Union High School had the privilege of hosting a ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ฃ๐ข this morning, arranged by X2Y Career Exhibition, bringing a wide range of tertiary institutions and opportunities onto our campus. ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ญ๐ฎ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ณ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐น๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ, gaining valuable insight into the many pathways available to them after school.
Despite the cold weather, our matrics spent a meaningful and engaging day in the warmth of the Tony Burrell Union clubhouse, attending a well-supported ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ.
The programme offered valuable insight into a range of post-school opportunities, with informative presentations by Michela Groener (International Hotel School, Gqeberha), Amelia van der Merwe (Eduvos, Gqeberha), Izanne Grobellaar (Uxi Sport, Gqeberha), Lindy Hulley (Stenden) and Marnus du Toit (IETI Baytech, Gqeberha).
๐ช๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฏ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐. Opportunities like these play an important role in helping our matrics make informed decisions about their futures and we thank our presenters for sharing both practical guidance and real-world insight.
We were deeply grateful to receive a supply of Gilbert match balls last week, kindly sponsored by GBG Graaff-Reinet in partnership with Xero.
The handover took place during a delightful gathering on Thursday afternoon at The Coldstream Restaurant – a relaxed and meaningful occasion that brought together local schools and community partners around a shared vision: ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
These match balls, along with the thoughtful goodie bags, represent far more than a generous gift. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐, our programme and the important role that sport plays in shaping characterinstilling discipline, resilience teamwork and pride.
It is with deep sadness that we share news of the passing of ๐ ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐ป – a much-loved member of the Union family, an educator of rare dedication and a gentleman whose quiet impact will be felt for generations to come.
An ๐ข๐น๐ฑ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ, ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ญ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ, Roryโs connection to Union was lifelong. From his own school days, through to attending his ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐๐ต ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ผ, he remained closely bound to his classmates and to the spirit of the school he loved so dearly.
After studying geology at Rhodes University, Rory returned to education with purpose, later completing further studies in mathematics and teaching through UNISA. In ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ญ๐ต๐ด๐ต, he began his teaching journey at Union – one that would span over two decades and leave an indelible mark on countless young lives.
He went on to serve as ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ and during a pivotal time in the schoolโs history, stepped in to act as Headmaster, leading with steadiness and integrity until the appointment of Mr Pringle. He retired at the end of 2011.
Yet, beyond the titles and years of service, it is the ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฏ we remember most vividly.
Rory had a remarkable way of making the complex feel possible. In his classroom, ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ – not just as subjects, but as shared discoveries. He brought humour into the lab, patience into every explanation and a genuine care for each learnerโs journey. Stories shared on social media over the past week speak of a teacher who made time, who listened, who debated and who believed deeply in fairness and understanding -๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ช๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐ฏ๐ข๐ท๐ช๐จ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ถ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ, ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ข๐ด๐ด๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ.
Roryโs legacy is also woven through his family. Together with his wife Pam, they raised four children – Margot, Ted, Steve and Kathy – all of whom matriculated from Union, continuing a proud and enduring family connection to the school.
As we reflect on his life, we are reminded that the true measure of a teacher is not found only in results or accolades, but in the ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฑ. In this, Roryโs legacy is extraordinary.
To the Kroon family, we extend our heartfelt condolences and hold you close in our thoughts and prayers.
For those in Graaff-Reinet, an ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐น ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ will be held on ๐ง๐ต๐๐ฟ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐, ๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐น ๐ฎ๐ ๐ญ๐ญ:๐ฌ๐ฌ at the ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น, ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐, where friends are invited to gather, share stories and celebrate Roryโs life.
For Union High School, the enduring relationship with Astron Energy Eastern Cape and its local brand partners stands as a powerful example of what sustained community investment can achieve.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐, ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐ณ๐น๐ฎ๐ด๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ – the Senior Rugby & Hockey Festival, now in its 37th year, and the Anne Beagley Junior Rugby & Hockey Festival, celebrating its 24th milestone. Together, these festivals have grown into some of the most respected school sporting gatherings in the Eastern Cape, welcoming over 600 learners from across South Africa to the heart of the Karoo for days of spirited competition, camaraderie and unforgettable memories – twice a year.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. Originally established by Old Unionite Clive Berlyn during his tenure as CEO of Caltex Eastern Cape Marketers, the partnership laid the foundation for what would become a defining feature of Unionโs sporting calendar. From those early days – when Caltex and College Motors first came on board – to the present, the commitment has remained unwavering, even as the brand evolved into Astron Energy in South Africa.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ณ๐๐น ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ต ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ-๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ โ a full-circle moment that reflects both continuity and growth. Today, alongside Astron Energy Eastern Cape, the partnership is proudly strengthened by local stalwarts Astron Energy Graaff-Reinet (College Motors), represented by ๐ ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐๐๐ฎ, and Astron Energy Bothas Market Square (Bothaโs Garage), represented by ๐๐ผ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ถ๐.
College Motors, located on College Road, has established itself as a distinguished initial destination for travellers entering Graaff-Reinet.
Acquired by Pierre Le Grange in 1999, the business entered a new chapter in March 2024 under the ownership of his son-in-law, Stephan de Souza. With more than 20 years of industry experience, De Souzaโs journey has come full circle – from starting his career under Le Grange, to refining his skills in Cape Town and ultimately returning to invest in and lead the business alongside family.
Recent upgrades, including a modernised facility and an expanded FreshStop offering, have transformed the site into a 24-hour convenience hub. With well-loved additions such as Seattle Coffee Co. and FreshStop favourites like Crispy Chicken and Grill to Go, College Motors continues to serve both locals and travellers with the same welcoming, family-oriented approach that has defined it for decades.
๐๐พ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ถ๐ Bothaโs Garage ๐ผ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฆ๐พ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ – a true Graaff-Reinet institution. With a history stretching back more than a century, the site has long been woven into the fabric of the town. Since taking ownership in June 2024, Johan and Michaela Smit have embraced this legacy while bringing fresh energy to the business.
The recent redevelopment of the premises, including a modern retail space, coffee offering and improved facilities, reflects a thoughtful balance between heritage and progress – a commitment that mirrors the spirit of the festivals they support.
The impact of this long-standing sponsorship reaches far beyond the boundary lines of the fields. It enables Union to host large-scale, high-quality events that would otherwise not be possible – events where young sportsmen and women experience not only competition, but the warmth of Karoo hospitality and the unique charm of a town that opens its doors to them. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ต๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐๐, ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐, ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐.
For Graaff-Reinet itself, the ripple effect is significant. These festivals bring vibrancy, visitors and economic activity to the town, while showcasing the Karoo as a destination of both natural beauty and community spirit.
Quite simply, this is a partnership that has stood the test of time. The longevity of Unionโs Rugby & Hockey Festivals is inseparable from the loyalty and generosity of Astron Energy Eastern Cape and its local partners. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ช๐ณ ๐ด๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต ๐ฉ๐ข๐ด ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ญ๐บ ๐ด๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ด – ๐ช๐ต ๐ฉ๐ข๐ด ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ง๐ญ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ๐ช๐ด๐ฉ.
๐๐ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ ๐ฎ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น๐, ๐ถ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ. Because behind every whistle blown and every try scored lies the quiet, steadfast support of partners who have believed in the journey from the very beginning.
Some partnerships hold a special kind of significance – and this is one of those.
As part of our ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ข๐ initiative, Glen Harry Game Reserve just outside Graaff-Reinet, has come on board in support of the ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ-๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. With every goal scored by our 1st Girlsโ Hockey team this season, their contribution will help provide care, comfort and practical support to those in our community facing cancer.
Glen Harry Game Reserve – one of the oldest game farm establishments in South Africa – offers a unique Karoo experience, allowing visitors to connect freely with its vast, wildlife-rich landscape. Under the management of Katjana Ott, it remains a place where nature, history and conservation meet in a truly special way.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ข๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐บ๐๐ฐ๐ต-๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐. Daughters Layla, Alexa and Sophia are proud Union girls, while Joseph and Katjana are ever-present behind the scenes – always willing to lend a hand in the organisation of school fundraising efforts and events.
๐๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐, they also pour enormous energy into events like Thru the Karoo and Tri the Karoo, both of which require significant planning and commitment and contribute greatly to the broader community.
Kat herself is an accomplished endurance athlete, regularly competing in triathlons, marathons and Ironman events – bringing the same passion, discipline and drive to everything she does. She also has a wonderful creative touch, often adding beauty to Union occasions through her thoughtful floral arrangements.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ – and nowhere is this more evident than in school sport.
A heartfelt thank you to PSG Insure Somerset Street and Tyremart Graaff-Reinet for their generous sponsorship of brand-new backpacks and playing jerseys for our U13A rugby team.
Seen here are ๐ ๐ฟ ๐ช๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป and ๐ ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐น๐น ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ sharing in this special moment with some of our players.
A heartfelt ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ to Karlien and Dawid de Wet of Karoo 360 for their generous sponsorship of brand-new tog bags for our 1st XV this season.
As the ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ข๐ initiative continues to gather meaningful momentum, we are deeply grateful to acknowledge the support of Mr Grant (โBeaverโ) Hobson and Mrs Daleen Hobson of Kenโs Radio.
A well-known and trusted name in Graaff-Reinet, ๐๐ฒ๐ปโ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ผ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ as skilled electricians, certified gas installers, solar installations, agent for various submersible and centrifugal pumps, offering appliance repairs, parts and operating as a DStv agency from their premises at 71 Church Street.
Founded in 1952 by Mr Kenny van Heerden, the business has become something of a local institution, later entrusted to Beaver, who took ownership in 1992 and has continued to build on its strong foundation with the same commitment to service and community.
Beaver, an Old Unionite from the Class of 1983, gave richly to school life during his time at Union High School, Graaff-Reinet – serving as Deputy Head and representing the school at 1st team level across multiple sporting codes, with rugby always closest to his heart.
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐. Beaverโs grandfather, Ted Slater, holds a remarkable place in Unionโs history as the first registered scholar and its very first rugby captain. His mother, Sheila Hobson (nรฉe Slater), continued this legacy, spending her entire schooling career at Union and matriculating in 1951.
๐๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ saw him serve on the Old Unionite Association committee, including a term as chairman. This proud Union legacy continues through their children, with Kayla (Class of 2016), who served as Deputy Head Girl, and Ryan (Class of 2019), both having walked the same corridors.
At the heart of our school community are families like the Hobsons – whose enduring love for Union, and whose quiet, steadfast support over many years, continue to shape and strengthen all that we do.
Through Goals for Good, the Hobsons have chosen to support the ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ-๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, an organisation close to their hearts.
It is partnerships like these that give true meaning to this initiative – where community, compassion and connection come together in support of something greater. ๐ช๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ณ๐๐น ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฏ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ณ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ปโ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ผ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ป, ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ด๐ผ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐.
A couple of weeks on and there is still a warm sense of appreciation as we look back on the ๐ฏ๐ณ๐๐ต ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐น๐น๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐๐ด๐ฏ๐ & ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น.
Played out in beautiful Karoo conditions, the festival delivered not only high-quality hockey and rugby, but also a wonderful spirit of camaraderie between all participating teams.
From the first whistle on Friday to the final moments on Monday, the fields were filled with energy, sportsmanship and the unmistakable buzz that has become synonymous with this special weekend.
Our 1st team hockey girls produced a series of outstanding performances, showcasing both attacking flair and disciplined structure. Convincing wins over Hoรซrskool Brandwag (11-0), Hoรซrskool DF Malherbe (13-0), and Nico Malan High School (10-0) set the tone early on, before a composed 4-1 semi-final victory over Pearson High School secured their place in the final. In a fitting end to the weekend, Union met a strong Oranje Meisieskool 2nd team in the final, finishing as worthy runners-up after a hard-fought match. ๐๐ฐ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ณ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ด๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ด๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ข ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆ ๐ง๐ช๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ช๐ด ๐ข ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ค๐ฉ๐ช๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต.
It was also delightful to see Hoรซr Volkskool Graaff-Reinet‘s 1st hockey team doing exceptionally well, finishing fifth overall in the tournament. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ข๐ง๐ง-๐๐ฆ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ต ๐ด๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ ๐ข๐จ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฉ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐จ๐ต๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ค๐ฌ๐ฆ๐บ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ.
๐ข๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐๐ด๐ฏ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ๐, our 1st XV delivered two confident performances, securing a well-earned 19-7 victory over Cambridge High School, followed by an impressive 40-7 win against Somerset College. These results were a pleasing reflection of the sideโs physicality, cohesion and intent and added to an already successful festival weekend for Union.
๐ช๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ Sekondรชre Meisieskool Oranje‘s 2nd team on successfully defending their title as 2026 champions and to all participating teams for the passion, skill and respect shown throughout. A special ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ goes to the coaches and managers, whose dedication – often over a busy holiday period – ensures opportunities like this for their players. To the parents and supporters on the sidelines, your encouragement added immeasurably to the occasion.
Finally, our ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐ง ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ to our anchor sponsors, Astron Energy Eastern Cape, together with local partners Astron Energy Graaff-Reinet, represented by ๐ ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐๐๐ฎ, and Astron Energy Bothas Market Square, represented by ๐๐ผ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฆ๐บ๐ถ๐ and ๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ถ๐. Your support plays a vital role in making this festival possible and continues to uplift school sport in our community.
