Treverton Schools have bid farewell to a number of staff.

Three have been long serving members who have made an immeasurable contribution to many aspects of the Treverton life.

Owen and Debbie-Ann Buchanan have been an integral part of the school and have made invaluable contributions to school-life at many levels. They have been on the staff for 29-years, serving in various capacities.

Owen initially filled the post as a Maths teacher, in the mid-nineties he pioneered the IT department, and has been responsible for hundreds of College learners and members of staff developing a high level of computer literacy.

He also operated an Outreach Programme teaching computer skills to many Bruntville residents.

During the last two years, he has filled the post of Deputy Headmaster: Academics, and ensured that academic education was a priority.

Outside the formal classroom, he reffed rugby matches, went on ‘Berg excursions and encouraged adventure sport. Debbie-Ann has filled many roles in the secretarial section of the schools. Together they acted as houseparents for Jonsson House for a number of years.

Their children Christopher and Kathleen were both educated at the Prep and College and are now studying at the University of Pretoria.

Owen and Debbie-Ann will be joining the Bhulembu Ministries in Northern Swaziland.

Another long serving member who leaves classroom teaching is Rianne Botha. For over of a quarter of a century Mrs Afrikaans Botha, Hockey Botha, Athletics Botha and sometimes Rugby Botha has been involved at Treverton College.

The names that were used to identify her described the many roles she was involved in, it was also used to discriminate between her and her sister-in-law, Elize, who was secretary at the College for many years.

Though she never coached rugby, with her knowledge of the game, she would have made an excellent coach. As an Afrikaans teacher, she often employed her understanding of the game as a medium to teach the language to reluctant boys. Not only did their Afrikaans improve but also their respect for her was overwhelming.

As an accomplished sportswoman and former Natal schools’ athlete and hockey player, she has developed both sports at the school, despite the small student enrolment, to extremely high and competitive standards.

She has been a selector and coach for a number of Midlands and now Inland hockey teams, which have always included Treverton players.

The track and field athletes have benefited from her dedicated and skilled coaching, which has resulted in Treverton athletes competing in top provincial and national events and bringing home medals.

Year after year, Treverton athletes are included in the Pietermaritzburg and District team to prestigious meetings at Grey College in Bloemfontein and Menlo Park in Pretoria. Rianne always accompanies these teams.

At a KZN Athletics Championships meeting, at the beginning of 2013, Rianne’s contribution to the sport and her tireless enthusiasm and long-servings devotion and dedication was recognised when she was presented with a medal.

She has wonderful memories of all the young people she has seen develop their natural talents. On a personal note, it has been tremendously satisfying to have taught and coached her daughter Hanli at Treverton (also a Natal schools’ hockey player and athlete) and now her three granddaughters Ciara, Jeanne and Sasha, who are all talented sportswomen.

Though Rainne retires from the classroom at the end of the year, she will be assisting with sports coaching in the afternoons.

At the senior prize giving in October, The Buchanans and Rianne were presented with Awards for Meritorious Service to the school.

The College also bid farewell to Sister Louise Asheneden who has been a College nursing sister for the past six-years and Bradley Neal an Old Trevertonian who has assisted with the Post Matrics and Outdoor Pursuits Programme.

Old Trevertonian and Grade five teacher Michelle Pieterse leaves the Prep after five-years. She introduced psychomotor classes to the Pre-Schoolers, and coached sport from Grade one to U13 to boys and girls.

Michelle’s particular passion is hockey, and she has managed and coached provincial teams as well as being a respected and sought after as a selector of regional hockey sides.

Her family is relocating to the South Coast, where she will take up at teaching post at the Southcity Christian School at Ramsgate.