Introducion……………………1

Where in the world……..…2

What’s new at Redhill…...4

Hall of Fame………………….5

Leave a legacy……………..12

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Introduction

Redpath Reflections is the newsletter for the alumni of Redhill School, wherever you are in the world. We envisage the newsletter being a “place” where our alumni can “meet” and share tales of their journeys, achievements, memories and even experiences that may help younger Redhillians making their way in the world today.

For the newsletter to achieve this, we need you to don that old Redhill spirit of being a part of each other’s success, and participate by sending your stories, experiences, advice or questions – in other words, it’s a forum where our alumni are encouraged to interact with each other to provide support, enthusiasm and even a little levity!

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Where in the world

Wherever you go in the world, it seems a Redhillian (or more) is either there, has been there, or wants to go there. Our stats show that you’ll find us in the following places:

Whether you’re still in South Africa or further afield, we’re sure our Reds have some stories to tell. Here’s the place to do it... Did you follow your heart, or an opportunity that came up for you? Have you got some pointers you can share with others seeking new pathways, hobbies, lifestyles? Share them – you never know who you’ll help or bring a smile to.

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Where in the world

Country Continent Alumni per country

Australia Australian 5

Bahrain Asia 1

China Asia 1

Italy Europe 1

Germany Europe 1

France Europe 1

Switzerland Europe 1

Tasmania Australian 1

Thailand Asia 1

New Zealand Australian 2

Sweden Europe 1

South Korea Asia 2

United Kingdom Europe 7

Switzerland Europe 1

Sweden Europe 1

USA North America 5

United Arab Emirates Asia 1

South Africa Africa 1822

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What’s new at Redhill

For those who left many years ago, Redhill has more than kept pace with changes that enable our school to be among the most innovative in the country. If you haven’t visited the campus in a while, contact us and come by for a look at what has changed and what hasn’t... Our age-old tradition of respect and welcoming the alumni who went before us hasn’t changed.

We’d like to set up an annual Meet and Greet where Old Redhillians of all age groups can join us for an on-site catch-up. More on that later...

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Renowned Redhillians

We know that many of our Reds have become well known – even distinguished – in their chosen fields. We’d like to highlight these achievements, no matter how small YOU may think they are. We’re proud of where we came from and the paths we’ve walked. Share a little about your journey – “fame” is not always about being well-known... the quiet heroics of everyday actions that change lives are considered Hall of Fame-worthy, too.

DONOVAN-COPLEY In HotWater... and loving it!

“Ya, it’s been a very interesting adventure! I had no idea what I wanted to do… I knew it would be something different, but I didn’t know what…”

We tracked down Old Redhillian Donovan Copley to find out what he’s been up to, and that’s how he started our conversation. His “something different” turned out to be music, which he says he only started playing at age 21. “I started HotWater when I was 27, whereas my brother Sharlto always knew what he wanted to do. He was obsessed with film making from a young age.”

Donovan is a “middle specialist”, he says: “I matriculated in 1994, right in the middle of South Africa’s transition. I’m a middle child, and was born in the middle of the year (21 June) and play cross-over music, so I think I am somewhat qualified to deal with being in the middle,” he laughs.

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Hall of fame What he isn’t, though, is middle-of-the-road. His talent was visible as a Redhill

student. “One of my favourite memories was the school play ‘Racketeer’ I did in Matric. Mark Stein and I came up with the idea and Sharlto actually wrote the play. We received an enormously powerful response, although it was a very contentious production.”

Possibly contentious, probably highly creative too. Since then, his life has paid homage to the creative, with HotWater being a collaborative effort with different musicians playing alongside Donovan. “The band is essentially based around vocals, guitar, bass and drums. We have different bass players and drummers and whoever is available to play a certain night will play,” he says, adding that he most enjoys playing with musicians who are extremely passionate about what they do.

Having toured internationally for the past 10 years, Donovan gigs have included appearances in France, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. “HotWater was also signed up for Europe’s biggest African Music Festival. It’s the Festival’s 30th anniversary on 31 May 2018, and HotWater was voted one of the best acts of the last 30 years which is why we are back as part of this special line-up.”

Based in Cape Town when he’s not touring, Donovan’s other claims to (real) fame include HotWater being one of the only acts to ever perform on top of Table Mountain, and opening for the likes of UB40 and George Ezra. “My song Wamkelekile was featured in the Warner Bros movie BLENDED, and it looks like it’s the biggest song an SA artist has ever had in a film.”

Of course, having Passenger, Ed Sheeran, Joe Satriani, Sasha Baron Cohen and Bono all own one of his trademark HotWater Guitars also delights him. Most importantly, though, is his business sense in an industry where creatives often leave that to others.

“I’ve operated completely independently in the music industry, which means I own all my own rights and control my creative output 100%. But the best part really,” he says proudly, “is my family. I’m married to an amazing Irish lass and have three sons. We have a lot of fun together - family is central for me.”

For those keen to hear HotWater’s “Wamkelekile” (as seen Warner Bros BLENDED), click here: http://bit.ly/2c0flNJTo view their headline live performance at Europe’s biggest African Music Festival (full show): http://bit.ly/2bYvg09.

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Hall of fame It was a pleasure communicating with Donovan, and we look forward to catching up

with other Old Redhillians. If you know of any who are not on our mailing list – or you are one yourself, get in touch with linda@talk2us.co.za and share your story.

JOSH MELTZ Guy behind Granadilla Swim

It is this kind of thinking that Redhill instils into students – knowing what is important and understanding their own impact on the world around them. Josh says his honours degree in Economics from Edinburgh is a “big highlight” in his life and was probably the first achievement he had to work hard to attain. “But I am most proud of my relationships in life.”

When Josh Meltz matriculated from Redhill in 2009, “gap year” was on his mind. Turned out to be no ordinary gap year, though, as Josh used his time to educate visitors to Zambia. “It was time well spent, taking guests fishing and at the same time creating awareness about the richness of Africa and the mighty Zambezi,” he says, adding with the help of Josh’s dad Jackie Meltz, founder of MELTZ factory stores, the two young entrepreneurs decided there was a gap in sunny South Africa for methat it was a “very busy” seven months.

Josh achieved five distinctions for matric and went on to study economics and sociology, gaining a Master of Arts in Welfare Economics from the University of Edinburgh. During his studies, he successfully started and sold his first business and, together with friend Adam Duxbury, started “Granadilla Swim” - named for the iconic ice-cream vendors on Clifton 4th Beach who sell “a granadilla lolly to make you jolly!”

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Hall of fame The two young entrepreneurs decided there was a gap in sunny South Africa for

men's shorts – and a need to assist other entrepreneurs by donating 5% of profits to organisations involved in Social Entrepreneurism and enabling more people to become entrepreneurs.

Soon, the online store Superbalist took on the range of shorts and success followed their hard work. But what really drives Josh is his definition of success, one encouraged by the ethos of Redhill: “Success is about figuring out what makes me happy daily and what is going to make me happy in the long term. It involves my business and financial growth, but also my relationships and the way I conduct myself in my environment.”

As co-founder and CEO of Granadilla Swim - the core of which is to “manufacture the best pair of swimwear shorts that you have ever seen with limited edition prints” Many have watched Josh’s steady rise to business success and spoken of his greatness – which he sees in his own special way. “To me, greatness warrants introspection and requires an acute understanding of one’s own relevance in the bigger picture,” he says. “It requires humility, too - greatness is about encouraging others to be good at what they do.”

Lesedi-Job Multitalented artist

“After matric, I studied journalism because I thought that I could not make a living in the entertainment industry. But, I felt dissatisfied and unfulfilled.”

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Hall of fame

Entering Idols SA in 2003 helped me to better understand my career path. Making it through to the top 32 of Idols made me realise that I’m talented enough to pursue a career in the arts. I also met artists that were making a living out of the industry, which opened my eyes to endless career possibilities. So, I studied dramatic arts at Wits School of Arts after my stint on Idols.

Over the years, I have been involved in many exciting projects. I’ve been a part of diverse projects, which has helped to grow my career. I was involved in the Sousatzka Musical workshop in Toronto, which made me realise that there is a need for more black female theatre-makers. I then decided to be a theatre-maker who tells proudly African stories. I recently directed a theatre play titled Itsoseng – a South African story touching on service-delivery protests in the townships. I loved directing this play because it resonates with South Africans. Through it, I got the opportunity to work with talented young actors. I also took part in Absa bank’s personal loans campaign advert. This helped me embrace my adaptability as an artist as I was featured as the face and voice of the campaign. Another project of note is Lara Foot – a theatre production at the Baxter Theatre Centre. It was such an amazing experience.

I love working as an actress, singer, theatre director and voice-over artist. All these titles give me the freedom to tell stories that speak to our societies. I take people on a reflective and interactive journey through my work as an artist, and this makes me happy. I’m honoured to have been awarded this year’s 4th annual Sophie Mgcina Emerging Voice Award by the Market Theatre Foundation. The award, which recognises leading young creatives who excel in their careers, has made me realise that I’m on the right path. I’m now motivated to continue doing what I love.

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Hall of fame

Tinashe Chipako UCT student wins prestigious award

Cape Town - The Western Cape's water woes have proved to be an unexpected opportunity for University of Cape Town (UCT) Civil Engineering graduate Tinashe Chipako to show off his research project on waterless urinals. Chipako won the 2018 South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) National Investigative Project Showdown for South African universities for his project which investigated the “feasibility of implementing waterless urinals on UCT’s upper campus”. The competition is described as a showcase of the country’s best emerging engineers, with the winners reflecting a “new breed of engineer”: technically adept and proficient in written and verbal communication. Entries were received from civil engineering students at top universities across South Africa. “Unsurprisingly, it was quite surreal to have conversations with highly regarded personalities in the South African civil engineering community, and I'm truly grateful to have been awarded the opportunity. I’d like to thank the entire Department of

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Hall of fame

Civil Engineering at UCT for the unparalleled support I’ve been given throughout my studies,” said Chipako Cum laude graduate Chipako was among a quartet of final-year students working on urine research projects as part of Dr Dyllon Randall’s newly established urine research field in the Department of Civil Engineering . Another one of these, Craig Flannagan’s fertiliser-from-urine project, won the Greenovate Award in 2017. The assignments demonstrated the benefits of waterless urinals, not to only save vast quantities of water but to recover valuable, sustainable resources from what Randall refers to as ‘liquid gold’. “Being exposed to events such as the SAICE National IP Showdown, and further having the honour to represent UCT, was an amazing experience. Having the community take interest in your research is always a plus as well!,” added Chipako.

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Hall of fame

Are you one our Renowned Redhillians or would you just like to let your fellow Redhillians know where you’re at? If so, get writing and send your contributions to [url] and let’s make sure we keep the strong bonds we have when we were scholars. A robust student body today is hugely dependent on those who walked the RedPath before us.