AtoM

Re-positioning of Old Southern Entrance Gates

ZA ZAR STDS 20200509
Item
2000

127 A4 pages including notes and fading photocopies plus 11 architectural drawings

St David's Marist College

Interview with Steve Muller 1952

ZA ZAR STDS 202000938
Item
2011

Interview with Steve Muller 1953
Steve came to St David’s in 1941 even though there was no grade 0 in those days, and was
effectively in grade 0 until 1943. His mother said he talked too much and obviously thought
school would do him good, especially as his older brother was there too. He thinks he is the only
old boy to attend St David’s from 1941 until 1952 – check photo taken on steps by what is now
Malcolm William’s office. All three of his sons attended St David’s and his youngest son, Gavin
(87) was the first to complete 13 years, the other sons Graham and Brian completed matric in
1982 and 1980 respectively. His wife was the granddaughter of the first Marist pupil – Peter
Busschau.
The Brothers lived in a farm cottage, the land was all originally part of a Portuguese vegetable
farm. Steve can still remember the brothers walking across the veldt to school.
He was a boarder from standard 5. The senior school and boarding opened at the same time
(1948?)
The teachers, Mrs Kempster ran standard 4 and taught the boys how to write. Mrs Lidstone
owned the ‘Hudson Terror plane’ and used to pick up boys in Rosebank, corner Tyrwhitt and
Oxford where there was a Greek shop. The boys would travel with her along the then sand
roads at a rate of knots. A number of boys used to hang onto the strap at the back.
Brophy and Stirton taught the grades, Hoare standard 3, Kempster standard 4 and the Brothers
taught from standard 5 up. Brother Paul was blind.
He remembers Darko Vidas – a naughty boy. Mike von Guillieaume matriculated the same year
as Steve, Vito used to call him ‘Baron’ as his family originally German and had a castle.
Steve was not a great sportsman but participated in 1st team rugby. He was a good swimmer
and joined in the field events for athletics but never got colours for sport however he achieved
academic studies (60% in standard 9) and was a prefect. He was good at Mathematics and
received the Br Paul medal for Maths which he still has. Steve questions the high number of
distinctions pupils now achieve and remarked that a particularly bright boy, Anthony Radziwill
only achieved 5 distinctions in the JMB matric.
St David’s was always a big part of his life and still is. He enjoyed boarding, thinks it was the
best part of his life and feels very passionately about the school. He remembers his father
saying it was cheaper to send the boys to boarding school than keeping them at home, where
they would have eaten them out of house and home!
When he left St David’s he studied optometry at Wits University. He was an optometrist in
Rosebank for 40 years and in town for 10 years before that and worked until he was 70. He had
3 sons and a daughter. The daughter went to Rosebank convent.
Steve was chairman of the board of governors when, in 1981 Steve’s son was elected head
boy, although Steve knew this he kept it as a secret from his son at the time as he wanted it to
be a surprise. The board at the time was run by Vito, a farmer and Steve and optometrist. Steve
was still chairman 1982 when Br Timothy left and the first lay teacher became headmaster. It
was a difficult time, with both the parent body and many of the staff not being accepting of this
change. Tim Marnewick was vice-chairman and kept in touch with Mr Murphy, who was
originally interviewed by Br Timothy and Br Jude together with Steve. It was a tough time for the
school and many pupils left. A combined staff room for the prep and the high school was
introduced by Murphy, which proved to be an unpopular move with some of the staff.
Mr Manolios, the then prep headmaster was fired, without consultation, by Murphy for
inappropriate behaviour with mothers and a female member of staff. Murphy was also fired
when he appeared as a wrestler on TV. Br Anthony went off to Cape Town to investigate. It also
came to light later that Murphy was not as qualified as he had claimed.
At the end of 1986 when things were more settled, Steve handed over to Kevin Brewer who was
really good and has done a lot for the college.
JE June 2011

Egenrieder, Julie

Interview with Kevin Brewer Board of Governors 1984 - 1990; 1992 - 2000

ZA ZAR STDS 202000827
Item
2013

Interview with Kevin Brewer – Chairman of the board 1984 -90
Kevin went to school, at St Aidan’s in Grahamstown, a Jesuit school together with Br Aidan,
hence the involvement with St David’s. Kevin’s sons were pupils, Paul and Rowan
matriculated in1992, went to Europe with Jeetesh Katawaroo and Craig from standard 8 until
he matriculated in 1984.
Kevin got involved with Br Aidan fund raising, the school fete, organising the cash. He was
then invited to join the board of governors.
The land that was sold, as part of a commercial deal when Mr Marnewick was on the board
was before Kevin’s time as the Brothers needed the money.
Kevin’s experience of the first lay headmaster, Mr Murphy was that he had some attributes,
made decisions and knew what he wanted until unfortunately it was discovered he was a
wrestler in his spare time and was unmasked during a bout which was televised.
The school needed someone on the board who could deal with the financial planning. The
school went downhill losing teachers and pupils. The boys didn’t compete against other
schools, classrooms needed revamping and the school lacked facilities. There was no plan
but Kevin and his board put together a financial plan. Doug Wickens was also a member of
the board and although he and Kevin had different ideas they did make some changes.
There were a number of headmasters, Murphy, 1982 followed by Frielick 1983 – 4, Boswell
1985 - 88, Davies 1989 – 94. When Frielick left, Trudy Elliott became acting head and truly
embodied the spirit of St David’s. Br Brendan was Brother Provincial some of the time, he
was a diehard of the old school. Br Jude, to his credit had the most foresight and has made
a difference beneficial to the Marist schools.
Kevin stayed on the board until 1990 having completed his 6 years service, Brian Steele
took over as chairman and Terence Wilkinson, CEO of Lonmin, a dynamic person came
onto the board and continued the work Kevin had initiated.
Eventually a new stream was introduced into the high school. There was at one time, a
possibility of St David’s and St Teresa’s combining with two schools on the same campus
with Sister Barbara being the driving force. The Brothers were very short of money and had
to appoint a new headmaster and Paul Davies was recruited coming with a good record and
ability. Kevin organised the conversion of Maryknoll for the headmaster.
In 1992, Terence Wilkinson asked if Kevin would assist with a development plan for the
school. They called in Talyard Carter (TC Design) with Gerrit Wessels and Bill Carter and
drew up a plan for the whole property with ideas on how it could be developed. (Prints of the
plans are available in the archives).There was an initial need for extra classrooms to
accommodate the new stream in the high school. The quad was tacky with the toilet blocks
in the middle and a decision was taken to employ a landscaper who was expensive but
made a huge difference to the quad together with the amphitheatre. To raise finance the
board had to generate more income.
The first to be built was the class and toilet block to the left (north) of the Champagnat Hall
which followed and was completed in 1998. Kevin was then back on the board and Terence
Wilkinson had moved to London. Kevin retired in 2000 but was much occupied with the
school. Anthony Reilly took over from him as chairman in 2001, followed by Eric Annegaarn,
Anthony Chappell then Robin Smith came in from 2008 until 2010 .
The high school pavilion was built 1998 and the prep school pavilion extended. The aftercare
area was upgraded. Joe Stravino Park was the prep playground and the former paddocks
became the mini marists. Planning was done together with Br Jude, the board, provincial
council and then Rome. This was a juggling act while trying to increase the number of pupils.
There were negotiations with the council when Rivonia Road was widened. The council
made some compensation and agreed to put up the wall from Boundary Road to the main
entrance. The parking area and the entrance were done at the same time.
The space for mini marists was extended providing space for the therapists. Kevin was also
involved with the site of the chapel but not in the building. The D& T and Art and Music
centre were built but Kevin was not directly involved.
Kevin’s brother Father Brewer was the school’s chaplain from 1986. He was very popular
with the boys and involved with school activities until he resigned due to ill health in 1998.
He died the following year aged 64. He was at St George’s in Zimbabwe before he came to
St David’s. Kevin spoke to Monsignor Plesters a Jesuit Superior and old boy from St Aidan’s
and his brother was appointed by the school. He had had an extremely traumatic time in
Zimbabwe during the years of the bush war.
JLE July 2013