TOURING THE PENINSULA ON FOOT

CRITICAL

The water position in Makhanda (Grahamstown) is no longer at a serious stage, it is at a critical stage.

In fact, within the next fortnight or so it is likely that the city’s main water supply dam, Settlers, will run dry and the entire Makhanda will be reliant on the water emanating from the Orange-Fish River scheme, via the James Kleynhans waterworks.

It is common knowledge that this alternative supply will not meet Makhanda’s daily needs, and water rationing will need to be put in place. This means that parts of the city will be without tap water for up to 12 hours at a time.

For many months, residents have been urged by the municipality to use water sparingly, with harsh restrictions in place. Yet, residents are quick to point out that the municipality itself is wasting water in the form of leaks that seemingly go unattended to for months on end, despite being reported. The leaks are all over the place – in streets, on sidewalks and on other municipal property.

The message to Makhandans is quite clear – use water sparingly and brace yourselves for rationing.

Oh, incidentally, Settlers dam is down to a little more than 7% of its capacity, and very soon it will no longer be possible to extract water, what with all the mud and silt at the bottom of the dam

THE OTHER SIDE OF GRAD

Once the more serious and formal side of bestowing degrees, diplomas and doctorates upon students and candidates was concluded at each of the six sessions of Rhodes University’s 2019 graduation ceremonies at the weekend, it was time for hugs, handshakes and embraces.

Then there were a multitude of “smiley” photographs taken by hand-held Canon, Nikon, Samsung Galaxy and Huawei devices that were flashing all over the fountain and foyer areas of the 1820 Settlers National Monument on Gunfire Hill.

A total of 2,321 students received their degrees and diplomas at the ceremonies, each of which was conducted in an auditorium filled to capacity with gowned academic staff, students, family members and friends.

It was a very special occasion, and the intense applause and cheering certainly showed it. Indeed, the Monument was filled with some very proud moments and stories of achievement.

Local photographic business FotoFirst was kept busy throughout, with photographers clicking away on the fringes of the stage, as well as at four temporary studios set up adjacent to the fountain.

Once the six graduation ceremonies were done and dusted at about noon on Saturday, it was time to think about the traditional graduation garden party on the copious lawns in front of the university’s main administration building, with the sky-reaching clock tower keeping a watchful eye on proceedings.

When party proceedings got under way at about the 3pm mark, there were some 300 to 400 guests seated and standing under the trees. Within half-an-hour this had grown to an estimated 3,000, and Rhodes catering staff were still bringing in tray upon tray of savoury snacks and sweet treats, like the ever-popular koeksisters.

It was a pretty hot afternoon and the juice gazebos were also proving popular.

Just off the main walkway is a concrete performance area, and it was here that the Graeme College steelband, under the direction of music teacher Sylvester Appollis, treated guests to some foot-tapping music.

The garden party guests included academics (professors and lecturers), graduating students, family members (in some cases extended family), friends and dozens of smartly-attired children.

The food trays kept on coming, and paper plates were being piled high. The steelband played on. Cameras continued to click away. Proud parents were smiling broadly.

That was graduation for another year, a most successful and fulfilling event by all accounts. There were past occasions when upwards of 25 local athletes would head for Cape Town at Easter time to take part in the annual Two Oceans ultra-marathon and half-marathon over 56km and 21km respectively. This has dwindled to just nine Makhanda (Grahamstown) entrants this year, six in the ultra-marathon and three in the half-marathon.

Both races start at the corner of Main Road and Dean Street in Newlands on Easter Saturday, the half-marathon in stages from 5.50am and the ultra-marathon at 6.40am.

Of the six Makhanda runners tackling the 50th Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra-Marathon, three have no less than 53 Two Oceans ultra-marathon medals between them.

Stephen Penney (Kowie Striders) has completed 26 consecutive ultras, having run his first while in matric at Graeme College. Terri-Lynn Penney (Nedbank Athletics Club) will be running her 15th this year, while veteran of the road Richard Foss (Albany Saints & Sinners Multi-Sport Club) has completed 13 and will be running his 14th.

Also lining up for the scenic ultra will be Sally Price-Smith (Albany) who has completed four Two Oceans ultras, and first-timers Ryan Bruton (Albany) and Nhlakanipho Mthembu (Rhodes University Athletics Club).

Running the Two Oceans half-marathon will be Albany members Colin Price-Smith (completed 13), Karen Meyer (completed eight) and Colin Meyer (completed four).

AWAY WIN FOR GRAEME

In an inter-schools’ First XV rugby match played in East London on Saturday, Graeme College defeated Cambridge High School by 36 points to 19.

FILLING IN

Residents may have noticed workers out in the streets repairing potholes in recent weeks and months. Chances are pretty slim they are municipal crews. However, it’s more likely to be workers engaged by Makana Revive to improve the state of Makhanda’s streets. Makana Revive is a trust that relies on donations from the public.

Late last week Makana Revive repaired some really big potholes in Scott’s Avenue between New Street and High Street.

Oh, and there have been those residents and business people who are sick and tired of the state of Makhanda’s streets, and who have taken it upon themselves to fill potholes, whether with tar or concrete.

ZEBRA ON DONKIN

This is a request to the local traffic department to have a look in its storeroom. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll find a 5l tin of white paint to bring the pedestrian crossing outside Carinus Art Centre in Donkin Street back to life.

In fact, the markings are almost totally faded, and that crossing is used by school pupils every weekday during term time.

MOTEL BUFFET

Back in the mid-1970s, according to the Grahamstown Publicity Association’s “Coming Events” brochure of September 1976, the Settlers Inn Motel below the 1820 Settlers National Monument offered Sunday buffet lunches at R2,95 per person.

Not only was The Mot (as it was affectionately known back then) well known for its catering, but its pub held keen fascination for regulars and visitors.

In the coffee-table book published in 1995, author Emily O’Meara wrote: “Ye olde English Flare Path Pub keeps the home fire burning in winter and is filled with photographs assembled by ex-Rhodian RAF pilot Bert Leach, who got the enterprise (Settlers Inn Motel) off the ground in 1968.”

In a photograph appearing with the article, Tim Leach, son of Bert, is seen admiring the framed photos.

The former motel is now Rhodes University’s Gavin Relly Post-Grad Village, and Tim Leach has retired to the Sunshine Coast.

EVERY UNIT VITAL

The SA National Blood Service (SANBS) visited Makhanda (Grahamstown) last week when 67 units of the life-saving fluid were collected. Although the figure was not as large as in recent months in Makhanda, staff members were grateful for every unit.

Their next visit to the Dutch Reformed Church hall in Hill Street is from 12 noon to 6pm on Tuesday May 14, and the SANBS is hopeful donors will turn out in force on that day.

HONOURS AND COLOURS

Graeme College has conferred Honours awards upon Josh Pamphilon (swimming) and Siphesihle Madlongolwana (cricket), while Colours for cricket have been awarded to Garwin Dampies, Riaan Labuschagne, Aaron Richardson and Lakhanya Sam.

DRAGSTER IN THE SUBURBS

I found myself up there in the area just below Sugarloaf Hill the other day, driving down Miles Street and into Haider Street.

Looking at the house on the left-hand corner I remembered, as I always do when I’m in that area, that Victor Banks lived there in the early 1970s.

Now, why would I remember that?

Vic and I were members of the Grahamstown Car Club back then, and we were the conveners of the Castrol Quarter-mile Drag Races that took place between 1971 and 1973 from the aerodrome entrance to the military base.

Who remembers those drag sprints?

Well, it was Vic Banks who, not too many years before that, raced his Renault Gordini on the Killarney race track outside Cape Town, and who managed to entice three Johannesburg drag racers to come to Grahamstown (now Makhanda) to compete. They were Tony Berridge (V8 dragster), Tony Viana (Vauxhall Viva V6) and the legendary Willie Hepburn (highly modified Chev V8).

I remember very well that for three days Berridge’s dragster was parked in Vic Banks’ garage on the property on the corner of Haider and Miles. On the Friday afternoon Berridge and his technician needed to do some fine-tuning, and they drove that roaring monster up and down Haider Street.

I was present and was expecting traffic cops to appear at any moment, but fortunately they had better things to do. But neighbours aplenty had gathered in the street.

Vic and Margaret Banks also lived at 12 George Street on the other side of town for a while, either before or after Haider Street, and Tony Berridge parked his ultra-long dragster there too. I would love to have seen him doing trial runs up and down George Street that year!

Oh, memories!

GRAEME IN GAUTENG

The Graeme College First XV is presently in Johannesburg taking part in the St John’s College rugby festival. The team plays Windhoek High today (Thursday) at 12.40pm, St Charles College at 9.25am on Saturday, and St David’s College at 10.50am on Monday.

ON GARDEN PATHS

For the second week in a row, teenager Cee-Jay Porthen was the first registered member to finish parkrun in Makana botanical gardens on Saturday, finishing in 21 minutes 35 seconds. Second was Sylvester Jeffries (23 mins 27 secs) and third was Joe Orsmond (24 mins 15 secs).

First lady was Andrea Snyman (27 mins 26 secs), second was Shimone Prince (28 mins 02 secs) and third was Tamzin Griffith (31 mins 06 secs).

Saturday’s parkrun attracted 156 runners, joggers and walkers.

While Leonie Yendall completed her 50th parkrun on Saturday, Erika Human and Charity Manyika each have one to go to their 50th parkrun. Kesentri Govender has two to go to her 50th.

TAKE ONE FOR THE PAIN

Who remembers the days back in the 1970s when there were no less than four pharmacies and chemists in the then Grahamstown (now Makhanda) CBD?

RET Butler Chemist and LL Wallace & Co Chemist were in Bathurst Street, Arthur Griffin Pharmacy was at 84 High Street, and Harrison’s Pharmacy was in the Carlton Centre.

A few years earlier there was also Miller’s Chemist at 31 High Street, across the road from the Grand Hotel. These days there’s Clicks Pharmacy on Church Square, Grahamstown Pharmacy at 117 High Street, and Wallace’s Pharmacy in Pepper Grove Mall.

BOOKS GALORE ON THE VERANDAH

The Grahamstown Feral Cat Project holds its annual book sale outside Wallace’s Pharmacy in Pepper Grove Mall on Saturday May 18 (8am to 1pm) and is appealing to the public for donations of books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, puzzles and games.

Last year’s book sale raised R9,000, and convenors are hoping to top the R10,000 mark this year. Residents with books to donate can contact Eileen Shepherd on (046) 636-1737.

DSG SPORTS AWARDS

Diocesan School for Girls made a host of sports citations and awards last week for the 2018/19 summer season.

Athletics colours were awarded to Emily McLean, and basketball Colours to Vile Diko, Peo Ramokgopa and Umtha Sibam.

Waterpolo colours (all re-awards) were awarded to Shaylen Ackermann, Phoebe Elliott, Josie Hickey and Lucy Martin.

Toni Rafferty was awarded swimming honours (re-award), while Sage Cawse, Nikki du Toit, Emma Podesta, Courtney Repinz and Shaelyn Walker received swimming colours.

ON THE WAVES

Kingswood College pupil Luke Claassens has been selected to the Eastern Province team for the SA national body boarding championships at Port Alfred this weekend.