Kevin is living proof of Strenius Ardua Cedunt

Kevin Burge has produced a labour of love and in so doing has fitted the title of his book to a T – Strenius Ardua Cedunt (the heights yield to endeavour ) – the History of Dundee High School.
Kevin, himself a former teacher from 1984-1993, spent 18 months of painstaking research that put him in touch with former pupils and teachers around South Africa and virtually from around the world.
“History is not just a series of boring dates. History lives as it is about people. History comes alive with colour – like a white canvas that speaks volumes once the artist has covered the canvass with his creativity.” Because Dundee High is so closely linked to the town, the book is really a history of Dundee.
Kevin covers a myriad of events – national and international – that impacted on life in Dundee and on the school. Tragedies such as the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918, happier times such as the end of World War Two, the Coronation of the Queen – and South African events – the declaring of the republic in 1961 and the dawn of democracy in 1994.
“School and town are entwined. What I really enjoyed was digging up those lesser known anecdotes that do not make it onto the pages of the more academic history books.”
And anecdotes there are aplenty. From naughty hostels boys nicking fruit from gardens, to Tubbels van Rooyen who kept a pet lion, Elsa, and baboons at his house on Pensymons Street (his son, Leon, went to DHS) in the 1960s to the achievements of sporting stars: Andre Snyman who played 38 tests for the Springboks, Tenk Hendriks and many others. Lawrence Munro a former headboy who is a renowned conservationist and who was a guest at Prince Harry’s wedding.

Dundee High School matrics bid farewell in style 

Sarel Cilliers/Dundee High Derby Day clash

Dundee High matrics score a 95% pass rate

Fun on the sportfield for Dundee High 
Kevin’s face brightens with enthusiasm as he relates golden nuggets from his book…
“Did you know Jonty Rhodes’s father, Digby, was headboy in 1959? His family lived in Wasbank and Jonty’s granddad worked at By-Products? Or what about an Englishman Tyman who was locked up for being a Boer sympathiser during the Anglo Boer War?”
Kevin has also paid tribute to the many legendary teachers who moulded the children.. people like Elsie Habig, Arrie Gunther and Elsa Heina.
“The response to the book has been amazing. Prof Ann Mattson (DHS late 1980s) who is now a professor of medieval history in Atlanta, Georgia, contacted me as did so many others. The calibre of people produced by DHS can make us feel rightly proud.”
Kevin’s book was produced through the assistance of Orange Grove books and is available as an e-book via theKevin Burge has produced a labour of love and in so doing has fitted the title of his book to a T – Strenius Ardua Cedunt (the heights yield to endeavour ) – the History of Dundee High School.
Kevin, himself a former teacher from 1984-1993, spent 18 months of painstaking research that put him in touch with former pupils and teachers around South Africa and virtually from around the world.

“School and town are entwined. What I really enjoyed was digging up those lesser known anecdotes that do not make it onto the pages of the more academic history books.”

“History is not just a series of boring dates. History lives as it is about people. History comes alive with colour – like a white canvas that speaks volumes once the artist has covered the canvass with his creativity.” Because Dundee High is so closely linked to the town, the book is really a history of Dundee.
Kevin covers a myriad of events – national and international – that impacted on life in Dundee and on the school. Tragedies such as the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918, happier times such as the end of World War Two, the Coronation of the Queen – and South African events – the declaring of the republic in 1961 and the dawn of democracy in 1994.
“School and town are entwined. What I really enjoyed was digging up those lesser known anecdotes that do not make it onto the pages of the more academic history books.”
And anecdotes there are aplenty. From naughty hostels boys nicking fruit from gardens, to Tubbels van Rooyen who kept a pet lion, Elsa, and baboons at his house on Pensymons Street (his son, Leon, went to DHS) in the 1960s to the achievements of sporting stars: Andre Snyman who played 38 tests for the Springboks, Tenk Hendriks and many others. Lawrence Munro a former headboy who is a renowned conservationist and who was a guest at Prince Harry’s wedding.

Kevin has also paid tribute to the many legendary teachers who moulded the children.. people like Elsie Habig, Arrie Gunther and Elsa Heina.

Kevin’s face brightens with enthusiasm as he relates golden nuggets from his book…
“Did you know Jonty Rhodes’s father, Digby, was headboy in 1959? His family lived in Wasbank and Jonty’s granddad worked at By-Products? Or what about an Englishman Tyman who was locked up for being a Boer sympathiser during the Anglo Boer War?”
Kevin has also paid tribute to the many legendary teachers who moulded the children.. people like Elsie Habig, Arrie Gunther and Elsa Heina.
“The response to the book has been amazing. Prof Ann Mattson (DHS late 1980s) who is now a professor of medieval history in Atlanta, Georgia, contacted me as did so many others. The calibre of people produced by DHS can make us feel rightly proud.”
Kevin’s book was produced through the assistance of Orange Grove books and is available as an e-book via tthe Talana Museum website and DHS website. Hard copies can be bought from Stoks for R150 black and white copy or R300 for colour copies.Stoks for R150 black and white copy or R300 for colour copies.

HAVE YOUR SAY:
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram or email us at dundee.courier@caxton.co.za.  Add us on WhatsApp 071 277 1394.