Do you still remember our 10th anniversary coming up?

By John Stephens, joint vice-chairman and secretary

This is just to refresh your memory.

When Dennis Pretorius spoke to us at the beginning of the year, he challenged us to do ten good things for the Branch:

1. Richard Ford had to draw up a Ten Year Membership Gallery. 
He has completed his task.
2. Neels Coertze had to compile and publish Ten Year Newsletters. 
He has done an excellent job.
3. John Stephens had to do the same with Ten Year’s Minutes.
The task is complete.
4. Have we had Ten Fun meetings this year? 
Not completed yet. Were they fun meetings up to now?
5. Have YOU added ten items/books to our library? 
Some have done this, but have YOU?
6. Have we added ten family histories to our library?
No, I think we come very short of fulfilling this task. Remember that Dennis said he’d donate one family history to the library. We should follow suit even if our research is not completed yet.
7. Have we increased our membership by ten members? 
Yes, we have doubled that!
8. Have we helped ten other people this year? 
Yes. I think we have.
9. Have we given ten hours per month for transcriptions? 
No, not all of us have. Some are still chewing on the Elephant we have to eat.
10. We have not stopped enjoying what we do, not even for ten minutes. 
Is this true of YOU?

Now that we have reminded you, please give this some thought. Maybe you can still help us achieve all of these tasks this year.

To help you we have arranged the following program:

1. 28 August – Cemetery recording in Eikenhof-area
2. 4 September – Our Branch has a stall at the Genealogy Day in Pretoria
3. 18 September – Joe Botha will address us on “Web Pages for Family Genealogy
4. 16 October – We have a “fun”-day! We have organised a “Bring-and-Brag-day. You bring any item of sentimental value and enlighten us as to the reason for your bragging!
5. 13 November – Training Course for Beginners, so that we may help even more than just ten people.
6. 20 November – Another “fun”-day: “Bring-and-Braai” and in so doing, close a very interesting year.

But, the year hasn’t ended yet: On 22 January 2011 we have a real “fun”-day!! Our Branch, in collaboration with the Roodepoort Museum, is holding a Genealogy Day in the foyer of the Roodepoort Theater. A Whole day from 09.00 to 15.00 we will participate in this Open Day at the Museum.

We have invited other Branches to exhibit their Genealogy as well. All this is FREE of charge. Even free entrance to the Museum’s exhibition:”Go for Gold”. And a free guided tour of the Museum.

Please promote this day wherever you go.

Datums om van kennis te neem

Deur John Stephens, mede-voorsitter en taksekretaris

• Webwerwe vir familie-genealogie: 18 September 2010

‘n Interessante byeenkoms wag op 18 September 2010 om 14.00 op lede van die tak. Die onderwerp is heel besonders en handel oor Webwerwe vir Familiegenealogie.

Dit word deur Joe Botha met “Powerpoint”-toeligting aangebied.

Joe sê die praatjie sal gaan oor hoe so ‘n webwerf lyk, wat daarop moet verskyn en hoe dit gestruktureer moet word. Lede sal kan leer hoe om vir so ‘n webwerf te skryf en hoe om dit op die internet te plaas. Joe sal ook wys wat die voor- en nadele van sulke webwerwe is.

• Bring-en-Brag-dag: 16 Oktober 2010

Die Wes-Kaap-tak het onlangs ‘n oulike byeenkoms gehad, naamlik‘n “Bring-en-Brag”-dag.

By hierdie geleentheid bring elke lid ‘n erfstuk saam en kom vertel wat besonders daaraan is. Dit sal ‘n aangename, vrolike en informele geselligheid wees -- presies wat nodig is om taklede se stresvlakke te verlaag.

Die komitee van Wes-Gautengtak het onlangs besluit om dié voorbeeld na te volg. Dit sal op 16 Oktober 2010 gehou word.

• Opleidingskursus vir Beginners in Genealogie: 13 November 2010

Nog een van die tak se voortreflike opledingskursusse sal op 13 November 2010 aangebied word.  dis 'n moet vir enige beginner in die genealogie.

• Bring-en-Braai-dag: 20 November 2010

Op 20 November 2010 word bogenoemde gehou. Werksaamhede vir die jaar word dan op ‘n vrolike, aangename wyse afgesluit. Ook hier is geleentheid om stresvlakke tot die minimum af te bring.

• Genealogiedag: 22 Januarie 2011

Die nuwe jaar gaan wegspring met ‘n Genealogiedag in samewerking met die Roodepoortse Museum, op Saterdag 22 Januarie 2011. Verskeie takke is genooi om ook hul genealogie-uitstallings daar te kom hou. Die tema van die Museum is “Die Ontdekking van Goud”, of te wel “Go for Gold”. Die Genealogiedag word by die Roodepoortse museum en teater gehou. Dis ‘n hele dag van uitstallings tussen 09:00 en 15:00.

Die voorsitter van die tak, Lucas Rinken, meen dat dit nie te moeilik gaan wees om die stambome van sekere goudgrawers en goudontdekkers op sy skerm te kan vertoon nie. Manne soos die Struben-broers, Walker en Harrison is voorbeelde hiervan. Daarbenewens kan daar moontlik nog gekyk word na die Eerste Afrikaanse mynmiljoenêr, Willem Petrus Boshoff, se stamboom en geskiedenis.

Hierdie byeenkoms kan vir die Wes-Rand van waarde hê en kan bydra tot groter en hartliker samewerking met die Roodepoortse museum.

Vir meer inligting oor enigeen van bogenoemde
byeenkomste kan John Stephens gekontak word.
Sy besonderhede is in die kolom regs.

Legacy workshop: excellent turn out

Report an photographs by Penny Evans

What an excellent turn out for the meeting of the West Gauteng branch held on 17 July 2010! Thirty five people, of whom seven were visitors, were packed into our lecture room. Tables had been set up and there were laptops everywhere.

Lucas Rinken, chairman, proceeded to give his “hands on” workshop on Legacy, a genealogical program. He used his laptop and the projector to cast the images onto the screen. Each person could therefore see the demonstrations.

Legacy has many sophisticated features but the aim of this workshop was to teach the basics. Having explained how to input your own information, he responded to numerous questions. This was followed with a clear explanation and demonstration, allowing time to practise. Richard Ford and Dennis Pretorius (left above) acted as facilitators.

This was a much needed workshop given by an expert in the use of Legacy. Each person felt free to ask for help, no matter how basic the question. Both the beginner and more experienced members gained by attending an afternoon well spent. Now is the time to put into practise what you have learnt.

Ten Minute Talks

Neels Coertse (right) entertained the members with anecdotes regarding the spelling of names, nicknames and surnames, using names from his family tree as examples.

Giel Nel spoke about his first visit to the LDS Family History Centre in Parktown to search for information about his grandfather. He diligently searched the Hoopstad register, going through all entries from 1872 to 1876. Nothing was found. However, he succeeded when he went to the Hopetown register -- here was the baptism date for Gieljan Johannes Nel.

Happy Birthday

We would like to wish a member, Ruth Jobson (left) a very special 80th birthday on 19 July. May you have a wonderful day and many more happy birthdays.

Newsletter: July 2010

The latest newsletter of the branch is published below. Click on "Full Screen" below to enlarge it. Please be patient while it is loading.
Wes-Gauteng-nuusbrief 2010-07

Recording cemetery information

Report and Photographs by Penny Evans

Iris Stephens on a chilly day.

Members of the branch met on the chilly Saturday afternoon of 19 June 2010 to attend a Power Point presentation by chairman Lucas Rinken. He discussed the importance of recording cemetery information. The main reason for doing this is to ensure that information is not lost as cemeteries are desecrated.

He urged members to actively participate by attending the cemetery recording outings. Records can be obtained from cemetery registers if they are available and in good condition or from the headstone. Before setting out some preparation is necessary. A spreadsheet conforming to the requirements of the Cemetery Recording Project should be used.

He cautioned members not to go to cemeteries on their own but to go as a team.

Lucas gave many tips and showed numerous photographs on the correct technique to be used when taking a photograph of a gravestone.

Gerhard Marloth

In his presentation he showed the many errors people make in trying to photograph the details on a gravestone. Any camera is suitable for the job, but some knowledge and equipment (tripod and umbrella) are necessary for satisfactory results. He ended his presentation by showing photographs of gravestones of some famous people.

A need expressed by some members was that they wanted to know something about the research undertaken by other members of the group. It was decided to allow two members to speak for ten minutes after the main speaker.

Gerard Marloth spoke about the use of Google Earth and the eGGSA website to locate a cemetery and gravestones of the Van der Westhuizen family.

Penny Evans spoke about the Gass family and the difficulty in obtaining information about the original couple who came to South Africa in 1863.

Newsletter: June 2010

The latest newsletter of the branch is published below. Click on "Full Screen" below to enlarge it. Please be patient while it is loading.

Nuusbrief: Junie 2010

Familie-kentekens: vestig 'n nuwe tradisie

Die gesprek oor familiewapens of -kentekens is weer oop. Hieronder is standpunte soos dit vroeër dié week op SA Genealogie verskyn het.

Daniël Jacobs: Ek het met my navorsing oor die Vosloos redelik baie tyd spandeer om agter die kap van die byl te probeer kom m.b.t. die familiewapen-storie.

Hierna aangeheg iets wat ek daaroor geskryf het (die finale gepubliseerde teks mag daarvan verskil). My persoonlike standpunt is dat alhoewel die tradisie van die Europese vasteland nie voorsiening maak vir die voer van 'n wapen per familie nie, daar nie gesê kan word dat ons dit nie mag doen nie. (Die aangehegte stuk waarna verwys word, verskyn ná die kommentaar van Johan Barkhuizen. Klik op "Lees meer".)

Ek skat Afrikaners doen dit veral sedert Die Brandwag in die 1940's wapens vir Afrikaner-families begin publiseer het. Vir my is dit bloot 'n geval van 'n groep mense wat 'n nuwe tradisie geskep het. Ekself gaan nog solank ek lewe eendag vir my 'n familiewapen registreer. Ek vind baie meer aanklank by die tradisie dat dit gaan oor persoonlike uitkenning as waar een wapen vir 'n hele familie gevoer word, maar sou ook as daar bv. 'n Brandwag-wapen vir die Jacobse was, dit gebruik het.

Een van die amptenare by die Buro vir Heraldiek het heftig met my verskil daaroor, maar my standpunt is dat as genoeg mense 'n nuwe tradisie skep, help dit nie om te sê dat die tradisie vir eeue lank anders was nie. Bygesê dat ek nog steeds mense sal aanmoedig om eerder hulle eie unieke wapens te laat registreer. Die ontwerp en registrasie van 'n wapen kos egter seker deesdae 'n paar duisend rand.

Dennis Pretorius: Ek is nogal geneig om met jou saam te stem en teen die algemeen-aanvaarde standaard te stem.

Wat tradisie vir die afgelope 10 eeue was, hoef nie slaafs nagevolg te word nie. Ons kan begin om 'n nuwe tradisie te vestig. Is daar wette wat bepaal dat ons nie 'n nuwe familiewapen vir alle MALAN mense kan begin gebruik nie sonder dat die amptelik geregistreer is? Ek aanvaar dat bestaande geregistreerde familiewapens nie misbruik mag word nie, maar ek kan seker 'n familiewapen teken en ek kan dit gebruik en toelaat dat alle Pretoriusse dit kan gebruik sonder dat hulle hoef lid te wees van die Pretorius-familiebond nie.

Daniel en ek trap nou miskien op heilige koeie se tone, maar moet dit nie dalk bespreek word nie ?

Johan Barkhuizen: Die familiewapens is nogal 'n Babelse verwarring. Entrepeneurs wat dit op skoue verkoop, versterk die chaos. Uit die aard van die saak het meeste mense geen behoefte aan individuele wapens nie, want ons het net nie daardie tradisie nie. Die persepsie van 'n embleem vir die hele familie is BAIE sterk en ek dink mens moet daardie roete loop.

Baie familiebonde registreer 'n wapen en by implikasie aanvaar die hele familie dit. (Dis wat jy met nuwe tradisie bedoel.)

Soos ek gesê het, het die twee groot Barkhausen-takke in Duitsland in die 1930's die oudste historiese wapen gesoek en dit vir hulle “Familienbund "geregistreer"? Dit is toevallig die wapen van die Gut Niederbarhausen, waar ons stamvader vandaan kom.

Dit lyk my uit die Heraldiese reëls sal dit onmoontlik wees om hierdie selfde wapen in SA te laat registreer vir ons Familiebond.

Ons moet dus maar die lang en duur paadjie loop om 'n nuwe unieke wapen vir ons eie Familiebond te registreer OF ons moet maar in 'n familiegeskiedenis skryf "hierdie is die Duitse wapen" en dan ipso facto aanvaar dis sommer ons s'n sonder enige registrasie en amptelikhede. (Ek sal tog die Duitse Bund se mening hieroor toets.)

Ek is oortuig 'n nuwe ontwerp sal vir my persoonlik altyd bietjie vreemd bly. Die historiese sentiment van die wapen op die geboue van Niederbarhausen of op die grafsteen van stamvader se oupa in Horn uit vroeë 1700's sal net te sterk wees. Dis mos waar ek vandaan kom.

When England play, you don't pay!

If you're not football mad, there is something else to do during the World Cup – make it your goal to research your family history in Engeland.

You can view all the records on findmypast for free during every England World Cup match – all you need to do is, register.

How it works:

* 30 minutes before kick-off we'll stop charging for 3 hours, which should give you plenty of time to explore what we have to offer.

* To get ready, make sure you've registered as you'll need to sign in to view the records. If you need help, take a look at our handy Getting Started guide and our video tutorials.

When England play, you don't pay!

With this free offer, you may view the census records from 1841-1911, parish records for baptisms, marriages and burials 1538 onwards, military records covering World War I and World War II, and migration records.

Subscription usually amounts to between £59.95 to £149.90 depending on the level subscribed to.

More information here.

Hoe sê 'n mens Labuschagne?

Op Labuschagne-pos het daar onlangs ‘n geselsie plaasgevind oor die uitspraak van van dié familienaam.

Prof Casper Labuschagne, Haren, Nederland het daarmee begin toe hy navraag daaroor gedoen het oor die Engelse uitspraak met die oog op ‘n publikasie wat hy en Herman Labuschagne beplan vir die Labuscaigne-jubileefees in die Paarl op 14 Mei 2011.

Die volgende is onder meer geskryf:

• Lappies Labuschagne: laboo-scha-nie. They (the English) cannot do the Afrikaans gutteral G sound. We pronounce it laboo-skag (ggggg sound) nie.

• Andrié Labuschagne [nee Brill]: Here in Canada they pronounce it: laboo-shane.

• Casper Labuschagne: Thank you for telling me what the pronunciation in Canada is. It is exactly what I expected! This is also what I heard in England, where I always introduce myself as Labooshane.

• Margaret Cantrell ( Martin): My grandmother is a Labuschagne and she pronounced it Labusky as the word “sky”. Her brother pronounced it Labushane. They were both English-speaking. They were both living in South Africa.

• Reina: Many years ago in the small towns they said Lawwerskaiing, but I think the right way is Labeschagne. The sch is said as sk, the g is the very clear gurgling sound gg and the ne as nie.

• Casper Labuschagne: I have published a story on my website about our French ancestors, in which I discuss the matter of the spelling and pronunciation of our surname. Here is the link:

http://www.labuschagne.nl/familie/familie.htm

• Izak Labuschagne:
In Durban: La Boo Shane;
In Bloemfontein: La ber skag nie;
In Northern Cape: L ber skaag;
In the Army 1979: La Bush kenei;
In the bedroom: Lub and squeeze me;
In the Cape Labe skein;
In Soweto: Die baas wat kan nie lag nie;
In SACP: La boer slain.

• Casper Labuschagne: Ek wonder of daar 'n ander naam in SA is wat so verknoei word as ons mooi Franse naam. Dit sal nie sommer met Cronjé, De Villiers of Le Roux gebeur nie.

• Martin Labuschagne: Ek stem saam dat ons naam verwring word deur die meeste Suid-Afrikaners. Miskien moet ons almal ‘n punt maak en versoek dat ons van van nou af uitge spreek word volgens die korrekte Franse uitspraak.

• Casper Labuschagne: Martin, dit is 'n lofwaardige voorneme, maar ek vrees dat dit 300 jaar sal duur voordat die Franse uitspraak sal seëvier. Maar dit is nooit te laat om 'n veldtog te begin nie. Maar ons moet daar beslis nie 'n strydpunt of twisappel van maak nie. Liewer stille diplomasie toepas. Elkeen in sy eie kring. Dit is nie 'n kwessie van aanstellery nie, maar 'n uiting van trou aan ons Franse wortels.Ek is afkomstig uit die Vrystaat waar ons in ons familie die Franse uitspraak behou het. Toe ek in die jare 1947-'52 in Pretoria studeer het, het ek my medestudente en die proffe maklik kon oortuig hoe ek my naam uitspreek en uitgespreek wil hê. En hulle het dit gerespekteer. Sedert ek in Nederland woon, kon ek ons familietradisie baie maklik voortsit, omdat niemand hier erflik belas is met die Suid-Afrikaanse Labbeskagnie-uitspraak nie. My ervaring deur die jare heen was dat mense dit 'n mooi naam vind. Hoe dikwels het ek nie by 'n eerste kennismaking gehoor nie: "Wat hebt u een prachtige naam, meneer!" of  "Wat een mooie naam!"

• Maryna: Die Amerikaners het `n groot probleem. Vir hulle is ons laaa-boes--kek-nieee. Ons het nie eers geweet dat dit ons naam was wat hulle uitgeroep het nie.

• Les Labuschagne: As ‘n Engelsprekende Labuskagne het ek ongeveer 18 jaar in die buiteland diens gedoen as SA diplomat in verskeie plekke. Daar het ek Labooshaine gebruik (“like champaigne”) Eerstens was dit makliker vir buitelanders (wat nie of Hollands, Arabiers, Joods of Skotte was. Hierdie klomp kan die “g” soos die boere uitspreek!). Buitelanders wat Frans magtig was het Labooshaine normal gevind. Toe ek onlangs in Frankryk was, het ek verskeie mense getoets en die uitspraak was Labooshanje. Persoonlik wens ek ons kan nou besluit, my keuse sou wees “labushanje” of selfs “labooskanje”.

• Coenraad Labuschagne: Oorlede Professor Benedictus Kok (Afrikaans/Nederlands aan die Universiteit van die Oranje Vrystaat in die sestiger jare en later Rektor) het my in sy klas tereg gewys toe ek hom aanvat oor die uitspraak van my van. Voor die hele klas het hy my gevra om "Champagne" in Afrikaans uit te spreek. Ek het hom geantwoord met "Sham pan je" en sy antwoord was: "PRESIES, nou waarom wil jy "La bu skag nie" wees? Ek kon nie verder redeneer nie! Hy was onversetlik in sy opinie dat die fonetiese korekte uitspraak "La bus kan je" is.

Maandbyeenkoms: Junie 2010

Ons volgende maandbyeenkoms is op 19 Junie 2010. Dit begin om 14:00.

Dit sal ‘n werkwinkel oor begraafplaasopnames wees. Aspekte wat ons sal behandel,sluit in die belangrikheid van sulke opnames. Heelwat mense besef  nie die noodsaaklikheid daarvan nie. Ons sal wys wat die waarde daarvan vir die genealoog is.

Verder sal ons die proses van optekening deurwerk: watter vorms nodig is vir die werk; watter "gereedskap" 'n mens daarheen moet saamneem; hoe die werk gedoen moet word; hoe die data verwerk moet word; wat met die data gedoen moet word; hoe die data aangewend word.

Lucas Rinken sal ‘n Powerpoint-aanbieding doen uit foto's van Gerard Marloth en John Stephens waarmee die huidige situasie aangedui sal word.

Klik hier vir inligting oor die vergaderplek en 'n straatkaart.

Dit sal ‘n baie nuttige en leersame werkswinkel wees.-- John Stephens.

Irene-konsentrasiekamp, 1901-1902

By Penny Evans, blog journalist

At our meeting of the West Gauteng branch of the GSSA on 15 May 2010 Marie van der Walt (left) spoke about the book she had written entitled “Irene konsentrasiekamp 1901-1902. Die verhaal van Maria Johanna Prinsloo (gebore Malan). Gebore 13.10.1866 Oorlede 16.7.1944”

Marie and her husband Jan van der Walt have lived in Irene for 45 years and for them the Irene Concentration Camp has been a link with the past. It was here that her husband’s grandmother, Maria Johanna (Miemie) Prinsloo and her six children had been sent during the Anglo Boer War.

Miemie had been widowed when her husband Hendrik Frederick Cornelis Prinsloo was killed in action at Spioenkop on 26 January 1900. Tragically, in the space of two weeks, Miemie had to endure the loss of three of her children who had taken ill. Her children were buried in the concentration camp graveyard.

Miemie, born Malan was thirty five years old when she wrote the first of 10 letters to family members outside the concentration camp. From these letters it is apparent that she was perceptive and an excellent communicator. She gave factual reports about a wide variety of activities and of conditions prevailing in the camp. She wrote about poverty, illness, deaths, burials, poor medical care, overpopulation and inadequate housing, about the cold, windy weather and the leaking tent.

She also wrote of her longing for her family, her home and farm. She was anxious about everyone’s well being.

Despite her own suffering she was able to care about others and be of support to them.
Her letters are witness to a woman of very strong faith and courage, who was able to thank The Lord for the blessings she had.

Through her letters, and in her own way, Miemie has helped to record a small part of our nation’s history. These letters have been handed over to the Heritage Foundation for safe keeping.

Marie van der Walt wrote this book as a tribute to the memory of this Prinsloo family.

Nalatigheid en vernielsug by argiewe

In ‘n onlangse gesprek oor op SAGEN oor die nalatigheid en vernielsug by Suid-Afrikaanse argiewe is onstellende voorbeelde genoem.

Isebelle Krauss skryf: ‘n Argivaris het ons vertel dat hulle ‘n persoon in hul leeskamer gekry het, ‘n redelik bekende genealoog wat ‘n register op die vloer gesit het, toe sy voet op die bladsy geplaas het om dit oop te hou om sodoende van bo af digitale foto’s te kan neem. Kan jy jou voorstel hoe die hele register, die rugbinding en die bros papier daardeur aangetas is?

Só hoor ‘n mens van

1. bladsye wat summier verwyder word uit registers -- sommer uitgeskeur of uitgesny word;
2. ander wat die registers rondgooi;
3. die bladsye plat druk en skeur;
4. penmerke los en
5. skryf op dokumente.

Annelie Els, Pretoria skryf: Ek is al `n hele aantal jare die fotograaf vir die eGGSA-webwerf en het al BAIE dinge by die Nasionale Argiewe gesien wat my hare laat rys het. Ek is geensins `n opgeleide argivaris nie, maar het respek vir enigiets wat oud is, maak nie saak wat dit is nie.

‘n Mens sou dink dat die persoon wat agter die toonbank by die TAB-biblioteek werk iets weet van bewaring van ou dokumente.

1. Ek het eendag aanskou hoe `n iemand een van die heel oudste boedels na die vrou agter die toonbank