15 14 The Chronicle 2021 Centenary Edition Kearsney’s beautiful campus with manicured fields, indigenous gardens, Plain tree lined roads and beautiful architecture can hardly be compared to the destruction and devastation of Sarajevo. And yet our beautiful estate is home to 650 boys, 130 employees and around 60 outsourced staff. Amongst these precious people are many who have suffered during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, including economic hardship, family members who have lost their jobs, and close family and friends who have succumbed to the virus and other ailments. Nineteen of our boys from 13 families have lost a parent in the past 18 months. Boys and staff have struggled with the mental anguish that has accompanied these challenging times. And yet there have been our own “Cellists of Sarajevo” who have encouraged us, brought healing to us and being the literal lighthouse in the storm. There has been a tremendous outpouring of support shown by boys to their fellow classmates and those in other forms going through tough times. The staff have similarly risen to the occasion by supporting each other and the boys in their care. In the civil unrest of July, many of our boys and staff stood up in their communities to safeguard neighbourhoods, clear up suburbs and deliver food and care to township and rural communities in need. These were all “Cellists of Sarajevo” and we salute them today. In the carnage of the year, I believe our community has shown its mettle of looking out for each other and being the soothing music that says, “I am part of this town”. To the departing Grade 12s, take this year’s experience as a foundation for your lives. Through adversity, you boys are sure to be stronger and better human beings. You have seized the day and we honour you for that. Now go out and continue to look out for each other and look out for others too. Be the “Cellist of Sarajevo” of your family, of your community and of your world and always remember that you, whoever you are, “are part of this town which we all know as our Kearsney College”. Thank you and God bless you. FAREWELLS We acknowledge and thank other members of staff who left the College during 2021 and wish them well in their future endeavours. Teaching staff: End term 1: Ms Bronwyn Barnard (Knowledge Centre Manager) Mr Sam Mofokeng (English) End Term 2: Mr Marco Botha (Mathematics), after 18 years & 6 months Mrs Penny Meyer (Academic Inclusion) Ms Xu (Sunny) Dai (Mandarin) End Term 4: Mr Kyle Eysele (Life Sciences / LO) Mr Keagan Deponselle (Life Sciences) Ms Xin (Monica) Li (Mandarin) Admin staff: May: Mrs Giselle Thompson (Foundation Coordinator) December: Mrs Ghislaine Riceman (Foundation Director) Sports staff: July: Mr Keith Thompson (Director of Sport) December: Mr Nico Breedt (Assistant 1st XV Coach) Mr Ryan Horne (Sports coach) Estates staff: February: Mr Ayanda Peter (Grounds and Gardens Supervisor) December: Mr Thabo Jaffe (COVID-19 Co-ordinator) Ms Andrea Fripp: Business Studies Teacher Ms Andrea Fripp was employed as an Accounting and Economic Management Sciences (EMS) teacher at Kearsney in 1997. Over the years, her dedication to the boys and the College have seen her adding to her portfolio and, in true Carpe Diem spirit, in 2009 she started teaching Business Studies, eventually up to Matric level. Ms Fripp’s teaching, however, represents just a fraction of the immense contribution she has made and continues to make to the College. As the Director of Clubs and Culture, a role she has held for the past 13 years, Ms Fripp ran the Upbeat Festival, an extensive festival of the Arts, and was subsequently responsible for launching the Upbeat Festival’s successor, the popular and influential Culture@Kearsney programme, a wonderful year-long celebration of the Arts involving dozens of pupils from schools throughout the province, ranging from independent schools to township and rural schools, providing young people a stage on which to perform, sometimes for the first time in their lives. She has promoted and advanced this vitally important portfolio in the College, ensuring Kearsney boys receive the holistic education for which Kearsney is famed and simultaneously providing opportunities for many schools in our province. Ms Fripp has been actively involved on the sporting front too. While her sporting CV includes four years of coaching U14E/F cricket when she first arrived, she is a dedicated and passionate hockey person. Ms Fripp coached various hockey teams and was the 1st team manager in 2000 and 2001. Since 1998 Ms Fripp Long Service Awards – 25 Years Both recipients started at Kearsney on 01 January 1997. Mr Amos was employed as a Geography teacher at Kearsney in January 1997. Mr Amos has made a significant contribution to the instruction of Geography during his years at the College. Passionate about geomorphology and climatology, he would frequently insist on rock samples from boys who were planning holidays to exotic destinations. He has never shirked the opportunity to provide a struggling boy with extra lessons. This caring attitude has on occasion been recognised by an invitation, years later, to that young man’s wedding or a visit from Old Boys to report back on progress in their chosen careers. His acumen in IEB assessment teams is reflected in the many years that he has been appointed as a marker of essays in the NSC Geography examinations, where his contribution is highly respected and appreciated. In addition to his teaching, his contribution to the extracurricular activities at the College have been outstanding. Mr Amos’ particular passion is football, and he has held the role of MIC of Football since its introduction at the College in the 1990s. His interest in football can be traced back to his early years, when he was an avid club player with the Durban club Finnlands, where he played has been a member of the KZN Boys’ Hockey Association and, together with Mr Wayne Marsden, runs the various hockey tournaments that are hosted at Kearsney. Ms Fripp has also given up many Easter holidays in support of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival. Ms Fripp has been responsible for the school’s electronic administration system for the past twenty years, including introducing and managing increasingly complex administrative systems and school database solutions. As a result, she remains a vital member of the College’s IT Committee. Ms Fripp also serves on the Colours Committee and various ad hoc committees, including managing the events of the College’s centenary after her successful management of the College’s 95th anniversary celebrations. Kearsney is well and truly in her blood, as her family has enjoyed a long history with the College. Both her children were born on the Kearsney campus, her son attends Kearsney and her stepbrothers, are all Kearsney Old Boys. with and against many of the fathers whose sons he currently teaches. In addition to his football commitments, Mr Amos is involved in the coaching of hockey and basketball teams. Always dedicated and willing to volunteer his services, Mr Amos has been committed in his role as a duty staff member in various Houses and he is thanked for his time, steadfastness, energy and devotion to the boys. Passionate about the environment, Mr Amos served on the Kearsney eKCo Committee, which is the sub-committee involved with all things environmental at the College. We can reflect on some interesting outings to local nature reserves and beach clean-ups during his time as a committee member. Mr Amos creatively presented the ‘Theory of Survival’ in his Geography elective, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the boys. He is a man of immense compassion, who is willing to make significant personal sacrifices for those less fortunate than himself. This unconditional love and commitment to the underdog is evident in his concern for boys who are going through difficult times and even family members for whom he and his wife Tamsyn have been the literal Angels of Mercy. Wayne is the epitome of the consummate schoolmaster and one who has given Kearsney 25 years of committed service. Mr Wayne Amos: Geography Teacher TRIBUTE Kearsney’s Print Technician Mr Thuthuka Khanyile was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident in December 2021. He was a much-loved Kearsney employee, working in the College’s IT department for five and a half years. A Kearsney memorial service with family and colleagues was held for him in the Kearsney Chapel. Head’s speech continued:
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