Welcome to this week's newsy update from Hilton, KZN Midlands, uMngeni where golfing admbassadors are heading for La Rose Driving Range to celebrate Women's Month. In this week's newsletter we introduce Jocelyn Dormehl.

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MiTH 16 August 2023

INFO: 082 331 7271

ENTRANCE: R50.00 - Cash or Zapper at the Door

VENUE: The Knoll Historic Guest Farm

7pm: Howick High Band

Led by their charismatic and eccentric teacher, Mark Houston, the Howick High School Band never disappoints. Come and check out the Midlands’ young talent! The band is excited to be back at MiTH once again, to play a collection of pop and rock classics from The Foo Fighters, and Bruce Springsteen, to the White Stripes and everything in between. Who knows, there might even be some Iron Maiden...

8pm: Woodgate

Woodgate is a four-piece alternative indie rock band from Pietermaritzburg, started in July this year. The band consists of Josh Gilliver on drums, James Cunningham on bass guitar, Joshua Strydom on guitar, and Ryan Woodgate on guitar and vocals. The band plays original songs written by Ryan Woodgate, some of which have already been part of his solo releases, and others that the band has created together. In addition, the band plays cover songs from a range of artists and genres, including rock, indie, alternative, and pop. Influences of the band are many, including the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Foo Fighters, Cage The Elephant and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Ryan Woodgate and Josh Gilliver have played together before as part of local rock band “Calico” who gigged throughout KZN between 2017 and 2021. Joshua Strydom and James Cunningham are also experienced musicians; Joshua being part of the MMM band and James being part of Static Cat. Woodgate will be playing their debut gig at MiTH and taking the local music scene by storm with a blend of exciting originals and well-known, foot-tapping covers.

9pm: Serrotone

Serrotone is an exciting collaboration project initiated by two established SA radio play artists: Pete Guthrie (Spoonfeedas) and James Robertson (Cubic Inch), and Billy Kruger. Guthrie and Robertson have both written and performed as part of Spoonfeedas, a multi-charting SA group. Robertson’s band, Cubic Inch, has also enjoyed radio popularity, and between them, they have performed alongside artists like Metallica, Muse, Ronan Keating, and Bryan Adams. Kruger has performed in Europe with MIC at Holland’s Ajax stadium, also having shared the stage with UK band Delirious. Serrotone has further performed with some of South Africa’s finest acts, sharing the stage with Prime Circle and Wonderboom in Plettenburg Bay, and then Freshly Ground at the Inverroche Summer Series in Stilbaai. They have individually and collectively released multiple singles which have achieved radio play and gained popularity at live performances. We can't wait to have them back at MiTH.

ABOUT MiTH: Arguably the KZN Midlands’ best-loved music venue, Music in The Hills (MiTH) is an opportunity for beginners, professionals, and passionate music fans to share the joy of music at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm. Visit www.mith.co.za for more details and directions. Musicians can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for slots.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: MiTH takes place every second Wednesday at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, Knoll Drive, Hilton. Doors open at 6pm and the music will kick off at 7pm. Entrance is R50 at the door. Food and soft drinks are available for sale. A cash bar is available.

DIRECTIONS TO MiTH: Take the N3 to Hilton, take the Hilton turnoff and go South into the Village (away from Hilton College). Travel 5,2km along Hilton Avenue (past two sets of traffic lights and Crossways Pub) and keep going straight as Hilton Avenue turns into Dennis Shepstone Drive. At the 5,2km mark, Knoll Drive will be on your right – the entrance to MiTH is the *second* entrance on your left into The Knoll Historic Guest Farm.

Hilton, off Hilton College Road. Available 1 September or earlier by arrangement. Large one and half bedroom (ideal for a study), one bathroom, open plan lounge and kitchen. Spacious verandah and braai area, small private garden. Covered carport. Suitable for mature single professional or couple, strictly no children or pets. Rental is R6000 single, R7000 couple - inclusive of lights, water and garden maintenance. There is a 2km stretch of dirt road involved to access this estate. Please email your details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for an appointment to view.

 

Our Cowan Cubs have been learning about Transport. The Grade RR children had a bus ride to the Hilton Train Station where they could freely explore the beautiful old trains. Climbing, balancing, pushing and exploring were all part of our adventure. We ended off our outing with ice lollies on the grassed area at The Quarry shopping centre. We returned to school with happy hearts and many stories of which train each child would like to drive.

More about Cowan House

The Midlands did not need another brokerage claiming they are property experts, it deserved a refreshing approach, it called for something beyond the ordinary – a touch of innovation, a dose of insight, and a push beyond traditional boundaries. At Reallist we are not just a run-of-the-mill agency, we strive to deliver a fresh and exhilarating perspective to the industry.

Why Choose us?
Because we offer a tailor-made package, an in-house Real Estate solution that delivers turn-key offerings. Our team comprises seasoned specialists with decades of experience and an unparalleled knowledge of property sales, trends and property developments.

Our comprehensive services include;

Sales & Leasing | Property Management | Project Management | Development Marketing

Our shining achievement? We are the co-authors of the pioneering estate living concept, Mount Verde, in Hilton, where residential living harmoniously integrates with agricultural practices and farm life. As Exclusive in-house agents for Mount Verde, we take immense pride in this distinct accomplishment.

“Buy land, they’re not making it anymore.” – Mark Twain

Make your move, we are ready and waiting for your call...

www.reallist.co.za

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Village, Mount Verde Ave, Mount Verde Estate, Hilton, 3245

Lara van Niekerk missed out on earning a medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan by just five hundredths of a second on Sunday as the swimming action came to an end.

The 20-year-old suffered another bad start in her 50m breaststroke final, the slowest of the field, and was playing catch-up for the entire length of the pool.

She did well to claw her way back into contention but eventually had to settle for fourth spot after finishing in a time of 30.09 seconds.

Out in front, Rūta Meilutytė stormed to a new world record of 29.16 seconds, adding the 50m title to the 100m breaststroke gold she won earlier in the week. The Lithuanian had given a hint of things to come when she equalled the world record in her semifinal on Saturday.

American Lilly King took the silver in a time of 29.94 and Italy’s former world record holder Benedetta Pilato the bronze in 30.04.

Speaking after the final, Van Niekerk’s coach Eugene da Ponte said: “The race didn’t quite go as planned. Again the start was a bit of an issue but the swimming was actually really good.

The closing speed in the last 25m was top class but she just ran out of space.

“Still, overall, fourth place in the world – we can’t complain too much. I think it was a good race and a good comeback from the big problem with the start in the heats and I think that maybe would have been playing on her mind a little bit still as well,” he added.

“So overall, we’re not too upset with the result. Still fourth in the world and we’re looking forward to Paris next year now.”

Van Niekerk was South Africa’s only medallist at last year’s World Championships in Budapest after claiming bronze in the 50m breaststroke. On that occasion, she swam 29.77 seconds in the heats and 29.90 in the final before heading to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where she claimed double gold – in the 50 and 100m breaststroke.

Back in Fukuoka, earlier in the day, Rebecca Meder was the only other swimmer in action. Having set a new South African record in the 200m individual medley at the start of the championships, the 20-year-old swam a new personal best time of 4:45.68 in the 400m individual medley to finish 21st overall.

Pictured top: Lara van Niekerk

Photo credit: World Aquatics

Supplied.

Point Yacht Club - ILCA / Laser Nationals
Offshore Durban: 10 – 12 August

Dinghy sailors from around South Africa will be heading to the warm waters of Durban to compete in the ILCA / Laser Nationals hosted by Point Yacht Club, where racing will take place offshore from 10 – 12 August.

Three days of highly competitive sailing gets underway for the one class dinghy design. The ILCA or Laser, is one of the Olympic Sailing Classes, with only one sailor and one sail onboard. Three classes of Lasers will be launching from the Point Yacht Club’s beach site, the ILCA 7 or Standard Laser, the ILCA 6 or Radial Laser and the ILCA 4 which is the smaller 4.7 Laser mostly sailed by upcoming youth sailors.

At the Nationals this year, a strong contingent of youth will be competing, with Henley Midmar and Zululand Yacht Clubs contributing to these numbers. The majority of the fleet will be travelling down from the Vaal Dam, joining top class sailors from around the country who have entered.

Making a welcome return is world class Laser sailor, Rudy McNeill who has relocated back to his sailing playground. McNeill has won the trophy three times and campaigned many times at the World Championships where he has lined up against the best Laser racers on the globe. Two Cape Townians who will be pushing McNeill hard around the race track are previous class winners, Alistair Keytel and Kai Leslie.

An exciting youngster to watch is Chiara Fruet from Cape Town. Fruet has spent a patch of the European summer competing in some large regattas, soaking up as much experience as possible. Fruet participated in one of the most renowned sailing events in Germany, Kiel Week then made her way to Italy for some training events. The 19 year old competed in the epic Nastro Rosa Tour which is a multi-disciplinary regatta that tours around Italy, stopping at a variety of Italian ports. She is back in South Africa and will be keen to test her new skills on local waters.

Included in the line up is an international entry from Tanzania, the Dar es Salaam Yacht Club is sending one of their national sailors who has honed his skills offshore in the bay of Dar es Salaam. The budding sailor will be keen to get some international exposure under his belt, sailing in one of the best offshore venues in the world.

Two of the classes will be up for grabs as the defending champions unfortunately won’t be competing, so the ILCA 7 and ILCA 4 classes will see new names being engraved on the trophies. The middle class, the ILCA 6 might also have a new champion too as inland yachtie, Keagen Nel is keeping his options open as to what class he will be competing in, waiting to see what the conditions will be like to suit his talents.

Race Officer is an in-demand Kevin Bingham, who recently oversaw the MSC Week in July. Bingham will have the option of setting two race courses for the pint-sized yachts – either a windward leeward course, affectionately called a sausage course, with boats needing to do two laps around the two marks. The second track is a sausage triangle course, with the Lasers needing to do one lap of each pattern.

With Durban usually dishing up glorious sailing conditions over winter, the fleet will be required to complete at least four races to constitute a regatta and no more than 12 races in total, can be sailed. The first day of sailing will have a late start, with the first signal going off at 10.55am. The following two days will see an earlier start, if the wind starts to fill in early, with Bingham allowed to get the fleet underway from 9.30am. Each class will have their own individual starts.

Hoping for golden conditions off the golden mile, a decent cluster of Laser sailors will be going for gold in the upcoming ILCA Nationals, being hosted by the Point Yacht Club.

For more info visit the regatta’s website - ILCA Nationals SA 2023 or the Laser South Africa Facebook group.

“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” —Ernest Hemingway

Above: Mastering their skills. Durban’s emerging sailors are pictured in the build up to the Laser Nationals hosted by Point Yacht Club. Youngsters Khulekani Sibambo (New Germany), Jessica Curtiss (Botha’s Hill) and Shamir Rampersadh (Seaview) sneak some time out away from their books to prepare for the major offshore sailing event taking place in the bay of Durban from 10 – 12 August. Sibambo and Rampersadh are both studying Nautical Sciences through DUT while Curtiss is a Mechanical Engineering student at UKZN. All three share a huge passion for the wind powered sport of yachting, having just raced in the MSC Week and now counting down the days until the upcoming nationals.

Pic by Val Adamson

Supplied.

Chocolate Sensations Hilton’s handcrafted Belgian chocolates are great additions to so many occasions! These Handcrafted Deluxe Belgian Chocolates produced in Hilton.

WOMEN'S DAY OFFER Less 10% for pack of 12 items

Valid until end AUGUST 2023

Mini Belgian Chocolate bars, - assorted fillings @ R8 each.
Large Chocolate flowers and Insects - assorted fillings @ R7 each
Chocolate Spoons @ R10 each

Orders should be placed 2 days in advance with Gwynne on cell 071 6848 026 whatsapp or sms OR
https://www.instagram.com/chocsensehilton

Tatjana Schoenmaker cruised into her second World Aquatics Championships final in Fukuoka, Japan, comfortably winning her 200m breaststroke semifinal in 2:21.31 to progress to Friday’s final as the quickest of the pack.

 

The 26-year-old Olympic champion and former world record-holder in the event dominated from the start, reaching each of the turns in first place ahead of American Lilly King who was second in 2:22.68.

 

The other semifinal was won by Dutch swimmer Tes Schouten in a time of 2:21.71

 

In the earlier heats, Schoenmaker swam 2:22.92 to easily win her heat and qualify second fastest for the semifinals.

 

Earlier in the day, Aimee Canny swam a personal best time in the 100m freestyle, reaching the wall in 54.60 seconds to finish sixth in her heat. That saw the 19-year-old through to the evening semifinals where she finished eighth in 54.87 seconds, so missing out on a spot in the final.

 

“I was very happy with the race in this morning’s heats,” said Canny. “I was coming off a pretty disappointing 200m [freestyle] so I was just happy to make the semis.”

 

Canny’s time of 54.60 edged her closer to the South African and African record of 54.23 that Erin Gallagher set at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

 

“I definitely have my eyes set on that record, hopefully in the near future,” reckoned Canny. “I just need to really put my head down and focus and get a really good training block in ahead of this Olympic cycle and give it my all.

 

“But overall I’m very happy with the race, new experiences, and there’s just so much more to come.”

 

Swimming action continues on Friday in Fukuoka with 43-year-old Roland Schoeman scheduled to be back in the pool in the 50m freestyle heats while Schoenmaker’s 200m breaststroke final will be contested in the evening session.

 

Photo credit: World Aquatics

 

Supplied.

Participants and supporters of the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge, which takes place this Sunday, 20 August, around Alexandra Park and the outskirts of the CBD, are requested to note the road closures and parking areas, so as to avoid traffic congestion on the day.

“Approximately 3000 participants plus their supporters are expected to descend on the Alexandra Park area, for the start of the race at 8am in Princess Margaret Drive, opposite Maritzburg College,” says Race Director, Brad Glasspoole. “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 in time.”

The road closures and times are as follows:
Sunday, August 20
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 entires can still be done at Race Registration on Friday 18 August from 10am to 5pm and on Saturday 19 August from 10am to 3pm at The Oval Cricket Ground, Alexandra Park. No cash can be accepted - only debit or credit cards can be used for payment.

The field is limited to 3000 participants.

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

 

Caption: Getting ahead of the pack are Pauline Rainbird (right) and defending champion in the Junior Category, Leah Edwards (Kearsney Striders) as they train for the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge taking place on Sunday 20 August at 8am. This is a reminder that some roads will be closed for access to vehicles, and participants and supporters should plan their route and arrive early so they can get to the race starting line on time. Also pictured giving Pauline and Leah a run for their money are Emma Lycett, Levern Rothwell, Aphumelele Shezi, Nikiwe Mnguni, and Cleo Sosibo (Choc House PMB).

Photo credit: Rogan Ward

 

Supplied.

The United States Supreme Court’s decision to ban affirmative action in college admissions has raised red flags for universities and prospective students across the globe. Predictions are that the decision will heavily impact racial diversity in US universities. For South African, and other international students hoping to apply to the US, the decision is unlikely to have a significant impact – they will still have to work twice as hard as other applicants, to stand out to admissions officers.

“South African students have historically faced challenges when it comes to applying to universities in the US because of geography, not race. The Supreme Court’s decision, while notable, is not expected to impact this. Regardless of race, local students will still have to put significant time and effort into their academics and overall application if they want to gain admission,” says Rebecca Pretorius, Regional Manager of Crimson Education, a global admission advisory that helps students prepare their applications to top universities abroad.

Affirmative action, often referred to as “race-conscious admissions” in the higher education sphere, allows universities to consider a student’s race in the admissions process, with the goal of creating a diverse student body that enriches the educational experiences of all students. “Until now, more than 40% of American universities, and 60% of selective schools have considered race to some extent when making admissions decisions, according to documents filed in court by Harvard,” says Pretorius.

US universities receive millions of applications every year, and competition is stiff. For international students, like South Africans hoping to gain admission, the highly competitive and holistic admission process takes into account academic excellence, extracurricular involvement, leadership qualities, letters of recommendation, and personal essays. With historically low acceptance rates across the board, students need to display exemplary performance in every category.

“Harvard’s acceptance rate in 2022/2023 was 3.1%. Stanford’s acceptance rate hit an all-time low of under 3.8%, with just over 2 000 students being accepted, out of over 56 000 applicants. The majority of these coveted spots go to students from the United States. To be one of the few international students who stand out, local students must focus on curating a strong application portfolio, that not only highlights academic and extra-curricular strengths, but also tells a compelling story about who they are and what they can bring to the university,” says Pretorius.

In the Supreme Court ruling, nothing prohibits universities from considering how race or other adversities have affected an applicant's life. This means that students could provide concrete examples of how challenges like racial discrimination, lack of financial means, the area they grew up in, or the school they attended has affected them – as long as it is directly linked to how they can contribute to the university.

“We’ll only be able to navigate the full effects of this decision over time. At Crimson, we will be monitoring any changes that do take effect, to continue giving our students the best advice and guidance in their application journeys,” says Pretorius.

For more information, visit www.crimsoneducation.org/za or reach out at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Supplied.

Long-time friends, collaborators and leading exponents of the acoustic guitar scene in South Africa, Derek Gripper and Guy Buttery are coming to the KZN Midlands for a one off concert. After their last concert together at the legendary Freight & Salvage in San Francisco, California, this will be their first official performance together as a duo in KwaZulu-Natal.

Derek Gripper is known for his groundbreaking technique for evoking the West African kora on the guitar. He has transcribed the complex music of Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté and infuses his interpretations of Bach’s music with lessons from the oral traditions of Africa. He has performed with Toumani Diabaté’s Symmetric Orchestra and classical guitar legend John Williams, and tours worldwide.It took Derek Gripper untold hours of painstaking work to transcribe note-for-note the complex compositions of Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté and find a way of playing them on six-string guitar. The results appeared on his ninth album, “One Night on Earth”. The album created an unprecedented meeting point between the written tradition of Western classical music and the oral tradition of the West African griots.

“Guy Buttery is something of a National treasure”, says South Africa’s leading newspaper The Mercury. 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, 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 homegrown 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.

The duo came together in an official recording for what was their first release in a live improvised concert captured in Cape Town. First heard as an exclusive premiere on NPR's "New Sounds" radio show in New York, the SAMA nominated album “Live in Cape Town” is something of a melting pot of South African and Eastern influences crafted by two of the finest visionaries to emerge from the tip of the continent in decades.

Get your pre-sale tickets here.

 

Photo credit top: Dimitri Otis

Photo credit bottom: Anton Kruger

Female DJ Lucy Lu, famously known in the entertainment circles, is making impressive moves in the industry. It is also noteworthy to hear that a DJ of her calibre is interested in giving back to the community.

Born Lusanda Palesa Nzama, Lucy Lu hails from Sobantu in Pietermaritzburg. From humble beginnings, she forged her way into the music industry in the City of Choice as a “groovist” at first, then progressed to being a DJ. She has always been a house music fanatic but connected more with Afro House and Afro Tech. In 2020, before the COVID Level 5 Lockdown, her passion for music prompted her to ask two local DJs in her community (DJ Yaandah and Lummy) to teach her how to DJ.

A prominent DJ, locally, Lucy Lu has entertained guests at numerous events hosted by local promoters, event organisers and big festivals in the city and beyond, specializing in mixing and blending tracks to create a seamless and dynamic flow of music. These include Anywhere In Your City which was hosted in Durban by DJ Merlon and Enoo Napa, Last Dance Music Experience, Duzi Live events, and other events hosted by the notorious Spike Notion, uMgungundlovu Music Festival, All Varsities Social Picnic, Midlands Winter Xperience and other monthly events in the city. She has also played at numerous establishments locally such as Cubana Maritzburg, Sprytz Premium Lounge, Ora Restobar, Rotunda Beach Restaurant and Bar, and other local entertainment venues around the city. She has played at Luma Sunsets, The Villa, Newscafe, Lime Rooftop, and Empire Café in Durban. This versatile DJ has also been booked for corporate events hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture and Umgeni Water.

“I did not think my journey would take off so quickly, playing in the biggest festivals in my hometown and Durban. I work very hard, but honestly, I feel like everything is just falling into place so easily because my time to shine has come. I prepared and positioned myself well before I even became a DJ, building good relations with people in the industry. It is making my life so much easier right now. My goal is to see myself on international stages, flying the Pietermaritzburg flag”.

Beyond her musical talent, Lucy Lu has a registered NPO called Ubuntu eSobantu Community Initiative which was founded in 2015. The officially registered NPO collaborates with other graduates in her community to achieve the objectives of the NPO, which include empowerment and development programmes aimed at the youth of Sobantu. As a graduate herself, Lucy Lu has a strong focus on the Career Guidance Talk programme as the NPO’s focus is education.

Lusanda is very passionate when it comes to education. Her strong leadership has produced so many successful educational initiatives that the NPO strikes to achieve. She is determined, innovative and takes interest in seeing the youth in our community obtain better education and other opportunities - Sinegugu Khumalo

Currently, Lucy Lu entertains where she is booked at, including FameUs Brands events which is Dogg Dbn’s company. She is also a resident DJ for the Beach Experience at Rotunda Beach Restaurant and Bar in Cedara. She has recently bagged a partnership with FCR Fleet Solutions which acts as her official driving partner and ensures she gets to and from events safely. She is hopeful her brand will attract more companies that she can work with in future to further elevate her brand as well as local brands. Lucy Lu also bagged a residency on Gagasi Fm for the month of August. Her mixes will be played every Friday at 17:05pm. She has released her first Single titled Mam’ncane featuring Afro wizards and Section 5, which is available on digital stores. She is also working on her EP which will be released before the end of the year.

You can find LucyLu on her social media pages,
Facebook – LucyLu
Instagram - @lucy_lu_
Tik Tok - @lucylu805
For bookings: 084 534 1608 / 071 614 7951 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Photo credit:  Da Brian Photography

Supplied.

Dreams and Dust is a new history of South Africa, covering the 58 short-lived republics that have existed here since 1795 – plus an additional equally-fascinating 20 fictional ones (Bapetikosweti, Fook, Wakanda and others.) The book is 629 pages and includes many arresting images and 69 seldom-seen historical maps.

 

The author, Alex Stone (Top image), has spent half his life in South Africa before moving to Waiheke Island in New Zealand. For his creative writing, Stone has either won, been runner-up or short-listed in nine New Zealand literary awards, and one international award for memoir.

 

“I can’t think of anything remotely comparable to this in South African historico-literary works – in subject conception and in its approach to subject matter, it really is a unique volume, fresh and strikingly idiosyncratic in its handling of subject matter.

 

Bill Nasson, Emeritus Professor of History, Stellenbosch University, writes:
“Alex Stone is a highly accomplished writer, with a prose fluency, an eye for freakish detail and an ability to compress things which mark him out as a gifted stylist. His Dreams and Dust introduction tells you what to expect, makes what that is look tantalising, and reels you in. This is imaginative historical writing with a light and lively touch, while not dodging topics that are emotive and powerful.”

 

Also launching at The Knoll in Hilton on 15 August is Taken, due out in July this year from UK-based Vanguard Press, is a unique novel written in the first-person voices of three Indian elephants. Their stories are relayed by an African elephant living in a retirement home for circus performers in contemporary Kentucky, USA.

 

Taken is the debut novel of Alex Stone, who spent half his life in South Africa before moving to Waiheke Island in New Zealand. For his creative writing Stone has either won, been runner-up or short-listed in nine New Zealand literary awards, and one international award for memoir (see full credits below).

 

Taken was completed under a mentorship scheme of the New Zealand Society of Authors. Stone worked with Elizabeth Smither, novelist and former Poet Laureate of New Zealand.

Smither says that “Philosophical discourse is one of the charms of Taken. Philosophising is almost made for elephants, being part of their characters, a strategy for survival in difficult situations. Alex is the master of this, the supreme mahout.

 

“I couldn’t help smiling to myself at the clever ending. Not in ‘closure’, as we think of it – but in the opening out into a broad and accommodating philosophy which gathers all the threads together.”

 

Smither says of Stone’s short stories: “He is a writer of striking originality with qualities of daring and humour that are rare. Like Lloyd Jones, Alex has the ability to create a landscape so vivid the reader feels he is walking down a dusty road or in the hold of a ship.”

 

Lloyd Jones, author of Mr Pip and Winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Award, added: “There is energy and confidence on every page. The way you inhabit your lines is remarkable.”

 

Gareth Patterson, author of The Secret Elephants, said of Taken: “Absorbing and lyrical, and poignant in the elephants’ message. Like Heathcote Williams’ Sacred Elephant before it, Taken deserves a wide readership.”

 

Stone says he has written this book mostly to build a fictional world where the animals’ voices are pre-eminent. And so, hopefully, to afford us humans some humility.

 

“Wildlife across the globe is at a dangerous tipping-point. Even elephants – and especially the often- overlooked Indian elephants – are endangered in the wild.

 

“The eons-old relationship between elephants and humans can be a powerful vector to carry the story of inter-species communication and mutual respect, which will lead to a better world for all our futures. The voices of these magnificent animals need to be heard, as ambassadors for all wild animals.”

 

Each of the main elephant characters has an especially close relationship with a singular human.

 

For Biligiri, in Abyssinia in 1868, that person is a larger-than-life New Zealander Captain Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy, aka Basha Felika, a real historical figure. Biligiri calls him “a gale of a man.” Apart from English, Te Reo and Elephant, Speedy is also fluent in Amharic. This is why he is guiding the expeditionary force into the highlands of Abyssinia, to rescue hostages held by the mad temperamental Emperor Tewodros II.

 

Tant-Meisie, who is touring South Africa with the Boswell-Wilkie Circus meets significant personalities from 1960’s South Africa – and a past-midnight family of secretive Knysna elephants while camped outside the town there.

 

Unusually for a novel, Taken includes a bibliography of important and intriguing additional reading – on elephants, the human-animal relationship, and the psychic and emotional lives of animals.

 

 

From Tessa Duder CNZM OBE, author of the Alex quartet, winner of the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal: “I was greatly impressed by ‘Taken’; an accomplished and poignant story. 

Here is a writer of considerable potential, should he decide to write longer fiction.”

 

From Bruce Ansley, author of A long Slow Affair of the Heart, A Fabled Land, and Coast: A New Zealand Journey, winner Best Illustrated Non-fiction Book at the New Zealand Post Book Awards: “It is intriguing, beautifully crafted, moving and poetic. It brings the knowing eye of elephants to bear on the reader, creating the feeling of injustice I always have when I’m close to them. It’s a parable of imperialism. For all these reasons and more, I loved it.”

From Stephen Stratford, NZ literary editor: “The elephants’ voice works very well. This is hard to pull off but you did a great job of the African voice.”

Taken will be available in bookshops from July 2023.

 

Supplied.

Security Tips
• Don’t provide cover for would be criminals (cut back foliage). Deter criminals from targeting your house by ensuring you cut back trees and bushes. Investigate installing movement sensor lights and report broken streetlights.
• Clear foliage away from your PIR beams. Excessive foliage and pot plants placed in front of external PIR beams will not only result in possible false alarms, but also render them useless in detecting criminal’s approaching your house. If you have invested in these external PIR beams, please ensure that they remain unobscured.

Keyholder Information
Please update your residential and business key holder information regularly so that the KSS Control Room always has updated information, as well as accurate opening and closing times. Please call the KSS Control Room on 033 330 5911 and one of our controllers will assist you.

Technical Advice
• Do you have an electric fence and would like it monitored so that early warning activations can be responded to? KSS can do this for you.
• Would you like CCTV cameras installed that also trigger an intruder alert? KSS can do this for you.
• Do you need a gate installation done or your current electric gate linked to your alarm system? KSS can do this for you.