This year’s celebration of Paul Roos Gymnasium’s birthday had a special ring to it. Although at 157 it was not a milestone event, the attendance of members of the 1973 Matric Class in Stellenbosch for their jubilee celebration, speeches by the then head boy Skip Krige and esteemed journalist and author Pieter du Toit (1997) and a wreath laying at the statues of the founders of the school created gravitas.
‘n Lid van die 1973 groep het later sy belewing soos volg beskryf:“Toe ek vanoggend in daai saal afstap vorentoe, was ek baie baie trots om deel van die geskiedenis van ons roemryke skool te kan wees. In elke wedloop, so het my ouers my geleer, is daar ook dié wat deelgeneem het, maar nie op die podium staan nie, die “also ran’s”, waarsonder daar nie ‘n wedloop kan wees nie! In PRG se annale is baie van ons in daardie kategorie, maar ons is steeds baie trots op die feit dat ons oud-Paul Roosers is. Dankie dat ons onvoorwaardelik deel van die span uitmaak.” Lees meer oor die 1973 Reunie hier.
In sort of the same spirit Elias de Waal, a current PRG learner celebrating his school’s birthday, compiled a light-hearted video which captures some of PRG’s most enjoyable moments over the past year. Click here to view.
Twee ander stories wat wys hoe belangrik dit is om nie ons voorgangers vergete te laat raak nie, is hoe ‘n bos rose en ‘n skoolpet prof Francois Retief, wat op 90 met dementia in Bloemfontein saamleef, op ‘n geheuetoer geneem het, en dat prof Jannie Malan na byna 80 jaar se gebruik sy skoolfiets aan ‘n museum geskenk het.
Readers will enjoy the following items:
- The first school day of certain grade 8’s was made easier with the support of Old Boy grandfathers, fathers and brothers who came along to see them off;
- The tradition of shoe shining has also been kept alive; and
- The George/Mossel Bay Polla can’t get enough of a good thing and had two gatherings within months.
Daar is wel hartseer ook. Die afsterwe van die legendariese onderwyser Sparks Esterhuysen is wêreldwyd betreur, asook die heengaan van die akteur Louis van Niekerk, wat diep spore in die Afrikaanse kultuurlewe getrap het.
Keep the system going. Join up with the Old Boys Union. Buy some memorabilia. Book your place at the Mass Reunion, AGM and Old Boy’s Dinner. It is time to dress to impress!
