Naval Heritage Society of SA
Chairman's Report 2009/2010
Every time I write the numerals 2 0 1 0 I am forced to think about stadia and small round balls and men in bright colours. But for the Naval Heritage Trust the year 2010 has other significance. It is the centennial year of the opening of the Simon's Town dockyard and much work has gone into the preparation of a book to commemorate that event. More about that later.
I want to report to you that your committee meets regularly and tackles issues from oral history programmes and publication of digests, to receiving survivors of HMS Dorsetshire and buying artworks to decorate the refurbished Job Masego mess.
A great deal of effort has gone into the first two, the first being the oral history programme with Warrant Officer Smudge Smith still doing sterling work interviewing people, joined by Commander Eddie Wesselo who has undertaken to drive the project to get those interviews transcribed into hard copy. I want to express my thanks to both of you in this regard.
As ever Admiral Chris Bennett has kept members up-to-date with our newsletters and has been instrumental, along with Admiral Arne Soderlund's invaluable support, in getting out the digests. The wonderful translation of Admiral Golovnin's account of being detained in Simon's Bay was launched most successfully at a very impressive event at The Palace attended by the Russian consul and other representatives of the Russian community. Having toasted Admiral Golvnin's memory in fine Russian vodka I now know why he was prepared to sail from the Cape to Kamchatka with minimal provisions and under the threat of being captured once more.
The next digest is almost ready for printing and will I believe be of interest to many people outside the navy as well as our members. It is a report on the history of the title deeds relating to the dockyard and has been written by Mr Louis Vosloo, the Assistant Registrar of Deeds in Cape Town.
Admiral Soderlund has proved indefatigable at raising funds for the Submarine Project and his sales pitch at the Navy Festival would leave the best insurance salesman aghast. A significant portion of the proceeds of the sales of the SA Navy book which he and Adm Bennett wrote, goes to that project and our treasurer has told you just how successful the fundraising has been,
I have mentioned artworks for the Job Masego mess and for this I must thank Admiral Louw for bringing to our attention an opportunity to contribute to the modern navy in a meaningful and lasting way. We have acquired some paintings of our ships here in Simon's Town which will be used to decorate that mess.
Every year I have reported that the Official History of the SA Navy in the Second World War is almost ready for publication and this year I believe that I am right. If ever I needed proof of the incredible diligence and research done to produce a definitive history, this exercise is it. When it comes out in print I believe that if there are any quibbles they will be questionable ones. My thanks go to Adm Bennett, Adm Soderlund and Commander Mac Bisset for the extraordinary work that they have put into this project. Also to Commander Wesselo who has come in to take the process through the printing stage.
The Dockyard 2010 book has been a joint project with the Simon's Town Historical Society and both Commander Bisset and Commander Farrow have been integral to this. The book promises to be both fascinating reading and filled with excellent photographs. The date set down for this launch is November of this year and I know that it is going to be a very special occasion.
As I mention Commander Herb Farrow's name I come to our finances. Herb has fine-tuned a programme so that each month he is able to present us with up-to-date figures and an image of exactly how we stand financially. He is an accountant and in every way stands guard over our financial affairs. I have served on many committees but I must say that I have never had the pleasure of seeing the state of the trust so clearly set out, so accurately, so quickly. Thank you, Herb. I recommend you to every society in the land as a superb treasurer.
Finally I would like to turn to what seems to be the tangible future of the work that is being done and for which the trust was formed - the Naval Museum. Commander Cara Platten has unfortunately been seconded away from the museum for a few months but she gave us hope that the museum would return to it glory days. In her stead we have Warrant Wessels whose practical approach and dedication is exciting and encouraging. The museum is moving ahead to a future that will, I believe, make it one of the important naval museums in the world.
Thank you to each member of the executive committee for all the time, expertise and dedication to the trust. They all play such a vital role in this quest to preserve somehow the wonderful heritage of the SA Navy. They all are members of an extraordinary team of specialists, but one member of the committee I have not thanked properly and that is Commander Mac Bisset who does so much for our heritage in his quiet unassuming way. Mac, your contribution is immeasurable. Thank you.
Thank you to all of you for supporting our history. Do you realise that in just a few days' time the South African union will be just 100 years old?
