Saying goodbye is hard to do

Writer: Elaine Davie.

Without a doubt, these have been the happiest six and a half years of my life,” said Principal Greg Hassenkamp during an emotional farewell to the Hermanus High School matric class of 2020 last Friday morning. Most members of his audience would probably have echoed his sentiments.

After the short farewell function on Friday, the matrics formed a guard of honour for the Hassenkamp family (Robert, Amanda, Greg and Megan).

As he leaves to take up the prestigious post of Headmaster at Pretoria Boys’ High School, the largest boys’ school in the country, he will leave very large shoes to fill in Hermanus. In tributes paid to him by Head Girl, Ronelle Coetzee and Head Boy, Kyle Philander at his farewell function, the characteristic which seems to have had the greatest impact on the learners is the personal interest he took in each one of them. He knew them by name and kept track of their progress at the school.

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