Village
NEWS NEWS The
20 June 2017
Cape Whale Coast
MARINE LIFE
FREE COPY
FYNARTS
Coastal research
FIGHT CLUB
Photo gallery
The gloves come on
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TAKE A BOW, FYNARTS! The 5th Hermanus FynArts Festival kicked off in grand style in the Dutch Reformed Church with the opening allMozart concert conducted by Richard Cock on 9 June. This was the best attended FynArts Festival yet and festivalgoers brought a vibrant vibe to the town. See page 7 for feedback on the festival. PHOTO: Peter Hassall & Leanne Dryburgh thephotowalkers.com
Cliff Path completion moves a step forward De Waal Steyn
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diction but in fact resorts under the auspices of Overberg District Municipality.
he drive to complete the Cliff Path from the New Harbour to Grotto beach is still continuing after a petition signed by more than 1 250 people was handed to the Overstrand Municipality.
According to the CPAG, the idea behind the petition was to create awareness of the need to link up the Cliff Path that currently stops at Mollergren Park and resumes at Sea Road.
According to Johan de Waal of the Cliff Path Action Group (CPAG) the Municipality indicated after receipt of the petition that access to the coast does not fall under its juris-
Property owners in the closedoff stretch were granted exclusive rights up to the high water mark. If the path can be extended over this area it will run uninterrupted for
12 km from the New Harbour to Grotto Beach.
Overberg district has been earmarked for the roll-out of a pilot project for coastal access.
“We feel that Hermanus owes itself the extension of the path. At the moment it is confusing to especially tourists, that you walk for a while and then suddenly the path comes to an end and you have to follow the main road for a while, before getting back on track,” says Johan.
“With this project the intention is not only to give effect to the Integrated Coastal Management Act, but the public will also be given the opportunity to raise their needs as far as public access to the coast is concerned.”
“The District Municipality informed us that the matter has received attention at provincial level and that the
The Western Cape government will take the lead and the project will commence at the end of July when an
external service provider will be appointed to facilitate public participation. The proposed provincial project is to develop a provincial coastal access strategy and plan, and prepare a draft model coastal access by-law for the Western Cape. “This is obviously very positive news. CPAG intends mobilising as part of this project and aims to hold a public meeting on 15 July at which it will adopt its constitution and elect office bearers. Details will be announced closer to
the time,” says Johan. The CPAG has invited experts in the field of building sustainable paths in sensitive environments to inspect the area. “Henry Fagan and Mark Thomas, who were responsible for the construction of among others the ‘boomslang’ (tree snake) route at Kirstenbosch, visited Hermanus recently to inspect the area to see what can be done. We hope that they will be able to come up with an implementable suggestion.”
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Despite the rain keep conserving water FynArts has taken its last bow for the year and our region is readying itself for what is hoped to be a normal rainy winter season. Usually the Cape Whale Coast becomes quieter at this time of year, with many residents jokingly referring to rolling up the tarred roads and switching off the traffic lights. As with the changing climate so too are accommodation establishments and tour operators reporting a busy time ahead with scores of both local and international tourists heading our way in July.
Editorial Comment By De Waal Steyn
There are many reasons for this and we need to be proud of our region showing constant growth and attracting more and more visitors year-round. But we also need to remind ourselves, even when we are blessed with rainy weather in
the days to come, that on our doorstep Cape Town and surrounds are in the grip of the worst drought in 100 years. With this in mind we all need to continue using water sparingly. Our dam levels are dropping and while there is no need for concern yet, we need to be vigilant and prepared. It will take at least three years of normal rainfall before dams in other parts of the province reach the level where water restrictions can be lifted. Let us work together to help save our most precious natural resource. While on the topic of natural
Letters and opinions
resources, the drive to connect the two sections of the Cliff Path in the Kwaaiwater area has led to an important development. The Overstrand will become the pilot project for establishing a provincial by-law on coastal access. The reach and impact of this is much wider than just the Cliff Path. It will have an impact on all our communities and will open up a much needed public participation process on public access to our ocean. We ask that residents become involved in this important project and make their voices heard. This is the GOOD News. – Ed
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More letters on P 4
Bypass: Alternative suggestions Although having lived in Hermanus for only three years, I feel the need to provide an opinion on the proposed bypass, having lived through the debate regarding the Knysna bypass and having been involved in the redesign of the Wilderness road infrastructure. It is well known that if engineers are given a problem to solve their solution will probably be the most expensive and the most engineeringly-challenging one. And the two proposals on the table for the Hermanus bypass seem to bear this out. The two proposals for the bypass will only address the 7% of traffic moving through the town towards Stanford (the figure quoted in The pros and cons of the Hermanus bypass, The Village NEWS, 6 June 2017); it fails to address the congestion created by the remaining 93% of vehicles entering and exiting the town. This congestion is exacerbated by the existing poor design of the town road infrastructure which does not incorporate the latest developments in the field of urban road design. So let me make some concrete suggestions: • If the existing Mountain Road and Jose Burman Drive route is improved by removing stop
streets and providing circles at the intersections with Magnolia, Fairways and the Main Road, the traffic that wishes to avoid the town will easily be catered for. Existing traffic calming measures should be retained. This would mean that there is no incursion into the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, and no need to expropriate land. This route works well for all but a few days of the year, when major events are taking place, and these events could easily be covered by the deployment of traffic officials to key intersections. • The purpose of roads in towns is to harmonise the movement of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. This is best done by ensuring slow, moving traffic, and responsible behaviour by pedestrians. This principle is followed in the suggestions below, which start with the Main Road from the Gateway Centre. Here the obvious problem is that the two-lane inbound road narrows to a single lane, which causes severe traffic congestion. The obvious solution is to reconfigure the width of the existing road, which is more than adequate for this purpose, to introduce a second, inbound lane by removing the parking outside the Magistrate’s Court. This would mean that there would be a continuation of the two lanes
until the traffic circle, thus eliminating the congestion caused by the present reduction to a single lane. • The newly created left lane should be made an exclusive left turn at the circle, by creating a dedicated feeder lane into Royal Street. • The preferential pedestrian walkways at the various traffic circles along Royal and Lord Roberts, which cause unnecessary traffic delays, should be removed. • Traffic calming measures should be introduced in Royal to enable pedestrians to cross safely at multiple points of their choice. Such pedestrian behaviour has been shown to be preferred, as it requires motorists, who are
forced to travel slowly, to be on the lookout for pedestrians at all times, not just at designated crossing points. It also requires pedestrians to be responsible, and not to assume that traffic will stop to allow them to cross. International experience with such a system has demonstrated that it results in improved behaviour on the part of both parties, results in smoother traffic flow and fewer pedestrian accidents. • Main Road from the entry of Marine Drive should be converted to a one-way, narrowing the road, introducing traffic calming measures and retaining parallel parking on both sides. Alternatively, the Main Road could be pedestrianised with vehicle access for emergency vehicles
only. Either option would necessitate the upgrading of parallel road infrastructure into and out of the centre of town. • Two further measures might also be considered: the banning of articulated delivery trucks from the centre of town and the creation of additional, temporary parking areas on the outskirts of town to cater for the high volume of visitors. Vacant land to the east of Hoy’s Koppie could be considered for this purpose. All of the above could easily be accomplished within the amount estimated for the creation of the Bypass, and would address 100% of the traffic problems that the town currently experiences. Dr Phillip G Parsons Onrus River
Chill and smell the fynbos I was somewhat amused by the letter from ‘Hurry Up and Wait’ which was published in your previous edition of 6 June 2017 (Learner divers disrupt traffic in town) where the reader complains about learner drivers in Eastcliff and Westcliff.
Of more concern to me are the numbers of Speeding Suburban Slickers and the Oscillating Octogenarians who are let loose legally on the unsuspecting Hermanus traffic. At least the learners are in clearly
marked vehicles with an instructor at hand and they actually use their indicators! This is after all, Hermanus. So chill! ‘Stop and smell the fynbos’
Support WCC’s butt bin project Re Hermanus Golf Club should join the Butt Bin Community (The Village NEWS, 6 June 2017) – the response from the manager of Hermanus Golf Club (HGC) was ‘side stepping’ the issue. Why not support the unique
Whale Coast Conservation (WCC) drive on cigarette butt bins? I hope that the HGC greenkeeper can keep up?! And congratulations to the Litter Ladies of Onrus – such an example to other towns in
South Africa. The greatest pity is that the tobacco Industry of South Africa has not seen fit to support such initiatives, which are on-going in Hermanus – market leaders in our country. Richard Tate
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With love from the Overberg
short discussion in the Village NEWS office about the devastating fires in Knysna and a firm decision to assist the victims of this disaster led to much more than anyone in our small office could have ever predicted.
were enough drivers to be able to set off as planned at 04:00 on Sunday morning. Luckily Tanya Tiefenthaler and Richard van der Spuy of I Love Hermanus, Elmarie and Thomas van Dalen of AfriForum and The NEWS’s very own columnist, Murray Stewart, came to the rescue as drivers,” says De Waal.
Within minutes after a Facebook post to residents of the Overstrand on Thursday 8 June, not only did the phones start ringing, scores of cars and bakkies suddenly stopped at the office and donations the likes of which is seldom seen started flooding in. “At first I thought I would be able to at least load our new delivery vehicle with some donations and try to make a difference. But it very soon became clear that one vehicle would never be enough,” says publisher De Waal Steyn. “The whole NEWS team dropped what they were doing and we flew into action and by the end of the afternoon we had secured a large trailer from Talisman Hire Hermanus, and bakkies from Ford Hermanus and Hermanus Toyota. My sense of pride in the community was growing as I realised we might be able to fill all the space we had available,” he says.
Saturday afternoon was a friends and family affair at the office with wives, children and even their friends jumping in and loading the close on 5 tons of aid in the motley crew of delivery vehicles. And what a tight fit it was!
The NEWS’ graphic designer Nickey Jackson and office administrator Tania Hamman had their hands full in sorting, repacking and loading the mountains of donations delivered by the community.
At 10:00 the Overstrand delegation was met by Knysna Mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies and members of her Council where, against the constant humming of firefighting helicopters, they were given a short overview of the disaster.
By closing time on Thursday most of the floor space and a few desks in the office were covered in donations. But no sooner did the office open its doors on Friday morning when the first vehicles stopped and residents started unloading aid. Says office administrator Tania Hamman: “Suddenly calls came in from Stanford, Gansbaai, Kleinmond and Betty’s Bay with people asking if they can still contribute. And they were not kidding! Bakkie loads of aid arrived from all over the Whale Coast. Some of the people made up to four trips to deliver everything to us from surrounding towns.” Meanwhile graphic designer Nickey Jackson jumped in and started sorting and repacking the evergrowing piles of food, blankets, clothes, nappies, toys, dog and cat food and supplies for the brave firefighters. “When by mid-morning I returned
With a sense of duty to their fellow man, the convoy set off on time on Sunday morning and was shortly joined on the road by, among others, Overberg District Council Deputy Mayor Archie Klaas, Masizole Mnqasela, Overberg Member of the Provincial Legislature, Cape Agulhas Deputy Mayor Zukiswa Tonisi and Theewaterskloof Deputy Mayor Isaac Seleko.
In his message to the Knysna Council, De Waal said that although the aid they brought was but a small drop, the people of the Western Cape are acutely aware that lots of small drops are needed to fill a dam. “We did this to help in your hour of need. That is what we do as communities who care. This could easily have been any of our towns.” to the office after sorting out the logistics, and a generous donation towards petrol from Primwood Products, I was met with wideeyed colleagues informing me that not only was our office filled to the brim but the two large storerooms, kindly made available by our next-door neighbour Function Hire, were filling up fast,” recounts De Waal. With the constant flow of donations at closing time at both The NEWS offices and at Talisman Hire on Friday showing no signs of letting up, an exhausted NEWS
team headed home for the night knowing that no matter what, the people of Knysna would not be let down. “By Saturday morning I was well aware that we had logistical problems looming. After a spate of frantic calls and heaps of help from all involved we secured another bakkie from Whale Coast FM’s Pieter van Aswegen, a delivery vehicle from Rola Hermanus and Hermanuspieterfontein did not hesitate in offering their delivery vehicle. All that was needed now
Masizole said: “The physical and emotional trauma become so overwhelming in a situation like this you don’t know where to begin. By being here we are saying we are one family, one province. We will live through this.” The Village NEWS would like to extent its deepest gratitude to each and every one who generously opened their hearts and wallets to assist the fire victims and fighters. It is not possible to even try and list everyone who made a difference. To all involved, thank you for making us proudly Overstrand.
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History’s Femme Fatale: Fakes from Fables?
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here is growing evidence that Little Red Riding Hood was actually a bit of a floosie. Organisations globally have united in sharing information regarding her (among others’) nefarious activities, and MIFF (Misleading Info from Fables) in Berlin, requested me to consult the Duck ’n Fiddler’s Explanation of Everything and set the record straight. As previously mentioned, this sacred compendium of previously unrevealed information was originally compiled and edited by King Arthur, and has been meticulously updated over the centuries. It’s the only existing copy and is signed by his brother, Bob. After days of research into various handwritten accounts and carefully joining the dots, I’m sorry to say there’s merit in MIFF’s concern. Most of the
Wit’s End
Murray Stewart storylines in these fables were changed to protect innocent children and Mother Grundies, but the reality back then was far more sinister. Firstly, Little Red Riding Hood wasn’t little. She was, according to the ancient
manuscript, “a strapping wench; of strong and firm disposition in both upper body and bottom”, whatever that means. Secondly, she and Granny ran what can be politely described as a den of dubious delights, called The Hood. Gran and brother Robin looked after the day-to-day running of the establishment – ordering supplies, bookkeeping and general maintenance, while her red-hooded granddaughter catered to the clients. She, and her close friend Ms Muffet (the tuffetsitter) were in charge of the live entertainment and public relations, while Mother Hubbard was the food and beverage manager. The two ugly sisters were banned from fraternising with the clients, and were confined to scullery and laundry duties. However some accounts claim
Letters and opinions
that the taller one was perfectly acceptable after dark and a few homebrews. An old lady who lived in a shoe out back looked after any unexpected offspring. There’s no mention of Ma in the saga. Blissfully unaware of her child’s scandalous activities, she stayed home happily baking delicious munchies for The Hood’s clients, which were many and varied. Simple Simon with his ‘magic mushroom’ pies was a big hit, and along with Jack Horner were regulars on Fridays. Another Jack, (the beanstalker), had an ongoing contract with Cinderella and often brought Peter Pumpkin Eater along in case they overran. Little Boy Blue – who apparently preferred jazz anyway – would herald his imminent arrival by blowing what would later become the opening riff to Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street, and the ladies
would welcome him with a smile and a jug of warm mead. Wee Willy Winky warrants scant mention. Occasionally however, it appears things got a bit outrageous, and if you went down to the woods some days, you’d be in for a big surprise. What was later referred to as the Big Bad Wolf was in fact the Pied Piper in drag, who owned a rival establishment across the river, The Magic Flute. With his partners Happy, Grumpy and Dopey, they tried every trick in the book to lure customers away from The Hood. They had bingo evenings twice a week, served free pork crackling and mead, and had pole-dancing competitions during cocktail hour. After church on Sundays, they held ‘hands-off wenchsnogging’ contests with prizes ranging from Macarena lessons to all-inclusive
weekends with Winnie at Pooh Corner Casino and Spa. Pamphlets were posted throughout the Black Forest enticing folks to “marvel at the spectacle of Lady Godiva conducting yoga classes on horseback”, but sadly for The Flute’s management, nothing worked. Drastic measures were required, and Mr Piper-Wolf decided he had to eliminate Granny. Now, whether he ate her entirely on his own, or if the dwarfs tucked in as well is never addressed, but one thread of this story is true. Cecil, an axe-wielding, slightly camp woodcutter did pitch up, but being a vegetarian, just stood around and watched. So, there you have it. It appears MIFF’s suspicions were correct. Why shouldn’t four-year-olds and Mother Grundies know the truth? Is this perhaps when today’s ‘fake news’ first started?
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Hermanus Traffic Officers Let this road pass us by take pride in their work I would like to say well done to the Hermanus Traffic Officers who take care of our Municipal areas. After living in Johannesburg for 18 years and travelling every day in completely unsupervised traffic, to see Traffic Officers performing their duties well, and consistently is just… well, great! Their action following the burst water main at the bottom of Mountain Drive, which could have been a consequent nightmare
with no road supervision, was a good example. I know we have far less traffic here to deal with, nevertheless the roads in that area were cordoned off and supervised constantly by Officers who were competently doing their duties. Professional and obviously taking pride in their work… and with a smile too! In Johannesburg the working attitude was terrible and
numerous times, in huge backups caused by road works and accidents, Officers would be standing idle and eating and laughing and completely ignoring the traffic! Meanwhile motorists were driving towards them in the emergency lanes and obstructing rescue vehicles etc. So thanks, Hermanus Traffic Department. Mary Farrell
Questioning the ‘need and desirability’ of proposed bypass The issue of the Hermanus Bypass is more complex than it’s made out to be and its debate creates concerns and fears, and effects (often unnecessarily) on the desirability and valuations of properties that could be effected. The support for the project might be well founded by the motivating parties concerned, but seldom understood by them, and once consulting engineers get involved the feasibility is driven by the desire to get another project under way. Please consider carefully what happened to the idea of by-passing Knysna (and the wasted costs). The traffic that would use this bypass will be by definition traffic wishing to go beyond Hermanus, and obviously anyone wanting to go into town, including holiday makers, would not use it. I question you on the 'need and desirability' of the bypass. Has an
accurate traffic count been done, and if so, can we please have the numbers because I believe that the traffic presently using 7th Avenue, Voëlklip, which is the traffic you are talking about that needs the bypass, is insignificant compared to the heavy traffic going daily into the CBD. I do concede that a factor with a longterm component needs to be included in the calculations. Should the long-term viability of the bypass be confirmed, then this begs the question as to why Province is not asked to construct the bypass of Hermanus from somewhere near to the Karwyderskraal turnoff on the R43 road to proceed around the back of the mountains to meet up with the R326 leading into Stanford? I must emphasise that road design and construction cannot be programmed over a short
term and you will be looking at a good 10-year time span, which demands that your end product includes provision for all the long-term eventualities. Just to illustrate my point, the estimate of the bypass costing R350 million is a laugh – this figure might cover the cost of the purchase of properties that will have to be acquired to build the road which, let me remind you, will need to be a double carriageway. Lastly I would suggest that the necessity for a bypass is far too big a project for a town to handle, both from the experience perspective and that of the ratepayers who will finance it in the end. The council will receive no kudos if they take on a project that is more than the ratepayers can chew, even if it is in good faith. Retired 'Padmaker'
So, who runs the country – the democratically elected politicians, our leaders, or the bureaucrats/technocrats?
In 2014 when Minister Carlisle said the bypass would not be built by this administration there was a sigh of relief and a committee founded to oppose the bypass disbanded, but in the fashion of the BBC comedy series Yes Minister the bureaucrats and the consultants being paid by them, kept right on with the project. It is important to note that bureaucrats always need to seem to be doing something. So springing the watereddown and half-baked project on the unsuspecting citizens of Hermanus in 2016, having another go and pushing through to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regardless and surprise, surprise: it is found that this bypass will have negligible effect on our fynbos treasure and hardly any noise pollution for the rest of us. Two pretty little diagrams show the proposed routes, both southern and northern options. The southern route is damned because of the obvious effect both physical and noise-wise that it will have on Hermanus High and the Sports Complex. In truth the southern option was a non-starter from day one but the public must be shown an option. So, the northern option is a nobrainer, for those who
do not have any.
Anyone who takes the trouble to visit the view site at the top of Rotary Drive and walks 50 metres east to where the power pylons are, will get a completely new idea of the impact that the northern option will have. It appears obvious that the northern route will require major excavations, cuttings and embankments. It seems quite likely that significant portions of the route will be elevated above tree-top level which means that the noise of every single vehicle will be heard all over town. Imagine all that noise generated on the bypass, reverberating off the mountain side. Either someone did not actually survey the route, or more probably is pulling the wool over our eyes. But there is a deeper and more sinister view. The route that Minister Carlisle quashed was the complete one extending from Gateway to beyond the cell phone tower east of Voëlklip. The Royal Street effort, applauded by one and all, had a limited shelf life and it is obvious that the proposed, watered-down bypass now being touted will also only last so long. But when it can also no longer meet traffic demands, then the northern route as far as the point where it turns down into Eastcliff, will quite conveniently comprise the first section of that route
which the citizens of Hermanus fought so long and hard to stop.
The bureaucrats and their socalled consultants are going to build that bypass come what may. We should also be aware that another tactic to ensnare us is being employed. “Don’t worry,” they say, “nothing is going to happen before 2020.” So we relax and the planning and plotting goes on inexorably. Are we missing the forest for the trees? The expansion of Greater Hermanus and the R43 are incompatible. It is already proving so. The R43 is in itself already showing strain and with the much vaunted mall being built, the densification of Sandbaai, Onrus and Vermont, and eventually flowing over into Hawston (with a further mall in the offing and an airfield being mooted) and Fisherhaven and beyond will only add to the strain. The Hermanus crawl is already a fact of life and it will only get worse, which leads one to wonder: Why we are fixating on a piddly (except in cost) bypass at the very end of the crawl? Hermanus lies in the neck between the mountains and the sea and in some respects our situation is similar to those in Monte Carlo, Cannes, Nice and the Amalfi in Italy and they still have not cracked the problem. So, how can our little old bypass do the trick? – Letter shortened Gert Cloete, Voëlklip
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Cetacean research on impact of climate change
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team of nine researchers spent the last two weeks researching dolphins and whales on our coast in order to better understand the impact of environmental factors and the influence of climate change on these animals.
project investigating the environmental factors limiting the range ends of small cetaceans around the Western Cape, with the long-term goal of predicting the impacts of climate change on these animals.
Researchers from Sea Search Research and Conservation, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, the Mammal Research Institute’s Whale Unit (University of Pretoria) and Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation (University of Cape Town) collaborated on the project by collecting acoustic and behavioural data, photo ID’s and biopsy samples from dolphins and whales in the Overstrand area.
Data collected from humpback dolphins will also contribute to the broader Sousa Project, which is an inter-group collaboration on the scientific research on Indian Ocean humpback dolphins in South Africa. Through data collection and sharing, the project aims to assess in detail the conservation status of humpback dolphins along our coastlines.
The main focus of the study was the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin, Sousa plumbea. This is a very shy species and can be particularly elusive, so time was also spent sampling bottlenose and common dolphins, as well as Bryde’s, humpback and southern right whales. The study forms part of a larger
Humpback dolphins utilise exactly the same areas of the coast that man does, so besides shark predation, threats are usually as a result of human activities. Power boats and jet skis disturb their behaviour, shark nets indiscriminately catch dolphins and, because they favour estuarine areas, they are especially vulnerable to exposure to pesticides and other pollutants that make
and to infer what sounds are made during certain behaviours or as a result of natural or man-induced stressors. Biopsy samples are used for genetic and isotope work, answering questions about how populations may be different from other populations within one species, and how this can change over time, while isotope analysis provides information about what the dolphins have been feeding on.
their way from agricultural areas down river systems and into the sea – often being accumulated in the prey that humpback (and other dolphin species) consume. Two rigid inflatable boats were used for the work, covering different areas simultaneously. One vessel was set up primarily
for acoustic work and the other for biopsying, while both vessels collected behavioural and photo ID data.
Photo ID determines who’s who in the population and provides answers on population size, calving intervals and success. Previous data collected by the Dyer Island Conservation Trust and Dyer Island Cruises has already allowed for identification of about 30 different humpback dolphins from the Greater Dyer Island area.
Acoustic monitoring is used in conjunction with the behavioural sampling and allows scientists to describe the dolphins’ vocalisations, measure the frequency thereof
The team had 8 encounters of humpback dolphins, 16 of bottlenose dolphin and over 20 whale encounters of three species (Bryde’s, southern right and humpback). They
managed to get six recordings from humpback dolphins, and identify individuals which were previously seen off Strandfontein in False Bay. They also obtained biopsy samples from bottlenose, common and humpback dolphins. One individual dolphin was photographically identified in Walker Bay, Kleinbaai and Struisbaai during the trip covering a distance of at least 120 km in just a few days. Future plans are to continue with these fieldtrips every couple of months as they provide valuable information that can aid conservationists and environmental managers in decision making on marine spatial planning in order to help to protect whales and dolphins and preserve important habitats for them in the long term. – Meredith Thornton, Dyer Island Conservation Trust The research team members were: Dr Simon Elwen, Dr Tess Gridley, Bridget James, Monique Laubscher, Barry McGovern, Meredith Thornton, Sandra Hoerbst, Dr Els Vermeulen and Chris Wilkinson
International great white research team visits Dyer Island The Dyer Island Conservation Trust and Marine Dynamics team were joined last month by past Master’s students, Oliver and Michelle Jewell, to continue Oliver’s studies on great white sharks. As a PhD candidate affiliated with Murdoch University in Australia, Oliver is looking at the foraging and swimming patterns of great white sharks by observing body movements and tail beats using camera loggers attached with a special clamping system. These CATS-Cams are composite camera/accelerometer/ daily diary tags that attach temporarily to sharks using a clamping system that partially dissolves in salt water. The tags float and have two tracking systems attached to them in
order to recover and download the data from the tags.
LEFT: Oliver Jewell, Presley Adamson, Dr Adrian Gleiss, Dr Taylor Chappell, Paul Kanive, Dr Salvador Jorgenson, Michelle Jewell and Ed Edwards.
The team included Oliver’s supervisors Dr Adrian Gleiss (Murdoch University) and Dr Taylor Chappell (University of California, Davis); and a research and film crew from Monterey Bay Aquarium – Dr Salvador Jorgenson, Presley Adamson and Paul Kanive. Further support was given by past employee of the Trust, David ‘Ed’ Edwards and his partner Anna Phillips. Ed assisted with the white shark population study the Trust released in 2013. Due to the timing of the expedition coinciding with a scarcity of white sharks after the orca predations in the area, the team was only able to get five deployments to
BELOW: Oliver placing the CATS-cam.
add to their three-year dataset. Two previous trips averaged 20 deployments. This information is critical to understanding shark behaviour with a bonus of gaining a shark’s view point
of the world. Oliver now heads off to Australia to continue his PhD studies but will return to visit the Dyer Island Conservation trust and add to the dataset.
PHOTOS: Anna Phillips - Dyer Island Conservation Trust
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20 June 2017 Tuesday 20 June
Every Saturday
■ Bypass analysed: Join Whale Coast Conservation for analysis and discussion of the Hermanus CBD Bypass EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) presented by Rob Fryer and Dr Pat Miller. At the Green House on the R43 in Vermont, from 17:30 – 19:00. All are welcome. Call 028 316 2527.
Wednesday 21 June ■ Celebrate International Day of Yoga: Join My Yoga Space for a special lunch-hour yoga session with Danielle from 13:00 – 14:00 to celebrate International Yoga Day. No cost involved, only donations for the Hermanus Rainbow Trust's Soup Kitchen will be collected. Contact 082 291 9638.
■ Birds and Biodiversity: The Hermanus Bird Club’s special guest, Keir Lynch, will give a presentation entitled Birds and Biodiversity – Threatened Species in a Threatened Landscape. At the Fernkloof Hall, at 17:30. Visitors welcome. For enquiries, contact John Saunders on 028 316 2302 or Mariette Pitlo on 028 312 1369.
Saturday 24 June ■ Nissan TrailSeeker Western Cape Series 2:
■ Bhuki Café: It’s Pancake Day at the Bhuki Café!
Grabouw in the picturesque Elgin Valley, with its long history of mountain biking, hosts the second TrailSeeker event in the Cape series. The routes are friendly to the weekend warrior but challenging enough to the racers. All routes cut through farm land against a panoramic background of mountains, vineyards, forests and dams, with a choice between 10 km, 20 km, 40 km and 70 km. This is a family-friendly event; both riders and spectators can look forward to all the features that make the series so popular – a beer garden, food court, massages, expo- and club areas, childminding facility, bike wash, well-stocked water points, top medical services with a doctor on site, and much more. From 06:00 to 15:00, at Elgin Grabouw Country Club. Get all the details at www.advendurance.com
All are welcome and pancakes are still selling at R5 each. This is an eco-friendly fundraiser, so please assist the Hermanus Library by, where possible, bringing your own labelled container. Advance orders: 028 313 8077.
■ NG Kerk Caledon-Wes Wintermark: Come and feed your soul with pretty things for yourself and your home, and delicious eats, at the Caledon West Dutch Reformed Church’s Winter Market. Email ngcalwes@overnet.co.za for an application form. Thursday & Friday 09:00 – 19:00 and Saturday 09:00 – 14:00.
Friday 23 June ■ Understanding Great Music: Join U3A Overberg for a presentation on Early 20th Century Modernism in their DVD music series. This week’s topic is Igor Stravinsky. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00.
■ Afrikaans Literature: U3A Overberg’s guest is noted Afrikaans novelist Jeannette Stals, who will speak on her experiences in writing her first crime novel, Katoog. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00. Contact Therina on 082 335 8797.
Tuesday 27 June ■ Gothic Churches in the Holy Roman Empire: Join U3A Overberg for the second part of this DVD series. The topic is Gothic Churches in Italy. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00.
Thursday 29 June ■ Book Launch & Talk: You are invited by Queillerie and Bargain Books to attend the launch of Rudie van Rensburg’s latest thriller in Afrikaans, Kamikaze. He’ll be in conversation with Jonathan Amid, at the Municipal Auditorium, at 17:30 for 18:00. Contact 021 406 3477 or RSVP@nb.co.za by 26 June.
■ Jim Harrison Project live: JHP will be performing live at Gecko Bar in the NEW Harbour, from 21:30.
Friday 23 – Sunday 25 June
■ Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market: In the courtyard at HPF cellar, The Village, from 09:00-14:00. Where wine and food lovers both local and international meet. ■ The Hermanus Country Market: A favourite among the locals, young and old. Fresh local produce, wholesome goodies, and home-made crafts. Next to the cricket field, Fairways Avenue, from 09:00-13:00. ■ Market in the Garden: Set among the trees in the heart of town, at St Peter’s Church in Main Road, from 09:00-13:00.
Every Sunday
invited to a delightful evening organised by local artist Maureen Tomaino in aid of the Frail Care Centre at Sofca Hermanus. The Starry Starry Night to remember has been specially designed for anyone and everyone who wishes to try their hand at painting a little ‘masterpiece’ of Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night. Maureen will guide you through each step of the way, from the drawing of your masterpiece to the colour mixing and applying the paint. All easels and art materials will be provided. Light snacks, sherry and wine will fuel the creativity, fun and laughter and Raka Wine Estate will also be on hand for a sublime tasting of their wines. The cost is R300 pp (regrettably no U18). At the Municipal Auditorium Banquet Hall, at 19:00. Contact 028 312 3236.
Friday 30 June – Sunday 2 July ■ Kleinmond Kryvis Festival: This local fish festival in Kleinmond will for the third year be hosted by KabelJoe’s Seafood Restaurant. Bring family and friends and kick off the winter school holidays with a colourful and exciting celebration of seafood and the coastal lifestyle. In addition to a feast of sushi and seafood, there will be beverage promotions, wine tastings and live rugby in the tent, as well as a fishing competition with R8 000 cash prizes, a Kerrievis cooking competition with a R1 000 prize for the winning recipe, the Miss Kabeljoe’s beauty competition and many lucky draws. One of the many highlights is a performance by Anton Goosen on the Saturday evening at 19:30. For more information, contact the organiser on 078 019 4788 or visit http://kabeljoesseafood.co.za/kryvis-festivalkleinmond.php for the full weekend itinerary.
Saturday 1 July
■ Women’s Empowerment Retreat: Join Yoga Motive in collaboration with Eleftheria and SoulFood for a weekend of empowerment at the enchanting Porcupine Hills on the Van der Stel Pass near Bot River. The retreat will include incredible food by Marissa from Soul-Food, daily yoga classes, lead meditations, women’s circles and time to experience the beauty of nature, to rest, restore and revive. There are a number of accommodation options available. For more info, contact Brigitta at info@yogamotive.co.za or 072 188 3796; or Eleftheria at retreat@eleftheria.co.za or 082 924 9322.
Overberg for a presentation on Early 20th Century Modernism in their DVD music series. This week’s topic is Arnold Schönberg. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00.
■ Hermanus parkrun: Meet at Hermanus Forest in Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley at 08:00. Free timed 5 km walk or run, come rain or shine. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome.
■ Starry Starry Night Paint & Sip: You are
■ U3A Overberg Open Meeting: The speaker is
Thursday 22 – Saturday 24 June
■ Understanding Great Music: Join U3A
Monday 26 June
Thursday 22 June Advocate Paul Hoffman, who will talk on Social Grants in South Africa: How they should work, What has gone wrong, Who is responsible and Is there corruption? Adv Hoffman has been a lawyer and Advocate since 1975. In 2006 he was appointed as Director of the Centre for Constitutional Rights and has been pursuing his passion for exacting accountability since 2009 by setting up and working with The Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa (IFAISA) and pursuing various human rights and constitutional matters. At the Municipal Auditorium, at 17:30.
Friday 30 June
■ Onrus Markie: Enjoy this community market on the first Saturday of every month, at the De Wet Hall in Roos Street, Onrus. From 09:00 – 12:00.
■ Book launch at La Vierge: Join Anthea van der Pluym and Clay & Earth for an evening of great food, wine, company and inspirational speaking as she launches her latest book Authenticity at La Vierge Restaurant in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, at 18:30 for 19:00. Only 100 tickets available at R170. RSVP by sending an email to anthea@antheavanderpluym.com
Monday 3 July ■ Cosmology: Join Hermanus Astronomy Centre for a presentation on Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos. At the Catholic Church hall, at 19:00. Contact Pierre Hugo at pierre@hermanus.co.za
■ Lemm’s Corner Sunday Market: This popular market has closed for the winter and will re-open in August.
Every Monday ■ Classic Monday Bridge Club: Duplicate Bridge, every Monday at 13:00, at Fernkloof Hall. To join the club, contact Riekie on 072 230 9179.
Every Thursday ■ Rotary Club of Hermanus: Weekly meetings every Thursday at Mollergren Park, at 19:00. Visitors welcome. Contact Ian Wallace on 082 895 8738 or Metcalf Fick on 082 568 2193.
Every Friday ■ Hermanus Hacking Group: Meet at the bottom of Rotary Way at 06:15 for 06:30 every Friday. All volunteers welcome. Contact Charlyn Vosloo on 082 558 8731 for more details. ■ ‘Kolwyntjie-Teetuin’: Everyone in the area is invited to enjoy a sweet treat and tea or coffee at the Onrus Care Centre (‘Dienssentrum’) of the Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus for only R30, every Friday between 09:30 and 11:30. ■ Bhuki Café: Enjoy tea, coffee and eats for only R20 (2 eats) or R30 (3 eats) to support the Friends of Hermanus Library, every Friday from 09:00 - 11.30.
Village
EXPLORER EXPLORER The
FOOD • WINE • ART
Hermanus FynArts ushers in the winter season enjoyment – no wine snobbery here! Pieter Ferreira from Graham Beck and Jan Boland Coetzee were only two of the guest speakers who shared their personalities, amusing anecdotes and wealth of wine knowledge.
Frieda Lloyd
W
hat a busy two weeks it’s been in Hermanus, with our home-grown FynArts Festival adding a welcome vibe to the start of the winter season. This was the fifth year our town has hosted the festival, with yet another superlative line-up of productions, workshops and exhibitions that were enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.
Anthony Hamilton Russell discussed the history of winemaking in the Hemel-en-Aarde region while Creation presented an evening of food, wine and music through the ages. Still with drinks but one which involves juniper berries rather than grapes – and revved-up alcohol content – was the Gin Revolution put forward by Paul du Toit and his Wine Village team. Visitors could taste ten South African craft gins while hearing about the technicalities of producing this drink since originating in Holland in the early 17th century.
FynArts brought the arts and the community together and there can be no better testimony to the success of this festival than the way in which events were supported. Festival Director Mary Faure has the knack of adding variety to the offerings in a way that keeps arts enthusiasts curious.
The food demonstrations moved to smaller venues which helped with audience engagement. The effort made by the presenters was incredible and ticket holders received an exceptional value for money experience. Lebanese, Scottish, and Japanese cuisine, alternating with abalone and dessert tricks of the trade, offered a taste for all palates.
Every year we see the number of participants grow and every year we hear more people saying “I never knew Hermanus FynArts had so much to offer”. Where else can you take a photograph with a sculpture against the natural background of the Atlantic, hear Zolani Mahola belt out Miriam Makeba, watch a traditional rieldans, taste wine with Anthony Hamilton Russell, learn more about modern art, meet your favourite author, or find out how to make a Scottish dessert and felt slippers all in one week? At The Marine journalist Melvyn Minnaar again hosted the Wine Plus series, this time themed Personality. The opportunity to engage directly with winemakers does not come around often and the wine personalities made sure that the audience enjoyed what was in their glass and walked away having learned something new. It was all about pure
PHOTOS: Leanne Dryburgh & Peter Hassall - thephotowalkers.com; Taylum Meyer - Titanium Photography; Hedda Mittner
With art exhibitions at various venues, including most of the local art galleries, our town was transformed into a kaleidoscope of visual arts. Exhibiting artists were on hand to engage with art lovers and discuss their work – another rare opportunity for festivalgoers. See the picture gallery on page 13 of the many artists, both local and visiting, who exhibited their talents for all to enjoy. Social media is abuzz with FynArts pictures and comments and already there is great anticipation for the sixth rendition of Hermanus FynArts in 2018.
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20 June 2017
A picture history of the Riviera Hotel Not many locations that existed in the late 19th or early 20th century in Hermanus have a photographic history of each phase of their lives. One of these is the lesser known Riviera Hotel up above what we now call Grotto Beach. Over the years DR ROBIN LEE of the Hermanus History Society has collected images of the various stages of its history.
The Riviera Hotel was built in about 1904 by Jack Poole of Poole’s Bay, who did not take to the role of ‘mine host’. The hotel was acquired by the Luyt family in 1908. This image was printed in black and white on postcards and handcoloured. The postcards were given to guests to write home about the wonderful time they were having in Hermanus.
T D Ravenscroft, the famous photographer living in Hermanus, caught a moment on the verandah of the original building, probably about 1912. The image is perfectly composed and gives an idea of holiday attire at that time.
The Luyts added a second storey in 1918 as the hotel became popular with tourists wishing to escape warravaged Europe.
The hotel suffered a damaging fire in 1944 and by 1950 had been rebuilt in a 20th century style. By the 1980s the hotel had been converted to sectional title ownership and a special path was built through Piet-se-Bos to the beach.
John Luyt built the first bowling green in Hermanus at the Riviera Hotel and in 1929 established the first Bowls Club. RIGHT: The sectional title format was not successful and in 1999 the building was sold and demolished.
Village Explorer
20 June 2017
Its never too late to become a late bloomer Hedda Mittner
I
believe all people can paint,” says local watercolour artist, Maureen Tomaino. “While some follow their calling to become artists, others usually stop painting at around 12 years – that is the ‘art age’ of most adults.” As a result, most of us feel intimidated when suddenly asked to put brush to canvas, but Maureen is determined to change that. “With a little guidance and encouragement, and given the opportunity, we can all express ourselves through art.” It is this opportunity that Maureen aims to create by presenting her Starry Starry Night Paint & Sip event on Friday 30 June in the banqueting hall of the Municipal Auditorium. Everyone is invited to create their own version of Vincent van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night over the Rhône’ and when Maureen says “yes, you can do it”, you’d better believe it – she has been teaching painting and conducting workshops for over 30 years. “It will be a fun evening – nothing serious or stressful – that includes a light supper and a glass of wine, and a tasting presented by Raka Wines. And it’s all for a good cause as the proceeds will go to the Sofca Frail Care Centre.” Maureen is living proof that you’re never too old to learn new tricks and that for many women today, life only starts after 40. She married at the tender age of 18, straight after graduating from art school in Durban, where she’d studied graphic design, photography and textile design. Her other great love was music, and she taught the piano to youngsters while raising her two sons. After 22 years of marriage Maureen got divorced and relocated from Howick in KwaZulu-Natal to Cape Town. Having settled down in Newlands, she started working
Local watercolour artist Maureen Tomaino will host a Starry Starry Night Paint & Sip evening on Friday 30 June. Find all the details in The Good Guide on page 6. in the bookshop of St James Church in Kenilworth, while longing to see more of the world. “During my last years in Howick I was working at a travel agency,” she reminisces. “I went on educational tours to Europe with other agents and we had a wonderful time. It made me determined to see more of the world, but I didn’t just want to travel and look at places – I wanted to experience something more meaningful.”
Navy man, Joe had run his own service station and auto repair shop in New Jersey for 40 years and had recently become a widow. For the first time since her teens, Maureen found herself being courted with single-minded purpose and she admits that “at first, I was petrified!” The couple got married in 1999 and spent four years living in the US before returning to South Africa for the birth of Maureen’s first grandchild in 2003.
Employing a crew of 400 volunteers, Mercy Ships operates the largest nongovernmental hospital ship in the world, providing humanitarian aid to those in need of medical care. Her application was successful and for the next two years, Maureen lived on board the ship and ran the gift shop / book store.
“During our years together in the US, we both battled cancer but mercifully we are both in remission. We enjoyed our family holiday so much that we decided to settle here permanently and purchased a home in Vermont while visiting friends in the area. With daily inspiration all around me, I took up painting again and discovered a passion for watercolour. Although some people regard it as an ‘old-fashioned’ medium, it is actually very versatile and can be used for anything from representational art to more impressionistic and abstract works.”
While at sea, Maureen met a fellow volunteer, Joe Tomaino, who had joined Mercy Ships from America to look after the vehicles on the ship. An ex-
Maureen started offering watercolour classes and workshops from her home studio and also at the Hermanus FynArts Festival. In
Maureen found the answer she was looking for when she heard of the international charity organisation, Mercy Ships, while completing a Crossroads Discipleship course in Muizenberg.
“
I enjoy painting beautiful scenes... there is enough ugliness in the world
”
2014 she returned to sea by joining the Queen Elizabeth luxury cruise liner for two weeks in the Mediterranean as a watercolour instructor. Maureen and Joe moved to Mollergren Park seven years ago, where she continues to paint and teach from MauStudio on Main. She loves nothing more than sharing her enthusiasm for watercolour with folks of all level of skills and inspiring them to join her on a creative adventure that anyone could go on at any stage of their life. Maureen can be contacted on 028 312 2914 or 078 375 6069, or via email at mjtomaino2@gmail.com
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Village Explorer
10
20 June 2017
Waving good-bye to Fusion’s Petrus and Estelle
W
hen we heard that Petrus and Estelle Hendriksz had sold Fusion, their popular restaurant at the Village Square, my publisher De Waal Steyn remarked that visiting Fusion henceforth will be like going to church and finding the minister absent. “But how can you leave?” he asked them in disbelief. Well, after 13 years, Petrus and Estelle reckon they deserve a break from the relentless pressure and long hours involved in being the hands-on owners of a restaurant. “We just want to know what it feels like to wake up on a Saturday or Sunday morning and actually be able to do something pleasant like taking a walk on the cliff path, visiting the market, eating out or enjoying a wine tasting. We have missed out on all these things for so many years!” says Petrus. This entrepreneurial couple hails from Pretoria, where Petrus worked at SAB headquarters while Estelle ran several Cardies gift shop for 16 years. Their older son Petri, the well-known owner / chef of Pear Tree restaurant, was working in the UK and their younger son Jaco had just finished matric, when they decided to relocate to the Cape. On the look-out for a new business venture, they heard that there was a restaurant for sale in Hermanus and flew down to investigate. The restaurant was called Andy’s and its position on the waterfront just above the Old Harbour couldn’t have been better. “Two months later we’d moved here lock, stock and barrel,” reminisces Petrus. “It was a bit hair-raising because we had no experience of running a restaurant.” Adds Estelle: “We were fine with the business and admin side of things, but the food… not so much! We had to learn fast and we relied heavily on Petri who gave us long-distance assistance from London in
“
Restaurant News
Key to a successful restaurant is owner involvement and very hard work
By Hedda Mittner developing the menu.”
Well-known restauranteurs Petrus and Estelle Hendriksz will be handing Fusion over to its new owners at the end of the month.
During the first few months there were also extensive renovations to complete. “We were open for normal trading hours during the day and then carried on with the renovations from 6pm until midnight, returning early in the morning for the next day’s trade. It was quite brutal,” says Petrus. To add to the pressure, they had taken over the restaurant in September 2004 just before the Whale Festival and the busy December holiday season. Fortunately, in January 2005, Petri returned from the UK and joined his exhausted parents. “I think he got quite a shock when he saw how much weight we’d lost!” quips Estelle. With the renovations completed and Petri having taken charge of the kitchen, the Hendriksz clan decided their establishment needed a new name and launched a competition. The winning suggestion was ‘Fusion’, because it describes Petri’s style of food – fresh and wholesome dishes that are never boring and always come with a surprising and innovative twist. Fusion soon became one of the most popular restaurants
Cousins Tiaan and Martin Liebenberg from Pretoria are the new owners of Paradiso. in Hermanus. “It was a privilege to be part of Hermanus’s culinary journey,” says Petrus. “Back then there were only a handful of restaurants in town and since then the industry has shown tremendous growth.” A few years later, when Petri spread his wings and opened his own establishment at Hemel-en-Aarde Village, simply named ‘Eat’, he continued to supervise and manage the menu and train the kitchen staff at Fusion. “We could never have done this without Petri,” says Estelle.
“Even after he opened Pear Tree, he stayed involved.” It goes without saying that after 13 years, Petrus and Estelle have come to know many of their customers and formed deep friendships. They have also had a profound impact on the community through their involvement with civil society and charitable organisations, most notably the NSRI Hermanus Fundraising Committee. So what is next for them? “First up is a relaxing holiday in Thailand and after that the
future is a blank canvas. We don’t know what will come next – only that it will not be a restaurant!” laughs Estelle. “But we are definitely not retiring,” she adds with emphasis. Petrus and Estelle’s last day at Fusion will be Thursday 29 June, which coincides with the start of this year’s Winter Quiz Evenings. Hosted every Thursday evening for 8 weeks, the quizzes are immensely popular and completely sold out. Those attending next week will have the opportunity to say good-bye
”
to Petrus and Estelle before the new owners, Henri Grove and his son-in-law Lyall Wiggill, take over on 30 June. In other restaurant news from the Village Square, Paradiso was recently taken over by two gentlemen, also from Pretoria, who go by the same surname. Tiaan and Martin Liebenberg are cousins who have over the years holidayed regularly in Hermanus. When they heard that Paradiso was looking for a buyer, they jumped at the opportunity and took over a month ago. “What we liked about Paradiso is its excellent position on the waterfront and the intimate atmosphere and character of the old heritage building,” says Tiaan. Tiaan already has a restaurant in Pretoria, El Pistolero, which specialises in Mexican food, while Martin has a financial background. They have made some minor changes to the menu and are moving away from Paradiso’s previous emphasis on Italian cuisine, but have kept the pizzas and pastas. “Vibrant, fresh and colourful” is how Tiaan describes their food and you’ll find new additions such as succulent burgers, chicken prego, seafood dishes and an assortment of starters, salads and desserts on the menu. Call 028 313 1153 to make a reservation.
20 June 2017
Village Explorer
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Village Explorer
12
Every Wednesday
G
Reviving a Hero
reat news for foodies – both local and visiting – is that the Stanford Food Heroes is making a comeback after falling out of the limelight for two years. New energy is being injected into this collective brand by Stanford Tourism, assisted by Marcelle du Preez and Robert Bell of White Water Farm. Together they have undertaken a revival of this home-grown brand and aim to bring its unique features to the attention of the public. With increased exposure, great Stanford Food Heroes produce will be at your fingertips at local markets, in local restaurants, and even from small local businesses that have expressed interest in stocking Stanford Food Heroes produce. Created and driven by a small, dedicated group of people a few years ago, the Stanford Food Heroes’ goal was to link consumers with food growers, food producers, and suppliers in the Stanford area, and to get everyone excited about the excellent fresh produce and artisanal foods in the region. Produce from the Stanford Food Heroes can be relied upon to be local and fresh, grown and produced in sustainable and environmentallyfriendly ways as far as possible, to support local food initiatives and educational programmes,
to be free from harmful chemicals as much as possible, and to be made or grown by dedicated locals who believe first in quality. The Stanford Food Heroes network will include small seasonal growers, larger scale growers, producers and restaurants, and it will work in partnership with educational programmes and feeding projects like Green Futures and Food4Thought. Stanford Food Heroes does not profit any individual member, and the network will link everyone for the greater benefit of all members. Stanford Food Heroes also plans to run an annual charity event which focuses on food, and aims to encourage more sustainable growing projects. A launch event for the Stanford Food Heroes is planned for Heritage Day on 24 September. Working together with Stanford Conservation Trust, the heroes will bring together an event on the Stanford Market Square, the theme of which will be ‘Heritage on a Plate’. Funds raised will be donated to local charities.
■ Graze Farmers Market: Reduce your carbon footprint and get your fresh veggies at Graze Slow Food Café. Always seasonal, always fresh. Stay for coffee and breakfast. From 09:00 – 12:00. Contact Tabby & Alex on 076 243 1930.
Every Saturday
■ Table 13: Join this popular Restaurant & Pub for the rugby match at 17:00 and live music with Jamboree from 19:00. No cover charge. Potjiekos and soup on the menu. For more info contact 084 827 5658.
Saturday 1 July ■ Junktique Market: Bring a basket to load up the loot and treasure that you may find by browsing through the Junktique Market. At the Stanford Tourism Courtyard, from 09:00 – 12:00. For more information, contact ask@stanfordinfo.co.za or call 028 341 0340.
■ Saturday Morning Market: Stanford market is laden with tantalising home-made delights, including cakes, fudge, rusks, pies, goat and cow milk cheeses, wood-fired ciabattas, farm vegetables, herbs, preserves, sausages and meats, as well as pickles, jams and sauces. On the Stanford Hotel Stoep, from 09:00 – 12:00. Contact Caro 082 448 0237.
Saturday 24 June
To enquire about the Stanford Food Heroes, contact Stanford Tourism at 028 341 0340 or ask@stanfordinfo.co.za, visit www.stanfordfoodheroes.co.za or find them on Facebook (StanfordFoodHeroes).\ – Phil Murray
20 June 2017
■ Eikenhoff Orchid Nursery Open Day: Come and see the beautifully sculptural and elegant orchids in the nursery at Eikenhoff Farm just outside Stanford on the Papiesvlei Road, from 09:00 – 14:00. Available to purchase, these orchids keep their blooms for months and make any home or garden look spectacular. For more info contact 076 292 5267 or admin@eikenhoff.com
Monday 10 July
■ The Penguin Plunge: This annual Stanford Rotary Club Fundraiser entails a plunge into the icy waters of the Klein River. Gather on the bank of the river, between King and Quick Streets at 11:45 to plunge at 12:00. Entry fee is a donation from both Plunging Penguins and Cheering Chickens. There’ll be yummy hot soup, Glühwein and hot chocolate (free for Plunging Penguins), and Gerrie will be selling boerie rolls, hamburgers and cooldrinks on behalf of the Okkie Smuts Koshuis. So bring some extra cash for a snack or drink. It’s all for a very good cause – proceeds from this event will go to our Soup Kitchens for the Elderly, so please come along and support us. For more information contact Lana on 082 216 4398.
■ Full Moon Walk: Wrap up warmly and join Stanford Tourism for July’s Full Moon Walk for charity at 17:30. This month, all profits will go to Hermanus Child Welfare so please bring your friends, your kids and your fur children to support this charity. Bellies will be warmed with hot chocolate or sherry.
Saturday 15 July ■ Hops at the Hills: It’s time once again for the annual Stanford Hills Craft Beer Festival, Hops at the Hills. Live music with The Rivertones and Gareth James, fun activities for the kids, local craft beer, quality wine and artisanal food will keep the whole family entertained all afternoon. Tickets are R80 pp. At Stanford Hills, from 12:00 – 17:00. For more information contact 072 639 6135.
20 June 2017
Village Explorer
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A Moveable Feast of Art
Christopher Hope, Peter Finlayson and FynArts Festival Director Mary Faure at the pre-launch of the festival at Bouchard Finlayson.
Liz Coates, curator of the ceramics exhibition ‘Forms of Expression 3’ which was opened by Ann Marais.
Local artists Danny Myburgh and Terry Kobus at the opening of their joint exhibition at Originals Gallery.
Artists Catherine Brennon and Elise MacDonald at the opening of their exhibition at Forty X 40 Gallery.
The winner of the 2017 Tollman Bouchard Finlayson Art Award, Paul Birchall, in front of his tondo artwork entitled ‘Inner Spaces’.
Executive Mayor of the Overstrand Rudolph Smith, Cllr Arnie Africa and Deputy Mayor of the Overberg Archie Klaas at the Old Synagogue.
Nicola Coetzee with dad Gerhard Coetzee and Vivienne Mitchley, principal of Northcliff House College and Hermanus Visual Art and Design Centre.
The 2017 Hermanus FynArts Festival Artist Willie Bester with art academic and curator Marilyn Martin at SPACE.
Ortrud Mulder of Abalone Art Gallery with exhibiting artist Louis van Heerden.
Councillor Kari Brice and Tourism Manager of the Cape Whale Coast, Frieda Lloyd.
Max Kuijers receiving the Violet & Anne Bellingham Memorial Trophy from Holly Bellingham Turner at Sumaridge.
Jozua Rossouw and sculptor Gordon Froud in a playful mood at Rossouw Modern.
Exhibiting artist Obert Jongwe with Linda Kotzenberg at Rossouw Modern.
PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner, Rossouw Modern and Greg Latter.
Village Explorer
14
20 June 2017
When business closes the gloves come on Hedda Mittner
D
uring the week you might know them as respectable businessmen and well-known figures in the community – including an IT specialist, an electrical engineer, a chef, a vet and a teacher – but after hours the gloves come on and the action starts. As a group of roughly a dozen members, these ‘boys’ have become known as the Friday Fight Club – and they have found a way to stay fit while having fun and releasing stress. Every Friday from 3pm they rock up at the Breedt Brothers Boxing Academy based at the CrossFit Gym in Hermanus Industria, strip down to their socks and shorts, strap on their gloves, and spend the next few hours working up a sweat by sparring with one another in the boxing room of the gym. “I’m enjoying it tremendously,” says Petri Hendriksz, who only started boxing a few months ago and is perhaps better known to locals as the highly regarded chef and owner of Pear Tree restaurant at the Village Square. “Although the boxing is physically very intense, it is also a mind game and concentration is key. You have to be very focused and in that sense it is a fantastic way to release stress. You can’t afford to be thinking about other things. Every time I get hurt I know it’s because my mind wasn’t right.”
Members of the Friday Fight Club include (front row, from left): Steven Dayson of Platinum Solutions, Overberg; Paul Buckingham of LB Seafood Bistro; Jacques Breedt (instructor); Giovanni Gillian, who works at Office National; and Sanele Thsazibana (visiting from the Overstrand Whale Boxing Club). Back row, from left: Nick Powell, a teacher at Northcliff House College; Jaco Breedt (instructor); David Dayson of DK Wireless; Mzi Damesi, owner and coach of the Overstrand Whale Boxing Club; Charl Frick of Hermanus Gas; Eben van der Riel of Electrotech; veterinarian Mark Walton of the Hermanus Animal Hospital; and Petri Hendriksz of Pear Tree restaurant.
He admits that he’s sustained bruises and even a cracked rib but says, “It’s very invigorating and you feel wonderful afterwards!”
might be just what they need, so keep an eye on the Breedt Brothers Boxing Academy Facebook page for all the details.
The sparring sessions and the box fit classes that they partake in are also a very effective way to build strength and fitness, says Petri. “It’s not about winning or losing. It’s about challenging yourself and becoming healthier in body and mind.”
“Boxing is not just a sport – it’s a lifestyle,” says Jacques. “The way you fight reflects your personality and your personal style, and everyone has a different technique. Boxing can be compared to chess, because each individual approaches his or her opponent in a unique way. In the process you learn a lot about yourself, and about your particular strengths and weaknesses.”
Although Petri and the rest of the group are all novices, this is not just fun and games – it’s pretty serious stuff. The group is trained by the Breedt brothers, Jacques and Jaco, who are both former SA Amateur boxing champs. “We teach the Olympic style of boxing,” says Jacques, a strapping figure who, like his brother, has a surprisingly gentle demeanour. The group is training extra hard at the moment, five days a week, in preparation of their first tournament to be held at the Grobbelaar Hall on Saturday 1 July. The Breedt Boxing Tournament will be an opportunity for our local lads to test their mettle against their counterparts from the Cape Fight League (CFL) in Cape Town in three 3-minute rounds.
Our Friday Fight Club ‘boys’ are practicing hard for their first boxing tournament at the Grobbelaar Hall on 1 July. PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner
This event will be a first for the Friday Fight Club and, unsurprisingly, some of them have confessed they are feeling a bit nervous. An encouraging home crowd
The brothers have been ardent boxing fans since childhood and have been working as fitness and self-defence instructors and boxing coaches for many years. Jacques is also a former MMA fighter. The brothers are very pleased with their new premises, courtesy of Adriaan Swart, the owner of CrossFit Hermanus, who offered them space in his gymnasium. “We love the sport and enjoy keeping fit,” says Jaco. “We are keen on sharing our knowledge and experience with others and showing them how they can enjoy a healthier lifestyle.” Everyone is welcome to attend the brothers’ Box Fit classes every Tuesday and Thursday at the CrossFit Gym. Contact Jacques on 076 783 3960 or visit the gym in Arum Street, Hermanus Industria.
GOOD
NEWS NEWS
15
20 June 2017
Caring for your pet when disaster strikes
A
n emergency evacuation plan prepared in advance of flood or fire could save the life of your pet. Put this 10-point action plan into place now and ensure your pet’s long-term safety.
• • • •
My Pet
•
Dr Hilldidge Beer
1. ID your pet Ensure your cats and dogs are wearing collars and identification tags. Identification tags should have your updated phone numbers. EberVet Vetshops can create an ID tag in-store in minutes, while you wait. 2. Have your pets microchipped You have a far greater chance of being reunited with them if they run away. Most veterinary clinics and some animal welfare organisations offer microchipping. It’s a quick and relatively cheap procedure. 3. Check your pet carriers and leads Are the carriers sturdy yet light
enough to carry? Are the leads still in good condition? Are they the right size for your pet? Are they kept in an easily accessible area? Ask the EberVet Vetshop team for advice on the best carrier or lead for your pet. 4. Source a shelter Never assume you’ll be allowed to take your pet to the nearest veterinary clinic or
animal welfare shelter in case of emergency. Before disaster strikes, check with your local clinics and shelters what their emergency services are. Keep a list of emergency numbers on hand, and a typed list together with your pet’s first aid kit. Keep handy a list of animal-friendly hotels or guesthouses outside of your immediate neighbourhood. You may wish to evacuate with your pet.
5. Prepare a first aid kit • Self-cling bandage (bandage that stretches and sticks to itself but not to fur) • Muzzle or strips of cloth to prevent biting (don't use this if your pet is vomiting, choking, coughing or struggling to breathe) • Absorbent gauze pads • Adhesive tape • Antiseptic wipes or ointment • A foil emergency blanket
Cotton swabs, gauze rolls Disposable gloves Blunt-ended scissors Sterile saline solution (sold at pharmacies) Tweezers
6. Keep calming medication on hand There is a wide range of calming medications available from veterinarians or overthe-counter at EberVet Vetshops, like Calmeze for dogs and cats, in beef and salmon flavours so it’s easy to administer, and Nutricalm, a natural remedy. 7. Plan for your pet in case you’re not home Sign up a neighbour or friend who is aware of your Pet Evacuation Plan and can act on your behalf. They must have access to your home. 8. Pack a pet travel kit If you must evacuate you will need to take pet supplies with you. Include 3-7 days’ worth of
food (dry, to be rotated every two months); disposable litter trays (aluminium roasting pans are good); litter; disinfectant; garbage bags; food/water bowls; blankets; medications (keep an eye on use-by dates); toys; bottled water. 9. A water/fireproof container Include photocopies and/or USB of medical records and chronic medicine your pet requires (keep this updated). 10. Designate an emergency room Pick one room in your home, known to the family and to your neighbour or friend in which to store your pet’s emergency kit so it can be accessed immediately. In high stress situations, pets are either forgotten or run away in panic. Plan now and protect them for the future. - Veterinarian Dr Hilldidge Beer is CEO of the EberVet Pet Care Group/EberVet Vetshops
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20 June 2017
Dogs welcome in Fernkloof Reserve
The humans at Hermanus Animal Welfare (HAWS) would have wagged their tails in happiness if they could after Westcliff resident Jan Cilliers donated a computer for them to use. The kind people at local IT company, Maxitec refurbished the computer free of charge. Jurie Steenekamp (left) and Clifford Steyn of Maxitec were delighted to hand over the upgraded PC to Lenke Elferink of HAWS who will be using the PC at the new clinic. PHOTO: Josh Spencer
While there is much debate on whether dogs should be allowed in public areas such as beaches and the Cliff Path the Blue Route and the botanical garden at the Fernkloof Nature Reserve is still open for dogs on leashes.
designated trails, respect the rules, and be considerate of other dog owners and nature reserve users by keeping dogs on-leash and under control at all times. Dog poo must be picked up and binned.
There are roughly 60 kilometres of hiking trails to tackle in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve and the colour-coded paths are all clearly marked. Maps and brochures are available at the visitors’ centre or the Fernkloof Nursery.
Routes Green Route: this 90 minute walk offers beautiful views of Hermanus at the Lemoenkop look-out point. Blue Route: a dog-friendly path that will take approximately 60 minutes. Red Route: in 90 minutes you can traipse through the evergreen forest to the waterfall, which can be more of a water trickle in high summer though.
Dogs are also allowed on the Blue Route, as well as in the botanical garden, as long as they are on leads. Please make sure to keep dogs on
Orange Route: head to the Galpin Hut, here you can spend the night and resume your flower frolicking the next day. It’s the longest of all the routes and will take about 120 minutes. Cliff Path The Cliff Path, running for almost 12 km along the Hermanus coastline from Grotto beach to the New Harbour, is also part of the Fernkloof Nature Reserve. It offers a totally different experience: a level walking surface, mostly wheelchair friendly; coastal-, sea- and land bird watching; whale watching in season and enjoyment of fynbos species which are not found at higher altitudes. Dogs are welcome on the Cliff Path if leashed.
The perils of economic forecasts and how not to worry about them Both locally and internationally investor markets have been volatile with several jolts, from Brexit to our own cabinet reshuffle, adding to the uncertainty. What should investors do in times such as these? Leading portfolio manager Rowan Williams-Short says economic forecasts are sometimes as useful as a chocolate tea pot and they can be hazardous to your investment process. “Long-term investors must be patient –
nobody has found a way to get rich quickly. You must be dispassionate and ignore the noise and hype. Don’t believe that this time is different – you don’t need new products or investment themes to harness good return. When share valuations are low, investor sentiment is likely to be very negative, but this is a good time to buy good shares at a low price,” he says. According to Janet Hugo, director of Sterling Private Clients, investors are indeed
able to position their core investments so as not to worry about economic forecasts. “Now, more than ever, investors need to stick to their long-term financial plans and not switch out of higher-risk investments. It has been shown internationally that investors who switch in and out of investments based on how they read the markets fare far worse than those who remain true to their investments goals,” says
Hermanus based Janet.
more than R24 000.
As an example, she says that from the market peak in early 2008 to its trough about a year later, the Allan Gray Balanced Fund, a multi-asset high-equity fund, lost 29,6% of its value. An investment of R10 000 during that time would have dropped to R7 039. The fund took almost two years to recover its losses. But if the investment of R10 000 was left in place it would now, almost eight years later, have grown to
“If you are nervous about your investment you must remember that downturns are not only a normal part of the market cycle, they are also normally short-lived. Instead of concentrating on the ups and downs of the markets, and fretting about whether you need to do something now, or about what the market will do tomorrow, it makes sense to focus on developing and maintaining a sound investment plan, under
the guidance of a trusted adviser.” Rowan, who has been managing portfolios for more than 28 years in South Africa and the United Kingdom, will share his insights into keeping a cool head in investing on 26 June in Hermanus. The presentation will take place at 16:00 at the Municipal Auditorium. Janet will dissect the issues that Hermanus people face as they invest offshore and locally during economic uncertainty at the presentation.
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QUANTUM COACHWORKS
Some auto body repairs you see – some you don’t
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hen visiting Quantum Coachworks you might wonder if you have inadvertently wandered into a high-tech laboratory or onto the set of a sci-fi movie. Forget about panel beating outfits where damaged cars in various stages of repair are standing around, attended to by grease-smeared panel beaters surrounded by all manner of car parts and equipment. The facilities at Quantum Coachworks are spotlessly clean and have been upgraded to the most exacting standards. Unique features include a drivein quotation bay, a newly-built wash bay with oil trap to prevent contamination of storm water, a newly-installed preparation area with filtration system, a computerised paint laboratory, an insulated and dust-free spray booth designed for environmentally-friendly water-based paints, and a newly-installed vehicle straightener with an electronic laser measuring system. “We are equipped to produce quality work from start to finish for all auto body repairs and spray painting to ensure customer satisfaction,” says proud owner Org May, who took over the business two years ago. “We have taken big steps and I have made a huge business investment in terms of upgrading the facilities, purchasing the latest equipment and providing advanced skills training for my technicians. “We have now achieved all the manufacturer required standards and repair methods to be appointed as an Approved Accident Repair Centre by nine car manufacturers - Chevrolet, Ford, Isuzu, KIA, Mazda, Opel,
Renault, Suzuki and Toyota of SA. The process is ongoing and approval for several more brands of vehicles is in the pipeline.” This means that vehicle owners no longer have to travel over the mountain to have their vehicles repaired. Physical audits were conducted by car manufacturers to ensure all their criteria to conduct auto body repairs and paintwork (refinishing) to vehicles ‘Under Warranty’ are met. Re-audits are conducted yearly to ensure that the stringent required car manufacturer standards are adhered to. Org is a businessman through and through. After 25 years in the corporate environment of an international firm that supplied the auto body repair industry with paint and equipment, he decided it was time to become his own boss. “For the last five years I was the managing director, a position for which I relocated to Cape Town from Pretoria. I was on the look-out for my own business when I visited a friend in Kleinmond and heard that the previous owner of Quantum Coachworks, John Dalhouzie, was thinking of selling. I immediately arranged a meeting, saw the potential and purchased the business.” Quantum Coachworks comprises three main sections – the auto body repair workshop, the preparation bay, and the paint laboratory and spray booth. What distinguishes this business from its competitors includes the following: • Facilities upgraded to the specific specifications as
prescribed by leading car manufacturers • Essential car manufacturers’ approved equipment, automotive paint systems, and regularly trained qualified technicians • Respect for the environment by living up to local laws and legislation • The first and only auto body repair electronic laser measuring system in Hermanus, with advanced technology from the USA that ensures the repair of a vehicle’s undercarriage right back to factory specifications • The first and only environmentally-friendly water-based car paint system that meets international and local environmental legislation, offering a lifetime warranty to the owner and approved by car manufacturers in Hermanus • The first and only wash bay equipped with an oil trap system as per local legislation • The first and only new spray booth with on-site colour matching lab that meets International and local environmental standards. All car paints are mixed and matched on our premises • The first and only dry preparation work stations that enable speedy repairs and ensure that a one or two-day job remains just that • The first and only OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) car factory approved auto body repairer and spray painting business in town • The first and only ‘drive in’ quotation facility in town Find Quantum Coachworks at the Mussel Centre (next to ProActive Gym), 4 Industria Road, Hermanus Industria or call 028 313 2162.
ABOVE: Owner Org May with his admin staff, Karin du Toit, Sybil Uys and Jackie van Wyk. LEFT: Org with qualified spray painter Wayne Klaue in front of the insulated spray booth.
Org in the preparation bay with his technicians. From left are: Jacques Potgieter, Daniël van Rooyen, Jacques van Niekerk, John Window, Steven Gawani, workshop foreman Ben Oosthuizen, Raymond Windvogel, Thoko Malasa, Fundo Mafunga and Org.
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20 June 2017
Helping children to help themselves
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t the PETCO AGM Awards Ceremony on 7 June, White Shark Projects Recycle Swop Shop in Masakhane township in Gansbaai won an award in the ‘Best Recycling Public Education Programme’ category – a welldeserved accolade for the children who manage to collect an average of 15 tonnes of recyclable materials per year. Add that to the grassroots, environmental education the children receive and it equates to an evergreen solution to waste responsibility. The White Shark Projects Recycle Swop Shop is an empowerment initiative for children in the Masakhane community which has been operating since 2009. It aims to teach children about the benefits of recycling and keeping their community clean, and to encourage them to take the initiative by rewarding that effort. The Swop Shop is a well-oiled recycling collection machine which operates on Tuesday afternoons. The children bring bags of tins, bottles, plastics and other recyclable litter from the streets to the Swop Shop, which opens at 14:00. Long before that time the children are already gathering in lines with their recyclables in bags and even in wheelbarrows.
In return for these recyclable items, they receive points relating to the quantity of recyclables they collected, and these points are then swopped for goods in the shop. The Swop Shop is stocked with school supplies, toiletries, second-hand clothing and some toys. PETCO is the trading name of the PET Recycling Company NPC, established in 2004 with the specific objective of improving the management and recycling of postconsumer PET products, in order to minimise its impact on the environment. PET is the acronym for a very versatile and sophisticated plastic called Polyethylene Terephthalate, which is used to make the plastic bottles and packaging most commonly used for soft drinks, bottled water, juice, milk, food tubs and trays, and household, personal care and pharmaceutical products. In 2016, it was estimated that 56 million tonnes of PET is produced each year. That is an unimaginable amount of plastic, most of which is only used once and then discarded, often not very responsibly. PETCO congratulated White Shark Projects for teaching the
Cheri Scholtz (CEO PETCO) with Charmaine Beukes (Managing Director, White Shark Projects) and Nellie Moolman (Manager, WSP Recycle Swop Shop) after receiving the PET award for ‘Best Recycling Public Education Programme’. children of Masakhane the value of recycling PET products and for running and growing their Recycle Swop Shop since its inception nine years ago. On winning the award Charmaine Beukes said: “We could not do this without the hard work and dedication of Nellie Moolman who runs the project, our White Shark Projects team and all the
volunteers who are always willing to help. “And the real stars of course, the children from Masakhane, Gansbaai who are so diligent in collecting and bringing recyclables to us. Once more, they teach all of us that our waste is our responsibility, regardless of our age or socioeconomic status.”
The concept of the Recycle Swop Shop originated 14 years ago in Hermanus with Marilyn and Jan van der Velde, who run the Zoete Inval Traveller’s Lodge. Since then, several Recycle Swop Shops have been established all over the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, and as far afield as Bloemfontein and Kakamas. The Hermanus Swop Shop, which opened in 2003, operates on Wednesday afternoons at the Hou Moed Centre in Zwelihle and is managed by Narina Howard. Anyone who would like to support her dedication to helping children to help themselves, can contact Narina on 082 339 5768 or 028 312 1242 or send an email to swopshop@hermanus.co.za Contact the Masekhane Swop Shop on 028 384 1774 or email charmaine@whitesharkprojects.co.za
To advertise in The Village NEWS, contact Rina de Wet on
083 604 0808
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Big money earners in the sports arena
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onversation among sports enthusiasts often relates to prize money and bonuses earned by athletes in the various sporting disciplines. A current topic is: "What did Rafa Nadal earn for winning the French Open?" Well, both he and the ladies' champion, Jelena Ostapenka, took home a tidy 2 million euros (around R30M) each, while the runners-up purse amounted to 1 million euros (around R15M) each. Not a shabby return for two weeks work! Admittedly, this comes after many hours of training and a lot of mental and physical pressure during the tournament itself. An athlete's earnings are broken down into two distinct categories: Salary and endorsements. Salary includes earnings derived from play on the field, court, track, ring or course, including prize money and bonuses. Endorsements include any money made off field. It includes appearance fees, sponsorships and any other income made while not directly engaging in the sport. According to FORBES, the 100 highest paid athletes of 2016
My Sport
2. Lionel Messi ($81M) Soccer 3. Lebron James ($77M) Basketball 4. Roger Federer ($68M) Tennis 5. Kevin Durant ($56M) Basketball Other notables in the top 25 (position and money) are: (6) Djokovic $55M, (8) Mickelson $53M, (9) Spieth $52M, (11) Hamilton $46M, (12) Woods $45M, (16) Mayweather $44M, (17) McIlroy $42M, (19) Vettel $41M, (21 tied) Neymar $37M, (21 tied) Nadal $37M, (24) Alonso $36M, (25) Bale$35M.
By Tony O’Hagan earned a cumulative $3.5 billion, with the top 25 accounting for $1.25 billion. These 25 represent seven sports, including six from American football, five from soccer, four golfers and three athletes each from basketball, tennis and motor racing. One boxer rounds off the top 25. FORBES lists the top 5 earners for 2016 as follows: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo ($88M) Soccer
2016 was the first year since 2001 that someone other than Tiger Woods or Floyd Mayweather was ranked No 1 in earnings. Woods, Federer and Mayweather made the vast majority of their earnings in 2016 from ”endorsements” as opposed to “salary”. In other words, off field activities. Other than their skills in their chosen sport, what separates these top athletes from the others is their mental strength and Big Match Temperament” or BMT as it is commonly referred to. This equates to ‘’Big Bucks” as reflected above.
Hermanus Netball on track to defend title The Hermanus Netball team is again unbeaten this season and after having won the 2016 Overberg Super League, the signs are positive for a successful title defense. The club does not have its own facility in Hermanus and all matches are played in Caledon, who are probably their strongest rivals in the competition. Last year’s win was all the more noteworthy as it was
the Hermanus team’s first year of super league competition. This year the club has entered a second team in the Overberg lower leagues and they are also performing admirably in their first season, having won four of their five matches to date. Team practices take place at Curro School on Thursday
evenings and there are many who pitch up to enjoy the outing and are not necessary available for league teams. For those wishing to join the club, contact can be made via Club President Elsabé Henn on 076 155 9020. Let's hope the envisaged Hermanus Sports Centre will soon offer a facility for our netball girls and a home base for the club.
GOING TO THE US Miguel Boshoff (left), Shihan Ruehan van Romburgh and Tiaan van der Westhuizen will be representing South Africa at the US Open Martial Arts Tournament in Orlando, Florida, from 30 June to 1 July. The tournament is the biggest martial arts championship in the world with some 6 000 competitors from all over the world taking part. The event will also be broadcast on ESPN. The trio from Hermanus will participate in both karate and kickboxing events.
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Schools RUGBY GIRLS Maxene Valentine (left), Jaiden Dickson and Rineez Ali of Hermanus High School were selected to play in the Boland U18 Girls rugby team. They were chosen after taking part in several trials and a match against the Western Province team. The Boland team will participate in the South African Rugby Union (SARU) National Week from 2 to 7 June in Welkom. Maxene was selected for both the 2015 and 2016 Boland teams.
GIVING TO THE NEEDY The foundation phase of Curro Hermanus held their annual Pajama Day on Friday 9 June. On this day the learners wear their pajamas to school and spend the day focusing on helping others who are less fortunate. The learners all collected stationery which was then put into beautiful packs by the Gr 1 learners. This stationery is to be donated to Jongensklip Primary School in Caledon. The Gr 2 learners visited Huis Lettie Theron where they entertained the residents. The Gr 3 learners spent the morning making sandwiches which were then handed out to the needy.
MATH FUNDY Jean Weight of Curro Hermanus won gold and an overall 8th place at the UCT Math Olympics. A hundred and seventy schools took part in June. The competition, established in 1977, is an annual event for high schools in the Western Cape, held on the University of Cape Town campus. About 7 000 high school students from 400 schools participate in the competition each year.
SQUASH CHAMPIONS Migan (left), Karo and Breyten Beets were selected to play in the Boland squash teams at the South African Inter Provincial Tournament from 1 to 4 July. The 17-year-old Migan is ranked 4th in die U19 boys team while Karo is not only ranked 1st in the U14 girls team but also ranked joint 1st in South Africa. Karo won the Boland, Western Province, Bloemfontein and Paarl Open Tournaments where she did not concede one set. Breyten, who was selected for the Boland team for the second time, is ranked 10th in the U16 boys team.
NEW SCHOOL UNIFORMS Bertus van Zyl, the recently appointed Administrative Head of the Hermanus Waldorf School, joined Delight Tembo (left) and Thomas Hlomai in showing off the school’s new uniform.