JAARPROGRAM

Vergaderings van die tak word elke derde Saterdag van die maand om 14h00 gehou by die Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk Ontdekkerskruin, Philipslaan, Ontdekkers, Roodepoort.
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07 February 2011

Cemetery Recording Outing on 5 February 2011

Report and photographs by Penny Evans

Members of the West Gauteng branch met at the Danie Theron Church which is situated in a semi-rural area to the south of Johannesburg. By 09:30 am we were ready to go to the Eye of Africa, a golfing estate in the Alewynspoort area.

This estate is situated in an area that was previously a farm which had belonged to Mr and Mrs Tanning. Situated within the estate is an old family cemetery which is enclosed by a stone wall.

Many of the graves did not have a headstone. Some of the headstones had been so badly weathered that the inscription had been completely eroded. Other headstones were in good condition and the group readily set to work taking photographs and recording the information.

Members of the following families have been buried here: Mulder, White, Van der Merwe, Van Zyl, Smit, Meyer, Van derWalt, Snijman, Smith, Labuschagne, Booysen, Roos and Reyneke.

It is difficult to know when the first family members were buried here. From an existing headstone one sees that a Mr Viljoen passed away in 1898. Most family members were buried from the 1920's to the 1960's, although a few were buried in the 1980's. There is a recent grave dating to November 2010. Fresh flowers had been placed on this grave.

The weather was ideal, the surroundings beautiful and peaceful. By late morning we were ready to enjoy our picnic at a nearby spot under shady pine trees. Lush green grass grew under these trees.

In the vicinity were two buildings from a previous era — a dilapidated farm silo and a small farm school which was being renovated. At 12:30 pm we reluctantly left.

The following members attended: John and Iris Stephens, Lucas Rinken, Barbara Bouwer, Pieter Oosthuizen, Gerard Marloth, Robyn Templeton, Bob Saunders, Christa Roberts, Margaret Humphries, Penny Evans, Irene Strydom of Tedderfield and Di Kruger of the Dumblade Conservancy.

A big thank you to John and Iris Stephens for the arrangements and refreshments. We look forward to the next outing in this area.