Super Fun At Fundraiser

Super Fun At Monte Carlo Royale Fundraiser

Super Fun At Monte Carlo Royale Fundraiser

The St Francis College community put on the Ritz as they turned out in numbers to support the Monte Carlo Royale evening at St Francis Links on Friday June 23rd.  The event which raised approximately R50 000.00 for the College saw keen punters revelling in the entertainment at the poker, roulette and black jack tables, while enjoying the  delicious food prepared by the Links team, the music and dancing.

A highlight of the evening was the silent auction of various artworks including creations by St Francis College students. Those students whose artworks were chosen were Ruby Tovell, Grade 4, Jeanne Steyn, Grade 5, Keano Dukai, Grade 6, Hope Jack, Grade 6, Lily Malherbe, Grade 7, and Joss Hempel, Grade 7. The auction contributed an amazing total of R3160.00 to the College fund.

The event was facilitated by Gaming Events – a Kleinmond based croupier company. Each ticket of R250 included dinner, a glass of champagne, entrance into a lucky draw and some ‘funny money’ to get the evening started.

Shaun & Tracy Kennedy were delighted to win the lucky draw prize of a night away to Zen Guesthouse in Jeffreys Bay.  Our mini poker tournament winner, Dirk Ellis took home a Jameson whiskey hamper and Justin Ackerman won the Johnnie Walker Blue Label on raffle.

A  big thank you must go to the generous sponsors. Table sponsors included Moore Stephens, Kathea Energy, The River Estate, and The Store/RVCA. Thank you too to Tops at Spar who sponsored the superb Olive Brook champagne.

Our grateful thanks to our MC, Liezl Clause and our auctioneer, Jeff Clause as well as Wayne Fairman Photography for the fabulous photos!

Last but not least a huge thank you to the St Francis College community for throwing their support behind this memorable evening!

Super Fun At Monte Carlo Royale Fundraiser

Article: Lyn Aitken
Photographs: Wayne Firman

An evening to remember at St Francis Links

St Francis Links 10-year celebration

10-year awrds at St Francis Links

What a privilege and indeed a pleasure it was to attend the St Francis Links 10-year gala dinner on Friday evening.  From the beautifully adorned venue and table settings, the entertainment and even the speeches, kicked off by the humour of the incorporable Jeff Clause arriving at the podium dressed as a chef, this was always going to be an event to be remembered. A highlight of the early proceedings was undoubtedly the video clip from the Golden Bear himself, Jack Nicklaus, wishing Jeff and his team congratulations of their ten year achievement.

An important, possibly the most important part of this celebration, was to acknowledge those loyal staff who have been with The Links since its opening ten years back. Too often those who make a business a success are forgotten at such occasions but the Links certainly were not going to forget them. The pride and joy of each staff member as their name was called to the stage was touching and illustrated just what great team Jeff has put together.

Music provided by two lovely lasses on violin and saxophone was followed by talented singer, Loyiso Bala who really got the party rocking with guests and especially staff getting into the rhythm. There wasn’t a spare centimetre to be found on te dance floor as the ‘oldies’ rocked the night away. What a fantastic voice Loyiso, a Drakensberg Boys’ Choir graduate, has.

Bringing a little local flavour to the music the St Francis College choir assembled with beaming Mum’s joining the audience as the choir sang along with Loyiso before being joined on stage by the newly formed LAMP choir from Sea Vista. The LAMP choir is the initiative of Karin and Wolfgang Fuchs. The Lighthouse Arts and Music Project (LAMP) is a program to provide opportunity for the youth of Sea Vista.

When the Links was setting up ten years back they called on the experience of a professional hotel group to assist. These gents, Arthur Collett, an operations fundi and Chef Shaun Munro, then Executive Chef at the iconic Royal Hotel in Durban, well known for the fine dining at the renowned Grill Room, were also not forgotten and flew in from Durban to join the celebration.

Chef Shaun, now the executive chef at Tsogo Sun’s Elangeni – Maharani Hotel in Durban rolled up his chef jacket sleeves and joined Links Exec Chef Brad in the kitchen to create a menu that would have been the pride of any 5-star restaurant. A triad of Salmon starter with tempura prawns starter, a Rack of Lamb main and an absolutely delicious ‘I want some more’ Fudge Picasso  dessert.

Certainly an evening to remember and it shows that our little village and especially The Links can put on event that is a good as you will get at any 5-Star hotel or venue. Well done Jeff, Lisa and all those who made this the event of the year and yes, an evening to remember.

Loyoso Bala with St Francis College Choir

LAMP Choir at St Francis Links 10-year celebrationLiezl Clause with Chef Shaun and Arthur Collett at St Francis Links 10-year celebration

Fudge Picasso "I want some more\ dessert served at St Francis Links 10-year celebration

 

 

St Francis Bay Bridge Club Charity Tournament

Charity Bridge Day at the St Francis Links

Bridge players came from far and wide to participate in the popular Charity Bridge Day at the St Francis Links on 20th September 2016. Dinks Liebenberg started fund raising for the National Sea Rescue Institute, Station 21, about 20 years ago by organising an annual bridge tournament and the tradition has continued growing in strength and enthusiasm.

Players came from Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Jeffreys Bay, Port Elizabeth, and even as far afield as Pretoria and enjoyed a really successful, well-run tournament. There were twenty-two tables (four players per table), two of which were set aside for novice players, providing them with the opportunity to experience tournament conditions, which can be rather daunting at first.

The St Francis Links came to the party once again and pulled out all stops to provide the perfect venue and a delicious lunch. Jeff Clause, CEO of the Links, offered an extremely generous prize of 18 holes for a four-ball, including golf carts (worth about R2000). This was auctioned by John Boonzaier and secured by a thrilled Di Klette from Plettenberg Bay.

The club was honoured to have Heidi Atkinson participating. She is the Chief Tournament Director of South Africa, President of the Southern Cape Bridge Union, and is on the board of the South African Bridge Federation. She had this to say of the tournament: “I am impressed by the dedication of the St Francis Bay Committee who provided bridge for both newcomers and experienced players. They work hard and do it with love, always going the extra mile.”

Tournament Directors for the day were well qualified locals Eileen Ellis and Judith O’Hara who were able to participate as well as performing their duties with consummate skill. This enabled Heidi Atkinson and Patrick Verner (TD from Pretoria) to play without officiating, much to their delight.

An additional fund-raising raffle produced R855. The winner was committee member John Boonzaier who immediately donated it to the NSRI.

Geoff Ellis, President of the Bridge Club, expressed his appreciation to the members of the bridge club and the business community of St Francis who so generously gave prizes for the day. Everyone went home with something and a good time was had by all who attended.

The visitors were impressed by the exemplary organisation and Patrick Verner, Tournament Director from Pretoria, commented on the lovely, relaxed and pleasant atmosphere and the outstanding competence of the St Francis Bay committee.

Much to the delight of everyone concerned, a sum of R8 500,00 was raised for NSRI Station 21.

The tournament was played in two sections:

Winners of the Green Section: N/S Una Moolman and Jill Browning (J’Bay), E/W John Boonzaier and Darryl Hendricks (SFB).

Winners if the Maroon Section: N/S Mike Lowe and Bobbie Walker (PE), E/W Wendy Mackenzie and Liz Horne (SFB).

Charity Bridge Day at the St Francis Links

Photo: Winners of the St Francis Bay Bridge Charity Tournament in aid of Station 21 of NSRI (left to right) Liz Horne, Wendy Mackenzie, Mike Lowe, Bobbie Walker, Jill Browning, Una Moolman, Daryl Hendricks and John Boonzaier.

Article & photo Yvonne Bosman

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