the Muse - Jun 2021 by the Muse magazine by Pinelands Directory

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PINELANDS COMMUNITY MAGAZINE issue

CIOPPINO OR Nina SEAFOOD SOUP Timm

WEST COAST WANDERINGS

118 | June 2021

#ADOPT-A-TREE Out and PLANTING About

Always Choose the Busiest Agency The market is moving, are you? R FOALE S

*R4.795m

Thornton

R FOALE S

Thornton

R FOALE S

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Pinelands

R DE ER N U FF O

Pinelands

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Thornton

S BY OL U D S

S BY OL U D S Pinelands *R3.495m

*R1.360m

Pinelands

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TOET L

Pinelands

*R6 950pm

TOET L

Pinelands *R8 000pm

Thornton *R2.695m

*R9 000pm

TOET L

Pinelands *R8 200pm

*R1.595m

*R10 500pm

TOET L

Pinelands *R13 000pm

*R3.295m

R DE ER N U FF O

Thornton *R2.550m

Pinelands

R FOALE S

R DE ER N F U F O *R4.195m

*R2.490m

BY LE T U S

R DE ER N F U F O Pinelands

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TOET L

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Pinelands *R5 500pm

*Asking price

If you are thinking of selling or renting please contact

YOUR EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTY TEAM AT SEEFF PINELANDS

Pauline Hareb Sales Manager 082 490 0344

Julie Meyer Sales 083 288 8481

Kathy Anderson Sales 083 987 7673

Robyn Meyer Rentals 078 359 0354

Debbie Peat Rentals 082 468 7772

Jessica Evans Sales 083 985 2111

Expertise Built Through Generations of Trust

Howard Centre︱Pinelands︱Phone: 021 531 7507︱pinelands@seeff.com ︱

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WELCOME About the cover and left: #Adopt-A-Tree organised by Renew the ElsiesKraal River volunteer group aiming for "a river bursting with life" held their tree planting day on May 22nd. Editor Max Schutte planted a Wild Plum in remembrance of a family member. The canal was a hive of activity with Pinelanders planting trees. See the article on page 6.

"ONE KIND WORD CAN WARM THREE WINTER MONTHS” – Japanese proverb The long range weather forecasts predict a wetter season than usual. It certainly feels like winter is well under way and we are now approaching the shortest day of the year. Midwinter day, our winter solstice, is on Monday 21 June at about 05:31 in the morning... that particular Monday morning will likely live up to it’s reputation. The word “solstice” has Latin roots and translates roughly as “the Sun standing still” as the ancients observed that on this day, the noon-day Sun stopped sinking lower and reversed it’s direction, climbing higher each day on the way back to summer. As we well know though, the rain and cold weather don’t follow the strict schedules of the seasons, so we are still some way off from the ‘real’ midwinter. As we move away from the solstice, at least we will start to have a bit more light to cheer us through the winter weather. As Edith Sitwell observed: “Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.“ For us Kaapies, that translates to bobotie, curries and potjies... and Malva pudding and steaming custard. It’s a time for opening that special bottle of red wine to share by the fireside while we wonder if it’s cold enough for snow on the mountain. As appealing as all this sounds, we have perhaps had a little too much of this already after a full year of lockdown hibernation and we are left wishing for some time away from home. Luckily, winter is also a time for cosy getaways to our favourite country farmstay, when prices are lower and there are few tourists to crowd us out. We can only hope that our approaching third wave is kinder on us than before and allows us some opportunity to get out and about a bit to relieve the isolation. I wish you well over the winter months. May it be a time of recovery that will set us up for a brighter and gentler end to this year. I hope you enjoy this winter edition.

Klaas’s Cuckoo This beautiful emerald green bird is more often heard than seen. They are regular summer visitors to the Cape but some birds occasionally overwinter. The call, sounding like “meitjie-meitjie”, is repeated 5 or 6 times. The female differs from the male by having a duller, slightly brownish coat. Female Klaas’s Cuckoos lay a single egg in the host’s nest. The hosts in town would mainly be Sunbirds and Prinias, though in bigger gardens, Batises as well. These cuckoos have the ability to match the eggs of their hosts. Featured bird text by: John McFarlane, local Pinewood Village resident. John has been a keen birder for more than 30 years, and is a long time member of the Cape Bird Club. See www.capebirdclub.org.za.

Max Schutte Editor and Advertising

Writer and Photographer

Max Schutte

Glynnis Schutte

CONTACT THE MUSE MAGAZINE t 021 531 3324 c 073 644 1288 e muse@pinelandsdirectory.co.za p The Muse, 12 Rhone, Pinelands, 7405 NEXT EDITION DEADLINES 119 • July 2021 Bookings: 14 Jun Published: 29 Jun 2021 Content: 18 Jun

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for advertising details, deadlines, artwork requirements, circulation information and publication schedules. Your news, photographs and stories can be submitted to The Muse Magazine by email at muse@pinelandsdirectory.co.za. The Muse reserves the right to select articles for inclusion and to make alterations to submitted contributions.

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June 2021 | the muse | 1

081 237 4213 lilyb_learning

info@lilyblearning.co.za www lilyblearning.co.za

Live in Pinelands or Thornton? Use discount code PINE531 at checkout for free delivery. Valid until 31 July 2021.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

June Special Steak or Chicken SCHWARMA

2021

NOW OFFERING

There have been no meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions. Meetings are usually on the first Wednesday of the month. Call Santa at 021 531 2600.

WESTERN CAPE BLOOD SERVICE

Saturdays 2021

Thurs 24 June 2021

Artisanal Coffee

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Mon-Fri: 7:30am-4:30pm FREE DELIVERY! R40 minimum order Saturday: 8am-1pm 021 531 6398 | 021 531 6386 | 082 926 1361 Millside Park, Morningside, Ndabeni

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WCBS is taking extra precautions at clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please donate blood at the St Stephens Church Main Hall, Central Square, Pinelands from 1:30pm to 7:15pm. All blood donors are required to wear a face-mask. Please confirm donation times at 021 507 6300.

Wed 30 June 2021

PINELANDS STAMP CIRCLE

Tony’s

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2021/05/24

PINELANDS BAPTIST CHURCH DIVORCE CARE COURSE

Pinelands Baptist Church (PBC) will run a 13 week zoom course, designed to help those going through divorce or separation, bringing them back to wholeness as a single person. For more information call Alan Minogue: 083 456 1196 or the PBC Office 021 531 3922.

HAPPY HOUR @ PINELANDS LIBRARY

Only R59.90 was R64.90

Saturdays June 2021

The next meeting scheduled for 30 June 2021 will depend on restrictions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. For 10:23 information contact: Martin at 021 689 5050.

TREASURES

KAPS CHARITY TABLES

Gloria will be running two charity tables every Saturday at the Pop-up-Nursery at Pinelands Club from 9am to 1pm, weather permitting. There will be lovely items for sale and a box for donations of dog/cat food which will be sent to KAPS in Barrydale.

13 -23 December 2021

PINELANDS CRAFT AND GIFT FAIR

If you would like to receive an application and become part of the selection process email: pinelandsfair@gmail.com. Applications close on 7 June 2021.

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! email muse@pinelandsdirectory.co.za.

Send content for the July 2021 edition by 18 June 2021. placement calendar. R140 ensures in the

I will offer you cash for any of these items:

GOLD (even scrap gold) remember when you lost that

earring and buried the other in your jewellery box? SILVER from scrap jewellery to silver teasets MEDALS Boer War, WW1, WW2 inc badges & buttons. COINS remember the old tickey, sixpence, shilling, 5 shilling and R1 coin from the 60’s? POSTCARDS up to 1945 (1900-1920 are best) CUPS & SAUCERS duos & trios (plate, cup & saucer) OLD TOYS Schuco, Dinky, Meccano etc. FOUNTAIN PENS, PEN-KNIVES Yes, I buy AND EVEN BROKEN WATCHES them too!

Call me… my number is 083 775 00 55 … you stand to earn some cash for those old trinkets, bits & pieces that no longer serve you.

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Doctor

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WE MAKE THE PERFECT PAIR Dr Louise Wigens MBChB , Dip in Child Health (UCT)

Phone for an appointment

021 531 4111 076 588 6603

Donate blood and receive a special-edition pair of WCBS socks to keep you warm and cosy this winter.

West End Medical Suite, HOURS Mutualpark, Pinelands Mon - Fri 09:00 - 15:00 reception@drwigens.co.za appointments@drwigens.co.za

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June 2021 | the muse | 2

Years Years of success at Greeff of success at Greeff In 2001, Mike Greeff started Greeff Properties in the heart of Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs; and in 2020, Greeff established itself inInthe heart of Pinelands. 2001, Mike Greeff started Greeff Properties in the heart of Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs; and in 2020, Greeff established itself in the vision heart of Mike’s hasPinelands. always been to grow the company, yet retain that original essence of the boutique agency. The past 20 years have seen Greeff Christie’s International Realthe Estate grow into a leading estate agencyof with myriad ofagency. awardsThe under Mike’s vision has always been to grow company, yet retain thatreal original essence theaboutique pastour 20belt. years have seen both Greeff International Real Estate grow into a leading real estate agency a myriad oura belt. With hisChristie’s sons, Ryan and Tim Greeff involved in Greeff Christie’s International Realwith Estate, Mike of hasawards in factunder created living legacy. This his new generation ofTim Greeff alsoinvolved represents a growing trend of young, ambitious real estate brokers. With both sons, Ryan and Greeff in Greeff Christie’s International Real Estate, Mike has in fact created a living legacy. This new generation of Greeff also represents a growing trend of young, ambitious real estate brokers. SOLD

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Pine Acres Street, Pinelands R2 250 000 Street, Pinelands Pine Acres R2 250 000

Weltevreden Avenue, Rondebosch R8 500 000 Avenue, Rondebosch Weltevreden R8 500 000

Orchard Way, Pinelands R4 900 000 Orchard Way, Pinelands

Long Place, Pinelands R5 250Place, 000 Pinelands Long

R4 900 000

R5 250 000

Kindroggan, Pinelands R1 949 000 Pinelands Kindroggan, R1 949 000

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Our team is passionate about providing professional and personalised advice, but about with an easy-going approach.and Our team is passionate providing professional personalised advice, witharea, an easy-going Achieving record salesbut in the there is noapproach. better team to place your trust in to sell your property at the possible price! Achieving record sales in the area, there is nobest better team to After all, buying or selling a home is more than a transaction place your trust in to sell your property at the best possible price! it’s a lifestyle choice, so choose Greeff, where it counts. After all, buying or selling a home is more than a transaction it’s a lifestyle choice, so choose Greeff, where it counts.

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Greeff HQ, 262 Main Road, Kenilworth, Cape Town 021 763HQ, 4120 www.greeff.co.za | info@greeff.co.za Greeff 262| Main Road, Kenilworth, Cape Town 021 763 4120 | www.greeff.co.za | info@greeff.co.za Greeff Properties greeffproperties Greeff Properties

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Michael Steenkamp 074 444 7022 Michael Steenkamp msteenkamp@greeff.co.za 074 444 7022 msteenkamp@greeff.co.za

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COMMUNITY NEWS

RENÉE MEISSNER RETIRES AFTER 22 YEARS AT LA GRATITUDE PREPRIMARY SCHOOL

What is the craziest/funniest thing a child ever told you? Everyday there are some really humorous moments. I continually get asked when my tooth in the middle is going to grow! My motto is: “I will believe half of what your child tells me about you, if you believe half of what they tell you about me!” How has La Gratitude navigated the frequent changes in teaching? We have always been prepared to be open, explore and be well-read so that we incorporate the best of each new change into our daily classroom. My overarching philosophy is that children must learn through play, so I enjoy seeing how new trends/philosophies can be incorporated into a play-filled day. What will you miss most about teaching at La Gratitude? Getting to know each individual child, and watching them grow through my teaching, and tracking them as they progress through the years. I really enjoy being invited to the Award ceremonies at the local schools, where I can rejoice with past pupils from our school in their achievements. What was your proudest moment as Principal at La Gratitude? Becoming computer literate and getting my International Computer Driver’s License (ICDL) in about 2004. I remember a child at our school during this time who was from Russia. His English was minimal, but he had extraordinary computer literacy capacity and read computer magazines for fun. He solved the problem with a few clicks and had such a huge smile on his face when he saw how happy we were! I will never forget a past pupil popping in to our school one day when he was near the end of Grade 7. He went to every staff member and thanked each one individually; expressing his

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gratefulness and memories, for what the school and staff had provided for him. What is the one thing you wish you could tell parents? Please trust us. We have dealt with so many different children over the years, and whilst we do not always get it right, we understand that children cannot be boxed into categories. We do know that they all have the basic need for love, patience, kindness, gentleness, joy, self-control – all the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit, when dealing with each individual child. Having been a Mom myself to three very different children, and a “surrogate” mother and teacher to more than 800 children throughout my career; I enjoy the challenge that each child presents, because not one of these children are the same! I am constantly amazed and in awe of how God has individually made each of His created children. As teachers we rise to the challenge of seeing the best potential come through each child. This is only possible with parental support and input. And lastly - appreciate your teachers! We thrive on encouragement and affirmation, no matter how small. How did the duck race start? It started with my husband seeing an advert for a Duck Race at Canal Walk in about 2000. We thought we were so amazing to have sold about 100 ducks in our first year (2001), at R5 per duck; and now we sell over 2000 ducks most years, at R20 a duck. The race has also grown from one little race to four races – pupils, public, corporates and Pinelands schools and a market. We are grateful for the sponsorship over the years, particularly from the Crazy Store. Tell us about a highlight in your career One year we had a little boy who had had a brain tumour and after extensive surgery he came to our school mainly to be able to socialize with the other children, even though he was still wheelchair bound. So much prayer had been raised for him and his family, by individuals in the community and ourselves, that it was amazing to see his sight, his speech and his ability to eat on his own return. And then the most amazing highlight was him telling us and showing us that he had learnt to walk again! I still get tearful when I relate the story! God is truly amazing and still heals today.

What advice do you have for teachers just coming into the profession? Do not go into teaching for the money! You need to be passionate about kids and teaching. You need energy, great ideas, and the ability to survive on very little sleep – including waking up in the middle of the night with ideas. A piece of advice I received from a great mentor and past principal of La Gratitude, Merial Parker, is that “There is no law against using ideas with your eyes.” So be open, be teachable, be enthusiastic, and make sure you have a spouse that totally supports you. Also, you need to have plenty of storage space for anything and everything that could possibly be used for teaching! Why is La Gratitude special to you? A group of ladies from the Dutch Reformed Church started La Gratitude in the 50's as a bilingual school, run from someone’s home and then from the Civic Centre. In 1962 Garden Cities allocated the current site for the Nursery School. I was one of the privileged children to be in that first 1963 intake and my teacher was Mrs Femke Owen-Wahl. Then I became a teacher and in 1981 I started my second teaching post at La Gratitude. After 3 years I had to leave because I was married and at that time only 50% of the teaching female staff were allowed to be married. I returned in 2000 as Principal and Grade R teacher when Pam Penfold retired after 15 years. Past principals over the more than 58 years have included Hilda Parker, Meriel Parker - with Pam Geyer, and Pam Penfold. The reason this school in particular is so special to me, is the awesome privilege and freedom to live and work in a environment that supports my faith, and my passion What are your plans moving forward? Spending time with my grandchild and my family, decluttering my house, redesigning my garden and relief teaching and mentoring. I would love the freedom to travel in South Africa and abroad - when this is possible again. Who is the new principal at La Gratitude? Mrs Samantha Anderson is taking the position of principal and grade R teacher from July 2021. She has a vision to continue La Gratitude’s reputation as a school known for its high quality of education - providing a solid foundation in preparation for further learning. She is passionate about including God in every aspect of the school day and creating a place where staff, children and parents feel welcome and comfortable. 

June 2021| the muse | 4

MONEY MATTERS

Creating and protecting your wealth

MEET OUR TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS By Sue Torr Director Crue Invest

25 steps for drafting a sure-fire Will Make sure your Will is accurate, precise and not open to interpretation. Consider the following: Write or type out your own Will: Be sure that the person who writes or types out your Will does not stand to benefit from your Will in any way. Keep a copy of your Will where it can be found: You do not need to let your loved ones know or see the contents of your Will while you are still living, but it is important to let them know that you have a Will in place and where it can be found. Have the original stored in safe-keeping: Ideally, the original of your Will should be held in a fire-proof safe, held by your nominated executor or fiduciary company. Choose your witnesses carefully: As such, do not let any beneficiaries, heirs or legatees sign as witnesses, nor your executor, guardian or trustees. Sign your Will in the presence of your witnesses: The validity of your Will can be contested if you and your witnesses do not sign in front of each other. Don’t leave spaces: Leaving large blank spaces between paragraphs gives fraudsters the opportunity to alter your Will after you have signed. Revoke all previous Wills: Be sure to include what is referred to as a ‘revocation clause’ which effectively serves to nullify all previous Wills. Destroy all copies of any previously drafted Wills. Date your Will: While dating your Will is not a legal requirement, it is highly advisable that you do so. Include full names and ID numbers of all heirs and beneficiaries: When naming an heir, include their full name, identification number and their relationship to you. Sign your Will on every page: It is not sufficient to sign your Will on the last page. Ensure that you and your two witnesses sign at the bottom of every page. Deal with the residue of your estate: Do not forget to include a clause in your Will which deals with the residue of your estate. Set up a testamentary trust for your minor children: The most effective way to protect assets intended for your minor children is to set up a testamentary trust in terms of your Will. Update your Will after divorce: If you’ve recently been divorced, be sure to update

June 2021 | the muse | 5

your Will accordingly. Have a separate Will for your foreign assets: Check whether you require a foreign Will for your offshore assets. Don’t include provisions that are unlawful, immoral or impossible to fulfil: Do not include any clauses which are illegal, against public policy or impossible to fulfil. Make provision for your surviving spouse’s accrual claim: If you intend bequeathing your share of jointly-owned assets to a third-party, remember the accrual calculation when determining your estate liquidity. Use clear and unambiguous language: For example ‘family’ is a broad term that could mean one’s immediate family, extended family or financial dependants. Use the appropriate legal terms: Usufruct, usus and habitatio, for instance, are all different forms of personal servitudes and have different legal consequences. Provide for simultaneous death: To avoid confusion, it is advisable to include a ‘simultaneous’ death clause in your Will. Appoint a guardian for your minor children: If you do not appoint a guardian the Master will appoint a guardian for your children, which is not ideal. Appoint a substitute guardian: Consider nominating a substitute guardian in the event that your primary guardian cannot fulfil the position when the time arises. Make provision for your financial dependants: Keep in mind that you have a duty to support minor children and your surviving spouse financially. Align your beneficiary nominations with your Will: Generally speaking, the insurance company will pay out the proceeds of the life policy directly to the nominated beneficiary. Bequeath percentages and not amounts: Remember, the value of your assets can fluctuate over time. To provide equally for your son and daughter it would make better sense to bequeath them each 50% of your estate. Be careful when making amendments to your Will: If you make any changes to your Will, be sure to sign as close as possible to the amendment, and that two witnesses attest to your changes. To see the unabridged version of this article go to www.crue.co.za. 

Our team of financial, legal and tax experts provides fiercely independent, fee-based advice. Our areas of expertise include local and offshore investing, risk and estate structuring, retirement funding, tax planning, business succession planning and employee benefits.

Come and have coffee with us. We’d love to help you plan.

Adv. SUE TORR MANAGING DIRECTOR BA, LLB

CRAIG TORR, CFP® DIRECTOR B.COMM

ERIC JORDAAN, CFP® DIRECTOR

BA, LLB, LLM (Tax) ADV. DIP. (Financial Planning)

ERIN WHITE DIRECTOR

ADV. CERT. (Financial Planning)

GARETH COLLIER, CFP® DIRECTOR B.COMM

CORLENE BOTHA

HEALTHCARE CONSULTANT NAT. CERT. (Wealth Management)

DEVON CARD, CFP® DIRECTOR B.COMM

HANNAH MYBURGH, CFP® FINANCIAL PLANNER B.COMM PG Dip. (Financial Planning)

As one of only 14 financial planning practices countrywide who hold the FPI Approved Professional Practice™ status, Crue Invest remains committed to upholding the highest industry standards of independence and ethics.

CRUE HOUSE 5 Long Place, Pinelands phone • 021 530 8500 email • info@crue.co.za web • www.crue.co.za Crue Invest is a licensed financial services provider FSP 19025

June 2021 | the muse | 6

COMMUNITY NEWS

WORKING TOWARDS A RIVER BURSTING WITH LIFE! Network for Good; and the venue was made available by the Pinelands Islamic Centre. Local small businesses and individuals provided financial support, sponsorships and donations. On the planting day we saw cooperation in action as community members from diverse backgrounds helped each other to push wheelbarrows and lift the heavy trees. Some tree adopters couldn’t be present to plant their tree, and other community members heard our call for help and came to plant a tree on behalf of someone else. It was a beautiful and poignant experience. Each tree will receive a label that points to the various motives for its planting.

Many tree adopters planted their trees in memory of a precious loved one. For some it is a family tree that will grow as their family does, and for others, the only motive is that they just love trees. Renew The Elsieskraal is delighted to be able to pass on some of the generous support that they received through the Pinelands tree planting towards a tree planting initiative happening in Manenberg where a dumpsite has been restored by local youth into a food garden and sports area. Join the tree planting movement by planting in your own garden or street (contact CoCT); and keep a look out for news about #AdoptATree2022. Article supplied by Jacquie Tooke. Images by Kate Chisholm.

Planting a tree is a profoundly practical and positive step in the face of the threat of climate change. On Saturday 22 May, sixty-seven indigenous trees were planted along the banks of the Elsieskraal River in Pinelands. The trees were planted between the Howard Drive and Nightingale bridges and brought the total number of trees planted through the #AdoptATree initiative to 212. Woven into the #AdoptATree environmental initiative is a beautiful strand of community cooperation. The event was run by the Renew The Elsieskraal River volunteer group in collaboration with the Department of Parks and Recreation and a local NGO,

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June 2021 | the muse | 6

HelenKeller S O C I E T Y E S T. 1 9 5 8 Retirement Estate and Low Vision Community Services OVER 60 YEARS IN AGED CARE A Happy Community Enjoy your retirement in a tranquil garden setting

A Caring Community Caring for retired and visually impaired persons

A Well-maintained Infrastructure With competent staff and management

Comprehensive Services Include: Independent living Assisted living Full nursing care OT and hard of hearing services for residents Low vision community services (by appointment) The Society offers a variety of accommodation, including beautiful cottages and en-suite rooms, some of which are available on a refundable life care contract with capital costs ranging from R530 000 to R1 000 000.

Call Matron Jackie on 021 531 5311 for any accommodation enquiries

www.helenkeller.org.za

ACCOMMODATION SPECIAL

The first month’s rent is free for new applicants for a limited period only. 2A Links Drive, Pinelands, Cape Town, 7405 Private Bag X25, Howard Place, 7450 Phone 021 531 5311 during office hours E-mail management@helenkeller.org.za

COMMUNITY NEWS By Josh King Sports Administrator Pinelands North Primary School (The Red School)

PINELANDS NORTH PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORT - THE RED WAY COVID has created a roller coaster for all the sport loving teachers, pupils and parents! Since the initial lockdown last year it has been a waiting game to get back to sport and ensure our kids get the necessary exercise that they need. For almost a year, everyone was cooped up inside.

EXCITEMENT AT THE RETURN OF SPORT

The announcement from the President, allowing us to return to sport, brought much excitement and eagerness to return to the sports ground. We took this opportunity to try something different given the circumstances. With the realisation that there has been a loss of skills and fitness over the last year, our aim was to teach the fundamentals and to bring back the children’s passion for sport. We decided to implement a long term development action plan; building up the skill level of each child through Physical Education and extramural sport.

SPORT INCLUDED IN TIMETABLE

The school set up a programme for the first term that included swimming, athletics, cricket, softball and yoga skills. For each of those, we broke down key aspects for each child by focusing on balance, coordination, flexibility and endurance, as part of the multi-sport integration programme. For the first time, we ensured that everybody participated because sport was included in the timetable in an extended part of the

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day. Every child had the opportunity to participate in all kinds of summer sports.

MULTI-SPORT INTEGRATION PROGRAMME

Each grade has a specific day on which they could participate in sports in the final hour of the school day. The pupils were split up into seven groups and stay with these groups throughout the term. The groups were given fruit names as we always promote healthy eating. Each day seven stations are set out; each station represents a sporting discipline which provides the pupils with a variety of skills that can be learnt throughout the session. Each group is sent to a station, at the pool or on the field and then they participate in the activity until a whistle blows. Each time this happens the group moves to another station to learn more skills about a different sport. By the end of the session, pupils have experienced a variety of sporting activities which range from cricket, athletics, swimming to yoga and softball.

PRESIDENTIAL INTERNS - A GREAT HELP

Our school presidential interns participated in the programme and therefore we had additional resources from December to April and they played a huge role in the success of the extended school day programme. With these extra hands, we were able to allocate two staff per station which helped tremendously to assist with improving the development of every child.

THE WINTER TERM

We started term two with a winter programme which now includes hockey, netball and soccer skills training. Each sporting discipline will have two full weeks of skills training giving the children the chance to look at being competitive again.

COACHING BY SHANE LEWIS

High Performance Coaching, run by Shane Lewis, has also been employed for this term to run clinics for our grade 6 and grade 7 pupils. In previous years, soccer has been the most popular sport for boys and girls. The media plays a huge part in this as we seldom see netball or hockey matches played by our South African ‘greats’ on TV. We therefore chose these two sports to help promote them as sports of choice and improve the development and participation. As this coaching clinic is a voluntary extra sport afternoon, we have been thrilled to see how many children have chosen to sign up for both sports! COVID has made us rethink our processes and including sport in the school day has made sure that every child participates! This has been a blessing for some families and has made life a lot more predictable for the weekly family planning of fetching and carrying! Mike Singletary sums this up beautifully: “Do you know what my favourite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.” 

June 2021| the muse | 8

June 2021 | the muse | 9

PRINCIPAL'S ARTICLE By Ann Morton Principal Pinelands North Primary School (The Red School)

WAYS TO CHALLENGE GENDER STEREOTYPES IN YOUR HOME Before your precious baby is born, people have created a stereotypical picture of your child. Gender Reveal Parties, Baby Showers, gifts from the family and shopping centres identify your child as either a boy or a girl, usually with the accompanying colour range. Some families choose not to follow this stereotypical view and know that gender is actually on a continuum with many possibilities, between ‘he man’ and ‘tinker bell’, with all people falling somewhere inbetween.

TIPS TO BREAK DOWN GENDER BARRIERS

Some schools have started to be far more inclusive of gender difference and are actively challenging these stereotypes in

the classrooms daily. Family homes can reinforce or break down this learning, and support for this world view definitely assists children to integrate into the world far better. Here are some tips on breaking down the gender barriers in your home: • Ensure your home reflects that it is okay to be different in the wider sense of the word. Actively seek out role models to interact with as a family, particularly those who are different from you. Families with parents of the same sex, families with only one parent and traditional families can assist children to understand what is ‘normal, even if it doesn’t copy their family. • Challenge stereotypes when you hear them at home amongst your family. Family get togethers are a perfect time to talk about stereotypes, with most adults still being scathing of people who are different to themselves. Enter serious discussions and include your children, even if the topic is heated. Use inclusive language too: ‘moffie’, ‘fag’ and ‘bunny’ are words that children should be told are not acceptable. Reward your children for standing up against discrimination. • Picture books and story books are good ways to introduce difference in gender into your home. Julian is a

Mermaid by Jessica Love and The Girl with Two Dads by Mel Elliott are two of the books Pinelands North uses in their Philosophy for Children course. Both of these books challenge stereotypical lifestyles. Challenge stereotypes too by encouraging your children to play with toys that are not conventionally ‘boys’ or ‘girls’ toys: boys love dolls houses and girls love car garages too! • Look at the spaces in your home and ensure they don’t reinforce stereotypes. Dads calling a room the ‘mancave’ and having a pink frilly ‘princess’ bathroom for your daughter instil views that men should have caves and girls should like pink frilly things! The jobs in the house should be shared but not by gender: anyone should be able to iron, wash the car or the dishes, and water the garden. • And finally try to attend conferences and courses on gender differences to ensure you have the correct information. A good place to find information on this topic is through FaceBook – there are several very good sites you can join to find out the most up to date pronouns and research available. Through you, a whole generation of future adults could be far less discriminatory than the adults of today! 

Pinelands Client Testimonial

SOLD IN A DAY

“Buying a home is exciting, buying a home is

excruciating, offers, counter-offers, paperwork, remedial work, hard work all round. And if you’re buying and selling at the same time, it’s double the amount of stress with double the amount of people. I can say without the slightest suggestion of doubt that Geneé cut that stress in half, maybe more. She was a pleasure to work with on both sides of the deal, and if we ever decide to do this dance again, I know whose doorbell I’d be ringing. ”

- Stef Adonis

Geneé Rodinis

R4.595 million

3 Bedrooms / 4 Bathrooms / 4 Parking Bays / 2 Covered Bays

If you’re considering selling, we would welcome the opportunity to provide you with a complimentary market related evaluation. pamgolding.co.za/pinelands

GoldClub Agent

+27 (0) 83 658 2121 genee.rodinis@pamgolding.co.za

Webb AAorneys Attorneys | Notaries | Conveyancers 021 013 3610 | www.webinc.law

PINELANDER

GREG PHILIP DAVIES The groundwork for Greg Philip Davies career in acting was done at Pinelands High School and after six years of study at City Varsity, Greg launched his professional company INSPIRA Features. His experience in Raised By Wolves and Vagrant Queens was followed by his first feature role in The Mauritanian, where he enjoyed watching and working with Jodi Foster, Shailene Woodley and director Kevin McDonald. Greg considers this experience as great affirmation of his chosen career path! Tell us about INSPIRA Features and the journey to your professional career. I believe that in film and entertainment production it is advantageous to be multi-talented and have experience in the various components of the industry not just acting. Particularly in these times where COVID has hit the industry hard, everyone is looking for people who also have the right attitude towards their work, as well as the right skill set. Video games led an interest in animation My real inspiration came from the story lines and strong characters in video games - creating a dream of working overseas in the animation industry. My love for writing, directing and acting was fostered at Pinelands High School with well known history teacher and actor Michael Harris. The first time I directed a One Act Play was in grade 9 and then in grade 11. I was part of the Pinelands High School production of District Six as a props manager and then acted in Rebecca and Hairspray in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Studying at City Varsity At City Varsity I did 3 years developing animation skills, such as storyboarding, concept art, screenwriting, pre-production, editing, animating in 2D and 3D, and post production. The curriculum we had at City Varsity at the time for me was just perfect, because in my third year I realised that this one qualification wasn’t going to be enough for getting into the industry. After my animation studies I decided to stick with City Varsity for the 3 year acting course. I knew that doing this would teach me not only acting skills but give me the knowledge of how to develop a professional acting career. During this time I was thrown in at the deep end. I would be part of film students' projects liaising with other departments on their projects

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including VFX (visual effects editing) and fight choreography. It was during this experience that I knew one hundred percent, that this was what I wanted to make a successful career out of, both professionally and financially. The benefits of INSPIRA Features Launching INSPIRA Features has helped me to build a name for myself. I developed my own animated short film that was accepted by BAFTA’s (British Arts, Film and Television Awards) in 2019 and developed animated corporate videos for SA and UK. Shortly thereafter I was able to get onto film productions such as Raised By Wolves and Vagrant Queens. My first big step in my acting career was acting in a ‘feature role’ capacity in the recently BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated The Mauritanian’. This was an absolute blessing of an experience - being able to watch and work with Jodi Foster and Shailene Woodley and director Kevin McDonald. That experience affirmed more than anything that I was on the right career path. Coping with the restriction of lockdown Working from home I was a lead editor for a lockdown mini series. The actors filmed their scenes at home, with the director guiding them via zoom. I did scene editing and edited 3 of the 5 episodes. The final product called Grow is currently in the distribution stage. When restrictions were lifted, I enjoyed developing stunt skills for my acting, such as fight and acrobatic skills at the iStunts Academy. This was brilliant for exercise and good mental health. I also worked on the cover design of Ruth Taylor Stott’s recently released book Black Mamba Under my Bed available on Amazon eBooks.

It was wonderful to work with Ruth - one of my Pinehurst Primary School teachers. I’m currently working on animations for music videos whilst trying to fit in stunt training and audition for roles for international productions. Productions with a strong message and the future of INSPIRA Features What I am absolutely drawn to the most when it comes to my work, is a production with a powerful message. The main goal I have for my career is to work on big budget, international productions here in Cape Town (local as well as international) as well as back in London and bounce between the two places making a successful career out of being part of film (and video game) productions in an acting capacity as well as using my other skills. If I work on a film as an actor, I would love to work on it in a screenplay role as well, or an editing or VFX role, or even just marketing design. I love to really be involved. I would also love to see my INSPIRA Features label develop into a well known company name where I can employ amazing artists. I LOVE to work! Life in Pinelands Much of my inspiration and encouragement comes from the time spent in Pinelands with my closest friends and family. The Muse wishes Greg all the best in his chosen career!  See www.inspirafeatures.com and also www.thetalentsmith.co.za/2020/02/20/gregdavies.

June 2021| the muse | 10

June 2021 | the muse | 11

COMMUNITY NEWS

HELEN KELLER KNITTING FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE The Helen Keller Society’s resident’s knitting group and their two volunteers, have been very busy creating items during lockdown for those less fortunate than themselves. They have donated to Sivuyile at Stickland Hospital, PDSA, AACL, Christine Revell Children’s Home and Sisters Incorporated over the last few months. The group is sponsored and any wool or donations are always welcomed.

PINELANDS

R4 445 000

6 Beds • 4 Baths • 6 Gar OPEN PLAN LIVING

Well positioned home with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms in the main house, farm style kitchen, indoor braai, open plan living areas, outside flatlet, log cabin, braai room, 6 car garage, pool, Jacuzzi, o/d shower, sauna, pizza oven and braai.

Cindy Sarandis 071 081 4413 • Web RXBS-2017

RE/MAX Property Associates: 021 531 4477

OBSERVATORY

R3 799 000

JOINT MANDATE

JOINT MANDATE THE ENTERTAINER

PINELANDS

R2 100 000

SOLE MANDATE

R4 500 000 – Incl VAT

JOINT MANDATE 5 Beds • 3 Baths • 0 Gar NO TRANSFER DUTY PAYABLE 6 Beds • 6 Bath • 0 Gar

The primary residence consists of 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (mes), open plan lounge / dining with fireplace, fitted kitchen including gas stove, outside flatlet, private pool, double carport and electric fence.

Cindy Sarandis 071 081 4413 • Web RXBS-1732

RE/MAX Property Associates: 021 531 4477

PINELANDS

R3 375 000

SOLE MANDATE

Pristine property showcasing 2 self-contained cottages, a 4 bedroom 4 bathroom main house (all en suite), study, 2 living rooms, fully fitted granite top kitchen, guest toilet, laundry, pool, well point and built in braai.

Cindy Sarandis 071 081 4413 • Web RXBS-1733

RE/MAX Property Associates: 021 531 4477

WOODSTOCK

R3 000 000

SOLE MANDATE

PROFESSIONALS & CREATIVES! 2 Beds • 1 Bath • 0 Gar FAMILY HOME WITH FLATLET 3 Beds • 2 Baths • 1 Gar LOW MAINTENANCE, LOCK UP & GO 3 Beds • 1 Bath • 2 Gar A lovely cottage with high ceilings, wooden floors, light and a real sense of space. Sensitively modernised, retaining original character. An open-plan lounge and kitchen accesses the garden. Safe area close to all the trendy hot spots

Lovely light, bright & spacious family home with an open- Stunning freestanding home in Upper Woodstock, located in plan living area. In the kitchen there is a peninsula for casual a quiet Cul-De-Sac. Offering 3 generous sized bedrooms with eating. A walk-in wardrobe & bathroom compliment the high ceilings, solid wooden flooring throughout. master suite. Garden has sparkling pool & established plants.

Abigail Hinchcliffe 084 577 3576 • Web RXBS-1982 Abigail Hinchcliffe 084 577 3576 • Web RXBS-2031 Byron Louw 082 081 2299 • Web RXBS-2048

RE/MAX Property Associates: 021 531 4477

OUT AND ABOUT

WESTCOAST WANDERINGS

WEST COAST WANDERINGS

West Coast wanderings The City Bowl of Cape Town opens wide to the north and from many vantage points within the city are views encapsulating the cool, dark blue waters of Table Bay rimmed by sandy beaches and bright, reflective patches of dune sand. On a clear day, the rounded granitic Darling Hills are visible, along with the rugged peaks of the Cedarberg Mountains in the far distance. The quiet wide-open spaces of the West provide a pleasant respite from the congested city.

PLACES TO VISIT ON THE WEST COAST

It is a region that I frequently escape to, but I am surprised by how many people, although aware of the West Coast, rarely venture there. Perhaps because they hold the false perception that it has nothing worth seeing. Most who do make the trip visit Langebaan Lagoon within the West Coast National Park, particularly during flower season (August-September) to catch the Namaqualand daisies in bloom. As beautiful as Langebaan is, there are many other great places to explore and here I introduce two lesser known spots well worth visiting: the !Khwa-ttu San Cultural Heritage Centre and the West Coast Fossil Park. Both are easy to do in a day trip.

LEARN ABOUT THE "FIRST PEOPLE"

The !Khwa-ttu San Cultural Heritage Centre provides a wonderful introduction to San hunter-gatherer groups who have managed to survive to the present-day. They are often referred to as ‘first people’ in the sense that they are descendants of the earliest people

Cederberg rock art (Sevilla Trail)

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By Professor John Compton Author of West Coast: A Natural History

living in the area. Variations in the genetic diversity of people today suggests that the San are the oldest among first people, which is supported by the fact that some of the earliest archaeological evidence for cultural modernity is found on the South African coast. Examples of innovative, ‘clever’ behaviours include engraved ochre and ostrich eggshell, as well as shell bead jewellery. Many of these artefacts heralding modern human behaviour make their first appearance in coastal caves of South Africa between 100 and 70 thousand years ago. The engravings are interpreted to represent a large advance in cognitive ability associated with abstract thought, cultural identity and language. Interestingly, adaptation of a seafood diet is associated with the earliest records of innovative human behaviours. The rich cultural remains in these caves suggest that small, mobile groups of huntergatherers were living well on the West Coast, but their lives underwent a major shift starting about 2000 years ago with the arrival of pastoralists and their herds of sheep and cattle, and more recently with the arrival of Europeans. !Khwa-ttu sits on the granite hillside and has hiking and mountain bike trails with beautiful vistas over the ocean. It also has an excellent restaurant with reasonably priced meals, highly recommended for breakfast or lunch.

FOSSILS FROM 5 MILLION YEARS AGO

The West Coast Fossil Park takes you back 5 million years ago when warmer and wetter climates than today supported abundant

WCFP visitor’s centre

plant growth and an animal menagerie distinctly different from today: shortnecked giraffe-like animals (sivatheres), giant pigs, sabre-tooth cats and Africa’s only known bear, an enormous carnivore three times the size of a lion. These animals are all now extinct but their fossils are found in a fossil-rich bone bed, which forms the centre piece of the park. The jumbled and juxtaposed bones are thought-provoking and compel the observer to think about how it might have formed. Did a big flood send animal carcasses floating down as bloated bags of bones? Was it a waterhole where dead animals accumulated and were trampled upon by other animals? The site was originally a phosphate mine, but has been reconfigured and includes a beautiful visitor’s centre built from lottery proceeds, with some of the mine workers retrained in fossil processing, tourism and education. It also has a great restaurant. Getting there: Take the N1 north to the N7 north to the Melkbosstrand Rd (M19) exit west to the coastal route R27 north. !Khwattu is on the right-hand side off the R27 just before the Yzerfontein turn-off. To get to the WCFP carry on the R27 north and turn right (northeast) onto the Langebaanweg Road and keep on this road past the air force base to the WCFP on your left. !Khwattu is an approximate 45 minute drive from the city and the WCFP is a further 45 minute drive from !Khwa-ttu. For more see: wwww.khwattu.org and www.fossilpark.org.za.

The excavated bone bed at WCFP

June 2021| the muse | 12

WESTCOAST WANDERINGS

Langebaan Lagoon Langebaan Lagoon stands out as one of the most striking features on the West Coast, with nothing like it for the entire length of the South African and Namibian coastline. Langebaan is a narrow, 4-km-long side arm of the sea connected via Saldanha Bay to the open ocean. It is a lagoon because no rivers flow into it and, as a result, its waters are as salty as the sea or somewhat saltier from evaporation. A good vantage point for taking in the lagoon is from the prominent granite hill Seeberg. A stone herder’s cottage at the crest of the hill is full of informative posters and offers shelter from the often brisk wind. On exceptionally clear days it is possible to make out Table Mountain 90 km to the south. Directly opposite to the west are the white cliffs at Kraalbaai part of the prominent dune ridge that separates the lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean. This dune ridge runs along 16 Mile Beach from Yzerfontein to the granitic hills of Postberg. Visible from Seeberg are the branching, dark blue ribbons of water that extend throughout the lagoon. These are the subtidal channels greater than 2 m

OUT AND ABOUT

Aerial shot of Langebaan Lagoon looking north. Subtidal channels (dark blue) connect salt marsh on the southern and eastern margins of the lagoon and intertidal sand banks (white) to Saldanha Bay. Image supplied by West Coast National Park. deep that run like veins and through which seawater courses in tidal exchange with Saldanha Bay. On average, a given parcel of water resides in the lagoon for about a month before it is flushed out and returned to Saldanha Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Adjacent to the dark blue subtidal channels are light beige broad, intertidal sand banks exposed at low tide and flooded at high tide. Patches of the dark seaweed (Gracilaria) are easy to spot, but otherwise the rippled sand banks are barren, peppered only by the excavated mounds of the otherwise unseen prodigious burrowing sand prawn. Fringing the sand flats, particularly at the southern and eastern margins of the lagoon is saltmarsh composed of a rich mix of multi-coloured salt-tolerant plants.

FRESH WATER SEEPS INTO THE LAGOON

located between the two granite hills to the east: Massenberg to the north and Betjeskop to the south. The slow flow of fresh groundwater is not enough to reduce the saltiness of the lagoon, but its surface expression is clearly delineated by the tall freshwater reeds (Phragmites) bordering the low-lying saltmarsh adjacent to the Geelbek farm. About the author: John Compton is Emeritus Associate Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Cape Town. He has lived in Pinelands since 1996 after arriving here from the USA. He and his students have done numerous research projects along the West Coast and if you are keen to learn more check out his latest book West Coast: A Natural History, which is available through his website www.johnscompton.com. 

Although no rivers flow into the lagoon, freshwater seeps out along the margin and this influenced the location of farms, including Geelbek established in the late 1700s and now a visitor’s centre. The groundwater seep is associated with an ancient drainage valley, the Geelbek Gap,

Several wooden walkways out to bird hides provide good views of the saltmarsh fringed by dark rushes (Juncus) and cordgrass (Spartina), which grade into the tall reeds (Phragmites) on the distant left associated with the fresh water seep.

June 2021 | the muse | 13

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