Hermanus News 24 November 2015

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Issue 7

24 NOVEMBER 2015

Lights, camera, action for The Whale Caller

see the majestic whales in their natural habitat.

But when the tourists have gone home, the whale caller lingers at the shoreline, wooing a whale he has named Sharisha with cries from a kelp horn.

“Love and romance present themselves in the unlikely form of Saluni, the town drunk who wears a silk dress and red stiletto heels, and lays everything on the line as she tries to reel him in.

This is an evocative yet gritty examination of the fragility of love, and the importance of being true to one’s heart,” says Dylan.

"We're having a great time here in Hermanus. It is a spectacularly beautiful town and we have been very warmly received.

“We really appreciate all the support from the local community and look forward to screening this proudly South African, written, directed and produced, film to everyone next year,” he says The Whale Caller will star multi award-winning actor Sello Maake Ka-Ncube in the title role, and Cape Town actress Amrain Ismail-Essop as the wild woman who wishes to lead him to love, with a solid supporting cast including LeeAnn van Rooi, Johnny Pienaar and Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Shooting takes place in an array of stunning locations in and around Hermanus and the Overstrand area, with some 400 locals taking part as extras.

Hermanus has been turned into a little Hollywood as filming of The Whale Caller kicked off on 20 November.

original South African feature film is ready to leap from the script to the silver screen,” says producer Dylan Voogt.

Zakes Mda The Whale Caller tells a poignant and dramatic love story, set in a magically touched world.

Acclaimed director Zola Maseko (Drum, The Manuscripts of Timbuktu) heads the creative team that includes Miles Goodall (Retribution) as director of photography, with respected producer Voogt (Hollywood in my Huis, Noem my Skollie) of Stage 5 Films driving the production.

“After more than three years of preparations and with a stellar cast and creative team, this

Adapted from the novel of the same name by internationally renowned South African author

“In the seaside village of Hermanus, tourists from near and far gather in droves, determined to

Filming in town will take place until 11 December.

Picture: Nikki Froneman

Weather facts you didn’t know Despite the recent cold snap that left residents grabbing for the winter woollies and longing for summer to arrive at long last, the weather pattern we are experiencing is quite normal for this time of year.

Weather data is captured by Dante Campbell, IT specialist from Whale Coast Conservation, at their Green House office near Vermont. Here are some interesting statistics on the weather over the past two months that you might not have known.

Hermanus Toyota 028 312 1177

Schulphoek Road Business Park, Hermanus

November • Highest temperature • Lowest temperature • Highest minimum • Lowest maximum • Highest range • Lowest range • Highest wind gust • Highest average wind speed

32.4 °C at 14:32 on 5 November 9.2 °C at 05:00 on 3 November 18.8 °C on 8 November 18.6 °C on 1 November 16.6 °C on 5 November 0 °C on 8 November 71 km/h 39 km/h

October • Highest temperature • Lowest temperature • Highest minimum • Lowest maximum • Highest range • Lowest range • Highest wind gust • Highest average wind speed

35.4 °C at 15:31 on 27 October 14.5 °C at 23:33 on 31 October 17.9 °C on 29 October 18.9 °C on 30 October 19.5 °C on 27 October 1.9 °C on 30 October 56 km/h 32 km/h

The highest and lowest range refers to the difference between the highest and lowest temperature. For more information visit www.whalecoastconservation.org.za

The

Rambler

A few months ago, a well-known shop in the middle of Hermanus erected a couple of brand-new signs which proudly, and somewhat bizarrely, declared that the shop was going nowhere. There, for all to see, heading a list of what might be purchased inside, was the bland statement that the shop was "stationary".

Now, from where I stand, it's relatively obvious that this building is not going to move without a great deal of effort on someone's part but perhaps the owners want to make it perfectly clear to all their current and potential customers that, should they turn up next week at the same spot the shop will not have budged one inch.

Hang on though. Is it possible that I have misjudged both the intention and linguistic expertise of those involved? This might simply be

Language is gr8, bt srsly stationary an instance of what used to be called "a school-boy error". Such errors are now either ignored or accepted due to lack of education (or, worse still, concern) or are otherwise referred to by some of us pedants as a blatant misuse of the English language. It's not rocket science: the stuff that we write on and with is "stationery" (with an "e" for "envelope") and not that very similar-looking word which has a totally different meaning.

(and therefore potentially producing a selection of humorous quotations for one of those "Yes!!! Some Idiot In Mongolia REALLY Did Say This!?!!" books) not only would I insult the millions whose mother-tongues these are but also, from a purely selfish point-of-view, I should not expect to be taken seriously enough to sell them my wares.

If, on the other hand, the criminal responsible for these signs is an English speaker, he should be sentenced to spend eternity declining, conjugating, parsing and punctuating.

Now, don't misunderstand me; if the miscreant concerned does not speak English as a first language then he can be excused the error. He cannot, though, be forgiven for not having the humility to check the copy with an expert in that particular vernacular. I know that I would never publish this article in isiXhosa,

But does correct use of language really matter?

And, for that matter, does punctuation matter?

And should you ever start a sentence with "and" or "but"?

Portuguese or any other of the hundreds of tongues in which I am not proficient unless it had been approved by someone whose fluency and accuracy were both beyond doubt. By doing so without these basic checks

Of course it matters. Lynne Truss showed very clearly that there is a big difference between a panda that "eats shoots and leaves" and one which "eats, shoots and leaves". And I really do want to be sure that a shop sells envelopes

Become involved Our town is gearing itself up for the high season that starts in only a few short weeks and as normal thousands of visitors are expected.

This year Hermanus will boast an Ask a Local campaign to assist visitors in gaining local knowledge and improving their experience in town. We ask residents to become active supporters of this campaign to cement our town’s reputation as a tourist friendly destination.

But in order for us to stay the preferred destination, we have to look after our natural resources. Read more on page 3 about the war on single-use plastic bags and become part of the fight against pollution. There is also a problem with connectivity in town and you can read more about that on page 6. We urge residents to become pro-active in lobbying for the upgrading of our connectivity to both the internet and cellphones. Follow The Hermanus News page on Facebook to read the latest updates on what is done to remedy the situation.

That is the good news.

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Betty Blue Bistro 126 Main Road Hermanus Tel: 028 125 0037 Fax: 086 461 7400 info@bettyblue.co.za

OPEN DAILY 08:00 - 17:00 7 DAYS A WEEK

Dave Smith

before I wander around town trying to find it after its latest relocation.

Pride in one's language and efforts to preserve its integrity should not be the exclusive preserve of nationalists, xenophobes or academics. We English-speakers have already allowed the good-ole-you-ess-of-ay to color our language, we have allowed week educashunnalists and jurrnalists to devalue it and we are now intent on permitting txt mssgs 2 gnr vwls. Languages which are not widely used in a global context - and that includes Afrikaans and most African native languages will not survive for many more years unless something is done.

But it's still not too late. Whatever language you speak - read it, speak it, revise it, get your facts right, and then complain, moan, be boring, stop relying on the Microsoft spell-check and claim your language back.

See, even rambling gets serious sometimes!

Publisher De Waal Steyn 083 700 3319 dewaal@thehermanusnews.co.za Content Manager Megan Smith 082 411 1343 smalltowntiger@gmail.com Marketing De Waal Steyn 083 700 3319 dewaal@thehermanusnews.co.za Graphic Designer & Layout Artist Nickey Jackson 079 408 7722 nickey1094@gmail.com

Ask a local campaign promotes tourist friendly character of Hermanus Visitors to our shores will soon have the opportunity to get to know our beautiful town as well as the locals do. The soon to be launched yellow badge campaign of Hermanus Tourism aims to increase engagement of both Hermanus residents and business with tourists.

“As most residents experienced Hermanus initially as a tourist before settling here they understand what information tourists typically require and can offer assistance and knowledge that is not only extremely important but very unique. This is the kind of knowledge that money cannot buy and that no tourist information brochure or booklet can impart,” says Hermanus Tourism’s Public Relations Manager, Frieda Lloyd.

Residents can assist by wearing the yellow badges to distinguish themselves as informal tourism representatives thereby sharing their knowledge with visitors.

“When visiting a touristic town like Hermanus it is not easy to find someone who can help and not everyone is bold enough to stop someone on the street for information. When travelling it is generally accepted that you should eat where the locals eat and do what the locals do. There is no knowledge like local knowledge,” says Frieda.

Hermanus locals have the option of opting in by buying a badge at the Hermanus Tourism Bureau for a token donation of R10 and wear this to be more involved with tourism and raise the sense of community. During December there will be a drive

on social media to use the #myhermanus hashtag when posting on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Locally owned publications, The Hermanus News, Village

Explorer, Splash Magazine, social media contributors, I Love Hermanus and Small Town Tiger and local radio station Whale Coast 96FM have all undertaken to drive the hashtag campaign during the season and to regularly update social media platforms to alert both locals and visitors to events and happenings.

“A Facebook page with the name My Hermanus has also been created where residents and businesses are welcome to share their events and news. The information will then be shared onwards from there to all the social media platforms that relate to town. Use the My Hermanus page with the #myhermanus hashtag and show us why you chose Hermanus. What makes Hermanus your Hermanus” says Frieda.

Staff of Hermanus Tourism and other trained individuals, including some parking marshals, will also be issued with yellow caps that bear the Ask Me I’m a Local logo. “Many of these people spend a lot of time in the sun and the yellow caps will not only help protect them but also make them easily identifiable by visitors looking for information. The caps were sponsored by Ford Hermanus.”

Frieda believes “this will go far to bring the people of Hermanus closer together and tourists will appreciate the support and encouragement.

“By helping tourists we are making Hermanus a better a place for tourists and locals,” she says.

Ombudsman

The press exists to serve society. Its freedom provides for independent scrutiny of the forces that shape society, and is essential to realising the promise of democracy. It enables citizens to make informed judgments on the issues of the day, a role whose centrality is recognised in the South African Constitution.

The News of Hermanus subscribes to the South African Press Code and subsequently to the South African Press Council and the South African Press Ombudsman. Should you feel that our reporting was not free, fair or unbiased or that serious errors were made, you are welcome to lay a complaint with the Ombudsman.

He can be reached on 011 484 3612/8, or via e-mail at pressombudsman@ombudsman.org.za or visit www.presscouncil.org.za

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War declared on plastic bags Plastic bags blowing in the wind and attaching themselves to fences and trees have jokingly been referred to as South Africa’s national flower.

solutions at the source of the problem,” says Tamzyn.

Sheraine van Wyk, Eco-Learning Manager at Whale Coast Conservation, says it is quite clear from clean-ups that food wrappers are a problem. “The use of plastic is pervasive and cannot be underestimated. The problem is that humans are careless with what they do with plastic, often discarding it in the environment. We need to concentrate on eliminating irresponsible littering rather that criminalise plastic.”

But with some 8 billion single-use plastic shopping bags sold annually in the country it has become a huge source of concern for nature conservationists, especially considering that single-use bags are on average used for only 20 minutes. Thereafter they are simply discarded and will most likely end up either at a landfill site, in a storm-water drain or, worse in the ocean.

“The Overstrand Municipality has declared war on single-use plastic bags in an attempt to further bolster nature conservation in the area.

It is estimated that almost 250 thousand plastic bags are sold to people in Hermanus each month. Not a good track record given that ‘protecting the environment’ and ‘conserving biodiversity’ seemingly rank tops when most Overstranders are asked about what they expect from their local government,” says Mayor Nicolette Botha-Guthrie.

According to her, plastic bags that end up in the ocean cause immense damage to marine life because birds, fish and the like become entangled in or choke on the material. What is not commonly known is that the particles released by the plastic bags act as a sponge for toxins in the ocean. Unfortunately, seabirds, whales, plankton and fish mistake those particles for food, with dire consequences.

“Your contribution is quite simple. When offered a single-use plastic bag to cart your shopping home, say simply say no. Buy a reusable shopping bag instead. Reusable bags are

In March 2014, Greyton undertook to become one of the very first towns in South Africa to become plastic bag free.

“The Plastic Bag Free Greyton project was created after plastic shopping bags were lying around town,” says Nicola Vernon, chair of Greyton Transition Town, a registered nonprofit organisation seeking to enrich, uplift and empower members of the community. made of sturdy material, will last a lifetime, save you a lot of money and help keep our oceans litter-free.”

Tamzyn Zweig, programme officer and researcher at the South African Shark Conservancy (SACS) says that a plastic bag floating in the water can easily be mistaken for a jellyfish, which is an important source of food for many marine animals such as turtles, whales and dolphins. “The Hermanus community relies heavily on marine eco-tourism, fishing and aquaculture and it is in our best interests to ensure our oceans are healthy and plastic bag free,” says Tamzyn.

Turning plastic into furniture Primwood Products is one of the only companies in South Africa that uses low density polyethylene found in plastic and milk bottles to create a wide range of indoor and outdoor furniture, decking, jungle gyms, flooring, jetties, balustrades, fences and poles.

landfill to create its wares. The plastic is washed and sterilised before it is chipped and brought to the factory. There the chips are melted down between 130 °C and 150 °C after which it is moulded into the pieces required to build and create the furniture.

“The application of what we can do with our plastic wood is limited only by your imagination," says Alex van Niekerk, owner of Primwood, located in the industrial area. The company, established in 2000, uses plastic that would otherwise have landed up in a

According to Alex the mould would never leach or contaminate the soil or groundwater since it is non-porous and contains none of the toxic chemicals found in pressure treated timber. The plastic wood is also 100% recyclable.

“The recycled plastic wood saves a lot of time and effort as it is maintenance free. It does not need sanding, sealing or painting. Tests have estimated that recycled plastic will last for more than 400 years with only minimal degradation and plastic wood products have a 40 to 60 year lifespan,” says Alex.

Primwood Products supplies their products across the country. They can be found at 12 Mimosa Street, Hermanus. Call them on 028 284 9000 or visit: www.primwood.co.za.

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According to her the SASC’s This Project is Rubbish project which began in 2014 conducts monthly marine debris monitoring on two local beaches comparing the amount of litter found on Grotto, a Blue Flag beach, to a non-Blue Flag beach.

Nicola says none of the small shops stock plastic bags anymore but the three supermarkets still do. However, usage has gone down from 50 000 per month to 15 000 per month. “People are encouraged to buy locally made long life bags that are made in Greyton out of parachute material.”

“Grotto Beach has proven to be cleaner although there has been a high number of micro-plastics (plastic fragments smaller than 0.5cm) found in both locations. Although plastic is convenient and cost effective it takes hundreds of years to disintegrate. SASC has recorded brand names of items collected in hope of convincing the producers to seek

According to Jan van Niekerk from Walker Bay Recycling roughly 15.5 tons of plastic is processed at the plant each month. He encourages residents to use the 2-bag system.

Fill your transparent bag with recyclable items such as glass, paper and tin and fill your black bag with all your non-recyclable household waste. - Megan Smith

Recycle shop enriches lives It’s Wednesday afternoon and Steve Biko Street in Zwehile is abuzz with activity. Children of all ages are eagerly standing in line with large bags filled with recyclable items – everything from glass to tins, cardboard and paper.

They are waiting for the Recycle Swop Shop to open its doors so that they can swop their recyclables for a range of products including food, toilet paper, toothpaste, clothing and toys.

According to manager, Narina Howard, the idea is a brilliant and simple one stemming from the need in informal settlements for items that many of us take for granted, especially amongst children.

“All school going children are encouraged to collect recyclable litter from their area during the course of the week. On Wednesdays they bring their items to the Swop Shop where it is exchanged. The municipality works in conjunction with us and come to collect the

items and takes it to Walker Bay Recycling,” says Narina.

The items are first sorted into categories and then weighed. The children then receive a ticket reflecting the points related to the items collected. From there they move onto the “shop” where they then can purchase items with the points they have earned. Each child, regardless of how many points they have made, receives a sandwich and a piece of fruit when they leave the shop. The points they make are not reflections on the true, commercial value of the items but rather show the time and dedication required to collect the recyclables.

According to Narina there are older children who come to work at the shop. They are then paid in points for their work. Hands turned up to receive, creates beggars. Hands turned down to ‘do’ enables people to help themselves, states the shop’s website.

For more information call 028 312 1242 or visit www.recycle-swop-shop.co.za. – Megan Smith

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Hermanus Pharmacies/Clinics Emergency after hours tel: 028 312 4039

Hermanus Pharmacy/Clinic 145 Main Road, Hermanus

Alex Grant Pharmacy/Clinic

A. Stewart Pharmacy Pick n Pay Centre, Hermanus

Gateway Centre, Hermanus

Tel: 028 312 4039

brenda@hermanuspharmacy.co.za Hours: Mondays-Fridays 08:00 - 18:30 Saturdays: 08:00 - 13:00 & 18:30 - 19:30 Sundays & Public Holidays 10:00 - 12:00 & 18:30 - 19:30

Tel: 028 312 4847

ingrid@alexgrantpharmacy.co.za Hours: Mondays-Fridays 08:00 - 17:30 Saturdays: 08:00 - 13:00

Tel: 028 312 1410

arnold@aspharmacy.co.za Hours: Mondays-Fridays 08:00 - 18:00 Saturdays: 08:00 - 14:00 Sundays & Public Holidays 10:00 - 12:00

When last did you check your first aid kit?

Holiday time means joy and fun but it can easily be spoiled if you do not have a sufficiently stocked first aid kit to take care of minor medical emergencies, accidental mishaps and basic ailments while at home or on holiday.

Elementary first aid kits can be bought off the shelf but individual needs may often necessitate a tailor-made kit.

Ingrid Grundlingh, pharmacist at Alex Grant Pharmacy and Arnold Nepgen, pharmacist at A. Stewart Pharmacy, explain a few necessities about first aid kits.

“The kit should be kept in a convenient location, with items being replaced immediately after they have been used. It's also important to regularly check the kits to ensure that the appropriate items are not out of date.

“A practically stocked first aid kit and knowledgeable use of its contents could mean the difference between a fun or suffering holiday, even the difference between life and death,” Ingrid says.

A first aid kit cannot provide for all eventualities and remedies. It is there for self-help and self-care often as a temporary measure until professional medical services are available. The kit needs to be stocked selectively for the potential primary first aid needs of those serviced by the kit according to age, location and activity and allergies.

Such a selected stocking of first aid kits to provide for minor medical emergencies, general mishaps and ailments and could include: • For minor cuts, grazes, wounds and burns - antiseptic solutions and liquids, creams, gels, Be prepared, be vigilant, be responsible is the message from the Overstrand Fire Department as it prepares itself to face conditions conducive to yet another devastating fire season. The South African Weather Service predicts dry, windy conditions with high temperatures throughout the Western Cape this summer. These are conditions associated with runaway veld fires.

Seeing that Overstrand falls well within the boundaries of a fire dependent ecosystem, it is important that everyone understand the associated dangers, take the necessary precautions and always act responsibly.

plasters, bandages and waterproof dressings • For sprains and strains - crepe supports, massage oils and cream and anti-inflammatory tablets • For nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea – a selection of various products available, re-hydration salts • For nausea and vomiting caused by motions sickness – travel sickness tablets and wrist bands. Ginger, available as sweets or biscuits, is also a great antidote for motion sickness • Mosquito and other common insect bites – repellents in the form of sprays, roll-on sticks and creams • Blue bottle and bee stings - sprays and lotions, including antihistamine if allergic, and ammonia solution (home remedies for blue bottle stings include the juice of sour fig leaves, meat tenderiser and human urine) • Hangovers and other overindulgence discomforts – liver revitalising tablets and fruit salts • Hay fever and related allergies - antihistamines tablets and syrup Arnold added that, in addition to these selected items and standard pain and fever remedies like aspirin and paracetamol, a first aid kit should also have basic hardware like a thermometer, latex gloves, a medicine spoon, needles and a pair of scissors to cover for eventualities.

“Our three pharmacies have basic first aid kits as stock but the pharmacists would gladly advise and make up first aid kits for customer-specific needs,” Arnold said.

He advises that when first aid kits are being restocked, all expired or unused medicine could be brought to any of the three pharmacies for safe disposal.

There is a cost involved as the pharmacies pay for the disposal.

Be fire proof this season Run through the following checklist to help ensure all defences against the distressing consequences of a runaway fire are in place: • Clear the roof and gutters of leaves and other burnable materials.

• Make sure no tree branches overhang your house - in particular, no tree branches should come within 6 - 10 m of any chimney.

• Clear all dead wood and dense flammable vegetation from your garden - ideally, a green lawn or another form of fire-resistant vegetation should be maintained within a

perimeter of at least 10m around your home.

• Keep a garden hose (at least 30m in length) attached to an outside tap at all times ideally, this hose should be rolled around a rack to aid quick transportation.

• Make sure your fire extinguishers are functional and accessible and that everyone knows exactly where to find them.

• Be sure to have an escape plan in place and conduct an evacuation drill to ensure everyone in the household is familiar with this plan and understand their roles - including

those who have to take care of the family pets.

As much as the above can help safeguard your property and loved ones against runaway fires, there are also a couple of basic rules everyone ought to observe: • Never make a fire in strong, gusting winds • Never leave open flames unattended • Never allow children near matches or allow them to make fires • Never leave any smouldering fires - extinguish all coals Report fire and rescue-related emergencies to 028 312 2400, or call Overstrand’s 24/7 control room on 028 313 8111.

Spoil them with clothes Aluminium Security & Timber Shutters

“Ouma’s who love to spoil their grandchildren with something special now have the opportunity to do so with our range of imported clothing for the little ones,” says Liza Thorpe owner of Spoil Them that opened its doors recently in the Station Square Centre.

The store is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00, Saturdays from 9:00 to 14:00 and Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00.

According to Liza she struggled to find dresses for her two girls, Hana and Sophia, so she began to import clothing for them.

“If you are looking for a cute swimsuit, party or church clothes or just an everyday outfit for your little one then this is the store for you,” says Liza.

“Soon after, some of my friends took interest and they then persuaded me to open up a clothing store for children,” she says.

Contact Spoil Them on 028 312 2226

bright children’s clothing to Hermanus that is both affordable and one of a kind.”

According to Liza they stock unique and affordable clothing for children specialising in apparel, shoes and accessories for children aged 2 to 8 years old. “The clothing is sourced from all over the world and most of the items are either 100% cotton or 100% organic cotton.”

“We do not stock any clothes with movie characters on them; we like to focus on colourful pieces with funky embellishments and patterns on them. For those children who wear glasses we stock an exciting range of frames in all shapes, sizes and colours. Some have bows on them, while others sport leopard print and multiple colours.”

Tel: (028) 312-3767 Email: sales@premiershutters.co.za Website: www.premiershuttersandfires.co.za

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Spoil Them have an impressive swimwear line, there are many styles available with all the frills and glitter a little princess could want, including matching swim caps to finish off the poolside or beach look.

Liza says they are excited to be bringing in a line of baby clothes soon. “This will complement our line-up perfectly.”

“The business is growing and I am eager to bring beautiful,

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21A Mimosa Street, Hermanus Industria

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adults pay R80 and children under 16 pay R40.

All proceeds will be donated to the Butterfly Foundation.

1988 VILJOEN STR 5

Oom Manie se

News You Can Use

Friday 27 & Saturday 28 November Benguela adventure weekend Benguela Cove will be hosting their first multidiscipline two-day event in association with TriSport at the Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate. The Adventure Weekend will include both solo format day and night events with the most amazing scenery as a backdrop.

Participants can enter to swim either 600m or 2km in the salt-water lagoon. There will also be a night cycle race of either 9km or 36km that curls between the vineyards. It is a fast, nontechnical route with very little elevation. The same route is used for the 5.5km and 9km night or day single track trail run. Spectators can enjoy the event from the Benguela Cove Boathouse on the day and watch as participants compete in this beautiful setting. Wine by the glass will be available at the club house as well as beers and soft drinks. Participants and spectators can relax after the events by indulging in a chocolate or cheese and wine pairing. Enter online at www.trisport.co.za before 17 November 2015. For additional information go to www.benguelacove.co.za.

Hermanus Vac 2015 27 November - 3 December Schools out, burn your books and get ready for what will be the party you will remember for the rest of your life! As one chapter closes, the next opens…

General Access: R695 VIP: R1000 (VIP includes separate entrance, VIP Treatment, vaccers party package, separate bars, toilets and much, much more!)

Tickets available through Computicket

ONRUSRIVIER

HOUTWERF 060 966 7433 BRAAI & KAGGELHOUT

rdevries@hermanus.co.za Hermanus Mo Bro 28 November at 10:00–21:00 Celebrate men’s health by joining us at the Hermanus Movember Fundraising Celebration – Mo Bro’s & Mo Sista’s aka “The Pink ladies”. The event, hosted by Fusion, Europa and Pear Tree Restaurants, will be held from 10:00 at the Village Square Restaurant Piazza on the 28th November 2015. Come and enjoy a sundowner, Mo cocktails, divine meal and a fun filled day overlooking Walker Bay. DJ Shark Lady will spin great music from 14:00. Prizes will be awarded for the best (and worst moustaches), most original “pink lady” and best “Mo Spirit” team. Voting will take place on our Hermanus Mo bro Facebook page.

music and food stalls as well as Birkenhead Beer and wine tastings from the area. Entry, please bring toys! Contact: Karl 071 287 8823 Friday 4 December Night of a 1 000 drawings The art galleries in Hermanus will host the second Hermanus Night of a 1000 Drawings on December 4. This event is a celebration of art based on the concept that all should enjoy the indulgence of purchasing artwork – even if it is modest in terms of size and price. Anyone who wishes to enter are more than welcome to do so. The artworks can be executed with anything and can be of anything. The only restrictions are that they must be an A5 size and that the artists must be willing to donate them. All the collected artworks will be distributed between the 15 participating galleries and on the evening of the event they will be displayed and available for purchase at R100 each. All proceeds of the sales will go to local charities.

Anyone who knows that in their heart and soul there is a great artist bursting to get out should take this opportunity and get busy. Produce some masterpieces, see them displayed and know that your efforts will produce a double reward. Someone’s walls will be adorned with your artwork and a worthy charity will be R100 better off.

Good Quality DRY Rooikrans, Black Wattle & Bluegum available!

Order your wood NOW before the Supplier Increases in December.

Refer this AD to get FREE delivery (excl. packing) Offer VALID till 9 DECEMBER 2015

thrill both die-hard fans and first timers. Doors open at 19:30. Tickets cost R 100 per person and are available at the Caledon Hotel Reception or via Computicket. For more information, contact 028 214 5100.

Artworks must be handed in at any of the 15 galleries that take part in the Hermanus First Friday Artwalk by December 1.

Snor Jol 28 November at 17:00, Fishermans Cottage Restaurant The Snor Jol Beer Festival is an annual event held by the Fisherman's Cottage Restaurant. This year they are teaming up with The High Street Barber Shop who are all BEARD and MOUSTACHE. With happiness, music and a love for 'local is lekker' all proceeds will go to our own CANSA office here in Hermanus.

Stanford Stumble 28 November at 16:00, Stanford Hills Estate Food, wine and fun! It is time once again for the annual Stanford Stumble. Dress up to run, prizes for best dressed. Registration is from 15:00,

Toy Run Overberg 29 November at 09:30, Wimpy Hermanus Everyone welcome. Starting point as follows, Hermanus Wimpy, run leaves at 9.30am. Toy Run ends on the Village Green in Stanford, live

Fun Factory 4 December - 6 December Nidderdale Farm, Hemel en Aarde Valley, Hermanus We are bringing you nothing less than the ultimate "learning through fun experience". So the way this works is that there are 2 activities on the hour, every hour, and you need to CHOOSE YOUR AWESOME. Tickets available through www.quicket.co.za Saturday 5 December Barry Hilton Live!

South African comedy legend Barry Hilton will be performing at The Caledon Casino Hotel, Spa & Entertainment’s Swartberg venue at 20:00. His new show, Barry Hilton Live, is guaranteed to

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The Hermanus disconnect

Cell phone and internet reception in Hermanus has become the stuff of nightmares for residents and business owners alike.

fast and then slow and that leads to the situation where it takes a very long time to connect to the internet,” he says.

During the past few months several complaints have been raised by locals on especially social media platforms about the lack of quality reception on cell phones and slow connection speeds to the internet.

Business owners have also been struggling as they are dependent on an internet connection for card payments and in the case of some restaurants for placing orders from handheld devices.

In world internet rankings, South Korea takes first place with a whopping average connection speed of 25.3 Mbps, with South Africa ranking 81st.

Several businesses in town have also had to resort to drastic measures to try and resolve the issue.

Geoff Elske, a local social media entrepreneur and business owner, has been lobbying Telkom for better connection in town. “The problem is that there is a capacity ‘bottleneck’ in Hermanus. What this means is that there is simply not enough capacity available to meet the demand in town. I do know that Telkom is working on upgrading the systems to improve connection in town. They have even upped the number of technicians to assist in rectifying the problem, but it seems that in terms of connectivity the demand is simply higher than the current capacity to deliver,” says Geoff.

According to him the maximum download speed for internet connection in Hermanus is 4 megabits per second (Mbps) but on average the connection speed is only 1.2 Mbps. “This is still fast enough to connect but the problem is that the connections are very intermittent. In other words it is

“But even with these machines that run on different internet service providers we have problems every single day. Card payments can simply not be concluded and customers are forced to go to an ATM to withdraw cash.

Not only is this highly embarrassing but the concept of no internet connection is foreign to international clients and they struggle to understand why we cannot process their transactions,” says Estelle.

Recently, clients at supermarkets in town also could not pay for their groceries by card and had to either cancel their transactions or go to ATMs to withdraw cash.

In an effort to try and alleviate the problem during the season a temporary Vodacom tower was recently erected next to the Cliff Path in front of the Onrus Caravan Park. This tower, together with another temporary tower in Voëlklip will relieve a lot of the pressure on the networks during the season. The Onrus tower will be removed early in the new year.

Megan Smith took to social media and asked residents their opinion on connecting to the internet and using their cellphones.

Moses Luiz I have Telkom ADSL uncapped but it feels like we are capped most of the time. Internet and Telkom line down today for the 7th time this year.

Jannie Beirowski Telkom is my internet provider and I have WiFi in my house and office.

There are more breakdowns than online time. My cellphone is with CellC and I constantly receive the message - WiFi has stopped due to slow internet connection.

The 1940s was a decisive decade for Hermanus.

The area of the town more than doubled as Eastcliff and Voelklip were amalgamated with the municipality of Hermanus.

Men from Hermanus served on several battle fronts in World War II and twenty one died.

Military engagements came close. RAF flying boats took off from the Bot River Estuary to engage U-boats just off the coast. They were

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Elize Saayman Support Local wireless internet providers, they do not make use of telephone lines, you have local support and you do not have to hold on for hours to speak to an operator.

James Viljoen I make use of Telkom, MTN and Vodacom.

Poor service has been going on for a few months already.

Vermont’s signal and connection is terrible!

The temporary Vodacom tower in Onrus

Alan Morrison Telkom ADSL line speed in Sandbaai is 1.5 on a good day.

Telkom say they have no plans to upgrade. It is a digital backwater!

Hermanus became the most popular destination for troops granted shore leave in Cape Town. Thousands flocked here, staying in hotels, guesthouses and with individual families.

Stephen Dunser It is temperamental depending on where you are.

Vermont is the worst with no reception and Sandbaai is not any better. In general, reception is poor all over town.

Jonathan Powers Hermanus needs its own towers.

Diary of a decisive decade guided by radar information from three radar stations built on Cape Hangklip and in Betty’s Bay.

Louise Downing Groenewald Getting internet and cellphone connection has been quite an experience here.

W e n e v e r experienced such problems in Vredendal or Citrusdal where we use to live.

Tracey Butchart Vodacom in Vermont is intermittent - worst on Fridays as the weekend visitors begin to arrive!

Most returned to duty, but large numbers were severely wounded in action or psychologically damaged and the Hermanus people took care of them too.

Observing all this was an astute young lady, daughter of the Luyt family that had owned the Marine and Riviera hotels for three decades.

Berdine Luyt kept a diary at the time and then, in the 1970s, wrote up her entries as a book. Her work will be fascinating reading for anyone living in Hermanus.

Entitled “Luyt’s Marine: A Diary of the Years 1942-1947”, the book is edited by Dr. Robin Lee and published by the Hermanus History Society. It is available at the launch at 17:30 on 9 December in the Municipal Auditorium.

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According to experts the problems are caused by congestion on the networks in the area and overburdened exchanges that simply cannot handle the volume of connections. The problem is expected to be further exacerbated when thousands of visitors flock to our shores over the next few weeks.

Estelle Hendriksz, owner of Fusion Restaurant, says they have invested in four different speed point card payment machines at two different retail banks.

Christmas Wish List

With the festive season just around the corner it is time to take to the shops and buy gifts for your loved ones. And, as is the case most years, trying to decide on that perfect gift is no easy task. The Hermanus News team hit the streets to find out just what some of the requests are that will appear on the letter to Santa Claus this year and what their wishes are for people across the country.

Turner Wilkinson I saw my daddy surfing when we went to the beach the other day. I would like a body board so I can be a surfer just like him.

Bonface Msambadothi “Best wishes to everyone, enjoy the festive season responsibly! I like surprises so whatever I get I will be happy with.”

Maggie HecklI would love a farm with lots of animals. My wish for everyone is to invest in their creativity and ideas and create something beautiful for themselves and to share with others.

Sarge Day I love toast! My biggest wish is for Santa to please consider adding an extra slice of toast to my breakfast the next time I am at the Eatery with my dad

Mary Mapaona My biggest wish is to spend time with my family, have f un a nd enj oy each other’s company. Here is wishing you a merry Christmas and happy New Year!

Elosto MutusvaMerry Christmas to all and here is to wishing you a happy New Year. I think shopping vouchers are the best gift to give, that’s what is on my wish list.

Melissa Robertson “A holiday to New York would be at the top of my wish list. My wish for others is for South Africans to look after themselves and their families.”

Mieke Visser If Santa is listening I would love a Frozen (animated children’s movie) dressing table. It is pink and blue, my two favourite colours!

Jeandré De KlerkI like to build things so I asked my mom and dad if I could please get a remote controlled crane. It turns around and you can make the bucket go up and down.

Ingrid Fourie At the top of my wish list this year is for all the kids across the country to have fun, their days to be filled with joy and lots of gifts.

Izak Niemann I would like to establish myself as a successful artist and writer. My wish for others is to cherish those close to you.

Marc Minnaar I have a Corsa bakkie but my biggest wish is to own a 4x4. I wish the community a prosperous 2016!

René Mostert I wish for a bakkie, I drive a Golf but we have a rubber duck which we can’t use because the car cannot tow it. I wish that the community will reach out to those less fortunate over the festive season.

Patrick Kofayo At the top of my Christmas wish list this year is to be able to go visit my family in Cape Town. Here is wishing all those a merry Christmas and to have a wonderful New Year.

Samuel Burmeister Sweeties. I want a big dinosaur transformer or “ninja sticks” (numchucks) like Michelangelo from Ninja Turtles.”

Ferdie Smith I really love to skateboard so I w o u l d s a y another deck; it can turn into a very expensive hobby so I will have to see how generous my wife is feeling this Christmas!

Celia Rabie I would like my daughter with me.

This will be the first Christmas in 26 years without her as she now lives in France. We are blessed, I couldn’t wish for more.

Jennifer Mienies I’d love to go on a trip, to be able to venture to hidden, exotic locations across the world!

My greatest wish for others is to please consider donating a small gift to an animal shelter.

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OTI aims to educate for life

“We are dedicated to the youth. Nothing can describe the feeling when a student has their ‘A Ha’ moment,” says Debbie Peiser, founding director of the Overstrand Training Institute (OTI).

The focus is also on trade skills development such as plumbing, as well as electrical and mechanical skills. “The quad bikes that operates from the Forest Adventures site make for excellent skills development opportunities when they break down,” says Debbie with a smile on her face.

The OTI has been in operation for a decade and has, since its inception, been offering courses in computer, business and hospitality – all centred on youth development.

Debbie, originally a novice nun from the West Indies, says when she first arrived in the Overstrand she had the pleasure of presenting an Enterprise Programme to Grade 10 learners and offer training in hospitality.

“In 2005, along with fellow directors Daniel Morake and Vonji Steneveldt we began the Overstrand Skills Training Network in 100²m of space in the Hermanus industrial area. Today our ‘family’ has expanded to 18 people in four operating areas through the development of skills training. I am privileged to coordinate our vision to become the preferred skills training provider in the Overstrand,” says Debbie.

“There is no point in training individuals in a number of skills which are not required in the area. We liaise with several businesses in the Overstrand to understand their employment

needs and then ensure that we are training individuals to have the skillsets that are in demand in order to fill employment gaps in the immediate area,” she says.

According to Debbie they have big plans for the 70ha farm in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley that they rent from the municipality. “The Forest Adventure Centre is being developed into a leadership and skills training establishment, focusing on essential skill training across numerous sectors. This includes the hospitality section operating from the Bush Diner, which makes for the perfect venue to train individuals in cooking, events management and waitering,” says Debbie.

The OTI also focuses on agriculture and the Haygrove Heaven farm has sponsored a grow tunnel for the training of farm workers. The training modules also include soft skills development such as leadership and volunteer training and is a cornerstone of the success of the institute.

“Currently there are six interns from the Cape Peninsula University who are doing their practical training with us,” says Debbie.

The Hermanus parkrun also operates from their premises and the Bush Diner is open on Saturdays for the duration of the run. “This is a big step for us and it is run in conjunction with Camphill School. We hope that it creates awareness to our cause and of course encourages the enterprising spirit in our learners.”

The farm also has an outdoor amphitheatre that seats more than 300 people. Local artists

such as Chris Chameleon and Nianell have put on shows at the amphitheatre and it is considered an ideal outdoor venue for shows.

On 18 December at 11:00 the much-loved children’s entertainment group Lollos will be putting on a show in the amphitheatre, delighting little ones with songs and dance.

There will also be a Beer Festival on 19 and 20 December with 15 beer stands and food stalls.

Keep an eye out for more information closer to the time.

“Our vision is constantly evolving and we have many interesting things planned,” says Debbie.

“We are looking at offering specialised training in hospitality and through great partnerships hope to provide not just barista training but a full coffee roasting course allowing individuals to learn how to source, make and roast their own coffee. Furthermore a firm of engineers of green future technologies are looking at training and production opportunities and we hope to eventually aid students in gaining their formal qualifications in mechanics, electrical and plumbing,” she says.

Find the OTI on the corner of Angelier Street & Swartdam Road or call them on 028 313 0129.

For more information visit www.oti.org.za - Megan Smith

Heaps of awards dished up for Bientang’s Cave

The prestigious function was held at Moyo Zoo Lake in Johannesburg on 17 November, with the cream of the South African restaurant industry and MC Jenny Morris (aka The Giggling Gourmet) in attendance.

Among the awards that went to Bientang’s Cave were the RASA Rosetta Award of Service and Appreciation (for serving the South African restaurant industry for more than 20 years), the RASA Rosetta Award of Service Excellence (the highest honours for service excellence and overall contribution to the upliftment of the restaurant industry) and last but certainly not least, the RASA Rosetta Award Winner in the category Best Alternative/International Restaurant in South Africa 2015.

Bientang’s Cave was also one of the runners-up

for the RASA Rosetta Best Restaurant in South Africa 2015 Award along with Five Hundred @ The Saxon, De Viswijf, Morells and Papachinos.

The top honours went to Restaurant Mosaic, which also won the Chairman’s Award and the Best Elegant Restaurant category.

“We were as excited as little children,” says Giangi. “It was all quite overwhelming.” He insists that Bientang’s awards belong to each and every one of his staff members, because running a restaurant is a joint effort. “Bientang’s Cave is a unique restaurant and it’s great to receive this kind of recognition.”

Bientang’s Cave has been a landmark in Hermanus for decades and Giangi prefers to refer to himself not as the owner but as the custodian of this very special place for the last 21 years. Situated as close to the sea as one can possibly get, this popular seafood restaurant is carved into the high rock face of the shoreline, with the outside seating and bar area spilling onto the rocks.

the whales and other marine life, but also the rich diversity of bird life along our coast. Piet se Klip, the rock formation in front of the restaurant, plays host to many Cape cormorants, Cape clawless otters and even black oystercatchers. Giangi is particularly proud of the black oystercatcher breeding pair that has nested on the rock for three years in a row and he urges visitors to enjoy the bountiful sight without disturbing these precious creatures.

As a representative of Sea Shepherd, Giangi has a passion for nature conservation and considers himself the custodian not only of

Find Bientang’s Cave below the waterfront parking lot on Marine Drive opposite the Village Square. Call 028 312 3454 to book.

The latest addition to the Bientang’s team is head chef Carl Penn, who is working his magic in the kitchen in preparation of the holiday season ahead. With extensive experience gained at acclaimed restaurants in the UK as

Tel: 028 316 2348 Closed Mondays Open Tues to Sat from 11:30 to late and Sun 11:30 to 15:00 Sections 4 - 6 Hemel-en-Aarde Village

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well as the Cape, including executive chef positions at Simon’s Restaurant at Groot Constantia, Carne-SA and 95 Keerom in Cape Town and Blues Restaurant in Camp’s Bay, diners will soon be able to look forward to many new innovative additions to the menu. But a visit to Bientang’s is about more than just food, says Giangi. “It’s an experience, an adventure.”

And any visitors who’ve had their meal interrupted by the sight of frolicking dolphins or a breeching whale are sure to agree!

We also cater for all functions, including weddings, birthday parties, baby showers & year-end functions.

Owner of Bientang’s Cave, Giangi Negra, and his partner Sylvia Taylor

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Friday the thirteenth turned out to be anything but unlucky for the owner of Bientang’s Cave, Giangi Negra, and his partner Sylvia Taylor when they received their invitation to attend the The Restaurant Association of South Africa’s prestigious 10th Annual RASA Rosetta Awards Gala Dinner. “We knew something was up, but were not prepared at all for the bounty of awards we received,” laughs Sylvia. “It left us speechless!”

New traders at the Market Square ready Several new traders have opened their stalls at the Market Square and they say they are rearing to go with the season starting in a few weeks.

November and according to owner, James Janse van Rensburg, the venue is good for business and has perfect visibility for those seeking to book adventure tours.

The Hermanus News popped in to find out from them what they are selling and what they expect of trading going forward.

Valanchia van der Merwe will sell Hermanus merchandise such as printed tops and t-shirts,

mugs, keyrings and postcards. “We are open and trading even though we are still receiving stock and although we were quiet in the beginning, I do believe business will pickup and we will do extremely well once we are fully setup,” she says.

Local photographer Leanne Dryburgh is thrilled

Suzette de Jongh moved into her new spot on 2 November and will be selling T-shirt yarn, T-shirt jewellery and a wide selection of colourful printed scarves and hats. “I can’t complain.

Since I began trading business has been very good,” she says.

An exciting new addition is the adventure booking office that provides visitors with a central point to make reservations and book tours such as diving excursions, sunset cruises, kayaking, horse riding and wine tasting trips.

Equipment for snorkelling, swimming and diving will also be available for purchase. They opened the office during the course of

Hermanus FynArts 2016 will present a feast of exciting new items and features from 10 to 19 June next year, in addition to a few return guests by popular request. One of the innovations for FynArts 2016 comes in the form of Gift Vouchers which will be available for purchase at the Tourism Bureau in the Old Station Building and at the Info Kiosk at the Old Harbour from 1 December until 30 April 2016.

Mary Faure, Festival Director, says “A voucher for FynArts 2016 makes an ideal gift and with the wide variety of items on the programme for next year, vouchers can be purchased for types of events to meet all tastes. These events include workshops, talks, performances, food & wine, films, exhibitions, demonstrations and children programmes. Once ticket sales have commenced - by early April – the voucher can be redeemed for specific items on the programme.

“What makes it even more appealing is that the vouchers will be purchased at early bird discounted prices. They will be redeemable, either in person at the Tourism Offices or by phone, from early April until 30 April,” she says.

Europa Village Square Waterfront Piazza 028 312 4377

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According to Leanne the Photo Shed will be a retro, funky, vintage shop supplying all the photography equipment and accessories that you can imagine. “Most of the stock cannot be found anywhere else in South Africa. Unique features also include a charging station for those who need all their batteries and equipment charged as well as a backup station where images can be copied onto a CD just in case an accident happens. The Photo Shed will also serve as the head office for all photography workshops and photo walks,” says Leanne.

World-renowned comedian and resident of Hermanus, Barry Hilton is very excited to be a vendor and part of the community. Barry says he has done all the shop fitting himself as he is a keen handyman. The store will stock “Nou gaan on BRAAI” clothing and braai merchandise and “My Cousin” apparel.

Hermanus FynArts makes gift buying easy

C00-EEE Café @ Pennypinchers Gateway Centre 028 32 1131

at the opportunity to open the Photo Shed to locals and visitors alike from the first week of December.

The FynArts website is being updated and the 2016 Programme will be gradually released from the beginning of December.

The 2015 innovation of acknowledging the contribution of one country to the arts as well as to the South African way of life will continue through the 2016 programme. A French Connection will be the fine thread that runs through the events.

The name of the festival artist for 2016 will shortly be announced.

Oskars Village Square Market Street 028 312 3873 Paradiso Village Square Piazza 028 313 1153

Another highlight on next year’s performance programme includes the Opening Concert on Friday 10 June 2016. Junnan Sun, virtuoso clarinetist and the 2015 winner of the ATKV –Muziq Award, will be the soloist playing with the FynArts Festival Orchestra. Celebrity conductor, Richard Cock will once again hold the baton!

A few other highlights on the first weekend include Louis Armstrong and Friends, Last Night at The Proms. And by popular request, the Delft Big Band will once again close the festival on Sunday 19 June 2016 at 15:00.

“This is merely a taste of what to expect in a long line-up of entertaining speakers, great chefs at the pop-up demonstration kitchen, a special event for Youth Day on 16 June and many more exciting events on the programme for 2016 which we will release over the next few weeks,” Mary concluded.

Rossi’s Italian Restaurant

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Community spirit shines in aid of Nathan The Hermanus community has rallied around a 14-year-old boy and his family after he was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.

Nathan Day, a grade 8 pupil of Hermanus High School was diagnosed with intracranial germ cell choriocarcinoma on 2 September. Ever since his diagnosis residents have gone the extra mile to assist him and his family during this difficult time.

“All I can say is thank you to each and every individual who sent well-wishes, gifts and food.

We have been so overwhelmed by the support both near and far,” says his mother, Tracy.

“The community has rallied around us, providing home cooked meals almost every day. Close friends have also created a meal rotation schedule on Facebook for us and some of the learners in Nathan’s class and his register teacher, Jacques Mangiagalli, have shaved their heads in solidarity,” says Tracy.

A group of moms at the high school also sold pancakes to raise funds for Nathan’s treatment.

Curro Hermanus, where Nathan was a learner, donated the proceeds from their inter-schools swimming gala to the Nathan day Cancer Fund. The funds included the money made from selling boerewors rolls and the entrance tickets. Van Blommestein Butchery donated the meat for the sausages.

On 20 November the grade 4 to 11 learners at Curro held a civvies day at school to also help raise funds. A total of R4 340 has been raised for

him and it will be donated to the fund on behalf of Curro Hermanus.

Nathan is undergoing a series chemotherapy treatments at the paediatric oncology clinic at Tygerberg Hospital. He has already undergone two treatments and will undergo a further two.

His treatments are spaced 23 days apart from each other allowing him to build up his strength.

According to Tracy the tumour that Nathan has is extremely rare. The last reported case at the Tygeberg Hospital was more than 20 years ago.

“The staff at the hospital have been so good to us. There is a whole team of doctors who work and make decisions together regarding medical cases such as these,” says Tracy.

Nathan is currently at home recuperating and enjoying some time with family and friends, who regularly drop off surfing and skating magazines - surfing and skateboarding being two of Nathan’s biggest passions.

According to Tracy the funds they receive will also be used to purchase vein-finders for the Tygerberg Hospital. Vein-finders assist medical staff to locate veins quickly, especially in children undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment. “Their veins are hard to locate making it quite a traumatic and painful procedure when trying to draw blood or place an IV line,” says Tracy.

Donations can be made to: T. Day, Investec Bank, savings account # 11001 9961 7444, electronic account number: 5000 336 9283, branch code: 580 105.

Nathan with older sisters Caylin (left) and Chloe (right) at the starting line of the Walkerbay Xtreme open water swim held in Hermanus in May this year. Nathan competed in the event.

Bodyboard event set for Onrus Beach Tristan has been bodyboarding for 12 years and have spent many an hour in the ocean at Onrus Beach. He has won two world titles and next year he be will chasing his dream of becoming the APB Pro World Champ.

According to Tristan the reason for hosting the event is that the beach and its community have shaped him into the rider that he is today. He is very keen to share his appreciation by inspiring future generations to chase the dream of becoming professional bodyboarders.

Local and national businesses have become involved as sponsors. These include Hermanus Toyota, Pride Bodyboards, Zion Wetsuits South Africa and Redbull South Africa.

Participants have to be 15 years old on the 1st of January 2015 to enter the under 16 division or

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they can enter the pro division if older. Entry is R150 per division and registration will take place on the beach 6:00 on the day of the event.

“All entry fees will be donated to The Hermanus Rainbow Trust. This is to contribute towards community development as Hermanus, its businesses and residents have done so much for me as an athlete,” says Tristan.

“My biggest mission out of all of this is to display bodyboarding in the light that it needs to be displayed. I want to change the stereotype of bodyboarding being a sport which entails partying 24/7. The beach-bum life people think of has nothing to do with the sport but simply individuals with the wrong attitude. If I can just open the eyes of the community to see what actually goes down at a bodyboarding contests, then the Onrus Pro/Jnr Classic will be my starting point to do so.”

For more information contact the event organiser Tristan Roberts via email: tristanroberts97@yahoo.com

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Onrus is set to host the first Onrus Pro/Jnr Classic on either 12 or 13 December depending on the weather and waves, says event organiser and local bodyboarding pro, 18 year old Tristan Roberts.

Hermanus Tennis/Squash Club ready to serve aces at new sports complex Sport written & compiled by: Tony O’Hagan The Hermanus tennis and squash club is presently in limbo while awaiting the completion of the new sports complex that is located behind the cricket club and Hermanus High School.

Money is needed to complete the facility and the club is working on a year to year lease in the current location. Due to the uncertainty and delay in progress the club is not in a position to undertake any upgrading of the current facilities or embark on any future planning.

The tennis courts need to be re-surfaced as this was done more than a decade ago and, with a cement foundation, surface cracks could appear again within a year. There are four courts at the club and plans for six at the new complex. The club is the hub of tennis not only in the Overberg but also for many visitors to the town and the current facility is not adequate to meet the demands.

Answers To Sports Quiz - 10th November 1. Who was the referee in the recent final of the Rugby World Cup? Answer: Nigel Owens 2. Which South African swimmer won gold medals in the butterfly event at both the latest Olympics and Commonwealth Games?

Answer: Chad le Clos 3. Who is the coach for Ajax Cape Town Football club?

Answer: Roger De SA 4. Who won the recent Swiss Indoor tennis title and how many times has he won this event?

Answer: Roger Federer, 7times 5. Who is the current World Heavyweight boxing champion, holding the IBF, WBA and WBO titles?

Answer: Wladimir Klitschko Congratulations to Arlene Ehrenberg and Aldo Lucas for both getting all the answers right.

History The amalgamation of the tennis and squash clubs took place in 1982 and there are currently 191 club members. Fees for full membership are R860 per year, with visitors paying R25 per hour for tennis and R20 per 45 minutes for squash. A number of players at the club have been members for many years with the longest living member being Betty Moore who is still actively playing league tennis. She has been a member since 1972.

The club falls under South Boland at present and plays in both the men’s and lady’s leagues.

The squash 1st team reached the final of their league while the rest of the club teams all did well in their respective league fixtures.

Coaching A discussion with Pieter Joubert, chair of the club and also the tennis professional, provided an insight into some of the new coaching methods to enable beginners, both children and adults, to enter the game easier and faster.

The concept of mini tennis has been replaced by the "Play and Stay" campaign which involves introducing players by way of tennis balls of different compressions and colors. Beginners

Sports Quiz No. 5 Here is a taste of our sports quiz which will be a sponsored corner in the weeks ahead with prizes for our readers. In the meantime try your hand at the following questions. submit your name, telephone number and answers via email to news@thehermanusnews.co.za 1. Which African nation has qualified for the most FIFA World Cup Finals from 1930 to 2014?

2. In rugby union what is the name of the trophy that is contested for, in matches between England and Scotland?

3. Who is the highest wicket taker in test cricket for South Africa?

4. Which is the heaviest, a golf ball, a tennis ball or a squash ball?

5. Who did Novak Djokovic appoint as his head coach in 2013?

See answers in our next edition.

Stand the change to win a free car wash by simply entering the Hermanus News Sport Quiz.

Send your answers and contact details to news@thehermanusnews.co.za and if you have answered all the questions correctly your name will go into a lucky draw to have your car washed at Eastcliff Auto.

start with the red balls (25% compression when compared with the match ball), then move on to orange (50%), then green (75%) and then finally the match ball which is yellow. By adopting this method of coaching beginners are able to get the "feel" of the game more quickly and graduate to the use of the match ball.

We hope the move to the new complex is not

delayed for too long as the new facility, including newly laid courts for tennis and squash is long overdue.

The move would encourage both local residents and visitors to enjoy tennis in a more favorable environment. Tennis is a game that can be played and enjoyed well into later life with veteran tournaments played up to the over 80s all over the world.

The "greatist" tennis player?

Like with so many sports the debate around the table in sports clubs and bars as to who the greatest tennis player was is often the topic of conversation.

And as with all such discussions to draw comparisons between players who shone in a different era are difficult. If we confine ourselves to the Open era, 1968 to present, I guess the contenders worthy of consideration and their achievements would read as follows: Men • Roger Federer - 17 majors, won all 4 of the majors, but not 4 in the same year; • Pete Sampras - 14 majors, but no French Open; • Rafa Nadal - 14 majors, won all 4 of the majors, but not in the same year; • Roy Emerson - 12 majors, won all 4 of the majors, but not in the same year; • Rod Laver - 11 majors, won all 4 in the same year twice: the Grand Slam (1969), the grand slam (4 majors) in 1962 - prior to the Open era and 8 Pro Majors. He was excluded from the majors, as we know them, for 5 years.

• Novak Djokovic - 10 majors, current world no.1 and 3 majors in 2015, but no French Open as yet.

• Steffi Graf - 22majors, all 4 majors in 1988 (Grand Slam); • Serena Williams - 21 majors, won all 4 majors, but not in the same year; • Martina Navratilova - 18 majors, won all 4 majors, but not in the same year. Plus alltime record holder in ladies doubles (31 majors) and 10 mixed doubles majors; • Chris Evert - 18 majors, won all 4 majors, but not in the same year; • Margaret Court - 11 in the Open era, all 4 majors in 1970 (Grand Slam). However, she won a further 13 majors prior to the open era. 24 majors in all.

One would have to rank Steffi Graf as the greatest in the Open era, but all time Margaret Court would take the honors. As an all-rounder, singles and doubles, Martina Navratilova stands alone. The debate will go on and differing views expressed but the statistics above are of interest to the tennis lover.

Roger Federer

Other notables, Bjorn Borg (11 majors, no U.S. or Australian), Ivan Lendl (8 majors, no Wimbledon), André Agassi (8 majors, all 4 in different years), Jimmy Connors (8 majors, no French Open). Based on the above statistics, one would think that Federer and Laver would vie for the no.1 spot, but Nadal and, in particular, Djokovic could usurp this position.

Ladies In the ladies Open era, the contenders for the greatest are fewer than the men’s and they are:

Steffi Graf

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Curro Hermanus held their annual Formal Dinner for learners from grade 8 to 11 at the Hermanus Golf Club. The theme was The Great Gatsby’s Masquerade and the girls and boys looked spectacular in their outfits.

Learners from Qhayiya Secondary School in Zwelihle recently participated in a computer skills course in Bredasdorp. They also received accredited certificates that are registered with the South African Qualifications Authority. Especially the typing skills they gained is vital in today's world. The learners are Lindelani Gazi, Loyiso Kula, Kamvaletu Khohlakhala, Abongile Mafevuka, Masibonge Sihlahla, Bongekile Mvimbi, Thandolwethu Kalase, Zintle Mqikela, Zenande Mzayifani, Unathi Bhuti, Olwethu Ngongotho and Sinazo Gxekani.

We service ANY make or model vehicle OLDER THAN 5 YEARS Phone to make an appointment to have your ly vehicle serviced at the on unbelievable price of

R990.00

028 312 3704 18 Arum Street, Hermanus

We do a 20 check point service and safety inspection as part of a complete service.

EASTCLIFF AUTO CC 12

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Contact us to order your Personalised Rubber Stamps We offer a 24 hour service