43 Lucas boys took part in the first outreach excursions to the SOS Village (PMB) and Ndabezinhle Creche (Hilton). Mrs Veenstra accompanied half of these boys to the SOS Village, an organisation that looks after children from destitute homes as well as orphaned children. Whilst, Mr Shuttleworth accompanied the other group that went to the Ndabezinhle Creche, a pre-school that provides foundational education to children and orphans. The crèche also provides a meal for the children and, for some of whom, this is the only food they receive in their day.

There was a lot of work to do in weeding and replanting their vegetable garden as well as washing and painting the skirting boards on their roof. Their children were also very excited to play with our boys and the entire afternoon was filled with fun play. The vegetable garden will undoubtedly go a long way in helping them produce their own food and reduce costs. Their modest classroom building also looks far more attractive now that the skirting boards have been freshly painted.

The second outing was a huge success and they were proud to have been able to donate so many clothes, blankets, toys, books and food. Added to this was a hugely generous donation of 300 pairs of TOM shoes (Thanks to Busi Bhembe!) some of which they handed out to the children on Sunday. The children were obviously very thrilled.

News supplied by Hilton College.

James Slabberts in Grade 5 at Laddsworth Primary School, completed the 20km leg of the Compendium MTB Race held at Shongweni on Saturday 23rd May 2015. James placed 7th in the U10 age group and had lots of fun.

Pictured: James Slabberts

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

We are writing to inform you of how important the legalisation of rhino horn trade is in our country, and to ask you to do everything in your power to ensure that the process of getting legal trade in rhino horns evaluated and put in place happens soon. The current situation is failing and it is estimated that two rhinos are killed each day in South Africa. The longer we wait to put in place legal trade, the more rhinos South Africa is going to lose.

At present there are around 20,000 white rhinos left, with the majority in South Africa and Namibia, according to an article by Geoff York for NBC news There are also an estimated 5,000 black rhinos still alive, but the western black rhino was declared extinct in 2011. Poaching is now out of control. If the rhino horn sales were legalised, the number of rhino poached would not be as high as it is today.

According to a news report by Matt McGrath from the BBC, the trade ban restricts supply and therefore pushes up the price of the horns. Hence, increasing incentives for poaching which have caused a steep rise in poaching levels. In 1993 a kilogramme was sold for around $4,700. In 2012 it was selling for $65,000 for the equivalent weight. As a result of the high prices, the number of rhinos poached has more than doubled each year, over the past five years.

The demand for horn can be met by legally shaving horn from a herd of about 5,000 live animals kept on private conservation lands in South Africa, argue researchers in York's article, saying that this would lower prices, lure buyers of horn to the legal market, reduce incentives to poachers and thus reduce poaching. According to this report, rhino horn is largely composed of keratin, a protein also found in fingernails and hair. It regrows when cut at a rate of about 0.9 kilograms a year. Researchers advocate the setting up of a central selling organisation that could DNA fingerprint the shavings of rhino horn and control the market. Rhino horn would be legal, cheaper and easier to obtain.

Sincerely,

The St Anne's Diocesan College Environment Club
Hilton

Supplied by St Anne's Diocesan College.

UPDATE FROM WORLD ANIMAL FOUNDATION on 6 Feb 2024 (https://worldanimalfoundation.org/advocate/poaching-statistics/)

According to the latest research and data, The Number of Black Rhinos Worldwide Is More Than 6,487. 

Will Forsyth Plumbing is now LP Gas registered and we are able to competently attend to your domestic gas requirements.

We are excited to have another team on the road this year; meaning a faster response to your plumbing and gas needs.

Will Forsyth Plumbing are proudly the preferred JoJo installers for the KZN Midlands area www.jojo.co.za

A qualified plumber and gas installer, Graham Mallen is committed to upholding the great service and business ethic that the company was founded upon.

He is willing to help you even if it's just a bit of advice you're looking for, offering good old fashioned service with the technology of today!

For more information please check out our website www.gogreenplumbing.co.za

News supplied by Will Forsyth Plumbing.

Pam Golding Properties has recently been brought on board as the sole selling agents of the last remaining plots at Emanzini Private Reserve. With only 13 plots on the estate left to sell, there are a limited amount of opportunities to secure your own slice of Africa with access to one of KwaZulu Natal's best playgrounds, Albert Falls Dam.

Barbara Becker of Pam Golding Properties says: "It's not often such an exciting and quintessentially African property comes onto our books. Emanzini Private Reserve Estate is located so conveniently that it truly offers an opportunity of living within a game reserve with the conveniences of everyday city living." She feels that this development will appeal to broad market, attracting both young families who wish to make it their home to retired couples looking for a safe, convenient escape to the bush to enjoy with their families.

Discerning buyers are able to secure their sectional title sites which range in size from 200 to 350 square metres. Architectural guidelines have been put in place to ensure that the buildings blend into the surrounding natural environment and have a minimum impact on the wildlife. All sites are fully serviced with an electricity and water supply with internal roads and driveways hardened for all-weather driving. The entire estate is secured by a combination of game and electric fencing to ensure that the lifestyle could be enjoyed to the fullest with the comfort of knowing that families living in the Reserve would be safe.

The concept of Emanzini Reserve is to combine a safe, family orientated living environment within the tranquility and beauty of nature. Families with children can feel assured that their young will embrace nature by climbing trees, bird watching from the proposed hideouts, building forts, enjoying fishing expeditions, riding their bikes along the trails, learning about the fauna and flora, and simply enjoying the outdoors. Computer games and TV will quickly loose their appeal when competing with the lifestyle Emanzini offers.

Albert Falls Dam also provides an array of water sports i.e. boating, canoeing/paddling, parasailing, water skiing and windsurfing. The venue hosts many major sporting events such as the annual Aquelle Mudman and there are boat holding facilities at the dam should you require safe storage of your boat. In addition to enjoying the many benefits of bordering the expansive Albert Falls Dam, the reserve has two of its own smaller dams, which are well stocked with bass and other fish.

For those who prefer the ever popular mountain biking or trail running this is the perfect safe environment to do so. Since the Reserve does not keep any predator game, one can take to the bush in your backyard without fearing for your safety.

Should you wish to take a trip out to Emanzini to see for yourself please contact the dedicated Pam Golding Properties agent, Nicci Geyser on 082 810 3934 or 033 342 8108

News supplied by Emanzini Private Reserve.

At auditions for Thumbelina, a KZN Midlands Youth Ballet Company production to be held at the Hilton College Theatre early in July, five Laddsworth Primary School dancers were selected to perform. The principle dancers in this show are from the Cape Town Ballet Company. This is an exciting opportunity for these young ballerinas.

Above L-R: Victoria Lindsay, Sarah Anders, Amy Goddard, Jenna Goddard and Camryn Heafield.

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

Assembly at Laddsworth Primary School on the 11th May 2015 featured a moving presentation about how the pristine iMfolozi Wilderness Area could be damaged by a proposed open cast mine.

Di Martin presented a slide show and introduced storytellers Jacqui Da Souza Dias and Sandile Masondo who gave their rendition of what would happen to valuable assets such as the wildlife, including the Big Five and the local Zulu Cultural Heritage in the area if the mines go ahead. Open-cast coal mining requires a substantial amount of water, and causes widespread air, noise and water pollution. All this activity will result in irreparable environmental damage.

Three Grade 7 pupils assisted in the telling of this story.

Pictured back L-R: Jacqui Da Souza Dias and Sandile Masondo.
In front L-R: James Muggleton, Duncan McDonald, Sam Moore and Di Martin.

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

Local artist and author Marianne Dufornet (now Eriksson) spent 27 years writing and illustrating 13 children's books which are now available at the following outlets:
Bookworld at Cascades Centre
Toy Hut at Hilton Quarry Centre
The Lazy Lizard at Greendale Centre in Howick
White Cottage Books at The Junction in Nottingham Road

The eBooks are also available at Amazon for $21.50 and locally in the townships Marianne has sanctioned a reduced price to make the series affordable for lower income groups. Her appointed reps in these areas are also able to generate additional income from their commissions.

The stories are fun yet the message offers practical information about a variety of life experiences take from Marianne's own childhood. They include worksheet pages making them very interactive for foundation phase learners.

Read more about Marianne's work now..

Laddsworth Primary School's Senior Choir participated in the Cordwalles Choir Festival on the 11th May. The Choir looked spectacular in their new blue and gold scarves. The Choir sang "One Song" by Marvin Hamlisch and "Yellow Bird" by Keith, Bergman and Luboff to great applause and were complimented on their beautiful tone.

Pictured: Choir captains Andiswe Sibetha and Unathi Mahlahlela with Gillian Olivier (Music Teacher).

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

To celebrate Valentine's Day and Friday the 13th, the Afrikaans Department treated all the staff to a "Fun at Work" tea. The staff room was beautifully decorated and the Grade 11's spent their Afrikaans lesson icing and decorating cupcakes for the staff for tea. The staff were all encouraged to wear headgear and prizes were awarded for the most ostentatious / outrageous / outlandish headgear.

News supplied by Hilton College.

Josh Heafield, who is in Grade Five at Laddsworth Primary School, completed a nine day Offshore Sailing Academy course in Durban last week. After an intense 9 days at sea, he successfully completed and passed the Day Skipper Exam and Yacht Hand Course, achieving a pass rate of over 75%. This involved a theory and navigation exam as well as a practical sailing assessment to determine his competency at sea. Josh is able to skipper a power or sailing vessel not greater than 25m or 100 tons. At age 11, Josh is one of the youngest students to have ever succeeded in completing this course.

Pictured: Josh Heafield with Gavin Lambooy (Headmaster at Laddsworth Primary School).

News supplied Laddsworth Primary School.

Grace College Grade 11 pupils, Leandri Vermaak , Shaun Markham and Bridget Oberholtzer have been selected to go on the Rotary Exchange to Austria and Italy at the end of this year. The school congratulates them on their selection and wishes them well with the preparations for this exciting adventure.

Pictured from the left: Leandri Vermaak, Shaun Markham and Bridget Oberholtzer

News supplied by Grace College.

eZali has turned 5!! It really has been 5 amazing years inside Garlington Estate and it's been such a privilege to meet and treat such wonderful clients!

In Celebration of eZali's 5th Birthday, the following specials will be available for purchase as Gift Vouchers on the 28th and 29th May only.

You get to purchase your favourite Treatment of the selected choices below and enjoy the extra FREE bonus! 'Coz you deserve it!

Purchase any of the following:

2x Dermalogica facials (R1120), get 3rd one FREE (save R560)

2x SIX Timeless Facials (R800), get 3rd one FREE (save R400)

2x Spalicious Pedicures (R480), get 3rd one FREE (save R240)

2x Spalicious Manicures (R400), get 3rd one FREE (save R200)

2x French Gel Overlays (R500), get 3rd one FREE (save R250)

2x 60min Aroma Full body massage (R800), get 3rd one FREE (save R400)

3x Spraytans (R750), get 4th one FREE (save R250)

3x 30min Single slimming Endermologie treatments (R1350). get 4th one FREE (save R450)

Remember, the above mentioned special only runs for 2 days, on Thursday the 28th and Friday the 29th May, closing at 5pm.
Forward this newsletter onto any friends who may be interested.

All FREE treatments will be valid for a period of 6 months only.

Hurry! Don't miss out on this awesome savings, lasts only for 2 days!

Can't come in? No worries! Request your voucher via email with proof of eft Payment. Email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Gwyn will provide you with banking details

Call or Sms us NOW to make your booking! +27 (0)33 329 5014 / +27 (0)82 443 9789

We Look Forward To Making You Feel Spectacular!

News supplied by eZali Spa.

April's new moon saw the opening of Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine in Hilton KwaZulu-Natal – and the realisation of Jackie's dream.

For the past 15 years Jackie Cameron has been working towards opening a school for aspiring chefs. After exposing herself to innumerable valuable experiences and countless worthwhile challenges she resigned from her position as head chef at a five-star boutique hotel in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in July last year, and set about making that dream a reality. The school was to open with the new year but Jackie's insistence on quality, professionalism and excellence led to the delayed intake of the school's first students.

Jackie has received more awards and accolades than her 30-something years. She acknowledges that it's "always fabulous receiving awards", however, her focus is now on seeing the development and growth in others. "I look forward to sending out chefs who have confidence in knowing that they have undergone correct training and have a holistic understanding of this tough but extremely rewarding industry," she says.

A hard-but-fair task master, Jackie accepted only five students this year. "Of all the applications received they were the ones that I believed would meet the challenges this industry presents," she explains.

Graduates from Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine will be internationally accredited - and "sought after" is what the industry anticipates. The school can accommodate a maximum of 15 students and the duration of the course is 18 months.

Pictured: Jackie Cameron, Jabu Ngwane and Elaine Boshoff (centre three) with Cara Conway, Kate Cousins, Emily Schmidt, Carla Schulze and Rai-Teree Dass - the five aspiring chefs about to make history at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine

The contractor has advised that the large concrete pour for the Bunker will be taking place on Saturday 23 May 2015. This is a long, continuous, complex concrete pour and during this period the top portion of Monzali Drive will be closed off for traffic. This will be from the Hilton Avenue intersection to the Calanesh entrance. Therefore Calanesh residents are requested, just for Saturday, to use Smal Street and William Younger. Residents from lower Monzali will be diverted at Smal Street by flagmen. No concrete trucks will be using the residential area and the safety officer will ensure that sufficient signage is in place, as well as flagmen to control traffic.

News supplied by Hilton Ratepayers Association.

Cowan House hosted a Grade One and Two boys' soccer festival on 19 May, with six schools participating, from as far afield as Underberg and Greytown. The photo shows the Cowan House Grade Ones in action against Laddsworth.

News supplied by Cowan House.

What a success the Hilltops Pre-school Open Day was!

We had a steady stream of families through our doors and enquiries about places for both this year and next. The moms and dads all had a good look around whilst the children enjoyed themselves so much, some stayed for hours!

We still have spaces in our Grade RRR, RR and R classes and a waiting list for the 18 months- 3 years old class (The Tiggers).

Please visit our website for more information www.hilltopspreschool.co.za or our Facebook page.

You can call us on 076 124 8440 or email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

News supplied by Hilltops Pre-School.

The final of the Men's Nominated Pairs Competition on Thursday ended in a win for Barry Best and Colin Watson after a very close game against Chris Purchase and Fred Palmer. The match was settled with the very last bowl. Congratulations to our new champions.

We have had very good attendances this last week with fields of up to 42 players putting in their tabs.

The Chicken Run on Saturday was won by Jean Pluke, Olga Hutt and Pat Bennet. Sincere thanks to the management of Hilton Quarry Spar for donating the chickens.

Due to a technical hitch last week our report did not reach Village Talk in time and so the outcome of the Harry Cooper Cup competition was lost in cyberspace. Winners were Tom Hartley, John Pluke and Pat Bennet. Chris Purchase, Des Morrish and Arthur Daugherty came second. Fred Palmer, Janet Fairhurst and Basil Fann were the winners of the losers. Well done to all the winners and sincere thanks to Hilton Quarry Super Spar for providing prizes and a wonderful lunch.

Duties: 24 - 30 May. OOD: Thelma Mylne. Tabs: Joan Byrom & Anton Leisegang. Lock-up team: Andy Hitchcock. Club House: 28th May: Margie Garrard. Teas on 30th May: Hamish Gerrard & Gil van der Hoven. Biscuits: 26 & 28 May: Jean & Tony Barrington.

Pictured:John Pluke, Pat Bennet and Tom Hartley – Winners of the Harry Cooper Cup

News supplied by Hilton Bowling Club.