1. Would you ride 581 km to help a horse?2. Flyfishing3. Would you ride a bike to save a rhino?4. MNET cares comes to Durbs...6. Gliding for Greenies.7. Our stupendous schools.... Don’t forget to check our regular writers out too.....

edition 117 june......Isabelle and Lloyd Gillespie rode 581kms as part of their Riding For Horses project. Pic: supplied

RIDING FOR HORSES

RIDING FOR HORSES

The KZN Midlands, and in particular the Karkloof, has a habit of presenting us with some beautiful stories. Sitting in the gorgeous little Apple coffee shop in Howick (that’s a delicious story too), Isabel and Lloyd Gillespie, currently resident on the

Jewitt’s farm Mizpah Farm Retreat, blew us away with photographs, and an account of their 581 day horseride around South Africa. In the words of the travellers:

Isabel and Lloyd came together at a time in their lives when they were both searching for something, be it clarity, adventure, a sense of oneness. They started this journey not having any idea where it would take them but have ended it knowing where they began, and how far they have come in their own personal development and growth.

“Travelling and living alongside our horses for 581 days, sharing the load between 10 horses, and going at our horses pace, they had become the non judgmental barometers of our lives and as we adjusted our behavior so we received immediate confirmation from them. The further we travelled the more aware we became of our horses and ourselves and the land we were riding through and we became deeper connected to everything.

There is so much goodness in South Africa. We are not necessarily all aware of the true state of our Rainbow Nation. We saw a very different side to South Africa and did not put energy into the warnings of many. The help we received en route, from all race groups, is testament to that. What you put out is what you get back. A smile, a wave, a friendly greeting, opened the path to any relationship we formed on our journey.

With wonder we marvel and are thankful to the fact that our horses and ourselves made it home after 7411 km and 581 days on the road, unscathed. We attribute this largely to our hearts being 100% into this journey and with it comes the guiding and protecting force we could not see but knew was there shepherding us all the way. Everything always worked out some-how. Doors opened that were closed, pathways smoothed ahead of us, obstacles and difficulty placed in our way for reasons beyond our comprehension – and from it came goodness. (Thank you jirehtech for your support and sponsorship of free internet in our cottage in the Karkloof!)”

Overlooking the Mtamvuna River minutes after crossing into the KZN Province from Eastern Cape Province.

After having completed their journey around South Africa they, together with all their horses moved onto a friend´s farm Mizpah Farm Retreat (www.healingwithhorses.co.za) , Liesl & Gra-ham Jewitt in the Karkloof just outside Howick. They have focused largely on their Equine Out-reach Project based in the former Transkei, at the Haven Hotel. In the former Transkei equines form an integral part of the life of the AmaXhosa people. They function to fetch water and wood, as a mode of transport, to plow land and herd livestock, they offer employment opportu-nities. Their project focuses on the social and economic upliftment of the AmaXhosa and their equines. Transport on horseback is environmentally friendly, a quality that should be encour-aged in today´s world.

Working with horse owners along the route...

In our 4th year now we are continuously trying to grow the project which currently includes vaccinations, internal and external parasite control, wound care, education, youth and skills de-velopment. One of our biggest hurdles is to create empathy in the owner, handler or rider. Ani-mals are emotional beings and they feel pain as much as humans do.

The challenges as you can imagine are endless, starting with a massive communication and language barrier, followed by cultural differences, owner´s jealousy amongst each other, the remoteness of the area, the owner´s lack of empathy and resources, as well as the various so-cial community obligations. Dates we prioritised to assist with equine treatment and care, were often pushed aside for a community gathering.

The greatest challenge for us was confronting the locals passion for bush racing, where racing on an animal you don’t feel empathy for often ends in disaster for the animal! On many occa-sions a local would show us a horse and say that he didn’t know what was wrong with it. The horse, we can see, is flat, energyless and has lost the spark of life in its eyes. We would ask the man if this horse was a race horse knowing the answer to this already. This poor horse was raced until it has given everything to its rider and “blown his wind” – meaning it has burst its heart. A condition from which they don’t recover easily if ever.

Since the completion of our ride we got married and are currently writing a book on our jour-ney around South Africa, which we hope to publish in the couple of months.

We are also planning new adventures one of which is a campaign for the plight of the Rhino. We all know that South Africa, Africa in general is in a time of crisis with the increase in Rhino poaching. Last year alone we lost 448 Rhino, and halfway through 2012 we have lost 227 al-ready. we are passionate about nature conservation, and cannot imagine the African Savanna with out the shape of the Rhino.

Lloyd and Isabel hold talks on their amazing journey and will hold a talk at the Lions River Club on the 20th July starting at 18h30. Cost is R50.00 per head and there will be snacks avail-able. If anyone is interested in hosting us for a talk please get in touch with us Isabel@rid-ingforhorses.co.za. For further information on the project look at their website www.ridingfor-horses.co.za.

WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY.

We have always maintained that the Midlands has produced and contin-ues to produce some quite amaz-

ing people, products and experiences, so it came as no real surprise when the KZN MEC of Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo acknowl-edged that he and the CEO of MNET Patricia van Rooyen both hail from Greytown when he gave the keynote address at the official opening of the BHP Billiton Paediatric Centre of Excellence at the King Edward VIII Hospi-tal in Durban on June 5.

The opening, which was hosted by presenters Derek Watts, Chantal Rutter and Bongani Bing-wa of MNET’s flagship investigative programme Carte Blanche, marked the end of a four year project, the brainchild of programme’s executive director George Mazarakis to help make a differ-ence to the lives of South Africans.

The Carte Blanche Making a Difference cam-paign began in 2008 with a target to raise R20 million in commemoration of the programme’s 20 years of being on air. Four years later the Trust responsible for the fundraising has man-aged to secure more than R83 million in dona-tions which has been used to improve facilities at 7 hospitals in 6 cities.

The BHP Billiton Paediatric Centre of Excel-lence includes an ICU, High Care Ward, Ambula-tory Ward, Outpatients Unit, as well as a small mother’s area and staff facilities.

Speaking at the opening, an emotional George Mazarakis explained how amazing it was for a programme, which is based on highlighting and

exposing faults in society, had managed cam-paign to help improve and fix things on this scale.

He reminded the guests, made up of spon-sors, media, local and provincial politicians and visibly excited nursing and medical staff from the hospital, of Anne Frank’s poignant words about creating the kind of world we desire to live in ”How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to im-prove the world.”

Patricia van Rooyen reaffirmed the value of good health quoting Mahatma Gandhi: “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver”.

Congratulations to the Carte Blanche team for this incredible investment into KZN.

Bongani Bingwa, Jessica Pitchford and Derek Watts of Carte Blanche. Pic and article by Sharlene Versfeld)

InternatIonal concern for rhIno sparks local Investment

An International press conference was held in Frankfurt Germany yesterday to discuss progress and the way forward for South African based projects aimed at stemming the rhino poaching tide. Lo-cal Wildlands CEO, Dr Andrew Venter was invited to comment on Rhino, poaching and strategies to

curb the poaching statistics, along with Professor Manfred Niekisch and the Frankfurt Zoological Society. The conference was co-ordinated by The Global Nature Fund (GNF - www.globalnature.org) and aimed to voice international concern around the rapid decline in our rhino populations.

The Global Nature Fund (GNF) is a non-profit organisation with the goal of protecting the environ-ment and nature. The foundation is actively engaged in African countries, including South Africa, where they are partnered with the Wildlands Conservation Trust in an attempt to curb rhino poaching statistics. “We have already lost 235 rhino in 2012. To save the rhino population we need to improve surveillance measures in our national and private reserves,” comments Venter. “Through our partnership with GNF we will be able to fit tracking & monitoring devices to all the rhino in the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve.”

The GPS transmitters are either inserted into the horns of living rhino or attached through foot collars, enabling active surveillance of the animals.. The hope is that this will not only prevent an animal being killed, it will also scare off other potential poachers, whose chances of being caught now increase.

Director of Frankfurt Zoo, Professor Manfred Niekisch recognises the need to educate the East, “We have to stamp out the belief that ground rhino horn heals cancer or increases virility.” Trading of the much desired horn is a lucrative business for gangs worldwide. “On the black market one kilo of ground rhino-horn is worth around $40, 000, almost as much as gold,” reported Venter.

People have suggested controlled trade of rhino horn or legalising the trade is the answer, with the po-tential to lower prices and reduce poaching incidents. “The surveillance systems and measures taken to protect the rhino have to be explicitly improved before we can think of legally trading rhino-horns,” men-tions Venter. “These standards have to be met, so that a watertight system of tracking and surveillance of the trade flows can be guaranteed. Even if it works in South Africa, it will be much more challenging to implement a system for a regulated and controlled trade in other countries.”

Besides technical measures, Wildlands, GNF and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development have started a new project aimed at developing Somkhanda Community Game Reserve into a benchmark example of how Africa’s communities can conserve its unique and seriously threatened wildlife. This reserve is owned by the Gumbi Community and situated in one of the most poverty stricken areas in South Africa.

Through this project displaced African wild dogs will be reintroduced while the White and Black Rhi-nos that have already been introduced will receive increased protection. The project will also support the development of a diversity of community based eco-tourism initiatives, aimed at improving the sustain-ability for the reserve.

“The project connects the economic concerns of the Gumbi Community and nature conservation. The introduction of Wild Dog and protection of the Rhino will improve the areas tourism appeal, and the community will benefit from the increasing tourist visits on site,” commented Stefan Hör-mann, program manager at GNF. International partnerships are critical in order to leverage en-vironmental concerns, as well as improve fund-ing for projects such as Wildlands’ Project Rhino Tracker (GPS tracking & monitoring) & Project Rhino Aerial Support (helicopter and fixed wing surveillance) projects, which both involve signifi-cant upfront capital outlay.

Ends/kevinm@wildlands.co.za (Wildlands Conserva-

tion Trust) 033 343 6380/ 083 447 0657Frankfurt Zoo, Dr. Caroline Liefke, mobile: +49

151 12217759Global Nature Fund, Stefan Hörmann, mobile:

+49 160 5321052

Ride4Rhinos Cycle Experience Saturday 25 August 2012

It’s nearly that time of year again to use pedal power from Howick to Weenen Game Reserve, all in the name of rhino conservation.

D-Day: Saturday 25 August 2012 to meet at 4H30 to depart at 5H00.The Route: Start at Howick Hospital and ride about 128k’s of dirt and forest back-roads with

a little bit of tar thrown in for good measure with a few tweaks from the 2011 route. This in-cludes ending with bush track through Weenen Game Reserve (so you may actually ride with rhinos). Cyclists need to please organise their own route refreshments, spares and transport back from Weenen. Back-up vehicles will be on route to carry refreshments, gear and exhaust-ed or broken cyclists. The vehicles will only be at designated points to prevent unnecessary stops and extended hours in the saddle.

THIS IS NOT A RACE. There will be no route-markings, no water-tables, no marshals, no timing-chips and no prize-giving. Ride4Rhinos is geared towards being a fun social long-ride experience for a good cause.

We will cater for varying cycling capabilities by splitting the group into three - the racing rats (greater than 18k/hour), average ables (15-18k/hour) and scenic sloggers (less than 12-15k/hour). Each group will have an accompanying back-up vehicle.

The Race: Ride4Rhinos riders are encouraged to ride the Husqvarna Weenen MTB Ride (40k or 20k) or run the accompanying Trail Run (15k or 10k) on the following day – Sunday 26 Au-gust 2012.

All profits go towards the Weenen Honorary Officer Group for the betterment of the reserve.The Camp: Nyandu tented camp in Weenen Game Reserve has been offered by the Weenen

Honorary Officer Group as part of the 2012 Ride4Rhinos Cycle Experience for riders that wish to ride, run or marshal the following day.

Cost: OPTION 1 : ride-only: R175.00 for first-time Ride4Rhinos riders including a com-memorative long-sleeve T-shirt. R150.00 for all 2011 Ride4Rhinos riders, including a com-memorative long-sleeve T-shirt.

OPTION 2 : ride-and-camp. R330.00 for first-time Ride4Rhinos riders including a commemo-rative long-sleeve T-shirt + one night at Nyandu tented camp + Saturday supper + Sunday breakfast (bacon-egg rolls from Lion’s). R300.00 for all 2011 Ride4Rhinos riders including a commemorative long-sleeve T-shirt, + one night at Nyandu tented camp + Saturday supper + Sunday breakfast.

Camping space is limited so it will be on a first-paid basis.All profits after rider support costs will go towards rhino conservation at Weenen Game Re-

serve. We raised R5200.00 for rhino conservation with our first ride in 2011. We would like to match, and increase, this amount so if you would like to donate more than the minimum entry or know of any sponsors it would be greatly appreciated.

Participation is by invitation and on a first-pay first-ride basis. The number of cyclists will be capped at maximum 75 riders for 2012. Riders need to be over the age of 18 years (it’s a LONG way). Provision may be made if a rider under 18 has a guardian driving one of the des-ignated back-up vehicles in case the rider needs to bail.

Contact Kerryn Moolenschot (073 252 7686) kez_moolenschot@yahoo.com or Paul Rencken (082 49 35 263) paulsteph@telkomsa.net via SMS, What-sApp or e-mail for further information. e-mail ad-dress : ride4rhinos@gmail.com

Cowan House star GazinG eveninG

The Official School Page

The Grade Two’s recently enjoyed an exciting and memorable occasion when they arrived for their star gazing evening as a magnificent golden-orange, full moon rose below the school field.There were four telescopes set to view the moon and its craters, with the radiations from the centre of the craters clearly visible at full moon. We mar-velled at the magnificence of the Earth’s constant companion our steadfast predictable moon! A majestic ball suspended in space!The “Cherry on the top” was our viewing of Saturn and its rings! The large strong telescope gave us a breathtaking vision of an almost surreal Saturn in the sky! It was hard to believe it was real and not a picture or our imagi-nation! A truly rare and awesome experience! There were many ooohs and ahhs and sighs of wonderment!Shannon Wormington looking through the telescope while Donovan Baugh looks on.

Grace College hosted a successful netball festival on Saturday, 19 May 2012. This forms part of the annual Masihambisane (Let’s walk together) outreach program at Grace College where community High Schools are given the opportunity to compete against some of our local High Schools. Apart from playing matches, team coaching took place and many new skills were learned. Bhekuximba High School won the spirit trophy, having displayed great sportsmanship during the event – congratulations! Special thanks go to the event organisers, teams and their coach-es for making this a memorable day.Pictured: Mr. Sam Nkosi (Masihambisane co-ordinator) at the back, Grace College team members and the Bhekuximba team with their spirit trophy.

GRACE COLLEGE

James McFadzean, a Grade 11 pupil at Grace College, won a bronze and silver medal in the South African Kimura Shukokai Karate Championship recently. Well done, James!”

Grace College pupils, from left to right: Max Addy, Shaun Markham, Tino Mahomva and Mark Auge with their trophies for the C-league Pietermaritzburg and District Chess Tournament, for which they took first place. A win to be very proud of. Congratulations boys and all the best for future contests.

reaCHinG out tHrouGH netball

Karate Kid

Grace College had the privilege of welcoming Gary Kirsten to the School recently. He addressed the pupils and staff, giving a brief overview of his cricketing career, sharing some highlights as well as challenging times. He encouraged everyone to live with integrity and focus on life’s journey, rather than dwell on results, whether good or bad. Grace College would like to thank Gary for his time to come and encourage us and wishes him well in his career as the National Cricket Coach and all future endeavours. Pictured from the left: Tess Le Roux (Head girl); Gary Kirsten (National Cricket Coach); Charles Hough (Head boy) and Su-van Naik (1st team cricketer).

Gary Kirsten visits GraCe ColleGe

CHeCK Mate

The Official School PagesuCCess for laddswortH Cross Country runners

a MovinG oCCasion at weston

Laddsworth Primary School in Hilton has enjoyed a very successful cross country season. The school has fielded the largest team at the seven events that took place locally: 120 runners. Laddsworth athletes won the U10, U11 and U12 age groups and regularly placed first in the Open Girls’ section. Laddsworth U8 athlete, Luke van Niekerk, set a new record for the Cordwalles cross country course. Pictured here are Laddsworth’s most successful cross country runners: Back row, (left to right): Hannah Gra-ham (Open); coach Linda Wolhuter; and Sasha-Lee Tamsen (Open). Middle row: U8 record-breaker Luke van Niekerk; Lauren Knobel (U12); Leah Kriel (U11)and Khwezi Khetwan (U9). Front row: Natalie Rohrs (U9); Thomas Parsons (U10); and Frances Forsythe (U10).

Lauren Johnson (Clifton Nottingham Road); Jessica Redfern (Cowan House); Jessica Hircshowitz (TWC); Charlize Meyer (Pelham); Kelly Pearson (Wembly); Megan Mc Donald (TWC); Samantha Yeats (TWC); Sophie Mc Donald (Cowan House); Kelly Trimborn (Epworth); Bophelo Seoe (Trever-ton); Charne` Houstan (Laddsworth); Thato Nthoba (King Edward); Zanihque Sissing (King Edward); Sesthu Mqomboti (St Patricks)

Kzn inland u13"a" Girls HoCKey

Weston Agricultural College near Mooi River recently held a special ceremony at its Horse Memorial, which was built to commemorate those fallen in battle, especially the horses. Weston was established in 1914 on land where the British Army Remount Depot No. 7 was based dur-ing the Anglo-Boer War. Members of the military, namely Major Matthew Everitt and representatives of the 19 Field Regiment in Durban, attended the ceremony.

Members of the military with the Weston Agricultural College Principal, Paul Tait and some of the boys, during the ceremony.

Weston Agricultural College’s Grade 11s had good success at the steer competition at the Royal Show, winning three 1st prizes, one 2nd, one 3rd and one 4th. The results for the carcass competition. were outstanding - Weston won the champion carcass (the winning animal sold for R63 per kg; it weighed 250kg) and the champion group of three carcasses.Congratulations to the staff and boys who have worked tire-lessly to prepare animals for the show and get the Weston stand ready in time. Their hard work paid off: Weston won so many awards that a bag was needed to carry them home!

Above from left to right are the Weston Principal, Paul Tait, Rowan van Aardt (the Bonsmara breeder who Weston bought the cattle from to prepare for the show), Tim Smith (the Weston boy who trained the champion carcass animal) and Pierre van Rensburg (the master in charge of the steer project at Weston). Row-an is holding the Champion Carcass trophy and Pierre is holding the Champion group shield.

winninG ways for weston

asibeMunye sCHool and Hilton ColleGe teaM up

Hilton College Rugby players travelled to Mphophomeni's Asibemunye school, to share some of their rugby skills and kit. The school has a strong connection with Hilton as part of its Vula programme and the boys were excited to be coaches for a day!

Three teenage home-schoolers submitted articles which they have made in pottery classes into the craft section of the Royal Show. Their hand-made ceram-ic creations were very favour-ably recieved by the judges and they were all awarded prizes. One learner even received three “special awards” with trophies. All three learners attend pot-tery classes with Hilton potter and teacher, Liz Brown. Pictured here are Julian Kruger (17) Ross Barlow (16), and Emily Mur-ray (14), with their beautiful creations

Crafty HoMesCHoolers win awards Russell High grade 10 visual arts students were commissioned by Sharon Mc Clelland of the Centre for Visual Arts UKZN to create fabrics with an African twist from which costumes will be made and used for festivals and exhibitions in Britain linked to the London Olympics. Seen with Sharon (second from the right) are members of the Russell design team proudly dis-playing their beautiful fabric masterpiece

fabriC MasterpieCes by russell HiGH

tHe wyKeHaM ColleGiate sCHolarsHips and HoCKey...

Seedlings Montessori Pre-School in Hilton registered with the Eco-Schools Program in 2011. Our focus of learning has always been on the world around us and over the years our children have been actively involved with various projects and themes that encourage making a difference to our beautiful Planet Earth. We strive to cre-ate and keep alive an awareness of environmental issues in a way that is concrete and meaningful for young learners. We have found that the Eco-Schools program and resources have given us focus and direction and especially love the “Year of Special Days” diary that gives dates for environmental events both locally and globally.

seedlinGs Montessori – eCo-sCHools Green flaG!The children at Seedlings range from 2 ½ to 5 years of age and our environmental learning involves hands-on projects, discussions, experiments, art, songs etc. Some of Eco-Schools themes covered in 2011 included Resource Use, Nature and Bio-diversity and Healthy Living. Under these broad headings the children learnt about saving water and electricity; managing waste by re-using, re-ducing, recycling and rethinking; they planted up permaculture gardens, thus growing their very own healthy vegetables; and learnt about birds, marine life and plants during National Bird, Ma-rine and Arbour Weeks. Seedlings Montessori has an Eco-Code that in-cludes a very special “Pledge to the Earth” that the learners and staff learnt. This was written by Aline D Wolf and is as follows: “I promise to be good to the earth and all life on this planet – all growing things, all kinds of animals and all races of people. I promise to protect all life on our planet, to live in harmony with nature, and to share everything fairly, so that all people can live with one another in good health and in peace.”The Seedlings children are so proud to have earned their very own Eco-Schools Green Flag award and look forward to many more years of helping to keep our world beautiful for the future generations.

7 girls from The Wykeham Collegiate Junior School have been selected to represent Kwazulu Natal for Hockey. Well done girls! Back left to right : Samantha Yeats, Rebecca Munitich, Megan McDonald. Front left to right: Jessica Hirschowitz, Jodie Conolly, Kate Dunton, Georgina Griffin.

Wykeham Collegiate Junior School recipients of Scholar-ships to the Senior School:Back left to right: Tara Wheeler (Minor Sport), Samantha Yeats (Major Sport), Zoë Brown (Major Music). Middle left to right:Grace Grant (Major Day Girl), Sarah Bristow (Merit Music), Jordan Anastasiou (Minor Day). Front left to right: Haseena Kajee (Academic Merit), Kate Dunton (Closed Scholarship: The Wykeham Collegiate), Jessica Hirschowitz (Academic Merit), Sarah-Jane Muller (Minor Music).treverton inland HoCKey reps

Left To right, Danielle Cairns, Sabrina Miles, Jeanne Botha and Kate Armitage.

Eight Treverton hockey players have been chosen to play for Inland Hockey teams at inter-provincial events this year.There are four from the Prep and four from the College. It is a female dominated selection, with only one boy, Grade 6 learn-er, Brandon Palmer from the Prep, who has been chosen as a member of the U12 team. The Prep girls who were selected will all play for the U13 Girls team. They are Brooke Cunha-Johnson, Bophelo Seoe and Daina Pieterse. At the College Grade 12 Sabrina Miles will play for the U18A team, while Danielle Cairns, Jeanne Botha and Kate Armitage have been selected for the U16A side. All four girls show excel-lent sporting ability in a number of codes.

GLIDING FOR GREENIES

The red windsock blowing in the

breeze below the hills of Mpophomeni indicated a good day for gliding. I arrived at the Howick Flying Club on a sunny Saturday to try ‘flying like a bird’. I thoroughly enjoy lying in long grass on warm days watching raptors ride the thermals and had been assured that gliding was just like that, but for humans. The first snippet of conversation I overheard was “I’ve patched it up, I’m going to bolt it down and put the sticky stuff back on. Once I’ve got the stick in, it’s sorted and I can

go.” For some reason, I didn’t feel nervous.The planes are very pretty – one was all spotty and pink, another bright yellow and my pilot was wearing

a gorgeous red t-shirt – it was a colourful affair. I had a short tour of the workshops, learning that the planes are literally built of plywood and have a special synthetic fabric stuck onto the surface with shoe glue and then ironed to shrink fit. It seems so simple. Surely, I should have been nervous by now? In the yard people were patching and smoothing – Russell, who works at a panel beater during the week, was carefully sanding a restored wing to the perfect finish. All tasks were calmly done, with great care and evidently, much love. Everyone helps with any work on the gliders but in the end only a select few can sign an aircraft off as airoworthy. “We need to have confidence in our workmanship” said Peter. “We all help one another to maintain the club facilities and then as a reward we all get to fly.” There are 20 active members of the Howick Gliding Club (part of the Howick Flying Club) and I wondered why there are not more? Nick is one of the oldest members, in his 80’s, while Mike is still at school and has only just begun gliding. In between there are retired businessmen, hardworking artisans, accountants and computer guys. The range of ages and backgrounds makes for a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere. There is constant banter and sharing of ‘flying stories’ as they set up for take-off. I hear that just a couple of weeks ago Iain flew all the way to Underberg and back – staying in the air for over three hours. Dave talks nostalgically about thermals that take one to 12 000 feet.

The domestic theme of the technical information continued as I learned that the cable which winches the plane into the air is made of the same wire used in springs for mattresses. The breaking strain of 1050kgs sounded a bit more scientific. The planes are always launched into the wind, like a kite, with a diesel engine which pulls in the wire. I was impressed to discover that the amount of fuel used for each launch is much less than one litre. This makes gliding the most eco-friendly style of flying possible. Considering that when conditions permit, one might stay afloat for a couple of hours, this is good value use of fossil fuel.

So, I was strapped in and ready to go. The pilot did all the regular checks and everyone made sure I was comfortable. Actually, it was remarkably comfortable and I was still not at all apprehensive. We slid along the ground for a moment and then we were off. I had a lovely tingly feeling as we whizzed into the air. Suddenly the Drakensberg was in view with Swartkops in the South and iNhlosane to the West, dwarfed by the landscape. The clear dome allows one a panoramic view. The challenge for the pilot is to stay afloat – so we headed to the edges of Midmar, where the different temperatures of land and water might have created a thermal up draft. We found one and twirled smoothly around and around as we climbed higher. It was exceptionally quiet and really is like being a bird. I wonder what the birds make of the elegant 15m long planes sharing their space?

After enjoying spotting Midlands landmarks from the air, chatting about gliding camps held regularly in Harrismith and Underberg, we came down to earth with hardly a bump. The verdict: Gliding is an exceptionally agreeable way to spend an afternoon, no need for nerves at all.

Howick Flying Club holds open weekends on the second Saturday of every month. Why not try your hand at being a bird? Contact Iain Rennie for details 072 132 6606. www.hgc.org.za

Story by Nikki Brighton, Pic: supplied

Sunday, 27 May, dawned a beautiful crisp autumn day. The weather was perfect for the 174 (wow!)

fun riders, their friends and family who turned upfor a funfilled family outing!

The car park or “Pits” at “The Farm”, 53 Pope Ellis Drive, Ashburton, home of Hennie & Muriel Kritzinger, was filled with bakkies, vans, bikes and trailers, gazebo’s chairs and happy families. Catering team of Ben Jordaan and Ian Marr did an outstanding job again, and many a bacon & egg roll, hot dog and hamburger was happily consumed! An event such as this is made possible with the assistance of many, and the Extreme-Fun-Draisers team would like to sincerely thank the following for their amazing help, support, sponsorship & donations:

Lucky draw prizes: G T Chemicals, Hopgood Investments, Gaydons, Manchem, I-Style Bike Shop, Honda, Away to Explore, The Motorcycle Centre, Vans Service Station, Mcqueen Photography, Lio Oils, Dalton Brokers, Country Meats & Mafuthu Oils.

Startline for the vouchers worth R30 000 which were distributed to the first 120 competitors (R250 each)

Husqvarna (Shaun Jones) for the donation of a 128r Brushcutter which was raffled and won by 13 year old Etienne Jacob.

Robbie from Durban who drove up from Durban, bought a bacon and egg roll. Donated R1 500 to the Rencken Centre, and drove back to Durban!

The Media & Press for their generous and wide publicity of this event – THANK YOU SO MUCH!

The Extreme-Fun-Draisers Team for all their dedication and hard work, and in particular the superb, well thought out and safe course which was enjoyed by everyone! The 174 Riders, their friends and families who attended!

R23 180 was raised for the Rencken Centre, a residence which cares for adults with special needs, in Wartburg, Kzn Midlands)!

ASHBURTON FUN RIDE RAISES FUNDS FOR THE RENCKEN CENTRE, WARTBURG

The KwaZulu-Nata Flyfishing Association (KZNFFA) recently held a fly fishing workshop

for some of the keen young ladies of the Tendele Kamberg Village. And bringing some female flair to a generally male dominated pastime , this time it was hosted by two Ladies of the KZNFFA in the likes of Cheryl Heyns, SA’s number 1 ranked lady angler and Linda Gorlei, manager to the Ladies Fly Fishing team that participated at The Commonwealth Championships in Tasmania earlier this year.

But this was not about competition and accolades, but more so fishing damsels in the making whilst enlightening the young ladies of this striking rural area to the essence of this beautiful pastime.

Not only did the workshop cover the basics of casting skills, equipment set up and preparation but also an understanding of what fly fishing is all about, a bit of conservation of the natural surrounds and the safety issues one needs to adhere to when out there. With a colourful box full of hooks scantilly dressed in fur, feathers and beads thrown in the mix, these young ladies were fascinated with the challenge that lay ahead in the peaceful surrounds of the Kamberg Reserve.

And rising to the challenge they most certainly did with their casting improving as the afternoon progressed. Not even the windy conditions or lack of rising or feeding fish did much to deter the group who fished on into the sunset and vowed to be back as soon as is possible for the KZNFFA to offer another day in pursuit of these finned friends.

fur, featHers & Colourful beads... an attraCtion for any lady fly fisHer

Linda Gorlei & Cheryl Heyns with Nokukhanya, Noluthando & Pamella

Contact Linda Gorlei. linda@xis.co.za 083 631 5301 www.kznffa.org

A series of fly tying workshops are also planned for members of this project in Tendele as well as further workshops for Ladies at any level of fly fishing. If anyone is interested in assisting please Contact Linda on the details below.

The KZNFFA will also be hosting a stillwater event held on the weekend of the 21/22 July in the Kamberg which is open to fly fishers keen to take up the challenge as part of the Provincial structure.

SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF FRIENDS OF UKZN AGRICULTURE

After months of meticulous planning and network-ing, Friends of UKZN Agriculture – the Univer-

sity’s very own Agricultural Alumni Society – was launched on 25 May.

Earlier in the year, the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences was approached by enthusiastic alumni and individuals from various agribusinesses with the aim of improving their net-works and relationships with their alma mater.

Led by Managing Director of LIMA, Mr Duncan Stewart and a dedicated committee of volunteers, these supporters formed the society.

Stewart said the main objective of the society was to form closer working relationships between UKZN agriculture and agribusiness stakeholders. ‘We need to close the gap. The University has con-tributed massively to the economy and to the sector and feeds us quality graduates. The brain trust of agriculture in this country is alumni and it’s time to plough back in and to give back.’

The idea of a more active alumni group and a closer working relationship between agribusinesses and the University was received with a great deal of excitement by Dean and Head of School, Profes-sor Albert Modi, who felt that there was considerable scope for collaboration and research between the University and the agricultural sector.

Modi was passionate in his belief that the Univer-sity had a primary role to play in agricultural skills provision for the continent and that agricultural training and research were critical components for food security and poverty alleviation in Africa.

‘UKZN remains one of only three South African universities in the world top 500 rankings and is the only one of the three which offers a degree in agriculture,’ said Modi.

Friends of UKZN Agriculture was formally launched on 25 May - the opening day of the Royal Agricul-tural Show in Pietermaritzburg – and the province’s agribusiness community came out in force with about 150 alumni gathering to show their support.

As Founder and Chairperson of the Society, Stewart said the body aimed to ‘explore and build bi-lateral relationships and networks within the agricultural sector’. Its immediate goals were to organise social events, publish newsletters and magazines, raise funds and create viable and mutually beneficial business relationships and networks.

Just after the 483rd windpomp south of Colesberg, that’s about 130 kilometres and nearly a thousand

from Howick, a huge Caltex sign tells you that Richmond NC is just over there to the left. In the last week of April this year, this little Karoo dorp wipes the sleep from its eyes and girds up its loins for another two day Book Festival- The JM.Coetzee Book Festival. What has this got to do with Howick KZN? Readers may recall that last October two Midlands artists, Louise Ghersie and Mike Norris were invited by Darryl David, founder of the Midlands Literary Festival, to kick start the idea of creating a “Mural Town” – an ongoing series of wall paintings depicting the life of the Groot Karoo and its inhabitants. Its object, together Richmond’s book festivals is to attract attention to this tiny town and keep it from dying. As each year passes, society finds itself running at a faster and faster pace and the values we knew of the past are being smothered in the compulsion for us to get from A to B in as short a time as possible- like Johannesburg to Cape Town – and so we forget about the little guys on the side of the highways. And they die. If they are allowed to.

In April, Howick’s Mike Norris travelled with his wife Maryanne to spend a full week there painting two murals. Louise will join up next time hopefully. The two pictures were to be on opposite walls of the Information Office and were to depict the traditional Karoo “karretjie mense” who travel this vast region in their donkey carts and survive by contract sheep shearing. This painting, measuring 3.5 metres x 2.4m took two days to complete, before Mike tackled a rural Karoo scene of a windpomp – and miles and miles of Bloody Africa. 5 metres x 3.5

metres. In his words:“Wow! It’s minus 4 degrees – the coldest spot

they’ve had this year – and I’m looking at a blank wall wondering why I’m here and what am I going to do with this slab of cement!...”

Behind all of this is a person called Engela Duvenage who is a freelance journalist and head of the Media Liaison section of the Science faculty at Stellenbosch University. Engela saw the idea of a mural town in Canada – in somewhere called Chemainus – and brought the vision back to South Africa, seeing the opportunity to create a development and upliftment programme through mural art. In a talk that Engela gave, she recounted the story of how Chemainus rejuvenated itself after the collapse of its economy, when the local sawmill closed. In a conversation with Mike Norris she said “You know, you could have something of the New York Broken Window scenario here!” A google consult later and we learned about two sociologists in NY in 1982, who maintained that if you allow a building to fall into disrepair, destruction and vandalism will continue. If you fix the problem when it’s a little one, people will not feel inclined to be quite as destructive. Apply this to crime levels, and other scenarios – and you have a whole new ball game! Interesting thought and just maybe Richmond, and other vulnerable spots could pull through. It’ll be a lot of fun trying, won’t it?”

And so another page was written – or painted. For further information contact:

Mike Norris: 082 081 9249/ Norris.mikeh@gmail.com ; Darryl David: 081 391 8689 / cowboys@sai.co.za; Nikki Tilley: 082 441 5795/ nikki@themediamogul.co.za

MURAL TOWN REVISITED

Esteemed Howick artist invited to paint murals in Picture Town – Richmond, Karoo