EDITION 110 OCTOBER 2011What to do with your wheels........

in this months edition......1. TheOrcamadebyBruno

2. Thekilnhasagallery

3. Willyoumarchforamovingplanet?

4. Meditationinformation

5 TheSnctuaryatAmberglen

6. Lookatourbeautifulbridesandgrooms...

7. Whotookthesilver?

8. Gardeningadvice...

9. Herbsforhealth

10. Whymenshouldntwriteadvicecolumns...

11. Wheelswheelsandmorewheels..

12. Olwazini-Educatingourchildrenthehappyway!

13. AHistoryofMuseum...

14. trevertonsnewhead...

15 agricultureandfoodheroes...

16 WorldsViewConservancy...

17 waterisapreciousresource

18 schoolschoolschool

All the men I know LOVE cars, but its the first time I have met one who designed and made his own car. Also, there are cars, and there are CARS this one, a stylish fire-engine red roadster I consider worth obsessing about! Retired Howick resi-dent Bruno van der Riet, a mechanical engineer by

profession, designed and made his Orca roadster and in 2000 received an SABS Design Institute Prototype Award for an example of Design Excellence. Its like no other car this editor has ever ridden in, let alone ever considered driving!

The test drive almost didnt take place as there was no way on earth I was going to venture out in fog and rain to do a drive in a machine that looks so smooth, and so close to the ground. Luckily the morning of the test run dawned magnificently sunny! I had already ruled out the freeway, as the thought of sidling up to an articulated truck, which I could possibly zip underneath to speed things up, made me anxious. Midmar and its quiet, traffic-free roads was calling! Car designer Bruno Van der Riet had other roads in mind though and pulled confidently out of the Fernhill Hotel gravel driveway turning right onto the R103, away from Midmar, throwing a question to the wind have you ever driven a sports car before? My No, never went un-heeded, and that was the start of the coolest cruise of the R103 I have ever done.

The winding Midlands R103 and I have a rewarding relationship. I have explored it thoroughly for the past 8 years, in the name of work this month that relation-ship just went up a gear! Closer to the tar, the wind in my hair, the sun on my face, the Everything Store, the Truth Caf, the Dargle Road with Inhlosane calling became a

CREATED BY BRUNO

Vital Specifications:Engine Four cylinder in-line, SOHC, 1 998ccPower/torque: 95kW @ 5 600 r/min/180 Nm @ 2 600 r/minGearbox: Five-speed manualBrakes: Ventilated discs, adjustable biasSteering: Rack and pinionTurning circle: 9,6mWheels: 7Jx15 TSW alloysTyres (t/r): 195/50 ZR17/225/50 ZR17 Bridgestone RE71Suspension (f): Independent.Unequal links, trailing arms, coil springs, dampers.Fuel tank: 45 litres

THE APPEAL OF THE WHEEL

profession, designed and made his Orca roadster and in 2000 received an SABS Design Institute Prototype Award for an example of Design Excellence. Its like no other car this editor has ever ridden in, let alone ever considered driving!

The test drive almost didnt take place as there was no way on earth I was going to venture out in fog and rain to do a drive in a machine that looks so smooth, and so close to the ground. Luckily the morning of the test run dawned magnificently sunny! I had already ruled out the freeway, as the thought of sidling up to an articulated truck, which I could possibly zip underneath to speed things up, made me anxious. Midmar and its quiet, traffic-free roads was calling! Car designer Bruno Van der Riet had other roads in mind though and pulled confidently out of the Fernhill Hotel gravel driveway turning right onto the R103, away from Midmar, throwing a question to the wind have you ever driven a sports car before? My No, never went un-heeded, and that was the start of the coolest cruise of the R103 I have ever done.

The winding Midlands R103 and I have a rewarding relationship. I have explored it thoroughly for the past 8 years, in the name of work this month that relation-ship just went up a gear! Closer to the tar, the wind in my hair, the sun on my face, the Everything Store, the Truth Caf, the Dargle Road with Inhlosane calling became a

whole new journey the magic of the Orca infused my familiar view of the Midlands in a new light!

Resisting the urge to wave at everyone I passed (the steering is incredibly sensitive), I took in the good looks of the flawless fiberglass body, Spartan cockpit with its two well-shaped bucket seats, small Momo steering wheel, round analogue gauges functionally grouped on colour-coded dashboard. Fearing that the test drive would remain simply a poetic descriptive of the exhilarating drive, van der Riet filled me in on the technical specs necessary to give my test run the credibility that our readers will be looking for.

Top Car magazine test drove Van der Riets one-of-a-kind sports car shortly before it was launched in 2000, and journalist Deon Schoeman expressed the merits of the Orca drive in the manner the roadster deserves (not quite the way this journalist would have who was sim-ply having too much fun enjoying the zippy cruise of very familiar territory.)

Initially, slower vehicles hamper our progress, but then the traffic thins and I floor the throttle. The engine note becomes throaty and theres a sense of it squatting lower on its haunches as the engine comes on song (thats exactly what I wanted to say as I passed Il Postino!). Acceleration is brisk (The Truth Caf was a blur!), although the cars competence underplays the sensation. Sitting low behind the steeply raked windscreen, protection from buffeting is surprisingly good.

Most important however is the way the Orca talks to you (before youve even driven it actu-ally!). That quintessential seat-of-the-pants driv- ing feeling is very much prevalent here, and it doesnt take long before car and driver becomes one, challenging each corner with increasing zest.

Van der Riet is proud of his achievements with his designer car and has built a second one. He had no plans to build the car commercially but his son in law, Gary Keyser, is equally pas-sionate about all things mobile (he has built an aeroplane) and will start very soon on the con-struction of another road-ster. Keyser has a more commercial long term vision of this project and who knows perhaps these beautiful roadsters could become a familiar sight on the R103.

THE APPEAL OF THE WHEEL

It can take just one good idea over a couple of beers and a handful of spirited friends to turn what sounded like a good idea into a meaningful reality. Seven years ago, spearheaded by cycling enthusiast Rob Jackson, a group of active Bry-anston dads decided they wanted to get fit and they wanted to make a difference. The idea of a Dads Charity Cycle Challenge was borne and on 12 October, 40 dads will start their long and spirited five day ride to Durban to raise funds for four worthy charities. The four main ben-eficiaries for the riders this year include, The Sunflower Fund, Fulton School for the Deaf, the Gauteng Down Syndrome Association (DSA), and The CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Monies raised will be divided predominantly between the four charities. A portion of the funds will also once again be channelled to The Dads Charity Challenge Bursary, for a needy boy or girl to assist with furthering their education. This year, thanks to Makro, the Dads will be putting 3 children through primary school until the end of their Grade 7 year.

The Dads have also adopted Maloneys Eye Rural Primary School in Magaliesburg as a benefi-ciary for 2011. As one of the key sponsors, Pick n Pay has generously agreed to feed the learn-ers as in many instances, this only meal of the day that the learners receive. Over and above that, plans are underway to build a kitchen, playing field and vegetable gardens for the school.

Jackson says he is overwhelmed by the support the ride enjoys. In 2005 we managed to raise R25 000 and were thrilled with our result. This year we are trying hard to raise enough money to bring the cumulative total up to a staggering R2.5 million.

The Dads Charity Cycle Challenge will take place over 5 days. The team will cover 145km down to Standerton on the first day, followed by a further 134km to Newcastle on day two. The third day will comprise of a lengthy 165km cycle down to Estcourt and day four will see the team arrive in Pietermaritzburg after 118km.

The final leg will mark the culmination of the cycle challenge when the team will compete in the 106km Amashovashova from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on 16 October 2011. The Amasho-vashova is the oldest classic cycle race in the country, which follows the same route as the world famous Comrades Marathon.

Jackson says the 40-strong team includes dads, moms and friends along with a support team including 3 professional riders and 5 support vehicles, three supplied by Honda, and two sup-plied by Pick n Pay Home shopping.

None of our core team are professional cyclists and all the participants will once again be paying their own expenses down to Durban, says Jackson. Anyone wanting to lend their sup-port to the riders can either contribute a specific sum or sponsor a rider per km cycled (668km in total). Anyone interested in providing some form of sponsorship should please contact Rob Jackson directly on 082 550 1628 or e-mail him on rob@leveragecorporation.co.za

The Fulton School for the Deaf is one of the very few schools catering for children with hearing disabilities in the Province of Kwa Zulu-Natal. Due to the lack of funding and government curtail-ment, the school finds itself having to lean heavily on outside assistance.

The CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation is a country wide voluntary organisation bringing together the parents of children who suffer from all varieties of cancer or life threatening blood disorders.

DADS AIM TO BREAK R2.5 MILLION THRESHHOLD FOR CHARITY

AMASHOVA - what it takes to make a cycle race! Sunday, October 16 will mark an unforgettable 25th anniversary for the Amashova, South Africas oldest and safest national cy-cling event. According to An-nie Batchelder, from organisers Right On the Night, theyre aiming for record entries on the big day. With a steady in-crease in entries over the past quarter of a century, the Amashova has become a mega sporting event recog-nised by Tourism KZN. It enjoys the same status as other iconic events along the same route including the Com-rades Marathon and boasts first class standards. According to Batchelder, the R295 entrance fee hardly covers the costs of staging an event of this nature.

The formidable logistics include providing 150 hay bales sealed in durable bright yel-low plastic bags for identifying hazards on the route, hundreds of traffic management cones, fencing and delineators, signage, generators at all temporary race venues, a recycling service, litter management and even a disaster man-agement centre! She emphasised that safety and security are top priorities. This requires 5 000 metres of safety and security fencing for the route. Five route managers patrol throughout the event ensuring that no stone is left unturned. This is in addition to support from the South African Police Services, the provincial road traffic in-spectorate and Durban and Umsunduzi Metro Police Services. Then, there are those all important medical teams backed by life support equipment and ambulances at key points as well as at the fin-ish line. However, for most riders, the sports massage and physiotherapy service en route will probably be top of mind! Along the way, cyclists can expect six wa-ter points with a supply of bananas, sports hydration drinks, water, ice, bar ones and

AMASHOVA 25 YEARS ON!

peanut butter sandwiches, rubbish bins and toilets manned by between 10 and 15 help-ers. Theres also a lead and sweep convoy, 450 marshals and 60 motor bike marshals, 7 ser-vice vehicles, Hamnet personnel positioned at all water points to cover areas that do not have cell phone service, seven cut off buses, eight sweep vehicles to collect cyclists and trucks for their bikes. When the race ends, there are race giveaways, over R100 000 in prize money, a silver medal for the first 100 finishers, a Moses Mabhida commemorative medal for all cyclists and a unit providing cold sports hydration drinks, ice and water.

For further information or to enter the 106km and 38km races on the 16th October, log on to www.shova.co.za

or call the Shova organisers during office hours on 031 312 8896.

From locals to tourists, artists and personalities all will take to the road on

Sunday, October 16 for one of the biggest cycling events on the KZN calendar, the annual Amashova Durban Cycle Classic. Getting last minute tips from the website for training programmes, final registration, route maps and the charities that cyclists can support were: Beezory (Kwaito Artist), DJ Snazzy, Mawande Bantwini (TKZN), Zakes Bantwini (SA Artist, Sama Nominee, Channel O Video award nominee), Lihle Dlamini (Manager PR and Communications -TKZN), Ndumiso (Artist), Zandile Tembe (Vuka Msanzi Breakfast show producer on Ukhozi FM), Lindani (Artist).

My name is Brad Roets and I am a teacher at Clifton in Nottingham Road. Through the recent loss of a very good friend of mine, Craig Bainbridge, to cancer, I have come to the stark realisation that there is far more to life than just living it and that some people find even this part of life difficult due to illness. Hence my annual charity drive for CHOC (Childrens Haematology and Oncology Clinics). Craig, throughout his battle with cancer was still able to find the strength to give back and, amidst chemo and radiotherapy, cycled for the CHOC Cows to raise funds for research on childrens cancer.

This year, I swam for the 8Mile club at the Midmar Mile, completing 8 crossings of the dam in the allotted two days. Next year, I am going one better! The challenge will start at Craigs house in Johannesburg and will entail a four day cycle over 600km to Midmar Dam where I will swim for the 8Mile club once again. This is the CHOC Monster Biathlon. And I am looking for your support.

You can follow the miles of training on my Facebook page Brad Roets, or search for CHOC Monster Biathlon. My ultimate goal is to raise at least R100 000 to donate directly to CHOCand you can help by donating on my GIVEnGAIN www.givengain.com/activist/63252/projects/1695/ or simply add a few words of encouragement.

Veteran road cycling icon Andrew McLean has committed to the Msunduzi Road Challenge in Pietermaritzburg on 29 and 30 October this year, saying its significance on an internal scale is a career highlight.

It is absolutely awesome, said McLean of the event, which is the only African leg of the UCI World Cycling Tour. I have spent a large part of my life flying around the world with bikes to get to events of this calibre and to now have it on our very own door step is something I was convinced I would never get to experience.

It is not only important to me and many other top racing Vets in South Africa but it is world class events like this that stimulate the cycling industry, he added.

McLean is a respected rider with Giro del Capo and Vets World Road Race titles to go with numerous

ROAD CYCLING ICON ANDREW MCLEAN COMMITS TO UMSUNDUZI ROAD CHALLENGE

national time trial, road and mountain bike titles. He feels that the brand new Msunduzi event will have major significance for the thousands of amateur road cyclists in the country, and the veterans in par-ticular.

Vets form by far the largest numbers in SA road cycling and this is also where the disposable income sits, says McLean. I would imagine even all our top pros would love to be part of this weekend cycling festival. This will and should be the crown jewel in Vets SA racing. Maybe this event could double as our Vets SA champs. McLean also backed the recent decision to shorten the long race route from over 180km to 126km. I think the new proposed shorter 126km route will be ideal and attract a lot more vets than the initial longer 180km race. he said.

He added that the UCI event, hot on the heels of the Mountainbike World Cup and BMX World Champs was helping to entrench Pietermaritzburgs status as a major international cycling hub. The popular pre-senter of SuperSports SuperCycling magazine programme has also thrown his weight behind the event by committing his company Cycle Lab to the race as the neutral service provider.

Cycle Lab is extremely proud to be the technical partner to this event and we look forward to add-ing value to the event as well as participants where ever possible. We will supply the neutral service as well as full technical half way service centre manned by cycle Lab Pietermaritzburg, he said. As for his plans for the race, Mclean vowed to be on the startline and to race as hard as his recovery from injury allowed. The Msunduzi Road Challenge takes place in and around Pietermaritzburg on 30 October 2011, preced-ed by a time trial on Saturday 29 October. More information can be found at www.msunduziroadchal-lenge.co.za

Well done, is better than Well said. benjamin Franklin

For the first time Capitol Caterers, based in Piet-ermaritzburg, entered a team into the Unilever Food Solutions Chef of the Year competition. The team of four consisting of Paula Heu-ff (Catering Manager - The Wykham Collegiate), Jen Long (Catering Manager - Clifton, Nottingham Rd), Lin-da Boucher (Area Manager, Pietermaritzburg) and Merrill King (Group Executive Chef) made it through to the final Mystery Basket cook-off on Friday 16th September, and were judged 1st runner up in the Team event. Getting into the finals was the first hurdle and some months back the team came up with

THE AWARD WINNING MENU:Starter: Chicken and prawn filled Baby

Squid, with a Pronto reduction and Tempura tentacles.

Main: Smokey BBQ Pork Fillet on a Masala Nutty Pea and Sweet Potato base,

served with a Red Onion and Green Apple Salsa, mange toute and fried beetroot julienne.

Dessert: Orange Cream filled Snow Eggs with Seed brittle and a shot of Rum Chocolate Mousse in a Pastry Stack

CAPITOL CATERERS TEAM TAKES SILVER AT PRESTIGIOUS CHEF OF THE YEAR COMPETITION

three dishes (starter, main and dessert) which were photographed and together with the recipes, were sent through to Unilever for judging. Of all the entries, six teams from around the country made it into the final cook-off.

The team was presented with a mystery basket of compulsory items, consisting of 1 chicken, 2 pork fillets, 6 calamari tubes and their tentacles, 12 tiger prawns and compulsory Unilever Products of Chocolate Mousse, Veggie Seasoning, Pronto tomato pulp, Smokey BBQ Sauce, Demi Glaze. A communal table offered a range of items such as flour and eggs, nuts and pulses and various vegetables and fruits.

Left to Right: Linda Boucher, Paula Heuff, Mer-rill King and Jen Long, clearly delighted with their silver award. Photo: supplied

The winning chefs (official pose!) Photo: supplied

The brainchild of local photographers Doug Morton and Fran Simmons, The Kiln Gallery at the Karkloof Farmers Market opened its door in August 2011.

This exciting new venture focuses on show-casing the talents of local Midlands artists and photographers. There are currently six perma-nent exhibitors at The Kiln, Doug Morton, Fran Simmons, Peter Wickham, Anita Beart, Denise Beuke and Simon Joubert.

Each month one or two visiting artists, sculp-tors or photographers are invited to exhibit. Presently, local artist, Andre de la Rosa is in the gallery and renowned bronze sculptor Alan

THE KILN GALLERY SHOWCASING LOCAL TALENT

Hallett will be exhibiting soon. In the months to come, photographers Steve Woodhall and Steve Baileys work will be on show.

This unique and refreshing collection of talent ensures a diverse and inspiring variety of art from which to choose.

The Kiln is open every Saturday morning from 7 till 11 and on request. Exciting negotiations are also afoot to open a second gallery in Howick that will be open seven days a week.

Photography and PhotoShop courses will be offered in the near future from The Kiln and pri-vate studios in Howick and Pietermaritzburg.

For further information on The Kiln and its activities please search for our page on FaceBook (The Kiln Gallery). Like us and you will be kept up to speed regarding all activities, functions and invited artists, or contact Fran Simmons at 033 3306036 or 083 9438430.

agriculture matters 083 307 1212 e mail: barnsleyrk@worldonline.co.za

Robin Barnsley is the Vice-President of KwaZulu Natal Agricultural Union Kwanalu, and farms in the Dargle area of the KwaZulu Natal Midlands.

With these words Dr John Purchase of the Agricultural Business Chamber concluded an excellent and wide ranging presentation to the annual congress of Kwanalu which took place three weeks ago here in Pietermaritzburg.

The three hundred or so delegates from across the province representing all agricultural commodities and the farmers associations which affiliate to our union heard a strong message of hope and opportunity for the agricultural sector.

First of all, let us recognise what we, as a sector, have achieved over the last century entering the 20th century the agricultural sector fed a population of approximately 4 million people. Right now we feed a population of some 50 million people not too shabby a performance I think most would agree!

While much has been written over recent years as to the fact that we as a nation had become a net importer of food, this really related to a single commodity, wheat, while overall we remain a net exporter of food. This has been achieved in a semi-arid region while the removal of trade protective measures have rendered us one of the least protected and most open agricultural economies in the world.

A consequence of this is a dramatic decline in the number of commercial farmers from over 58 000 in 1993 to levels of some 39 000 at present. At the same time economic measures indicate that the financial structure of the sector has continually improved, as those farmers surviving are proving technically adept and growing rapidly as they leverage off economies of scale and the benefits these provide. Interestingly Gross farming income has increased from R20 billion in 1993 to current levels of over R80 billion per annum.

What then are the opportunities open to us?Amongst others we are blessed with world class infrastructure

(notwithstanding some challenges that are emerging) while we enjoy counter seasonality to Europe, our major trading partner in agricultural produce. In addition we have the benefit of a high degree of bio diversity, a number of trade agreements opening doors for opportunities abroad while our input cost structures and access to leading edge technology also offer opportunities for continued growth.

The list of challenges faced is lengthy and includes the following: The scarcity of water; The potential for interference by Government in the operations of markets; The cost and availability of energy; Competition from the likes of the mining and tourism sectors for productive agricultural land; Climate change and Bio security threats such as Avian Influenza, Foot and Mouth disease and the like.

Nonetheless opportunities exist for us to secure our future and the integrity of our status as a being food self-sufficient if we recognise the benefits that could accrue from the effective empowerment of small scale farmers and the successful implementation of land reform initiatives many of which, regrettably, are failing dismally.

On balance, it seems to me that we have great opportunities before us if we are able to establish unity of view and approach amongst the various groupings that represent the sector which would then allow us to collectively challenge Government towards the establishment and maintenance of a stable and enabling policy environment.

Yours in AgricultureRobin

Man, despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication and many accomplishments, owes the fact of his existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains. (Anonymous)

Many readers may have seen the Public Notice and related article in the Natal Witness on Monday 12th September notifying people in the Msunduzi Municipal area that The current average daily water demand in the Municipal area is exceeding the current available sustainable supply. I can already hear lots of muttering and groaning. The writing has been

on the wall for a long time.

There is no magic water factory in nature the water on the earth is the same water that has been here since the dawn of time. It comes to earth as rain, snow, sleet, hail & mist. It runs into our rivers, fills our dams and underground aquifers, and flows out to the oceans. The sun evaporates this water back to the sky, from where it falls again to earth. This is the water that you use to drink & bathe in, its the water that fills our taps, that you buy in bottles, that irrigates crops & flushes your toilet. Its not called the water cycle for nothing - there is only so much water in the system at any given time, forever going up to the sky & coming down to earth.

Of all the water on the surface of the earth, only 3% is fresh water, and of that less than 1% is available for us to use! In the 20th Century, the worlds human population trebled, whilst our water consumption increased 6 times.

South Africa is and always has been a semi arid country. Our water has been in short supply for many years, and the authorities responsible for ensuring water supply to the vastly growing & developing populations have been doing a juggling act for many years. The Umgeni River is has its birth place in the Natal Midlands, in the Fort Nottingham area, and it flows past Howick & Pietermaritzburg out to sea at Durbans Blue Lagoon. The Mooi River also starts in the midlands, but flows into the Bushmans River & later the Tugela River, which flows out to sea far north of Durban.

The Umgeni River and the rivers and streams that feed it supply Howick, Pietermaritzburg, Durban and other communities with water. Water is supplied to these towns by piping it from the big dams on the uMngeni River to treatment plants where the water is purified. That is what comes out of our taps. We drink it, water our gardens with it & flush it down our toilets. We are one of the privileged countries in the world where we can still open a tap and find drinkable water. But after all the effort and expense to purify that water, a lot of it is flushed down the toilet crazy!

As population density in the area supplied by the uMngeni River increased, water shortages were looming, so Mearns Weir was constructed on the Mooi River water is diverted from the Weir by pumping and gravity feed, into the Umgeni River system. Now once again, shortages are looming, there is no longer enough water in this river system for everyone. So now the Springfield Dam is being constructed upstream of the Mearns Weir, in order to increase the amount of water caught, and transferred into the Umgeni System. As this dams completion is years away, there will be shortages until it is completed. Hence the municipalities notice in the Witness.

The glaring question is what happens when even the Mooi River system no longer has sufficient water? What next? More dams on other river systems? More water transfer schemes? It is akin to robbing Peter to pay Paul. How long is this system sustainable? All we are doing is re shuffling the same water from one place to another.

We can each do something to help. Plant indigenous gardens of plant species that do not need lots of water. Wash your vehicles with a bucket instead of a hose. Sweep the courtyard instead of hose it. Install rain water tanks. Shower instead of bath. I am sure you have heard it all before perhaps now you will understand why. And remember, although many of us have had unbelievable, luxurious water supply, in Africa, the average available water per person is just 7 litres what you use each time you flush your toilet!

There is no magic waTer facTory in naTure

Pam and Ross Haynes, Jennifer Willan and Gill Addison stock up at the Dargle Local Market. Pic: Nikki Brighton

literary lineslocal Food heroes

Dargle Local LivingLeeks, lettuce, lemon juice, lamb, loaves of bread and lovingly made mozzarella. The Dargle Valley is home to many small producers of good food. Most homesteads have a vegetable garden to supply their kitchens and often share the surplus with neighbours. Dargle Local Living is an initiative aimed at building a better future for our community, starting by listing as much of the food which is locally produced in a small, sustainable way as possible.

At the market held beside il Postino Resturant, you will find handmade cheese, mixed greens, pickles, jams, quiches, gooseberries, tomato plants, compost, farm yard eggs (duck, quail and chicken), pumpkins, homemade muesli and natural yoghurt too! This astonishing array of delectable Dargle fare is shared with neighbours and visitors on the first Sunday morning of each month. The Dargle Dealer, which is open daily, stocks lots of delicious local food including chickens, ducks, dairy produce, trout, vegetables and cakes.

Recognising that food is actually a conservation issue, (biodiversity loss in areas affected by drought,

crop failure, poverty and other adverse conditions, is enormous), the Dargle Conservancy has for the past couple of years screened a series of inspiring and informative films dealing with Climate Change, Peak Oil, Sustainability and Transition. Many local people have accepted that it is necessary to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and the industrial food chain, and have responded by making real lifestyle changes with some now committed to living as locally as possible. Nikki Brighton, initiator of the project says: I believe everyone has the right to good, wholesome food, produced without harm. We need to think seriously about building resilience in our entire community if we are to mitigate some of the scary effects of Climate Change. Dargle Local Living is not just for foodies.

Make sure not to miss the next Dargle Local Market on 6 November. Rosemary Downard commented after the last one It was so nice buying lovely fresh home-grown and home-made goodies produced right here in the Dargle and we had an absolute feast when we got home! Call Debbie on 082 8314092 for details. Visit: www.darglelocalliving.wordpress.com to see pictures and find out more.

inspector indigenous reporting

Stophanthus SpeciosusCommon Name- Forest Poison Rope; Afrikaans-giftou; Zulu-amasebele, in-dodabindenye, isihlungu; Xhosa- umkhukhumeza; Sotho-umhlazazana

This creeper found in our forests is reputed to have poisonous leaves and seeds. Traditionally, arrow poison is made from the seeds and the powdered roots are used to treat snakebite (in humans and cattle) and sometimes taken as snuff. The interesting creamy-yellow flowers, with darker orange at the base, are funnel shaped with long twisted lobes. They have a sweet scent. Hairy seeds are dispersed by wind once the fruit splits. Narrow elliptic leaves are bright green and shiny, with a prominent midrib. Climbing stems are corky and Stophanthus make attractive specimens to cover a pergola and grow very quickly. Scramblers provide good nesting sites for birds as they are usually well tethered to surrounding trees.

Take advantage of the regular Forest Walks in our area: Lemonwood in Dargle on 22 Oct, Fort Nottingham on 20 Oct, Kilgobbin in Dargle on 3 Nov. For details, contact admin@midlandsconservancies.org.za

PHOTO: Barry Downard

literary lines

Lesley Thomson, Lazy Lizard Books Tel/Fax 033 330 4308, books@africatalks.co.za

QUILTING : an art form using material, precision stitching either by hand or machine, patience and vision. This description did not come from a dictionary; it is my own having seen some of the exquisite work created by local Midlands ladies.

THE HANDBOOK OF QUILTING, a Milner Craft Series, includes how to do hand-stitch and machine-stitch quilting. Showing a variety of simple and intricate patterns, explaining what type of material to use, how to make a template and the tools needed to do so, how to cut your fabric, line and pad and then create a beautiful masterpiece, this book takes you step-by-step to creating your own wonderful quilt.

With clear colour photographs illustrating how to do everything, numerous diagrams and full-size appliqu patterns, this lovely book also has a section on special techniques and is full of creative ideas. I was totally bowled over by Eileen Campbells Mini Barrier Reef Sampler truly a masterpiece that could become a family heirloom, and all the details of how to do it are there!

Following on from last months review of THE COMMUNISTISATION OF THE ANC by Gerald Ludi is Peter Stiffs SEE YOU IN NOVEMBER the story of Alan Taffy Brice, an SAS Assassin. There appears to be a number of books out at the moment that reveals what actually went on behind the scenes, and this is one of them. First published in 1985, Peter Stiff who is widely acknowledged as one of the leading South African authors on books of this genre, can now, due to the death of Alan Brice, reveal more names and information on activities that Brice and his colleague, Hugh Chuck Hind, undertook during the Rhodesian/Zimbabwe conflict. With some harrowing black and white photographs, particularly of the Viscount Hunyani

that the ZIPRA forces shot down over Rhodesia, this book may bring back memories, but it also answers a lot of questions and portrays the bravery of men who believed strongly in their cause.

A book that should be on every farmers shelf is Barry Smiths highly respected THE FARMING HANDBOOK. Published by University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, this is a unique and comprehensive guide on a wide range of agricultural subjects and enterprises. Barry Smiths expertise covers a life-time in agriculture. He now resides in Howick and is an agricultural consultant, an external examiner for the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a moderator at Cedara College. The results of his many years of experience and study are contained in this one volume, an important tool for students, new and experienced farmers and agricultural advisors. Happy reading, Lesley Thomson

getting to knoW the neighbours

Stripe-Bellied Sand Snake

Getting to know the neighbours.Working toward a stress-free co-existence with snakes.

Deafening silence followed last months article, in which I was offering readers the chance to achieve fame and fortune by identifying some new evolutionary tendencies amongst the limbless fraternity. Pity. Maybe I should have offered a free snake skin to the winner? Maybe I was expecting too much in terms of a meaningful response like Desmond and the Dalai Lama.

This month well talk a bit about the unsung heroes, the striped ones who shoot through the grass at the speed of light, often unnoticed. For the Twitchers amongst you, theyre the LBJs of the snake world; theyre the grass snakes, whip snakes and sand snakes. These venomous, rear-fanged snakes are widely distributed across the country, and aside from the bigger Olive grass snakes, theyre unlikely to cause you any problems if they happen to bite you. Just remember rule number one; in order to get bitten, you have to grab it or stand on it. They mainly eat skinks and lizards, but theyll not pass up an offer of a meal of small rodent, nestling or visiting cousin. Their feeding methods might be described as soek en moer, quite unlike the planned and dignified ambush which most other snakes employ, and their venom seems principally designed to enhance digestion rather than immobilize prey. When hunting often coursing through the undergrowth with head raised like a periscope - they will identify a prey animal, get as close as possible without being spotted, and then leap across the great divide between themselves and the main course, grabbing the

prey wherever they can, and then proceeding with the envenomation and swallowing ritual. They do not constrict their prey, so this becomes a bit of a bash it against the wall until it gives up type of contest. The modifications in the mobile lower jaw allow the snake, whilst subduing the prey, to gently rotate it to a head-first position for easier swallowing.

If they spot you first, the striped snakes will merely move away and hide, but if confronted in the open, they have a tendency to shoot off in another direction and hole up not far away from where you last saw them. They will even hide in the open, relying upon their camouflage to fool you. I have crawled up on all fours to within a few centimetres of a short-snouted grass snake, which was staring at me and remaining absolutely motionless in the firm belief that I wouldnt see him/her. As often happens when trying to catch a snake, snake catchers generally charge off into the undergrowth in full pursuit, heading in the direction of where they last saw it, but with these snakes, theyll become the laughing stock of the entire grass snake community as they crash into trees, rocks and dongas some distance away from the now hysterically laughing snake. Snakes have a sense of humour. pat mckrill. 2011 herpet@easycoast.co.za Cell: 0833036958 ; Fax: 0866128120.

your share oF the pie Cell: 079 624 4031 fam@mweb.co.zamegatrends to keep in mind as you ponder your portFolio

William Meyer, CEO of Fenestra Asset Management, lives in Nottingham Road, with his wife Claire and his 4 children. He commutes to his head office in Cape

Town. His company has outstripped the All-Share Index with a compound growth rate of 18.87% per year since 2004. Midlands investors will find him at his offices

at 1 Polo Field Centre, Gowrie Village, Nottingham Rd.

There are some megatrends sweeping the world and investors should factor them into their investment decisions.

The most evident and pervasive trend is the continuous and orchestrated debasement of the United States dollar. The effect of this is almost all-embracing, affecting the real value of US equities and other asset classes and investments world-wide. This trend has ravaged South African exports knocking company results and resulting in job losses.

The debasement of the dollar is probably the most important trend affecting investment strategy.

Adding to the complexity of the debasement of the US dollar is the fact that, relative to the dollar the rand has been one of the strongest currencies.

It is pleasing to note that government speak or rhetoric has drifted away from a pro-strong rand to a less sanguine stance.

Many politicians feel the rand is overvalued and will weaken to more competitive levels this year. They feel the rand is uncompetitive and it is harming the economy.

Fortunately the treasury will not try to intervene in the currency markets to weaken the rand. There are no policies in place to try to weaken the rand and non will be introduced. When the rand was R13 to the dollar there was no intervention. Similarly, there will not be any intervention at these levels.

Many countries, however, are trying to weaken their currencies e.g. Switzerland recently capped the strength of the Swiss Franc. America is about to introduce punitive sanctions

against China because they are of the view that the Renimbi is artificially low. It is a race to see who can have the weakest currency.

Another megatrend and effectively a counterbalance to dollar weakness, is the bull market in commodities. You should factor this into your asset allocation decisions.

The high oil price is also of particular interest because of its fundamental importance to the world economy and the investment opportunity that it presents.

The Chinese economy has been growing by 10% percent a year for the past 10 years and growing demand for oil to lubricate this mammoth economy is driving world oil markets but is the success of the Chinese economy assured? Investors need to build this uncertainty into their investment models.

Having surfed these mega waves from the US across the Pacific to Australia and into China, where does this leave the contemplative investor? Well, it is easy to find oneself washed up again on South African shores.

China is a giant and its demand for commodities is massive but some commentators have recently suggested that this growth is unsustainable. Still South Africa is in a fortunate position. We have some of the most respected mining companies in the world. Sasol is a international leader in its field, with cutting-edge technology, and Iscor is a highly respected steel producer. These companies have been fantastic investments at certain times.

Remember alongside the risk lies the opportunity.

keeping it legal

Tel: 033 355 1780 Email: maltby@wylie.co.zaLauren Maltby is a partner at Shepstone and Wylie firm of attorneys and is based in PMB. She specialises in all aspects of conveyancing.

alistair morck-chadWick

While many South African parents choose to put their children in single-sex schools and anecdotal evidence may suggest that the learners in these schools perform very well, there is, in fact, no well-designed research that demonstrates that these schools improve learners academic performance. On the other hand, there is evidence that sex segregation increases gender divisions among children and teachers and reinforces sexism.

Interestingly, findings have just been published in a recent issue of the journal Science in an article that examines The Pseudoscience of Single-Sex Schooling. This article points out that although many parents and educators support such single-sex school environments for improving the learning environment and learning outcomes for both boys and girls, research does not support this.

When single-sex and co-educational outcomes are compared the results of both are equal. Research in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand has found little overall difference between single-sex and co-ed academic outcomes.

Claims that boys and girls learn differently is also not supported by brain research and there are very few sex differences in childrens brains beyond the larger volume of boys brains and the earlier completion of girls brain growth, neither of which is known to relate to learning.

With regard to your question about whether it is useful or important for your daughter to be mixing with boys and building social skills that will be important throughout her life, the answer seems

to be that it is very useful. Not only is your daughter likely to learn a range of social competencies that may not be easily developed in a single-sex school but research also indicates that differences among the sexes can grow in sex-segregated environments, making positive interactions between boys and girls constrained. Positive and cooperative interaction with members of the other sex is, in fact, an effective method for improving relationships between the sexes. In contrast, there is evidence that sex segregation increases gender divisions among children. Separating boys and girls in school makes gender very significant, and this significance reinforces stereotypes and sexism, something that we definitely need to fight hard against in our country.

International research shows that children exposed to environments where individuals are labelled and segregated along some characteristic, such as gender or eye colour, for example, soon develop the belief that the groups differ in important ways and develop unhealthy (if not dangerous) biases in their individual groups.

Is it ever good to separate children on the basis of sex, race, or other characteristic? I believe that the answer is no. And research indicates there is no good evidence that it is ever a good time to separate and segregate. In fact, it would seem that any form of segregation undermines rather than promotes equality.

Dear Alistair,My daughter enters high school next year and my husband and I are wondering whether we should place her in a

single-sex school or not. We know that children appear to do better in schools where they are not distracted by the opposite sex but we are wondering if it is not better for her to be mixing with boys and building those social skills that will help her in later life.

When buying a property it is important that the purchaser properly inspect the property for any defects. This should be done prior to signing the sale agreement so that the parties can either agree that the seller will attend to the repairs or agree to a reduced purchase price. The reason for this inspection by the purchaser is that most sale agreements contain a voetstoots clause, which basically states that the seller does not take any responsibility for any patent (visible) or latent (invisible) defects on the property.

Because of the nature of this clause, the purchaser should properly inspect the property for issues such as leaking taps and wood rot and should check that the garage doors and the swimming pool pump are in working order.

In light of the Supreme Court of Appeal case, Odendaal v Ferraris [2008] JOL 22304 (SCA),

a further issue to be inspected by a prospective purchaser is whether the buildings they are purchasing have the necessary approval of the Local Authority.

The SCA held that the non-approval of building plans by the Local Authority is a latent defect because should alteration or demolition be required, the ordinary use of the property would be affected. As a latent defect, this is covered by the voetstoots clause and the purchaser will not have any recourse against the seller.

A voetstoots clause offers the seller a large amount of protection, however, it does not protect him against fraud. In order to prove fraud on the part of the seller, the purchaser needs to show that the seller had actual knowledge of the defect and that they deliberately concealed it from the purchaser.

A purchaser is advised to properly inspect the property for any defects and to insist that the seller provide a warranty in the sale agreement that the buildings have all the required statutory approval.

VOETSTOOTS CLAUSE MUNICIPAL BUILDING APPROVAL

the Wykeham collegiate

treverton appoints headmaster

The Wykeham Collegiate Grade 5s enjoyed becoming Ladies and Peasants for the day at Camelot Castle, where they en-joyed a feast at Greensleeves. Grade 5 Ladies and Peasants at Camelot Castle (pic supplied)

Wembley collegeMichelle Richardson from Wembley College, Greytown has been selected to repre-sent Kwazulu-Natal in the 100m and relay at the 2011 South African games. The games will be taking place in Polokwane between the 27th September and 8th October. Her commitment and dedica-tion during training is admi-rable and we wish Michelle everything of the best.

The Official School Page

The Wykeham Collegiate Junior School Choir entertained the elderly people of Villa Assumpta recently. The girls invited the ladies and gentlemen to participate in community singing, which they did with great enthusiasm and nostalgia. They even got up and danced to Lets Twist Again! The Zulu songs were really enjoyed and each person was presented with a gift by the girls. It was an uplifting and fun filled morning for all. PHOTOGRAPH: Some of the TWC Choir girls with the audience (supplied)

Mr David Cato has been appointed the new Head of Treverton Col-lege, with effect from 1 January 2012.

Mr Cato is at present Deputy Headmaster at Woodridge College an independent school at Thornhill in the Eastern Cape. He has twen-ty-six years experience in educa-tion, some twenty-one of which are in teaching, administration and senior management in the inde-pendent school sector.

He is no stranger to KwaZulu-Natal, he graduated with a B.Sc. in

Mathematics and Computer Science and a Higher Diploma in Education from the former University of Natal. He has taught at Hillcrest High School, Westville Boys High and Kearsney College. In 2003, he was appointed Head of Department for Mathematics at Woodridge College, and became a member of the Colleges Senior Management Committee, and was promoted to Deputy Headmaster in 2005.

He is a keen sportsman and coaches athletics, basket-ball, cricket and hockey. A long-distance runner and cyclist, he has completed two Comrades marathons, three Two Oceans marathons, nine Pietermaritzburg to Durban National Classic cycle races and two Knysna Forest mara-thons.

David is a committed Christian, active in his local church and strongly supportive of fostering and further-ing Trevertons Christian ethos. He is married to Helga, and they have two daughters and a son.

grace college

Grace College pupil, Siphiwu-musa Radebe, has made it through to the KZN Provincial Kickboxing Team. Siphiwu-musa will be competing in a few tournaments leading up to the National Championships on 5 November 2011. Grace College wishes her all the best for the upcoming events.

Grade Threes came face-to-face with some scaly reptiles they had been learning about during their jungle theme, when Mr Vic Rencken shared very interesting informa-tion about these fascinating creatures. All the while, the snakes were free to slither around, exploring the class-room. Those children who were brave enough, were given the opportunity to wrap a python around their bodies under the watchful eye of Mr Rencken not for the faint-hearted! (supplied by S.Redinger)

neW hanover prep

The Official School Page The Official School PageWartburg kirchdorF

russell high school

Gerhard reading to Mr and Mrs Badstubner

Mrs Claire Marx and the Grade 1s

Grade 1s in action

The Grade 1 learners took a trip to the Altenheim in Wartburg to entertain the elderly. They sang for them and then read a story to their special new grand-friends. It was a morning thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Tiffany Behrens and Judy Shaw reading

Russell High learners, Yolanda Mlahlna, Nokwa-zi Mqodi, Slindile Chamane and Londeka Zondi are members of the grade 9 committee who organised a very successful Cultural Day pro-gramme at school to celebrate Heritage Day.

The Wykeham Collegiate Grade 5s enjoyed becoming Ladies and Peasants for the day at Camelot Castle, where they enjoyed a feast at Greensleeves. Grade 5 Ladies and Peasants at Camelot Castle (pic supplied)

the Wykeham collegiate

The Wykeham Collegiate Junior School Choir enter-tained the elderly people of Villa Assumpta recently. The girls invited the ladies and gentlemen to partici-pate in community singing, which they did with great enthusiasm and nostalgia. They even got up and danced to Lets Twist Again! The Zulu songs were really enjoyed and each person was presented with a gift by the girls. It was an uplifting and fun filled morning for all. PHOTOGRAPH: Some of the TWC Choir girls with the audience (supplied)

herbs For healthBLACK PEPPER -Piper nigrum

We know BLACK PEPPER Piper nigrum as a condiment, and usually buy it as whole peppercorns or already ground, but did you know that this perennial woody climber has been cultivated as a spice and a medicine since ancient time.The plant has large oval leaves bearing small white flowers, which in turn become clusters of small round fruits, which turn from green to red when ripe.Pepper has been used for vital trade for thousands of years. Pepper was one of the first spices used to preserve foods on the long route between the East and West. Attila the Hun is reputed to have demanded 1,360 kg of pepper as ransom during his siege of Rome (AD 408) Originally from South Western India, the fruit is harvested from plants that are at least 3 years old. The life expectancy of a plantation can be 25 to 30 years. Black Pepper does best near the sea, in humid soil rich in humus.Green peppercorns are picked unripe and pickled, black peppercorns are picked unripe and dried, red peppercorns are picked ripe and dried, and white peppercorns are picked ripe and soaked in water for 8 days before drying. Medicinally pepper contains the alkaloid piperine, irritating the mucous membrane and promoting digestion, it probably also slightly stimulates the activity of the heart, is a diuretic and improves the metabolism .The sharp taste of pepper reflects the stimulant and antiseptic effect it has on the digestive tract and the circulatory system. Pepper is commonly taken either alone or in combination with other herbs and spices, to warm the body, or to improve digestive function in cases of nausea, stomach ache, flatulence, bloating, constipation or lack of appetite. The essential oil eases rheumatic pain and toothache. It is antiseptic and antibacterial and reduces fever.Pepper, either whole in berries ground or in mixtures, is one of the most popular culinary condiments. It flavours meat, soups, sauces and salads, and smoked and canned products. Caution:Pepper being an irritant, very large doses can be harmful. Until next time, Yours in herbs, Diane Aldworth

gardeners notes

Dear Gardening FriendsI wish you could see how stunning the flowering cherry trees are at the moment in our area. The Dogwood trees are at their best too! Maybe the long cold winter had something to do with that.

Before I forget, do not wait to buy the new season Dahlia bulbs. There is a large variety to choose from. Dahlia bulbs are a good investment. They multiply fairly quickly and will give you great joy in the years to come. Water them well in summer, and a good mulch of compost or manure will give you great results.

The large deciduous trees in your garden should have all their foliage back again. You can fill those bare patches underneath the trees with a variety of perennials, such as foxgloves to give you a bit of height. They come in a variety of colours. Aqualegia, also known as Grannys bonnet, is an apt description of the flowers. These are extremely hardy perennials and when in flower, they are spectacular. Another hardy, evergreen groundcover is the variegated Vinca Major or periwinkle. You get the green leaf variety which is very invasive, so rather keep to the variegated variety mentioned, to brighten up the shady areas. The violet spring and summer flowers are a bonus.

The Hosta is also a winner in the shade. The plant disappears in winter but comes back in spring with the most beautiful foliage. They come in a variety of colours, from bright lime green to dark greys. Its certainly a plant worth having. The only negative is that the snails also love these plants so put snail bait out as soon as the plants start shooting new foliage after winter.

Heuchera, Coral Bells, is also an evergreen, semi-shade plant which is frost hardy, has beautiful foliage, and comes in a variety of colours from lime green, frosty plum, to black satin. These plants are sought after by plant collectors.

The lesser known Astilbe is another good shade plant. These plants have feather-like flowers in white and different shades of pink. My good friend Tony from Tanglewood Nursery in Hilton normally stocks them.

The rainy season is upon us. How blessed we are to normally receive good rains in our area which makes gardening so easy, compared to other areas like the Karoo where water is a scarce commodity. Gardening under Karoo conditions is far more difficult yet gardners in the Karoo adapt to their conditions and create stunning gardens.

Water has become a very expensive item and yet we continue to waste this precious commodity. We are only going to wake up when taps run dry, and by then it will be too late! They say the next world war will be for water and not oil? So please do your bit and try to SAVE WATER!

Why dont you layout a bed in your garden

for hardy, drought resistant plants. You will be pleasantly surprised by how rewarding these plants can be, with very little care..

The Aloe has become very popular, and there are hundreds of varieties available. Aloes look so striking in pots. Other plants you can use in your dry bed are Echeveria, Lampranthus (Vygies), Crassulaa, Portulacaria (Spekboom), and indigenous grasses amongst many others.

Support your local nurseryman this spring. He or she puts a lot of love and energy into producing quality plants for you to enjoy in your garden. Nothing is more infuriating than to see plants all shrivelled up due to lack of water, or too cold air conditioning, as is often the case in the supermarkets.

A trend that is happening all over the world is for hardware stores to have a nursery section to attract more ladies into their store to increase their sales. I know all about free enterprise, etc. but surely a true plant lover will go shopping for plants where the staff have a passion for what they do and not see a plant as a commodity? Surely you do not repair your shoes at your local butchery or buy a pack of nails from your pharmacy?

Support your local nurseryman it is the right thing to do!

Your gardening friend, Chris Koch.

History is YOUR story too!As told by the Msunduzi Museum; 351 Langalibalele Street, Pmb.

Tel: 033 394 6835 www.voortrekkermuseum.co.za

The Museums Main Building was originally the Longmarket Street Girls Primary School until 1972, when the school moved to its current premises. It was built in 1905 according to a design by architect A.E. Dainton, who modelled it on schools in England and Europe.

It became the property of the Voortrekker museum in 1985. Housed in this building are the recep-tion, gift shop, staff offices, library and auditorium. Various displays are mounted in sections of this building,

A few rooms on the mezzanine floor of the Main Building are dedicated to the cultural heritage of the main groups living in Pieter-maritzburg and KwaZulu-Natal. The research for these displays was done in cooperation with members of the local community, which gives it a more personal and local atmosphere.

The Tapestry of Cultures Display was recently upgraded and some inter-active elements added. Visitors will for example learn more about the role of cattle in different cultures, and be able to touch and play a few traditional musical instruments.

The museum has developed several Educa-tional Programmes to enhance and supple-ment school curriculae from Gr R to Gr 12. In 2009 we also added some interactive elements to existing programmes in order to make them more fun.

Programmes are available in English, Af-rikaans and Isizulu. Booked school groups pay a nominal fee of only R1-00 per child, and entrance for educators is free.

For more information, please contact one of our Education officers at Tel: 033- 3946835.

including the History of Pietermaritzburg, Tapestry of Cultures, Birth of Democracy and Prince Imperial displays. The museum recently acquired a beautiful Herb garden, and visitors can also see a traditional Zulu hut and a small private Hindu temple on site.

EDITION 110 OCTOBER 2011 EDITION 110 OCTOBER 2011PAGE 8 PAGE 5

Where Will youfind the

TASTIESTCheesCakeever?

ake

Midlands premier country LodgeInvites you to a deliciously

ghostly & ghoulish weekend...28 & 29 October

Join us for a Grisley, Gruesome, Whodunnit Weekend Was it the Politician? the Lawyer? the Socialite? the Sailor? the Psycho?

*Check- in 11h00 Saturday, adventure starts 12h00. All will be revealed over breakfast.

LODGE

Book now R2 495 per couple sharing, for two nights or R1500 per couple for Saturday night only

T&Cs apply. Contact: info@lythwood.com Bookings: 033 234 4666 info@lythwood.com sifiso@lythwood.com www.lythwood.com

45 New England Road, Scottsville Pietermaritzburg Tel: 033 3958230 olwazini@goldenhorse.co.za Tel: 033 3958230 olwazini@goldenhorse.co.za science

45 New England Road, Scottsville Pietermaritzburgscience science learning enjoy fun

maths knowledge

cultureknowledge

Facilitators are always on hand to explain and advise.

Proud ITgraduates receive certi cates at the First ceremony.

For the rst time Capitol Caterers, based in Pietermaritzburg, entered a team into the Unilever Food Solutions Chef of the Year competi-tion. The team of four consisting of Paula Heuff (Catering Manager - The Wykham Collegiate), Jen Long (Catering Manager - Clifton, Nottingham Rd), Linda Boucher (Area Manager, Pietermaritzburg) and Merrill King (Group Executive Chef) made it through to the nal Mystery Basket cook-off on Friday 16th September, and were judged 1st runner up in the Team event. Getting into the nals was the rst hurdle and some months back the team came up with three dishes (starter, main and dessert) which were photographed and together with the recipes, were sent through to Unilever for judging. Of all the entries, six teams from around the country made it into the nal cook-off.

The team was present-ed with a mystery basket of compulsory items, consisting of 1 chicken, 2 pork llets, 6 calamari tubes and their tentacles, 12 tiger prawns and compulsory Unilever Products of Chocolate Mousse, Veggie Season-ing, Pronto tomato pulp, Smokey BBQ Sauce, Demi Glaze. A commu-nal table offered a range of items such as our and

Left to Right: Linda Boucher, Paula Heuff, Merrill King and Jen Long, clearly delighted with their silver award. Photo: supplied eggs, nuts and pulses and various vegetables

and fruits. The nal award winning menu was made

up of: Starter: Chicken and prawn lled Baby Squid, with a Pronto reduction and Tempura tentacles. Main: Smokey BBQ Pork Fillet on a Masala Nutty Pea and Sweet Potato base, served with a

Red Onion and Green Apple Salsa, mange toute and fried beetroot julienne. Dessert: Orange Cream lled Snow Eggs with Seed brittle and a shot of Rum Chocolate Mousse in a Pastry Stack

CAPITOL CATERERS TEAM TAKES SILVERMARRIED IN THE MIDLANDSA-J and Lizelle Liebenberg of Howick, were married recently at The Windmills Hotel in Nottingham Road.Photo: supplied.

Alta and Paul De Abreu were married on the 1st October at The Windmill Hotel.Photo: supplied.

Debbie and Dave Allen were married on the 23rd of September at The Windmills Hotel.Photo: supplied.

Olwazini Discovery Centre is a science & cultural centre, one of the corporate social investment projects for the Golden Horse Casino. It opened on the 24th of July 2002 by His Majesty King Zwelithini.

The centre is geared at supplement-ing science, technology and maths teach-ing, all school level learning areas in which resources are sorely lacking. as a result of this lack, many learners do not

Mrs Spar Duma who runs the centre, explains the workings of the inner ear.

understand and cannot make any sense of the concepts taught, resulting in negative attitudes towards these subjects, which in turn leads to poor performance. Olwazini Discovery Centre bridges this gap, by revealing the fun side to these elds. This is done with the help of more than 60 interactive curriculum oriented exhibits which are housed in the science centre. Olwazini is the only science centre that includes cultural exhibits to show just how much science and technology is integral to our culture. The centre is directed primarily at school learners; however, the centre is open to anyone.

On 1st of March 2011, a new computer centre was of cially opened. This R800 000 facility with its 30 units of computers, is aimed at providing basic computer skills to members of the community.

General informationOur exhibit caters for grades 7-12 curriculums otherwise the computer

centre caters for everyone including general public. When learners get to the centre, friendly facilitators take them around for a 2 hour, 1 hour session in the computer room and they spend another 30min -1hr watch-ing educational DVD presentations in the auditorium. Visitors are usually wowed by our exhibits as they are the practical of the theory learnt in the classroom. Learning areas which are covered are sciences (physics, geography and biology), mathematics, technology and Arts & Culture. Included in the two hours for the tour, is time for learners to interact with exhibits on their own but in the presence of facilitators, i.e after facilitators have thoroughly explained exhibits to them.

Theres also a 5 day basic computer training which covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Internet. The centre is open during week days from 9:00 am to 16:00pm, except on public holidays. Anyone interested in coming or bringing learners to the centre needs to make a booking at least a week in advance and entry is free. contact details below.

N.B. Special bookings need to be made for basic computer training.

Olwazini Discovery Centre45 New England Road

Scottsville

033 3958230olwazini@goldenhorse.co.za

The Official School Page OLWAZINI DISCOVERY CENTRE TURNS SCIENCE AND MATHS INTO FUN!learning enjoy knowledge

fun maths OLWAZINI DISCOVERY CENTRE TURNS SCIENCE AND MATHS INTO FUN!OLWAZINI DISCOVERY CENTRE TURNS SCIENCE AND MATHS INTO FUN!

Right: Spar Duma(Olwazini Discover Centre manager), Sam Khumalo(Senior Programme Facilitator), Slindile Ndamane and Xolisile Ndlovu are all programme facilitators and are pictured here in one of their interesting exhibits.

Left: Spar Duma , Michael Luthaka(IT Facilitator) and Vasithaven Rangiah, a teacher from Springhaven Primary, in the computer centre.

The centre is currently run by Mrs Spar Duma, a former maths and science educator and HOD for human sciences. Duma has 11 years teaching experience, hold a Bed (Hons) Degree in Mathematics and Science Education. She is presently completing her Masters Degree in Science Education at UKZN as a part time student. She took over in December 2006 and her passion has always been in science and interacting with people, especially school children.

Article by Spar Duma, Photos: Sane Dhlamini

This months School Stars are all on www.meanderchronicle.co.za.

Wembley College, the TWC, Treverton, Wartburg Kirchdorf

Primary, Clarendon, Grace College and

Russell High.