51.Montaguer van die Jaar
Updated: 15/02/2026
Erkenning vir diens aan die dorp
WISSELTROFFEE VIR DIE “MONTAGUER VAN DIE JAAR” WENNER
Die Montagu Rapportryerskorps was meer as dertig jaar aktief op kulturele gebied op Montagu. Verskeie jaarlikse aktiwiteite is aangebied. Die Montaguer van die Jaar-toekenning was egter die glansgeleentheid van die jaar wat Montaguers op die kaart geplaas het.
Die Montaguer van die Jaar-toekenning het sy ontstaan aan die einde van 1979, onder die voorsitterskap van mnr. Errol Punt.
Vanaf 1980 tot 1998 is hierdie Prestige toekenning jaarliks by ‘n spoggeleentheid aan dié Montaguer gemaak wat daardie spesifieke jaar die grootste bydrae tot Montagu en sy gemeenskap gelewer het. Alle suksesvolle finaliste het ook ere-sertifikate ontvang vir hul bydraes.
Foto: Laerskool Montagu Facebook blad
Altesaam is die toekenning 19 keer gedoen. Slegs mnr. Willem Louwrens, eertydse burgemeester, het hierdie gesogte toekenning meer as een keer ontvang.
Gedurende 1999 moes die Rapportryerskorps die toekenning staak omdat hulle nie meer weens kweinende getalle dit finansiëel kon bekostig nie. Die Rapportryerskorps is aan die begin van 2000 finaal ontbind.
Mrs. Jeanne Biesenbach remembers the Montaguer of the Year
22 March 2021
Montagu Rapportryerskorps
The Montagu Rapportryers were essentially an Afrikaans service organisation that promoted local cultural and historical heritage.
From them originated the unique idea of awarding a “Montaguer of the Year” floating trophy to a person who had delivered outstanding service to the community, during that calendar year.
Any organization in Montagu could make a fully motivated nomination of a person who they felt merited this honour. All nominations were considered by the Rapportryers and their decision was only announced on the night of the award ceremony.
All nominees and their guests, the Rapportryers and their partners, local dignitaries and the current Montguer of the Year were invited to attend a formal dinner at the end of the year.
The Chairman of the Rapportryers announced the new Montaguer of the Year and gave a brief summary of his/her achievements during that year. The outgoing Montaguer concluded the ceremony by handing over the floating trophy to his/her successor.
It was deemed a great honour to be awarded the title and floating trophy.
Regards
Jeanne
Rules for adjudication of the Montaguer of the Year
This document was found in the museum archive and may have changed from year to year.
WYSE VAN BEOORDELING:
Alle verenigings/organisasies wat kandidate vir die Montaguer van die Jaar toekenning benoem het, se Voorsitters sal as beoordelaars op tree.
Indien die Voorsitter van ʼn vereniging/organisasie ʼn kandidaat is, sal die Vise-voorsitter of Sekretaris aangewys in sy plek dien.
- Die Voorsitter van die Rapportryers sal die vergadering reël en ook as Voorsitter optree.
- Die Rapportryers sal ʼn Sekretaris aanwys en hy sal in dié hoedanigheid die vergadering bywoon om behulpsaam te wees met die hantering van nominasievorms en die prosedure te notuleer, maar sal geen stem hê nie.
- Die nominasies sal afsonderlik bespreek word en die beoordelaars sal aan elke kandidaat ʼn punt uit 250 toeken volgens meriete.
- Hierna word die kandidate se punte afsonderlik bereken en die DRIE kandidate met die hoogste tellings word bepaal. Laasgenoemde sal afhang van hoeveel kandidate benoem is.
- Hierna word die DRIE kandidate weereens bespreek, indien nodig, en daarna stem die beoordelaars per geslote stembrief.
- Geslote stembriewe word dan verseël in die teerwoordigheid van die volle vergadering en daarna op ʼn veilige plek bewaar.
- Die vergadering benoem ʼn komitee van vier, waarvan die Voorsitter van die Rapportryers een is, om by die oopmaak van die stembriewe net voordat die dinee plaasvind teenwoordig te wees. Indien daar ʼn staking van stemme is, sal die Voorsitter d.m.v. ‘n lootjie die wenner bepaal.
- Die beoordelaars en almal wat die vergadering bywoon moet onderneem om die uitslag van die beoordeling uiters vertroulik te beskou en aan niemand buite die vergadering iets daarvan bekend te maak nie.
- Die Wenner ontvang die Montaguer van die Jaar wisseltrofee sowel as ʼn aandenking in die vorm van ʼn bekertjie met die nodige inskripsie daarop.
- Alle kandidate/finaliste ontvang ʼn Meriete sertifikaat.
- Die Montaguer van die Jaar toekenning word jaarliks deur die Rapportryers gedurende November aangebied. Dit val saam met die afsluitingsfunksie van die Rapportryers.
- Die Rapportryersbestuur van daardie jaar ageer tot en met die datum van die oorhandigingsfunksie.
Die pragtige “Montaguer van die Jaar wisseltrofee” is oor die tydperk van 18 jaar aan die volgende persone oorhandig:
Eerste “Montaguer van die die Jaar” aangewys
1980
Mev. M. Kellerman
Foto’s : Montagu Museum
Die Burger
Van ons korrespondent
MONTAGU – Die Rapportryers van die dorp het onlangs onder Voorsitterskap van mnr. Errol Punt, hoof van die Laerskool Montagu, die Montaguer van die Jaar gekies.
Dit is die eerste keer dat die prys toegeken word. Vanjaar se wenner is mev. Maryna Kellerman wat alom bekend staan as “Missies Kellie”, ‘n geliefde en gerespekteerde wenner in elke opsig. ‘n Wisselbeker is aan haar toegeken en die prys sal nou ʼn jaarlikse instelling op die dorp word.
Kandidate
Die ander drie kandidate het elk ʼn sertifikaat ontvang. Hulle is mnre. Manie Wahl, Burgermeester en Sakeman van die dorp wat benoem is vir sy aandeel in dorpsake, Roy Bruwer, benoem vir sy sportprestasies en Ian Burger, vir sy bydra in die landbougebied.
Altesame 25 verenigings is genooi om ʼn kandidaat te benoem. Die prys is by ʼn deftige dinee by ʼn plaaslike hotel oorhandig.
Voorsitster
Mev. Kellerman het verlede jaar as Voorsitster van die plaaslike V.L.V. afgetree. Sy het verskeie jaar op die Kaaplandse bestuur gedien en die afgelope viertig jaar in feitlik elke liefdadigheidsorganisasie en komitee op die dorp.
Sy is die vrou van dr. Kellerman, afgetrede hoof van die plaaslike Hoërskool.
1981
Mev. E. Hofmeyr
Visit https://montagumuseum.co.za/montagu-stories/esther-hofmeyr/ for more information on Esther Hofmeyr
Montagu-vrou vir bewaring vereer
(Deur Irna van Zyl 27 November 1981)
MONTAGU. – Wanneer mense die vreugde van restourasie besef, die trots ontwikkel om hul historiese huise in hul oorspronklike vorm te bewaar en ’n waardering vir hul erfenis aankweek, moet hulle onuitspreeklike genot uit die werk wat hulle doen. So praat die Montaguer van die jaar, wat vir die tweede agtereenvolgende jaar ’n vrou is.
Mev. Esther Hofmeyr (64) het vanjaar drie mans uitgestof in die Rappprtryers van Montagu se jaarlikse aanwysing van ’n man of vrou wat die afgelope twaalf maande ’n bydrae tot die vooruitgang van die dorp en sy gemeenskap gelewer het.
Wat die deurslag gegee het dat mev. Hofmeyr die titel verwerf het, was haar onvermoeide ywer die afgelope jaar om die kulturele erfenis van die dorp te bewaar. Nie alleen het sy as Voorsitter van die beheerraad van die Montagu museum ’n bydrae op daardie gebied gelewer nie, maar deur haar regstreekse optrede is die oudste huis op die dorp van die stootskrapers gered en gaan hy nou gerestoureer word.
MEV. Esther Hofmeyr (bo regs), wat as die Montaguer van die Jaar aangewys is, ontvang die beker van verlede jaar se wenner, mev. Maryna Kellerman.
Watermeul
Terselfdertyd het sy gesorg dat die knoop deurgehak is vir die oprigting van ’n watermeul in die Badskloof en die inrigting van die meulenaarshuis daarnaby as ’n museum ter gedagtenis aan die komponis Stephen Eyssen, wat op Montagu grootgeword het.
Vroëer vanjaar is mev. Hofmeyr deur die Monumentekommissie gekies as ere-kuratrise van die Raad vir Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede en onlangs het sy die eerste vrou op die dorp geword na wie ’n openbare tuin – dié van die museum – genoem is.
President Kruger
Die Jouberthuis, oudste huis op die dorp, vertel mev. Hofmeyr, is onbewoonbaar verklaar nadat een van die mure begin verkrummel het. Die huis is in die vorige eeu onder meer deur president Paul Kruger besoek en is tot Nasionale Gedenkwaardigheid verklaar.
Met onvermoeide ywer het mev. Hofmeyr van een stadsraadslid na die ander volgende gegaan om hulle te oorreed dat die huis in die belang van Montagu en die nageslag bewaar moet word. Die uiteinde was dat die Munisipaliteit R3000 aan die museum toegestaan het, vir die koop daarvan. Met ’n verdere R4000 wat goedgunstiglik van ’n Johannesburg se argitek verkry is, is die museum in staat gestel om die huis te koop.
Maar mev. Hofmeyr se bydrae tot bewaring strek oor veel langer as net die afgelope jaar. In 1961 al het sy aansoek gedoen dat Montagu ’n museum moet kry. Hoewel die aansoek geweier is, het mev. Hofmeyr dadelik begin met die versameling van museum stukke. Toe die Montagu museum in 1975 geopen is, was die kern van sy huidige versameling reeds daar.
Haar belangstelling het nie net by die museum gebly nie. As sekretaresse van die bewaringskomitee het sy telkemale historiese huise op die dorp “gered” deur met die eienaars te gesels wanneer hulle veranderinge wou aanbring wat nie by die boustyl pas nie. Soms het dit baie oorredingsvermoë gekos om ’n eienaar te oortuig dat die motorhuis wat hy wil aanbou, sy Victoriaan se huis sal skend of dat ’n houtraamvenster nie vir ’n staalraamvenster moet plek maak nie. En altyd het die mense teruggekom en vertel hoe trots hulle nou op hul huis is.
Die erns waarmee mev. Hofmeyr die saak benader het is vandeesweek duidelik sigbaar toe sy in haar bedankings toespraak nadat sy die beker ontvang het, prontuit ’n beroep op die gaste gedoen het vir die restourasie van die ou munisipale gebou op die dorp.
“’n Mens ontvang soveel van jou dorp dat dit wat jy doen, om geen ander rede gedoen word as dat jy lief is vir jou dorp.” sê sy.
Mev. Hofmeyr is al sedert 1941 op Montagu, waar sy die Engelseonderwyseres was. In 1945 is sy met Montie Hofmeyr, broer van die Springboksenter Koffie Hofmeyr. getroud. Die egpaar het een dogter en een seun.
“En die grootste prestasie van alles is dat my eerste kleinseun onlangs gedoop is. Hy sal die vyfde geslag van Hofmeyrs op Montagu wees.” vertel sy met ’n glinstering in die oog.
Mev. Hofmeyr Desember 2021
Foto: Amanda Haasbroek
1982
Mnr. P. Badenhorst
Montaguer vir bewaring vereer
(Die Burger Vrydag 17 Desember 1982)
MNR. PIET BADENHORST (39) van die Montagu Museum het vier gedugte kandidate uitgestof in die jaarlikse aanwysing deur Rapportryers van ʼn Montaguer van die Jaar.
Dit is die derde keer dat die toekenning gemaak is.
AI die 33 verenigings op die dorp kan ‘n kandidaat nomineer en uit hierdie kandidate kies die verenigings gesamentlik die Montaguer van die Jaar. Dit is dus nie net ’n Rapportryer- toekenning nie.
Vanjaar was daar vyf finaliste: mnre. J. le Roux, P. Badenhorst, J. Neethling, S. le Riche en mev. A. Keller.
Daar was ‘n staking van stemme tussen mnre. Le Roux en Badenhorst, en laasgenoemde is uiteindelik as die wenner aangewys.
Sertifikaat
Elkeen van die finaliste het ’n sertifikaat van verdienstelikheid ontvang as ‘n blyk van waardering vir die bydrae wat hulle gelewer het tot die vooruitgang van Montagu en sy gemeenskap.
Die beker is aan hom oorhandig deur mev. Esther Hofmeyr, wat verlede jaar die Montaguer van die Jaar was vanwëe haar restourasiewerk.
Meul
Sy bydrae die laaste paar maande tot die bewaringswerk op Montagu het aan hom hierdie titel besorg. Mnr. Badenhorst het vroeg vanjaar sonder enige kennis of ondervinding die watermeul in Donderkloof herstel en opgerig.
Die meul, wat vroeër op die plaas Meulplaas gestaan het, is na 2½, maande van swoeg en sweet ingewy langs die gerestoureerde Eyssen huis, woning van al die meulenaars van vroeër asook die geboortehuis van Stephan Eyssen, gevierde Afrikaanse komponis wat verlede jaar (1981) op 91 jaar oorlede is.
Tans word die Jouberthuis onder mnr. Badenhorst se wakende oog gerestoureer, ‘n projek wat vroeg in die nuwe jaar voltooi sal wees.
Die huis – die oudste op Montagu – is ’n jaar gelede in ’n erg verwaarloosde toestand aangekoop deur die beheerraad van die Montagu Museum o.l.v. die voorsitterskap, van mev. Esther Hofmeyr.
Die huis is in die vorige eeu deur onder andere, pres. Paul Kruger besoek is en in 1976 tot Nasionale Gedenkwaardigheid verklaar.
Qui-Si-Sana
Mnr. Badenhorst se bydrae tot bewaring strek egter baie verder terug as die afgelope jaar. Sedert 1968, toe hy op Greyton sy eerste restorasieprojek aangepak het, het vele gevolg selfs so ver as die restourasie van twee meenthuisies in Simonstad.
Die grootste van die projekte wat deur mnr. Badenhorst aangepak en voltooi is, was die restourasie van Qui-Si-Sana, wat in die jare dertig die spogwoning van die Schlessingers was.
Blackie and Piet Badenhorst
1983
Prof. A.W. Wegelin
Opening Joubert House Museum
L/R Prof. Arthur Wegelin, Dr. Chris Loedolf Director Museum Services, Esther Hofmeyr, Willie Cilliers (Mayor)
MONTAGUER VAN DIE JAAR GEKIES
(Deur Beulah Liebenberg)
Montagu. – Prof. Arthur Wegelen is by die afsluitingfunksie van die Rapportryerskorps van Montagu aangewys as Montaguer van die Jaar.
Vanjaar is vyf mense benoem. Prof. Wegelien het vanjaar vir Montagu baie publisiteit besorg toe daar met sy 75ste verjaarsdag verskeie artikels oor hom in nuusblaaie dwarsoor die land verskyn het.
Daarbenewens het die wêreldpremiêr van sy konsert “Misty Point” vroeër vanjaar in Johannesburg plaasgevind toe Kathleen MacAllister dit saam met die SAUK se simfonie-orkes uitgevoer het.
Studente van die College of Music onder leiding van Peter Watson het in Kaapstad ʼn uitvoering van sy werke gegee. Prof. Wegelen se kompossie, “Dreams” is teen die einde van 1982 oor die televisie gehoor.
Hy het ook ʼn bydrae op die gebied van bewaring, tuinbou en plaaslike musieklesse gelewer. Tydens die oorhandiging by ʼn dinee is merietesertifikate aan al die ander benoemdes oorhandig. Hulle was mnre. Stoffel le Riche, Sonny Malan, Piet Badenhorst en mev. Annatjie Keller. Die dinee is bygewoon deur lede van die Rapportryerskorps asook verteenwoordigers van verskillende verenigings op Montagu.
Die gaste is in Jouberthuis ontvang en het daarna na die Montagu museum beweeg waar die Beheerraad van die museum ʼn dinee aangebied het.
1984
Mev. J. Basson
Justine Basson 1984 se Montaguer van Jaar
(Deur Beula Liebenberg)
Montagu – Mev. Justine Basson is verlede Maandagaand op ’n funksie wat in die Montagu Museum gehou is, aangewys as die Montaguer van die Jaar. Sy is deur die Tuinbouvereniging genomineer.
Mev. Basson het sewe ander kandidate uitgestof toe sy deur die Rapportryerskorps aangewys is as die persoon wat die afgelope jaar ’n bydrae tot die vooruitgang van die dorp en gemeenskap gelewer het.
Sy het ’n leidende rol gespeel in die jaarlikse Wynfees van die dorp. Mev. Basson het ’n groot liefde vir Montagu, daarom doen sy wat sy kan om die belange van die dorp te bevor- der.
Die ander kandidate was mnre. Dolf Odendaal, Willie Cilliers, Dawid Frost, Piet Frick, Kobus Kriel, mev. Esther Hofmeyr en Felicity McSweeney.
Justine se wederhelf – mnr E.J.J. “Ewie” Basson
(1910 – 1985).
Die volgende toespraak wat deur Babsie van Zyl gelewer is by die afskeidfunksie vir Justine, gee vir ons ‘n blik van haar betrokkenheid by die ontstaan van die Montagu Natuurtuin.
Dames en Here,
Van al die gewillige, entoesiastiese helpers, die lede en vriende van die Montagu Tuinbouvereniging wat die afgelope 34 jaar met sulke getroue, selflose opofferinge en volgetroue toewyding in die Natuurtuin ge-arbei het, óf op ander maniere betrokke was of nog steeds betrokke is by die tuin, is daar niemand wat so ‘n groot liefde vir die tuin het soos Justine nie. Nog nooit was enige plig in verband met die Tuin of Tuinbouvereniging vir haar te veel nie. Haar toewyding is volkome.
Dis waarlik ‘n voorreg om hierdie geleentheid te hê om hulde aan haar te bring. ‘n Plesier is dit egter nie. Ons neem te swaar van haar afskeid. Die leemte wat sy laat kan nooit gevul word nie. Ons kan dit net nie keinkry dat sy Montagu gaan verlaat nie.
Justine onthou jy nog daardie eerste dag by die tuin?
Ladies and gentlemen,
Perhaps you won’t mind accompanying us on a brief stroll down memory lane. It will give Justine great pleasure to be reminded of those early years when the garden was young and when we were young – those years to which Justine always refers as the happiest years of her life.
Way back in the autumn of 1955 all the preliminaries in connection with the establishment of a Horticultural Society and a Nature Reserve here had been completed. After a well-attended public meeting, a constitution was drawn-up and the site of the garden was fenced by the Municipality. In many respects this site was most unpromising. Nevertheless, even in those days, this place had (and still has) a certain undefinable magic. As usual, Montagu was in the grip of a severe drought. Apart from a mere trickle of seepage from the dam at the top, there was no water. As for the soil, it consisted of a ¼ to a few inches of soil on a solid bed of shale. At a later stage the entire area was sub-soiled by the Divisional Council and has since then turned into fertile earth.
All that remained to be done at this point in the Garden’s history was the actual laying out of the garden. Justine decided that the big day was to be a public holiday at the end of May. She duly informed all and sundry as well as her numerous personal friends and invited everybody to meet at the garden. She, herself, arrived early that morning laden with tins of sandwiches, baskets of fruit and dishes of chops and sausage. These she stowed away carefully under a bush on the banks of “Tranquillity” – “Tranquillity” was her favourite spot in the garden and the name she had given that part at the bottom of the stream. She then stood and surveyed the scene. She had not the remotest idea how to set about creating a garden out of that wilderness. She remarked that a few days previously she had asked someone to advise her and he had said in (………) – all that was visible at that moment, however was a stretch of hard, barren pure white brackish earth. The most obvious task for the present was the creation of some sort of clearing – a kind of home – spot to settle down in and from what to start operations. Small shrubs were duly removed, bushes trimmed and branches clipped from overhanging thorn trees. The ground was raked and swept.
After a little while (or so it seemed) Justine looked at her watch. It was 1.30 p.m. exactly. There was not a single, solitary soul in sight. But all was not yet lost. Hardly had lunch been unpacked when lo and behold a car drew up in clouds of dust. Like two naughty schoolboys, out stepped Justine’s husband, Ewie and Dr Tom Knight, our local dentist. They were welcomed with open arms, partook of a hearty lunch and after coffee and a cosy chat they were shown were the extra spades and pickaxes were stacked. To our open mouthed dismay (but subsequent intense amusement) they then sheepishly explained that they had already had lunch and were on their way to the golf course and were merely paying us a little visit!
Other happy memories come flooding in – for instance spotting, many months later, the first and one and only flower in the entire garden to have made its appearance up till that time. It was a most exquisite, spiky dusty – pink bloom. A “Tretchikoff” said Justine, not knowing what it was. There it stood in all its glory looking exactly like a “Tretchikoff” painting. In fact it was a type of Lachanalia – but to Justine, a “Tretchikoff” it will remain for ever.
And then there is the refreshing memory of bottles of icy-cold “soetmos” arriving from Kenneth Knipe’s cellars on a particularly hot day.
A couple of physically painful memories come to mind. An enormous blister forming across Justine’s back where her shirt had pulled out of her trousers and due to the intense heat. Also a vision of Justine bent double under a thorn bush with Sewes, the garden boy, using his pocket knife to cut out a particularly evil-looking “pendoring” which had become imbedded in her back and had broken off.
There are memories of firsts – the first tea party, the first major set-back, the first friends. A most charming man staying at the Avalon discovered us one day while he was out for a walk. He sat down on the ground with us and had a cup of tea and a biscuit. You might call that the first tea party at the Nature Garden – tea parties for which the Montagu Nature Garden is now so justly famous.
Particularly dear to Justine’s heart are some of the first friends of the garden – Mr. & Mrs. Frank Orchard, Mr. Terry, General Trifts and a host of visitors who used to spend the winter holidays here at the Avalon.
Justine will surely recall the occasion of her first major garden disaster. Someone had given her a packet of Namaqualand-daisy seeds. Oddly enough, these daisies were not so plentiful here in those days. In spite of the adverse conditions, she had managed to get a small patch of these flowers growing at the little entrance gate. Of these she was inordinately proud. Late one Sunday afternoon there was a phone call from Justine in a state of near-hysteria and incoherence. It appeared that Justine and Ewie had driven to the Nature Garden to gaze upon her beloved patch of Namaqualand Daisies when they discovered that someone had left the big gate at the top of the garden open. Bella van der Merwe’s cows, which were grazing in the vicinity, had strayed in there, down through the garden onto her daisy patch, some of which they had nibbled on, others they had trampled underfoot and on the rest to add insult to injury and to show their utter contempt for her efforts at gardening they had left large, moist smelly cow pats!!
Justine ons het baie “sports” in die tuin gehad.
Wel Dames en Here, daardie beginjare van die Natuurtuin se ontstaan, daardie jare toe almal ingespring het en self met pik en graaf gewerk het is nou reeds lank verby. Die aangename herinneringe bly agter. Dis die geval van “the song is over, but the melody lingers on”.
So tussen al die gelag en gepraat en harde werk deur is iets unieks hier totstand gebring wat nie daar sou gewees het as dit nie vir jou was nie, Justine. Ons sê vir jou vaarwel met swaar harte, maar harte vol dankbaarheid en opregte waaardering vir wat jy vir die gemeenskap van Montagu gedoen het by wyse van die Natuurtuin. Ons is ook vol vertroue dat jy baie gelukkig gaan wees daar waar jy nou jou in ‘n nuwe omgewing gaan vestig. Ons sal jou oneindig baie mis – die tuin sal jou mis. Van een ding kan jy doodseker wees – hier sal jy nooit, nooit vergeet word nie.
An example of a nomination form for Montaguer of the Year
1985
Mnr. W.G. Cilliers
Montagu vereer oom Willie Cilliers
(Uit die 1985 “Press Book” Montagu Museum)
Montagu – Mnr. Willie Cilliers, Burgermeester van die dorp die afgelope twee jaar, is op ʼn dinee van die Montagu – Rapportryerskorps as vanjaar se Montaguer van die Jaar aangewys.
Oom Wille, soos almal hom ken, het teen agt ander kandidate meegeding, wat deur verskeie plaaslike instansies benoem is. Sy benoeming as Montaguer van die Jaar is ʼn klein beloning vir ses jaar se harde werk.
Diep Spore
Mnr. Cilliers en sy vrou, Sia, het in Desember 1979 na Montagu verhuis nadat hy as hoof statistikus van die SA Spoorweë in Johannesburg afgetree het. Die egpaar het 42 jaar in die Goudstad gewoon. Kort voor lank het mnr. Cilliers diep spore in die gemeenskap van Montagu getrap. In 1981 is hy tot Raadslid in die Munisipale Raad verkies, en in 1984 en 1985 was hy die Burgemeester van die dorp. In sy ampstermyn as Raadslid, en veral as Burgemeester, het hy daarop aangedring dat ʼn nuwe rioolprojek, wat telkemale vanweë koste uitgestel is, aangepak word. Ondanks sterk teenkanting en hewige kritiek het hy deurgedruk, en toe die kontrakteur insolvent verklaar is, het hy toegesien dat die projek voltooi word. ʼn Mens het Montagu se Burgermeester dikwels by die uitgrawings sien rondloop, want hy was altyd dáár om toe te sien dat alles vlot loop.
Houtwerk
Hy was ook in sy ampstermyn vasberade om die toerismepotensiaal van die dorp uit te brei, en het die dorp in verskeie toerisme en reklame-organisasies verteenwoordig. Ook op kulturele en godsdienstige gebied was hy aktief. Noudat hy uiteindelik afgetree het, gaan hy al sy aandag aan sy appelkoosboord en houtwerk-stokperdtjie skenk. Die houtskeppings wat uit sy werkwinkel kom, is kunswerke ʼn beroepskrynwerker sou trots daarop wees.
1ste Burger wys sy slag met houtwerk
(Deur Beula Liebenberg)
MONTAGU. — Mev. Sia Cilliers, Burgemeestersvrou van Montagu, het die gedagte uitge- spreek om ’n bydrae ter bevordering van Burgerlike Beskerming op Montagu te maak.
Die Noodhulpafdeling van die Burgerlike Beskerming het dadelik daarin ’n gulde geleentheid gesien om ’n baie duur, maar bruikbare en nuttige artikel vir hulle opleidingswerk te bekom — Resusci Anne, ’n vol lyfpop wat ’n paar honderd Rand kos en besonder geskik is om kunsmatige asemhaling en hartmassering op te oefen.
Mev. Cilliers het die hulp van haar man, mnr. Willie Cilliers, die burgemeester, ingeroep. Hy was dadelik gewillig om sy vaardigheid as meubelmaker in te span en ’n popwiegie te maak.
Dit moes iets besonders wees en die outydse babaskommelwiegie in Jouberthuis, onlangs deur die Staatspresident geopen, het as inspirasie gedien.
Mnr. Cilliers het ’n klein replika van die wiegie uit egte stink en geelhout gemaak. Hierdie wiegie, volledig met beddegoed, sal eersdaags ten toon gestel word by die Munisipale Kantoor, asook by die Biblioteek, Museum en Jouberthuis.
Belangstellendes wat in hierdie waardevolle wiegie belangstel, kan donasiekaartjies van R1 koop met die moontlikheid om dalk uiteindelik die trotse besitter daarvan te word.
Op die foto verskyn die babawiegie met die popwiegie op die voorgrond
1986
Mev. A. Keller
(Uit die 1986 “Press Book” Montagu Museum)
MONTAGU. – Mev. Annatjie Keller is op 24 November as Montaguer van die Jaar aangewys. Die kandidate was mev. Keller en mnre. Louis Kachelhoffer, Gustav Biesenbach, Sonny Malan en Fred Davis. Mnr. Willie Cilliers, vorige Montaguer van die Jaar, het die beker aan mev. Keller oorhandig.
Mev. Keller het die afgelope jaar ʼn groot bydrae tot die vooruitgang van die dorp en gemeenskap gelewer. Sy het gedurende die jaar verskilende funkies gereël waaronder die ontvangs van die nuwe dominee en kerkraadslede was.
Sy was Streeksorganiseerder van die plaaslike bloeddiens-tak en voorsitter van die Suid-Afrikaanse Noodhulpligatak en het selfs daar klas gegee. Voorts was mev. Keller hoof van die Noodhulpdiens-afdeling van Montagu se Burgerlike Beskerming en Tesourier van die W.P.B.O.D., die Suiderkruisvereniging en Tesourier en Sekretaresse van die Tuinbouverening.
Sy is ook Bestuurslid van die Bewaringskomitee, die plaaslike Gemeenskaps-ontwikkelingsvereniging, die Nasionale Party en Voorsitter van die plaaslike Nasionale Party-tak.
Sy is ook Ondervoorsitter van die VLV en het ook trimgimklasse vir senior burgers gegee.
1987
Mnr. N. Burger
(Uit die 1987 “Press Book” Montagu Museum)
Die Rapportryerskorps van Montagu het onlangs die Montaguer van die Jaar benoem. Hy is mnr. Niel Burger, ʼn vrugteboer van die Koo, wat onder meer benoem is vir sy bydrae tot toerisme. Mnr. Burger het ʼn sleepwa gebou wat hy agter ʼn groot trekker gehaak het, en nou vervoer hy elke naweek ʼn vrag toeriste tot bo-op die Langeberg. Die ander kandidate was prof. Mike Hough, mnr. Dieter Sowade en mnr. Louis Kachelhoffer. Hier ontvang mnr. Niel Burger (regs) die trofee van mnr. P. Nothnagel, voorsitter van die Rapportryers.
A tribute to Niel Burger
From the Protea Farm website
On 11 July 2025, the farm said goodbye to one of its greatest caretakers — Daniel Petrus Burger, affectionately known as Niel.
A devoted father, grandfather, and the visionary behind much of the farm’s transformation into a place of welcome, nature, and rest, Niel was the heartbeat of this land for many decades.
Born on 19 September 1938, Niel was a man of quiet strength and deep humility. He walked closely with his Creator, worked with his hands, and loved the land with a kind of reverence that could be felt in every orchard, stone wall, and winding road he built.
His life’s work was not just farming — it was sharing. He believed the land was a gift meant to be enjoyed by others, and over time, transformed the farm into a place of welcome and wonder. He personally built the road leading up the Langeberg mountain, testing just how far the tractor could go — at times reaching as high as 1,500 metres above sea level. A trailer was later attached, taking visitors up to experience the panoramic views he so dearly loved.
Even in his later years, Niel continued to build — most notably creating Populierbos, a tranquil riverside campsite he designed and constructed himself at the age of 80. His adventurous spirit, love for nature, and refusal to sit still were trademarks of a life lived fully.
He was rarely seen without his blue overall, often walking the farm or working with the soil. He noticed the small things — the changing seasons, the quiet corners, the patterns of birds and wind. And he honoured them.
Prayer was a natural extension of his life — spoken with sincerity, clarity, and deep respect. Those who heard him pray often remarked on the closeness he shared with the Lord, as if speaking to a trusted friend.
The memorial was held where it felt most right: on the farm, in one of the sheds, with a fire burning gently — simple, grounded, and true to his character.
Niel Burger leaves behind a living legacy: in the orchards he planted, the homes he built, the roads he carved into the mountainside — and most of all, in the generations of family and friends who continue to walk the path he started.
A short visual presentation can be viewed below, capturing just a glimpse of the life and love he poured into this land.
https://youtu.be/wwywTXDQAfQ?t=27
1988
Mnr. L.S. Kachelhoffer
Louis and Inez Kachelhoffer – picture taken on their 55th wedding anniversary
Artist of the Month
From Banker to Artist
(Montagu Mail October 1997)
After almost 16 years in Montagu, Louis Kachelhoffer finally has enough time to work on a one-man exhibition of paintings – only his second since 1984.
So involved has he been with tourism promotion, conservation, newsletters and festivals, that Louis has never been able to get together enough new works.
In addition, the demand for his beautiful still life’s, Montagu landscapes and town scenes is such that he can barely keep up creating new works. The artworks on view at Gallery Tuscany, Tickled Pink coffee shop and Jessica’s Restaurant are often bought unframed, especially by overseas visitors. Jessica’s used to be Gallery Luigi, a landmark which Louis owned and ran for 10 years until 1994. This separate little building on the spacious Bath Street property where he and Inez lived was perfect as an art gallery. It was with great regret that they gave it up when they sold the house to move to Avalon Place.
A banker by profession, Louis is a self-taught artist who has been painting as a hobby since 1946. He worked with the South African artist Vera Volschenk and in Italy with the Florentine artist Walter Fusi in 1963.
Over a six month period in 1984 he attended a pastel course at the Artists’ Co-op in Observatory and he also joined Dale Elliot’s painting holiday in Knysna.
Louis designed the Celtic Cross for Broken Hill Presbyterian Church in Zambia, mosaic artworks for St Mungo’s Church in Bryanston and for the Montagu Council Chamber.
He has exhibited all over South Africa – but still found time to be deeply involved in community life since his arrival in Montagu in 1981. Even then Louis saw the potential of tourism in this region and served in Western Cape Tourism, attended expo’s in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg and joined the Regional Services Council committee to establish the Breede River Valley as a tourism destination.
Louis was chairman of the Montagu Publicity Association for many years and was part of the (sadly defunct) Long Street Group, which laboured to preserve this historic part of town.
He was also a town councilor for eight years with tourism as his main portfolio and was elected Montaguer of the Year in 1988.
Over the years, Louis designed many Montagu brochures and was one of the first artists to produce sketches for postcards of Montagu. He was also one of the first to draw and paint the landscape around us and to portray the unique character of the town on paper and canvas.
The many beautiful paintings and drawings on the walls of their spacious flat tell of Louis’ passion for his and other people’s art. From the smallest still life of two or three fruits, to large canvasses of Montagu hills or drawings of historic town scenes, Louis’ artworks are the product of a gentle country spirit.
Hard to believe he was once a full-time banker!
Golden Wedding Anniversary
(Montagu Mail January 2001)
Congratulations to Louis and Inez Kachelhoffer, who celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on the 8th of December 2000. They have been living in Montagu for the past 19 years.
Louis and Inez (nee Gates), pictured here on their big day, who were living in Pretoria at the time, were married in the De Aar Methodist Church by the Reverend Irons, who was officiating at his first wedding. Inez says she doesn’t know who was more nervous, the minister or the wedding couple!
Louis and Inez on their wedding day
Photo: Montagu Mail
Reminiscences of 20 years in Montagu
(by Louis Kachelhoffer Montagu Mail January 2002)
On 13th November 1981, Inez and I ‘immigrated’ to Montagu – city slickers from bustling Sandton, and Engels-sprekend nogal!
Although it was the same friendly Montagu as it is today, we were advised that we would only qualify as Montaguers after 20 years. Having now reached that exalted status, our question is, do we receive certificates or medals, or must we make a claim under the Land Apportionment Act?
To set the scene: On our arrival we found a town in a state of post-deluge shock, although the disastrous flood had occurred in January, some ten months earlier. At the Springs the devastation bore mute witness to the enormity of the tragedy, with debris everywhere, the hot spring bubbling out of a square hole in a concrete slab and the sand-clogged ruins of the hotel still untouched (and so it remained till 1984!).
Apart from us, there were only about six ‘Engelse’ residents in Montagu in those days, but nevertheless, the friendly people of Montagu accepted these strangers unconditionally.
So, on 13th November 1981, ex-bank manager and experienced secretary took over a shop selling gifts, jewellery and music, and enjoyed ourselves for about four years. We lived above the shop (now the Inn Place) and heard the locals returning home from the cinema at Smittie’s cafe, especially on Friday nights.
Sewerage was furthest from our minds – at least, till we came to Montagu. One day as Inez was enjoying the fresh morning air on the back balcony, she was amazed to see a man shouldering a bucket emerge from the outdoor toilet! The whole town was in an uproar as far as sewerage was concerned, with some insisting on a new waterborne sewerage scheme, and others wishing to retain the archaic septic tank system. What acrimonious public meetings we had, with opposing sides practically coming to blows! When the forward-thinkers finally triumphed, Montagu was soon criss-crossed with trenches, some several metres deep, and there were cases of inebriated gentlemen, and even a motorcyclist, ending up at the bottom – some overnight.
Montagu then entered a worrying period, when everything seemed to go into reverse gear: Brink Brothers departmental store, where everyone shopped or met for tea or a light meal, announced their closure. After that, there was a succession of closures or moves: Brink Bros, fruit-packing store (now processing peach pips) closed down, as did the KWV distillery and brandy stores, Montagu Station (where railway buses and trucks were based), as well as the Divisional Council building in Bath Street. Where were the redundant workers going to get work?
As far as tourism was concerned in those days, the Council was in no way convinced that it was a good thing, and it took considerable cajoling to get an information office approved, with Maryna Martin as office-bearer, paid by the Municipality.
A little further down Bath Street, Fred and Felicity Davis-Armitage opened ‘Something Special’ coffee shop, which lived up to its name, drawing folk from Ashton, Robertson etc., and which was even open on a Sunday!
We continued our task of selling tourism to the Council, and managed to rep¬resent Montagu at local, regional, provincial and even national level. Montagu called the tune on tourism throughout the Breede River Valley, and we did our thing at conventions in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town.
Of course, the re-building of the Avalon Springs Hotel and the Montagu Springs development which got under way in 1984, gave a fresh injection of tourists to our town, and in no time we could boast over 1000 beds available nightly.
Montagu was one of the first towns to have tarred roads and electricity avail¬able to all in the townships, and also boasted the first transitional local council in the Western Cape, and we believe, in the entire country.
But how the degeneration and demise of our Muscadel Festival has saddened us! This annual event was instituted in the 1950’s and we were actively involved in its continuation for several years in the 80’s and 90’s. The festival was nationally known, and promoted by supplements in the Argus and Die Burger. For those Montaguers (official or not) who have never experienced one, let us elucidate:
And in 2001? – A little huddle of craft and other stalls at the lower end of Kohler Street. Do we need outsiders selling clothing, etc, when our own townsfolk could do better with local products and crafts? Why must such a festival be held on the west side of Bath Street, when the rugby field is more accessible to all our citizens?
There were float processions with businesses, schools, banks, etc com¬peting, with floats of all kinds; bands, processions, dancing in the streets, and a competition for the best-deco¬rated shop window. On the rugby field, all manner of events and competitions – a fun fair, a large wine garden and, of course, the braai competition, brain¬child of the late Justine Basson, which drew competitors from as far afield as Pretoria and Namibia, as well as entries from KWV, Gilbeys, SFW, etc.
We have grown to love this beautiful town and its people, and have tried to give something back by being involved in local government, national politics, the music society, museums, women’s forum, hospital, nature garden, sakekamer, ratepayer’s asso¬ciation, tourism, art, aesthe¬tics, ward committees, hiking and mountain reserves, pre¬servation of Long Street and religious activities.
To crown it all, we recently discovered that Johannes Bernardus Kachelhoffer, my great- grand-father, and his family lived here in the early 1850’s. He was apparently a school principal and played the organ in the NG Kerk. Maybe we now qualify as Montaguers! (Although we’ve recently heard a rumour that to actually qualify as a Montaguer, you have to have a baby in Montagu!)
Article
(Montagu Mail May 2009)
Louis Kachelhoffer died at his home in Montagu early last month. He was 83.
Louis was a remarkable man in every way. He matriculated with distinction from Paarl Boys High in 1942, served in Egypt and Italy with the South African Air Force during VWV2, enjoyed an eminent career in banking, and distinguished himself in art, and community service in Montagu when he retired.
After the war Louis attended the University of Cape Town for three years before joining Barclays Bank, a company he was to serve for 33 years. His career took him to Southern and Northern Rhodesia. Passing his final banking exams with flying colours, he came home to South Africa and was immediately asked to re-write the bank’s Foreign Exchange Handbook. This he accomplished in three weeks.
As Premises Manager he organised the bank’s exhibitions at the Rand East Show, winning ten Gold Medals in the process.
When he and his wife Inez settled in Montagu in 1981, having taking early retirement due to her ill-health, they became immediately active in the community. It was Louis who persuaded the then municipality that the town’s future depended greatly on tourism and as a result the first Tourist office in the region was opened here.
He served on local, regional and provincial Tourism committees, assisted with the organisation of festivals and shows, helped found the Montagu Community Church, and was a Town Councillor for eight years.
In 1988 he was voted ‘Montaguer of the Year’.
At the same time Louis was busy with his art, painting and exhibiting widely, and enjoying quite a career as local correspondent for a number of major South African daily newspapers.
A remarkable man who lived life to the full and enjoyed the distinction he earned.
1989
Mnr. W.D. “Dieter” Sowade
Visit https://montagumuseum.co.za/montagu-stories/avalon-springs/ for more information on Dieter Sowade
1990
Mnr. J.D. “Calvyn” le Roux
Mnr. Calvyn le Roux was Burgemeester met die opening van die voëlhuid by die Natuurtuin
Foto: Hugo de Wet
Mr. le Roux tydens ʼn sosiaal verhaal in Montagu saam met President F W de Klerk en die vorige Burgermeesters van Montagu
Van l.n.r.: W.G. Cilliers, Dr. T.U. Alston, J.D. le Roux, President F.W. de Klerk, W.J. Louwrens, J. Viljoen, C.F. le Riche, M. Wahl en S.J. Poggenpoel. Voor: K.W. Knipe
Foto: Richard Knipe
1991
Mev. M. Barnes
(Uit die 1991 “Press Book” Montagu Museum)
1992
Mnr. G.B. Biesenbach
Left Dr. Nolan with Gustav Biesenbach at a golf club social occasion
Agter L/R: P. Warnich, E.A. Labuschagne, W. Herbst, A. van Wyk, Van Noordwyk, I. Kriel, B. Steenkamp
Middel L/R: Malherbe (?), N. van Zyl, M. Kilian, M. du Toit, L. Visser, N. King, S. Erasmus, Oom Paultjie Fouche,
Voor L/R: Onbekend, Jo Vermeulen, W. Lourens, G. Biesenbach Skoolhoof, Liebenberg (?), J Biesenbach, Le Roux (?)
Foto: Marandie Maddison
1993
Mnr. W.J.Louwrens
Mnr. Lourens tree as gasheer op tydens die besoek aan Montagu van Nelson Mandela
Pictures: Montagu Mail January 2014
Totsiens aan geliefde egpaar Louwrens
(Montagu Mail July 2000)
Dit was ‘n gebaar van eer en verdriei toe ‘n bejaarde Kleurlingman in Badstraat onlangs ‘n paar blomme een vir een laat val het soos hy loop.
“Ek treur oor Oom Willem en Tannie Anna,” het hy gesê.
Montagu se burgemeesterspaar is albei op Sondag 11 Junie in ‘n motorongeluk naby Rawsonville oorlede. Die gemeenskap het hul liefde en agting betoon by ʼn volgepakte roudiens in die NG Kerk.
“Ek het Wiliem 45 jaar lank geken en die afgelope 15 jaar in sy skaduwee geloop,” het mnr. Philip Claassens gesê. “Hy was ‘n persoon wie bereid was om altyd sy oor te leen, en eers te luister en te beredeneer alvorens hy ‘n opinie uitspreek.
“In alle opsigte was hy ‘n man van integriteit. Montagu was sy alpha en omega. Trouens, hy en Anna het gesê wanneer hulle aftree, hulle nie na hul strandhuis gaan trek nie. Hy wou op Montagu bly woon tot sy dood.”
Mev. Louwrens was vir 38 jaar lid van die VLV. Van die bestuur en lede hierdie huldeblyk:
“Anna was ten tye van haar dood ‘n bestuurslid van die VLV. Sy het haar plek getrou volgestaan, ongeag die vele ander verpligtinge wat sy as Burgemeestersvrou gehad het. Ons sal haar nagedagtenis eer en haar plekkie by ons sal leeg wees.
“Willem het altyd begrip gehad vir enige probleem wat by die VLV opgeduik het. Die lede sal hom ook onthou as ‘n dinamiese spreker.
“Saam het hulle ‘n merkwaardige span gevorm deurdat hul harte en hul deur altyd vir enigeen oop was. Hul heengaan is ‘n groot verlies vir ons vereniging – ons sal hulle baie mis.”
Oom Willem, soos hy alom bekend was, sal veral vir sy enorme bydrae tot die Montagu Hospitaal onthou word. Hy het van meet af aan die aktiwiteite van die Vriende van die Hospitaal deelgeneem, voorstelle gemaak en uiteindelik die her-skepping van die groot tuin as sy persoonlike taak aanvaar en volvoer.
Die egpaar Louwrens was albei ten nouste by opvoeding betrokke en honderde leerlinge is deur hul hande. Oom Willem het 36 jaar by die Montagu Hoerskool klas gegee en tannie Anna was by Laerskool Ashton en
Montagu Pre-premêr in diens, by Ig. as skoolhoof vir 17 jaar.
Oom Willem het die afgelope 12 jaar in die stadsraad van Montagu gedien en was ses jaar burgemeester. Hy was ook nou betrokke by die Wes- Kaapse Vereniging van Plaaslike Regeringsorganisasies en het sterk vertoë gerig tot die Munisipale Afbakeningsraad in verband met die nuwe munisipale grense.
“Hulle was geërs, nie ontvangers nie,” het een Montaguer van Willem en Anna Louwrens gesê.
By monde van Jacques Kriel van die Montagu Landbouvereniging is die volgende ontvang:
“Ons wil langs hierdie weg vir mnr. Willem Louwrens se familie se sterkte. Ons gaan hom ook geweldig mis.”
Hiermee betuig die Montagu Mail ook sy diepste meegevoel aan die families van Willem en Anna Louwrens.
1994
Mev. A. Gerber
(Uit die 1994 “Press Book” Montagu Museum)
Sharon & Adin Greaves
(Article found in museum archive unknown author)
Proprietors: Mimosa Lodge
September 1995
Adin Greaves above centre, Sharon Greaves above left, Sharon and Harriet January the Mimosa chef above right, Mimosa staff below,
Pictures: Aiden & Sharon Greaves
Sharon was born of farming stock in the Eastern Cape [Port Alfred] and worked there for many years as a legal secretary before joining SABC as secretary to the English department.
While resident in the Eastern Cape she distinguished herself by winning all the major trophies for jams and preserves at the Bathurst Show and becoming an Eastern Cape Trout Fishing champion.
Adin was born in Pretoria, schooled in Natal and did his B.Comm extramurally at Pretoria University. He was a senior manager at Barclays Bank prior to joining the Eastern Province Building Society at its Head Office in Grahamstown, where he became Deputy General Manager until 1988 when he had to retire for health reasons and purchased Mimosa Lodge. While in Pretoria, Adin was awarded Springbok Colours for five consecutive years from 1957 for clay pigeon shooting.
At present Adin is Deputy Chairman of the Guest House Association, a Board member of Breede River Tourism and a member of the Management Committee of Breede River Tourism. Adin is on the marketing committee of West Coast Tourism. He is also a member of SATOUR’s steering committee on Guest Houses and a nominee to represent the industry on SATOUR Standards Committee. Adin is also a member of the Montagu Publicity Association, while Sharon is on the Montagu Nature Garden committee.
Adin and Sharon took over Mimosa Lodge in May 1988. At that stage the Lodge had eleven bedrooms, nine of which shared a common bathroom and loo – this at a time when there were only eight accommodation establishments in the Western Cape that would today qualify as Guest Houses – every year the Lodge has been upgraded, including the building of The Den [opened by the Administrator of the Cape – Kobus Meiring in 1992].
The Lodge has been fortunate to have one of the highest accommodation figures in the country, with an occupancy rate in excess of 85% for the whole year for the last five years and in 1994 and 1995 exceeded 96%.
1996
Mnr. J.D. van Deventer
(Uit die 1996 “Press Book” Montagu Museum)
vervolg hieronder
Bo regs: JD by die Montagu rolbal klub (2025)
1997
The Montaguer of the year award was shared
Mev. J. Biesenbach en mnr. W.J. Louwrens (sien 1993)
Montaguers van die Jaar
(Montagu Mail)
Die Rapportryers van Montagu het vanjaar weer ʼn spoggeleenheid in die Montagu Museum gereël om hulde te bring aan inwoners wat in die afgelope jaar besonderse bydraers tot die dorp en sy gemeenskap gelewer het.
Mev. Jeanne Biesenbach en mnr. Willem Louwrens is gesamelik aangewys as Montaguers van die Jaar. Dit is die eerste keer in 18 jaar dat die trofee gedeel word. Die gasspreker by die geleentheid vanjaar was mnr. Gert Lubbe van die Montagu Herberg.
Picture: The book Esther
Berig
(Montagu Mail Januarie 2004)
Diepas uitgetrede voorsitter van die Estetiese Komitee, mev. Jeanne Biesenbach is op Donderdag 11 November deur die Raad van die Breerivier/Wynland Munisipaliteit met ‘n oorkonde vereer.
Tydens ‘n geselligheid in die Munisipale kantoor op Montagu is die versierde dokument deur prof. Flip de Wet, die uitvoerende Burgemeester aan haar oorhandig. Die meeste lede van die nuwe Estetiese Komitee asook Raadslede het die geleentheid bygewoon.
In sy toespraak het prof. De Wet gesê dat mev. Biesenbach as ‘t ware die Estetiese Komitee was en dat dit haar lewenswerk is wat hier op Montagu lê.
“Sy was en is die aristokrasie van die omgewing,” was sy woorde. “Sy was inderdaad Mevrou Bewaring, altyd bereid om te dien.
“Hoewel sy nie meer op die komitee dien nie, moet almal weet: Julie sal bars as iets op hierdie dorp verkeerd loop!” het hy onder luide gelag bygevoeg.
Hy het ook gesê dat mev. Biesenbach nie net namens die Raad nie, maar ook namens die mense van Montagu bedank word.
In haar antwoord het mev. Biesenbach gesê dat in die bykans 20 jaar dat sy as Voorsitter van die komitee gedien het, dit soms moeilik, maar altyd ‘n vreugde was.
“Ek sal elke Montaguer in die oë kan kyk. Hoewel ons nog nie ‘n sterk bewaringkultuur soos Europa het nie, is die werk wat ons hier doen ‘n sprekende voorbeeld van wat bereik kan word. In 1998 het die Wes-Kaapse regering dele van Montagu voorgestel vir W6-status.
“Die Estetiese Komitee van Montagu word hoog geag deur mense soos die befaamde argitekte Fabio Todeschini, asook ICOMOS, die intemasionale raad van museums. Hier is talle leundiges op die komitee en hulle word deur die munisipale raadgewers gesteun. Ons voorbeeld word dikwels deur ander dorpe in die Wes-Kaap gevolg,” het mev. Biesenbach gesê, en die BWR en die burgemeester van harte bedank.
1998
Mev. D. Terblanche
Geliefde Deleine
Montaguer van die Jaar
(Montagu Mail Desember 1998)
By ʼn swierige geleentheid in die Montagu Herberg is die beminde mev. Deleine Terblanche deur die Rapportryerskorps van Montagu as die 19de Montaguer van die Jaar aangewys.
Dit was ʼn besonder gewilde keuse, aangesien mev. Terblanche bekend is om haar toewyde betrokkenheid by talle klubs en verenigings op die dorp. Veral die Natuurtuin is ʼn instelling waarop die waardige en energieke dame trots kan wees.
Ons wens haar hartlik geluk met die toekenning!
Grande Dame Deleine Terblanche
(Montagu mail Junie 2008)
Deleine Terblanche – a person with a heart the size of Africa. She has a passion for nature in general, a passion for the youth, a passion for her children and a passion for life.
Brought up in De Aar and Klerksdorp, where she met and married the love of her life, Stephanus (Steve), Deleine eventually moved to Windhoek, South West Africa (now Namibia) where Steve was appointed Attorney General.
Much of her time in Namibia was spent helping the youth of the area during their learning and informative years, a practice that she continued when she and Steve retired to Montagu during 1974; as always, showing a sincere interest in the well-being of others.
They moved to Montagu as they were missing their three daughters, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren so much and spent the intervening years enjoying the pleasure of being near the family. Steve passed away in 1999.
Deleine’s interest in nature came to the fore after they moved to Montagu. Her involvement in the Nature Garden, where she served as President of the Society for eight years, is testament to a lady who feels for and loves the community which she served for so long.
Deleine always enjoyed a healthy lifestyle and we can still picture her accompanying the late Sylvia Krige on daily walks through Montagu. Every day is a special occasion and Deleine is always elegantly attired and the perfect lady.
“My love of bridge and scrabble keep the brain cells in first gear” says Deleine “even though the body tends to lag behind a bit these days. I still have a wonderful circle of good friends, with whom we used to socialise regularly during our younger days, and of course the family who still provides the spark that makes life so exciting.”
One can wax lyrical about this ‘Grande Dame’s’ achievements, but, being the modest person that she is, she prefers to take a back seat when it comes to praise.
Tannie Deleine – the people of Montagu thank you for all you have contributed to the youth of Montagu and the Nature Garden. Because of you, Montagu is a richer place!
The picture below shows a number of Montaguers of the Year at one gathering
Blackie Badenhorst arranged a gathering of Thelma Gutsche’s friends on the anniversary of her birthday to lay her ashes to rest in the Montagu Nature Garden.
Back: L/R – Justine Basson, Willie Cilliers(Mayor), Arthur Wegelin, Suria Vermeulen, Dalene Terblanche, Wytske Wegelin, Ewie Basson
Middle: L/R – Cia Cilliers, Piet Badenhorst, Inez Kachelhoffer, Louis Kachelhoffer
Front L/R Blackie Badenhorst, Sylvia Krige
Photographer: Esther Hofmeyr
Contributions: Blackie Badenhorst, Errol Punt, Irma Jordaan, Jeanne Biesenbach, Sharon and Adin Greaves
