The Village News 23 May 2017

Village

NEWS NEWS The

23 May 2017

Cape Whale Coast

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Supplement inside PUSH!!! Hermanus High held its annual go-cart race on 19 May. Bigger and better than before, the day put a smile on the faces of all who attended, old and young. This year the event was started off with a ‘Pie-in-the-Face’ competition where the lucky draw winners could throw a pie in a chosen teacher’s (or headmaster’s) face! This year’s winners of both the dances and the races were the Gr12A class.

(See more photos on the Facebook pages of Hermanus High and The Village News).

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer, Titanium Photography

Sport Centre set to receive a boost De Waal Steyn

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he Hermanus Sport Centre (HSC) is set to receive a huge boost, with Council expected to approve a payment of R7,6 million this week to complete the construction of the centre that was started in 2012.

According to the Municipality the money will be used to move the tennis and squash courts and to complete the clubhouse.

The current tennis and squash courts next to the Municipality

are in dire need of an upgrade that will cost in excess of R400 000.

The money for the construction of the HSC has become available after the sale of the piece of land commonly known as the ‘circus grounds’ near the Gateway Centre to Builders Express. The tender for the sale amounted to R22,8 million. This is R6,1 million more than the tendered value of R16,7 million.

“With the money we are set to receive from the Municipality, together with funds that

we will raise ourselves, the HSC will boast 6 tennis courts, 4 squash courts and a clubhouse,” says Tony O’Hagan, chair of the HSC committee.

the end of 2011, but with the sale of the Sandbaai Commonage falling through, the funds dried up and construction had to be halted.

The idea of establishing a sport centre next to Hermanus High School has been on the cards for more than a decade. In 2012 the Council took the decision to allocate R6,5 million towards the establishment of the sport centre. Initially the funding would have been derived from the sale of the Sandbaai Commonage.

In March 2014 Council decided to grant a further R400 000 in order to prevent structural damage due to the non-completion of the building.

Basic construction started at

According to the report that will serve before Council on Wednesday, four years have passed since the initial decision to allocate R6,5 million towards the construction of

the HSC and the relocation of the tennis and squash courts.

The delay has made the pledge outdated due to escalations in building costs.

Therefore the amount needs to be escalated to R7,6 million.

“The current construction costs for the tennis and squash courts and the clubhouse amount to R9 million. The amount allocated is less than the construction costs but it is foreseen that the HSC committee will be able to source alternative funding to complete the project,” states

the Municipality.

The plans for the HSC also include the construction of netball fields, a dance hall, a clubhouse with food courts, gym, indoor swimming pool, a rehabilitation/medical centre, an indoor cricket court, cloakrooms and ablution blocks, a bicycle track, skateboard park, volleyball courts, an outdoor amphitheatre, an outdoor water polo pool and parking for cars and busses.

An Astroturf hockey field has already been completed by the High School at the centre.

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23 May 2017

FynArts puts a spring in our winter step Much has been said in the last few years about the changes in the tourist season on the Cape Whale Coast.

Editorial Comment

For many decades May, June and July were dreaded by business owners as winter with its rainy days sets in and customers dry up. It has been a custom with many businesses in town, especially those dependent on tourist trade, to close their doors for a few weeks during this time.

By De Waal Steyn

But this trend has started to change and with more and more events and attractions on our shores there is now a constant flow of feet all

through the year. Business owners say that they can still feel the impact of the winter season on their bottom line but more money flows through the economy than has been the norm.

With the establishment of FynArts five years ago the stage was set to create a winter event in Hermanus that will draw visitors from far and wide. The festival has grown

not only in attendance and content but also in stature.

As the only arts event that includes a winter school there is an abundance of talks, demonstrations, exhibitions and shows to enjoy. This year has already seen more tickets sold than any of the previous years as well as an extension in the number of activities.

Accommodation establishments have already seen an increase in the number of bookings during FynArts and wine farms and restauranteurs alike are expecting good trade during the festival. Although most of the support still comes from

Letters and opinions Sculpture is point of discussion Yay for Johann du Plessis (Monstrous "Sonar Sound" sculpture - 9 May 2017.) He has got us thinking about/talking about/writing about ART in Hermanus.

The response by our Fynarts Director was measured and helpful - and even if you think the work looks like a skottelbraai, you now know

that it is not in the Old Harbour forever. Many of the Gearings Point sculptures are easier on the eye and clearer in intent - and even these have their detractors.That's art for you. Let's just be happy that the artist was Richard John Forbes and not Marcel Duchamp with his "Fountain."

Patrick Chapman

Joburg Ballet brought joy and inspiration On behalf of the SANTA Committee who brought The Joburg Ballet to Hermanus I would like to thank the Hermanus public who turned out and supported our major fundraising event, Beating TB with Ballet.

We managed three packed houses, a well-attended Master Class, enjoyed by aspiring young ballerinas of Hermanus and surrounding towns, and an uplifting Outreach Performance,

enjoyed by many children and pensioners, who otherwise would perhaps never have experienced such a show.

Our thanks to Hermanus Tourism for selling tickets, and the biggest thanks to the wonderful Joburg Ballet.

To Iain McDonald and his company: We are in awe of you – what a performance!

Sue Holmes Chair, SANTA Hermanus

‘across the mountain’ there is a slow but steady increase in the number of national and international festivalgoers.

Apart from the ten days that the festival runs it also leaves the sculptures on the cliffs for a year. This has fast become a major tourist attraction for Hermanus and people can be seen year-round visiting the sculptures and taking pictures.

The organisers need to be congratulated on their hard work and efforts that have established the Cape Whale Coast as a premier art destination.

This is the Good NEWS – ED

Send your letter to news@thehermanusnews.co.za Follow us on

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Frustration of vehicle registration continues Like John Truswell (Traffic Department needs a ‘shake up’, The Village NEWS, 9 May 2017), I also had a frustrating day at the Traffic Department to obtain a certificate of registration for my wife. She had bought a car from an English visitor and to ensure that there would be no hitches, the seller and I went to the Department where we asked the lady at the information desk for all the relevant forms.

On 8 May when I handed them in, with my wife's letter of authorisation, I was told that the Fica form must still be completed. I asked to see the

information lady to explain why she had not given me the form, but I was told she was on maternity leave. Returning in the afternoon, armed with the Fica form and another letter from my wife, authorising me to hand it in, I was told by another lady at the counter that the letter authorising me to collect the certificate was inadequate.

I replied that she was being unduly technical and that I would not leave without the certificate. She decided to see her supervisor who, according to her, confirmed that the letter was not properly worded. At this stage, sensing

my frustration and fury, the other lady at the counter winked at me to come over to her and without any fuss or bother issued the certificate.

She had, after all, confirmed earlier that morning that all the documentation, including my wife's letter, was in order.

Surely the Department could provide standard letters of authorisation which would not be subject to the arbitrary scrutiny of certain staff members who seem to derive some perverse pleasure in rejecting letters not worded to their satisfaction.

Izak Kenney Hermanus Heights

Licence renewal made easy online One can only sympathise with your reader who suffered from the outrageous bureaucracy at the Traffic Department when trying to renew a car licence (Traffic Department needs a ‘shake up’, The Village NEWS, 9 May 2017).

However, there is a notice on the outside of the offices giving a telephone number and the banking details of the Department. I noticed these when I left the offices disgusted at the length of the queues.

On telephoning the number, which was eventually answered, I was asked for the vehicle registration, and was informed of the amount required, and to make an Internet payment of that amount to the bank account shown. The licence could then be collected in 48 hours and Proof of Payment would be required.

If one is fortunate enough to be able to carry out banking transactions in this manner the process is simple and easy,

once you have located the particular licence officer who has your licence ready. This whole thing can be declared useless of course, if, when asked, you fail to have the correct wording in an authorisation letter when attempting to assist your spouse.

The telephone and banking details are: 028 313 8031 a/c no. 3220000035 Branch 632005 Gerry Cassidy Onrus River

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23 May 2017

Grysbokke old but not cold on the greens

ON A PAR The Grysbokke are (standing from left to right) Jem Sechiari, Mik Long, David Botha, Dave Martheze, Bryan Taylor, Boet Venter, Peter van Niekerk, Ian Johnston, Beefy Barlow, Bob Ferguson, Jacko Jackson, Mike Muller, Peter Coxall, Willy Vanderhoeven, J.D. Filmalter.

Kneeling are the hole-in-one players: Alan Butler, Peter Wisniewski, Jim Tyley, Fred Garrett, Clyde Manson, and Johan Koekemoer. Hole-inone bokkies who were out grazing and missed the photo shoot are: Colin Woodhatch, Reinhard Zeisner, Patti Smith and John Rhodes.

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he Hermanus Golf Club (HGC) enjoys an excellent reputation in South Africa, which is well deserved. The club has a beautiful setting, the course is challenging but fair and the club is well run under the diligent presence of manager Sharon Sleigh.

Within the members ranks there are several small groups that play on various days of the week. There include the Platinums, the Wah Wahs’, the Saints, The Dan and Wans etc. Kleinmond is known to host the DOGS group, a motley assortment of mischievous Terriers and friendly Labradors with the odd portly Bulldog thrown in. They are well known for their charitable donations.

These groups have four things in common: They play golf to test their skills, they enjoy the camaradery and banter, being experienced they enjoy senior status and to escape household chores.

Now, at the HGC there exists an eclectic group of veteran golfers known as the Grysbokke. They have gathered from all over the world... more than 50 golfers representing about 11 different countries, led by the über efficient Willy Vander-

Interesting facts:

• An amateur golfer's chance of a hole-in-one is 12,500 to 1 • 150 000 holes-in-one are scored annually from some 490 million rounds • Professional golfer Mancil Davis was dubbed the “King of Aces”. He scored 51 holes-in-one in his career, 8 of them in a single year • Tiger Woods scored his first hole-in-one at age 6 SOURCE: golfdigest.com

hoeven, who can communicate with all these nationalities in their home language! He is ably assisted by Mr. Geniality – one Beefy Barlow and the most supple octogenarian in Hermanus, Jacko Jackson. The Grysbokke are also renowned for their choir, and can be heard heartily singing their golfing songs after their quarterly luncheons.

So, standing on the first tee waiting your turn to tee off, it is like the United Nations have come to Hermanus – just friendlier and more relaxed. The golf swings may be unique but they all have the same aim – to get that little ball in the hole. To that end the Grysbokke have, over the last 9

years recorded 13 holes-in-one.

only 6 years is a remarkable achievement.

The stand out performer though is former Nuclear Submarine Commander Peter Wisniewski who has brought great honour to the group by establishing a world golf record.

It happened like this: Most amateur competitive golf is in the format of stableford points – where the worst the player can do is to score 0 points on any given hole. (The average score is 2 points). Peter contrived to score 17 holes with zero points and on one hole (the 24th at HGC) he hit the perfect shot and was rewarded with a hole-inone, which gave him 6 points and that was the sum total for his individual stableford round.

They were scored by: Colin Woodhatch (9th hole on 6/2/2008), Reinhard Zeisner (24th hole on 26/2/2010), Alan Butler (4th hole on 31/12/2010), Patty Smith (4th hole on 30/9/2011), Peter Wisniewski (24th hole on 18/2/2013), Alan Butler (21st hole on 25/10/2013), Fred Garrett (16th hole on 26/7/2010), Johan Koekemoer (4th hole on 25/8/2014), Jim Tyley (9th hole on 4/1/2014), Peter Coxall (21st hole on 8/1/2016), Alan Butler (21st hole on 6/5/2016), John Rhodes (9th hole on 23/3/2017) and Clyde Manson (4th hole on 21/4/2017).

As in life, golf has a way of teaching us important lessons. The Grysbokke do try to play by the old golf credo - Let not winning be your only aim. It also matters how you play the game.

Alan Butler’s three holes-in-one in

- Clyde Manson

And that dear reader has never been bettered anywhere in the world!

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23 May 2017

Shining the spotlight on corruption

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he poet CJ Langenhoven said if a dog has bitten you once, all it needs to do is to bark to achieve the same result in future.”

Report back from Voëlklip Neighbourhood Watch April was a busy month for SAPS Hermanus due to the holidays and the extra people it brings into our community.

That is what Gerrie Nel, wellknown former state advocate, would like to achieve as the newly appointed private prosecutor of AfriForum.

According to the Voëlklip Neighbourhood Watch, SAPS Hermanus arrested a drug dealer from Cape Town who was operating in Eastcliff.

“We need to have equality before the law. No matter who you are or what you have done, you must know that if you break the law you will be prosecuted and sentenced,” he said to a packed hall in Sandbaai.

Nel said that the establishment of a private prosecutions office in South Africa will shine the spotlight on both national and local cases of corruption and it is his hope that all South Africans will become aware of corruption around them.

Crime: Successes and challenges

Thomas and Elmarie van Dalen of AfriForum Overstrand with newly appointed private prosecutor Gerrie Nel and assistant coordinator Juhandré van Zyl at the Sandbaai Hall. parallel prosecutions,” he said.

“How many times have you stood next to a braai on a weekend where someone tells of his lucky escape when he paid a corrupt traffic official a few rand not to fine him. That is not a lucky escape, that is corruption. We need to have the moral fibre to say no to corruption and crime.”

“I have the highest regard for the NPA and we will not compete with them to institute prosecutions. As private prosecution is still in its infancy there is a lot of work that needs to be done before we start. It is also a very expensive exercise as we need to guarantee the legal costs for whoever we decide to prosecute in case we lose the case. This can run into millions of rands so we need to be very sure of our case,” says Nel.

Nel, probably best known for his prosecution of former Police Chief Jackie Selebi and Olympian athlete Oscar Pistorius, will be breaking new legal ground as the only private prosecutor in the world.

“By doing private prosecutions we will be striving to make a difference in the lives of people who are suffering because of crimes such as corruption.

People need to remember that we will only institute private prosecutions after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has decided not to prosecute a specific matter. We will not do

Nel emphasised there is no political agenda in his role as private prosecutor for AfriForum. “Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, gave me a clear mandate to create this office as well as carte blanche in what prosecutions I decide to do. As a matter of fact, with the amount of money in the balance and with the importance of what we are doing there is no room for an agenda. It is a simple process: we will prosecute those who are corrupt and ensure that they are brought to justice.

There needs to be pre-

dictability in our law – if you break it you will be competently investigated, you will be competently prosecuted, you will be competently sentenced and you will serve a sentence for your crimes.”

Nel said that contrary to some who believe that corruption is a victimless crime, he believes it touches each and every one of us. It is especially at a local level in municipalities where corruption has the biggest impact at the moment. It is the residents in town who sit without water or electricity that are hardest hit due to corruption.

prosecutions. One of them is receiving a nolle prosequi certificate from the NPA stating that they will not be prosecuting a specific case.

After we have received the certificate we will have three months in which to institute proceedings. So the timewindow is very small and all the work needs to be done beforehand. At any time during our prosecution the NPA also has the right to change its mind and take over the prosecution. Therefore we will not be making any public announcements before we start with legal proceedings.”

Nel said he will not make any information public about the cases he intends to prosecute.

AfriForum in the Overstrand has more than 1 000 members and has been instrumental in setting up three neighbourhood watches in Hermanus and six in Gansbaai.

They have sponsored equipment of more than R60 000 for neighbourhood watches in the area, including the first digital radios in the country.

“There are processes that need to be followed before we can institute private

For more information, call Elmarie van Dalen on 079 366 1000.

“Although there is corruption at very high government levels that needs to be investigated and prosecuted I will start my prosecutions at local level. This is where we will have a positive impact.”

“This was an intelligence driven operation and SAPS thanked the community for their assistance. A total of 1 000 mandrax pills and tik with a black market value of over R75 000 as well as a vehicle were confiscated,” reads the newsletter.

SAPS also engaged with farmers in the Hemel-andAarde Valley, where a group of youngsters were involved in housebreakings, causing damage and terrorising the community. They arrested three youths, with an average age of 13, and, working with the Department of Social Development (Welfare), these youngsters have all been placed on diversion programmes.

Cable theft leave residents in the dark A botched attempt to steal electricity cables left Meer-enBosch, Flamingo Bay and Sandown Bay residents in the dark on Tuesday evening, 16 May and most part of Wednesday, 17 May. Overstrand Municipality's Electricity Department worked tirelessly to re-instate the power after the issue was logged.

Vandalism of electrical infrastructure and cables theft, including meter tampering, bypassing and illegal connections, have a serious impact on the municipality’s budget for service delivery – particularly the electrification of areas that do not have access to it.

“It is money thrown down the drain - instead of taking the services to informal settlements where it is needed the most, and improving on the current electrical infrastructure, the municipality spends huge amounts of money and man-hours on overtime attempting to replace stolen cables across the Overstrand,” explained Stephen Müller, Director of Infrastructure and Planning.

Although the number of housebreakings has decreased, there is still concern about activity in Voëlklip and Sandbaai and the SAPS appeals to the community to be vigilant.

“We continue to encourage the community to assist us with dealing with these issues by reporting these incidents to the police,” Müller added.

An awareness campaign, planned for the near future, will aim to sensitise residents of Voëlklip to be aware of crime in the Voëlklip area and to encourage them to lock up securely and arm their alarms at night. The campaign will be escalated to other areas as needs become apparent.

Community members are also urged to report any occurrences of illegal connections, or vandalism to street lights and electrical boxes, to the Overstrand control room on 028 313 8000/8111.

For day-to-day law enforcement complaints, phone 028 313 8980.

Slippery Slope of Senseless Shopping Mary Hancock from Stanford was so fed up that she emailed the Duck ’n Fiddle’s Consumers against Corruption (CAC) inbox, demanding drastic action against certain marketing practices.

Wit’s End

“Dear CAC,” she wrote, “I demand drastic action against unscrupulous marketing practices, and CAC seems the only militant outlet left.”

Hardly a militant outfit, I sucked in a deep breath, clenched teeth and buns, and read on in trepidation. Some letters require medical or legal intervention.

“This fancy bread company claims ‘More Slices’ on the plastic,” she ewailed (online rant), “but they’ve just made the loaf narrower, to make those extra slices. And then they charge more. They should go to prison for

bigger air bubbles held together by a thin layer of dough. This means I have to eat many more slices than normal, so I swallow more air.

A lot more air. As a result my output levels have increased to the point where my husband of forty years now sleeps in the spare room. Can I sue somebody for excessive wind?”

Pansy Visser from Pearly Gates retirement home also had a problem with the ‘fluffy’ bread they’re served at lunch.

Murray Stewart deceit!” I sensed she was upset.

“And another bread company,” she continued, “claims their bread is softer, ‘fluffier’, which actually means there’s less bread. There are just more and

“The slices are so light and fluffy these days, it’s difficult to tell if you’ve actually taken a bite or not,” she wrote. “Most of us now remove our teeth when eating the bread so we can at least feel something in our mouths.”

This worked well apparently, until big Oom Fanie, deep into

his eighties, was rushed to the clinic, complaining that his head had expanded and convinced he was on the way out. His teeth were literally rattling around in his head.

Turns out the waitress - while clearing plates - had switched his falsies with petite Tannie Bekkie’s, as a joke. Now Bekkie, as you’ll appreciate, was also convinced the end was nigh because she thought her skull had shrunk when she tried to insert Oom Fanie’s snappers.

Joe Hall from Kleinmont was equally frustrated by misleading advertising.

“The bold letters on the dogfood packet claim NEW – BETTER TASTE! How do they know it tastes better and who on earth tests it?” he questioned. “I tried various brands and they all tasted fine.

Boknaai, my farm dog, who can’t read the packaging, didn’t turn his nose up at any of them either, so how can they charge more for unsubstantiated claims?”

“The waitress was scolded,” concluded Pansy, “but now we keep our teeth in our pockets at lunch – just in case.”

He went on to say that they both preferred the Oxtail though, and thought everyone should know.

These types of life-changing predicaments arrive in the CAC inbox regularly, and it’s essential that the public is made aware of the damage false marketing can do.

Another ewailer to CAC, Bevis Crumb, was incensed by the wastage in the packaging of some products. “The top third of any breakfast cereal box is empty,” he observed. “This to make you think you’re getting

more, but they’re just wasting cardboard, which comes from trees. Now, I’m personally scared of trees, but there are carpenters out there who aren’t. They could easily make classrooms or clinics from those trees wasted on creating empty spaces.” He didn’t expand on his arbor phobia, but some trees are pretty frightening, which is probably why willows weep and others pine, he suggested.

Mary Huff asks why sick people have to walk to the back of the store for a prescription while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front?

Well these are just a few of the complaints I’ve managed to cover this time, but at least we’ve learned a few tips. Stay clear of trees, drink antiflatulence potions and keep your teeth in your pocket at lunch.

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23 May 2017

‘What a hoot’ – Hermanus loves penguins

ith 1 480 hoots from passing motorists on the stretch between Hermanus and Kleinmond, the Waddle for a Week campaign broke the record for the most pro-penguin hoots in a day ever on their 6-day long journey from Gansbaai to Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town.

The campaign, now in its seventh year, is run by African penguin conservation initiative Penguin Promises, the Two Oceans Aquarium and the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR), and is sponsored by Old Mutual Finance.

The motivation behind this worthy cause is to draw the public’s attention to the practical steps that can be taken to protect the fastdwindling numbers of the endangered African penguin on the South African coast.

According to the Penguin Promises blog, penguins are an indicator species, meaning that their decline is a result of damage to the entire ecosystem and that making changes that are good for penguins will be good for other animals too, including humans.

Before they kicked off their 125 km long journey on 8 May, the Penguin Waddlers visited the African Penguin and

The owner of bookmark, Corinne Hendry, shows her support for the African Penguins.

Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) in Gansbaai. APSS is dedicated to protecting the seabird species of Dyer Island and plays a significant role in the preservation and rehabilitation of the African penguin at their centre. The Waddlers also visited the Stony Point African penguin colony in Betty’s Bay along the way.

In Hermanus, the group received an enthusiastic welcome from Corinne Hendry, owner of bookmark.

“After contacting the group, we felt very motivated to promote the plight of the African penguin and its falling numbers. We did a special window display highlighting the promises we can make to help the penguins. Their placards "HOOT for penguins" certainly worked, as we heard many vehicles hoot as the group came along the Main Road.

“As there is a colony of African penguins virtually on our doorstep, I believe we can increase awareness of the

problems facing the penguins.... and the Promises for Penguins campaign doesn't even ask for money,” she added.

Besides raising awareness, the Waddlers also wanted to inspire people along the way to make a "Penguin Promise" a small lifestyle change that will make a big positive impact on the state of our oceans.

Penguin promises include: • Use of energy-efficient light bulbs

The Penguin Waddlers take a break at bookmark • Separation of household garbage for easy recycling • Use of water-saving showerheads • Purchase of local rather than carbon-heavy imported goods • Saying “no” to plastic drinking straws • Consumption of less meat

• Need to not litter and to pick up litter where you see it • Eating of only sustainable seafood • Banning of single-use plastic from your home For more information, visit the website www.penguinpromises.com.

Baboon project underway A plan that was more than a year in the making after a proposal by Human Wildlife Solutions (HWS) was unanimously agreed upon at a Ward 3 meeting last year, came to fruition last week when two baboons were collared and tagged.

The HWS team will return this week to assist with the first exercise.

The project aims to create a “virtual fence” to keep baboons out of town. The Fernkloof troop has been terrorising residents for many years, despite several attempts ranging from fencing to

baboon monitors and even shooting them with paintball guns.

According to Ziggy Rode from HWS, the idea behind the scheme is to create both “a virtual fence on the urban edge and a landscape of fear for the baboons”.

“We create this environment by collaring both the dominant male and female of the troop. With the collars we will be able to track the movements of the troop via cell phones. If they get too close to town, sound boxes are deployed to scare them

away. The sound boxes play amongst others, predator calls and alarms, and make use of ‘bear bangers’, a small pyrotechnic device that makes a loud bang.”

In this way a “virtual boundary” is created and the baboons will accept that town is a potentially dangerous place where they dare not venture.

More volunteers are needed to assist with this project and willing individuals are welcome to contact ward councillor Kari Brice at karibrice@hermanus.co.za.

FOCUS ON WASTE Overstrand Municipality recently hosted a puppet show for local primary school learners called ‘The Litter Queen’. The production, based on a Grade 3 prescribed reading book, was brought to life by the highly acclaimed theatre group The Story Team. Its focus was on waste, its effect on the environment and how to dispose of it responsibly. Readers can book tickets for the Afrikaans version of the show, ‘Die Rommelkoningin’, that will be part of the line up at the Hermanus FynArts Festival on 10 June. Alternatively, English-speaking theatre-goers can book tickets for ‘The Litter Queen’ on 17 June. Tickets available on www.webtickets.co.za.

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23 May 2017

Enjoy benefits by joining Hermanus Business Chamber The Hermanus Business Chamber’s networking session at the Municipal Banquet Hall between 18:00 and 19:00 on Wednesday 24 May will go ahead as planned, but without the interactive meeting with the Mayoral Committee.

Chris van Rooyen (left) and Sylvia Malinowski (right) with four of the local business owners who received their Business Gym certificates: Hanri Vermeulen of Allure Hair Couture, Berenice Auret of the Flower Scene, Cornel Janse van Vuuren of RealNet Hermanus, and Heidri Saayman of 7 on Marine Guesthouse.

Fitness training for local businesses

H

ow fit is your business?

Do you own your business or does your business own you? What are the mistakes that are common to business start-ups that fail?

If you are a business owner and you are not sure about the answers to these questions, it might be time to call on the Business Gym for a workout.

Sylvia Malinowski and Chris van Rooyen have made it their mission to empower small and medium businesses by offering training to improve their marketing and business management skills.

The duo recently did a presentation at the Mission’s House Gallery in Onrus, where they also congratulated and handed out certificates to four of the local Hermanus business owners who completed a twomonth training course.

“Just like physical training, The Business Gym feeds you healthy insights and also holds you accountable to a weekly business workout,” explained Sylvia, a certified public

relations and wealth dynamics flow consultant.

“It really is a fitness programme for your business, exercising productive tasks, business intelligence and boardroom accountability.”

The Business Gym facilitates affordable interactive group coaching and training courses based on the MyBusiness Workout mentorship programme, which is designed to shape up and maximise your business growth - it's like having a personal trainer for your business, with like-minded business owners in support.

The Business Gym offers three unique MyBusinessWorkout training programmes: The primary course is Small Business MBO (Marketing & Business Optimisation); and the two specialist courses are Starting your Business (startup programme) and Marketing your Business (how to attract new clients).

Each course comprises 8 modules presented over a

According to Chamber CEO Alta Pretorius, she has been notified that the Overstrand Mayoral Committee has to be present at the Beaufort West by-election on Wednesday.

“Instead, we’ll have one of our joyous networking sessions where people intermingle and tell one another about their business. This is an excellent marketing opportunity for local businesses, all of which

are welcome to exhibit their products, brochures and business cards on the tables provided in the Banquet Hall.

They are also welcome to bring a prize for the Lucky Draw – at our last networking session almost everybody went home with a gift.”

“The membership fee for larger companies is R900 p.a. (R75 p.m.),” says Alta. “Remember it’s also deductible from income tax as a business expense, so in the end it’s costing you nothing and you get all the benefits.”

“Those attending the session will also be able to find out how they can get 2,5% discount on their purchases when shopping online at Pick n Pay – plus they’ll have 30 days to settle their account.

This is an exclusive offer to our members and in order to qualify, all you need to do is join the Hermanus Business Chamber at only R450 per annum (R37 per month) if you

The cost of attending the networking session is R100 pp, payable at the venue, and includes refreshments. For catering purposes, please book in advance by contacting Alta on 028 315 1619 or email ceo@hermanuschamber.co.za.

For those who would like to join the chamber, the membership application form can be found at www.hermanuschamber.co.za

have five employees or less.

period of 2 months.

Sylvia has a diverse business background. She has a degree in Psychology, has worked in Public Relations, has run the Cape Business Connect successfully for 12 years and has dedicated her life to helping business owners in the greater Boland and Cape Town region.

Partner Chris van Rooyen is an advertising and marketing practitioner and facilitator who has spent 35 years in the corporate industry.

The next Business MBO course starts on 31 May and seats are limited. This course will show you how to optimise your business in key areas: Effective marketing, future strategy, financial structure, business systems, productivity and equity. It is ideal for new or growing businesses.

As an exclusive offer to The Village NEWS readers, quote the Business Gym advert on this page and get 10% off! To book your seat, contact chris@thebusinessgym.co.za

TOP ACHIEVER Ford Hermanus was awarded first place nationally for best sales service by a Ford dealership as rated by customers. “We were completely astounded and did not expect it at all. Customers from all over the country were asked to rate the sales service they received and we received the best reviews of all of them. We are extremely proud of our achievement and it is a reflection not only of our way of doing business but also of the community we serve,” says Wikus Niemand, co-owner of Ford Hermanus. Wikus, co-owner Tank Coetzee and sales representatives Ryno Steyn and Debbie Taljaard (pictured above) were overjoyed with the trophy they received. Pictured below are Tank and Wikus at the site of their new preowned dealership that will open its doors at the beginning of June. According to them there is a significant market for pre-owned vehicles in the Overstrand and the sector is set for sustained growth in the future.

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7 NEWS NEWS The boom years when abalone equalled adventure

A

t about the same time that the New Harbour came into operation in 1952, over-fishing by boats and trawlers from outside our area drastically reduced the catches of fish. The trawlers removed hundreds of tons of silver fish (called ‘doppies’ by the fishermen) which were the food source for larger fish which obviously then left the area.

In the 1950s and 1960s an alternative catch was found – perlemoen or abalone, as the rest of the world knows it.

Perlemoen had long been part of the local diet and, though there are no records to prove this, a small quantity may have been transported inland and sold to farmers.

23 May 2017

The opening of the New Harbour was one of the factors that led to the ‘perlemoen boom’ that lasted about 20 years. Between 1950 and 1970, Hermanus saw a development that brought a variety of different people into the town and kept the New Harbour busy for the duration. But it also pointed the way to several developments in the 21st century, writes ROBIN LEE of the Hermanus History Society.

boom. However, it came to its end for the predictable reason: over-harvesting. Perlemoen numbers dropped to nothing and everyone had to get another job. Fifty years later, wild perlemoen are still scarce and those that can be found are subject to massive poaching.

RIGHT: Denis Barti-Roberts with a standard-size perlemoen in 1956.

It seems unlikely that ‘wild abalone’ will ever increase in numbers to the point that they can be commercially harvested and exported as in the past.

Instead, as has happened to other food sources over the ages, the abalone has been ‘domesticated’, raised from sperm and eggs to marketable size and then canned and exported. Markets in the Far East seem virtually insatiable and four enterprises at the New Harbour are expanding capacity virtually all the time.

BELOW: Denis Barti-Roberts with Bob Smith and an unidentified man and boy on board the Francisca just outside the New Harbour.

ABOVE: Nicolas Dekker with his crew during the 1950s.

However, all that changed when Brian McFarlane Snr devised a method of cooking and canning the flesh and found markets in the Far East, especially Hong Kong. He opened the first abalone processing factory in 1956 and bought most of the harvest for export.

During this period several million individual perlemoen were harvested ‘by hand’, with the New Harbour used as the base for the numerous boats that carried divers to the kelp beds where the perlemoen were to be found.

Suddenly a subsistence or leisure activity in Hermanus became big business and the news spread, attracting young men from all corners of the world. Many of them had been divers in the Royal Navy during World War II and made their way to Hermanus, seeking to make quick money.

Gertrude Grant, a longstanding resident of Hermanus whose husband, Alexander (Sandy) Grant established the first pharmacy in the town (still trading as Alex. Grant Pharmacy), knew many of the divers by name - Jacob and Martin Nielsen (Denmark); Nicolas Dekker (Netherlands); Stan McCrae; Arthur Major; Denis Barti-Roberts; Bob Smith;

LEFT: Bob Smith with diving gear, 1954.

Dev Tucker; John Carstens; John Mead (all UK); Jim Christie-Smith; Peter, Billy and Reggie Dodds; Charl (Bokka) du Plessis; Matt Hale; Roy McGregor; Gerrie Lotter; Denis Pretorius; Koos Wilkinson; Murchen Arendse; Dave Elliot; Peter Mason.

Several of the divers left accounts of their lives here; others are still living in the area and I was able to interview them. We can reconstruct their lives quite accurately. At first, these young adventurers ‘skin-dived’ – that is, they had no breathing equipment, not even a snorkel. Nicolas Dekker describes how they did it: We had no diving suits, in 1952 these things were unknown in South Africa and the water temperature was 12 centigrade… To harvest the perlemoen we had blown up car tubes to which were fixed

circular nets that could hold about 80 shellfish. The perlemoen grow on the rocky bottom between the kelp stalks from six to twelve metres deep.

You take a few deep breaths, put your head down and your legs up and down you go. Then with a big screwdriver you lever off a perlemoen and swim up to put it in the net that you’ve tied to a kelp stalk.

but then a local diving outfit was developed and ‘skin’ diving was replaced by compressed air – but the equipment was almost hilarious if it had not been so dangerous.

This is Gertrude Grant’s description of a set up that was supposed to keep an adult male working at a depth of 6 – 8 metres:

The water felt very cold. None of us were fat blokes and none of us could stay out longer than an hour. We swam back to shore leaning on our tubes to get our torsos out of the water and into the sun. When we came out we lit our already prepared fire and stood around it to warm up… and a quarter of an hour later we had recuperated enough energy to go and count our perlemoen.

Since the men started using foam rubber suits and breathing tubes supplied with air from a compressor on the boat, they can stay down for four or five hours. The breathing apparatus is, to say the least, primitive. The diver wears a mask, and a nose clip and holds a mouthpiece between his teeth. His air is supplied to him through an ordinary plastic hose pipe from a garage air compressor on the boat, down to a domestic rubber hot water bottle which acts as a pressure adjuster and so to the man’s mouth. Sometimes it happens that a diver suddenly feels

This practice was considered dangerous and was stopped in 1954. For a while divers used conventional snorkels

himself losing consciousness because the engine fumes have been drawn into the compressor…

Nevertheless, large quantities of perlemoen were harvested and McFarlane’s factory exported the equivalent of 650 000 individual perlemoen a year. When we look at the catches of individuals the figures are also stunning.

Eugene le Roux recalls: Dave Elliot hired a small boat in Gansbaai and in one day collected 6 336 abalone in Morning’s Bay, near Buffelsjacht. George Bell claimed that he had collected 6 167 abalone in a single day. Peter Mason claimed that he collected 6 000 abalone in a day, from the boat Gemini. He asserted that the abalone were so numerous that they were one on top of another.

There are very many more stories about the perlemoen

Aquaculture of perlemoen is now by far the largest activity at Hermanus’s New Harbour and the only link with divers of the past is the very cold seawater pumped through the tanks.

Interested members of the public can learn first-hand about the system developed in Hermanus to generate revenue and create employment by farming and exporting abalone.

The life cycle of the abalone is fascinating and as they are held in open tanks visitors are able to see clearly each phase of the cycle. Fresh seawater is essential and one company – Abagold – pumps many millions of litres a day through the system, most of which is returned to the ocean.

‘Heart of Abalone’ provides two tours of 60 – 90 minutes duration every day. To book a tour, contact Cilene Bekker on 083 556 3428 or visit www.heartofabalone.co.za The author wishes to commemorate Nicolas Dekker, who died last week on 15 May at the age of 87 years. He was an author and abalone diver par excellence, who assisted materially in the research for these articles.

NEWS

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23 May 2017

Every Saturday

Wednesday 24 May ■ Black and White Landscapes: Join thephotowalkers.com for a meander up our beautiful Hemel-en Aarde Valley on the back of a safari vehicle, visiting the wine farms and learning how to capture landscapes using ‘tone’ instead of ‘colour’. Meet at The Photo Shed at the Market Stalls.

From 09:00 – 12:00. R500 pp. To book, contact Leanne Dryburgh on 083 293 7208.

■ Hermanus Business Chamber: You are invited to a networking session with other local businesses.

R100 pp. Book with Alta Pretorius on 028 315 1619 or ceo@hermanuschamber.co.za. At the Municipal Auditorium, from 18:00 – 19:00.

Thursday 25 May ■ U3A Open Meeting: Theo Vorster, well-known television commentator and CEO of Galileo Capital, will be the guest speaker at U3A’s open meeting. He will present a talk entitled Brexit and Other Known Unknowns. During the past seven years, Theo has interviewed more than 65 of South Africa’s most prominent business leaders for his kykNET program, Sakegesprek met Theo Vorster, and also published a book with the same title. He is a regular commentator on Moneyweb’s RSG Geldsake. At the Sandbaai Hall, at 17:30. Entrance: R10. For more info, contact Gert Claassen on 083 602 5254.

■ Helena Hettema Show: Sprokkelster presents award-winning cabaret artist, singer and songwriter Helena Hettema. Take your picnic basket, cushion and blanket and enjoy an evening of top entertainment. Tickets are R140 and can be booked by contacting Louise on 082 896 5106. At Hermanus Primary Amphitheatre, at 20:00.

Thursday 25 & Friday 26 May

Saturday 27 May ■ LoveAbility Open Day: If you think disabled people are dis-abled, you will not believe how able and talented they are. You are invited to browse the studios and garden and see all their beautiful creations. There will be yummy coffee, sponsored by The Beanery, to sip on and credit card facilities so that you may shop to your heart’s content. Crafters will be doing demonstrations in making soap, mosaic stepping stones and hypertufa pots and there will be lovingly made products for sale. Hosted by the Overberg Wheelchair Association at Loveability house in Hawston. Child friendly with ample safe parking.

Friday 26 May ■ Sketchcrawl: Join the Country Sketchers for 2 – 3 hours of plein air sketching and painting. Meet at the Old Harbour at 09:00. All artists are welcome.

Contact Charne on 082 773 9125.

■ Botanical Society Talk: Renowned author and expert in the field of biodiversity, Professor Brian Huntley, will be this month’s speaker. He is often referred to as ‘Mr Kirstenbosch’, but this talk will be on his recently published book Wildlife at War in Angola: The Rise and Fall of an African Eden. It promises to be a fascinating talk.

Entrance is free and all are welcome. At Fernkloof Hall, at 17:30.

■ Stargazing: Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre (HAC) for an evening of stargazing, at 19:00

■ 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.

Friday 2 June ■ Pinksterfees Musiekaand: Heinz Winckler and his wife Alette-Johanni will perform at the Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus, from 19:00 – 21:00 in ‘n Aand van Musiek en Getuienis. Tickets at R120 for adults and R50 for school children are available from the church office.

Call 028 316 2116.

Monday 5 June

■ 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

■ Kerneels Breytenbach: U3A will host noted novelist Kerneels Breytenbach as part of their new series of courses presented in Afrikaans. Kerneels will talk about crime writing. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00. For more information, contact Therina du Pisani on 082 335 8797.

■ Mushroom Forage: With fungi popping up after the first autumn rains, this is the best time to forage different types of delicious wild mushrooms. Book your spot at the annual Mushroom Foraging event at Elgin Vintners farm hosted by Gary Goldman, the mushroom fundi.

From 09:00 – 14:00. R695 pp, including a lecture on mushroom identification, still water and a treat whilst foraging, a wine tasting and 3-course lunch at the Homestead, and a complimentary bottle of wine. For more info and to book, contact dre@drejohnsoninc.com

Monday 29 May

■ Hermies sing Musicals: Brandon October and Corlea Botha will perform with the Hermanus Primary and High School Choirs, directed by Deon Opperman, with music by Maike Skein and Janine Neethling. The show starts at 19:00. Tickets available from Hermanus High at R80, R100 & R120.

Call 028 312 3760.

■ 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.

(weather dependent). Find all the details on the website www.hermanusastronomy.co.za or contact hermanus.astronomy@gmail.com

■ South Africa’s International Financial Position: This talk by Professor Estiaan Calitz, Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Economics and winner of the 2016 Stals Prize for Economics, is part of the U3A’s new series of courses presented in Afrikaans. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00. For more information, contact Therina du Pisani on 082 335 8797.

Tuesday 30 May

■ Cosmology: Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre for a presentation on Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos. At the Scout Hall, at 19:00. Contact pierre@hermanus.co.za

Tuesday 6 June ■ U3A Overberg: The third part of U3A’s course on Thinking Skills, presented by Dr Monika von Oppell. Computer games: how they can help ageing brains and deter brain-related diseases will look at the role computers and televisions play in brain development and how they can assist with antiageing. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00.

Wednesday 7 June ■ Hermanus Photographic Society: Everyone with an interest in photography and who would like to improve their photographic skills, are welcome to attend these meetings on the first Wednesday of the month. At the Hermann Swart Hall of the Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus, at 19:00. Contact info@hermanusphoto.co.za

Friday 9 June

■ U3A Overberg: The second part of U3A’s course on Thinking Skills, presented by Dr Monika von Oppell. Thinking skills to enhance the process of thinking and decision-making will examine the difference between intelligence and thinking, and the role our thinking tools, skills and strategies play in the way we think, learn and make decisions. At the Catholic Church hall, at 10:00.

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.

Thursday 1 June ■ Hermanus Bird Club Walk: This month’s walk will be at Beaumont Wines in Bot River. A walk around the lake and the estate will be led by Margie Ogsten and Barbara Swart, driving back along the Swart River Road. Meet at Onrus Trading Post at 07:30 to be at the wine estate at 08:15.

Visitors welcome. Contact John on 078 955 9785 or Mariette on 028 312 2703.

■ Lemm’s Corner Sunday Market: This popular market has closed for the winter and will re-open in August.

■ Ryno Velvet at Hermanuspietersfontein Cellar: Bring your girlfriend, bring your friends and rock with Ryno in the HPF barrel cellar. Come at 18:00 and enjoy a cup of soup and a glass of wine before the show starts at 18:30. Tickets from R185 - R220 pp (incl. soup and wine). Book at kelder@hpf1855.co.za

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NEWS NEWS

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23 May 2017

High Five for Hermanus FynArts Saturday 27 May ■ Junktique Market: Bring a basket to load up the loot and treasure that you may find by browsing through the Junktique Market. If you are a junker, don’t miss this market in the Stanford Tourism Courtyard, from 09:00 – 12:00. For more information, contact ask@stanfordinfo.co.za

Wednesday 24 May ■ Graze Farmers Market: Reduce your carbon footprint and get your fresh veggies at Graze Slow Food Cafe. Always seasonal, always fresh. Stay for coffee and breakfast. From 09:00 – 12:00. Contact Tabby & Alex on 076 243 1930.

■ Pop-up Restaurant: Join Coffee Corner for their pop-up dinner presented by Bryan Robertson. The menu includes light meals/starters, mains and desserts. Customers are seated from 18:30.

Bookings can be made on 028 341 0034. Fully licensed, corkage applies.

Thursday, 25 May, 18:30 ■ Bird Club Movie and Soup Night: Watch a screening of The Mastery of Flight – Episode 2 of The Life of Birds. Soup, bread and cheese will be served, at R50 per head and R20 without supper. Bring your own drinks and utensils. All welcome. RSVP for catering to elsag@global.co.za. At the Municipal Boardroom, at 18:30.

Friday 26 May

■ Sunset Market: One of the few real country markets to be experienced, with food, wine, beer, crafts, and live music. As the sun sets over the village of Stanford on the last Friday of every month, the Village Green comes alive. Local farmers display and sell their wares, and local cooks and crafts people offer their finest goods for sale. Foodto-go and wonderful goodies to stock up on for the weekend. At Market Square, from 18:00 – 20:00.

(The market will be closed for winter from June – Oct.)

■ Saturday Morning Market: Come and feast your eyes on tantalising delights that include cakes, rusks, fudge and eclairs, to-die-for pies, an eclectic array of homemade goat and cow milk cheeses, wood-fired ciabattas, fresh farm vegetables, homemade preserves and herbs, sausages and meats as well as pickles, jams, and sauces. On the Stanford Hotel Stoep, from 09:00 – 12:00. For more information, contact Caro on 082 448 0237.

■ 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. These orchids keep their blooms for months and make any home or garden look spectacular.

Open from 09:00 – 14:00. For more info contact 076 292 5267 or admin@eikenhoff.com ■ La Trattoria Jazz Saturday: Join this Italian family restaurant every last Saturday of the month as they host a Jazz event. Enjoy the entertainment provided by the Jazzfordians and the best of Italian cuisine, from 18:30. R190 pp.

Contact Lionello on 081 805 7470 or Corrado on 071 381 1010 to book.

Monday 29 May ■ Pop-up Restaurant: Give mom the night off and join Coffee Corner for their pop-up dinner presented by Bryan Robertson. The menu includes light meals/starters, mains and desserts.

Customers are seated from 18:30. Bookings can be made on 028 341 0034. Fully licensed, corkage applies.

FynArts Festival Director Mary Faure with former Mayor of the Overstrand, Nicolette BothaGuthrie, who presented Mary with the Mayoral Woman of the Year Award after the success of the inaugural FynArts Festival in 2013.

Y

es, it’s that exciting time of the year again when Hermanus prepares to roll out the red carpet for the annual FynArts Festival. Now in its fifth year, this home-grown festival has reached a new milestone and will again showcase a bumper programme that includes the full series of events festivalgoers have come to expect, as well as a number of exciting new events.

thank our wonderful community for its enthusiastic and generous support, and for the wise advice, time freely offered and truckloads of encouragement over the years. It is you who have nurtured FynArts to become a quality event that is attracting visitors well beyond the Western Cape. Enjoy this year’s bumper line-up of excellent speakers, great musicians and skilled presenters.”

There will be a long line-up of exhibitions, performances, talks, workshops, demonstrations and films. And food and wine events. And trails, tours and ambles. There is something for everyone and each event is a highlight – find all the details in our special FynArts supplement in the centre of this issue of The Village NEWS.

Frieda Lloyd, Tourism Manager of the Cape Whale Coast, agrees that in five short years Hermanus FynArts has staked its claim on the national arts calendar and confirmed our town as a place where the arts are celebrated and put on public display for all to appreciate.

Tickets are selling at a brisk pace and many events are already sold out, so hurry along and book your seats as soon as possible. This can be done at the FynArts office at the Station Building (next to Hermanus Tourism) in Mitchell Street, or online at www.webtickets.co.za or via the FynArts website at www.hermanusfynarts.co.za.

You will also find the full programme on the website.

“It is almost inconceivable to me that this is year five for a festival that was intended as a ‘once off’ when the seed was sown in 2012,” says Festival Director Mary Faure. “I’d like to

“Every performance is an interaction that invites conversation, ponders a question or simply just provides a magical moment. The Sculptures on the Cliff Exhibition, together with various other indoor and outdoor exhibitions, provides residents and visitors free access to art and art appreciation. It invites public dialogue and has been a way for the town to express its identity through a production where many play a part in creating a common goal.

“The tenacious efforts of Festival Director Mary Faure, with the assistance of many volunteers, make this festival a collective effort and something that our town, region and South Africa can be proud of.”

I

t is heart-warming to see our restaurants doing their bit for the environment. Last week, three top waterfront restaurants - La Pentola, LB Seafood Bistro on the Bay and Burgundy – joined Whale Coast Conservation (WCC) in their efforts to beat cigarette butt litter in Hermanus by sponsoring the installation of 20 butt bins designed and manufactured by WCC. Each of these restaurants will feature two butt bins outside their establishments, and the other 14 bins will be installed along the Cliff Path, from in front of the Windsor Hotel to The Marine.

23 May 2017

Cigarette butts are an eyesore and a poor reflection on our "cleanest town". One visitor called Hermanus the “cigarette butt capital of the world”.

According to Anina, butts also pose more serious problems, as cigarette filters do not biodegrade. “They are in fact toxic waste and therefore an environmental health threat. The toxic chemicals trapped in the filters leach out into water, aggregate in the bodies of marine and freshwater animals and accumulate along food chains. Eventually they reach us.”

How can you help? If you are a smoker, please bin your butts

diabetes and lactose or gluten intolerance. Do yourself a favour and give it a try – I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

Restaurant News

By Hedda Mittner

In addition, each of the three restaurants have sponsored a meal voucher to the value of R500 as prizes for WCC’s butt bin competition. Anyone can enter by voting with a cigarette butt and there will be three winners each month for the next three months – that’s nine R500 vouchers in all! Instructions on how to enter are below.

WCC has been collecting and analysing litter since 2009.

According to communications manager Anina Lee, cigarette butts are by far the most common waste item – it is estimated that in 2015 about 25 million butts were dropped in the 600 m2 Hermanus CBD area alone. Recent surveys by WCC indicate that butts are also a major problem at parking areas and benches along the Cliff Path.

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NEWS NEWS Local restaurants lend support for the environment

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From left are Sheraine van Wyk (WCC environmental projects manager), Shane Sauvage (La Pentola), Paul Buckingham (LB Seafood Bistro on the Bay), Anina Lee (WCC communications manager), Rob Fryer (WCC general manager) and in front is Rudolf van der Berg (Burgundy).

Norah Hudson of ELL 269 ensures that no animal products are used at this eatery.

Shane and Janet Sauvage (centre) from La Pentola with their children Falcon, Marina and Willow.

appropriately – not on the ground, or in a flower box or down a drain. WCC will also be installing 20 additional butt bins sponsored by the National Lotteries Commission around the Hermanus CBD. Please use these bins for your butts.

way is easier than you might think – and just as delicious,” says Norah. “I’m not saying that everyone should become vegan overnight, I’m simply inviting people to make small changes gradually and the best way to do that is to give plant-based foods a try. It is not necessary to eat meat every single day and there are so many tasty and healthy alternatives.”

Members of the public are invited to attend the launch of the butt bin voting on Friday 26 May at 11:00 at the butt voting station in front of the Tourism Kiosk on Market Square above the Old Harbour.

Another restaurant in the CBD that is taking green living and ethical eating to a whole new

level, is Norah Hudson’s ELL 269 at the end of High Street opposite Savannah Café. No animal products are used at this eatery and the entire menu consists of plant-based foods.

Considering that over 90% of the world’s animals are farmed animals that exist within industrialised facilities, and that animal agriculture is the leading cause of climate change, water depletion, deforestation and species extinction in the world today, it is surprising how many diners out there still refuse to adapt their diets.

“I want to show people that eating in a healthy and ethical

Norah’s plant-based creations include gorgeous juices, teas and coffees, sweet treats, light lunches as well as more hearty dishes that will satisfy even the most enthusiastic meateaters. She also caters for all dietary requirements such as

Chef Shane Sauvage from La Pentola is another enthusiastic supporter of environmental causes who has made generous donations to White Shark Projects, Dyer Island Conservation Trust and the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. He recently celebrated the 5th birthday of his buzzing restaurant on Marine Drive by inviting local guesthouse owners and managers to a most enjoyable evening of food, wine and music.

The beautiful weather meant that the windows could be thrown wide open, affording guests a glorious view of the sunset over the ocean. The scrumptious three-course meal showcased the best of Shane’s singular style of fusion cooking, paired with wines from Benguela Cove which were introduced to diners by winemaker Johann Fourie. The mellow reggae sounds of The Rivertones added to the joyous ambience, and one of the highlights of the evening was when Shane and his wife Janet’s delightful four-year-old daughter Marina joined the band by belting out Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. It truly was a night to remember!

How to win the R500 meal voucher while voting with your butt: 1. You will find an issue requiring your butt vote printed on the voting station at Market Square.

2. Decide how you want to vote and deposit your butt as indicated, but remember to…

3. Take a selfie of you casting your vote (or ask someone else to use your camera).

4. Upload your photo to Instagram with the tag #RespectAndProtectOurPlanet.

5. If you are not a smoker, you can collect other people’s butts to vote to win.

6. Three prizes will go to the most amusing or innovative selfies each month until the end of August 2017. The winner will be announced at the end of each month on Instagram using the same hashtag.

7. Selection of the winning entry will be entirely at the discretion of WCC. No correspondence will be entered into. The ultimate winner is the environment and everyone who lives in it.

Be sure to cast your vote – to #RespectAndProtectOurPlanet – and to keep Hermanus toxin-free!

9 - 18 JUNE 2017

FynArts Festival Artist Willie Bester

T

his year sees the introduction of exhibition walkabouts and tailor-made art tours during the FynArts Festival from 9 – 18 June. Festivalgoers will also have the opportunity to meet the exhibiting artists at some of the participating galleries. For the first time too, students from the Department of Fine Arts at Stellenbosch University will take part as gallery interns at selected exhibitions.

FYNARTS LEGACY AWARD

The highly acclaimed South African photographer David Goldblatt is the recipient of the FynArts 2017 Legacy Award. This award is presented in recognition of his longstanding and unique contribution to the visual arts in South Africa and beyond. David Goldblatt has worked as a professional photographer since the 1960s and is noted for his portrayal of South Africa during the apartheid years, and more recently, the country’s landscapes. David has exhibited world-wide and been honoured with many international awards. He is widely considered to be on of the greatest South African photographers. An exhibition of his work can be viewed at Abalone Gallery, The Courtyard, Harbour Road for the duration of the FynArts festival. All participating galleries present a special exhibition for the FynArts Festival. Details can be found at www.hermanusfynarts.co.za

TRANSFORMATION Festival artist Willie Bester has always held up a mirror to South African society in his work.

During the last years of apartheid he created powerful mixed-media images on highly politicised themes such as police brutality and segregated education. But, even in the darkest times, Willie was concerned with celebrating daily life in the townships and the triumph of the human spirit. Along with millions of South Africans, he welcomed the advent of democracy in 1994 as an historic opportunity to right the wrongs of the past. But Willie has become increasingly disillusioned and his current work addresses the demise of the dream of the ‘Rainbow Nation’. His exhibition, entitled Transformation, curated by Michael Godby and Sandra Klopper, will be opened at Rossouw Modern SPACE Gallery on Saturday 10 June at 14:00. Willie and Sandra will discuss the artist’s work at SPACE on Sunday 11 June at 11:00 and 14:00; and on Tuesday 13 June, Wednesday 14 June and Thursday 15 June at 11:00.

SCULPTURE ON THE CLIFFS Sculpture has become a major element of FynArts and Sculpture on the Cliffs is one of the cornerstones of the festival, remaining in place for a full year until the following year’s sculptures are installed. This year’s exhibition, curated by Lien Botha, is entitled EchoLocation and comprises 11 sculptures placed along the Cliffs at Gearing’s Point and, for the first time, at the heritage site of the Old Harbour – lookout points from history where once families would wait to spot their loved ones coming home from the sea.

The exhibition will be opened by Councillor Kari Brice on Saturday 10 June at 12:30 at Gearing’s Point. After the opening, those artists

who are able to make it to Hermanus for the opening weekend, will be at their respective sculptures to meet festival- goers and talk about their work, from 13:00 – 13:30. Any sculptor not able to be in Hermanus, will be represented by a gallery intern.

Gallery interns are also available to take festivalgoers on a guided walk through the exhibition along the cliffs and down to the Old Harbour, daily from Sunday 11 – Sunday 19 June, between 10:30 – 11:30. Meet at the Whale Caller sculpture at Gearing’s Point.

ART IN THE AUDITORIUM For this year’s Art in the Auditorium, all sculptors who have exhibited at least one work on the cliffs over the past four years were invited to take part in the group sculpture exhibition. These works by Adriaan Diedericks, Anton Smit, Gavin Younge, George Holloway, Gordon Froud, Guy du Toit, Jaco Sieberhagen, Jean Theron Louw, Marieke Prinsloo Rowe, Strijdom van der Merwe and Wilma Cruise will be on display at the Municipal Auditorium for the duration of the festival.

OTHER SCULPTURE EXHIBITIONS

THE MARINE: Forgotten Orchards of the Imagination by Yvette Weyers uses ancient images such as the Sphinx or the Mantis from Bushman folklore to create the artist’s own personalised mythology. In Alice in Wonderland, Gordon Froud uses memorabilia related to the story of Alice in Wonderland which he has collected over many years. The combined exhibition will be opened by Marius Weyers, who will be in conversation with his wife, Yvette Weyers, on Saturday 10 June at 16:00.

BIRKENHEAD HOUSE: Dylan Lewis will exhibit a body of work entitled Transfigures, which explores the wild nature within and around us.

Drawing loosely on myth, ritual and archetypal imagery, Lewis ‘masks’ his humans with animal attributes, blurring the boundaries between human and animal realms.

FORMS OF EXPRESSION 3 This group exhibition, curated by Liz Coates, showcases the work of 32 invited ceramic artists.

The display of both art and utility pieces will demonstrate the wide range of themes, styles and techniques inherent in the versatility and characteristics of clay and porcelain. The exhibition will be opened by Ann Marais on Saturday 10 June at 10:30.

ART OF THREAD A group of fabric artists who have exhibited locally and internationally, and whose work can be found in national and international collections, will present a wide range of fabrics and techniques for this exhibition, including embroidery.

Art of Thread will be on display at the Old Synagogue for the duration of the festival.

EXHIBITIONS on WINE ESTATES BOUCHARD FINLAYSON: The Tollman Bouchard Finlayson Art Award is one of the highlights of FynArts. The culmination of this national competition is the exhibition of the work of 40 –

50 finalists, titled Reflections, in the cellar of the Bouchard Finlayson Wine Estate. This exhibition will be opened by Stefan Hundt, Curator of the Sanlam Art Collection, on Friday 9 June at 12:00.

SUMARIDGE: Last year saw the inauguration of the Violet & Anne Bellingham Memorial Trophy, a competition that is open to all Grade 10, 11 and 12 students in the Overstrand. The winning artworks are exhibited in the Sumaridge Tasting Room for the duration of the festival.

NEWTON JOHNSON: Niel Jonker’s exhibition titled Thoth is named after the wise baboon god of the moon, magic and writing in ancient Egyptian mythology. The exhibition includes bronze sculptures and landscape oil paintings.

CREATION: Sculptor Willie Botha’s exhibition is titled Missing the Fulcrum and portrays the rhythmic balance-interchange of nature and creation. Willie has recently built his own bronze foundry and will also offer a bronze pouring demonstration during FynArts.

BENGUELA COVE: The works of the finalists in the Life Drawing Award competition will be exhibited at the Benguela Cove Manor House on the edge of the Bot River Lagoon. The competition entails a relaxed morning of life drawing at the estate, followed by the judging. The winning artwork will be exhibited at the Manor House for one year and the rest of the selected works will form the Life Drawing exhibition that can be viewed during the festival.

ART & WINE TOUR A blend of the best! Take a drive up the valley in a safari vehicle and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine as you view the art at the four exhibitions: Bouchard Finlayson, Sumaridge, Newton Johnson and Creation. Depart from Hermanus Wine Hoppers at Market Square. For bookings, call 076 991 2498. Saturday 10, Sunday 11, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 June, from 10:00 - 13:00

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS TOUR A once-off exclusive tour for art lovers: visit two private collections housed in Hermanus homes with lunch at The Marine Hotel between the morning and afternoon visits. The one walkabout will be taken by Michael Godby and the other by Karen McKerron. Depart from the FynArts office next to Hermanus Tourism in Mitchell Street.

Tickets: R750 (incl. lunch). Thursday 15 June: 11:00 - 15:00 approx.

MEET THE ARTIST AT HOME A new arts experience: an opportunity to be driven to the homes of four well-known artists at work in their studios in Hermanus and Onrus.

Depart from the FynArts office. Tickets: R250 (incl. light refreshments). Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 June: 9:30 - 13:00

ARTS TOUR WITH QUEST Join a tour on the yacht, Ocean Quest, and view a number of the cliff top sculptures from the ocean.

Weather permitting. Book at Neptune’s Divers & Cruises, Market Square. Call 074 124 4032. Tickets: R400. Daily from 10 - 18 June: 14:00 - 15:30

F

or FynArts 2017, the ‘big concerts’ range from the music of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert to Miriam Makeba, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Dolly Rathebe; from Broadway to Big Band; from strings to marimba. Each performance will be a highlight!

OPENING CONCERT

Following the success of last year’s opening concert, the 2017 FynArts Festival commences with another all-Mozart offering. The programme will include the famous and perennial favourite Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra, featuring the Gabriel Duo of Bridget Rennie-Salonen (flute) and Gaylen-Rose Sales (harp). They will be supported by the specially assembled FynArts Festival Orchestra which will once again be under the direction of conductor Richard Cock. The everpopular Symphony No 29 will also be performed.

Tickets: First five rows sold out; all other unreserved seats R150 / scholars R90. Friday 9 June: 19:00 at the Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus

EVENING PERFORMANCES Divas of Swing features Zolani Mahola, the lead singer of Freshlyground, and Adelia Douw, who started out with the Delft Big Band. These two divas will bring you some of the greatest songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Miriam Makeba and Dolly Rathebe, accompanied by the FynArts Festival Orchestra. Tickets: First five rows sold out; all other unreserved seats R150 / scholars R90.

Saturday 10 June: 19:00 at the Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus Don’t miss Broadway Spectacular, a celebration of some of the greatest musicals of all time, ranging from Oklahoma and South Pacific to the Sound of Music and Mamma Mia. Featuring Vanessa Tait-Jones (soprano), who was the first winner of the ATKV Muziqanto Award in 2011, and George Stevens (baritone) with the FynArts Festival Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Richard Cock. Tickets: First five rows R195; all other unreserved seats R150 / scholars R90. Two performances on Sunday 11 June: 14:30 & 18:30 at the Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus In An Evening with Marius Weyers and Bosman, Marius will read stories from the works of Herman Charles Bosman on Monday 12 June at the Municipal Auditorium. Sold out.

Toccato features Magdalena de Vries (marimba) and Frank Mallows (vibraphone), both acclaimed solo artists in their own right who have been performing as Duo FourIVTwo (four-four-two) since 2005. The programme will have a strong focus on their South African repertoire, featuring works by composers Clare Loveday and Hendrik Hofmeyr. In celebration of his 60th birthday, Hendrik will be present at the concert to introduce his work. Also on the programme is a medley of music by Scott Joplin, arranged by Mallows to celebrate Joplin on the centenary of his death in 1917. Tickets: R150. Tuesday 13 June: 19:00 at the Municipal Auditorium Odeion Quartet is a connoisseur recital by string

players Samson Diamond, Jeanne-Louise Moolman and Anmari van der Westhuizen, who will be joined by their pianist colleague Grethe Nothling. The audience will be treated to chamber works by two great German composers, Ludwig van Beethoven (G major String Trio) and Robert Schumann (Piano Quartet in Eb major). Tickets: R150. Wednesday 14 June: 19:00 at the Municipal Auditorium My Travel Bag is an uplifting one-woman show from Gcina Mhlope, with 33 years of international travel crammed into the travelling bag of this master storyteller. The magic universality of Gcina’s stories celebrates who we are as South Africans. Tickets: R150. Thursday 15 June: 19:00 at the Municipal Auditorium The Charl du Plessis Trio returns to Fynarts for the release of their new album Baroqueswing Vol. 2, which experiments anew with form, rhythm, and virtuoso arrangements of timeless music.

Tickets are sold out.

Relive the fabulous sound of the Swinging Sixties in this fast-moving show, produced by Ilse Schürmann and presented by award-winning singers Lynelle Kenned and Brandon October, who will be accompanied by musical director Melissa van der Spuy and a three-piece band.

Tickets: R150 / scholars R90. Saturday 17 June: 19:00 at the Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus

PAM GOLDING SERIES OF HOUSE CONCERTS Two young virtuoso artists, Megan-Geoffrey Prins (piano) and Tatiana Thaele (flute), will perform in A Lunchtime Recital. Sold out.

Dancing through time features the longstanding musical partnership known as the Gabriel Duo, comprising Bridget Rennie-Salonen (flute) and Galen-Rose Sales (harp). The artists, both soloists in their own right, and across various genres, jointly reveal their individual artistry through their musical expression of dances ranging from Baroque to the present.

Tickets: R150 (incl. light refreshments). Monday 12 June. Time: 15:30 at 64 Fernkloof Village, Fir Avenue, Hermanus Don’t miss a Poetry Reading by Kobus Moolman, from his award-winning collection, A Book of Rooms. Kobus is the author of eight collections of poetry and several plays, and was the winner of the prestigious 2015 Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry. Tickets: R110 (incl. light refreshments). Wednesday 14 June: 15:30 at Mosselberg on Grotto Beach, 10th Avenue, Voëlklip

LUNCHTIME PERFORMANCES

Baroque to Contemporary Film once again features the Odeion String Quartet from Bloemfontein, the only resident string quartet at a South African university since its establishment in 1991. The leader is currently Samson Diamond, who first studied violin in the Buskaid project in Soweto, and who is joined for this concert of film

music by Jeanne-Louise Moolman (viola), Anmari van der Westhuizen (cello) and Grethe Nothling (piano). Tickets: R85. Tuesday 13 June: 12:30 at the United Church The Romantic Piano features Francois du Toit, Associate Professor of Piano and Head of Practical Studies at the UCT, who is acknowledged as one of South Africa’s leading concert pianists. The programme will include works by Schubert, Chopin, Gershwin and Beethoven. Tickets: R85. Thursday 15 June: 12:30 at the Municipal Auditorium Strings Delight is presented by the local Enlighten Education Trust, which has invited the Ifidyoli Ensemble of the Beau Soleil Music Centre in Cape Town to take part in a combined performance. Both centres have the same objective of developing and introducing a programme of strings music tuition in previously disadvantaged communities. This will be an uplifting concert performed by more than 50 young musicians on strings, conducted by Hein Attwood and Siyathemba Nteta. Tickets: R85 / scholars R50. Friday 16 June: 12:30 at the Anglican Church, Hermanus Rieldans is presented by the Betjies from Betjiesfontein, winners of the 2016 ATKV Rieldans competition in the under 18s division. They will kick up the dust in three short performances of this unique dance, the oldest entertainment form used as a social, cultural and education tool by the Khoisan people long before Western cultures and traditions arrived at the Cape. Today it is a celebration of ancient traditions that find new expression in contemporary forms. No charge.

Friday 16 June: 11:00; 12:00 and 14:00 (duration 6 - 8 minutes each) on the lawn in front of the Whale House Museum, Market Square.

Organ Ensemble is an out of the ordinary concert featuring Louna Stofberg (organ), PieterAdriaan Stofberg (cello) and Jenna O’Neill (violin).

The programme includes romantic works by Josef Rheinberger, Saint-Saëns, Léon Boëllmann and Tchaikovsky. Tickets: R85 / scholars R50.

Saturday 17 June: 12:30 at the Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus Lusanda Spiritual Group presents the powerful voices and unique gospel albums of the biggestselling gospel group based in the Eastern Cape.

Lusanda Mcinga is an award-winning gospel singer and leader of the Lusanda Spiritual Group, which has released 18 albums, most of them platinum. Tickets: R110. Saturday 17 June: 14:30 at Lukhanyo Primary School, Zwelihle And to bring Hermanus FynArts 2017 to a rousing close, prepare for a musical roller coaster ride with Swing, Sing and All That Jazz, featuring the Ian Smith Big Band. The audience will be treated to songs and arrangements from early swing to funk and pop, with some Miriam Makeba and Nina Simone thrown in from the young lady of song, Adelia Douw. Tickets: R150 / scholars R90. Sunday 18 June: 14:00 at the Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus

PERFORMANCES

Friday 9 June

Saturday 10 June

Sunday 11 June

Monday 12 June

19:00 OPENING CONCERT Bridget Rennie-Salonen & Gaylen-Rose Sales VENUE: Dutch Reformed Church TICKETS: R195 (first five rows); R150 unreserved and R90 scholars

12:30 A LUNCHTIME RECITAL Megan-Geoffrey Prins (piano) and Tatiana Thaele (flute) SOLD OUT

14:30 & 19:00 BROADWAY SPECTACULAR Vanessa Tait-Jones & George Stevens VENUE: Dutch Reformed Church TICKETS: R195 (first five rows); R150 unreserved and R90 scholars

15:30 HOUSE CONCERT DANCING THROUGH TIME Galen-Rose Sales & Bridget Rennie-Salonen VENUE: 64 Fernkloof Village, Fir Avenue, Hermanus TICKETS: R150

19:00 DIVAS OF SWING VENUE: Dutch Reformed Church TICKETS: R195 (first five rows); R150 unreserved and R90 scholars

TALKS

09:30 FYNARTS LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENT: David Goldblatt VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 11:00 LIFE IN ART: Frank Kilbourn VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85

19:00 AN EVENING WITH MARIUS WEYERS AND BOSMAN SOLD OUT 09:30 CUSTODIAN ON A TIGHT ROPE Lien Botha, Michael Godby & Stefan Hundt VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 11:00 HISTORY MATTERS Bill Nasson talks to Christopher Hope VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85

WORKSHOPS & DEMOS

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09:00 LIFE DRAWING SOLD OUT

09:30 CELLPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY Leanne Dryburgh & Peter Hassall SOLD OUT 10:00 MARVELOUS MUGS Hennie Meyer SOLD OUT 10:00 ART OF FLUTE MAKING Dizu Plaatjies VENUE: Enlighten Trust, Swartdam Road TICKETS: R200/R80 (scholars)

10:00 MOSAIC - COLOURS AND TEXTURE Karla Duterloo SOLD OUT

10:00 PAINTING - LOSING AND FINDING (3 Day course) VENUE: United Church Hall TICKETS: R1 350 10:00 THE MEMOIR Christopher Hope SOLD OUT

FILM FOOD & WINE YOUTH

11:00 JUST DESSERTS Rosa Neser SOLD OUT 11:00 FRAMING PICTURES Mark Senekal VENUE: Lifestyle Framing Studio TICKETS: R100

15:00 CHICAGO (2002) SOLD OUT

15:00 WINE PLUS SERIES Duimpie Bayly VENUE: The Marine Hotel TICKETS: R140 17:00 WINE PLUS SERIES About Méthode Cap Classicque with Pieter Ferreira VENUE: The Marine Hotel TICKETS: R140 10:00 SUNLIGHT AND MOONSHINE A sensory experience with puppets VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R50 (ages 4 - 7 years) 15:00 DIE ROMMELKONINGIN Rodrick Hunt & Alex Brychta VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R50 (6 - 10 years)

14:00 THE MUSIC OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Dizu Platjies VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 09:30 CELLPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY Leanne Dryburgh & Peter Hassall VENUE: Windsor Hotel TICKETS: R250 / R150 scholars

13:00 CURLY TOP (1935) SOLD OUT

12:00 WINE PLUS SERIES Pieter Ferreira VENUE: The Marine Hotel TICKETS: R140

11:00 WHO IS ALICE? Gordon Froud & Wilma Cruise VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85

09:30 CELLPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY (2) Pieter Hassall & Leanne Dryburgh Venue: Windsor Hotel TICKETS: R250 / R150 (children)

12:00 FILMVERSE 2 - An ATKV project in collaboration with Diek Groblery VENUE: Moffat Hall, Mt Pleasant FREE VIEWING

15:30 THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940) SOLD OUT

09:30 WHAT REMAINS IS TOMORROW Christopher Till VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85

17:00 LOWLIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY Leanne Dryburgh & Peter Hassall VENUE: Voëlklip Beach TICKETS: R250 12:00 WINE PLUS SERIES Jan Boland Coetzee SOLD OUT 15:00 WINE PLUS SERIES Rosa Kruger VENUE: The Marine Hotel TICKETS: R140

12:00 WINE PLUS SERIES Ntsiki Biyela VENUE: The Marine Hotel TICKETS: R140 15:00 WINE PLUS SERIES Razvan Macici VENUE: The Marine Hotel TICKETS: R140

Tuesday 13 June

Wednesday 14 June

Thursday 15 June

Friday, 16 June

Saturday 17 June

12:30 BAROQUE TO CONTEMPORARY FILM VENUE: United Church TICKETS: R85

15:30 HOUSE CONCERT POETRY READING Kobus Moolman VENUE: Mosselberg on Grotto, 10th Avenue, Voëlklip TICKETS: R110

12:30 THE ROMANTIC PIANO Francois du Toit VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85

12:30 STRINGS DELIGHT Enlighten Strings & Ifidyoli Esemble VENUE: Anglican Church TICKETS: R85 / R50 scholars

12:30 ORGAN ENSEMBLE VENUE: Dutch Reformed Church TICKETS: R85 / R50 scholars

19:00 MY TRAVEL BAG Gcina Mhlophe VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R150

19:00 BAROQUESWING SOLD OUT

19:00 TOCCATA Magdalena de Vries and Frank Mallows VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R150

09:30 SA ART MUSEUMS - QUO VADIS Marilyn Martin, Stefan Hundt & Christopher Till VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 10:00 THE PAST IN THE PRESENT CONTINUITY AND DISRUPTION Michael Godby VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85

10:00 BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY Anita de Villiers VENUE: Windsor Hotel TICKETS: R500 10:00 FINE ART OF BEADING SOLD OUT 11:00 LIVE BRONZE ART CASTING Willie Botha VENUE: Willie Botha Sculpture Studio, Argon Street, Industria TICKETS: R100 12:00 FILMVERSE 2 - An ATKV project in collaboration with Diek Groblery VENUE: Municipal Auditorium FREE VIEWING 15:00 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1940) SOLD OUT

19:00 ODEION QUARTET VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R150

09:30 ABSTRACTION IN EUROPE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON 20TH CENTURY PAINTING Marilyn Martin VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 11:00 ABSTRACT PAINTING IN SA THEN AND NOW Marilyn Martin VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 14:30 STORIES BEHIND THE CANVAS Felicity Jervis VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 10:00 BIRDING FOR BEGINNERS Anton Odendaal VENUE: Fernkloof Hall TICKETS: R350 11:00 ABALONE IN THE FAR EAST Christo du Plessis and Werner Piek VENUE: 179 2nd Street, Voëlklip TICKETS: R100 11:00 THE MAGIC OF MAKING FELT Gerda Möhr VENUE: Windsor Hotel TICKETS: R100 10:00 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1940) VENUE: Movie-Go-Round Vintage Theatre at Romantiques BOOKING FEE: R35 15:00 WEST SIDE STORY (1961) SOLD OUT

12:00 WINE PLUS SERIES Christian Eedes VENUE: The Marine Hotel TICKETS: R140 15:00 WINE CRITICS' CHOICE VENUE: The Marine Hotel TICKETS: R140 15:00 ABOUT WINE RATINGS WITH CHRISTIAN EEDES VENUE: The Marine Hotel TICKETS: R140

14:30 LUSANDA SPIRITUAL Lusanda Mcinga VENUE: Lukhanyo Primary School TICKETS: R110 19:00 SWINGING SIXTIES VENUE: Dutch Reformed Church TICKETS: R150 / R90 scholars

09:30 THE SUMMER OF '42: THE FALL OF TOBRUK James Gray VENUE: United Church TICKETS: R85 11:00 BROOD PARASITIC BEHAVIOUR IN BIRDS Anton Odendaal VENUE: United Church TICKETS: R85 14:00 WEST COAST FOSSIL PARK Alex Robertson VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 09:00 SILVERSMITH AND DESIGN VENUE: Ralph Walton Jewellery, Hemel-en-Aarde Village TICKETS: R500 10:00 CREATE A CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK Nicki Daly VENUE: Windsor Hotel TICKETS: R500 10:00 EXPLORING PHOTOGRAPHY AS FINE ART Anita de Villiers VENUE: United Church Hall TICKETS: R500 10:00 FRAMING PICTURES Mark Senekal VENUE: Lifestyle Framing Studio TICKETS: R100 10:00 LIVE BRONZE ART CASTING SOLD OUT 15:00 THE ARABESQUE KITCHEN Eunice Rademeyer VENUE: 179 2nd Street, Voëlklip TICKETS: R100 10:00 WEST SIDE STORY (1961) VENUE: Movie-Go-Round Vintage Theatre at Romantiques BOOKING FEE: R35 15:00 WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1957) SOLD OUT 12:00 GIN REVOLUTION VENUE: The Marine Hotel TICKETS: R140 17:00 JAZZED UP DINNER VENUE: Dutchies 028 314 1392 TICKETS: R300 17:00 CREATION: FOOD AS ART PAIRED WITH WINE AND MUSIC VENUE: Creation 028 212 1107 TICKETS: R550

09:30 SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL WRITING Mike Bruton VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 11:00 CROSSOVER MUSIC: THE BLACK SHEEP OR CHAMPION? Charl du Plessis VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85

10:00 THE SHORT STORY Christopher Hope VENUE: Windsor Hotel TICKETS: R500 - R250 scholars 10:00 ORIGAMI FOR BEGINNERS Niki Daly VENUE: Windsor Hotel TICKETS: R300 - R250 scholars 10:00 DESIGN, DECORATE, DETAIL Madoda Fani VENUE: Enlighten Trust, Swartdam Road TICKETS: R200 11:00 FILMVERSE 2 - An ATKV project in collaboration with Diek Groblery VENUE: Lukhanyo Primary School, Zwelihle FREE VIEWING 14:00 FILMVERSE 2 VENUE: Municipal Auditorium FREE VIEWING 15:00 WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1957) VENUE: Movie-Go-Round Vintage Theatre at Romantiques BOOKING FEE: R35 12:00 GIN REVOLUTION SOLD OUT 15:00 HISTORY OF WINE MAKING IN THE HEMEL-EN-AARDE VALLEY VENUE: Hamilton Russell Vineyards TICKETS: R140 10:00 SUNLIGHT AND MOONSHINE A SENSORY EXPERIENCE WITH PUPPETS VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R50 (4 - 7 years) 12:00 MEET GCINA MHOLPHE VENUE: Lukhanyo Primary School FREE

09:30 MY OWN LIBERATOR Dikgang Moseneke & Christopher Hope VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 11:00 THE ROCK ART OF THE WESTERN CAPE John Parkington VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 14:00 DAWID’S RETURN Patricia Glyn VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 09:30 FELTED HOUSE SHOES Gerda Möhr VENUE: Windsor Hotel TICKETS: R550 10:00 MARK MAKING Monique Day-Wilde VENUE: United Church Hall TICKETS: R500 R350 scholars (Gr 10-12) 10:00 EVERYBODY CAN IMPROVISE Charl du Plessis VENUE: Enlighten Trust, Swartdam Road TICKETS: R150/R50 (scholars) 14:30 JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER Alex Faria VENUE: Windsor Hotel TICKETS: R100 15:00 THE HEIRESS (1949) VENUE: Movie-Go-Round Vintage Theatre at Romantiques BOOKING FEE: R35 15:30 SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R85 15:00 THE QUEEN OF WASTE VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R50 (6-9 years)

Sunday 18 June 14:00 SWING, SING AND ALL THAT JAZZ Ian Smith Big Band VENUE: Dutch Reformed Church TICKETS: R150/ R90 scholars 09:00 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS: Q & A with Dikgang Moseneke VENUE: Hermanus Golf Club TICKETS: R250 15:00 U-CARMEN EKHAYELITSHA: VENUE: Municipal Auditorium TICKETS: R90

T

he name of the late Stephan Welz, former Managing Director of Strauss & Co, is synonymous with the world of art.

Renowned for his wide-ranging knowledge of South African painting, sculpture and antiques, Stephan’s dedication to art education and appreciation is legendary. Stephan was supportive of FynArts from the outset and this year the festival once again pays tribute to him by presenting the Stephan Welz Series of Talks and Presentations.

Strauss & Co will also hold a valuation day at The Marine on Monday 12 June, from 10:00 – 16:00, with the proceeds of R20 per item going towards the FynArts Development Fund. For appointments contact 021 683 6560.

STEPHAN WELZ SERIES OF TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS With more than twenty talks, presentations, discussions, and breakfast sessions, this year’s series offers the widest variety of topics, to date, on the FynArts programme. Check the programme for the venues of the talks, most of which will be at the Municipal Auditorium.

Tickets for the talks are R85, except for the one breakfast talk at the Hermanus Golf Club which is R250 and includes breakfast.

VISUAL ARTS

The visual arts feature strongly, starting with the highly acclaimed South African photographer David Goldblatt, the recipient of the FynArts 2017 Legacy Award, who will talk about his life and work with Michael Godby, Emeritus Professor of History of Art at the University of Cape Town. Tickets: R85.

Saturday 10 June: 09:30 at the Municipal Auditorium Custodians on a Tight Rope is the title of a panel discussion chaired by Stefan Hundt, curator of the Sanlam Art Collection, during which Michael Godby (curator of Festival Artist Willie Bester’s exhibition Transformation) and Lien Botha (curator of Sculpture on the Cliffs) will discuss their roles as FynArts curators.

Sunday 11 June: 09:30 at the Municipal Auditorium At a second panel discussion, also chaired by Stefan Hundt, prominent art curators Marilyn Martin and Christopher Till will discuss South African Art Museums - Quo Vadis?

Tuesday 13 June: 09:30 at the Municipal Auditorium Other talks on the visual arts have topics ranging from A Life in Art with Frank Kilbourn, Executive Chairman of Strauss & Co (Saturday 10 June: 11:00); and The Power of Abstract Art by Marilyn Martin, which comprises two presentations on The Origins and Practices of Abstraction in Europe and its Influence on 20th Century Painting and Abstract Painting in South Africa - Then and Now. (Wednesday 14 June: 09:30 & 11:00) Stories behind the Canvas, presented by social historian Felicity Jervis, is subtitled Framed: a

duchess, a dwarf, the dancer and the ‘hero’ and delves into the social history, secrets and reality behind some world-famous portaits (Wednesday 14 June: 14:30).

Rock Art of the Western Cape is presented by John Parkington, Emeritus Professor in Archaeology at the University of Cape Town (Saturday 17 June: 11:00). Michael Godby will discuss Contemporary South African Photography in a talk titled The Past in the Present - Continuity and Disruption (Tuesday 13 June: 11:00) while Christopher Till, Director of the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg as well as the director of the Gold of Africa Museum in Cape Town, will present a talk titled What Remains is Tomorrow (Monday 12 June: 09:30).

Art and metaphor will be the subject of a discussion, Who is Alice? between two wellknown artists and sculptors, Wilma Cruise and Gordon Froud (Monday 12 June: 11:00).

BOOKS

Three authors will discuss their recently published books at the festival. They are Bill Nasson, Distinguised Professor in the Department of History at Stellenbosch University who wrote History Matters (Sunday 1 June: 11:00), and Dikgang Moseneke, Ex-Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court who published his autobiography, My Own Liberator (Saturday 17 June: 09:30). They will be in conversation with writer Christopher Hope.

In Dawid’s Return (Saturday 17 June: 14:00), Patricia Glyn will talk about her journey to the Kalahari to find traces of a long-dead Bushman, Makai Kruiper, a legendary mystic, hunter and healer who roamed ‘The Thirst Land’ a century ago. In 1999, Dawid and his Khomani clan won a land claim against the former apartheid government and turned their ancestral home into what is now the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

FynArts will also, for the first time, take festivalgoers along a Book Trail. Three of the book shops, bookmark, Hemingways and The Book Cottage, will each host a themed exhibition for book lovers and bibliophiles. FynArts authors will also be hosted at some of these three venues and at Lembu Gallery, where festival-goers can meet the authors and have their books signed.

There is no charge.

Youth Day, 16 June, will be dedicated to children’s writers and while writers of adult books will be featured on Saturday 17 June.

The times on both days are from 11:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 15:00.

At bookmark you can meet Elizabeth Wasserman, Professor of Microbiology at the Stellenbosch University, whose books take children on action-filled adventures of the imagination; and Christopher Hope, the awardwinning journalist, playwright, poet and author of 21 books, including his latest novel, Jimfish.

Hemingways will host Mike Burton, author of When I was a Fish – Tales of an Ichthyologist, and Craig Bartholomew Strydom, co-author of Sugar Man – The Life, Death and Resurrection of Sixto Rodriguez. At The Book Cottage, festival-goers will have the opportunity to meet Niki Daly,

award-winning author-illustrator of children’s picture books, and Dikgang Moseneke, author of My Own Liberator. Poet Kobus Moolman will be hosted at Lembu Gallery.

MUSIC For a musical note, traditional music artist and cultural historian Dizu Plaatjies of Amampondo fame and currently a lecturer at the UCT Department of Ethnomusicology, will present The Music of Sub - Saharan Africa (Monday 12 June: 14:00). Dizu will also exhibit his substantial collection of handmade musical instruments from sub-Saharan Africa in the foyer of the Municipal Auditorium.

Pianoman Charl du Plessis, a Steinway Artist and lecturer at the University of Pretoria, will talk about Crossover Music: the Black Sheep or Champion? With genres getting less rigid and defined, and the eclectic mix of styles becoming ever more popular, where does this leave the classic connoisseur and how can crossover music solve this dilemma? (Friday 16 June: 11:00)

ENVIRONMENT Also on the programme is a presentation by consulting architect, Alex Robertson and Jo-Anne Duggan, an Associate Research Fellow in the Archive and Public Culture Research Initiative, UCT, on the design, development and challenges of West Coast Fossil Park: a new centre (Thursday 15 June: 14:00).

In his talk Sustainability through Science and Environment (Friday 16 June: 09:30) Ichthyologist Mike Bruton will discuss the importance of popular science and environmental writing in changing our mind-set and behaviour, and addressing the environmental crisis. Another richly illustrated presentation related to the environment is Brood Parasitic Behaviour in Birds: The Art of Deception, by the well-known and knowledgeable birder, Anton Odendaal (Thursday 15 June: 11:00).

HISTORY And for something completely different, Dr James Gray will talk about The Summer of ’42: The Fall of Tobruk. About this topic, James says: “Seventyfive years on, the story of the fall of Tobruk is deserving of re-telling… bringing home to a younger generation the tragic events that affected the lives of thousands of young South Africans.” (Thursday 15 June: 11:00 at the United Church)

BREAKFAST TALKS Constitutional Matters is a Q&A session over breakfast with Dikgang Moseneke, who recently retired after being South Africa’s longest serving Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court and is widely regarded for his leadership style that expresses courage, intellect and compassion.

(Sunday 18 June: 09:00 at the Hermanus Golf Club).

Catch the Rainbow with well-known antiapartheid activist and acclaimed actress, director, author, poet and playwright Gcina Mholphe on Thursday 15 June has been cancelled.

T

he Marine Hotel will once again host the popular Wine Plus Series during the Hermanus FynArts Festival from 9 – 18 June. The theme of this year’s event, curated by Melvyn Minnaar and supported by Amorim, is ‘Personality’.

Accordingly, each of the presenters have been asked to select six or eight wines of ‘personality’ – those that reflect something uniquely personal, while also shining a spotlight on the state of the wine industry. So while there is no specific wine theme for each session, these experts, personalities in their own right, are challenged to show the best, the traditional, the most unusual, and the cutting edge of wine today.

There will be a total of four morning sessions, four afternoon sessions and two early evening sessions to choose from at a cost of R140 per session. Inclusive tickets are also available at R450 for all four morning or all four afternoon sessions, and R1 000 for all 10 sessions.

WINE PLUS SERIES DAY 1: Saturday 10 June Pieter Ferreira – 12:00 South Africa’s foremost expert of sparkling wine and award-winning cellarmaster of Graham Beck Wines. Whether he will choose MCC only remains to be seen.

Duimpie Bayly – 15:00 A man with roots in the beautiful legacy of local wine, a judge and expert, and a man who also knows the colourful stories from way back when he was the production head of Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery up to today. Expect wit matched to wine.

Pieter Ferreira – 17:00 The topic is About Méthode Cap Classique and the master of MCC will talk about bubbles, glasses and the future. He will also give an overview of the MCC producers’ association, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

DAY 2: Sunday 11 June Jan Boland Coetzee – 12:00 Expert knowledge and insight from a legendary winemaker, who recalls at a sip the vintage details of every wine he made at cellars such as Kanonkop and Vriesenhof, ever inspired by the classics. SOLD OUT Rosa Kruger – 15:00 South Africa’s pioneering “old vine” viticulturist, whose passion has led to the documentation of the oldest vines, and inspires leading ‘young guns’ to make wine true to their nature.

DAY 3: Monday 12 June Ntsiki Biyela – 12:00 A ground-breaking winemaker and accomplished judge who shifted the cultural, racial and gender definition of cellar expertise. After years at Stellakaya Winery, she now flies under her own label.

Razvan Macici – 15:00 After driving the Nederburg brand to new and

adventurous heights, he is now head winemaker of mega company Distell, driven by precision, knowledge and skill.

Thursday 15 June: 12:00 at The Marine Hotel. (The tasting on Friday 16 June is sold out.)

DAY 4: Tuesday 13 June Christian Eedes – 12:00 As a judge, organiser of various top-end competitions and editor of the online Wine Magazine, few commentators are so well placed for an overview of the state of the industry.

History of Winemaking in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is the topic of a tasting by Anthony Hamilton Russell, who will give an overview of the history of the area, its soils and wines. Two of Hamilton Russell’s wines that were awarded five Platter stars will be served for tasting during the presentation. Tickets: R140.

Friday 16 June: 15:00 at Braemar House on the Hamilton Russell Vineyards estate.

HOW TO BOOK FOR FYNARTS Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.webtickets.co.za or via the Hermanus FynArts website at www.hermanusfynarts.co.za Tickets are also for sale at the FynArts Office, Station Building, Mitchell Street or by telephone on 060 957 5371 / 028 312 2629 during the following hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00 Saturday 10:00 - 15:00 Sunday 11:00 - 13:00 Extended hours will apply during the festival

Wine Critics’ Choice – 15:00 A widely-popular presentation that challenges wine critics, writers and judges to nominate one wine only. It’s great fun, and also indicative of ‘personality’ – both of the critic and the wine! Stand a chance to win the set of Critics’ Choice wines by buying a raffle ticket in aid of the Hermanus FynArts Development Fund.

Christian Eedes – 17:00 The country’s leading wine appraiser will discuss the use of the 100-point system and other issues in this session titled About Wine Ratings.

OTHER TASTINGS Apart from the Wine Plus Series, there will also be two independent tastings. The Gin Revolution will be presented by Paul du Toit of Wine Village, who is a gin expert and consummate storyteller. Paul has been in the industry since the first South African craft gin was produced and will take you on a unique journey while exploring the inner soul of our Gins. Tickets: R140.

FOOD EVENTS Jazzed Up Dinner at Dutchies on Grotto Beach will comprise a three-course meal paired with a mystery jazz performer. Tickets: R300. To book, call 028 314 1392.

Thursday 15 June: 18:30 at Dutchies.

Food as Art will be presented by the culinary team of Creation Wines. Enjoy a unique threecourse dinner paired with Creation’s awardwinning wines and music to match – a rare celebration of food, wine and music! Tickets: R550. Call 028 212 1107 for bookings.

Thursday 15 June: 18:30 at Creation

WHAT’s COOKING A series of food demonstrations will see six select chefs share nationally and internationally flavoured recipes and personal stories during these light-hearted and interactive sessions in the gourmet kitchens of private Hermanus homes.

Abalone in the Far East presents a one-off opportunity to gain an insider’s look into the Far Eastern history and preparation of abalone, as well as a taste of this rare delicacy paired with local wine. Presented by food technologist Werner Piek and Managing Director of Abagold, Tim Hedges. Tickets: R100.

Wednesday 14 June: 11:00 at 179, 2nd Street, Voëlklip Join Eunice Rademeyer for The Arabesque Kitchen as she shares her kitchen wisdom and passion for Lebanese food made from the simplest ingredients. Tickets: R100. This event on Thursday 15 June at 11:00 has sold out but there will be a repeat at 15:00. The venue is 179, 2nd Street, Voëlklip.

Rosa Neser will share a wonderful collection of mouth-watering desserts during her demonstration, Just Desserts; Well-known local chef Tullishe Roux will highlight her love of Japanese culture and food in Why Japan?; and clean-eating foodie Emilia Knight, who spent many years living in Scotland, will demonstrate three of her favourite recipes in Scottish Food – Not just Haggis and Shortbread. All these demonstrations are sold out. Chef Warwick Taylor and Haward Chibaya of Source’s Breadmaking Workshop has also sold out.

F

ynArts is a classic arts festival and also a winter school that includes not only talks, but also demonstrations and workshops.

There are 24 different workshops in various art forms on the programme this year, all proving to be very popular and some are already sold out.

The full programme can be viewed on www.hermanusfynarts.co.za and a list of requirements and further details will be sent to workshop participants.

MULTIPLE-DAY WORKSHOPS Losing and Finding/Finding and Losing is a three-day workshop presented by Jill Trappler, an artist who consistently explores different modes of non-representational art in a variety of media. This workshop offers each participant the opportunity to gain access to the subject matter they would like to work with – figurative or non-figurative.

Tickets: R1 350 (incl. light lunches). Monday 12 – Wednesday 14 June: 10:00 – 15:30 at the United Church Hall Watercolour Ways is a two-day workshop presented by Carl Becker, an established artist and veteran of many exhibitions, which is sold out.

ONE-DAY WORKSHOPS

through conscious camera work. Participants will create a mini portfolio of three fine art images during the workshop. Suitable for intermediate and more advanced photographers. Tickets: R500 (incl. a light lunch). Thursday 15 June: 10:00 - 15:30 at the United Church Hall The Short Story is presented by Christopher Hope, who has published several collections of stories and loves the form more than ever. The morning session will consider the shape and feel of a good story, and participants will be asked to write a very, very short story for reading in the afternoon session. Tickets: R500 / Scholars (Gr 10 – 12) R250 (incl. photocopies and a light lunch).

Friday 16 June: 10:00 - 15:30 at the Windsor Hotel Design. Decorate. Detail will be presented by Madoda Fani, whose work is sought-after by collectors all over the world. Participants will work on clay slabs to practice the techniques Madoda uses to produce his unique pots. The hand-carved details are inspired by nature: plants, insects and animals. Tickets: R200 (incl. a light lunch). Friday 16 June: 10:00 – 15:30 at Enlighten Trust, Swartdam Road

Several one-day workshops are sold out, including Life Drawing at Benguela Cove, Marvellous Mugs by Hennie Meyer; Plein Air Landscape by Christopher David Reid; The Memoir by Christopher Hope; Watercolour Ways by Carl Becker; and Create a Children’s Picture Book by Niki Daly. At the time of going to print, tickets were still available for the following:

Mark Making, presented by Monique DayWilde, will inspire experienced and would-be artists to develop a more creative approach through play and experimentation. Nontraditional mark-making tools and materials will be used and a simple artist’s book will be created. Tickets: R500 (incl. a light lunch) / Scholars R350 (Gr 10 – 12). Saturday 17 June: 10:00 – 15:30 at the United Church Hall

Art of Flute Making, presented by Dizu Plaatjies, the founder member and former leader of the group Amampondo and more recently, of an ensemble called Ibuyambo. He is an acclaimed musician and composer of arrangements drawn from African musical styles. When not on stage, he presents workshops widely in Africa and in the United States, Scandinavia and the Netherlands.

Tickets: R200 / Scholars R80. Saturday 10 June: 10:00 - 12:30 at Enlighten Trust, Swartdam Road

Felted House-shoes is a fun and stress-free workshop, presented by Gerda Möhr. Select one of three different patterns and make your own shoes, decorated according to your own unique style and taste. Anyone with a basic stitching knowledge is welcome. Tickets: R550 (incl. kit and a light lunch) / R400 scholars (Gr 10 -12).

Saturday 17 June: 9:30 - 15:30 at the Windsor Hotel

Black & White Photography is presented by Anita de Villiers, a professional photographer and photojournalist, who has distinguished herself as a Black & White photographer and teacher. This workshop is suitable for intermediate and more advanced photographers. Tickets: R500 (incl. a light lunch). Tuesday 13 June: 10:00 - 15:30 at the Windsor Hotel Birding for Beginners invites bird lovers to join Anton Odendaal, chair of BirdLife Overberg, in discovering the beauty and diversity of the Cape Whale Coast’s highly sought-after endemic and near-endemic bird species, and where they may be found. Tickets: R350 (incl. course notes and a light lunch). Wednesday 14 June: 10:00 - 15:30 at the Fernkloof Hall in Fernkloof Nature Reserve Exploring Photography as Fine Art is a workshop by Anita de Villiers, subtitled Beyond the Subject, which focuses on guiding participants into developing their own visual voice

Having fun with sound and using music as a means of expression is the aim of Everybody can Improvise, presented by Charl du Plessis.

Everyone is welcome, regardless of age or music background. The only requirements are two open ears, one open mind and two pencils. Tickets: R150 / Scholars R50. Saturday 17 June: 10:00 at the Enlighten Trust, Swartdam Road

HALF-DAY WORKSHOPS Among the half-day workshops that have sold out are Mosaic – Colours and Texture by Karla Duterloo; Drawing with Light & Dark by Christopher David Reid; and The Fine Art of Beading by Penny Cornell.

Cellphone Photography will include a slideshow of hints and tips on how to take great photos with a cellphone, after which participants will wander along Harbour Road to Sculpture on the Cliffs with professional photographers Leanne Dryburgh and Peter Hassall. Prizes will be given for the winning photos taken on this Photo

Walk. Tickets: R250 / Scholars R150. The workshop on Saturday 10 June has sold out, but there will be a second workshop on Monday 12 June: 9:30 - 11:30 at the Windsor Hotel Silversmith and Design will entail a morning’s introduction to the art of goldsmiths, after which participants will make their own silver ring under the guidance of Ralph and Heidi Walton. You will be taken through all the steps and processes from melting metal to working on final finishes.

Tickets: R500 (incl. refreshments). Monday 12 June and Thursday 15 June: 9:00 - 13:00 at Ralph Walton Jewellery, Hemel-en-Aarde Village Join professional photographers Leanne Dryburgh and Peter Hassall on Voëlklip Beach for Lowlight Photography and use the mountains and sea as a backdrop for your canvas. This fun and informative Educational Photowalk won the Best Adventure Award at the 2014 Cape Gateway Show. A camera that can attach to a tripod is essential, and tripods are available for hire.

Tickets: R250. Monday 12 June: 17:00 - 19:00 at Voëlklip Beach Join Niki Daly for Origami for Beginners and learn the basic folds of origami; how to fold two or more pieces of paper and how to follow origami instructions. All ages welcome. Children 8 - 12 must be accompanied by an adult who will be counted as a participant. Niki is an origami artist and a member of Origami for Africa. Tickets: R300 / scholars R250 (incl. all materials and refreshments). Friday 16 June: 10:00 - 13:00 at the United Church Hall.

DEMONSTRATIONS Learn all about Framing Pictures with Mark Senekal as he takes you through the different types of frames and what to expect from a picture framer. Tickets: R100. Monday 12 & Thursday 15 June: 11:00 at Lifestyle Framing Studio, Dirkie Uys Street, Hermanus Sculptor Willie Botha presents Live Bronze Art Casting, demonstrating this ancient art and the significant new techniques that have been developed. Share in the excitement of a roaring furnace as you watch Willie and his team do a live bronze casting. Tickets: R100. Tuesday 13 & Thursday 15 June: 11:00 at Willie Botha Sculpture Studio, Argon Street, Hermanus Industria The Magic of Making Felt is presented by Gerda Möhr, who is set to surprise with her hands-on demonstration by showing off the wonder of handmade felt. Attendees will handle wool in its raw and unprocessed form and experience how it is transformed into a soft flannel-like fabric that has many uses. Tickets: R100. Wednesday 14 June: 11:00 at the Windsor Hotel Bibliophiles are invited to attend Judge a Book by its Cover, presented by master bookbinder Alex Faria, who will demonstrate, from start to finish, how he restores family treasures. Tickets: R100. Saturday 17 June: 14:00 at the Windsor Hotel

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23 May 2017

The art of framing made mirror frames.

Hedda Mittner

M

ark Senekal opened Lifestyle Framing Studio in May last year and celebrates his first birthday in Hermanus this month. Those who have not visited his framing studio in Dirkie Uys Street, will have the opportunity to meet Mark when he presents two demonstrations during FynArts titled Framing Pictures, on Monday 12 and Thursday 15 June at 11:00 at his studio.

ARTWALKERS WIN BIG Artwalkers had the opportunity to purchase a raffle ticket and receive a lovely abalone shell pendant, donated by Heart of Abalone, at the Hermanus First Fridays on 5 May. All tickets were entered into the lucky draw and the winners were announced last week – Nadine Rusch of Lotus Health & Beauty, who was very excited about her big prize of sterling silver abalone shell earrings donated by Geta Finlayson, and local watercolour artist Maureen Tomaino and Maryna Visagie, a member of the Hermanus Art Circle, who each won two tickets sponsored by FynArts. The Heart of Abalone themed Artwalk was sponsored by this tourism company that conducts in-depth tours of Abagold, the abalone farm situated in the New Harbour. Maureen won two tickets to the food demonstration offered by Abagold during FynArts, titled Abalone in the Far East, while Maryna received two tickets to a FynArts talk titled Sustainability through Science and Environmental Writing. All the winners are regular Artwalkers – Nadine bought her winning ticket at Canvas of Life, the gallery of local artist Reinet de Jager, while Maureen and Maryna bought theirs at the Hermanus Art Circle’s pop-up gallery at the Whale House Theatre. This month’s Artwalk was the last one of the season and this highly popular event will resume on 1 September after their winter break.

Above are Reinet de Jager, Nadine Rusch and Geta Finlayson; and below are Chantel Louskitt, admin manager of Fynarts (centre) with Maureen Tomaino and Maryna Visagie.

PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner

Framing is a topic close to Mark’s heart. “I’m a creative picture framer – not just a certificate framer,” he says, emphasising that framing is an art form in its own right. “A single artwork or photograph can be framed in many different ways, and each one will completely change it. It can also cost anything from a few hundred to a few thousand rand, but at the end of the day the frame has to be visually correct for the artwork.”

Mark has been in the business for 30 years and his personal taste leans towards the quirky and out-of-the-ordinary, which is on evident display in his studio. Among his specialities are round and oval frames, and custom-

Mark hails from the Eastern Cape and has been in the business for 30 years. Born in Port Elizabeth, he moved to Pretoria with his family as a youngster and developed a love for art, photography and woodwork since his schooldays. In 1987 he relocated to the Eastern Cape and settled in Graaff-Reinet, where he opened a Foto First shop and distinguished himself as a professional photographer, framer and graphic designer.

At the beginning of last year Mark felt ready for a change, and a holiday in Hermanus with his girlfriend Conchita convinced them that this was where they wanted to make their new home. Having secured the premises in Dirkie Uys Street, they made the big move in May. “During my years in GraaffReinet I worked with Sanparks, tourism offices and other institutions, organisations, schools and businesses in designing not only their corporate identities, but also their signage, brochures, websites and their marketing platforms at national exhibitions and indabas,” says Mark. He also worked alongside celebrated interior designer Stephen Falcke on

the renovation of the Drostdy Hotel by framing some of his own works, and the artworks and mirrors at this prestigious five-star establishment.

As the fourth oldest town in South Africa, Graaff-Reinet has a rich history and Mark was also involved with the local museum and the heritage society. He has taken countless photographs of sites in and around GraaffReinet that painstakingly replicate old photographs taken from the same distance and angle. He is keen to get involved with the Hermanus History Society and perhaps roll out a similar project here.

At Lifestyle Framing Studio, Mark gives personal attention to each client. Among the services he offers are: Customised and specialised framing (anything and everything!); photography (events, weddings, conferences, interiors, wildlife, aerial and any commissioned photography); Specialised photo printing to any size (including canvas printing, scanning of negative and positive film; touch-ups and restoration); and graphic design (anything from concept designs to brochures, pamphlets, signage, banners, vinyls etc.).

Visit The LifeStyle Framing Studio at 7 Dirkie Uys Street or contact Mark on 082 415 5035 or marksenekal@telkomsa.net.

Mark Senekal in his framing studio with examples of some of the frames that are available at LifeStyle Studio.

Picture framing basics – What you need to know: According to Mark, there are a few basic rules of thumb that will help you in deciding on a frame for that special photograph or artwork. The first important step is to familiarise yourself, with the help of your framer, with the basic components of a picture frame.

1. Mouldings – There are 3 types: synthetic, solid wood and metal. The most commonly used is synthetic (cheaper and environmentally friendly). Wood is richer (and more expensive) and used more with a quality media such as a valuable oil painting.

Metal (like aluminium or hand

made from steel) can also be used but is expensive.

2. Mount boards – The purpose of mount boards (also known as a matt board) is to create a border between the frame and the artwork, thereby drawing the viewer’s eye inward, towards the piece.

Generally speaking, mount boards are not used with oil paintings or when glazing (glass) is not used. The 3 distinct decisions to make with regards to matting are deciding on the number of layers, which colours to use, and the quality of the board.

Your framer can explain and

demonstrate the number of layers and the colours available, and must be able to explain the quality of the board and what this means.

3. Glazing – Typically, the average framer uses 3 types of glazing: standard 2mm clear glass, acrylic (also known as plexiglass) and museum glass.

Acrylic is used for very big frames where breakage is a factor and some acrylic also has UV and anti-glare properties, which your framer can explain to you. Museum glass is fragile and expensive, and used for art pieces requiring UV and glare protection.

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23 May 2017

Kunskantoor: Not your average office headquarters of a South African Police counterinsurgency unit, which functioned as a paramilitary hit squad and became the site of multiple executions of political opponents of the apartheid government.

Hedda Mittner

R

enzske Scholtz has brought a breath of fresh air to the art scene in Hermanus with her edgy contemporary art gallery, Kunskantoor, which many locals have come to know through the First Fridays Artwalk.

Renzske and her family – husband Robert Hofmeyr, eight-year-old twins Jonah and David, and 20-month-old Elijah, moved to Hermanus from Greyton last year, where she ran a gallery featuring the works of innovative Cape Town and Overberg artists. Having secured premises in The Courtyard off Harbour Road, where her neighbours are Geta Finlayson Studio and Abalone Art Gallery, Renzske opened Kunskantoor with a collection of unusual works by artists who have not previously been represented in Hermanus.

With a Masters degree in Fine Arts from UCT, Renzske says she has a preference for cutting edge artists who push the boundaries in terms of representation. Her gallery is filled with quirky contemporary works by artists such as Karlien de Villiers, David Kuijers, Heike Davies, Anton Karstel, Rebecca Haysom, Carl Becker and Richard Smith, which deliver strong social comment and insights into human nature.

“I’m interested in career artists, not hobbyists,” she says. “Art is a life-long calling that goes beyond mere representation and creating pretty pictures – it’s about what the artist is trying to say. Art feeds the soul and there is a role for it in everyone’s life.”

Although Renzske is serious about art, she is a remarkably down-to-earth person with a wry

Renzske Scholtz (right) with her sister Suzaan Caldwell in her art gallery, Kunskantoor. sense of humour and these qualities are reflected in the artists she represents. One is immediately struck by the touch of playful irony and irreverence in the works on display at Kunskantoor. “Most of my friends are artists and collectors, I’ve been working with them for many years, helping them as a consultant in building their collections,” says Renzske.

At her side is older sister Suzaan, who has a background in tourism and now does marketing and social media, and also helps out with the administration and management of the gallery. The sisters are very close – they both got married in 2009 and became pregnant at the same time, and when Renzske moved to Hermanus, Suzaan and her family followed suit. Between them they have five children who are practically growing up as siblings.

These strong family ties are richly illustrated in Renzske’s book The Farm, which forms part of the dissertation she did for her Masters degree, titled Remembering the Past, on their old family farm Vlakplaas. “The twins were about a year old and I was not working. I was mentally bored, so I decided to do my Masters in Fine Arts, choosing landscape photography as my medium,“ she says. “I have always been drawn to the power of photography. There is always something sad and nostalgic about photographs, a tangible longing for something that has been lost.”

Vlakplaas, situated 20 km west of Pretoria, had been in her mother’s family for three generations before her grandfather sold it to the government’s state security department in 1979. He had no way of knowing that this beloved family farm would become the

“When the spine-chilling details of the torture and murder that took place at Vlakplaas came to light at the TRC, they stood in stark contrast to the idyllic memories of my mother’s innocent childhood on the farm,” says Renzske, who visited the farm for the first time with her mother, Mercia, in 2004. “She showed me where they had played as children on the banks of the Hennops River and in the ‘butter room’ – which later functioned as a torture chamber.

Trying to reconcile these contrasts has been a painful journey for my whole family. There is so much horror and you expect to see it somehow, but on the surface it’s still just a beautiful landscape.”

For generations, the name ‘Vlakplaas’ had signalled the flat, peaceful plains of the Highveld, the beloved ancestral home of Renzske’s family. Through her lens, she captures this contradiction and examines the ways in which land can become transformed by the events it bears witness to, turning it into what Renzske terms a “trauma landscape”.

The whole family, including Renzske’s parents, have now started a new life in Hermanus. “I’m very happy here,” she says. “Hermanus embodies that which is best about a small town as well as a metropolis – it’s vibrant and busy, with great restaurants, art galleries and bookshops.

Combine that with the natural beauty of the beaches, the cliff path and fynbos-clad mountains, and you have pretty much all your heart could desire. An added bonus is the friendly people and sense of community.”

23 May 2017

Clive Prins Youth Treatment Programme turns two

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o celebrate the contribution that the Clive Prins Youth Treatment Programme has made in the lives of young substance abusers, a small event was recently held at the Dutch Reformed Church to acknowledge the programme’s highlights and achievements.

The Clive Prins Youth Treatment Programme (CPYTP) was launched by the Sustainable Futures Trust two years ago on 9 May, with the blessing of the then Executive Mayor, Nicolette Botha-Guthrie. Abagold Development Fund assisted in identifying this serious social problem that needed addressing and not only provided funding, but have continued to give their unstinting support.

“We are still the only programme working with children who are abusing substances and the fact that we have started a fifth unit (including one at a primary school this year) should be seen as alarming,” said Ann Wright, the programme manager.

Members of the CPYTP team, including counsellor Xavier Clarke and social workers Marlinda Wright and Nonopha Gama, each spoke about their experiences over the past two years while working with children from as young as nine to seventeen years at schools in Hawston, Mt Pleasant and Zwelihle.

At the back are Marlinda Wright and Xavier Clarke, and in the front are Nonopha Gama and Ann Wright of the Clive Prins Youth Treatment Programme.

Each treatment programme takes between 16 and 20 weeks to complete and clients who relapse may rejoin a programme. Each therapist’s story reiterated the trauma that their clients experience almost on a daily basis from shootings, knife attacks, gangsterism, domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse. “The boys do not realise that they are experiencing trauma as they have come to accept that this is their way of life,” said Ann. “Substance abuse masks their pain and layers of anger.

Illegal shebeens have mush-

roomed in Zwelihle and drinking has become a popular social activity in public spaces and in the home. Children younger than 12 are purchasing alcohol.

They sniff glue and this starts their downward spiral into criminal activities, risky sexual behaviour and absenteeism from school.”

South Africans are the biggest drinkers in Africa. In a recent survey at schools in the Western Cape it was found that 66% of grade 10-12 learners were drinking – the highest stats for alcohol abuse among school children in South Africa.

Troubled children disrespect rules and boundaries, and have no dreams and ambitions, but with a different approach and with the help of the community, the CPYTP believes that if these learners could have healthy lifestyles with positive role models, afternoon and holiday activities, they could turn their lives around.

Wendy Colyn, CEO of the Trust, added: “I am grateful for the support of the local community of the CPYTP. We are making a positive difference in many young lives.”

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY Two members of Legacy Martial Arts Academy kept up the Overstrand’s name during the recent South African Kickboxing Championships held in Durban. With only two participants the Overberg Team was the smallest of all the teams that took part in the championships that drew more than 1 500 participants. Miguell Boshoff (left) won all three of his matches in the boys U84 kg division, making him a triple South African champion. Shihan Ruehan van Romburgh successfully defended his South African men U89 kg title for the 5th year running.

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W

hen those winter rains finally come and the weather turns icy, exercising the dog seems like such an unpleasant chore but the reality is that exercise could save his or her life.

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23 May 2017

Exercise for pets is a life saver providing exercise ‘equipment’.

Scratching posts and climbing trees encourage your cat to stretch, leap, chase and explore.

Cats love height so a climbing tree with platforms is ideal. Chat with our EberVet Vetshop staff about the Marltons range and we’ll help you hand pick the one that’s right for your cat’s needs.

My Pet Dr Hilldidge Beer

Just like humans, pets need exercise to stay healthy and just like us, they generally don’t do it unless they’re encouraged to.

Domesticated pets have no need to hunt for food; it’s put in front of them at least twice a day so unlike wild animals that walk many kilometres each day in search of prey, our cats and dogs often don’t get as much exercise as they should. It’s up to us to ensure they do.

weight, and obesity is currently the biggest health problem facing South African pets. We might think that extra tummy roll can’t be too bad for our Labrador or Pug but the reality is that overweight pets have shorter lives.

No exercise means more trouble With no exercise but regular feeding, your pet is at serious risk of gaining too much

Obesity puts pets at a much higher risk for a host of lifethreatening diseases including heart disease and cancer; even ailments like arthritis, skin and urinary

conditions are associated with being overweight and that means higher vets’ bills! It’s also true that fat pets are less happy than slimmer, more active pets.

Boredom is another consequence of lack of exercise and this usually manifests in destructive behaviour: chewing or clawing the furniture, breaking through fences, or climbing onto rooftops. An animal looking for stimulation

is often unfairly punished for ‘bad behaviour’.

What you can do 1. Walk your dog every day (twice a day, if possible) no matter how big or small your yard or how big or small the dog. Walking not only stimulates circulation and builds muscle, it also stimulates your dog’s senses and creates the opportunity for socialising with other dogs. This is of enormous benefit if your dog is the

only pet at home.

2. Play with your pets.

Playtime not only exercises all the muscle groups (jumping, running, chasing, biting a ball), it also reinforces your love for your pet and pets thrive on love. EberVet Vetshops stock a wide variety of toys that are non-toxic and safe for chewing.

3. If you have an indoor cat, ensure that you keep him/her exercised and entertained by

4. If you have a new pup in the home, join a puppy training class. Having to be at the class each week forces you and your pet to get up and out there, and your dog will learn important socialisation skills that will benefit you all in the future.

5. Don’t overdo it. Be aware of your pet’s limitations and exercise accordingly. Dogs with arthritis, puppies with growing bones and elderly pets must not be over exercised. Ask your vet for guidance.

Hilldidge Beer is CEO of the EberVet Pet Care Group and EberVet Vetshops

23 May 2017

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My Home To advertise in The Village NEWS, contact Rina de Wet on 083 604 0808

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Opening up doors to the past and future

The Overstrand is awash with interesting stories about its past and the preservation of these stories is of the utmost importance.

glimpse into the past and makes it possible for us to retain the present in order to ensure a better tomorrow,” Komani said.

Overstrand Municipality, in conjunction with the National and Western Cape Archives and Records Service, recently hosted an awareness day as part of this year’s Archives Awareness Week at the Thusong Centre in Hawston.

The day highlighted career opportunities available within the archives’ profession as “archival records must be sorted, arranged and properly described in order for them to become accessible”.

In welcoming schools, researchers, historians, academics and members from participating countries of Malawi, Botswana and Swaziland, Cllr Andrew Komani said Archives Awareness Week offers an opportunity to the public to learn about the importance of preserving documented history and to understand and appreciate its impact on our daily lives.

“The concept of preserving information and making it as user-friendly as possible for the public to access, must not be under-valued. History and information that has been preserved serves to act as a tool that can assist in decision making by allowing us to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and inspires us to create a better future. “Archives are time capsules containing information that affords a

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23 May 2017

Did you know?

• The Western Cape Archives and Records Service is the country’s oldest archives service, dating from 1651.

• Access to archival records is free to any member of the public who visits the Western Cape Archives and Records Service.

• Municipalities are required by law to transfer records after 20 years if those records have enduring value.

• The historical photographic collection consists of approximately 85 000 negatives, photographs and colour slides. Some of these images date back to the 1850s.

• The repository is in possession of ±16 000 maps, plans and sketches dating from the 17th century that include regional, municipal and farm boundaries and architectural drawings of buildings and houses.

Ensure your estate is up to date

I

t is not always easy to talk about proper estate planning but it is one of the most important things you can leave behind when you die. The amount of documentation needed by an executor of an estate is mindboggling and for that you need to be prepared.

Local attorney Debbie-Lee Smith has come up with an easy and affordable way to ensure that everything the executor needs is stored in one place and easily accessible.

“Having dealt with estates I know how much work it is and it is always difficult for a bereaving family to supply all the information and documentation an executor needs. That is why I came up with the idea of a virtual briefcase filled with everything that will be needed already sorted and stored in a safe place,” says Debbie-Lee. The idea behind the briefcase called InCase is simple and effective. “It is an information organising tool which in conjunction with the client captures and stores all the required estate information in a virtual briefcase – a secure electronic portfolio on cloud

storage. This includes copies of relevant documents and will be released to your executor when required,” says Debbie-Lee. According to her many people are highly organized when it comes to storing their documentation such as wills, bank and clothing accounts, life policies, title deeds, insurance policies etc. But sometimes your organizing and that what is needed is not the same thing. In some instances, up to 300 individual documents are needed by an executor and many a time not all of these are stored in the same place or no copies of important documents exist creating a lot of extra stress for those left behind.

“InCase supplies you with a list of everything that is needed by both your family and the executor. By simply following the list you will ensure that the correct documents are available, including those that need to be certified.

Nowadays it is also not just a case of documentation relating to your policies, shares and accounts that need to be looked after but also other little things that we tend to forget about. What will happen to your e-mail or social media accounts after

Debbie-Lee Smith created the InCase system for your estate. your death? Who will ensure that they are closed down?

Many times there is sensitive personal or business information online that needs to be either sent to those who will need it or removed from the internet,” says Debbie-Lee. She says the idea of a virtual briefcase came to her when she was involved in the estate of a 92-year-old lady who organized everything that was needed neatly in a briefcase.

Her estate was wound up without her family having to worry about anything.

“InCase is a cost effective way

to make estate planning easy.

Whether married, divorced, widowed or single, there is often no-one with adequate knowledge of and access to our personal information. By setting up an InCase account the information will be handed over to your executor when needed. This can be done online, on a flash drive or email. It is an affordable modern version of the big box of documents you keep in your cupboard or in your safe.

One added benefit is that you can update your file easily and quickly and the checklist will ensure that you have all the correct documents and information safely stored.”

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23 May 2017

Need an electrical contractor?

e’ve all heard horrid stories about homeowners who experience shoddy work by ‘pirate’ electrical contractors (individuals or firms) not legally registered as electrical contractors, who leave customers with hefty bills for poor workmanship.

In most cases consumers are the ones to lose. Furthermore insurance companies, more often than not, will not cover work that was completed by an unregistered electrical contractor.

In terms of the Electrical Installation Regulations, every user or lessor of an installation

must be in possession of a Certificate of Compliance and Test Report issued by a registered person who is registered as an electrical contractor with the Department of Labour. The Certificate of Compliance must be provided every time a house changes ownership.

A Certificate of Compliance and Test Report is only transferable if it is not older than two years, so if you are selling your property and the Certificate of Compliance and Test Report is older than two years you must have the electrical installation re-tested and a new Certificate of Compliance

Use a member of the ECA (SA)

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/ Test Report issued.

Ensure that the electrical contractor you use is registered with the Department of Labour and secondly, use an electrical contractor who is a member of the Electrical Contractors Association (SA) – ECA (SA) as the ECA (SA) is driven by quality and this is what is expected from electrical contractors when homeowners or tenants use the services of an ECA (SA) member.

Contact the ECA (SA) office to verify if your electrical contractor is an ECA member on 021 462 2690 or email: ecact@iafrica.com

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he French Open Tennis Championships will be held from 28 May to 11 June at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris. The French Open is one of four Grand Slam tennis events, the others being the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. The tournament, often referred to as ‘Roland Garros’, is the only major held on a clay court surface and is the zenith of the spring clay court season.

The tournament was first held in 1891 and known as the French Championships. At that time, it was open to tennis players who were members of French clubs. The first winner was H Biggs, an Englishman who was a Paris resident. The first women's singles tournament with four entries was held in 1897. The "French club members only" tournament was played until 1924, using four different venues

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Get ready for Roland Garros My Sport

By Tony O’Hagan during that period.

In 1925 the French Championships became open to all amateurs internationally and was designated a major championship by the International Lawn Tennis Federation. France won the

Rafa Nadal is tipped to win his 10th French Open and the 15th Major of his career.

Davis Cup on American soil in 1927, with team members being the "four musketeers", Rene Lacoste (famous apparel brand), Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet and Jacques Brugnon.

The following year the French defended the trophy at a new stadium built on land donated

by the Stade de France. The land was offered on the condition that the new stadium be named after the World War I pilot, Roland Garros.

Garros was a renowned World War I fighter pilot and history suggests that he steered his

aeroplane into a German Zeppelin, destroying the craft in what was considered to be the first air battle in world history. Among his other feats was setting an altitude record and becoming the first person to cross the Mediterranean Sea by air. He died in an air battle with the Germans on the day before his 30th birthday and a month before the end of the war.

order of the day. The exponents of the baseline game normally come out tops on this surface.

Usually these are the European players who have grown up on clay courts and are adept at "sliding" towards the ball. Many of these players do not advance to the net and as the saying goes in tennis parlance "he came to the net twice, once for the toss and the second time to shake hands".

The French Open has been played at the Stade de Roland Garros since 1928 and was the first Grand Slam to go open in 1968, allowing both amateurs and professionals to compete.

So, who will end victorious at this years' French Open? Well, on current form is Rafa Nadal, tipped to win his 10th French Open and the 15th Major of his career. He is a clay court master and with Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka not "firing" at present, Nadal has the favourite tag. However, the unpredictability of clay court tennis could produce an unexpected result. If so, it will probably be one of the Europeans.

The French Open is considered the most physically demanding because of the slow playing clay surface. Five sets on clay with long rallies on the slow surface is not suited to the big serve and volley players and prolonged matches are the

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Schools

IN THE FAST LANE The annual Go-Cart Day, which took place on 19 May, is an event that was initiated by Mr Max Michau, who was Hermanus High School deputy principal from 1994 to 2002. The Coke truck stage provided a platform for the class performances where every class from all grades was able to jump and jive to the music of their choice, adding to the festive atmosphere with good music and great imaginative dances. Most of the classes had the moral support of their teachers, but some had their teachers jumping and jiving with them, and one very trusting teacher was even crowd-surfing (maybe we should call it studentsurfing)! The action-packed, nail-biting races were the main event of the day and as always, both the students taking part and those cheering for their favourites agreed that the Hermies outdid themselves again!

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer Titanium Photography

MOSTLY UNDEFEATED Hermanus High showed its mettle in their sport derby against Montagu High School. The U19 teams from Hermies won their respective matches in rugby (35-17), netball (22-17) and hockey (boys 8-0) (girls 1-0). Most of the other teams also won their matches. Thys van der Merwe (above) pushes his way through the Montagu defense and Jaiden Dickson (below) gets ready to pass the ball to one of her team mates.

KINGS & QUEENS This year’s Mr & Miss Hermanus competition was held on the 10 May in the school hall.

Many learners were nominated to compete, and they had been practising for weeks to walk the catwalk to the beat of their chosen music. This year the audience and participants alike were treated to the MC abilities of writer/singer Jak de Priester, who is also a qualified teacher! He entertained the crowd, and helped the nervous participants who had to present a short item to relax. The competition was divided into two sections, namely Juniors (Gr 8 & 9) and Seniors (Gr 10 – 12). The winners in the junior section were Jared Greeff and Elsarie Strauss. The senior category winners were 1st Michele Lucarelli and Haneri van Zyl, 2nd Jérémie Verdoodt and Amy Hess, and 3rd Thys van der Merwe and Kayla Swarts. Mr Hermanus, Michele Lucarelli, is a Rotary exchange student who had been in Hermanus for a year, and had left shortly after to return to Italy.