Hilton's herbologist, Diane Aldworth will be hosting a course in herbology at her home in Hilton, KZN from January 2014. The complete course comprises 6 full day modules which include lunch. Di draws on her extensive experience to teach how to grow herbs, layout a herb garden, dry herbs, store herbs and how to use these in cooking and making simple remedies. The course is outlined in more detail below...

HERBOLOSIST @ HOME

Do you want to learn more about herbs and their uses? Come join this interesting course and have fun at the same time.

PART ONE
Getting Started
Where did it begin - Short History of Herbs Growing herbs - Starting a Garden - Designing an Herb garden -What to Plant - Companion planting - Maintenance - Propagation - Harvesting, drying and storing herbs

PART TWO
Herbal Plants
Introduction - Identification and Plant Anatomy - The Herb plants

PART THREE
Body Systems and Ailments
Introduction to Body Systems Life stages of Man - Identifying ailments and remedies

PART FOUR
Formulating Recipes and Making Products
Introduction to Formulae - Basic Herbal remedies Herbal remedies for pets

PART FIVE
Cooking with Herbs
Introduction - Basic Dietary Requirements - Nutrition - Vitamins and Minerals - Herbs in Cooking General Food Guidelines

This course is given as a once a month lesson

Including lunch in Hilton, Pietermaritzburg, KZN.

The course is also available as a CD for distance learning.

Contact Diane Aldworth on 082 808 1519 or Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Click here for more information about The Green Herb Co.

The first ME! Morning in Hilton was a success! This is what some of the participants said about the morning;

"I will attend more to help me with self esteem and confidence" -Toni le Roux

"It stimulated thinking" - Sue Fly

"I'm finding my strengths" - Stephanie Sheik

"I've learnt about myself and how to help myself" – Leeann

"I've seen I'm not alone in self-discovery" - Shivani Chetty

"I want to research and understand more" - Hazel Lake

"Very well run; great food" - Yvonne Cordner

"I'm feeling, inspired, motivated and directed!" - Shereen Duncan

"It's given me a great sense of shared purpose and courageous struggle through change" - Debbie

"To hear positive things.... makes me feel I can take on the world!" – Yolandi

"Networking with inspired people" – Margi

The 'MEs' responsible for this event are Deborah Don, Desrae Coventry and Desiray Viney.

Deborah Don is practising alternative healing therapies and self-esteem conselling at the Crossways Health Centre in Hilton. With more than 25 year's experience, Deborah brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work. She teaches the mindful application of self-empowerment, how to connect mind and body through the movements of tai chi and brings the joy of circle dancing to life.

Desrae Coventry is inspired and motivated by personal growth and success stories. Regardless of their personal status and achievements she loves seeing individuals, groups or businesses making progress and growing. Desrae has worked with a wide range of people from the frail and old in rural areas to corporate executives in board rooms. Irrespective of who they are, Desrae says "The common thread is the need for love,encouragement, acknowledgement and affirmation".

Desiray Viney has retired from academics and now runs REAL Communication Consulting. Her desire to connect with people trying to connect with their real selves has driven her to move into the business of connecting, sharing and implementing REAL ideas, hence the notion of a Morning for ME!

The consensus is that these are indeed hugely repeatable events. Desiray Viney said, "It was such a happy, relaxed morning. The speakers were really interesting and thought-provoking, the participants were so responsive, and the Thai Chi was a huge hit!

A diary date for you to note will be the 19th October 2013 when another ME! Morning will take place at The Barn in Hilton.

Grade 7s at Laddsworth Primary School in Hilton have been presenting the play Bugsy Malone to appreciative audiences. Set in New York City in 1929, the musical recaptures the ambience of the Prohibition in the United States. The original 1976 musical gangster film was made with an all-child cast that featured the well-known actor Jodie Foster, who was then 13.

Pictured here are workers in the Chinese laundry, dancers who entertain guests in Fat Sam's speakeasy and members of Dandy Dan's gangster mob.

Photographs and news supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

At long last the Men's Nominated Pairs competition for this year has been completed. Bill McQuade and Anton Leisegang beat Doug Robertson and John Fowler by a considerable margin in the final on Thursday. Well done to the winners.

The Chicken Run on Saturday was won by Gil van der Hoven, Tony Francis and Deirdre McQuade. They finished the afternoon fifteen shots ahead of their opponents. Thanks to Quarry Spar for their donation of chickens.

The entry form for the Quarry SuperSpar lunch and Queen's Cup tournament to be played on 21 September is on the notice board. Please complete your entry by Saturday 14th.

Members are reminded that we will be closing the green for the annual refurbishment on 25th September. The Bridge Drive that usually takes place at this time has been cancelled, but we will be having a social on 11 October. Details will be provided via this column.

Duties: 15 – 21 Sept: OOD: Ron Buchel. Tabs: Jill Bannatyne. Duty team: Fred Palmer. Teas on 14 Sept: N/A – Quarry Spar Lunch. Biscuits: 17 & 19 Sept: Vernon Hickinbotham & Andy Hitchcock.

News supplied by Hilton Bowling Club.

School holidays are around the corner, but for Grades 11 and 12 students with important exams looming in just a few weeks, the short break needs to be more about revision than fun.

Lots of students find it difficult to manage their time or to structure an effective study programme. That's where ASP Tutoring's Revision School, run by Lindi Redfern (B.Ed. Hons: Ed Psych), offers all the solutions. Redfern conceived the idea of a local revision school in response to numerous requests from parents and students who were travelling to Durban for similar support.

The Revision School will take place from Monday, September 23rd to Friday, September 27th at St Anne's Diocesan College in Hilton. Lessons will begin each morning at 9am and finish at 1pm, and crucially, only the most experienced, qualified teachers will be offering revision modules in their specialist subject areas. Students will select five mornings of structured, focused academic tutoring from a wide programme of options – and provision has been made for state, IEB or Cambridge curricula.

Class groups will be small, allowing for individual attention and the opportunity for everyone to engage in lessons.

ASP Tutoring's primary aim in hosting its Revision School is to support students by encouraging each one to do his or her absolute best in this year's final exams, because subject competence, exam expertise and personal confidence will have been enhanced.

Interested? Go to ASP Tutoring's website: www.tutorlessons.co.za and click on the Revision School tab, or phone or email Erica Ras: 072 568 5155 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for further information on how to register.

Read more about ASP Tutoring here.

At Brookfield Farmhouse we would like to celebrate our Rainbow Nation, by having a Heritage Day feast themed on Local is Lekker!

Our menu is a celebration of local South African Cuisine to be enjoyed with family and friends.

On Arrival, adults will receive a Robson's Ale and kiddies a Fruit Juice.

Biltong platter with Roasted Garlic & Aubergine pate, homemade chilli & stone fruit chutney, lightly salted chips, Thick Onion Rings and Crispy French Loaf.

Lunch: A choice of either a Bafana Bafana Boerie Roll or a Ama Bokke Steak Roll

Bafana Bafana Boerie Roll
Gourmet Boerewors Roll: Crispy French Baguette stuffed with Juicy Wors, topped with a garlic and mustard butter served with Crispy Shoestring Fries and a spicy Voetsak Chilli Dip on the side.

Ama Bokke Steak Roll
Crusty Ciabatta Roll with a succulent Smoked Salt, Pepper and Herb Crusted Rump, topped with crispy red onions and a homemade tomato and onion chutney served with Crispy Shoestring Fries and a Spicy Voetsak Chilli Dip.

Dessert: A choice of Ouma's Delight, Melk Tart Ice Cream with a salted caramel sauce OR Amarula Tiramisu

Price R 150.00
Kiddies Under 12 R80.00

Booking Essential! Contact Lisa at Brookfield Farmhouse on 072 962 0378 or 033 383 2012.

St Anne's Diocesan College supported Arbour Week with a group tree planting session at the College on Monday, 2nd September.

Girls from each boarding house selected their trees, dug holes and planted them during their tea break around the College grounds.

In the afternoon, a team of girls from the Environmental Club and STEPP, our social responsibility programme, headed out to Umngeni Hospital where more trees were planted to mark Arbour Week. Patients enjoyed a bit of afternoon sun and got involved, helping the girls dig the holes and plant the Yellowwood trees.

We enjoyed an amazing evening on Friday. This is a comment that we received from Sibusiso Vilane (guest speaker): "Your team are doing a tremendous job and I wish you well as you strive along." This from a man who knows how important it is to receive opportunities in life. He is a world famous mountaineer who was once a herd boy, until he was given the opportunity to go to school and then his life changed forever. This is what Singakwenza aims to do, to be Champions for children by mentoring their crèche teachers and implementing an Early Childhood stimulation programme.

Attached is a photo taken of the Singakwenza team (L to R) – Sthembile Magwaza, Linda Hill, Sibusiso Vilane, Julie Hay, Debbie McCarthy and Nondu Nzimande.

Our best wishes go to Lungi Ngidi who leaves for India shortly with the South African u19 Cricket team who will be playing in a triangular series with India and Zimbabwe. The SA u19 team are playing in this triangular as a warm-up, under similar conditions, for the u19 World Cup which takes place in Dubai in February 2014. We are delighted for Lungi and wish him all the very best on the sub-continent.

Lungi represented KZN Coastal u13, KZN Inland u15, KZN Inland u19 and the Dolphins u19, and is currently in Form IV at Hilton. He has played for the Hilton 1st XI since Form III and is an exciting prospect. He has worked hard in preparing himself for all the trials and camps which took place in the lead up to being selected for the SA u19 squad and it is wonderful to see his hard work pay off. We wish Lungi well in India and hope he takes lots of wickets.

News and photographs from Hilton College.

Every year, Hilton Pre-Primary School's Gr R classes go to see Dr Lee Pachonick at Umgeni Vet. She gives them a very informative talk about sick animals and shows them what happens when you take your animals to the vet.

Which one of us does not personally know someone who has had breast cancer? I am almost sure the answer is that most of us do know someone. This is an increasing and alarming scurge that is now appearing in women as young as 20.

As far as I know there is no real reason as yet specifically identified to pinpoint why the increase and why in younger women. Some of the culprits in the line-up are : hormones (that we take on purpose) and that are in our food (without us knowing), stress, other environmental factors, but nothing yet proven by science.

What can the ordinary woman (or man – did you know men can get breast cancer?) do to be vigilant/pro-active and try and detect anything abnormal early?

Monthly self-examination with a flat hand against the breast systematically working around to feel for lumps is the best way – if you do it every month you should easily pick up if there is a change and that should be checked out by your doctor. Women under the age of 40 can have yearly thermography done which is a very sensitive
screening tool FDA approved to detect many different things as well as breast cancer. Also younger women can have ultrasound done to investigate anything that seems abnormal.The latest screening test is thermography and I personally feel that routine (ie follow-up every year) thermography scans is a brilliant way for the young woman to screen for breast cancer. Google thermography Pietermaritzburg for the ladies that do this screening.

Mammography is still the recognised method of breast cancer detection but can only be done > 40 years and then should be done either yearly or every second year.

If a lump is detected in the early stages there is excellent treatment these days for breast cancer and many cases can be cured. The key is early detection. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are all methods of treatment but specifically chemotherapy is extremely successful and refined these days compared to times gone by.

Men can get breast cancer and so if you feel anything strange you should definitely get it checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Cancer CAN be beaten, especially breast cancer – vigilance is the key – monthly self-examination, awareness of your body and general checks by your doctor can save your life. The fact that the incidence is so much higher these days means that you should at all times ensure healthy living – eating healthily, drinking enough water, exercising, avoiding food especially meat that contains hormones/antibiotics, understanding what you eat and are exposed to, using medication only if it is absolutely necessary.

Genetics is something you can not fight and if you have a mother or sister who has had breast cancer there are genetic tests that you can do as well to look at your risk of developing breast cancer and you should definitely be much more vigilant too.

Breast cancer awareness month is October and we have come a long way in the battle to beating it! Be aware, self-examine and support breast cancer month in October.

Written by Dr Claudine Lee 26 Hilton Avenue 033 343 2243.

Kindly note that Dr Claudine Lee and Dr Ralph Gilbert will be doing "Around the coffee table talks", relaxed interactive chats about health issues at 26 Hilton Avenue once a month, dates will be advised. The first one will be by Dr Lee on Breastfeeding and the new mom, by a mom doing it second time around with some medical knowledge but lots of practical experience.

Diana Veness who you may have heard singing at The Quarry Centre, The Pot & Barrel, Ba'Lonkas, Protea Hotel and Hilton's POSH Market days shares the story of her singing, 'I have always had a song in me and the earliest memory I have of myself was singing a song "suiker bossie ek will jou he" at about 3 years old on our farm in the then Northern Transvaal. We then moved to Natal when I was 7 years old, to a farm in Bishopstowe and the Zulu's gave me a Zulu name (as they did all of us)"Umhlabeleli" which means "singer".

My father Sandy Wilson was an accomplished musician and singer. I loved to sing while he played the guitar. My younger brothers Michael, Graeme and Colin ended up all being able to play guitar and sing while my brother Graeme has written over 20 songs and is a very talented musician and singer. Before I married Danny Veness on the 9th May 1968, I had sung at Art in The Park, Ansonia Hotel and Imperial Hotel in Pietermaritzburg for a short while. I stopped singing and sold my microphone when I got married so I had had not much time to follow my dream to sing. I never sang solo in public again except for in one of the Pig and Whistle productions at Epworth in the early 90's.

Then on 30th March 2012 lying in hospital after having more stents put in my heart I decided that I wanted more than anything to sing again, so Danny bought me all the equipment I needed on my 44th wedding anniversary on the 9th May 2012. With the help of a friend I purchased backing tracks from the UK and now I spend two hours practicing daily. At last I am fulfilling a childhood dream...SINGING MY HEART OUT !!'

This year Diana will be singing at the Protea Hotel Hilton bar area during the ever popular Hilton Food & Wine Fair, see you there. Tickets are available at The Quarry SuperSpar , at Hilton Pre-Primary and at the door from 7.00pm on Friday night.

The weather is looking good for the weekend, so we are crossing fingers and toes hoping it will last! Hilton Covered will be at The Hilton Arts Festival on Saturday and Sunday, find Desiree or Doreen behind the chapel where you can collect a FREE copy of Hilton Covered.

Come along and say 'Hi'!

Three pupils from Laddsworth Primary School in Hilton have been selected to represent KwaZulu-Natal at the Athletics South Arica (ASA) championship in Potchefstroom later this month. They are, from left: Leah Kriel, James Bilbrough and Lauren Knobel.

News and image supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

The 100m Open record has stood for some time with D Gellately (1964), J Linsley and D Booth (1977), M Pfaff (1980), R Hime (1995), M Tembe (1998) and B Pfaff (2012) running a time of 10,9 seconds. It was a historic occasion when Brian Pfaff (matric), who equalled the record last year, beat the record comfortably at the 2013 Inter-House Championships on Saturday 7 September. It was appropriate that Brian's father, Mike Pfaff, handed out the prizes at the meeting and was able to congratulate his son on setting a new record (10,7 s).

Brian's grandfather (Ellis '47) was the Victor Ludorum twice and held the 100 yards record, and Mike and Brian, have both won the Open 100m twice and been the Victor Ludorum on two occasions. No one can doubt the sprinting ability of the Pfaff's!

Pictured here from left to right: Brian Pfaff and Mike Pfaff

News and image supplied by Hilton College.

This painting of Chester Williams, by world renowned painter, FLEUR FERRI, will be sold at the Hilton Arts Festival and a percentage of the funds handed to the Khazimula Childrens project (http://www.khazimula.co.za/) in Nottingham Road. We hope to sell the painting in excess of R35,000, so hope to have some generous people at the Festival, with deep pockets. The highest offer over R15,000 will get to take the painting home and will be contacted via email after the show. A R5 fee can be paid at the festival to participate or email your bid to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who can be found in the Campbell Hall next to the main reception building.

Chester Williams was the first non-white player to be included in the Springboks and was the famous winger of the SA national Springbok team that won the Rugby World Cup against New Zealand in 1995.

Fleur Ferri (1929-2006) art is represented in collections worldwide. Selected to record the last Sitting of Westminister System of Government in 6m painting of the State President & 29 Parliamentary figures for the Houses of Parliament; Has painted portraits of eminent government & public figures in SA & abroad; 14 portraits of Southern African Heads of State; among the many distinguished South Africans painted by Ferri are: Dr Anton Rupert (Rembrandt Foundation), Mr Harry Oppenheimer and Nelson Mandela.

Hilton College hosted Grant Kendal, a Civil Engineer from Royal Haskoning DHV, for their annual Grade 8 bridge building evening last night. Grant discussed features of some of the local bridge constructions that his company has been involved in designing. He also gave some insight into the characteristics required of an Engineer and the type of work they get involved in. After the presentation several of the boys' bridges were tested to failure! The winning bridge, which held 32kgs, was constructed by Dyllan Hope, Rasikan Moodley and Jordan Twiss.

Pictured (L-R): Jordan Twiss; Dyllan Hope and Rasikan Moodley

News and image supplied by Hilton College.

Howick Bowling Club came across on Wednesday to play against Hilton in the annual contest between our clubs. The weather was perfect, and the match was played in the true spirit of bowls. After twenty ends on seven rinks, Howick pipped Hilton by just two shots. Well done, neighbours, but watch out next year! Special mention must be made of the Hilton team of George Oldham, Jill Bannatyne, Gill Robertson and Anton Leisegang which contributed more than 25% of Hilton's total. One lesson from the day was that 56 players cannot be comfortably accommodated in our club house.

Perfect conditions greeted us again on Sunday when we held a Bowls Awareness morning. Ten people who have never played the game before came to see what it's all about. There was much laughter, cheering and downright good fun. A number of the visitors took away application forms while others arranged to do the coaching course. We look forward to seeing many new bowlers on our green soon.

Members are reminded that the green will be closed for spring treatment from 25 September to 15 October. We are planning to hold a social on Friday 11 October. Details to follow.

Duties: 8 – 14 Sept: OOD: Margie Garrard. Tabs: Fred Palmer. Duty team: Dave Garrard. Teas on 14 Sept: John Pattrick & Chris Purchase. Biscuits: 10 & 12 Sept: Pat Gordon & Tom Hartley.

News supplied by Hilton Bowling Club.