Bulletin

We are proud to see so many Union boys actively involved in the 1st Graaff-Reinet Scout Troop and taking part in special traditions such as the annual ‘Trestle Race’.

Held at the start of each year, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘀 as they learn their first knot, work together under pressure and experience firsthand what it means to learn by doing.

𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥.

Events like these reflect the strong values of leadership, resilience and service that we strive to nurture at Union. 𝗪𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and for providing our boys with such meaningful opportunities beyond the classroom.

The troop meets every 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟴:𝟬𝟬 during the school term at the Chookie Geard Scout Hall.

𝘞𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦.

Our annual 𝗚𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 & 𝗗𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, held on Saturday in the gardens of Union High School, Graaff-Reinet as part of our Founders’ Weekend celebrations, was truly a special occasion.

𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥é𝘤𝘰𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥.

The atmosphere was one of warmth, laughter and connection, celebrating the precious bond between mothers and daughters in the most meaningful way.

𝗪𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 to our lovely speakers, 𝗜𝗺𝗸𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀, who shared her uplifting message, “When Life Gives You Lemons,” and 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗰𝗘𝘄𝗮𝗻, who delighted us with her creative citrus recipes.

A heartfelt thank you as well to all our generous donors who contributed so many wonderful prizes for our lucky draw. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. Finally, our deepest appreciation goes to Mrs Anélle Ekkerd and the MF Committee for their dedication and hard work in organising such a beautiful and successful event.

𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩.

View photographs of this event on our Facebook Page

As the start of Founders’ Weekend early this morning ushered in a day of reflection and celebration, we found ourselves wrapped in the warmth of gratitude and admiration.

𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗗𝗮𝘆 – 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 – 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀’ 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, marking not just the passage of time but the profound impact of the men and women who had the vision that led to the creation of the school back in 1919, and who have contributed to the leadership and vision of the school since.

None of the education for which the school has become known would have happened without the foresight of these individuals, who set out with the express intention of developing a school which would provide an excellent education for children in Graaff-Reinet. We owe them a debt of gratitude – without them, this fine school simply would not exist – and this is why we honour them on Founders’ Day each year.

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹’𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿’𝘀 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

The ceremony commenced with a warm welcome from the headmaster, Mr William Pringle, who also led a brief devotional. Following his address, the learners of Union High School, Graaff-Reinet, filled the hall with a heartfelt rendition of the school song.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘺 𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘰 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘪 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 7 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘢 𝘖𝘵𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴, 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩.

A special congratulatory message was the delivered by Union Preparatory School, Graaff-Reinet learners Paballo Mabapa and Christian-Ross Maya.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀, the learners eagerly exited the hall to enjoy their doughnuts and partake in the festive activities planned for Founders’ Weekend 2026.

Today we were privileged to honour and celebrate some of our 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚-𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗙𝗙 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗦 whose dedication has helped shape Union High School over the years.

𝗠𝗿𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘂-𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿 was recognised for an incredible 20 years of service, while 𝗠𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸 and 𝗠𝗿𝘀 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶 𝗛𝗲𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘀-𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 were celebrated for 10 years each.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯.