GEMSBOK-KAKAMAS: Die Vine Academy and Model Farm op Kakamas het onlangs hul eerste bestaansjaar gevier.
Dit was voorwaar ‘n belangrike mylpaal in die instansie wat gedurende Julie 2023 hul deure vir hul eerste studente geopen het.
Mnr. Christo van der Rheede het almal welkom geheet en teruggedink hoe die instansie begin het en watter pragtige geboue kompleks dit vandag is.
Tshegofatso Selepe het Kgodiso Trust se betrokkenheid uitgelig en die Vine Academy geluk gewens met hierdie belangrike mylpaal wat bereik is. 
Verskeie gaste het die geleentheid bygewoon en die koor van Hoërskool Paballelo het pragtige koorsang gelewer.
.   Foto’s: Elsa Jones

GEMSBOK-KAKAMAS: The Vine Academy and Model Farm in Kakamas held their very first graduation day celebrations on Mandela Day.
First time graduates, at a first-time transformation training academy where they were thrilled to finally walk down the stage as their names were called out.    
They were the first students obtaining their Certificate in Plant Production with Specialisation in Viticulture. The students were handed their certificates. Two students received merit awards at the ceremony, Dawid Hayes as the Top Achiever and Nosizwe Mkhonza as the Second Best Achiever with. A whole year successfully closed with the capping of the students at the Vine Academy and Model Farm. 
On the 17th of July 2023, the Vine Academy welcomed its first group of students to come and study a National Certificate in Plant Production with Specialisation in Viticulture (NQF level 4). 
Of the seventeen students, few were day students and the rest resided at the academy’s hostel as full-time participators in the course. The programme involves theory classes accompanied by practical activities in the vineyard. Since the agricultural sector is a very hands-on industry, a good practical understanding other than just theoretical knowledge is an important factor to consider when looking to employ aspirant graduates. While students are predominantly exposed to Raisin grape production and wine grape cultivation, soon table grape production will become part of their practical experiences too.

GEMSBOK-UPINGTON: Die Blue Bulls van Carlton Van Heerden het vanjaar ‘n derde plek in die “SA Climate Change Champs” 2024 behaal.
Hierdie kampioenskappe skets ‘n bemoedigende prentjie omdat die jeug pleit vir groen oplossings om ‘n regverdige oorgang vir hul gemeenskappe te ondersteun.
Die wenners was Hoërskool Walmer se “Groen Avatars”. Hulle is van Gqeberha, Oos-Kaap
Die jeugkompetisie was oop vir graad 9 - 12 leerders in Climate Club gasheerskole in die Oos-, Noord- en Wes-Kaap as deel van die SA Climate Change Champs-projek. 
Uit die 58 voorleggings wat vir die kompetisie ingeskryf is, het die top-agt as finaliste na Kaapstad gereis vir die eindstryd wat deur GreenCape aangebied is.
Die Blou Bulle van Hoërskool Carlton Van Heerden (Upington, Noord-Kaap) was derde. Hul tegniese model was ‘n sonkrag-aangedrewe straatlig.
Hoërskool Paballelo en St Anna Privaatskool van Springbok het ook deelgeneem.

GEMSBOK-UPINGTON: Tydens die Junie skool vakansie het een van  die Hoërskool Duineveld se leerders en Da-wrette Heyns Model Akademie se studente, Cleantha Koetzee in New York aan Talent Ame-rica en Pageant America deel gaan neem.

Uitslae:
 Av Garde 2de plek
 Casual  2de plek
 Fitness 2de plek
 Formal 3de plek
 High Fashion 1ste plek
 Spokes 2de plek
 Swimwear 3de plek
 Sy ontvang ook ‘n ‘Call Back’ van die model ‘scout’ Phil 
 Director’s Choice