The next talk of the History
Society of Zimbabwe will be held at the Beit Hall, St
George’s College on Sunday, 30th July 2017, at 1100h
This
talk by Marie de Bruijn is a fabulous, well illustrated presentation and should
not be missed by anyone with an interest in the early days of this country.
Please
note that members are invited to picnic after the talk at the concrete tables
under the trees near the Beit Hall on condition that they do not leave any
litter behind.
The
History Society is very indebted to the St. Georges headmaster, Kevin Atkinson,
for permission to use this location.
SPEAKER: MARIE
DE BRUIJN
Marie de Bruijn is a third generation Zimbabwean and
has been a teacher for many years. Born in Mutare and trained as an infants’
teacher at the Teachers Training College, Bulawayo, she later obtained a BA
Honours degree at UZ.
Ten of her forebears were Pioneers in their own right
arriving in Zimbabwe between 1893 and 1895. Her maternal grandmother,
Maria Moolman, arrived in this country as a 15 year old girl with the Henry
Steyn trek of 1895. Her many tales, as well as the diary her father Thomas
Ferreira kept during the trek, inspired, in Marie, a love for the history of
her forebears.
Marie has been involved in the Zimbabwe Pioneer
Society for many years and is currently Chairperson of this organisation.
SUBJECT: LIFE
ON THE TREK (The Trials and Tribulations of Life
on the Steyn Trek from Cradock to Melsetter).
Throughout the ages people have decided to relocate to
a new country because of political or economic reasons. Many discover,
even today, that the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side but once
having made the move, they have to embrace their new life fully. The arrival of
the Europeans in Zimbabwe in the latter part of the 19th Century had
all the same challenges. LIFE ON THE TREK is the title of a talk based on
the entries Marie de Bruijn's great grandfather made in his diary of
1895. These notes are supplemented by the tales her grandmother told of
life on the trek. A brief look will be taken at the motivation for the trek,
the supplies needed, the hardships encountered and how people dealt with these.
There are many lessons we can learn as we face different challenges in our own
lives today. In addition it is hoped to trace the route taken from
Cradock in the Cape Province to Chimanimani, Zimbabwe, looking at the physical
hardships that faced travellers and how that impacted on them.
Excerpts from the diary will be shared with members of
the HSZ as Marie has translated it from the original pre-Afrikaans Dutch into
Afrikaans and then into English.
Please note that the start of the presentation will be 1100h (Not at 1130h).
Charles
Castelin
Chairman, History
Society of Zimbabwe, Mashonaland Branch
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