Newsletter: August 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 2010-08

Die Genootskap "Kook"

Die Nasionale Uitvoerende Komitee se tweede van drie vergadering vanjaar is Saterdag, 21 Augustus 2010, by die Randjieslaagte Estate, Johannesburg gehou. Die Johannesburg-tak, was die gasheer.

Die byeenkoms was dermate suksesvol dat die teenwoordiges in die algemeen gepraat het van die "GGSA kook".

Daar is gepraat oor:

• ‘n nuwe grondwet,
• 'n nuwe webwerf,
• nuwe familieregisters,
• nuwe CD-etikette,
• ‘n nuwe genealogiese handleiding en
• nuwe toevoegings tot die begraafplaasprojek.

Die plek waar die vergadering gehou is, was uitstekend, die kos keurig en geurig en alles goed georganiseerd.

Dankie aan Hendrik Louw, president van GGSA, wat al die energie in toom moes hou. -- Berig en foto's:  Rentia Landman, projekleier, skakeling/bemarking.

Voor sit Lucas Rinken, voorsitter van die Wes-Gauteng-tak, verder is John Stephens, mede-visevoorsitter van die Wes-Gauteng-tak, Ferdie van Wyk, voorsitter van Noord-Transvaal en André Heydenrych, Nasionale Tesourier.

Richard Ford, redakteur van Famila is links. Verder is Renier Feldtmann, voorsitter van die Vaaldriehoek-tak en Celia Fourie van dieselfde tak. Renier is tans leier van die vertaalspan wat Legacy uit Engels na Afrikaans vertaal het.

Links is Dirk Bloem, addisionele NUK-lid en voorsitter van die webwerfkomitee, Hendrik Louw, president van GGSA, Margaret Gundry en Natalie da Silva van die Johannesburg tak. Natalie is takvoorsitter.

Next meeting: 28 August 2010: cemetery recording, Eikenhof

The monthly meeting will not take place on the third Saturday of August (21/08/2010) because of a clash with the meeting of the National Executive committee.

This meeting will take the form of a cemetery recording outing on Saturday 28 August 2010 to a couple of farm cemeteries in the Eikenhof area. We will meet at 11:00.

John Stephens is looking at the possibility of organising a light lunch for participants at a reasonable price if there is sufficient confirmed interest. Please contact John at 011-948-9676 or Iris at 082 881 5850 to indicate your interest a soon as possible.

Members able to offer a lift and members who require a lift should also contact John or Iris without delay.

The information and photographs obtained will be submitted for inclusion in the GSSA Cemetery Recording Project and the eGGSA Gravestone Project. This is our opportunity for newcomers to "learn the ropes" as well as for all members to "pay forward" by augmenting the body of information available in these projects for the benefit of all researchers.

What to bring

The Branch has 8 clipboards and will provide the data capture forms.

Comfortable clothes and shoes; hat and sunblock; drinking water; snacks; fold up stool or chair; umbrella to eliminate shadows when taking photographs; reflective material like mylar or a hand mirror to augment lighting (NB. unprotected mirrors are liable to get dropped and BREAK with eco-unfriendly consequences); cell phone and digital camera; GPS (if you have one); writing materials like pens, pencils and a pad or notebook for notes (and clipboard if you have one); small brush to remove accumulated dust from inscriptions; wet wipes and/or paper towels for cleaning hands etc.

Where

Members meet at 11:00 at the N G Kerk Danie Theron on the Vereeniging Road (R82). (GPS coord. 26d 20m 33.5s S; 27d 59m 6.9s E). See the attached map and below for driving directions.

Please note the change in time which will allow us to avoid the colder part of the day.

How to get there

Directions to Ned. Geref. Kerk Danie Theron – Eikenhof for Cemetery Recording on 28 August 2010 at 11.00

From N1-South
Turn off at the Show Ground (Nasrec) offramp and keep Left on to Rand Show Road;
Turn Right into the first street (Aerodrome Rd)
Continue to the T-junction (Chris Hani Rd which becomes Columbine Rd;)
Turn Left here;
Continue over three robots and
Turn Right to Vereeniging at the fourth robot just after the bridge over the M1-S;
(This is the extension of M1-S and becomes the Vereeniging Road - R82)

From M1-South
Continue past N1-South / Soweto off-ramp and Southgate Mall.
Continue on the Vereeniging Road (R82) over three robots (+- 9 km)
After the third robot (R550/R554 crossing) continue on the R82 for another 1 km.
The Danie Theron Church is on your left. Continue and turn LEFT at the 'Grasmere R550' sign and double back to the church entrance.
This is where we’ll meet. (GPS coord. 26d 20m 33.5s S; 27d 59m 6.9s E)
Phone John at 011-948-9676 or Iris at 082 881 5850 if there’s a problem.

Navorsing oor Tweede Wêreldoorlog

Ds Kobus van Tonder is die voorsitter van die monument-feeskommittee in Krugersdorp. Hy is 'n kenner van die Dorslandtrek en is tans besig om navorsing te doen in verband met die Kerk tydens die Tweede Wêreldoorlog (1939 -- 1945).

Hy wil in aanraking wil kom met:
• Oud-soldate en oud-lede van die
• Lugmag
• Tuiswag
• Kuswag
• Polisie
• WAAFS
• SWANS
• SAWAS
• WAMPC
• WAAS
• Speurders
• Kleurlingkorps
• Swartkorps
• Ossewabrandwag
• Geïnterneerde immigrante.

As iemand oor enige dokumentasie beskik, soos briewe, dagboeke of foto’s wat hy kan bestudeer, sal hy dankbaar wees om van u te verneem.

Sy kontakbesonderhede is:
Selfoon: 082/544-2879;
E-pos: altydbeter@gmail.com
Posadres: Posbus 5035, Krugersdorp-wes.

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.