Life Line 1982 National Conference
South Africa, Cape Town · 1982-11-26
Unofficial first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
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front
This cover is postmarked on 26 November 1982 in Cape Town. It marks the Life Line 1982 National Conference, held under the theme of Reconciliation. Life Line began in Sydney, Australia in 1963 and reached South Africa five years later, when the Western Cape centre opened in 1968 as the first of what would eventually become ten centres across the country. In just its first thirteen years that single centre handled over 95 000 calls. One detail worth noting is how the service's public perception differs from its actual caseload. Although many people associate Life Line primarily with suicide prevention, only four percent of calls received in 1981 concerned suicide directly. The bulk of calls dealt with marriage, finances, personal relationships and general emotional support instead. This cover touches on a sensitive topic. If you or someone you know is struggling, please don't hesitate to reach out for support.
Description of the Cachet
The cachet shows a simple line drawing of a dove carrying an olive branch, perched above a pair of clasped hands reaching across a divide. Below the hands the outline of South Africa appears in orange, white and blue, set against a background of gentle blue wave lines suggesting water or connection across distance. The imagery is deliberately symbolic rather than literal. The dove and olive branch signal peace, while the handshake spanning the map ties that message directly to South Africa itself. There is no photograph or building here, just a clean graphic built entirely around the idea of reconciliation. Below the illustration the title reads Life Line, 1982 National Conference, Reconciliation. The wording sits directly beneath the artwork, leaving the symbolism to carry most of the emotional weight of the design.
Information Card
LIFE LINE Life Line is a counselling service available through the telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and for shorter periods on a face-to-face basis. It is offered to all people in any kind of stress or crisis, irrespective of race or creed — people who are lonely, anxious, angry, hurt, or contemplating suicide. The service is anonymous and confidential. The first Life Line centre was founded in Sydney, Australia in 1963. The service has since spread to many parts of the world. Life Line Western Cape was the first of ten centres in Southern Africa and opened in 1968. In its first 13 years this centre handled over 95 000 calls. There are now over 200 Life Line centres in eleven countries and similar services exist in others. While it is seen as a suicide prevention service by many, this aspect is only a small part of the services offered. In 1981 only four per cent of calls received concerned suicide. The bulk of calls concern marriage, finance, personal relationships, sex and psychiatric problems. The function of Life Line is an expression of Christian service, a sensitive and compassionate response to people in stress and crisis in ways that are relevant to an urban society. Its counselling approach is non-directive and enables callers to sort out their feelings and take action on their own behalf. Life Line is staffed by volunteer lay counsellors from all walks of life, faiths and races who are trained specially for their role. Life Line also serves as a bridge between the needs of people and the established agencies and helping resources that are able to offer further assistance where appropriate. Sixteen per cent of calls are referred to specialized agencies. In November 1982 a national conference will be held in Cape Town, to which delegates will come from all parts of Southern Africa and overseas. The conference theme will be Reconciliation. All aspects will be covered, from reconciling oneself with oneself, with God, and with others in family and wider relationships, to reconciliation within mankind in religion, race and society. Afrikaans: NOODLYN Noodlyn is 'n voorligtingsdiens wat 24 uur per dag en sewe dae per week per telefoon en vir korter periodes vir persoonlike onderhoude beskikbaar is. Dit word aangebied aan mense van alle rasse en gelowe wat in enige vorm van spanning of krisis verkeer — mense wat eensaam, beangs of kwaad is, seergemaak voel of selfmoord oorweeg. Die diens is anoniem en vertroulik. Die eerste Noodlyn-sentrum is in 1963 in Sydney, Australië gestig. Sedertdien het die diens na baie wêrelddele versprei. Noodlyn-Wes-Kaapland was die eerste van tien sentra in Suid-Afrika en is in 1968 geopen. Gedurende die eerste dertien jaar van sy bestaan het dié sentrum meer as 95 000 oproepe gehanteer. Tans is daar meer as 200 Noodlyn-sentra in elf lande en soortgelyke dienste bestaan in ander wêrelddele. Ofskoon baie mense dit as 'n selfmoordvoorkomingsdiens beskou, maak dié aspek slegs 'n klein deeltjie van die dienste wat gebied word. In 1981 het slegs vier persent van die ontvangde oproepe betrekking gehad op selfmoord. Die meeste van die oproepe gaan op huweliksake, finansies, persoonlike verhoudinge, seks- en psigiatriese probleme. Die doelstelling van Noodlyn is om Christelike diensbaarheid te beoefen en om 'n sensitiewe en medelewende aanvoeling met mense in spanning en krisis te bied op 'n wyse wat veral in 'n stadsgemeenskap van betekenis is. 'n Benadering is nie-direktiewe beraadslaging wat volg, sodoende word die oproeper aangemoedig om die gevoelens wat te neem, en eie besluite te neem. Noodlyn word bedien deur vrywillige leke-beraadslaers uit alle beroepe, geloofsoortuigings en rasse wat spesiaal opgelei is vir hul taak. Noodlyn dien ook as brug tussen die behoeftes van mense en die amptelike instansies en hulpdienste wat die verdere bystand kan lewer wat benodig mag word. Sestien persent van alle oproepe word na gespesialiseerde hulpdienste verwys. In November 1982 word 'n nasionale konferensie in Kaapstad gehou waar afgevaardigdes van die hele Suider-Afrika en uit die buiteland verwag word. Die konferensietema is Versoening. Alle aspekte sal gedek word, van versoening met jouself, met God, met andere in die gesinsverband en daarbuite, tot versoening binne die mensdom t.o.v. godsdiens, ras en samelewing. N.W.
Theme: Heritage
Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.
Addressed: No
Signed: No
Stamp denomination: R0.08 (ZAR)
Estimated value: ~US$0.1
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 177 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.
