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Her farm, after all, is the first place in South Africa where olive trees where planted for commercial farming, 100 years ago. It was the initiative of Piet "California" Cilliers, one of the founding members of the South African Dried Fruit Association and owner of Rhebokkenkloof. He returned from a visit in 1893 to the United States enthused by the potential of olive farming in the Western Cape, and brought back "olive trees, citrus trees and other strange fruit'". Nearly 400 of the original trees still remain, along with the 3500 table and oil olive trees that Reni has planted. Over the past decade, she has spent a lot of time absorbing everything there is to know about olives and olive oil making with intensive courses in Italy, and months spent on an olive and olive oil producing farm in Tuscany. She produces her own extra virgin olive oil and olives, and also gives olive and wine tastings in tandem on her farm. Reni has followed in the footsteps of Piet California with a first of her own for the South African olive industry - as co-author of the first book on the local olive industry. She wrote the 140 page book "Olives & Oils in South Africa" published by Mbira Press with researcher Wendy Flanagan, who has also produced a book on chillies. It provides interesting snippets on the history of olives in world mythology and history, and of course, in South Africa. There is clear information on olive oil tasting, pressing extra virgin olive oil, choosing a good table olive, the health benefits and even a few recipes. The more "touristy" side of the book introduces the Olive Route, with a list of local olive producers, their products and details. This is an initiative that could grow into the Platter guide for the oil industry. "When I started off, there was no literature or education available." She had to work through German and Italian books, and the courses she attended overseas were invaluable. The book, which was published a year ago, is now being used as a textbook for her courses on olive oil tasting and production that are offered for beginners through the Cape Wine Academy. Reni is already working on the next edition to be published later this year, which will contain more ratings of oils produced locally. Reni is an active educator for the olive oil industry in South Africa. She has recently been appointed on the committee of the South African Olive Growers Association, which has been renamed to South African Olives to also give voting rights to producers. After nearly 100 years, the local industry is still not yet as professional as can be according to international standards. There are no regulations to which producers should ascribe with regards to quality or labelling standards. "Next year SA Olive will be working towards establishing a seal of quality, a tasting panel and getting standards in place." And with Reni on the committee, along with numerous other local producers, these ideals just might take shape. |
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DIE nuwe skoolhoof van Laerskool Hugenote, Henry Schemper, het darem die afgelope jaar of wat kans gehad om gewoond te raak aan Wellington se hitte. Hy het vakansies en naweke vanaf Kleinzee in Namakwaland gependel om by sy vrou Alta en gesin te wees, wat hierheen verhuis het sodat hul drielingseuns, Braam, Riaan en Henry hul studies aan Hugenote Hoër kon begin. Alta het op Wellington begin skool hou, en Henry was hoopvol dat 'n uitdagende posisie in die streek gou vir hom sou oopgaan om die gesin te kan herenig. Hy vertel dat, hoewel dit 'n moeilike jaar of wat was, dié "gesins- kwaliteitsbesluit" 'n positiewe verloop gehad het met sy aanstelling as Hugenote Laerskool se hoof. "Ons is 'n puik span," vertel hy trots van Alta, wat nou onderwys gee by Wellington Preparatory School en met wie hy reeds 26 jaar getroud is. Dié vyftigjarige se onderwysloopbaan het hom reeds na drie lande (en 'n verskeidenheid klimaatsones) geneem. Henry, wat in Windhoek skoolgegaan en in Pretoria studeer het, het sy dae voor die skoolbanke in Karasburg in Namibië begin. Daarna het dertien jaar in Swaziland gevolg by 'n kosmopolitaanse privaatskool wat deur 'n Laeveldse suikermaatskappy bestuur is. Vir die afgelope elf jaar was hy hoof van Kleinzee Primêr in Namakwaland, 'n dubbelmedium privaatskool van die De Beers mynmaatskappy met sowat 300 kinders. Dié gebore onderwysman sê die interaksie met kinders is die rede hoekom hy die onderwys betree het. By Hugenote sal hy darem nie net met administrasie betrokke wees nie, maar ook verantwoordelik wees vir wiskunde vir die Engelse graad sewes. Hul jare in Namakwaland het aan die Schempers-gesin ruim kans gegee om hul liefde vir die buitelewe uit te leef. Hy is 'n gekwalifiseerde 4x4-gids en skubaduiker en speel ook lekker kitaar, terwyl sy vrou 'n ywerige natuurfotograaf is. As wiskundige en rekenaarman glo hy duidelike, sistematiese strukture en beplanning is noodsaaklik vir effektiewe bestuur met 'n strategiese bestuursplan waarin die gemeenskap voorrang genie. "Ek glo ons moet prioritiseer en kort-, medium- en langtermyn doelwitte daarstel, waarheen ons as skool wil streef." Van die tradisies wat hy selfs verder wil uitbou is die reeds sterk ouersamewerking en die trots daaraan verbonde om 'n "Hugenoter" te wees. Met 'n gemotiveerde personeelkorps agter hom is hy gereed vir dié uitdaging. |
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