Tiny Humans, Big Support
A huge thank you to the Hogsback community for turning out in numbers for the Mud and Moss Montessori Pre-School opening. The support for our little ones and their teachers was incredible!
For those who missed it, the morning was filled with singing, happy children, parents pitching in and lots of exciting developments. The jungle gym got some extra safety attention, the classrooms received beautiful Montessori learning materials and the children were spoiled with new backpacks, beanies, lunch boxes, water bottles, T-shirts and a wonderful collection of books. Than you to all sponsors and contributors.
It was a lovely reminder of what can happen when a community gets behind its children: people contribute, lend a hand, share what they can and help create something meaningful together.
Thank you, Hogsback, for showing up and showing you care!
Welcome back Pollinators.
I have a few favourite dates, one of which is the 1st of September! And in the spirit of Spring day; I thought I’d share this useful Sting pain scale; created by the ‘King of Sting’, not the Nathan Fielder character, the entomologist Justin O Schmidt… who famously subjected himself to hundreds of insect stings to measure their intensity and duration for science.
While Hogsbackians won’t encounter the infamous Level4 Bullet Ant on our trails, we’ll certainly run into Level 2 stingers; most notably the Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera capensis/scutellata) and various native paper wasps, as hive activity spikes this month.
The Schmidt Insect Sting Pain Index. Source: bionity.com / Schmidt Insect Sting Pain Index
Pertinent, Practical Pulse.
New to Hogsback? Been here forever? Either way, this a channel worth following.
Hogsback Pulse is a simple, central place for what’s happening on the mountain; from weather alerts, who’s running what specials, who’s open, village news, events, important updates.
It’s probably the best way to keep your finger on the pulse of Hogsback without filling your phone with 20 posters, adverts and forwarded messages every day.
See for yourself: Follow Hogsback Pulse.
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaB2QEpInlqIbztT9S2l
HTO Elections
To all TPOs: This is to confirm that the HTO Elections are postponed to Thursday 17 September at 5pm to ensure that all people nominated for election are present in Hogsback.
The following nominations have been received and accepted by the candidates:
Chairperson: Siya Gxothiwe
Deputy Chairperson: Francois Rautenbach
Secretary: Janice Adlam
Treasurer: Joanne Campbell
Additional Members/Task Team Coordinators: Ruby Hales, Bella Khashe, Mornay Van Vuuren
All TPOs are invited to attend, but only paid-up members may stand for election and vote. Further nominations can be made right up to the actual elections. Candidates must accept the nominations.
Candidates will be invited to speak about what they are offering the HTO and answer any questions from the floor. Brief reports on the 2026 Christmas in July and the Winter Quest will be presented before the elections.
– Fiona Wallace for Hogsback Tourism Organisation