A TENTH AWARDS CELEBRATION!

FROM the hills to the ocean... that was the case for staff of the Dormehl Phalane Property Group (DPPG), who last year enjoyed the rolling lawns and distant hills of the Midlands' Old Halliwell to celebrate its top achievers.

This year's awards ceremony was held at Port Edward's picturesque The Estuary, overlooking white villas, a sparkling expanse of water, a lushly green hill, then the beach and Indian Ocean.

Held on March 6, DPPG's 10th National Annual Awards was a roaring success, thanks in no small part to hands-on organiser Owen Dormehl and a team that included interesting speakers representing Ooba, Property Fox and SA Home Loans.

A standout at the ceremony, where tables were positioned under drapes of chiffon-covered fairylights, was a 45-minute talk by amiable guest speaker Busisiwe Radebe, Nedbank economist. She offered much food for thought in her views on the state of the South African economy and ways for the country to improve in both the short-term and decades ahead.

A slightly flustered Owen Dormehl, DPPG head with lawyer Tau "Daniel" Phalane, playfully smiled and threw his hands above his head when I chatted to him a half-hour or so before the awards. I bumped into him near The Estuary reception and he explained that some things were not going quite to plan.

Main concern was that Mr Phalane had been delayed due to having to attend to an urgent court application and, in the end, sadly, was unable to attend the awards at all.

However, despite any nail-biting by Owen, all went off well and much fun was had by all, the after-party around The Estuary pool proving a big hit. Everyone relaxed, some having changed into shorts or bathing suits, to enjoy snacks, drinks (gin selections in mini jugs were popular) and entertainment by Amanzimtoti-based, one-man band Winston Smile.

Bearded singer-guitarist Winston kept everyone happily amused - not only with some good pop, rock and country songs, but also with a sampling of his operatic voice (a special request from someone in the crowd) and some impressive playing of his guitar behind his neck.

Among the biggest "pool show" highlights, however, were the impromptu staff contributions, not least from Annalize Janse van Rensburg of DPPG's head office in Gauteng. Annalize left her spot dipping her feet in the pool, to take the microphone for a spirited delivery of the Los Lobos hit, "La Bamba". The crowd loved it!

Also fun were the assorted crowd vocal contributions during a lively rendition of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" and Kurt Darren's "Kaptein".

As a way of celebrating DPPG's 10th year of awards, the event was a cracker!

Note: The awards results feature in a separate story.