Non-Profit Organisation 052-511-NPOPostal address: P O Box 61 Cape Town 8000 South AfricaPhysical address: 25 Queen Victoria Street Cape Town South AfricaPhone: 021 481 3913 Fax: 021 481 3993 Cell: 072 225 6893 E-mail: samfriends@iziko.org.zaWebsite http://www.iziko.org.za/; http://www.iziko.org.za/static/page/friends-of-the-south-african-museum

NEWSLETTER – MARCH 2015

The Friends programme for 2015 is looking wonderful. I hope you will all find activities and lectures that you look forward to enjoying. Please join us as we explore Constantia, learn more about the excellent DNA programmes and about the Leopard Trust and resurrection plants. You may also want to visit Laingsburg and Calitzdorp, the Beaufort West area looking for fossils or right here in Cape Town at the Heart Museum, the Jewish Museum or look around behind the scenes in the social history collections of Iziko Museums.

LECTURES FOR 2015Lectures are held in the TH Barry Lecture Theatre at 18:00, unless otherwise advertised. Entrance is free to members on presentation of a valid 2015 membership card. Visitors are asked for a donation of R30 per lecture.

Tuesday 31 MarchSpeaker: Dr Helen Robinson Title: Constantia and its neighbours

Tuesday 21 April (Note the earlier date)Speaker: Vanessa LynchTitle: Fighting Crime with Science: The impact of forensic DNA profiling in SA: Past, Present, and Future

Tuesday 26 May Speaker: Anita Meyer and Jeannie HaywardTitle: The Boland Leopard Trust

FRIENDS OF IZIKO SOUTH AFRICAN

MUSEUM

Tuesday 30 June Speaker: Dr Jill FarrantTitle: Use of resurrection plants as models for production of drought tolerant crops

OUTINGS LAINGSBURG TO CALITZDORP AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN: 15–17 MAY

Do join us for an interesting weekend in Laingsburg and Calitzdorp. A local guide will show us the museum in Laingsburg on the first day followed by an historical town walk through the town. In the evening we will have a Karoo night sky talk.

On Saturday we will drive to Seweweekspoort, stopping along the way to hear about the early history of the Poort and to look at interesting plants. We will travel to Zoar for refreshments and a social history talk. The evening will be spent in Calitzdorp. There will be a guided tour of the town on Sunday morning before returning home.

Cost: Members – R1 350; Non-Members – R1 550

FOSSIL HUNTING WITH DR ROGER SMITH: 16–20 September

The 2015 fossil hunting trip will be in the Beaufort West area with accommodation at the popular Lemoenfontein Nature Reserve.

Cost: Members – R3 400; Non-Members – R3 900

DAY OUTINGSHEART OF CAPE TOWN MUSEUM: Wednesday 22 April from 10:30 to 12:30

Where were you and do you remember reading or hearing the news of Dr Chris Barnard’s ground breaking surgery?

Join the Friends for this fascinating visit to relive those amazing days when the news broke of Dr Chris Barnard’s first successful human heart transplant that was carried out at Groote Schuur Hospital. The world’s attention was grabbed by this sensational news especially because the operation was done by a South Africa surgeon.

Cost: Members − R150; Non-members − R160

BOLAND CAPE LEOPARD TRUST PROJECT: Saturday 13 June

The Friends will spend a day in the Boland Mountains learning about the work done there by the team of the Cape Leopard Trust. Details will follow.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES AT THE SOCIAL HISTORY CENTRE: Wednesday 8 July

The Friends will have the opportunity to see part of the recently unpacked African Studies collections, as well as textiles, costumes and beadwork. Please join us in this beautiful old building on Church Square.

Cost: Member – R50; Non-Members – R60

Booking and payment in advance is essential on all outings in order to secure your place as numbers are limited.

SOUTH AFRICAN JEWISH MUSEUM: Wednesday 5 August

We will be taken on a guided tour especially arranged for the Friends that will include the Great Synagogue and the Old Schul, the Netsuke exhibition as well as some optional extras time permitting.

Cost: Members – R75; Non-Members – R85

SAVING THE COLLECTION AT GROOT CONSTANTIA

On Tuesday 3 March Iziko started monitoring the fire in the Constantia area as there was a risk that it could spread to the Groot Constantia Manor House, Cloete Cellar and other buildings in the historic precinct. A security guard was posted at Groot Constantia during the night to monitor the fire. Early on Wednesday morning the guard reported that there was a change in wind direction. Staff members immediately went to Groot Constantia to prepare the collection for transport should the fire move closer. When the fire started moving down the mountain, the collection was packed into every available Iziko and staff vehicle. Without calling for assistance, people from the area arrived to assist, making available their trucks, bakkies and cars, and in some instances their staff. The Metro Police provided three vehicles to escort the convoy to Cape Town where staff members were standing by to unpack the vehicles. Staff had arranged refreshments for all who worked so hard to ensure the safety of our collection. Members of the High and Groot Constantia Neighourhood Watch came to assist, a lady fetched the ducks to take them to safety, a couple and their teenage son could not access the estate by vehicle so they walked through the vineyards to offer assistance, a gentleman brought more packing material, a volunteer called his brother who is an expert in clocks to come and assist in packing the clocks and the Jonkershuis Restaurant brought refreshments to staff throughout the day. Staff had been working relentlessly to prepare and pack the collection, but still found the strength to dismantle and carry the heavy furniture to a removal truck which Iziko had arranged. Again staff members were waiting in Cape Town to assist in unpacking the furniture. Staff from all departments responded to a request for assistance without giving it a second thought. There was not one complaint over the two days even though the bodies of some staff took tremendous strain. We are so proud that Iziko staff and interns worked so well together as a team.

Denise Crous, Acting Chief Executive Officer

THE TIME HAS COME

After more than twelve amazing years I have decided the time has come to give someone else the opportunity to take charge of the Friends of ISAM. It has been an extraordinary twelve years which has given me the opportunity to grow and explore many new interests, see parts of South Africa many people don’t visit, meet wonderful people who have become personal friends and interact with scientists and specialists in their fields and so many more …

Thank you to you all for your support and valuable contribution to the success of the Friends in your own special ways and especially in always supporting our lectures and activities.

The last two years of disruption because of the Courtyard Project have been very unsettling. Moving to the Castle and back to the museum had a major impact on the efficient running of the organisation for a number of months and to my peace of mind for longer.

My final decision has been reached because of the amount of time I am increasingly spending in traffic even though I do not normally travel in rush hours. Most days I will spend about two hours and on increasingly bad days around three hours travelling to and from home. Life is too short to spend in traffic.

The task now is to find a suitable and younger person to take over permanently as from July. It is not rocket science and as you are aware I only go into the office twice a week, but I do frequently work from home when necessary. All that is needed is someone with good computer skills, efficient admin abilities with a basic knowledge of bookkeeping and Pastel. If you would like a rewarding and fulfilling job, or know of someone who would enjoy this position let our committee know as soon as possible.

REPORTBACKKOGELBERG NATURE RESERVETwo very popular weekends at the Kogelberg Nature Reserve were well supported and enjoyed by members. Here is Munro Bloch’s reportback:

We were met on Sunday by botanist Amida Jones, our guide who is based at the reserve, and immediately set off on a six-hour walk along the Palmiet River, stopping frequently to listen to fascinating facts on the vegetation. The scenery can best be described as magic – river on one side, lots of plants, all framed on three sides by the most magnificent mountains.

We stopped for lunch break at a pretty beach where some of the braver souls swam, while the less daring and lazy ate lunch. Arriving back at the cars in the mid-afternoon, we moved into our allocated eco-friendly cottages to unpack, before gathering for a braai in the evening.

We set out the next morning for a shorter walk up to the forest at the top of the valley behind the huts. Since it was hot and there was no wind, and we were advised the last part is steep and covered in loose stones that is not easy to negotiate, especially on the descent, we decided to turn around about three quarters of the way up, at the start of the forest. We reached our vehicles again at midday, said our goodbyes and headed home.

Our sincere thanks to Rosemary for arranging the outing, which hopefully will be repeated October, when the flowers are at their best. This adventure is especially suited to those who enjoy the outdoors, and by those with a botanical interest.

LIFE MEMBER Hanarie Wenhold felt that she had received more than enough benefits from her Life membership of the Friends and in 2015 joined as a regular member. Thank you Hannarie for you kind hearted spirit.

Hannarie said ‘I have decided that my life membership can in all fairness no longer be considered valid, will continue to be a regular paying member’.

THE FRIENDS OFFICE

I will be away from 27 March until 22 April and Rosemary Smythe will be in the office from 10:00 to 13:00 on Wednesdays and Fridays during this period.

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

It is a pleasure to welcome new members to the Friends and we look forward to meeting you all at future Friends activities.

Eleanore Biggs David Dent Mary Le JeunePaddy Bouma Andrea du Plessis Paddy WalkerClaudia Crooks Denis Le Jeune

Maxine DaviesFriends of Iziko South African Museum

2015 SUBSCRIPTIONS

Membership of the Friends is for a calendar year and therefore becomes due for renewal by 31 December. Should your 2015 subscription not be paid by 31 March your name will automatically drop from the membership database. The rates for 2015 are shown below. A renewal form is included. Please ensure that it is completed and returned along with your proof of payment. If making payment by cash or with a cheque it is important that you include R20 to cover the bank charges that will be levied to the Friends account. An EFT is the only method of payment that does not incur bank charges.

CATEGORY WITH EMAIL WITHOUT EMAIL

Seniors & students

R 165.00 R 235.00

Individuals R 235.00 R 305.00

Family(2 adults + 2 children)

R 385.00 R 460.00

Above: Friends at the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Photo by Rosemary Smythe.