October - November 2013
MODERN QUARRYING
23
IQSA SYMPOSIUM
FEEDBACK
T
his symposium is always a great
time for spending time with old ac-
quaintances and meeting new ones
and this year’s event was exactly that.
IQSA chairman Glenn Johnson thanked
the Institute’s Terry Pop and Petro Swane-
poel for their tremendous effort in putting
the symposium together, pointing out
that they take a lot of pressure off the di-
rectors. “If it wasn’t for them,” he says, “we
wouldn’t be here today.”
He formally acknowledged and
welcomed five new Institute members:
Chester Aldridge, Peter Walters, Funani
Mojono, Glen Webster, and Jeremy
Hunter-Smith jnr.
Bringing delegates up to speed on
some of the matters taking place within
the Institute, Johnson says there was over-
whelming positive feedback from mem-
bers for the April conference held at the
Gateway Hotel in Umhlanga, with value
found in the presentations. “However,
there was negative feedback on some of
the junior topics presented. What I want
to reiterate is that we have to give our
juniors the opportunity to present tech-
nical papers at our conferences, and it is
only through this kind of exposure that
we are able to formulate our future lead-
ers of the industry.”
Talking about next year’s annual
conference, he says it will not be held
in KwaZulu-Natal, but in Cape Town at
the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West
from 10-11 April. “One of the main rea-
sons is not because Western Province is
suddenly playing decent rugby, but that
next year we are hosting the International
IoQ presidents and celebrating our 45
th
anniversary.”
Johnson attended the International
Presidents’ meeting in Dunedin, New
Zealand, which he says was a fantastic
experience; however, what concerned
him was the negative perception of our
country by the rest of the world. The MC at
the event is involved in the yearling sales
held in Australia, South Africa and New
Zealand, and on hearing that there was
a representative from South Africa, took
pleasure in telling the delegates about
how he was present at the Emperors Hotel
when it was robbed by a gang of thieves.
“That’s the story he told at the start of the
Presidents Council and from there on, you
can only imagine – outside of rugby – the
questions I was asked,” he says.
One of the presidents, who knew
Johnson was a keen mountain biker,
asked whether he cycles armed with a
gun. “I said we do get hijacked from time
to time, but what he was actually refer-
ring to was the perception that there are
wild beasts waiting to attack us. I must
admit that the majority are much more
grounded in their understanding of South
Africa, but they are nevertheless com-
ing here feeling a little nervous, but also
with great excitement and anticipation.
Every one of the presidents is bringing
their children with them, which is some-
thing they didn’t do in Australia or New
Zealand, and I believe that we have to put
on the most phenomenal show for them
next year.
“I would like to call on the Institute
to assist in doing this as it is not only a
wonderful opportunity to showcase our
country but also to showcase what we do
as an Institute. I can assure you that our
running of our conferences, the quality
of our presentations – and I am not say-
ing this because I have been entrusted by
the members to head this Institute – but I
genuinely believe that we hold top notch
with our conferences; and this is some-
thing that we can be proud of.
“The gauntlet has been put down to
you all, and it is going to take a collective
Great fellowship at symposium
The recently held Institute of
Quarrying Southern Africa’s (IQSA)
Symposium held at the Kopanong
Hotel and Conference Centre in
Benoni was another first-rate
networking opportunity for the
industry. Thanks must go to the
sponsors, the speakers and the
delegates for their attendance.
Technical papers are available on
the IQSA website:
New IQSA members:
Chester Aldridge.
Glen Webster.
Jeremy Hunter-Smith jnr.
from all of us to showcase South Africa.”
The IQSA’s membership figures are
currently sitting at about 358. “We have
come down from the 400 that we had
earlier on, and are making a concerted
effort to attract members to the Institute.
Urging non-members to join, he says “it
is a great place to network and I am sure
new members will gain the same benefits
that many of us have gained in the past.”
IQSA historical book
Johnson says that coinciding with the
IQSA’s 45
th
anniversary celebrations and
the hosting of the international presi-
dents; the IQSA is putting out a book
