Farewell to a GHS icon
Carol Millington calls it a day after 33 years Bhongo Drum - bird’s eye view of a newcomer to Queenstown
“GO and enjoy Queenstown,” were the last words from my church president as I left East London two weeks ago.
The majestic mountains which rise around the ‘rose capital’ of South Africa immediately made me feel at home on my arrival on that hot Sunday.
I was taken back to cherished memories of the mountainous rural village, Willowvale, Transkei, where I spent my early childhood. The town has similar scenes to the village where I used to search for traditional medical herbs on the mountains with my late grandfather.
ALEGEND has left the building. In an emotional farewell last week, Girls’ High School bid farewell to its iconic deputy headmistress, Carol Millington, who has called it a day after 33 years and will now enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
Allister van Schoor of the SGB was on hand to present the Wilkinson Award, a prestigious commendation which recognises an individual’s contribution to education as per the Queenstown Education Foundation, to Millington at an assembly attended by pupils, Old Girls, staff and friends. Guests included GHS stalwarts Rose Cloete and Rose Taylor, former headmistress of Balmoral Girls’ Primary School.
New deputy headmistress, Annelise Pieterse, said Millington had the courage to disagree and stand up for what she believed in, regardless of whether it made her unpopular.
After 44 years spent in the teaching profession, Millington’s love for Girls’
Moving to a new town presents opportunities to meet new people. I was welcomed by my aunt and her daughter, whom I had not seen in many years, to their lovely home.
I could not sleep on the first night. I tossed and turned all night. The anxiety of starting a new job got to me and as a result, I was only able to do 10 minutes of my daily exercise routine. I was worried that I would fall asleep on my first day at work. That would have been horrible - it is something you just do not do at work - especially on your first day!
Wearing the shoes which I first wore after my Xhosa ini- High was unquestionable and she had dedicated her life to making decisions which were in the best interests of the school.
“She leaves incredibly big shoes to fill.”
Headgirl Saskia Neethling said Millington could be ‘scary’ but was an exceptional and confident leader who had set a great tiation celebration ceremony some 10 years ago, I took the first steps into The Rep’s offices in Prince Alfred Street.
By 9am, I had already met my colleagues who all seemed to be super cool - a word I use to describe friendly people in the media industry.
It was on my third day that rising high temperatures forced me to buy an umbrella for the first time in my life and ever since its purchase, I have carried it with me every day, whether hot or not.
A story covered by The Rep of Queenstown residents who collected water to take to the people of Aliwal example for pupils, both past and present. “She has helped to mould us into respectable young women.”
Millington said she felt a deep sense of gratitude for the years she had spent at the school.
She had some wonderful memories of her years at the school and firmly believed that the story of North showed me the charity of the locals towards their fellow man and by the end of the week I had visited a few gyms which is a sure-fire way to make new friends.
On my first Saturday I attended the funeral of a well known municipal official, not to make new friends of course, and much to the surprise of the people back home. “Yho! sowhamba nemingcwabo. You’re already attending funerals,” said one of my sisters.
I have noticed that a large number of small businesspeople who mostly sell fruit, veggies and other small items bring a visible entrepreneur- GHS was a miracle.
As one of the top performing academic schools in South Africa (having recently achieved its 24th consecutive year of a 100% pass rate in the matric exams), the school continued to perform well, despite a national education system which did not stand up to international standards or ial spirit to town.
At the end of the second week I had already received my new nickname “Bhongo Drum” from The Rep sub-editor Chux Fourie, who recently celebrated 40 years since she started working at The Rep.
I have visited a few interesting places and have already started to have an admiration for some of the historic old buildings and examples of the fine architecture in the town.
Being a novice explorer in town, I have been left thinking: Under these resolute mountains, there is a beautiful story to tell. scrutiny.
“Yet, our pupils compete well, regardless of where they go in the world.”
On the sporting and cultural front, the school had notched up amazing achievements.
These successes, she said, were due to five factors: the GHS staff, both past and present; the parent body and SGB; the Old Girls; the support of the greater community and fellow schools and lastly, the pupils of the school.
She urged all involved in the school to keep fighting and working hard to maintain the school’s good record in the future.
“The recipe is plain: hard work and dedication.”
She said times were hard and were getting harder and South Africa, including its schools, would need unity and cooperation in the future.
“To the girls of GHS: you are the future, your attitude and your behaviour will make or break this school in the future. There is no time to rest on your laurels. Use your opportunities. You only have today, do not waste your life.”