As part of the society’s focus to promote historical awareness, understanding and appreciation, the society, a short time ago,

purchased a 50” HD flat-screen which is mounted on a column-stand trolley. This structure is robust and relatively easy to move. Image projection is on a loop projection basis.

 

This equipment has been made available to the Friends of the George Museum for use by this group and the George Museum

for power point presentations at seminars and conferences.

 

The flat screen is presently in the foyer of the George Museum. Two programmes are being projected : both have been made up

by Lynne Thompson. These photographic compositions cover the history of George. Should you call at the library, do cross to the

museum to have a look. [Images by Lynne Thompson.]

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

 

At the meeting on 17 October there was an explanation about the motivation for and the operation of the website. Those details

are repeated for your information.

 

In this digital age effective communication of information is by electronic means. Hence a few years ago the society created a

website. This was done in conjunction with the Knysna Historical Society and Foundation Simon van der Stel [Southern Cape].

 

Earlier this year we were informed by the company hosting our website that technological developments required our website

to be redesigned. [Most information is today sourced via cellphones and not laptops or desktops. This form of access utilises more

recent technology.] The redesign involved costs of R 16k. Simon van der Stel were unable to share in a redesigned website. Hence

the cost was split 50-50 with the KHS.

 

The new website took a good deal of planning and input. However, the new website is now live. www.historycape.co.za Loading data is a bit of a vertical learning curve, but we’re slowly getting there!

 

A major aspect of the website is the storage of historical information. With state resources for museums and their archives likely to remain static, it is imperative that the private sector assists in the safe-guarding of these written and photographic records. For this reason both the OHS and KHS sections of the the website have – as with the previous website – an Archive section.

 

The thinking behind this concept is similar to that which caused the digital archiving of the Transnet Heritage Library’s photographs, magazines and  documents. A huge achievement made possible by private initiative and support. Check it out : www.drisa.co.za

 

In the next couple of weeks we plan to upload to the OHS Archive a number of historical articles published in the 1980s and 1990s. Some articles – like the incredible story of Hania Matusiewicz a teenage Polish WW2 refugee who landed up in Oudtshoorn – have already been loaded. This article is most definitely worth reading. Log in & click the Archive tab.