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Inland Branch Chairman’s Breakfast 2015
Blue Valley Golf EstateMore than 130 members and their guests attended this year’s annual Chairman’s Breakfast and Awards function, held at the Blue Valley Golf Estate in Midrand.
This popular event provided an opportunity for the Branch Chair to review the year’s activities, announce annual awards for excellence in concrete, and network with local members.
Proceedings were opened with a welcome from the Branch Vice-Chairman, Johan van Wyk, acting as master of ceremonies for the function. Chairman of the Inland Branch, Roelof Jacobs, then presented his report for the year covering the many successful activities that had been run in the region. These included:
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Seminars
Site Visits
Student activities
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Roelof thanked members of the Inland Branch committee for their support and hard work over the year. He also thanked the Head Office staff: John Sheath - CEO, Natasja Pols - Administrator and Marike van Wyk - Membership & Events Coordinator, for their ongoing support of the Branch.
Special mention was made of AfriSam, who were not only the main sponsors of the breakfast function but who had also generously sponsored Academic Institution membership of the Concrete Society for 2015, which had included local universities - WITS, University of Pretoria and the University of Johannesburg.
Appreciation of the ongoing support of the Society by the many Company Members of the organisation was also acknowledged.
The Undergraduate Research Achiever competition was a new initiative this year and the three finalists were present at the function. Roelof announced the winner of the competition, as well as the runner up and third place students:
There were:
Christiaan Swanepoel, University of Pretoria - Winner
Isaac Kamya, University of Pretoria - Runner Up
Sibusiso Mabunda, University of Johannesburg - Third place
 Christiaan Swanepoel |
 Isaac Kamya |
 Sibusiso Mabunda |
Roelof then outlined the three nominations that had been received by the committee for the Inland Branch’s Concrete Achiever Award 2015. The nominees, in alphabetical order, were:
Roelof Jacobs Branch Chairman presents Concrete Achiever
- GEORGE EVANS – in recognition of many years contribution to the industry and the Concrete Society, providing technical and practical advice, as well as mentoring and training, on concrete.
- DEON KRUGER – for his many activities aimed at advancing the understanding and application of concrete as the construction material of choice.
- JOHAN VAN WYK – for his contribution to the promotion of concrete and the Inland Branch of the Concrete Society.
The Chairman announced the winner of the Concrete Achiever Award for 2015 as George Evans from PPC. He described George as very passionate about concrete, and one who understood its properties extremely well.
“Words that come to mind when thinking about him, include - dedicated; honest; professional; committed, and an exceptional problem-solver. “I believe”, Roelof continued, “that this award should not be just for the Inland Branch, but an honorable commendation for his contribution to the whole industry”.
Proceedings continued with the announcement of the winner of the Chairman’s Award for 2015, which this year went to the project team on the Precast Coal Bunker project at Sasol Shondoni Colliery, nr. Secunda, Mpumalanga. The project team comprised:
- Logiman
- Lyonell Fliss & Associates
- Stefanutti Stocks Civils
In presenting the award to Lyonell Fliss, Krzysztof Szymczak (Logiman) and Mike Stevenson (Stefanutti Stocks Civils), Roelof Jacobs praised the team for the innovative concept used on this project, namely structurally integrating pre-cast with cast-in-situ concrete at all construction phases, providing superior performance compared with traditional in-situ construction, considering the cost, time, quality, operation, maintenance and safety.
 l to r: Lyonell Fliss. Roelof Jacobs. Mike Stevenson. Krzysztof Szymczak |
 Inside the 15000 ton coal bunker at Shondoni Colliery |
Guest Speaker John Ingram
Following the awards presentations, guests were treated to a very entertaining and motivational presentation by John Ingram, on defining and developing one’s own (personal) brand. Each person in the audience, he said, has a common interest – concrete, but what makes them all unique are their own personal attributes, which need to be nurtured and promoted.
John used a "no-nonsense"approach to inspiring and driving the audience to greater success and creating a “want to” attitude.
