THEME: GET INVOLVED
Our theme for the week is ‘GET INVOLVED’ – and I have deliberately chosen a photo of a Spanish bullfighter to show you, a matador, and his opposing bull, as, whatever one might feel about bullfighting, there is little doubt that their contest in a dusty arena epitomises this morning’s message.
In line with the photo of the matador and the bull, I have titled my address today ‘The Man in the Arena — and the Boy in the Blazer’, and part of its title comes from an extract of a speech given in Paris in 1910 by Theodore Roosevelt, former President of the United States.
I have read the words to you before, but because of today’s theme I could not resist revisiting them [and I quote]:
‘It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.’
My question to you, young men of Maritzburg College — are you in that arena? Are you striving valiantly? Are you spending yourselves in a worthy cause? Or are you standing back — a spectator in your own life, watching your brothers do the heavy lifting, giving the effort and daring greatly?
As has been said many times before at a Maritzburg College assembly, life — and especially life at College — is not for the timid. It is not for the lukewarm. This school is not designed to carry you gently to success, while you idle in the background. It is deliberately built to shape you — through challenge, commitment and connection — into a man of grit, honour and purpose.
So, get involved. Not someday. Today. Show up — to your studies, your practices, your rehearsals. But more than that — show up for each other. Be the boy who lifts his mate after a hard loss, who sings the anthem like he means it, who works for his team, his House, his cause, even when no one’s watching. Be the boy who tries.
Here at College, we are not interested in perfect boys. We are not interested in boys who glide through life, who criticise from the sidelines, who laugh at the efforts of others but risk nothing of themselves. Roosevelt had no time for them — and nor do we.
We are interested in the boy who gets up when he falls. Who puts his hand up even if he’s unsure. Who gives his all on the field, in the classroom, in service, in spirit. Who dares to care — and who refuses to sit in the shadows of his own potential. Yes, you’ll fall short. Yes, you’ll make mistakes. That’s part of the deal. Roosevelt said it clearly — “there is no effort without error and shortcoming.” But in daring greatly, you find growth. You find purpose. You find your place among brothers who are also choosing the harder path — the better path.
So, to each of you, I say this:
Be in the arena.
Be in the classroom with curiosity and ambition.
Be in the team huddle with loyalty and fire. College Satana.
Be in the choir, the play, the club, the outreach — wherever your talents and passions lie, bring them forward.
Don’t let fear, laziness or apathy rob you of becoming the man you are meant to be.
This school offers you everything — but it demands something, too: your involvement. Your commitment. And your heart.
So, step up, College, and take part.
Give your best. Fail with pride and win with humility.
Love your school, and live your life with full-hearted courage.
Because here, we don’t stand with the cold and timid souls.
We are College men.
And we dare greatly.
Recognising Academic Excellence
Today, we are inaugurating something special, to acknowledge the boys in 6th Form who represent the very best of the academic success at our school.
At a school with a long and proud academic record that will on some days have 1 200 boys present on Basher Ridge, cheering on the First XV, it is so important for us all to also remember that first and foremost we are a place of knowledge and learning.
These 10 chairs on my left have been specially laid out for the boys in Top 10 at the end of each term in the 6th Form to be seated.
So, I now invite the following 6th Formers to come forward, NOW, and to take their seats, which they will be able to enjoy for the rest of the term:
- M BRUNKHORST
- D BRUNKHORST
- C MUNDELL
- S NAIDOO
- J MONEYVALU
- A MKHIZE
- B HLOPHE
- A AKOONJEE
- K PHUNGULA
- B PEPU
Easter Weekend Summary and Results:
The sincere thanks of the entire school go to all the staff and boys who gave up large parts of their Easter Weekend to represent our school in a whole manner of activities.
Full results are HERE
AWARDS and CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION
Congratulations to:
LAPEL BADGE PHOTOGRAPHY CU ZONDI [CALDER]
A friendly reminder about OLIVER! Let’s support what promises to be another stand-out stage performance by our drama and music staff and boys. Bookings are online.
It’s a short academic week, but let’s make it a meaningful one too.
A very important part of this week will be the departure on Friday morning of the College teams across many different activities for Pretoria Boys High School, with some leaving as early as 04h00.
About 810 College staff and boys will be involved, in one of the largest inter-school exchanges to be found anywhere in the world!
Most buses will be leaving at around 07h30, and I encourage all of you to do your very best, to always act appropriately, to show good manners and gratitude towards your hosts, and at all times to be upstanding ambassadors of your school.
We have a proud record against PBHS, we back down to no-one, but let’s compete honourably on the field, and off it show those Pretorians the highest standards of conduct, as befits young men educated at KZN’s most noble all-boys’ school.
Safe travels – and GOOD LUCK to you all!
Pro Aris et Focis
Mr M Marwick
ACTING HEADMASTER