Newsletter

Third Term 2005 

The re-alignment of the game fence and the extension of Quiet Waters

This exercise continues and most of the extension on the southern side has been complete. This part of the new fence will certainly be in place before Christmas. The addition to the park on the eastern side will be done early next year.

The large vlei near the mine dumps is a wonderful addition and warthog, impala, bushbuck and reedbuck are seen there frequently. It is hoped that by next year we will have pumped pans in the area next to the existing boreholes. Game is also seen by staff living along the northern security fence of the College. On one occasion zebra, impala, kudu, bushbuck, baboon and duiker visited Umvumila Pan (near the Macdonald’s cottage) in a twelve hour period.

Fire

The fierce bush fire which tragically burnt down the Marais cottage did help to clear a great deal of scrub and moribund grass. It has especially opened up the vlei area mentioned earlier. The "green bite" which has come through is especially attractive to some game.

Other Game

Leopard spoor and faeces have frequently been seen in Quiet Waters. The one appears to be a large male, while a female has been responsible for the killing of four of Mike Stone’s calves in the Falcon property to the south and east of the College.

The giraffe not belonging to Quiet Waters have been seen in the Wilderness area. It is hoped that if they remain close we will be able to coax them into the game fenced area.

Mbonisa Weir and the drought

The Mbonisa Weir finally dried up in early October because of the long and persistent drought. At the time of writing this newsletter (21^st November), Falcon and Quiet Waters still have not had any meaningful rain although the skies have looked promising over the last three days.

If we get good rains and the weir fills up the Quiet Waters committee plans to have an official opening in March. Our special guests will be Jimmy and Jenny Goddard. Jimmy, an old boy, a parent and a very successful business man built the magnificent arched stone masonry wall and helped finance it.

Campsite and Picnic Sites

These have been used regularly throughout the term both by boys and parents. It gives the committee particular pleasure to see groups of boys camping on Quiet Waters over the weekends – the park is meant just for this sort of venture.

Form 2 Adventure Course

This annual three day exercise was organized by Will Randle during October. As usual it was a great success. The boys not only learnt a great deal about themselves but they also appeared to have a great deal of fun. Will was particularly impressed by this year’s group which augurs well for the future.

The 20^th Anniversary Party

The inaugural Quiet Waters committee meeting took place on 20^th October 1985. The present committee therefore decided to have an evening party and gathering at the Old Boys’ Study Centre on Saturday 29^th October 2005 to commemorate this special milestone. People from all over who have over the years significantly helped Quiet Waters were invited.

It was a happy and memorable occasion enjoyed by all who were there. The Chairman in his speech made special mention of all the 27 people who have served on the committee in the last 20 years. He paid particular tribute to those who are no longer with us – Ron Hartley, Mike Cumming, Lionel Reynolds, John Posselt, Victor Masuku and Orbet Linda. He also acknowledged the wonderful support of people such as the late Tony Taylor, Eugene Turina, John Gass, Bert Tink, Mike and Thelma Mylne, Willie and Clare Robinson. Paul and Elspeth Goodwin, Colin and Judy Martin, Bill and Elizabeth McKinney, Mike and Sue Stone, Alistair Coulson, Dave Heathcote, Jimmy and Jenny Goddard, Neil and Sue Todd, Andy Laing and Reg Querl. Special mention was also made of the Chairman’s wife Heather, and Tony and Joan Bancroft who continue to help and support in so many ways.

The occasion was marked by the planting of a Natal Mahogany by Andy Laing the Chairman of the Board.

The WLZ outing to Quiet Waters

An excellent turnout to Quiet Waters by members of the Matabeleland branch of Wildlife and Environment Zimbabwe took place on Sunday 20^th November. Falcon staff and senior citizens from the MOTH cottages in the village also attended what turned out to be a wonderful day in spite of threats of rain.

The Chairman spoke briefly on the achievements of the year and the plans for

2006. Graham Armstrong, with the help of members of the Snake Club, spoke on

snakes in the wild and snake conservation. Using the boys, he did a demonstration

on the handling of dangerous snakes using a Mozambique Spitting Cobra as an

 

 

Gordon Macdonad’s introduction Reg Querl’s falcons

actor. The boys showed off some non-venomous snakes, while on show was a Python, an Egyptian Cobra, a Puff-adder and a Black Mamba (recently caught in the Randles’ house)