FLIPPING BOOK CHRONICLE 2024

TOASTMASTERS’ SOCIETY

Written by Luke Kaufmann

choice – something that holds personal significance – to each meeting during the year. It has been wonderful to see the buy in and support from the boys, who took up this opportunity enthusiastically, which I felt added yet another layer to the rich culture of this society. Toastmasters is unique in that it is the only society at Michaelhouse that has a formal interview process that all members must go through to join, primarily because we are oversubscribed for places year after year. This means that we often have a combination of boys with different interests and talents who join, whether they be the hockey captain, a first team rugby player, an actor or a top academic, making every meeting just as exciting and engaging as the next. I hope that long into my years as an Old Boy I can come back and see the Michaelhouse Toastmasters’ Society continue to flourish and produce some of the best orators that Michaelhouse has to offer. It has been an honour to serve as chairman of such a fantastic society, and I wish William Russon and the rest of the committee luck as they take over the society next year.

Staff Members in Charge: Mr Dominic Gruijters, Mrs Mary McMichael Chairman: Luke Kauffman Deputy Chairman: Kian Moses Secretary: Seth Segal

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he Michaelhouse Toastmasters’ Society had another successful and productive year. It ended one meeting short of the tercentenary gathering, which will now be the first meeting in 2025, showing the longevity and consistency of this society since its inception. As chairman, it has been an absolute privilege to oversee the society along with the rest of the committee, as boys have gone from strength to strength in various formats of public speaking.

In breaking with formalities and hoping to create a new tradition, we encouraged all members to wear a tie of their

WILDERNESS SOCIETY

Staff Member in Charge: Mrs Dale Lynch

the majestic Drakensberg mountains and the enchanting Gx alingenwa River valley.

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024 saw the addition of the Active Wilderness Society to the vast offering of clubs and societies at Michael house. It was tricky getting the society off the ground as finding a weekend where boys were not busy with sport or cultural activities was almost impossible. However, we did manage to get one overnight hike in this year, which proved hugely successful. The 14km trail explored parts of the Strom ness, Giant’s Cup and Gxalingenwa River trails, with vistas of

Not only does the Active Wilderness Society get the boys out into nature, breathing the fresh mountain air and exploring new and exciting places, but it exposes them to other forms of environmental and geography education, which enriches their minds and enhances their overall experience of being a Michaelhouse boy. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the experi ence and are looking forward to future adventures in 2025.