Potchefstroom College Old Boys society

Special points of interest:

Armistice Service and Reunion dinner / weekend in November Launch of OM 100CLUB Lessons learnt from Jeppe Old Boys Praise pours in for College boys manners Old Boys build a Health Centre

V o l u m e

1 ,

I s s u e

1 4

S e p t e m b e r

2 0 1 2

Social media gets Old Boys talking

Over the past few months the Old Boys committee have spent long hours working out a new plan and strategy for the society going forward. One of the key fundamentals we needed to improve if we are to see more involvement from the Old Boys in the school is to communicate more frequently and via more channels. The way to build communication is three fold; monthly newsletters with the latest news from the Old Boys society as well as the latest news and results from College. The other area we have now established is an official presence is via Facebook and Twitter and if the first two months of activity is anything to go on then we are heading in the right direction. On our Facebook page we now have two social media platforms is to communicate the very latest news we have about College and of course the Old Boys. All the latest sports results from College are tweeted out as soon as they come to hand. We have even being getting half time score updates when it comes to 1st team rugby. This will continue to improve and spread across to other school sports. As a committee we continue to find new and better ways to communicate and be proactive. We ask for your feedback and support to achieve this goal. http://www.facebook.com/ PotchOldBoys

Inside this issue: Manners to be proud of OM 100 CLUB

2 2

over 310 followers and growing. Twitter is also growing with a total of 90 followers. The aim of these

Health Cen- 2 tre November class ReunOld Boyd rugby day Catch up with Jeppe Chairmans address

3 3 3 4

Passing of Squeaky van der Walt

Jochem van der Walt (14 March 193624 July 2012). Jochem passed away in Potchefstroom at about 17H40 on the 24 July 2012. Mr. van der Walt taught at College for 30 years from 1963 to 1992. He started teaching as a junior Afrikaans teacher and was also a housemaster in Granton. After Mr. Macfarlane retired he was the Senior Housemaster in Milton. He was later appointed Senior Assistant for Afrikaans and further to that was appointed Head of Department. There were many great stories about Squeaky and his organ playing ability and training the school cadet band. RIP to a great man.

Page 2

OM 100CLUB
This club is open to all Old Boys who are able to setup a Debit Order for a minimum monthly contribution of R100. This funding will be used for the betterment of College. We have a charGiven the minimal fund- tered accountant old boy ing model C schools get namely, Craig Wilson from the government any (Granton 1994) who will old boy that can afford to be managing the funds give back to the school and making sure every that gave them so much cent is accounted for. All should read on. members will have access to these financials . Welcome to the 100Club. We are currently workThere is only one way Potchefstroom High School for Boys will be able to go from strength to strength and that is with the help of the Old Boys themselves. ing on member benefits however as mentioned before the main focus is the school and support there of. Communication is key and a monthly newsletter along with special offers that are available from various Old Boys will be past on as part of the membership. Invites to sports events at the school including a meal afterwards is another thought. Thanks to Craig for donating time to this position.

Front doors at College.

Building of the Health Centre

Time for old boys to give back to the school that gave them so much
For as long as I can remember the gym was hidden away behind the dinning hall. No longer! With the assistance of a health / gym consultant from Potchefstroom university and Old boy Geoff Peck who took charge of the design of the new Health Centre phase one of three is now complete. This project came about thanks to the passion of Alex Paiva, an old boy himself. Alex is head of Sports at College and believes that there is only one way College will be able to compete against the other top model C schools on the sports field and that is to have a world class Health Centre. This project has been funded by The Old Boys society and InkazimuloThe Shining Light Trust in conjunction with the Parent Pupil fund which is also managed by the Old Boys. We certainly look forward to the results that will be achieved through the use of this great new facility.

Manners to be proud of
College boys shining on the manners front A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to be able to go back to College for a visit. I was excited to be going back which was a little different to how I felt catching the bus back to school on a Sunday evening from Johannesburg in Form 7. One of the things that stood out for me was the manners of the boys and how they had not changed over the years. Boys still standing up to greet old boys with the traditional Sir. The boys manners have also been recognized by parents of other schools with via email and even a letter published in the local newspaperThe Herald. The newspaper article was about the boys conduct at a recent rugby game played by the Leopards. Well done boys and keep flying the flag!

Volume 1, Issue 1

Page 3

Armistice Service & Class reunion dinner

Relive the memories of them to make up a group over this weekend. Wives and girlfriends are most welcome to attend too. Cost: R180-00 per person Dress code Dark suite and tie
Email Esm for further details:

finance @potchboyshigh.co.za It would be a good idea to book in to a bed and breakfast in Potchefstroom. Looking forward to seeing all you Old Boys back in Potch for the Armistice Service and ReA great union dinner.

DATE: 10th November 2012 One of the reasons for the success of this event over the years has been that Old Boys from each participating year, have contacted old classmates and encouraged Includes matric years including: 1942, 47, 52, 57, 62, 67, 72, 77, 82, 87, 92, 97, 02, 07

Old Boys rugby day to change

On the 21 July 2012 a large group of Old Boys enjoyed a day together at College. Some Old Boys came to visit their old school and see all the improvements that have been made since they left and others came to enjoy the rugby. The Old Boys fielded a team to play against the school and this game was played in great spirit and was enjoyed by all. With the school supporting both the Old Boys and the 1st team there really was no loser on the day. College first team ended up winning the entertaining game of rugby. We are potentially looking to change the format of the day to make it more family orientated. The aim is to bring Old Boys back with their families so they can show the school off with pride to their loved ones. Entertainment could include face painting & jumping castles for little ones. Watch this space!

school with great teachers, great boys and most of all great memories

Catch up with Jeppe Old Boys

Last month a few of us caught up with Dale Jackson from Jeppe Boys High. Dale is the third generation of the Jackson family to attend Jeppe Boys High with all three generations being head boys. It was fantastic listening to Dale speak about Jeppe Boys, a school he is very proud to have attended so much so he sold his CA business to focus on the Jeppe Old Boys society. Dale continues to do amazing things in conjunction with Old Boys to support the school. Dale also shared a lot of great initiatives with us and we certainly left the meeting inspired with allot of ideas and points of discussion. We will continue to meet with these great schools to learn how we can conThe staff gardens have tinue to improve College by involving been upgraded thanks to the Old Boys. Old Boys.

The Rev Dr. J.B. Webb (OM) on the occasion of the schools 50th anniversary in 1955 Potchefstroom College for Boys has made its impact upon the life of this country and beyond its borders. It has provided leadership in many spheres of public life, and it has sent forth thousands of young men whose names will never appear in any scrolls of fame, but who did learn how to live and how to maintain the decencies and fidelities without which life is but a shambles. May the spirit of the school continue to convince succeeding generations that: Justorum Semita Lux Splendens
E-mail: newsletter@potcholdboys.co.za

Potchefstroom College Old Boys society

(The Path of the Just is a Shining Light)

IUSTORUM SEMITA LUX SPLENDENS

Address of the chairman:

I would like to pass on our sincere thanks to all the Old Boys who have contributed up until now . There are many ways Old Boys can get involved and help us keep College where it belongs and strive for improvements. If you feel you are able to contribute in any way to make a difference please email us at newsletter@potcholdboys.co.za
We do believe that if we all play a small part we can make a huge difference. I hope you have enjoyed the new format of the newsletter which we will be publishing on a bi-monthly basis. I encourage you all to please join the 100Club. For any further information regarding the 100Club please either email Greg Mortimer greg@potcholdboys.co.za Or call him on 0798124332. If anyone has any ideas on improvements to the monthly newsletter or have any news they would like to have published please do email us on newsletter@potcholdboys.co.za We are working very hard to get our database of Old Boys up to date so if you could please make sure we have your latest details that would be fantastic.

is contributing many hours in assisting with the drawings for the remodeling. If there are any Old Boys who believe they can contribute in any way to this great initiative please do get in touch with us. Once again I would like to extend my gratitude to all the Old Boys and sponsors who assisted in making the new Health Centre / Gym a reality. Thanks once again and remember: GO COLLEGE! Regards, Athol Weddell

Our next big project will be the upgrading of the Ackermann Centre. Geoff Peck once again