Newsletter

First Term 2006 

♦    The Rains and Quiet Waters

At the time of the writing of this newsletter Quiet Waters has had nearly 700mm of rain this season - 75mm over the normal for Falcon College.  This wonderful rain has been spread fairly evenly over the season with no long dry spells. 

This has meant that Quiet Waters, the College and the surrounding bush are looking spectacularly beautiful.  Unfortunately, because there has been limited runoff as a result of the dense groundcover, dams and weirs are not full.  We also face the worry about veld-fires in September and October fireguards are, therefore already being cleared.

♦    The Extension of the Park

This was completed at the end of February increasing the park, by approximately 50 hectares.  The new enclosed area is dominated by open grasslands and is attractive to impala, reedbuck and warthog.  Plans are in placed to build a viewing platform overlooking a new water pan.  The committee is also planning some walking trails through the area.

 Educational Use of the Park

Yet again the College has made good use of Quiet Waters from educational purposes this term.  The Form One Adventure course, organised and run by Will Randle, was a success and enjoyed by those that took part.

 The Junior Natural History Society had an outing into the park and it made used of the Campsite.

   

The first stage of the Inter-house Fishing Competition took place on Longdens Dam on the last Sunday of the term.  We are grateful to Mr. Patrick Moyo, the owner of the property, for giving us access to the dam.

 Three members of the Lower Six Environmental Managements class are doing their AS fieldwork projects on topics relating to Quiet Waters and the Falcon property.

♦          The Campsite and Picnic Areas

These important facilities are being used more and more by parents, staff and boys, which is pleasing to see.  We hope this trend continues next term - the rugby, hockey and soccer term when many parents living far from the school come to watch their sons play sport.

 Quiet Waters has bought a large petrol lawn mover so that both these facilities are looking very good and well manicured.

 A new picnic site is now in place - the old entrance gazebo, which was built in memory of John Posselt and Orbert Linda, has now got a braai and toilet and is close to the school.  It has been named “Umganu” which is the Ndebele name for Marula tree, which was a favourite of John Posselt.  There are a few lovely specimens of this tree close to the site.

 Another new picnic spot will be built later in the year, on the shoreline of the new Mbonisa Weir.

 

♦                    Game in the Park

A fair amount is being seen of large groups of impala - up to 15 in a herd - and what is pleasing is they are not too fussed about cars.  A large number of lambs were born in November and December and the rutting season has already started in earnest.

 

The other species often seen the public is Zebra - there are 14 to 15 in the park but a fairly tame group of five, which includes a foal, graze in the sand-veld area close to the picnic sites.

 ♦                    New Game

Thanks to the generosity and initiative of Charles Davy, his brother Paul [parent] and “Blondie” Leathem [parent] Quiet Waters will receive up to six giraffe later next term.  It is hoped that one to two other species will be donated as well.  The Quiet Waters maintenance team has already started to repair the holding boma in readiness for the arrival of the new game.  All very exciting!

♦          Opening of Mbonisa Weir

Mbonisa Weir wall, which was build by Jimmy Goddard last year, will be official opened by Jimmy and his wife Jenny at a special occasion on Friday 12^th May - the first Friday of next term.  Parents are welcome to attend.

 

♦          Quiet Waters Booklet

It is hoped that his new 45-page booklet [the fourth and much revised edition] will be printed and available for sale by the end of July this year.

 The materials for this worthwhile project have already been bought in order to hedge against hyper-inflation.  Mrs. Yvonne Thomson, who works so hard for the school in so may ways, has agreed to raise the necessary funds to pay for the printing of the booklet.  This will be done by the sponsorship of pages by parents and companies with close ties to Falcon.  Those who sponsor a page [$2,500,000-00 per page] will be acknowledged in bold print at the bottom of the page.

 

♦                    Donations received from Parents

Quiet Waters committee and Falcon College are grateful to the parents mentioned below for their generous donations received during this term.

 

Alexander and Debbie Bradnick    $2,000,000

Ant and Alison Randell                    $2,000,000

Pete and Rose Rawstorne                $800,000

Gary and Liane Mason                    $5,000,000

Gary and Theresa Wrath                 $10,000

Barend and Maria Marais              $1,000,000

Jonathan Makola                            $800,000

Patrick and Brenda Bronson            $450,000

 

♦          Donation pledges by two Old Boys

Mike Ross [Tredgold 1967-1972] and Alistair Paterson [Hervey 1961 - 1964] have both pledged donations to ₤1000.00 and US$1000.00 respectively to Quiet Waters.  These very generous donations will be used wisely for specific development projects.

 

♦          Prize Winners “50” Club - 1^st Term, 2006

 1^st - Alan and Debbie Bradnick             $ 1,000,000-00
2^nd - Geoff and Cheryl Kirkman              $    500,000-00

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QUIET WATERS "50 CLUB"
FIRST TERM 2006

The Quiet Waters committee thank parents and friends who have, over the years, supported the "50 Club" fund raising scheme. The subscription for the first term of 2006 is $50 000 and prizes in the draw at the end of the term will be $1 000 000 and $500000.

As in the past the money raised will be used for prizes and to help with the development of Quiet Waters.  If you would like to join the Club please fill in a copy of the proforma shown below and send it to the secretary, Quite Waters.