SPEECH DAY AND PRIZE GIVING 2005
13 OCTOBER 2005
ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS - ANDY LAING
Mr and Mrs Ross, Headmaster and Mrs Querl, ladies and gentlemen…..
When we celebrated the beginning of the new century five years ago,
we had no concept of the trials and tribulations that we were destined to face.
Chaos and uncertainty have dominated our lives, and whilst Zimbabwe has
broken many world records in the past year, they have all been for the wrong
reasons. We have endured hardships beyond measure, all of them
self-inflicted. For years we
believed this could not endure for much longer, but it has. Life remains tough and stressful, and economists are baffled at our continued survival.
But survive we have, against all the odds, and life goes on.
Enforced patience in frustrating queues, innovation, resilience and
fortitude have been the hallmarks of our survival. Without positive attitudes we would have fallen by the
wayside.
For the past five years the Board has listened to calls from
various quarters to curtail expenditure on capital additions and on maintenance,
with many suggesting that development programmes be put on hold until the
economy improves. Had
this been done we would already have waited five long years, and our College
would have been totally run down.
Rather than wait for better times which never arrived, we have
forged ahead with developments in many different areas. We have embarked on in depth self-critical
analyses of our College with a view to enhancing what we do right, and
rectifying what we do wrong. We
are most grateful to the boys, the staff and the parents who co-operated in
submitting the questionnaires that were circulated;
to Mr Brooks our South African consultant for his guidance and advice; and to the staff who patiently and constructively accepted
the need for change in some areas.
We are also grateful to the many parents who attended meetings in Bulawayo,
Harare and Kwekwe, and offered very useful advice.
These combined exercises enabled the drafting of a strategic plan
which is designed to ensure not only the survival of the College, but its
position at the very top of secondary education in Zimbabwe. It is designed to overcome all difficulties in a
practical manner, and engenders the utmost confidence in the future of Falcon
whatever hurdles stand in our way.
There has been renewed
emphasis on academic matters which must always remain our core business. We have excelled on the sports fields and despite
fuel difficulties we have met all our travel commitments. We have implemented an extensive programme of
renovation and building. There are
new developments on Quiet Waters where Mr Goddard most generously re-constructed
the weir, and the fence is being re-aligned to extend the park.
The Agricultural Department has expanded considerably towards our goal of
self-sufficiency. The Falcon
spirit has not died, for as soon as the broilers reached a reasonable size,
those that wandered close to the gates ended up on braais
in some of the houses.
New
computers have at last arrived, and we hope the considerable teething problems
will soon be over. More computers are expected by the New Year.
Plans are in hand for an additional computer laboratory to house the new
equipment, and work has already started on three new staff houses.
Our magnificent swimming pool has been re-furbished and our water polo
Crusader Shield victory last week marked the third time in 50 years that we have
won this prestigious event. Two new
mini-buses are expected before the end of term and we hope that work will start
early in the New Year on a new gymnasium next to the basket ball courts.
In
line with many leading schools in South Africa, we have created a new post of
Marketing Director, and Mrs Stewart has accepted this position.
Her marketing campaign is designed to be aggressive to the extent that we
shall be able to fill the College with quality entrants each year. All regions in Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries will
see active marketing of the College next year.
In
considering present difficulties in Zimbabwe, visitors to Falcon are generally
astounded at what we have achieved and what we have planned.
The future of Falcon is more assured than ever, and we are already
looking forward to 2006 with all its challenges, demands, frustrations and
opportunities.
2005
has not been without its difficulties.
The tragic deaths in the past twelve months of close friends and
colleagues, Mike Cumming and Ron Hartley, are still very much in our minds as
their families remain in our prayers.
Mr and Mrs Marais suffered great trauma this term in the total loss of
their house and the majority of their treasured possessions.
Their strength of character throughout the whole sad episode has been an
inspiration to us all.
We
have also suffered certain anxiety as Government resuscitated efforts to
implement further legislation which would enforce stringent controls and reduce
us to the deplorable state of many government schools.
There are many fine people in this country, one of whom stood up in our
hour of need. He is Mr
Jameson Timba, chairman of Arundel School, and current chairman of the
Association of Trust Schools.
In
representing over 60 trust schools, Jameson found the proposed legislation
totally unacceptable. However, being a man of high principle, he also
realised the folly in criticising without offering an alternative. He therefore took the proposed legislation and
re-drafted it, incorporating some of the Minister’s requirements, and offering
a viable and workable alternative.
There followed months of courageous and tireless work during which he
addressed anybody and everybody who was interested, affected, or empowered. He spoke with the President, and with the Minister, he
addressed cabinet and the party caucuses, he briefed commercial and industrial
bodies, and he consulted with all the stakeholders, parents and staff throughout
the country.
The
result of his amazing mission is that the Bill in its present form has been
rejected, and Jameson will continue to work with Government to ensure a workable
and acceptable Education Act comes into being.
With a man of the stature of Jameson Timba at the helm of our
association, we need have no worries because we know that everything and more
that has to be done, will be done.
The greatest concern that we faced this year, therefore, is now behind
us, and we should record or indebtedness to this incredible man.
Inflation
is of course another enormous difficulty.
It is the main subject of conversation right across Zimbabwe.
Naturally Falcon has been affected just like everybody else.
When the fees were set for the third term, the auction rate was
approximately 6000 : 1. Three
months later it is 26,000 : 1. The
parallel rate, on which the price of most commodities including fuel is based,
has risen accordingly.
It
should come as no surprise to thinking people therefore, when I announce that
regrettably we have to send out another supplementary invoice to see us through
this term. Consultations with other schools indicate that they are
all doing the same. The Board is
acutely aware that whilst it might be easy to justify the extra requirement, it
is the parents’ ability to pay that is of greater concern. Against their diminishing disposable income we have to
balance the staff’s requirements to survive and the need to maintain
standards. It is a
difficult balancing act. Whilst
it may be of little comfort, parents should know that our fees remain
approximately 1/5th of the fees at an equivalent school in South
Africa. As always, the
Bursar’s door is open to those who would like to discuss payment terms or
assistance.
This
year, our Bursar Mr Lew Watson retires after 10 years of dedicated and
exhausting service. Lew has certainly made his mark at Falcon, and
one never hears anyone speaking ill of him.
His sense of honesty, integrity and fair play has sustained him through
many demands, trials and tribulations.
He has always remained cheerful and inspiring through his quiet
personality and unflappable character.
He has performed his difficult and vital functions as Bursar in an
exemplary manner, he has survived illness and head on collisions with oncoming
cyclists, always with a smile.
The
Board would like therefore to publicly acknowledge the contribution made by Mr
Watson and to thank him for his dedication to the College, whilst wishing him
well in his retirement. We
are very pleased that he will continue to live at Falcon, and that Mrs Watson
will continue to serve as our San sister.
At the same time we welcome Mr Alan Wale as our new Bursar. He
joins us with a wealth of commercial accounting and management experience and we
wish him well in his new position.
Taking
over an established school as Headmaster is an extreme challenge.
Whilst wanting to stamp your authority at an early stage, you are
reluctant to disturb the status quo.
Inevitably differences of opinion surface between yourself and some of
those who have been here a long time, and these differences have to be handled
extremely carefully, with great sensitivity.
The first four years of our Headmaster’s tenure at Falcon have ranked
amongst the most demanding in our 50 year history.
Throughout this period Mr Querl has remained cheerful and positive, he
has introduced many changes for the better, and I would like to commend him on
his enthusiasm and confidence in
the future. Mrs Querl has
been a constant source of support and guidance and we are most fortunate to have
the pair of them at the head of the College.
I
want also to record my thanks to all the members of the Board who continue to
give selflessly of their time. The
vice chairman Mr Coulson injects infectious humour and enthusiasm into
everything he does and everyone he meets.
If you ever feel depressed,
spend some time with Mr Coulson. His
passion and commitment for the College are unrivalled.
My predecessor Mr Tanser continues to be available whenever sound advice
on any matter is required, and his commitment remains as strong as ever.
We are grateful to Mr Lucas who has chaired the vital finance committee
with great alacrity and acumen. And
we are indebted to Mrs Bristow and
her whole team on the fundraising committee, whose tireless work over the past
few years on the house ablutions, on the kitchen and dining room, mattresses and
covers, and now directed towards the house common rooms, has proved so
invaluable. Mr McTaggart has always been available to take on
projects and to assist in times of crisis.
In fact without his assistance on fuel our buses would have ground to a
standstill on numerous occasions.
Geoff Mhlanga and Todd Moyo continue to head up important parents and
staff liaison committees.
Last
but not least of course, we are ever grateful to Mrs Yvonne Thompson as she
continues to organise the most amazing events and to raise substantial amounts
of money for Falcon. Here is
a mother whose son left Falcon many years ago, but remains steadfastly committed
to our well being and to our future.
And
so you can see that we are ending another traumatic year on a high note.
We have overcome our difficulties and we are entirely confident that next
year will be even better. To
those of you who are leaving, we extend our good wishes and urge you to remain
in contact and remember your old school.
Our objective was to give you education for life, and I am sure we have
done exactly that. This
is adequately summed up in the final verse of a founder pupil’s address to the
Old Boys in the House of Commons on the occasion of our 40th
anniversary. It was delivered
by Nigel Pegram, beneath a murky English sky, and as he reminisced over his
years at Falcon, his final verse read as follows:
And
time went by…I played guitar…my bed on the verandah.
I slept beneath a million stars, and wondered where I’d wander.
In education’s widest sense, it gave me more than knowledge.
And I now look back on magic days, of founding Falcon College.
Thank you
Andy Laing
Chairman of the Board Of Governors
Address by the Guest
Speaker. Alistair Ross
Address by the Headmaster, Reg
Querl