Chairman’s report / Voorsittersverslag
It is my pleasure to report back on the work of the Old Boys’ Union over the past months. As most of you are aware the Annual General Meeting (AGM), which include the adoption of the financial statements, and the four matric reunions (1963, 1988, 1993 and 2003) were held on the 19th of May – the weekend before the school played sport against Rondebosch Boys High School.
Earlier in the year the 1973-class celebrated their 50-year reunion and spent time creating an excellent blog for their classmates. We strongly recommend that you have a look at the finished product (www.prg1973.co.za) and ask them if you would like to do something similar for your class. Their class also participated with the schoolboys in laying a wreath at the Founders’ statues.
Die 1983-klas, wat hul 40-jarige reünie gevier het, het meer as R10,000 vir die Borg-‘n-Paul-Rooser-projek ingesamel en ons wil graag vir Charles Ohlson en Marvan van Zyl bedank wat hierdie inisiatief aangevoer het. Interessant genoeg het die 1983-klas vier Old Boys wat in die VSA woon (Alwyn Smith, Paul Ikin, Francois van der Merwe en Charles Ohlson) en vier van hulle woon in Kanada (Heinrich Marcus, Corneil Van der Poll, Richard Huffer en Hein Brand).
Die 1996-klas het agtergekom dat van hul klasmaats handelsmerkklere dra van ‘n mededingende skool in die Paarl waar hul kinders as leerders ingeskryf is. Die 1996-klas het na aanleding hiervan boetes aan die betrokkenes uitgereik. Ons hartlike dank en waardering dat die boetes onmiddellik vereffen is en die mildelike bydrae van R20,000 tot PRG projekte. Dit was ‘n kosbare en vindingryke inisiatief!
We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who actively participated in the AGM and those who helped arrange the reunions. It is heartwarming to witness the unwavering commitment and passion that you all have for our alma mater.
It is also with great pleasure that we extend a welcome to five new life members to the esteemed Old Boys Union, namely Andre Retief (1998), Wilmar Koch (2005), Marco Ferreira (1987), Paul von Saman (1993) and Michael Lange (1980), as well as Etienne du Toit (1991) as a year member.
Polla Meetings
The OBU has also set up twenty-two (22) domestic and international WhatsApp groups where we share information and create a space for Old Boys to network. We have had a very positive response and the first Australian Polla was held in Sydney, New South Wales and was arranged by Jan de Villiers (1994). Frans van Niekerk attended Polla’s held in Windhoek and Swakopmund which were arranged by Dirk Brandt and Horst Wiemann (1987), respectively. The first Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg (BENELUX) Polla get-together was held at the Winkel van Sinkel in Utrecht, Holland. The USA and Canada Polla is arranging their first meeting in Florida towards the end of the year and interestingly two Old Boys living in Sarasota, two miles apart, reconnected on the WhatsApp group! Please contact Paul Benson (1990), via the OBU Office if you would like to join a group or create one in your area.
Kuns en Kultuur
Vroeër vanjaar het ek die voorreg gehad om die skool se koor in die Japie Krige-saal te sien oefen. Tot my verbasing was daar nie minder nie as 110 begeesterde skoolseuns wat hul Maandagaande opoffer vir die liefde van sang.
Oor die afgelope dekade het die musiekprogram by PRG met rasse skrede ontwikkel. Die Baard-broers, Old Boys Hendré (2018), Christoff (2015) en Morné (2020), het ‘n groep genaamd die Milleniumband gestig en reis vanjaar met konserte regoor Suid-Afrika en Namibië. Kyk gerus na hul skedule om te sien of hulle in jou dorp gaan optree.
Op televisiefront het die legendariese Marcel van Heerden (1969) weer ‘n draai gemaak op die bekroonde Kyknet-sepie Suidooster. Ons sien met groot verwagting uit na sy volgende groot projek.
The last of the three SA Navy Assegaai class submarines, which was commissioned as the SAS Johanna van der Merwe, has been retired and will now be displayed as a heritage and museum piece outside the National Sea Rescue Institute in Simonstown. Retired Rear Admiral, former Deputy Chief of the Navy and submariner, Hanno Teuteberg (1976) is the Chairman of the Naval Heritage Trust (NHT) committee overseeing this project. Interestingly, two other Old Boys previously served on the submarine: Lieutenant Commander (retired) Willem Esterhuyse (1982) at the same time as Hanno, and Louis Swart (1987), who spent time on the boat as a weapons rating.
Hartlik geluk aan dr. Willem Botha (1970), die uittredende hoofredakteur en uitvoerende direkteur van die Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal (WAT) wat met ’n huldigingsbundel vereer is vir sy 35 jaar diens aan Afrikaans.
Sport
Ons maak graag melding van Oudskoliere se sportprestasies die afgelope tyd. Baie geluk aan André Vos (1988) van Norton Rose Fullbright wat dag 6 van die Cape Epic oorleef het en algeheel 309ste geëindig het. Dit lyk of die Cape Epic elke jaar moeiliker en meer uitmergelend word.
Josh Strauss (2004) has been appointed as the Director of Rugby at SACS and serves on the management team at UCT. The UCT results in the Varsity Cup have been nothing short of remarkable! Mbasa Maqubela (2021) has been contracted by the Blue Bulls and is playing in the SA u20 rugby cup. Congratulations to Michael Cowley (2018), who was placed 5th in the Junior under 105kg at the SA National Powerlifting championships after deadlifting 235kgs and to Darren Zurnamer (2019) who was placed 21st in the World at the NoBull Cross Fit Games -2023. Darren is currently ranked number one in South Africa and Africa!
Ten slotte, welgedaan aan Steven Kitshoff (2010), Herschel Jantjies (2014), Damian Willemse (2016), JJ Kotze (2018), Ben-Jason Dixon (1996), Dan du Plessis (2013) vir hul puik prestasies in die Verenigde Rugbykampioenskap-eindstryd met die Stormers. Ons is ook bly saam met Jurenzo Julius (2020) oor sy deelname aan die Wêreldrugby o.20-kampioenskapstoernooi. Van die lesers sal dalk belangstel om te weet dat Ben-Jason Dixon, wat ‘n afrigter van die onder 15 C-span is, daarin geslaag het om hul wedstryd teen Boishaai voor die VGK-eindstryd by te woon!
In Memoriam
Sadly, the Old Boys’ Union has had to take leave of award-winning actor Louis van Niekerk (1954) who passed away in February. Louis had a stellar career on the stage and had received awards from the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns, ATKV, and Fiesta. Rest in peace on the big stage, Louis.
In April is die legendariese Sparks Esterhuysen, stigter van die See-en-Sand Instituut, in Hermanus oorlede. Terwyl hy nie ‘n Old Boy was nie, was Sparks baie geliefd as ‘n PT-onderwyser en het baie seuns die waarde van “volhard” geleer. Uit die vele huldeblyke wat ons ontvang het, was dit duidelik dat hy ‘n groot impak op baie Old Boys se lewe gehad het. Ons meegevoel met sy familie en seun, Henk (2004).
Our condolences on the passing of these Old Boys: Endus Wessels (1985), Ernst “Pof“ Louw (1973), David Venter (2005), Samuel Boshoff (1966), Hennie Pitzer (1978) and Enrik Basson (1973).
OBU Committee
Regrettably, Chris Theron (1991) has resigned from the OBU Committee, and we want to thank him for his active support of the Pollas! Paul Benson (1990) has been co-opted onto the OBU Committee and will take over the role of coordinator for the Pollas.
Elza van der Walt has retired from the OBU office and we have appointed Leonie Nel in her place. Elza left a significant and special legacy at the OBU Office, and we thank her for the invaluable support and attention that she gave to the OBU.
Leonie is the spouse of Johan Nel, who works as Chief Director of Organisational Development in the Western Cape Government, and has two children, a 24-year-old daughter living in the USA and a son, Reinhardt Nel in grade 10 at Paul Roos Gymnasium. Leonie’s background involves a military career as a captain in the SA Medical Defence Force, current academic studies in BA Health Science & Social Services at Unisa and Public Relations through Damelin Business College. She is the Founder and Owner of a highly reputable Homework Centre for grade 4 to 7 learners in Durbanville.
She is assisted by Marike Powell-Taljaard, who helps Leonie with graphic design and the updating of the Alumnet database.
Finally, we would also like to congratulate all of the Old Boys whose sons joined PRG as Grade 8’s boys this year!
Vriendelike groete | Kind regards
Oudskoliere-unie | Old Boys’ Union
Voorsitter | Chairman
Nils Flaatten
