'LOVE HOWICK' is not just a catchy slogan, but an opportunity for action. As people we seem to have this constant magnetic pull towards all things negative. If we were to be truly honest with ourselves, we can probably all agree that we spend more time being critical as opposed to optimistic, we often give more attention to what is wrong rather than what is right, and we definitely have more defined views of how things should not work rather than how they should work. This is a serious problem and one that we attempt to start reversing through a collective 'LOVE HOWICK' campaign. We think its time that we began to declare what we do have, what we can do and what we have already accomplished in our beautiful town of Howick. It's a time to drink from the well of good news and allow our collective hearts to be stirred to 'LOVE HOWICK' more than we presently are.

To get the ball rolling we are inviting the whole Howick (and surrounding) community to put their pens to paper and enter our 'LOVE HOWICK' Writers Competition, where you can tell us why you LOVE HOWICK. We want to hear all your positive thoughts, views, stories, etc. all centred on the theme of 'LOVE HOWICK'. All entries will be judged by a team of High School Students and English Teachers from Oasis Christian Academy who have a passion for writing and have formed a 'Young Writers Club' for the purpose of developing this passion. There are some great prizes to be won and the top 3 entries in each category will be published in the Village Talk during the month of October/November. Prize Giving will take place at Oasis Christian Academy on Friday 25th October 2013.

This is a great opportunity to raise a positive voice in our community and begin to speak about the good in our beautiful town of Howick. We encourage the whole community to get involved and let us hear YOUR voice!

Competition Rules:

• There are two categories for entries: (1) school-going age and (2) out-of-school age. Participants of all ages are welcome to enter
• Only one entry per participant is allowed
• Entries must be a maximum of 500 words and adhere strictly to the theme 'LOVE HOWICK'. Entries must be clearly marked with: NAME, SURNAME, AGE, CONTACT NUMBER, WORD COUNT
• Participants cannot be published writers
• Deadline for entries: Friday 18th October 2013
• Entries must be emailed to the Village Talk Editor at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Judges decision is final and no deliberation will be entered into after results are announced

Well done to the Howick Prep 1st Cricket team who have just returned from an unbeaten cricket tour of both Mpumalanga and Swaziland.  The team had a wonderful experience and are thrilled with their great start to the season.

Match 1 vs. Summerhill Prep: Howick Prep 154/4 (Cade Kleyn 36, Ruben Jacobs 29, Michael Geldart 28). Summerhill Prep 49 all out (Mathew Shaw 5/16, Craig Pike 2/5). Howick Prep won by 105 runs.

Match 2 vs. Curro Nelspruit: Curro Nelspruit 60 all out (Jason Wing 8/20). Howick Prep 61/2 (Michael Geldart 29, Ruben Jacobs 15). Howick Prep won by 8 wickets.

Match 3 vs. Riverview Prep: Howick Prep 175/4 (Cade Kleyn 63, Nicholas Napier 61, Ruben Jacobs 21). Riverview Prep 55 all out (Jason Wing 7/8). Howick Prep won by 120 runs.

Match 4 vs. Usutu Forest (Swaziland): Howick Prep 170/3 (Michael Geldart 67, Jordan Collocott 36). Usutu Forest 150/4 (Jason Wing 2/28). Howick Prep won by 20 runs.

Match 5 vs. Enjabulweni Prep (Swaziland): Howick Prep 135/5 (Dylan Naidoo 33). Enjabulweni Prep 65 all out. Howick Prep won by 70 runs.

News and picture kindly supplied by Howick Prep School

Congratulations to Sandra Downward owner of The Plan & Plant Nursery on another successful Garden Show. Sandra will be bringing home to Howick her Silver Gilt certificate. Her garden is a profusion of colour, pink, red, purple, white and vibrant greens. Lavender, Million Bells, Osteosrpernum, Standard Freylina, Foxgloves, Ornamental Cabbage and the clever use of lettuce seedlings for texture and colour.

Sandra created this year's entry in remembrance of her daughter, Melissa, who passed away in June this year. An angel and "The Rose Beyond the Wall" are featured in a cross within the garden. The words "Perseverance, Character, Hope" finish off the display. Each letter hand created in bark with love by Sandra. A special tribute.

Ignore the rain and pop along to the Garden Show this weekend to show your support and view this lovely garden or visit The Plan & Plant Nursery at Fairways on Main. Sandra and her team look forward to meeting you, whether to show the beautiful tribute garden, the quality plants (a large number of indigenous plants in stock) or to offer guidance and advice on your own garden. 

On average our children spend about 1450 hours a year at school! When faced with this statistic, we can only but acknowledge the fact that schools play a huge role in shaping your child, ultimately helping them pave the way for their future. This is why each parent needs to make an informed decision when choosing a school that best fits their family values and that will provide the best opportunities for their child. So, if you are looking at Oasis Christian Academy, this is what we are about...

We are a Christian school from Grade 00 to 12 who provide quality individualised education to learners who desire to live according to the Word of God and develop their God-given talents in a safe and stimulating environment. Our vision and values can be summed up in one statement: 'We believe in each individual child LIVING in God's perfect plan for their life, LOVING God and each other wholeheartedly, LEARNING every step of the way to be LEADERS that shake this world for Jesus'.

Our children have been destined for greatness, and as we work in partnership with parents, we aim to see each student find their unique purpose and learn to live out this purpose to change the world in which we live. Join us in educating the next generation, ensuring they go further than us, dream bigger than us and make an eternal impact in all that they do! Visit www.theoasischurch.co.za for more details or call us on (033) 330 3456 today.

At a recent Roslyn's Ladieswear event Monica Rembold was drawn as the winner of a fresh flower delivery on her birthday. Happy Birthday Monica! Pictured here presenting the flowers is Lorraine from The Antique Rose Florist in Howick.

Monica was delighted with her beautiful basket of flowers. She is a frequent customer at Roslyn's where she has been buying her ladieswear for 15 years. That is loyalty!

The learners at Themelihle Primary School have had a fun filled, action packed third term.

The Thembelilhle Children's Choir had a very successful trip to the Hibiscus Coast to take part in the Spring Floral Festival. The Choir performed to a full house at the Ramsgate Arts Centre to much applause. The Choir led the evensong service at St Margaret's Anglican Church. For all involved it was an experience not to be forgotten – outstanding performances, a swim in the sea, a visit to the River Bend Crocodile Park and a "cuddle" with a baby crocodile!

Grade 1 celebrated the arrive of Spring with a Spring Day. A day filled with colour and flowers and learning about the vibrant nature that surrounds us.

The Grade 1 and 2 learners were visited by the local Fire Station and got to ride in the Fire Engine. They were taught about fire safety, the essential role of the fire service in our community and then were able to clamber into a Fire Engine. What an exciting day.

Learners, teachers and a few parents made 140 "felt angels" which were sent to the school sponsors at Brentwood United Methodist Church in Tennassee, USA as a token of thanks. We look forward to seeing some photographs of our angels at home in America.

Wishing everyone a restful holiday before an exciting fourth term.

Bird Life KZN Midlands sprang from the Port Natal Club 25 years ago, when it became apparent that a local club was needed in the Midlands area. The club was originally based in Pietermaritzburg where most of the Committee lived, and where the evening meetings and most of the outings took place. With the rapid growth of Howick recently, and with many of the Committee members now residing in this town, it was decided to make Howick the centre for the Club!

With our move to Howick we welcomed people moving into and already living in the 'Ambers' who were already BirdLife South Africa members and members of other clubs, to KZN Midlands Bird Club. We are a member of BirdLife South Africa, and it is a prerequisite for membership of our club to be a member of our parent body.

That said anybody and everybody is welcome to join us for our evening meetings and outings. We have a monthly (except July, too cold! and Dec too much going on.) evening meeting which is held at the Goldfields Community Centre at WESSA. This takes place on the third Wed. evening from 17:30 for registration (Members R15 pp, non-members R20) and we have well known speakers presenting their interesting talks from 18:00 to 19:00. 

The club also runs a last Wed. morning of the month outing to places of birding interest, meeting anytime from 06:30 depending on the season of the year, and returning in time for lunch, unless we travel further afield to well know Nature Reserves.  See the Events page for more details of our outings and for information regarding a course we are holding in early October with Dr David Johnson – well known to most of us

As a Club we are actively involved with projects of a national interest, including the Bearded Vulture project, and twice a year a Waterbird count at Midmar Game Reserve, Albert Falls Dam, Darvill and the Gartmore Crane Conservation Centre. Also a coordinated Car route twice a year to monitor Cranes, Bustards, Storks, and some other birds. These counts are on set routes. The Cape Parrot is another species that we monitor on regular yearly basis. These are just some of our projects.

Membership of our Club includes a magazine called 'KZN Birds' which is published three times a year and covers all the Natal Bird Clubs. One can also take out with membership the lovely magazine called 'African Birdlife' published by BirdLife South Africa 6 times a year.

Information kindly supplied by BirdLife KZN Midlands.

In my experience, there are usually seven common reasons why businesses succeed and without these in place, businesses only survive, at best. When challenged around these points, many business owners or CEOs have assured me that they check all the boxes. While that may well be the case for some of them, the clarity usually ends at the boardroom door. Businesses are made, or not, by the teams who execute against the vision of the company.

Thriving businesses have the end in mind, and an example of this was in The Coca-Cola Company in the early nineties. The board decided that, while the company was in the business of refreshment, it was also in the business of providing shareholder value. The way in which this was communicated throughout the global organisation was pervasive to say the least. Digital ticker-tape signs in every office updated the share price every few minutes and the dollar value became the topic of conversation in the corridors and canteens. Unsurprisingly, the question "is the activity you are currently busy with adding or subtracting value?" was constantly being asked. The result was double-digit growth in the share price...

In this column I have highlighted the seven reasons why businesses succeed:

1. A clear and concise vision and mission which is communicated to and understood by all the stakeholders (owners, management, employees, customers and suppliers) in the company. This answers the question, "Why are we in business?"

2. A culture which meets the needs of the owners, the employees, customers and suppliers of the company. This definition of culture answers the question, "How will we conduct ourselves as we do business?"

3. A uniqueness that separates the company from its competition, thereby answering the question, "Why should our customers buy from us?"

4. Financial reserves such as ownership capital and outside lending resources, but most importantly, capital accumulated from a healthy stream of profits. The healthy stream of profits will attract ever increasing amounts of ownership capital and lending resources to help the company grow.

5. The ability to attract top performing people to accomplish the vision and mission. The really successful businesses do not depend on the charisma of any single individual, including that of the founder.

6. Dedication to the principle embodied by the Japanese word kaizen (never ending improvement), which means that even when things are going very well, successful companies strive almost obsessively to improve their product or service.

7. A focus on things that the company does well and the sense to recognise that doing some things well does not mean that the company does everything well.

Supplied by ActionCOACH Business Coaching KZN.

The KwaZulu-Natal Crane Foundation (KZNCF) and the Lions Bush Conservancy proudly invite you to support conservation in the Midlands through your attendance at In ART Gallery's Spirit of the Crane Art Exhibition in Nottingham Road, 12 – 22 September 2013.

The exhibit opening will be held Thursday, 12 September at the In ART Gallery; 16h30 for 17h00. Your R50 entry ticket allows you to mingle with the artists, enjoy a beverage, hear spirited crane lore from around the world and bid upon and purchase art that benefits crane conservation. Your ticket also gives you a chance at winning a piece of original artwork. Tickets can be purchased in Nottingham Road at Barbz Café, Gowrie Village (033 266 6773), or the In ART Gallery (083 253 7297). The In ART Gallery is open Monday – Saturday, 09h30 – 15h30 and Sunday, 09h30 – 12h00.

Hilary Grant Curie, Owner and Curator of In ART Gallery, said, "When my husband and I first moved to Nottingham Road to establish our businesses, I heard about the work of the KZNCF and their efforts to build a Nursery to rear endangered Wattled Crane chicks. After visiting their nature reserve and the Hlatikulu Crane and Wetland Sanctuary, I reconnected with these magnificent birds. I can remember flocks of Blue Cranes sharing the veld with my father's cattle. It was a common sight and annual occurrence.... It saddens me that this is something my own children will likely never experience."

The KZNCF is currently constructing a Nursery to rear critically endangered Wattled Crane chicks for release into the wild in an effort to bolster South Africa's remaining wild flock of 260 individuals. For the past 30 years, conservationists in North America have successfully released human-reared cranes into the wild using a technique called "isolation" or "costume-rearing. This technique, consisting of human caretakers dressed in costumes and puppets will be used to encourage young cranes to obtain skills necessary for survival in the wild. The Nursery will include a hatcher room, veterinary facility, chick house and exercise domes. It is situated on the Bill Barnes Crane and Oribi Nature Reserve in Nottingham Road which the KZNCF owns and manages collaboratively with EKZN Wildlife. The KZNCF expects to receive its first chicks in 2014. Proceeds from the Spirit of the Crane Art Exhibition will go towards the completion of the Nursery.

The KZNCF is a non-profit conservation organization established in 1989 to address the threats facing South Africa's three crane species - the Blue, Wattled and Southern African Grey Crowned Cranes. The foundation is successfully fostering awareness of cranes and their dependence upon wetlands and grasslands through educational outreach and conservation stewardship. To learn more, visit: www.kzncrane.co.za

We feel that FreeMe has really come of age during the last few months. With a record number of mammals coming in from all over the Midlands, we realise that all the hard ground work has finally paid off. The Public now know who to contact and, as quickly as possible, each animal is collected or delivered to the Clinic. The Staff deal with each admittance capably and between Roz, Brian and Israel, there is always a trained person on hand to deal with the traumatised patient. The result - a full clinic with 8 jackal pups, five serval, two mongoose, four duiker, one bushbuck, two gennets, one Reedbuck, various owls, one very large Eland and no losses. How awesome is that!!

Perhaps, the story of the little Reedbuck sums it up best. Brought in on Sunday morning, this poor little thing of about three weeks, had been picked up by two ladies at Sakabula with not one, but two, broken legs. Given that the breaks were at least two days old, this baby had not been able to suckle for that long. Add to that a bitterly cold, wet weekend and the chances for success are extremely slim. Roz was at an Open Garden chasing another elusive buck (this time of the Randela type), and arrived to find Israel in charge, a drip up and a heater going. Monday morning, we were truly amazed to find the youngster trying to stand and bleating for a bottle. Now with two heavily bandaged legs, he is tottering around and getting stronger by the day. He was obviously not ready to give up on life and goes down as one of our true survivors. So we are bleating at the moment as well, our non stop plea for milk, milk and more milk of the full cream, long life variety. Come on teachers, get your classes involved and have a milk challenge day.

News and pictures kindly provided by FreeMe

Have you noticed the wonderful display of Crimum bulbispermum in the wetland below the Midmar Dam wall and on the Lion's River flood plain?

Found naturally on river banks, in wetlands and seasonal pans, this large bulb produces big pink and white striped flowers in springtime. Up to 16 trumpet-shaped flowers form one inflorescence on the tall stalk, opening in succession to reveal a dark red throat and long white stamens. The wavy strap-shaped leaves are a wonderful bluish grey green which compliment the pink perfectly.

In traditional Zulu medicine, roasted bulbs are applied to aching joints, used for rheumatism, varicose veins and backache. Poultices are applied to sores. The leaves are used to keep dressings in place and the flowers are placed on sprains to reduce swelling. Sotho folk also use this plant to stimulate breast milk and plant it as a protective charm outside homesteads.

In the garden it will flourish if given plenty of compost and watered well in summer – it can even be submerged at times – rewarding you with masses of lightly scented blooms in spring.

Thank you to Midlands Conservancies Forum for the news and pictures.

STOP YOUR POOL TURNING GREEN!
DOSE ONLY ONCE A MONTH

activatorD The easier, safer, more economical and effective way to treat and maintain pools.

activatorD was not developed in a laboratory, but in normal conditions at the poolside.

Being disappointed in the action of pool chemicals, he was using in his pool maintenance business, Dudley Magill sought the help of two Chemical Engineer friends and started experimenting with various chemicals.

Dudley wanted something that was safe, economical, eco-friendly and super-effective – particularly in preventing pools from turning green. He also wanted something which would not stain the pool walls!

He came up with the chemical components, a powder mix and a liquid, and over the ensuing months perfected the formula for swimming pools. He has been using the product now for almost three years in many school, hotel and private pools and can say with candour that he has no dissatisfied clients.

The product comes in 2 bottles – a powder and a liquid – totaling 850 grams. This is enough for a 50,000 litre pool for one month. It is safe, environmentally friendly, economical and very effective.

A neglected pool will need a double-dose to start off, but this will effectively kill the algae and clear the water in a few days. Black algae will disappear over a few weeks, and should be brushed off the walls. (Chlorine does not kill algae, only bleaches it; this is why during a storm the chlorine is drawn from the water and the algae is once again visible, turning the water green).

activatorD does not hurt eyes or skin, and swimming costumes last longer. It is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, non-corrosive and chlorine-free - so the run-off water from the pool should not damage your plants.

For further information, please contact:

Midlands Agent
Rob Folker 082 376 8668

Kitty Cabanas has been owned and run by Jane and Gill for the last 11 years.

Jane worked in the veterinary industry for a number of years before having her first baby when she decided not to go back to work and run the cattery instead.

The cattery is now based 9km up the Curries Post Road outside Howick. There are 30 runs for your cat to have a nice spacious area when they visit. Each run has a cabana in which there is a mattress and nice warm bedding. There is also a shelf and ladder from which the cats can watch the passing Oribi and Wattled Cranes.

The cats are fed twice a day. Clients are welcome to bring their own food or they are fed Hills Science Diet food which the cattery supplies. The runs are cleaned out once a day, fresh litter put into the trays and clean bedding if necessary. Some of the runs have cat jungle gyms which the long term boarders enjoy immensely.

Jane now also works at a veterinary clinic in the mornings and so enjoys having cats that need a bit of extra care. She has looked after numerous diabetic cats, ones that need daily medication, bandage changes etc.

The opening times for the cattery are as follows Monday - Friday 7.30am - 9am then 4 - 5pm. Saturday is closed and Sunday 4 - 5pm.

Please feel free to give us a ring and come and visit.

Nicci Smith, a Zumba instructor from Howick has teamed up with Kerry Heinrich from Hilton for the upcoming Zumbathon®. The Zumbathon® is held to raise money for breast cancer research.

This charity event is hosted by thousands of Zumba® Instructors during the month of October every year all around the world and huge amounts of money have been raised.

Cowan House is sponsoring the use of their indoor centre and all money raised will go directly to Zumba® and into the research programs they are sponsoring.

The event, to be held on the 5th October,  is open to EVERYONE of any fitness level (men included). Children and husbands are welcome and the participants may do as little or as much of the 3 hour event as they would like.

In addition to Nicci and Kerry, there will be a host of instructors traveling in from Durban and the South Coast to add to the fun.

See our events page for more information.

While we have been enjoying our jackal pups, they are not everyone's favourite creature. A concerned farmer asked that they not be released anywhere near his property as they kill calves in a very unpleasant way. This is a very legitimate request and our answer is below for all those farming types who are concerned about our decision to rehabilitate them:-

As a rule we do not rehabilitate jackals at all, because of the problem of finding a suitable release site. At the moment though we have had a request from a new reserve up near Phinda in Northern Zululand. They were previously surrounded by squatter camps and their jackal population was wiped out by distemper picked up from the local dogs. They are finding it very difficult to balance their reserve without jackals and the distemper virus stays in the soil for up to four years. Because we can inoculate for distemper with a 100% success rate, our jackals will be able to survive, breed and build up a viable population. All our releases are approved by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and they would certainly never approve jackal releases in a farming area. Similarly, we have to be very careful about mongoose, genet, serval and all other predator sites. We will occasionally release antelope or birds in this area, but nothing else. We do not release into Umgeni because of the poaching problem.

News article submitted by FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation KZN.

What a perverse place the Midlands is.  Just as Spring arrives the weather gets cold, miserable and unpredictable. Still, we really did have a very mild winter with lots of beautiful, warm, sunny days.

Before we go any further, we would like to remind everyone of our invitation to join us for tea, coffee and crumpets on 21st September (Saturday) at 10h00 for a very interesting talk on Midlands Birding by Densham Drummond in our education centre. We can only accommodate 30 people, so please book early, to avoid disappointment.

Very exciting is the news that people have now spotted 4 crowned cranes on Sugarlands Farm on the Curry's Post Road. For years, they seem to have only been 2, then last year there were three and now there is a new addition. Greytown has really been a focus of our attention in the last little while, with our tiny baby duiker girl and five jackal pups having been collected from there in the last month. Our baby Jackal pups continue to grow quickly.  Our latest addition, a young spotted eagle owl is that latest arrival and is a real little character.

Howick Garden Club had a very interesting talk on vervet monkeys at FreeMe last month (thanks for your support). It was a real eye opener as to how special these animals are and how, with a bit of effort, we can live with them fairly harmoniously.

Finally, we were very disappointed with the response to our sms line – we really thought that this would be a quick and easy way to donate a small amount of money to FreeMe. Please everyone, don't think that the next person can make the effort, because chances are they expecting you to do it!! R10.00 a month is a very small amount, but five hundred people doing it just once a month, will result in R5 000.00 coming in to help our wildlife – and that is such a rewarding cause with which to be involved.

Pictured above is our serious looking Spotted Eagle Owl – if you think he is really cute, please sms donate freeme to 48748 and donate R10.00.

The Jackal pups growing quickly.

Marriott, the Income Specialists have opened a client centre in the Greendale Acres Centre in Lawton Road, Howick.

Marriott specialise in providing Solutions for Retirement to investors planning for and in retirement.

The new centre will enable Marriott to personally service clients and financial advisors in the region, offering the same services as the Head Office in Hillcrest. This includes the facilitation of meetings between financial advisors and their clients and providing marketing material and client information. Clients will be able to obtain statements, make adjustments to their investments as well as access Marriott's unique Investment Planning Tool over a cup of tea. An additional valuable service is Marriott Cash Management which offers interest rates generally higher than call rates, and where staff will be available to assist you in paying accounts.

"We have a large client base in this area who we believe will benefit from a personal professional service on their doorstep," said Simon Pearse, chief executive of Marriott. "Members of the public are also most welcome to pop in to find out more about the Marriott Solutions."

This is the first walk-in client centre that Marriott has established in KZN, offering a convenient way of meeting the investment needs of local residents in a friendly and relaxed environment.

"Marriott's Solutions for Retirement provide for both the current and future income needs of investors and can be used throughout all life stages. They are designed to provide a reliable monthly income with a reasonable expectation of income growth, as well as certainty in volatile markets." Pearse said. "All of these factors combined also enable investors to have a reliable expectation of their capital value over time".

The new Marriott client centre in Howick will be open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm. For more information phone the Marriott Communication Centre on 0800 336 555.

Pictured: Mike Ronald, Head of Advisory Services, with Angie Strydom, client service administrator who will be based in the Howick Client Centre.

Umgeni Waterfall Bowls Club

Competitions

The 'Power Drive' Tabs in competition, sponsored by the Lawnmower Shop, is on Wednesday 25th  September.

The Moffatt Optical Competition is all day on 20 October.

The Tabs in tournment, sponsored by Halfway Toyota, Giovision and Greendale Spar, is on Wednesday 11 September.  Bowlers come along and test your bowling skill, hope for a bit of luck and win a plump chicken donated by Greendale Spar.

Enquiries for the above competitions to Dave Truscott 033 239 4512

Club Duties

Refreshments:

7 September – 13 September: Trevor James
14 September – 20 September: Richard Grant

Tabs:

11 September – 17 September: Barbara Wyatt and Hilary Williams

Teas:

14 September: Hilary Williams;

17 September: Lyn Durant;

18 September: Bernice Burden

Social Bowls

Every Wednesday and Saturday, tabs in by 1.30pm. Whites.
Every Tuesday morning, tabs in by 8.30 am. Casual. Visitors most welcome.

FREE Coaching takes place on a regular basis. For any enquiries kindly contact: John Withers on 033-239 5376, Graeme Cameron on 033-330 3457, Hilary Williams on 033-3303992 or Barry Bedworth on 033-239 5445