooste represented the South African Junior Triathlon team and finished third in the junior category of the Triathlon African Champs that were held in Morocco in April, an achievement for which he earned triathlon Honours. Merrick Pringle and Craig Lea both represented the First file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] waterpolo team, with Merrick as Captain. All in all, it has been a good year for East. The enthusiasm and commitment that the boys showed towards the House was extraordinary and the positive momentum gained this year will put the House in good stead for next year. I would like to thank the tutors in East for all that they do for the boys. The commitment they showed to the boys did not go unnoticed. Lastly, to Mr van Wyk. I think I can speak for East when I say that you have been an outstanding Housemaster this year. You always have your door open when boys need to talk to you and you have been a pillar to lean on for many boys in the House. I can confidently say that you are responsible for making East the place that it is today: a place where every boy feels comfortable and safe. I would like to wish you the best of luck for next year and I’m sure you will take East to even greater heights. Salvete: Murray Armstrong, Amar Chauhan, Ross Cheshire, James Crowe, Nicholas Forster, Matthew Gerrish, Sean Gilson, Kagiso Motau, Kirin Ramthol, Christopher Ringwood, Lance Warburton, Thomas Witherspoon, Emanuel Zaloumis Valete: Steven Clowes, Gareth Jooste, Cameron Judge, Matthew Landsberg, Craig Lea, Julian Liebenberg, Luke Macnab, Batebang Mapetla, Sibusiso Mavuso, Connor McMillan, Neo Ngcobo, Merrick Pringle, Joe Sutton and Daniel Nuttal-Smith 170 House Reports k. TATHAM: Back Row: Aidan Friend, Thomas Scott-Berning, Michael Tatham, Brandon Macleod, Kent Simmons, Duncan Boyes, Richard Beckett, Tim Dommett, Christopher Kelland, Jasper Epsom, Robert Perrott, Dalingcebo Maseko, Farai Mudariki, Joshua Cullinan, Michael Mandy, James de Chastelain, Michael Bouwer Fourth Row: David Jones, Samuel Danton, Luke Dixie, Bradley Roberts, Andrew Edwardes, Patrick Bee hard, Trafford Melville, Anele Songca, Frank Goble, Wenzile Ngcobo, Jonathan Henderson, Guy Schiever, James Redfern, Bruce Rouillard, Lorian Douglas-Dufresne, James Pearson, Campbell Green. Third Row: Murray Church, Tshiamo Mogopudi, Samuel Jarvis, James Dixie, Michael Macleod, Richard Friend, Scott Norris-Jones, Alan Houston, William Winship, Baron Pearce, Nicholas McMichael, Kelvin Green, Thomas Edley, Luke McDonald, Daryn Flanegan, Graham Davies, Daniel Kramer Second Row: Zibonele Nkala, Isaac Jarvis, Joshua Maher, James Bekker, Tlou Maenetje, Cristy Prisacaru, Marco Parau, Ethan Hamilton-Potts, Ian le Roux, Bongi Fleischer, Mphathi Zungu, Richard Bechard, Victor Foster Front Row: Mrs Heléne du Toit, Christopher Schoeman, Mr Hayden Henderson-Everill, Oliver Howard, Mr Bernard Whitaker, Cian Grendon, Mr Nic Cahill, Michael McDonald, Mr Graeme Calway, Shehan Randeria, Mr Sizo Chalufu, Robin Tatham, Mrs Tanith von Mayer TATHAM______Written by Cian Grendon Rlousemaster: Mr Nic Cahill Senior Tutor: Mr Bernard Whitaker House Tutors: Mr Graeme Calway, Mr Sizo Chalufu and Mrs Tanith von Meyer Home Room Tutor: Mrs Helene du Toit Interns: Mr Hayden Henderson-Everill and Mr Shaun Thompson Head of House: Cian Grendon Prefects: Oliver Howard, Michael McDonald, Shehan Randeria, Christopher Schoeman and Robin Tatham It has been an honour to be able to call Tatham my second home for the past five years. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the diversity it embodies which enables each boy to test his limits whilst encouraging excellence in all spheres of School life. In Tatham, we take pride in considering ourselves the flagship House and this attitude is reflected in the essence and the rich history of the House. Once again, Tatham holds on to the Academic Effort and Performance trophies. We also won the Inter-House Pancake Race for the umpteenth time. However, Tatham’s performances do not just encompass hard work and a deep-seated desire to succeed, but also include vital elements such as teamwork and allround inclusiveness. This was evident in our winning of the Senior Inter-House Tug-o’-War and retaining the Inter- House Cross Country title. In many aspects, 2013 can be considered to be a champagne year for Tatham House. This year’s intake of new boys was a considerably smaller group of just eleven; this was due to restricted space. However, a good barometer of the health of the House and the School was evident as this small group showed its strengths and performed not only in the classroom but also in many sporting disciplines. The size of this group has moulded these boys into one of the closest units I’ve encountered, which is remarkable as many E Block groups tend to take some time to adjust and gel with one another. 171 A House Reports file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Among their numerous strengths the most significant is their unfailing enthusiasm and spirit which has allowed them to slot perfectly into the House. It has been a pleasure getting to know these young boys and to see their confidence grow as the year progressed. This year’s D Block continued to impress with their maturity and have set the bar very high for the E Block to follow next year. Bursting with varied characters, each possessing a range of unique talents and high energy levels, they are a special group. Their sincere efforts in integrating the E Block group have been commendable and I encourage them to tackle the rest of their Michaelhouse journey with the same sensibility. The C Block group epitomises the diversity found in Tatham due to its range of different experiences and personalities resulting in a range of aptitudes. They must be congratulated on how they have learnt to embrace their individuality. This group is also home to the majority of the cultural side of Tatham, an absent sphere of life in some other Blocks. This C Block has also been fortunate enough to be joined at the beginning of the year by Albert von Preussen all the way from Germany. Albert will be with us until June 2014 as he furthers his experience of the Michaelhouse way of life and develops his English skills. The manner in which Albert was so easily accepted into the group speaks volumes about Albert’s personality and the boys’ open acceptance. This Block wrestled with the challenge of the C Block Journey. I must thank them for all the good reports I have received, clearly holding the Tatham name high. Well done to all of them for another impressive year. The B Block continued this year where they left off at the end of 2012. The group is filled with kind-hearted boys who have a knack for offering a whimsical comment whenever one is needed. These young men epitomise the spirit of Tatham with their upbeat and happy-to-help attitude. I often marvel at the strength of this group that possesses such different interests and ideals, yet is so cohesive. Rest assured that the House will be in capable and trustworthy hands in 2014. The Tatham A Block of 2013 was aptly described by my predecessor, Mitchell Green, as “a very interesting group filled with numerous big personalities”. Over the past five years, these so-called “big personalities” seem to have driven one another to greater heights and induced excellence in various disciplines. It must be mentioned that half of this group played for the First rugby side and others just on the fringes, but all made their mark in respective areas. We are all indebted to one another for how we have cajoled and pushed each brother to fulfil our potential. As we look back on our time together in the House, there will be heartfelt emotions and memories that will never be erased. 2013 marks the end of not just the A Blockers’ time but also a shift in tutorship as Mr Murray Daniel and Mr Hayden Henderson-Everill, who both formed an integral part of the House, left Michaelhouse. However, this marked a new beginning as Mr Shaun Thompson joined us mid-year, and has become a fundamental part of the House. The House would not be what it is without all the tutors, teachers and the top leadership of Mr Cahill, a man who lives and breathes the Tatham ideal. Salvete: Richard Béchard, James Bekker, Bongi Fleischer, Ethan Hamilton-Potts, Isaac Jarvis, Ian le Roux, TIou Maenatje, Joshua Maher, Marco Parau, Cristian Prisacaru, Mphathi Zungu and Albert von Preussen Valete: Michael Bouwer, Luke Dixie, Tim Dommett, Jasper Epsom, Cian Grendon, Oliver Howard, Christopher Kelland, Daniel Kramer, Michael McDonald, Farai Mudariki, Shehan Randeria, Christopher Schoeman, Kent Simmons and Robin Tatham A group of C Block Tatham boys. Mike Macleod, Sam Danton, Wenzile Ngcobo, James Redfern and Thomas Edley prepare to depart on the D Block Hike. 172 House Reports k. WEST: Back Row: Brent Johnston, Jeremy Butler, Geoffrey Buttle, Matthew Potgieter, Dominic Ferreira, Kingsley Hartmannsgruber, Tyron Kassner, Stuart Riddell, Dylan Rice, Aidan Quin, Adrian Wolfson, Andrew Vogel, Charles Houston, Mulalo Sadiki, Cameron Oldfield Fourth Row: Tshiamo Lesela, Fergus Johnson, Khulekani Zungu, Neo Molope, Alex Hayman, Bradley Mallet, Gillespie Dougall, Thomas Fenn, Sean Rice, Carlisle Hartman, Daniel Taylor, Luke Judge, Dale Tratschler, Kurt Martin, Shaun Tratschler, Luvuyo Kunene Third Row: Henri Strydom, Michael Riddell, Dante Gutu, William Lyle, Alex Sickmueller, Matt Ramsden, Salmon Janse van Rensburg, Jack Hird, Tristan Herwood, Khwezi Kgalema, Luke Bayett, Joshua Winter, Bryan Hall, Matthew Owen, Matthew Watson, James Tucker Second Row: Luvuyo Magwaza, Nkandu Chibwe, Brandon Orleans, Luke Jonsson, Luke Volker, Wesley Turkington, Nicholas Kershaw, Matthew Myers, Dimitri Loupis, Michael Jay, Leighton Quin, Tristan Wolvaardt, Sicelo Mkhumbuzi, Murray Judge, Luke Crouch Front Row: Mr Peter Stevens, Michael Burn, Mr Jaap van der Vegte, Thomas Robertson, Mr Ryno Combrinck, Cameron Bird, Mr George Ferreira, Gregory Oldfield, Mr Michael Stead, file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Justin Morkel, Mr Hannes Ebersohn, Christopher Whiting, Mr Halalisani Xulu WEST Written by Cameron Bird ^jousemaster: Mr George Ferreira Senior Tutor: Mr Ryno Combrink House Tutors: Mr Peter Stevens, Mr Jaap van der Vegte and Mrs Julie Flanegan Home Room Tutor: Mr Hannes Ebersohn Interns: Mr Michael Stead, Mr Hala Xulu and Mr Michael Simpson Head of House: Cameron Bird Prefects: Michael Burn, Justin Morkel, Greg Oldfield, Thomas Robertson and Chris Whiting West House has come into its own during 2013. Evidence of this lies in the numerous achievements of the boys. However, West House prides itself on the brotherhood which is found amongst the peers of this fine House. Bonds and relationships between the boys have grown from strength to strength and this has contributed to the vibrant atmosphere experienced in West. Each year adds its own unique set of talents, memories and relationships. This year, we welcomed 13 new E Blockers into West. Although at first the boys were slightly sceptical of this new environment, they soon settled and began to contribute their own distinctive qualities to the House. This year, Nicholas Kershaw had a great season in his representation in the First tennis team and U14A rugby and cricket sides. He was awarded Half Colours for tennis. Among the U14A waterpolo side that had a successful season were Leighton Quin, Michael Jay and Luke Jonsson, who also led the side as Captain. Luke was also later selected to represent the KwaZulu-Natal U14A waterpolo team. Brandon Orleans enjoyed a commendable season in the U14A basketball 173 A House Reports “There is a demand for a school such as Michaelhouse in which development of character is placedfirst. ” Guest of Honour, ex-Headmaster of Hilton College Mr William Falcon, Michaelhouse Speech Day 1934 side. Wesley Turkington did very well to represent the U15A waterpolo side as well as the U15A rugby side. Mathew Meyers also represented the U14A rugby team. I was very pleased to see all of these gentlemen complete the challenging walk to Inhlosane; this highlighted the perseverance and character found amongst these boys. The D Block can also be identified as a well-rounded Block. Matthew Watson achieved great success on the sports field with his representation in the U15A cricket, soccer and hockey sides. Matthew outdid himself when he went on to represent the U16B KwaZulu-Natal Inland hockey side. Tyron Kassner and Matthew Ramsden played in the U15A waterpolo team. Tyron, as goalkeeper, went on to represent the Midlands waterpolo side. Tshiamo Lesela and Luvuyo Kunene both applied their skills to represent the U15A soccer team. Luvuyo was also selected for the U15A Midlands side. Alex Sickmueller and Carlisle Hartman proved their mettle on the cultural side, performing in the School’s production of The Phantom of the Opera. Carlisle earned himself a much-deserved spot in the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Choir as well as Music Half-Colours, as did both William Lyle and Alex Sickmueller. Dante Gutu obtained a top five position in the Block. SW Janse van Rensburg was exemplary on the athletics field and broke the Michaelhouse Javelin record. This D Block year has much to offer in the future and consists of a diverse group of boys. w The C Block enjoyed a great 2013. Charles Houston was selected to go on exchange to Trinity College in Canada during the second quarter and was an ambassador for Michaelhouse on the athletics field. Charles excelled in the annual Sports Day and received the U16 gold medal. Charles was also regularly placed in the top ten academic ranking, while Alex Hayman received a Gabriel Massey prize for Public Speaking. There were many noticeable achievements for C Block in terms of sport: Mulalo Sadiki and Jack Hird achieved great success in soccer and were subsequently selected for the First XI soccer team, with Mulalo going on to represent KwaZulu-Natal U16. Mulalo, Jack and Thomas Fenn were members of the U16A rugby side. Luke Crouch, Khwezi Kgalema and Gillespie Dougall were all part of the U16A basketball side, with Kwezi being named Captain. Jack Hird and Mathew Owen excelled in the pool. Jack was a member of the U16A waterpolo team and Matthew represented the U15 A waterpolo team. This group also successfully completed the daunting C Block Journey with flying colours. No matter the obstacle, the West men flew the West flag high and returned from the Journey with many memorable lessons and laughs. Our B Block this year was an assorted group of boys. I want to make mention of Bryan Hall for his breathtaking performance in The Phantom of the Opera. Bryan, Khulekani Zungu and Neo Molope enjoyed success on the music front with their respective selections for the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Choir. Neo was also a member of the Stayers basketball team. Cameron Oldfield excelled this year on the cricket field and was a pivotal member of the First XI team. Sean Rice and Geoffrey Buttle enjoyed great success on the golf course Sean was selected to represent the file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] KwaZulu-Natal U18B golf team. Andrew Vogel arrived here at the beginning of the year and settled in easily. He represented the First XV rugby team as well as the First waterpolo team. Andy and Brad Mallet also enjoyed great achievements in academics as Brad was placed second and Andy seventh in the Block, based on the June exams. Dale Tratschler was named athletics captain for 2014. Henri Strydom continued his success on the hockey front and was subsequently selected for the KwaZulu-Natal West House athletes on Sports Day. 174 House Reports k. Inland U18A side. Henri was also named my successor as Head of House. To the B Blockers, you now have the responsibility of leading this excellent House. The younger Blocks will look to you for guidance; never underestimate your influence on the House. Remember to make the most of each opportunity that crosses your path. The way in which you react and respond will define you as a Block. I wish you all the best. Last, but not least, my fellow A Blockers. The A Block was a diverse group of men this year, setting the tone for the House and leading by example. This year, Michael Burn and Adrian Wolfson received their Honours for Academics. Thomas Robertson was elected vice-captain for the First basketball side and played a key role in the Christian Fellowship Committee. Dylan Rice was awarded his Drama Honours and was Captain of the Second Rugby XV. Dominic Ferreira was a member of the First soccer side and also received his Colours for Art. West was lucky enough to have two South African representatives in 2013: Gregory Oldfield, who was selected for the South African U19 cricket side as well as the KwaZulu-Natal U19 Inland cricket team. Aidan Quin, was acknowledged as the Junior Light-Heavyweight boxing Champion of South Africa. Gregory was also named Vice-captain of the First XI cricket team. Cameron Bird and Christopher Whiting represented the First XV and played for the First waterpolo side. They both received their Colours for both disciplines. I will cherish the memories and experiences I have shared with my fellow A Blockers and will hold onto the friendships I have formed forever. I wish you all the best in the years to come. West House has had an amazing year. A big thank you must be extended to Mr and Mrs Ferreira, the tutors and the boys. A mention must also go to Michaelhouse for affording us the opportunity to experience everything that we did. To the men who remain in West House, keep the House spirit going. West is a unique House where bonds of brotherhood are formed. I have high hopes for the future of this House, and leave as a proud Old Boy of West House. Salvete: Nkandu Chibwe, Michael Jay, Luke Jonsson, Murray Judge, Nicholas Kershaw, Dimitri Loupis, Sicelo Mkhumbuzi, Matthew Myers, Brandon Orleans, Leighton Quin, Wesley Turkington, Luke Volker, Tristan Wolvaardt and Malusi Mpofu Valete: Cameron Bird, Michael Burn, Dominic Ferreira, Kingsley Hartmannsgruber, Justin Morkel, Gregory Oldfield, Aidan Quin, Dylan Rice, Stuart Riddell, Thomas Robertson, Christopher Whiting and Adrian Wolfson 175 ^racefood "I watch what fuel I use. Clean and wholesome without compromising on flavour. Eat the best to expect the best!" GREG MINN AAR - Downhill World Cup Champion Make the Change to Real Food Free from: Caffeine, Dairy, Colourants, Preservatives & Gluten. 5.8% Protein from Almonds & Egg whites Simple & Complex Carbohydrates Tastes nice in your mouth Designed by Athletes 359 kj per bar Clean Energy [email protected] • www.racefood.co.za [TO House Reports k. FARFIELD: Back Row: Edgar Lubinga, Jason Marshall, Steven Harris, Brandon Tattam, Michael Hanbury, James Hallier, Luc Maitre, Luke Baber, Thandokuhle Mnguni, Michael Schram, Rory Allan, Justin Miller, Alasdair Bruce, Devon Bownes, Hayden Weaver, Matthew Woodhouse, Matthew Kiln Fourth Row: John Haines, Michael McCarthy, Nicholas Forshaw, Gerhard Serton, Fergus Hat horn, James Strachan, Nicholas Stembridge, Reinhardt Pienaar, Geoffrey Blore, Liam Bowmaker-Wood, Sasha Brook, Nzuzo Dlamini, Benjamin Strachan, Matthew Menear, Gareth Macaskill, Grant Haines Third Row: Craig Heenan, Matthew Lewis, Dasyan Nair, Jake Zilesnick, Ishmael Goolam, Jonathan Doyle, Daluxolo Ngcebetsha, Mark Venter, Zwelakhe Tshabalala, Reece Butler, Kethin Nair. Sabastian Wadeson, Thomas Greig, Aphiwe Mthalane, Busisa Mtimkulu Second Row: Julian Dias, Mike Menear, Liam Parry, Kuhle Khumalo, Tom Rorich, Antony Fleischer, Brandon Roome, Shane Maartens, Vuyile Sowazi, Julian Smart, Ross Dolbey, Brandon Jones, Katlego Mhlongo, Aiden du Toit Front Row: Mr Ian Crawford, Neil Guiney, Mr Msizi Mchunu, file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Mitchell Bird, Mr Righardt Kotze, Murray McDonald, Mr Michael Schwartz, Nicholas Schram, Mrs Win de Wet, Bruce Arnott, Mr Richard Snowden, Luke Stevens, Mr Justin Randall FARFIELD Written by Murray McDonald ^jousemaster: Mr Michael Schwartz Senior Tutor: Mr Righardt Kotze House Tutors: Mr Richard Snowden, Mr Msizi Mchunu and Mrs Win de Wet Home Room Tutor: Mr Ian Crawford Interns: Mr Quinton Moolman and Mr Ian Crawford Head of House: Murray McDonald Prefects: Bruce Arnott, Mitchell Bird, Neil Guiney, Nicholas Schram and Luke Stevens This year has been another incredibly successful year in the life of Michaelhouse. Despite considerable change, it has managed to continue to ride the crest of the wave. Farfield has enjoyed similar success. The challenge of being responsible for fifty-seven mostly younger brothers has been more than compensated for by the pleasure of seeing them grow and mature over the year. The boys of Farfield have left me with the gift of many happy memories here, and for this I want to thank them. Farfield has an incredible reputation. I remember the previous Rector asking me in my interview for E Block what House I’d like to be in. When I replied “Farfield, Sir”, I remember him laughing and saying that more than fifty percent of the applicants of that year had chosen the same, so you can imagine how happy I was to have ended up here. At the time, my impression was that it was a House full of talent sport-wise and academically and that it had incredible warmth. I was partly right, but I now believe that it can attribute its uniqueness to the breadth and depth of talent of its boys. Beyond this, it is a House where everyone gets involved, tries hard, takes care of each other and has fun. 177 A House Reports Whilst the Housemaster, the tutors and the A Block leaders have a significant influence on the House, it is the boys who guide it. They alone have the power to alter or keep that which they feel is important. Beyond this, each grade plays a role in the structure of the House and brings to the group something that is unique. This year’s E Block have fitted in unbelievably well. In their short time here, they have contributed significantly to Farfield’s success. Some outstanding achievements include Ant Fleischer winning the Individual U14 Cup in the Inter- House gala, and Julian Smart and Michael Menear making the Inland U14A hockey side, while Shane Maartens made the B side. Jean van der Westhuyzen represented South Africa in the Junior World Sprints for Canoeing in the Czech Republic. On the cultural front, Brandon Jones received a standing ovation from the School for his rendition of Skyfall by Adele during the Inter-House Performing Arts evening. When I reminisce on the D Block of 2013,1 marvel at this group’s unity and their maturity when it came to conflict resolution. They, like the E Blockers, have contributed significantly. In a very strong group, some outstanding achievements were that of Nicholas Forshaw who made the South African sailing team which attended an international regatta in Italy, and Mathew Kiln who made the U15A KwaZulu-Natal tennis side. Craig Heenan and Jean van der Westhuyzen won the South African U16 Canoeing River Championships. On the Academic front, Nicholas Forshaw ended 2012 placed, in the top five in the Block. The C Block seems to have been the only grade to remain constantly calm throughout the year. They have an incredible work ethic and have managed to stay focussed despite the distractions associated with C Block, including personal laptops. Thando Mnguni, James Strachan, Matthew Menear and Thomas Grieg were all chosen for the Exchange Programme. On the sports field Gareth Macaskill and Justin Miller made the Inland U16A hockey side, while Sebastian Wadeson made the Inland U16B hockey side. James Strachan made the KwaZulu-Natal U19B tennis team. As a C Blocker, Gareth Macaskill excelled on the hockey field, representing the First XI and scoring a number of goals. The House’s future leaders in B Block are a great bunch of individuals who work well as a group. I have no doubt that together with Mr Elmar De Klerk, Farfield is in safe hands. They have produced some incredible individual results this year. Jonathan Doyle and Michael Schram received Academic Colours and Michael also earned a bronze award in the English Olympiad. James Hallier was placed 29,h in the country for debating and won the Best Performance in the Spud Awards. On the sports field, Jason Marshall and Brandon Tattam made the U17 Inland team for cricket and Jason was selected for a cricketing exchange to Scotland. The A Block has had a good year. Nicholas Schram received Academic Honours, refereeing Honours, KwaZulu-Natal Colours and a merit certificate in the English Olympiad. Luke Stevens won the Michaelhouse Best Sportsman Award. He received squash Honours, won the School Championship and made the South African U19 team. In addition, he received Honours for cricket and made the U19 Inland cricket side as well as making the KwaZulu-Natal U19B file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] hockey side. Bruce Arnott captained the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Sevens side. Mitchell Bird won the Open Victor Ludorum at the Inter-House gala, received academic Honours and a bronze award in the English Olympiad. Murray McDonald received Honours for canoeing and Devon Bownes, together with his father, won the Michaelhouse Father and Sons’ Golf Day. This A Block group has been through thick and thin. I want to say thank you for the help that they have given me throughout this year and for the incredible friendships we have formed. There are a number of other significant Shane Maartens and Katlego Mhlongo with their Prefect, Neil Guiney. Mitchell Bird with Ant Fleischer and Ross Dolbey on the summit of Inhlosane. 178 House Reports k. achievements that did not appear above, namely that Devon Bownes, Hayden Weaver and Steven Harris were part of the CF Committee; Brandon Tattam scored two 100s in the first quarter; Nick Schram, Michael Hanbury, Dasyan Nair, Geoff Blore and Antony Fleischer swam the Midmar Mile; and Murray McDonald came tenth in the U18 category of the Dusi Canoe Marathon. A number of boys received certificates for good work at the annual Prize Giving ceremony: B Block - Bruce Amott, Mitchell Bird, Nicholas Stembridge, Nicholas Schram, Kethin Nair, Hayden Weaver, Luke Stevens. C Block - James Hallier, Ali Bruce, Sasha Brook, Jonty Doyle, Michael Schram, Luke Baber, Steven Harris. D Block - Dasyan Nair, Thando Mnguni, Tom Greig, Rory Allan, Geoff Blore, Matthew Menear, Justin Miller, John Haines, Michael McCarthy. E Block - Nicholas Forshaw, Matthew Kiln, Fergus Hathorn. Luke Stevens won the KwaZulu-Natal Open squash tournament and is currently ranked seventh in U19 in South Africa; Luke and Paul Maitre won the Farfield Golf day which was again successfully organised by Mr Derek Macaskill. Nicholas Schram received cultural Colours; Craig Heenan received his KwaZulu-Natal Colours for U14 canoeing; and Ant Fleischer was selected for the KwaZulu-Natal U14 waterpolo team. Bruce Amott received his KwaZulu-Natal Colours for 7s rugby and Nicholas Forshaw received his KwaZulu-Natal Colours for sailing. At the Inter-House athletics, the event Age Group champs were: U14 silver medal Tom Rorich, U17 bronze medal Jason Marshall, U19 bronze medal Mitchell Bird. At the Fish River Marathon, Craig Heenan and Jean van der Westhuyzen came second in the U16 K2 event. Neil Guiney earned basketball Colours. The Bradford Cup for School squash champion and the Deon Royappen trophy for Commitment and Achievement in Squash were awarded to Luke Stevens. Bronze President’s awards went to Luc Maitre and Nicholas Schram, and the Debating Society Prize went to Nicholas Schram. Colours for cricket were awarded to Jason Marshall and Brandon Tattam. The House as a whole has maintained its competitive edge in the various Inter-House events, coming second in junior and senior debating, second in canoeing, second in junior and senior cross country, second in junior tennis, first in Inter-House movement, first in senior tennis and most importantly, first in Inter-House athletics - for the eighth consecutive year in a row! Finally, thanks must go to Mr Schwartz for all he has done for the House during his tenure as Housemaster - for the numerous House braais, caramel cakes, trips to Ushaka, McDonalds and King’s Park for rugby, and for the one and only Farfield Golf Day. His weekly newsletters have kept parents informed and he has guided and inspired us, both individually and as a group. He definitely leaves the House in good shape. To those who remain after we have left, keep the Farfield flag on the bell tower flying high. To the boys of Farfield, remain true to yourselves. Thank you for great memories and an amazing five years. Salvete: Julian Dias, Ross Dolbey, Aiden du Toit, Ant Fleischer, Brandon Jones, Kuhle Khumalo, Shane Maartens, Mike Menear, Katlego Mhlongo, Liam Parry Brandon Roome, Tom Rorich, Julian Smart, Vuyile Sowazi, Jean van der Westhuyzen and Joseph Bracken Valete: Bruce Arnott, Mitchell Bird, Devon Bownes, Nzuzo Dlamini, Neil Guiney, Murray McDonald, Kethin Nair, Nicholas Schram, Nicholas Stembridge, Luke Stevens, Hayden Weaver, Matthew Woodhouse, Liam Parry and Sebastian Wadeson Farfield D Blockers kitted out for the D Block Hike. 179 A House Reports PASCOE: Back Row: Cameron Hampson, Aidan Versfeld, Tyran Faber, Matthew Davies, Dale Beckley, Nicholas Glassock, Anthony Stroud, Jonathan Thurling, William Lotter, Barrie Forrester-Smith, Kyle Baird, Nicholas Egberink, David Geard, Robbie Leclezio, Liam Furniss, Mogale Makgekgenene Fourth Row: Jason Schwegmann, David Karam, Christian Botha, Ntobeko Ntombela, Nicholas van der Bos, Thomas Walker, Mayibongwe Mkhize, Zuko Fukula, Luke Browett, James Overmars, Tsakani Baloyi, Joshua Markides, Jan-Frederick Krumhoff, Ayanda Ngcobo, Todd file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Dinkelmann, Nick Elliot, Nicholas Herbert Third Row: Joshua Paynter, Mpumelelo Shezi, Jordan Sacks, Pule Ngwenya, Vincent van der Westhuizen, David Maritz, Callum Deeble, James McCormack, Ross Egberink, Alessio de Luca, Blake Springate, Matthew Hoar, Luke Versfeld, William Lister-James, Liam Flanagan Second Row: Matt Wiseman, Poonyane Molefi, Dylan Paynter, Odirile Losaba, Nicholas Tooze, Jack McLaughlin, Milan-Reece Venter, Nicholas Mundell, Cameron Clark, Joshua Sharrock, Thabiso Ntshulani, Sebastian Merven, Ndumiso Ntombela, Justin Seymour Front Row: Mr Rodney Zondi, Mr Andrew Brown, Guy Tatham, Mr Deon Royappen, Justin Clarke, Mr Gavin Ross, Ciaran Furniss, Mr Peter Huntley, Matthew Joubert, Ms Lisa Hardie, Kyle Pyne-James, Mr Dominic Gruijters, Jabulani Magubane, Mr Andrew Laing, Nicholas Stephenson PASCOE Written by Ciaran Furniss 0ousemaster: Mr Peter Huntley Senior Tutor: Mr Gavin Ross House Tutors: Mr Andrew Brown, Mr Dominic Gruijters and Mr Deon Royappen Home Room Tutor: Ms Lisa Hardie Interns: Mr Andrew Laing and Mr Rodney Zondi Head of House: Ciaran Furniss Prefects: Justin Clarke, Matthew Joubert, Jabulani Magubane, Kyle Pyne-James and Guy Tatham Pascoe can be extremely proud of another successful year. 2013 has been marked by achievement and accomplishment for the House. We have maintained our focus and we continued to build on our already strong House traditions. The New Boys were well received in the House. There were a few ups and downs in the beginning and a bit of a shaky start, but once they adjusted to boarding school life and became accustomed to each other, they managed to move forward and did the House proud during their E Block camp. Pascoe holds a long tradition of boys doing their best in every sphere of School life. Whether it is in the classroom, on the sports field or on the stage, they are more than willing to get involved. This was reflected through our winning the overall Inter-House water polo, the Inter-House plays, coming third in the Inter-House swimming and narrowly coming second in Inter-House athletics to Farfield. This year, we were proud to have many cultural achievements, including Kyle Pyne-James’ production, Grey Days. It received numerous accolades, including the Spud Award. Kyle received Honours for his contribution to Drama. We also had many boys in the brilliant school play, The Phantom of the Opera, and in the Matric piece, The Hawk. We had six boys in the Toastmasters Society, while Matthew Davies, Tsakani Baloyi and Kyle Pyne-James received scholarships from the New York Film Academy to go study House Reports k. film and acting in the States. Blake Springate accomplished a bronze in his President’s Award and Tsakani Baloyi and Pule Ngwenya represented both Pascoe and the School in the Midlands Youth Choir. The sporting accomplishments are vast and numerous as many boys achieved in many different aspects. We were home to three of the First Team captains in the School. Kyle Pyne-James, in between writing and starring in his plays, was Captain of the First XI cricket team, which won the Sunfoil Night Cricket league and were unbeaten in South Africa during the Michaelmas Week Tournament. Kyle was made Captain of the U19 KwaZulu-Natal Inland Cricket team and played alongside Barrie Forrester-Smith, who was also selected to represent U19 KwaZulu-Natal Inland. Nicholas van der Bos was Captain of the First squash team which proved to be one of the most successful sporting teams in the School, having been placed eighth in the country. Guy Tatham was First XI Hockey Captain and was selected to represent KwaZulu-Natal Inland U18B - he was also made captain of that team. Along with these great leadership accomplishments there were many individual achievements in the sporting sphere. The majority of the first team sports in the School had a huge Pascoe input. Tyron Faber and Jason Schwegmann were selected for KwaZulu-Natal U18 water polo; Dale Beckley played for KwaZulu-Natal U18 hockey; Thomas Walker represented U18 KwaZulu-Natal Academy B rugby and played U18 KwaZulu-Natal 7s rugby; Matthew Wiseman played U16 KwaZulu-Natal soccer; Nicholas Elliot played U19 KwaZulu-Natal Inland cricket; Luke Browett received his KwaZulu-Natal Colours for triathlon, represented Midlands water polo and won the Inter-House Athletics Junior Victor Ludorum; James McCormack and Justin Seymour represented Midlands water polo and were joined by Callum Deeble, who not only represented Midlands water polo but was also selected for the KwaZulu-Natal squad. With all of these great sporting triumphs the boys still managed to shine academically. We had top ten appearances from Justin Clarke, Matthew Joubert, Nicholas Stephenson, Cameron Hampson, Mayibongwe Mkhize, Blake file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Springate, Christian Botha and Nicholas Mundell, and a first in the Block by James Overmars. Justin Clarke and Nicholas Stephenson were awarded Academic Honours and Matthew Joubert was awarded Academic Colours. William Lotter received an English Olympiad Gold Certificate and Christian Botha represented the Midlands debating team. Unfortunately, not everything has been a smooth ride this year. In September, we lost Mr Deon Royappen, a Tutor in Pascoe, to a fatal heart attack. This tragic loss hit the Pascoe community hard as we had lost a dear member of our family. Mr Royappen was a loved and appreciated man amongst the boys of Pascoe and of the School. His friendliness and kindness which he showed to everyone will never be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family; may God be with them and watch over them. We thank Mr and Mrs Huntley for all the time and effort they have put into the House and for all that they have done for the boys. Their work is much appreciated and they definitely have made Pascoe a House worth calling a home. Unfortunately, Mr Huntley had some difficulties in the latter part of the year, but being the tough College boy that he likes to brag about being, he overcame his difficulties and we are glad to see him back on his feet and doing what he does best. A huge thank you must go out to the boys of Pascoe House. Without them none of these accomplishments and successes would have been achieved. They have all reflected the spirit of Pascoe in everything they have done and they have flown the flag proudly. 2013 has been a successful year for Pascoe and it is all because of the 68 Pasconians who’ve done the House justice. Gentlemen, it has been an honour and a privilege. Salvete: Cameron Clark, Odirile Losaba, Carl Lubbe, Jack McLaughlin, Sebastien Merven, Poonyane Molefi, Nicholas Mundell, Ndumiso Ntombela, Thabiso Ntshulani, Dylan Paynter, Joshua Sharrock, Nicholas Tooze and Milan-Reece Venter Valete: Justin Clarke, Barrie Forrester-Smith, Ciaran Furniss, Matthew Joubert, Jan-Frederick Krumhoff, Robbie Leclezio, Jabulani Magubane, Ayanda Ngcobo, Ntobeko Ntombela, Kyle Pyne-James, Nicholas Stphenson, Guy Tatham, Jonathan Thurling, Nicholas van der Bos, Alessio de Luca and Milan-Reece Venter Matthew Hoar, Nicholas Herbert, James McCormack and Vincent van der Westhuizen competing for Pascoe Standard Points in Athletics. A House Reports BAINES: Back Row: Helger Pretorius, Devan Cowley, PG Buys, Fergus Magor, Jaryd Kleynhans, Juan-Luc Clackworthy, Chad Fourie, Patrick Hughes, Tyrone Arnold, Amman Yusuf, Michael Hinchley, Ibukunoluwa Shonibare, Robbie Lynn, Aidan Schwartz, Ross Purbrick, Jacques Badenhorst, Douglas Byrne Fourth Row: Dante Ceronio, Sduduzo Buthelezi, Angelos Geranmayeh, Qhayiya Lujiva, Bader-Werner Pretorius, Michael Turley, Declan Clackworthy, Tony Berten, J Smith, Van Wyk Venter, N Harrison, Charles Janse van Rensburg, Drew Shiel, James Laidlaw, Joe Coyne, Louis Albertse Third Row: Warwick Albertyn, Thabang Dloti, Junior Buthelezi, Phila Mtshali, Mkuzo Kuwani, David,Long, Angelo Lissoni, Zander Prinsloo, Tristan Hughes, Philip Melouney, William Lin, Ruger Lin, Andre Reeves, Armin Prinsloo, Joshua Adlington-Corfield, Stuart Beach Second Row: Damon Hinchley, Robert Melouney, Daniel Hughes, Lewis Kamau, Solomon Marx, Bradley Lovett, Kani Malekela, Toivo Khumalo, Bruere Venter, Matthew van Eeden, Stephen Brown, Cameron Fellner, Marcel van Niekerk-Edwards Front Row: Mr Craig Pieterse, Mrs Kate Smedley, Daniel van der leeuw, Mr Chris van der Berg, Darren de Beer, Mr Sibusiso Ncamane, Kura Maswera, Mr Johan van Rooyen, Lonwabo Mgoduso, Mr Bailey Coxon, Dominic Pretorius, Mr Jonathan Smith, Mark Wood, Mr Thabiso Nkabinde, Gareth van Wyk BAINES______Written by Kura Maswera 0ousemaster: Mr Johan van Rooyen Senior Tutor: Mr Sibusiso Ncamane House Tutors: Mr Chris van der Berg, Mr Bailey Coxon and Mr Jonathan Smith Home Room Tutor: Mrs Kate Smedley Interns: Mr Craig Pieterse and Mr Thabiso Nkabinde Head of House: Kura Maswera Prefects: Darren de Beer, Lonwabo Mgoduso, Dominic Pretorius, Daniel van der Leeuw and Mark Wood Having been part of this, the Baines family, has been such a special part of my life. I will cherish it forever. It has been an amazing process to see both my fellow A Blockers and all the boys become exceptional people in whatever they do. The spirit and camaraderie that they have shown by valuing each other has been a significant part of what makes Baines House so special. The personalities that we are home to shows clearly how diverse this House is and drives the fact that boys can achieve amazing things, whether it be academically, culturally or on the sports field. All boys have shared heartily in their brothers’ successes and failures which has made their bond stronger. Breaking the long drought of not having won the Inter-House swimming gala shows how special this year has been. This year, we welcomed two new Staff members: file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Mr Jonathan Smith, who became a House Tutor, and Mr Thabiso Nkabinde, who came in as an Intern. Although Mr Nkabinde’s time with us was short-lived, he made a remarkable impact on the boys and for that we say thank you. We said hello to a small group of eleven New Boys at the start of 2013. They may have been small in stature and numbers, but they more than made up for it with their constant presence and eagerness to be part of the House, be it by playing soccer on Punchbowl or watching a Springbok game in the dayroom. They have been a fantastic addition to the House and will go on to achieve wonderful things in this red-brick fortress. 182 House Reports k. The E Blockers proved to be a force to be reckoned with as they established themselves as an all-round group. On the sporting front, Stephen Brown and Robert Melouney were chosen for the KwaZulu-Natal squash team. Their fellow Baines boy, Bruere Venter, went on to win the Michaelhouse Junior Squash Championships in his first year at Michaelhouse. Bradley Lovett and Solomon Marx represented the U14A rugby team. Bruere Venter and Bradley Lovett represented the U14A water polo team and Daniel Hughes represented the U14A basketball team. In the academic arena Toivo Khumalo has consistently come in the top five in the Block through his work and dedication. Cameron Fellner has represented the cultural side by passing his Grade 4 drum exam in E Block which bodes well for his musical contribution at Michaelhouse. The D Blockers picked up where they left off at the end of 2012 with Mkuzo Kuwani, Angelo Lissoni, Armin Prinsloo and a newcomer to the fold, Warwick Albertyn, dominating in academics: all of them came in the top ten for academics in their block. It has been a stellar year for Mkuzo. He has worked efficiently at his academics even though he is a year younger than the others. He has gone on to captain the U14A soccer team and U14A rugby team and he was a valuable member of the U14A basketball team. He also won the U14 100m race on Sports Day. Armin Prinsloo, Jaryd Kleynhans and Aidan Schwartz represented the UI5A rugby team. Jaryd captained the U15A basketball team. David Long won the Lions River Conservation Award on Speech Day in recognition of all his hard work for the environment. Warwick Albertyn and Declan Clackworthy have continued their great contribution to the Canoeing Club. This group of boys also helped the New Boys adjust to the House environment, which was most helpful. What an incredible group of C Blockers we have; they have the Baines “gees” flowing through their veins. A tight-knit group, they too have achieved a lot this year. Nicholas Harrison, Zander Prinsloo, Nicholas van Niekerk and Dante Ceronio worked hard and dedicated themselves to their schoolwork. Stuart Beach had his first solo flight as a pilot. We had three participants in the Douglas Cup golf team: Dante Ceronio, Jaques Badenhorst and Bader Pretorius, who played valiantly for their teams. On the rugby field we had Qhayiya Lujiva, JJ Buthelezi and Bader Pretorious representing the U16A rugby team, with Bader as the captain. Bader went on to represent the First sevens team and the KwaZulu-Natal Grant Khomo rugby team, where he went on to be the top scorer at the tournament, capping off an amazing year. Zander Prinsloo represented the First Team rugby in C Block which showed how much his courage and hard work had paid off. JJ Buthelezi represented the U16A soccer team and Ibukunoluwa Shonibare and Qhayiya Lujiva played for the U16A basketball team. Charles van Rensburg received gold in the swimming gala, swimming a time that qualified him for swimming Colours. Culturally, Nicholas van Niekerk came 37"' in the Nationals for high school debating whilst Van Wyk Venter represented the Midlands Youth Choir which won the national competition. On sports day Nicholas Harrison won the award for the Best Performance in a Track Event which capped off a wonderful performance for Baines. The B Block, next year’s leaders in Baines, have established a solid base for the House through their example and achievements. James Laidlaw represented the KwaZulu-Natal squash team. He and Juan-Luc Clackworthy represented the First squash team. Juan-Luc, Joe Coyne and Chad Fourie went on to play in the First XI hockey and were part of a formidable team. Joe Coyne received his Silver President’s Award and his Service Colours, whilst Fergus Magor as the Head of the Agricultural Society won the John Henderson Agriculture Prize as well as the Senior IsiZulu Prize. Angelos Geramayeh was elected Vice Chairman for the Toastmasters society and was a consistent member of the top five academically. Robbie Lynn and James Laidlaw achieved Amman Yusuf and Louis Albertse representing Baines in the Declan Clackworthy, Junior Buthelezi, Marcel van Niekerk- Inter-House Tug-o-war. Edwards and Armin Prinsloo on the D Block Hike. 183 A House Reports in the De Beers English Olympiad, with Robbie receiving a silver medal and James receiving a bronze medal. Helger Pretorius was part of the U18A canoeing team. Chad Fourie and Louis Albertse represented the First golf team in the file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Douglas Cup, where they played very well. This is a diverse and energetic group of boys to whom I wish the best of luck in their leadership of this great House next year. The Baines A Block were an exceptional group of people. They led the House with such poise and compassion that it created an environment where all the boys could feel comfortable. Lonwabo Mgoduso, Darren de Beer and Dominic Pretorius received Academic Honours for their excellent effort in the academic field. Darren de Beer was elected as the swimming Captain and Baines went on to win the Inter-House Gala. Darren also played for the First waterpolo team. Tony Berten and Patrick Hughes represented the First basketball team and both received Half Colours for their great contribution. Baines had the fastest man in the School in Michael Hinchley, who ran the fastest time in both the 100m race and the 200m race; he dominated the athletics scene and it was special to watch him breeze past all his competitors on the day. Mark Wood and Dominic Pretorius were part of the cast of the hilarious Matric play, which was a pleasure to watch. Darren de Beer received the Classical Music Prize for his beautiful work on the cello. Mark Wood also received his Performing Arts Colours. Achievements aside, this group of men whom I am proud to call my brothers have been an amazing part of this House. Their presence will be missed, but their influence will live on long after they have left. Thank you to the Prefects of 2013. You have been fantastic leaders of the House and are the type of people that Michaelhouse hopes to develop. Your support and friendship have been so dear to me and your constant enthusiasm has been the reason that there have been no hiccups this year. At the end of this year, we say goodbye to Mr and Mrs van Rooyen who step down as Housemaster and Housemother, respectively. Your contribution is far greater than words can describe. You have transformed Baines from a mere boarding establishment to a home for all who pass through its doors. Thank you for everything that you have done for us. I have the utmost faith that Mr Richard McMichael as the new Housemaster and Angelos Geranmayeh as Head of House will lead Baines to new frontiers, with the support of the House firmly behind them. I know they will achieve great things. I wish them and the rest of the House the best of luck for next year. Salvete: Stephen Brown, Cameron Fellner, Daniel Hughes, Lewis Kamau, Toivo Khumalo, Bradley Lovett, Kani Malekela, Robert Melouney, Solomon Marx, Matthew van Eeden and Bruere Venter Valete: Tyrone Arnold, Tony Berten, PG Buys, Darren de Beer, Michael Hinchley, Patrick Hughes, William Lin, Kura Maswera, Lonwabo Mgoduso, Phila Mtshali, Dominic Pretorius, Drew Shiel, Daniel van der Leeuw, Gareth van Wyk, Mark Wood and Douglas Byrne MACKENZIE Written by Matthew Potter housemaster: Mr Iain Guthrie Senior Tutor: Mr Elmar De Klerk House Tutors: Mr Paul Snyman, Mr Dean Forword and Mr William Silk Home Room Tutor: Mrs Mary McMichael Interns: Mr Sanele Zikhali and Mr Andrew Duncan Head of House: Matthew Potter Prefects: Connor Grealy, Joseph Johnson, Jonathan Laing, Tumi Mahlare and Khwezi Majola Mackenzie is a House that is known for achieving in a wide variety of School and extracurricular activities, and this year has been no different. In the very first assembly of the year, Mackenzie was awarded the Inter-House Service Shield for our excellent contribution to the Khazimula Community Service project and various other service initiatives. On this note, Branagth Cooper-Botha must be commended for his tireless support of these causes and has deservedly been awarded his Service Honours. At the beginning of 2013, Mackenzie welcomed a diverse and highly talented group of 15 New Boys to the House. As is typical of any new group, living together in such close quarters can pose some difficulties initially; however, they have faced up admirably to their fair share of challenges and have settled in really well to life both in Mackenzie and throughout the School. Their achievements over this past year bear testimony to that: academically, Richard Johnston (sixth) and Koyejo Adeleke (tenth) have both been placed in the top ten during the course of this year. On the sporting front, Koyejo Adeleke represented the U14A soccer team, as did Simokai Madiro and Richard Johnston who also played U14A basketball and rugby, respectively. Robbie Ellison represented the U14A waterpolo team; and special mention must be made of Troy Nijland, who represented the U14A teams for cricket, rugby and soccer and was subsequently chosen for the U14 Midlands soccer team. The D Blockers have maintained a strong rapport throughout the School during the course of this year and have also produced some fine results to show for that. Both Samkelo Mvune and Rowan Mockler maintained top ten positions in the Block, with Rowan being placed second for the year. These top results were accompanied by a multitude of green cards - evidence of their consistent efforts. Rowan Mockler and Josh Buys represented the U16A hockey team, while Siya Khoza represented the U16A soccer team and file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] was House Reports k. MACKENZIE: Back Row: Wesley Biggs, Branagth Cooper-Botha, Kyle van Greunen, Coulsey Savory, Tadiwanashe Musendo, Stewart Grant, Victor Monkoe, Jordan Sesink Clee, Kingsley Corbett, Gianluca Truda, Sam Dovey, Ross Laing, Patrick Dillon, Senzo Tembe, Ryan Zoutendyk, Michael Greer, Michael Buchholz Fourth Row: Murray Williamson, Jonathan Stephenson, Arturo Cuturi, Robert Wood, Kyle Dalton, Angus Usher, Brendan Bergs, Luke Tomlinson, Scott Nijland, Dillan van der Westhuizen, James Hadley-Grave, Gregory Vogel, Ben Adey, Nicholas Richardson, Toby Francombe, Jonathan Smith Third Row: Mark Hadley-Grave, David Martin, Rowan Mockler, Thomas Erskine, Mthobisi Cele, Ryan Price, Joshua Buys, Daniel Sesink Clee, Lesedi Mokoena, Greg Reynolds, Tim Coxon, Siyabonga Khoza, Samkelo Mvune, Ross Nalson, Cameron Rawlins, Christopher Lotze, Daniel Roberts Second Row: Kabelo Zulu, Khanya Tutu, Hendré de Villiers, Greg Kusel, Michael Craig, Mikhail Khan, Simukai Madiro, Richard Johnston, Cameron Clucas, Koyejo Adeleke, Reece Corbett, Troy Nijland, Robert Ellison, Sean-Michael Price, Sean Li Front Row: Mr Sanele Zikhali, Mrs Mary McMichael, Joseph Johnson, Mr William Silk, Connor Grealy, Mr Elmar de Klerk, Matthew Potter, Mr Iain Guthrie, Tumi Mahlare, Mr Andrew Duncan, Khwezi Majola, Mr Paul Snyman, Jonathan Laing, Mr Dean Forword, Mrs F.Msimang subsequently selected for the KwaZulu-Natal U16 team for his efforts. Outside of regular School sports, the D Blockers have performed commendably, with Michael Buchholz being placed sixth in South Africa for kart racing and Thomas Erskine being selected for the KwaZulu-Natal equestrian team. C Block is a year that presents a wide range of new opportunities in the form of exchange programmes as well new prospects within the School, and it is abundantly clear that the Mackenzie C Blockers have capitalised on those opportunities with distinction. We congratulate Dan Roberts, Ben Adey and Wesley Biggs on their selection for the exchange programme this year and for proudly waving the flag of Mackenzie House and of Michaelhouse abroad. Mackenzie has also been well represented on the sports field in the U16 age group, with Jordan Sesink-Clee and Luke Tomlinson playing for the U16A rugby team. Lesedi Mokoena, Luke Tomlinson and Scott Nijland played for the U16A soccer team (both Lesedi and Luke were also selected for the Midlands U16 team), and Dan Roberts achieved his KwaZulu-Natal tennis colours in the U19 age group. Academically, Ben Adey was placed second in the Block this year and Robert Wood was placed third in the School in the CAT Olympiad and earned a gold medal at this year’s Science Expo. If the superb efforts and achievements of the Mackenzie B Block this year are anything to go by, then it is fair to say that the House is undeniably in very good hands for next year. During the course of the year Greg Vogel, Nick Richardson and Gianluca Truda have been consistently placed in the top ten of the Block, with Nick and Gianluca securing fifth and first place, respectively. In the final term, Dylan van der Westhuizen and Kyle van Greunen helped to maintain the high standard of cultural activity that we have come to expect from Mackenzie House when they were both awarded their Colours for music, having been chosen for the KwaZulu- 185 A House Reports “Miss the school already. ” Jasper Epsom, 2009 - 2013 Natal Youth Choir earlier this year. The sporting side of things has been exceptionally well covered by Brendan Bergs and Patrick Dillon. Patrick has recently been awarded his Honours for canoeing and has subsequently been nominated as the Canoeing Captain for 2014. During the course of this year, Brendan has represented Michaelhouse at first team level for golf, cricket, hockey and soccer. These are phenomenal achievements and we look forward to great things from these two gentlemen and from the rest of their Block for next year. There has seldom been a Monday morning assembly this year at which Gianluca Truda has not been called up to receive yet another astonishing award of some kind. At the start of this year, he was awarded his Academic Honours and more recently, his Cultural Honours. Both of these awards come as a result of a myriad of efforts outside of the School. To name a few, he recently secured an overall first place at the National Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships, he has represented South Africa in both debating and public speaking for two consecutive years and he has been placed in top positions in the country in the English, Maths, CAT and IT Olympiads. To add to these amazing achievements, Gianluca has deservedly been named Head of House for Mackenzie for 2014. Based on this, I have no doubt that Gianluca has the capacity and enthusiasm to take Mackenzie to new heights next year and I look forward to watching his progress with a great deal of interest. Despite the additional stress that Matric brings in the way of workload and studying, the A Blockers have still file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] remained fully engaged and involved in all activities at School and their many achievements reflect that. Jonathan Laing captained the First Team basketball to a very successful V season, while Kyle Dalton represented the First XI soccer team and was also selected for the Midlands U19 team. Consequently, Jonathan was awarded his basketball Honours and Kyle, his soccer Colours for these achievements. It would seem that things are looking promising for the final exam results as Khwezi Majola, Dylan Zoutendyk, Coulsey Savory and Matthew Potter were all placed in the top ten for the Trials examinations. Dylan and Matthew were both awarded their Academic Honours while Khwezi received his Colours. Matthew Potter also received the Jack Crutchley Trophy award for excellence in public speaking. It is at this time of the year, on reflecting on the time spent in Mackenzie, that I must thank Mr and Mrs Guthrie for their constant support and motivation, as well as the A Block of 2013 for five wonderful years in Mackenzie that I will always look back on with pride. 2013 has undoubtedly been a fantastic year for Mackenzie. The A Block, House Tutors and Mr Guthrie must be applauded for their outstanding leadership and guidance throughout 2013. Together with his Tutors, Mr Guthrie has created an enjoyable and cohesive environment within Mackenzie and it has been a pleasure to live and work in such a happy place. On that note, we must, however, bid farewell to Mr De Klerk as he will be taking up the reins of Farfield House next year and we would like to wish him all the best. We bid farewell to Mr Dean Forword, who takes up the position of Assistant Housemaster of Farfield, and congratulate him on his new position. Congratulations also go to Mr Paul Snyman, who takes up the position of Assistant Housemaster in Mackenzie House. To Mr Guthrie, Gianluca and the rest of the men of Mackenzie House, I would like to sincerely wish you the best of luck for the year ahead. I urge each and every Mackenzie boy to take on all their opportunities and challenges at this fine School in true Mackenzie spirit - to Shine not burn. Salvete: Koyejo Adeleke, Cameron Clucas, Reece Corbett, Michael Craig, Hendre De Villiers, Robert Ellison, Richard Johnston, Mikhail Khan, Gregory Kiisel, Sean Li, Simukai Madiro, Troy Nijland, Sean-Michael Price, Khanya Tutu and Kabelo Zulu Valete; Branagth Cooper-Botha, Kyle Dalton, Connor Grealy, Joseph Johnson, Jonathan Laing, Tumi Mahlare, Khwezi Majola, Victor Monkoe, Matthew Potter, Coulsey Savory, Dylan Zoutendyk, Ryan Zoutendyk, Samuel Dovey, Michael Greer, Michael Craig and Gregory Kiisel Mackenzie boys taking time out with Housemaster Mr Iain Guthrie during the Michaelhouse Soccer Cup competition. 186 where Friends and Family Meet Á Old Boys In 1896, Michaelhouse's founder, James Cameron Todd, reflected that “a boy's connection with his school is not severed when he leaves, but lasts throughout life. His whole tone, moral and spiritual, as well as intellectual is largely determined for life by his school. ” 118 years and generations of Michaelhouse boys on, we are still guided by our founder's spirit and the belief that each boy who passes through our gates is taking the first major step on a life-long journey of self discovery, personal growth and camaraderie. The distinctive ivy-clad architecture of interlinked quadrangles which has inspired a sense of belonging for generations of boys, remains a constant touchstone to the 5 700 Alumni across five continents. OFFICE BEARERS 2012 - 2013 Qhe Patron The Rector of Michaelhouse, Greg Theron President John Cheshire President Elect Mark Lynn Past President Owen Skae Trustees Chris James and Charles Bennett Old Boys’ Club Secretary/Treasurer Rev Canon Fred Pitout PA to Old Boys’ Club Secretary Michelle Huntley Central Committee Members Richard Waller, Jesse Chellan and Kevin O’Brien Board Representative Ross Armstrong School Representative Iain Guthrie Ex-Officio Member Murray Witherspoon file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Branch Chairmen Cape Town: Charles Phillips Durban: Steven Boast East Griqualand: Roger Spencer Gauteng: Robert Brown Midlands: Chris Melouney Pietermaritzburg: Rob Mitchell Zululand: Andrew Morkel Overseas Representatives Eastern Australia: Derek McIntosh, Richard Gellie and Dai Williams Canada: Michael Brooke United Kingdom: Graham Rivers-Moore Western Australia: Jeremy Woods ,T4V: Blues for cricket and squash. He also completed the BA (Science tripos) in June 1940. The war interrupted his studies and he joined up in 1940, being posted to the Royal Navy by arrangement with Cambridge. He was drafted to the Admiralty and worked at Trafalgar Square. This was part of the ‘secret war’ - a project of Churchill’s whereby he was involved in scientific work in support of the war effort into 1943. Later in that year, he was posted to Durban (HMS Assegai) as a RNVR Lieutenant and called in at Trinkamalee (Ceylon) at the end of the war, from where he returned to Durban to be de-mobbed by chance on the same ship as brother Sid. Sandy always had time to explain and had a way of making science and nature interesting to young minds. He obtained an MSc with distinction (1965) and a PhD (1968), both from the University of Natal, and in 1967 he took up a senior lecturing position at the UCT Department of Oceanography. He was greatly envied by many as he conducted his research on the beaches of the Eastern Cape and Melkbosstrand. Many of us joined him for his scrambles around the forests and slopes of Newlands and Table Mountain, where we always found the beauty and marvels of nature. With Sandy there was always an amusing angle and an interesting subject to digest. After the war, he returned to Michaelhouse to teach Physics. He was Housemaster of Farfield from 1948 to 1951 and coached various sports. One feat of his while a master was to pioneer canoeing of the Mkomaas River on the stretch downstream from the Josephine Bridge. He did this with his Michaelhouse colleague, Gerald Ward CBE. In 1951, he left Michaelhouse to complete his Cambridge studies and obtained his MA. He worked for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in the UK and thereafter transferred to Pretoria, and then Pietermaritzburg and finally Durban (living in Kloof). He was officer-in-charge of the CSIR’s Natal branch of the National Institute for Water Research (NIWR). He accepted the post of Scientist-in-Charge at New Zealand’s National Water and Soil Organisation’s Hamilton Science Centre, retired from UCT at the end of 1977 and moved the family away from the disturbing South African scene of the 1980s to the beautiful north coast of New Zealand, where they all flourished. He is survived by his wife, Veronica, and daughters Philippa and Susan. As was said at his remembrance ceremony: “He goes down in history as a remarkable, unassuming achiever, a popular but private man, and a resolute carer of his family.” To quote a UK relative who knew him well, especially during World War II when he was in the Navy defending Britain: “There is simply no replacement.” 210 Old Boys k HATFIELD, DERMOT Bom 1941, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1954- 1958 Dermot passed away in March this year after fighting cancer for three years. He was a fighter in the good sense of the word. He came to Michaelhouse from Cordwalles along with friends, many of whom remained close right through life. During his final year at School, he was a Prefect in Tatham. Dermot was probably academically a bit better than average but a great sportsman too, primarily in athletics and rugby. His claim to fame was that he was a devastating tackier, always going for the ankles and as a result, often sending opponents off the field. The grand finale was a try he scored against Hilton when he ran the full length of the field to score the winning try. There were escapades that cannot be mentioned here for fear of setting a precedent. Naughty, yes, but in good fun. His close friends will have memories of some of these things as they too were involved. Dermot became a successful businessman in South Africa but some 32 years ago, he emigrated to Australia with his file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] family as they were very against the politics of the time; but he never lost his feelings for Africa and his family and friends here. There were many trips back to visit and to play golf, and we had lots of fun travelling the country and playing the courses. In Sydney, he became involved in a business in which he steadily bought shares and that business was very successful. He retired comfortably, living in Kiribilli which is near the bridge, the Opera House and the cultural centres which he and Hilary enjoyed so much. He had a great love of classical music and we had many discussions to identify various pieces while travelling. We were great buddies and he will be sadly missed by family, his sister Diana, all his friends, his wife Hilary, his two children, Sacha and Brinton, and by me, Paul. JACKSON, NEILL Bom 1953, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1967 - 1970 Neill Gavin Charles Jackson from Durban, Natal proudly attended Michaelhouse, leaving in 1970. He sadly passed away on Sunday, 21 April 2013 after a totally unexpected heart attack. He had lived in England for 35 years and leaves a wife, Wendy, two children, Tay and Tiffany, and three grandchildren, Brandon, Tay and Elsie, who will miss his presence and huge character. KIDD, ANTHONY EDGAR CHARLES (TONY) Bom 1939, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1953 - 1957 Written by Michael Kidd Tony was bom in Durban and attended Clifton, followed by Highbury, where he was Dux. He entered Farfield in 1953, where he was Head of House in 1957 and obtained Colours for Shooting. He proceeded on to the University of Natal (Durban), where he graduated with a BSc (Civ Eng) in 1961. His working life commenced with the Department of Water Affairs until 1964, and in that period he was involved in the construction of the Pongolapoort Dam in Jozini. He then pursued a career as a consulting engineer, focussing on structural projects. In his early career, he served as resident engineer on both the Van Stadens River Gorge bridge and the bridge over the Kowie River in Port Alfred. He then returned to Durban, where he spent the rest of his working life in the city or its environs. He worked on the third Sugar Terminal and Rennies Grain Silos in Durban harbour and worked for several firms of consulting engineers, heading the Natal operation of a Pretoria consulting practice as Managing Director. In the mid-1990s he started his own geotechnical engineering practice, operating in the Highway area. Tony was the epitome of a gentleman, not prone to excess and treated everybody with respect. For many years he was a keen social squash player and he ran several marathons. He was keen on wildlife and opera. He was active for several years in the Lions Club, the Concrete Society of South Africa and the South African Institute of Consulting Engineers. He was a parishioner at St Agnes Church in Kloof from 1976, was a sidesman and was very active in the church until his injury in mid-2010. Tony married Moira in April 1963 and had a very fulfilling and happy family life. He spent a lot of time tinkering around with do-it-yourself projects, ranging from odd jobs around the house to completely overhauling the motor of a car, completing the job in the middle of the night only hours before a family trip to the Kruger National Park, which was a much-enjoyed repeat experience (Kruger, not the mechanical work). He leaves Moira, three children: Michael (Michaelhouse 1979-‘83), Andrew (1981-‘84) and Nicki (St Mary’s), and five grandchildren. He is greatly missed by all, but his influence and example live on. KIRSTEN, VINCENT OWEN Bom 1932, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1946- 1949 Vincent was born on 13 September 1932 in Cape Town. He passed away very peacefully on 13 September 2013. He worked at Michaelhouse and held the position of Works Manager and Carpentry teacher for 17 years. He retired to 211 Á Old Boys the lower South Coast, Margate. He is survived by his wife, Yvonne, his three children - Gary, Craig and Megan, and five grandchildren. OBERLIN-HARRIS, DAVID Bom 1929, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1941 - 1944 Written by Colin Oberlin-Harris I regret to have to inform you that my father, David Oberlin-Harris, passed away on 1 July. How true are the words on the back cover of The Chronicle: “Armour for life - Boys today. Men of principle tomorrow.” file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] I am sure that many of the attributes my father has applied to his life were confirmed, if not originated, at Michaelhouse. Thank you for your part in his life. We held a day of celebration that included a church service where I displayed a presentation with a photograph of the 1944 First XV and one taken in a classroom some years earlier. OGILVIE, JOHN DUTHIE Bom 1934, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1948- 1950 John’s family emigrated from Scotland to South Africa in 1947 and settled in Hillcrest. John entered West House under Housemaster Bobby Woods in 1948 and said he spent some of his happiest school days at Michaelhouse, representing it at rugby and athletics. Ironically, his nickname was “spuds” for no other reason than his family’s involvement in potato farming. He matriculated well in 1950 at the age of sixteen and completed his education in Britain at Shrewsbury and Aberdeen Agricultural College before taking over the family farming business in Montrose, Scotland. He and his wife, Ena, had three sons. Sadly, Ena, died suddenly after 24 years of marriage. Four years later, in the autumn of his life, John met and married a striking red-headed lass, Aileen, from a nearby farm, famed for her expertise as a stained glass manufacturer. Due to John’s Rotary and golfing interests they travelled extensively, including visits to South Africa and of course, Michaelhouse. After 25 years of marriage, prostate cancer was diagnosed and bravely fought, but the disease took its toll and John died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family, which by then included five beautiful granddaughters and three inherited grandsons. At his funeral service the Michaelhouse School prayer was used and the eulogy concluded: “If love is a currency to take one onto the next existence, then John Ogilvie will travel a very rich man. Farming and the seasons, friends and memories, family and love, that was John Ogilvie - the Gentle Man.” Quis ut Deus PRICE, ANTHONY JOHN (AJ) Bom 1930, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1944- 1947 Written by his son, Nick (1983 - 1986) and friend David Tuttle (1948-1952) Tony Price was born in 1930 in Croydon, UK. His father was transferred to Cairo with BOAC and later to Durban, where they settled. Tony attended Cordwalles and then Michaelhouse, where he was a Prefect in West and represented the Second rugby XV and the Second cricket XI. He was also a founding member of the Chess Club. This started a long love affair with Michaelhouse - Tony was an ardent supporter of the School and loved watching Michaelhouse play rugby over many years. He even made the trek to London to attend the Centenary dinner. Tony attended Natal University, where he represented the university at squash. He also represented Berea Rovers and Natal U19 Rugby. Whilst doing articles at Price Waterhouse he qualified as a chartered accountant. He then worked as the Group Accountant in Durban at Schachat Cullum, and then with WG Brown, which was the forerunner of Spar today. Despite opportunities, he preferred to remain in Kloof rather than relocate to Johannesburg because he believed it to be a far better environment for his family. In his later years, he took great delight in running the financial affairs and books of a number of residential complexes in and around Kloof. Tony loved their beautiful home in Kloof and he dedicated his life to bringing up his family. He and his wife, Dawn, gave their children, Nick and Laura, two of the greatest gifts that parents can give their children: a loving and stable home and a good education. They sent Nick and Laura to Michaelhouse and St. Mary’s, respectively - an investment Tony cherished and never regretted. Tony was a sidesman at St Agnes Church in Kloof during the 1980s and would welcome the congregation in his inimitable stage whisper with the latest rugby news. He and Dave Tuttle were in the same House at School and became firm friends, enjoying many trips to the beautiful Midlands together on Old Boys’ Days. They enjoyed reliving the youthful exuberance and aspirations of their school days. It was a rare treat to witness how generation after generation of young men were being prepared to use their privileged education judiciously in the service of God and man. Tony died on 9 October 2013 in the Hillcrest Hospital, after being unwell with heart problems for a number of years. He remained sharp of wit and independent to the day of his death. He leaves behind his wife, Dawn (to whom he was married for 50 years), son Nicholas and daughter Laura. They and his five grandchildren are a fitting legacy to a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who remember his humanity, enthusiasm, laughter, love, eccentricities, many unique sayings and companionship. 212 Old Boys k Gyll’s parents were tobacco farmers in Banket, Zimbabwe. When she was a few years old, they moved to England. At file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] the age of seven, she and her parents moved to South Africa where her father, tragically died of pneumonia. As a little girl she and her mother would go to Durban to visit her uncle. En route they would stay at a bed and breakfast as guests at the Rouillard’s farm, Glen Arum in Balgowan. Later in life, when she was at high school, she would come and stay at Michaelhouse with Pippa Snell, the daughter of Rector Fred Snell. Gyll’s wonderfully positive attitude, her unshakeable faith, her quiet wisdom and sense of humour, and her ability to always be gentle and loving to all around her are defining characteristics of this extraordinary lady who will be remembered by many. Her last two years were not easy for her. She died at home with her family around her on 1 December 2012. ROUILLARD, GILLIAN (GYLL) Bom 1930, Died 2012 Honorary OM Gyll’s connection with Michaelhouse spans many generations. She worked as the OB secretary for 20 years, during which time she was made an Honorary Old Boy. Her father-in-law, husband, brother-in-law and son are all Old Michaelhousians and her grandson, Bruce, is now a pupil in C Block. On leaving school, Gyll worked in London as a secretary and on one of her visits back to South Africa she met her husband, Old Boy Lewis Rouillard. To her amazement, when she was taken home to the farm to meet the family, she realised that this was the farm that she had visited when she was a little girl. Gyll and Lewis married in Johannesburg in 1960 and lived there for ten years before returning to Balgowan to live on what is now a portion of the old farm, Fagazaan. SHAW, DOUGLAS Bom 1926, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1939- 1942 A doyen of South Africa’s legal profession, Advocate Douglas Shaw QC died at the age of 87 in a Cape Town hospice. He was suffering from cancer. His close friend and colleague, David Gordon SC, paid tribute to Shaw, whom he described as “shy by nature, but 213 Á Old Boys awesomely brilliant”. Shaw was renowned in the profession for his brilliant intellect and legal knowledge. “There is no other QC (Queen’s Counsel) in the whole world who practised for as long as he did, for more than 50 years,” Gordon told The Witness. Shaw took silk as a QC in 1959. When South Africa became a republic in 1961, the term QC was changed to SC (Senior Counsel) which is used today. Shaw continued practicing as an advocate in Durban until 30 September 2013 when he officially retired. He and his wife, Rachel, moved to Cape Town only a week before he passed away. Shaw was the most senior member of the Bar in South Africa; and his name features in hundreds of reported cases in the country’s law reports, which helped to shape the law in South Africa. In September 2013, the Society of Advocates conferred on him the greatest possible honour of bestowing honorary membership on him. This was the first time that the society, which has been in existence since 1929, has conferred this honour on any advocate. Though frail at the time of his death, Shaw was mentally as active as ever. Shaw matriculated at Michaelhouse and studied law at Cambridge University in the UK. Shaw returned to South Africa to practise as an advocate, following in the footsteps of his father, Judge Frank Shaw. Shaw himself was a most intelligent man and a very considerable lawyer. He was asked many times to be a judge, but he chose not to be one. Shaw served in the army as a liaison officer in Italy during World War Two because of his amazing linguistic abilities. After just three weeks in Italy, he was fluent in Italian. SPILLER, JOHN MACKAY Bom 1932, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1944- 1947 John Spiller, entrepreneur and legendary personality of the South Coast, died peacefully at his home on the Mzimkhulu River. Bom in Johannesburg in 1932, John Spiller moved to Ramsgate during World War Two when his mother, Noel, bought a boarding house, which later became the Crayfish Inn. John maintained that when the hotel got full he would have to give up his room for guests and sleep on the beach. He was named Mpugane by the local Zulu which means “fly”, presumably because he was small, cheeky and quick. At that time, he ran free in the unspoilt wilderness of the South Coast hunting, fishing and exploring to his heart’s content. This unconventional upbringing came to an end when he entered Michaelhouse after his teacher at St Michael’s was arrested as a German spy. He loved his time at Michaelhouse, was a Prefect and excelled at rugby and squash. After school he joined the Merchant Navy as a cook on the Union Castle Lines. He then worked as a chef at the Savoy Hotel in London. He bought a London taxi which he shipped to Cape Town, and drove it up to Ramsgate where it was file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] used as the hotel transport. He also brought many exotic new ideas to the Crayfish Inn menu. His Bouillabaisse, Scampi and Crayfish Thermidor soon ensured the Crayfish Inn became the top restaurant on the lower South Coast. In 1964, he started Spiller’s Frozen Foods in Ramsgate with the intention of being the first to commercialise the annual sardine run. However, that year the sardines failed to arrive and because he had installed freezers in the factory in readiness, he was forced to diversify into line fish and later, processed prawns. He became a pioneer of the Natal fishing and freezing industry, coming up with innovative new ways to freeze and pack seafood as well as helping convert squid or chokka into calamari, a much more desirable seafood option. In the early 1970s, he owned two trawlers operating out of Durban and was exporting frozen shelled prawns to Canada from his factory in Port Shepstone. He also owned a farm and grew vegetables which he processed in a nitrogen tunnel, making the first locally packaged frozen vegetables on the coast. He was eventually also packaging frozen veggies and operating a chicken farm in Murchison. To keep in touch with his distribution office in Durban and make deals with LM prawn sellers in Mozambique, John learned to fly and bought his own aeroplane. He loved the freedom and adventure of flying and his trusty Piper Cherokees, Delta Whiskey Sierra and Foxtrot Alpha Lima took him through numerous escapades all over South Africa and various Mozambican islands. Earlier travels to Mozambique had resulted in his developing a recipe for a deliciously spicy oil to accompany his frozen seafood this he manufactured and called Spiller’s Peri Peri. It has since become sought after the world over. John’s mischievous and eccentric sense of humour, love of life and fondness for a good party will be sorely missed by all who encountered this South Coast legend. His legacy lives on in Spiller’s Wharf, the redevelopment of his former fish factory with his eldest son, Guy. John is survived by his second wife, Norma, and her three daughters, five children and eight grandchildren. STUBBINGS, TONY Bom 1926, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1939-1942 Written by his friend, Frank Dyson Tony was bom in Pietermaritzburg in 1926 and was the youngest of five children. He went to school at Merchiston and then Michaelhouse. Straight after Michaelhouse, he joined the South African Navy and for the last years of the war, served in the Near East, off India and Ceylon. 214 Old Boys k After being demobbed, he went to Stellenbosch University and obtained a BSc degree in forestry. Thereafter, he had two jobs in South Africa - at Knysna and Richmond - before he made his first big move. This was to Tilbury Estate near Melsetter in Southern Rhodesia where he was part of the establishment of a huge forestry enterprise in the Eastern Highlands. There he re-met Angela, an old family friend. She must have approved of him as they were married in Melsetter in 1960; I was their best man. Bridget and Pippa were both bom there. In the mid-1960s, the family moved back to Pietermaritzburg, where Tony took a post at the (then) Wattle Research Institute. In due course, Tony was appointed Director of the Institute and with it came a professorship at the University of Natal. As a family, we were very proud to have a Prof in our midst. Tony retired about 20 years ago and continued living in Hilton. That was the chronology. Who was Tony? We all knew different parts and these are mine: First, Tony was a family man and Angela, Biddy and Pip and their families were the centre of his life. Angela and Tony had three lovely homes - at Tilbury, Winterskloof and Hilton. These homes, with Angela and Tony’s, hospitality were a magnet for the wider family and friends. Second, Tony was a fun guy. He could find fun in almost any situation, whether it was around the braai, the boardroom table or “kicking stumps”, as he called his forestry walkabouts. I recall the following fun incidents -two of many: When I was a toddler, my mother asked Tony to take me for a walk in my pushchair, which he readily agreed to do. Next there was consternation when the maid ran into the house, crying: “inkosasan, inkosasan - inkosan Tony yena Hell Drive lo Frank”. Then there was Tony’s party piece at the annual New Year’s Eve ball at the Chimanimani Arms Hotel at Melsetter when Tony, in full dress suit regalia, would duck dive the full length of the ballroom floor and emerge relatively unscathed at the other end. Tony also used to play the horses in a small way. He was always quite coy about his winnings - certainly none of his tips ever came off for me. file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] Next was Tony the sportsman. He never rose to great heights, but you name the game and he played it. He played rugby for Michaelhouse and for the Stellenbosch second XV, and over the years played cricket, golf, tennis and bowls, to name the obvious ones. He particularly enjoyed bowls at Hilton in his later years. I remember as a young boy, admiring Tony the gymnast, walking down the steps of our verandah on his hands. If you look in the archives for the Michaelhouse Chronicle of around 1942 or ‘43, you will see a photo of a boy doing a perfect swallow dive at the school swimming gala - name A.J. Stubbings. Then there was the professional Tony. He was deeply interested and knowledgeable in Botany in general and Forestry in particular. Over the years, he acquired a wide practical knowledge of the forestry industry. Together with this, he had the gift of easy communication - always listening and always looking for practical ways of doing things. This served him well, not only in his formal career but also in the wider world. He became well known as a consultant, travelled widely and became a well-respected name in the world of forestry. That is the Tony I knew. Many of you will know other things, but all of us know of his unfailing courtesy and kindness. I’m going to end by reading you the words that appear on a plaque at the row of young oak trees at the entrance to Hilton College - an area where Angela and Tony often walked their dogs. The quotation is from Psalm 1, verses 1,3 and 4. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth its fruit in its season. Whose leaf also shall not wither and whatever he does shall prosper.” A great tree has fallen. TATHAM, ERROL INGLIS Bom 1928, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1942 - 1945 Errol was born in Pietermaritzburg in September 1928, at a time when his grandfather was still serving on the Board of Governors of Michaelhouse, and his father and older brother, ‘Bobs’ (12 years his senior), had preceded him at Michaelhouse. Unsurprisingly, Errol also attended Cordwalles and later, Michaelhouse. In 1941, Bobs wrote to Errol from North Africa in anticipation of Errol starting at Michaelhouse, saying: “You probably won’t like it much to start with, but honestly believe me, it is the most marvellous place in the world, and before long you will feel that the place is part of you and you are part of it. Really, you will spend some of the happiest days of your life there.” He was at Michaelhouse in the time of Rector Fred Snell during the war years, and spoke often of the difficulties of the time resulting from the limitations on travel due to fuel restrictions, and the absence of young teachers, as so many of the young men had joined up with the Armed Forces. Errol was in Tatham, and enjoyed his time at the School, making many friendships which lasted his entire life. After leaving Michaelhouse, Errol went to Grahamstown and studied at Rhodes in the immediate post-war era. It was there 215 Á Old Boys that he met his future wife, Lorraine Walker. He returned to Pietermaritzburg after completing his BA degree, and he and Lorraine married in 1953. They were fortunate enough to enjoy 54 years together until Lorraine’s death in 2008. They had two daughters and two sons, who survive them along with ten grandchildren. Errol completed an LLB degree at Natal University in Pietermaritzburg and was admitted as an attorney in 1953, practising in the family firm, Tatham Wilkes & Co, initially with his father and brother, and later with his elder son, Nigel. He remained with the firm for his entire working life, receiving recognition from the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society for 50 unbroken years in practice. During that period, he had served on various professional examination panels and was a respected member of the legal profession in the province. Although a keen hockey player during his university days, Errol developed a great love for yachting, racing Sprog and Fireball class dinghies over many years. He started as a member of the Henley Sailing Club on Henley Dam outside Maritzburg, and was one of the pioneers of yachting on the newly built Midmar Dam in 1962 and 1963. This ultimately led to the formation of the Henley Midmar Yacht Club, a club on which Errol served as a committee member for many years, and as Club Commodore in 1974 and 1975. The club awarded Errol honorary life membership for his exceptional contribution. In addition to his sailing committee involvement, Errol served on the committee of the Pietermaritzburg Cripple Care Association, which provided support for the physically disabled, and he was an active member of the congregation of St Saviour’s Cathedral. On the merging of St Saviour’s and St Peter’s to form the Cathedral Parish of the Holy Nativity, Errol’s involvement increased, and he was invited in the late ‘80s by Bishop Michael Nuttall to be the Diocesan Registrar, effectively file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] acting as the legal adviser to the Diocese of Natal. In 1990, he became a lay minister at the Cathedral, and in 2003, Bishop Rubin granted Errol membership of the lay Order of the Holy Nativity in recognition of his service to the Diocese of Natal. Errol was in later years a member of the Cathedral Home Group together with, amongst others, their leader Roy Gathome, and Bishop Michael, who delivered a warm homily at Errol’s funeral. Errol was a loyal Old Boy of Michaelhouse, and has always remained closely connected to the School, but particularly during the time his two sons spent there, and more recently, all five of his grandsons. He had a regular pattern of entertaining any visitor to Maritzburg with a drive out to Michaelhouse and lunch on the Midlands Meander. He was often assisted in these visits by Father Fred Pitout, the most recent being with Errol’s lifelong school friend, Bruce Fieldsend, who is a former Rector of Peterhouse. Errol was present at the 2013 Old Boys’ Club AGM, and remained healthy enough until shortly before his death to make the trip up to Meadows to watch several of the School’s 2013 rugby matches. In recent years, Errol lived at the Woodgrove Retirement Village in Pietermaritzburg, along with many other members of the Michaelhouse community, and he died peacefully on 6 September 2013. TOWNSHEND, ROBERT EDWARD Bom 1945, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1958- 1961 Written by Adrian Leighton-Morris Rob died very suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack at his home in Parktown North, Johannesburg. He was born in Bloemfontein, moving to Johannesburg where he attended The Ridge School and thereafter, Michaelhouse. On matriculating, he spent a year in Santa Barbara, California on an AFS. Rob qualified at Wits with a BA LLB, completing his articles at Webber Wentzel. He spent 32 years with Anglo American, retiring as the legal adviser in the New Mining Division. I only caught up with Rob in the last few years and enjoyed his company and subtle sense of humour. He was an avid bridge player, widely travelled and enjoyed classical music. The ‘61ers will miss him at our lunches. Rob is survived by his wife, Sally, and son Patrick. VIVIAN-SMITH, GEORGE Bom 1934, Died 2012 Michaelhouse 1948 - 1951 George was a character of note, endearing and controversial; a good friend of 63 years standing. In social circles, he was known to have been bom of blue blood, but it was not a subject that he would discuss and in fact, to touch on his ancestry was a sure way of rousing the red-haired side of him. I first met George in 1949 when I was enrolled as a New Boy in the same House as he at Michaelhouse. He was a year ahead of our intake and his attitude and actions towards us new poops was one of kindness and helpfulness; contrary to what you have read or seen in Spud. My early memories of him were of a boisterous, gangly, red-headed chap, with a pink complexion and a loud voice. George was not moody in a sulky way, but he did suffer from what Churchill would have described as the Black Dog Days - moods of depression, and was somewhat unpredictable. He was always a tremendously keen naturalist and loved what was known as Free Bounds, when on a Sunday after breakfast we all had to leave the School grounds and go out onto the surrounding farms. We were supplied with what 216 Old Boys k were euphemistically called picnic hampers, consisting of dry bread sandwiches spread with a lick of fish paste or marmite and an apple. These were supplemented by what we could afford to buy from the tuck shop. George’s knowledge of wild life and particularly birds was outstanding. He was an active member of the Natural History Society and recruited a number of us. We were allowed to collect and keep certain creatures. We had a grass owl called Wol and I can recall taking another creature back to School with me after a holiday. I had not had time to construct a suitable cage and George, who had a larger cubicle, offered his assistance. When asked to open a large cardboard box under his bed, the insistent Prefect was somewhat taken aback at finding a 2.5m python. George was well-liked and gained sympathy from us as he saw very little of his parents and was consequently quite lonely. He had been sent to the USA as a little boy to avoid the bombing in Britain. His father then came out to South Africa as the CEO of Anglo American and George was packed off to boarding school. Most Johannesburg boys had to come down and return by train, and rarely did far-off parents visit. After school and because he was a British Citizen, George was drafted into the Royal Navy for two years which I believe he enjoyed thoroughly. He served on the Ark Royal and a minesweeper in the Mediterranean. He then joined Anglo American and had a spell as Harry Oppenheimer’s PA as well as working in various other divisions. George opted out of corporate life when he and Sue bought a fruit farm in Brondal. This was the beginning of his life file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM] here in the Lowveld, where he has spent most of his latter years and where he made many friends. The Lowveld Bird Club was his particular love and interest and he rated many of the members as his friends. Photography became a great hobby and some of his bird studies were amazing. George had three children and three grandchildren of whom, along with their spouses, he was inordinately proud. WOODS, JOHN WHEATLEY Bom 1938, Died 2013 Michaelhouse 1951-1955 Written by his brothers, David (1954 - 1958) and Tim (1957-1961) John was the eldest son of the late A.P. (Bobby) Woods (1918-1921) and the late Katherine (Biddy) Woods. After Bobby’s untimely death in 1950, the family moved to Hilton and then to Cordwalles. Biddy raised John (12 at the time of his father’s death), David (10) and Timothy (6) and remained a great influence in John’s life until her death in 1984. John arrived at Michaelhouse in 1951 after attending Cordwalles. In many ways, this was a return to his roots as the School had been his home for the first twelve years of his life. Not surprisingly, he went into West where his father had been Housemaster. John was an excellent sportsman, representing the School at cricket, tennis (Colours), and squash (Captain and Colours). After leaving school, he trained to be a farmer with Rhys Evans (1924-1928) in the Free State and then went on to join Natal Sugar Estates, where he remained until 1975. He subsequently worked for the Durban City Corporation’s Environmental Department until his retirement in 2002. During his time with Natal Sugar Estates, his squash career flourished and he became Natal’s No. 1 for several seasons. He also played No. 1 for Phoenix in the Durban Squash League and was actively involved in the coaching of many younger players. He represented the South African Squash Jesters on a tour to the UK in 1965. In 1968, he married Colleen Proctor. Their children, Vanessa and Graeme, gave them enormous pleasure, as have their grandchildren, Nikita and Nathan. Tragically, Graeme, who had joined the South African Police Service, was shot and killed on duty in 2006. This was a terrible blow and one which blighted John’s retirement. Latterly, suffering from much ill health, he nevertheless took a keen interest in the Sharks and was always eager to appraise his youngest brother, in the UK, of the exploits of Old Boys on the rugby field. Indeed, he retained a huge affection for Michaelhouse and kept abreast of the achievements of Old Boys. He was also an avid reader of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanac and his memory of the details of a cricketer’s career was formidable - he could rarely, if ever, be found wanting in his knowledge. Though he could appear taciturn, he was by nature a kind and gentle man who will be sorely missed by his devoted wife, Colleen, his daughter, Vanessa, and grandchildren, as well as by his brothers and their families. “Your love for Michaelhouse and all it means will be your best anchor as you sail by the rocky coast of the adventurous sea of life. ” Guest of Honour, ex-Headmaster of Hilton College Mr William Falcon, Michaelhouse Speech Day 1934 217 A Class of 2013 218 Class of 2013 k. 219 S."- 1.-. ' ... Cmm faass CaEsmsa ItaMB&eMA ’18G3-19I5 Fisxsmdiga' ©íTMa£fiiasCb3>,^3e k 18SXS Armour for life These are my number ones. The blazer and tie I wear each day at Michaelhouse. To you they might seem like simple clothing and adornment. But they are much more than that. Though they are light, they carry weight. The weight of integrity. The weight of humility, compassion, courage and understanding. They are my identity and armour. They give me the courage to learn, to discover and to embrace the opportunities that life will present to me. And when I leave my school, I will continue to wear them inside of me. My number ones might appear as a simple blazer and tie - but they are the makings of a man. Boys today. Men of principle tomorrow. Balgowan • KwaZulu-Natal • 3275 • South Africa Telephone +27 33 234 1153 • Facsimile +27 33 234 4611 [email protected] • www.michaelhouse.org MICHAELHOUSE file:///Volumes/...ichaelhouse%20Archives/Michaelhouse%20Chronicle/ITEM2013/Fully%20Processed%2018%20MB/TIFF/Text/ITEM2013.txt[7/3/14 2:21:29 PM]