As the world faces escalating environmental challenges and growing inequalities, the demand for ethical markets has never been more urgent. Fairtrade Africa's Change Day hosted on Wednesday, 28 August 2024, themed ‘Navigating a Fairer Future: Harnessing Global Market Dynamics for Ethical and Sustainable Growth’, addressed this pressing need head-on.

This landmark event held at The President Hotel in Cape Town, with a virtual option available for international participants, brought together Fairtrade-certified producers, commercial partners, industry experts, and media from all corners of the world to explore how we can collectively drive the growth of ethical markets.

Change Day brought together leading retailers, wine, cocoa, and coffee producers, trade justice advocates, climate activists, politicians, and development experts for a day of keynotes, panels, and interactive sessions. The aim was to empower stakeholders to leverage global market dynamics for more sustainable growth.

Addressing the Urgency of Evolving Ethical Markets
The rapid globalisation of trade has brought both opportunities and challenges, especially for producers in the Global South. The growth of ethical markets is crucial in ensuring that these farmers and producers receive fair compensation, work under humane conditions, and contribute to our environment sustainably. As traditional market structures struggle to keep pace with the needs of millennial and Gen-Z consumers who demand equity and transparency, Fairtrade emerges as a crucial solution—promoting fairness from farm to store shelf.

“Sustainable change is not just an option; it’s a necessity. With climate change, resource depletion, and social inequities threatening the future of our planet, it's imperative that we rethink how we do business,” comments Isaac Tongolaat, Executive Director at Fairtrade Africa.

This year’s Change Day delved into actionable strategies that align with the global push for sustainability, addressing topics like value addition, e-commerce, and evolving market regulations as well as finding more attractive ways to entice younger people into farming and ensuring the sector’s long-term economic and environmental sustainability. The discussions highlighted the role of women and youth in driving these changes, showcasing success stories that prove sustainable growth is achievable.

Attendees had the opportunity to engage with leading industry figures who shared their insights on navigating the complexities of today's global markets, from understanding emerging trends to adapting to new regulations. The event also provided a platform for producers to share their perspectives on expanding their reach in an ever-evolving market landscape.

The dialogue, knowledge, and strategies shared at Fairtrade Africa’s Change Day represent a positive step toward shaping the future of ethical and sustainable trade, ensuring it becomes the norm rather than the exception.

For more information please visit www.fairtradeafrica.net or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Top image:

Fairtrade Africa Change Day 2024 Ketnote Speech by Noko Masipa, Member of Parliament of Standing Committee on Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism in SA.

Image below:

Panelists: Dejene Dadi GM, Oromia Coffee Farmers Coop Union Ethiopia. Francis Chimpeni, Marketing Mng Lujeri Tea Malawi. Taryn Holland, Head of Prog. Partnerships FT UK.

Moderator: Paul Colditz, Commercial Director, Fairtrade Africa – South Africa

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Working with ToPS (Threatened or Protected Species)

It was off to the vet with the Wattled Crane chick picked up grounded in the Hlatikulu area. Dr Margie Roach from Umgeni Veterinary Clinic was on hand to receive the young crane and do a full check to see what damage the legs had sustained.

While there is a lot of swelling on both joints and a tiny hairline fracture on the one, we are hopeful that with some rest and restricted movement to the limb that the crane will recover.

Easier said than done as these birds are very stressed in captivity and tend not to want to eat, so our rehab team will have their work cut out for them.

Dr Margie Roach from Umgeni Veterinary Clinic was on hand to receive the Wattled Crane chick and do a thorough check up on the young bird. (Top image.)

This included getting full body x-rays done, with particular emphasis on the injured legs.

X-rays showed that there were fortunately no other injuries to the crane. But there was quite a lot of soft tissue damage to the joints, and a hairline fracture through the one that will need some time to heal.

On hand to help was Lara Fuller from the Endangered Wildlife Trust. Lara monitors all the crane activity in the province, including the status of breeding pairs, and she was the first person alerted to the plight of the young crane at one of the breeding sites. (Bottom image.)

We love working together, and are always grateful for collaborative efforts and support.

We love what we do, and how we do it. - FreeMe Wildlife

Dancers from Bangalore (India) for this year's JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience
27 August – 8 September 2024

The UKZN Centre for Creative Arts' JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, which takes place from August 27 to September 8, will feature two exceptional performances from India by the Bangalore-based dancer and choreographer Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy. These performances will be presented both at UKZN, Durban and at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg with the support of the Consulate General of India (Durban & Johannesburg), and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Government of India.

The performances will be at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in Durban on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 September, and at JOMBA! @The Market in Johannesburg on 11 and 12 September. These performances are part of a larger contemporary dance programme that includes workshops, panel discussions, and virtual screen dance presentations taking place at various venues in Durban, and followed by a condensed version in Johannesburg.

Deepak Shivaswamy, trained in Yoga, and Indian martial art Kalaripayattu has been developing pedagogy for contemporary dance since 2004. He is a significant figure in contemporary dance, exploring modern Indian identities and its evolving concept of home. His latest double bill, titled "Vasudaiva Kutumbakam," which also features choreographers and dancers Prashant More and Mirra, reflects this journey. The term, which translates to "the world is one family," serves as a guiding principle for his performances at JOMBA!. Shivaswamy explains, “This concept of universal kinship inspires our work, using dance as a universal language to connect and resonate with audiences globally.”

Deepak Shivaswamy’s first piece, Weight of Time (Bottom image), challenges conventional notions of art's purpose. It invites audiences to let go of expectations and simply be present, savouring the performance as an experience in itself. His second piece, Mycelium Maatu, draws inspiration from the mycelium—a natural network of fungal threads that interconnect in intricate, organic patterns. This concept profoundly influences Shivaswamy’s approach to dance, encouraging a creation that mirrors the mycelium’s interconnected and evolving structure.

Among the exciting additions to JOMBA! 2024 are opportunities for audiences to engage directly with dancers and choreographers. These include special sessions where attendees can hear from the artists about their creative processes and works. On September 6, Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy will join JOMBA! curator Lliane Loots for an on-stage discussion following his performance, as part of the JOMBA! TALKS DANCE series. This conversation will offer deeper insights into Shivaswamy’s work and creative vision.

On Friday, September 6, Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy, alongside Prashant More and Mirra (Top image), will lead a free open workshop titled Aattam Idam: A Place for Playing. Scheduled from 4pm at the UKZN - Howard College Campus Drama and Performance Studies Dance Studio in Durban. This workshop is based on the concept of “PLAY.” It invites participants of all skill levels to explore dance and movement through creative and joyful expression. This is followed by another workshop on September 12 at The Market Theatre.

These workshops are offered free of charge to participants, but booking is essential as places are limited. The workshop is only open to dancers over 16 years. Book with e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

They will also present a closed workshop with Rudra Dance Company and ParamAtham Dance Theatre in Durban on Saturday 7 September,

Performance timings are 7pm on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 September at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, and at 6.30pm on 11 and 12 September at The Market in Johannesburg

For more information and to see the full programme, go to: https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

Booking via COMPUTICKET for Durban, and by WEBTICKETS for Johannesburg.

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The sport field, where our dog school takes place every Friday afternoon, is surrounded by residential dwellings and with a secure fence separating the houses from the field. This afternoon these 2 very cute puppies watched the training classes happening from their side of the fence line. They were wagging their tails and obviously enjoying the sight of so many happy kids and dogs in close proximity to their backyard.

Earlier, their young guardians had brought them to our veterinary care clinic for innoculations and deworming. We hope they will be joining our puppy class next month so they too can experience the Friday afternoon fun.

Contact Funda Nenja on +27 (0)83 636 0891 or +27 (0)82 657 5201.

JOMBA! and Rerouting Arts are back in the Midlands on Saturday, 7 September at 14:30

Once again local Midlands audiences are invited to come and experience a one time performance from international and local dance artists, right here on our doorstep. Presented by Rerouting Arts in partnership with UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts and JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, Close by … / La rue d’à-côté … will be showcased at the Platform Gallery in Lions River on Saturday 7 September at 14:30.

Founded in 1994 in Marseille, France, Ex Nihilo works with the clear intention of moving dance beyond rehearsal studios and stages to ‘break down walls’ and engage with the public, transforming public spaces into sites for research, creation and performance. Ex Nihilo work outdoor which involves exploring space through bodies, constantly renewing each spatial experience. This gives rise to a direct interaction with the ‘viewer’ outside conventional settings and without formal invitation - whether passers-by, residents, or audience. Here lies the birth of movement and choreography.

Ex Nihilo has a long history with Durban and the JOMBA! festival, and return for this years’ 26th edition in a much-anticipated encounter with Durban’s FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY. Anne Le Batard and Jean-Antoine Bigot will collaborate and guide the six resident FLATFOOT dancers in a series of site specific and site responsive encounters in and around Durban, and Hilton (as part the JOMBA! and Rerouting Arts partnership).

In a choice made to perform ‘close by’ to more formal theatre and performance art spaces at this years’ JOMBA!, Ex Nihilo and FLATFOOT, encounter the outside pathways and ways of being that emerge from immersive research that looks at how space is explored by the body. Often quirky, always daring, and continuously mesmerising, this dance work is an engagement with both the everyday and the extraordinary.

Tegan Peacock, founder of Rerouting Arts, says, “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience to present internationally recognised dance artists to our local Midlands audiences in unexpected and exciting venues. Presenting this site-specific work at The Platform Gallery is a new offering and I can’t wait to see the response in experiencing dance performance in a new and profound way.”

“This quirky site specific collaborative work is a very accessible piece of contemporary dance, that we hope will delight, and entertain, and most importantly create dialogue amongst the audiences that experience it.,” says JOMBA! curator Dr Lliane Loots. “We are grateful for this dynamic partnership with Rerouting Arts that enables us to bring our work further afield.”

Close by … / La rue d’à-côté … will be performed at the Platform Gallery at the Lions River Station on Saturday, 7 September at 14:30.

Tickets for the performance are R85 and can be booked in advance through Quicket:

https://www.quicket.co.za/events/274049-close-by-la-rue-d-ct-a-jomba-contemporary-dance-and-rerouting-arts-performance/#/

For more information on JOMBA! Go to www.jomba.ukzn.ac.za

Photo credit: Martine Derain

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The Midlands Camino experienced remarkable success, with supporters from across KZN joining us in April. We are eager to welcome you in October.

The Midlands Camino Walk spans six days and nights, taking you from Nottingham Road to the Dargle Valley in the KZN Midlands, South Africa. For those who prefer a shorter journey, options for an overnight stay or a day walk are available.

Accommodations range from the Nottingham Road Hotel and Forty Winks @glengarrykamberg , Invermooi Estate , Otters Den Self Catering and Mount Park Guest Farm.

Participants who stay overnight will be treated to dinner, bed, and breakfast, along with a packed lunch, while their belongings are conveniently slackpacked.

To book contact Meghan on 033 330 5257

Book your Midlands Camino - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PACKAGES
6 day/6 night walk on a set departure:
Sunday, 13 October – Saturday, 19 October 2024
Price R12,000 per person sharing a room for 6 nights.
Price R18,000 per person in a single room for 6 nights. Subject to availability at the time of the booking.

Includes: all meals, accommodation; entrance fees where relevant, conservation fees. Transport will be provided back to Nottingham Road at the end of the walk.

Tailored overnight walk

R1,000 per overnight sharing and R1,000 per day walk. Single room prices on request and subject to availability at the time of booking.

Day Walk only

R1,000 per day. Includes lunch and transport back to point of departure.

Day 1 October 14 – Nottingham Road to Rosetta. 20km
Day 2 October 15 - Rosetta to Kamberg. 29km
Day 3 October 16 - Kamberg to Lower Loteni. 21km
Day 4 October 17 - Lower Loteni to Fort Nottingham. 26km
Day 5 October 18 - Fort Nottingham to iNholsane. 22km
Day 6 October 19 - iNholsane Hike. 6km – R100 – pay on the day

A report by Dana Rebecca Designs Studies, based on surveys of brides since 2010, reveals a startling statistic: 76% have regrets about their wedding day, often due to inadequate planning. This insight presents a striking contrast to the weddings of yesteryear and the more cookie-cutter affairs of our grandparents and even our parents’ generations. Extended family members and friends typically handled most aspects and as for hiring a career wedding planner? Unheard of until the early 2000s.

According to Onwaba Gonyora, Director at Brahman Hills, an award-winning, destination wedding venue in the KZN Midlands, 21st-century weddings have evolved considerably. Many couples are marrying later and often fund their own or contribute significantly to their nuptials. This allows for greater personalisation and allows modern couples to authentically reflect their individuality and unique style. Part of this trend involves destination weddings, which have become increasingly popular among those seeking unique, intimate experiences.

But when it comes to the planning of your special day, where do you start? “The excitement of creating a dream wedding can quickly become stressful,” says Gonyora who has played a pivotal role in turning hundreds of couples' dream days into reality for over a decade. "Planning is critical. Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a grand event, meticulous planning is key to ensuring a day filled with the perfect blend of love, laughter, and unforgettable memories shared with those who matter most.”

Gonyora shares her top six wedding planning tips:
1. Start with the venue: The Knot, a leading wedding online marketplace, surveyed nearly 10,000 couples who married in 2023 and found that 75% of couples surveyed, ranked guest experience as their top priority. So, choosing a venue that matches your vision and budget, and ensures guests are well cared for is crucial for creating an enjoyable reception. Remember that your venue should be able to accommodate various weather conditions and offer beautiful photo settings.
For example, Brahman Hills, located in the stunning Blue Crane Nature Reserve, offers two wedding venues designed for all-weather romance. While one boasts internationally award-winning gardens, the other provides a backdrop of enchanting rolling hills, both perfect for ensuring captivating photos.

2. Secure a date: Most couples have a preferred month, but the exact date often hinges on venue availability. If you've set your sights on a popular venue like Brahman Hills and can't secure a Saturday or Sunday in the month of your choice, consider opting for a weekday or public holiday. You are not only more likely to secure your desired month, but it often comes with discounted rates too.

3. Focus on what matters most to you: Few people have unlimited budgets, so prioritise what matters most to you as a couple – whether it's the venue, the photographs, the dress, custom vows, or cherished traditions. This approach ensures your wedding day truly reflects your desires and unique love story.

4. Hire a Wedding Planner: Wedding planners provide guidance and ease the load by managing logistics and vendors and ensuring a smooth and seamless event on the day. This is where a destination wedding can be advantageous as some places like Brahman Hills provide specialised teams to handle these details.

5. Food: Good food doesn't make a wedding, but bad food can leave a bad taste in your guests’ mouths. The quality of the food, whether simple or extravagant, is crucial to your guests' comfort and the day's success. Therefore, ensure your chosen venue or caterers have a great reputation.

6. Vendor selection: 76% of respondents to The Knot survey followed wedding vendors on social media after their engagement. Ensure you entrust your wedding to experienced professionals who understand every aspect of creating a flawless event. This includes DJs, florists, photographers, makeup artists and cake designers. Because with the right support, a stress-free celebration is possible.

“Your wedding should be the ultimate celebration of your love story and a day to create beautiful, unforgettable memories, free of regrets. And with excellent planning and the perfect venue, you can. After all, you deserve nothing less than perfection,” concludes Gonyora.

To discuss your dream day with a wedding coordinator or book a tour at Brahman Hills, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 033 266 6965.

To view our offerings, go to: https://www.brahmanhills.co.za/weddings
https://www.brahmanhills.co.za/specials/weddings

A highly anticipated South African short film B(l)ind The Sacrifice, directed by award-winning multi-hyphenate Nakhane, premiered at the Locarno Film Festival last week.

The film brings together three award-winning filmmakers: Nakhane and Cait Pansegrouw and Elias Ribeiro of Urucu Media.(Pictured here top: Elias Ribeiro, Nakhane and Cait Pansegrouw at Locarno.)

South African Nakhane is a celebrated musician, actor and novelist, globally renowned for their captivating performance in Inxeba (The Wound), which was South Africa's submission for the Oscars in 2018, who now takes on a new role as both writer and director; Cait Pansegrouw and Elias Ribeiro are seasoned producers internationally known for their many award-winning films such as Inxeba, Train of Salt and Sugar, This Is Not A Burial, It's A Resurrection, Necktie Youth, and many others.

This creative partnership has now produced B(l)ind The Sacrifice, which is a timely exploration of masculinity, patriarchy, and power, set against the backdrop of an immutable yet contemporary world.

“The story was sparked by the notion of the Biblical story of Abraham and Isaac, and primarily how Isaac must have felt being offer to God as a sacrifice by his father,” explains Nakhane.

“The film looks at masculinity/patriarchy - and the power it wields - gone mad. I had to imagine the Biblical Abraham, the initial patriarch, as a ‘real’ person and in so doing I was forced to wonder what would happen if he didn’t get away with what he did. Imaging that his power, so mad, that he has convinced his family and his three servants to live their lives as nomads with no choice but to obey him. And so I ask - what would happen if we nipped all of this patriarchal lineage by killing him?”

The filmmakers are looking to develop this short film into a full feature, where Nakhane will have room to explore not only patriarchy and the power it wields in the world but also its contact with queerness, both covert and overt.

“It’s always a joy to sit in the dark and experience your film with an audience for the first time.” says Pansegrouw, “Over six hundred people were in the cinema at the premiere and they responded beautifully to our film. It’s given us even more motivation to expand this story into a feature film”.

B(l)ind The Sacrifice was one of twenty short films, selected from four thousand submissions, to compete in the prestigious Pardi di Domani section at the Locarno Film Festival, known for showcasing innovative works from emerging filmmakers, where they are able to create expressive experimentation and innovative works that speak to cinema of the future might take. B(l)ind The Sacrifice will be part of the Concorso Internazionale competition, featuring short and medium-length films as world or international premieres, highlighting the visionary talent of new filmmakers from around the globe.

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The Centre for Creative Arts and University of KwaZulu-Natal
26th JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience
27 August – 8 September 2024

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts presents the 26th JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience offering a 13-day treat of world class contemporary dance that will see both local and international dance makers converging on Durban between 27 August and the 8 September 2024.

The theme of this year’s festival is “finding our way home” and, curator Dr Lliane Loots says, “is set against a backdrop of both local and global political renegotiations of what it means to be human, to belong, to have a home and to be a citizen of a country (and of a planet); against an occupied Gaza, a ravaged Ukraine, anti-foreigner right wing political movements in Europe, a South African Government of National Unity that is busy maneuvering for power … JOMBA! begins to ask what is means to find our way home”.

Veteran South African dance maker Robyn Orlin is honoured as the 2024 JOMBA! Legacy Artist for her innovative, political, and deeply interrogated dance and theatre work spanning four decades.

Berlin-based, Orlin’s we wear our wheels with pride and slap your streets with color … we said ‘bonjour’ to satan in 1820 … - a work made with MOVING INTO DANCE is a deeply personal work that emanates from one of her childhood memories visiting Durban of the Zulu rickshaws. Orlin delves into the rickshaw driver’s mischievous appropriation, sublimation, irony, and self-deprecation, as she celebrates the rickshaw driver’s refusal to concede their dignity to colonial and apartheid forces.

Cape Town’s JAZZART opens the festival with a triple-bill titled RESILIENCE featuring three captivating works: I am African choreographed by Jazzart's Head of Training, Sifiso Kweyama, Battlefield choreographed by ex-Jazzart Company Dancer, Lihle Mfene, and Dark Flock crafted by the award-winning duo MANACAN.

Bangalore based dancer and choreographer Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy presents a double bill titled Vasudaiva Kutumbakam with support from the Indian Consulate General (Durban), ICCR, and the Swami Vivekananda Centre (Durban). With distant roots in classical Indian dance forms, Shivaswamy is firmly embedded in contemporary dance making and a search for finding ways to express modern Indian identities.

South Africa’s award-winning Boyzie Cekwana’s…on behalf of a collective sigh created in collaboration with American musician Maritri Garret (who has worked and shared stages with music giants Barbara Streisand, Gladys Knight, the Pharcyde, the Indigo Girls and others), traverses the terrain of love, loss, mental illness, memory, and ageing. It weaves its tale through soulful folk songs, movement, spoken and written words. Cekwana also features in a lecture performance: I hate you for watching this: A rocking tale of how Disco and the dance floor (nearly) changed the world.

As part of the JOMBA! mandate to promote, commission and support local work, JOMBA! ON THE EDGE features works by Steven Chauke and Kristi-Leigh Gresse.

This year, the CCA JOMBA! launches the joint annual PHAKAMISA Dance Commission with the Market Theatre to support innovative and provocative South African dance makers. Cape Town based Yaseen Manuel, whose unique access of his own Muslim South African history with the intersection of both personal and political dance storytelling, makes him an exceptional voice in dance, has been awarded this commission. He presents Madha Kan which is a personal journey that interrogates the current events unfolding in Palestine, capturing not only the harsh realities but also the deep compassion and kindness of its citizens.

Marseille (France) based Compagnie Ex Nihilo and Durban’s FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY collaborate to present Close by … / La rue d’à-côté …. Ex Nihilo’s Anne Le Batard and Jean-Antoine Bigot work with FLATFOOT’s Sifiso Khumalo, Jabu Siphika, Zinhle Nzama, Siseko Duba, Ndumiso ‘Digga’ Dube, Mthoko Mkhwanazi, and Sbonga Ndlovu. In a choice made to perform ‘close by’ to more formal theatre and performance art spaces, the work will explore and encounter the exterior pathways and ways of being that emerge from immersive research that looks at how space is explored by the body.

JOMBA! partners with REROUTING ARTS (Hilton) to share this work at St. Anne’s College Theatre and The Platform Gallery in Lions River.

A special digital screen dance focus is on the Japanese Butoh Dancer, choreographer, and LAND FES Director, Dai Matsuoka. Matsuoka is the founder and director of LAND FES, a non-profit organisation, that has the purpose of promoting diversity and inclusion through performing arts. He shares three of his most recent short digital dance films, all of which navigate his work in integrated dance practices.

The annual screen dance competition platform JOMBA! DIGITAL OPEN HORIZONS will be showcased online.

The JOMBA! LIVE OPEN HORIZONS provides an opportunity for choreographers to present their work in a professional environment with the support of a full technical team. The JOMBA! YOUTH OPEN HORIZONS, in partnership with The Stable Theatre, features 12 new works from youth groups.

The festival includes JOMBA! Talks Dance with choreographers and dancers after some of the live performances at the Sneddon Theatre, and the annual Forging Futures discussion, centres around the current silencing of artists in times of conflicts that is witnessed mainly in the global North.

JOMBA! also hosts a series for free workshops and masterclasses. Booking is essential as places are limited. The workshops are only open to dancers 16yrs and older. E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to book a place at least two days in advance of the workshop.

The second JOMBA! @ The Market Theatre, a smaller curated extension of the Durban festival takes place from 11 to 14 September featuring Yaseen Manuel, JAZZART, Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy and Robyn Orlin and a series of workshops.

The JOMBA! KHULUMA and the JOMBA! BLOG Writing Residency facilitated by DUT Drama lecture Clare Craighead, will feature reviewing and writing by graduate students studying dance.

For more information and to see the full programme, go to: https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

Tickets are R85 and R65 (concessions and groups - available at outlets only) or R390 – once-off FULL festival pass to see everything. Booking via COMPUTICKET.

Image: JAZZART Studio by Kim Stevens with Maranga Gwatyu & Damian Jacobs

Navigate the change of season easily with a couple of these in your wardrobe. The cat ones are heavenly, arty ones for creative styling, satin squares for classy elegance... All of them soft, light yet warm & simply beautiful!

Now in store at MUSHKA at Piggly Wiggly - Midlands on the R103, KZN.

PRICING

Square Satin Scarves R95
Various Longer Scarves R165 to R185

Visit soon!

There seems to be a bit of a struggle going on between the winter and summer at the moment, but soon enough summer will win!

Last week Tuesday we help our monthly J Leslie Smith & Company Nominated 2-4-2 competition and entries were fully booked within 24 hours of the advert going out! It’s really great to see this competition so well supported and we thank all the bowlers who entered. The day turned into rather a hot one, with a gentle reminder to everyone of what summer bowls is like! Well done to our winners, Steph Crause & Rusty Ikin, as well as Clark Logan & Cindy Bro for second place. Also, to Doug Logan and Pippa Griffin for winning the plate prize. As usual it was a very enjoyable competition and a big thank you to our sponsors.

That’s all for this week… see you on the greens!

Events to keep an eye out for…

Friday, 31 August : Dormehl Nominated 2 Bowl Trips. Tabs In 08h45 (Book with Pippa on 083 467 8140)

Regular tabs in times are:-
Tuesdays at 08h45
Wednesdays at 13h15
Saturdays at 13h15.

Visitors are always welcome. Coaching by registered coaches is available.

For more information or enquiries about coaching, contact Ann on 071 676 5591.

Photo Caption: J Leslie Smith competition winners Steph Crause and Rusty Ikin with Crystal Dekker from J Leslie Smith.

Yesterday Team Treverton took part in the Midlands Co- Ed Athletics Meeting hosted by Riverwood College.

Our little team did us proud as we took to the track and field...temperatures heated up quickly and our team stepped up and gave of their best.

We ended the day in 3rd position out of 6 schools with many personal bests being achieved.

Thank you to our captains Megan Ramsey and Declan McIntosh for all your hard-work and dedication to the sport over your time at Treverton! This was their last time representing the school.

A big thank you to all staff involved in helping these young athletes achieve their goals and represent Treverton with pride and passion.

Education truly is an adventure.

For further information please visit www.treverton.co.za

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If your cat is going outside their litter box, these are six things they may be trying to tell you.

• 
  “The box is not as fresh as I like. Clean it more often and replace old boxes.”
• 
  “I do not like to share, we need more boxes. Make sure there is one box per cat, plus an extra, and spread them around the house.”
• 
  “I do not like where the box is placed. Move it away from high traffic areas, but do not box me into a corner with no escape route.”
• 
  “This box does not fit me. I need a larger box, at least 1.5 times my body length, with no roof above my head.”
• 
  “I do not like this fancy perfumed litter. Can we try unscented, non-clumping next time?”
• 
  “I do not feel well. Please take me for a vet visit to be sure I am not getting sick.”

Helpful Tip: If your cat is toileting over the side of the litter tray, cut away the front of a cardboard box and slide the litter box snuggly inside of it to create 3 taller side-walls. Your cat will then naturally position themselves in the middle of the litter tray!

For general enquiries or adoptions please call uMngeni SPCA on 033 330 4557 or  082 567 8297 for animal emergencies. We are available 24/7.

Spring is slowly creeping into the air and what a relief that will be!

Things have been a bit quite this month, with only a few internal club competitions taking place. On Saturday the 3rd of August Greendale Spar and Amberglades sponsored a drawn pairs/trips competition which was won by Lisa Nagel, Grace Mainprize and Pam Radley. Second place went to Ed Speed and Neill Birdsey, followed by Patrick Carter-Brown, Bruce Tucker and Barry Fairbrother. The following Wednesday was our Halfway Toyota drawn pairs competition which was won by Bob Chetty & Jo Boonzaier. Well done to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors.

Over this past weekend we had a men’s and ladies team playing in the KZN Fours competition. It’s always such a great experience to play against teams from further afield and we congratulate both teams on their great efforts.

That’s all for this week… see you on the greens!

Events to keep an eye out for…

Friday, 31 August : Dormehl Nominated 2 Bowl Trips. Tabs In 08h45 (Book with Pippa on 083 467 8140)

Regular tabs in times are:-
Tuesdays at 08h45
Wednesdays at 13h15
Saturdays at 13h15.

Visitors are always welcome. Coaching by registered coaches is available.

For more information or enquiries about coaching, contact Ann on 071 676 5591.

Photo Caption: Greendale Spar Drawn competition winners Lisa Nagel, Grace Mainprize & Pam Radley.

More about UWBC

Treverton Grade 6 pupils have returned from an action packed week in Zululand

The Treverton Prep Grade 6 pupils have returned from an action packed week in Zululand.

On our way to Cape Vidal, we stopped off in Mtinzini for two and a half hours to enjoy the Umlalazi Wildlife park. The class enjoyed a time of paddling and then walking through the extensive mangrove area learning about the fascinating ecosystem.

We then set up camp once arriving at Cape Vidal. Driving into Cape Vidal we enjoyed a successful game drive, including spotting rhino, buffalo, zebra, warthog and many types of buck.
On our first day the pupils completed a 7 km beach hike enjoying Mission Rocks and making our way to a fascinating bat cave.

The highlight of the day was experiencing a 2 hour boat cruise at St Lucia, where the pupils were treated to numerous hippo and crocodile sightings.

Other activities included snorkeling in the gorgeous protected bay at Cape Vidal, beach breakfasts, star gazing, night game drives searching for leopard and the energising spectacle of a show done by Zulu dancers.

It was a spectacular time of making memories of a life time, friendships were deepened and individuals grew beyond measure. We are truly blessed!

Education truly is an adventure.

For further information please visit www.treverton.co.za

Images: Grade 6 girls getting acquainted with Mangroves at Umlalazi Wildlife Park. The class enjoyed paddling and then walking through the extensive mangrove area, learning about the fascinating ecosystem and Camping at Cape Vidal.

Supplied.

Species appreciation post: Scrub Hares

Scrub Hares are one of two species of hare found in South Africa, and are by far the most common and widespread. While they are listed as a species of least concern, their numbers are declining, and are predicted to continue to decline.

Unlike rabbits which give birth to blind, naked kits in underground burrows, hares give birth to fully furred, fully mobile young called leverets above ground. So, how does the mother hare keep her leveret safe? By hiding it. Mother hares leave their leverets in clumps of long grass, or hidden under bushes, and then they move off to prevent attracting predators to where the leveret is hidden. Adult hares rely on speed and agility to escape predators, but leverets have to rely on immobility and camouflage to avoid detection. Mother hares will return to feed their leverets, but will make sure nothing is watching them when they do.

So, why do leverets come in to rehab? They are often found and injured by cats and dogs, which is why it is so important to prevent these predatory pets from wandering unsupervised in grassland areas where Scrub Hares are known to live and breed. They are also picked up during grass baling and burning and cannot be returned to these landscapes now altered through human activity.

And lastly, perfectly healthy leverets are sometimes picked up by well-meaning people thinking they have found an 'abandoned baby bunny'. If the only threat to the leveret has been you disturbing it, then our advice is to put it straight back. Mother hares, like any good mothers, get frantic when they return to find their safely hidden leveret has vanished. And no, they won't abandon their baby because you touched it! Let's help our Scrub Hares survive by protecting them in their natural habitats from ourselves, our activities, and our pets.

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Plan ahead to make sure you are on time for the upcoming Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge, which takes place this Sunday 18 August, around Alexandra Park and the outskirts of the CBD, participants are requested to note the road closures so as to avoid traffic congestion on race day.

‘Both distances start at 8am, and we are encouraging everyone to be aware of their routes so as not to miss the start,” says Race Director, Brad Glasspoole.

The start line is near Maritzburg College, both the 10km and 5km events’ routes are “out-and-back” beginning in Princess Margaret Drive and finishing at The Oval, Cricket Stadium. A field of 3,500 is expected, with their supporters. Glasspoole says, ‘We advise participants to leave home early to avoid traffic and request that all take note of the road closure times, so they can get to the start line promptly!’

The road closures and times are as follows:
Sunday, August 18
Balmoral Drive - closed from 03:00 – 11:00
Princess Margaret Drive - closed from 03:00 – 11: 00
Park Drive between Princess Margaret Drive and Princess Elizabeth Drive - closed from 03:00 – 11:00
Princess Elizabeth Drive - closed from 03:00 – 11:00
Park Drive from College Road to Princess Margaret Drive - closed from 07:00 – 11:00
Alexandra Road from Cross Road to Alan Paton Avenue - closed (inbound only) from 07:00 – 10:00
Alan Paton Avenue from Alexandra Road to Burger Street - closed (inbound only) from 07:00 – 08:30
Alexandra Road between Alan Paton Avenue and Jesmond Road – closed in both directions from 07:30 until approximately 08:45
West Street / College Road (away from the CBD) closed from 07:00 till approximately 10:00

Residents in the New Scotland Road area of Pelham will be able to access their residence from Campsdrift Road and egress via College Road towards the CBD between 07:00 and 10:00.

Parking for the event is on the soccer fields off Prince Charles Drive (next to the BMX track) which can be accessed via Alan Paton Avenue / Chief Albert Luthuli Street (near Alexandra Baths) into Park Drive.

Additional Parking will be on the fields adjacent to Kershaw Park Tennis Club off Chief Albert Luthuli Street.

Online entries are closed, but manual entries can still be done at Race Registration on Friday 16 August from 10am to 5pm and on Saturday 17 August from 10am to 3pm at The Oval Cricket Ground, Alexandra Park.

The field is limited to 3,500 participants.

For more info visit the official race on https://sparwomensrace.co.za/maritzburg/

Top image: Participants competing in last year's Maritzburg SPAR Women's Challenge. Please note road closures for this year's event taking place around the Capital on Sunday 18 August.

Photo credit: Rogan Ward