Nr. 3: June 2014

From the editor:

Warm Greetings!

For those of us who live on the Highveld of South Africa winter tends to be very brown and dull and VERY chilly - especially early mornings!

With our 3rd edition of our Newsletter we hope to bring some warmth into your world by sharing two stories from the past that are bound to touch you. The stories are very different and offer an insight into the world that that was HS van der Walt. The stories are told by the girls themselves in their own words and have only been edited with regards spelling and punctuation - which makes the sharing experience all the more poignant.

Keep warm!

If you would like to submit your story for publication, send it to hsvanderwalthighschool@gmail.com.

DASSIELAND MEMOIRS:

Martie (Viljoen) Knoetze

Martie (Viljoen) Knoetze
Nerina 1980 - 1982

Goed, ek is in Vereeniging op 21 Januarie 1965 gebore. Ek het grootgeword op plotte buite Meyerton; dit is nou Riversdal plotte. My ouers is uitmekaar toe ek 10 jaar oud was. Ons (dis nou ek en my 4 broers) was in ‘n koshuis geplaas. Omdat nie een van my ouers kon betaal nie, was ons toe weer uitgehaal en is ons tussen familie rondgestuur. My pa het my broers by hom gehou, maar ek het geswerf van een familielid na 'n ander; van een van my ouers se vriende na 'n ander. Niemand het eintlik die finansies gehad om na my om te sien nie; daarom wat ek so rondgegooi was.

Vandat ek maar kan onthou het my ooms my gemolesteer! Dit was nie vir my snaaks nie, want dit het net altyd gebeur. Ek kan onthou dat ek wel een keer daaroor gepraat het, maar die grootmense het gesê dat ek te groot is vir my skoene, en nie sulke goed mag sê nie. Ek kan onthou hoe seer als was, maar het gedink dit hoort so omdat daar so baie van hulle was, en dat ek as kind maar net moes stilbly.

Die einde van my standerd 6 jaar het ek 'n outjie ontmoet wat toe in die weermag was. Ek het tot my ore toe verliefgeraak, en omdat seks vir my normaal was, het ek nie omgegee dat hy met my maak wat hy wou nie. Ek het wel toe besluit dat geeneen van die ooms weer aan my sal raak nie!

Ek het op daardie stadium by my tannie gebly; aan die begin van die jaar nog vir die eerste kwartaal. Dit is toe ek begin siek word het en die hele tyd opgegooi het. My ma is toe gevra om my te kom haal; sy het darem toe weer 'n plekkie gehad waar ek saam met haar en haar kêrel kon bly.

Dit was lekker by my ma, maar hulle het die hele tyd dwelms gebruik en dit was iets wat ek baie teen

was. Ek het siek gebly. Geld vir doktors was daar nie, so ek moes net aangaan sonder om ondersoek te word.

My ma was wel in die hospitaal opgeneem en het 'n operasie ondergaan. Ek moes by haar kêrel in die huis agterbly. Hy het my probeer verkrag en ek het weggehardloop na bure toe. Ek het wel vir my ma gaan se daarvan. Sy het haarself uit die hospitaal geboek en huistoe gegaan. Dié aand het sy my na die bure gestuur - ek weet net dat sy hom toe met 'n mes gewond het; nie ernstig nie want hy was nie eens hospitaal toe nie. Toe het hy gewyer dat ek verder daar bly.

Ek het die volgende oggend na die welsynkantoor om die hoek gegaan en vir hulp gevra want ek wou baie graag my skool loopbaan klaarmaak. Die hofsaak was vinnig verby; my pa en ma het toestemming gegee dat ek in pleegsorg geplaas word tot ek by H.S ingedeel sou word. Ek was in pleegsorg by ons bure waar drank ook maar prioriteit was.

Die 20ste Oktober 1979 het ek die Saterdagoggend wakker geword met vreeslike pyn in my rug en maag ek het die huismense probeer vra vir hulp, maar hulle was nogsteeds gedrink van hulle partytjie die vorige aand. Ek het na die winkel geloop oor die straat en die vrou het vir my ‘n ambulans gebel. Die Dr. By die hospitaal het my baie kortaf behandel, en toe ek vra wat verkeerd is, was sy woorde "As jy jou soos 'n grootmens gedra moet jy die gevolge van 'n groot mens dra. Jy weet jy kry n baba."

Die hospitaal welsyn het my ma probeer in die hande kry, maar niemand was beskikbaar nie. Die welsyn waaronder ek geval het, het gese ek moet daar by die hospitaal bly tot hulle daar opdaag. Ek het my ma en tannie die Maandag gesien voor die welsyn daar was. Almal wou toe my baba vir hulle hê en wou hom grootmaak.

Die welsyn het toe gesê dat ons nou 'n probleem het, want ek het geweier dat hulle die baba vat. Ek was weer in pleegsorg geplaas by ander pleegouers wat mooi na my en die baba gekyk het. Ek het my standerd 7 in Brakpan voltooi en steeds gewag om H.S toe te gaan.

Martie (16)
at HS van der Walt

Die welsyn moes my baba registreer en 'n plek vir hom kry terwyl ek my skool sou klaarmaak. Eers in Maart 1980 het hulle ons kom haal; vir my na H.S laat gaan en hy was in Andrew Murray kinderhuis geplaas.

Die skool was vir my 'n wonderlike plek; ek het by al die reels gehou omdat die belofte daar was dat ek my kind kon terugkry as ek matriek maak. Als was wonderlik!

Ek het my man einde 1981 ontmoet - Desember vakansie. Ek is Januarie (terug) skool toe. Met 'n skok het ek besef ons koshuismoeder was nou iemand anders (ek weet vandag nog nie wat haar naam of van was nie). Sy het geweier om my briewe vir my te gee; het gese "die man wat vir jou skryf is n krimineel."

In die Februarie moes ek hoor dat die welsyn en die hof besluit het dat my kind aangeneem kan word, en dat ek en my ouers geen sê het nie. Hy was klaar weg en ek mag nooit navraag gedoen het nie.

Ek was gebreek! Ek het nie sin gesien om verder te probeer nie; ek het toe weggeloop. Ek is nogsteeds met my man getroud. Nou al vir 31 jaar soek ek na my seun, maar ek glo dat ek hom op die regte tyd sal vind!

Edited by Billi du Preez

(VANDAG: Martie huisvrou wat baie lief is vir lees en puzzles bou. Sy het 4 kinders and 4 kleinkinders.)

___________________________________________________________________________________________

DASSIELAND MEMOIRS:

 Shandy Marcus Lowe

Shandy (Marcus) Lowe
Nerina 1974 -1976

15 years old. Arrived at AM on a freezing winter mourning. Up until that day I had known love, happiness, poverty hunger and violence. My world was tiny and so was I. The school was beautiful with a few faces peering through the bars on the windows at me. I was placed in Hostel 4. There were 5 hostels. Luckily for me, the School Head Girl, Bernadette Scott, took me under her wing. The first few months were hard. I was far from family, had no friends. My overriding emotion was fear but I hid that well, knowing I had to be strong.

Discipline was the order of the day and our Matron knew how to enforce that. I respected and feared her. Rules and order worked for me. They made me feel safe:-) Our "Juffrou" who cooked for us was our mother figure and she was dearly loved. We all had duties which were rotated. I will never forget the 1st time I had to apply polish to a loooong tiled passage, skivvy off the dry polish with steel wool, sweep up the dry polish then shine with an electric polisher that seemed to weigh 10 times more than me. Thought I would die!! Ha!

Our letters were read by Matron before being sent off. She soon got tired of reading mine because all I wrote home about was the food. My tummy was always full - couldn't believe it.

Our class numbers were small. Each girl received all the individual help she needed and our teachers were the best and always fair. Discipline could be harsh and swift for those who failed to follow the rules or were disrespectful. There were an assortment of punishments including having your hands beaten with a double ruler or a plank named 'MOSES'!!! You saw your "Moses"when you met "Moses":-) Also had the normal detention and the removal of privileges. LOCK-UP was reserved for serious offences like pupils who beat on the staff or pupils who ran away from school. That was a horrible punishment, affected everyone in a negative way and achieved nothing.

We were allowed to go into town twice a month. R5.00 was enough to buy all my toiletries ha-ha. Bioscope was allowed if you could afford to go on a Saturday. Church was a 'have to' on a Sunday. Full school uniforms had to be worn and we went out in groups. 

My love for the World of Theatre began at H.S. We were taken to the Nico Malan and outdoor theatres. Wonderful, fantastic!! One of my favorite outings was a hike up and down Table Mountain. The view??WOW !! Sports was very important and we did very well against other schools, some of whom, feared us. We were a little rough and a little crazy:-)  We were blessed to have beautiful sports facilities including a athletic track, tennis courts and a pool. 

Sadly, I remember the day we had a Open School Day and a small child wandered off and drowned in the pool. A very sad memory indeed. The staff did their best to keep us occupied. Many activities like disco parties, beauty competitions, variety concerts, beech outings and bazaars were arranged for us. We even created a haunted house which was really scary.

Foil-Art by Shandy

Failing was almost impossible because of all the study time which we had to do in the classrooms, outside of school hours.  My Matric Farewell Dance Party was a blast. I had a blind date who turned out to be a gay guy but he was a doll and we had a terrific evening. Looking back I think that we were a pretty nice group of girls. We faced more challenges than most but we persevered in spite of difficulties. Fights flared up now and again and we had our bullies. All pretty normal stuff:-)  To help to keep peace among us we wrote each other "Spookie" letters. You wouldn't know who the letter came from but it would always be uplifting. That was the objective of the "Spookie" letters.

H.S. and the girls who became my family, remain part of whom I am today. The lessons learned, the gratitude and love for my school, my "chommies" and my brave, patient teaches REMAIN!!!:-)

P.S. The first thing my 36 year old son did upon completing his education was to go from E.L. to Paarl to see H.S. for himself after listening to me speaking about it for 18 years. Upon his return he said 'don't  go back mom, it will break your heart'.
Confession: Mr Swarts :    His beautiful smile made my knees buckle:-)

Edited by Cher Manning

(TODAY: Shandy is a widow 7 years after being married for 30 years, has a son aged 36 and enjoys mosaic, crochet and foil-art)

_________________________________________________________________

Dassies Gauteng Get-Together: Saturday 10th May 2014

From Left to right: Maryna (Coetzee) Ontong, Rina (Bredenhomm) Coetzee, Cathy (Prinsloo) de Jesus, Beverly (Botha)  James, Susan (Marais) Hammel, Cher (Manning) Cahn, Martie (Viljoen)  Knoetze

Did anyone else notice how they all seem to be dressed in shades of purple and pink?_________________________________________________________________

Just in case you missed it - Best Posts on our Facebook Page:

Posted by Ansie Groenewald

Posted by Katy Diedericks

Nr. 2: May 2014

Hello Again!
We are so very chuffed with the amazing response to the first edition of the Dassieland News which has been viewed more than 120 times as well as the visits to our brand new website launched at the end of March 2014! 

The responses to our requests to update our database of Dassies has also been very heartening but also highlighted a small issue for the admins. With people submitting information to BOTH Facebook and the website, the admins were getting a little confused so have come up with the following plan of action:

• Maryna will continue to monitor and update the Facebook lists 
• Cher will include information received through the website and post these to the Facebook lists
• At the end of each month the Facebook lists will copied to the website!
• Please continue to check the lists and update with information where you can :)

LOOKING BACK: HEIN WESSELS

Last Headmaster of HS van der Walt High School (1980-1992)

We asked Mr Wessels to tell us more about his time at HS van der Walt: 

When did you arrive at HS van der Walt High School and what was your original position?

I arrived at H S van der Walt as principal in January 1980. 

Where did you come from and was HS similar or vastly different from your previous post?

Prior to that I was the principal at Emmasdal Industrial High School for boys at Heidelberg,  the then Transvaal. Although being dassies [dussies] as well, they were not called dassies. My duty as administrative head of the institution at HS was not different to that of Emmasdal. Children, being children, are similar all over our country, the reasons for being committed to our establishments are the same, but as every one knows, girls and boys do have their differences.  

   

What were your first impressions of the school and the students?

Emmasdal was the first institution built for boys in 1912. HS was the first institution being built for girls in 1915. The school buildings, hostels, etc. were similar except for hostels 3, 4 and 5 being added many, many years later. [maybe one of the older dassies will be able to tell me when]. In contrast, HS’s staff were mainly female, to which I had to adapt, without regrets. To my astonishment, the very first pupil who entered my office, willingly, brought me a posy of flowers and a short handwritten note of welcome. That was unheard of.  

   

Was there something that you could not wait to change? either a process or tradition?

It would have been unwise to change unaccustomed customs straightaway. The first though, to the dismay of the majority of staff, was converting one of the bedrooms in every hostel into a smoking room, the reason being obvious: prohibition and punishment being unsuccessful.  

  

What was your greatest challenge at the school?

The greatest challenge - becoming an integral member of the HS-family. I was an outsider to the pupils and the members of staff.

Could you relate a few of your fondest memories from the school/pupils?

The girl who proudly came into my office saying ‘sir, last night I wanted to run, but I didn't.’ Next thing, she started sobbing against my shoulder ‘ ek verlang so na my pa’. 

Recently an old Dassie reminded me of saying on leaving school ‘en die lelike eendjie het verander in ‘n swaan’. 

A few years after closing down, a Dassie phoned and told me she had handed in her final scripture for a MA-degree in English under prof Andre P Brink at UCT. 

And, one of your face-book pals asked me whether I could remember "hoe sy my in die swembad gestamp het by geleentheid van ‘n lentedagviering"! Unforgettable memories!

How did it come about that the school was closed?

The new technical college one block away, was overfull. Instead of additions at great cost, HS was closed down and became part thereof. Five hostels added to the college catering for day-scholars only, was a major asset. Reason being that there was enough space at our other sister schools to accommodate our Dassies.

What happened to the students who were at the school at the time?

Girls were transferred to Kruinsig school in George, Rosenhof school in Bloemfontein and the new Kapenhof school in Constantia.   

  

Where did you go when the school closed?

I moved to my holiday house at Struisbaai/Cape Agulhas and subsequently built a new home.

Describe your life now and what are your interests?

Freedom was travelling, fishing, cabinetmaking and indulging in and enjoying what I wanted, when I wanted, where I wanted. To-morrow is still as good as to-day. I cherish memories of HS and have visited the school many times during the 21 years since closure.

Thank you Mr Wessels - not only for sharing your memories with us but also your continued and valued support of the Dassies and their activities!

 -o0o-

     

Just in case you missed the following : Best Posts on our Facebook Page:

WANTING TO MAKE CONTACT:

Hi Alle Dassies -

Ek was van 1976 tot 1978 in Koshuis 1 Protea. As daar enige een van jul in  die Kaap of waar ookal bly - sal graag van jul wil hoor! Hulle het my altyd "Blackie" genoem en Matron Ungerer was ons huismoeder. Kan iemand my vertel wat het van Cathy Armitage geword en haar suster Margaret?   

Marina Janse van Vuuren

DOING SOMETHING GOOD:

BEST CHUCKLE:

Posted by Susan Marais Hummel

LAST WORD:

Hello!

Welcome to the first edition of the Dassieland News!

HS van der Walt High School Paarl, no longer exists since closing down in 1992, but as a school remains alive in the memories of many of its past students and teachers. It is therefore our honour and pleasure to create a space where old friends can find each other again and reminisce about the old days ..... some good; some not so good; some funny; some sad but always, always memorable!

We hope to publish a Newsletter at the beginning of every month and look forward to YOUR contributions - Suggestions, Grapevine, Memories and anything else you would like to know more about - either on our brand new website: http://hsvanderwalthighsc.wix.com/hs-van-der-walt-high or on Facebook!  Our new website will not replace our vibrant and exciting Facebook Group  - instead it is aimed at finding more students and teachers who are unable to access Facebook  for whatever reason.   Important Information currently on the Facebook Group will be added to the website which means it serves as a static reference for anybody seeking information on HS van der Walt High School. The Celebration Reunion planned for 2015 is just one of those bits of important information that needs to be spread around and shared as often as possible!!! 

-o0o-

Looking back - Dassie Reunion 2012:

Press Release  to the local newspapers:

Julie and Maryna - Reunion Organisers

Way down at the bottom end of Hospital Street in Paarl, on the banks of the Berg River is one section of Boland College. These structures were first built to house female high school students in the form of HS van der Walt High School, which opened in 1915 and closed its doors in 1992.

Thanks to modern technology and the ability to connect via social media, the ex pupils of the school established a page where past pupils from as far back as the 1940s to those who left when the school closed in 1992 could connect. They got talking about the old days of the 'Dassies' (they earned the nickname because they were always looking for a spot of sun in which to get warm), and inevitably 

Dassies that stayed in Protea hostel

talk of a reunion surfaced. Thanks to the staunch efforts of Maryna Ontong, with the help of her sister Julie, and one or two others, talk and wishful thinking became a reality!

The 'Dassie Reunion' was organised for the weekend of 27-29 April 2012, a fitting date as many of the girls spent this Freedom Day putting old ghosts to rest. As many of the ex students came from afar, flying and driving in from all over South Africa, some of them stayed over in one of the hostels for the weekend, whilst locals generally just attended on the Saturday. Those who made a weekend of it took many a trip down memory lane as they went up Paarl Mountain, strolled the shops of Paarl Mall, and walked around the school grounds, remembering their days spent there. Of course, girls being girls, there were many stories shared after "lights out" and the corridors once more echoed with the giggles and fits of laughter of the Dassie girls. Oh yes, and of course a few of the girls had to have a "skelm" smoke as well, just for old time's sake.

Group photo of some of the Dassies and Teachers – some were smoking outside – not on photo

The highlight of the weekend was the Cocktail party in the old school hall on the Saturday night, which was attended by 49 ex students from various years, the oldest being 79 year old Sally Storkey (nee Lucas), who matriculated in 1950! There were gifts and award certificates handed out to various ex staff members and Dassies, and each Dassie attendee and ex personnel received a key ring with the school badge and reunion details on and a bookmark featuring the school song as mementos. There were loads of laughs and more than a few tears shed during the various speeches.

Sally Storkey regaled everyone with tales of her time as a 

Sally (Lucas) Storkey

teenager at HS from 1947 – 1950, including the fact that she had the same ‘young girl’ irritations with teachers, teenage boyfriend issues and yet also remembered how attending the school had been a privilege and opportunity she would never forget. She said “I am pleased to see the Dassies that kept on running”, when asked to elaborate she explained “Dassies are strong, they are fast, and they are alert. The girls in this room have kept those qualities and through sheer grit and determination, in sometimes very difficult circumstances, kept going and flourished”.

Rita Swartz

Rita Swartz gave a very moving testimonial which once again displayed the fact that no matter the circumstances and hardships, anyone can triumph against the odds if the determination is there. Testimonies were also given by Maryna and various others as to what HS v/d Walt and the teachers had meant to them as young girls, and they expressed thanks for the grounding and inspiration that they were afforded by the staff of the day.

Some ex staff members also attended, including the last principal of HS, Mr Hein Wessels, and his wife. Mr Piet Kilian, who earned the title "HS’s Heart-throb" gave a very moving speech, as did Mr Willie Swart. Mr Wessels showed his dedication, even in retirement, by having gone to the National Archives in Roeland Street, Cape Town, and brought

Mr Wessels and Maryna

letters from students, annual school reports and a dedication Bible with him.

Once the speeches were done with it was time to catch up with old friends whilst enjoying the wonderful catering from Pick ‘n Pay WP Corporate Paarl Mall that had been arranged by Maryna and her team, and soon the dance floor was occupied by various generations spanning 50 years, all dancing to the sounds of “I want to break free” and “I will survive”.
The reunion weekend allowed many old friends to be reunited and new friendships to be forged. Many ghosts were laid to rest and in excess of 600 pictures attest to the resounding success that was Reunion 2012 - now we are planning the next reunion for 2015, the Centenary year!

Our heartfelt thanks goes to Nella van Niekerk from Boland College for permitting us to have our Reunion at our old school.

Maryna Ontong – Ex Student & Organiser of the Reunion

  -o0o-

Just in case you missed the following : Best Posts on our Facebook Page:

Wanting to make contact:

Anyone know what happened to Louise Van der Berg, Pat Watson, Linda Cameron,Daphne Potgieter or Cecile Van Huyysteen? Also Stella Harris, Anna Benade or the Burmeister sisters from Protea?

 Help Billi du Preez do something Great!

Best Chuckle:

Best Philosophy:

Last Word :
So here's the thing - this monthly Newsletter is not going to last very long unless we get some input from you! Remember, this is not only for the Facebook Page but also to encourage more old students and teachers to find us on the internet! Send an email with your contribution, suggestion, compliments and/or complaints to hsvanderwalthighschool@gmail.com, to reach us no later than the last week in every month.
Thanks!