Every month we receive Rosie''s Roundup - a newsletter compiled by Karoo local Rose Willis, crammed with fascinating tidbits of local history. Like this...
Rosie writes:
In the late 1800s the city fathers of Aliwal North definitely thought their village exceptional. In Boer se Pub Pat Hopkins states: “It is generally accepted that the earth rotates around the sun. This, though, seems not be true in the Eastern Cape because in 1872 the Dutch Reformed Church decided it was offensive that the earth was not the centre of the universe. They called an urgent meeting at which the church council passed a resolution stating that ‘as from today the Earth around Aliwal North no longer rotates.’ This motion was passed and never revoked,” states Pat.
And another:
Murraysburg-born Bill Burger was proud to get his first job at the age of 12. In 1905 he was appointed as an apprentice coach builder, but when South African Railways officials discovered his age and that he did not have his Standard Six certificate he was "fired" because he was "too young for the job". He simply refused to leave. He turned up for work every day and the company kept paying him. This went on until he retired. "I just came to work on time every day and picked up my pay every week until I retired 48 years later when I turned 60," said Bill with a wry smile. He said he enjoyed every day in the service with the SAR. He enlisted during the South West African Rebellion, and WWI, then simply returned to his post. He married, fathered two children. At the time his death Bill was the oldest member of the Moths as well as of the Drostdy Bowling Club.
ROSIE''S ROUNDUP - A KAROO NEWSLETTER
The newsletter is chock full of fascinating historical tales, facts, food and other gems all about this special part of South Africa.
You can subscribe to Rosie''s Roundup for just R75 for 12 issues.
Contact Rose Willis for more info at karootour@telkomsa.net
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