Alana Bailey

In the series Heritage highlights AfriForum sheds light on heritage sites in the country where communities step in themselves to preserve our unique cultural and historical legacy.

One of the new heritage gems is the Paul Roux Private Museum. Renee Wolfaardt, one of the museum’s committee members, tells us more about its origins and what visitors can look forward to when they visit the museum.

Alana:    Thank you very much for your participation in Heritage highlights, Renee. Please tell us more about the history of the museum.

Renee:   Thank you very much for the opportunity to introduce you to Paul Roux Private Museum. We appreciate it. The museum was opened on 1 April 2022 after the current committee members had realised that we have to preserve the town’s history and pass it on to posterity. After the Covid-19 pandemic, the committee also became aware that there was a need among community members to have a meeting place, as the town’s Smit Hall had been sold during the pandemic, and we no longer had such a spot.

Alana:    Where is the museum?

Renee:   Its address is 31 Voortrekker Street in Paul Roux. We also erected a sign to help visitors find the museum.

Alana:    To whom does it belong?

Renee:   Mrs Yvette Jensen kindly made one of her sandstone buildings available for use as a museum and it is managed by a committee.

Alana:    What have you done to make it more attractive for visitors?

Renee:   We usually have a museum day once a month with stalls, speakers and demonstrations. Some of the activities we have offered in the past at our museum days include demonstrations of how to make butter and bake bread in an outdoor oven; Vicky Heunis came to talk to us about prisoner of war art dating from the Anglo-Boer War, JP Lees told us more about snakes and Dr Gideon Groenewald about the Dinosaur Age in Paul Roux. We have a kapkarretjiedag (English: tilt/hooded car day) day every year and have also had classic car days. Furthermore, we held Boeresport days for the children and even staged a comedy about Paul Roux’s history. The residents tried line dancing, crowned a Mr and Mrs Museum and we celebrate spring days, as well as movie nights where we watch movies under the stars.

Our first quilt festival will take place in October (12 to 13 October 2024), where people will exhibit quilts and hold quilting and other demonstrations. There will be storytelling; we will also have a Greek long table dinner with Frik de Jager of RSG’s Klets en kook programme and Greek dancing. On Sunday morning there will be an organ recital by Dr Jan Beukes from Bloemfontein.

We are also planning a Day of the Vow celebration on 16 December. People will dress traditionally, with a “live” exhibition of life as it was during the Great Trek. It will consist of a display with a tent and canvas canopy, furniture and much more. We will make fire in the traditional way with a flint and tinderbox, roast and grind coffee beans, cast bullets, hold shooting demonstrations with a flintlock gun, and host other activities. There will be boeresport (English: country sport) and a delicious lunch for which everyone will bring their own meat and salads, while the museum will provide the fire and roosterkoek (English: griddlecake). There will also be a church service, led by the Paul Roux APK parish.

Alana:    What will visitors ordinarily be able to see at the museum?

Renee:   We love to share our history with visitors. We have a large exhibition from the Stone Age, as well as stories from the Anglo-Boer War.

Alana:    What usually surprises people when they visit the museum for the first time?

Renee:   Our hospitality.

Alana:    What are some of the challenges you face and what is on your wish list?

Renee:   Space – the museum only has two rooms with a kitchen and porch. We recently purchased a PortaPotti, as there is no ablution block yet. We also need display cabinets.

Alana:    How can people get involved?

Renee:   Anyone who would like to become a Friend of the Museum should please phone Yvette Jensen at 082 675 4739. Of course, we also always welcome visitors!

Alana:    Finally, what is your advice to people who would like to get involved in the preservation of other heritage sites?

Renee:   It is wonderful when communities and organisations become involved in this manner. For example, there are three Great Trek sites nearby that require upkeep. We need help with the celebration of the Great Trek and support at the museum is always welcome too. Interested parties can contact Renee Wolfaardt on 082 304 7006 in this regard.

Alana:    What is the museum’s contact details?

Renee:   Our email address is prprivatemuseum@gmail.com or you can phone Yvette Jensen on 082 675 4739.

Alana:    Thank you very much, Renee. We wish you all the best with the development of the museum and your activities! Thank you for your initiatives to preserve Paul Roux’s unique history and for keeping it alive in this way.

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Footnote: Initially, we heard from Maritha Swanepoel of Bethlehem Museum about the beautiful new museum at Paul Roux. I contacted Richard Lewis, who referred me to Renee. We recently learnt that Richard has since passed away. We express AfriForum’s deepest sympathy to his next of kin and the community of Paul Roux.

Also read: Heritage highlights 3 – Talana Museum, Battlefield and Heritage Park