1991
There was an uneasy calm in the country and within education as we entered another year. An air of uncertainty prevailed over political negotiations. Nevertheless we remained indefatigable in our quest for our pupils to receive a world-class education. An attempt to build unity amongst our athletes was actualized in the form of a camp in January. We were successful as the athletes became very close at school. Lucille Abrahams once again obtained Western Province and South African colours for athletics but it was the relatively obscure Craig Bloys who ran himself into history by becoming another male sprinter from Athlone to win WP colours. Lucille and Craig were doing what many athletes before them had done. The names of Renata Fourie, Glenda Patience, Jack Swanepoel, Wilton Pick and Teano Patience spring to mind.
Neville Alexander the great Livingstone High luminary reminded us of the motto “Education before Liberation,” evoking the words of the other great Livingstone TLSA and NUM stalwart, RO Dudley who six years earlier had made a passionate plea to high school students to pursue an education that entailed critical thinking.
Extracurricular activity was thriving at the school. We could still offer 21 activities including sport. It was apropos of the legacy of the past that we continued with the example set before us by men of the calibre of SV in providing a holistic education. My interest in and obsession with volleyball intensified as we arranged indoor practices at the Silvertown Community Hall. Practice sessions also took place at beaches such as Clifton. I managed to obtain funding for jerseys purchased at Mike’s Sports in Woodstock. Two of our girls, Lucille Abrahams and Zaakeyah Abrahams were selected for the Western Province Volleyball team.