SURF, SAND AND CELEBRATIONS!

FANCY dress, pirate paraphenalia and lots of surf, sand and celebrations were top priorities this week for members of the Dormehl Phalane Group (DPG).

For the second consecutive year, franchise principals and top agents headed back to the sunny KwaZulu-Natal coast for a return focus on fun informality, this time for the company's 16th annual national awards.

As was the case in 2024, representatives of the company headed by Owen Dormehl and Daniel (Tau) Phalane, were treated to four nights (April 9 to 13) at the laidback Happy Wanderers beach resort in Kelso on the South Coast.

The popular resort, established in 1963, 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.

On arrival in sea-facing rooms mere metres from the beach, guests found goodie bags which included branded towels, a cap, socks and a lanyard.

At Thursday's buffet breakfast, the first half of the awards were presented. The event was held in a large, white marquee on the beach, close to the Happy Wanderers restaurant.

Each guest had gifts at the table that included a small zip-up bag from Ooba, containing lip balm and suntan lotion.

The breakfast awards, with Marius Roberts as MC, showcased attendees in fancy dress of their own choosing.

Many franchises went the whole hog, standouts including the Estcourt female team dressing in blue as "ladies of the ocean", and the Pinetown team in colourful, urban Afro garb. There were also a number of people dressed as hippies while among others were construction workers and even a pair of German bierfest fanatics.

However, it was a wildly excited team in animal print outfits, some with matching face makeup, that made the biggest roar at the breakfast event - Gary Mann Estates from Gauteng took the coveted Franchise of the Year trophy.

That's not all... the 48-member team, represented at the awards by principal Benita Stander and Natashee Lemmer, also scooped trophies for Commercial and Industrial Franchise of the Year and Residential Franchise of the Year.

In second place for Franchise of the Year was Pinetown, followed by Upper Highway, Howick and Student Accommodation.

Pinetown, which has been named Franchise of the Year 15 times over the years, certainly did not leave empty handed. Principal Kevin Delport took trophies for Remarkable Leadership; Referrals Sent: Franchise of the Year; and Referrals Sold: Franchise of the Year.

At Friday's pirate-themed, evening awards event, Pinetown once again shone by producing DPG's most successful agent of the year - Brendon Bosch, who has taken this award more than a dozen times. Bosch also took the award for Achiever of the Year (Urban).

In second place for Agent of the Year was Yolanda Honiball of Gary Mann Estates, followed by Leigh Phillips of Platinum Rentals and, in a tie for fourth place, Amanda Theron and Anita Ackerman of Student Accommodation.

Christy du Preez of Westville's A Team, who was at No 6 in the Agent of the Year category, took the Special Recognition Award for public testimonials and, along with Jennifer Gordon of Howick, also collected a special certificate for achieving R200million in sales. Christy also received the Blue Door Award for her camaraderie towards the Dormehl Phalane brand.

Gordon Swensson, who heads the DPG Musgrave team, was a popular winner of the trophy for Most Improved Franchisee, while the Wooden Spoon Award for Stirrer of the Year went to Carol Higgs of Upper Highway.

Joint winners of the award for Training Principal of the Year were Derick Moor of Management Services Coastal and Christo Pretorius of Pietermaritzburg; and the award for marketing initiative went to Jean Liversage of Upper Highway.

Guest speakers at the breakfast event were Pretoria's Cara Vosloo, who discussed the interconnected role of agents and architects; and Glyniss Dercksen, a former Dormehl Phalane founding member, who offered valuable advice on the power of good communication and ways to build a strong personal brand.

At the fun evening event, when the tent featured a large treasure chest and a panoramic, Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired backdrop for picture opportunities, all tables had complimentary wine and were decorated with mini treasure chests with chocolate coins and colourful necklaces.

Impressively, each table had a four-tier, bespoke cake as a centrepiece; each cake differently iced and decorated to reflect the sea and pirate theme.

A novel touch was KVV Inc Attorneys representatives giving prize hampers to the three attendees they rated as the best dressed. Worthy winners were Musgrave's Nirvana Kasichand, Upper Highway's Robert Infanti and The A Team's Lindi Honey.

Evening guest speakers included Ooba's Careen McKinon and Lorenze Naidoo of Kale, who discussed issues of trust and reciprocity.

Marius Roberts moved the evening presentation at a brisk pace and, immediately after the ceremony, all were treated to the spectacle of a beach bonfire before a buffet. The spread included lamb off the spit, chicken pieces, three-bean salad, broccoli-and-cheese salad, Greek salad, potato bake, pap and sauce, and rolls. Besides the large cakes on each table, strawberry cheesecake and brownies were also available for the sweet tooth.

Other highlights of the evening included a number of special recognition accolades from attorneys, and Debbie Lundin of Upper Highway receiving the Rookie of the Year trophy. Achiever of the Year (Countryside) was Howick's Cindy Bro, while the Oscar Award, for best support of the DPG brand via social media, went to Vickey Dormehl of Cape Town.

As usual, with the ceremonies over, it was time to let down one's hair and the dancefloor was soon crowded, everyone dancing to popular music provided by Chris Jenson, who also entertained at the breakfast event, snaking through the audience with his saxophone.

To say that much fun was had by all would be an understatement. Everyone applauded the awards' hard-working organisers, greatly appreciated the relaxed casualness of the whole affair, and looked forward to next year's celebrations.