by SFT | Sep 18, 2025 | St Francis
FOSTER’s inaugural “Fireside Chat” held at the Cape St Francis Resort saw some 70 people enthralled by Clive Horlocks talk about the Bushmen titled “The voice with no words” followed by a highly entertaining Van Loveren wine tasting by Ronelle from Le Barrique and excellent fare served by the Cape St Francis Resort who kindly sponsored the venue.
Clive Horlock – local resident and renowned researcher specialising in the study of the San people was the first speaker in a fund-raising series which will include Prof. Richard Cowling, Don Hunter, Malcolm Turner, Prof Justin O’Riain to name a few. The next Fireside Chat is planned for the latter half of November. Each talk will be educational, informative as well as entertaining to be followed by a tasting and a light meal.
As one attendee said after the event “Well done on a great evening, it was most informative, interesting and fun. Looking forward to many more”. Having a real fire burning on the stage was a special touch which showed the attention to detail the organisors went to, to make for a memorable evening.
It is planned to hold these talks every second month and the next one is planned for November before the holiday season begins.
FOSTER looks forward to hosting you at future Fireside Chats, that educate and entertain you, whilst enjoying food and wine – with the proceeds going to a good cause,
To learn more about FOSTER or become a member for R350 a year please visit foster.org.za.
by SFT | Sep 18, 2025 | Financial Planning
St Francis Bay has long been known for its beaches, canals, and close-knit community. Today, we celebrate something more: one of our own has been recognised on the national stage.
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner and founder of Client Care here in St Francis Bay, has been named to Citywire South Africa’s 2025 Top 50 Leading Independent Financial Advisers. This is no small honour. The competition was intense, with a record 226 entries from across the country. Advisers were judged on six exacting criteria, including financial planning process, practice management, innovation, transformation and mentorship, investment approach, and community involvement.
Simplicity and Balance
Dirk’s recognition is especially meaningful because his work is rooted in the very values our town embodies: simplicity, balance, and living a life of no regrets. At Client Care, he champions “lifestyle financial planning” — an approach that places people, not portfolios, at the centre. It is about helping families here and across South Africa align their resources with what really matters: purpose, health, relationships, and peace of mind.
Beyond the numbers, Dirk has become part of the St Francis fabric. Since opening his office here, he and his team have worked with locals to rethink retirement, manage transitions, and plan for lives filled with meaning rather than anxiety. He has also contributed to the profession’s broader progress, from mentorship and transformation to raising industry standards nationwide.
As Citywire itself observed, the collective story of this year’s winners is of a profession that is “maturing, broadening, and raising its own standards”. That story is being written right here in our community through the work of Dirk and his team.
We offer our warm congratulations to Dirk Groeneveld. His national recognition reflects not only his personal excellence, but also the spirit of St Francis Bay: forward-looking, caring, and grounded in what matters most.
Client Care BLOG
Further reading Transitions Are Not Easy – The Human Side Of Money presented by Client Care
by SFT | Sep 18, 2025 | Notes From The Editor
We live in clichés. We think in them, we talk in them, and we often write in them without even realising it. They’re the ready-made furniture of the mind, comfortable to sit on but prone to sag. Sometimes the only way to shake them off is to lean all the way in, roll around in them, and get it out of your system. So consider this a cathartic purge, an unapologetic wallow in the most threadbare phrases imaginable to explain why the editor of St Francis Today is taking about ten days off.
“The time has come. You can’t burn the candle at both ends forever. The well has run dry, the tank is empty, the batteries are flat, and the wheels are coming off. The treadmill keeps turning, the hamster keeps running, but eventually, even the hamster needs a nap. He’s been spinning plates, juggling chainsaws, and trying to herd cats while putting out fires in a leaky boat. The daily grind has become the daily grindstone, and the axe is well and truly dull.
Empty Cup
At the end of the day, you can’t pour from an empty cup. You can only kick the can so far down the road before you trip over it. And while Rome wasn’t built in a day, it also won’t collapse just because the editor takes ten. The show will go on, the sun will rise, the tides will turn, and the inbox will still be overflowing when he gets back.
So yes—the curtain has fallen, the typewriter is silent, and the newsroom lights are dimmed. He’s put the pen down and picked up his board and wetsuit. It’s not goodbye, just a pit stop, an extended surf session, a chance to catch his breath, sharpen the saw, and come back guns blazing.
Elvis has left the building.”
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Subject: Out of Office – Editorial Desk
From: The Editor
To: Valued Reader
Out of Office Auto-Reply
Thank you for your enquiry. The editor is currently unavailable. He will be away for ten days, finding himself.
Please note: all messages sent during this period will be ignored with the utmost professionalism. Any replies received before his return are purely accidental.
For editorial enquiries, please email:
lastseenattheanneavenuegroyne@yahoo.biz.404.com.au
Confidentiality Disclaimer:
This email may contain clichés, sarcasm, or editorial burnout. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete immediately and go for a swim. St Francis Today accepts no responsibility for sudden bouts of sunshine.
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