Reunions
Op Vrydag 22 September 2023 het die matrieks van 1958 hul 65-jaar-reünie gevier. Die groep is hartlik deur die rektor mnr. André van Staden in die J. F. Marais-Mediasentrum verwelkom en toegespreek. Die groep het ‘n skoolbesigtigingstoer geneem wat deur mnr. Dorfling Terblanche gelei is. Hierdie besonderse groep manne onder leiding van prof. James Joubert (1958) het daarna ‘n watertand-middagete by Markötter-Sportsentrum geniet. Die res van die middag het hul almal saam by Babylonstoren gekuier en die aand gesellig afgesluit by die Volkskombuis restaurant.
Die 2008-jaargroep het hulle 15 jaar van hegte vriend- en kameraadskap feestelik gevier en gekuier op Suidwal en by Markötter. Hierdie merkwaardige groep matrieks het die tradisie van die Goue Hek en deurgang in die lewe geroep. Die manne is deur die rektor mnr. André van Staden op Vrydagoggend 4 Augustus 2023 in die Mediasentrum met ligte verversings verwelkom en onder leiding van mnr. Dorfling Terblanche (ook ‘n lid van die 2008-klas) op ‘n besigtingstoer deur die skool geneem.
Lewenslede
Die OSU het onlangs twee dae voor Z-Dag ‘n funksie gehou saam met die matriekklas van 2023 in die Japie Krige-saal, waar die name van nuutste lede onder hulle bekend gemaak is. Agt-en-negentig seuns het as lewenslede en nog 25 seuns het as 3-jaarlede aangesluit
Baie geluk aan die volgende seuns uit die matriekklas van 2023, wat as sameroepers vir hul individuele klasse gekies het en van wie verwag word hul klasse vir reünies te organiseer of enige ander byeenkomste, ens, te reël:
Ben Gerbe (A1), Hatting Nel (A2), Richard Bryant (A3), Kobus Krieg (A4), Daniel Sutherland (A5), Miguel Carelse (E1), Jonathan Essein (E2), Aon Henricks (E3) en Hlumelo Sibaca (E4).
Ons gasspreker by die geleentheid was Chris Albertyn (2019 se hoofseun en Nova-komiteelid) wat pas sy BCom-regsgraad voltooi het en sal voortgaan om ‘n LLB te voltooi.
In Memoriam
Our condolences to the family and friends of Deneys Visser (1949) who passed away at the age of 92 on the 26th September. He was a keen fisherman, a boxing enthusiast and farmer. Deneys is survived by his wife and children. André Mans (1959), who was the founder of MV Mans Transport in Kraaifontein, has also crossed the bar. The Old Boys’ Union also took its final leave from Matthys L. Walters (1943) who passed away in September and Christo Theron (1953). Christo was a Namibian who played First XV Rugby at PRG and Maties 2nd XV, served on the Student Council and also sung in the choir. We also had to say our final farewells to Francois Anton Crafford (1972), dr Kosie Smit (1958) and Ewald Olckers (1959).
Aviation
Whilst preparing for the recent annual derby against Grey Kollege, the school chartered an aircraft to fly the schoolboys to Bloemfontein. The Old Boys tried to establish if we had an alumnus amongst the flying staff at FlySafair, who might be able to pilot the charter. Unfortunately, Steve van der Merwe (2000) was not available for the flight, but we did find out that he was one of the FlySafair pilots, who on the 8th of July 2023, did the flyover of Boeing B737-800’s at Loftus Versfeld Stadium when the Springboks played New Zealand. Needless to say, he is also an aerobatics pilot!
Our research has led to the discovery of a number of Old Boys who have achieved in aviation. Gary Mandy (1989) has made the exceptional achievement of being appointed, at Boeing’s Testing and Evaluation team, as a technical pilot for the Boeing 777-9 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Gary has previously flown for Cathay Pacific and GulfAir.
Derek Lord, who flies private out of Stellenbosch airfield and is commercial captain on Airlink has been acknowledged for his 18,760 flying hours on Embraer 135s and 145s. According to the original manufacturer of the airline he is the pilot with the highest-flying time in these aircraft in the whole world.
Through our research we managed to find information on the following Old Boys in the aviation sector: Anthony Liebenberg (2000), Aubrey Terblanche (1989), Gideon Milling, Carlo Cilliers (1987) – aviation technician, Christopher Lord (2004), Colin L Jenkinson (1999) – airline pilot, Daniel Theron (1979) – previously SA Air Force, David van der Spuy (1968) – Aero Safari, Deon Wessels (1989) – commercial helicopter pilot, Dirk van den Hever (2015) – Kishugu Aviation, Duncan Shaw (2008) – Emirates Flight Training Academy, Emile Pellissier (2013) – airline pilot, Francois Marais (1975) – Sport Helicopters, Frans Moolman (2008) – deputy training manager, Fransua Grobler (1998) – chief pilot, Gary Atherstone (1993), Gideon Burger (2013) – training captain, Haiko Meyer (2012) – airline pilot, Hugo van Heerden (2015), Jacques Ferreira (1996), Jan-David Potgieter (2002) – airline pilot, Januss Engelbrecht (2011) – Founder & CEO, Jéan Mostert (1989) – commercial captain, Jondré Kallis (2010), Justin Ellis (2001) – SA Air Force, Karl Bluhm (2004) – chief pilot, Kevin Ellis (1996) – freelance pilot, La Fras Fourie (2015) – Comair, Lo van Niekerk (1993) – first officer, Marius Möller (2000) – Stars Away Freight Flying, Mark Parker (1995), Martin-Hein Müller (2010) – commercial captain, Michael Gentis (2011) – pilot, Roedolf de Lange (2003) – airline pilot, Ryan Bent (1989) – Emirates, Sarel Marais (1972) – commercial helicopter pilot, Stephan Rossouw (1996), Stephanus Roodt (2015) – commercial helicopter pilot, Steve van der Merwe (2000), Thobé Kuipers -1989 – VietJet Air, Walter Roux (2007) and Willem Marais (2013) – chief pilot.
Business
Members of the Alumni continue to register business milestones and we would like to congratulate Adriaan Basson (1994), who is the CEO of Hungry Lion, for opening their 300th store in South Africa. Congratulations are also due to Dr. Michael Jordaan (1985) who, last month, was named as Die Burger and the Cape Town Chamber of Commerce’s Business Leader of the Year.
Sport
At the timing of writing this newsletter, Old Boys Willie le Roux (2007), Steven Kitshoff (2010) and Damien Willemse (2016) are busy preparing for the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final in France. We wish them the best of luck for the final and regardless of the results they have made Paul Roos Gymnasium very proud. It has not escaped a number of rugby aficionado that they have made history by being in two consecutive World Cup Finals – maybe this is a new bragging right for the school!
Two PRG Old Boys Reniel Hugo (2008) and Herschel Jantjies (2014) were selected to play in the Barbarians rugby team that faced the Samoa national team in Brive, France. This is a wonderful addition to the long list of Old Boys who have played for the domestic and international Barbarians.
On the local rugby front Armand Maritz (2020), Corne Weilbach (2020) and Luke Burger (2020) were part of the WP U21 rugby team that won the SA Rugby U21 Championship against the Lions in the cup final. Congratulations to the three players and best of luck for the season ahead.
Die PRG Old Boys Captains’ Dinner 2023, arranged by the Rugby Committee, was a raging success and thank you to Nashua Winelands who were the main sponsor of this event. The event was hosted in support of Paul Roos sport and all funds raised at the event will be utilised towards the development of our talented players. Special mention to Bottings Fruital Chemists, CSL Wines, Cape Pots, Jansen Pure Beef, Ten of Cups and Kaapzicht Wines, WP Vleis Groot Handelaar and Meat Smiths for their support.
Congratulations to Rian Wolfaardt (2016), MC van Heerden Smith (2020), Aydon Topley (2016) and Willem van den Heever (2017) for being in the winning team of the 2023 Super League A soccer league.
Andrew Hobson (2016) en Niel Raath (2018) het saam in die Westelike Provinsie Hokkiespan gespeel was die interprovinsiale toernooi gewen het.
Hartlik geluk aan Joubert Grobbelaar (2019) wat ’n goue medalje gewen het in die ouderdomsgroep 21 tot 50 jaar, by die Kleiduifskiet-wêreldkampioenskap wat in Avila in Spanje gehou is.
Other
Die Maroen-Lenteloop, onder leiding van Danie van Niekerk (1973) het op Saterdag 23 September plaas gevind. Die Geelhoutroete van 4 km in die Jonkershoek-natuurreservaat, is toe met hope energie in ‘n vrolike stemming aangedurf. Pragtige bergtonele het die deelnemers begroet en betower. Die maroengetooide Nols Heunis (1973) het die KwikSpar geskenkbewys van R250 gewen.
Dit was baie lekker om te sien dat Albie van Eeden (1985) na 38 jaar om dieselfde etenstafel in Australië, saam met een van sy voormalige Engelse onderwysers, Ray Theron (1976 – 2000) gesellig kon verkeer.
Eduard “Wium” Mostert (1980) has been awarded the Vigil Honor by the Boy Scouts of America which is the highest honor under the Order of the Arrow. The Honor is a mark of distinction and recognition reserved for exceptional service, distinguished contributions, and personal effort in their position of office.
Thank you to Gerhard Totemeyer (1955), Dorfling Terblanche (2008), Werner Baxter (2011), Pieter Daneel (2005) and Willem Wium (1993) that supported the auction initiative to sell Old Boy ties.
I would also like to formally apologize to the Matric Class of 1976 for incorrectly advertising their class tie. After taking a severe hammering on WhatsApp, it emerged that the 1976’s were the first class to have a Matric tie made and what a wonderful tradition they have started.
Finally, the Old Boys’ Union would like to send its best 80th birthday wishes (for the September month) to Willie “Ovambo’ Snyders (1961). Willie was Head Boy in 1961, played in the First XV Rugby team, was the Officer Commanding of 5 Special Forces Regiment and retired as Lieutenant Colonel after an illustrious career in the military.
Vriendelike groete | Kind regards
Nils Flaatten (1987)
Voorsitter | ChairmanOudskoliere-unie | Old Boys’ Union
