FLIPPING BOOK CHRONICLE 2024

and his hockey, Chishala Kalenga for his good influence on younger boys in his House, Ona Lefakane for his geniality, Ross Moller for his three wickets in an over against Hilton, Enrique Mwakio for his work for the less privileged, Junior Ncamani for supporting every school match possible, Karl Schaefer for his formidable top-spin serve, Tom Baguley for his rhino-like charges in the centre, Luke Davidson for his nimble side step and Aphiwe Shelembe for never losing a contest in the front row. That is just a taste of the class of 2024 and please understand that it is only possible to catch a glimpse of just a few of this excellent group to whom we wish every success as they embark on their matric exams very shortly. There is a false assumption that if it snows at Hogwarts and the snow settles in the Main Quad, then the Rector will cancel school for the day. This was not put to the test, however, as the picture shown is taken the day after term ended. In any event, the water polo boys were so keen to continue their tournament that they made history playing in water of 24 degrees with snow settling around them. You will already have seen this on social media. We have had excitement and success on the sports field, as well as our disappointments, as one must if one is to value the moments that were really good. Boys play their hearts out for the school at every level and at every sport. We strive to win, but not to the extent where boys have to be committed, as in some schools, to only one sport. We value their enjoyment of playing different sports in different seasons and, whilst we keep an eye on the new sports rankings which have been imposed upon us, he last couple of days have been some of my most challenging days here at Michaelhouse. From seeing all the tears of the matrics leaving each year, I challenged myself to be prepared for this day – the day I say goodbye to my beloved school. The school that played such a pivotal role in making me the man I am today. However, I have come to realise that no amount of time can prepare you for a day like this. How do I find the words for the conclusion of my story as a Michaelhouse schoolboy? Good afternoon, Chairman of the Board, Rector and deputy rectors, our esteemed guest, members of staff, parents and the men of Michaelhouse. It is with the utmost pride that I stand in front of you today as the Senior Prefect of this great school, presenting the famous senior prefect’s address. This is a highly anticipated speech each year and one, according to Aphiwe, that is meant to change everyone’s lives forever and provide a saying that will go on the fountain or bench that he will donate to the school when he becomes a Springbok one day. When I started to think long and hard about what I wanted to talk about today, I ran into some difficulty. However, upon further reflection, I thought back to the speeches I had delivered over the year and remembered how effortless they were to write. This was because I had a purpose and spoke from the heart. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do this afternoon. I’m simply going to “be Carlyle” as Mr Fleming T

we are more concerned with boys playing with pride, learning to win and to lose with grace and being the best that they can be. Equally we value their contribution in other co-curricular fields such as in cultural activities, where their dedication is similarly outstanding, whether in debating, our jazz band or in our award-winning Competition Marimba Band, which has wowed audiences from KZN to as far afield as Boksburg. I am aware that my 15 minutes are up and it remains for me to thank everyone who has contributed to the enormous success of Michaelhouse this year. From those in our Admissions Department, who are the first port of call for an ever-increasing number of applicants to the school, through to the teachers, our school counsellor, housemasters, administrators and ops staff. It is a huge team and a very successful and happy one. Particular thanks go to our executive committee, our deputy rectors Brendan Gittins, Sibusiso Ncamani and Win de Wet for making a big difference, to Revd Chris Meyer, our chaplain, and to Joni Warburton, our able financial director. My thanks goes, too, to our chairman, Andrew Schaefer, who gives an enormous amount of time and energy to the school. Thank you, Andrew. 2024 has been a memorable year. And looking forward to the future, you should all know that I am in regular contact with my successor, Bart Wielenga, to ensure that the metamorphosis in leadership through Win de Wet to Bart is seamless. But the changeover will only happen in 2026, and I look forward to 2025 and promise that the foot will stay firmly on the accelerator next year and that Michaelhouse will continue to go from strength to strength. Thank you all for your support and encouragement. As I always do, I’d like to present what I’m aiming to achieve with today’s speech. Firstly, I would like to finish it without Brett Davidson crying, which is a sight that we’ve all grown to love over the past five years. And secondly, I’d like it to be interesting enough to keep Ayabonga Shivane awake throughout, something which he struggled to do in every lesson of his Michaelhouse career. I remember five years ago as if it were yesterday – our very first time walking through the gates to the Red Brick Fortress as the newest additions to the school, wide-eyed, wearing blazers covering our knees, and ready to explore this great institution. It is with a sad heart that I tell you, however, that Nick Fearnhead’s uniform is still five sizes too big as he hasn’t grown that much since then. Nick hasn’t had the most pleasant time being one of the smallest guys in our Block, and to make matters worse we somehow managed to find out halfway through C Block that his legally given middle is Whitney. As in Whitney Houston! Nicholas Whitney Fearnhead. Nick, if only you could play your short card like Keaton and attract the girls with your so-called “cuteness”. 2020 was no easy year for any of us. After months and months of tirelessly labouring away, Covid came to save us from our 29 always tells me, because it was “being Carlyle” that got me here today.

ADDRESS BY THE SENIOR PREFECT, CARLYLE HAWKINS