Creating a Reading Nation

Meet one of our local authors and teachers who started her own publishing company to encourage the love of reading amongst our youth. Nokuphiwe Nala is a Foundation Phase teacher and author with a vision to bring the love of books and reading to as many children as possible. According to statistics from the Department of Education, there has been a decrease in the number of children who can read for enjoyment or meaning. During...

Mission to Mars

One of our very own local students has achieved an out-of-this-world honour, representing South Africa at the prestigious United Space School at NASA in Houston, USA. What an accomplishment! William Segar, a Grade 11 pupil at Hilton College High School, was recently selected to take part in the United Space School programme hosted by FISE (Foundation of International Space Education) at the University of Houston Clear Lake and the NASA Johnson Space Centre in Houston,...

Top Interior Picks From Your Local Decorators

Designing your dream home can be thrilling, but what if you want a space that truly stands the test of time? Amanda Kelly, Head Residential Interior Designer at Tracy Kelly Design, says the ‘gin stool‘ is her go-to piece for adding charm to a room. Small but full of character, it sits perfectly beside an antique chair, sofa, or even a bath. Its ease of movement creates height and visual interest while filling those awkward...

Spruce Up Your Space

If your interiors are feeling a little lacklustre, read below for some tips, tricks, and trends from one of our local décor store owners. We asked Hannah Keppler, owner of The Ruby Orchard in Howick, for her recommendations on seasonal décor tips and tricks. But if that’s not really your focus, there are also a few more timeless trends you can incorporate in your interior spaces. With over a decade in the running, The Ruby...

Through the Decades – Muirheads Hiring with Sherree Hamblin

We are proud to celebrate a few milestones achieved by our local businesses this year. Learn more about what the decades have taught them and continue to shape them to serve our community. The Beginning My late dad, Bernard, bought this hiring company in 1996 and was excited about the prospect of owning his own business after working in the banking industry for so many years. Dawn, my mom, now retired, joined him after selling...

Through the Decades – The Wine Cellar with Margaret Spowart

We are proud to celebrate a few milestones achieved by our local businesses this year. Learn more about what the decades have taught them and continue to shape them to serve our community. The Beginning After selling our previous business in the fuel industry, we took a much-needed break to the Cape. One morning, we had a wine tasting at the Van Loveren Family Vineyards in Robertson, in their beautiful garden setting, when their gran...

Through the Decades – Coffeeberry with Con Malherbe 

We are proud to celebrate a few milestones achieved by our local businesses this year. Learn more about what the decades have taught them and continue to shape them to serve our community. The Beginning The inspiration behind Coffeeberry was born when I applied to the then-Cascades landlords, Old Mutual, to take over the premises of Icy Cool, a longstanding ice cream parlour and coffee shop that had closed down. Old Mutual required a business...

Unapologetically Her

In a world that often asks women to shrink, soften, or second-guess themselves, these voices rise in quiet defiance. This is a celebration of women owning their journeys. Each answer reveals a deeply personal moment of strength, resilience, or clarity. Together, these seven women form a powerful portrait of what it means to live with courage, trust your gut, and stand tall in your truth, unapologetically. What lesson did life teach you the hard way...

Fireside Chats

The scene is set—a crackling fire with a hot toddy in hand, a chilly, but clear countryside night, and a few friends keeping the cold at bay with warm conversations and insights. Come and join us as we sit with four local men and hear about their treasured memories, dreams, and lessons. John Roff Greatest role model: I grew up a bit later than usual (and parts of me still are, I suppose). As a...

A Mom in Agriculture

Meet the Malawian mom who built a thriving local agriculture business. This is her inspiring story of family, farming, and the power of seeds.  From the moment Chisomo Bean was born, agriculture was sown into her life. Growing up in a small village in Malawi, she spent her earliest years strapped to her mother’s back while they worked the land. Every harvest season, her family carefully selected the best seeds for the next planting—pumpkin seeds,...