CEDARA CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
Cedara College celebrated its centenary on the weekend of 01 to 03 July 2005. A number of events were held to coincide with the Pannar Agricultural Colleges Rugby Week held at Cedara.
On Friday 01 July, 200 past Cedara students were joined by 300 people from the Pietermaritzburg area for a theatre performance of Boet ‘n Swaer at Hilton College. Laughter was the order of the night and the party continued for some past students well into the next morning.
Saturday, saw the unveiling of the Cedara archives, a permanent record of Cedara College’s past. A display was launched with some of the photos collected over the past 100 years. It also saw the unveiling of the painting of the Old Red Brick Building (ORBB) by Val Woodley. The ORBB had fallen into disuse and disrepair when it was left empty in 1981 after the students had moved to the New Hostel. The Cedarians rallied and, by motivating the need for a corporate headquarters for the College, were instrumental in having the building declared a National Monument. The ORBB is now the headquarters of the College. An “Illustrated History of Cedara College” was also launched at the same time.
Saturday also saw the final day of the Pannar Agricultural Colleges Rugby Week. The day was supported by a large crowd, especially past students who were getting ready for the evenings dinner dance. The day produced some excellent rugby, with a very closely contested final between Elsenburg and Grootfontein which was eventually won by Elsenburg. The results of the matches are as follows:
Pannar XV 107 Fort Cox 0
Potchefstroom 31 Saasveld 0
Cedara 54 Lowveld 5 Plate Final
Cedara Old Boys 12 Saasveld Old Boys 10
Elsenburg 10 Grootfontein 6 Cup Final
Cedara’s Wade Bailey made it into the South African Agricultural Colleges team selected at the end of the week.
Following the rugby, a dinner-dance was held for past Cedara students and staff at the Royal Show ground. Just under 300 past students and staff enjoyed an evening around the theme, ‘Winter Night’ and had the opportunity to renew past Cedara acquaintances and to forge new ones. A fabulous evening was had by all.
The weekend celebrations ended on Sunday with a brunch and tours of Cedara College. It was a tremendous weekend of reminiscing and meeting old acquaintances with many stories told.
Cedara College is now preparing for the Agricultural Colleges Soccer and Netball weeks in late September to conclude the Centenary Celebrations.