Posted 2 October 2007
Class of 1957 - 50 Year Reunion
by Deon Retief
The class of 1957 held a small cocktail party in the
Brodie Room on Monday 10 September. This was just a small
gathering for the local OBs, as they plan to hold a much
grander function early next year so as to accommodate
many OBs who will be traveling from overseas.
Back row: Kevin Gildenhuys, Evan Johnson, Allan
Danker, Derrick Nowell, Harry Gurwitz
Front row: Andre Carlsen, Peter Graham, John Ince,
John Graham
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Posted 25 February 2007
SACS OBU AGM on 20 February 2007
by John Ince
REPORT BY JOHN INCE ON ACTIVITIES OF SACS OBU IN THE
ABSENCE OF MIKE MINNAAR
Gentlemen – Welcome to this our first meeting in
our centenary year!
1. In the absence of Mike Minnaar who resigned
as Chairman on Wednesday 7 February, I have been asked
to present a report on the main activities of the Union
during the past year, which I do with pleasure.
Those activities and events are presented to you in no
particular order of importance or preference. Each and
every event I mention here forms an essential and vital
component in the life of a vibrant, active SACS Old Boys
Union which is supported by its members who are spread
in different continents all over the world.
2. Modern electronic communication has brought
exciting results and rejuvenated interest – from
the furthest corners of the earth – even Russia,
China and Kazakhstan, to mention but a few areas. What
is more, these communications come daily - Sandy Edwards
receives up to 10 -15 emails bringing messages and news
each day.
3. A most encouraging feature of our Union is the ever
increasing interest and involvement of younger Old
Boys in all spheres and activities of the Union. Led
by Brent Walsh, chairman of the young members sub
committee, these young people bring a vibrant tone to
all our activities. 9 members of our Committee are under
the age of 28 years and they, along with many others,
support and work with commitment at i) the many functions
held in the Brodie Room, and ii) assist us in the OBU
office by arranging the Summer and Winter games against
the School teams. The numbers of OB’s participating
in these games increases each year (4 sports in Summer
and 3 in Winter) and now there is a further request to
have an OB’s rowing crew meet a school crew!
Games are all played in good spirit and a warm sense of
camaraderie prevails, particularly at after game functions,
held in our Old Boys’ Brodie Room.
4. Our annual OBU Touch Rugby Tournament held on
the OB War Memorial field and afterwards in the Brodie
Room, is yet another reflection of the willingness by
the youth to generate interest and sportsmanship. This
event demands hard work and much organization as it attracts
teams from far and wide. Thanks to Tony Pocock
for his sponsorship of this event each year.
5. We hold 3 golf days a year, our own, one played
against Wynberg OB’s and the third, The Old Quads
Day – with the Bishops, Rondebosch & Wynberg
OBU’s. Sandy Edwards is chief organizer of
these (no easy task) and Brent Walsh is golf Captain.
6. No report on our Union would be complete without mention
of our Water Polo Club, probably the most active
of all our sports groups. They practise once a week and
participate in both Winter League and Summer league competitions.
They have won the Masters’ Competition for the past
three years and will be participating in the 2007 Masters
Competition in Knysna during early March. Men such as
Rob Lumb, Alan Footman, Paul Solkow and many others,
are in many respects, the epitome of SACS Old Boys’
spirit and their loyal support of both the Union and the
Schools is unquestioned and unfailing.
7. Our Committee which also comprises senior members
who are equally enthusiastic and supportive, meets monthly
and performs yeoman service in ensuring that the affairs
of the Union are on course. Important matters of policy
are thoroughly discussed. The two Headmasters, Stuart
Anderson and Ken Ball also serve on this committee,
so the vital link with our School is well and truly maintained,
as they each give a report on school activities at meetings.
8. The SACS Foundation (is the senior body which
collectively acts as the Trustees of the Union) and as
such oversees all activities of the Union, as well as
the SACS 175 OBU Appeal. This body is registered as a
Trust and controls the finances and investments of the
Union. It oversees certain Scholarships and bursaries
in consultation with the Headmasters, who both serve on
this body. It assists the School wherever possible, for
example, providing loans at low interest for special projects;
it also provides housing subsidies for Governing Body
teachers. It is interesting to note that this Foundation
Trust was chiefly responsible for raising over £75,000
among Old Boys for the building of the J H Hofmeyr
Memorial Hall (between the years 1952 – 1960).
9. The SACS OBU 175 Appeal is well known to you
all. Launched in late 2004 with the chief aim of raising
funds;
- To provide scholarships and bursaries for boys of
excellence, to be educated at SACS.
- To support and finance special projects at the Schools
in order to maintain and improve facilities offered
by SACS so that SACS remains one of the country’s
leading educational institutions.
- To provide some support for future administration
of the OBU.
After an initial positive flood of contributions, the
donations have dropped to a steady trickle. A major boost
was provided by Sean Day, a 1966 Old Boy living
in the USA, with a donation of R1 million.
With this came a challenge to other Old Boys to raise
another R1 million whereupon he would donate a second
R1 million! Sean has stipulated that
this particular contribution should go towards boys of
excellence who come from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
Steve McKenzie, Chairman of the Campaign Committee
is working hard to promote this Appeal – he addressed
Old Boys at last year’s Annual formal dinner and
at the Dinner in Johannesburg. He and his campaign committee
are contemplating bringing in the help of a professional
fund-raiser to assist and guide all the efforts. This
centenary year will see a major thrust in the efforts
to achieve the success of this Appeal in raising R10 million.
At present the total stands at R1 845 191.48
(one million, eight hundred & forty-five thousand,
one hundred and ninety one rand and 48 cents). You
will all be hearing news about various special efforts
to promote the Appeal during this our centenary year,
including a function in London in early July. In addition
to the present patrons in SA, UK & USA, of the Appeal,
three have offered to assist in Australia. David Ellis,
Mike Bennett and Colin Davidson, while Bertie
Chait has agreed to join as a Patron in SA –
This augurs well for success in achieving these specific
aims.
10. Branches – With three branches in SA –
Johannesburg, Hermanus & Stellenbosch
– we also have three in Australia, one in New Zealand
and one in London and nominal Union activities spread
over the USA, interest by our overseas Old Boys is stronger
than ever although many of these fellows are not registered
as members of the Mother Union, here in Cape Town. We
are working hard to rectify this position! The Perth
Branch is probably the most active. The Chairman
David Ellis is so enthusiastic that he has arranged
an annual Triangular Regatta with Bishops and Rondebosch
Old Boys on the Swan River for the past 3 years. David
requested that we post him the blue SACS OBU peak cap
for the crew to wear at the last event, in May 2006. The
SACS nautical flag flies high in Western Australia.
11 Class Reunions
These reunions have become a major feature each year
and the events increase in number each year, with 7 due
to be held this year. Plans for such re-unions are meticulously
carried out and there is a definite spin-off for the Union
in that we do follow up on non-members. Classmates fly
half way round the world to meet their old class friends.
Certain years spread their celebrations over 3-4 days,
with golf games, wine trips, family braais, trips up Table
Mountain, a lunch at Forries and a visit to each of the
schools fitted into the programme. Both Headmasters welcome
these visitors and, wherever possible, arrange for them
to attend a school assembly. I myself attend most of these
re-unions and am always amazed at the degree of reminiscing
and nostalgia displayed and tales are told of the most
hilarious escapades – often exaggerated by the passage
of time! One class – of 1938 – must hold a world
record – they have 2-3 luncheons a year arranged
by those staunchly loyal – “stout-hearted”
Old Boys – Gerald Anstey, Alec Chaimowitz
and Alex Walt, (who at 85 years of age is writing
a dissertation for his Doctorate in Law – The topic
is “age discrimination and pension law”) they
are planning the 69 year class re-union during March,
although they tell me their numbers are dwindling somewhat!
12. Our Annual Formal dinner was held as usual
in our elegant oak panelled J H Hofmeyr Hall. The guest
speaker was the eloquent Judge Dennis Davis and
Steve McKenzie who promoted the OBU Appeal –
400 Old Boys attended and all agreed that the delicious
meal was of a very high standard. Formal dinners were
also held in Johannesburg, Sydney and Perth.
13. Membership
Ever since we have opened our full-time office it has
been the aim of Sandy Edwards and myself to trace ‘lost
members’. At one stage we estimated that this ‘lost’
group totalled well over 3 000. To date we have managed
to reach a total of
- 4 413 members listed on our database
- 460 are uncontactable, as we have incorrect postal
details
- 200 are totally lost
It remains our constant quest to trace “lost”
members and to encourage other members to keep
us up to date with changes in their contact details,
such as emails, cell and telephone numbers etc)
14. We send out two lengthy Newsletters a year
– one in April – May and one in Nov – Dec
as well as two Newsflashes which simply inform
members of Union and school events. The latest Newsflash
which went out on Thursday, last week, also included the
invitation to all members to be our guests at
the first Centenary event – the Centennial
Celebratory Cocktail Party to be held in the JH
Hofmeyr Hall on Tuesday 20 March at 6pm. Mike
Kovensky has again most magnanimously and generously
offered to sponsor the drinks for this event! Dress will
be strictly the OB Tie.
15. This report would not be complete were I not to thank
a number of people who have played a major role in serving
the Union during the past year.
- Sandy Edwards, our charming, efficient and
ever-helpful secretary.
- Every member of the Committee who has
loyally attended meetings and contributed collectively
to the on-going discussions and planning on maintaining
and improving the standards and opportunities offered
by our Union and
- This includes our out-going chairman Mike Minnaar.
- The Trustees who form the SACS Foundation,
our senior body for their continuing dedicated service
to the Union
- Our out-going Treasurer Mohammed Bhabha who
has given of his best in what has been a difficult year,
as he has also been involved in demanding post- graduate
exams and studies, chiefly in Johannesburg.
- Our most efficient Minuting Secretary, Brent
Walsh
- Our Webmaster, Robert Silke
- Our two Headmasters, Stuart Anderson and
Ken Ball who have attended all Committee and
Trustees meetings – their sound input and advice
has been invaluable – and also for being the ever-caring
educational leaders and custodians of our alma mater
- The many teachers who give us assistance and
support in many spheres
- The Caretaker of the High School, Mr Phillip Samuels
and his team who are often called upon to give
us practical help,
16. In conclusion I remind you of the two chief aims
of our Union.
- To serve and support the school wherever we are able.
- To promote goodwill, camaraderie and bonds of friendship
among SACS Old Boys.
I urge you all to go forward into our centenary year
with these aims uppermost and to celebrate our SACS Old
Boys Union!
Thank you!
Spectemur Agendo
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