Vol 12 | February 2015 Captain Nick Sloane Nothing is FOUNDERS WEEKEND impossible 19 & 20 June 2015 JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Platforms are open to prospective, current & past boys, parents, staff and friends Kearsney College Kearsney College Old Boys KearsneyCOB Old Boys HELP US SAVE ON PRINT & POSTAGE If you are happy to view this magazine as a digital magazine and not receive a printed copy, tell us on [email protected] To view go to the Old Boys landing page on www.kearsney.com 2 | Vol 12 February 2015 CONTENTS In the News 4 KCOB Executive looking ahead – KCOB President Lawrence Polkinghorne chats to Joy Mills-Hackmann 6 Alumni feature and cover – “Nothing is impossible” 36 years after matriculating from Kearsney, international marine salvage hero Captain Nick Sloane (1978) returned as guest speaker at Speech Day, to share an extraordinary account of heading the Costa Concordia R21-billion salvage 8 Other Notable Alumni Business game changers & innovators Putting food on KZN’s best tables Achievers in sport & music Cracking elite education institutions – Harvard & Oxford In pursuit of Excellence 16 Ambassadors Connecting the Kearsney community – 18 Traditions– Old And new Old Boys, Staff, Parents, Pupils & Friends 20 Academic distinction – Results from the 2013 & 2014 academic years The Kearsney College Old Boy magazine is 21 Planning Ahead – Headmaster Elwyn van den Aardweg published annually and features news taken 22 School News from the monthly Greyhound eNews. 24 Foundation News Vol 12 | February 2015 Reunions and Generations 26 Reunions & Faces in Places EDITOR 28 Survivor Times Joy Mills-Hackmann +27(0)83 662 0838 [email protected] Farewells 29 Au Revoir: Rob Candotti & Ronni Wallace KCOB OFFICE 30 In Memory Kerry-Lynne McMaster 31 Tributes +27(0)31 – 765 9628/50 [email protected] Branch Convenors GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT National International Pam Benporath [email protected] CAPE TOWN: AUSTRALIA: Euvrard Loubser | 082 8948257 Richard Bridel | Tel: +61 2 405100261 CONTRIBUTORS (unless stated) Joy Mills-Hackmann [email protected] [email protected] Sue Miles of Working Words cc DOLPHIN COAST: MAURITIUS: [email protected] Tim Johnson | 082 4246202 Raymond Hein | +230 542 12265 [email protected] [email protected] Changed your email or address? Tell us: [email protected] DURBAN: MIDDLE EAST: Cameron Buys | 074 588 8755 Sergey Kokarev | Cell: : +971 56 6960311 [email protected] [email protected] GAUTENG: NEW ZEALAND: Steve Meyer | 082 773 0101 Mark Berge | Tel: (04) 385 0587 [email protected] [email protected] The material in this magazine may be PIETERMARITZBURG: SINGAPORE: reproduced with the written permission of Lyndon Holder | 083 234 2233 Kendal Robinson | 00 65 9667 0312 the Editor. [email protected] [email protected] SOUTH COAST: SWAZILAND: COVER IMAGE Captain Nick Sloane (1978) returns to Vacant Jody Foss | +268 404 0976 Kearsney to speak about the successful ZULULAND: [email protected] R21-billion Costa Concordia salvage Tim Beningfield l 082 578 9932 UK LONDON: operation off Italy. [email protected] Darren Adkins | Tel: +44 20 7883 4953 [email protected] www.kearsney.com KCweb This symbol indicates that more USA: information on this topic is available Grant du Plooy | 091 510 315 0565 online. Just point your browser to the Old Boys page on www.kearsney.com [email protected] Greyhound News | 32 KCOB EXECUTIVE From the KCOB President’s desk Looking ahead to much to his mother’s dismay, but he’s increasing number of Old Boys hopeful had the best year of his life in Grade 8 of support. We had 22 applicants for the 2015 and beyond, at Kearsney. It was really great to see his two 2015 awards this year. We also wish excitement in the first term of 2014 when to expand the 25% offer from tuition to KCOB President he learned of all the traditions and values include boarding which is close to most and a very proud moment for him was Old Boys’ hearts. To sustain one such Lawrence Polkinghorne to receive his Kearsney tie. I was very bursary for a revolving five-year period privileged to award the Class of 2014 their in current terms, we need to have R1,4m (Gillingham 1990) chats to Old Boys’ ties at their Leavers’ Dinner and invested and preserved. So to maintain the its awesome to see the immense pride 10 bursaries awarded a cumulative R14m Joy Mills-Hackmann, whose in the boys five years later, even more is required compared to the approximate office drives the Kearsney passionate about their school. R5m we have invested. This is before any other costs and financial assistance requests Foundation and manages What was your highlight for 2014 in your are considered. Every cent counts! We role as KCOB President and as an active need to find creative and fresh ways to affairs for the KCOB Governor of the Board? 30 years ago raise funds and will work with the Kearsney my Dad, Neville Polkinghorne (1957), was Foundation to professionally manage this Executive. the KCOB President. It was pretty special as one option for our finite donors to to follow in his footsteps and also pretty Kearsney. special to have Josh start his journey at the Congratulations LP, I hear you have a new same time! position and are moving out of KZN? Thanks and yes, we are moving to the 2014 was a great year for Kearsney and Western Cape (Paarl), I’ve recently been the school is in TOP shape on all fronts appointed group CEO of a Pan African with exciting plans in place for 2015. A real Forestry Company whose head offices are highlight for me was the opportunity to in Stellenbosch. We’re looking forward to meet a number of the 2014 Matrics and to living in the mountains but not so keen on spend time getting to know the 10 Sons of the winters! Old Boy Bursary recipients. It is seriously encouraging that every one of these young Will this affect how you manage your role men has a unique sense of belonging, as KCOB President? I don’t think so; we tradition, respect and confidence. It is safe will spend a lot of time in KZN over the to say that each boy leaving Kearsney has next few years. My daughter Laurian is at been exceptionally well prepared to handle Epworth and will finish Matric at the end the challenges beyond the Kearsney gates. 2015, and Josh has just started at Kearsney and he’s not going anywhere! And also What is currently your greatest KCOB video conferencing or skype will assist if I challenge? At the 2014 AGM I reported can’t get there. I reckon there’s huge value on the need to grow the Sons of Old Boy in this and it’ll be interesting to see how it Bursary Fund which is so important to works! building our legacy. We currently offer ten 25% tuition bursaries (i.e. two per grade). Another new chapter … you and Kath Four awards are funded via interest earned became Kearsney parents in 2014. How from our invested fund while six are paid has that been? Seeing Josh settle in so from funds raised each year over Founders well has been incredibly rewarding. When Weekend and from Life Subscriptions. This he heard we were moving to the Cape is no longer sustainable, plus there is an he refused point blank to change schools, Lawrence Polkinghorne (1990), KCOB President, is a proud 3rd generation Old Boy. 1st generation: LP’s late grandfather, also Lawrence, was a Founder student (1921-1925). 2nd generation: LP’s late father Neville Polkinghorne (1952-1957) served and chaired the Board and as KCOB President. 4th generation: LP’s nephew Joshua started at Kearsney in 2014. Also 4th generation: Joshua’s cousin and 2015 Head of School is Robbie Polkinghorne (son of David Polkinghorne 1981). 4 | Vol 12 February 2015 KCOB EXECUTIVE Looking ahead, what is your goal for the I have seen how the passion of Old Boys KCOB network? As Old Boys we have is amplified by action! The Class of 2007 benefited tremendously from our Kearsney Memorial Bursary Fund is a remarkable experience. If each of us strives to give story! These guys have issued their first back either financially, through sharing skills bursary. I’m very encouraged to see the or brokering business partnerships for momentum of our brotherhood and Kearsney, we will achieve a great deal; and friendships grow with new class funds and it’s so important that we recognise the life- other collective initiatives starting. My hope long friendships and opportunities we’ve is that we see a tipping point of collective been given, and even more importantly action towards the 2021 Centenary and for the younger guys to recognise that the beyond. network needs to be leveraged. There is a number of Old Boys who would I’m truly proud to be associated with such be delighted to offer advice or sign an a great school. employment contract! Greyhound News | 5 NOTABLE ALUMNI It was into this era of scientific NICK SLOANE exploration, engineering feats and international political turmoil that Nick Sloane (Pembroke 1978) was born in “Nothing is Impossible” Kitwe, Zambia. Five decades later, as senior salvage master of the massive R21-billion Costa Concordia operation, Nick was to prove In 1961 the USSR and USA both put men into space wrong a global sea of cynics who said it was impossible to re-float the passenger for the first time, Audrey Hepburn and Henry liner from her rocky underwater ledge Mancini were screen darlings in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, off the Tuscan island of Isola del Giglio without her breaking up.