In a small town, a business does not earn 75 years of support by chance. It earns it through trust, service and a willingness to show up for the community, year after year.

Union High School is proud to continue our 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 series by recognising the generous support of 𝗩𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝘆𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻, a respected local accounting firm whose offices are situated at 38 Somerset Street, Graaff-Reinet, and which has served the community with professionalism and integrity for an extraordinary 75 years.

𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟵𝟱𝟭, Van Wyk Theron has long been a trusted name in Graaff-Reinet, offering a comprehensive range of services spanning accounting, tax and business administration, payroll and financial systems support, estate planning and broader financial and management consultancy. 𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘧 18 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘢𝘧𝘧-𝘙𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵.

This partnership is made even more special by the firm’s strong Union connection. Managing partner 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿, who took over from 𝗗𝗼𝗻 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝘆𝗸 in March this year, matriculated from Union in 1994, making him a proud Old Unionite. His family’s ties to the Union Schools run even deeper – his wife is a Grade 2 teacher at Union Preparatory School, while their four-year-old son, Nathan, has recently begun his own journey at Union Pre-School. There is always something especially meaningful about former pupils choosing to give back to the school and town that helped shape them.

Through their 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 pledge, Van Wyk Theron will be supporting ACVV Huis van de Graaff, an old age home in Graaff-Reinet, extending the impact of this initiative beyond the hockey field and into the heart of the wider community.

On behalf of Union High School and our 1st team hockey girls, we extend our 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦 to Brendon Burger and the entire Van Wyk Theron team for their generosity, their long-standing service to Graaff-Reinet, and their support of a campaign that continues to connect sport with community in such a meaningful way.

How special it is that a former Union 1st team hockey captain is now giving back to the very girls who are walking a path she once knew so well!

Union High School, Graaff-Reinet is delighted to celebrate the support of Old Unionites 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘄𝗲𝗻 and 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯𝘀, who have chosen to support our 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 initiative in their personal capacity – not only as proud past pupils, but also as parents who remain closely connected to the life of the school.

For Bronwen, this contribution carries a particularly lovely sense of coming full circle. 𝗔 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟵, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 and now finds herself supporting a new generation of players as they make memories of their own in green and gold. Her husband, 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟴, shares that same deep-rooted Union connection. 𝗛𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, having played 1st team rugby from Grade 11 and captaining the school’s 1st cricket team in his matric year, making this a gesture grounded in both loyalty and legacy.

Today, that Union story continues through their children. Their son, 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗺, is running out for Union’s 1st XV this year as a Grade 11 learner, while their daughter, 𝗧𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗿, is proudly playing for the school’s U13A hockey side. And who knows – perhaps one day Taylor will follow in her mother’s footsteps and wear the colours of Union’s 1st team hockey girls herself.

Through this 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 initiative, Bronwen and Jason will be supporting GRAWS , extending the impact of their generosity beyond the sports field and into the wider community.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 𝘐𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘨.

We are deeply grateful to Bronwen and Jason for their generous support of 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 and for the way in which their family continues to live out the Union spirit – across the sports field, across the years and across generations

There is something deeply comforting about a place built on family – not only family in name, but in values and in the way people are cared for.

That is exactly what one senses at Build it Graaff-Reinet: a business that may deal in bricks and mortar, but whose true foundation has always been people.

Union High School is proud to continue our 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 series by recognising the generous support of 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗜𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗮𝗳𝗳-𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘁, a much-loved local business that this year celebrates 20 years of serving the town from its home in Market Square.

Over the past two decades, Build It has become far more than a trusted name in home improvement and building supplies. Under the care of a family management team consisting of dad 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗳𝗮𝗻, son 𝗚𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳 and daughter 𝗟𝘆𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲, the business has grown into something that feels wonderfully rooted in the life of Graaff-Reinet itself – a place where people are welcomed warmly, relationships are valued and community matters deeply.

Their words say it beautifully: “𝘈𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦.”

And in truth, that spirit shines through in everything they do.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗜𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗮𝗳𝗳-𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘁 – a sincere love for this town and its people that can be felt so clearly. Businesses like this help shape the soul of a community. They stand alongside local families through ordinary days and important milestones alike, and through their quiet consistency, generosity and care, they become part of what makes a town feel like home.

Through their pledge, Build It Graaff-Reinet will be contributing towards Camdeboo Hospice Graaff Reinet, a registered non-profit organisation that provides a holistic home-based palliative care service to those infected and affected by life-threatening diseases, with a particular focus on HIV & AIDS, cancer and motor neurone disease.

𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘀. Camdeboo Hospice serves some of the most vulnerable members of the community with tenderness, dignity and compassion – offering comfort, care and support at moments when it is needed most.

On behalf of Union and our 1st team hockey girls, we extend our 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗙𝗘𝗟𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦 to Build It Graaff-Reinet for their generosity, their deep love for Graaff-Reinet and their commitment to building not only structures, but a stronger, kinder community too

There is something wonderfully fitting about a business devoted to cleaning, repairing and restoring choosing to support causes that do the same for a community – 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘯, 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵.

Union High School continues our 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 series by recognising the generous support of Radium – Graaff Reinet.

The connection to Union is a special one: Mr Neill is the father of last year’s 1st hockey captain, Kenza Neill, while his wife, Tess, serves on Union’s staff. All three of their children matriculated at Union, with two going on to serve as deputy heads – 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭.

For many in Graaff-Reinet, Radium is a familiar and trusted name – a business known for the many practical ways in which it helps keep everyday life running smoothly. From dry cleaning, laundromat services and home and industrial laundry, to carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and car valets, Radium has long offered the kind of reliable service that people quietly depend on. Their specialised mending work includes bags, shoes and boots, saddles and tack, sun blinds, tarpaulins and canvas, while their manufacturing services extend to retractable acrylic awnings, patioshades, shadeports, patio drop blinds, Venetian blinds and vertical blinds.

Through their 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 pledge, Radium Canvas & Cleaning has chosen to support both Clean Trade and GRAWS – two organisations doing valuable work in Graaff-Reinet. In doing so, they are helping to uplift both the environment and the welfare of vulnerable animals, reminding us that community care takes many forms and that kindness is often found in the practical, everyday decisions people make.

Radium’s involvement is a lovely reminder that businesses are about far more than the services they offer. At their best, they become part of the fabric of a place – supporting families, strengthening institutions and helping good work go further.

On behalf of Union High School and our 1st team hockey girls, we extend our heartfelt thanks to 𝗠𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗹 and the team at 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀 & 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 for their generosity, their loyal connection to Union and their support of causes that are helping to make Graaff-Reinet an even better place to call home.

Montego Pet Nutrition. What can we say?

In a town like Graaff-Reinet, some names become part of the story – woven into its growth, its people and its heart. Montego Pet Nutrition is one of those names.

From its beginnings in the early 2000s right here in Graaff-Reinet, Montego has grown into a proudly South African brand, built on family values, innovation and an unwavering commitment to quality – 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽-𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲.

We are, therefore, especially grateful to include them among the businesses supporting Union High School, Graaff-Reinet‘s 2026 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 campaign.

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗮𝗳𝗳-𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. Their contribution to the town – rooted in a steady, sincere commitment to making things better – is something quite special. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽 and it is this quiet consistency that makes their support so meaningful.

Built on a foundation of entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for pet nutrition, Montego has never stopped striving to improve – refining their formulations, investing in their facilities and growing a brand that now reaches far beyond the Karoo. Yet despite this success, their heart has remained firmly in Graaff-Reinet. It is a beautiful reminder that growth and community can go hand in hand.

Through their 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 pledge, Montego will be supporting Graaff-Reinet Animal Welfare Society (GRAWS), a cause that feels perfectly aligned with who they are. 𝘈𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘷𝘶𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴.

On behalf of Union High School and our 1st team hockey girls, 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 to Montego Pet Nutrition for their generosity, their incredible community spirit and for always standing behind Graaff-Reinet and the Union Schools