In this Issue

Weekly News

Week 1, Third Term 2005

Ex-Falcon Boy to direct Hollywood film

Random Drug Checks

Staff News

Provincial Hockey Tournament- Harare & Mutare

Fidelis Majuba takes the U19 Provincial Hockey Team to South Africa

Falcon boys participate in the World Rugby Qulifier in Namibia

Rich Harrison Umpires Zimbabwe Cricket

van Rensburg scores 114 runs

It was a tragic weekend at the College as on Saturday afternoon, Ted and Marilyn Marais house burnt down.

The sequence of events was as follows:
At approximately 3.30 p.m. a fire was spotted in the vlei below the mine dumps.  A team was gathered and back burning was set in place to contain the fire.

We tried to stop the fire at the new fence line, but sadly it jumped that cut.

The fire spread in high wind up the vlei between the Bancrofts and the College fence line.  The fire was well contained in that area and was all but extinguished. Many people had already returned to the College when the wind threw up a fire ball that hit the thatch on the Marais cottage - sadly, it just could not be contained.

The whole complex burnt to the ground.  The boys and staff were great, but unfortunately, not much could be salvaged.  Both Ted and Marilyn are alright; Ted suffered some scalding to the top of his head and has battled with inhalation of too much smoke. Marilyn was shocked. but is coping amazingly. The picture on the top left shows the fire gutting the cottage.  On the right staff and boys battle with the fire.

Sunu Gonera to direct Hollywood film

Ex-Falcon scholar (from 1987 to1992), Sunu Gonera, has recently landed a lucrative deal to direct a major Hollywood film. Gonera has been signed on as director of PDR with United States production giants Lions Gate. The film will enter pre-production next month. Hollywood actors, including Jada Pinker Smith, Nia Long and Kerry Washington, are queuing to star in the production.

Gonera's hard work and talent at rugby earned him a scholarship to study at Falcon College. and he was awarded yet another scholarship to study at the University of Cape Town.  

After university he worked as a banker in South Africa, but soon realised his ambition by joining the film industry.  Starting off as a runner at a production house, Gonera's breakthrough came when he directed a commercial for the Sports Trust. The advertisements won five coveted awards.

He also appeared in a film called In my Country, alongside celebrated actors Julliette Binoche and Samuel Jackson.

Random Drug Checks
We did a random drug check in the last week of last term and the results were all clean. Random drug tests will be an on-going exercise at the College. It is our intention to create a drug-free institution.

Staff News
Alice Bryan is back at work.  She is receiving chemotherapy treatment, but is brave and positive. We welcome two new ladies in the Accounts Office - Barbara Jackson and Yvonne Johnson.

Provincial Hockey Tournament
 Will Randle (U14), Richard Harrison (U16), and Dave Grant (U19) all took provincial age group cricket to the Interprovincials in Harare and Mutare towards the end of the holidays.  The Matabeleland U19, in which 4 Falcon boys participated, won the tournament.  The boys were: 
G Swanepoel, P Trethowan, D Landman and G Mhamhiyo.

Interprovincial Hockey Tournament - South Africa
Fidelis Majuba coached the U16A at the Interprovncial Hockey Tournament in South Africa during the holidays.

Falcon at the Rugby World Qualifier in Namibia
Five Falcon boys: S Walters, D Rawstorne, R Mctaggart, K Murray and L-M Mashanyare all played in the Rugby World Cup Qualifier in Namibia.  The team lost narrowly to Namibia in the finals.

Richard Harrison umpires for Zimbabwe
Richard Harrison stood as the 4th Umpire in the Zimbabwe/New Zealand cricket game.

van Rensburg at cricket

In the cricket match against Milton played on Saturday last week he made 114 runs.