Voortrekker Movement
South Africa, Bloemfontein · 1981-09-30
Official first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
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front
This cover is postmarked on 30 September 1981 in Bloemfontein, the same city where the Voortrekker Movement itself was founded exactly fifty years earlier on 30 September 1931. The single stamp marks that half century, showing two young members carrying the torch that features on the movement's badge. The movement's badge and motto both trace back to one man's suggestion. Dr N. J. van der Merwe, who became the first chief leader at the 1931 founding ceremony, also proposed the motto "Hou Koers" that still appears beneath the wagon wheel and torch emblem today.
Description of the Cachet
The cachet centres on the Voortrekker badge, a chrome wagon wheel crossed by a flaming torch in red and blue, its bright metallic finish standing out against the plain cover. Below the badge a blue ribbon carries the motto "Hou Koers". Beside the badge sits a circular jubilee emblem marking fifty years of the movement, the number 50 built into a stylised wheel shape with "Die Voortrekkers" and "Halfeeufees" curving around it. The single stamp sits alone in the top right, a photograph of two young Voortrekkers in uniform carrying a lit torch, saluting. A square postmark cancels the stamp, showing a simplified wagon and torch design above the Bloemfontein dateline.
Information Card
THE VOORTREKKER MOVEMENT As far back as 1913 Dr. C. F. Visser, while studying in Europe, felt the need for an Afrikaans youth movement and began to campaign for the foundation of such a movement. In this he found support from Afrikaans cultural organisations, women's organisations and several influential persons, like Dr. S. F. N. Gie, Dr. N. J. van der Merwe, the Rev. A. A. Weich, Prof. B. Taute and Dr. J. de V. Heese. This ideal was attained with the foundation of the Voortrekker Movement in Bloemfontein on 30 September 1931, when Gen. J. B. M. Hertzog, at that time Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, performed the investiture ceremony of the first Voortrekkers, Dr. N. J. van der Merwe being chief leader. The name, The Voortrekkers, which was accepted on proposal of Dr. Visser, derives from the Voortrekkers who trekked inland from the British Cape Colony during the nineteenth century in search of political freedom. The badge is composed of the front wheel of a Voortrekker waggon and a flaming torch, with the motto Hou Koers underneath. The motto was suggested by Dr. N.J. van der Merwe. The youth members of the Voortrekkers are called "Penkoppe" (boys) and "Drawwertjies" (girls) during their primary-school days, "Verkenners" (boys and girls) during their high-school days, and "Staatmakers" after that. The adult members comprise officers who take the lead voluntarily and at their own expense, as well as "Heemrade" who do not wear a uniform and render supplementary service. The uniform was adapted from time to time in the face of changing needs. Today, officers and youth members wear basically the same practical uniform. Members of a Voortrekker Commando are grouped in teams, with officers as leaders. During the weekly team gatherings, prescribed courses are followed for the respective degrees of proficiency in first aid, map and compass work, cultural and historical matters, drilling, bush lore and environmental conservation. Special badges of distinction can be obtained for sport, scriptural knowledge, fire-fighting and several technical skills and educational hobbies, among others. Over the past fifty years, the Voortrekkers played an important part in cultural and historical events, such as the torch run during the symbolic "Ossewatrek" and the laying of the foundation-stone of the Voortrekker Monument in 1938, the inauguration of this Monument in 1949, the Van Riebeeck Festival in 1952, the birth of the Republic in 1961 and the Amajuba centenary in 1981. The great merit of the Movement, however, lies in the development and training of the tens of thousands of children who were Voortrekkers during the past half-century. The Voortrekkers played a significant role in producing leaders at all levels and in all sectors of society, since the Movement constantly adapted to changing circumstances and kept abreast of economic, technical, cultural and political development in South Africa. DIE VOORTREKKER-BEWEGING Reeds in 1913 het dr. C. F. Visser toe hy in Europa gestudeer het, die behoefte aan 'n Afrikaanse jeugbeweging gevoel en om vir die stigting van so 'n beweging begin bywerk. Hierin het hy steun ondervind van Afrikaanse kultuurverenigings, vroueorganisasies en verskeie invloedryke persone soos dr. S. F. N. Gie, dr. N. J. van der Merwe, ds. A. A. Weich, prof. B. Taute en dr. J. de V. Heese. Hierdie ideaal is verwesenlik met die stigting van die Voortrekkerbeweging in Bloemfontein op 30 September 1931, toe genl. J. B. M. Hertzog, destydse Eerste Minister van die Unie van Suid-Afrika, die inlywing van die eerste Voortrekkers met dr. N. J. van der Merwe as hoofleier, waargeneem het. Die naam, Die Voortrekkers, wat op voorstel van dr. Visser aanvaar is, is ontleen aan die Voortrekkers wat gedurende die negentiende eeu uit die Britse Kaapkolonie na die binneland getrek het op soek na staatkundige vryheid. Die wapen is saamgestel uit die voorwiel van 'n Voortrekkerwa en 'n brandende fakkel, met die leuse Hou Koers, soos deur dr. N. J. van der Merwe voorgestel, daaronder. Die jeuglede van die Voortrekkers word gedurende hul laerskooldae Penkoppe (seuns) en Drawwertjies (dogters) genoem, Verkenners (seuns of dogters) in hul hoërskooljare en Staatmakers daarna. Die volwasse lede bestaan uit offisiere wat vrywillig en op eie koste leiding gee, sowel as Heemrade wat nie uniform dra nie en ondersteuningsdiens lewer. Die uniform is telkens aangepas by veranderende behoeftes en tans dra die offisiere en jeuglede basies dieselfde praktiese uniform. Lede van 'n Voortrekkerkommando word in spanne georgroepeer, met offisiere as leiers. In die weeklikse spanbyeenkomste word voorgeskrewe leerplanne gevolg vir die onderskeie bekwaamheidsgrade in noodhulp, kaart- en kompaswerk, kulturele en historiese aangeleenthede, drilwerk, bosveldkennis en omgewingsbewaring. Spesiale onderskeidingstekens kan onder meer vir sport, Bybelkennis, brandbestryding en verskeie tegniese vaardighede en opvoedkundige stokperdjies verwerf word. Die Voortrekkers het oor die afgelope vyftig jaar 'n belangrike rol vervul by kulturele en historiese geleenthede soos die fakkelloop tydens die simboliese "Ossewatrek" en die hoeksteenlegging van die Voortrekkermonument in 1938, die inwyding van dié monument in 1949, die Van Riebeeck-fees in 1952, die Republiekwording in 1961 en die Amajuba-eeufees in 1981. Die groot verdienste van die beweging lê egter in die ontwikkeling en opleiding van die tienduisende kinders en jongmense wat in die loop van die halfeeu Voortrekkers was. Die Voortrekkers het 'n betekenisvolle aandeel gehad in die lewering van leiers op alle vlakke en in alle sektore van die samelewing, ook omrede die beweging hom steeds aangepas het by veranderende omstandighede en goed tred gehou het met die ekonomiese, tegniese, kulturele en staatkundige ontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika.
Theme: Heritage
Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.
Addressed: No
Signed: No
Stamp denomination: R0.05 (ZAR)
SG reference: 503
SAPO serial number: 3.33
Estimated value: ~US$0.06
This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.
This first day cover (FDC) is part of Southern Covers, a private collection of 211 first day covers documenting the postal history and philately of South Africa and the homeland states. New to first day cover collecting? Read the guide to learn about cachets, postmarks, and stamp collecting terms, or browse the whole collection of Southern African FDCs.
