SAND, SURF AND CELEBRATIONS!

AFTER it was hosted at the Kievits Kroon Gauteng Wine Estate in 2022, then the picturesque Halliwell Country Inn in the Midlands last year, it was back to KwaZulu-Natal again this year for the 15th annual national awards of the Dormehl Phalane Group (DPG).

This time it was a rather unique occasion. Rather than the usual weekend affair, the event was a mini holiday break for scores of franchise principals and hard-working agents of the property company headed by Owen Dormehl and Daniel (Tau) Phalane. All were treated to four nights, from April 8 to 11, at the Happy Wanderers beach resort in Kelso on the KZN South Coast.

Luckily, while there wasn't wind, rain and even lightning at times, it was mostly blue skies and sunshine at this popular getaway spot. Established in 1963, the resort offers log cabins, a camp and caravan site, restaurant, a small convenience store, three pools and sea-facing units on a 500m stretch of pristine beach. So it almost goes without saying that the focus this year was on a chilled, laidback salute to DPG's outstanding achievements in 2023.

As was the case at last year's big event, half the awards were presented at a breakfast buffet, and the remainder of the DPG prizes were handed out at a Wednesday evening event.

No black-tie affair this year, though - the breakfast event on Tuesday hula-hula-ed with a non-compulsory Hawaiian dress code, and the evening event trotted along, with a good few "yee-ha!" moments, with a cowboy theme. Most people dressed up and appeared to lap it all up!

After booking in at Happy Wanderers on Monday afternoon, a blue DPG goodie bag awaited everyone in their designated bedrooms - the gifts including DPG-branded T-shirts (featuring palm trees, sea and a lighthouse, to fit the occasion), flip-flops, a blow-up beach ball, a peak and a pool lilo.

More treats came on arrival at Tuesday's breakfast event in a large, elegant, white tent on the beach, close to the Happy Wanderers restaurant. Here everyone was presented with fabric leis and ushered to colourful round tables adorned with centrepieces that were either parrots, palms, or wood-carved, golden pineapples.

Each place setting had a programme of events alongside a container of sweets, a keyring, pen, langard, Lip Ice and a nifty little suntan spray bottle.

Two areas of the room held hot and cold breakfast buffet stations, as well as fruit sculptures that included shark heads carved from watermelon. The emphasis was certainly on fun and most people dressed down for the occasion, relishing the super-relaxed atmosphere of the informal vibe.

Hosted for the first time by amiable Durban-based radio personality Dave Guselli, who was also casually dressed in shorts for the breakfast part of the year's awards, the event started with something new - the presentation of a slew of certificates acknowledging DPG agents who, during the previous year, had accumulated sales of R1 000 000 or more.

The breakfast event saw the presentation of various awards from Ooba, Goldman Schultz, Dykes van Heerden, Daly Morris Fuller, Dickinson & Theunissen Inc, NMA Attorneys, Rothmann Attorneys and Standard Bank Easysell.

Christo Pretorius of DPG Pietermaritzburg received the Franchisee of the Year award, selected by DPG directors, "for outstanding levels of professionalism". The Wooden Spoon award, for 'stirrer of the year', also nominated by DPG directors, went this year to Oriana Honeywill of Umhlanga.

Apex's Ronnie Rao took the prize for Training Agent of the Year, while Dylan Coffen of Midrand was awarded the special Blue Door Award "for his tremendous camaraderie towards the Dormehl Phalane brand".

The morning ceremony included short talks by Ooba's Careen McKinon and Linda Rall, both of whom signalled better days ahead for the property business, and during the break for the yummy buffet breakfast, saxist and vocalist Chris Jenson snaked between the tables to entertain.

At leisure for the rest of Tuesday, followed by all DPG principals and managers attending a national franchise meeting for much of Wednesday, the Dormehl Phalane team donned Wild West gear - mostly stetsons, checked shirts, denims and scarves - to head for the white tent again on Wednesday evening for the final part of the awards ceremony.

Greeted by props including giant cacti, wagon wheels, horseshoes, large barrels, hay bales and an area depicting a saloon and other buildings in a Wild West town, used as a backdrop for photographs, the DPG team had what has to be the speediest evening awards ceremony to date.

By shortly after 8pm the crowd was already enjoying a beach bonfire, a lamb spit braai with assorted side dishes and Peppermint Crisp pudding. The team then went, guns blazing, into party mode with the DJ playing mostly great golden oldies and the crowd finding many opportunities for synchronised dancing.

This year the Franchise of the Year award went, for the first time, to Pippa Griffin and Liane Aadnesgard's Howick franchise, with Pinetown in second place, Vaal in third position, The A-Team in spot four and Upper Highway at No 5. Howick's other awards included that for top commission from the sale of farms and smallholdings; and it was named as Commercial and Industrial Franchise of the Year.

After Owen Dormehl took the Agent of the Year title two years ago, the longtime regular winner of this award, Brendon Bosch of Pinetown, wrested it back in 2023 - and he firmly held on to it again this year! Stacy Fernandez of DPG Lite was in second position this year, followed by Ruth Goodman of Barrydale.

Among other awards, Bosch was also named Referrals Sold Agent of the Year, Sole Mandates Sold Agent of the Year, and Achiever of the Year (Urban).

Pinetown's Kevin Delport collected awards for referrals sold and referrals sent; Lindi Honey of the A Team was named as Most Improved Franchisee of the Year (an award selected by DPG directors); and Leigh Phillips of Platinum Rentals was named as Letting Agent of the Year. Estean Bolleurs of the Moot franchise took the Oscar Award, for being committed and supportive to the DPG brand.

Hearty congrats to all award recipients and to the DPG organising committee for another memorable awards event. Here's looking forward to the 2025 event!