Voortrekker Monument - 25 Years

South Africa, Pretoria · 1974-12-06

Official

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Cachet: Voortrekker Monument

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QUARTER-CENTURY CELEBRATION OF THE VOORTREKKER MONUMENT One of the most important events in the history of South Africa was the Great Trek of the nineteenth century. From the southern regions of the continent the Voortrekkers pushed into the hinterland in search of a new home, determined to build a new future for themselves and their descendants. Despite many hardships they tamed the wilderness with great fortitude and carried Western Civilization into the hinderland. Continual negotiations took place between the Voortrekkers and the native inhabitants but the latter were often hostile and this gave rise to a struggle resulting in the loss of many lives on both sides. At the battle of Blood River (16 December 1838) the Voortrekkers eventually gained a complete victory over the strong force of Dingaan. Towards the end of the 19th century the idea arose to erect a monument in honour of the Voortrekkers. In 1931 the Sentrale Volksmonumentekomitee came into existence and devoted itself to the erection of a worthy monument. The foundation-stone of the monument was laid on 16 December 1938 during the Voortrekker centenary on Monument Hill near Pretoria. The Voortrekker Monument was officially inaugurated on 16 December 1949. The 25th anniversary of the monument is to be celebrated in 1974. Arrangements in connection with the quarter-century celebration of the Voortrekker Monument are in the hands of the Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging which was also responsible for the Symbolic Ox-wagon Trek of 1938 and the Rapportryers Festivals at the time of the inauguration of the Voortrekker Monument in 1949. The motto of this year's nation-wide celebrations is: 1949: QUO VADIS? ... 1974: OUR ANSWER! A special Festival Message by the State President will be distributed throughout the country from the Voortrekker Monument with the assistance of the South African Defence Force. On 16 December 1974 this message will be read out at all Day of the Covenant celebrations throughout the Republic, South-West Africa and Rhodesia. KWARTEEUFEES VAN DIE VOORTREKKERMONUMENT Een van die belangrikste gebeurtenisse in die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika is die Groot Trek van die neëntiende eeu. Vanuit die suidelike streke van die vasteland het die Voortrekkers met hul ossewaens die binneland in getrek op soek na 'n nuwe tuiste en vasberade om 'n nuwe toekoms vir hulle en hul nakomelinge te verseker. Ondanks vele ontberings het hulle met groot moed en durf die wildernis getem en die Westerse beskawing land-in gedra. Die Voortrekkers en die inboorlingvolke het voortdurend onderhandel, maar laasgenoemde was dikwels vyandig gesind en dit het aanleiding gegee tot 'n stryd met groot lewensverlies aan albei kante by die slag van Bloedrivier (16 Desember 1838) het die Voortrekkers uiteindelik 'n volslae oorwinning oor die sterk Zoeloemag van Dingaan behaal. Teen die einde van die 19e eeu het die gedagte ontstaan om 'n monument ter ere van die Voortrekkers op te rig. Die Sentrale Volksmonumentekomitee het in 1931 tot stand gekom en hom vir die oprigting van 'n waardige monument beywer. Die hoeksteen van die monument is op 16 Desember 1938 tydens die Voortrekkereeufees op Monumentkoppie naby Pretoria gelê. Die Voortrekkermonument is op 16 Desember 1949 amptelik ingewy. In 1974 word die vyf en twintigste bestaansjaar van hierdie monument herdenk. Reëlings in verband met die Voortrekkermonument se kwarteeufees is opgedra aan die Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging wat ook verantwoordelik was vir die Simboliese Ossewatrek van 1938 en die Rapportryersfeeste ten tyde van die inwyding van die Voortrekker- monument in 1949. Die leuse van vanjaar se landswye feeste is: 1949: QUO VADIS?... 1974: ONS ANTWOORDI Die Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag sal 'n spesiale feesboodskap van die Staatspresident van die Voortrekkermonument af landwyd versprei. Op 16 Desember 1974 sal hierdie boodskap by elke Geloftefees in die Republiek, Suidwes-Afrika en Rhodesië voorgelees word.

Theme: Heritage

Condition: Very FineVery attractive. Clean and crisp, no discolouration, only the slightest signs of handling.

Addressed: No

Signed: No

SG reference: 374

SAPO serial number: 2.2

Estimated value: ~US$0.1

This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.