Toekie Vorster - Historiese Oorsig | Toekie Vorster - Historical Synopsis
Toekie Vorster Dameskoshuis is op 15 Mei 1962, met 129 meisies as die eerste inwoners, in gebruik geneem.
Die koshuis is vernoem na “Tannie Toekie Vorster”. Sy en haar eggenoot, Ben Vorster, was pioniers in die Laeveld. Ben en Toekie Vorster het ‘n sleutelrol gespeel in die totstandkoming van die Hoërskool Ben Vorster. Toekie was ‘n ware dame en het nie net ‘n betekenisvolle bydrae in haar gemeenskap gelewer nie, maar het ook haar man bygestaan in sy rol as politikus en boer en het haar kinders met sorg grootgemaak.
Die Hoërskool Ben Vorster het as eerbewys en erkenning vir haar bydrae die dameskoshuis na haar, Toekie Vorster, vernoem. Sy het ‘n groot rol gespeel in die vroeë jare van Die Hoërskool Ben Vorster se groei.
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Toekie Vorster Girls’ hostel became operational on 15 May 1962, with 129 girls as the first residents.
The hostel is named after “Tannie Toekie Vorster”. She and her spouse, Mr Ben Vorster, were pioneers in the Lowveld. Ben and Toekie Vorster played a key role in the inauguration of Hoërskool Ben Vorster. Toekie was a genuine lady and did not only make an important contribution to society, but also supported her husband in his role as politicial and farmer. She also brought up her children with great care
Hoërskool Ben Vorster named the girls’ hostel after her, Toekie Vorster, as a token of respect and recognition of her contribution to society. She played an important role in the early years of the growth of Hoërskool Ben Vorster.
‘n Terugblik van een van ons eerste inwoners… | Reminiscences of one of our first hostel residents...
Aan die begin van 1962, toe die skole heropen het, was die koshuise by die nuutgeboude Tzaneen Hoërskool nog nie voltooi nie. Ons klompie std 9-leerlinge wat moes inwoon, het nog by Hoër Landbouskool Merensky se koshuise gewoon en skool toe en terug gependel. ‘n Paar maande later het ons groep seuns en dogters in die splinternuwe meisieskoshuis ingetrek – die dogters in vleuel A en die seuns in vleuels B en C.
Die terrein was nog "woes en leeg"! Omdat die seunskoshuis nog nie voltooi was nie en daar nie ‘n ander opsie was nie moes die seuns en meisies saam in die eetsaal geëet het: vier seuns en vier dogters - std. 6-9 (vandag se gr 8-11) het aan een tafel gesit. Dit was die waarnemende hoof, Dr. Nic Weideman, se idée om almal glo beter tafelmaniere te leer- wat ‘n situasie! Almal was skaam - die meisies was ongemaklik en die seuns stom. Almal het dus waarskynlik minder geëet - en die kos was juis so lekker!
Mnr. Jan Slabbert was koshuisvader. Ek onthou hoe baie keer hy inspeksie gedoen het. Wat hy nie geweet het nie, is dat ons sy koms verwag het as gevolg van sy pyp se reuk en sy klein brakkie wat hom vooruitgeloop het. Dr. Weideman en sy gesin het ook in een van die woonstelle ingetrek. ‘n Bloedjong mnr. en mev. Lewellyn Labuschagne het in een van die woonstelle gebly - saam met twee std.9-meisies! Mev. Ansu Tosen (toe nog Mej. Breytenbach) sowel as mej. Vogel was ook inwoners in die koshuis.
Vrydagmiddae moes al die leerlinge se ouers die verlofboek by die personeellid aan diens teken voordat die leerlinge die koshuis vir die naweek kon verlaat. Dr. Weideman het hard probeer om al die std. 9's tot Saterdag na oggendstudie te laat bly. Die ontevrede ouers, natuurlik die leerlinge en ook die brandstofbeperkinge het hom inderdaad gou van die idee laat afsien.
Dit was ‘n wonderlike en heerlike begin van ‘n baie spesiale twee jaar in ons lewens. Die skool was ons trots en die koshuis ons tweede huis waarvan ek net goeie herinneringe koester - met persone wat saam met my die pad daar begin het. Met party het ek nog steeds kontak en dink gereeld aan ander wat ongelukkig nie meer met ons is nie.
Dit was jare gelede en nou is my oudste kleinkind ook al amper klaar by Die Hoërskool Ben Vorster.
Baie dankie dat ek hierdie paar herinneringe met julle kon deel.
Henna Minnaar (Ebersohn)
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At the beginning of 1962, when schools opened, the hostels at the newly built Tzaneen Hoërskool had not yet been completed. Our group of Std 9-pupils who had to board, still boarded at the hostels of Hoër Landbouskool Merensky from where we commuted back and forth to school. A few months later our group of boys and girls moved into the newly built girls’ hostel – the girls in wing A and the boys in wings B and C.
The terrain was still empty and wild! Due to the fact that the boys’ hostel hadn’t been completed at that time there was no option but to have the boys and girls eat together. Four boys and four girls from Std. 6 – 9 (today’s gr 8 – 11) sat at one table. This was the brainchild of the acting principal, Dr Nic Weideman, in order to teach everyone better table manners. What a situation! Everyone was shy: the girls were uncomfortable and the boys were speechless. So, everyone ate minimally... and the food WAS so delicious!
Mr Jan Slabbert was hostel father. I remember him doing many an inspection. What he didn’t know was that we were forwarned by the smell of his pipe and by his little dog who would be in front of him. Dr Weideman and his family also moved into one of the apartments. A very young Mr and Mrs Lewellyn Labuschagne stayed in an apartment with two Std 9 girls! Mrs Anso Tosen (still Miss Breytenbach) as well as Miss Vogel were also hostel residents. I cannot remember the others.
On Friday afternoons all the parents had to sign the leave book before the pupils could leave the hostel. Dr Weideman tried to get all the Std. 9s to stay in until after morning study on a Saturday. However, unhappy parents, their children and the fuel rationing caused him to ditch the idea.
That was a delightful beginning to a very special two years of our lives. The school was our pride and the hostel our home from home. I have only good memories of the people who started, together with me, on that road. I still have contact with some and unfortunately, some are no longer with us.
That was years ago and now my eldest grandchild has almost finished at Hoërskool Ben Vorster.
Thank you for allowing me to share these memories with you.
Henna Minnaar (Ebersohn)