Join in on the launch of the definitive historical novel 'Men of the Mendi' by Brenda Shepherd at The Howick Agricultural Hall. 

RESULTS: The first 2017 internal competition sponsored by Warwick Wealth was held on Tuesday, 27 June. The winners were Barbara Brook, Rita Aitken and Conrad Clifford of Warwick Wealth. The runners up were Balf Balfour, Julia Strachan and Jo Boonzaier. Prizes were presented by Stuart Milligan of Warwick Wealth.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Saturday, 08 July: Tabs In Comp sponsored by Giovision and Greendale Superspar. Tabs in by 13h15.
Wednesday, 12 July: Tabs In Comp sponsored by Halfway Toyota Howick.
Tuesday, 25 July: Tabs In Comp sponsored by J Leslie Smith Inc. Tabs in by 08.45
Wednesday, 09 August: (National Women’s Day) All day Competition Sponsored by J Leslie Smith Inc.

News supplied by Umgeni Waterfall Bowls Club.

Results: The winners of the J Leslie Smith tabs-in competition held on Tuesday morning, 20 June were Mark Taylor, Allan Pienaar, Jenny McHendrie and Irene Hampson. The Runners-up were Peter Attwell-Brown, Jo Boonzaier, Anne Pyle and Eddie Pyle.

The Lucky Draw of a voucher for Ray’s cafe was won by our new member David Mainprize.

We wish our members good bowling in the annual match against Howick on Thursday afternoon.

Pictured: Crystal Dekker and Lisa Nagel of J Leslie Smith Inc.

News supplied by Umgeni Waterfall Bowls Club.

The Ashburton Aloe Festival will be held over the weekend of the 1st and 2nd July in the Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy, 10 km east of Pietermaritzburg. An annual event borne out of the close-knit communities passion for conserving this beautiful bushveld environment, six venues are open to the public, between 09h00 and 17h00, to enjoy a full programme of walks and talks amidst bushveld setting of the beautiful wild, giant flowering Aloe candelabrum. The event helps raise awareness for the conservation of both natural and cultural heritage, and raises funds for the protection of the plants and wildlife species of the area, as a living legacy for our children. The event is hosted by the Mpushini Valley Conservancy and showcases the Mpushini Protected Environment, the first such community conservation area in Kwazulu-Natal. The six venues include: Galago Farm, TopRock Farm, Impala Bend, Rocky Wonder Aloes Nursery, Spencer’s Place and the Hackland Aloe Garden. Things to do include: Specialist talks and walks, Self-Guided trails, Aloe, and indigenous plant sales including succulent, grasses, groundcovers, enjoy light music, browse a variety of stalls, including, crystal, mineral and gemstones, hot meals including vegetarian options, soups and home baked bread, tea garden, pancakes and refreshments, pony rides and the natural beauty, peace and tranquillity of this special hidden valley. Tickets are R30 per person and allow entry to all venues for the duration of the weekend. Children under 12 are free. There is a children’s art and environmental programme at venue 1 including child supervision at a nominal cost. Directions: take N3, Ashburton exit 69, Turn right, and continue 4 km onto D389, after the ticket sales booth, follow the signs to venues 1 – 5. To get to venue six, continue past venue 5 and proceed for 12 km as follows. After crossing the Msunduzi River, turn right at the junction of D389 towards Bishopstowe. Continue 2km and turn right. Continue for 2km and turn left at the signpost Rick Hackland Farm. After 50m turn right into the palm lined avenue to reach Femma and Rick Hackland’s Aloe Garden. For more information phone Darlene Bond on 082 933 5036 Facebook Pages, Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy; Event Facebook Page - Ashburton Aloe Festival 2017; Twitter @mpushini

Aloe Festival Programme

Saturday 1st July
10h00 Venue 1 - Galago Farm: “Discover your past and reclaim your heritage!” walk & talk by Celeste Rossouw & Hester Roodt
11h30 Venue 3 - Impala Bend: “Ideas for Ecological Waterwise Gardening with Indigenous Plants” by Alison Young
14h00 Venue 4 – Rocky Wonder: “Critically Endangered Vultures” by Tammy Caine
15h00 Venue 3 – Impala Bend: Wildlife feeding time with Karin Saks talking about Samango Monkey research in the Midlands.
15h30 Venue 2 – TopRock: “The Golden Age of Palaeoanthropology – Why the current decade will go down in History” by Alexander Haig Parkinson
16h30 Venue 1 – Galago Farm: Campfire Stories, Howard Bradshaw and friends read Bosman, Paton, Mtshali, Bessie Head and others.

Sunday 2nd July
10h00 Venue 6 – Hackland Aloe Garden: “Pollinators for your Garden” by Val Payne
10h00 Venue 1 – Galago Farm: “A guide to indigenous trees” walk & talk by Dr David Johnson
11h30 Venue 4 – Rocky Wonder: “Wild Orchid, Blood Orchid & Orchid Thief – Why are orchid flowers special?” by Timo van der Niet
12h30 Venue 5 – Spencers Place: Gundog Display by David Padbury
14h00 Venue 2 – TopRock: “Snake’s Live’s Matter” by Zane Barnard
15h00 Venue 3 – Impala Bend: Wildlife feeding time with Wade Whitehead talking about ‘Freeme’ Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
15h30 Venue 3 – Impala Bend: “Honory Officers – Our Work for Wildlife” by Darlene Bond

Venue Activities

Venue 1 – Galago Farm
• Tea Garden/Soup & Bread/Pancakes
• Self-Guided Trails
• Children’s Exciting Day Programme & Supervision
• Indigenous Plant Sales
• Art & Craft
• Book Stall
• Camp Fire

Venue 2 – TopRock
• Crystal Shop
• Art & Craft Stalls
• Hot Meals
• Live Music
• Cash Bar

Venue 3 – Impala Bend
• Hot Lunches
• Craft stalls
• Self-Guided Aloe Trail
• Ronnocco Nursery Indigenous grasses and groundcovers
• Cash Bar
• Wildlife feeding time from 15h00

Venue 4 – Rocky Wonder
• Aloe Display Garden
• Aloe Sales
• Self-Guided Bird Trails
• Refreshments

Venue 5: Spencers Place
• Self-guided Bird Trails open from 6am
• Pony Rides
• Gundog Demo

Venue 6: Hackland Garden
• Guided tour by Femma and Rick Hackland
• Refreshments - Soup and bread

For more information contact Darlene Bond on 082 933 5036.

News supplied. 

At the recent KZN / Midlands rugby trials, Howick Prep School had nine players selected to represent the various regional U/12 and U/13 sides chosen. Congratulations to Nthando Mthalane who was selected to represent the KZN U/12 A Sharks team, Jayden Kruger, Brent Marsberg and Greg van Laun who were selected for the Midlands U/12 team and Robbie Lawrence, Chad Burger, Russell Hart, Darryn Checkley and Johann de Goede who were all selected to represent Northern Districts. The Howick Prep 1st XV coach, Mr Piet Steyn was once again selected to serve on the KZN U/13 Sharks selection committee.

The attached photograph is of the Howick Prep players selected:

Back (L – R): Piet Steyn (1st XV Coach and KZN U/13A Selector), Robbie Lawrence (Northern Districts), Chad Burger (Northern Districts), Brent Marsberg (Midlands), Nthando Mthalane (KZN).
Front (L – R): Greg van Laun (Midlands), Russell Hart (Northern Districts), Darryn Checkley (Northern Districts), Johann de Goede (Northern Districts), Jayden Kruger (Midlands).

News supplied by Howick Preparatory School. 

Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Dad...

This Sunday, we celebrate all the great Dads out there, with a chance to WIN with our newsletter promo...

QUESTION:
How many kilograms of sliced Beef Thick Flank do we use in The Cookhouse's "Beef Stroganoff" to come out with our average yield of 110 portions per cook?

EMAIL YOUR ANSWER BACK TO US & STAND A CHANCE TO WIN THE FOLLOWING:
1 x 4 Portion of The Cookhouse "Beef Stroganoff"
to be collected by the winner at any one of our 3 outlets....
Howick, Hillcrest or our latest outlet in Hilton - 39 Hilton Avenue :)

THE CLOSEST AND QUICKEST ANSWER IS THE WINNER, WHO WILL BE NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL BY FRIDAY 16th JUNE. Competition closes by 5pm Thursday 15th June 2017.
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SERVING IDEA FOR "THE RUGBY" THIS WEEKEND...One of our regular customers often comes in during the rugby season, as her favourite 'food' to serve to her guests coming over to watch the rugby,is one of the delicious soups from The Cookhouse.

Simply heat in a pot and leave your pot on a hot tray for your guests to help themselves. Serve with hot Ciabatta bread & butter.....mmmm.... The Cookhouse Soups - So simple to heat up & so easy to claim as your own!

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"When my father didn’t have my hand, he had my back." – Linda Poindexter

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !

News supplied by The Cookhouse. 

The Tabs-in competition played on Saturday 10 June sponsored by Greendale KwikSpar and Giovision was won by the four of Rita Aitken, Lionel Keeling, Chantal d’Hotman & Neil Wright. Second was the trip of Brian Ellison, Dudley Ventress & Eunice Gage, with the drawn prize of a voucher to Ray’s Cafe being won by David Mainprize.

Jenny McHendrie is congratulated on winning through to the pay-offs in the District Novice Singles at Maritzburg West Bowling Club. Best wishes and good bowling next week-end Jenny.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
The Tabs-in competition sponsored by Halfway Toyota Howick, erroneously advertised for last week, will take place today (Wednesday 14 June), and members are encouraged to support this event.

Members are reminded to check boards for duties and to support competitions sponsored by other clubs, particularly those in our area. Tab duty officers may be assisted by the Competition Secretary and Assistant Competition Secretary, or other Committee members if necessary.

News supplied by Umgeni Waterfall Bowls Club.

RESULTS:
There were no Club competitions this past week.

Clark Logan is congratulated on his performance in the District Open Masters Singles at Maritzburg Bowling Club, by winning three out of his five matches over the week-end.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
There will be a Tabs-in competition today (Wednesday 7 June), sponsored by Halfway Toyota Howick, and members are encouraged to support this event.

Members are reminded to check boards for duties and to support competitions sponsored by other clubs, particularly those in our area. Tab duty officers may be assisted by the Competition Secretary and Assistant Competition Secretary, or other Committee members if necessary.

A to V blind solutions is devoted exclusively to blinds. A to V was once part of Metamorphix Interiors, both are owned and operated by Anel Voigt.

The move was inspired by a desire to offer a service devoted solely to blinds which would be more cost effective.

Anel started Metamorphix Interiors in 2003 on the KZN North Coast, where it operated before relocating to the Midlands.

Metamorphix has had several noteworthy blind installation projects during its existence, key among these were the RHI factory and administrative offices in Isithebe and various projects in the idyllic holiday destination, Zinkwazi Beach.

News supplied by A to V Blinds

Howick Prep School’s Deputy Principal, Mr Bonzo Miller, retired last Friday after dedicating 40 years to the teaching profession.

Bonzo started his teaching career in 1978 at Thornhill High School in Rhodesia where he taught before emigrating to South Africa. On arriving in South Africa Bonzo was offered a teaching post at Michaelhouse where he taught from 1980 – 1993. Whilst at Michaelhouse Bonzo taught Geography and was appointed as Housemaster of East House and Head of Department of Physical Education.

In 1994 Bonzo applied for a Grade 7 teaching post at Howick Preparatory School where he taught for the next 24 years before his retirement last week. During his time at Howick Prep Bonzo was appointed as Head of Department in 2001 and as Deputy Principal in 2009. Bonzo was passionate about his sport and coached many successful Howick Prep rugby and cricket teams and also served on the Midlands Primary Schools Rugby Committee for more than 20 years.

A lunch was held at Howick Prep School last week with 100 staff, past staff and family members in attendance where a certificate to recognise the 40 years of dedicated service that Bonzo so unselfishly gave to so many children over his teaching career was presented to him by Principal Grant Maartens. In attendance at the luncheon were Pat Bastow (ex Deputy Principal) , Margie Hamilton (ex Deputy Principal), Justin Miller (Bonzo’s son) and Brenda Hathorn (Bonzo’s sister)

Photo L – R: Pat Bastow, Margie Hamilton, Bonzo Miller, Justin Miller, Brenda Hathorn.

News supplied by Howick Preparatory School.

The South African Mounted Games Association will be hosting the annual World Team Mounted Games Championships at the Royal Agricultural Show Grounds in Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal, from 12 to 15 July 2017. There are 10 international teams due to participate (including South Africa).

Background on our sport: Mounted Games is a genre in horse riding and is a team competition that consists of five riders and five ponies. There are 21 different races; all involving the use of props and these vary from bending, sword lancers, flag fliers, bank race, sock and bucket, and even jousting. Mounted Games requires riders to have agility and be fit as they are often seen vaulting on and off their ponies during races. The sport requires a lot of speed and accuracy and is a wonderful example of teamwork and good sportsmanship.

Mounted Games joined SANESA in 2013. Since then the interest from KZN schools has been on the rise, with contacts in the Cape and plans to get Gauteng up and running.

The club had their first Inter-provincial competition alongside the annual Pony Club Inter Branch in Shongweni KZN (2013).
In December (2013) we also hosted the annual Southern Hemisphere Champs – an exciting event which included visiting teams from Australia and New Zealand. South Africa had three teams, one of which (South Africa A) won, making them eligible to go to the World Team Championships in France in August 2014.

July 2014 KZN hosted another club Inter Provincial held in Ashburton and as the sport grows, more school riders will have the chance to compete in a Nationals competition. This event will build up to the 5 Nations Championship in December 2014 which will be held in New Zealand. SA Mounted Games sent an Open team to World Team Championships in Kentucky July 2015. Later that year we sent a development team to compete in The Nations Championship in Australia. Inter Provincial Team Competition was held in Gauteng in 2016. December 2016 South Africa hosted the Nations Championship at Lions River Polo Club in KZN. We hosted teams from USA, New Zealand and Australia.

News supplied. 

Almost 99% of all fires are caused by human negligence. They are mostly caused by electrical faults or carelessness. Cigarettes, matches and lighters, candles, heating appliances and open braai fires can all cause fires if not carefully monitored. But it is not only human error that causes fires. Environmental factors such as changing weather patterns and urban spread increase the risk of fires, with the effects and level of damage often being felt more severely.

To prevent the loss of lives and property, everyone needs to be aware of the dangers of fire, especially during fire season this winter. Here are some tips to stay fire safe:

• Always extinguish fires and safely dispose of hot ash, coal and cigarettes.
• Ensure that your electrical appliances are correctly wired.
• Don’t overload power points and switch off appliances when not in use.
• Make sure gas appliances are correctly installed.
• Keep the area around your home clear of flammable materials (dry bush, scrub etc...

• Never leave an open fire unattended (braai, in the fireplace at home, garden refuse etc...)

• Always make sure that you are alert in the kitchen when cooking and don’t leave the stove unattended.
• Talk with all family members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan.
• Clean the lint filter of your tumble dryer each and every time you use it.
• Take extra care when using heaters and electric blankets. Do not leave them on unattended.
• Always work in an open, cleared area when working with power tools.
• Buy a small fire extinguisher from a reputable dealer to keep in your home – note the correct way to use it and ensure that it has not expired.
• Familiarize yourself with emergency numbers in the event of a fire and medical emergency OR call the KSS 24/7 Control Room on +27 (0)33 3305911.

News supplied by Knight Security Services. 

RESULTS:
The Tabs-in competition played on Wednesday 14 June sponsored by Halfway Toyota Howick was won by the trip of Brian Ellison, Ted Smith & Ann Pyle, on shot difference from the runners-up four of May Blackford, Dudley Ventress, Eunice Gage, and Malcolm Tait. Prizes were presented by Margie Wheelwright of Halfway Toyota.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
The draw for the Nominated Mixed Pairs is posted on the notice board.

Members are thanked for their donation of old bowls for the BSA Small Bowls Project.

News supplied by Umgeni Waterfall Bowls Club. 

Sage One bundle offers from Sandra Naidoo - Authorised Sage Pastel Business Partner. 

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW CRAFT ACHIEVEMENTS from HERITAGE HOUSE PRESCHOOL CHILDREN A combination of inspiration, dedication and patience brought forth a wonderful selection of artwork from our Gr R and RR children. We then faced a difficult task of selecting a limited number of entries for this year's Schools' Crafts section, at the Royal Show. Once again our children have done us proud with 30 awards out of 30 entries. Behind the scene we need to commend the dedicated teachers for their enthusiasm, patience and encouragement in teaching the children the skills required for this. If children are not encouraged and patiently taught, they will never learn to develop a passion for crafts.

News supplied by Heritage House Preschool.

Howick High School pupils, Chloe Vermeulen and Alex Candler have been selected to represent the KZN Inland U14 Girls’ Hockey team.

We congratulate them on this wonderful achievement.

From Left to Right. Chloe Verneulen, Alex Candler.

News supplied by Howick High School.

Funda Nenja would once again like to thank Merrivale SuperSpar for their generosity.
They supplied refreshments for the boys that we took to the KUSA National Dog Show at Shongweni. Thank you Merrivale Spar for your ongoing support.

News supplied.

Following the success of the initial Legacy Run last year, Oasis Preparatory School is again hosting the event at Piggly Wiggly in the midlands on June 16th 2017. This year’s event features a 2km walk/run as well as a 5km walk/run. Together with Village Talk, Piggly Wiggly and other generous sponsors Oasis Prep is again using this community family initiative as a fundraiser to support ongoing building projects as well as future bursaries at the school. 2016’s event saw some 250 runners join the 5km event and expectations are that this number will double for 2017 with the addition of the 2km walk making the event accessible to Granny and Grandpa too.

Core to Oasis Prep’s culture is a value for family which is not only espoused by the teachers, but also inculcated in students daily through focus on the School culture. “EFFULGE, which means ‘to shine forth or to radiate’ is our culture word, to us it means Extra-ordinary, Faith, Family, Unique, Love, Generosity and Excellence, its more than a slogan, it’s what we become each day” Says Principal Matt Hogarty.

The Legacy run will take place on Piggly Wiggly’s well worn 5km course with a smaller loop allowing for the 2km race to take place on a similar course. The 2km event will start at 9am with the 5km event starting at 10am. Tickets are R30 per person or R100 for a team of up to 5. Tickets can be purchased online from Quicket by following the url http://qkt.io/legacy or on the day at the event.

News supplied by Oasis Preparatory School.