The African Dance Disability Network partners with the Centre for Creative Arts and JOMBA! 2024 to present the ADDN JOMBA! ABILITY DANCE FESTIVAL 2024 at the Stable Theatre in Durban from 22 to 25 August.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience has a long history of including diverse and integrated dance work in its programming. In 2023, JOMBA’s curator Dr Lliane Loots teamed up with Prof Yvette Hutchison from the University of Warwick in the UK to work on the UKRI-funded project Encountering disability through contemporary dance in Africa, which explores widening citizenship through dance. Part of the outcome of this partnership is an uplifting four-day pre-JOMBA! festival and colloquium - the ADDN JOMBA! ABILITY DANCE FESTIVAL 2024 - that sees some of the world’s most inventive and beautiful dance-makers engage with disability and integrated dance practices.

This four-day festival, which takes place before the main JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience (27 August to 8 September), sees dancers and guest participants from South Africa, Kenya, USA, UK, Finland and China. The daily programme offers workshops, panel discussions, and open public evening performances.

The performance programme includes works from FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY and their FLATFOOT Wheelchair programme, as well work from their now 8-year-old FLATFOOT Downie Dance Company.

Cape Town’s ground-breaking Unmute Dance Theatre presents Andile Vellem’s signature work Listen to your hands – which use South African sign language as the core choreographic impulse to dance, move and speak. Johannesburg’s Thapelo Kotlolo connects queer culture to disability struggles in his beautiful and provocative Bells and Sirens 2. East African Kenyan, Ondiege Matthew and his company DANCE INTO SPACE, defiantly dive into cultural myths, disability and gender politics in his work Nyanam, while South Durban’s Jarryd Watson and DANCE MOVEMENT, celebrate three women coming together in solidarity celebrating the beauty, strength, and resilience of each other – despite, and in spite of, differences.

Further afield, Chicago (USA) based Sydney Erlikh and Unfolding Disability Futures (UDF) present (amongst other works) And Yet We Are Here, a powerful zeitgeist response to the destruction of war in acknowledgement of war’s physical and emotional impact. War not only leaves death and disability in its wake, but people with disabilities are more often unable to flee violence. Erlikh, talking about this work says, “This dance considers and expands on the themes of war and rebuilding while embodying the disability community's collective care and access, even in the face of bullets, bombs, and brutality”.

With a number of artists’ panels that engage ideas of disability as gain, of particular interest is a session by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Lee Fischer and Tom Rogers, as they talk about and share the work of Free Fall Dance Company – a company of dancers living with intellectual disabilities. Freefall Dance Company is part of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s LEAP (Learning Education and Participation) programme and inclusivity work. It was established to challenge stereotypical views of people with disabilities and dance - through the creation of a high-quality training that showcases the creative talents of people with learning disabilities. The company is particularly proud of its award-winning screen dance films and most recently, its ground-breaking work using virtual reality – both of which Durban will have a chance to watch and engage.

The festival will host one digital online workshop by disability culture activist, wheelchair dancer, and community performance artist, Petra Kuppers. Kuppers, the Anita Gonzalez Collegiate Professor of Performance Studies and Disability Culture at the University of Michigan (USA), offers free of charge, her Starship Somatic Workshop on Sunday 25 August from 4.15-5pm. To sign up contact, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For the full programme visit: https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/ability-festival/

The workshops and panels are offered free of charge but places are limited, if you wish to join and participate, contact Marcia on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Bookings must be done a full 24 hours before the event.

Tickets for the evening shows are R50 each and booking is via COMPUTICKET: https://computicket.com/event/addn_jomba_2024/7294522

Top image: Nelisiwe aka Sunshine Sibiya (Jarryd Watson and DANCE MOVEMENT)

Image below: Freefall Dance Company

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Visit the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg before the 28th of July to see the Matric KZN Inland Art Exhibition of work from 2023. Work by Anna Dahl and Shiriska Neethling is on display. Don't miss out on this! We are so proud of their hard work and dedication to their art.

Education truly is an adventure.

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

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Welcome to our new principal - Dave Cato.

Dave grew up in Hillcrest near Durban where he completed his schooling. He studied for his Bachelor’s degree and professional teaching qualification at the University of Natal (Durban). During his career, Dave has served at four independent schools Kearsney College, Woodridge College, Treverton College and the Drakensberg Boys Choir School. Dave commenced his tenure as the Principal of Thembelihle School at the start of Term 3. Dave’s experience in numerous school leadership roles, which includes nine years as a Head, bodes well for the new season that lies ahead for him and Thembelihle School.

Dave is married to Helga and they have three children – Jennifer, Samantha and Mihlali, and two grandchildren – Noah and Oliver.

We are so excited to have Dave on our team.

'I thought I would give an update to friends and family on yesterday's events. We noticed a fire on the farm just after 7am and Lucio went to asses. We immediately started fighting it with the tractor that has a water tank and hose as well as physically beating out the flames. It appears that someone (most likely poachers passing through) had lit the fire as it was in a circle working outwards on the inside of our firebreaks with our neighbour Bongani. At that stage their was very little wind and it was blowing away from our houses, we let all our neighbours know as the grass was exceptionally dry and pretty thick and long. The fire moved down into the valley and as it started moving up the other side, which is all inaccessible by vehicle, the wind started picking up. Dino and Lucio took both tractors to meet the fire at the top of the valley, while Peter, Charlie and I waited for the fire to reach the short grass to put it out. The wind had really picked up by then and changed direction, SAPPI arrived with two firefighting trucks and about 15 firefighters, we are always so relieved to see them as water power and man power is king in grass fires.

They drove up to join Dino and Lucio who were retreating by this stage as the flames were massive and heading to our houses. Lucio phoned me to go home and start watering the lawn. I raced back home and got the dogs inside, let the donkeys out of their field and started to turn all the outside hoses on. The 2 SAPPI trucks were heading in my direction while they tried to douse the flames, there was a wall of flames coming down the hill towards us all. The next thing I just heard screaming and wailing and people running towards our garden, one of the trucks also came in. The fire had reached our fence and was burning through into the garden, I was running around trying to put it out. One of the men that had come in with the other crew was lying on the lawn and the lady firefighters were crying and on the phone. I came over to check on him and could see he had been badly burnt, I tried to calm the crew and told them to get their first aid kit and start administering first aid while I called the ambulance. While I was on the phone they were telling me others had got burnt that were still out there on the hill, I told the emergency people to send a few ambulances. I was then told that some people were dead! After cutting the clothes off the firefighter, his entire body was burnt and skin was hanging off, including his face. He was in so much pain, it was dreadful to see. There was also one woman on the hill whose clothes had burnt off her but she was still alive. The ambulances arrived and then police, SAPPI, investigators, our mayor, more police etc. I believe the ambulance met a helicopter on the main road to transport a patient to hospital and 4 others who were also critical were taken by ambulance. 3 people died on the hill and we heard last night that 3 more had died in hospital. We are waiting to hear how the remaining 2 people are. What a sad sad day.

We carried on fighting the fire to protect the donkeys shelter, by that stage to the fire engine had arrived and they came and helped there. Also the fire bomber planes with a spotter plane had started dropping water on the fire. The fire had gone over the hill to the Mitchell's as well as Busters next door. Dino and Lucio carried on until about 4.30pm.

Our plastic water pipes from our tanks had also got burnt so we had no water to fill up the fire fighters, so Lucio started fixing those too. Reece and his partner who had arrived earlier to help, got stuck in and helped replumb so we had water. Thankfully our tanks survived.

There were so many people who came to help as well as news channels who wanted to report the story, I just couldn't deal with speaking to them. Chris Pappas, our mayor, came to assess the damage and offer his condolences to the deceased and offer the municipality's support for feed for animals as there is absolutely no grazing left.

Carmen's parents offered to bring us a meal and drinking water as we weren't sure how long it would take to fix the pipes and fighting fires is very thirsty work.
We are so grateful for all the help on such a tragic day, I wonder if the person who started it will be found and held accountable? Every year we have this problem of people lighting fires, and most of the time we manage to contain it safely. I also wonder how the wildlife fared, we saw many buck trying to escape. I saw 3 reedbuck later when I took a drive and we did hear the jackals at about 1am.

Today we will need to see what needs repairing and to see if any animals need help.' Di Santoro.

The KZN Midlands forests, plantations and grasslands have been ravaged by devastating wild fires this month, from the Karkloof last week to the Boston tragedies this past weekend and a number of smaller flare ups in between. 

Communities are urged to take extreme care, to spread fire saftey awareness and avoid starting fires at all during this dry and windy season which will still be around for some months before we can expect Spring rainfall.

Photo credits: Di Santoro

The Piggly Wiggly Blanket Appeal launched this year and in a space of three months rallied together supporters from everywhere possible, who made 267 blankets for the neediest communities as identified by Round Table Hilton 242. The Winter Knights delivered these as winter bared its teeth. Fired by a sense of achievement and the expansive deficit in poor rural KZN Midlands places, this initiative has pledged to keep on giving.

Newly dubbed Piggly Wiggly Warm Embrace, this project has gained momentum through a powerful base of supportive donors and crafters as well as a responsive and caring leader in Gill Pryke.

During the third week of June a chance meeting between Gill and Mary Gray, at Gill’s Piggly Wiggly based retail outlet Glass Cuttings, identified the need for winter warmth for the children who attend Yarrow Intermediate School in the Karkloof. This new need quickly became a new target to focus on.

Within less than a month Gill Pryke had loaded up her car with contributions from generous local knitters, crocheters and stitchers, this bundle included ten blankets made by residents of Pevensey Place in Underberg.

On the 11th July 2024, with the faint smell of runaway fires in the air and the reminder of surrounding devastation reinforced by two small planes flying overhead to keep watch on the situation, a small group of Warm Embrace representatives arrived at Yarrow School to present sixty-seven learners, aged between 5 and 14, with a beanie and blanket of their choice.

The pure gratitude for such simple necessities will fuel these formidable human wool crafting machines to do their best to meet future requests for woolly items where they are needed the most.

Pictured here top L-R: Mary Gray with Gill Pryke

Pictured below: Joyful times at Yarrow Intermediate School in the Karkloof, KZN Midlands, uMngeni

Please direct any questions and offers of assistance for Piggly Wiggly Warm Embrace to Gill Pryke on 082 254 4798.

Winter has arrived in full force and the greens have been relatively quiet.

On Friday the 28th of June we held our monthly Dormehl Phalane 2 bowl trips competition. Winners were Ray Bester, Rusty Ikin and Steve Simpson. Second place went to Lynda Drogemoller, Beth and Pat Bennett and third place went to Charmaine Lombard, Mike Lombard and Syd Fincham whilst the plate prize went to Bob Mitchell, Tor Anderson and Neil Wevell, who was visiting from Scottburgh. We thank the sponsors Dormhel Phalane Howick for the main prizes, Farmgate Butchery for the plate prize and J Leslie Smith & Co for the tea treats.

Our two singles champions Koos Marias and Wendy Smith represented UWBC at the NIBA Champion of Champions which was played last weekend. They drew two formidable opponents and unfortunately did not make it to the next round. We congratulate Zelda Siebert and James Everste, both from Collegians, who eventually took the honours.

This past weekend saw the NIBA Prelim Masters being played with Wendy Smith and Lisa Nagel being invited to participate. They had a wonderful 2 days and gained some valuable experience on the fast winter greens of Collegians.

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

Events to keep an eye out for…

Wednesday 10 July: Halfway Toyota Drawn Trips. Tabs in by 13h15.
Tuesday 16 July: J Leslie Smith Nominated 2-4-2. Entries to Lisa on 084 586 6984.
Saturday 20 July: Greendale Spar Drawn Pairs. Tabs in 13h15
Friday, 26 July: Dormehl Nominated 2 Bowl Trips. 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: Well done to the winners of our Dormehl Phalane 2 Bowl Trips competition

Lord Fluffypants gets a new home and a new family.

With all the young owls now ringed, it was time to move them into an owl box at Falls Downe Estate as part of their soft release transition to independence.

This is the first owl box release of the season. The owls are placed in the box about a week before fledging. They will be supplementary fed in the box, and outside the box as they start fledging. The box provides them with a safe home and a meal to come back to once they start exploring the neighborhood, and hopefully one day when they are older, they will also use the box to raise their own family in.

We love what we do, and how we do it...

More about FreeMe Wildlife

DJ, Influencer, and reality TV star, Eva Modika touches down at King Shaka International Airport, straight from a DJing gig in Ethiopia where she was booked for two days at Addis Ababa. She lands for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, dressed by Themba Shadrack Tshabalala of Lera V Design.

Draped in a classic shimmer set, graciously following the theme ‘Ride The Wave’. Eva’s look is inspired by the warmth, stillness, and vibrancy of the Indian Ocean in Durban. “I love working with new designers, and Lera V Design had just left working for Otiz Seflo to start his own brand. I wanted to support him, and he did not fail. He heard the vision and executed it along with the theme. The mandate was to ride the wave, fun, shimmer, classy, and not trying too hard.”

Crafted with patience, and attention to detail, Lera V Design says he wanted something less “serious” and to play on Eva’s classy yet fun and fluid personality. “I wanted to enhance her silhouette. She has a stunning body, snatched waist, and a classic woman’s figure which was easy to work with,” Tshabalala says. “This year, we did not want to go for the typical ball gown but something clean, fun, and edgy yet encapsulate theme.”

Eva Modika: https://www.instagram.com/evamodika/
Lera V Design: https://www.instagram.com/lera_v_design/

Bamboo, a plant long touted as a menacing invader, has gained popularity as a textile and rubs shoulders with attributes like; Antibacterial, Anti-fungal, Anti-UV, Breathable, Durable, Eco-friendly, Hypoallergenic, Long-lasting and Softer than Silk!

We think these Bamboo Snoods and Shawls are just BAM-BOO-TEE-FUL, available in a range of hues inspired by earth, fields, ocean and sky – every wardrobe should have a selection.

Made from 100% Bamboo
Shawls R395.00 each
Snoods R255.00 each

Available instore at MUSHKA, Piggly Wiggly Midlands, R103.

After a long hiatus from performing concerts due to an unforeseen medical condition, Dr Madala Kunene returns to the stage with a special concert in his hometown of Durban. In association with The Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Madala will be coming back to the public eye with award winning virtuoso and fellow KZN'er, Guy Buttery. Together as a duo, they have unearthed new musical landscapes taking cyclical Zulu guitar patterns to the East and back again in a psychedelic layering of textures, deeply rooted in their home of KwaZulu-Natal. Dr Kunene is recovering from recent surgery, and the proceeds of this concert will go towards his medical expenses. Please consider supporting this event and find tickets here.

Commonly referred to as the “King of the Zulu Guitar”, Madala Kunene was recently awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree by the University of KwaZulu-Natal for his ongoing contribution to the development of indigenous music and to the music of Africa and that of the world. This will be Madala’s first tour with his new title of Doctor Madala Kunene. Madala is a genre unto himself. Born in 1947 in Mkhumbane (Cato Manor), a vibrant mixed community just outside of inner Durban, Kunene reflects his environment and his music acts as an urban war cry. His music is a portrait of an artist as a not-so-young man of faith, a sonic investigation that tries to make sense of the gradual process of sanitizing history—how the real past is purged for the sake of a historical sound bite. Kunene is an artist who is constantly shifting between musical habitats.

“Guy Buttery is something of a National treasure”, says South Africa’s leading newspaper. As an internationally recognised musician, this multi-instrumentalist enjoys invitations to play sell-out performances all over the globe. The USA, UK, Australia, France, Brazil, India and Italy have all welcomed him back year after year. However, to simply label Guy Buttery as one of South Africa’s musical phenoms would be an injustice. His international role has surpassed merely performing concerts to foreign audiences. It has evolved into one as an ambassador of South African music, inspiring people across the world with his home-grown style at the very heart of his talent and tenacity. Guy’s distinct unification of South African guitar music is the musical advocate for everything positive and beautiful about the place he calls home. Guy received the highest accolade for a musician in South Africa and was awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist Award. In almost 4 decades of honouring artists throughout the country, this was the first time since its inception that the award was presented to a musician outside of the classical realm.

Expect high dynamics, deep grooves, delicate African inflections and mind-bending string playing of an entirely new order from two of South Africa's most renowned artists.

CONCERT DETAILS:

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, UKZN Howard College Campus
Berea, Durban, KZN
Thursday, 1 Aug 2024
19:00
R200
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 031 260 2296

Photo credit: Jess Sterk

Congratulations to all our Treverton Riders who competed in the Showjumping Category in the SA Youth Champs held at Westown.

Kelly Harvey, riding Capitol Carlo, competed in the 1-star class, which the KZN Team won!

Jade Harvey, riding Whoopy Daisey, competed in the 1-star class.

Holly Roos, riding Polished Gold competed in the 80cm class and placed 8th out of 42 riders!

Mona-Lisa Dinwayo, riding Thornton Creek, competed in the 80cm class.

Education truly is an adventure.

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

Midlands Veterinary Hospital is collecting 67 dog items for Funda Nenja this Thursday 18 July for Mandela day!
Please help with any dog related items, old or new, such as blankets, leads, collars and food.

More on Funda Nenja:
Funda Nenja started in 2009, the name roughly translates from isiZulu to mean ‘learning with a dog’.

The Funda Nenja model aims to nurture children into caring and responsible young adults while at the same time opening up possibilities for their self-development.

The dogs are used to teach these principles, creating the bond between child and dog. Using the training technique, they learn discipline and respect when interacting with parents, teachers, people of different cultures, and their environment.

The programme is delivered in a safe and secure environment using the dog training technique, it is a fun event that draws over 100 children each week to interact and learn from each other.

Winter greens…. What a challenge!

As the weather has been getting colder, so our greens have been getting faster and faster, with the stimpjmeter clocking a speed of 15s on Saturday, when we held a Hearing Aid Labs drawn trips competition.

A big thank you to Hearing Aid Labs for sponsoring a wellness day offering free basic hearing screening and advice on all things hearing. The competition was great fun with an interesting twist as the last end in each of the two sessions was a “power play” which meant the team that won the end doubled their score on the last end. The power play end was definitely a big help in some instances! Well done to the winning team of Colin Norris, Pat Norris & Barry Fairbrother. Second place went to Neil Wright, Bob Chetty & Jo Boonzaier, followed by Mike Scheffer, Koos Marais & Dave Langstone in third place.

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

Events to keep an eye out for…

Saturday 20 July : Greendale Spar Drawn Pairs. Tabs in 13h15
Friday, 26 July : Dormehl Nominated 2 Bowl Trips. 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: Colin Norris, Pat Norris & Barry Fairbrother, pictured with Luke from Hearing Aid Labs

Welbedacht is a poor community near Chatsworth where #StrayPaws help the animals with feeding schemes and veterinary care. They called us to do a steri clinic for cats. Over the 2 days we sterilised 61 cats, they were also vaccinated for rabies.

On Saturday we set up in a church and Sunday on someone's front porch. Well done to Shabnam and her volunteers for trapping cats and ensuring many more kittens are saved from a life on the street.

We had an audience of small boys on Sunday, so Dr Lee took the opportunity to educate them on what we were doing. They were scared of cats, but she managed to convince them to stroke a cat that was under anesthetic.

Call 066 207 9621 to book your pets appointment.

In a major film industry collaborative effort Climate Story Lab South Africa, Doc Society – Climate Story Unit, STEPS, and the Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA) presents the Climate Focus at this year’s Durban FilmMart which takes place from 19 to 22 July.

Climate Focus promises stimulating sessions to seek tangible approaches to communicate the climate-crisis through film with panel discussions, hands-on dialogues around potential impact strategies to effect change through film, brainstorming sessions, and networking opportunities for film industry participants creating content for this sector.

Emily Wanja, who is Director of African Programmes at Doc Society - Climate Story Unit, says, “This climate focus at DFM is part of Climate Story Unit’s commitment to support transformative storytelling that advances a climate just and biodiverse future by storytellers, impact producers, and movement builders. Collectively we can envision, experiment and share how an abundant world for all could look like. DFM provides an opportunity to strengthen partnerships across the information ecosystem on the continent for this work to thrive.”

Filmmakers and activists, in an invigorating panel titled Don’t Stop Talking About Climate Chaos! discuss the role creatives play in sounding the alarm on the climate crisis, and inspiring effective action, including the building of African climate movements. Nasreen Al Amin (Climate Story Lab Lagos), Kudzayi Ngwerume (UMI Fund), Pete Murimi (BBC Africa Eye), Simeon Letoole (Human Rights Activist) and Kumi Naidoo on video (Activist and former Director of Greenpeace) feature with moderators Anita Khanna (Human Rights Media Trust/Uhuru Productions) and Emily Wanja (Doc Society - Climate Story Unit).

In the session titled Partnerships and Pathways to Reach Audiences, the need for collective focus and political will to effectively address climate change is unpacked and paralleled with the HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa, where miscommunication, denialism, and fake news hindered efforts to change behaviour and create impactful solutions. The progress in reducing HIV/AIDS-related deaths was achieved through collective efforts. The panel will address how the climate crisis needs a similar collective effort from all sectors including filmmakers through innovative partnerships with funders, broadcasters, and alternative distribution models, decentralised to unlock impactful audience reach.

Nadine Cloete (NFVF), James Smart (Nation Media Group), Pete Murimi (BBC Africa Eye), Noel Kok (NEWF), Nonto Sibanyoni (Sunshine Cinema), Theresa Hill/Tiny Mungwe (STEPS) and Cindy Makandi (Tunga Afrika) feature here with Miki Redelinghuys (Climate Story Lab ZA - Pictured here above) as moderator.

In practical tool-kit styled approach the session Impact Strategy in Action, aims to equip impact producers with the insights necessary to create effective impact strategies. The panel will explore key issues such as identifying target audiences, setting measurable goals, leveraging partnerships, and maximising impact through media and outreach efforts.

Tiny Mungwe (STEPS) moderates this session which features Emily Wanja (Thank You For The Rain Impact Producer), Rumbi Katedza (Transactions Director) and Anita Khanna (Temperature Rising Co-Director).

Well-known impact producers and strategists Liani Maasdorp (Climate Story Lab ZA), Emily Wanja (Doc Society), Nasreen Al Amin (Climate Story Lab Lagos) and Tiny Mungwe feature on the panel in the Impact Hackathon moderated by Miriam Ayoo (Global Impact Producers Alliance). Here one of the Africa Labs Showcase projects which has been working with mentors during the DFM, will participate in a high-energy, interactive session to unpack the impact potential of the film.

Aspiring impact producers will also have an opportunity to connect with GIPA members at a session at the DFM, to find out more about joining GIPA which nurtures the work of the unique, often overlooked, but powerful community of impact producers.

In a practical session Who’s Watching Our Films? Alternative Distribution Mapping, Doc Society - Climate Story Unit, CSL ZA, STEPS, DOCA, TUNGA Afrika partner in a session moderated by Cindy Makandi (Tunga Afrika) to ignite an initiative they have started to help film industry professionals to unlock both existing, new and effective distribution pathways to ensure stories reach the people they are meant for. In this session they will map out alternative distribution avenues that extend beyond conventional routes. The goal is to create an open-source model that filmmakers can use to discover viable distribution partners across the continent.

Award-winning impact producer Anita Khanna, (Uhuru Productions), says, “It's shocking how little attention is being given to the biggest threat humanity has ever faced, but we know as activists that this is often because people face many challenges that are more immediate to them. If we can use our artistry and our campaigns to, at the very least, keep people fully informed of what the climate emergency means to them, and at most, get people motivated to organise around climate demands, then we will see some serious movement. It's a thing that artists have done in the past, around vital social matters, we need to be doing it now, on steroids."

For more information about the Climate Focus at DFM in Durban go to https://climatestorylabza.org/dfm-2024/

For more information on the DFM go to https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/

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July the 10th marks the annual commemoration of Panic Awareness Day. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) dedicates this day to increase awareness and destigmatize Panic Disorder by spreading knowledge and having important conversations on common myths and how one can effectively manage panic attacks. This week, SADAG will be hosting three Live discussions on various online platforms where we will be engaging with experts in the field, with the goal of offering assistance to individuals impacted by debilitating panic attacks. These events are intended to reassure people impacted with Panic Disorder that there is help and support, and that it is a treatable condition.

SADAG’s Founder, Zane Wilson, shares her own lived experience, “I lived through undiagnosed Panic Disorder for more than 10 years. For anyone who has experienced it, you would understand how suffering Panic Attacks can be both terrifying and debilitating. In my case, the Panic Attacks became more and more frequent. The sweaty palms, chills and shakes got so bad that it eventually had taken over my life, where I could no longer drive on my own or even stay at home alone.”

Join the SADAG team for a stimulating Webinar on ‘Calm in Crisis’ on Wednesday, July 10, at 18:30 to 19:30. Host Nkini Phasha (SADAG Board Member), joined by Dr Colinda Linde (SADAG Board Chairperson and Specialist Clinical Psychologist) and Zane Wilson (SADAG Founder) will discuss useful coping skills and helpful advice. On Thursday, July 11 at 12pm, SADAG will be hosting an Instagram Live with SADAG Board Member and Clinical Psychologist, Shai Friedland. The discussion with be centred around ‘Debunking Myths of Panic Disorder’ where we will be clearing up common misunderstanding and sharing correct facts to help people better understand this sometimes misdiagnosed condition. Finally, on Friday, July 12th at 1pm – 1:30pm, there will be a Facebook LIVE Ask The Expert event. Our expert guest for this conversation is Dr Duane Booysen, Clinical Psychologist, exploring ‘Treatment Options for Panic’. Visit SADAG’s website for more details on how to join the LIVE sessions, go to www.sadag.org

Anyone can get Panic Attacks, but we need to ensure that those living with Panic Disorder know that they are not alone and there is help through therapy, medication, Support Groups and learning self-help techniques. Together, we can make a difference by increasing awareness and uniting our voices. We can create a community of understanding, support and hope. We can break the stigma, promote compassion, and ensure that no one feels alone in their struggle.

For more self-help tips, information, resources and how to get help – visit SADAG’s website on www.sadag.org or Whatsapp a SADAG Counsellor on 087 163 2030 (8am – 5pm) or call the 24 hour Helpline 0800 456 789.

These are the Best Homemade Wheat Free Fishcakes so far... eliminating wheat means being creative in the kitchen and coming up with alternate ingredients to make recipes work. Sometimes the adjustments do work, sometimes not, but this result really was good!

Ingredients (Makes 8 fishcakes)

1 400g tin Butter Beans

1 small onion chopped fairly small

1 large stick celery chopped fairly small

1 TBSP Oil of choice (Olive, seed, nut – you decide)

1 half cut Quick Cook Oats

1 Tsp Ina Paarmans Garlic Pepper - Gluten Free

1 Tsp Mustard

1 Egg

1 Tin SOLID Tuna in brine – Drained

2 Tbsps Cornflour

Oil to grease baking paper

Method
Mix up chopped onion and celery, oats and spice. Set aside.

Gently mash beans.

Beat Egg.

Add oil and beaten Egg to mashed Beans.

Combine with Oats, Onion and Celery.

Drain Tuna, flake and add to mixture.

Shape fishcakes on a plate then sprinkle with cornflour and place into deepfreeze for 15 to 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 200C (Gas) – so around 190C for an electric oven, less for a Thermofan oven.

Remove fishcakes from deepfreeze and flip over onto an oiled baking sheet.

Sprinkle reverse side with cornflour and bake for around 15 - 20 minutes or until golden.

Flip over after about 10 minutes, to brown both sides.

Top with a fresh salsa style salad/tzatziki.

Enjoy!

Race day energy is an electric vibe, an opportunity to strut and pretend to know what the bookies’ odds are while sipping on an equally pretentious glammed up gin. All in the name of fun!

Whether you are heading down the N3 to realise this vision at this year’s Durban July… or hosting a race day event for friends at home with all the action on screen, making an entrance in a dramatic number is essential.

Internationally, fashionistas may aim for a Parisian walkway styled Cheltenham dress or a head-turning Royal Ascot trouser suit. Locally we have a way of fusing multi-cultural notes with the audacious hues of Africa. The results are bright, bold, and almost anything goes!

Adopting this specific local mindset, I headed off to the Midlands thrift stores for some budget inspiration. I found sequins, wraps, feathers, hats, heels, fascinators, earrings and more. You really can dress for a big race day without leaving the Midlands.

Thank you to Gorjass Thrift Store in Merrivale and Lady Marmalade in Howick, I have a choice of race wear to ensure that when my winning filly brings home her first place, I will be spruced up in the best attire a Midlands thrifting spree can deliver. Below budget, so I can afford the Malfy!