FOUNDERS DAY SPEECH - GARY GALOLO HEAD BOY 2004

Good afternoon Mr Simpson, members of staff, fellow

Old Boys and most importantly, gentlemen of

Rondebosch Boys‟ High School.

BACKGROUND

It is a privilege and an honour to be standing before you

today. It was 10 very short years ago that I stood on this

very stage, fulfilling the duty as Head Prefect of bidding

the school farewell on behalf of E‟04.

It was a truly humbling experience then and it remains a humbling experience today.

Mr Simpson, thank you for the kind introduction. While all of that is true, I‟m sure Mnr Nel

will tell you that I was also the first Head Prefect to get detention in his matric year and the

first Head Prefect to break the 110 year old bell that hangs outside the window of your

office. Those too, were not easy feats to achieve.

FOUNDERS DAY/FOUNDERS/RBHS

Founders Day provides us the opportunity to reflect on our school, its illustrious history,

while highlighting its important accomplishments. It allows us to look at the past, the

present and take a glimpse into the future.

Rondebosch‟s rich history stretches back to its first students - just 28 boys - and its first

headmaster Mr Ramage, - and the hopes and dreams they brought to this school and the

world 117 years ago.

Their call then remains true now; preserve our cultural past, while laying the groundwork

for the future. That is what they did for us 117 years ago. We in turn, must honour this call

by preserving that which we have now in terms of tradition and standards and continue to

improve ourselves in such a way that will enable us to adapt to our dynamic environment.

Post leaving, I have, on a few occasions, walked around the school and every time I do I

am filled with pride when I bear witness to the incredible gains that have been made over

the last ten years. The facilities that Rondebosch currently boasts are world-class. I truly

believe that this is the best school in the world. To me it is not a cliché, it is the truth.

Rondebosch‟s record of excellence in all spheres is clear evidence of that. What I‟ve

realised is that yes, every now and then Rondebosch does produce a star, well done every

school does. But what Messrs Andrews, Fletcher and Marchand‟s legacy has brought to

the world astounds me. Rondebosch has consistently produced well-rounded individuals

who may not all be prepared for springbok colours in rugby, but are all well-prepared to

gain Springbok colours at life. Men of integrity, men of character.

It was Abraham Lincoln who said “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow.

The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”

In its lifetime, our school has seen:

1. Two world wars;

2. The imprisonment, release and recent death of world icon, Nelson Mandela;

3. The birth of democracy in South Africa;

4. The first African - American president of America, Barack Obama 5. Facebook, twitter,

iPod, iPad, whatsapp, Facebook acquiring whatsapp, tinder.

These walls have seen it all. These walls have seen boys turn into men. All of us sitting in

this room have tried and failed at something whilst here. All of us have tried and

succeeded at something here.

Effectively, Rondebosch devised astute strategies in order to maintain its high standards of

the past. Times have changed, but Rondebosch has proven that change is a constant.

Rondebosch has been at the forefront of transformation within this country and was one of

the first “model C” schools to admit non-white students. It was also one of the first schools

to introduce governing-body paid staff and embrace the concept of ”semi-private”

schooling, a classic example of adapting to your environment while improving form.

Yes, Messrs Andrews, Fletcher and Marchand were bold when they started 117 years ago

and they have left a legacy. However, there have been many key stakeholders, for

example Mr Chris Murison, the first old boy to become headmaster, and Mr Martin Barker,

who have both made radical forward-thinking decisions in order to sustain and even

improve on the legacy left by our founders.

Their servant leadership has been the springboard for many old boys to achieve incredible

things post their time here at Bosch. Let us also not forget Mrs Lyall, Mrs van Rensburg

and Mrs Ogilvie; as you‟ll learn later on in your lives, you‟re only as good as the people

who support you. To all the staff members, yours is a calling that few answer as diligently

and as adeptly as you do. Looking back over the last ten years, thank you for the impact

you made not only on my life, but the lives of all the old boys. Thank you for the role you

played in taking us Higher and Wider. It is the accomplishments of those Founders who

have come before us and the key stakeholders of the present that has opened doors for

our students.

Examples of good Rondebosch men include teachers, politicians, sportsmen, lawyers,

bankers, accountants. Rondebosch taught us to dream big. Rondebosch taught us to ask

why?

We have a responsibility in taking the lessons we‟ve learnt here and using them in our

lives going forward. We owe this to our founders.

CURRENT BOYS

Just by sitting here, in your Rondebosch uniforms, you are privileged and it is the

appreciation of this privilege that I want to talk to you about today.

Now let‟s be clear on a few things:

1. It is not guaranteed that you will become a great cricketer if you go to Rondebosch.

2. You will not automatically become a lawyer or an accountant

3. In a nutshell, success is not guaranteed just by walking through those doors

You have to have an aspiration and some form of talent. Gary Kirsten had many attributes,

but, fundamentally, he knew how to bat.

What therefore, does an education at the best school in the world afford you? Why are you

sitting where you are? What is the purpose of greeting visitors, shining your shoes, always

wearing a blazer? Where is the power in what you‟re being taught? Why are your parents

paying for you to be sitting in this hall listening to a short, fat, black guy? Is there any value

in sitting where you currently are?

Having spent 5 years at the High School and 2 at the Prep, my answer to that would be a

definitive yes. At Rondebosch you‟re afforded the opportunity to do that which you are

good at, and that which you are rather average at, whilst still getting a world class

education. It is expected of you to do more. To be more. To exceed your best at all costs.

To understand that life is not one-dimensional. Your life will always be multi-faceted.

You see, Rondebosch prepares you for that multi-faceted life. To me, Rondebosch is the

type of institution that will congratulate you on your success, but push you to do even more

(life will push you like that as well). It‟s the type of institution that will allow you to play first

team cricket or rugby, but also allow you to sing in the chamber choir or receive full colours

for drama and service. We are not taught to be good at just one thing. Furthermore, we are

not to solely rely on our natural abilities, but to be good people. In life, you cannot just be a

cricketer or a flyhalf. Your life will never be one-dimensional. Your life will, in fact, always

be multi- faceted.

If you have a dream... if you are intellectually curious... if you want to discover and

explore... if you want to look beyond the current scope of your vision... You‟re at the right

place. Embrace the opportunities Rondebosch offers. This is your chance to build a solid

foundation which will allow you to achieve later on in your life. So don‟t waste it.

“Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks

too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than

yourself that you realize your true potential.” That was Barack Obama speaking on

America‟s past and future. To my mind, he‟s trying to tell us that there is more to life than

money, than power. Our lives are made up of more than one piece.

I also remember the enormous pressure of being at school. It annoyed me when older

people said „in my day things were so much harder”. I also remember not making the A

team in Grades 8 through 11, not making the touring squad let alone the starting line-up.

Rejection in any form is a tough pill to swallow.

The fact of the matter is exams, concerts, sports matches...standing up and speaking in

assembly. These things are all hard. It just happens that some people are more naturally

gifted at one thing than other people. Some of the most successful people in life did not

necessarily do well in class. Their greatest skills were things one did not get grades for.

This may be the case with you. Just because you may not be at the top now, does not

mean that you won‟t find yourself at the top later on in your life. This is not the end, it‟s only

the beginning. Your turn will come. And when it does, make sure you have done enough

groundwork to smash it.

This is only the foundation, this is the time for that groundwork. It all stems from the

realisation that though you are successful today, what do you have to do now in order to

be successful tomorrow? Your life does not end when you leave those doors for the last

time. It‟s merely beginning.

You‟re probably thinking that when I was at school, I was the popular kid, the one who

everyone liked.” Chicks dig me bru”. My best friend at school was in fact, one of the

naughtiest. Never afraid to get into a fight, always courageous and intensely loyal. He was

responsible for amongst other things, egging the girls at various schools, and planting a

tree in the middle of the Bishops first team field post one of our victories. He also took the

liberty of planting a tree in front of their chapel the night before their valedictory. In short,

he was not head boy. He did very little, almost next to nothing, for my street cred. And

certainly not anything special in the eyes of teachers and anyone in a position of authority.

With a master‟s degree in law from [Florida State university], my friend is currently an

attorney at the best law firm in the country, with a firm understanding of right and wrong, of

justice. His ambitions are incredible. His will to succeed is unwavering. He too sat where

you sit today, learning, knocking his head, laughing at me rather than with me at times.

Again, this is not the end. This is only the beginning. Learn now, build now, and wait

patiently for your opportunity to smash later. It will come. A fate worse than failure is not

being prepared when your opportunity arises. If you‟re doing your best, you can say with

full confidence that you tried. It is difficult however, to point the finger at anyone else when

we have not taken the time to prepare.

You are privileged to have such committed teachers, to study in such small classes, to get

the best individual attention available. So when you get less than you hoped for in an

exam, learn from it, move on, and improve. Everyone gets knocked down, but winners,

they get up.

It was Winston Churchill who said “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage

to continue that counts.”

Stephen Covey once said “tough times don‟t last. Tough people do”.

You are immensely privileged and as long as you appreciate that and take your chances

you will do well in life. What I have learnt is that success, in itself, means nothing. You may

be the richest person in the world, you may get 6 A*s, you may play cricket for South

Africa (no offence Gary), but unless you‟re a nice person you will have no one to share this

success with. What‟s the point in coming first if no one‟s clapping for you at the finish line;

what‟s the point of being rich if you have no one to spend your money with.

Remember to be humble, kind, and well-mannered. Remember to love and respect

your family and friends.

Remember what must be going through the head of a child who has no family and

no friends.

Remember to be good to people you pass on your way up because they will look

after you if you are ever on your way down.

Remember to give back.

Remember that life is not just about one thing... it is multi-faceted...

OLD BOYS

Post leaving, you‟re also granted access to the biggest and oldest Old Boys‟ union in the

country, a global network of people. Your first old boys‟ dinner is always a good one, as is

your second, as is your 3rd. Having attended these events in Cape Town, London and

Johannesburg, I can say with full confidence that we are truly part of something unique.

Wherever you are in the world, there is probably an old boy there or who may have been

there before you.

As old boys reflecting on the last 10 years, and what we have achieved thus far, we have

to ask ourselves:

1. Have we been successful in what we have set out to do?

The answer varies for many. In fact the definition of success varies for many. To take it

one step further, one‟s definition of success varies over time. i.e. success is relative. Is

success only defined by how hard you work? What about humility? What about courage?

What about attitude? Coming from the world of banking myself, what about integrity and

honesty?

Assuming the answer to the question is yes, we‟ve smashed it! What then did we learn

from our time here at Rondebosch? What foundations were laid here, that stood the test of

time? What is in the water here at Rondebosch that assists the seeds planted here,

producing men that are currently re-defining our country‟s views on electricity, playing

professional rugby, bankers, lawyers, teachers, accountants, doctors, award- winning

musicians? Effectively, what do we have to be thankful for?

Answers from individuals who have the privilege of calling themselves old boys will differ.

The riches that a school like Rondebosch could potentially instil in you are unfortunately

not an inevitability. It‟s not for free and we‟re not entitled to it.

Ten years on, I say to all of you, congratulations. Well done. You came, you saw, you

conquered. To paraphrase Drake “You started from the bottom, now you‟re here”.

But it is a well done for now. For right now, you have achieved. Right now, you have set

out to do what you wanted to do. But I urge you keep your eye on the future. Life is not just

one ball coming at you. That‟s pretty easy to play if you‟re smart. Life is about knowing that

there are at least 10 balls coming at you at the same time. It‟s about being able to play

those balls into the gaps. It‟s about dealing with the balls you‟ve missed and facing the fear

head on that you may lose your wicket. Success is not inevitable. But Rondebosch gave

you a bat so smash it. Remember that at your core, you have what it takes to achieve

anything you set your mind to. At your core, you have the ability to go Higher and Wider.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, I want to leave you with the following:

This is an institution that I love and I urge all of you to pledge, to devote whatever talents,

abilities, and energy you have to the cause of this school and all that it represents. We,

students, old boys and staff must all work tirelessly to maintain and sustain the high

standards set by our predecessors for this school, an institution that is truly worthy of the

magnificent past that we celebrate here today.

Boys, I encourage you to preserve the friendships that you have formed here and your

passions and, importantly, retain the values for which this school stands.

Rondebosch remains an extraordinary place. Let's never forget that, or take it for granted.

Let us not forget that Rondebosch is, above all, about opportunity. Lastly, make the best of

your time here, but also understand, realise and embrace the fact that your best is yet to

come.

Altius et Latius