The Village NEWS 31 October - 6 November 2018 by The Village NEWS

NEWS NEWS

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The

31 October 2018

Cape Whale Coast

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The adrenalin pumped over the weekend as the final stage of the FNB Wines2Whales 3-day MTB stage race ended in Hermanus on Sunday. The winning team of Candice Lill and Adelheild Morath held off stiff competition to win the Chardonnay title and ride off with the R100 000 first prize purse. On Monday night the race village in Grabouw was evacuated due to gale-force winds that damaged several of the tents. The focus now shifts to the fun riders taking part in the mid-week Pinotage event. The least competitive of the three FNB Wines2Whales events takes place from 29 - 31 October, before the elite men do battle from 2 - 4 November in the Shiraz race. All the races end at The Marine Hotel. See P 21 for more. PHOTO: Greg Beadle

Court order for Schulphoek land

n interim court order has been obtained to prevent anyone from invading the Schulphoek land next to Zwelihle.

intimidate or threaten the Hermanus Beach Club Master Homeowners’ Association, who is the applicant in the case.

According to the order granted on Friday, 26 October by Acting Justice B Martin in the Western Cape High Court, those attempting to invade the Schulphoek land must be restrained from demarcating stands, erecting shacks or bringing building materials onto the property. They may also not

According to court documents, the Beach Club’s Homeowners’ Association applied for an urgent order against four respondents: those attempting to invade the Schulphoek land, landowners Rabie Property Group and Cavcor, and the Overstrand Municipality.

The order also stipulates, according to an interim order with immediate effect, that the landowners and the Municipality must take all steps necessary to prevent further invasion of the property; they must approach the High Court for an appropriate interdict; ensure that such an interdict is effectively and promptly enforced; lay requisite charges with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and ensure that SAPS fulfil their obligations in respect of the charges.

The Municipality’s law enforcement officials are also to take whatever steps necessary to prevent further invasion of the property. The court order also authorises the Sheriff of the Court to erect notice boards at the entrances and along the border of the property stipulating the contents of the order. Copies of the order must also be served to those people on the property and the content of the order must also be

made public by means of a loudhailer. The Sheriff may also approach the SAPS for assistance. Leslie Viljoen of Cavcor said the Rabie Property Group and Cavcor jointly own the Sculphoek property, but no court order has been served on either company. Municipal Manager, Coenie Groenewald at the time of going to print said the Municipality has not been served with the order. – De Waal Steyn

31 October 2018

De Vette Mossel loves Prawn Flats better, promises new jobs to local suppliers annually.”

Raphael da Silva

According to him De Vette Mossel @Grootbrak is arguably the “greenest” restaurant in South Africa. Only sustainable seafood is served, no Eskom power is utilised, everything is recycled, no plastic straws are offered, and limited plastic packaging used. There is almost no waste and water-usage is also limited. They plan to pursue the same principles at De Vette Mossel @Hermanus.

e Vette Mossel has announced that they will be declining the Municipality’s approval to take over the popular Dutchies Summer Lounge site at Grotto Beach, preferring instead to set up at the Prawn Flats with a promise of ten new jobs and unusual hiring and employment practises. “Of the two sites, the Prawn Flats site is our preferred site, by far, and for a number of reasons. Our aim is to try to open in December and (we) are busy with the necessary processes to obtain final permissions… This will take time, but we are committed to it, and determined that all requirements be fully met before we open,” said Niël du Bois, founder of Die Vette Mossel in a posting on The Village NEWS Facebook site on 27 October. According to him, his son Gustave and his wife, Charné, will operate and own De Vette Mossel @Hermanus. Gustave currently runs the operations of all the restaurants from home in Hermanus while Charné, an ex-Emirates air hostess, has an online jewellery business called Dandalion Gifting. Charné has been an instructor and lifeguard at See en Sand and won the "ystervrou" on her first time doing the course. In a separate interview, Niël adds, “We will create some 10 new job opportunities, of which at least 80 – 85% will be local jobless people from previously disadvantaged communities. In the construction phase, an additional 10 new job opportunities will be created. There will also be other indirect new job and entrepreneurial opportunities, such as providing only alien “rooipitjie” firewood. This has been reserved for entrepreneurs from previously disadvantaged communities.” “We do not work through personnel companies and seek our future staff ourselves. The full value of their wages must go to themselves directly, not to a middleman. We do not worry about criminal records as we believe in second chances. Our staff are trained by me and my senior staff to be responsible for a single dish, and later on, for more. If you, as many of my restaurant friends do, believe that this is a crazy

Charné and Gustave du Bois are looking forward to opening De Vette Mossel at Prawn Flats. idea, you will be surprised,” says Niël. But De Vette Mossel is not a charity. “The most important thing is to deliver the best possible service to our guests. And if you cannot fit in there, you will be replaced. We create opportunities, not freebies. We expect your best, the very best and the rewards will be bountiful. Bonuses of tens of thousands of Rands, a good second-hand car as a present, flying for the first time, helicopter or boat trips are just some of the cherries of that bounty. But it must be deserved. We believe in the principle of live and let live. All staff should share in success, but also in hard times,” explains Niël. A feeding project for the poorest of the poor, as is the case at De Vette Mossel at Groot Brak River where more than 30 poor families are supported during the festive season, will be created for communities in the immediate surroundings. Niël says De Vette Mossel follows a strict policy of where possible only using local suppliers. For instance, only wines from the region will be on offer. “In Mossel Bay De Vette Mossel ploughs more than R3.7 million back

“We have had several discussions, including on-site meetings, with the environmental officers of the Municipality. We would like them to walk step by step with us. We are also fully committed to implementing all relevant legislation and requirements. I have been deeply involved with the environment. Ten years as environmental journalist for Die Burger and as consultant to a couple of National Ministers of Environmental Affairs have fuelled my passion for the environment. I believe we are busy destroying our world with greed, ignorance and arrogance,” says Niël. De Vette Mossel was first established at Groot Brak River, Mossel Bay in 2004. Since then restaurants have opened at Hartbeespoort Dam, North West Province in 2012 and in Parys, Free State in 2014. Guests pay an all-inclusive price of R295 per adult, with pensioners and children being charged less, and can eat as much as they like in the span of three hours over a nine-course rolling buffet meal. Guests are encouraged to bring their own cool boxes with drinks, ice and glasses and a corkage fee will never be charged. “Think of it as something like a “visbraai” on the beach,” says Niël. “This is an experience in unusual and informal surroundings with traditional Cape fishing culture. The only way to really enjoy seafood is perfectly prepared and in abundance, sand under the feet, next to a bonfire, amongst friends and with a glass of good Cape wine in hand. This is what De Vette Mossel Beach Seafood Restaurant believes in.” Niël says that foreign tourists “are sick and tired of ‘plastic’ imitations. They want the ‘real thing’. It is not so much about the food. They crave true traditional South African experiences.”

31 October 2018

Always be prepared for the big what if

rime has increased in all the towns in the Overstrand, and even if this is not good news, everyone has to be prepared in case of an emergency. The Village NEWS chatted to CHARNEL HATTINGH, National Marketing and Communications Manager at Fidelity ADT, about the need-to-know facts of dealing with crime. We are all aware that we need to take certain precautions to avoid criminal activity like ensuring our gates are locked at all times, our alarm is fully functional, and we have all of our emergency numbers on speed dial, but what if you do come into contact with a criminal? Charnel says it’s important to understand that these criminals are usually experienced and seldom operate alone so they almost always have the element of surprise. They are also under pressure, so they can make mistakes if they are challenged. “We recommend that as a family you have thought through and discussed some “what if” scenarios, just in case. Different situations require

different actions and it is important to know what to do when,” she says. What if I am at home and criminals come into my home? She says if you are at home the first thing to do is push the panic button, then at least you know whatever happens, help is on the way. “It’s very important to try and stay calm. Knowing what to do and having a pre-arranged plan for you and your family can save your life. Trying to think when you are under pressure is very hard to do. We advise that you have a couple of plans for different scenarios ready in your head so that you can just do it without having to think twice if it is the right thing to do,” she says. What if they have a firearm? Hattingh says it is never worth being a hero. Goods can always be replaced. She advises that you keep your eyes downcast and don’t offer any resistance or make sudden or jerking movements. What if you have children at home or in your care?

Talk to your children and to domestic staff about different situations. Knowledge is powerful. It is important to have prepared children without scaring them. Ideally you should have an emergency plan in place for “in case” and domestic staff should be aware of this plan for smaller children. The plan can be shared with teenagers and older children. Most criminals are generally not kidnappers. They want to get goods if they come into your home environment.

police and ambulance to make sure you have back up on the way. If possible cordon off the scene. Don’t start cleaning up anything, i.e. broken glass etc.as this will tamper with the crime scene. We recommend you make some physical notes. You can do this on your phone until the SAPS or your private security provider arrives. Limit access to and movement from the area but also remain vigilant as criminals could still be on the scene.

What if I need to leave the premises and walk somewhere? Don’t be a creature of habit. Don’t go to the shop the same time every day for example. Criminals have usually been watching your house for routine activities. If you are walking on the street make sure you don’t walk with headphones in your ears listening to music or carry a lot of cash or valuables. If you are distracted this can make you a target.

What if there are witnesses to a criminal activity? Not everyone wants to be a witness, but a potential witness is anyone present, or in the vicinity of the scene. Ask them not to leave without taking their full details and encourage them not to discuss the incident amongst themselves. This could influence their recall. Also, do not share photos on groups as this could negatively influence the outcome of the case.

What if you are the first person on a crime scene? Push your panic button and call the

What if you think someone is a bogus police officer or worker? Always ask for ID. Blue lights and

sirens can be bought anywhere. A badge on its own is not valid, it must be an appointment card. One way of checking is to hold it in the air. You should see a hologram effect. This is a very unique look and not easy to copy. You can also phone 10111, give the ID number and they will be able to identify if that person works for them or not and if they should be on duty. What if you have been subjected to criminal activity and are dealing with the effects? Generally, when an incident happens women experience terror and men anger. It is very important to understand that it is never your fault. You are the victim and have nothing to be ashamed of. “We always recommend counselling. In our experience if you don’t accept counselling it is going to take much longer to recover. You will often share things there that you may never tell your family. It is also recommended that you have a family counselling session because even if everyone was not present, there is often a ripple effect on other family members,” concludes Charnel.

31 October 2018

Spring time is snake time Identifying characteristics are: • In the Western Cape they are usually black on top with orange/yellow or green sides, while the females are brown • They have a small head, with big round eyes • The head is distinct from the body • Their scales are rough and do not have a shiny appearance.

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emperatures are warming up and it’s time to think about snakes. Living in the Overberg, where there is still a lot of open land, mountains and sandy beach areas, it’s not unusual to come across these slithering reptiles. Local snake catcher Jonathan Powers who, together with father and son, Hugo and 17year-old Corné Uys runs Snake Removals Hermanus, have been kept busy since August – two months earlier than their first catch last year. During this time they have successfully caught and relocated 14 puff adders.

A puff adder lying next to a log, showing how well camouflaged it is. PHOTOS: Corné Uys

The most common snakes they are called out for are the puff adder, boomslang, Cape cobra, olive snake and mole snake. The busiest time for call-outs is from 08:00 – 12:00, and from 16:00 – 18:00. Interestingly, Corné says they receive fewer call-outs on hot days as snakes tend to seek shelter for most of the day when the heat becomes too much for them. The hotspot areas for snake rescues are Vermont, Chanteclair, Fernkloof and Voëlklip. During peak snake season (December) they get called out on average twice daily. Although Corné is quick to point out that most snakes are harmless and that it’s quite rare to see venomous snakes, there are three that are particularly dangerous. One is the puff adder which, although they appear slow and are often reluctant to move, can strike extremely fast from an S-like coiled position – and at 0.25 of a second this is arguably the fastest striking snake in the world. There are three key characteristics to help you identify a puff adder: • They have a chevron stripes from behind the neck, becoming bands closer to the tail (black on yellowish background) • The triangular head is distinct from the neck • Their scales have a rough appearance, unlike the shiny, sleek scales of, for example a mole snake. Puff adder venom is cytotoxic, meaning it destroys cells and tissue. You will need antivenom as quickly as possible to stop it spreading and causing damage to internal organs. The slinky, elegantly moving Cape cobra packs a punch too. Its venom is neurotoxic. This

Corné Uys catching a Puff Adder for relocation. causes blurred vision, drowsiness, difficulty speaking, and eventual paralysis. If the lungs become paralysed life support will be needed. Three key identifying characteristics of the Cape cobra, which can vary in colour from almost black to light beige, are: • They spreads their hood in defence • They have smooth, shiny scales • They have swollen cheeks. An example of a locally-found snake with a haemotoxic venom is the boomslang. This venom stops blood clotting, causes internal bleeding and bleeding from small cuts and mucous membranes, along with headaches, nausea and vomiting. Anti-venom is essential.

First Aid when someone has been bitten by a snake: • Get everyone well away from the snake • Get medical help as soon as possible • Try for a clear description of the snake. If you are unable to do so, don’t waste time looking for it. The symptoms will give the doctor a good idea of the kind of snake it is (neurotoxic etc.), and the severity of the bite. • Stay calm, and reassure the person who has been bitten. Fear and anxiety cause an increase in heart rate, and thus a more rapid spread of venom throughout the body. • For neurotoxic and haemotoxic snake bites, it may help to wrap a crepe or pressure bandage firmly around the area of the bite, covering the entire limb (from fingertip to armpit; from toe to groin). Apply hand pressure at the site of the bite until a bandage or strips of fabric can be obtained. • Keep the person as still as possible and immobilise the affected limb using splints (e.g. straight branches) on either side of the limb. Keep the affected area lower than the heart if possible. • If a snake spits into someone's eyes, rinse with large amounts of water, preferably by holding the head under a running tap for about 15 minutes. This will require medical treatment. • Observe the person closely and record any symptoms and the time taken for them to appear. • If the patient stops breathing, you will need to apply the mouth to mouth resuscitation technique until they can get expert medical help. If you see a snake in your house or garden, get in the experts to relocate it rather than killing it. Corné says the best thing to do while waiting for the catcher to arrive is to try not to lose sight of it as this makes catching the snake quicker. For snake removals in Hermanus and other Overstrand areas, contact: Jonathan Powers – 082 352 6000 Corné Uys – 076 075 8004

31 October 2018

THE

NEWS

Let’s Talk

Diesel prices in Hermanus questioned

Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Professionalism not dead You often hear people complaining about poor public service or clumsy construction work, so I am delighted to report two instances of what, to my mind, have very recently reflected true professionalism. The first is the excellent work done by the people responsible for replacing the old street lamp poles in the kilometre or so of Main Road running through Eastcliff. From the beginning, when they dug a trench the entire length through plants and cement, concrete, bitumen and brick driveways, until the end where we now not only enjoy the stately new lamp poles

but marvel at the way the team reconstructed the driveways and replanted the grass as if nothing had disturbed them. The second is the astonishingly neat work done by the contractors appointed to remove the dead branches in the gum trees opposite our home in Theron Street, Fernkloof. Here again, the work was undertaken swiftly and professionally, and the site left spotless afterwards. Well done to all.

Francois Marais

Milkwoods are protected With reference to the continuous daily burning and destruction of the Milkwood forest at Schulphoek, perhaps the Municipality is unaware of their own Overstrand Municipality Fire Hazards Management Policy dated September 2013. It states: “Milkwood Trees and other Protected/Endangered Plant Species are protected trees and may only be removed, cut or controlled in accord-

Hermanus

ance to the determination of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries... Destruction of protected trees or natural forest or any other protected/endangered plant species without a permit obtained from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and/or Cape Nature, is a criminal offence.”

Pat Redford

The price of petroleum fuel in South Africa is fixed by the Department of Energy. Because of the short-term fluctuations in the price of crude oil and the exchange rate of the rand, this exercise is carried out monthly. The retail price of petrol is fixed, while, in the case of diesel fuel, the wholesale price is prescribed, and the retailers are at liberty to fix the retail price themselves.

50 ppm diesel applicable to filling stations in both Hermanus and Bredasdorp is therefore the same, viz R15,3863/l. There is very little difference in the distance from Cape Town/Milnerton to Caledon and Hermanus and it can therefore be assumed that the cost to transport the bulk fuel to Caledon and Hermanus should be approximately the same.

The country was divided up into zones and, to allow for transport costs, the retail price of petrol and the wholesale price of diesel are fixed per zone. Caledon and Hermanus both fall into Zone 05A and Bredasdorp is in Zone 06A.

Why then can I buy 50 ppm diesel fuel in Caledon at R16.03 per litre, while the filling stations in Onrus and Hermanus charge R16.88, R16.87, R16.83, R16.90, R16.70 and R16.84 respectively for the same product? An average difference of 80c per litre! It costs between R40.20 and R52.20 more to fill a 60-litre tank in Hermanus than in Caledon! I did not check the current price in Bredasdorp, but a year or two ago the diesel price there was

The October 2018 wholesale price for 50 ppm (parts per million) diesel is 1538,63 cents per litre for Zone 05A and 1550,03 cents per litre for Zone 06A. The wholesale price for

also lower than in Hermanus in spite of the extra 70 km from the refinery. I am told that the price in Villiersdorp is currently R16.07/l. Price fixing is a serious offence and can have devastating consequences. Because there is a difference, however slight, between the diesel prices charged by the local filling stations, one cannot suspect that this is what is taking place here and that is not what I allege. And maybe there are circumstances of which I am not aware that can explain the higher local prices. Nevertheless, this is a matter that deserves further investigation and I hope that the local Chamber of Commerce will take the matter further. Maybe the situation should in any event be investigated by the Competition Commission of South Africa. Riaan Pienaar, Onrus

The power of words must not be underestimated We all accept that many in our country have had their dignity and self-worth undermined, not least by the words we use to describe them. If we are committed to restoring dignity and treating everyone with respect, then we need to understand the power that our words have. As Deepak Chopra said: “Language creates reality. Words have power.” Let us never again refer to the person who works in our garden as “the boy”; he is “the gardener”. The person who cleans our house is not a “maid”, she is a “domestic

worker”. These terms confer dignity and restore a measure of self-worth. If we hear other people using the former terms, let us make the effort to correct them gently, explaining the reason for the change. Never underestimate the power of words to heal and reconcile relationships. Finally, we need to appreciate that the mode of transport used by the vast majority of our population in this region, in the absence of any form of public transport, is not a “taxi”, it is a “mini-bus”.

behaviour of these mini-busses on our roads, but we need to appreciate and value them as a legitimate means of transport. They have defined routes, and in most cities, they have designated mini-bus lanes. We need to accord them greater appreciation and courtesy because they are conveying 16 persons in the space that our private vehicle takes to convey one or two. If we were more considerate, perhaps then they would start behaving in a manner that befits their role.

We delight in complaining about the

Weather forecast for the next week & De Bos Dam level

Phillip Parsons

www.yr.no

Wednesday 31 October

Thursday 1 November

Friday 2 November

Saturday 3 November

Sunday 4 November

Monday 5 November

Tuesday 6 November

11°C / 14°C

14°C / 17°C

15°C / 24°C

19°C / 22°C

18°C / 19°C

16°C / 16°C

15°C / 18°C

Partly cloudy

Clear

Partly cloudy

De Bos Dam Level

67.05%

31 October 2018

THE

NEWS

OPINION Matters

Welcome, much-needed investments

MAKING A DASH FOR IT! Hermanus High School and Checkers Hermanus work together every year to present the Checkers Trolley Run. Leading up to the event, learners are each given a booklet of tickets to sell before a lucky draw is done. The lucky winner whose ticket is drawn is then invited to do the Trolley Run at Checkers Hermanus, which entails filling your trolley with as many groceries as you can in two minutes. The school’s PTA raised R43 000 with this year’s Trolley Run, which was won by Charlene Acker of Hermanus. On Wednesday, 24 October, Charlene dashed down the aisles in Checkers and managed to fill her trolley with goods to the value of R2 549.59. Hermanus High School wishes to thank Checkers Hermanus for their generous sponsorship. Elzane Montagu of Checkers Hermanus helped Charlene (above) to push her trolley.

In the past week we have learned that the Dutchies Restaurant proposal for the Summer Lounge was rejected and that they have appealed. We also learned that the winners, De Vette Mossel, have decided to decline the space and instead focus on getting approval at Prawn Flats, their preferred location. To add to the drama, a petition supporting Dutchies received over 4 000 signatures in four days. Who would have thought small-town politics could be so riveting!! While all of this was happening, Hermanus was readying itself for the annual Wines2Whales mountain bike race that took place over the weekend. When the first of the three races in the series ended at The Marine Hotel on Sunday, there was a capacity crowd welcoming the riders.

“We’ve been hoodwinked,” he wrote in his broad Liverpudlian accent. “A couple of charlatans called Rodgers and Hammerstein claimed they wrote it for their high-school musical Carousel in 1945. But the tune actually dates back to the days of King Arthur, Guinevere (Gwen) and Sir Lancelot.”

Seemingly separate from each other, the common thread between these happenings is the fact that they both entail investments being made into our local economy – much-needed investment after most businesses suffered big losses due to the unrest in town. Added to this, the return of the Cape Epic in March next year that will add an additional R75 million to the Overstrand economy, together with the festive season ahead and the 40 to 50 jobs that De Vette Mossel and the Summer Lounge will create, is good news for our economy. Let us be thankful.

Apparently our Gwen, described in ancient manuscripts as “a wily and ambitious woman; striking of countenance and structurally sound” (huh?), was not averse to rubbing shoulders and things with some of the knights at Camelot, and Lancelot got rubbed more than others. Out of jealousy, lewd ditties were composed about their outrageous displays of promiscuity, and why the place was called Camelot. Each verse ended with the sung line ‘They’re Gwen and Lancelot’ – to the original tune for You’ll Never Walk Alone. Some folks dispute this. Research into this topic however, highlighted a few songs sung at sport stadia around the world for no apparent reason. But let’s start with the obvious ones. A short drive north of the mining town of Joburg is a rugby ground called Loftus Versveld. Farmers and ordinary people gather there on Saturday afternoons to hear Steve Hofmeyr sing Ek Bly ‘n Bul over the loudspeakers, and many stay afterwards to watch the match. National anthems are obvious singalongs around the world – if you know the words. If not, some tunes are often

A Far Kraai Murray Stewart thevillagemuze@gmail.com

easy enough to hum along with anyway. But even before the anthems at each Springbok test, Impi by Johnny Clegg blasts out of the stadium PA system and is broadcast globally. Although nobody knows the words, tears well up and throats choke in national pride. The New Zealand Hakka is another much-anticipated and emotional favourite, although it too, is difficult to sing along with. Harmonising is frustrating. The melody is erratic, the lyrics inaudible and the tempo haphazard, yet they all manage to end together, which shows perseverance. Sadly, Spain hasn’t as yet found suitable lyrics to fit the tune they chose for their anthem, so everybody just hums along looking embarrassed. Queen obviously gets belted out with songs like We are the Champions and We will Rock you, as does Tina Turner’s Simply the Best and the theme from Rocky. These all make sense, but why some others have caught on is baffling. Neil Diamond generates enthusiastic crowd participation by getting everyone to howl ‘Oh! Oh! Oh!’ after he sings Sweet Caroline, while somewhere else thousands are still uncertain about the real identity of the girl living next door, Alice. After the last line of each verse the stadium chants in unison ‘Alice? Who the ****

028 312 2234

Publishing Editor De Waal Steyn 083 700 3319 dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Many of the spectators as well as the teams and their support crews spent the day in the Old Town, browsing through the shops and eating at local restaurants.

– This is the good NEWS – Ed

When grown men get tearful at matches Mike Lang from Merseyside emailed us to clarify matters concerning Liverpool Football Club’s famous anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone.

The Team

6 Royal Street, Hermanus

is Alice?’ but as yet she remains unidentified. (Incognatius perpetulatum.) Appealing to the closet rednecks worldwide, songs like Sweet Home Alabama and Country Roads … Take me Home are often heard over the stadium speakers and joined by a choir of thousands, then broadcast into pubs and lounges everywhere. Quite what yearning for the company of banjopicking hillbillies in the platteland has to do with sport is bewildering. Some corny old pop songs are also favourites at some venues. The Contours from 1962 wail ‘Do you love me (do you love me) now that I can dance? Watch me now!’ The crowds sing the italics as an echo, then, on cue, flap around dancing like unoccupied wetsuits on drugs. Another sixties mystery is the oftenplayed question wailed by Chris Montez; ‘Heeeey….. Hey Baby, (uuh! aah!) I wanna know… if you’d be my gal?’ The uuh! aah! is where the masses join in to vent their support for him to get an answer from Baby. Well, we started out with Gwen and Lance never walking alone in Camelot, and ended up wailing Oh! Oh! Oh! and uuh! aah! And according to Merseyside Mike, this was what those less-rubbed knights often heard echoing through the castle back then, confirming the unpleasant reality that the hallowed Liverpool anthem is based on nothing but smut. Shameless!

Content Editor Hedda Mittner 083 645 3928 hedda@thevillagenews.co.za

Design and Layout Nickey Jackson 079 408 7722 nickey@thevillagenews.co.za

Office Administrator Tania Hamman admin@thevillagenews.co.za

FOR FACT’S SAKE Here are some useful but unknown facts you can casually slip into those tense board meetings when everyone is edgy and stressed. Guaranteed to earn Brownie points with the boss. 1. In ancient Greece, if a Spartan had not married by the age of 30, he lost his right to vote. He was also forbidden from attending organised events where nude young men and women made merry. 2. Witches were officially banned from being burned at the stake throughout Europe in 1775. Between the 13th and 17th centuries, over 100,000 suspected witches were tried and braaied in Germany, and under Henry III in France around 30,000. The three from MacBeth obviously slipped through the net to become famous chefs. 3. Recent reports that Harry and Meghan from Sussex were spotted in the exclusive enclave behind The Duck’n’Fiddle have proven to be true. On their way to Oz, they stopped off for a few nights in Chalet 5 while brushing up on their Australian. This is where their child was conceived and in honour of their royal status, Chalet 5 now has a moat and is proudly renamed Bonkingham Palace.

Marketing Manager Kathy Bentley 083 581 7219 kathy@thevillagenews.co.za

Marketing Representative Laetitia Prinsloo 082 738 3765 ads@thevillagenews.co.za

Journalist Elaine Davie 084 343 7500

Photography & Social Media Taylum Meyer 084 564 0779 taylum@thevillagenews.co.za

WHERE TO FIND US The Village NEWS is published every week and the next edition will be available on 7 November. The NEWS can be found at over 300 distribution points on the Cape Whale Coast, from Pringle Bay to Gansbaai. Get your FREE copy from major retail stores such as Spar, Checkers and Pick n Pay, and at restaurants, tasting rooms, galleries and shopping centres. Should you wish to receive a copy, call us on 028 312 2234 or 083 228 7523 or pop into our office at 6 Royal Street, Hermanus.

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31 October 2018

Gateway’s new ‘homemade, handmade’ strategy

Raphael da Silva

n response to the changing competitive retail landscape in Hermanus, Gateway Shopping Centre is undergoing a two-phase renovation that will leverage the centre’s “locallyowned, locally-managed” core strengths to drive the development of small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups in the region. A key component of Gateway’s differentiation strategy will be the opening of the OK Foods franchise by December 2018, as part of the phase one renovations. But, unlike many other supermarkets, this OK Foods product offering to customers will be driven by the concept of “handmade, homemade”. Luke Anderson, co-owner manager of Gateway, is hoping that up to 37% of the store’s items will be locallyproduced lines such as organics or health care products. “I would love, for

example, for our local restaurants to produce their sauces for sale at OK Foods,” says Luke excitedly. Luke strongly believes that OK Foods could be an incubator for many small businesses to launch because they will already have a retail space where they can sell their products. “But,” as Luke notes, “reliability of supply will be key.” But this strategy is not just going to be limited to OK Foods. “We want to go back to the idea of the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker,” says Luke, recalling a time when one went to your local specialised and family-run butchery, bakery, patisserie or vegetable stall for your basic shopping needs. Over the next months, Luke is hoping to identify and lure these types of businesses to Gateway to set up shop. But he admits that it will not be easy. “It’s going to be a process. It won’t happen overnight. Rome

wasn’t built in a day,” he says. “The Food Lover’s move to the Mall was the catalyst for a new vision for Gateway that allowed us to think outside the box and work out how we could differentiate ourselves,” explains Luke. This new vision is encapsulated in the words “Local is Lekker”. As Luke points out, the one thing that sets Gateway apart from the competition is that almost all the shops in the centre are owned and managed by local residents. Even the SuperSpar is a franchise that is owner-run. In phase two, to be completed by Easter 2019, the SuperSpar will be expanded and upgraded. OK Foods will also be expanded further. Luke says Gateway will be introducing a loyalty card backed by Infinity Rewards and “the aim is to have every store in Gateway on board”.

Wine, Wealth and Wheels, what a combo!

Gilbert Muchanyara (middle) is congratulated by Mayor Dudley Coetzee and Minister Alan Winde on winning the Journey to Service Excellence Hero Award.

Everyone a winner with service excellence Gilbert Muchanyara, owner of Gilbert’s Catering and management committee member of the Hermanus Business Chamber, was named the winner of the Journey to Service Excellence Hero Awards at a function hosted at the Arabella Hotel & Spa on Friday morning. The Journey to Service Excellence (J2SE) programme is presented by the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism and is aimed at growing tourism and the economy by fostering a culture of service excellence in towns across the Western Cape. This year’s J2SE was held in Hermanus. In previous years it has been held in Saldanha Bay, Langebaan and Clanwilliam.

Recently, Sanlam, Santam, Hermanus Toyota and Hermanuspietersfontein Winery, combined forces to host a Friday morning marketing event for their clients. The Village NEWS’ RAPHAEL DA SILVA went along for the ride... and the tasting... and, hopefully, to educate himself!

This year’s three-part programme consisted of service excellence training workshops presented to local businesses and their staff, a radio phone-in competition where residents and visitors could nominate their weekly service excellence heroes, and a workshop for company leaders and CEOs.

If this is the future of experiential marketing, then bring it on, I say!

Lorraine Ruddy of Curro Hermanus nominated Muchunyara, who supplies the school’s aftercare with meals. “He is a real gentleman, very reliable and extremely polite,” she said. “Great determination and an excellent work ethic have grown his business over the years into a friendly and very successful family and school business. He has often gone over and beyond the call of duty and always provides the best service.”

What a way to spend a Friday morning out of the office. Munch on yummy muffins for breakfast, network with some really cool people, have the opportunity to test drive the latest Toyota models, sip on Hermanuspietersfontein wines, feast on an amazing assortment of canapes... and appease the guilt with the knowledge that you have learned about the state of the South African economy (in the doldrums but with every prospect of a rebound next year after the elections) and how to build and preserve my wealth (or what little of it there is). Johan van Zyl, owner of Hermanus Toyota and Antonie Prinsloo, Senior Financial Planner at the Sanlam office in Hermanus were the hosts for the day. In between some hilarious videos, here are some of the things I learnt: 1. All good things, it seems, come in threes. Wine, Women and Song. Sun, Sea and Surf also comes to mind. But, as I learned, Property, Cash and Equities are also a good trio to have in equal amounts during this period in South Africa’s economic cycle. 2. Don’t be an idiot. Have a proper will and inheritance plan in place. If not, the taxman, aka The Grim Reaper, cometh and he isn’t particularly kind. Antonie is a good guy to chat to about this and he

The Wine, Wealth and Wheels team. From left are Jacques Malan, Legal Advisor, Sanlam; Helet Borchardt, Regional Marketing Manager, Sanlam; Johan van Zyl, Hermanus Toyota; Antonie Prinsloo, Senior Financial Planner, Sanlam; Anika de Goede, Hermanuspietersfontein and Waldette Stoffberg, Business Development Manager Glacier, Sanlam. can give you an holistic financial plan to make sure you don’t end up in pauper’s prison. 3. Hover where the wine is being served and you will be rewarded. To my joy, I was able to continue my love affair with Bloos. Even in 2018, she continues to romance me with her creamy undertones and floral notes. A pleasure to look at and oh, what a delight, when you close your eyes, to inhale her sweet fragrance. Did I mention Bloos is the first South African Rosé made from the five Bordeaux varieties, courtesy of our neighbour down the road, Hermanuspietersfontein? 4. These vehicle guys mean serious business. Not only does the motor

industry contribute 7% to South Africa’s GDP, but there is now a plan to increase the local content of vehicles from 38% to 60% by 2035 and to sell 1 million new cars during this period, increasing the number of new cars sold each year from about 40 000 to 60 000. That’s a hell of a lot more Fortuners to tackle the wilds of our country’s amazing terrain. 5. Be Happy. As Helet Borchardt, Regional Marketing Manager at Sanlam, said: “We want to focus on the positives in life and we hope that this event had a positive impact on everyone who attended.” Yuup. Because I'm happy. Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do...

Muchanyara started Gilbert’s in 2013, priding himself on delivering quality food, on time, even if it means waking up at 04:00 to ensure all his deliveries are on time. “Work hard, look after your clients, always provide excellent service and quality products and do your job to the best of your ability,” is his advice to other businesses looking for service excellence. Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde congratulated Muchunyara and all the weekly winners, saying: “Every time a business offers excellent service to a customer, they act as ambassadors for their town and for the province. “Our goal with the Journey to Service Excellence programme is to give businesses the tools so that we have

ambassadors across the province, helping to grow the economy and create jobs, and to reward those who go the extra mile for their clients – whether they be at the local bank, supermarket or service station,” Winde said. Nine people were named as weekly winners in the six-week radio competition run on Whale Coast 96 FM. A total of 23 nominations were received. The weekly winners received a cash prize, a certificate and a trophy, while the overall winner also received an additional cash prize. Local businesses sponsored prizes for those nominating their service heroes. A total of 121 people took part in this year’s four-day training workshops, covering marketing, product development, customer care, quality assurance and monitoring, and evaluation, using the specifications of the South African Bureau of Standards for tourism service excellence. The leadership workshop was attended by 40 local business CEOs and managers. Winde said he hoped that the Journey to Service Excellence inspired people and businesses to continue striving for excellence, even after the competition had stopped running. Most of the winners are members of the Hermanus Business Chamber, and the Chamber has undertaken to continue the Service Excellence Drive. They assisted the Overstrand Municipality and Overstrand Tourism in collaboration with the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism to promote the J2SE programme. Any business person from all communities is welcome to join the Hermanus Business Chamber (HBC) and can obtain all the details by sending an email to info@hermanuschamber.co.za. The next HBC networking event will be hosted on Thursday, 15 November at Rivendell Wine Estate. The evening will include Italian food plus a 45-minute Elvis musical show. The cost is R140 for HBC members and R160 for nonmembers. All are welcome; to book, send an email to info@hermanuschamber.co.za.

Village

EXPLORER The

FOOD • WINE • ART • BOOKS • EVENTS

Naudé, Welz, Worcester – and Hermanus Art News P

ieter Hugo Naudé (1869-1941), well-known for his Namaqualand landscapes, was a frequent visitor to Hermanus in the twenties and thirties of the last century. He delighted in coastal studies of familiar spots where waves crash and one can smell the ozone. These evocative scenes found many buyers among the well-to-do families – and not a few works have found their way to the auction houses as his prices escalated.

As always, prices have varied considerably from around R50 000 to, on one occasion, above R500 000, depending on quality, size, condition and, perhaps most importantly, whether there were two or more determined bidders! The latest amounts achieved on auction by Strauss & Co were R190 000 for a coastal scene and R70 000 for a landscape of veld and spring flowers. Illustrated is one popular subject, the Old Harbour at Hermanus, hanging in the Hugo Naudé House, now an art museum in Worcester. It is accompanied by a photograph taken a few days ago by The Village NEWS at the same spot. You will not see commercial fishing activity these days – all gone to Gansbaai and the New Harbour – but the scene is clearly recognisable nearly 100 years later. Let us not lose these precious memories (and current tourist attractions!) by inappropriate development. Anel O’Niell, curatrix at the art museum in Russell Street, Worcester, once the home of Hugo Naudé and his wife, looks after the substantial collection left behind by the artist who bequeathed house and contents to his favourite student, Jean Welz, his junior by 30 years. Welz (d.1975) took on the responsibility of leading the Art Centre formed by a group of artists after Naudé’s death, and of providing a

Patrick Chapman

home for the widow Naudé. One thinks that an artist’s collection must be those paintings which he could not bear to part with – but Anel says that what we see today are more likely to be the ones that Naudé could not sell! Anyway, the range is fascinating and an enduring tribute. The collection of Welz works is smaller but worthwhile; together, the two collections in their heritage setting make a compelling case to visit Worcester. When you have had your fill of art, there is also the Open Air Living Museum, the Desert Botanical Garden and a range of wine and olive estates which are open to the public. The Art Centre, that is the school itself, moved to Tulbagh Street, leaving the house as a memorial to Naudé and Welz and as a space for changing exhibitions of art and ceramics. The upkeep of the collections and the house is now the responsibility of the Municipality – with, I understand, the proviso that ownership reverts to the Art Centre if even a single artwork is sold. The late Stephan Welz, founder of the auction house bearing his name and, subsequently, founding managing director of Strauss & Co, was a son of Jean Welz and a regular supporter of our Hermanus FynArts Festival in June each year. www.worcestertourism.com is a useful website if you do plan an outing in that direction.

This scene of the Old Harbour by Pieter Hugo Naudé now hangs in the Hugo Naudé House in Worcester. The scene is still recognisable today, nearly 100 years later.

31 October 2018

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Good Guide

Thursday 1 November

■ Hermanus Bird Club: Join the club for their November walk, which will be the De Bos Wetland Trail with John Saunders and Frank Woodvine. There is no charge and everyone is welcome. Meet at the parking area at Hemel-en-Aarde Village, at 08:15. ■ Camphill School Open Day: All are invited to Camphill, a residential and day school for children with special educational needs in a rural setting. The Open Day will include a tea garden and classroom visits. For more information contact the Camphill School Office on 028 312 4949. At Camphill School, Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, from 10:00 – 12:00. ■ Rotary Club of Hermanus: Visitors are welcome at Rotary’s weekly meetings. Contact Frank on 082 870 1187 to confirm your attendance. At Mollergren Park, every Thursday at 19:00.

Friday 2 November ■ Bhuki Café: Everyone is welcome at Friends of the

■ Book launch: You are invited to a father-anddaughter launch of The Slave, the Hunter, the Missionary and the Smous by David Hilton-Barber and Garden of my Ancestors by Bridget Hilton-Barber. RSVP: thebookcollector@hermanus.co.za or Benadé Kruger on 078 120 0120. At The Book Collector, Royal Centre, Main Road, at 17:00. ■ Stargazing: Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre (HAC) for telescope, binocular and visual tours of the planets and stars. This event is weather dependent and will alternatively take place on Saturday 3 November. Check their website calendar at www.hermanusastronomy.co.za after 16:00 on 2 November for confirmation or contact HAC secretary Peter Harvey on 081 212 9481 or petermh@hermanus.co.za. At the Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus, at 19:30. ■ Rewind: Join Soul Café every Friday night and relax to the tunes of their resident band as they perform all your favourite hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. R50 pp. Call 028 313 2137 to book. At Soul Café, 181 Main Road, Hermanus, at 20:00.

Saturday 3 November

Library's Bhuki Cafe where a cup of tea or coffee and delicious eats will cost only R20. Every cup helps to raise funds for new books. Every Friday from 09:00 – 11:30, at Hermanus Library.

or coffee at a nominal fee, and make new friends at the Onrus Care Centre (Dienssentrum). At the Onrus Dutch Reformed Church, every Friday between 09:30 and 11:30.

series presented by U3A Overberg continues with the topics of The First Ptolemies, The Middle Ptolemies, The Decline, presented by Gert Claassen. In the Catholic Church Hall, at 10:00.

■ Hermanus First Friday Artwalk: Don’t miss this highlight on the social and cultural calendar! Browse the 19 galleries in the centre of town and marvel at the array of art and fine craft on display while enjoying snacks and sipping on local wines. The ideal opportunity to meet the artists and gallery owners while mingling with other art lovers. Pick up a map at any of the participating galleries or turn to P 13. In Hermanus CBD, from 17:00 – 20:00.

■ Hermanus Country Market: A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and fourlegged family members are all welcome. You’ll find wholesome goodies, home-made crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music. Next to the cricket field, Fairways Avenue, from 09:00 – 13:00.

■ Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market: Where local and international foodies and wine lovers meet. You’ll find real plates and real cutlery; real cups and real glasses; a real hangout for real people. In the courtyard of Hermanuspietersfontein wine cellar at The Village, from 09:00 – 13:00.

of this much-anticipated annual event offers the public the chance to visit 15 unique gardens in the Elgin and Bot River districts, ranging from large established country gardens (some over 50 years old) to young, recently planted gardens in villages and on smallholdings, all in a setting of great natural beauty. Many gardens are offering teas and light meals, and some will have unusual and interesting plants for sale. Full details can be found at www.elginopengardens.co.za or by contacting Barbara Knox-Shaw on 021 844 0154 or 078 021 2101.

Sunday 4 November ■ Afdaks Sunday Craft Market: You will find unique handmade crafts, yummy food, craft beer, gin and wine, honey and olive oil on tap, kids’ entertainment and lots of parking at this family and pet-friendly (on leashes or in cages, please) market, every first Sunday of the month. For enquiries contact Lani on 082 679 7819, visit their Facebook page (Café Tango & Afdaksrivier Nursery) or www.afdaksrivier.co.za. At Afdaksrivier Nursery on the R43, from 10:00.

■ Market in the Garden: Hunt for treasures at this peaceful market set among the shady trees of a beautiful garden. At St Peter’s Church in Main Road, Hermanus, from 09:00 – 13:00.

■ Kolwyntjie Teetuin: Enjoy a sweet treat and tea

■ The History of Ancient Egypt: This popular DVD

a mystery auction, music and children’s entertainment. For enquiries, contact Minister Steven Sass on 072 352 8347. At the NG Gemeentesentrum in Disa Circle, Betty’s Bay (just follow the route markers along the R44), from 09:00.

■ Fioré Country Market: Browse this new

■ Hermanus parkrun: Meet for the weekly 5 km walk or run, come rain or shine. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome. Set off from the Overstrand Training Institute (OTI) farm on Camphill Road in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, at 08:00.

country market in Bot River for homemade crafts, books, local treats, fresh fruit and more. Stands are free and in the event of rain the market moves indoors. For enquiries, contact Debbie Randall on 028 284 9220. At Fioré Garden Centre & Coffee Shop, Bot River, from 09:00 – 14:00.

■ LoveAbility Market Day: The Overberg Wheel-

■ Botrivier Hotel Market: For hand-made crafts

chair Association invites everyone to their 100-yearold Ability House cottage with its magical garden for a market day where you’ll be able to browse and buy beautiful handmade products ranging from artisan soaps and room mists to hypertufa pots, fairy lights, fresh organic coffee and produce, natural liquid fertilisers, and fabric angels and key rings. At Ability House, Church Street, Hawston, from 09:00. ■ Hangklip Church Bazaar: Start your Christmas shopping and fill up your larder for the holidays lying ahead. On the menu are pancakes, curry and rice, hamburgers, boerie rolls, bazaar pudding, fresh farm produce, jams and cakes. The Hangklip Bazaar is renowned for Potjiekos, and a large choice of different pots will be available, changing every hour. There will also be books, gifts and a white elephant table,

and tasty treats, come and browse the new weekly market in the hotel garden. New vendors are welcome; contact Erna at ernastark@outlook.com or 028 315 2582 or WhatsApp 076 708 0818 to book your stall. At the Botrivier Hotel, every Saturday, from 10:00 – 14:00. ■ Book reading: Come and meet local author Celeste Slabber-Loriston who will read from her latest novel for young adults, Jinx and talk about the process of writing it. An informal, relaxed, and fun way to spend your Saturday lunchtime! RSVP: 028 313 0834. At The Book Cottage in Long Street, at 12:30.

Saturday 3 – Sunday 4 November ■ Elgin Open Gardens: The second weekend

■ Organ Recital: Well-known organist Dr Gerrit Jordaan will perform an interesting programme of works by Bach, Bossi, Gershwin, Abdullah Ebrahim and Karg-Elert. Tickets at R70 pp will be available at the door. For enquiries, contact Louna Stofberg on 082 295 8452. In the Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus, at 11:00. ■ Music in the Courtyard: Enjoy summer tunes in The Courtyard with a DJ, oysters and bubbly, wine, craft beer and tapas. For more info or to reserve a table, call 028 312 2553. At The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Road, every Sunday from 12:00.

Monday 5 November ■ Afrikaans Lecture Series: U3A presents a talk by Prof Andreas van Wyk entitled Staatsondernemings in Suid-Afrika in die tyd van Cyril Ramaphosa: werklike verandering of skyn? In the Catholic Church Hall, at 10:00. ■ Cosmology: Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre for a presentation on Natural Philosophy: Science for the non-Scientist. For more info contact pierre@hermanus.co.za. In the Catholic Church Hall, at 19:00.

31 October 2018 Tuesday 6 November

Thursday 8 November

■ Land Transport in South Africa: U3A presents a new series of lectures by experienced transport-ation engineer Bob Stanway. The topic this week is The nature of and the laws governing land transport, giving a contextual overview of different aspects of land transport in South Africa, followed by an introduction to important transport policy changes and legislation introduced since 1994. In the Catholic Church Hall at 10:00.

■ U3A Open Meeting: All are welcome to attend U3A’s Open Meeting where Prof Lewis D Ashwal of the University of the Witwatersrand will present a talk on Wandering continents of the Indian Ocean. In the Municipal Auditoirum, at 17:30.

■ Exhibition opening: IMAGES is an exhibition of work by three local graphic artists. Titia Ballot and Peace Petty, who have previously exhibited at FynArts, will be joined by Mary-Jane Hooper in presenting work that is varied and versatile in terms of theme, expression and use of their preferred medium. IMAGES was curated by Karen McKerron and will be opened by Prof Elizabeth Gunter, Chairperson of the Department of Fine Art, University of Stellenbosch. At the FynArts Gallery in The Courtyard off Harbour Road, at 17:30 for 18:00.

Wednesday 7 November ■ TB or not TB: That is the question. Join SANTA Hermanus for a morning tea where Dr Naas van der Westhuizen, renowned for his knowledge of TB, will be the guest speaker. Insight gained might just save your life, that of an employee or a loved one. This is not a fundraiser but an informative session, at no cost. For catering purposes and because seating is limited, please RSVP by contacting Sue on 028 313 2458 or Colleen on 028 312 217 by 31 October. In the Municipal Auditorium Banqueting Hall, at 10:30. ■ Women’s Health: Dr Arien van der Merwe will be presenting a talk on health and wellness issues relating to the menstrual cycle, from Menarche to Menopause. Payment of R150 will confirm your booking. Contact 067 1166 111 or info@DrArien.co.za. At C Beyond Health, Hemel-en-Aarde Village, registration at 17:30 and the talk starts at 18:00.

■ The secret inside your genes: If you could safeguard your future health, would you? Find out how genetic screening can lead to a truly personalised treatment protocol by attending a talk by Dr Arien van der Merwe entitled Inflammaging The secret inside your genes. R150 pp. To book, contact 067 1166 111 or info@drarien.co.za. At Arundel Medical Centre, registration at 17:30 and presentation starts at 18:00. ■ Champion’s Dinner: Join the professional women golfers participating in The Global Challenge for a fun-filled evening that will include a delicious dinner and a cabaret show by guest performers Janet Marshall and Andrew Herriot, featuring all-time favourites from Frank Sinatra to Michael Bublé. The cost is R150 pp (excl. drinks). RSVP: Averil on 082 444 6594 or averil@theglobalchallenge.co.za. At Ocean Basket Hermanus, from 18:30 – 20:30.

Friday 9 November

■ Celebration of Colour: Enlighten Education Trust invites you to celebrate the arts with them at the opening of this exhibition showcasing local learners’ delightful artistic expression. The visual arts will be accompanied by poems and music, snacks and drinks. The exhibition will run until 10 November and all artwork will be for sale, with the proceeds going to the parents of the children and Enlighten. At Enlighten Education Trust, at 18:00 for 18:30. ■ Hermanus Photographic Society: All are welcome, from the beginner to the advanced photographer, at the monthly meetings held on the first Wednesday of every month. The theme for the November Club competition will be ‘Country Market – Plattelandse Mark’. Get all the details of interesting monthly outings, challenges and workshops at www.hermanusphoto.co.za or contact Daniel Reddie at info@hermanusphoto.co.za. In the Hermann Swart Hall, Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus at 19:00.

■ Mango Groove Live: The famous 11-piece South African band Mango Groove will be live in concert as the kick-off event to The Global Challenge. There will be plenty of secure parking and food stalls. Tickets at R175 per adult and R100 for children and scholars (5 – 18 years) are available from Hermanus High School, Hermanus Tourism Bureau or online via NuTickets at https://theglobalchallenge.nutickets.co.za/10904. At Hermanus High School, gates open at 17:30 and Mango Groove performance starts at 19:00.

31 October 2018

New gallery takes Artwalk a step further A

19th gallery has been added to the Hermanus First Friday (HFF) galleries in the centre of town, just in time for the next HFF Artwalk this Friday, 2 November. Studio G, located in the conference centre of the Harbour House Hotel in Harbour Road, is managed by entrepreneur and sculptor, Gerhard van Niekerk, in partnership with the world-renowned hospitality and tourism group, Village N Life.

Gerhard says he developed a keen interest in the human body from a young age – its individual uniqueness, beauty, strength and movement, but also its fragility, vulnerability and temporality. These are the underlying themes of his figurative sculptures, which he models in clay before casting them in a unique marble and GFRC (glass, fibre, reinforced concrete) composite he developed. This medium creates sculptures of immense strength and durability, while still allowing him to portray his interpretations of the human form.

Studio G aims to provide a unique platform for established as well as emerging local, contemporary artists to exhibit their work in some of South Africa’s most luxurious and exclusive hotels. In Camps Bay, Studio G’s flagship gallery is situated on the beachfront in the iconic The Bay Hotel and further galleries are planned for Langebaan and Knysna. Gerhard grew up in Stellenbosch and now lives and works in Somerset West with his wife ToniLee and their two children. The couple met in Mozambique, where they lived for several years. Both are passionate ‘green’ entrepreneurs and together they founded Progrow Products, a company that develops sustainable, environmentally-friendly businesses. Their major brands are Progrow Cocopeat, a market leader in high-quality coconut husk substrate (also commonly known as cocopeat) products in South Africa, and Progrow Solar, which focuses on consultation and installation

Artist Gerhard van Niekerk with his wife, Toni-Lee in the newly-opened Studio G in Harbour Road. of top-quality solar energy as well as energysaving technologies. Their head office is in Stellenbosch, with regional offices in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West. “About two years ago, Toni fired me from the company,” laughs Gerhard, “so that I could focus on my art while she runs the business.” This was

clearly a good move, as the business is flourishing and Gerhard’s sculptures have become sought after by private collectors, both locally and internationally. He is represented by some of the most highly regarded galleries in South Africa and his work can now also be viewed at the new Studio G in Hermanus.

In his work Gerhard juxtaposes seemingly contradictory concepts as well as techniques, for example, hard vs soft; smooth vs rough; growth vs decay; permanent vs temporary; realistic vs abstract; and classic vs contemporary. This well-defined thematic approach, combined with his exceptional technical skill, results not only in beautifully-made sculptures, but also thought-provoking pieces of art. At Studio G, Gerhard and Toni have managed to create a tranquil space where a collection of unusual works by contemporary artists can be viewed alongside Gerhard’s sculptures seven days a week. You’ll find Studio G Art Gallery at 20 Harbour Road (next to Evolve and across the road from Originals). Visit www.studiog.co.za for more information. – Hedda Mittner

31 October 2018

Night of 1000 drawings

he Hermanus First Friday Artwalk is now firmly established as a not-to-be-missed occasion on the Hermanus social and cultural calendar, drawing large crowds of residents and visitors alike. The number of participating galleries has risen to nineteen; an astonishing number given the relatively small area within which the event takes place. On the evening of 7 December, the First Friday galleries will again host Night of a Thousand Drawings. This much-anticipated annual event is based on the concept that we should all enjoy the indulgence of purchasing artwork â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even if it is modest in terms of size and price.

for purchase â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at R100 each. Anyone wishing to contribute work can drop it off at Originals Gallery or Rossouw Modern on Harbour Road or The Art Gallery on High Street. Blank A5 cards can be collected from the same galleries. In addition to the drawings sent in by members of the public, gallery owners will be approaching the professional artists who regularly exhibit in their galleries and will ask them to contribute some of their own artworks. These will be mixed in with all the other donated works and will be on display and for sale; also at R100. All the proceeds from the sales of these artworks will be divided between selected Hermanus charities.

Over the coming weeks, the galleries are inviting anyone who feels they have any artistic ability, to produce paintings, drawings, sketches and illustrations; on paper, card or board; in oils, watercolours, pastels, inks, pencil or charcoal; of landscapes, seascapes, portraits, abstracts or still life compositions.

Any Hermanus charities wishing to be considered as beneficiaries should drop a letter of application off at any of the galleries or email amzam@polka.co.za. The letter should give a brief description of the charity, its history and objectives.

In fact, the artworks can be executed with anything and can be of anything. The only stipulation being they must be sized A5 and the artists must be willing to donate them. All the collected artworks will be distributed amongst the galleries and on the evening of the event, they will be displayed and available

Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Night of a Thousand Drawings raised in excess of R80 000. This would not have been possible without the active participation of the Hermanus community, and the First Friday galleries are again asking artists and art lovers to be part of the event.

31 October 2018

Co-living and co-working at Nomad’s Land Martin Barnard

ith over 600 accommodation establishments in the Overstrand, one guesthouse, Nomad’s Land in Betty’s Bay, has taken the strategic decision to focus their marketing efforts on techsavvy millennial entrepreneurs who are looking for unusual ‘downtime’ experiences while still being connected to the ‘outside world’. “Our clients successfully combine work, play and personal education all into one,” says Ronel Stanley, who along with her husband, Billy, Leandra Loubscher and Ryan Smith, are coowners of Nomad’s Land. Millennials, the generation born between 1981 and 1996, come to rest, but also to really immerse themselves into the local community, while remaining in touch with the virtual world of work. Co-working and coliving are very much part of the millennials’ repertoire, explain Ronel and Billy. Co-working refers to remote working in a place that is tranquil and relaxing, while co-living refers to communal

living that enables networking of like-minded individuals or groups. In response to these converging needs of their clients, Billy and Ronel, who have lived in Betty’s Bay for more than 15 years, take their guests into local communities for a cultural immersion experience. Whether being part of a local upliftment project or simply picking up litter at a nearby beach, the end goal remains the same: to leave the world a better place. Billy, whose national reputation rose as a Braai Master Competition finalist, has expert knowledge of the natural fauna and flora of the area and the intricacies of the sea-life abounding along the coastline. He has a vast collection of fish teeth of 10 local species, some of which have been dated as centuries old. “We are keen photographers and our lives are filled with fishing, diving, spear fishing, hiking, kayaking, frogging, bird-watching, surfing, sand boarding, and exploring all things beautiful and interesting. We love to forage for wild edibles in nature – especially seafood in the rock pools. We then prepare and cook a feast with the harvest,” says Ronel.

Combine this approach with highspeed internet connectivity and organic cooking (they even harvest their own honey, herbs and strawberries), and one has a winning combination. The name Nomad’s Land reflects the natural penchant of millennials to wander the globe in search of new experiences – thus a nomadic-type lifestyle. But don’t get this generation wrong – there is nothing flaky about them. “Many businesses have been conceptualised and initiated here,” says Leandra, a financial sector professional, globe-trotting traveller and herself a millennial.

A WINNING TEAM Billy and Ronel Stanley (seated) with Leandra Loubscher, co-owners of Nomad's Land Guesthouse in Betty’s Bay.

Typically, millennials start up businesses very quickly as compared to other generations. “Rather than just thinking and talking about it, they actually do it!” notes Leandra. “We believe that the environment in which the meeting of minds takes place is crucial.” Nomad’s Land Co-living & Coworking Retreat 2618 Clarence Drive, Betty’s Bay Contact 072 290 8332 or visit nomadsland.co.za

Foraging for seafood delicacies is part of the Nomad’s Land experience.

31 October 2018

The family with ink in their veins Father and daughter book launch

Elaine Davie

t all started with 1820 settler Frederick York St Leger, the founder and first editor of the Cape Times, a passionate weaver of words and uncoverer of facts. Through four succeeding generations, his genes seemed to gather strength and momentum, finding expression eventually in his great-grandson – journalist, author, PRO and publisher, David HiltonBarber. Born in Grahamstown, that cradle of the English language and literature in South Africa, brought up in Rhodesia as it was then, he returned to Rhodes University to obtain a BA Honours in English. Finally, five years ago, after many side-trips along the way, David, with his talent for words, ended up in Hermanus – as people do.

Bridget Hilton-Barber, David’s daughter, has inherited in full measure, the family’s writing gene. A travel-writer who has ranged far and wide across Africa, she was previously the editor of Sawubona, the SAA in-flight magazine, and is currently a freelance writer and photographer and the travel correspondent for Radio 702. Bridget lives in Johannesburg now, but her roots lie in the Lowveld. Two of the nine books she has written are memoirs: the 2007 bestseller, Garden of my Ancestors which will be relaunched in its fourth edition on Friday, and the 2016 publication, Student, Comrade, Prisoner, Spy, a very personal account of the destructive brutality of the apartheid years.

David Hilton-Barber

His journey into the world of words started with his training as a journalist with the Argus Group, afterwards working as a reporter in Ndola, Salisbury and Bulawayo and then in the Rhodesian government as an Information Officer. Back in South Africa he took a 26-year-long detour in Johannesburg, becoming a Public Relations Executive at an advertising agency before starting his own PR consultancy and reaching the top rungs of PRISA, the PR Consultants Association and the PR Council. Then, in 1989, his life took a complete about-turn. At Rhodes he had met and subsequently married the highly creative and free-thinking Tana Tooley from Tzaneen, in what was then the Northern Transvaal. She was the daughter of Billo Tooley, one of the pioneers of the Lowveld, that rough, malaria-ridden part of the country where game still wandered free and you had to be tough to survive. Billo had a farm called King’s Walden on Agatha, the mountain above Tzaneen, where malaria was less prevalent and where his second wife, Essie, created a garden of great beauty in the subtropical climate. The family – David and Tana and their three children, Brett, Steven and Bridget, used to visit the farm as often as possible from their home in Johannesburg. For the children, it was a safe and secure paradise, an escape from the constrictions of the city, where they could let their imaginations run wild, adored and indulged by their grandparents and members of the extended, off-beat Tooley family and the farm staff. After Billo died and the property became too much for Essie to handle, David and Tana decided to ‘retire’ there in 1989 and undertook not only the restoration of the rambling, colonialstyle house, which had fallen into serious disrepair, but Tana took on the garden as her own special project and it became what a journalist later referred to as ‘the most romantic garden in South Africa’. Indeed, the couple took the enterprise further,

Bridget Hilton-Barber

After a free, wild, yet protected childhood, much of it spent on her grandparents’ farm, King’s Walden in the misty mountains near Tzaneen, Bridget was called upon to face up to more than her share of pain and tragedy at a relatively young age. Unable to process the accumulation of traumatic events, she returns to the farm to renew her relationship with the ancestors who shaped and gave meaning to her childhood, and so to find equilibrium, healing and the possibility of a new beginning.

transforming it into the up-market King’s Walden Guest House, much loved by high-end foreign and local visitors alike. In the meantime, all three of the Hilton-Barber children had inherited the writing gene and although they lived and worked in Johannesburg, continued to flee to the farm as often as they could for inspiration, while David tried his hand at growing avocados as well as helping Tana run the guest house. Sadly, photographer Steven met a tragic and untimely death and when Tana passed away in 2012, David decided that his life in the Lowveld was done. He settled in Hermanus five years ago and started a whole new career – that of writing and publishing. Brett and Bridget already had several books to their names and David decided it was time for him to return to his roots and start writing again. Never one to do things by halves, he also established a publishing company, Footprint Press in order to publish his as-yet-unwritten books. Five years later, he has written and published 15 of his own books, as well as several by other writers. (See a full list of his publications on www.hiltonbarber.co.za) Apart from English, his other great passion was South African history and he had grown up avidly reading non-fiction books by writers like Lawrence Green, TV Bulpin and AP Cartwright, who popularised history for a non-academic audience. He was fortunate to have lived in and explored the turbulent histories of the

Eastern Cape and the Lowveld (indeed the connection was even more tangible there, with two adventurous Barber ancestors having uncovered a lucrative gold reef at the spot where the town of Barberton – named after them – now stands). History then, together with biographies, has become the focus of most of his books. He particularly enjoys the intensive research that goes into each publication and is currently involved in researching several forthcoming books, one on the publisher, Howard Timmins, who published the works of David’s heroes TV Bulpin, AP Cartright, Eric Rosenthal, Phyllis Savory and many other best-selling non-fiction authors of the previous century. He will also shortly be publishing Hermanus resident Henri Kuyper’s biography. However, in his latest publication, The Slave, the Hunter, the Missionary and the Smous, he has plunged into the realm of fiction, and specifically, short story writing. As might be expected, though, the tales, often interwoven with one another, are set in a South Africa of the 19th century, and the diverse characters speak through their experience of life at that time, from the morality of slave ownership to ivory poaching and sheep-farming in the Karoo. This publication, together with a new edition of Bridget’s bestseller, Garden of my Ancestors will be launched at The Book Collector on Friday 2 November at 17:00.

The beautiful garden built with love and extravagance by her grandmother and then her mother, Tana, becomes the pivot around which she begins to rediscover meaning and the strength to move forward with her life. Garden of my Ancestors is written with sensitivity, humour, pathos and above all, love for a vibrant, eccentric family whose values and way of life live on undiminished by time.

31 October 2018

Recruiting the next generation of conservationists

ost of us probably find that caring for the environment is far from our minds. After all, look at all the human tragedies going on in the world: poverty, sickness, oppression. From our perspective the benefits of being able to spend time in nature or ‘getting out into the bush’ seem quite intangible and a low priority. Because the consequences of climate change, forest destruction, river pollution and excessive ground water extraction are creeping up so slowly we are like the proverbial frog in the pot – as the water heats up gradually, the frog doesn’t notice until it’s too late. The reality is that humans are jeopardising their own continued existence by far exceeding the carrying capacity of Planet Earth. Despite our faith in technology to save us, there is actually no Planet B. In geological time, the extinction of life as we know it is highly probable, but our blue planet will continue to spin along it trajectory through space – home to whatever life forms have adapted to the changing conditions. If the natural world is so low on our priority scale right now, what is the role of environmental organisations like Whale Coast Conservation? One of the things we can do is to raise informed citizens who will be better equipped to make sound environmental decisions when they become the decision-makers. Whale Coast Conservation runs nature programmes that

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equip young people with a better understanding of the natural world, the importance of biodiversity in surviving inevitable changes and how humans can tread more lightly on a fragile planet. Road Shows Interactive road shows travel to all the primary schools and one high school in the Overstrand. Topics include material relevant to the syllabus and our particular environment, such as: What is fynbos? Fynbos Creatures, Critical (endangered) Creatures, Waste Management, Water Management, Sustainable Energy, and others.

Adventures in Nature With its adventures in nature Whale Coast Conservation opens up a new experiential world for many children. RIGHT Activities on the beach are always full of excitement – even for those who are familiar with the sea. Feeling a plough snail trying to eat her hand was both scary and exhilarating for this young learner from Gansbaai. WCC would like to thank the AVI Community Development Trust for their sponsorship to bring Gansbaai learners to Grotto Beach.

LEFT Dr Pat Miller tells learners from Hermanus Primary about the biggest flycatching plant in the world. It grows right here in Hermanus. It catches insects with its sticky leaves, but can’t eat them. No problem, because it has a little buddy – an assassin beetle that runs around on the plant making short work of trapped flies. It consumes these with alacrity and the payback is its dung that fertilises the plant.

Did you know how Grotto Beach got its name? The grottoes at the Milkwood forest are places of fantasy for these youngsters.

31 October 2018 Chameleon research Whale Coast Conservation includes citizen scientists (many of them children) in their research on the feasibility of relocating Cape Dwarf Chameleons form threatened habitats to safer ones.

The chameleons are monitored monthly to see who is surviving. Each animal is photographed and compared with the photos of animals that were released previously. Children have the sharpest eyes for chameleon spotting. In the process they start to appreciate the importance of protecting habitats for wildlife to survive. Environmental economists are attempting to put a monetary value on basic services we receive from nature such as clean water, medicinal products and unpolluted air. But the spiritual and health benefits of natural places are priceless and cannot be quantified.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Anina Lee Whale Coast Conservation

WAVING THE BLUE FLAG

Wilfred Chivell (centre) of Dyer Island Cruises attended the Blue Flag event in Mossel Bay to receive their updated Blue Flag status for their commercial vessels for the summer season. Dyer Island Cruises received Blue Flag status for Whale Whisperer, the pilot Blue Flag boat in South Africa in 2011 (below left) and Dream Catcher (below), as well as Slashfin, Marine Dynamicsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; shark-cage diving vessel since 2016 (bottom left). The Overstrand beaches at Grotto, Kleinmond and Hawston once again secured Blue Flag status, while Castle Beach in Pearly Beach achieved pilot status. A total of 46 beaches, 8 marinas and 12 sustainable tourism boats around South Africa have been awarded Blue Flag status for the 2018/19 season.

31 October 2018

Bringing science and nature into balance Hedda Mittner

ore than 20 years ago, I became so disillusioned with practising mainstream medi-cine, where the only tools to treat symptoms were medication and surgery, that I nearly opened a coffee shop!” says Dr Arien van der Merwe, a medical doctor specialising in natural, holistic, integrative, functional medicine, workplace wellness and stress management since 1995.

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Fortunately, Arien never opened a coffee shop back then but she did change direction in her chosen career. “I had been a general doctor in private practise in Gauteng for more than a decade when a series of personal crises made me realise that I needed to find new meaning and purpose,” she says. The opportunity presented itself when she was asked by a patient, who also happened to be an executive director at a company specialising in nutritional supplements, to train their marketing associates in the application of vitamins, minerals and herbs. Immersing herself in the subject, Arien started doing intensive research, because “we never learnt about nutrition or natural remedies at university”. In those days, the only research material was to be found on microfiche in research libraries, where Arien says she found a multitude of evidence-based, well-researched studies on natural remedies such as Gingko biloba for improved concentration, memory and even as a treatment for Alzheimer’s, and Echinacea purpurea, a natural antibiotic that supports the immune system and is effective against viruses, fungi, bacteria and parasites. After teaching for a while, she had enough material to write and publish her first book, To Health! in 1996 – the first of many. Eager to share her new knowledge and insights, Arien has since then embarked on an extraor-

Dr Arien van der Merwe, a medical doctor specialising in natural, holistic, integrative medicine will be opening her new practice at Arundel Medical Centre on 8 November. dinary journey that has now also brought her to Hermanus, which she has visited numerous times over the past year to offer consultations, present talks and workshops and establish a branch of her Weight Control Clinic. Initially sharing space at Refine Clinic, Arien has now found her own space at the Arundel Medical Centre where she will be officially opening her new practice on 8 November. “The sole purpose of my work is to have a positive impact on the lives of people, truly paying it forward to benefit as many as possible,” she says. “Very often, even after years of being a medical doctor, I still find myself

marvelling at the amazingly powerful and finely-tuned orchestra we call our bodies,” says Arien. “We each have personal and unlimited access to a super-computer-driven piece of ‘technology’, with a mind that extends much further than the brain and heart!” Arien’s passion for the human body and her belief in an integrated, holistic approach to managing health is infectious for the simple reason that it makes sense. In a world where we have become so accustomed to solving health issues by swallowing a pill or resorting to surgery, we have created a vicious cycle of suppressing symptoms without addressing the root cause of our ailments.

“We often forget that our natural state as human beings, is to be healthy,” says Arien. “However, we need some basic knowledge and understanding of our health issues, and we have to learn how to support our bodies to function optimally by changing unhealthy behaviour and implementing – and maintaining – sustainable health solutions. The orchestra of our bodies is finely tuned to an inner harmony, based on how we look after it – physically, mentally and emotionally!”

that taking food supplements could also become a quick-fix in people’s minds, Arien started delving deeper into the negative impact that blocked emotions and inner stress can have on health and wellness. In early 2000, Ariani Health Solutions expanded to include not only a holistic health coaching practice that incor-porates body, mind and soul, but over time also added mind solutions, stress management, workplace wellness, youthful living and genetic screening to their range of services .

Arien sees her role as that of a healer, guide and teacher, rather than a doctor who can provide a quick fix. “I want to take people on a journey to awaken them to the necessity of taking self-responsibility for their own health and wellbeing, while providing them with the tools and techniques to do so. It is easier than you think,” she says with conviction. “It is all about supporting the body to do what it actually wants to do: to heal, find balance and return to homeostasis.”

In 2012 they also took over Dr Gauché’s Weight Control Clinic when he retired. Arien was interested in his unique approach, which focused on blood sugar imbalances and insulin resistance long before they became well-known concepts.

Back in the late nineties, Arien had been studying micronutrients and herbs over a number of years when she realised that the supplemental products on the market were not well formulated. “There was little sense of the important synergy between ingredients, with hardly any combination of micro-nutrients with herbs to improve efficacy, and they were also prohibitively expensive!” she says. “I then started formulating my own reasonably-priced range of natural and highly effective food supplements and herbal remedies, which led to the founding of Ariani Health Solutions in Pretoria as the manufacturing and distribution company. I was later joined by my daughter, Anri van Rooyen, a health and fitness scientist who became my business partner.” But that was only the beginning of Ariani Health Solutions. Realising

Since the publication of To Health! Arien’s enthusiasm for sharing her findings and knowledge has led not only to regular talks, workshops and seminars, but also to the publication of Health Info magazine and four more books – Health and Happiness (also published in Afrikaans as Geluk en Gesondheid), Herbal Remedies (Kruie met Geneeskrag), Stress Solutions (Stres Strategie) and, most recently, Managing Diabetes, Inflammation and Metabolic Syndrome (Hanteer Diabetes, Inflammasie en Metaboliese Sindroom). She has developed a series of online courses, contributed countless articles to local and international publications and regularly appears on radio and television programmes. Dr Arien will be consulting in Hermanus from 1 – 12 November at her new practice at Arundel Medical Centre, where she will also be presenting a talk on genetic screening entitled Inflammaging: The secret inside your genes on 8 November. Contact 067 1166 111 or info@DrArien.co.za to book or visit www.DrArien.co.za for more information.

31 October 2018

Members of Studio Health with their friends and loved ones at Bona Dea Estate in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The theme for the evening was the ‘Good Old 80s’. PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

Studio Health turns 15 Studio Health in Hemel-en-Aarde Village celebrated their 15th anniversary on Thursday 25 October at the beautiful Bona Dea Estate. Guests were encouraged to dress according to the theme for the evening which was the ‘Good Old 80s’. Bona Dea’s function venue was transformed into a massive dance floor where guests were invited to get moving to the groovy tunes that played throughout the evening. The dance floor was opened up with an aerobic dance routine by Leigh Murray, the owner and founder of Studio Health and her trainers, Arno Conradie and Sally Matusik, as well as past trainer and artist Lize van der Walt. There were canapés, bubbly and prizes for the most original outfits. Leigh moved down from Johannesburg 15 years ago after closing down her studio there to start Studio Health in Hermanus.

The vice-chair of Reach for Recovery, Alison Ayre and specialist breast cancer surgeon Dr Justus Apffelstaedt with Carolyn Martin, who hosted the Pink Tasting at Creation in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Partners in pink On Saturday morning, 27 October, Creation Wines hosted a special Pink Tasting in honour and support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with the full cost of the tickets sold being donated to the Ditto Project, an initiative of the non-profit organisation, Reach for Recovery. While enjoying canapes and Creation wines, guests were held captive by the guest speaker, Dr Justus Apffelstaedt, a specialist breast cancer surgeon and former head of the Head, Neck and Breast Cancer Unit at Tygerberg Hospital. Dr Apffelstaedt spoke about the correlation between the down-scaling of breast cancer therapy and preservation of quality of life.

Yolandé Pieterse, a member at Studio Health, with her husband Juan in their good old 80s outfits.

Guests follow trainer Arno Conradie in a line dance in their colourful 80s outfits.

“With 90% of breast cancer patients now surviving after 10 years, the goal

has shifted to improving the quality of life after cancer,” emphasised Dr Apffelstaedt. After Dr Apffelstaedt’s inspiring talk, the floor was opened for guests, many of whom were breast cancer survivors, to ask questions. In conlusion, Alison Ayre, the vice-chair of Reach for Recovery, thanked Dr Apffelstaedt and Carolyn Martin of Creation for their support of their Ditto Project, which has provided a total of 5 024 silicone prostheses costing more than R3,1 million to women who could not afford one. . “Reach for Recovery and I share the same belief: that all women should have the same access to care, regardless of whether they can afford it,” said Dr Apffelstaedt.

31 October 2018

Chas Everitt continues to spread its wings

ean Meijer, the principal of Chas Everitt Whale Coast, has come a long way since opening his first office with a handful of agents in Hemel-en-Aarde Village in 2006. Fast forward 12 years and Chas Everitt now has seven offices in the Overstrand, covering an area that stretches from Pringle Bay to Pearly Beach.

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In the highly competitive real estate industry, Chas Everitt Whale Coast has distinguished itself by achieving top performances at this year’s annual Chas Everitt Awards Ceremony. Three of Dean’s agents – Cheryl van Deventer (Onrus office), Anmar Marais (Kleinmond office) and Paulette van den Bosch (Hermanus office) – were the Top 3 Agents (non-metro) in South Africa. The Top Team was Linda Woolnough and Catherine Lamb (Fisherhaven office), while Jolani Coertzen (Onrus office) was among the Top 3 Newcomers of the year. Chas Everitt Whale Coast was also the winner in the Top Office (non-metro) category.

Summer is generally a great time to buy a new home and this year is no exception, as there are plenty of properties to choose from, serious sellers are willing to negotiate, and the banks are keen to approve new home loans.

modernisation. However, you need to be sure that the changes required are only cosmetic and not structural and even then, home renovation and all the mess and disruption involved is not for everyone.

However, you stand to get even more out of the summer housing market if you follow these tips:

If you would rather have a home that is move-in ready, you should focus your search on newlyrenovated or even brand-new homes. These may be somewhat smaller or more expensive, but you won’t be spending money on home improvements.

Pick a good area. Take the time to research areas that are not only safe and secure but would suit your lifestyle and offer the kind of amenities that are important to you. It’s tempting to focus on price, but the most inexpensive home is going to be a bad buy if you have a family and there are no schools in the area, for example, or if you like going out with friends but end up living far away from them, or if it would mean facing a very long commute in traffic to work every day. Get pre-qualified for a home loan. Ask a reputable bond originator like BetterBond to help you obtain home loan pre-qualification before you start your home search. You will then know what your buying power is and be able to concentrate on properties that are within your budget.

“My biggest asset is the people who work for me,” says Dean, who is justifiably proud of his agents. “We are fortunate to be working with an excellent brand, the Chas Everitt International Property Group, but without the right people I would not be able to deliver.” Dean attributes his success to consistency, honest and open communication, and a positive attitude.

Any offer to purchase you make will also be better received because the seller can see that you are a serious buyer who will be able to obtain a loan and close the deal.

“It is important to be knowledgeable about the market and to be realistic. Regional offices manned by specialist, resident agents ensures local knowledge and enables us to deliver a better service to our clients,” he says. The latest addition to Chas Everitt Whale Coast is the Sandbaai office, which opened in the Main Road last month. They can be contacted on 028 050 2227. – Hedda Mittner

How to buy a great home this summer

From left are Corné Venter (property agent), Amy Withers (rental agent), Louisa du Toit (admin) with Hennie Cloete (property agent) behind her, and Mariette van der Westhuizen (property agent).

Consider a fixer-upper. A triedand-tested way of buying into a more upmarket area than your budget might suggest is to seek out an older property there that is in need of upgrading and

Look out for listings that say, “price reduced”. Some property websites will also show you how long a home has been on the market and whether the price has been dropped more than once. This will tell you that the owners are really serious about selling and probably willing to negotiate an even more favourable deal, especially if they have a deadline on moving themselves. Make your best offer. Even though the market favours buyers at the moment, sellers can still be offended by a really low offer and refuse to negotiate with you, especially if they have done the same market research as you and their property is actually well-priced. You will then have no chance of buying the home you like best after weeks of looking. A much better strategy is to make a serious offer that is reasonably close to the asking price and then bring other factors to the table that make it even more appealing to the seller – such as bond prequalification, a sizable cash deposit and flexibility on the occupation date. Source: www.realnet.co.za

31 October 2018

Champagne finale to W2W Chardonnay

ith a huge prize purse on offer riders produced the most exciting racing on Sunday in the elite women’s race of the 2018 FNB Wines2Whales event series that ended at the Marine Hotel in Hermanus.

of Silverback CBC and Ascendis Health with 20 kilometres left to race the Summit women allowed the battle for second to play out without interfering. Lill and Morath simply let De Groot, Vorster, Strauss and Stenerhag to race their own race.

Ariane Lüthi and Barbara Benko shook off the disappointment of the opening two stages to claim victory on the clifftops of Hermanus. But there was no stopping Candice Lill and Adelheild Morath as the Summit pairing comfortably sealed the title by crossing the line safely.

“We had kind of planned for it not to come down to a sprint again” De Groot confided. “I tried to get away, not even a kilometre from the finish. It almost worked. I thought Michelle (Vorster) was going to follow up. But there were some tricky corners and none of us have done this finish. And it landed up being a sprint,” the South African marathon champion related.

The story of the day, however, was the battle for second position on the overall standings. Mariske Strauss and Jennie Stenerhag, of Silverback CBC, held the slenderest of advantages – just 0.6 seconds – over Robyn de Groot and Michelle Vorster. The Ascendis Health team were eager to overturn that minute deficit and understandably so, as R20 000 was at stake. With the winners taking home R100 000, second place riding away with R40 000 and third R20 000, there was a significant financial reward resting on those tenths of a second. Having bridged back up to the group

A minor mechanical problem forced Strauss to briefly stop at the third water point just 14 kilometres from the finish. It did however, according to Stenerhag, not cause too much stress: “I looked back and I saw she was with us, so it wasn’t too bad actually.” Having edged out De Groot and Vorster twice already the Cape Brewing Co rider was confident that she and Strauss held the upper hand. “We just knew we would have to take them in the sprint. But we felt quite good having taken them two days before in the sprint, and we kind of

like it” the Swedish rider smiled. Lill and Morath rolled across the line just a couple of seconds behind De Groot and Vorster. In so doing they became the inaugural winners of the women’s Chardonnay race. Lill’s partner Morath successfully defended her FNB Wines2Whales title, having won the 2017 edition alongside Jennie Stenerhag. Reflecting on her second victory in the race she replied: “It feels amazing!”“It is the best way to finish the season. I really like the singletracks here in South Africa” the German commented before confiding that she would be back on these shores again soon. With the conclusion of the Chardonnay race the focus now shifts to the fun riders taking part in the midweek Pinotage event. The least competitive of the three FNB Wines2Whales events takes place from the 29th to the 31st of October – before the elite men do battle from the 2nd to the 4th of November in the Shiraz race. To read all the stories and to watch all the videos from the FNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay, mountain biking fans can visit www.wines2whales.com.

Candice Lill and Adelheild Morath staved off stiff competition to be crowned the winners of the FNB Wines2Whales women’s race.

Cheers to young cyclists The annual year-end prize-giving function of the Hermanus High School Cycling Club was hosted recently at the Old Boys Club. Prizes were awarded to the boys who competed against schools from all over the Western Cape in the Inter-schools Spur Leagues, where Hermanus High managed a respectable 8th place overall. The Best Senior Cyclist of the year is Juan Erasmus At the back are Christiaan de Wet, Landre Botma, Christo Claassen and Ruben Rhechter. Middle: Myburgh Serdyn, Yiasoumi Charitou , Daniel de Vynck, Ettiene Prak and Juan Erasmus. Front: Dr RG du Toit, Liandri Malan and Dr Corrie Muller.

and the Best Junior Cyclist is Christo Claassen. At the function, Dr Corrie Muller gave an informative talk on his successful collaboration with High School MTB over the last 10 years. The Cycling Club is looking forward to a prospe-rous 2019 and thanks all their sponsors who supported them during 2018: Hermanus Pharmacy, Pro Active Gym, Euodia Cycles, Hermanus Cycles, White Stone Cycles, Greg Voges of Premier Shutters & Fires, Braam Gericke of Wildekrans Wine Estate, Vicki Claassen of Vodacom, Engen Hermanus, Dowling & Partners, Jacqui Jackson, Romans Pizza Hermanus and Ocean Creek Spur. If anybody is interested in joining up for next year, please contact Liandri Malan from Hermanus High School or Dr RG du Toit.

31 October 2018

Primary school soccer tournament On Saturday 27 October, Build It Hermanus held its third annual Overstrand Build It Soccer Tournament at the Mt Pleasant Sports Ground. This tournament is held annually all over South Africa and this year in Hermanus over 100 players took part from local schools and teams, including Waldorf School, Lukhanyo Primary, Zwelihle Primary, Generation Schools Hermanus and Just Care Aftercare. Both boys’ and girls’ teams participated and many prizes and trophies were up for grabs. The teams met at Build It Hermanus before walking together to the sports ground to show their solidarity. An acapella group from Lukhanyo Primary opened the festivities with some songs and lunch was provided for the children. The winning teams were Lukhanyo Primary for the boys and Zwelihle Primary for the girls. The Zwelihle Primary girls also won the R5 000 prize for the best spirit. The funds will be used at Build It Hermanus to buy building materials for their school.

Indra Kuschke from Generation Schools Hermanus crouches away from his opponent’s foot after he kicks the ball to a team mate. Indra won the award for Player of the Tournament.

A Waldorf player (green) falls when an attempt to get the ball from a Zwelihle player fails.

PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

All the participating soccer teams met at Build It Hermanus, from where they walked to the Mt Pleasant Sports Ground to show unity. Build It also handed out vuvuzelas for the children to support their teams. PHOTO: Barbara Hayn

On Friday 26 October, SA JKA Hermanus was proud to have Chief Instructor Sensei Johan la Grange (6th Dan and former world champion in Kata and Kumite) at their dojo on his birthday. He gave classes to both the juniors and seniors and the children had their photo taken with him afterwards. Above is the junior class with Sensei Ronnie Knott (back row on the left), Sensei Apologise Mncube (back row second from the left) and Sensei Johan la Grange (back row on the right). PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

Supporters of the Just Care teams blew their vuvuzelas from the top of the field wall.

The third Homes International Vine to Valley Trail Run was hosted by Sumaridge Estate Wines in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on Saturday, 27 October. There was an excellent turnout of runners taking on the 5 km route and enjoying some of the award-winning Sumaridge wines afterwards. Organiser Bianca le Roux says the Vine to Valley Trail run series has been positively embraced, with many runners participating in multiple events. The next trail run is on 24 November at La Vierge and runners will set off at 08:00. For more information, visit www.vinetovalley.co.za.

31 October 2018

Hermanus Golf Club’s new committee elected

reetings to all once more, and may you have an exceptionally spooky Halloween! Time is racing on and we have seen a really good upswing in golfers coming to our fairways. Talking of Halloween, many happy returns to our own little witch whose birthday falls on that day, front office stalwart Tarryn-Lee Pnematicatos. We all hope you have a super day. And on a personal note, happy 21st birthday to my darling daughter Kristy; I can’t believe you are all grown up! New committee elected As part of our constitution we as a club must hold an Annual General Meeting each year. This was held on Friday, 26 October and we welcome in our new committee. Firstly, whilst I am about it, many thanks to the outgoing committee; this work is always thankless and often comes with headaches galore. Outgoing Captain, John Stergianos guided the ship well and we thank him for his excellent contribution. The club is also indebted to Gerrie du Plooy and GP le Roux for many, many years’ service, and to our money man, treasurer Richard Jones, for playing such a vital role and managing the purse strings excellently. We have made some super progress this year and I believe the course and club are heading in the right direction. I converse a fair bit with my peers around the country and many clubs are struggling, so we must be doing something right. Congratulations to our new Captain

The Putting Pirate

Scores at a glance

Julian Shaw

SATURDAY ALL TOGETHER 20 OCTOBER Betterball Stableford 97 players Winners: East course - Andre Gouws and Deon Esterhuyse 44 points South course - John Reynell and Peter Gibson 44 points North course - Gert Keuler and Deon Joubert 44 points Best gross: Tyron Davidowitz 71 3 two clubs Ball pool paid to 41

Albert Streicher, new Vice-Captain Ben Thompson and new treasurer Metcalf Fick and the new committee members, Les Adams, Gary Combrink, Tony Richards, Mike Frost, Jacques du Toit, John Quincey and of course our President, Roydon Pybus. I am looking forward to working with you all and best of luck for 2019. Hole in ones! There really must be something in the air, as this week we had two hole in ones and both were first timers! The first one was by one of my staff, the supremely keen golfer Sandile Booi and the second was by Mike Bryant during Wednesday’s competition – many congratulations to you both!

Sandile Booi (left) and Mike Bryant being congratulated on their hole in ones after the club competition by ex-Captain John Stergianos.

Another three generations playing together This week we also had another 3 ball spanning some 70+ years – André Sherriff, his son-in-law Pieter Hofmeyr and grandson Thomas Hofmeyr. I think this is so special and should always be noted. We hope you enjoyed one another’s company and that Thomas didn’t outdrive grandad too much! Until next week, play the course as you find it and the ball as it lies.

André Sherriff (middle) with his son-in-law Pieter Hofmeyr and grandson Thomas Hofmeyr.

TUESDAY LADIES’ DAY Individual Stableford 33 players Silver division: Winner - Cheryl Richardson 38 points C/I Runner up - Heinke Douglas 38 points C/O Bronze division: Winner - Lynne Craig 36 points C/I Runner up - Rici Hanekom 36 points C/O WEDNESDAY MEN’S Individual Progressive Stableford 139 players Winners: South course - Anthony Upton 42 points North Course - Mike Bryant 44 points East course - Tony Richards 42 points Ball pool pays to 37 points Best gross: Jacques Retief 75

THE

NEWS

31 October 2018

MY School

HERMANUS HIGH EQUESTRIANS EXCEL

Hermanus High School’s equestrians put in an excellent performance at the SANESA National Championships during the October school holidays. Pippa Grobler, Sophia Byleveldt, Mikayla Martinengo and Mari Carstens represented the Western Cape Equestrian team from 1 – 6 October at the Kyalami Equestrian Park in Johannesburg. The riders participated in various classes, including showjumping and dressage, with the Western Cape achieving an overall third position in the country. Nanje Naude also represented Hermanus High at the National Championships of the Western Mounted Horseriding Games. She excelled in this equestrian discipline, which is more action-packed and driven by speed. Her significant contribution to the Western Cape team enabled them to achieve an overall first position on Level 1. From left are Pippa Grobler, Sophia Byleveldt, Mari Carstens, Nanje Naudé and Mikayla Martinengo.

Fifteen-year-old Jadon Churchman is a grade 9 learner at Curro Hermanus who built his first quadcopter in 2015. A year later he participated in his first race and, after taking part in the first two Western Cape regional events, he moved to 1st place. This provisionally placed him second on the national league. When he participated in the SAMAA (South African Model Aircraft Association) Combined Power Nationals held recently in Gauteng, his racing position placed him as the top-ranking junior in the country and pending ratification by SAMAA, he will represent South Africa, together with three senior pilots, at the first ever FAI Drone Racing World Championships being held in the high-tech city of Shenzhen, China over the first four days of November. Jadon will compete alongside 115 of the world’s best drone-racing pilots from 32 nations.