The 2023 Chronicle

KZN U19A: Jacob Sinclair, Joshua Hoatson, Nathan Hoatson KZN U19B: Benjamin Harper KZN U16A: Justin Higginson KZN U16B: Sumeshin Naidoo, Connor Hatfield KZN U14A: Callum Fly SWIMMING SA and KZN U15 - (broke the SA record at 50m Freestyle): Kyle Heyns

KZN U14 Non-Travelling Reserves: Alex Jankowitz, Jess Webber STUDENT EXCHANGES 2023 Christ Church Grammar School, Australia: Rhys Barry, William Russon Hale, Australia: Lerotholi Seeiso, Tinashe Simelane Kinross Walaroi, Australia: Ashton McCormick, Thato Moumakwa Scotch College, Australia: Dominic Sesink Clee Blundell’s School, UK: Oliver Bruyns, Justin Higginson Montgomery Bell Academy, USA: Louis Ayo, Luke Sidebottom Woodberry Forest School, USA: Daniel French, Roelof Rossouw Escuela Técnica, Argentina: Simon Bailes

Saint Peter’s School, Chile: Simon Bailes PRESIDENT’S AWARD Silver: Brian Brits LONG SERVICE AWARD STAFF RECOGNISED FOR GIVING 25+ YEARS OF SERVICE TO MICHAELHOUSE Mr Dumisani (Wellington) Duma, Maintenance Mrs Lynette Gwala, Laundry Mr Richard McMichael, Academic Mr Siphiwe Mhlongo, Housekeeping Mr Eugene Ndingi, Estate Mrs Pushpa Ramharack, Finance Mrs Sheena White, Finance Mr Philemon Zuma, Maintenance

WATER POLO KZN U19B: Oliver Walters KZN U15: Bryn Retzlaff

KZN U15 Non-Travelling Reserves: Séan Erasmus, Justin Higginson, Keagan Elliott KZN U14: Elliot Springate, Nicholas Purdy, Oliver Guy, Tane Greene

ST MICHAEL AWARDS 09 JUNE 2023

CHARLES PHILLIPS

C

harles is a stalwart of the Old Boys’ Club, having joined the committee of the Durban club as early as 1977 where he helped raise money to sponsor bright and talented pupils to come to Michaelhouse through a Hundred Club. Moving to Cape Town, he joined the committee of the Old Boys and has, for many years, been the chairman. As a member of the committee of the Pedal Power Association, which organises the Argus Cycle Tour and other similar events, he helped develop a safe cycling programme initiating mountain biking routes and cycle paths around Cape Town. It is, however, principally, in his capacity as a volunteer firefighter in and around Cape Town and in the rehabilitation of oil-polluted penguins that he has contributed most significantly to society. In late 1999 as a result of summer wildfires in and around Cape Town, which were decimating the natural fauna and flora, Charles and several others approached the Table Mountain National Park to see if they could assist with firefighting.

Their offers were at first rejected, but by January 2000 there were over 100 fires in and around Cape Town and their services were called upon. Dressed in jeans, hiking boots, long- sleeved cotton shirts and caps they went to war alongside the professionals after first earning Table Mountain National Park approval. This was the start of the volunteer wildfire services. Hereafter, a committee was formed in 2001 and Charles became the chairman of the organisation, which is still a registered NGO and highly respected around the Western Cape for their firefighting from Cape Point to the Boland and as far as Knysna. The membership is approximately 350 trained male and female active volunteers, and the organisation has four stations and 16 vehicles. Although Charles is no longer running up and down mountains fighting fires himself, he continues to play a key role in the organisation of events such as Open Days and raising funds for this worthy cause. Simultaneously, Charles has assisted at the SA Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sancob) at Table View with the rehabilitation of oil-polluted penguins. These birds require scrubbing and the removal of dark crude oil as a result

32