Dear friends of St Dunstans
Welcome to this our newly revamped school website. We sincerely trust you will find the site helpful and informative.
St Dunstans is a proud school with a rich history dating back to 1918, when it was founded as a living memorial to those who fell in the Great War. From inception, the school has had the closest possible links to the Anglican Church of South Africa, and the faith-base of the school is fiercely and unashamedly protected.
From the outset, the school motto has been “I serve”. In today’s sadly self-centred world, we can think of no better foundation for young men and women than to have the importance of a service ethic deeply embedded in the very core of their beings.
In 2009, it was recognised that a new school vision was necessary. The school had been through a period of ten years of rapid growth that had seen it, inter alia, relocate to a wonderful new site in Rynfield, Benoni. A new vision, crafted through a consultative process, was born:
“Recognised as an exemplary Christian college nurturing principled, independent leadership.”
It is our earnest wish that this challenging vision be unpacked and worked into every aspect of school life, and that it serve as a continuous yardstick by which all that is done at the school may be measured.
The year 2010 will bring with it many challenges and adventures, in the field of education as much as in any other sphere of life. St Dunstans is very conscious of its responsibility in this regard, and understands that the primary reason many parents choose St Dunstans is because of its excellent academic record. We give the assurance that in this, as in every other aspect of school life, we will seek every possible way to improve our service offering.
In this regard, we are thrilled that Mr Alan Thompson will at the start of the second term be joining the staff as Rector. Mr Thompson has already immersed himself in many strategic and operational issues in order that he may “hit the ground running”. We thank him for the careful thought he has already put into the immense task that awaits him, and wish him and his family every blessing as they prepare to move to Benoni.
May I conclusion on your behalf thank all those who have put in a remarkable amount of time and energy to bring you this new website. Their efforts are truly appreciated. May I also heartily commend to you the history of the Preparatory School that the founding head of the College, Ms Sandra Gous, has so generously undertaken to write. Should you know of any person who may be able to assist with records, memories or photographs, please be so kind as to put them in touch with Sharon Campbell at the College as soon as possible.
God bless and everything of the very best
Con Roux
Chairman of Council
COUNCIL MEMBERS
CON ROUX: CHAIRMAN
Educated at St Dunstan’s and St Alban’s College. He holds a B.A. LLB Degree from Wits, and a Diploma in Business Management. Con has worked as an Attorney, been Managing Director of Con Roux Limited, worked for the Wits Vaal Regional Peace Secretariat, Murray and Roberts, and is currently Commercial Manager for the N3 Toll Concession (Pty) Ltd where he is responsible for commercial and legal matters, public relations and communication, insurance, marketing, human relations, corporate social investment and community affairs.
Besides Con’s long-time involvement as a Council Member of St Dunstan’s College, he is also actively involved in the Northfield Methodist Church, Hospice East Rand, Kairos Prison Ministry and Benoni Northerns Sports Club.
VUSI MABENA: VICE CHAIRMAN
Educated at Pholela High School in Bulwer, Natal. Vusi holds a Junior Secondary Teacher’s Certificate, a B.A. (Education) and a B.A. (Hons) Degree in African Languages, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management and a Masters’ Degree in Management from the Wits Business School.
Vusi’s career spans various teaching assignments through the Department of Education and Training. He has also worked for Afrox as a Training and Development Specialist as well as ABSA Bank in Training and Development. He now holds the position of Executive: Skills Development Advisory Services at the Chamber of Mines of South Africa.
Vusi has been co-author of numerous Zulu anthology poems and has presented many papers on literacy, both locally and internationally. Vusi has been a member of St Dunstan’s Council since 1997, has served on the Board of Trustees of Technikon South Africa Foundation and is a Church Warden at the Anglican Church in Daveyton.
BISHOP DAVID BANNERMAN
David is married to Joan and they had two children, Katherine and Eleanor - Eleanor died in 1992. Joan is a remedial therapist at St Dunstan’s College and active in the life of the Cathedral as a member of its choir.
David started his theological career in 1973 at St John’s Cathedral in Bulawayo and then moved to the Diocese of the Free State in 1977. In 1995 he moved to the Diocese of the Highveld where he became Rector of St Dunstan’s Cathedral and Dean in 1999. He currently holds a Dip.th St Pauls College, Grahamstown, B.A. (Unisa) and Mth. (Unisa). He was made Honorary Canon of Bloemfontein Cathedral in 1994 and a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem in 2007. He was consecrated as Bishop of the Highveld on the 25th April 2009.
Bishop David is currently the Chairperson of the Diocesan Counselling Board and Chairperson of the Diocesan Link Group (Diocese of Monmouth), a Director of the Highveld Anglican Board of Social Responsibility, Ex-officio member of other Diocesan Boards and committees, member of the steering committee of Vocare Highveld and a member of the St Dunstan’s College Council.
In his spare time he enjoys reading/studying, fly fishing, gym and horse riding for pleasure.
COLLEEN BECKER
Colleen has been a parent of St Dunstan’s College since 1994. Colleen is married to Glenn and they have 3 children, Calvin who matriculated from St Dunstan’s in 2007, Brendan who attended the Preparatory School and is currently in matric at KES and Chandler who is in Grade 11 at the College.
Colleen has been actively involved in fundraising for St Dunstan’s College and has been chairperson of the Pre, Prep and College PA’s. She has also been the Prep and College Parents Representative on the Governing Body.
Colleen has been in the IT Industry since 1979 and is currently employed at Associated Computer Solutions as Senior Analyst Programmer and Trainer.
JOHN BLEAZARD
John Bleazard qualified as a Chartered Accountant and was employed as an auditor at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. (today K.P.M.G.) in both Johannesburg and London offices, where he specialised in banking and financial investigations. In 1982 he was appointed as Financial Director for Hudaco Industries. He now owns a plastic manufacturing company in Benoni. His private interests include philately and chess (he was the joint South African Under 21 chess champion in 1971).
PATRICK JARDINE
Patrick Jardine is a Civil Engineer and has worked for Fraser Alexander since 1990, firstly in the bulk materials handling division as their Managing Director, before transferring to the tailings division in 2000 also as Managing Director.
Patrick is responsible for management of the company’s tailings division worldwide, in Southern, Central and West Africa, Europe, Asia and South America, with the objective of growing the company locally and internationally into new markets.
DON JONES
Don Jones was educated at Boys’ High in Pretoria and the University of Natal - he graduated with a BA (Hons) in Economics.
He was Group Personnel Manager at STC before entering his own Search and Recruitment business, The St Thomas Group.
He has been associated with St Dunstan’s College for 25 years and has been Deputy Chairman for a period of over fifteen years. He is married to Jackie and has two adult sons, Gwilym and Brynmor, both past Heads of the Prep School.
ROHAN CHARLES KEMP
Rohan Kemp holds an F.C.I.S. and was employed by SKF South Africa from 1972 to 2000. In 1976 he was appointed as Financial Manager and was promoted to Deputy Managing Director in 1986. From 1997 to 2000 he assumed the role of Managing Director. For the past 10 years he has been the Business Manager at St Dunstan’s College.
He completed the Advanced Management Programme at Insead Fontainbleau, France.
WANDILE JAMES MAKHUBU
Born in Benoni in October 1958, James is married to Ellen and they are blessed with 3 children. James completed a B.Sc Degree at the University of the North, a B.Ed (Hons) at Wits University, and obtained an MSc from Northern Illinois University in the United States.
James taught at Mabuya High School between 1985 and 1991, and was then tasked with establishing a new school in 1992, Unity Secondary School, where he is Headmaster.
ADVOCATE PALESA SEDIBE-NCHOLO
Advocate Palesa Sedibe-Ncholo was born in Payneville, Springs in 1963. Palesa is married to Paseka Ncholo and is a Director of Khumo Bathong Holdings (Pty) Ltd.After matriculating from St. Michaels Girls School in Swaziland, Palesa obtained her BA Law in Lesotho University in 1987, an LLB and Master of Law (1987 – 1989) from Cambridge University.
Returning to South Africa, Palesa worked for the Constitutional Assembly as one of the Constitutional Experts drafting the South African Constitution. Thereafter Palesa was employed by the Dept. of Justice where she was appointed as Advisor to the Minister of Justice. Palesa still assists government in addressing human rights and gender related issues.
ALAN THOMPSON
Alan is 42 years of age and married to Gwynneth, a Teacher, and they have two children, Matthew (7) and Amy (5).
Alan matriculated from Sandringham High School, holds a BEd Hons Degree from Wits University, a Higher Diploma in Education, an MEd from Wits University, and completes his MBA from Regenesys Business School in December this year.
Alan has taught at Rand Park High and St John’s College where he rose to the position of Second Master. He was appointed Rector of St Dunstan’s College in April 2010.
ANDRE VAN DER MERWE
Andre van der Merwe qualified as a Chartered Accountant and Auditor in 1981 and has been in public practice for twenty-four years. He has been associated with the St Dunstan’s Group of Schools for 22 years, is a founder member of the College and a member of St Dunstan’s College Council.
JIMMY YANNAKAKIS
Jimmy Yannakakis was born in Egypt, is married to Debbie, a Vet, and has two boys both educated at St Dunstan’s College.
Jimmy was educated at KES where he was an outstanding basketball player – he represented SA Schools and gained Springbok colours in 1979 and 1980, as well as Provincial Honours from 1988 to 1993. He is a major shareholder of a hospitality supply company in Edenvale.