DADS vs LADDS 2023
A match that has officially been played since 1973, saw the morning start with great weather and spirit.
Well done to the 'Dads' for winning the 50-year-old trophy in a match that produced plenty of fun, laughs, and memories.
Deck the halls with Christmas cheer!
Get into the festive spirit with D3 Studio's incredible Christmas decor!
Enjoy a jolly 25% discount on all Christmas decorations and adorn your home with the most gorgeous cookie boards to make your celebrations even sweeter!
Hurry, spread the joy and grab these delightful decorations while the offer lasts!
Finding your fur baby’s little smooches leave you reeling? It's time to look at their pearly whites(teeth), luckily, we have a dental special that covers just that!
Oral health can very easily be overlooked, leading to many seen and unseen problems, from pain to infections. You can assist in monitoring your pet's dental health from home, by looking out for:
-Halitosis (Smelly Breath)
-Tartar Build-Up
-Facial Rubbing
-Facial Swelling
-Blood in Foul-Smelling Saliva
-Red, Ulcerated Gums
-Changes in Eating Habits
-Excessive Drooling
-Behavioural Changes
Our Special Covers:
Bloods: Our Pre-bloods allow us to look at your pet’s overall health, ensuring they are fit for anaesthesia.
CT Scan: Gives us a comprehensive view of your pet's dental health, letting us see beyond the visible surface to find hidden abscesses, fractures, or tumours.
Dental Check: A thorough examination by the vet helps identify problems like plaque buildup, gum disease, or tooth decay before they become severe.
Book your appointment today as this special is limited time!
Call: 033 343 4602
South African Para surfer Similo Dlamini will be among the thousands of swimmers who return to Midmar Dam from 8-11 February next year for the 2024 aQuellé Midmar Mile.
Dlamini, who has a congenital condition that means her right leg is shorter than the left and she needs to use a prosthetic leg, has twice competed in the ISA World Para Surfing Championship. But each February she makes sure she’s back at the renowned KwaZulu-Natal dam to take part in the world’s largest open water swimming event.
“It's becoming one of my annual 'retreats',” reckons the KwaMashu-born adaptive surfer, who will be taking part in the aQuellé Midmar Mile for the fourth time.
Speaking about her training, Dlamini explained: “I swim about two to three times a week and compete in the Dolphin Miles… Time in the water is always good and this improves my paddling which is important in surfing.”
The aQuellé Midmar Mile is an event that attracts a vast array of swimmers each year – from novices to Olympians, young to old and those who are differently abled.
Speaking after completing this year’s race, Dlamini reckoned: “Things like this where you see people get amazing times who are differently abled – this is so inspiring for me, to keep on coming back here and showing that we shouldn’t be put in a corner.
“Being differently abled doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything, just that you do things differently.”
As for those still deciding whether to take on the challenge, Dlamini added a word of motivation. “Give it a shot, be calm and just keep swimming. It's just one stroke at a time.”
Entries for the 2024 aQuellé Midmar Mile are open. For more information on the event and the preceding seeding swims, head to www.midmarmile.co.za
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Don't Miss Out on our Grand Finale Christmas Sunday Roast Lunch!
Join us for our last "It's a family affair" of the year! Indulge in the warmth of the season with our delectable Lamb Roast, Andrew's Turkey Roll, complete with all the festive trimmings & a Christmas pudding.
Date: 17th of December
Time: Lunch served from 12:00pm
Price: R195.00 Per Person
By booking only!
Gather your loved ones and savor the delicious flavors of our specially crafted menu, bidding farewell to the holiday season in style. Reserve your table now and make this Sunday a memorable one!
Come hungry and leave happy!
To reserve your table, contact Andrew on 066 254 8112.
Encouraging healthy lifestyles and awareness
The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) is thrilled to announce its inaugural Colour Run event commemorating World AIDS Day 2023. Hosted by WESSA uMngeni Valley, this vibrant event, promoting healthy lifestyles, is proudly supported by the Department of Science and Innovation.
Scheduled for December 9th, the Colour Run kicks off at 7:00am at the stunning WESSA uMngeni Valley with the aim of uniting communities, raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, and celebrating the importance of leading active and healthy lifestyles.
One of the highlights is the South African National Blood Service (SANBS)'s participation. They will be conducting a blood donation drive onsite, emphasising the critical need for blood donations and urging attendees to contribute. In addition, SANBS will actively promote HIV awareness and encourage individuals to get tested, highlighting the significance of knowing one's HIV status.
Entry is free, welcoming individuals of all ages and backgrounds to join in the festivities. Participants can anticipate a kaleidoscope of colours, an electrifying atmosphere, and the opportunity to support a worthy cause while embracing fitness and fun.
"This Colour Run is not just about the vibrant hues and joyous moments; it's about coming together as a community to spread awareness, encourage healthy habits, and support those affected by HIV/AIDS," said Sifundo Sibiya, senior manager at WESSA uMngeni Valley.
Participants are encouraged to bring along their enthusiasm to make this event an unforgettable celebration.
Join us at WESSA uMngeni Valley to stand together in solidarity for a healthier, more aware society.
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Greening the Future
FreeMe Wildlife are proud to be a winner in the category of Biodiversity Stewardship in the Mail & Guardian 2023 Greening the Future Awards.
The awards ceremony took place today (30 November) to coincide with the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28). The awards recognize the heroes who tackle problems ranging from biodiversity loss to polluted air and water exacerbated by climate change.
https://mg.co.za/greening-the-future/freeme-wildlife/
We love what we do, and how we do it.
Don't let your dental benefits slip away!
The year-end is approaching, and your smile deserves the best care.
Let Family Dental Care handle the nitty-gritty - we'll check your benefits, submit payments for authorization, and keep your dental worries at bay.
Give them a call today to have your dental benefits checked before the year ends:
Call 082 218 9222
Your confident smile is just a step away
As World Aids Day approaches on 1 December 2023, Keready, a youth-led health movement, accelerates its mission to provide factual information to the youth about HIV. Recognising the pivotal role of early detection and treatment in enhancing individual health and preventing virus transmission, Keready utilises their social media channels and 46 mobile health clinics across four Provinces (Gauteng, KZN, EC and WC), to dispel myths and provide education, prevention testing and treatment.
Why Choose Our Collection?
Classes are for every Yogi, beginner or expert. Our collection offers something unique for everyone.
We believe in providing products and experiences that are not only high in quality but also unique and personal.
Be a part of our vibrant community that supports and uplifts each other in the journey of wellness.
Online timetable:
www.velcoitygymhilton.co.za/yoga-collection
Hello, It might be you we’re looking for!
Applications for all visual artists, crafters and makers are now open! Join our arts festival community in 2024:
Sell & exhibit your art alongside 90+ of the country’s top artists
Showcase & sell your creative wares in our bustling market space with 100+ talented makers.
This is your chance to take advantage of over 20 000 visitors over a 3 day period at KZN’s Premier Arts Festival!
Apply via www.hiltonfestival.co.za
Cool Winds Pre-Primary accepts applications for children from 4 months to 6 years and welcomes admissions throughout the year. The school supplies meals and snacks, which are included in the school fees. It offers a holiday programme during the year, but closes for a mid-year break of two weeks in the June/July holidays and for four weeks in the December/January holidays. The school is closed on Public Holidays.
Bootcamp for the “new kid” on the Conservation Block - Understanding Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measures (OECMs)
Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) are the “new kid” on the conservation block. Being a new tool, it is essential as a country to ensure we all have a common understanding of the mechanism and is implemented in a standardised manner across our landscape. To achieve this, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) arranged an inaugural OECM Bootcamp workshop at the end of November 2023. This Bootcamp was a gathering of almost 80 participants from national government, provincial conservation Departments and Authorities, conservation NGOs and civil society, and was generously funded by the WWF Nedbank Green Trust (through the BirdLife South Africa OECM pilot project) and the SANBI GEF 7 project.
OECMs are a mechanism that was adopted at the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2022 to meet the (conserving) 30% by 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3, also known as 30x30. The 30x30 target specifically recognises the role of OECMs in contributing to achieving conservation security for critically important biodiversity on privately and communally owned land. OECMs provide a supported global framework for South Africa to recognise the effective conservation work done for nature outside of the traditional protected areas and to report on these alternative conservation measures. The role of OECMs (where biodiversity conservation may be a secondary objective) is not to replace protected areas (where biodiversity conservation is the primary objective), but rather to complement each other to protect and conserve important representative biodiversity (diverse species, habitats, natural – resources on land and sea) through well-connected conservation networks – benefitting both nature and people.
So, what are OECMs?
A geographically defined area other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in-situ conservation of biodiversity with associated ecosystem functions and services and where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio–economic, and other locally relevant values. (CBD Decision 14/8).
“The aim of the OECM Bootcamp was to create dialogue and have discussions to better understand this conservation mechanism in the South African context and explore the manner of implementation considering the urgency of contributing to the GBF 30x30 target,” commented Ayaka Peter of SANBI. “OECMs are essentially a recognition of existing conservation mechanisms, such as Biodiversity Management Agreements and National Botanical Gardens, Conservation Agreements and Conservation Servitudes. Several mechanisms such as biospheres, conservancies and wildlife ranching fall short of the criteria through initial assessment, although provide the conservation sector with a unique opportunity to engage these sectors in exploring ways of improving their contributions to conservation.”
The first day of the OECM Bootcamp focused on creating a collaborative learning space to introduce participants to the key concepts and provide insights from the pilot projects implemented by the Kruger to Canyon Biosphere and BirdLife South Africa between 2018 and 2023. Further discussions were had on the potential means of strengthening the OECM mechanism from a legal perspective, as well as exploring the international criteria for OECMs within the South African context. Day 2 focused on the mode of implementation, identifying the need for a standard implementation guideline, what
institutional structures are required for implementation (resources, capacity) and how we as a country ultimately report international on our OECM achievements.
Key outcomes and next steps identified from the 2-day Bootcamp included the need to create specific metrics for South African OECMs, flagging the urgent need to lodge OECMs within our legal framework recognising that finding the appropriate home for the mechanism will create improved credibility and provide a standardisation of its implementation; Working on building our capacity for implementation through training and co-developed implementation strategies within provincial structures, and strengthening partnerships across our landscape to improve coordination and implementation.
“OECMs are an exciting opportunity to add realistic conservation and biodiversity value in South Africa – as landscapes and seascapes and their respective use are complex issues. OECMs are innovative and are a new conservation approach to a country like Africa with diverse needs,” concluded Dr Kendyl Wright of WILDTRUST.
Photo Credit: South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)
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MiTH 6 December 2023
INFO: 082 331 7271
ENTRANCE: R50.00 - Cash or Zapper at the Door
VENUE: The Knoll Historic Guest Farm
9pm: Mmm Band
The MMM Band is a group of talented individuals who do more than provide great service and do excellent repairs; they know how to rock. It’s a common culture for them to have jams in the shop, and this time they’re bringing the jams to the people of MiTH.
Chilled, but deadly Aidan Compton will accompany the band on bass, keeping the vibes nice and steady. Taking on the drums for this performance is Javid Govender. Lastly on guitar, bass, vocals and… other, is Skippy Kubheka who will ensure that everyone has a great time, and sings along.
8pm: Freewheelers
The Freewheelers hail from Mtunzini in Zululand. The trio consists of Vicky Erasmus, a multi-instrumentalist focused on keyboard, accordion and cello; vocalist and bass guitarist Dave Squires; and Johan Gerber on vocals, guitar, and harmonica.
They focus mainly on music from the 60’s and 70’s and cover a range of genres
from folk rock and blues, to any good songs that tickle their fancy. They cover
songs from Simon & Garfunkel, and Eric Clapton via Willie Nelson, all the way to
Talking Heads!
7pm: Hilton Montessori (Double My Age)
The 4-piece band Double My Age started as a collective of young amateurs, led by self-taught, local "musical appreciation" coach Jes Bedingfield. It has now become more like a regular Tuesday afternoon jam.
The band, consisting of Madison Fisher on guitar and vocals, and brothers Aidan and Aaron Balfour on bass and ukulele respectively, will be accompanying Jes for their first time on stage. They will be performing a variety of folky, poppy, as well as some teenage grunge songs, for their debut 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.
Tackling the Looming Challenge of Solar Waste in South Africa
Looking back, 2023 will undoubtedly go down in history as the year that South Africa's corporate and civil society "went solar" in a way never seen before. In an effort to avoid the crippling effect of loadshedding, hundreds of thousands of individuals and companies recently opted to invest in solar panels. According to a recent BusinessTech report, South Africa's imports of solar panels increased thrice from the previous quarter to an all-time high of R3.6 billion in the first quarter of 2023.
“Whilst this is good news for renewable energy, we also need to think about the long-term implications that even this ‘green energy’ will have on the environment,” cautions Dr Mark Williams-Wynn, KZN Branch Committee Member of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA). "In the coming years, we will have to deal with the recycling of millions of solar panels and batteries that are currently being imported into South Africa.”
The Challenge: Millions of discarded panels and batteries in a decade
Williams-Wynn says there’s now an estimate of between 20 million and 25 million solar panels in the country after the recent influx. Most have an expected lifespan of about 20 years and according to Williams-Wynn, South Africa should be ready for mass recycling in about a 10 to 15 years’ time. “That is when we will see thousands of panels having to be replaced with new ones, and when recycling the old products correctly will become critically important.”
He explains that one of the challenges with solar panel waste is that they are banned from landfills, as they are potentially hazardous to both human and environmental health.
"We need to adopt alternative waste management solutions, such as recycling, refurbishing and repairing, or reusing them in lower-demand applications," he continues, adding that emphasis needs to be placed on the waste management of the batteries used in solar systems as well.
“I believe this to be the bigger challenge,” Williams-Wynn warns. “The batteries in household solar panels are lithium iron phosphate batteries, also known as LFP (lithium ferrophosphate) batteries. The only material in this battery that has some value when recovered is lithium. The iron and phosphate of such low value that it’s not really economically viable to try and recover them.”
Furthermore, the product is highly flammable. “And once that fire starts, it is self-sustaining,” he warns. “They don’t need oxygen to burn, and even when smothering burning batteries with foam they can continue to burn.”
The Solution: Adherence and Power of the Customer’s Voice
The success or failure of South Africa's solar waste story will depend on how responsibly we operate in the here and now, Williams-Wynn notes.
“The methods for properly disposing of and recycling panels and batteries are constantly developing and improving - but if we do nothing now, we could face a catastrophe later.
There is simply not enough adherence to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations which took effect in 2021 and hold producers (which includes manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers) accountable for the end-of-life management of their products,” he says. “There are many reasons for this, including expenses, control and enforcement, but in the end, the environment suffers - and it will be everyone’s problem in future.”
According to Williams-Wynn, both the general public and solar installers have the ability to change things.
“Customers often don't realise the collective power that they have. To ensure that our solar and battery producers are complying with the EPR regulations, we must all exert pressure on them. If that happens, South Africa will be equipped and ready when the solar waste wave strikes in a few years.”
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One of the most hotly contested days of the Cowan House calendar is the Grade 7 Go Kart race and the 2023 teams did not disappoint.
It is not often that the same team claims the Stig Award for creativity and workmanship as well as the Winner’s Trophy, but this year Team “Burnout” managed to pull this off. Well done to Ross Harvey, Sophie Clark, Matthew Godbold, Max Marshall, Inati Ngcobo and Hannah Howes.
Until the back straight of the last lap, it was touch and go between them and Team “Gang Gang Gravity” (Callum Dreyer, Lily Perry, Kinsley Broad, Ben Franz and Angie van Niekerk).
To close off the morning, the male and female staff took on the interns, with the staff teams taking top honours once again.
SES Hilton is a sustainable energy solutions business specializing in customizable, alternative, adaptive power and energy systems for families and businesses. You can read about some of their client's experiences here. Call 073 966 0651.
On Tuesday 21 November 2023, the Laddsworth Boys and Girls brought the competitive swimming season to a close with a Gala at Howick Prep. Well done to both teams for the great results, especially the Girl's A Team, finishing in first place.
Thank you to everyone for your hard work and commitment this year, and thank you for always "Aiming High".
