Category: Bulletin

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Tony Burrell, Union’s sixth Headmaster and a man whose vision helped shape the Union we know today.

In 1975, at just 38 years old, Mr Burrell took up the reins as Headmaster of Union High School and Superintendent of Arthur Kingwill House – roles he fulfilled with dedication and heart until 1990.

He believed strongly in the power of connection and worked to strengthen ties with Old Unionites far and wide, helping establish a National Executive for the Old Unionite Association.

𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 – complete with a lounge, kitchen, clubhouse and changerooms – a space that continues to bring our community together. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘉𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

We remember Mr Burrell with gratitude for his leadership, his vision and his enduring legacy at Union.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺.

As the Karoo welcomes the warmth of Spring, Union High School’s 𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗦 greenhouse is a flourishing oasis of green!

The seedlings being nurtured behind Arthur Kingwill House are thriving under the care of our headmaster, learners and hardworking ground staff and 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘳.

A beautiful variety of indigenous trees are currently available for purchase, including the Wild Olive (𝘖𝘭𝘦𝘢 𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘦𝘢 var. 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘢), the Camdeboo Stinkwood (𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘢), the Huilboerboon (𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘢), the Kei Apple (𝘋𝘰𝘷𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘴) and the majestic Outeniqua Yellowwood (𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴).

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝟭𝟱𝟬 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵.

In addition to the trees, vibrant red geranium plants are on sale at R30 per bush.

We’re also delighted to announce that roses are now in stock for 𝗥𝟭𝟱𝟬 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵.

𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘢𝘧𝘧-𝘙𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵.

From all of us at Union, a heartfelt 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 for keeping this initiative growing strong!

To place your order or learn more, email headmaster@unionschools.co.za

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝘁! Mark your calendars and dust off those running shoes and bikes – the 4th edition of 𝗧𝗿𝗶 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗼 will once again be held on the Union High School campus on 16 and 17 October next year!

Be sure to follow the Tri The Karoo Facebook page to stay up to date with all the latest news in the run up to the event!

What a joy and an honour it’s been to open our campus to this year’s Gravel Burn adventure!

Catch the full highlight video of the Graaff-Reinet stage at the following link: https://youtu.be/froQcKV5KbI?si=EbSH6tt5fgQZzJY-

𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟵 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗡𝗦𝗖 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

In a world that often feels hurried and impersonal, this gesture from the Graaff-Reinet Dutch Reformed Church stands out as an example of the community spirit and kindness that makes our town such a wonderful place to live.

To the congregation of NG Graaff-Reinet, your thoughtful initiative has made a significant impact. The NSC examinations can be a source of stress and anxiety for many young learners – 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.

𝗪𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁.

Preparations are in full swing for the 𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻 event taking place right here on the Union Schools’ campus!

The #NedbankGravelBurn2025 is a 7-day, 800km full-service gravel cycling stage race taking place from 𝟮𝟲 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 – 𝟭 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, featuring more than 𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟮𝟴 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Starting in 𝗞𝗻𝘆𝘀𝗻𝗮, the route winds its way through some of South Africa’s most breathtaking landscapes, with overnight stops at 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗻𝘁𝘂𝘂𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 (𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗮𝗳𝗳-𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘁), 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗮𝘂𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 (𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗸) and 𝗚𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶, before finishing in spectacular style at 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲.

𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: https://gravel-burn.com/route/

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Gravel Burn

Excitement is building as we get ready to welcome riders from around the world to our campus!

It is with deep sadness that the Union community bids farewell to one of its most loyal and beloved stalwarts, 𝗠𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲 – 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦 𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘳𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘯 – who passed away this past weekend after a short illness.

Ms Fourie’s journey with Union began in 1996, when she joined Arthur Kingwill House as matron.

𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.

In 2000, she moved to Herby Arnott House, where her warmth and quiet strength touched countless lives. When the hostels later amalgamated, she returned to Arthur Kingwill House, where she continued to serve with unwavering dedication until her retirement in 2024.

Those who worked alongside Ms Fourie describe her as the embodiment of loyalty, hard work and trustworthiness.

She was someone who never watched the clock – 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸. Whether it was preparing for hostel suppers, assisting at marking centres, supporting sport festivals or catering for reunions, Ms Fourie gave her all, with a smile and a steadfast spirit.

𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁, 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿. Her strong yet gentle leadership style fostered harmony among staff and she shared an especially close bond with the kitchen team, with whom she spent countless busy evenings ensuring everything ran smoothly.

Her colleague and dear friend, Mrs Martie Sullivan, who worked alongside her for 25 years in the Union Schools’ boarding houses, shared heartfelt words: “𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳.”

Ms Fourie’s passing leaves a profound void in the Union family, but her legacy of service, strength and kindness will live on in the many lives she touched. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 – not only for her years of dedicated service, but for the heart and humanity she brought to all she did.

𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘔𝘴 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺.