FLIPPING BOOK CHRONICLE 2024

6am to 10pm daily. Shakila, we will always remember the warmth and camaraderie you brought to the workplace. Whether it was your thoughtful advice, your sense of humour or the way you always had a kind word for everyone, you made this place feel like a second home. As you embark on this new chapter in your life, we know you’ll bring the same passion and dedication to whatever comes next. Whether it’s travelling, spending time with your precious family – your dear husband Pradeep and your energetic twin boys Suvarn and Suveer – pursuing hobbies or simply enjoying some well deserved rest, we hope it brings you much fulfilment and joy. HERE ARE SOME GOOD WISHES FROM SOME OF YOUR FRIENDS: Raymond Duma – Shakila welcomed me as a 19-year-old teenager from a rural location in 1989. She has been a very efficient colleague, straightforward, trustworthy, loyal, but someone who would put cheeky callers in their place if they pushed her too far. Susan Dawson – I cannot believe that Shaklia is retiring. She always looks so young. Shakila was always so calm and collected – I never saw her get riled up about anything. When dealing with parents, staff and boys she was always very calm and respectful to everyone. Shakila, I wish you the most wonderful time in your retirement. Hoping this next chapter of your life will be filled with many moments of joy, happiness and health. Pushpa and Poobie Govender – Wishing Shakila a very happy, relaxed retirement. Enjoy all the pleasures of life at your own pace and leisure. Thank you for your many, many years of friendship at Michaelhouse. Thank you, Shakila, for 36 years of hard work, wisdom and heart. You will be greatly missed, but your impact will never be forgotten. We wish you good health and overflowing love and happiness as you embark on your next adventure.

of indigenous South African music, Fish’s choral music touched the hearts of all who experienced it. His time in the theatre was characterized by the relationships he made throughout the school. Fish is well liked, being a creative, passionate and generally joyful soul. He worked on at least 50 productions, from professional incoming shows to all boy events. He was known for scolding boys, keeping strict discipline in the theatre, and for his contribution to the Music Department. In 2020 Fish assumed a much larger role in the Music School, particularly as a technician who helped to service the marimbas. He also assisted with the organization and logistics of all marimba performances, travelling far and wide with the band. Over a period of five years, Fish has become a household name amongst the marimba fraternity. In 2023 he was present at the International Marimba and Steelpan Festival in Johannesburg, where the Michaelhouse band won the overall competition. This was indeed a proud moment for Fish and for the boys – he was part of their success story. Written by Carika de Swardt

For four generations, the Sidhoo/Ram family have been the engine room of Michaelhouse – their lives intertwined with its history, its growth and its preservation. They have witnessed all its many changes, and through it all their dedication has never wavered. Their story of loyalty, legacy and deep-rooted connection spans 300 years of joint service to Michaelhouse. It began with Sidhoo, Shakila’s great grandfather. With calloused hands and a steadfast spirit, he and his family worked the land, nurtured the gardens and tended the estate. What started as a job grew into something much deeper, a commitment to the land and the community that it sustained. Each generation of the Sidhoo/ Ram family added their own chapter to this notable legacy. Through their hands, the estate flourished. They planted trees that now tower over the landscape, cared for animals that became part of the estate’s story, and preserved traditions that might otherwise have been forgotten. Beyond the work, the family have been a quiet thread connecting past and present. They have seen Michaelhouse through times of prosperity and hardship, through wars and peace, through changes in rectorship, management and pupils. They have celebrated births, mourned losses, and lived lives deeply rooted in this shared home. Every boy who has entered the Michaelhouse estate, and every staff member who has turned off the R103 and driven through these gates, has had some interaction with the Sidhoo/Ram family. The golden days of childhood are often woven with simple joys, and those who grew up on this magnificent estate share in Shakila’s memories. For example, as a little girl slipping down Hannahs on cardboard slides alongside Shy and Rita Bhugwandeen, Dennis Maharaj, Elvis Kalika (our very own Denver’s father), the Lavender children and Nic Rodgers (whose son starts E Block in 2025). Shakila attended Nottingham Road State Indian School before completing her secondary and tertiary education in Dundee and Newcastle. She returned to Michaelhouse, manning the switchboard with the now retired Alfred Ndlovu and Rose Mlotshwa. With only two incoming lines, Shakila had her hands full with queues of boys lining up to use the telephone, sometimes trying to exploit the system with attempted bribery; but this was no match for the formidable Shakila, who ran a very tight ship from

SHAKILA MOOLA

W

hen Shakila put down her final call at Michaelhouse, she brought a massive 36

year innings to an end. I am honoured to celebrate this incredible milestone and the remarkable legacy of my friend, my bhaani , Shakila Moola. Hers has been an extraordinary journey filled with dedication, distinction and countless memories. Over the years, she has been more than just a colleague. She has been stoic, a loyal worker, a seasoned veteran and, for many of us, a loving friend. Her knowledge, professionalism and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on our team and the organization.

Written by Paul Fleischack

MESSAGE FROM SHAKILA TO STAFF: The Rector, Staff, Friends and Boys,

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