Posted: 4 December 2008
News from Brenton Brown
Half of the first electric guitar I bought, I bought with the cash I'd bummed at the high school tuck shop. It was a tidy sum collected over the big and little breaks of at least a year. In schoolboy fashion I aimed to say thanks by doing a gig in the hofmeyer hall during the last week of school at the end of the year. I think we did this two years running. The band was Bob Ogilvie on drums and Quentin Hewlitt on bass. But to be honest I think those gigs may have been more pain than pleasure for the generous benefactors. And I'm pretty sure some of them regretted ever giving me even 10 cents for the 'brenton brown electric guitar fund'. Either way, some of my first memories of song writing centre around preparing for those gigs and working out what kind of songs we needed to play to keep people's attention.
While studying law and politics at the University of Cape Town friends of mine were starting a band called Naked Lyric. Included in their debut album were nine of my songs. We were happily surprised when two of these made it into the South African top 40 ('Young bride' made it to # 4 and 'Bite my tongue' to # 16). Buoyed by this unexpected success I kept writing songs. Since most of the music I was playing was worship music at church, a lot of the songs i was writing were meant for a congregational setting. But it would be a while before they saw the light of day.
In 1995 I was fortunate enough to win a Rhodes Scholarship and left for England a year later after finishing my B.A. Hons at UCT. While in Oxford I attended a Vineyard Church. And in 1997 during my final year of a second B.A. the Vineyard movement in the UK recorded a worship project using writers and worship leaders from across the movement. I was fortunate enough to be invited to sing two of my own songs on that project. The record was called 'Come now is the time' and it did better than any of us could have expected. The album was well received across the world and a few of the songs were picked up by churches outside of the Vineyard Movement and are still being sung today.
I had a strong sense that I should remain in Oxford and continue working with the church I attended there. Taking the opportunity the Scholarship afforded I spent a further year studying theology at Wycliffe Hall. During this year we recorded another worship project called Hungry which went on to do even better than Come now is the time. It became clear that I'd come to the moment where I had to either choose music full time or stop the momentum. I chose music and was lucky enough to be able to work for my local church and the Vineyard movement. Over the next few years I helped produce a further two Vineyard projects (Surrender and Holy) while working as a worship pastor in Oxford. In 2002 I fell ill with a condition called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The illness affected every area of my life, ending my ability to pastor. Fortunately, given time and space, I could still write songs (and eventually I have been able to sing and play music publicly again).
A music label in England called Survivor got in touch and mooted the idea of a solo project. Having resisted the idea for years I finally gave in and signed with them. Survivor partner with the EMI christian music group Sparrow in the U.S.A. and when my wife Jude and I decided to move to the States in hopes that the more clement weather of California would help our illness, EMI supported us. My debut album with Survivor was called Everlasting God. The song, written after falling ill with CFS, seemed to strike a chord with the church at large and as well as being released in the US has been sung by both Chris Tomlin and Lincoln Brewster, successful recording artists here in the States. Jude and I currently live just outside of Los Angeles in Malibu. Since being here our good friends, Sunu and Rene Gonera moved to Los Angeles to direct a film for Lionsgate called 'Pride' and I was lucky enough to get one of my songs used in the movie. Paul Baloche, my surrogate older brother, is a worship leader and recording artist in the States. And since moving to the US i've been lucky enough to have written a number of songs with Paul that he has recorded on his solo projects A Greater Song and Our God saves. Right now I'm busy working on my second worship project for Survivor which we hope will be out the middle of 2008.
Honestly, most of the good things that have happened in my music career have happened beyond my control. If I've done anything at all it's just been to stick with it, although even that hasn't been much of a chore since I enjoy music so much. My wife Jude has been an amazing help with the business side of 'the music business'. And I've been lucky enough to record with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and am fortunate every time I play out to be playing with a great band and singing with the people of God. It certainly hasn't happened overnight but I feel very lucky to have this job. So thanks to everyone who donated back in the late 80's in the high school tuck shop!!
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Posted: 4 December 2008
Junior School Prize Giving – Head Master’s Report
by Stuart Anderson
“Growing our Future” was the focus for the year, and from that point of view we have grown enormously as a school and as individuals. It has been a big learning curve year for some of us. But, we are now brighter, healthier, slimmer, fitter and more environmentally aware of our contributions to SACS and to Cape Town’s communities! That has been so rewarding!
The year started with a robust re-cycling programme so physically active that it led to some of us shedding a couple of excess kilos, especially around our wastes! The school is really indebted to the massive efforts of Miss Roscoe and her fanatical team of PTA parents for their enormous efforts. The words “Reduce, re-use and recycle” have been indelibly imprinted onto the memory cells of our brains for life. The upshot is that we now have made an impressive start to attaining our goal of becoming a green flag school before the kick off of the World Soccer Cup in 2010.
Music remains a vital part of the academic programme at SACS. Of significance, please note that 50% of the A aggregates from Grade 4 to 7 are achieved by Music pupils. William Shakespeare’s opinion of people who don’t appreciate Music was succinctly put in the Merchant of Venice when he wrote:
“The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils.
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus.
Let no such man be trusted.”
On that note let me at once congratulate the Music Department led by the talented Head of Music Mr Reon Jacobs. L + G this is a smart team of teachers, conscientious, committed, good-looking and well-proportioned! The production of Smike the musical was summed up accurately in the words of the Head of Muisc at the High School Mr John Walton when he wrote, “ The show was awesome in every respect and at no time did I feel that I was at a primary school production.” My congratulations to the cast of boys and girls of Smike. My only regret, in hindsight, was that we should have taken the cast on tour and thereby raise some vital funds for the school.
It is with regret that we have to say farewell to our enthusiastic band master, Mr Myles MacDonald before he sets off for the big apple. As he told me upon his resignation, “I want to break free”! Above all else, he has taught the boys how to enjoy playing music and that enjoyment in turn has been translated into a distinct McDonald sound which emanates from our bands. L+G, the sound of music at SACS is so powerful, it can be heard for Myles and miles!
The Arts and Culture week again proved to be a hit. Like music, it is a vital part of the curriculum where boys can excel and grow in their various disciplines. The combination of Art, Drama, Dance and Technology in informal, but disciplined environments was so enjoyable and extremely creative. The programme uncovered the many talents of our boys - abilities which sometimes remain hidden in the formal classroom situation.
Another powerhouse aspect at SACS is Sport, and 2008 proved to be another fine one for all our codes, coaches and boys. Our sports teachers are in good shape, fit, passionate, handsome specimens with well-toned bodies! I can only mention some of the sporting highlights tonight as I just wouldn’t have enough time to list all our achievements in 2008. Anyway, in two weeks time, you will be able to read all about those achievements in editor Mrs Margie Williams magazine. To sum it up, let’s just say it was a very good silverware year at SACS. Staff might have thought that I was being insincere merely by the number of times I said to them that this festival or that event was, “the best ever”!
Herewith some special mentions:
U12A Rugby and U11A Hockey sides were unbeaten throughout.
The U13 A Cricket team winning all 24 matches played this year against top opposition in Cape Town and in the Eastern Cape.
U13A Cricket and U12A Rugby coach, Mr Kirsten Marshall’s record reading as follows: Played 42 Won 41 Drawn 1!
The school swimming team for winning the inter-schools pentagular gala for the 9th consecutive year. If the school wins next year - the years 2000 to 2009 will go down in the record books as the Davies decade of swimming
The extremely successful Hockey and Water Polo festivals
The School Cross country team for winning the John Ince inter-schools’ trophy.
Magnificent muddy Mini Rugby
And finally and most importantly to the 64 teams from 13 Codes who represented SACS this year – you did us proud boys!
Speaking of Silverware, congratulations to our General Knowledge team for winning this year’s inter-schools’ competition. Winning this prestigious trophy required plenty of worldly knowledge as well as some rapid-fire thinking!
We have spent a lot of time and have taken a great deal of care in making our families and boys aware of all forms of abuse prevelant in today’s society. Visits by therapists, life coaches and psychologists such as Dr Joan Campbell, Derek Wood and Renee Raff were extremely valuable to everyone. The boys now clearly know what abuse means, they know how to identify it and they know what to do if they are confronted by it. Credit must go to our School Counsellor, Mrs Lindy Ackerman and the staff for taking a strong stand in fighting all forms of abuse. At SACS it’s zero tolerance for bullies!
As Denise and I start to pack for Stanford, we would like to express our sincere thanks to all the many many SACS people whom we have got to know so well, both as friends and true SACS loyalists. To our friendly, vibrant PTA for their energy and willingness to work for the school. To our cleaners and groundsmen who have done the hard slog in making our campus and buildings look so neat and smart. And then to our talented staff for all their dedication to their work , multi-skilled positive people – What an absolute pleasure it has been working with such professionals! I really mean it when I say it is the best staff I have worked with since I have been the HM of this school. I would like to pay tribute to some very special people who have assisted me enormously in running the school. There are three of them and so we could call them the big 3 or maybe the 3 musketeers because they certainly are great fun to be with on the adventures that we experience at SACS. Their motto is well known, namely “One for all and all for one” - and – they have given their all to SACS. Between the 3 of them that “all” encompasses some 50 years of service to SACS. Thank you to Mr Gerard de la Bat for his commitment to the school, a planner, a pragmatist and a project-driven Deputy Head. To the Headmaster elect Mr Francois Nel. Thank you for being such a tolerant, empathetic person - a true SACS gentleman who will prove to be an excellent Headmaster for the boys of this school. And finally a special Thank you to Mrs Norene Dean for being such a competent PA – absolutely meticulous in every aspect of her work.
A special thank you also to two outgoing Governing Body stalwarts namely Chairman, Mr Paul Kramer and Secretary, Dr Peter Meissner who have served on the Governing Body of the School for the last 12 years. Although Paul had been involved in SACS two years before that when he and Mrs Mary Beck started Mini Rugby for Grades I’s and 2’s. It’s not a case of fly away Peter come back Paul it’s rather a big Thank you Peter and a big thank you Paul.
I must also thank the Governing Body for their 110% support of the school in all its endeavours. Personally I would like to thank our legal eagle on the GB, Mr Wayne Field for the huge amount of work he does for the school, by the school, of the school. Work and advice always willingly given, and best of all, always at no cost!
In conclusion, I would like to publicly thank my wife Denise and my two children Craig and Claire for all their support of my 13 year term in office. In particular, I was able to do the job as best as I could because Denise gave me the necessary freedom, the independence and the vital space in which to work.
L+G I can now say farewell, knowing full well that I am leaving the school in the hands of some very capable SACS people. I now look forward immensely to some social visits which I will be paying to the school in the years to come.
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Posted: 3 December 2008
Notes from the Podium
by John Walton ('79 and Head of High School Music)
John Walton ('79)
2008 has been an exceptionally busy year for the Music Department and I thank all concerned for making this year the wonderful success that it has been. In particular I am extremely grateful for the support given by the school’s senior management, the Old Boys Union, the parent body, the boys involved in the music programme – both directly and indirectly – and preeminently: my colleagues without whom none of what has been achieved would be possible. It is therefore worthwhile to reflect for a moment upon my colleagues, each of whom is a recognized specialist in their respective fields and who passionately bring so much knowledge and practical experience to their teaching. SACS handpicks its staff so that those learning may receive the best possible tuition; and I believe that SACS is fortunate to have the most outstanding teachers imparting their love for – and intimate knowledge of – this art form that speaks so deeply to the human soul.
The musical year commenced with a Choir Camp – brain child of Mrs. Greta Graham – and after a most enjoyable and valuable weekend spent in Swellendam this will now be a permanent fixture on our yearly calendar. This camp set the tone for the choral year to follow and was a tremendous success. Meat was braaied, songs were sung, rivers were swum and a unity of purpose was forged.
Next on the calendar was the Marching Band’s leading of the annual UCT’s Rag Committee’s Floats Procession through the streets of Cape Town – gale force winds notwithstanding. At one point Fergus Wegener - who plays the Sousaphone (that huge curly thing that looks like an inverted toilet bowl, and weighs about a ton) - had to be anchored by fellow “marchers” lest he were to have become a lawn ornament on Robben Island! Drum Major Murray Meissner led his lads with aplomb.
We were invited to perform alongside the Beau Soleil Ensembles in a joint concert held in the Junior School hall to celebrate the Music Centre’s anniversary and ex-SACS teacher John Rojas (currently Beau Soleil’s Head of Woodwind) was effusive in his praise of the SACS Bands.
Through all this Grease was fully on the boil and to me this was the best musical production ever to have graced the boards at SACS High (remember I go back to the 70’s so have pretty much seen it all!) and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process of creating this show with the expert direction and Choreography of Mrs. Carol Alpert. I refer you to the report on the musical production to read all about it; suffice it to say that from a musical perspective the lads were phenomenal on all levels.
The Walter Swanson Concert featured a top lineup and adjudicator Mrs. Verity Le Grange was hard pressed to make a final decision. But a winner has to be decided and this year Matthew Rightford walked away with the honours.
If Grease wasn’t enough to occupy the chaps time – never mind the full academic programme – then arrived annual Cape Town Big Band Jazz Festival with unseemly haste. The festival – 2008 being its 10th anniversary – is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the band on a professional stage with top flight sound and full houses. SACS was well represented at the 2008 10th anniversary concert of the Cape Town Big Band Jazz Festival held in the Baxter Theatre’s Concert Hall.
On Friday 30 May the Junior School Band (conducted by old boy Myles McDonald), the Senior School’s Junior Jazz / Old Boy Mentor Band (conducted by old boy Alexei Du Bois) and Senior Jazz Band (conducted by Alistair McDonald and old boy m’self) performed to an enthusiastic audience.
The Senior Jazz Band performed a popular programme starting with Chick Corea’s SPAIN in which Joseph MacMillan played an outstanding Trombone solo, followed by HARLEM NOCTURNE which featured lead alto player Darren Brookbanks who wowed the crowd with his smoky rendition. Next up was the ever popular THE BEST OF GLORIA ESTEFAN and finally Matt Rightford revved the audience up with his show-stopping performance of MACK THE KNIFE specially arranged by me for him.
The comments given later by Prof. John Thomas – trumpeter extraordinaire and visiting guest artist – that South Africa must not for one moment imagine that jazz, and in particular jazz among the youth - is the exclusive domain of the USA, since what he heard at the festival showed that Cape Town features among the best in the world. This was high praise indeed from one of the world’s preeminent trumpeters.
On Sunday 1 June the bands (from SACS Junior and our Senior Jazz Band) continued their fine work together with the Heathfield Ensemble in presenting another concert under the auspices of the Cape Town Big Band Jazz Festival, this time in our own Hofmeyr hall where they played to a 400 strong audience of pensioners from various organizations around the city. Ann Barr (organizer of the festival) set this up and the Leos helped with providing tea. The reception was fantastic and we were forced to play an encore – naturally it was the one and only SING, SING, SING featuring drummer Sean Schwager.
After a relaxing end of term Sunday afternoon concert held in the Hofmeyr Hall it was time to pack our bags and head up the coast where the Senior Jazz Band, accompanied by Mr. Alistair McDonald, Alexei du Bois and I, attended the National Schools Jazz
Festival held annually in Grahamstown. En route we stopped off at the Knysna Waterfront where we performed to an enthusiastic audience. The organizers – having a (wrong) preconceived idea of what school band would sound like – failed to advertise widely, and it was only when the patrons in a nearby restaurant began screaming for more did it dawn upon them that the SACS Band is something quite special! Consequently we have been booked for the 2009 Oyster Festival: say no more! We had a fantastic time in Grahamstown where, for the second year running, we had four of our lads make it though a tough audition process into the National Schools Big Band. For two of our lads – James McClure and Joseph Macmillan – this was for them personally the second year running that they made it into the band; and our two new caps are Sam and Fergus Wegener: a truly fantastic achievement all round.
After the short mid-year break it was back with a vengeance and straight into the City Hall performances by the Senior Choir of the Rutter Requiem jointly performed with Rustenberg Girls High School and Rondebosch Boys High School. A mass concert band was also formed from players from all three schools which entertained the crowded City Hall’s audience with a variety of pieces ranging from Brubeck to Hits from the 80’s. The choir performed superbly and you may read more about that in the choir report.
The terms business continued with the Annual Brass Band Pops concert where an overflowing City Hall once again erupted at our lads’ performance.
No rest for the wicked (nor for the typist!): The Senior Jazz Band and Madrigal Ensemble were featured soloists at the Green Dolphin Jazz Club and restaurant situated in the V&A Waterfront. The evening was a sell-out success and we have been booked for next year.
The Christopher Brown Concert featured some absolutely awesome playing and our two adjudicators – William Haubrich (Head of Brass at UCT’s College of Music) and Leon Starker (Conductor of the Pro Cantu Youth Choir) had a tricky time of it discerning the winners. Simon Ackermann playing the Chaminade Flute Concertino won the instrumental section, and Matthew Rightford the vocal cup.
Another innovation of Mrs. Greta Graham’s was the Soup and Sherry evening where our ensembles and the Cape Town Concert Brass entertained the patrons who were treated to gourmet soups prepared by Mr. Simon Pretorious’ son: chef Johann. This evening was to raise funds to pay for a professional symphony orchestra. Another of Greta’s great ideas: SACS will be featuring our top “classical” performers in a Concerto Festival where Murray Meissner, Daniel Gadd, Blake Hellaby, Simon Ackermann and Joseph Macmillan will be playing concertos accompanied by full professional symphony orchestra. To be able to field five players (actually we can field a few more than this) of this top performance standard is a wonderful tribute to the chaps and their teachers.
Another of Greta’s achievements is the reestablishment of our Marimba Group playing indigenous music. It was wonderful to hear them in action again after an absence of many years. It is as though the soul of SACS has been rekindled and another wonderful string added to our bow.
Perhaps since I began by paying tribute to my colleagues it would be good to end off letting you know what type of thing it is that we get up to in order to maintain our standing in the professional world. Alistair McDonald plays regularly with the various professional orchestras around the country - at times as principal trumpet - in symphony concerts. Antoinette Blyth is musical director of The Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town and has distinguished herself both in that role and as Conductor of several major concerts featuring the choir together with symphony orchestra. I have had the pleasure of conducting the Cape Town Concert Brass in a variety of concerts, writing and producing the music for the 2008 Loerie Awards and composing several commissioned pieces internationally and at home.
All in all – it has been a hectic year, but extremely fulfilling on every level. I believe that music at SACS is one the move and will continue to go from strength to strength.
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Posted: 3 December 2008
Headboy's Prizegiving and Valedictory Report
by Matthew Davey
Academic and Cultural Report (Prizegiving address on 20 October 2008)
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, Mr Chairman, Mr Ball, our honoured guest – Justice Edwin Cameron, all our other special guests, staff members, parents, and lastly – SACS men.
This evening I have the pleasure of delivering the academic and cultural report, which highlights both the outstanding scholastic achievements made by staff and boys alike this past year, as well as the multitude of fine achievements attained by SACS men in the various cultural spheres of the SAC. This report also celebrates the zealous spirit and cultural involvement shown by all SACS boys in 2008 – for it is the contribution made by every single boy that gives this fine institution its charismatic soul.
In its most basic form, a school is a place of learning, and it is here where SACS builds the strongest foundations. Academic life in these buildings is as diverse and broad, as it is challenging, stretching, and ultimately life-enriching. The education provided by the staff at SACS is nothing short of world-class, and it extends far beyond the confines of the syllabi.
The academic bar was raised by our previous matrics who achieved a record 43 A-aggregates and a 93% endorsement rate. Continuing in a succession of Western Cape Top 20 finishers, Rayhaan Khatieb was placed 5th in the Province and was awarded a full scholarship by our former president, Mr Thabo Mbeki. With the benchmark set, the pressure is on us – the matric class of 2008 – to reach new heights.
In mid-March the academic scholarships were awarded. The World War II scholarships go to the top student in each grade: in grade 9 - Daniel Goldstone; in grade 10 - Daniel Gildenhuys; in grade 11 - Taariq Hassan; and in grade 12 – Matthew Davey. The coveted Victoria Scholarships, as can be seen on the wooden panels on your right, are based on internal scholarship exams, with this year’s winners being Lawrence Meire and Marcus Crowther.
Congratulations must also be extended to the Mintek Science Quiz team who tied for first place with Bishops, but lost narrowly on a sudden-death play-off. In the UCT Maths competition the pairing of Marcus Crowther and Andrew Ferguson excelled, coming joint second and being awarded Gold Medal certificates.
It remains to be seen whether the new NCS curriculum will experience further teething problems with the nationalised matriculation exams, but what I can say with absolute confidence, is that SACS, the staff and the boys have adapted exceptionally well to the constantly evolving, and sometimes unpredictable, nature of education in South Africa.
Moving on from the academic front to the musicians and singers, the actors and artists, the charitable and the colourful – the lifeblood of the culture that is the SAC.
Our thoughts jump to breath-taking jazz band performances, incredible artworks, first-class dramatic productions, spine-tingling choral pieces, and traditions such as Commemoration Day, the Matric Dance, and dare I say it Mrs Blyth – the technically demanding notes achieved by the school on the side of the First Team Rugby field. And in 2008 this culture has been richer than ever, and we can look back on it with pride.
The music department has continued to flourish, and grow in numbers, talent and skill in 2008. On countless occasions this past year, we have had the pleasure and the delight of witnessing the spectacular performances put on by our very own jazz band, concert band, madrigal ensemble, choirs and individual instrumentalists and singers. The contagious spirit and vibrancy which the music department exudes, gives SACS its soulful beat – and this is never more evident than after the school has enjoyed one of their weekly musical performances at our Friday assemblies. It is not uncommon to hear boys humming the jazzy tunes as they walk out of assembly, and late into the last day of the week.
We have also enjoyed many regular music fixtures throughout the year – the marching band’s exemplary role in the UCT Rag procession and in our own Commemoration Day ceremony, the ‘Jazz in the Gardens’ earlier this year, their wonderful accompaniment of the musical production ‘Grease’, their sterling performance at the Big Band Festival at the Baxter Theatre, the choir’s involvement in the outstanding rendition of ‘Rutter’s Requiem’ at the City Hall, last week’s phenomenal concert where five of the top instrumentalists played solo with the accompaniment of a full symphony orchestra, and let us not forget the honour and credit that they brought SACS with their performance at the prestigious jazz venue, The Green Dolphin, at the V&A Waterfront.
Our Jazz Band also attended the Grahamstown Arts Festival during the mid-year holidays, where they performed exceptionally and were great ambassadors for our school. The climax of this festival was the selection of Joseph MacMillan, James McClure as well as Sam and Fergus Wegener for the SA Schools’ National Jazz band.
The annual Walter Swanson Bursary Competition produced magnificent performances, with the eventual winner being Matthew Rightford for his energetic rendition of ‘Mac the Knife’. This year’s Christopher Brown Music Competition brought out the best in musical talent that SACS has to offer, with both adjudicators giving only the highest praises to both the participants and music teachers. The winning instrumentalist was Simon Ackermann on flute, and the winning vocalist – Matthew Rightford.
We can only thank Mr Walton, and his exceptionally talented music staff, as well as Ian McNair – head of the music society – for the co-ordination of music at SACS as it continues to strengthen and be a credit to our school.
As I alluded to earlier, this year’s musical production was the 60’s classic, ‘Grease’.
Directed by Ms Alpert, along with the invaluable help of the music department, various staff members and under the management of Grant McCalgan, the show was a resounding success, and an absolute sell-out. This very Hofmeyr Hall played host to four full houses and a charity night, show-casing the acting and musical talents of the SACS men, as well as girls from our neighbouring schools. The ‘Grease Fever’ certainly caught hold of the school with those catchy lyrics and timeless tunes being heard regularly down the corridors. The show was magnificent – it was automatic, systematic, hydromatic, and it most definitely was greased lightnin’!
Continuing with stage talent – this year’s house plays were won by a superb performance from Rosedale, with Julian Jones taking top honours as the best actor. Similarly, a convincing impersonation of Napoleon Bonaparte won Lawrence Meire and Rosedale the parachute at this year’s parachute debate.
In public-speaking, the winner of the English senior section was Grant McCalgan, and in the junior section, David Harris took top honours. In Afrikaans, Marcus Crowther is as die senior beste-spreker genoem, en David Harris het die junior-afdeling gewen.
Artistic skill has always been of exceptional standard, and under the experienced guidance of Mr de Villiers, the art department has had another colourful and successful year. The matric exhibition is currently on display, and we look forward to the school’s exhibition in early November.
The History Society has experienced a year of fantastic growth, with many successful projects being undertaken, including the massive task of re-organising the school’s archives and updating the photograph records along the school’s corridors.
The Interact Society, under the charitable watch of Mr Naude, once again did some superb volunteer work with several charity drives, as well as raising funds by the sale and distribution of Valentine’s roses. Boys also gave of their time to help those less privileged by attending various charity events. Remaining with community work, the SACS Rowing club, together with Rowing SA, have undertaken an initiative to introduce rowing to less privileged schools in the Zeekoevlei region. A number of U/16 oarsmen have shown great social responsibility by helping out on this project.
Both the Muslim Students Association and the Christian Union have been active this year. The MSA organized the weekly Friday prayer meetings, and a group of boys were active in helping out with the Mount View High School CASE project in Hanover Park. The Christian Union has grown from strength to strength – the highlight being a blessed and successful camp in the second term.
The Xhosa Society has grown under the guidance of Mrs Nkewana – the highlight of their year being an informative presentation to the school by Mrs Anne Munnik. In addition, both the Mountaineering and the Cycling Clubs have been resurrected as such, and we hope they will continue to grow in years to come.
The Science Club enjoyed a highly educational tour to the SALT telescope in Sutherland, and the ever-popular Wine Club once again served to enlighten a select group of matric students.
There are many pupils who give up much of their time in service to the school, and who are often overlooked. I take this opportunity to thank all those who are involved in the Multimedia Club, sound and lighting, first aid, the library and the book room. Your efforts and commitment are very much appreciated. We thank you all.
All these cultural activities would not have been possible were it not for the extremely hard-working and dedicated staff associated with these clubs and societies. We thank you all.
At its very core, SACS seeks to promote excellence with an all-round education, to prepare boys to play a constructive role as compassionate, thinking individuals in society. With this principle in mind, we have enjoyed life at SACS in 2008 – it has been full, and it has been good.
So from my side, congratulations to all those who have been involved in the many occasions and moments that make up the full and well-rounded life at SACS.
I thank you.
Matthew Davey, Head Boy, with Old Boy dad Stephen at Commemoration Day
Valedictory Address (21 October 2008)
Good morning Mr Ball, staff members, proud parents, the matric class of 2008 and SACS men.
It is at this time of the year, during this – the Valedictory ceremony – that we celebrate a transition. For the matric class of 2008, it marks the day when we end off a chapter in our lives, and begin a new one. Some of us will approach this day nonchalantly and almost unperturbed, whilst for others this is ‘the day’ – freedom at last! – be that exciting or daunting. For some, today will be marked by feelings of nostalgia – and perhaps even a tear – as you look back fondly on the past twelve years. Others may feel elated and jubilant, as you look forward to the future.
Of course, not one of us can be sure of what that future may hold for us, because the path ahead is, by its very nature, one that we have not travelled before. What we can be sure of, however, is from where we have come. And for every one of us here today, that place is the South African College.
Regardless of how long we have been here, SACS has, in some way or another, touched our lives. This exceptional institution has played a crucial role in guiding us through our formative years, providing us with wisdom and knowledge, and engendering excellent manners. These classrooms and these sports-fields have played host to countless memories – who will ever forget the victories against Wynberg, Saajid Altalib’s passion-stirring speeches, the weekly matric ‘gatherings’ straight after school on Fridays, the ‘gees’ at Paarl or the joys of Prego roll Wednesdays?
We can walk into our futures, confident in the knowledge that SACS has given us a most solid grounding, and that we have each experienced a rare privilege.
And, reassuringly, we will never walk alone. Turn to your class-mates next to you – they too have shared in your journey thus far. And it is these friendships and interactions - these memories and bonds - that link us together as the matric class of 2008, both now and in history.
So, it is for this, that we have many people to thank:
Through the good times and the bad, our teachers are there serving as our custodians away from home. Their job description may suggest they are only educators, but nothing is further removed from the truth. The progression from grade 8, where they are often portrayed as disciplinarians devoid of emotion, to grade 12, is an amazing one to behold. With our evolving and broadening perceptions, you have become fellow human beings, richer in age and wealthier in wisdom. You have taught us much, influenced us more, and left many positive marks on each of our hearts. We thank you for every lesson, every tick and every cross. We thank you for every time we laughed and every time we learnt. But most importantly, we thank you for your unwavering support, your advice when we needed it most, and for helping shape us into the people we are today.
There is one person seated behind me this morning, however, whose influence on the SACS community, and on me in particular, cannot be measured or contained by words. He leads from the front, and he follows from behind – ensuring that every individual in the SACS community is cared for, and that every aspect of this fine institution runs smoothly. He has stood tall under pressure, been humble in success and lived by only the highest principles and manners. He is ‘The Boss’ and a ‘true blue’ SACS man, but more than that, he is a gentleman to the core. Mr Ball, I thank you.
To Mr Guiney, thank you for your firm support of the matric body this year, and for your sincere guidance and advice. Mr Jones, thank you for the solid direction which you offered us this year. Thank you too for your insight, inspiration and thought-provoking mindset.
Mr Perkin, your management of the prefect body this year has been exceptional. You always lent a helping and efficient hand, and the advice and lessons you passed on to us, have been invaluable – and for that, I thank you.
I also wish to offer a sincere word of thanks to the following groups of people: our dedicated secretarial and administration staff, our always-accurate financial staff, our efficient cleaning staff and our ever-green ground staff.
Thanks too must go to our parents, who have supported us every step of the way, as well as to our fellow SACS men, without whom this journey would not have been the same.
On a personal note, I would like to thank the 13 men sitting in the front row – my band of brothers – better known as the prefects of 2008. Firstly, Dugald, thank you for your friendship, for your encouragement when I needed it most and for your constant support this past year. Killer, Deens, the Oracle, Errol, Big Thabs, Boitjie, Larry Wildfire, Walrus, Scottie P, Gypsy, Kelly, and ‘the Unstoppable’ Digby – you have been deserving leaders of the South African College High School. I thank you for your friendship, unwavering commitment and absolute loyalty. I could not have asked for a more dedicated and spirited group.
To the incoming prefects, you are well aware of the challenges that you will face in this coming year, but I can assure you that, as people, you will grow beyond measure. The expectations are high – but yet, they are not high enough. I want you to better them, because I believe in the progression of this school, and I have a deep faith in you, its new leaders.
I was profoundly moved and encouraged by the words of Mr Sean Day, the recipient of the Spectemur Agendo award at the 2007 Prize-giving ceremony, as he recalled what a professor of his had said to him as a young graduate. The professor said the following, “I know you will do well, but, will you do good?”
I am absolutely certain that SACS will continue to excel on the academic, sporting and cultural fronts in years to come, producing young men who have the best possible foundation for their adult lives. So, to the leaders of 2009, and to all SACS men in future years, continue making a difference in the lives of others by doing good. Be compassionate, thinking individuals in society, as you ‘Spread the name’ and ‘Swell the fame’ into the 21st century. I wish you everything of the best.
At this point, on behalf of the matric class, I wish to present the school with a gift, as a small token of our sincere thanks. The gift is a much needed refurbishment of the sports notice board area, including new notice boards, plaques and poster-size photographs of SACS sportsmen in action.
Mr Ball, if you could please come forward to receive the gift.
I am of the firm belief that for a boy to become a proud SACS man, the question he should ask himself is not - “What can SACS do for me?”, but rather – “What can I do for SACS?” And I believe that the answer to the latter question is the legacy that the matric class of 2008 will leave behind.
It is our spirit that has prevailed throughout the year on the sports-fields, in the locker-room, down the corridors and in the classrooms that will long be remembered. We offered talent and skill, brains and brawn, but it is the enthusiasm and passion to get involved in the many aspects and spheres at SACS that has set us apart. Our zest for life, fun and laughter – commonly known as ‘geas’ among the ‘boitjies’ – has added much to life at SACS. The countless and great sacrifices made by so many in service to this school did not go by unnoticed. Each one of you has contributed to this grade, this year and this fine school. Each one of you has left a long-lasting mark on the proud history of the SAC, and for that, I thank you.
So, to my fellow matrics, in the words of Jerome Klapka Jerome: “A new life begins for us with every second. Let us go forward joyously to meet it. We must press on, whether we will or not, and we shall walk better with our eyes before us, than with them ever cast behind.”
I thank you all for being part of our experience.
Farewell, and God bless.
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Posted: 25 November 2008
Mark Bass (’95) and Pocket Power, winner of Durban July
Pocket Power races into History for the Bass’s
Mark and sister Candice
Mark Bass matriculated in '95 before becoming a PGA golf professional, coaching and playing for 7 years. In 2005 he joined the family business of training Race Horses with his father Mike Bass who is now the current Champion Race Horse trainer.
Pocket Power
The families most recent outstanding achievements being the Great Pocket Power who won the Vodacom Durban July this year in a dead heat with Dancers Daughter. Pocket Power also won the J&B Met and prestigious Queens Plate in consecutive years (2007/2008) and in doing so has made history by becoming the only horse to do so along side the great Politicain.
Peter Jaffer
Marks grandfather, Peter Jaffer, was twice South African Sportsman of the year. Peter was a Springbok footballer and Western Province Cricketer who represented SA against the touring Ausies. Peter also enjoyed a short spell playing for Bolton Wanders before coaching Cape Town and Hellenic Football club. He passed away in 1996 and will be remembered as one of SACS’s greatest ever sportsmen.
Interested in owning a Race horse? - Contact Mark or go to www.mikebassracing.com
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Posted: 25 November 2008
News from Peter Kirsten ('72)
I have experienced an interesting 5 months since my departure from SACS and am enjoying the adventure so far. My TV commentary foray in India in March & April seems a long time ago but I enjoyed watching SA & India cricketers tussle away to share the spoils, especially brother Gary (some Indians thought I was his father !) being able to save some honour vs his former teammates by winning the last Test. Shame, his mother passed away 3 weeks ago so he has had a tough time of it.
My stint as Jersey National cricket Coach has gone really well so far since I started with them in April.Jersey is a lovely Island just off the French mainland and a mere 40 minute flight to London. We hosted a highly successful ICC World Div 5 Tournament in May, qualifying to play Afghanastan in the final thereby gaining automatic promotion to World Div 4. Victories vs strong Singapore & the mighty USA plus other easier opponents were significant. We were narrowly beaten by a strong Afghan side - their coach threatening to throw himself into the sea if they lost!! So we now advance to ICC World Div 4 Tournament in Tanzania (Dar Es Salaam) during the 1st two weeks of October and play vs the likes of Hong Kong, Tanzania, Afghastan, Fiji & Italy. The best two teams then advance to another World Div 3 Tournament in Argentina at the end of January 2009. I am confident that Jersey can go further although it will be a difficult African experience for them, climate, pitches etc. These ICC Promotion Tournaments are all geared towards possible qualification in the next World Cup in 2011 so it is an interesting road. The Afghans are very competitive, talented as they have all been trained, coached in Pakistan.
I have also just recently returned from Jersey where we had another successful European Div 2 Tournament in Guernsey, winning the Tournament by beating a strong Guernsey team in the final.We now qualify for a play - off vs lowly Norway to gain promotion to European Div 1 to rub shoulders with the likes of Ireland,Scotland,Holland & Denmark.I am therefore happy with the current record of played 12, won 11 although it now starts getting tougher.
As you know we now also have an interest in the Mbotyi River Lodge (Pondoland Wild Coast) where my wife & I are part of Management (when I am there!). It is a very challenging part of the world but business is progressing quite nicely, the tourism industry fluctuating between very busy to moderate. Product creativity is essential and the marketing of it vital, an area which I particularly enjoy. However with 'The Sharks' just down the coast and WP not producing the required results I might just have to jump ship and realign my economic priorities towards Natal!! My cricket coaching energies in SA are now being targeted towards Kei Cricket Province (Transkei) but that is another challenge in itself.
I trust that the School is in good shape and that we all continue to prosper.
Best wishes to you all.
Regards
Peter Kirsten
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Posted: 25 November 2008
Peter Bruyns ('74) Receives UCT Book Award
From: Nomination of ‘Stapeliads of Southern Africa and Madagascar’ by P.V. Bruyns for the UCT Book Award
The stapeliads belong to the family Apocynaceae and are the most highly succulent members in the tribe Ceropegieae within this family. They are all fleshy, non-tuberous stem-succulents that are more or less totally without leaves and only rarely have thorns (as is the case in Hoodia). The flowers are also fleshy with most parts in multiples of five and the male and female parts are fused into a complex structure in the centre called the gynostegium. Pollen is gathered into pollinia each of which is surrounded by a waxy envelope. In the stapeliads the flowers exhibit an extraordinarily wide range of shapes and sizes (ranging from 3 mm to 400 mm in diameter and including some of the largest flowers in the plant kingdom) and there is also a wide range of additional complicated structures attached to the gynostegium that are associated with the process of pollination. The flowers are specialised exclusively for fly pollination and in many of them the upper surface of the corolla emits an evil odour, has unusually intense and often dark colours (of persian carpet-like intensity and beauty) and, at a microscopic level, a much convoluted surface.
At present the stapeliads consist of, in total, around 330 species. In southern Africa (taken to be that portion of Africa south of 17ºS and including the countries Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and also Zimbabwe and Mozambique as well as the island of Madagascar) there are 182 species of stapeliad. These 182 species are distributed among 19 genera and all but four of these genera are endemic to the region. Of the 182 species found in southern Africa, 167 (i.e. 92% of them) are endemic to this area.
All these 182 species are covered in ‘Stapeliads of Southern Africa and Madagascar’, which deals with, therefore, over half of the known species in the group. These volumes are the first monograph to appear on this group of plants for 70 years and therefore fill a major gap in the modern botanical literature on succulents, as well as making an important contribution to the literature on the family Apocynaceae and to Southern African botanical literature generally.
In these 70 years an enormous amount of research has been done on this group of plants, much of it by Bruyns. This research has, among other things, involved much exploration of little-collected areas and the author has covered many hundreds of thousands of kilometres in pursuit of data on stapeliads. These books place all this information within four covers and, in addition, bring the systematic treatment of the 19 genera involved up to date with many of the most modern methods available to the plant systematist. Many of the structures found in these plants are much reduced and the complex flowers are different from those in more familiar plants in several respects . These volumes provide (in the form of introductory chapters) very detailed information on these structures (extensively illustrated with photographs, line-drawings and Scanning Electron Micrographs) so that the interested scientist may gain an understanding of what they are, how they function and how they are derived from the more familiar and usual structures. The biogeography of the stapeliads is also discussed in detail, with new insights into their patterns of distribution and its relevance to the distribution of other groups of succulents.
Stapeliads are generally considered very difficult to identify. To ensure that these volumes are an essential tool for accurate identification, all useful details of the plants are given in the form of illustrations (both colour photographs and line drawings, all done by the author) and distinguishing features are discussed for each species.
In summary, we feel that these volumes are not only an important scientific achievement for Southern African Botany, but they are extremely useful to the field-botanist, the herbarium-worker and to the amateur alike. As such they deserve the strongest recognition that the University is able to give.
The book has been reviewed in the following journals (reviews attached):
Peer-reviewed journals:
Bradleya
Systematic Botany (by James P. Riser, to appear early 2008)
South African Journal of Botany
Taxon
Willdenowia (translation attached)
Popular journals
Asklepios
Cactus World
Cactus & Succulent Journal of the USA
Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten (translation attached)
Veld & Flora
Translation of review in Willdenowia
These two impressive volumes represent a milestone on the road to a deeper knowledge of the taxonomically difficult group called the stapeliads and their 19 closely related genera. For the first time since the complete revision of the succulent species by White & Sloane (1937), who never actually studied these plants in their natural habitat, we have here a work that is comparable in text and illustrations and is, moreover, taxonomically and nomenclaturally far more comprehensive. The recently published 3rd volume of the Succulent Lexicon (Albers & Meve 2002) is not really comparable. While it was not restricted geographically it gave, in summary, a good overview of the taxonomy and nomenclature of the species present in cultivation, with illustrations only of selected species. One would readily refer to both books in individual cases. However, for the ‘absolute monographical stapeliads’, for serious study in this group, one will not be able to avoid the work by Bruyns.
Peter Bruyns is well-known to botanists and Succulent enthusiasts alike already for years, as a well-travelled field-researcher ready to take risks, as an excellent illustrator and photographer and as a careful and critical systematist and taxonomist with an impressive list of classical taxonomic publications. No less than 25 years of intensive field-work together with observations in cultivation and extensive research in herbaria and literature has been brought together here successfully in what is undoubtedly a rarely achieved level of quality and completeness.
This book deals with the highly succulent, fly-pollinated members of the tribe that was known until 1991 as the Stapelieae, now for reasons of priority known as the Ceropegieae. These are the largely leafless, ribbed to warty stem-succulent representatives of the close association of the genus Stapelia L. The distribution of this group is concentrated in the dry regions of Africa and stretches from the southern tip of Africa to the Mediterranean region and eastwards through Arabia and India to Myanmar. Despite wide general knowledge of the group, Bruyns has consciously restricted this treatment to those occurring in Southern Africa, so as not to have to compromise on quality and completeness. Of the around 330 known species in 20 genera, 182 species occur in the region herein treated as Southern Africa (from Namibia and Moçambique southwards) and Madagascar.
Alongside the aesthetic satisfaction of having biodiversity in the truest sense of the word really professionally presented, the practical usefulness of this work will be immediately obvious to any biologist who wishes to identify a plant of this group. Even without knowledge of the special terminology of the parts of the flowers and without reference to the nevertheless clear and usable keys (which necessarily use this terminology), this monograph permits successful identification. Flowers remain essential, since it is only there that one finds the characters that are vital for identification. The incontestable usefulness of the work is based at least partly on the over 1000 photographs, over 200 line-drawings by the author and the around 200 distribution maps. The very detailed line drawings and photographs show often the breadth of variation, which makes the books especially useful for identification.
These books have been received almost universally by specialists in succulent plants, botanists as well as collectors and cultivators with the greatest praise. Taxonomic and nomenclatural comments have already been made elsewhere by experienced persons. In view of its outstanding presentation, the enormous amount of information contained in it and its rich illustration, the price of the work is reasonable and should not prevent its wider distribution.
Translation of review in Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten
A group of highly succulent members of the family Apocynaceae, restricted to the Old World, is included under the concept ‘Stapeliads’. According to Bruyns this includes 31 genera (among them Caralluma, Echidnopsis, Hoodia, Huernia, Orbea, Stapelia) with 326 species. Plants of this group are very popular with succulent enthusiasts and are very often to be found in succulent collections.
The last comprehensive treatment of this group was published by White & Sloane in 1937, if one excludes to more recent encyclopaedic presentations of Jacobsen (1970) and Meve & Albers (2002). Now, with the two volumes of Bruyns, botanist at the Bolus Herbarium, we have a new treatment. This is restricted to the species occurring in Southern Africa (south of 17˚ S) and Madagascar, encompassing 20 genera with 182 (largely endemic) species.
After an introduction, there is a brief historical overview and then the classification and relationships of the group are discussed. There is a detailed treatment of the morphology of stems, flowers and fruits of stapeliads, illustrated with large numbers of detailed drawings, scanning electron micrographs and photographs. Other chapters are devoted to pollination biology, distribution, ecology and uses. The conditions necessary for successful cultivation are also discussed, including soils, repotting, sicknesses etc (though information on how to survive the winter in our latitudes is lacking).
The systematic part continues over 520 pages. After a key for the genera occurring in the region, the genera are treated in alphabetical order. Each has a description, nomenclatural details and a map showing distribution and diversity. For the subdivisions of the genera and the species there are keys. The species are arranged according to their relationships. Synonymy, bibliographic details, types, detailed descriptions, explanations of the taxonomy, distribution and ecology and the distinguishing characteristics are provided for each species. Dot-maps show the distribution of each species (respectively subspecies and varieties). The text is also richly illustrated with colour-photos (in total over 1000), which show the plants, details of them and their often considerable variability both in habitat and in cultivation; fine details of the flowers and stems are, in addition, shown in line-drawings.
Generic hybrids, which occur very rarely in nature, are described in the last chapter. Finally there is a list of names which could not be assigned to a known species or were possibly of hybrid origin. The references and an index to scientific names close off the second volume.
25 new combinations are published, mostly these are reductions from former species to subspecies or varieties.
‘Stapeliads’ contains an enormous amount of information, which is derived from the many years of study by the author and also from the work of other authors. With the large amount of data and information involved it is not surprising that some errors have crept is. The distribution maps for Madagascar were mixed up and a page of correct maps is supplied with the book.
The future will show whether the proposed classification, based on morphological and molecular data, will find complete support among other authors. An outstanding monograph, on which further discussion and study may be based, is now at hand!
The volumes are in 23.0 x 29.7 cm format and a dust cover and box are provided. They have been carefully and lovingly put together (as one has come to expect from other succulent books from the publisher Umdaus Press) throughout richly illustrated and well printed and will also make bibliophiles enthusiastic. The two volumes (in English) cost R1500; here they are offered for between 180 and 215 euros. This high, but justified price is likely to inhibit sales. However, anyone who works more closely with the stapeliads, whether scientifically or as hobby, will scarcely be able to do without this work.
Since, with this work, there is now a new and impressive standard work on the stapeliads of southern Africa, one may only wish for a similar treatment of the species that occur in the northern part of the distribution.
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Posted: 24 November 2008
Brad Philipps ('89) fishing in Guatemala
Brad Philipps (class of ’89) has long been recognized as one of the top billfishing captains (marlin and sailfish) in the world. Brad has fished, lived and worked in every corner of the globe chasing big game fish in their favorite haunts, and now lives and operates his business in Guatemala, Central America. He has held several world records and has been acknowledged by the worlds leading sportsfishing organizations, magazines, TV shows and conservation groups as the best in his field. Brad has won The Billfish Foundations, Release Captain of the Year Award for the past 6 years running, as well as the sailfish and blue marlin release awards. This year the American based, Marlin Magazine, the world’s authority on billfishing, held their inaugural vote for the world’s top captains and mates. Brad was voted top captain with more than twice the votes of the next entrant. Here’s what marlin magazine had to say about Brad in their July 2008 issue.
Since arriving in Guatemala in 2000, Capt. Brad Philipps has accomplished more than most captains ever dream of. He’s won The Billfish Foundation’s Release Captain of the Year Award as well as the Pacific Sailfish Release Captain Award for the past six years in a row, he’s caught more than 2,000 billfish (sailfish and marlin) in a year five different times and he’s released 653 sailfish and 28 blue marlin in a single month. And, that’s just the beginning.
Originally from South Africa, Philipps got his captain’s license at 18 and decided to take off in search of the world’s best fishing. “After finishing my university studies I joined the crew of a 54-foot sportfishermen to undertake a mammoth journey from Bazaruto, Mozambique, around southern Africa, across to St. Helena, Ascension and on to Brazil,” he says. “This trip got me so fired up about what was out there that I just had to keep fishing.”
He ran a boat for a period in Brazil for Tim Choate, who then hired Philipps to run the Pelagian, a 37-foot Rybovich out of Fins n Feathers in Guatemala and it was in these billfish laden waters that Philipps really began to make a name for himself. In 2001, Philipps released 2,496 billfish aboard Pelagian, a single-year record at the time, and a record that he’d go on to break again, catching 2,668 billfish in 2003 and 2,759 in 2004.
Brad Phillipps ('89) receiving his award 'Captain of the year 2007'
“Having released more than 2,000 billfish in a year five different times over the past decade and having been at the wheel for more than 17,000 releases over the same time period are probably my biggest overall achievements,” he says.
He currently owns the charter operation Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures (www.guatbilladv.com) with his wife Cindy and captains Decisive, a 40-foot Gamefisherman. He and his team saw an unbelievable blue marlin bite in 2007 and as of press time, they had already caught more than 2,000 billfish for the 2008 season.
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Posted: 24 November 2008
Deputy Headboy's 2008 Prize Giving Speech
by Dugald Robertson
Mr Ball, Justice Cameron, the other distinguished guests and SACS men.
2008 is a year which has flourished on the sporting front and has ultimately bloomed into something unique. Sport has always been an amazing adhesive in a school environment but nowhere more evident than right here at SACS. The spirit and camaraderie here has been and continues to be something magnificent and special to SACS.
The first term’s sport at Sacs simply exploded out of the blocks. The annual Paarl athletics dawned upon us and proved to be a resounding success as we packed seven busloads of boys and hauled up north. Our athletes competed at a phenomenally high standard and the spirit was second to none. The results of this carried over to the Triangular where sacs men proved their metal against age-old rivals, Rondebosch and Bishops.
When Saturday mornings arrived, everyone woke with enthusiasm about the day’s games. They say cricket is a gentleman’s game, but Sacs went out and played like demons week after week, pulling off some awesome results. Four of our players represented western province.
Water polo at SACS has grown from strength to strength over the years. Overall there was a fierce competition between all teams in every game, but even so the games were all played in a fine fashion, Many of our players representing Western province and even receiving their South African colours. The SACS spirit was once again well represented at the mazinter cup. SACS going on to beat Rondebosch in the final.
Watersports players have excelled this year as the rowers and sailors have done extremely well. The rowers had and outstanding season, but their best results came at national championships where they came third overall. The best such results since 1981. The sailors once again impressed as they have achieved great results on the world stage. They have competed at a really high standard and have carried the SACS flag high.
The basketball program has grown in popularity under the watchful eye of Mr. Van Selm. The junior teams exceeded expectations, meanwhile the seniors had a tough season but they missioned on showing sterling character.
Once the winter sports had kicked off, the school was buzzing with excitement. The spirit committee was ready and raring to go, and even though the weather was wet, nothing could dampen the SACS spirit. The hockey boys proved they were no push-overs with the first team pulling off some well-deserved victories in Queenstown and the under 16’s made the future seem very bright. I have no doubt that hockey will thrive in years to come.
The body boarders and surfers were once again making waves within SACS and proving they had some really valuable talent, some of our own representing western province.
The squash boys again appeared exceptional with quite a few players representing their province. The boys managed to secure some good wins on the Queenstown tour and within their league.
Rugby this year was filled with ups and downs, twists and turns. Results did not always swing our way but then again that’s not what it’s all about. Even though the season was a rocky road, it all culminated in one massive cherry on the cake against Wynberg. Sacs winning the encounter by a 42-point margin. What also impressed was the fact that we were able to field plus minus 20 teams and 350 boys were involved each Saturday. Another positive, was the amazing support on Saturdays when the school came out in their droves to support the team.
In a speech of this nature it is well-nigh impossible to do justice to every sportsman in the school. I can however say with confidence that this sporting year has been an exceptional one and I wish to add my own thanks to the staff, coaches and of course the sportsmen for swelling the fame and spreading the name of the SAC…
Thank you
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Posted: 5 November 2008
Ian Calvert ('66) - Launches Music Centre in Fremantle, Australia
February 2001 ushered in an unexpected and huge change in my life. At that time our two sons Gareth and Christopher were students at South Fremantle Senior High School, and my wife Deborah and I were elected to share the position of President of the Music Program’s Parent Committee. This does not sound momentous in itself; there are lots of parents filling such voluntary positions in schools across the State. However, I asked the Music Program’s Director Wayne G’Froerer what he felt would be the most useful thing the committee could do for the program and without hesitation he said “get proper facilities for the students”. In fact Wayne had been putting this idea forward for some years because the music students had been using the same small classroom for rehearsals since he began the program in 1983.
Ian and Deborah Calvert
When he suggested it to me, I had the conviction that the “moment had come” to pursue it:
- I wanted the time we spent on the Parent Committee to be meaningful
- Wayne had seen an inspirational music centre at a high school in Canada while he had been on a recent family visit and had brought back photos
- Recent State elections had seen a new Government installed, and two of the Cabinet Ministers were local Members: Alan Carpenter was Minister for Education; and Jim McGinty, Attorney General and Minister for Health, had a daughter who had been a student in the Music Program a few years earlier.
This sense of purpose and timing gave me a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the job and looking back now after five years, I can say I needed every last drop in what became an intense and demanding project for a volunteer. I am writing this now as my own reflections, but throughout it all I had the close support of:
- My wife, Deborah, administrator, submission-writer, mentor and “reality check” amongst many other roles
- Wayne G’Froerer, the hardworking and enthusiastic Director
- Other parents on the committee, especially committee secretary Sarah Shipp and
The School Council
Calvert Family on the Job
I saw that we first needed to gather a lot of information and began by visiting a number of music facilities in both State and private schools. I was particularly impressed with those at Perth Modern School (essentially three linked buildings which had cost $250,000 each, financed through the sale of school land) and organised to have lunch with their architect Doug Harvey. He was very generous in sharing ideas for plans, strategies and pitfalls in the process and also referred me to someone with professional acoustic experience to gain some knowledge around that. All the time we were crystallising the concept most suitable for our program: a purpose-built music facility with rehearsal, teaching (for classes, computer/keyboards and instrumental groups) and sound recording facilities, as well as performance space sufficient for a 40-50 piece band or choir and seating for 100-150 people. By June of that first year we were able to have our first interview with the Minister for Education, Alan Carpenter, in which we presented the history of the music program and our justification for new facilities.
The deadline for submissions to the Fremantle District Office for consideration in the 2002 DET budget was December 2001, and so in July we began our preparations for this.
I sent a note out to our students asking whether “anyone knew anyone” with architectural experience, because we would need some drawings to form the basis of any submission for funding. Amazingly, one student – not from the music program! – knew a trainee architect through a “kick-boxing” group who agreed to volunteer her time to draw up plans. Miranda worked with us to translate our ideas onto paper. We sought the support of the local ‘feeder’ primary schools, local Members of Parliament, City of Fremantle, City of Perth Band and our neighbours, the Activ Foundation.
By the end of 2001 we had pulled together our first submission for funds, to be decided by May 2002.
We made a decision to intensify our networking during the first few months of 2002, while waiting for the results of our submission. We approached Fremantle City councillors and the Mayor Peter Tagliaferri, as well as Members of Parliament across all Party lines…Jim McGinty and Carmen Lawrence (ALP), Barbara Scott and Simon O’Brien (Liberal) and Jim Scott (Greens WA) . . . with numerous calls, letters, visits and invitations to all our musical events. I believe this networking was essential because there were a number of outcomes:
- we kept ourselves visible and awareness of our submission high
- we learned more about what the community around us wanted or needed, particularly through requests from music groups to the City of Fremantle Recreation Officer Lou Westbury; I began to see that any future music centre would need to serve as both a school and a community facility.
In May we heard that our submission was unsuccessful, but this was accompanied by a very positive letter from DET: the District Office had been very impressed and saw great merit in the concept and had recommended it to the final stage of assessment. However it had not succeeded given the other priorities at that time. And so we kept up our lobbying and networking and gathering of information and once again in December 2002 submitted another proposal for funds.
This time we were successful, and in May 2003 we received notification that $1.5 million had been allocated for the project!
The Department tendered out for the architectural work, and we formed a working committee that consisted of:
- Architect (the initial one withdrew, replaced by Sandover Pinder)
- Henry Jaworski from Housing and Works
- Al Hook from Department of Education & Training (DET)
- Music Director Wayne G’Froerer, Principal Ron Bickers, Vice-Principal Judy Semple and Ian Calvert: these latter formed a sub-committee that “did the rounds” of all schools with music facilities, depending heavily on Wayne’s assessment of what would be functional.
By May 2004 we had finished the details for the tendering process for the Department of Housing and Works. The contract was awarded to Southdown Construction as the overarching company; they sub-contracted out for specific jobs and the Department of Housing and Works was to oversee the whole process. The Music Centre was to be constructed by December 2004.
In July work began and in August 2004 local MP Jim McGinty laid the foundation stone.
There were many, many delays during building, e.g. the brickies were organised but then there were no bricks available for them and, by the time the bricks turned up, the workers had moved onto another job! For the first few months of construction I pulled back from the process because the frustrations were affecting our family life and our boys had long since left the school. However, I involved myself again when I saw essential details being neglected, e.g. the slope on the ramp was such that stormwater would run straight down from the upper level (ACTIV Foundation) to the building. Once again I returned to the many hours of work alongside architects, Housing and Works, DET, musicians, engineers, builders and so on to ensure that our dream was realised.
As in most big projects there is never sufficient funding available to do everything and this project was no different. As a result I spent copious amounts of time trying to find either extra funding or donations to ensure the Centre was not compromised and the facility was as fully operational as possible:
- a submission for school funds in 2004 saw a generous allocation to cover two pianos (one grand) and 50 chairs
- requests to community bodies led to a donation from the ABC production manager of mixer and audio equipment which my sons and I installed with the voluntary help of electronics engineer Tim Wade.
- people from the local community provided pieces of audio and lighting equipment as well as their free time to help provide advice and install.
In May 2005 staff and students of the Music Program moved into their new Centre and on 24 February 2006 it was officially opened by then Minister of Education Ljiljana Ravlich.
Although this may herald a conclusion to the building project, the story of the Music Centre has continued to develop:
- during 2005 our son Gareth started up an Alumni Band, finding music students who had been at “South” back as far as the early 1990s.
- local performers Nova Ensemble used the facility to record a CD in early 2006. They were very satisfied with the results, proving that the facility works!
- The energetic Music Parents’ Committee is promoting the Centre to the wider music community, with a good deal of the proceeds being directed to support the school’s music program.
Thanks to the energy and determination of some proactive parents like Sue Hall and Jan Newman, and the foresight in ensuring the Centre could equally serve the community and the school, the Music Centre is moving in a new direction which will incorporate the involvement of local musicians to a much greater degree.
Author: Ian Calvert
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Posted: 29 October 2008
Evert Smith ('89) - Orthopaedic Implant Designer
by Anthony J Ward
Evert Smith ('89) co-designed the original Exceed Acetabular cup with Biomet Inc. in 2001.
The artificial hip joint is made up of two parts; the acetabular component (or cup) which partly replaces the acetabulum, and a femoral component (or stem) which replaces the head and part of the neck of the femur. The outer aspect of the metal shell has an irregular porous surface to which living bone will adhere. The inner liner acts as a bearing surface and is fitted into the shell.
In the original design in the 1960’s the acetabular cup was made from plastic. This was fixed in the socket with a type of acrylic cement, which acted as a grout holding the plastic cup in position.
As design of hip replacement prostheses evolved, the cement was excluded. The 1st generation metal shells had a polyethylene (plastic) liner, which acted as the bearing surface. These original cementless components had inherent design faults and failed early.
Following Evert’s return from Harvard University, he continued to have an interest in the biomechanical aspects of hip replacements and felt there were many elements of the acetabular cups which could be improved. In 2001 he developed a cementless shell, with significant design improvements over the 1st generation cups. The ultra-high density polyethylene (plastic) liner remained the Achilles heel of hip replacements, as it produced particulate debris, which induced bone resorption, ultimately leading to the failure of the implant.
During the period of 2001-2006, he continued to evolve the design and in October 2006 the Exceed Advanced Bearing Technology (ABT) was launched at the Rome Hip Symposium. This acetabular shell has a porous coating sprayed with hydroxyapatite to enhance bone fixation. In addition it can be used with different bearing surfaces such as metal, ceramic or polyethylene. The Exceed ABT is now being used in the United Kingdom and many European countries.
Evert Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Orthopaedic Surgery at Bristol University. He has an orthopaedic practice both in Bristol and London. He is one of 5 members of the Orthopaedic Data Evaluation Panel (Department of Health, UK Government), which evaluates hip and knee prostheses. He is an affiliated member of the Biomechanics department of Loma Linda University, USA and is a reviewer for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. He has a worldwide reputation in the field of complex hip and knee joint replacement surgery.
Author
Anthony J Ward is a colleague of Evert. He is Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in Bristol with an interest in hip surgery and pelvic trauma and is also a research collaborator.
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Posted: 22 July 2008
Sport at SACS During the 1940s: Some Personal Memories
by Derek Law ('44)
In a recent conversation with John Ince, I mentioned some incidents that occurred during rugby games during my schooldays. He suggested that I write them down for the Newsletter. Sport in those days was nothing like as intense as it is today; I sometimes wonder whether we didn’t enjoy it more by not taking it so seriously.
Rugby Those were the days of club rugby every Saturday afternoon at Newalnds, with up to ten thousand spectators. Three matches were played, U19, either schools or club, followed by two Grand Challenge games. Schoolboys were allowed to sit on the touchlines. The military had two teams in the competition, and we were treated by some brilliant play by ex-Springboks. Names I recall are Billy Anderson, Dendy Lawton, Johnny Bester, Gerry Brand, Frank Waring and Dia Williams amongst others, and of course some Old Boys, Harry Brunow, Clive Luyt and H O Swanson etc.
I started at SACS in B1 in 1941, and as I had not attended rugby playing primary schools, had no knowledge of rugby. I was a member of the Gordons Swimming Club, so I played soccer for Gordons U16 and subsequently U18 teams in the WP league. Gordon Swimming Club was almost an Old Boys Club. Some of the names that I remember are Harry Getz, the Clegg brothers, Laurie Maister, Bokkie Smit, George Ruger, A Louw and the ever-smiling Basil Wrensh.
In 1942 the U16 teams were struggling; the school was much smaller in those days, about 260 boys in the high school. Doug Arnold the skipper of the U16 ‘A’ talked me into playing. I persuaded my mother that rugby was not as rough as she thought, and attended my first practice. I was big for my age and the following week found myself in the ‘A’ side. I was to play eighthman, and was told to look after the opposing flyhalf, who happened to be Dennis Fry. Needless to say, I was a bit of a disaster, pretty raw, unfamiliar with the rules and a slow runner.
Johnny Haig was our coach and he had a “cane coaching” system. If at a practice game the ball went into touch at the south end of the field, we had to have the line-out at the north end, the cane was used liberally on the slowcoaches. He finally gave up on me realising that I was naturally a slow runner. Johnny had a bad stutter as well as a colourful vocabulary. On an occasion when refereeing a game against Wynberg, he awarded them a penalty, and said to Jack Ginsberg our scrumhalf, “G-G-Ginsberg, y-y-you don’t only p-p-put the f-f-fing ball in f-f-f-ing skew, y-y-you put a f-f-f-ing spin on it. From then on I played rugger for the school in the morning and soccer for Gordons in the afternoon. Oh for the energy of youth.
The following year, 1943 I was a regular in the first team. Recently Ireton Willis told me that as far as he knew L.A.P.A Munnik and myself are the only survivors of that team. I remember a number of incidents, some amusing, and one inspirational. We were playing Bishops in the 1.30 game at Newlands. The 1943 Bishops side was one of the best that they had ever had, a least five of them played provincial rugby, and of course Dennis Fry became a Springbok. This game provided the inspiration. We were pressing when they were awarded a scrum about ten metres from their try line and near the touchline. They hooked the ball which went to Hartford at fly and then to Fry at first centre, he stepped inside our centre and broke clean through. He set off close to the touchline with L.A.P.A Munnik after him. The rest of us stood and watched. They were evenly paced with L.A.P.A about three metres behind. They ran the length of the field, and as Fry neared our line he cut in towards the goalposts. L.A.P.A then cut the corner more finely and gained a metre or so. As Fry bent down to press the try LAPA launched a desperate dive at him, hit him from behind, the ball went flying and no try was awarded. The crowd were stunned. It was a valuable lesson for me, never give up, no matter how desperate the situation.
An amusing incident occurred when playing Paarl Boys High at St Michael’s field at the top of Kloof Nek Road. We scrummed down inside their twenty two, near the touchline. They won the scrum and the ball was passed to their left wing on the blind side. This lad Danie Hugo was the SA Junior 100 yards record holder. He set off running towards his own try line, crossed it and continued running behind his own goalposts with half of the SACS team after him. When he reached the touchline on the other side of the field he straightened out and then ran the length of the field to score under the posts.
During the season at one stage I picked up an injury and did not play in our game against Jan van Riebeeck. The “Burger” newspaper reported on the match in their Monday edition and stated that the outstanding forward was Law, so much for accurate reporting. After recovering from the injury I had a game for the second team. We had a scrum near the opponents twenty two line. This developed into a maul or loose scrum, suddenly Francois Pretousis broke away with clear space in front of him.. He ran about four paces and then dived over the twenty two line claiming a try. Even the ref was amused.
Sometime during 1944 season we were involved in a curtain raiser at Newlands. We were awarded a penalty exactly on the halfway line. Kohler our skipper handed the ball to Julian Handler, a big strong boy who had been promoted from the U16 as a replacement for our regular lock, and indicated that he should go for the posts. As he placed the ball the crowd really gave him a hard time, catcalls and derisive comments. This was when the balls were leather and heavier than they are now. Handler calmly took a few paces and sent the ball sailing between the posts. There was a moment of disbelief from the crowd and then the generous Newlands crowd really gave him a cheer.
The highlight of my rugby at SACS was playing in the Schools Day finals at Newlands. This competition is sadly no longer with us. The U19 game was the main attraction. Unfortunately it had rained most of the Friday, Friday night and Saturday morning. Newlands without the drainage which it has today was a quagmire, especially after the three preceding games, U13, U15 and U16. Our opponents were Sea Point Boys High, the losing finalists of the previous year. Within ten minutes it was almost impossible to recognise team-mates. It was not much of a match, more of a mud bath, but it was a final. The match was a draw and we shared the trophy.
Cricket: Cricket was played on three fields, St Michaels, Leeuwenhof and the small field in front of Rosedale. Legend had it that Jack Cheetham once played a straight drive over the bowler’s head, out of the ground to break a fifth story window in the block of flats on the corner of Grey’s Pass and Queen Victoria Street.
I had had good coaching as an eleven year old in Natal, and so was a very correct batsman. I always looked good but somehow never scored many runs. I started out in 1941 in the fifth team skippered by Alan Mellish. In 1942 I was still in the fifth team at the beginning of 1943 I was made captain of the fifth. This suited me very well, I fancied myself as a right arm leg spinner, and this meant that I could bat where I liked, bowl when I liked and even on occasion keep wicket.
After the winter months, when the new season began, there was, on an occasion a shortage of bowlers in the first team nets. I was one of those commandeered to bowl. My first delivery to De Gruchy, the first team skipper, knocked back his leg stump; my second delivery knocked back his middle stump. The following week I had lost my captaincy and found myself in the second team. The week after I was in the first team where I remained until leaving school. It was probably the fastest promotion in SACS cricket history, from fifth team to second in two weeks. I was invited to a trial game for the election for the WP Nuffield team but turned it down as I enlisted in the Air Force immediately after matric.
Boxing: I boxed for the school against Bishops in 1942, ’43 and ’44, winning the ’43 bout and drawing the other two. During 1943 Des Dyssell, ex Vice Head at SACS an Old Boy and boxer of note, arranged a match between us and Sea Point Boys, where he was teaching. I boxed the WP schools champion who had won all his bouts by knock-outs. They say that in the ring you can run but you cannot hide. Well I spent three rounds running, however, with the judicious use of a straight left, had no need to hide. I won on points and my opponent collapsed of exhaustion and had to be carried out of the ring.
Swimming: I was a member of the swimming team for the four years that I attended the high school. I won the Alfred Hearne Cup for the 220yds in ’43 and the Anderson Cup for the 100yds as well as the J Allen Cup for diving in ’44. In ’41 and ’42 I was awarded “blues” for coming second, i.e. runner up in WP Diving championships.
Gymnastics: In 1944 I was a member of the Gymnastic team which gave a display, I think in the City Hall, in aid of War Funds.
Athletics: I was never much good at athletics, however in 1944 while a boarder at Rosedale a scheme was hatched to bring the mile title back to Rosedale. Garson was our miler and the idea was for me to go out as the hare by setting the pace, to draw Hirshon the favourite, Garson would then come through to win. We leaked information that I was doing very good times at practices. In the event, the “tug of war” took place immediately before the mile. Rosedale eventually won the event with the help of Mr Van Niekerk’s umbrella, closed for take the strain, and smartly open for heave. After exhausting myself heaving and straining I had to sprint to the dressing room, change from rugger boots to spikes and sprint to the mile start where they were waiting for me. At the gun I set off as fast as I could and opened up a lead. Just after the halfway mark I was leading by about thirty metres when I passed Garson our hope sitting on the side of the track with a pulled muscle. I kept on going. With about a hundred metres to go I was still leading and began to think that I might win. It was not to be; about a dozen people passed me over that last stretch.
General: During the forties I don’t think sporting talent at SACS was of the highest, I was able to shine. I was a jack of all sporting trades but a master of none. I enjoyed the physical side of sport, was not too concerned with winning that was a bonus. I represented the school at Boxing, Cricket, Gymnastics, Rugby and Swimming, winning the Russell Cup for all round sports in ‘;43 and ’44. In all I was awarded “Blues” for swimming in ’41, ’42, ’43, ’44, Boxing ’42, ’43, ’44, Cricket ’44 and Rugby “4
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Posted: 18 June 2008
South African Climbing Legend Honoured
South African mountaineering’s highest award, the Gold Badge of The Mountain Club of South Africa, was bestowed on Andrew de Klerk at the MCSA’s annual dinner held in Pretoria on 17 May 2008. The dinner was hosted by the Magaliesberg Section of the MCSA, which itself celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.
Although AdK’s (as he is known to all) very impressive climbing CV may appear to be the primary reason for receiving the MCSA’s highest award, it was in fact his outstanding contribution to, and advancement of, the cause of local mountaineering that was recognised above all.
His contributions include the vast number of routes opened, and pushing climbing limits on an international level. Andy’s name is synonymous with hard climbing, both here and abroad., He is arguably amongst the top mountain writers (his book Sharper Edges was a finalists in the 2007 Banff Mountain Book Festival), as well as being a regular contributor to the Journal of the MCSA. Adk also took recognition of climbing as a sport in SA to new limits; he was awarded “Sportsman of the Year” at UCT in the mid 80’s (an unprecedented event considering that “traditional” sports such as rugby were the order of the day). His relationship with numerous international climbers did as much, if not more, than any other climber to elevate the profile of SA climbing, and SA as a climbing destination.
Lastly - a sentiment echoed by all present - there are very few other climbers that are held in such high esteem as this down-to-earth South African climber.
For more info:
1. Mr Roland Magg, President of the MCSA president@mcsa.org.za / 072 253 9712 : for interviews and official comments
2. Mr Gerhard van Wyngaardt, secretary of the MCSA secretary@mcsa.org.za / 083 233 4927 : for Andrew de Klerk’s climbing cv, the final wording of the Gold Badge citation awarded to him, and the full size photo of the award being made.
3. the following recent articles, for more information on Andrew de Klerk (http://sahiker.com/current-issue.php?Article_ID=91), http://climb.co.za/article.asp?id=206
Issued by:
- Gerhard van Wyngaardt
Honorary Secretary of the Mountain Club of South Africa
MCSA President Roland Magg presenting the Gold Badge to Andy de Klerk (Photo: Dean van der Merwe)
SHARPER EDGES Stories beyond high and wild places
A soulful new twist on climbing literature, the stories in Sharper Edges span two decades of climbing adventures, BASE jumping and family life. With frankness, sensitivity, philosophy and deadpan humour, Andy de Klerk takes you on the end of a rope into his world of extreme danger, friendship, heartache and loss
From the snowy peaks of the world’s toughest mountains, to leaping off cliffs, to the birth of his children, this feisty world legend ventures where no climbing writer has gone before to reflect on love, family and change. Written with an energy, warmth and intimacy that reflects his passion for the wilderness, adrenaline and the people he loves
This book offers a profound insight into life on the edge in places most of us will never venture.
Andy de Klerk is a world-renowned rock climber, alpinist, skydiver and BASE jumper. At the age of 21 he turned down a Rhodes Scholarship to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University to go climbing instead. He has no regrets. He lives in Scarborough, on the southern tip of South Africa, with his wife, two children and three dogs. He is glad to be alive.
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Posted: 21 May 2008
SACS OBU Chairman’s AGM Report – 2008
Welcome
Honorary Life President, Vice-Presidents, Headmasters of the Schools, Executive Director, Committee, Members and Associate Members – it is a great honour for me to stand in front of you this evening as Chairman of this OBU associated with such a campus with its history, traditions and reputation preceding it.
Since the last Annual General Meeting on the 20th February 2007 there has been much activity and this report serves to highlight some of these activities – in no particular order.
Introduction
When looking at the activities of our OBU there needs to be a reference point from which we centre our activities. In the case of the SACS OBU our constitution gives much clarity in this regard and, to briefly review, the objectives of the OBU are:
1. Forming bonds between past students and the schools through the organisation of social and other events;
2. Promote the welfare of the schools through the co-operation of past students, by providing scholarships, bursaries, prizes, contributions, and donations;
4. And, to do all such appropriate things to promote the interests of the Schools and Union.
I felt it important to clarify these objectives of the OBU around which I shall be relating the past 15 month’s activities.
Centenary Year
Our OBU Centenary Year was celebrated in 2007 and this provided numerous opportunities to extend our contact to Old Boys branches far and wide. The year kicked off with our own Centenary Cocktail Party in the JH Hofmeyr Hall celebrated with 360 members and, as always, given the liquid refreshment support by Mike Kovensky. The next stop over was the Queens Club, London, in July where several of our committee members and the High School Headmaster made their way. It certainly was a festive atmosphere with the School Song and War Cry ringing through the austere corridors of the Club well into the evening. Carl Snitcher and Grant Halstead need to be thanked for their efforts in organising this special event. Several other OBU Branches celebrated the centenary year from Stellenbosch and Hermanus, to Australia and New Zealand. Our Annual Dinner was again held in a packed JH Hofmeyr Hall with over 400 Old Boys enjoying the celebration. Our thanks to Iain Banner for being the guest speaker.
While it is under the presumption of a social gathering, all of these functions serve as a reminder to us all of the overwhelming support the SACS OBU and its Alma Mater enjoy. There is a lot of pride out there and while not every Old Boy is currently in a position to personally contribute to the ongoing Appeals of the Union there is a continued relationship that will one day bear fruit for the support of the Union and further to the Schools.
The traditional Class Reunions bear testimony to this relationship with matric classes from 5 to 50 years ago enjoying time together during the 2007 centenary year – 8 reunions organised in total.
The Office
Approximately 7 years ago there was a strategic decision taken by the Old Boys Union to improve the success rate of us achieving the previously mentioned objectives we have set ourselves as a Union. To this effect the office activities of the OBU were reinforced with the appointment of our Executive Director, John Ince, and our Secretary to the Union, Sandy Edwards.
With the four objectives of the Union in mind the office has since gone about creating the platform from which to continue building the type of atmosphere within the Old Boys of this Institution that we would like to promote.
To give you an idea of the extent of new contacts generated by the office – over the past 5 years the list of Old Boys registered with the Union has increased from 1500 to recently just under 5000. This is only the start of a process that will over the long term ensure the ongoing support for the School by Old Boys.
In the process of creating this renewed interest in the SACS OBU the volume of work and administration has exponentially increased which has placed a significant amount of strain on the resources available to the OBU. To this extent the “busyness” of the office needs to be modelled into a “business” whereby the desired “outcomes” are supported by the “incomes.” In this regard we are strategically planning.
The office continues to provide two printed and electronic newsletters and two newsflashes per year. These are sent to all members with up to date contact details – an ongoing challenge. Incoming communication with the further development of internet based communication through the OBU Office is continuously growing requiring attention.
The OBU currently enjoys the support of the School Governing Body in their approval of all boys at the school contributing to their life-time membership to the Old Boys Union during their time at the school. This promotes the ongoing support for the OBU by the boys as their membership becomes automatic as soon as they finish their schooling. These ties linking the outgoing school boys into the established Union augers well for the continued existence of this OBU and future support of the Schools.
The Foundation
The SACS Foundation, as a key strategic arm of the Old Boys Union, have enjoyed over the past years the significant re-generation of capital in the buoyancy showed in the investments and property markets. This growth has allowed for the continued support of the numerous scholarships awarded by the Old Boys Union and Foundation, the support of School Governing Body Teaching Posts in the form of housing subventions, as well as the infrastructural expenses linked to the growth of the Old Boys Union. This sentiment has continued over the past 15 months with the ongoing committed support.
While the OBU has enjoyed the continued success of the Foundation there has come a time now where the future strategy of the Old Boys Union needs to be focussed on becoming financially independent of the Foundation ensuring the optimisation of fund usage through the Foundation. In this regard the Treasurer of the OBU has already initiated a sub-committee to investigate additional sources of income generation to support the Union.
On behalf of the OBU I would like to extend a vote of thanks to the Chairman of the SACS Foundation Trust, Trevor Fish, the Treasurer of the Foundation, Tony Pocock and the Trustees for their ongoing interest and strategic direction given to the Union.
175 Appeal Fund
The slightly business directed undertone of this report once again comes to the fore when I think of the activities linked to the SACS OBU 175 Appeal Fund during this reporting period. After four years of its existence we find ourselves in the position whereby the Appeal is requiring a significant amount of attention around its processes and procedures in order to manage its objectives appropriately. To this extent the strategic input of Dirk Kemp has been invaluable in assessing the current status of the systems around the Fund as well as condensing his findings into a report. This report is the first major stepping stone to ensuring the ongoing efficient management of this Fund. This will also provide us with sufficient information to determine the extent of this fundraising effort going forward with the intended strategic input from the key leadership bodies within the campus.
In the past year the OBU 175 Appeal Fund has successfully been awarded the facility to provide donors with Section 18A Tax Certificates. This should provide much needed impetus to the Appeal making donations through the Appeal Fund that much more attractive and beneficial to donors. Our thanks are extended to the office and those instrumental in successfully acquiring this Exemption.
Thanks must also be extended to Steve McKenzie who has energetically spearheaded the Appeal Fund marketing efforts up to the beginning of 2008. Steve has recently relocated to London for business opportunities and has committed to keeping the Appeal Fund flag flying in the UK. We wish him well.
Through the Appeal Fund we are happy to report the initiation of two new Scholarships at the High School, namely the John Ince Scholarship (Funded through Sean Day – recipient of the 2007 Spectemur Agendo Award) and the Iain Banner | 
