{/) THE DAVTD HALL CONSERVANCYK.C.O^.1947-1952 In 1993 Kevin Smith and Fred Cocks led the first and very successful Kearsney College 1st XV rugby tour ofEngland(played 6,won 6). The K.C.O.B. branch in London invited them all to an end-oftour dinner. u Vision becomes reality through the generosity ofan old hoy and severalparents. A few years larer the staff were informed of a donation by an Old Boy in England to revamp the Biology Lab. Kevin Smith attended the opening ceremony and immediately recognised David Hall who Kevin had teased about having too much money and suggested that David should see a vacant piece ofland bordering our western boundary. David took Kevin's telephone number, contacted Kevin and gave him Helen Watson's name(Head of the Geography Department at Durban-Westville University). Kevin set up a meeting with Helen and a friend of hers, Alan Rouillard(our garden service contractor)to walk through the area. Helen produced a ten page report and Kevin sent the report,the photographs, tree lists, bird lisrs and an Educational Gazette article which informed schools of the need for environmental studies within the schools programme to David. David responded by offering to pay for the land. In the agreement David has stipulated that the area may never be sold, used for sports fields or for any building. Dr. Shuker rhen took over the proceedings. Sadly, Professor David Hall(Professor ofBiology at the University ofLondon)and world renowned for his work on the environment died soon after the land was transferred ro Kearsney College. We now have the David Hall Conservancy Society, which attempts to eliminate exotic plants such as gum trees, lantana, bug weed and to maintain paths within the conservancy(the land purchased by David and the sloping western part ofKearsney). Charl van Heerden,a present Kearsney parenr and keen environmentalist, organised the fencing of the area and stocked it with small game. The parks board was consulted and suggested we keep two zebra, three blesbok, four duiker and any number ofsmaller game such as dassies and genet. Charl introduceda parent, Mr. Vince Dummer, who very kindly paid for the erection ofa 1.8m game fence. The galvanised bonnox from Bonnox Natal was donated by Jim Dow,another parent. The fence was completed by Old Boys'Day on 11 August 2001. Dr. Rickie Hart,a parent, has undertaken to assist with the stocking ofthe area. At present we have two zebra at a cost ofR 2 000 each and Charl is negotiating with farmers in the Harrismith area for the purchase ofthe blesbok. The entrance to the Conservancy is next to the tennis court opposite the Sanatorium and is open every Friday 2.00 - 5.30 pm and on Sunday from 10.00am - 6.00pm. It will also be open on Old Boys Day. If there are Old Boys who would like to make a donation or to help in any way they may contact Gavin Bester or Kevin Smith. Future plans include building a bird hide at the bottom end and a thatched braaing lapa just inside the gate to the left ofthe path. We have asked to have the area registered as a Conservancy with the local council and will try to register it as a National Heritage site. The wagon wheel ruts ofthe ox wagons from rhe past can clearly be seen going down the hillside and the original well, which was the only perennial water supply for the Umhlatazana valley,can easily be seen above the present small dam. Thus Kearsney Boys past, present and future stand to benefit from rhe generosity ofa K.C.O.B. and from generous parents. KSMITH 80 m I % iS -J4« t
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