Category: Hockey

Some partnerships hold a special kind of significance – and this is one of those.

As part of our 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 initiative, Glen Harry Game Reserve just outside Graaff-Reinet, has come on board in support of the 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗮𝗳𝗳-𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. With every goal scored by our 1st Girls’ 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.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝘁𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵-𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. 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.

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 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.

𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘵𝘵𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.

Goals for Good – where every goal makes a difference.

As the 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 initiative continues to gather meaningful momentum, we are deeply grateful to acknowledge the support of Mr Grant (“Beaver”) Hobson and Mrs Daleen Hobson of Ken’s Radio.

A well-known and trusted name in Graaff-Reinet, 𝗞𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 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.

𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱-𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘧𝘶𝘭.

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.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Beaver’s grandfather, Ted Slater, holds a remarkable place in Union’s history as the first registered scholar and its very first rugby captain. His mother, Sheila Hobson (née Slater), continued this legacy, spending her entire schooling career at Union and matriculating in 1951.

𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 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 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗮𝗳𝗳-𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, an organisation close to their hearts.

As Daleen so sincerely shares: “𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵-𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘢𝘧𝘧-𝘙𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘰. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 – 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵, 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺.”

It is partnerships like these that give true meaning to this initiative – where community, compassion and connection come together in support of something greater. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀.

As we step into a new term, we are grateful to welcome another special contributor to our 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 campaign – someone whose impact on our hockey programme has been felt quietly, consistently and meaningfully over many years.

𝗜𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗮, of the Karoo Hockey School, has, since 2018, been a familiar and valued presence within Union’s hockey structures.

Through her dedication to coaching and development, she has played a role in shaping countless players, with many of our current 1st team girls having benefitted from her guidance along the way. Whether through refining skills, building confidence, or simply sharing her love for the game, Ina’s influence reaches far beyond the field – it is seen in the growth, composure and passion of the players she has helped nurture.

 Pictured alongside her are just a few of the girls whose journeys she has been part of – a small reflection of the many young sportswomen who have crossed paths with her over the years. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨-𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘧𝘶𝘭.

Ina will be supporting GRAWS through her contribution – a cause that speaks to compassion and care in a different, but equally important, way. GRAWS continues to do vital work in rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming abandoned, neglected and stray animals in our community and we are proud to see this initiative being supported through the campaign.

𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘢 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯. 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘢𝘺 – 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥.