FRIENDS OF IZIKO SOUTH AFRICAN
MUSEUM
The species was later identified as Disa purpurascens. This chance incident triggered his interest in orchidology and marked the beginning of a long road of discovery that eventually led to the publication of a regional monograph, The Cape Orchids. Orchids are among the most treasured elements of the Cape flora. In this lecture Bill will discuss the production of his new book, illustrating an abundant array of often highly endangered species in their natural habitats.
Non-Profit Organisation 052-511-NPO Postal address: P O Box 61 Cape Town 8000 South Africa Physical address: 25 Queen Victoria Street Cape Town SA Phone: 021 481 3913 Fax: 021 481 3993 Cell: 072 225 6893 E-mail: samfriends@iziko.org.za Website http://www.iziko.org.za/; http://www.iziko.org.za/ static/page/friends-of-the-south-african-museum Facebook facebook.com/FriendsofIzikoSAMuseum Twitter @FriendsSAMuseum
NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2014
As the leaves turn red, gold and brown and we enjoy these lovely autumn days we can look forward to more interesting lectures and outings coming up on the Friends programme in the next few months.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR 2014 The programme for 2014 has many excellent and interesting lectures and excursions in store thanks to the energetic and creative committee as well as welcome suggestions from members. We are grateful to members for their suggestions. The lecture programme will run as usual on the last Tuesday of each month. All lectures will be in the TH Barry Lecture Theatre at 19:00, unless otherwise advertised. Entrance is free to members on presentation of a valid 2014 membership card. Visitors are asked for a donation of R30 per lecture.
LECTURE PROGRAMME Tuesday 29 April Speaker: William Liltved Title: The Cape orchids – a regional monograph of the orchids of the Cape floristic region On 29 November 1989, the day after returning to Cape Town from a stay in California, Bill Liltved wondered whether the purple flowers found bobbing among the dense fynbos vegetation on the Cape Peninsula were those of an orchid.
Tuesday 24 June Speaker: Dr Elizabeth van Heyningen Title: The mind of an early South African scientist. A dip into the notebooks of Dr William Guybon Atherstone (1814–1898) Dr William Guybon Atherstone’s life spanned most of the nineteenth century and major scientific developments. He was far more than a medical practitioner, with a passionate interest in geology (above all), fossils, botany, ethnology – almost anything one could mention. He was also an indefatigable note taker and letter writer and left well over two hundred notebooks, which have never been satisfactorily examined. He was a typical Victorian with a utilitarian view of science, which he hoped to use to make Grahamstown the capital of an independent Eastern Cape colony. This talk is intended to introduce his life and work. Tuesday 29 July Speaker: Professor Anuyusa Chinsamy-Turin Title: Pterosaurs… the flying reptile Tuesday 24 June Speaker: John Rae, National Director, Mercy ships Title: Mercy ships… bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor
1
OUTINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2014 FOSSIL HUNTING IN AND AROUND FRASERBURG 30 April to 4 May There has been a last-minute cancellation in this popular excursion if you are interested in taking part please contact Munro Bloch on 082 570 1000 Cost: Members: R2 700 per person sharing; single rooms cost R3 100 Non-members: R3 300 per person sharing; single rooms cost R3 700
MOSSEL BAY FIELD TRIP 27 – 29 June 2014 An interesting and varied field trip to Mossel Bay has been organised for the Friends in June. It will begin on the Friday afternoon with a visit to the Pinnacle Point archaeological site where Professor Curtis Marean, the project leader from the Arizona State University, will give a guided tour around the cave excavations explaining the Middle Stone Age archaeological record of Pinnacle Point. On Friday evening there will be a talk by Hayley Cawthra from the Council for Geoscience on the geology of the Mossel Bay and Wilderness area followed by site visits on Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon will be spent at the Mossel Bay Museum where the group will be hosted by the Friends of the Mossel Bay Museum and Sunday is for your own adventures! Accommodation will be on a shared basis at the Point Hotel with full DBB. Cost: Members – R 1 950; non-members – R2 150
Saturday 21 June: Walk the Platteklip trail with Matt Weisse Saturday 5 July: Guided tour of Simonstown Naval Museum 29 – 30 August: Robben Island: A geological perspective with Dr John Rogers Tuesday 21 October: Kirstenbosch special – ‘What Evolution is’ with Des Lazar Details of the following outings will be provided closer to the time • Oudtshoorn with the popular Louis Jourdaan • Day trip to Donkergat • Weekend in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve • Sunday morning safari in search of the Big Five in Central Cape Town with Alderman Owen Kinahan Booking and payment in advance is essential on all outings in order to secure your place as numbers are limited.
REPORTBACKS GUIDED TOUR OF UCT PATHOLOGY AND ANATOMY MUSEUMS Following the interesting lecture by Dr Jane Yeats, The reinvention of a pathology museum, a group of Friends were treated to a guided tour of the reinvented pathology and anatomy museums. A group of members and guests participated in an interesting tour of two very important museums that are used for training medical students, where they have a hands-on (literally) opportunity to see and handle specimens. Participants had a unique opportunity to touch and see what can otherwise only be seen in books or on a television, film or movie screen. It is very difficult to say which item was the most interesting – the six centimeter sections of a body, organs both healthy and diseased – such as healthy lungs and those damaged by smoking and tuberculosis and livers showing signs of cirrhosis – and normal and deformed skeletons and skeletons used as comparative specimens used to distinguish between primates and homo sapiens. Jane is passionate about these two museums, and was brilliant at making them accessible for students and visitors. Munro Bloch
View of Pinnacle Point Caves at Mossel Bay
2
PAARL HERITAGE TRAIL It was a perfect Paarl morning on which a group of Friends explored the history and heritage of this interesting and beautiful town. The day began with a visit to the art gallery at the KWV Sensorium and then we crossed the road to the Granite House, home of the fourth generation of Louws, Norval and his young family. We not only learnt the history of the Louw family and of Laborie, but also the importance of grantite in the construction of many aparts of this town, from the paving slabs to the houses. The next stop was the famous Strooidak Church followed by a visit to the Toringkerk with its striking exterior and magnificent interior. It is elegant in its simplicity with beautiful woodwork, a wonderful pipe organ and seating capacity for two thousand people. Across the road we looked at the Gimnasium with its different architectural influences and unexpectedly the inclusion of Egyptian decorations. In the far distance to the right of the unusual central tower, built in almost Middle Eastern temple style, it is possible to catch a glimpse of Paarl Rock. This is a real cultural mix adding to the many interesting aspects and curiosities found in this lovely town.
The Strooidak Church
We were then privileged to visit the lovely home of Len and Cathy Raymond who have created a comfortable family home surrounded by a lifetime collection of beautiful furniture, paintings and treasures, all of which are in daily use and not on display in ‘museum style’. Our Paarl visit ended with a picnic lunch in the lovely garden of Wim and Sylvia Gerike who welcomed us to their home and told us of the history of another area of Paarl and of their family. Very special thanks to Pat and Margaret Hart who arranged our visit; to Len Raymond who knows ‘everything about everything’ and was our official guide, he could answer all our questions; grateful thanks to Cathy Raymond who welcomed the group into their home and shared her love of the warm comfortable space they call home; our thanks also to Norval Louw who showed us around his family home with enthusiasm and pride in the heritage which his small son Wynand will continue to the fifth generation, once he has grown up that is; and to Wim and Sylvia Gerike who offered their lovely garden, the perfect place to end our Paarl visit and reflect on the wonderful day we had enjoyed as guests of these open-hearted people.
Inside the Toringkerk
Maxine Davies Photos by Kate Crane Briggs
Len and Cathy Raymond’s home
3
FOUR CAPE PASSES
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
This interesting tour came about because of many Capetonians’ love of our beautiful accessible mountain passes. Like many people who marvel at the intricate geology we felt the need to learn from an expert. We also wanted to learn more about the 1969 earthquake which had such a devastating effect on Tulbagh.
It is a pleasure to welcome new members to the Friends and we look forward to meeting you all at future Friends activities.
Coenie de Beer from the Council for GeoSciences was just the right person to take Friends on this excursion and and so we set off to explore. The first was the Nuwekloof Pass where we all tried to understand the mountain rocks around us. From there we drove to Tulbagh where we visited the museum. The museum included a very interesting display which was elucidated by a local inhabitant who at the age of eighteen had experienced the earthquake and gave a graphic account of what she experienced. From there we drove to Michells Pass and into Ceres, we then turned off to the Gydo Pass where we stopped at the summit to enjoy the view and our lunch.
Mary Baker Maya Bester Neil Brathwaite Beth Bryan Gail BĂźhrmann Sarah Cassell
Graham Halse Chloe Henry Philip Henry Samantha Henry Rebecca Maserow Angus Myburgh
Mary Newman Jennifer Pape Erica Smythe Dr Elizabeth van Heyningen Claire Vaskys Nadya Wynchank I look forward to seeing you all again in May, Maxine Davies Friends of Iziko South African Museum
We then drove across the Droehoek landscape which has a very interesting geology. From there we tackled the dirt road to Swaarmoed Pass behind the Matroosberg. For many of us this was a new discovery. All in all it was a very interesting day although at times the geology was difficult to comprehend. We extend our grateful thanks to Coenie de Beer for an interesting day and for guiding us through the complexities of the geology of the Cape. Rosemary Smythe
Above: Looking down on the Ceres Valley Below: Friends who enjoyed the Four Cape Passes trip together. Both photos by Norman Magasiner.
THE FRIENDS OFFICE I will be far, far away in Bhutan from the end of April till the second week in May. Rosemary Smythe or Gill Grose will be in the Friends office as usual on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 to 14:00.The landline number remains the same 021 481 3913.
4