04/11/2014
Hi All
Thank you to each and everyone that pitched for the 1 November 2014 SAAF Photographers Past and Present Reunion. No excuses offered for the lack of photographs as my focus was on getting everyone together on the day and there certainly was a number of highlights from a personal perspective.
Having Barney Polden present, aged 87, was a highlight as he is undoubtedly the oldest surviving SAAF Photographer at this time. Accompanied by his wife Cecilia, and daughter, Norma, they made it clear that he would only be present for the group photograph due to failing health. The fact that they were present for almost the full duration of the reunion and enjoyed the Spitbraai speaks volumes of how much they enjoyed the occasion.
Only Sgt Willem Hennop was absent from completing a 1985 AFB Langebaanweg Group Photograph as WO2 Jan de Villiers, Sgt DAD Louw, Sgt Allan Conolly and then FSgt Patrick Vermaak made theirs the most complete gathering of those present.
A special word of thanks to those who travelled far to be present. WO1 Hein van Niekerk flew down from that terrible place on the other side of the orange river whilst Maj Ben van Rooyen and his wife , G***t, joined us from Jeffries Bay. As did Col Johan Oosthuizen and his wife, Frieda.
Another personal highlight was that Maj Ben van Rooyen was my very first section head as WO1 at 1AD Voortrekkerhoogte in 1980 whilst WO2 Jan de Villers was my last section head at AFB Langebaanweg in 2006. I believe that everyone will be able to provide us with such personal comments about the who what where and when of their own experiences.
Arriving at 1AD as a complete newby Errol Sales greeted me with the word "catch" and I thought I was pretty good by obliging with cupped hands until the fully charged capacitor made it's arrival known. Errol was in tears laughing and never did I ever trust anything coming from his side. Good to have him and Elizabeth present from a distant Vishoek.
WO1 Niel le Roux and his wife, Marta, drove in from De Kelders and the former 12 Squadron Section Head seems ready to return to work. Gerrit "Kleintjie" van Aswegen flew in from Durban complete with the surfer look.
Local as in ex-DF Malan members Duppie and Cornelia du Plessis was joined by Anton Jordaan and Hennie Rudman with Vaughan du Toit another welcome addition. Theo Kitching drove down from Clanwilliam whilst Jerome and Martie Purdy drove in from Langebaan. Lt Col Matthys Carstens might have completed his career as the 22 Squadron commander, but he has never forgotten the fact that he started his career as a SAAF photographer.
Another personal element was the fact that the City of Cape Town Principal Photographer, Bruce Sutherland, joined the SAAF with me in 1980 and was present at Ysterplaat with his wife, Ingrid. Andries de Leeuw and his wife, Annie, were only reached shortly before the event and they did not hesitate to join in.
Pieter "Mossie" Verburg and his wife, Wilma, also joined in the festivities. Mossie and Anton possibly the driving force behind getting this reunion activated.
The only "present" members were WO1 Patrick Vermaak and wife, Anette, and WO2 Mark Widdicombe and wife, Annie.
Pity you missed it for whatever reason, but based on the general concensus of those present this will indeed become an annual event in the Western Cape.
Regards
Patrick Vermaak
