27 january

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Denneoord dad pleads guilty

Pride and joy of Bitou schools

Upcoming events to diarise

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p9 & 12

Photo: Alistair Hill

27 January 2016

Hikers attacked A blow to Carla Germishuys’s face left her with two black eyes and a swollen nose when she was attacked during a hike with her boyfriend on Wednesday January 20. Two assailants used the cover of undergrowth along the disused Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe railway line to accost the couple unawares - read more on page 3.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

27 January 2016

The sinking of MS Klipfontein 08.01.1953 - Part I

Little did we know of the tragedy that loomed when leaving the ‘City of Acasias’ HENK BOLHUIS recently interviewed a Plett resident with a remarkable story to tell PPOSITE me, on this lovely summer morning, on the other side of a large wooden side table with a glass top, under a shady awning in a beautifully picturesque garden, sits Peter Hatz.

Peter - nearly 82 years old (February) but looking decidedly 10 years younger - has been a permanent resident in Plett for eight years, but has been coming here on holiday since about 1960.

The reason I am here is to

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interview Peter on the sinking of the Holland-Africa liner MS Klipfontein on January 8, 1953 - just over 63 years ago.

When Peter read my serialised story Legal Alien in CXPRESS [read parts I-VII at www.cxpress.co.za, starting on November 18] and in particular the part where I told of our emigration in April 1959 by means of MS Randfontein, Peter phoned the editor and through her was able to contact me to

share that he had actually been an eyewitness to the sinking of the ship that dreadful day.

Before getting into Peter’s fascinating story, let me first give you some background concerning MS Klipfontein.

Like MS Randfontein, the ship that later replaced MS Klipfontein after it had been lost at sea, the latter belonged to the Holland-Africa Line and was designed and built by P Smuts Jr in Rotterdam and launched on March 4, 1939.

She was in actual fact one of a trio of ships built by the Dutch between 1939 and 1940 as a distinct new class of combination freight and passenger liners, the other two ships being MS Jagersfontein and MS Oranjefontein.

Together they became known as the “Fontein Sisters”.

Early January 1953, the Klipfontein had left the Netherlands on one of her regular trips to Southern Africa via Cape Town, PE, East London and Durban to Lourenço Marques and Beira in Mozambique.

It is here that our actual story begins.

Henk: Peter, you’ve told me that you actually were there when MS Klipfontein sank on that Sunday in January 1953 and that you witnessed the whole unfolding event with your own eyes.

What happened that day?

Peter: I’ll tell you the whole story of the sinking, but I first need to rewind to a few days prior to the actual event to put things into proper perspective.

The previous December (1952), I had successfully completed my matric and my parents had given me as present a trip along the Southern African east coast on the Union Castle ocean liner RMS Bloemfontein Castle.

And so it was that during the first week of January 1953, a friend and I embarked the Bloemfontein Castle in Durban harbour where she was moored to one of the docks, just behind MS Klipfontein.

The latter looked quite a bit smaller than our ship and we discovered that she carried freight as well as passengers and crew - a total of 234.

Talking to some of the crew and passengers of MS Klipfontein, we soon learned that she, too,

was bound for Lourenço Marques and Beira.

And so, after a while as we walked back to our ship, totally unaware of the tragedy that would occur a few days later, we called out to some of her passengers: “Enjoy your trip - see you in Lourenço Marques!”

MS Klipfontein sailed early the next morning and it wasn’t long thereafter that we, too, set sail and left the port. During our journey north along the Southern African coast every now and then, when being on deck, I would be able to catch a glimpse of her ahead of us in the distance.

That Saturday afternoon both MS Klipfontein and RMS Bloemfontein Castle laid up in the harbour of Lourenço Marques, present day Maputo.

Here both ships spent the night and passengers of the two liners once again met and enjoyed a few hours in the ‘City of Acasias’.

This well-equipped and modern seaport was named after a famous Portuguese navigator who, together with another well-known Captain, António Caldeira, established a Portuguese

trading station and fort there in 1544.

Before embarking late that evening we ran into some of the people we had met the day before in Durban and exchanged a few words - each wishing the others a pleasant trip tomorrow, Sunday.

And so, early the next morning of Sunday January 8, the same procedure was followed - first MS Klipfontein departed and not long thereafter RMS Bloemfontein Castle set sail.

I remember that it was a glorious morning as we left the harbour and turned to port (left) into the Mozambique Channel, part of the Indian Ocean between Mozambique and the island of Madagascar, for the last leg of our journey ±750 miles (1,200km) to Beira.

The sea was calm and it was a bright and clear day and virtually all the time we could see MS Klipfontein, a tiny speck on the horizon, far ahead of us.

One of the highlights of travelling on a luxury liner is usually the cuisine, especially lunch on Sundays, and we were looking forward to a variety of food and drinks and other delicacies.

Finally the bell rang to announce lunch in the dining room and most of the passengers did not lose any time in getting to their tables.

SHIPS IN THE DAY: MS Klipfontein, above, and RMS Bloemfontein Castle, below

DISASTER: MS Klipfontein going down on January 8, 1953

We had only been below deck a short while - I can’t remember the exact time, it must have been somewhere around 12 - when suddenly there was an announcement by our captain, JHF Ferguson.

Calmly he informed us that for the time being, lunch would have to be suspended as he had received an SOS radio message that MS Klipfontein was in serious trouble after apparently having struck an uncharted submerged foreign object and might need assistance.

Even quicker than we had entered, we now left the dining room and went up on deck to see whether we could actually see what was happening ahead of us.

As RMS Bloemfontein Castle was getting closer and closer to MS Klipfontein and we stood there watching, news filtered through that Captain J Oosterhuis, master of MS Klipfontein, had sent a distress signal at 11:18 GMT, realising that his ship was badly damaged and possibly doomed.

All aboard our ship there was now frantic activity by the crew to prepare life boats and other equipment for a full scale rescue operation.

Slowly but surely we were gaining on the stricken vessel ahead of us and as we approached, our ship turned slightly towards port in order to position itself between MS Klipfontein on our right and the Mozambique coastline on our left.

All the time as we were getting closer, the details of what was happening out there became clearer and all of a sudden the disaster became a stark realty to me.

There she was, MS Klipfontein, slowly beginning to list to her port side and as I was watching I could see rows of deck chairs and other loose furniture and items begin sliding towards the ocean.

People on board - probably crew - were moving cautiously along the slanting deck, but I could not see whether any lifeboats were being prepared; I also noticed a large oil slick spreading around MS Klipfontein, probably as a result of a ruptured oil bunker.

To be continued…

NEWS & VIEWS

27 January 2016

CXPRESS

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Cape Town couple thwarts brutal attack on Choo-Tjoe track

A Somerset West man and his girlfriend escaped with their lives when they used martial arts to fight back a violent attack by two men, one armed with a panga, on a popular walking trail between Wilderness and Vic Bay last Wednesday - NIKKI RIDLEY reports

tempting to cut them with the panga, the men also tried to throw Hill off the cliff. Describing them, Hill said that one seemed to be in his late teens and the other in his early 20s.

Afterwards the couple discovered that the walk, popular thanks to its beauty and panoramic views, was nevertheless known among locals as dangerous; that there had been three attacks on the walk in the past two weeks.

However, Hill was careful to stress that while one attack definitely happened,

KEEPING HIS HEAD: A relieved but bleeding Alistair Hill after he and girlfriend Carla Germishuys fought off two attackers, keeping further intended and no doubt worse injuries from a panga at bay - both injuries were caused by rocks and his head wound bled profusely, but wounds to the back of his head required the most stitches - Photo: Carla Germishuys

LISTAIR Hill and Carla Germishuys, who were staying at Ebb & Flow Rest Camp in Wilderness, were attacked between the first and second tunnel after Vic Bay on a scenic walk along the old Choo-Tjoe railway line a meander they had read about in a popular national tourism magazine.

Luckily for them, and unfortunate for their attackers, both are trained in True Krav Maga martial arts and managed to fight

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and disarm the attackers who subsequently fled the scene empty-handed, this despite the “brutality” of the attack which left them both with head injuries, “mostly from the rocks they hit us with”, said Hill.

“We have no injuries from the panga, despite the attacker trying. Carla has a swollen nose and black eyes, and I had to have stitches in three places on the back of my head.”

In addition to hitting them with rocks and at-

the others were “hearsay” as he had no definitive confirmation.

Intent on spreading awareness about the dangers in the walk, he contacted the magazine in which he read about the walk via Facebook, “to make people aware of the safety issues.

with some locals determined to make the walk an official signposted trail and cycleway, subject to maintenance and safety measures.

Hill praised the police response, saying that they were incredibly helpful and voicing his opinion that they got “undeserved flak” when things like this

‘She was a rock star, kicking the one guy between the legs after he hit her with a rock and shoving him when he was throwing rocks at me’ “I don’t want to blame the magazine or put people off the walk, it’s really beautiful, but people must be aware.”

Hill added that he found some of the reactions he received on Facebook somewhat extreme but that most responses had been sensible, positive and proactive,

happened; that they were limited as far as the extent to which they could police such areas.

“We have the same problems in Cape Town on Table Mountain.”

Hill said he had been coming to the Garden Route since childhood and that his love of the area had not

been affected by the attack.

He also advocated people learning self-defence skills to best prepare themselves for similar situations.

“I have been doing martial arts for 36 years. After a number of different arts, I have settled with True Krav Maga as I find it suits my needs when it comes to self-defence.

“Carla has only done it for three months, but just those three months really helped her in the attack.

“She was a rock star, kicking the one guy between the legs after he hit her with a rock and shoving him when he was throwing rocks at me - when the guy with the panga called him over to help while I was disarming him. It really is never too late to start.”

• Read ‘Support for Outeniqua Cycleway’ on page 4.

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CXPRESS

Support for Outeniqua Cycleway in the wake of recent attacks HE latest incident on the deserted ChooTjoe track lends further support to the Outeniqua Cycleway initiative, aimed at “taking back the track and transforming the disused Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe railway line into a world-class hiking and cycle track to bring economic upliftment to the area”.

An initiative of The Garden Route Cycleway Association (established in 2007), the Outeniqua Cycleway will form part of the proposed Garden Route Cycleway, linking George and Plettenberg Bay and eventually also Port Elizabeth.

As per its Facebook page (see www.facebook. com/outeniquacycleway), Association chair John Stegmann “was instrumental in founding the world renowned Cape Town Cycle Tour which is now the biggest timed cycle event in the world and each year pumps a huge amount into the Cape Town economy”.

“South Africa lacks safe

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NEWS & VIEWS

27 January 2016

urban routes for commuting, recreation, training and cycle touring. As a cycleway facility this corridor would make it possible for all cyclists to travel in safety and with relative ease along an incredibly attractive route,” says Stegmann.

“As yet another year passes by, the once worldrenowned Choo-Tjoe line falls further into disrepair.

Crime is starting to take a serious turn for the worse along the track between Kaaimans River and Victoria Bay - arguably the most scenic part of the track.”

• See the letter on p11, which Stegmann addressed to CXPRESS and Plett Tourism head Peter Wallington. In the same vain, it was penned late December in reaction to a report by Pedal Power Association CEO Robert Vogel after the death-bycar of yet another cyclist on SA roads. Then read ‘George-Knysna Railway - why, how and what if ?’ on the Editor’s Desk at www.cxpress.co.za.

Teacher’s charges to be joined before return to court next month Yolandé Stander

HE well-known Plettenberg Bay teacher accused of several sex crimes against children, including rape and sexual abuse, may no longer offer his services as a teacher to children with special needs.

This is the case after his bail conditions were changed last week following a letter that had been doing the rounds suggesting that the teacher, who cannot be named until he has pleaded, had been offering music therapy to

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to be amended after having seen the letter.

While Gillespie suggested the document was brought to the court’s attention by local anti-child abuse group the Green Hearts, it was later found that it had been handed to Breedt by a Women and Men Against Child Abuse member.

The case relates to claims that the teacher had allegedly raped a 15-year-old mentally disabled learner twice at school. He was arrested on December 13 and was subsequently released on bail of R3,000.

After Magistrate Len Goosen amended his bail conditions, the matter was postponed to February 26 for two more witness statements to be acquired.

The teacher is also out on R3,000 bail in another matter relating to claims that he had allegedly sexually abused a 10-year-old boy in his class. He was arrested on June 22 and appeared in the Knysna Regional Court in this matter on Friday January 22.

The case was postponed to March 2 for the two matters to be joined.

Denneoord dad pleads guilty to rape and porn charges HE George father who drugged and raped his 12-year-old daughter’s friends pleaded guilty to more than 60 charges relating to the incidents in the Thembalethu Regional Court on Monday.

He initially faced more than 3,000 charges including rape and the production and possession of child pornography, but as part of his plea bargain, was required to admit guilt

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Reed Stone e

children with special needs since his arrest.

The accused, while he did not deny involvement with music therapy, said through his lawyer John Gillespie that he had not offered his services since his first arrest in June last year.

The letter was handed to prosecutor Henriette Breedt on Thursday January 21 before court proceedings.

The teacher, 42, was set to appear in the Plett Magistrate Court for a mere postponement for further investigation, but Breedt had asked for his bail conditions

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on 67 counts.

The 51-year-old Denneoord man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victims, admitted that he had given the children sleeping tablets before raping and photographing them.

The youngsters were not conscious while he committed the crimes.

He was arrested by the George FCS unit in November 2014 after police

searched his home and confiscated among other items his laptop, desktop computer and camera.

The incidents happened between 2012 and 2014 and the girls were aged between 10 and 12. Originally police were under the impression that his daughter had been one of the victims, but it was later established that she was not.

While family and friends of the victims were disap-

pointed that the charges had been reduced to 67, they were hopeful that the court would hand down a maximum sentence.

Anti-child abuse groups also expressed their relief that the case, which had been dragging on for more than 15 months, had come to its final stage.

Magistrate Eugenia Jacobs postponed the case to February 29 for sentencing. - Yolandé Stander

NEWS & VIEWS

27 January 2016

The Barn doors are opening wide… … and inside you’ll find a real-life legend of South African music

BIG STAGE, BIG NAMES: With Mel Botes at centre stage during a ground-breaking concert at Pretoria’s Atterbury Theatre are Maurie Mostert Choir members and, from left, Croatian pianist Dino Jelusic, Nathan Smit, ‘Ghapi’ on drums, Denny Lalouette on bass and Simon Orange, right

HE Garden Route is blessed with a vast number of highly talented people who have semigrated here for the superb quality of life. And latest to join that list of local treasures is guitarist extraordinaire Mel Botes, who has recently taken over The Barn in The Crags, just east of Plettenberg Bay. Except that ‘guitarist’ doesn’t actually tell the full story: apart from being a guitar virtuoso, Mel is a renowned poet, composer,

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vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, solo artist and songwriter, as well as being an acclaimed actor.

Along with partner Jeanne, who runs the production side of their company Storm Produktionz, Mel plans to breathe new life into The Barn.

It is not for lack of innovation that he has been lauded as ‘one of South Africa’s national assets’ by Leon Economides, aka The Rockit Scientist.

This dynamic team has

Go, BATS, GO! ITOU Amateur Theatrical Society (BATS), formed but three years ago under Plett resident David Hall-Green, was last year invited to stage their production of Old Actors Never Die in Port Elizabeth.

CXPRESS learnt on Monday that no fewer than 10 people from the production were nominated for the 25th edition of the Clover Showtime Awards at PE’s Little

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Theatre, nominations including best supporting actor and actress, best actor, best scenery design and best production.

Awards in the Adult Theatre category takes place on Friday night and we hope our local stars return home with lots of silverware… good luck!

BATS is currently rehearsing for this year’s play - call David on 044 533 4578 for details.

loads and loads of connections nationally and internationally - a point proven by the fact that the relaunch of The Barn on Sunday January 31 will feature world famous folkrock icon Shawn Phillips, who we will not be seen on these shores again in the foreseeable future.

But they are also serious about the promotion of home-grown talent, so have been talking to Big Circle Entertainment about opportunities for the great variety of local artists on its database as they open their arms to their new community.

Storm Produktionz stages quality theatre productions that are invariably well received by the upper echelons of the rock n roll community, playing music in the country’s top theatres to sophisticated and knowledgeable audiences.

With a following built up through years of performing across South Africa, the team also boasts corporate launches as a standout speciality.

Mel is one of the most prolific and respected musicians to ever emerge from

the South African music scene. He also continues to give back to society by using Storm as an engine for talent cultivation among the youth.

Not surprisingly, The Barn has already received several wedding enquiries for this rustic, unique venue, and their chapel and accommodation are bound to become extremely popular.

Watch the press for opportunities to enjoy the best local entertainment on the Garden Route, and see www.stormproduktionz. co.za as well as the advertisement on page 9 for additional information.

CXPRESS

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27 January 2016

NEWS & VIEWS

PROMOTION

27 January 2016

CXPRESS

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CXPRESS

INTERVAL

27 January 2016

Six words in 30 years A customer in search Catholic priest his silent study and work.

Ayoung decided to enter a Another 10 years passed of Blou Bul wors monastery. He joined one particularly strict sect.

The head monk told him, at his indoctrination, that they were sworn to TOTAL silence. They could not speak one word at all.

However, every 10 years they would be permitted to speak two words.

After 10 years of total silence, the head monk indicated it was now time for him to speak his two words.

The monk said: “Bed hard!” And then he resumed

and the head monk again indicated it was time for him to speak his two words.

The monk said: “Food bad!” And then he resumed his silent study and work.

Another 10 years passed, and the head monk again indicated it was time for him to speak his two words.

The monk said: “I quit!”

The head monk shook his head and said: “I knew this was coming. You’ve done nothing but complain for the past 30 years.”

Hierdie hitte raak nou te erg… Ek haal gister ‘n gevriesde hoender uit die vrieskas en gaan sit hom in die son om te ontvries. Na ‘n halfuur staan hy toe self op en gaan lê in die koelte!

A flirt that will cost you... businessman in the first class cabin decides to chat up the drop dead gorgeous flight attendant.

“What is your name, darling?” he asks.

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A couple is sitting in their living room, sipping wine.

Out of the blue, the wife says: “ I love you!”

“Is that you or the wine talking?” asks the husband.

“It’s me,” says the wife, “talking to the wine.”

“Angela Benz, sir.”

“Lovely name… any relation to Mercedes Benz?”

“Yes, sir, very close.”

“How close?”

“Same price,” she says.

customer asks: “In what aisle could I find the Blou Bul wors?”

The clerk says: “Are you a Blue Bulls supporter?”

The guy, clearly offended says: “Yes I am, but let me ask you something. If I had asked for Italian sausage, would you ask me if I were Italian? Or if I had asked for German Bratwurst, would you ask me if I were

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German? Or if I’d asked for a kosher hot dog would you ask me if I were Jewish?”

“No,” the clerk replies, “I probably wouldn’t.”

The guy says: Well then, because I asked for Blou Bul wors, why on earth did you ask me if I were a Blue Bulls supporter?”

“Because you’re in Builders Warehouse,” the clerk replies.

Buying a parrot NE day a man goes to a pet shop to buy a parrot. The clerk takes him to the parrot section and asks the man to choose one.

The man asks: “How much is the yellow one?’’

“R2,000,’’ the clerk says.

The man is shocked and asks the clerk why it’s so expensive.

The clerk explains: “This parrot is a very special one.

He knows typewriting and can type really fast.’’

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“What about the green one?’’ the man asks.

The clerk says: “He costs R5,000 because he knows typewriting and can answer incoming telephone calls and takes notes.’’

“What about the red one?’’ the man asks.

“That one’s R10,000,’’ the clerk says.

The man asks: “What does he do?’’

“I don’t know, but the other two call him ‘boss’.’’

ENTERTAINMENT

27 January 2016

Upcoming Events • Upcoming Events • Upcoming Events

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BY KIND PERMISSION OF CRAIG AND JILL HUNTER

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CXPRESS

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MPC

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

27 January 2016

Letters to the Editor

Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600

Bitou’s take on jetskis According to a Bitou official responsible for Beaches & Public Amenities, an incident involving a jetski happened in full view of the municipal office at Central Beach during December.

Apparently an adult, while operating a jetski, suffered a panic attack and the jetski went out of control.

Fortunately, in this particular instance, no injuries or harm was done.

As the municipality we appreciate the context and

essence of the complaints [visit www.cxpress.co.za and see the letter ‘Just a matter of time…’ on page 11 of the January 20 edition], with particular reference to the safety of swimmers/bathers.

According to our legal department, the launch and use of craft are prohibited in close proximity to swimmers. Moreover craft should be operated mindful that the beaches and amenities are for the use and enjoyment of many and that crafts should

Bras in arms…

On page 2 of CXPRESS dated January 20, there is an article titled ‘Safer schools a reality in Thembalethu’. It states that top bras (sic) of the police force visited several schools in the area.

It is good to hear that

the schools are receiving the necessary support.

Steve Crutchley, Plett (Uhm, oops… Thanks for reading us with such attention to detail, Steve, and for putting a smile on our dials with your punny ‘support’ retort. - Eds.)

We are letting SANRAL get away with murder Why is SANRAL (South African National Roads Agency Limited) not doing anything about providing passing lanes on the very busy section of the N2 between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna? It is a motorist’s worst nightmare.

Not only is the official speed limit restricted/reduced from 120kph to 100kph, but the excessively long and heavily loaded 16-wheelers travelling at 80kph on the straight and 60kph or less on uphill sections cause long lines of highly irritated passenger vehicles to build up behind them.

It is not uncommon to see up to 20 cars trailing behind these long-distance haulers, more so if there are two of them, one right behind the other.

It is obvious that there

is enough land available to construct passing lanes on the uphill sections, but SANRAL doesn’t seem to care and the annoyed drivers of passenger and small commercial vehicles get so impatient that they pass on solid lines.

So who really is responsible if there is an accident, these irritated drivers or SANRAL for neglecting its duty of upgrading this section of the N2 to safe National Road standards?

Who is really contravening the law, the impatient driver or SANRAL? Motorists ‘burn tyres’ on this road surface every day, but SANRAL does not seem to take notice. What is SANRAL waiting for, a major multiple car pileup accident with several fatalities?

Frustrated Motorist, Plett

be operated in a manner that will not bring harm or injuries to other beach-goers.

This particular requirement is very clearly displayed on the notice board at Central Beach, as well.

The drafting of a by-law that would see closer regulation in the use and operations of craft, will soon be completed by the legal department, submitted to Council and taken through the public participation process as contemplated by

applicable legal prescripts.

Any beach-goer who feels aggrieved by the use of jetskis or other craft, can lodge complaints with the Public Safety department.

A total ban of jetskis as inferred by those complaining would not realise, given the constitutional imperatives that would limit such a decision. Please send enquiries to 044 501 3009 or email MvanRooyen@plett.gov.za.

Manfred van Rooyen Bitou mayoral spokesperson

Safe cycling facilitation Bitou must plan to create safe and enjoyable bicycle paths for commuting and recreational cyclists to cycle to work and children to cycle to school.

It will boost tourism by enabling all recreational cyclists - adults and children - to enjoy cycling at any time that suits them without having to travel by car with their bicycles to wilderness trails.

This was an approved feature of the 2004/5 Spatial

Development Framework.

Some of the great opportunities that existed then are still there.

Traffic counts have risen enormously. The N2 is really dangerous. Each year the cost of building proper facilities increases and we forfeit the benefits.

Safe and enjoyable bicycle paths are well designed paths that attract cyclists in a way that keeps experienced cyclists off the N2.

John Stegmann, Plett

Single entrance/exit cause for concern Am I the only one feeling that the Market Square parking exit was badly planned?

The increase of traffic since the banks moved there, plus the now higher ‘hit risk’, make me feel very uncomfortable about going there.

Considering the present bottlenecking, imagine the chaos should something untoward occur? It’s trouble waiting to happen.

I question if only one entrance/exit is even ‘legal’. If not, then why has/is it being allowed? And if it is ‘compliant with’, then it’s high time to review that law or ordinance.

Concerned Local, Plett Centre manager Karin van Riet responds as follows: Bitou Municipality only al-

lowed one entrance and exit to the premises from development level.

We have not noted an increase in traffic to the centre; what has been noted is a longer dwell time, as now customers are doing their shopping and their banking in one trip.

Unfortunately, if something untoward should happen at the centre - and we certainly hope that it doesn’t - there would be chaos irrespective of how many entrances and exits we had.

The upside is that with just one entrance and exit, one would really have to think twice before planning something, as exiting the building rapidly could prove to be the downfall of any criminal’s escape plan.

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SPORT & ADVENTURE

27 January 2016

Ferrari fans choose Plett venue for its first function of the year

Words & photo: Jon van den Heever

HE normal birdsong on a Sunday morning at Ouland Farm was interrupted by another type of aria entirely when members of the Garden Route chapter of the Southern Equitorial Ferrari Automobili Club (SEFAC) arrived for their first function of the year, held at the Ouland Royale venue, with the unmistakable howl of Ferrari engines saturating the fresh country air.

The local club was established in 2014 and now has 26 members owning various models of the legendary sports car. The Garden Route chapter is currently

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headed by Alistair Gibb.

The club arranges occasional visits to the Ferrari factory in Modena, Italy and the Monza Grand Prix. • The Southern Equitorial Ferrari Automobili Club was established in 1967 as a Ferrari owners club only.

The original founders were also the founders of the Kyalami Racing Circuit and they boast a long and proud history.

SEFAC arranges many events during the year, from breakfast runs, trips around the country, Kyalami circuit, Ferrari appreciation events and more. Visit www. sefac.co.za for details.

Plett photographer Ray Friedman recently enjoyed a beach walk with his daughter and his dog when stumbling upon this KZN-based angler’s catch of a ragged tooth shark at Lookout. After releasing the beautiful specimen back into the ocean, the unnamed sports fisherman told Ray that he was ‘testing the waters’ for an upcoming competition.

Local Plett rock n surf fundi Bruce Noble explained that national championships are due to take place in Hartenbos from February 22, and only if the respective team captains voted to fish Plett on one of the four days would participating anglers descend on the town.

We hope to bring more fishing news in a near future edition.

ROYAL CHARIOTS: A neat row of Ferraris are parked in front of Ouland Royale in Plett

Testing the waters‌

Photo: Ray Friedman

Training for ‘boot camp’ on beautiful Robberg Last weekend Oakhill students Kelly Dawkins, Veda Vosloo, Lelia Turner and Kalcey Polson tacked Robberg, hiking and sleeping over in the Fountain Shack in preparation for Odyssey 2016, accompanied by Kalcey’s parents Mike & LounĂŠ Polson. The Oakhill Odyssey is a journey of self-discovery where Grade 10 students journey for about 400km, canoeing, cycling and hiking through some of the most rugged and picturesque terrain in the country each March. Interesting facts about Odyssey is that it passes through 40 different properties and the support vehicle covers 5,563km in 21 days; 800 packs of 2-minute noodles and 90kg of oats are consumed during the excursion; on average, students drink close to two litres of water daily (so 2,000 litres are gulped down); and they survive a full 30,240 minutes away from their computers, iPads and cellphones‌

THE LENS - ROB SMITH Rob has had a lifelong interest in photography – a craft which has been shaped by the diversity of the places where he has lived, from a farm on the banks of the Kafue River in Northern Rhodesia, to the mining towns of the East Rand, the beauty of upper New York State, Cape Town, Pretoria, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Johannesburg, Sydney and Plettenberg Bay. During this time he has moved from photographing family and friends to specialising in landscapes, seascapes and the wildlife of southern Africa. Rob has had photos published in the Wall Street Journal and a number of South African magazines. All the photos on display are limited editions DQG DUH SULQWHG RQ ȴQH DUW SDSHU RU SUHPLXP FDQYDV

THE PALETTE – INGRID TONKIN Ingrid started painting in earnest 10 years ago, initially under the supervision and tutelage of Dee Voster and, for the last 8 years, with the guidance of Cyril Coetzee. After a period of experimentation and learning, Ingrid has developed a distinctive and recognisable style which EULQJV D FHUWDLQ PRRGLQHVV DQG FRQȴGHQFH ERWK LQ VXEMHFW PDWWHU DQG H[HFXWLRQ ΖQJULG KDV exhibited her work on two previous occasions. Both exhibitions were sold out. She accepts commissions. Medium – Oil on Canvas

THE FURNACE – ROBERT AND BRENDAN LEGGAT Bronze Fields Foundry, on the outskirts of Plettenberg Bay, was started by Robert Leggat in DQG KH ZDV MRLQHG E\ KLV VRQ %UHQGDQ LQ $ VWXGLR ZDV RSHQHG LQ RUGHU WR H[KLELW their sculptures and bronze “pours� are held regularly to which guests are invited where they can witness the complicated procedure of the “Lost Wax Method� of creating a bronze.

Robert and Brendan have individualistic styles; Robert producing exceptionally detailed work while Brendan’s sculptures exhibit more impressionistic tendencies. This past October, both sculptors exhibited at the prestigious Christopher Greig Sculpture Exhibition in Hyde Park, Gauteng and both accept private commissions. Their work can be found in private collections worldwide and Robert has sold successfully at both Christie’s in London and Strauss and Co.