Vol 13 | 2016 Edition FOUNDERS 95th Anniversary Weekend 3 & 4 June 2016 The gift of sight Dr Jonathan Pons 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 13 | 2016 CONTENTS In the News 6 Alumni Feature & Cover: The Gift of Sight Dr Jonathan Pons (1980) is a remarkable Opthalmologist who heads up a rural eye hospital in Swaziland. As guest speaker at Kearsney’s 2015 Speech Day he told the boys to follow their dreams after school. “Measure your day not by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you sow,” he said. 8 Other Notable Alumni Medical Outreach Business and Awards Local and International Sportsmen 95th Anniversary and Centenary Planning 19 Ambassadors 20 Centenary Book 22 USA KCOBs and US Choir Tour Connecting the Kearsney community – Old Boys, Staff, Parents, Pupils & Friends In pursuit of excellence The Kearsney College Old Boy magazine is 24 School News 2015: Achievements published annually and features news taken 26 From the Headmaster’s Desk from the monthly Greyhound eNews. 28 Partners Vol 13 | 2016 Edition Reunions & Generations 30 Reunions & Faces in Places EDITOR 33 Survivor Times Joy Mills-Hackmann +27(0)83 662 0838 [email protected] Farewells 34 In Memory & Tributes KCOB OFFICE Kerry McMaster 36 Dates to Diarise +27(0)31 – 765 9628/50 [email protected] GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT Branch Convenors Pam Benporath [email protected] National International CONTRIBUTORS (unless stated) Joy Mills-Hackmann CAPE TOWN: AUSTRALIA: Sue Miles of Working Words cc Euvrard Loubser | 082 8948257 Richard Bridel | Tel: +61 2 405100261 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] DOLPHIN COAST: MAURITIUS: Changed your email or address? Tim Johnson | 082 4246202 Raymond Hein | +230 542 12265 Tell us: [email protected] [email protected] [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 The material in this magazine may be [email protected] [email protected] reproduced with the written permission of PIETERMARITZBURG: SINGAPORE: the Editor. Vacant Kendal Robinson | 00 65 9667 0312 SOUTH COAST: [email protected] COVER IMAGE Walter Robinson | 071 329 3625 SWAZILAND: Dr Jonathan Pons (1980) is a remarkable [email protected] Jody Foss | +268 404 0976 Opthalmologist who heads up a rural eye ZULULAND: [email protected] hospital in Swaziland. Tim Beningfield l 082 578 9932 UK LONDON: www.kearsney.com [email protected] John Roussot | +44 7818 526 559 [email protected] KCweb This symbol indicates that more USA: information on this topic is available Grant du Plooy | 091 510 315 0565 online. [email protected] Greyhound News | 3 KCOB EXECUTIVE From the KCOB President’s desk Kearsney College What are the main outcomes of the led by a Campaign team to be appointed Kearsney Boy of the 2020s review? by the Kearsney Trustees. Work has already celebrates its 95th commenced to grow the endowed fund with Enormous progress has been made on an invitation to every year group to start anniversary this year so many fronts under the leadership of a Class Fund or contribute to an existing headmaster Elwyn van den Aardweg and Special Fund. We urge you all to become and KCOB President the process has endorsed that Kearsney Founders of the Second Century! With the is on the right track. This legacy needs to passion of the Kearsney community behind Lawrence Polkinghorne be maintained and grown; and we need to us, I am confident we will reach our targets focus on capital projects to improve the and objectives to ensure we remain a top (Gillingham 1990) and his teaching and boarding facilities, to expand school in the country. Executive are focused on the outstanding academics and world- class education offered. The majority of What keeps you inspired to continue in the exciting run up to the classrooms in the original classroom block this voluntary role as KCOB President? were built to accommodate about 15 boys 2021 Kearsney Centenary. in a 41m² class. Today’s ideal classroom, to Dare I say it runs in my blood! It’s an comfortably accommodate 25 boys and honour to serve our fellow Old Boys and facilitate modern teaching methodologies, serve the school in any way that can add A Centenary is a massively significant event requires that classrooms are extended value. I did my first stint in the early 90s in the life of any organisation. How is the to 72m². Eight additional classrooms are under Lauron Buys (Gillingham 1970) as KCOB Executive preparing for Kearsney required and, with the introduction of president (we actually started the Whippet College’s Centenary in five years’ time? Mandarin as a new subject, a further four. movement then) and it’s really rewarding to The endowed fund must be grown to enable see the Whippets alive and well today, 25 It is indeed a very exciting time! I’ve been the awarding of bursaries and scholarships years later! privileged to be elected to represent the to support excellence and access to talented Old Boys on the Board of Governors boys from all backgrounds (including the Kyle Connolly (Gillingham 2004) spoke and the Centenary Committee. It’s quite sons of Old Boys), many of whom could to the Matric lads at the induction session something to be part of a process to not otherwise afford the experience of of the Class of 2015 about the honour, strategically examine what is required to Kearsney. tradition and responsibility of being a KCOB. educate the Kearsney Boy of the 2020s. One Kyle will look to strengthen the Whippets thing is clear: the strong traditions, honour How are bursaries and capital projects and Hounds portfolio going forward. To code, passion and pride of Kearsney boys funded? acknowledge the Class of 2015 being the throughout time remains the foundation on first year group to start a class fund while which we have been and will be educated. As much as is feasible is committed through at school, Kyle’s security firm Ensure (which the school budget but we also continually provides security detail at various Matric With the 2021 Centenary around the source alternative funding. The Kearsney Rage events) sponsored VIP tickets for the corner, Management has been researching Trustees, Board of Governors and Old boys for one of the main events. international trends, consulting experts Boys will launch a Centenary Campaign and and endeavouring to forecast and plan to Appeal as part of the 2016 Kearsney 95th My thanks to KCOB Branch Convenors for ensure Kearsney remains at the pinnacle of Anniversary celebrations. This campaign will record attendance at many annual events - global education futures. This has involved be driven by the Kearsney Foundation and support at local branch level is deeply valued: every aspect of the running of the College and has included most staff to ensure ‘buy in’ and support. The new academic block will be known as the Centenary Building. Opportunities for naming rights have been approved by the Board. These include overall naming, naming of a multi-purpose exhibition centre, two new quads, 12 new classrooms and benches in the quad. 4 | Vol 13 | 2016 KCOB EXECUTIVE • The USA-KCOB ambition to raise • Old Boys who return to the Hill to inspire • Lastly my thanks to Kearsney’s Headmaster US$600,000 towards Centenary Bursaries current students: From Jono Pons who and his staff. The positive relationship will hopefully prove a massive inspiration graces our cover, to others we feature in and the incredible successes achieved all (and challenge) to other branches. this edition, and those who inspire a love make it exceptionally easy to remain truly of knowledge, adventure and care for the proud Old Boys. • The amazing energy coming from year planet and humanity. groups attending reunions and starting Class Funds. At the 2015 AGM I presented the KCOB President’s Award to the Class The first wing of the Centenary Building will be opened in 2016. If you would like to be a lead donor, of 1974 for starting a Class Fund and speak to the Kearsney Foundation prior to the launch at the Founders Black-Tie Dinner in June 2016. raising almost double the amount they wanted to raise in their first year. Now the Class of 2015 has impressed - we share more about these young men in this edition. 2015 Class Convenors (from left to right): 2015 Head of School Robbie Polkinghorne (lead convenor), James Tedder (Durban), Kyle Connolly (Exec Whippet & Hound lead convenor), Geoff Sibbald (Western Cape) and Siya Kheswa (Johannesburg). Greyhound News | 5 NOTABLE ALUMNI DR JONATHAN PONS The Gift of Sight For those who understand the burden of blindness, Jonathan Pons (Finningley 1980) provides a gift of incomparable worth. The gift of sight. Working primarily in rural Swaziland, Committed to rural health, Jonathan has Jonathan’s wife Helen is involved in Jonathan performs more than 600 cataract worked in various mission hospitals in community projects in the Lebombo and 400 other eye surgeries each year; whilst KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) since 1986 and Mountains, whilst also managing the farm also training medical students and doctors now, as an Ophthalmologist, he heads the and their bed and breakfast establishment.