Books are both mirrors and windows - mirrors that reflect what you recognise in your own world and windows to the outside world beyond your experiences. Book Dash books provide both! Our little ones were so excited to receive their new Book Dash books this week and couldn't wait to 'read' them! Thanks to the amazing Book Dash sponsors, every child in our program got 2 books in isiZulu each to take home and keep, and each crèche received 5 books to add to their library. What a wonderful gift!

St Anne’s recently hosted the U13 Girls’ Midlands Hockey Festival that welcomed 16 teams representing both local and out-of-province primary schools, highlighting the healthy competition among young female athletes.

The campus was abuzz with the sounds of laughter and encouragement. A heartfelt thank you to the following schools for joining us in 2024… and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2025!

Winterton Primary
Chelsea Prep
St Stithians (2 teams)
Kokstad Junior School
Kloof Senior Primary
Cowan House
Laddsworth Primary School
Rivonia Primary School
The Wykeham Collegiate
St Peter’s Girls Prep (2 teams)
Howick Prep (2 teams)
Atholl Heights
White Stone

Last night, while the boarders were returning to school, we were treated to a rare, blue supermoon rising majestically over St Anne’s. A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest approach to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter than usual.

Thank you to new St Anne’s parents, Michelle and Russel Hastings, for capturing this beautiful image.

It is always such a lovely feeling to receive positive feedback and words of thanks and recognition for our staff. We always pass on the messages and welcome your kind words in an industry that so often does not come with much appreciation for the long hours, and unsung heroes behind the scenes keeping our clients and community safe. Here is one such message received this past week:

“Good day, I hope this email finds you well. I just wanted to email to congratulate one of your staff members, his name is Colin. I never got his surname. He was on duty at the Sappi Gate on the P142. My mother, not from the area, hit a pot hole and had to stop outside the gate due to slicing her tyre open. Colin promptly came out to aid her. He kindly changed her tyre for her insisting he helped out. By the time we arrived to help my mom, Colin had sorted everything out. Such a welcoming sight and pleasure to have such a well-mannered and fantastic gentlemen assist. Kind regards”

Familiarize yourself with emergency numbers in the event of a fire and medical emergency OR call the KSS 24/7 Control Room on 033 3305911 and we will assist you with the necessary support.

HOT ITEMS
Vehicles being broken into – don’t leave any valuable items in the vehicle (handbags and wallets)
Metal items
Suspects distracting store owners or service providers and then stealing items (laptops and cell phones)
Tools
Chickens
When in public, be aware and keep your handbags, cell phones and shopping carefully guarded.

 

Contact our KSS Management Team for any other information on:
Gary (Owner): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 082 8947 628
Renee (Business Manager): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 063 2921 240
Sashen (Manager Technical): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 082 6736 773
Pat (Manager Operations): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 082 6132 995
Local 24/7 Control Room: 033 330 5911

Our venue provides a high standard of both culinary and aesthetic appeal. Why not provide your employees with a year end function that shows the appreciation for all their hard work. At Mendola our cuisine is a delight. With the range of dishes, we are able to suit all your needs and desires. When you hire our venue, we provide the majority of resources and link you up with any services which we don’t provide, all for your utmost convenience.

The Menu options provided are all offered as a plated starter, two main courses and dessert. Kindly note that the main course is served as a buffet for your guests to help themselves to.

More about Mendola

Support our boys in green and gold! Go Bokke!!!!

Join us on Saturday as the springboks take on the wallabies.

Kick off at 11:45am.

Live on the big screen at Crossways.

Road Closures and Parking for the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10 / 5km Challenge Maritzburg: Sunday 18 August

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The field is limited to 3,500 participants.

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

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

Photo credit: Rogan Ward

It wasn’t the result she was hoping for, but Julia Vincent wrapped up her impressive diving career with an 11th place in the Olympic 3m springboard final on Friday.

Vincent had already made history in becoming the first South African to reach an Olympic diving final and after her third dive – a reverse 2½ somersaults pike – which scored her 66.00 points, the 29-year-old was lying in third position.

Her second dive – a back 2½ somersaults pike – was her best of the day, scoring an impressive 67.50 points – her highest total of the three-day competition.

But two disappointing dives to finish meant that Vincent dropped down to 11th spot overall by the end of the afternoon.

The US-based star said afterwards she had tried to keep her mind off the results while the competition was going on.

“I actually thought I was doing a pretty good job… I had no idea where I was after my third round until I just found out now,” she said.

“I wasn't even really watching results, but I knew that I was doing OK. I had a lot of adrenaline and that’s sometimes hard to contain. It is sports, it's how it goes, but I still feel proud, it's just obviously it's tough because it's not what I was hoping for.

“I don't normally get such good take-offs… in competition normally I'm fighting for my life because I'm just trying to make sure I find vertical on the bottom and, like I said, I think adrenaline was definitely pumping today.”

Speaking about her fourth dive, which scored just 38.75 points, Vincent added: “I actually thought I had it, I thought I had it till the end. I just came around and made a small error which takes you a little over, but I really had it until the last millisecond of the dive.”

Vincent said before the competition that this would be her last. She has been by far the most successful South African, competing in three World Championship finals and now one Olympic final. She said she hoped she had been an inspiration to the next generation of divers in the country.

“That's always the goal is to push boundaries and inspire younger generations because I think when you haven't seen it in your country before, people don't believe that it's possible.

“So if I've inspired one little girl to follow their dream, that's enough for me. It means a lot to get to this point and be the person to do that, just because I've put in so much work and I've been really faithful all through it.

“I've always believed that my time will come, and who knows maybe it still will come, but for right now it won't and it didn't today,” she said.

Photo credits: Anton Geyser/TeamSA

When you are expecting the biggest eagle in Africa to arrive, and what arrives instead is the smallest biggest eagle in Africa.

Martial Eagles are renowned for being the biggest eagle species in Africa with an average weight of between 3.9 and 4.7 kgs. Proving the wide size range between these sexually dimorphic (differences between male and female) raptors, this diminutive male weighs only 2.6kgs. This makes him smaller than most of the Crowned Eagles, and even some of the Fish Eagles we have had come in over the years.

This is just as well, considering the size of his talons! (Image below on RHS.)

While Martial Eagles do not have the powerful grip strength of the Crowned Eagles, they are nevertheless formidable predators, and can subdue large monitor lizards and small antelope without too much effort.

These endangered eagles are declining in numbers at an alarming rate, and they are not frequently seen in the Midlands area, so it was a pleasant surprise to have this adult brought in from the Dargle. What is not so pleasant is the deep, infected wound he has on the one wing.

With the amount of bruising and swelling, we suspect there may very well be a fracture, so a vet visit has been booked.

We are hoping that the news will be positive, and holding thumbs that this beautiful, endangered eagle will live to fly the skies once more.

Top image: The compact male Martial Eagle on admission. Fortunately he had been found and picked up before he was predated or serious infection had set into the wing, and his overall body condition was still good.

 

Call FreeMe Wildlife on 33 330 3036.

 

 

Rotunda Farm Stall offers shoppers a wide selection of delicious goodies!

• freshest fruit and vegetables
  • dairy products including locally made cheeses
  • butchery offers a wide range of A-grade meat and biltong
  • bakery produces fresh loaves of bread, rolls, pies, etc daily!
  • locally made jams, snacks and treats
  • imported products at unbelievable prices – olive oils, tinned foods etc
  • foodstuffs for the health-conscious and diabetics
  • fantastic selection of beer, wines and spirits in the bottle store
  • Grocery line – a good range of daily necessities

Keep up with weekly good deals on Facebook!

These will be available from today until Sunday, 25th August / while stocks last.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo credit: Martine Derain

Supplied.

Print Your Memories with Self-Service Photo Printing at PostNet Hilton!

Preserve your special moments with ease at Postnet Hilton! Our self-service photo printing station lets you turn your digital photos into high-quality prints quickly and conveniently.

 

Easy & Convenient: Print your photos anytime with our user-friendly kiosks.
High Quality: Enjoy vibrant, professional-grade prints.
Various Sizes: Choose from a range of sizes to suit your needs.
Fast Turnaround: Get your prints in minutes, not days!
Creative Options: Customize your prints with a variety of formats and finishes.

 

Location: Shop 1B, 39 Hilton Avenue, Hilton
Contact Us: 086 006 1004
Learn More: www.postnet.co.za

 

Don't let your photos stay stuck on your phone—bring them to life with PostNet Hilton’s self-service photo printing!

We need another 9 bags pledged to make sure all our Hospice Kiddies have a Christmas spoil. We only need the bags dropped off in November, but it gives us peace of mind knowing that Christmas bags are sorted.

It also allows you to fill your bag slowly.

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

Your August set of the month at Solé Hair & Beauty
Book now:
Athlone: 066 391 5084
Hilton: 060 790 0198

Winning the illegal dumping battle
South Africa's high level of industrialisation directly correlates with its high waste generation. We currently generate around 122 000 million tonnes of waste per annum. According to the World Bank, South Africa produces 54 425 tonnes of waste per a day, which is the 15th highest in the world.

While the majority ends up in our fast-diminishing landfill airspaces, the good news is that there has been a diversion of waste away from landfill sites due to increased levels of recycling, says Mervin Olivier, Eastern Cape Chair of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA). “The passing of recent regulations to prevent the disposal of liquid waste, electronic waste and tyres from landfills is a positive trend, placing an increased need for waste produces to manage waste effectively.”

In the paper industry around 60% gets recycled, while 43% of plastic products and around 40% of glass products are being recycled. “According to the CSIR, we unfortunately, see approximately 10 million tonnes of foodstuffs still going to landfills per annum, which equates to around 30 billion meals per annum.”

Illegal dumping
Insufficient waste management facilities, poor landfill practices, modest collection rates and the distance required to travel to dispose of recyclables exacerbates illegal dumping in urban areas. Waste is disposed of in our streets and ends up in the storm water drains, rivers and into the sea.
There is a growing body of research that illustrates the impact of improper waste management on humans and the environment causing cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhoea and creating breeding ground for disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes, flies, and rodents.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainability/articles/10.3389/frsus.2024.1386047/full)
Olivier says enforcement has improved, mainly because of appointment of Environmental Management Inspectorates, increased convictions, the threat of punitive fines and even imprisonment. The maximum imprisonment is for a period not exceeding 10 years. The Govan Mbeki municipality recently received a R200 million fine related to the pollution of local rivers and natural ecosystems.

Local governments must develop Integrated Waste Management Plans and revise them every five years. Several have established multi-recycling centres, for the buying, sorting and resale of various recyclables.

Between 30-40% of household waste that ends in our dustbins can be diverted to recycling. “There are approximately 80 000 waste reclaimers in the country. They are instrumental in reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfills,” says Olivier.
Suitable solutions

There are innovative waste management technologies that can be employed to improve efficiencies, increase diversion rates and reduce transport and disposal costs to landfills. If options are available and readily accessible, it will promote responsible waste management practices among the public and reduce illegal dumping.

Ordinary citizens can be pro-active by reporting illegal dumping through the various local, provincial, or national hotlines, says Olivier. Collaborative partnerships among civic organisations can help raise public awareness on the importance of waste minimisation and reducing waste to landfill.

The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa has been spearheading clean-ups in communities, providing training courses, updates on new developments, technology and legislation, organising networking functions amongst specialists in the industry and running school programmes for environmental education.

“We have experienced encouraging improvements in waste management in South Africa, however our population growth still outpaces our ability to develop sufficient infrastructure,” says Olivier.

“We need to promote the value of waste as a resource, focus on waste minimisation, build capacity in our communities through training and awareness initiatives. We must promote global trends in best environmental practices,” he adds.

Supplied.

International study reveals those shark species most affected by fishing are most needed for healthy oceans.

FIND STUDY HERE: Ecological roles and importance of sharks in the Anthropocene Ocean | Science

According to new research, shark conservation must go beyond simply protecting shark populations — it must prioritize protecting the ecological roles of sharks.

Over the past couple years an international team of shark scientists – funded by Shark Conservation Fund – conducted a groundbreaking analysis which reveals that those sharks most affected by fishing are most needed for healthy oceans.

The study, led by Florida International University published in the journal Science which illustrates the outsized role that sharks play in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health. We now have clear evidence that sharks play a far more complex and vital role than previously thought. They are not merely apex predators; sharks are ecosystem architects, nutrient transporters, and key players in maintaining the delicate balance of ocean biodiversity.

To truly safeguard our oceans, we need to adopt a more holistic approach that places sharks at the center of conservation efforts. This means we must fundamentally change how we manage shark populations, including a focus on preserving the role sharks play in marine ecosystems, not merely their abundance. This landmark study offers a blueprint for marine conservationists, philanthropists, policymakers, and the public for achieving and sustaining ocean health.

The largest sharks of many of the biggest species, such as tiger sharks and great whites, play an oversized role in healthy oceans, but they are often the most affected by fishing. The big sharks help maintain balance through their eating habits. Sometimes their sheer size is enough to scare away prey that could over-consume seagrass and other plant life needed for healthy oceans. Sharks can also help shape and maintain balance from the bottom-up. That means a variety of sharks in a variety of sizes are needed, yet their many and diverse contributions are under threat from overfishing, climate change, habitat loss, energy mining, shipping activities and more.

"Management should focus on restoring and maintaining sharks' ecological roles, not just their numbers,” comments co-author on the study and marine biologist, Dr Alison Kock of South African National Parks. “Well-enforced Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that protect wide-ranging predators, with the help of modern technology, offer a promising solution. Engaging public support and incorporating local cultural values into management will also foster a greater appreciation for sharks and their essential ecological functions, especially in the face of widespread human impact on the oceans."

“Decreasing the extraction of sharks and rays is regarded as a primary tool to begin the recovery of sharks globally,” comments Senior Scientist Dr Jennifer Olbers of WILDTRUST. “Recognising this, it is essential for South Africa to adopt a multipronged approach for conservation of marine species. Protecting the ecological roles that sharks play in our waters will gain so much more for our shark conservation efforts. Protecting the species, their habitats and their life history stages, such as aggregation areas and gestation periods, is essential for their survival,” said Olbers.

Besides helping to maintain balance within the food web, reef sharks feed in offshore waters and bring nutrients back to the reef. Others move nutrients around that are used at the base of the food chain. Sharks can also serve as food for other species and even as scratching posts for fish to remove parasites. The problem is shark abundance has plummeted by 71 percent for oceanic species in the past 50 years. Populations of the top five reef shark species have been depleted by 63 percent. As their numbers plummet, their important roles in ocean health are also lost.

“It’s time to have a conversation about everything sharks are doing to maintain ocean health so we can better prioritize conservation efforts and have the biggest impact,” said Simon Dedman, researcher at Florida International University and lead author of the study.

The issue of shark conservation becomes all the more critical as global temperatures increase, leading some sharks to head into new areas where they can find the temperatures, they can thrive in.

“This study verifies what we’ve long suspected – sharks are critical to ocean health,” said Lee Crockett, executive director of the Shark Conservation Fund which funded the study. “This landmark study serves as confirmation that marine conservationists, philanthropists, policymakers, and the public alike need to recognize that sharks are keystone species that have a now-proven significant effect on marine environments.”

With the expansion of blue economy industries like aquaculture and tourism, people’s encounters with sharks will likely increase. Finding a balance that protects the sharks most needed for healthy oceans is hitting a critical point.

“National and international policy must focus on actions that rebuild populations and restore sharks' functional roles,” said Mike Heithaus, study co-author and FIU marine ecologist. “That requires action to increase both spatial measures like Marine Protected Areas and fisheries management measures like catch/size limits and gear limitations. If people want healthy oceans, we need healthy shark populations.”

Image supplied: Great White
Image Credit: shutterstock_213109039

SA diver Julia Vincent has booked a place in the Olympic 3m springboard final.

The 29-year-old needed a top-12 finish in the semifinals to advance and made absolutely sure of her progress by finishing sixth overall with a total of 297.30 points on Thursday.

Just like in the preliminaries, Vincent’s third dive was her best – her reverse two and a half somersault pike scoring a total of 64.50.

She also produced an impressive final dive, a forward two and a half somersaults one twist pike, scoring 63.00 points to secure that sixth spot – a significant jump up from her 13th place in the preliminaries.

Vincent had said before the start of the competition that she is usually most nervous for the first round so she was caught off-guard by a few butterflies ahead of the semifinal.

“I was a little more nervous than I was expecting, just knowing what's on the line, wanting to make sure that I made the final,” she admitted afterwards. “But I also felt pretty steady. The same as yesterday, I just wanted to stay steady, survive, and advance. That's all these rounds are for so I’m pretty happy with that.”

The US-based diver said she was pleased with how she bounced back after a less-than-perfect opening dive which scored the lowest of her five with 51.00 points.

“My first dive I would call a little bit of a mess, so I was trying not to watch the scores too much until I had kind of got my rhythm again. But then towards the end, I knew I just needed something steady on my head. Nothing special, just do my dive, and I'd be good to go through.”

The focus now shifts to tomorrow’s final. While Vincent has competed in three World Championships finals, she never progressed past the preliminaries at her previous two Olympics.

Asked what her preparation will involve ahead of a first Olympic final, she reckoned: “I'll go see my family and my friends and then I'll go and rest, get some food. There's not much to do between now and the final. I think all the work has been done. So we're just resting and making sure my body is ready to go for tomorrow.”

Vincent said having her family and friends in the stadium, unlike in Tokyo where crowds were banned because of the Covid pandemic, has made all the difference.

“It's so nice to hear them in the crowd and they're doing a really good job being loud, even though there's not that many of them,” she explained. “I just love hearing that. It makes me feel like they're the only people in the crowd, which is exactly how I like it. It makes a big difference for me on the board.”

As for what her target is heading into tomorrow’s final, Vincent reckoned it would be business as usual.

“I think I'm going to try to do the same thing, stay steady. Usually when I try to do too much, that's when things go wrong, so I'm just going to almost pretend like I'm just surviving and advancing again and see how that works for me.”

The 3m springboard final is scheduled for 3pm tomorrow.

Photo credits: Anton Geyser/TeamSA