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Thank you very much to the Chairman of the Old Boy’s Committee – JP, for the warm introduction.
Good Morning Mr Thiel, to all the staff, parents, Old Boy’s and the whole College. It is a tremendous honour to be invited to our annual Old Boy’s Assembly to share a few thoughts and memories of my time here, whilst also sharing with you, what I have been up to ever since.
I arrived at St David’s in 1983. A petrified 5yr old who had no idea of what to expect. I was placed in Ms Walton’s class – the sweetest, caring and most loving grade nought teacher you could ever wish to have.
She completely embodied St Marcellin Champagnat’s belief that: ‘To teach children well, you must first love them, and love them equally.’
BUT, to be PAINFULLY honest, excuse the pun, there were also teachers who embodied the belief that ‘you have to love them equally, as well as BEAT them equally’. There was no discrimination!
The 80’s, like most decades in South Africa’s history and present unfortunately, was a challenging time.
Throughout Jnr school whenever the June 16th commemorations came about all the kids who lived in Soweto had to dress up in civvies to avoid being attacked by rioters for attending what were previously white only schools. There were literally teenagers creating roadblocks to check each car driving to the north if any children in a vehicle were wearing school uniforms.
We have a lot to be grateful for, for how some things have changed.
To avoid such situations I was invited by the Von Guilleaume family to stay over at their house. It was no wonder that Michael Von Guilleaume became the headboy in 1995.
In High School you could say I found my feet.
I was incredibly privileged to be part of an amazing generation of rugby players. From standard 6 to Matric, bar injuries I played with the same bunch of lads. Our first game in 1995 against Bryanston High was on the same day as the Rugby World Cup.
I remember revving ourselves up by saying if we win this game the Springboks will win the World Cup. We won!
We had the perfect rugby team.
Our front row were massive boy’s, our locks were tall and angry, our lossies were quick and athletic. Our backline was made up of a Zulu fly half who loved to run from the dead ball line, a half Greek, half Afrikaans inside centre alongside an Italian Stallion outside center, Simone Gallizio, may his soul rest in peace.
Our no.11, 14 and 15 were black boys who ran like we were being chased by Apartheid cops.
That same year St David’s had its first overseas rugby tour to Australia. The highlight of the tour was like a scene out movie. We were two tries down with a conversion needed to seal a win. In front of a packed stadium, with some of the crowd chanting monkey noises, with a few minutes left, first our fullback Karabo Denalane side step his way to the try line. Then from the kick off, deep in our half, after the full time buzzer had rang, through multiple phases the ball landed in my
hands. Touch down in the right hand corner. Our fly half Sydney Ngwenya slotted the conversion straight through the middle.
Such memories I will never forget.
But what has truly stayed within me, isn’t the rugby victories, in hindsight is our Marist motto.
Confortare Esto Vir, Take courage and be a man.
I'm not trying to be convoluted or overly sentimental but I believe that my school upbringing shaped
the man, human being, South African that I am today. After a stint at Wits then UCT I have ended being a filmmaker by profession.
My first big budget film which, I co-originated and co-produced, was released in 2017, it ended up being South Africa’s nomination for the 2018 best foreign language Oscars film. It came close but no cigar.
The film centred around a closeted gay relationship between two Xhosa men who are caregivers during a Xhosa initiation ceremony. For those who don’t know every year young Xhosa boys from the age of 13 to 18 are sent to an annual rights of passage ritual which is meant to transform boys to men. During the ceremony an outspoken and an openly gay initiate discovers the secret relationship of the closeted caregivers which results in deadly consequences. For me the idea for the film was inspired by Robert Mugabe. In and Around 2010 Robert Mugabe
Was carrying on as usual saying that being Gay is unAfrican that it is a disease exported from Europe. As a gay African, this clearly touched my heart.
Also at the same time across South Africa a phenomenon called corrective rape became popular. Where Lesbian were being raped in the belief that it would cure them of their sexuality.
In this fit anger the director and I came up with the idea for Inxeba. We wanted to show that Gay African men exist in all communities. From Urban to Rural.
Once we made film there was a massive backlash from particularly traditional quarters across the country. Which ended up having the film banned the film and publication board which controls what we see at the cinema.
We took the f.p.b tribunal to court where finally the ruling was overturned.
What I learnt during this experience is that there is a large proportion within our society who do believe in democratic principle of freedom of speech. I as well as the rest of the production team as well as the actors received death threats. I’ve been told never to show my face in the Eastern Cape.
Well as a filmmaker I see this a feather in my cap. A filmmaker worth his or her salt is meant to disturb, upset, inspire, disrupt and question the status quo. The greatest acknowledgement is when I get stopped in the middle of the street by young gay men, who close to tears thanking me for a telling their story. That is far meaningful than any international award.
In closing I want to end off with a Steven Spielberg quote:
‘ A dream is something you never know when it’s going to come into your life. Dreams always come from behind you, not right between your eyes. It sneaks up on you. But when you have a
dream, it doesn't often come at you screaming in your face, "This is who you are, this is what you must be for the rest of your life." Sometimes a dream almost whispers. The hardest thing to listen to is your own instincts, your own human personal intuition— it always whispers; it never shouts. It’s very hard to hear. So every day of your lives you have to be ready to hear what whispers in your ear. And if you can listen to the whisper, and if it tickles your heart, and it's something you think you want to do for the rest of your life, and you listen it. Then and the rest of us will benefit from it.’
I’ve tried to listen to the whisper, to that tickling in my heart, which I believe was by the foundation of being a Marist boy.
I wish the same for all of you. Listen to that whisper, listen to your hearts.
Thank you.

5 A3 pages with architectural drawings and photos in ring binder

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

51 pages of A4 and notes with faded photocopies and 2 sets of architectural plans relating to the Rivonia Road widening and construction of the Southern Entrance Gate.Donated by Kevin Brewer the then chairman of the Board of Governors

4 A4 pages

Ryan Roseveare – Marist Old Boys – Speech – 05-06-2015
Thanks for having me here today,
The last speech I gave at this school was a “how to speech” its Title was “How to successfully Bunk school” – it was greeted with mixed reviews.
I will dispense with the normal formalities by greeting everything based of a social hierarchy, because I want to speak to you guys one on one in this massive gathering, so too all of you thanks for having me here today.
Who am I – Ryan Roseveare class of 1990 there were 29 of us - been married for 14 years to Gayle have 3 children Regan, Connor and Emma, no you can’t date any of my daughters.
What have I done, who is this guy!
I am famous for IT nerd but you have NEVER heard of me, work has made me well off but I dress like this, it’s given me choices and made me able to do things in life, but it all started right here !
When I was attending school our English teacher Mr Morgan gave us three pieces of critical advice, he said boys
 Rush – I did not follow that one
 Wife – I did not follow that one
 Speech is like a Cat – Let’s give it a Go!
I pass this advice onto you now, to do with it, what you want – Probably just ignore it
So faithfully following Mr Morgan’s advice - Why am I here? I am here to confess - It was me who threw the phosphorus in the pool ! But it was Gary’s idea and it had to be done !
I matriculated 25 years ago for those who can do basic maths, When I look back it seems far shorter more like 10 years’ time does fly so use your time wisely
I got my old school tie out last night and counted the number of jacks I got “elaborate” from Grade 6 to 12 it was the impressive number of 76 that’s one caning every 9.7657 repeating naturally - school days
So what’s changed? Well there are no more jacks and my record will stand into eternity – But in one word “everything” but actually “nothing”
 Apartheid,
 Tell Wing bus story,
 Internet it connects everyone,
 The power actually never went off,
 Tuck shop was under R 5 for a toasted ham and cheese, coke and packed of chips.
But what has not changed, is something all of us here have in common, we are all have attended this school and you know what - it makes us special !
But a quick story to demonstrate this – as fate would have it I was in a very high level meeting a few weeks back and during a break we got talking as you do about school, life, university and the like.
When one person asked me “Where did you go to school” and said St David’s and they said….
I knew it ! – It made me think…. Erm, why and I have been thinking about it for a while
We are DIFFERENT! – Use It !
You are right now part of a small social group or a community made up from people from different walks of life, in which you may have friends, Fren-A -me’s maybe, “guys you know”,
As the great MC Hammer once said “let’s stop”…. Look to you left… and right…. See these guys!
You will probably know them for the rest of your life, when you are half grey like me these guys around you will be in your life if you want it! How do I know… because that’s my experience!
You are all lucky to be here in this environment, IT makes you special in the race of life, you have a head start use it to make a difference in this world !
QingQile (Wing), Jean Paul (JP), Peter (Landdale), Gary (Gster), Adrian (The Lady), Brendan (OB), Chris (Wart)
I see these guys all the time, we are each other’s children’s god parents, we have walked log roads together, driven Bikes across Africa, walked across Europe, literally climbed mountains, drank too much, Raced fast cars across Europe - in the case of Wing and JP walked the road with serious things like cancer, Gary and Brendan virtually for every Springboks rugby game and many times travelled and watch games live, going to weddings and let’s not forget the bachelors in countries all over the world –
Keep these connections it’s what makes you great!
To get serious for a bit:
Look around at this place we are in… what has been given to you has been given to you for a reason, life if hard right… you will experience some pain and hardships will happen to you.
These things believe it or not happen to everyone, but it’s how you respond that makes you stand out, this school taught me to respond with power, passion, pride and energy!
Pause
Your times short, Matic’s soon you will be “free” some of you will be in university some might be going overseas, gap years, jobs, all of you
These people here right now (Your teachers) who are the people you should leverage from as much as possible.
People will pull down, but it’s in the getting up that you become a success, never giving in always pushing to the end this is something I learnt at this school ! – Writing lines for being a little naughty
All of you don’t forget – the lessons you have and will learn here! They will stand you in good stead and make your shine!
There are two types of people in this world when it comes to attitude and thought process
Now the first set of people – Wait for opportunities to come to them so they can “Quote un Quote” take them and they wait endlessly for some mirage or oasis to magically appear yet it never comes!
And they end up in some job they have no need to be in - doing some tinny task they have no desire doing
All because they were not willing to – Risk It or even Try
And the second set of people, these are the ones who find a way to create opportunities, these are the ones who make their own luck “so to speak”
 Live life on your terms
 Live life as you want to
 Live life as you envision
 Failure is a step forward, not backward
And what I have become to understand is the only difference is fear because those who are not afraid to go after something are the ones who turn out to be successful,
Success in life, school and relationships Whatever ! is often a result of not being afraid to accomplish Anything it’s going to be the guys you would never expect that make the biggest difference!
You are your own driving engine and your own break.
To the matric’s –
PAUSE !
Make a statement to the universe I am capable and powerful, there are gifts you have in your life that only you can tap into - Use them.
Have a irrational, illogical, passion in what you do ! I don’t know what your passion is but believe in it
You have the strength and the passion inside of you NOW to change the world.
Pause
Soon you will be an Old Boy! Remember what you have learnt here apply it keep your connections.
Thank you for your time!
And in conclusion!
Remember! - 76!

Document outlining Speeches made, Grace and the menu

Proposed amended constitution of the St David's College, Inanda Parent-Teachers Association

Draft Constitution of the Parent-Teacher Association