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The Wynpress is the weekly newsletter of the Rotary Club of Wynberg — talks, projects, fellowship and a good dose of wit. Browse the full archive by volume below; each issue opens as a PDF.

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Volume 7820267 issues

New 21 May 2026 The editorial explores the history of Doramad toothpaste, which once contained radioactive thorium and was marketed as a health booster in the 1920s–1940s. Despite claims of strengthening teeth and gums, its radioactive ingredients were later recognized as dangerous, highlighting early misconceptions about radiation's benefits. New 14 May 2026 The Rotary Club visited Cape Town's Coastal Park Material Recovery Facility, a R434-million state-of-the-art recycling plant processing 25-65 tons daily, creating 160 jobs, and supporting the city's 2025 Waste Strategy to reduce landfills and boost circular economy efforts. 23 April 2026 The first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, emphasized women's overlooked roles in Christianity during her installation, reflecting on her journey from a teenage believer to a leader addressing church failures and safeguarding. She highlighted the need to acknowledge harm within Christian communities, facing scrutiny over her approach following her predecessor's resignation. 16 April 2026 Stacy Edwards' editorial explores the origins of common English idioms, revealing their historical roots. From "Dressed to the Nines" tied to 18th-century tailoring to "Kick the Bucket" linked to cattle slaughter, the piece humorously deciphers phrases, inviting readers to delve deeper into their etymologies. 26 March 2026 The editorial traces the history of curse words, from religious oaths like "God’s bones" to slang like "gadzooks" and "zounds," highlighting their evolution from taboo references to cultural staples. It explores how swearing shifted over time, blending taboo terms into expletives, and their role in media, from Hollywood films to radio broadcasts, shaping modern language and societal norms. 19 March 2026 The editorial explores crop circles, tracing their origins from 1960s UFO myths to complex 1990s patterns. While some believe aliens or energies create them, evidence shows most are manmade hoaxes using simple tools. The 1996 Julia Set, once thought alien-made, was revealed as a deliberate fake, proving crop circles are agricultural graffiti. 5 February 2026 Rotary International President-elect Olayinka Babalola urged members to prioritize personal transformation and lasting impact, citing projects like expanding early childhood education in Knysna and improving prenatal care in Nigeria. He stressed that true change requires self-reflection, openness to newcomers, and challenging past successes to create enduring global influence.

Volume 7220203 issues

16 July 2020 The editorial addresses lockdown mental health, urging readers to stay connected via digital tools like Zoom. It suggests virtual happy hours, online parties, and shared virtual vacations to combat isolation, emphasizing that technology bridges social gaps. The piece highlights adaptability as key to overcoming pandemic challenges while maintaining relationships. 9 July 2020 The editorial offers 7 fool-proof tips for crafting an epic winter bredie, a traditional Cape Malay stew, emphasizing bone-in meat, slow cooking, spices, and avoiding excess liquid. The author shares nostalgic family recipes and personal anecdotes, highlighting the dish’s cultural significance and versatility with variations like lamb and cabbage or waterblommetjie. 2 July 2020 Researchers in France uncovered the complex physics of sticky tape, revealing micro-scale stick-slip movements captured at a million frames per second. Each peel involves rapid, jerky micro-slips driven by energy from bending the tape, with glue behaving like brittle glass at high speeds. The findings aim to stabilize peeling dynamics, reducing noise in industrial settings.

Volume 7120193 issues

18 July 2019 No. 3 Sandi King discussed 67 Blankets, a charity founded by Carolyn Steyn in 2014 to create and distribute handmade blankets to those in need, inspired by Mandela Day. It now operates nationwide, relying on donations and volunteers, and has expanded globally, with partnerships and media coverage, offering opportunities for community involvement through knitting or donations. 11 July 2019 No. 2 CSIRO expert Cathy Moir debunks food safety myths, explaining that spoiled food may not always smell bad and that harmful bacteria like salmonella can cause illness without obvious signs. She clarifies the five-second rule isn’t reliable, as contamination depends on food type, surface, and contact time, with higher moisture foods transferring more bacteria. 4 July 2019 No. 1 The Last Resort, a quirky pub on Bellamy Cay in the British Virgin Islands, left a lasting impression with its unexpected donkey, Humphrey, who barged in through a hole in the door demanding supper, and a lively atmosphere filled with pregnant waitresses, howling dogs, and soulful music, creating a memorable Caribbean adventure.

Volume 702018/1934 issues

27 June 2019 No. 36 The Agulhas Current, one of the Southern Hemisphere's strongest ocean currents, is being explored as a renewable energy source for South Africa. Researchers highlight its potential, noting stable flow areas and the challenge of Natal Pulses, while emphasizing the need for improved data to predict energy output and mitigate risks for grid integration. 20 June 2019 No. 35 The editorial highlights the Rotary Club's long-term support for the Sea Scouts' Tosca 36 keelboat, launched in 1994 and used in races across the Cape. Now in need of a new engine, the project seeks continued Rotary sponsorship to maintain its legacy of youth sailing opportunities. 13 June 2019 No. 34 The editorial highlights the parallel journeys of Paul Sinton-Hewitt’s parkrun and Paul Harris’s Rotary International, both founded on simple, volunteer-driven principles to foster global community and positive impact, emphasizing shared goals of creating a healthier, happier planet through collective participation. 6 June 2019 No. 33 Derek Waldman’s editorial paints Cape Town’s rugged beauty and stark contrasts, from sunrise over Signal Hill to the bustling docks and impoverished townships, capturing the city’s duality as a place of natural wonder and social tension, where tourism thrives alongside inequality, urging reflection on shared responsibility and the fleeting nature of temporary residency. 23 May 2019 No. 32 The Hillsborough disaster of 1989, which killed 96 fans and injured over 700, remains unresolved after 30 years. Families continue to seek justice, citing systemic failures and cover-ups, despite limited compensation and a single successful prosecution. The tragedy highlights ongoing disputes over accountability and the complexities of historical accountability in sports disasters. 9 May 2019 No. 31 The editorial explains how a safety match ignites through a precise chemical sequence: red phosphorus converts to white phosphorus upon friction, igniting potassium chlorate, which then reacts with antimony trisulphide to sustain the flame, ensuring the match burns steadily and safely. 2 May 2019 No. 30 The editorial recounts the 2019 fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral, highlighting its 850-year history, iconic status as a Catholic symbol housing relics like the Crown of Thorns, and its resilience through wars and disasters. French President Macron pledged restoration within five years, emphasizing the cathedral’s enduring legacy and cultural significance. 11 April 2019 No. 29 New Zealand's conservation efforts focus on eradicating invasive possums and pine trees threatening native birds. Using helicopters and robots, they've reduced possum numbers and controlled pine spread. Kiwi populations in Queen Charlotte Sound have nearly doubled, aiming for extinction removal by 2050. 4 April 2019 No. 28 Microsoft emphasizes the need for schools to equip students with STEM and digital skills to prepare for future jobs, highlighting initiatives like MakeCode and Hour of Code to bridge the computer science gap. Partnerships with Code.org and focus on accessibility through AI and mixed reality aim to ensure students develop creativity, resilience, and adaptability for evolving workforce demands. 28 March 2019 No. 27 The Rotary Club's "Last Night of the Proms – A Spanish Fiesta Olé" was a resounding success, praised by attendees for its vibrant performance and seamless organization, with many expressing enthusiasm for future events. 14 March 2019 No. 26 The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, located in Norway’s remote Arctic, stores over 1 million seed samples from around the world in a secure, temperature-controlled tunnel. Designed to safeguard crop diversity against disasters, it holds 2.5 billion seeds, including vital crops like maize, rice, and potatoes, ensuring agricultural resilience for future generations. 28 February 2019 No. 25 Spanish Wells, a tranquil Bahamian island, thrives on lobster fishing and tourism, offering family-friendly relaxation with golf carts, crystal-clear snorkeling, and unique experiences like swimming with pigs. Its close-knit community, white beaches, and Sunday ice cream shop make it a safe, serene escape. 14 February 2019 No. 24 The SkinVision app uses AI to analyze skin lesions via smartphone cameras, achieving 97% accuracy in detecting melanomas—outperforming doctors and dermatologists. It leverages deep learning algorithms to assess color, texture, and shape, offering rapid, accessible cancer screening that has already identified 27,000 dangerous cases globally. 7 February 2019 No. 23 The editorial explores artificial intelligence's evolution from brute-force computing to self-teaching systems, questioning if machines can ever be truly intelligent. It argues that while AI excels at deterministic tasks, human uniqueness lies in creativity, irrationality, and intuition—qualities machines struggle to emulate, urging education to prioritize these traits to remain distinct in a machine-driven world. 24 January 2019 No. 22 The editorial by Bev Bird highlights the daily communication challenges faced by deaf individuals, emphasizing that clarity, not volume, is key. She explains how unclear speech and lip-reading difficulties strain interactions, sharing personal frustrations with hearing aids and the isolating effect of being "alone in a room full of people." 17 January 2019 No. 21 A 1902 smallpox vaccine sample revealed genetic similarities to horsepox, challenging the long-held belief that Jenner’s vaccine originated from cowpox. Researchers found the virus was 99.7% horsepox-like, with deletions matching vaccinia, suggesting its ancestor may have been equine rather than bovine, casting doubt on the traditional narrative of Jenner’s vaccine source. 10 January 2019 No. 20 Mauritius is boosting renewable energy by burning sugar cane bagasse, now providing 14% of the island’s electricity and nearly a quarter when combined with solar, wind, and hydro. The government aims for 35% renewable energy by 2025, with bagasse from sugar companies supplying most of the power through co-generation plants, while CO2 emissions are repurposed for soft drinks. 13 December 2018 No. 19 The editorial highlights research showing humans, though comprising just 0.01% of Earth’s biomass, have driven 83% of wild mammals to extinction and dominated livestock numbers, threatening biodiversity. It warns that unchecked human growth and resource exploitation risk our own survival, framing ecological imbalance as a critical threat to humanity’s future. 15 November 2018 No. 16 Automation threatens high-earning professions like law and finance, with AI outperforming human lawyers in contract reviews and passive investing replacing active fund management. High-frequency trading and algorithmic efficiency signal a future where years of education and prestige may no longer guarantee job security, urging younger generations to reconsider career paths. 1 November 2018 No. 15 Rotary and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have nearly eradicated polio through decades of vaccination campaigns, reducing cases by 99.9% and eliminating the disease in 122 countries. Challenges remain in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan, but partnerships with WHO, UNICEF, and the Gates Foundation continue advancing surveillance and immunization efforts, with Rotary pledging 1 salary from Tesla while donating half his wealth to charity, inspiring with quotes on innovation and persistence. 8 February 2018 Norway’s oil fund, now worth over 40.3 million to bolster polio eradication efforts, supporting immunization, surveillance, and research in Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other at-risk countries. Progress in Nigeria approaches certification as polio-free, but experts warn sustained funding and campaigns are crucial to maintain gains globally. 23 July 2015 No. 3 The Wynpress features a quiz challenging readers to discern true from false statements about obscure facts, from historical trivia to animal behavior, with answers and a "Genius Rating" to classify participants. 16 July 2015 No. 2 The editorial warns of Africa’s population surge, citing a 5% GDP growth rate and a projected doubling to 2.4 billion by 2050. It urges urgent investment in education and job creation to prevent chaos, drawing parallels to the Arab Spring, and highlights the need for radical funding to train teachers and vocational workers, ensuring Africa’s youth can drive prosperity instead of conflict. 2 July 2015 No. 1 The Rotary Club of Wynberg highlighted its "Adventures into Citizenship" program, featuring Art Jamming sessions and youth engagement, as part of the new Rotary Year theme "Be a Gift to the World." The event combined creative expression with community involvement, supported by Drumming SA, showcasing collaboration between the club and local artists to foster citizenship and youth development.

Volume 662014/1538 issues

25 June 2015 No. 38 Rotary International President-elect K.R. "Ravi" Ravindran urged members to "Be a Gift to the World," emphasizing polio eradication as a key challenge and stressing the importance of ethical standards and leadership to drive Rotary's success. 18 June 2015 No. 37 The Sudanese government's campaign of genocide in Darfur, involving Arab militias like the Janjaweed, has led to mass killings, displacement, and humanitarian crisis, with over 400,000 deaths and 3 million displaced, as the international community struggles to enforce accountability. 11 June 2015 No. 36 The Sunflower Fund urgently seeks diverse bone marrow donors to save South African patients with blood disorders, highlighting the critical need for ethnic representation in the registry. With only 19% of donors from African, Asian, and mixed backgrounds, the fund relies on public donations and events like National Bandanna Day to expand the donor pool and increase survival chances. 4 June 2015 No. 35 The editorial critiques traditional bedtime stories for being sexist, racist, and outdated, citing author James Finn Garner’s revised versions as politically correct alternatives. Tales like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty are reimagined to promote inclusivity, with characters redefined to avoid stereotypes, humorously illustrating the extremes of modern PC adjustments. 21 May 2015 Justin Schonegevel recounts transforming an unsustainable education sponsorship project in Bali by introducing livestock and microloans, empowering villagers to become entrepreneurs. Initially dependent on aid, the community eventually achieved self-reliance through local mentorship and business skills, highlighting the importance of sustainable, community-driven approaches over handouts. 14 May 2015 No. 33 David Postic argues Rotary risks losing young members by resembling baseball—slow, boring, and disconnected from modern interests. He urges clubs to innovate, engage youth as leaders, and prioritize impactful service over passive activities, warning that without change, Rotary will stagnate and fail to attract the next generation. 7 May 2015 No. 32 The editorial highlights 10 unique Norwegian phrases that capture cultural nuances, such as "koselig" for shared warmth and "skjerp deg" as a blunt rebuke. These terms reflect Norway’s distinct way of expressing emotions, social bonds, and everyday experiences, offering insight into its language and values. 23 April 2015 No. 31 The editorial explores the traits of a perfect wine, highlighting six key factors: blends with supporting grapes, single-vineyard terroir, hillside cultivation, higher alcohol content, oak aging, and long-term aging potential, emphasizing balance and concentration as defining characteristics. 16 April 2015 No. 30 Italian researchers found coffee drinkers have a 41% lower risk of liver cancer, with studies from Europe and Japan showing consistent results. However, experts caution that correlation doesn’t prove causation, citing lack of biological evidence and potential statistical artifacts, leaving the link’s validity open to debate. 9 April 2015 No. 29 Dr. Adam West explains that regular 15-year fires are essential for fynbos ecosystems, enabling regeneration and preventing soil erosion. While recent Cape fires devastated property, they are natural cycles that sustain biodiversity. West warns against urban encroachment and advocates for managed burns, urging public support for conservation efforts to protect these fire-dependent habitats. 26 March 2015 No. 28 New research highlights that physical inactivity causes twice as many deaths as obesity in Europe, with a daily 20-minute brisk walk reducing premature death risk by 16-30%. The study, analyzing 334,000 participants, stresses that even modest activity offers significant health benefits, urging increased physical activity as a key public health priority. 19 March 2015 Alan Jackson critiques Lorenzo Davids’ approach to NGO funding crises, agreeing on the need for accountability and measurable impact but arguing donors should prioritize NGOs with proven results over restricting new registrations. He challenges the notion that NGOs sell misery, stressing the importance of inspiring hope through effective, solution-driven work. 12 March 2015 No. 27 The Proms originated in 1895 as affordable standing-room concerts in London, named for the promenades where people walked while listening. Founded by Robert Newman and led by Henry Wood, they evolved into a global event featuring diverse music, with the iconic "Last Night" blending classics and patriotic tunes, now broadcast worldwide. 5 March 2015 No. 26 The IOC's 7,000-page bid requirements for Oslo's 2022 Games included absurd perks like royal meetings, tax-free shopping, and luxury accommodations, forcing Norway to withdraw. The nation deemed the 120 million, reflecting its status as a symbol of modern existential angst. Munch, a Norwegian artist battling inner turmoil, created the piece after a traumatic experience, capturing universal anxiety through vivid, symbolic imagery. His work, blending expressionism and symbolism, challenged norms and remains a defining icon of 20th-century art. Issue 101 Pat Wild, a dedicated Rotarian, was celebrated for his unwavering commitment to the Rotary Club of Wynberg and his community, exemplified by his leadership in the Lavender Hill School project, which earned international acclaim. His legacy of service, kindness, and strategic vision left a lasting impact, remembered through heartfelt tributes from fellow members. Issue 22 The article by Lina Godden explores why students struggle to retain knowledge, attributing it to cultural disdain for memorization and teachers' bias against rote learning. She argues that memory is foundational for critical thinking and problem-solving, yet education systems prioritize higher-order skills without teaching effective memorization techniques, leaving students ill-equipped to apply knowledge in real-world contexts. Issue 21 The Haugaland College students, supported by the NLC and Rotary Club, raised funds to donate to local schools, providing educational resources and scholarships. Their efforts boosted student morale and created opportunities for disadvantaged learners, with one student potentially studying in Norway. The Rotary Club praised their impactful work, highlighting the transformative power of community collaboration. (65 words) Issue 19 The editorial highlights global efforts to eradicate polio, celebrating progress against smallpox while addressing current challenges like sabotage by militants in Pakistan. Collaborative initiatives by WHO, Rotary, and local groups aim to overcome barriers, with optimism that 2013 could mark polio’s end. The piece underscores the resilience of public health campaigns amid socio-political hurdles. (65 words) Issue 17 Nine polio vaccinators were killed in Nigeria amid resistance to vaccinations, complicating global eradication efforts. Bill Gates emphasized the challenge of ending polio, highlighting the need for innovation and community trust, as attacks by groups like Boko Haram threaten progress. Issue 16 A study published in *Appetite* found that eating from red plates or drinking from red cups reduced food and beverage consumption by up to 40%, suggesting the color red subconsciously signals restraint. Researchers linked this to associations with danger and prohibition, proposing red packaging could help curb overeating and excessive drinking. Issue 13 The OLPC project tested if Ethiopian children, with no prior exposure to written language, could self-teach using unopened tablets preloaded with custom software. Within five months, they mastered English, bypassed security, and hacked Android, proving kids can learn to read and write independently, challenging traditional education methods and highlighting the potential of technology-driven self-directed learning. Issue 12 The editorial recounts the legend of Hungary’s Bull’s Blood wine, born from the 1552 siege of Eger, where defenders used the ruby-red wine to sustain troops, leading to rumors of supernatural strength. The wine, now a popular blend with a minimum 50% kékfrankos, traces its roots to a Turkish defeat and later became a medicinal wine, evolving into an affordable favorite. Issue 9 Oscar Pistorius, born without fibulas, faced early challenges but thrived with his mother’s unwavering support, who taught him resilience and normalcy. After her death, he pursued athletics, becoming a Paralympic champion and breaking world records, embodying her mantra: “You are abled by the abilities you have.” His journey highlights triumph over adversity and the enduring impact of maternal encouragement. Issue 8 The editorial challenges the myth that packaging harms the environment, arguing it reduces food waste and preserves products like milk and electronics. Studies show packaging uses minimal resources compared to the products it protects, with South Africa’s packaging waste at 6% of landfill. Melanie Jones’ guest talk on recycling and waste management further highlights sustainable solutions for Cape Town’s landfill crisis. Issue 7 The editorial by Steve Garrett reflects on Rotary leadership, emphasizing that members seek self-satisfaction through service rather than external recognition. He argues leaders must avoid stifling creativity by over-managing tasks, instead fostering autonomy and trust, aligning with Maslow’s self-actualization theory. Effective leadership, he notes, is about empowering others to dream, believe, dare, and do. Issue 6 Peter Sharples introduced Wonderbags, insulated cooking containers that reduce fuel use and emissions by slow-cooking meals. Made from recycled materials, they employ 3000 women but face challenges in distributing and training users to maximize their impact. Issue 5 The FoodBank project gained attention as a German funder and Iowa district explored collaboration, with Biffy Danckwerts noting a potential philanthropist akin to Bill Gates expressing interest. Flight tickets would trigger further updates, highlighting the club’s efforts to secure resources for the initiative. Issue 4 The editorial humorously illustrates job placement by describing a scenario where candidates' actions with bricks determine their department, satirizing workplace inefficiencies and highlighting the importance of matching skills to roles. Issue 3 Rotary Clubs worldwide are tackling water and sanitation crises through projects like biosand filters in Peru, USAID partnerships in the Philippines, and well-drilling in Niger, aiming to reduce disease and improve access to clean water for thousands. Issue 2 Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan emphasized the urgent need for financial literacy, criticizing banks for prioritizing profit over ethics and highlighting vulnerabilities of South African consumers. He called for education to empower citizens to demand transparency and navigate complex financial products, stressing the crisis in the banking sector’s moral and ethical leadership. Issue 1 The main article under the **"FOUNDATION HEALTH"** section highlights Rotary's global health initiatives, focusing on two key projects: 1. A **700 million funding gap threatening eradication efforts. It urges urgent action to prevent resurgence and achieve a polio-free world, emphasizing the need for sustained commitment and resources. Wynpress Vol 64 Issue18 The editorial traces Valentine’s Day’s origins to early Christian saints, highlighting St. Valentine’s legend of defying Emperor Claudius to marry soldiers and heal a jailer’s daughter, leading to his execution. It notes the day’s evolution from religious observance to a romantic celebration, with varying dates in different Christian traditions and the shift from handwritten letters to mass-produced cards.