The Village NEWS 27 Feb 2019 - 06 Feb 2019

27 FEBRUARY 2019

THE VILLAGE

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Camphill bog fire intensifies

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Sporting highlights

In the women’s elite race at the XTERRA South Africa Championship held in Grabouw on Sunday 24 February, Haley Preen from Hout Bay claimed her first XTERRA title in an impressive time of 2 hours, 51 minutes and 40 seconds. See more on P 22.

PHOTO: Mark Sampson

Trouble blooming in our waters Writer De Waal Steyn

T

here are no ecological disasters awaiting the Whale Coast despite the current red tide in the ocean and the dying of fish in large numbers in the Klein River Lagoon. Both these occurrences are natural phenomena that do not pose any direct danger, according to the experts.

“The red tide presently visible in our waters is big and strong, but it is in

no way as large or intense as what we experienced in 2017,” says Rowan Yearsley, Chief Executive Officer of local firm Aqunion, which manages abalone farms in Hermanus and Gansbaai.

“We learnt many lessons in 2017 and despite the fact that this red tide is not as strong, we are not taking any chances and are making sure that our abalone farms are not affected in any way. While the algae cell count was 3 million per litre of water during the red tide in 2017, it is about 1.5 million

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per litre at the moment. But that does not mean we are out of the woods.

The current weather conditions are perfect for algae blooms, as easterly winds blow the warm surface water out into the ocean, which is then replaced by the cold nutrient-rich water that assists algae bloom,” says Yearsley.

What the red tide with its characteristic red/brown ocean water takes away during the day it makes up for at night with displays of phosphorescence in the waves and on our

beaches.

As for the Klein River Lagoon, the worst possible thing to do now would be to breach the lagoon artificially, says Pierre de Villiers, Head of CapeNature’s Marine Programme.

“CapeNature, together with the Klein River Estuary Forum are aware of the fish dying and we are continuously testing the water for toxicity. At the moment, the dry and warm weather is facilitating the algae blooms on the banks of the lagoon. As the blooms

remove most of the oxygen out of the water, fish that were feeding along the banks get trapped and they asphyxiate,” says De Villiers.

While the sight of dead fish floating in the estuary may be unsettling, it will not help to breach the lagoon.

In fact, says De Villiers, an artificial breach will cause more problems as it will allow the water level in the lagoon to drop even further, reducing the number of deep safe spots where fish can hide in the meantime.

Continues on P 3

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2019/02/25 18:37:45

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27 February 2019 PHOTO: Anena Burger

Estuary should not be breached now “The Klein River Estuary is managed in terms of the Estuary Management Plan and the Mouth Management Plan. Both these plans are informed by experts and guide us in ensuring that the lagoon is healthy. The mouth of the lagoon and the ocean are quite far apart presently and should one try to breach the lagoon, one would have to dig a huge tunnel. There would not be much outflow before the breach closes naturally again. But by that time the level of the lagoon would have dropped so much that it would be at risk of drying up completely and that could lead to an ecological disaster.

year. Those conditions were not met last year and the window closed at the end of October.

We should be talking about aspects such as river set-back lines, farming practices, animals in the riparian area, septic and conservancy tanks and treated water discharge. Abuse by many over the whole length of the river, results in the problems we see now.”

“The only time one could consider breaching the lagoon would be after heavy rains have fallen or are about to fall, when sufficient water flow would allow fish to escape, and for the lagoon to flush itself out. An estuary with all of its water in it is more stable during a drought period such as we are experiencing now,” says De Villiers.

Yearsley says there is no scientific link between the algae blooms in the estuary and in the ocean, but reason would dictate that allowing nutrient-rich water from the lagoon into the ocean at the moment might contribute to the red tide.

Sheraine van Wyk of Whale Coast Conservation agrees with De Villiers. However, she says the estuary may well be in crisis. “The real problem is continuous, excessive extraction of water from the Klein River and the inflow of nitrogen and phosphorus-based chemicals. This pollution is caused by animal manure, artificial fertilisers, sewage, cleaning fluids etc. ending up in the river.

It was widely agreed from scientific input and formal public participation processes, that an artificial mouth opening can only occur under certain conditions and at a certain time of the

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She says the Klein River Estuary is the fifth most important in the country due to the fact that it is a fish nursery that is extremely important to our ecological environment.

According to him, the current red tide is mostly made up of pockets of water that drift past our coastline. “This affords us the opportunity to predict when the red tide will be close to our farms and either switch off the pumps or change the filters to ensure that that little of the algae makes it into our system.

“All the abalone farms across the Whale Coast are working closely together to ensure that any potential damage is limited. We thank our dedicated staff who have been working overtime the last two weeks to ensure that our abalone stay healthy. Most of the farms have staff who work straight through the night to help guard against the red tide.”

While the current red tide is not toxic, ingesting shellfish or sea water could cause a mild upset stomach. Residents and visitors are therefore urged to refrain from harvesting any shellfish, especially mussels.

The impact on marine life however, especially abalone, is unfortunately much more severe.

Prolonged exposure to these conditions causes high levels of stress in these animals. The dinoflagellate organisms (a subgroup of algae) clog the gills of abalone and they suffer stress from a lack of oxygen. Currently there is no indication of when the red tide will come to an end.

According to experts, the current bloom consists predominantly of the dinoflagellate species Gonyaulax spinifera, although Lingulodinium polyedra, responsible for the extensive blooms along our coast in 2017, is also thought to be present.

Both these dinoflagellate species produce yessotoxins, which are accumulated by filter-feeding shellfish such as mussels, oysters and clams.

However, studies conducted to date have not revealed any toxic effects to humans resulting from consumption of yessotoxin-contaminated shellfish, and worldwide there have been no reported cases of human shellfish poisoning attributed to yessotoxins.

Rock lobster and other seafood are not affected by the red tide, unless the high algal densities cause secondary effects such as suffocation due to oxygen depletion of the water column, or gill irritation and clogging.

Any attempt to open the mouth of an estuary is illegal and transgressors are liable to a fine of up to R5 million or 10 years imprisonment if convicted in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).

2019/02/25 18:26:18

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27 February 2019

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No smoke without a fire Writer Elaine Davie

A

fter the devastating wildfires that ripped through a number of Overstrand communities just over a month ago, those affected began to clear away the rubble and debris, pull the pieces of their lives together and prepare to start over.

This was the case at Camphill Farm and School in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley where, miraculously, relatively little damage had been done to the infrastructure (The Village NEWS 30 January 2019). The digger loaders moved in, pipes were replaced and the School felt confident that within the next week or so, it would again be fully-functional.

Yet, several weeks later, this prospect has moved further and further away from realisation, as the community is faced with an environmental conundrum of epic proportions.

While the clean-up was taking place, staff members were aware of wispy spirals of smoke rising from the ground here and there, but as the days went by they were alarmed to see these morph into dense clouds of smoke hanging over the Onrus River at the lower end of the property.

Before long, the administrative staff were coughing and spluttering and grabbing for face masks. There was absolutely no chance of the children coming back to this environment, especially since several of them suffer from respiratory ailments.

They called in the Fire Department, which in turn, consulted with the Overstrand Environmental Department and soon there were specialists pouring in from the provincial and national Environmental Departments, CapeNature, SANBI and Working on Wetlands. They all agreed on what was causing the smoke, but no one knew exactly what to do about it.

It turns out that the surface fire had gone underground and formed what is known as a smouldering hot spot, or a peat or bog fire. If left to its own devices, it could go on burning for months, or even years, waiting for just the right conditions to flare up into a full-scale surface fire again. All it needs to keep going is sufficient oxygen, fuel and humidity and all of these are present in abundance. This

phenomenon is relatively common in countries like Ireland, Indonesia and Canada, and according to a forensic report produced after the 2017 Knysna wildfires, conclusive evidence indicates that at least one arm of that conflagration arose from a neglected smouldering hotspot.

PHOTO: Supplied

As far as the Camphill peat fire is concerned, one of the aggravating factors is the ecological sensitivity of the site. The Overstrand Municipality (OM) comments: “This wetland is characterised as the only remaining piece of palmiet vegetation wetland, which plays a critical role in the functioning of the Onrus River and the Onrus Estuary and is of considerable ecological importance.” It goes on to add that “the remaining wetland is currently the only natural filtering system that still keeps the estuary in balance”.

According to the OM, “Unfortunately, this estuary’s balance is easily tipped because it is such a small catchment (area) that is heavily infested with invasive alien plant species. The sub-surface fire currently smouldering at the foot-end of the wetland could result in an ecological disaster if the site is not protected and mitigating factors implemented to stop the fire from spreading into the palmiet vegetation.” One of the challenges is, therefore, to stop the underground fire from spreading and the second is to extinguish it altogether, thereby also putting a lid on the toxic, carbon-laden smoke which is belching into the atmosphere, especially in the early mornings and evenings.

Environmental and wetland specialists continue analysing and monitoring the situation. During the past week some interesting facts emerged. Although government authorisation had been obtained to dig trenches across the wetland to prevent the fire from spreading, existing irrigation furrows were discovered, probably built in the 1950s/’60s, and are now being reinforced to fulfil this role. Drone-borne infrared cameras producing thermal images show that although the 2ha hotspot has gained in intensity, it has not spread.

By drilling down into the peat bed, it could also be determined that this wetland has been in existence for the

past 7 000 years and it was possible to track its history for most of that time. It could also be confirmed that in the Western Cape this type of palmiet wetland is absolutely unique.

This was an exciting discovery for the environmentalists and strengthened the commitment of government to ensure its survival and complete rehabilitation.

However, the immediate challenge is to eliminate the dense and toxic smoke, which is deteriorating with the increased intensity of the underground fire. All the specialists agree that the most urgent need is to remove the infestation of alien vegetation, which is directly responsible for the continued smoulder. This is extremely dangerous work, however, and will have to be undertaken by a specialist task team. The surface is so hot (between 700 and 3000) that it will melt both vehicle tyres and people’s boots. In addition, the surface soil is so friable that one minute you could be standing on firm ground and the next be up to your knees in burning coals. However, it is a matter of extreme urgency that this matter be dealt with; on Friday night a flame reportedly broke through to the surface, which had to be hurriedly extinguished.

Naturally, this operation will also be

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hugely expensive and no doubt way beyond the capacity of the Camphill budget. A second challenge will therefore be to persuade the National Department of Environmental Affairs to carry the cost of rehabilitating this valuable wetland. What seems clear is that there will be no quick fix and that the children of Camphill may not be able to return to their school anytime soon.

But, in the meantime, what has become of them? Because they clearly could not return to the School in these unhealthy conditions, it became necessary to make longer-term arrangements. For some weeks, the day scholars had been accommodated at the Sandbaai Hall and Jeanne-Marie Botha, the School Principal has now booked the hall until the end of the term in midMarch.

“We are very grateful to have this space,” she says. “It has been divided up to accommodate the different classes and, although the circumstances are obviously not ideal, the teachers are doing a great job carrying on with their lessons. Another advantage is that the outdoor space is completely safe for the children to play in.” The cost is something else, of course. The School has been given a special rate for the rental of the hall,

but R300 a day is a tough target to meet out of the blue.

Another challenge was finding somewhere to stay for the eight boarders and 17 volunteers plus house-mothers. With the help of Just Property, Jeanne-Marie has found two suitable houses, one in Gansbaai and one in Onrus, and they are all happily installed there until at least the end of April. “Yvette de Jager from Just Property was just amazing,” says Jeanne-Marie. “She went way above and beyond the call of duty to help us find suitable premises. We are presently trying to arrange for the office staff to set up shop at the Sandbaai Hall. Then the cooks must organise themselves to prepare meals for the children there, too.” Sjoe! “Just as well I have a sense of humour”, laughs Jeanne-Marie, “otherwise I would have run for the hills and never been seen again.”

In the meantime, back at the ranch, while the environmentalists try to deal with the fire, workmen are hard at work replacing windows and gutters and repairing holes in the roof at the School. Their work is often interrupted by an army of migrant snakes which have happily settled into their new home, undisturbed by its former occupants. We await further developments in this alarming drama.

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2019/02/25 18:26:20

27 February 2019

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From the left are Swannie Swanepoel, Jurie Minnaar, Deano Katts and Emile Sarels of the Safe Security team, who came second in Saturday’s Potjiekos Competition; judges Madre Malan and Anton Verhoogt; Stephan and Lize Coetzee of the winning team, FinGlobal; judge Stefan Otto, and the husband-and-wife team of Masala Mafia, Vanessa and David Tedder, who came third.

Cooking up a storm for charity Writer & Photographer Sarah Taylor

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f just 1 000 people donated R100 a month, Hermanus Child Welfare would be financially sustainable, says general manager Sally Titlestad. This is the message she wants to send out to the community, in her appeal for support for this valuable service.

Hermanus Child Welfare (HCW) was chosen to be the beneficiary of the funds raised at this year’s annual potjiekos competition, held on Saturday and organised by the United Church in Hermanus. HCW received approximately R55 000 from the event.

The church, situated at the base of Hoy’s Koppie in Royal Street, was humming with passionate activity and exuding enticing smells for this past weekend’s event, which attracted 17 corporate teams to compete for the best potjie.

Members of the public could purchase full meal tickets for R80 to sample the lip-smacking stews.

Well-known local chefs Anton Verhoogt, Stefan Otto and Madré Malan were the judges. The team from FinGlobal scooped the top prize with a divine oxtail, creatively served alongside candles made from the fat. SAFE Security won the second prize, while Masala Mafia came third.

Early Childhood Development HCW has been in existence since 1945. Its area of jurisdiction is Greater Hermanus, from Swartdam Road to the edge of Hawston in the west.

(Badisa covers the area from east of Swartdam Road to Gansbaai.) Sally says the organisation is among the three largest in the rural Western Cape in terms of the number of families they

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deal with and has a staff of 30.

HCW’s core social worker service involves identifying and preventing child abuse, and assisting and supporting families with young children. The organisation operates three Early Childhood Development (ECD) crèches for 180 children aged 18 months to six years, and Sally says they ensure that their crèche fees are kept as low as possible. Currently, it costs R300 a month for a child to attend a HCW crèche five days a week, with two meals and a snack included. Registered teachers are employed at the crèches which implement on a structured daily programme.

Other services “We have six social workers in our core office who provide a service for families with children affected by trauma, illness, physical abuse, neglect, or by a drug- or alcohol-abusing parent.

We also assist with fostering. There is a very high number of children being fostered.”

The organisation also runs a distribution centre for donated clothing, nappies and baby milk powder, which are distributed to foster homes, the ECD centres or to individual clients in acute need. “We focus very hard on not continually assisting people but assisting them to create their own opportunities,” says Sally.

Funding challenges HCW obtains a small subsidy from the Department of Social Development for its ECD crèches and its social work sites. The children in HCW’s care also receive SASSA grants.

Sally says less than half of the organisation’s costs are covered by the state subsidy, and the remaining funds for HCW come from donations from the community and through events such

as clothing sales, this weekend’s potjiekos competition and an annual bazaar. Last year’s bazaar raised a significant amount of R22 000 for the organisation.

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Currently, Sally says the organisation is in great need of computers in the HCW offices, as well as telephones. Between the 30 staff members, there are only four telephones.

HCW has been through turbulent times, the GM readily admits, and in 2015 it was put into administration for two years. “HCW has been working very hard since 2016 to ensure the organisation provides a viable, integral, consistently-good service,” says Sally, who came on board at the end of June 2018. “We try exceptionally hard to give the very best service we can but our budgets are very tight. We received our tax clearance last week and, as a result, can now raise corporate funding.”

Any parent struggling with issues related to children’s well-being and their unmet needs can approach the HCW office directly in Malva Street, Hermanus from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 16:00.

Prizes for the potjiekos competition were sponsored by La Pentola, the Photo Shed, The Singing Cook, Southern Right Charters, Caffè Blu, Dr Robin Lee of the Hermanus History Society, the Milkwood Restaurant, Whale Coast Theatre, Down South Marine, AgriMark, Wine Village, De Vette Mossel, Creation, Panthera Africa and Walkerbay Adventures. Donations for the event were also received from Eden Café, John from Soundworks, Terence Takura, Rewind Band, Hermanus Toyota, Hermanus Property Sales, the United Church, and the three judges, Stefan, Anton and Madré.

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27 February 2019

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LET’S TALK T: 028 312 2020 A: 8 Arum St, Hermanus Industrial

GAS DELIVERIES

Let us live and let live Frankly, I don’t want my dogs to be intimidated and confined to a dog park.

I prefer having freedom of movement, which is my constitutional right as a law-abiding tax payer, to experience new places and the beauty of all that Hermanus has to offer and let my dogs walk freely with me; especially since I spent thousands of Rands to ensure they are trained and socialised, to be able to do so.

In all the time of walking my dogs on the cliff path (twice a day, every day), I have never come across any incidents of dogs behaving badly and 99% of people have no problem with them being there or being off leash.

Most people interact with the dogs.

Healthy and robust debate are crucial for democracy. The Village NEWS firmly believes in freedom of the press as well as the right of individuals to freely express themselves, as long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of others. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors therefore do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Village NEWS. Enjoy our paper. - The Editorial Team

Any squabbles are usually due to the odd dog being on a leash.

It is simply not right that some of us who pay rates and taxes in this town have to be excluded or intimidated while our freedom of movement is restricted in this way, due to a 1% minority of people who simply cannot see the sun shine on others too. That is unacceptable.

I refer to the editorial Let us decide not to be offended in future (The Village NEWS, 20 Feb ’19). It seems Hermanus has become schizophrenic from the trauma it has suffered. It also seems that there is a small minority of people on social media and living in this town (usually the same people), who are offended about everything,

with everyone, all the time. They are usually also permanently miserable while preaching “love” to everyone else.

ONLINE

Let us decide to LIVE AND LET LIVE and not be so exclusive in future, instead of being the twisted control freaks we have become. We seem to not have learnt from the events last year that being so exclusive causes a chain reaction of events which ends in making life unpleasant for everyone. Continue this persecution of dog owners and the consequences will surely be unpleasant for all, including some cats roaming all over without owners, let alone leashes, and catching all the bird life.

Dog Owner

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Why are humans so anti-social?

I walk along the cliff path every day. It is the highlight of my day after being cooped up indoors and finally being able to run free. All along the drive there, I ask, “How far still, Mommy?”

When we get there, it is usually another wait while she gathers her hat, our snacks and the damn leash.

Oh boy! At last the door opens. Ah, where to first, there are so many smells. OK, looks like I’ve escaped the leash for the moment... let’s get going, shall we. Then I remember that

I have to keep close to her. I look up at her and she says, “Good girl!”

The path is almost deserted, except for the odd friend and dog owner. We are all friends, except for those on a leash; they are always so protective.

At least 99% of people we meet are friendly and happy and they even interact with us. Now and then we come across Les Miserables, as Mommy calls them. I wag my tail at them too, but soon realise they would

prefer to kick me andMommy to find a reason for their anti-social behaviour and how to react, but even she looks puzzled about what could possibly have happened in their lives to make them so. I often wonder if they were ever sent to social behaviour school.

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Never mind, too many great smells.

With Love, Dogoffleash

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Betty’s Bay needs a helping hand Thank you for your article on the way that Betty’s Bay residents have been affected by the recent wildfires. My wife and I have spent many wonderful holidays in the area over the years, enjoying the unspoilt beauty of the fynbos and the beaches. When we recently drove through Betty’s Bay, we could hardly believe what it looks like now.

One can also hardly imagine the

terror that residents must have experienced as the fire engulfed their homes and gardens. Now that they are trying to rebuild their lives, we have heard from many that the municipality is offering very little in the line of support. While other areas such as Franskraal and Hemel & Aarde have also suffered, the scale of devastation in Betty’s Bay and the number of homes lost seems so much worse by comparison.

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Why then have the Hermanus community and the authorities been so tardy in lending Betty’s Bay a helping hand? When we heard of a fundraising party being organised by a local wine estate for the Wupperthal victims, we had to wonder: What about your neighbours in Betty’s Bay? Does charity not begin at home?

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27 February 2019

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OPINION MATTERS GET IN TOUCH

Let’s show the world local is lekker All around the world visitors want to discover and experience a destination like a local. After all, who knows a place better than the people who live there.

In the next two months, the Overberg will play host to two important events.

In March, the 16th edition of the Absa Cape Epic, the most televised mountain bike race in the world, will be taking place, followed in April by the 4th Walker Bay Xtreme, an all-inclusive event that allows everyone, no matter your sporting abilities, to compete.

A Far Kraai

Both these events offer us, as locals, the chance to put our best foot forward and let the world see and feel what a wonderful place the Overberg is.

Thousands of athletes, their crews and their families will be here. The national and international media coverage of these events runs into millions of Rands – marketing that we, as a community, could never afford to pay for.

Let’s not waste these opportunities.

Honestly, we just can’t afford to. Luckily, both events are urging us all to join in the action.

The Absa Cape Epic invites everyone to enter their Flyover competition in which participants create something that is large enough to be viewed by a helicopter as it flies overhead taking photographs and videos. Two years ago, Hermanus High School had its scholars dressed in blue and waving like a whale tail while Creation Wines erected an installation of a bicycle on their dam.

De

the entry proceeds will go towards supporting a worthy cause. The more locals who join the race, the better it will be. Last year, there were 60 participants. Wouldn’t it be great if this year we had 500?

So let’s get out there and get involved.

Let’s use every chance to chat with our visitors. Let us show them and the world how passionate we are about the place we call home.

The Walker Bay Xtreme will be organising their second Windsor Marine Mile Sprint. This year, however,

This is the good NEWS - Ed

Fine wining & dining? Jou ma se laat oes

Hedda M ttner Ra

thevillagemuze@gmail.com

Long before they ran out of happy-juice at the wedding, and youknow-who saved the day by converting a jug of water into wine, the fine art of getting plastered goes way back to Eve’s tempting Adam with a mug of her apple cider.

Since then people have experimented with fermenting various fruits/ berries/veggies to concoct a hooch that’ll get you drunker quicker, while reducing the body’s natural tendency to throw up. With perseverance, people refined the art of pretending they’d got used to the taste. (Hooch, not vomit.)

So let’s look at the different types of drinks drunk by dinkum drinkers, dead-beat drunks and dedicated dabblers these days.

It’s after sunset in the little pub at the Duck ’n Fiddle, and a few regulars are gargling down their usual tipples.

Druiwe duToit, the local Merlot producer sells his wine to The Duck at cost minus 5%, and is therefore

allowed to drink as much of it as he likes for free. This he does with regularity and without hesitation.

Next to him sits Klippies Combrink, who is strictly a brandy and Coke type. He drinks it because of his stutter. After slamming four or five doubles down the hatch, the brain and the tongue click into synch, and he can safely complete a sentence without blurting out curses in frustration and getting into a brawl. (He’s also got used to the taste of Coke.)

This drink – double brandy ‘n Coke in a tall glass, ice optional – is known in bars throughout the Western Cape as a Kraaifontein Cocktail. It was originally christened 50 years ago in the string of MEN ONLY bars (remember them?) next to the railway line in Lower Woodstock, known as the Black River Wine Route. It is by far the most popular drink in the country, a refuge from reality for the shuffling masses, and it is sloshed back from bush-pubs and braais to bar mitzvahs and banquets. But back to The Duck…

Further down the bar counter slumps Sparky Snyman, local electrician and proud owner of a fresh Duck ’n Fiddle

tattoo on his boep. He drinks only beer – and as much of it as possible.

Being made from natural farm produce, he maintains that its medicinal and healing properties far outweigh any negatives. As a result, he pursues this ‘health kick’ with stoic determination, and remains pleasantly and permanently half-cut.

“Why does he drink so much?” a concerned newcomer once asked the barman.

“Helps him to get through the day,” he explained.

So there you have it. More than whiskey, rum and the white spirits, The Duck is a microcosmic sample of the three most swallowed tipples countrywide… wine, beer and brandy. Proud producers of all three are always keen on ‘pairing’, to demonstrate how their different blends suit particular foods, as if we really care.

Well, after extensive research in The Explanation of Everything, we can reveal some ‘pairings’ of our own.

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What movies do the three categories of drinkers enjoy the most?

Beer quaffers are Top Gun/Mad Max types. Wine is usually sipped by folks who loved Les Misérables, and the brandy ’n Coke brigade… well, it’s Leon Schuster, so enough said.

I don’t drink much – what’s regarded as a social drinker. I stock very little booze at home, but am always willing to splash out on a 5-litre box of Late Harvest when friends pop round for sundowners. So they often bring their own booze. (There’s no accounting for taste.)

“But it’s 7:30 at night!”

“See? It works.”

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But here’s a tip: Create the sparkle of ‘champagne’, or the fruity effervescence of a ‘spritzer’ from regular white wine.

Half-fill a beer mug with wine, then add a teaspoon of Oros, and a squirt of lemon juice to disguise/improve the taste of the wine. Fill up the mug with cold water, allowing space for ice. Add a pinch of ENO’s, stir vigorously, and voilà! A champagne spritzer to die for, and best drunk while it’s still alive and fizzing. Friends will sneer till they try one surreptitiously at home.

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2019/02/25 19:35:24

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27 February 2019

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which a free market economy works, and we also know that neither socialism nor communism were able to deliver housing or a prosperous future to anyone.

This plan will go a long way in meeting the demands of various sectors of our community as it caters for different types of housing options – rental property being, in my opinion, one of the most important.

Therefore, it is up to us as a community to make sure our economy works and in turn that will supply the jobs our people need to pay for their housing. We need to be supportive of one another and of our local businesses. As a retired business owner, I understand the need for support from your community to make your business a success.

It is now up to all the relevant government agencies and the communities to work together to make this plan a reality. If we fail at doing this, the plan will be a failure and we will be right back where we started, and we cannot afford that.

All the people in this region suffer from a shortage of housing and we know it is impossible for any sphere of government to simply meet the demand. It is also an unrealistic expectation to demand free housing for everybody. That is simply not the way in

In addition to this we also need to keep our public officials and the elected representatives accountable for ensuring that these things happen. It is an election year and we can expect a lot of promises. I think it is time we keep those making the promises to their word. When you make that cross on your ballot paper, keep this in mind.

Better living needed

Invitation to the launch of Hermanus Varsity

O

n Saturday, 16 March at 10:30 the Hermanus Varsity will be inaugurated with the official opening of the Varsity Campus, formerly the old Synagogue, at 65 Main Road, at the intersection of Main Road (R43), Harmony Avenue and Royal Street.

The Hermanus Varsity Trust (HVT) takes occupation of the campus on 1 March. In recognition of the encouragement and support from people, businesses and organisations from all sections of our community, including the Overstrand Municipality, the trustees are pleased to invite the Hermanus community to participate in a ceremonial opening of the campus.

This event marks an important milestone in the journey to offer tertiary education

that enables students to live and learn locally. It’s an opportunity, too, for the community to meet volunteers who are working hard to get the Varsity up and running. The Varsity website will also be launched on this day.

The guest speaker at the official opening will be Dr Sindiwe Magona, awardwinning author, social activist and recipient of the 2019 FynArts Legacy Award.

If you plan on attending the launch, please RSVP by Friday 8 March, so the organisers can make arrangements accordingly. Send your RSVP to admin@hermanusvarsity. co.za, with the subject line ‘RSVP for Varsity Launch’. Please tell us how many people will attend.

Celebrate through giving Professor John de Gruchy, a founding member and prime mover of the Hermanus Varsity initiative, turns 80 on 18 March. In honour of his birthday and in recognition of the energy and effort he has put into helping realise the vision of a Varsity, we ask all readers of this newspaper to contribute a multiple of 80 to the Hermanus Varsity Trust.

This is a crucial time in the Varsity’s evolution, when it is gearing up to admit students, so the support of the Hermanus community is key. Please give generously, in celebration of John and in support of the Varsity: from R80 to R800 or R8 000 or more.

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The article Better Living plan for housing (TVN 20 Feb ’19) has brought a glimmer of hope for many residents after the protests we had last year.

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2019/02/25 19:35:30

THE VILLAGE

EXPLORER FOOD | WINE | ART | EVENTS

Harvest time – bringing in the bounty he next time I relax with a glass of wine, I’ll sip with a deeper understanding of the back-breaking labour, teamwork, knowledge and skill that goes into every bottle.

that the first three weeks are the most intense of the six-week picking period. “People underestimate how labour-intensive the process is, bending and crouching for nine hours a day in the blazing sun. We don’t want speed with regard to the picking: efficiency and rooting out the good from the rot is what is most critical.”

Last week I pulled on my hiking boots, rolled up my sleeves and took to the vineyards of Bouchard Finlayson during their annual media harvest day. In the cool of the early morning, I joined several journalists in snipping the ripe grapes from the vines alongside a team of 28 full-time and seasonal pickers, eating, laughing and chatting with friendly camaraderie.

This boutique estate was the second wine farm to be established in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley after Hamilton Russell. Today Bouchard Finlayson produces five iconic reds and five whites. The first vines of Sauvingnon Blanc were planted by legendary winemaker Peter Finlayson in 1989, with the first full-yield harvest in 1995. The farm was sold to the Tollman family in 2000.

Some of the permanent pickers, such as general worker Lucinda Adams, have been on the farm for more than 20 years. “I love my work,” she told me in Afrikaans. “For me, this farm is the best place ever.”

Peter, known in the valley as the “father of Pinot Noir”, was also the first winemaker at Hamilton Russell Vineyards, which has been in the business since 1981.

Writer & Photographer Sarah Taylor

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Each of us paired up with a picking partner, one on the ‘inside’ of the vine, the other on the ‘outside’, working methodically and placing the fruit gently into yellow crates, which, when full, were collected by staff on the farm tractor. Within two hours, our 33-strong team had picked three tonnes of grapes in the Sauvignon Blanc block.

Picking takes place between 07:00 and 17:00 every day during the harvest, with a one-hour break for lunch.

It is hard work, especially on a hot day, suitable only for those who are fit, have stamina and a positive and respectful approach to teamwork.

“To ensure that our picking teams are productive, I try to balance the number of new and old staff,” said viticulturist, Mortimer Lee, noting

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had a few exceptionally warm days in June which has resulted in uneven ripening and a lower yield of Chardonnay.”

We’ll keep our fingers crossed that this year’s harvest will result in another vintage of premium, award-winning wines for our Hemel-en-Aarde region.

RIGHT: Seasoned worker, Lambert Gardiner, has several Bouchard Finlayson harvests under his belt.

BELOW: The vineyards on the Bouchard Finlayson Estate are alive with harvest pickers.

“In the Hemel-en-Aarde, the grape I have always had a strong belief in is Pinot Noir, which is the flagship wine of the valley, as it is traditionally only successful in cool areas,” said Peter.

Mortimer explained that the grapes for the different varietals are picked at different stages during harvest season. “Generally, the reds, such as the Mourvèdre, come in later than the whites. We have done the bulk of the harvest; now we’re waiting for small parcels to ripen.”

For winemaker Chris Albrecht, this is his third official harvest at Bouchard Finlayson, where he has worked since 2010, first as an assistant winemaker.

He said the overall quality of the grapes is good, but some varietals such as Chardonnay have ripened earlier than normal, due to the 2018 winter not being cold enough. “We

2019/02/25 20:00:32

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27 February 2019

Art Shop events kick off The Art Shop hosted three local artists in its studio on Thursday, 21 February, where they demonstrated their skills and techniques to aspiring artists who were able to observe them at work.

Watercolourist Maureen Tomaino (above), oil and acrylic professional Betzy Geldenhuys and multi-media specialist Andrea Hirschson have all been involved in teaching art through workshops, lectures and art classes.

They enthusiastically participated in this event, which was the first in a series of creative activities that will be rolled out this year as part of the Art Shop’s new initiative for the

artistic community of the Overstrand.

“An experienced team of art practitioners have pooled their skills to offer art enthusiasts, both beginners and professional artists, young and old, a menu of exciting and inspiring activities in a wide variety of different creative disciplines,” says the Art Shop’s owner, Derek Goosen.

These activities will include fun-filled demonstrations, workshops and classes throughout the year. Keep an eye out for details which will be published in The Village NEWS. PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

The Village Art Gallery 28 316 4587 72 236 4 87

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27 February 2019

World-famous artist’s works find a home at Stanford Valley Guest Farm Writer & Photographer Annalize Mouton

S

tanford Valley Guest Farm recently became the home of four bronze sculptures by Belgian-South African artist, Herman van Nazareth, the best known of which is titled Uitbundig (Exuberant). This sculpture, which depicts two figures celebrating with arms held high, has been placed in the fountain near the entrance to The Manor House Restaurant. (A similar seven metre statue commissioned for the Soccer World Cup stands in front of Artscape in Cape Town.)

This work, as is the case with most of van Nazareth’s sculptures, dates back to the 1960s and is a reminder of a turbulent period in the history of South Africa – a time of violence, struggle, and brutality against people of colour. The sculpture with its black patina represents African brotherhood, the fight for freedom, and subsequent victory.

A second sculpture, also named Uitbundig, is positioned near the entrance to the farm and was originally on display at the JS Marais Park in Stellenbosch. In Beweging (In Motion) is presented in a crawling position on its elbows near the small dam in front of the restaurant, while a fourth, Stein, depicting a grown man, stands in the garden behind the restaurant.

Born in Belgium in 1936 as Herman van Aerde, van Nazareth grew up in occupied Belgium during WWII. The horrors of war witnessed as a young child undoubtedly played a significant role in shaping his social conscience. He was averse to inhumanity and abuse of power and took a strong stance against the culture of white supremacy, with its forceful and often brutal oppression of people of colour prevalent in his adoptive country, South Africa.

He produced works which were

The artist Herman van Nazareth The owners of the Stanford Valley Guest Farm, Dr Reinder Nauta, and his wife Elsabé with the artist at the fountain where Uitbundig stands.

The sculpture near the dam of a figure dragging himself on his arms to the water. an incisive commentary on social injustice and added his voice to the many brave, often young artists and politicians who were directly addressing and challenging the apartheid policies of the government at the time. Van Nazareth was one of the first artists in South Africa to be called a “protest" or "satirical" artist.

Interestingly, during his first 25 years, van Nazareth showed no sign of talent for or interest in drawing.

That changed following a chance encounter with Belgian artist, Bert de Clerck, in 1961. After studying art at the Royal Academy in Ghent, Belgium, van Nazareth did a year at the Royal Academy in Antwerp where he was apprenticed to the artist, Floris Jespers. He later accepted a scholarship to study at the Michaelis School

of Fine Art in Cape Town and, in 1965, emigrated to South Africa. He is the last surviving member of a group of 1960s poets, authors and artists that included Ingrid Jonker, André P Brink, Jan Rabie, Marjorie Wallace and Uys Krige.

I met Herman van Nazareth last month when he visited Stanford Valley Guest Farm. A man of few words, he tends to avoid direct eye contact and says that the focus should not be on him but on his art. He does not discuss his art and, instead, almost distances himself from the viewer to allow for free interpretation. He says that art is about learning to really see the subject and capturing its essence.

He is not concerned about producing beautiful or aesthetically pleasing

works. His “disfigured” figures are often grouped together and placed in the open in natural landscape settings. On the surface, his sculptures look rough and unfinished but require a very sophisticated technique. Although they may appear ungraceful, his sculptures portray a sense of loneliness and timelessness, and have undeniable power.

Van Nazareth recounts how an observer, after looking at one of his drawings which to the unenlightened eye could seem very simplistic, asked, “How long did it take you to learn to draw and paint like that?” “Only a lifetime,” was his quick response. And it had indeed taken him a lifetime to be able to cut to the core of his subjects and show only their essence.

Piet Boyens, curator of MUDEL (Museum van Deinze en de Leiestreek) in Belgium said, “The art of Herman van Nazareth appears to be the unmasking of the superfluous. Avoiding the fringe, he makes room for the deeper meaning. His view of man appears in an innumerable number of figures that seem to repeat each other, but

are always different.

"He often brings together people who are talking to each other or who just ignore each other. Conspirators without conscience, a crowd in uprising or the anonymous mass without a voice? Through everything courses a line of tension: on the one hand, the displaced, the backward, the marginal, the robbed, the wounded, the mutilated – and, on the other hand, the power carriers, the magistrates, the rulers, the identity thieves and the despots.”

The owners of the farm and restaurant, Dr Reinder Nauta and his wife, Elsabé, are honoured and excited to host this display which now forms part of the landscape of Stanford Valley Guest Farm. It also perfectly complements the restaurant's wellknown eclectic art collection. In using art and the natural beauty of Stanford and the Overberg, they are creating a space where the values of optimism and uitbundigheid (exuberance) remind us that, despite our painful past, South Africa is a place of huge potential for all its peoples.

The 100th Friend of FynArts 2019 signs on When Sarah James, from Stanford, walked into the Hermanus Tourism Office last week to sign up as a Friend of FynArts with Tourism Officer, Aphiwe Mangona, she had no idea that she would become the 100th Friend of FynArts for 2019.

Booking for Early Bird tickets is open to the public until 15 March. This can be done online via the FynArts website or www.webtickets.co. za, at Hermanus Tourism, Pick n Pay branches nationwide or by calling 028 312 2629 during office hours.

“I love the FynArts Festival,” Sarah said. “I’ve supported it from the very first one and I don’t know why it has taken me so long to become a Friend, but I’m thrilled that now I am eligible for all the extra benefits the Friends get.”

Sarah will also be attending the first Friends of FynArts special event for this year, a talk by well-known author Christopher Hope entitled French Leave – a very personal account of French passions and peculiarities in a country about which General de Gaulle asked: "How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese?"

This will take place on Thursday February 28 at the Windsor Hotel from 11:00 – 12:30. All Friends of FynArts 2019 are welcome. To join as a Friend and to book for the talk, contact FynArts Administrative Coordinator, Chantel Louskitt on 060 957 5371.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

She immediately took advantage of the priority booking to reserve tickets for the concerts, talks and workshops that she wanted to attend at this year’s festival from 7 – 17 June.

Programme booklets are now available at Hermanus Tourism, the FynArts Gallery, Hermanus Library, galleries, restaurants, and other businesses in Hermanus. The full programme can also be viewed at www.hermanusfynarts.co.za.

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WHAT’S ON

OVERBERG Thursday

www.thevillagenews.co.za/whatson oven-fresh bakes and pastries, local wines and craft beers, and indigenous plants and herbs. No plastic or polystyrene packaging, only eco-friendly wood, paper, glass and earthenware used to display goods.

For enquiries, contact 028 384 1439 or doulene@gansbaaitourism.co.za Kapokblom Street, opposite Gansbaai Tourism | 09:00 – 14:00

28

LOVE.ability Market Day Support the Overberg Wheelchair Association by purchasing their beautiful, handmade LOVE.ability products which include artisan soaps and room mists, hypertufa pots, fairy lights, fresh organic produce, natural liquid fertilisers, fresh organic coffee, fabric angels and key rings. You’ll find beautiful people and a magical garden at their 100-year-old Ability House Cottage.

Ability House, Church Street, Hawston | 09:00

Friends of FynArts An exclusive talk for the Friends of FynArts by award-winning poet, author and journalist Christopher Hope, entitled French Leave. This entertaining and enlightening event is a personal account of French passions and peculiarities in a country about which General de Gaulle asked: "How can anyone govern a nation that has 246 different kinds of cheese?" To become a Friend of FynArts and to book for this event, phone Chantel on 060 957 5371.

Whale Room, Windsor Hotel | 11:00 for 11:30 The Singing Cook Pensioner’s Special Do a good deed and take a senior out to lunch at this special venue, where the cook will even sing you a song as your meal is served. R135 pp. Book by calling 072 462 4271.

The Singing Cook, Rivendell Wine Estate | from 12:00 Rotary Club of Hermanus Visitors are welcome at Rotary’s weekly meetings, every Thursday.

Contact Frank on 082 870 1187 to confirm your attendance.

Mollergren Park, Main Road, Hermanus | 19:00 Think & Drink Enjoy an evening of good food and good fun as Stanford Conservation Trust’s popular quiz evenings return, hosted by accomplished quiz masters John and Shirley Withers. R150 pp includes a meal and donation to the SCT. Make up a table of 6 to 8 or join a table on the night. Every last Thursday of the month. RSVP to: stanfordconservationtrust@gmail.com Tikka Palace, Queen Victoria Street, Stanford | 18:30 for 19:00

Friday

1

Hermanus Hacking Group Volunteers are welcome to join the HHG, every Friday morning. For more information contact Charlyn Vosloo on 082 558 8731 or charlynvosloo@ gmail.com Rotary Way | 06:15 – 08:30 Bhuki Café Everyone is welcome at Friends of the Library's Bhuki Cafe where a cup of tea or coffee and delicious eats will cost only R25, every Friday. Each cup helps to raise funds for new books.

Hermanus Library | 09:00 – 11:30 Kolwyntjie Teetuin Enjoy a sweet treat and tea or coffee at a nominal fee, and make new friends at the Onrus Care Centre (Dienssentrum), every Friday morning.

Onrus Dutch Reformed Church | 09:30 – 11:30

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CANSA Shavathon Show your support for a cancer survivor by joining CANSA’s nationwide 2019 Shavathon and donating your hair to make wigs for cancer patients experiencing hair loss. Adults R50 donation and children U12 R25.

Checkers Hermanus | 09:00 – 14:00

Rewind Join Soul Café every Friday night and relax to the tunes of their resident band as they perform all your favourite hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

R50 pp. Call 028 313 2137 to book.

Soul Café, 181 Main Road, Hermanus | 20:00 Leonardo da Vinci and the Italian High Renaissance U3A presents a new series of DVD lectures by a world expert on Leonardo da Vinci, who was almost certainly the most multi-talented person who has ever lived. He excelled in at least ten fields of human creativity, from painting to calligraphy to the design of aircraft and other armaments, to poetry and the research and illustration of human anatomy. The topics of the next two lectures of 30 minutes each are Artistic Origins and From Apprentice to Partner.

Catholic Church Hall | 10:00 Hermanus Primary Carnival Bring the whole family for an afternoon of fun. There will be a variety of stalls, food, live music and a playground. The theme of this year’s carnival is ‘Under the Sea’. Your R10 entry fee includes a free Coke and entry into the lucky draw for a brandnew bicycle.

Hermanus Primary School | 14:00 until late Women’s World Day of Prayer Everyone is welcome at this annual prayer day. Tea and coffee will be served in the church hall after the service.

St. Peter’s Church, Main Road, Hermanus | 14:30 for 15:00 Hermanus First Fridays Join the HFF Artwalk by following the orange as you stroll from gallery to gallery, mingling with artists, gallery owners and fellow art lovers while admiring the impressive array of art and fine craft on display. The Artwalk is part of a world-wide initiative to make art more accessible to the public and you’ll find all the participating galleries within a 1 km radius in the CBD (see map on P10).

Hermanus CBD | 17:00 – 20:00

Stargazing Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre for an evening of telescopic, binocular and visual tours of the planets, stars and moon. This event is weather dependant, so check the website www.hermanusastronomy.co.za after 16:00 on 1 March for confirmation of the date and venue. If cancelled, the alternative date will be 8 March (moonwatch). For more info, contact 081 212 9481 or petermh@hermanus. co.za Venue TBA | 20:15

Saturday

2

Hermanus parkrun Meet for the weekly 5 km timed walk or run, come rain or shine. Run for your own enjoyment at your own pace. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome.

Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley | 08:00 Betty’s Bay parkrun Join this free weekly 5 km timed run (or walk) where it’s only you against the clock. The whole family is welcome. Grab a post-run coffee in the Red Disa restaurant with fellow parkrunners.

Harold Porter Botanical Garden | 08:00 Fynbos Explained The Hermanus Botanical Society presents a Fynbos course over five weeks on Saturday mornings, comprising two talks of an hour each, with a tea/ coffee break in between. This week’s two topics are Geophytes and orchids

by Pat Miller and Restionaceae by Anina Lee. The cost for BotSoc members is R100 per talk and for non-members R120 per talk or R240 per morning for both talks. The takings from this course will finance microscopes for

BotSoc’s new Research Centre. To book contact Di Marais at maraisdianne@gmail.com or 028 312 1162.

Fernkloof Nature Reserve | 09:00 Market in the Garden Hunt for treasures at this peaceful market set among the shady trees of a beautiful garden.

St Peter’s Church, Main Road, Hermanus | 09:00 – 13:00 Hermanus Country Market A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged family members are all welcome. You’ll find wholesome goodies, homemade crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music.

Next to Hermanus Cricket Field | 09:00 – 13:00 Die Markie Where local and international foodies and wine lovers meet. You’ll find real plates and real cutlery; real cups and real glasses; a real hangout for real people.

Hermanuspietersfontein wine cellar | 09:00 – 13:00 Stanford Saturday Morning Market Come and sample the artisanal delights on display, from home-made sheep and goats’ cheeses to cured meats, farm-fresh vegetables and deli delights to tantalise your taste buds!

Stanford Hotel Stoep | 09:00 – 12:00 Gansbaai Farmer’s Market Birthday Bash This popular market is celebrating its first birthday. Specialising in organic, homemade and homegrown products such as fresh farm produce,

Stanford River Festival The annual Stanford River Festival is back, presented by the Grootbos Foundation and the Stanford Canoe Club. Join in a weekend of family fun that mixes SUP, Surf Ski and Kayaking in a beautiful relaxed environment.

Funds raised go to the Stanford Canoe Club Development Academy.

The entry fee is R120 per paddle and R60 for U23. Registration from 07:30 at bottom of King Street. The main events start at 10:00, followed by the Guppy event at 12:00 and prize-giving at 13:00. For more information contact Felix on 082 492 2914 / felix@ escapegear.co.za or Rodger on 082 779 5799 / rodger@trikes.co.za Bottom of King Street, Stanford | 10:00 Build your own pizza Bring the kids to this child- and pet-friendly venue where they can learn to build their own pizza with The Singing Cook, Antonio da Silva-Swart. Only R55 per child, every Saturday. Book by calling 072 462 4271.

The Singing Cook, Rivendell Wine Estate | from 12:00 Zappa-Mainolfi piano and cello concert Overstrand Arts/Kunste (OAK) presents acclaimed Italian duo Mattio Zappa (cello) and Massimilano Mainolfi (piano) from Switzerland, back for their seventh South African tour. The programme features Gamba Sonata No. 3 in G minor (BWV 1029)

by Johann Sebastian Bach; Cello Sonata Op. 6 by Samuel Barber; Ad Aeternam by Daniel Schnyder; and Cello and Piano Sonata Op. 69 in A

2019/02/25 18:26:38

Saturday

major by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Book with the Hermanus Tourism office in Mitchell Street (028 312 2629). Tickets are R150 pp (R60 for students). For enquiries, contact René on 082 940 4238.

Municipal Auditorium | 19:00

Sunday

3

Summer Fun in the Courtyard Enjoy oysters and bubbly, local wines, craft beer and tapas-style plates, every Sunday. For more info or to reserve a table, call 082 082 0007.

The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Road, Hermanus | from 12:00

Monday

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The Barberton Geotrail The next lecture in U3A’s Geoscience series is entitled The Barberton Geotrail, presented by David Mourant.

It provides a unique snapshot into some of the world’s best preserved ancient (+3 billion years old) rock formations and earliest life forms.

Catholic Church Hall | 10:00 Duplicate Bridge All who enjoy bridge are welcome to join in, every Monday. For more information, call Riekie Louw on 028 314 0662.

Fernkloof Hall | 13:00 Mindful Mondays Join Wellness Coach Nicholas McLean and Ferdi Appelgryn, health and life coach from C Beyond Health for a group session on Mindfulness, Movement and Meditation, every Monday.

Let go of stress and distraction, and realign body and mind to find inner focus and calm. R50 donation.

Contact Nicholas on 082 437 9776 or nicholas@guthealthyogi.com Fynbos Crescent, Sandbaai | 18:00

Tuesday

T’ai Ch’i Chuan Qi Gong JJoin Marguerite van der Merwe, author and senior teacher of the Body Sense Alexander Technique Tai Chi, for a four-session course. The Tai Chi form is an unbroken succession of movements in which all parts of one’s body move in harmony, without effort or strain. R500 pp for all four weekly sessions on 5, 12, 19 & 26 March. Numbers are limited to ensure individual attention and bookings are essential. Contact Marguerite on 028 271 4555 or margsmerwe@telkomsa. net Nicholas McLean’s Studio, 6 Fynbos Crescent, Sandbaai | 12:00

Wednesday

6

Home Industries Market Get your fresh micro greens, home-processed and home-baked foods at this family-friendly market, every Wednesday. New vendors are welcome. Contact Lani on 082 679 7819 or visit www.afdaksrivier.co.za Café Tango & Afdaksrivier Nursery | 09:30 – 12:30

Thursday

The Symphony Award-winning composer and historian-in-residence with the San Francisco Performers, Prof Robert Greenberg presents a series of DVD lectures for U3A Overberg on The Symphony. This week’s topic is The Pre-Classical Symphony, delivered in Prof Greenberg’s unique style of lecturing which demonstrates commendable knowledge, humour

soccer tournaments, stalls, children’s activities and other entertainment and displays by SAPS and the Fire Brigade. For more information, contact Doulene on 028 384 1439 or doulene@gansbaaitourism.co.za Gansbaai Community Sports Centre | 09:00

Passionately Porter Hermanus Rotary hosts Passionately Porter, a delightful evening of Cole Porter music by the talented Overberg Music Group, directed by Louna Stofberg. The cast includes Louna, Peter Finlayson, Pieter Stofberg, Dave Wright, Corne Kemp, Bea Whittaker, Louise Groenewald and Yolande Pieterse. They’ll perform songs such as I love Paris, I’ve got you under my skin, It’s De-Lovely, and Be a clown. Tickets are R150 pp in aid of the Rotary Education Fund. Bring your own picnic supper and drinks. To book, call Sue on 082 875 3814.

Grobbelaar Hall | 19:00

Wednesday

13

7

U3A Annual General Meeting The guest speaker at U3A Overberg’s AGM, Peter Bruce, will present a talk on Getting out of the hole: How South Africa can be great. Bruce is one of SA’s foremost journalists and news editors and an experienced and realistic commentator on South African affairs.

Sandbaai Hall | 17:30

Friday

8

5

Terrific Tuesdays Join Wellness Coach Nicholas McLean for a group session of BodySensing intuitive yoga to release tension and restore energy and mobility. The feel-good movements of BodySensing will put the spring back into your body. Every Tuesday. The drop-in cost is R120 or R100 per session if paid monthly. For more info call Nicholas on 082 437 9776.

Fynbos Crescent, Sandbaai | 07:30

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and breadth of vision. R10 for U3A members and R25 for visitors.

Catholic Church Hall | 10:00

9

EWASA SA Championship Endurance Walk This two-day, 75 km Endurance Walk starts at the Gansbaai Sports Grounds on Friday and covers 40 km on Day 1.

Day 2 is a 35 km walk from Hellshoogte Farm, with the athletes coming in at the Sports Grounds around 11:30 on Saturday. Entry is R260 per team of 6 (men, women or mixed teams) and R60 per individual. Open to all state departments, private clubs and individuals. Registration is at 12:00 on 7 March. Categories: Senior (up to 39 years), Veteran (40 – 49 years), Masters (50 years +) and Junior Development. On Day 2 there will also be an 8 km Schools’ Fun Walk (R20 per entry), rugby, netball and

community. Bring your own picnic basket, snacks and drinks as there will be no alcohol, drinks or food for sale. Tickets cost R130 for adults and R80 for youths 18 years and younger, available at Webtickets or at Pick n Pay. For more information, contact lunapaigemusic@gmail.com Curro Hermanus | 19:00 (doors open at 18:00) Cederberg Rock Art Excursion Join U3A Overberg on a three-day excursion to some of the rock art sites on a trail in the Cederberg, with Mariette Pitlo as your guide. The trail that will be followed starts at the Traveller’s Rest Farm, located 34 km from Clanwilliam, across the Pakhuis Pass on the R364 towards Calvinia.

Participants will book in at their own accommodation on Wednesday, 13 March and gather at Traveller’s Rest for dinner, followed by a presentation by Janette Deacon, who is well known for her rock art research in South Africa. The Thursday will be spent hiking the 5 km-long Sevilla Trail (R40 pp) with nine different rock art sites. Participants will return home on the Friday after breakfast.

Participation will be limited to 30 persons and reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. To book, send an email to Gert Claassen at gc2441@gmail.com. Please include your cellphone number and confirm whether you will attend one or both dinners or prefer to self-cater.

Confirmation of your reservation will be emailed to you.

Traveller’s Rest Farm, Clanwilliam

Sunday

17

GOT AN EVENT?

Send us an email to events@thevillagenews.co.za or send us a WhatsApp to 074 125 5854.

FREE for community & non-profit organisations R 100 for everyone else R 150 to include a photo

e nes a 3 March dults R130 (incl. a complimentary drink) 18 and younger R80 Tickets at ebtickets Pick n Pay oors open 18:00 | Show starts 1 :00 ring your own picnic basket and drinks Jazz at Curro The Ramon Alexander Quartet returns to Curro for a round of free educational workshops focused on providing music students with more personal and practical learning experiences. Once again, the day of workshops will end off with a concert in the Curro Hall. Ramon Alexander is a pianist and composer with two albums and numerous collaborations with renowned artists across many genres, who has been making waves on the Cape jazz scene over the last couple of years. His own music is rhythmic, foot tapping and the melodies tend to linger in your head long after you hear them. This concert is open to all Curro pupils, parents and staff as well as the broader Hermanus

2019/02/25 18:26:41

14 | FOOD

27 February 2019

Dutchies hosts an African Experience

Guests were driven to the African Experience venue in Zwelihle in the ChillGuru bus.

The Yomelelani children stole many hearts with their endearing song and dance performances at the African Experience evening hosted by Dutchies at the RDP Centre in Zwelihle last week.

Writer & Photographer Hedda Mittner

T

he African proverb, If you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, go together, was given new meaning at the African Experience dinner hosted by Dutchies Restaurant on Thursday evening, 21 February.

More than 80 guests attended this fundraising event in aid of the Yomelelani Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre in Zwelihle, which not only included a delicious three-course meal, but magical entertainment provided by the Yomelelani children and staff members.

The African Experience kicked off at Dutchies on Grotto Beach at 18:00, where guests boarded the ChillGuru bus for a sightseeing tour that also took them through Zwelihle and included a stop-off at Yomelelani.

They then made their way to the main venue for the evening, the RDP Centre in Zwelihle, where beautifully laid tables under a large Bedouin tent awaited them.

Yomelelani is a registered NPO that

20190227_Edition.indd 14

provides a crèche and pre-school for the township’s young children, aiming to provide essential child care in a positive learning environment. Currently 55% of the children enrolled at Yomelelani are orphans and a majority of the others are from single-parent households. They range in age from 3 months to five years.

The Centre has more than doubled in size since 2015 and now cares for around 150 infants and children, which illustrates the dire need for education in this rapidly expanding community. It is only with the support of the Overstrand Municipality and the philanthropic help of Aqunion, the UK Charity Trust and generous individuals such as the owners of Dutchies, Joke and Just Gonggrijp and their son Daan, that Yomelelani is able to augment the small subsidy they receive from the Department of Social Development.

The Dutchies team served up a feast of African-inspired cuisine that included springbok carpaccio, threebean soup, lamb stew with pap and malva pudding with an African twist.

On the wine list was a selection of Iona wines. After several delightful song and dance performances by the Yomelelani children and teachers, the evening was rounded off with an

The general manager of Yomelelani ECD Centre, Corny Rode, with Yomelelani’s principal, Rose Sonkwele.

Joke Gonggrijp of Dutchies Restaurant. audio-visual presentation on Yomelelani and an art auction conducted by Theo Krynauw of Sparkle Kids.

Dutchies would like to extend their grateful thanks to Iona, Amarula, Fitch & Leedes, Valley Farm, ChillGuru and the owners of the Zwelihle Youth Café at the RDP Centre, William Ntebe and Fikiswa Gxamesi, for their generous support in making this a night to remember.

Trevor Nkoyi with Fikiswa Gxamesi, Theo Krynauw and William Ntebe.

2019/02/25 19:35:38

FOOD | 15

27 February 2019

The Eatery changes hands Madré Malan may no longer be the owner of the Eatery in Long Street Arcade, but it’s business as usual at this ever-popular establishment.

New owner Ernst Jordaan, who took over the reins along with his fiancé, Miriam Stronkhorst, at the beginning of January, says they saw no need to reinvent the wheel. The menu has not changed and still offers the same wholesome, unpretentious cuisine and innovative daily blackboard specials. While Madré is now focusing on her catering business, her loyal kitchen and front-of-house staff have all remained at the Eatery to ensure a seamless takeover.

Miriam, a qualified psychologist with a corporate background, hails from Nelspruit and Ernst, who managed a citrus estate in Buffeljagsrivier for 30 years, was living in Swellendam when they met. It’s not their love of food that brought them together, but their other great passion – cycling. They got to know each other on the CA2CX MTB Tour

four years ago and soon became partners in a business that offers tailor-made cycling tours for tourists. Which is why you’ll seldom find them both at the restaurant at the same time during the cycling season from October to April – they take turns to be at the Eatery while the other one guides cycling tourists along the best trails in the Western Cape.

r c ntr en e r the h le amil hild-friendly Pet-friendly vailable for functions parties unch: ed Sun 12:00 1 :00 | inner: Fri Sat 18:00 21:00 072 2 271 thesingingcook2@rivendell-estate.co. a Rivendell ine Estate, c o R 3 R

“We both enjoy pleasing people and treating them to great experiences,” says Ernst. He adds that they have received a very warm welcome in Hermanus and that they are getting to know all the Eatery’s regular clients.

Which is why he’s introduced a more basic Farmhouse Breakfast to the Eatery’s menu, “for the big boys who told me they don’t want anything fancy”. They are also looking forward to introducing a Pensioner’s Day and special themed evenings from time to time.

Find the Eatery at 4 Long Street Arcade. They are open for breakfast and lunch, Mon – Fri, from 07:00 – 16:00 and on Saturdays until 13:00. Closed on Sundays. Call 028 313 2970.

New owner of the Eatery, Ernst Jordaan (far right) with his front-of-house staff, (from left) Rosalia, Margret and Busisiwe.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

WINE & DINE LISTINGS

At the Village Stall Hemel en Aarde Village T: 028 316 2407

Old Harbour T: 028 312 3454

Open daily from 11:00 for lunch & dinner

tisan Ba e

Ca

Harbour Rock New Harbour, Hermanus T: 028 312 2920

20190227_Edition.indd 15

7 days a week for lunch

B

Heritage Cottage 21 Marine Drive Hermanus T: 028 312 2859 OPEN 7 days/week

ub Hol 08:00 15:00

Char’d Grill & Wine Bar Shop 4, Village Square, Market Street T: 028 312 1986

Walker Bay Grill 10th Street, Voëlklip T: 028 314 1637

Mogg’s Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Hermanus T: 076 314 0671

Burgundy Restaurant 7 Harbour Road T: 028 312 2800

un 08:00 15:00

81

di coun

Mogg's Country Cookhouse

a

enaa ie

an lommen ein Onru T: 028 31 2 O

ue a 12:00 22:00

Quayside Cabin New Harbour Hermanus T: 028 313 0752

Lunch: 11:30 - 16:00 | Dinner: 18:30 - Late

Wed-Sun 12:00 - 14:30 | CLOSED Mon & Tue

Old a ion buildin hec er en re Hermanu T: 028 312 40 a

4 4

u hi 15

Gecko Bar New Harbour, Hermanus T: 028 312 4665

un

Open from 08:00 - 21:00

on ri 0 :30 1 :00

opp Ocean a e

T: 0

LB Seafood Village Square, Waterfront Piazza T: 028 312 3611

Open daily from 11:00 - 02:00

Ca

uare

Eden Café Gateway Centre Hermanus T: 028 312 4439

Hornbill Hou e Hemel en arde illa e T: 028 125 0025 Open ue

illa e

CLOSED Mon | Tue - Sat: 11:30 - Late | Sun: 11:30 - 15:00

Bientang’s Cave

Biga

a ’s C isine

EAT Restaurant Section 4-6, The Village T: 028 316 2348

The Restaurant @ Newton Johnson Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley T: 021 200 2148 Wed-Sun 12:00 - 15:00

Rossi’s Italian Restaurant High Street, Hermanus T: 028 312 2848

ean Bas et

illa e uare Hermanu T: 028 312 1313 Oskars Carriages Centre, Shop 7, Hermanus T: 066 174 8263

Mon - Sat: 07:30 - 17:00

Tapas 7 Harbour Road T: 028 312 4840

Pear Tree Village Square Piazza T: 028 313 1224

un 12:00 1 :00

CALL US: 084 688 5885

GAS SU P P LIES

T: 028 312 2020

2019/02/25 18:26:46

16 | FISHING

27 February 2019

Veteran angler raises the bar Writer & Photographer Sarah Taylor

H

ermanus veteran angler Brian MacFarlane and his teammate Charl Marais from Paarl scooped a silver award at the recent Sport Fishing World Games, aka the FIPS-M 3rd World Championship.

Participants from 51 countries attended the world tournament, which was hosted by South Africa for the first time at 19 venues across the country, inland on rivers and dams and along the coast. It is the fourth iteration of the games.

Brian and Charl’s rock and surf event was held in Langebaan. Nine countries across 27 teams with 54 participants took part in the men’s senior pairs’ event, in which Brian and Charl came second.

At the start of the championship on 8 February, a Protea Colours ceremony was held for the South African champions in Boksburg, at which the angling pair received their international colours for Peg Fishing. Peg Fishing involves each participating country being given a camp along the shore in which they are allowed to fish for four hours at a time. It is speed fishing: the aim is to catch (and release) as many fish as possible in this time; size is not so critical here although marshals do measure each fish before it is released.

“On our best day, the third day, we caught 68 fish in those four hours,” beams Brian, who, at 70, says he was the “oldest by far” to receive his

colours. Charl, at the age of 44, has previously participated in five world championships: in Spain, Italy, France, Holland and Montenegro.

He has received his Protea Colours 15 times in tournaments between Namibia and South Africa, and his international colours five times in the last five years.

Charl chuckles that Brian, at 26 years his senior, is the novice when it comes to competitive sport fishing. While this was the first time the pair fished competitively together, Charl and Brian “became fishing buddies” about 10 years ago and fish socially in the warm waters off Struisbaai. He says they were paired up by the national team selectors as “for the past four years our ranking has been the same”.

The following day, a Saturday, the more than 1 800 participants from all over the world paraded in their country groupings – mini-Olympicstyle – through Mandela Square in Sandton.

The competitors flew to the various venues and the four-day competition began on the Monday, with a prize giving on Thursday night, February 14.

“Overall, South Africa really featured in this world tournament,” says Brian. “We came second in our event, the men’s senior team came third and won bronze, while men’s senior singles, Ashwin Singh from uThongathi was judged fourth best shore angler in the world.

The West Coast’s fly fisherman, Thys Basson came first in the masters’ shore angling category. Perhaps we did have the home-ground advantage!”

this was an absolute highlight.”

He enthuses: “It was fantastic for South Africa to feature in a world championship. And at my age it is such a privilege to be able to be part of the men’s seniors (not masters or grand masters) team. It was wonderful to meet up with people from all over the world with the same interests and wonderful to meet old friends from previous international competitions.

They loved South Africa and there was superb camaraderie among the various countries. So far, in my fishing career of more than 65 years,

The next major shore angling tournament is the masters’ championship that will be held in Tunisia next year, while the pairs tournament will be held in Portugal, also in 2020.

Brian began fishing as a boy with his father, also Brian, along Die Plaat. “My dad had the first 4x4 in Hermanus and we were still allowed to drive on the beach in those days and we’d catch galjoen and steenbras. He had an ex-army Wyllis Jeep after the end of the Second World War. Before that people would come along on their bicycles,” says Brian.

The manager of the South African pairs and senior men’s team, Adiel Behardien says: “We have done very well as this was the first time South Africa sent a pairs team to any such championship – and we returned with a medal!”

Says Brian: “South Africa had four teams in the tournament: a senior men’s pair’s team of three groups of pairs, a senior men’s single team comprising six men, a ladies’ team and a masters’ team for men over the age of 55.”

Brian previously competed in international championships in Portugal and Spain in the masters’ category, however, full Protea Colours are not awarded in the masters’ category, only for the seniors.

THE VALUE OF KNOWING YOU’RE IN GOOD HANDS Hermanus 0283121110 hermanus@pamgolding.co.za

Veteran local angler Brian MacFarlane and his team mate Charl Marais with the silver award the pair scooped at the recent Sport Fishing World Games.

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20190227_Edition.indd 16

2019/02/25 19:03:19

27 February 2019

17

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MY PET Dehydration presents a serious risk to pets Writer Dr Hilldidge Beer

E

nsuring that your pet stays hydrated takes more than occasionally filling his water bowl; hygiene, environment, his age and lifestyle are important too.

Water is essential for digestion and nutrient absorption, it carries toxins out of the body and helps regulate body temperature. Too little can compromise your pet’s health, and because pets don’t necessarily regulate their own consumption it is up to you, the pet owner, to make sure they’re drinking enough, especially during the hot summer months.

Provide fresh, clean water every day If you notice floating debris or food particles in the water, rinse and refill.

Water left in a bowl for too long harbours bacteria. You can also bleach the bowl at least once a week to kill salmonella, E.coli and all the other nasties that could compromise your pet’s health, and your family’s.

Keep the bowl out of the sun as intense heat causes evaporation, encourages bacteria build-up, and the water becomes too warm to

drink. If the bowl is outside and in danger of being knocked over during exuberant play, drop a heavy stone in the middle to keep it anchored. If you have a multiple pet household, ensure there is more than one water bowl. Be cognisant of where you place the water bowl; older pets may have difficulty accessing high places or climbing stairs. Keep water bowls within easy reach.

Don’t ever lock your dog in the car, even with his water bowl You’re running in to a shop and your dog’s in the car but you’ve left water for him so he’ll be fine, right? Wrong.

The temperature in a closed vehicle rises far more quickly than the temperature outside (it can almost double in an hour) and while water may help to protect against heat stroke and dehydration in normal circumstances, it offers very little benefit to a dog locked in a car. Dogs cool themselves by panting but if the air inside the car is warm, panting won’t help. Never, ever leave a dog in the car. Period.

Seas and lakes are not drinking water If you’re taking your dog to the beach or for a walk around a lake it is still necessary to take fresh, clean water

with you for him to drink. The more active dogs are, the more water they need and if fresh water isn’t available they’ll drink what’s there.

Salty seawater can cause dehydration, vomiting and diarrhoea while lake and river water may contain bacteria and parasites that will make your dog sick. EberVet Vetshops stock collapsible water bowls which are perfect for travel, camping and walks.

Pets don’t necessarily regulate their own water intake Older pets, pets that are vomiting or have diarrhoea, and pregnant or nursing pets must be encouraged to drink as they are at greater risk of dehydration. Pets with chronic conditions, like cancer or kidney disease, may not be able to drink enough on their own and may need supplemental fluids. Sometimes older pets move less because their arthritic bones are painful; putting their water bowls closer to their beds could encourage drinking.

How to tell if your pet is dehydrated Look out for loss of elasticity in the skin. Lightly lift the skin over the shoulder blades into a tent shape

and let go. If it does not settle back down immediately, your pet may be dehydrated. Also, check for sticky and dry gums and viscous saliva.

Symptoms of heatstroke include anxiety, excessive panting and restlessness. Your pet may drool copiously and become unsteady on his feet.

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Shop 9, Victoria Mall 028 214 1112 Mon-Fri 9-18:00 Sat 9-14:00 Sun & p/h 10-13:00

Bluish-purple or bright red gums are another indicator. Dehydration and heatstroke are life-threatening; if your pet is showing symptoms, get to your vet as soon as possible. * Dr Hilldidge Beer, is a veterinarian and CEO of the EberVet Petcare Group and of EberVet Vetshops

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2019/02/25 18:26:53

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27 February 2019

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MY WELLNESS Youthful Living

What is Holistic, Integrative, Functional, Natural Medicine?

By Dr Arien

J

udging from social interactions and conversations I’ve had with colleagues and patients over the past months, there seems to be some confusion about the terms used to describe what I actually do in Hermanus. So what do the words ‘holistic’, ‘integrative’, ‘functional’ and ‘natural’ actually mean and how do I apply these to a practising philosophy?

Natural Medicine Natural medicine is perhaps the most confusing of the terms. Sometimes the lines between natural and synthetic can even be blurred. For instance, a potent drug used in the treatment of advanced cancers, is made from the bark of the yew tree.

Is this a natural medicine? Aspirin is made from the bark of the willow tree, and its use in pain control was in use in the era of Hippocrates.

Digitalis, a heart medication used to slow the heart rate and increase the strength of contraction, comes from the foxglove plant. However, these have all been synthetically manufactured, and can hardly still be regarded as being from a purely natural source.

Certainly, optimal health depends on greater exposure to what we know are natural products, rather than those that are not found in nature. Our bodies weren’t meant to continuously have to reconcile and

metabolise food additives, chemical preservatives, pesticides and pollutants. Functional medicine utilises natural products predominantly, to help the patient reach a state of inner balance or health. Indisputably, a more natural approach to health is going to be the best option. However, if my appendix ruptures or I have an acute asthma attack, you can rest assured that I will be first in line for bronchodilators, sedatives, pain killers, or surgery! After all, medical emergencies are where Western medicine has really reached its pinnacle of successful application.

Holistic Medicine The word comes from the Greek, holos, which means 'whole'. Holistic medicine is distinct from traditional medicine in that it strives to consider the whole human being, rather than just treating the symptoms of a disease. As Einstein said, “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” It is about the whole person and the interconnectedness of the body, mind and soul.

By evaluating the physical, emotional and spiritual contributions to health, the complete human being is brought into a state of coherence.

Different practitioners will address different aspects of health, which is why working with a multidisciplinary team will provide the ultimate benefit for patients. For instance, an energy healer may practise in a holistic style, but will not necessarily address metabolic or biochemical imbalances. A nutritionist may have a holistic practice, but may not address

HEARING PROBLEMS

Integrative Medicine An integrated approach is important to a patient’s health. One of the shortcomings of modern Western medicine is that patients are frequently reduced to a single symptom, organ system or diagnosis. Too often on medical rounds a patient is referred to as “the bowel obstruction in ward 6”, or “the heart attack in ICU”.

The word ‘integrative’ means to bring together or incorporate different parts to make up, combine, unite, complete or produce a whole.

Considering its application to health, it includes incorporating the whole person as a system: physical body, intellect, emotions, feelings and energy fields of consciousness that function within a framework that encompasses your family, social ties, occupation and natural environment.

Modern medicine has harmed us by failing to recognise and incorporate the complexity of life and biology into the diagnostic and therapeutic picture. Mostly, more than one healing modality is required to assess a patient’s needs and apply it as part of a systems theory approach to the whole human being and its environment. This is the field of integrative medicine.

An integrated medical environment may include physicians, physical therapists, herbal remedies and holistic counsellors. There may be an emphasis on nutrition and wellness, or stress management, healthy eating and

Shop 10 First Floor Station Square (New Woolworths Centre), Main Road, Hermanus

Free Screening Hearing Test

Tel: 028 316 4122 Email: info@emettmed.co.za | www.emettmed.co.za Hemel & Aarde Craft Village, Hermanus

20190227_Edition.indd 18

the mind-body components.

supplements, but the medical component of an integrative medicine clinic is often within the standard paradigm – using drugs or surgery to counter symptoms while dabbling in complementary therapies. Integrated medical doctors are dipping their toes into the wellness pool, but fail to investigate deeply the factors that are keeping their patients from realising a true state of health.

Functional Medicine This is a relatively new term in medicine, and reflects the cultural knowledge of many years, combined with the scientific knowledge of this century. Its foundation is to facilitate the human body - whose health and optimal wellbeing is a function of genetics, epigenetics and the environmental mix in which cells have been immersed - to a state of physiological homeostasis (balance of the inner milieu).

Current science is showing us that a number of modifiable factors are contributing to our health risks daily, and these are not just things like cigarettes, alcohol and stress. When physiological and biological systems are out of balance, due to environmental pollutants and workplace stress triggers, too little exercise or the lack of nutrients such as essential fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, the whole system loses its balance, and ultimately, disease can manifest.

Genetic screening for potential risks for future disease could help determine where the inherited weak links

ALLURE

are, so that they can be addressed and supported through epigenetic health counselling to prevent the disease from developing.

Holistic, Integrative, Functional, Natural Medicine might just offer the best of all worlds, as it encompasses a whole buffet of healing options to support patients’ own physiology and natural inclination to health and wellbeing. It is a partnership between health practitioners and patients to work together in a healing process, by searching for and addressing the cause of disease and improving wellbeing through everyday lifestyle choices, thereby restoring natural harmony to the symphony of mind and body.

Special note We’ve started a Healers Network group and we’d like to organise an Open Day to introduce people to some of the healing modalities – from the mainstream to the weird and wonderful – on offer in our area. If you’re interested, please contact Shellean and.

Address: Dr Arien van der Merwe (MBChB ASCHP FRSPH MISMA), Arundel Medical Rooms & Training Centre, 1st Floor, c/o Church & Arundel St (opposite Mediclinic), Westcliff, Hermanus. Tel: 067 1166 111. Email: Hermanus@DrArien.co.za. Website: www.DrArien.co.za.

HAIR COUTURE Masters in the art of hair

Franco Coetzee 028 312 1307 info@hpractice.co.za

Tel: 028 316 1532 Email: info@refineclinic.co.za | www.refineclinic.co.za Hemel & Aarde Craft Village, Hermanus

2019/02/25 18:26:55

27 February 2019

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse: One step at a time Writer & Photographer Taylum Meyer

T

he Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies Walk began in 2006 with 26 women from Hermanus who walked for five days from Struisbaai to Hermanus in aid of cancer awareness. Each night they would camp on the coast with nothing but a back-up bakkie that carried all their camping equipment. In that year, they raised R10 000 for CANSA Hermanus.

In 2007, the distance was shortened to 100 km over four days between the Agulhas and Danger Point lighthouses and since then the route has remained the same every year. Within a few years the group of walkers grew to 120 ladies – and so did the amount of funds raised through sponsorships and donations for various local charities: from R10 000 for CANSA in 2006, to R277 277 for Huis Lettie Theron in 2013, to R549 690 for JustCare Aftercare in 2017.

Les Clarke, Lighthouse’s intrepid senior of the group, started participating in the project in 2008 and has taken part in the charity walk annually since then – this year will be her 12th. She also served as a member of the L2L committee for six years.

When Les and her husband, Bryan moved to Hermanus from Cape Town in 2006, they were already very familiar with the area, having owned

a holiday house in Onrus since 1998.

Les worked in the travel industry and the couple also owned a guesthouse and conference centre in Cape Town before retiring. Here in Hermanus Les started her own business making fine linen for guesthouses and shops with a partner who did machine embroidery. After selling the business, she built a lockup-and-go in Mariner’s Village where she now lives and rents out a suite on Airbnb. Bryan passed away a few years ago.

Les, who recently celebrated her 78th birthday, remains remarkably active and goes on weekly hikes with a local hiking group. She is also still working, as a tour guide for a friend who owns a local travel agency, which means that she travels regularly and is looking forward to a tour in May to the Serengeti. “I just do this for fun,” she says. “I don’t earn a salary but all my expenses are covered.”

Community projects and charity work are close to Les’ heart and, apart from her long involvement with L2L, she offers sewing classes at JustCare and the Overstrand Training Institute, and serves on the SANTA committee that brings the Joburg Ballet to Hermanus each year to raise funds for SANTA. When asked to describe Les, her fellow Lighthouse ladies use words such as ‘kind’, ‘helpful’, ‘caring’, ‘positive’, ‘maternal’ and ‘enthusiastic’.

She appears to be one of the go-to walkers when ladies are looking for advice or just an ear that is willing to listen. “The walk can be very taxing,” explains Les. “Some ladies really struggle and for them it becomes mind over matter as they try to find the willpower to keep going. All you can do is focus on taking that next step and then the next one.”

Les says it is just in her nature to be positive and to want to help people.

“Many ladies use the walk as a time for reflection and meditation but above all we do it for the charities.”

When asked if she is going to continue with the L2L walks, Les replies with a chuckle: “The ladies always ask me if this will be my last year and I tell them to ask me again after the walk. Truth is, I will probably walk for as long as possible until they have to carry me – and then I will most likely get involved at the camp instead.”

TOP RIGHT: In 2018, Les (right) raised the second highest amount for that year’s chosen charity, the Hermanus Senior Centre. Here she is with L2L committee member Carien Gooding.

RIGHT: Les with Thembinkosi 'Bravo' Sabazile, the Whale Crier of Hermanus. Bravo welcomed the walkers back to Hermanus after last year's walk.

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Airbnb hosting: To be or not to be?

By Stuart Cohen

always in line with market realities.

I

n today's short-term letting market one cannot rest on one's laurels when planning a listing on Airbnb or its industry competitors like Booking.com and the rest of the field.

There are traditionally two reasons why people list their accommodations: one is to generate extra income and the other stems from a desire to become passionately involved in the tourism and hospitality industry and satisfy a personal need for more than just the income.

The reality is that in most cases it is more about the income and less about anything else. And therein lies the source of the problem that leads to a lot of disappointment with aspirant hosts: their expectations are not

In the past few months more and more holiday home owners have begun considering listing their properties for short-term letting. The focus seems to be more about the potential income rather than the potential business opportunity that hosting can offer. There is also an unrealistic expectation of what is involved and in most cases it has proven to be a sobering experience for the aspirant host.

Whilst there are plenty of highly capable people, many of them retirees, who have the ability and necessary talents to be successful hosts, often their properties are not at the level of maintenance and comfort that guests would consider acceptable for the price asked.

All hosts-in-waiting should take a business view of this opportunity and consider the following, before

embarking on this challenge: * Are you prepared to make an investment in bringing the accommodation up to a standard that is appropriate for guests?

there is nothing worse than arriving at your destination and finding that what you saw advertised is nothing like the reality facing you.

So, as a host, you need to ensure that what you show in pictures is what your guests will actually get. The use of wide angle lenses is always risky as they misrepresent the size of rooms and amenities and that is never a good place to start.

* Have you considered the implications of sharing your property (not necessarily your home) with guests, and the impact it will have on your lifestyle and privacy? * Are you adequately prepared to handle the demands of difficult guests?

Any visible signs of dust, cobwebs and damp, peeling paint, rust and dirt should be eliminated at all costs.

Cleanliness is one of the top elements rated by guests and if that doesn't pass muster, it will be reflected in reviews and over time, reduce your

* Are you operating within the legal compliance requirements of the municipality and, if you are not the property owner, the agreement under which you will be subletting the accommodation?

ranking in searches.

Tasteful furnishings and decor are other important factors to consider.

In all cases, this has a direct influence on the rental you can ask.

It does not take a huge investment to kit out accommodation with taste and style; the critical focus should be on linen, towels and basic amenities.

Too often one finds linen that is well past its sell-by date, towels as hard as brushes and amenities that are simply off-putting to guests.

If you are going to venture down this road, do it realistically and with attention to detail, and you won’t be disappointed.

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The clock is ticking for property sellers

P

provincial and national political leadership, theft of taxpayers’ money, dysfunctional state-owned enterprises, etc. Unfortunately, this can only be rectified at the ballot box during the next election. We as buyers and sellers must control the controllable,” says Kruger.

roperties in Hermanus have shown healthy growth over the past nine Years, with an exceptional 18.24% growth rate over the past five years alone. But, says Paul Kruger, Licensee of Seeff Hermanus and Seeff National Board Director, post 2018 statistics indicate a -8.82% growth in property prices and he expects this trend to continue for at least the next 12 months.

According to him, the property clock is a very useful tool and can help buyers and sellers determine the perfect time to buy or sell their property or investment. There will always be a seller’s or a buyer’s market. In a seller’s market, stock is limited and there are many buyers resulting in a rise in property prices. In a buyer’s market, buyers are limited, and they have many properties to choose from with a resultant decline property prices.

The good, the bad and the ugly of the current real estate market There is much speculation around the reasons for the current state of the market and many people blame the unrest in Hermanus. However the reality is that, yes unrest did play a role, but not as much as everybody wants to believe.

Funding Tightens and Declines

Funding Eases and Increases

Falling Construction on Prices

Valuations Rise

Prices Rise

Abundance of Tradespeople

Stock Levels Tightening

2. How long has the property been on the market? If your property has been on the market for a while, then it is time to realise that buyers are not prepared to pay your price.

Valuation Fall

Rentals Increase

Kruger says another important decision you must make is choosing your estate agent. “A bad appointment can cost you time and money. Never

More Sellers than Buyers No Confidence

Buyers’ Market

appoint your estate agent based on www.seeff.com the higher price they think they can

The harsh reality is, in a buyers’ market like this, you must also decide... do you want to stay, or do you want to sell? If you are not in a hurry to sell, it is fine to stay. Rather take your property off the market and wait for the cycle to move to the recovery phase.

Affordability Crisis Stock Oversupply

Shortage of Tradespeople

1. How soon do you want to move?

If you are not a serious seller then you must take your property off the market. This type of market is not conducive for testing it. Your property can get a reputation for staying on the market too long.

3. If you get an offer today, what will you do? You must seriously consider all offers you get. The market is not at the bottom or turning point yet and things can get worse as no one can predict how long this cycle will continue.

Low Rental Yields High Confidence

Media Hype More Buyers than Sellers

Currently the Hermanus market has moved into a buyer’s market (slump phase). This poses challenges for sellers and you as a seller must ask yourself three very important questions:

“As a result of the property boom over the past few years very high expectations were set. However, the reality is that the market has moved on. All property prices go through cycles, which can be good and bad,” he says.

“Political unrest before elections will always have a negative effect on the economy as a whole, not just on property prices. Bigger concerns (and we all know this) are the high tax burdens on all citizens, very low productivity, lack of good local,

Sellers’ Market

achieve. No agent has control over the price of your property; you have the control, but the market determines if they are prepared to pay your price.

“The only element the agent has control over is marketing. Always appoint your agent on their marketing ability.

Let them present a marketing plan to you and the marketing strategy they intend to implement,” says Kruger.

According to him, one of the key characteristics of a buyer’s market is

an abundance of real estate agents.

Unfortunately, not all of them are qualified to deal with a difficult buyer’s market or do not have the necessary skill-set and tools to assist you, as seller, in this difficult and challenging sales cycle. In a boom or seller’s market, most agents are only “order takers” but in a buyer’s market, negotiation skills are extremely valuable, and not all agents possess this ability. Again, appoint your agent on their ability or skills rather than on an unrealistic asking price.

“The good news is there are still

buyers out there, waiting for the right property at the right price. It is important to note that almost 90% of buyers in Hermanus are cash buyers... and they are eagerly waiting to invest,” he says.

Kruger’s message to buyers is clear – it is the best time in five years to buy property in Hermanus. Prices have already come down by almost 9% and it is a great time to invest. If you wait too long, the window of opportunity will close, and you will again pay a premium price to enjoy all Hermanus and its surroundings have to offer.

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Weiss, Preen crowned XTERRA SA Champions

Curro Lion Festival Curro Hermanus held their inaugural Lion Festival on Friday 22 February.

Curro’s mascot is a Lion (Hercurros) and their motto is ‘Join the pride, join the hunt’ which is how the festival got its name. The idea of the festival was to create team spirit between Curro Castle (pre-primary), Curro Primary and the Curro High School. It was an event packed with fun and entertainment for the whole family. Activities included sack races, tugof-war, Go Kart races, bike-a-trike, a colour run and more.

PHOTOS: Curro Hermanus

I

t was a spectacular day for XTERRA racing on Sunday 24 February, with Bradley Weiss (Stellenbosch) and Haley Preen (Hout Bay) throwing down the gauntlet in the Elite Men’s and Women’s Race respectively in their pursuit of the coveted title of XTERRA South Africa Champion.

Taking place at the Elgin Grabouw Country Club, an area that has affectionately become known as XTERRA Country, the 2019 XTERRA South Africa Championship pitted off-road triathletes against a 1.5 km swim in the Eikenhof Dam, followed by a 27 km mountain bike course and a 12.4 km trail run.

“It was perfect weather to race today,” said a very happy Weiss. “This is my 10th or 11th year racing in Grabouw and I think this is the best weather we’ve ever had. There was no wind, the water was flat, it was cool and a little bit overcast, which is great racing weather. Coming into the race having won the 70.3 South African Championship meant that my form was pretty good and I loved the new mountain bike course. There was a lot of climbing and I really enjoyed the new single track sections that were added. The run was flat and fast, completely different to what I am used to racing here in Grabouw. I am very happy to take the win and another

RIGHT: These two pupils enjoyed their three-legged race after participating in the festival’s colour run.

Bradley Weiss completed his 10th XTERRA in Grabouw in a time of 2 hours, 29 minutes and 8 minutes.

PHOTO: Mark Sampson South African title.”

Weiss successfully defended his XTERRA SA Champion title in a deserving time of 02:29:08. Cameron Macnair came in second, while Michael Ferreira finished third. In the women’s elite race Haley Preen claimed her first XTERRA South Africa Championship title in an impressive time of 02:51:40.

“The swim is always my weakest discipline, but I feel that I had a fairly good swim. I think I came out of the water in 4th place (in the women’s

BELOW: Go Kart racing was a huge hit with the learners (and their family members).

race),” said Preen. “I caught Vicky and the leading women on the first climb on the mountain bike route.” Preen entered the transition area in first place and maintained her lead on the trail run. “I had a good run as well,” she added. “I love XTERRA. I just love the whole off-road triathlon vibe. My goal was to make the podium today.

Crossing the finish line in first place was amazing. XTERRA is the best family event and the mountain bike course is amazing.”

Vicky van der Merwe came in second, and Johandri Leicester finished third.

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High praise for Hermanus Golf Club

Putting Pirate

Scores at a glance TUESDAY LADIES’ 19 FEBRAURY Bogey plus alliance 66 players Winners: South course - Yvonne Texeira, Tony Upton, Joy Lordon and Anita Halgren +14 North course - Antionette Calender Easby, Adelle Bassett, Petro Streicher and Rowena Austin +13

By Julian Shaw

G

reetings to you all once more. This week has been hectic and hot – good February weather – and all our tourists are loving the heat. Our course is standing up well to the weather but a little help from the heavens would be very welcome.

High praise indeed One of our recent guests was a Mr Mike Ward, a journalist by trade who specialises in golf course ratings and rankings. He is in fact on the panel for the top 100 golf courses in the world and has played over 1 400 courses world-wide, which is a huge amount – he obviously is very fond of this game!

Well, last week he came along and played our course and was really impressed, especially with the layout and condition. When we were chatting afterwards he said he hadn’t had too high an expectation and was really pleasantly surprised.

One of the most interesting things he said was that he felt our current ranking of 47th in the country was wrong. I did try to draw him into committing to where he thought we should

Julian Shaw with Mike Ward and HGC General Manager Sharon Sleigh. be ranked, but diplomatically he just said “better”.

We have over the years worked extremely hard to improve the course and the facility and it’s great when people in the know recognise this.

Rest In Peace This week we have some sad news. One of our members, Trevor Clark passed away. He was a lovely, gentle soul and always a pleasure to converse with. Trevor, you will be sorely missed.

Security awareness A lot of us can remember a time when you could leave your doors unlocked, your keys

What’s on at

in your car and walk anywhere at any time of the day or night. But those days are sadly gone and we all have to get used to the grim realities of today, not just in South Africa but worldwide.

One of our members was robbed in broad daylight last week. When she stopped at the traffic lights at CTM, quick as a flash the rear door was opened and a brand-new waterproof taken. In a way she was very fortunate as this could have been so much worse but let’s all be vigilant and keep our car doors locked.

Until next week, have a great time and remember play the course as you find it and the ball as it lies!

Julz and the team

WEDNESDAY MEN’S 20 FEBRUARY Fourball betterball bogey plus 136 players Winners: East course - Neil Malan and Jan Kuhn +9 South course - Bob Ferguson and Kevin Middleton +10 North course - Gerrie du Plooy and Peter Bouwer +11 Ball pool paid to +6 Best gross: Mike Frost 71 A special mention to Terry Westbrook who is turning 81 and shot a 74. Well done!

SATURDAY ALL TOGETHER 16 FEBRUARY 4BBB Stableford 153 players South Course (Green) 10 – 27: 1st Ian Ross & David Dicey - 45 2nd Danie van der Spuy & Gerrie du Plooy - 44 North Course (Blue) 1 – 9 and 19 – 27: 1st Tony Squires & Rowan Pybus - 46 2nd Jan Swanepoel & Kowie Ganz - 45 East Course (Red) 1 – 18: 1st David Ridley & Frans Prins - 44 C/I 2nd Niel Malan & Jan Kühn - 44 C/O Best gross: Rowan Pybus 74 The attendance draw was sponsored by Red Chair (fellow member Deon Muller) and was won by Jan Cloete

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By Tony O'Hagan

T

he inaugural Western Cape Women's 7s tournament, hosted at Hermanus High School on Saturday 23 February, was an overwhelming success and is scheduled for a repeat next year. Due to an increase in the number of participating teams, the event will be held over two days. The tournament did much to enhance women's rugby and give this sporting discipline the necessary impetus.

Paul Delport, coach of the Women's SA 7s team, stressed the importance of such an event for women's rugby in our country. "We are 10 years behind other leading nations in women's rugby,'' he said. As an example, he compared South Africa’s eight contracted women’s players with Spain, the next lowest country, which has 22 women rugby players under contract.

The SA Women's team failed to qualify for the World Series, losing in the final of the qualifying round to China.

The national team will attempt to qualify for next year's Olympics when they compete in the African Zone in September this year. Qualification for next year's Women's World Series will take place in Hong Kong in April 2020. Paul works closely with Stanley Raubenheimer, the Women's 15 coach who was also in attendance at the Hermanus Tournament. The Women's Rugby 15s is also lagging behind other nations with only six provincial teams in the A Division.

Paul Delport has all the right credentials for the

C

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Congratulations to the organisers, Thomas Chowles and Michelle Bosch on the success of the event. While 7s rugby was the main item on the agenda, it was accompanied by an opening ceremony, an address by the President of Boland Rugby, Ivan Pekeur and the singing of the National anthems of South Africa and Zimbabwe. Adding to the day were the many food and beverage stalls, live music and an impressive display by the Hawston Marching Cadets.

ABOVE: All of the SA W7’s support staff attended the tournament. From left are Tim Qumba (Strength and Conditioning), Dr Leigh Gordon, Michele English (Manager), Reagan Cele (Physio) and Paul Delport (Coach).

The day was dedicated to awareness of the abuse of women and the elderly. Thanks go to the sponsors, Boland Rugby, Wild Cat Inflatables and Faircape Health.

RIGHT: The SA W7’s (yellow) played their first match of the day against the Blue Jets from Khayelitsha.

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20190227_Edition.indd 24

national women's team coach. He played for our Men's 7s team, the Blitzbokke from 2003 – 2014, winning the World Series in 2008/9.

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