NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2005

							               Friends of the South African Museum
                               A component of the Iziko Museums of Cape Town
                       Postal address: P O Box 61 Cape Town 8000 South Africa
                   Physical address: 25 Queen Victoria Street Cape Town South Africa
        Phone: 021 481 3913 Fax: 021 481 3993 Cell: 072 225 6893 e-mail: samfriends@iziko.org.za

                                NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2006
The equinox has passed and the seasons are changing as 2006 gains momentum. The committee has lined up
an interesting series of lectures and outings which hopefully will appeal to members – please read on.

THANK YOU to Canon SA who have very generously donated a wonderful new Canon IP5200 printer to the
Friends of the S A Museum. We were quite overwhelmed at this generous gesture. It will now make the
processing of new membership cards more efficient and could even attract more applications from people
wishing to possess such works of art!

FOSSILS 2006 – An enthusiastic group of fossil hunters joined Roger Smith in the Beaufort West district for
five days of searching the Karoo for hidden treasures. Elize Cerfonteyn tells the story below.

“We visited well-known and “extra virgin” fossil sites where we searched for the fascinating signs of life and
death of millennia ago buried beneath the rather drab-looking Karoo koppies with their greyish, flaking
mudstone slopes. In his characteristic unassuming and practical way, Roger Smith shared his vast knowledge
of geology and palaeontology and guided us towards understanding geological processes and the climatic and
environmental conditions of 250 million years ago when the first mammal-like reptiles such as Diictodon,
Emydops and Pristerodon walked the Earth. We visited the farms Lombaardskraal, Leeukloof and Highlands
where many newly discovered in-situ fossils were recorded for future excavation and study. Old hands were
once again inspired with every new discovery and novices blossomed into keen and addicted fossil hunters.

The guest farm provided a peaceful respite among the olive trees after our daily field trips, despite an invasion
of juvenile delinquent locusts intent on practicing their dubious flying skills in our hair, meals and drinks.

In the evenings the group enjoyed informative talks and slide shows about astronomy and a fossil expedition to
verify the existence of early hominids in Eritrea. Brian Warner also gave a presentation on the history of
                                                                           th
terrestrial surveying, explaining “Why the Earth went pear-shaped in the 18 century”.

A special thank you to Maxine Davies for her perfect no-nonsense organisation and to Georgina Farrell, who
assisted Roger in the field and took to the role of tea and lunch lady with great finesse.”

LECTURES IN 2006

All lectures take place on the last Tuesday of each month at 19:00 in the T H Barry Lecture Theatre at the
South African Museum and booking is not necessary unless otherwise advertised. Lectures are free for
members and guests pay R20,00. A donation towards the drinks provided would be appreciated.

Tuesday 25 April 2006
Speaker: Prof. Nigel Worden, Department of History at UCT
Trials of slavery: using court records as a source for the history of Cape slave society. These trials
illuminate not only the grim details of crime and punishment, but also abundantly detail the lives, languages,
labours and outlook of slaves. All in all, they provide rich perspectives on Cape society from a novel angle.
Prof. Worden will speak about some of the trials documented in the recently published book: Trials Of Slavery:
Selected Documents Concerning Slaves From The Criminal Records Of The Council Of Justice At The Cape
Of Good Hope, 1705–1794. Edited by Nigel Worden and Gerald Groenewald.

Tuesday 30 May 2006
Speaker: Dr Mike Picker, Department of Zoology at UCT
"Ancient and unique insects of the Karoo and Fynbos biomes, including the newly-discovered
Heelwalkers"
The Karoo and Fynbos biomes are well-known for their large numbers of plants species, most showing high
levels of endemism. The same biomes are host to an equally spectacular range of ancient and endemic insect
groups, many of which have diversified into a myriad of species. This illustrated talk will profile these insects.
The emphasis will on the recently-discovered Heelwalkers, a truly unique Southern African heritage.
Tuesday 27 June 2006
Speaker: Elmara Willis
The magic of long distance walking: An illustrated lecture in which Elmara will compare her experiences,
physical and spiritual, as she walked the long distances of the El Camino pilgrimage in Spain and the
Annapurna trail in Nepal.

Tuesday 25 July 2006
Speaker: Quinton Martens from the Cape Leopard Trust
The leopard: conservation and ecology of the Cape's apex predator
This talk will focus on the work done by the Cape Leopard Trust. The leopard currently fills the role of apex
predator in the Cederberg and the rest of the Western Cape; however, its conservation status remains
uncertain. The current work of the Cape Leopard Trust includes several research projects involving leopards in
the Cape and elsewhere in South Africa, including a comprehensive conservation genetics project on leopards
from across South Africa. In addition there is a leopard population density study being conducted in the
Cederberg and an on-going Population and Habitat Viability Assessment for leopards throughout South Africa.
The CLT has recently initiated a fourth research project entitled: "Determining the home-range and behaviour of
leopards with the use of satellite tracking equipment in the Mountains of the Western Cape".

OUTINGS IN 2006

DENEL OVERBERG T0ETSBAAN (OTB) at Arniston: 12–14 May 2006 The Friends have a unique
opportunity to spend time in this formerly restricted area which supports three fynbos systems, interesting and
varied bird life, Khoisan relics and many more interesting treasures among the comparatively untouched sand
dunes. Full details accompany this newsletter.
Cost: Members – R975,00 Non-members – R1 120,00. Single supplement – R100,00. This includes two nights
in shared accommodation, two dinners and two breakfasts.

DISCOVERING THE TANQUA KAROO WITH JOHN ALMOND: 16–18 June 2006
The Tanqua Karoo, despite its accessibility, is terra incognita for most Capetonians. Nestled between the
rugged flanks of the Cederberg in the west and the Great Escarpment in the east, the Tanqua region is the
closest true desert to Cape Town, harbouring a range of arid-adapted plant and animal life. Crossing the
Tanqua Karoo one travels through over 100 million years of great Cape geological history – and it isn't finished
yet! This long-weekend trip gives you the opportunity to join the elite group of Tanqua Lovers (Bring a friend).
The programme will encompass a variety of fields natural history, between a rock and a hardy succulent, with
time to relax in between. Basic, self-catering accommodation will be at the historical farm, Elandsvlei.
Cost: Members – R750,00 Non-members – R850,00. This covers basic, shared accommodation only.
Participants will be required to bring their own bedding and food.
Should there be sufficient demand this outing will be repeated on the following weekend 23–25 June.
A TASTE OF THE WEST COAST – A MID-WEEK AMBLE: 19–21 September 2006
Join Elmara Willis and discover the best kept secrets of the West Coast as she shares her love of this often
overlooked area. This is a mid-week excursion for all those who are able to take time out during the week.
The group will explore a bit of the West Coast virtually on our doorstep and discover the charm of an “empty
and boring, desolate area”, with the aim of enticing you to go back there again and again. From Cape Town we
drive all along the coast, popping in here and there to look, photograph and explore. We overnight in Velddrift
by the river and go for walks, look at birds, the sea and salt. Visit St Helena Bay, Paternoster, Tietiesbaai, a
light house, Saldanha and Langebaan. Enjoy long walks, eat fabulous sea food, drink local wines and do what
we are good at doing – having fun!

Further details will be available in the next newsletter.

CEDERBERG LONG WEEKEND WITH JOHN ALMOND: 22–25 September 2006.
Explore some of the wonders of this magnificent mountain region – geology, fossils and flora – under the expert
guidance of the always-popular John Almond. Full details will be available in the next newsletter.
Bookings for all outings are to be made on any of the numbers provided in this newsletter and
will only be secured with a 50% deposit.
THE ECLIPSE FROM TURKEY – Share Elmara Willis’ joy and wonder at seeing her “umpteenth” eclipse.

Here in Anatolia we are all on a high as we have just witnessed the most beautiful eclipse in a clear sky in the most
beautiful setting imaginable! All three minutes and eleven seconds of eerie magic as natural as the day is long – and
it feels so weird that everyone just shouts and dances around and screams at the moment when the sun is black with
the eerie sunset colours right around the horizon and the planets in the sky hit you. Again I know for sure why I
travel to see these eclipses, these natural eerie miracles of nature. No wonder the ancients thought the end of the
world was nigh or the gods were cross with them or something strange was going to happen. I just find it so
beautiful that I want to cry every time. The setting today, standing in a park high above the turquoise blue sea with
the snow capped Taurus mountains across the bay was just such a lovely sight. The sun was high in the sky so it was
clearly visible and the few wispy clouds were not anywhere near. It got quite cold – the biggest temperature drop I
have experienced during an eclipse. It was all quite fantastic – the sun and the diamond rings – just beautiful and
well worth coming here to experience.

WELCOME to Jill Franks who is assisting in the running of the Friends office at the S A Museum. Jill joined
me in February and will be working two mornings each week.
FAREWELL to Terri Haag who has been a valuable committee member for the past four years. Terri designed
our logo, membership cards, and brochures. Terri and husband, David, will be returning to the USA in May. We
wish them success and happiness in their new ventures.
THANK YOU also to Sandy Bean who has generously given of his time and expertise in updating and revising
the constitution. The updated version will be presented for approval at the AGM in July. If any members would
like to see a copy please refer to the website or a copy can be e-mailed to you.
LOST and FOUND an attractive ladies’ jacket was left behind after the poetry evening in November last year.
Please contact me at any of the numbers provided in this newsletter if you have mislaid a lightweight jacket.
2006 SUBSCRIPTIONS: In accordance with the constitution clause 5: Any member who fails to pay his/her
subscription within three calendar months of the due date shall automatically cease to be a member of the
Friends. Renewal forms were included with the December and January newsletters and are available on the
website www.museums.org.za/iziko/ Click on “How to help” and follow the links.

WELCOME TO ALL NEW MEMBERS: It is a pleasure to welcome the following new members who have
joined since November 2005 – we look forward to meeting you at activities during the year.

    Ursula Ackermann                John Howell                          Ian and Sharon McCallum
    Max Barnett                     Patricia Jackson                     Patrice Okemah
    Dawn Beerman                    Edward Jacobs                        John Pether
    Frank Daelemans                 Basil Jaffe                          Liesa Schwarzenbek
    Louise Farrell                  Rob Jones                            Rosalind Spring
    Debbie Feldman                  Edel Kalos                           Clara Van Niekerk
    Pat Halford                     Mark and Tania Kilfoil               Joan Zieff
    Frank & Janet Hallett           Stanley Lisman

    Maxine Davies
    Editor – Newsletter
    Friends of the South African Museum
.