MELIORES
SACRED HEART COLLEGE MARIST OBS EDUCATION WITH WITH HEART HEART THAT THAT KNOWS KNOWS NO NO BOUNDS BOUNDS
J U N EJUNE E D IEDITION T I O N 22016 015
Family Spirit | A Passion for Work | Simplicity | Presence | In the Way of Mary
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Who’s Who ALUMNI COMMUNICATIONS Ellen Howell Alumni Relationship Manager alumni@sacredheart.co.za
Layout and Design Cherry Bullard CJ Graphics
Thanks to
the alumni, parents, learners and staff who contributed to this edition of the Meliores publication.
MELIORES
is owned and published by Sacred Heart College. The authors and contributors reserve their rights in regard to the copyright of their work. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written consent of Sacred Heart College.
Contents A
2 I Messages from Our Team A Note from the Head of College I 2 A Note from the Alumni Manager I 2
3 I Sacred Heart News
Giving Mother Nature a Helping Hand I 3 Grade 1 Learners Ring the Bell Marking the Start of their Academic Journey I 5 Jazz Band Shines at the St Mary’s Battle of the Bands I 6 Aspirant Engineers Learn the Ropes!! I 7 Matric Original Plays Festival (MOP) I 8 Radio Veritas Taking on the Airwaves, National Marimba Festival 2016 I 9
10 I Alumni News
Midmar 2016, Vuma a Semi-finalist, PEN South Africa Student Writing Prize Shortlist I 10 Three Day Job Shadowing Workshop I 11
9 I Connecting with Alumni Gerron Elferink - Class of 1953 I 13 Donovan Schultz - Class of 1996 I 14 David Balchin - Class of 2005 I 15 Lungisile Mjuza - Class of 2005 I 16 Memory Lane I 18
Reunions The Class of 1996 celebrating 20 years I 20 The Class of 2006 celebrating 10 years I 20
28 I Celebrate Sacred Heart College’s Heritage with us Sacred Heart Music Festival I 21
Contact details Pre-Primary and Primary School I 22 High School I 23
message from our team A Note from the Head of College
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uring the past few months I have had the great privilege of meeting a number of remarkable alumni from the Obs years. In my discussions with them I have been reminded that this College has a deep and rich history. Since the Koch Steet days, we have always kept an eye on answering the question, “What can we do to ensure that social justice and the common good are high up on our agenda?” Many of our alumni are involved in service work either directly, by establishing or working for nongovernment organisations, or through the community service interventions of their companies. In the past five years, our ability to provide for scholarships has been severely tested. Sacred Heart College epitomises the diversity of South Africa. We create a place of welcome, and a home that crosses gender identity, income level, cultural, religious and demographic barriers. Sacred Heart College is a melting pot of ideas and beliefs, reflected in the discussions amongst our children and in their outstanding performance in debating, public speaking, theatre and writing. It is no coincidence that amazing young people, like Puleng-Lange Stewart, become finalists in international writing competitions; that doctors, like Ridwan Mia, find new ways to treat burn victims and ensure that these techniques are also used for the most deprived of children. (See Children of the Fire for more information) When people ask me how my job differs from that of a traditional principal, my short answer is, “ I get to play with all the children.” However, one of the greatest privileges of my job is that I also get to
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meet the wonderful people that adorn these pages. Once again, Ellen has outdone herself in finding ways to tell their stories. The Meliores is very much her creation but she would, undoubtedly, say that it is your stories that make this publication what it is.
A Note from the Alumni Manager
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am delighted that our alumni community has grown in leaps and bounds. As an alumnus, you can connect with us through our website: www.maristonian.co.za or through Facebook. Our very first Job Shadowing Workshop, in which we had invited our alumni community to get involved, was held in the last week of the first term this year. Six of our alumni gave up their time and shared their knowledge with our Grade 11 learners. Our learners were delighted to meet our alumni and feel that we should continue this on an annual basis. My wish for the future is that more of our alumni will become involved in the College and make a difference in the life of a learner. Ellen Howell alumni@sacredheart.co.za
sacred heart news Giving Mother Nature a Helping Hand
I encourage everyone to be eco-friendly because it’s not hard. Recycling one piece of paper a day can help a lot.
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acred Heart College Eco-Club is encouraging everyone to be eco-friendly one day at a time. The Club encourages young people to engage in their environment by allowing them the opportunity to actively protect it. Through the programme, pupils experience a sense of achievement at being able to have a say in the environmental management policies of their school, ultimately steering them towards certification and the prestige which comes with being awarded an International Green Flag Award. The EXPRESS met with three members of the Club, Mahin Ali, Tariro Banganayi and Tyron Wei. They shared what the Club is about and how it has inspired them to be eco-friendly and how they are planning to encourage their fellow pupils. “I encourage everyone to be eco-friendly
because it’s not hard. Recycling one piece of paper a day can help a lot. It is these simple tasks that one can easily complete that can improve the situation we’re in right now.” “One does not need to generate a genius idea that turns waste into paper or glass, although that would be really cool,” said Club member Mahin. Mahin is a grade 9 pupil at Sacred Heart and said being a member of the Club helps her to contribute to changing her school into an ecofriendly school. “I joined the Club because the members were so welcoming, but mostly because of the kind of people they are. They spread awareness of different issues regarding the environment and what they were doing was extraordinary,” said Mahin. Mahin is passionate about the work the Club does because its goal is to encourage other pupils to be eco-friendly.
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sacred heart news Giving Mother Nature a Helping Hand continued cont. pg 4
“I care for the environment greatly. I feel helping the environment is very important,” said Mahin. She said she has no idea what she wants to do in the future, but one thing she is certain about is that she wants to contribute to society and promote equality and environmental care. Fourteen – year – old Tariro is passionate about unpacking arguments in order to get to the root of a problem. “The Club is tasked with helping and inspiring the learners at our school to care and be aware of the environment around us and all the problems it faces,” said Tariro. He joined the Club as he welcomed the challenge to identify the root of the environmental problem within the school and surroundings, and to find solutions. “I joined because it gave me a platform to express my views and help make decisions with others about how we can take care of the environment. “I hope to be able to educate myself and other people about the right way to live like an environmentally friendly human being,” said Tariro. He said he hopes to study zoology one day. “The reason I joined the Club is because our planet is currently dying from all the pollution. Our city, Johannesburg is really dirty and there is rubbish everywhere. “Global warming is also a huge problem and the environment is in a really bad state,” said 14 – year – old Tyron.
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“I wanted to help lessen the load of pollution such as littering, water pollution and any other harmful ways that we as humans have inflicted on the earth,” added Tyron. A presentation about encouraging schools to help the earth inspired Tyron to join the Club. “Earth is the only home we have. By damaging our planet, we are destroying our own home and future generations’ home. I encourage youngsters to go out and make a change that contributes to the conservation of our planet,” said Tyron. The Sacred Heart Eco-Club has just been presented with the International Green Flag Award. The Award acknowledged the school for meeting all the criteria for the eco-schools programme and for developing environmental action projects and learning programmes, which have improved the school’s sustainability practices. The Eco Club is involved in environmental initiatives like Generation Earth and the school is now working towards a Platinum Flag for the Eco – School Award. Joburg East Express 12 April 2016
sacred heart news Grade 1 Learners Ring the Bell Marking the Start of their Academic Journey
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he current chapel at Sacred Heart College was erected in 1956 as a memorial to the past pupils who fought and fell for their country during the Second World War (1939 – 1945). A plaque with the names of 49 Old Boys who gave their lives in the First World War (1914 – 1918) can be seen at the back of the College Hall. Gazing down from behind the Altar is a statue of Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers. There used to be a bell behind the chapel which came from the third General House of the Marist
Brothers. The first General House was in France at the Hermitage just outside St-Chamond. The General House was later moved to St-Genis Laval, Lyon. When all religious institutes were expelled from France in 1903, the Brothers moved the General House to Grugliasco in northern Italy. In 1958, the Generalate was moved to Rome. Br Jordan, the Principal of the College in the late fifties. He was the Brother responsible for the building of the Chapel and requested that the bell at Grugliasco, which had called the Brothers to prayer and meals for over fifty years, be given to the College for its Chapel. This was agreed to and hence the bell that used to hang outside behind the Chapel came to the College. In recent years, it was taken down and hung in the foyer. Sacred Heart College has started a new tradition. At the beginning of each school year, the bell is moved to the front of the Chapel where the Grade 1’s of that year ring the bell to mark the start of their school career. The Matric learners of 2016 will ring the bell at their Valedictory Mass, to mark the end of their school career.
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sacred heart news Jazz Band Shines at the St Mary’s Battle of the Bands
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he jazz band participated in the finals of the St Mary’s Battle of the Bands on 17 February. The band, one of only eight finalists, delivered an outstanding rendition of Roy Ayer’s Everybody Loves the Sunshine and had the audience clamouring for more with their sophisticated original composition, Mondays. The standard of the competition was incredibly high and Riley Pam-Grant of Sacred Heart College won the best instrumental category with R2000 worth of prizes and Mark Millward, also of Sacred Heart College, was awarded best lighting design. Wayne Purchase, Deputy Principal and music teacher
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sacred heart news Aspirant Engineers Learn the Ropes!! Eskom Expo for Young Scientists in 2015. Paul’s research project on the EM Drive: Propellentless Electric Propulsion has won him several university scholarships and a place at the 66th Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona, USA in May this year.
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ur Junior High learners are taking their first steps into the world of Electronics and Robotics! The Sacred Heart College biennial Science Fest, running from the 5th – 7th of April, affords learners the opportunity to acquire computer programming and engineering skills from Coach Michael Ettershank from the University of Johannesburg, TechnoLab. He will teach learners the skills of driving desktop scale robots, through a maze, using graphical software to teach robots autonomous manoeuvres, propelling them from the beginning of the maze to the end, without operator intervention.
The Science Fest was opened by Professor David Block, a world renowned astronomer and mathematician. A physics demonstration, highlighting electromagnetic induction and electric fields, was presented by Mr Barry Myers. Later in the programme Mr Francois Germishuizen will conduct a chemistry presentation, showcasing some spectacular reactions. In addition, learners will attend field trips to Sci–Bono Centre, Sci-Enza Science Centre and the Wits Origin Centre and Planetarium giving them a deeper understanding of the world of Science.
As part of the Natural Sciences Curriculum, all Junior High learners will be presenting their original research tasks as part of this Science Fest hosted by the College. Learners are required to work individually or in groups to produce and present an original scientific project based on a topic of their choice. These projects are then judged by a panel of external adjudicators and successful young scientists then entered into the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists. This allows learners to use the 21st century “super” skills which form part of their project-based curriculum namely, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Collaboration to produce amazing scientific research projects. A notable achievement that was a direct result of the Science Fair has been Paul Stansell (present Grade 12 pupil) who won a Gold medal at the
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sacred heart news Matric Original Plays Festival (MOP)
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his year we are rebranding house plays as the MOP Fest (Matric Original Plays Festival). Every year the drama department provides a platform to showcase original plays that are conceived and written by the matric drama students. Auditions were held at the beginning of the year to much excitement. I am extremely proud of the focused collaborative spirit amongst the four plays being rehearsed in the early evenings. It is such a pleasure to watch learners from Grades 7 to 12, creating work together that has meaningful content and poses strong social and political commentary about the world they live in. Roslyn Wood- Morris, HOD: Drama
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sacred heart news Radio Veritas Taking on the Airwaves
National Marimba Festival 16th June 2016
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n Thursday, the 16th of June, over 500 Marimba players came to Sacred Heart College to compete in the Marimba Festival. Marimba bands from as far afield as East London and Kuruman traveled to Johannesburg for the 9th National Marimba festival.
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adio Veritas is up and running and on air. On Tuesday afternoons we depart directly after school for the Radio Veritas studio to record our segment which is aired on Saturday afternoons at 4pm on DSTV channel 870 and on AM. Currently there are six learners who participate in this activity ranging from grades 10 to 12. Each learner has the opportunity to host a broadcast. They must compile a theme, delegate various segments to other members of the team and basically lead the overall flow of the production. Collaboration is imperative within the team and skills required are: broadcasting within the Radio Veritas parameters, listening, responding appropriately, voice control, including prayers, making musical choices, marketing Sacred Heart College, doing thorough research, etc. Renee Randall-Taylor
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ALUMNI news Midmar 2016
Vuma a Semi-finalist
Jessica Picas and Nati Trassierra, Class of 2008 , completed the 8 mile swim at Midmar 2016. They raised just under R23 000 for an early childhood learning charity called Singakwenza. Their worst time was 45 minutes and their best time was 33 minutes.
Vuma Ian Levin, Class of 2005, has been selected as a semi- finalist for the Socar Montreux Jazz Electric Guitar competition.
PEN South Africa Student Writing Prize Shortlist Puleng Lange-Stewart is a young poet, performer, illustrator and playwright from Johannesburg. Matriculating at Sacred Heart College in 2010... go to the link below to read more:
http://pensouthafrica.co.za/pen-south-africastudent-writing-prize-shortlist/ Acknowledgement: Picture and text from www.pensouthafrica.co.za
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Claude Nob, who was the founder and general manager of the Montreux Jazz Festival, wished to offer artists a space where they could take risks, explore new music and perform something radically different from their usual touring performance. By bringing together talents from around the world, on the same stage, for unique encounters, and by blending cultures and generations for an evening, the Festival’s aim is to make original and living tributes to the styles of artists, who have carved their names in the history of music. His purpose was not only to help struggling artists make their mark, but also to force them to meet established professional standards, while benefiting from the media coverage of the festival. Vuma recently won the national (Dutch) leg of this year’s edition of the Keep an Eye International Jazz Award 2016 and he came third in the international leg of the same competition. These competitions feature bands from Spain, Italy, Amsterdam, New York and Boston.
ALUMNI news Three Day Job Shadowing Workshop
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ob Shadowing for our Grade 11s is taken very seriously at Sacred Heart College. Our philosophy holds that our learners cannot possibly begin to choose a career without experiencing some of what the working world has to offer. Three days are allocated to this process to allow our young adults the opportunity to source, communicate with, and shadow, their own choice of professional. On Day 1, our learners met Sacred Heart Alumni from various professions. These Alumni volunteered to spend a day with the Grade 11 learners, sharing their personal career journeys. It has become more and more obvious that our Grade 11s learn an incredible amount just through being afforded the opportunity to watch someone go about a normal day at work. There is time to speak with the professional and assess for themselves, first hand, what the specific career involves. Our Grade 11s returned from their experience full of ideas to share and stories to tell. They were so glad to have been part of this invaluable exercise. Some of the places they visited included, Sasol Human Resources Department, Liberty, Urban Works Architectural Firm, Money web, freelancers from Ogilvy and Magna Carta and the WITS Art History Department. Alison Botha
Alumni Get Involved Sechaba Ramogase Entrepreneur Class of 1998 The buildings and sporting grounds have been impeccably maintained but what’s even more amazing is that the spirit of SHC is alive and well – the feeling of inclusion, freedom of thought and expression. Every student from the soccer player to the artist has their place. Being back reminded me of how great an environment the school is for holistic growth. SHC is way more than a private school that offers I.E.B, sports, small classes, arts etc....it’s a cultural oasis. Monareng Makwetla Advertising Class of 1993 Coming back for me, especially to share my life and work experiences was very touching. It’s only on the day that I actually realised what a massive impact the school had on my life and the solid foundation the Education at SHC lays for young adults. The academics are only a part of the overall education that prepares one for a big unsheltered environment. The Education is what allowed me to be able to navigate the world we live in. I was touched and proud to see that the school is still doing
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ALUMNI news the same and teaching the values we were taught all those years ago and that the school was and still is ahead of the times in terms of educating the future adults of this country. I was very encouraged and inspired. It was a truly enjoyable experience. I did not think I would enjoy it as much as I did and would do it again. Margot Bertelsmann Freelance Writer and Editor Class of 1992 It was lovely to meet this diverse group of senior school students, who are looking in so many interesting directions as they dream about and plan their futures. I hope I shared with them the sense that the choices we make now are important but not final, that they can all lead in interesting directions, but that most career paths will probably centre around a basic skill set which makes up an individual’s particular strengths and interests.
What the Grade 11s had to say! Thuwaybah Moses The Job Shadowing Workshop was helpful because it was nice to learn about the whole process people went through to get to their current career. It relieved some of my stress over not choosing the right career because I learnt that even if you pick a career you are not happy with it’s never too late to change your career. Daniel Feldman I found the day very useful and manageable to get through after expecting it to be boring. I also got a new career path idea.
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Jordyn Walker What I really enjoyed about the Job Shadowing Workshop was that it wasn’t like a “career workshop” where you meet strangers. The fact that these were Sacred Heart Alumni made it really nice. Unknown Throughout the day, I found the information provided by the alumni to be useful. It was very informative and relevant. I would whole -heartedly recommend the school to continue this for the years to come. Nicholas Rutherford It gave great insight into all the skills you can learn and use in a profession and how you can apply them to other professions. Unknown I really enjoyed our experience, as we got what the real world would be like and what to expect. Unknown I enjoyed the job shadowing experience because I got different perspectives of different jobs. It was an even better experience, learning from alumni.
class of 1953
Gerron Elferink Retired Quantity – Surveyor
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ixty-two plus years ago I exited the Marist Brothers’ Colleges of Koch Street, 1944 – 1949, and Observatory, 1950 – 1953. After a decade, or 12.5% of my extant life-span, the other 87.5% comprised extra-mural and educed life experiences involving career, family, etc. That ‘decade-of-trepidation’ at school raises few fond memories and didn’t generate any academic or sporting accolades, despite the efforts of overtaxed brothers who attempted to teach us. Neither the 2nd World War and immediate post-war years, nor the demeanour of introverts/extroverts amongst us, seems to have been conducive to general scholarliness. Nevertheless, I went on to graduate as a Quantity-Surveyor (Wits 1960) and spent the next half-century within the profession to retire, also without accolades, before my ‘shelf-life’ expired. This was evidence of the school’s tacit fostering of endurance, and its influences per implementation of Abbe Champagnat’s goal of “teaching the four R’s – reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmetic and religion”. School was, commendably and significantly, multi-cultural which provided me with a lifelong awareness of mankind’s intrinsic similarities. The fourth-R began, at age six(-ish), when I had to deal with the war-time deaths of some ‘battleprepared’ R.A.F. pilot-guests of our home. Also, a cynical brother gave we matriculants (Grade 12’s) a ‘farewell’ opinion that, “within our first year after school, one of us would probably be dead.” Wrong..... ‘twere three! Motivated, thereby, to find rational answers to inescap-
able life-death questions, I explored, practised and rejected, a number of mystical/metaphysical, philosophies. There appeared to have been, for me, little intellectually and/or spirituallyriveting influence from school Scripture classes. However, during my later New Zealand sojourn, I experienced an unmerited ‘Damascus-road-type’ epiphany that convinced me of God’s real existence [God’s Hebrew name, Yehovah “(the) Self-Existent”)], of my and mankind’s sinfulness (conventional wisdom, humanist, contrary beliefs notwithstanding) and the real significance of Jesus Christ in the affairs of mankind. Now, after forty years of God’s revelations, there is no doubt of my having experienced a truly meaningful life. I believe that all of the above concurs with the claims, subject to some reservations, that “Sacred Heart alumni are....never afraid to be different ” and with Colin Northmore’s observation that he “....see(s) the common thread of the Spirit of Sacred Heart running through each story. What sets the alumni... apart...is their continued dedication to making life better for others.” There is also, on the scroll of the school badge, the motto “In Meliora Contende” [Strive for (the) better things] that exhorts diligent contemplation and sympathetic application of “(the) better things” element which equates, conventionally and laudably, with temporal/humanist successes. God’s Word is, however, paramount and epitomized in “Baruch Dayam Emmeth” (“Blessed be the True Judge” – an out of context, Hebrew expression with pregnant, vital implications). There has ever been a dichotomy between fallen-man’s and God’s ways. Therefore, one must ... Think critically, search for the absolute truth, strive for “(the) better things” and, above all, choose life. Gerron Elferink (SHC 1944 – 1953)
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class of 1996
Donovan Schultz Director of Internal Audit for a non-profit healthcare company
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y years at Sacred Heart College began in 1986, starting in Grade 2, along with my sister, Leigh, who started in Standard 4. The teaching at SHC went far beyond book smarts, with valuable life lessons often to be learned. The diversity of SHC to me was at the very forefront of shaping well-rounded, insightful, and progressive students. Nothing was given to us on a platter and we worked hard for what we earned. This work ethic has been at the core of my everyday life, along with discipline and caring, which were all instilled during my years at SHC. As I sat down to write this article, so many good memories came rushing back…from the early years of playing foursquare down by the brothers’ house, or playing marbles after school, to spending many breaks out on the glorious grounds we took so for granted; waiting for the bell to ring at lunch for the mad dash to the tuck shop; to running cross country around the school. The list goes on and on. I matriculated in 1996 and headed for college in the United States on a soccer scholarship to Western Kentucky University. Leaving home left me feeling very anxious, but I was greeted with a pleasant surprise when I learned there were several other Africans on campus, five from SA and one from Zim, two of whom were on the soccer team with me. We often talked about the motherland and the great taste of boerewors, biltong and a cold castle. I graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and
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went on to complete my MBA. I started my career in public accounting with Deloitte and Touche in Nashville, TN, working on external audits of public and privately held companies. I earned my Certified Public Accountant license and went on to become manager at D&T before deciding to pursue other options. I’m currently serving as the Director of Internal Audit for a non-profit healthcare company in Nashville that provides dialysis care to patients with kidney disease. The company’s story is what makes it such a great place to work – Dr. Johnson started the company 45 years ago with just a few other employees, dialyzing one patient at a time in an old home, with the primary goal of making life better for the patients. That same mission is at the heart of our business today, which has grown to caring for more than 14,000 patients across the US. My draw to the field of accounting first started in my latter high school years during lessons with Mr. Els. His guidance both in and out of the classroom played a key part in shaping the person I am today. While I’ve always been a numbers guy, Leigh has always been the artistic one. I can remember how strong her love was for drama and watching her plays at school... West Side Story is one that always comes to mind. We are now all scattered across the globe, with me in Nashville, Leigh in Brisbane, Australia, and Mom and Dad in Gisborne, New Zealand. One thing is for sure, we’re extremely thankful to our parents for moving us to SHC in 1986 and providing such an excellent basis for the rest of our lives. Our roots in South Africa will forever be cherished!
class of 2005
David Balchin Postdoctoral Fellow at Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
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matriculated from Sacred Heart in 2005, part of a class that has produced exceptional actors, economists, musicians and entrepreneurs. For me, the culture of critical and creative thinking at SHC led naturally to a career in science. In 2006, I started a degree in biological sciences at Wits University and, in 2013, I completed my PhD in Biochemistry. Like many of my peers from Sacred Heart, my interests have since taken me abroad. In 2014, I left Johannesburg for Munich, to do postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry. The MPI is one of the foremost centres for biological research in the world – a scientific hub concentrating money and talent in the centre of Europe.
the interface of chemistry, physics and biology to dissect the behaviour of disease-preventing proteins. By doing fundamental, curiositydriven research, we are gaining entirely new insights into how cells age, and how cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease arise. The intellectual environment at Sacred Heart is particularly conducive to the critical exchange of novel ideas. This culture both stimulated my initial interest in science, and encouraged my current career in research.
At MPI I am researching the strategies used by human cells to defend against biological stress. All organisms invest a huge amount of resources to combat stress and avoid succumbing to disease, and the war against disease becomes even more difficult as we age. At a molecular level, this war is waged by proteins: nanomachines which perform almost every essential biological function, from metabolism to taste. We use state-of-the-art techniques at
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class of 2005
Lungisile Mjuza Flight Instructors
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completed Matric at Sacred Heart in 2005. Although my original plan was to pursue a degree in Accounting, in Grade 11 the aviation bug bit and I’ve never looked back. My passion for flying was sparked by my father, who took me to air shows around Johannesburg where we would marvel at the different aircraft and their functionality. Flying is an art. The sensation of controlling a large machine, soaring above the land, never loses its appeal.
accepted a position at Mach One Aviation Academy in Springs where I am currently employed. I am also busy completing training on the Boeing 737-800 at PTC Aviation in Port Elizabeth.
My career in the aviation industry began in 2006 at Airborne Aviation, where I obtained my Private Pilot Licence. In 2008, I acquired my Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) at Aero Precision. Between 2008 and 2014, I managed to keep my CPL current by renewing it every year and gaining experience in the industry. This included an opportunity to work as a pilot at an airline based in Ghana; however, this was short-lived as the company had various internal issues.
Acquiring additional hours requires large sums of money to hire an aircraft. There is a large lack of funding for individuals not affiliated with training schools. Additionally, a lack of flying hours limits the kind of opportunities one is afforded in order to gain industry-related experience. Another challenge I personally
I also upgraded my professional profile, worked towards my Airline Transport Pilot Licence, obtained my multi-engine instrument rating and turbine rating at the South African Flight Training Academy, and Flight Instructor rating at the Mach Aviation Academy. It was during this period that I also enrolled for a degree in Logistics Management at the University of South Africa to add an additional skill to my repertoire and increase my competitive advantage. This degree would also bring my dream of owning an aviation company to fruition in the near future. In 2015, I qualified as a flight instructor and
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Although the aviation industry is a fascinating environment to be in, it comes with its challenges. The journey to becoming a fully employed pilot is long and expensive. A pilot is required to have a total of 1500 flying hours before being considered employable, yet only 200 hours are required to obtain a CPL.
faced was being a woman in a male-dominated field. This was extremely intimidating as it put pressure on me to prove myself constantly and master my skills. It taught me to be confident in my abilities and never settle for anything but my best. To become a pilot, one has to have an above average understanding of Science and Mathematics as each licence obtained requires one to pass (75% and above) the theoretical exams and practical assessments. Communication skills and teamwork are also important as a pilot essentially works as part of an extensive team.
My advice to anyone wishing to pursue a career in the aviation industry, particularly a woman, is ensuring she has a solid and consistent support structure. I believe the support I received from my family is an important factor in my success in the industry. Other qualities one needs to possess are patience, self-motivation and, most importantly, a great passion for flying. “To invent an airplane is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything� Otto Lilienthal (Aviator 1848-1896)
I believe my schooling at Sacred Heart College positively equipped me to excel in the aviation industry because my best was always required by my educators and, no matter how hard I sometimes resisted, they still pushed me to do my best and I will forever be grateful.
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MEMORY LANE 1990 Brother Joe Walton, Principal of Sacred Heart Primary during the 1990’s, and ‘Sammy’ who has been selling icre-creams at SHC since 1963.
1963 Sammy en route to the school
1972 Paul Burkett remembers the day he was in Standard 7A in 1972
Sacred Heart School bus back in the day!
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MEMORY LANE 1981 10 September, snowing at Sacred Heart College and 89 Grade 9’s at War Museum outing
Picture folder – Koch Street in 1948 Brian Ross found his “formal” picture folder that was taken at Koch Street in 1948. The price of the folder with his picture was 4/3. That is 4 shillings and 3 pence! There were 20 shillings to a pound and 12 pence to a shilling. The Principal was Brother Aquinas who also taught standard 6. The school playground was enclosed with a high wall and was paved with asphalt. We played all our soccer games on that surface and there were many sore and scarred limbs coming into contact with the asphalt surface.
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Join the class of ‘96 Reunion by celebrating 20 years of great memories.
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15 October 2016 18h00 Sacred Heart College,15 Eckstein Street, Observatory, in the Old Chapel Theatre R250,00 per person Ellen Howell at alumni@sacredheart.co.za and payment before 26 August 2016
WHEN: TIME: WHERE:
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CLASS OF 1996 1996 HIGHLIGHTS South Africa gets a new Constitution Song of the year: “Kiss From A Rose” by Seal Prince Charles and Princess Diana of Wales get divorced The Truth and Reconciliation Commission begins LWV ÀUVW IRUPDO KHDULQJV
FAMILY SPIRIT | PASSION FOR WORK | PRESENCE | SIMPLICITY | IN THE WAY OF MARY
CLASS OF 2006 2006 HIGHLIGHTS PW Botha, former State President of South Africa, dies at his home Pluto is downgraded from a Planet to a dwarf planet by The International Astronomical Union (IAU) Tsotsi wins the 2005 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 78th Academy Awards The one billionth song is purchased from Apple iTunes FAMILY SPIRIT | PASSION FOR WORK | PRESENCE | SIMPLICITY | IN THE WAY OF MARY
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10 Year Reunion WHEN: TIME: WHERE: Cost:
11 September 2016 12H00 until 17H00 Sacred Heart College,15 Eckstein Street, Observatory, at the Kiosk R50,00 Per person
Bring and Braai at Sacred Heart College to celebrate your past memories with friends, old and new.
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Sacred Heart college SACRED HEART COLLEGEPre-Primary PRE-PRIMARY School SCHOOL Tel: 011 081 2232 Fax: 011 648 1858 rashidat@sacredheart.co.za YHZOPKH['ZHJYLKOLHY[ JV aH
Sacred Heart SACRED HEARTcollege COLLEGEPrimary PRIMARY School SCHOOL Tel: 011 081 2203 Fax: 011 648 5204
veronicap@sacredheart.co.za
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Sacred Heart college HIGH SCHOOL SACRED HEART COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL Tel: 011 081 2219 Fax: 011 648 1047 jenh@sacredheart.co.za
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SACRED HEART COLLEGE
MARIST OBSERVATORY ContactUS US CONTACT
15 Eckstein Street, Observatory, Johannesburg
15 Eckstein Street, Observatory, Johannesburg 2192 www.sacredheart.co.za | Email: shc@sacredheart.co.za www.sacredheart.co.za Email:shc@sacredheart.co.za PO BoxI87257, Houghton, 2041 | Telephone: 011 487 9000 https://www.facebook.com/officialSHC | https://twitter.com/_Cool_School PO BOX 87257, Houghton 2041 I Tel: 011 081 2200 https://www.facebook.com/officialSHC I https://twitter.com/_Cool_School