Museum recognised for their contribution to history
Tours through the museum take about an hour to 90 minutes via appointment.
The Veterinary History Society of South Africa (VHS) was recently presented with a blue plaque in recognition of their contribution to preserving the history of the Onderstepoort veterinary institute and veterinary science in South Africa.
Located in one of the original buildings of the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI), in the north of Pretoria, the Veterinary Bacteriological Laboratory of Transvaal first opened its doors in 1908.
The Magaliesberg Association for Culture and Heritage (MACH) chairman Mike Benn and MACH member Vincent Carruthers presented the blue plaque, which is installed on buildings to commemorate a permanent historical link between the building and a famous person, event or former building that was used on that site.
During their open day of the museum on October 28, it was announced that since 1992, the OVI formed part of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) as one of their 11 campuses and as part of the OVI’s centenary celebrations the South African national veterinary museum was opened on October 6, 2008.
The museum stretches over six rooms and contains 17 information panels, old equipment used in veterinary sciences as well as books on a large subject matter.
Two rooms are devoted to Sir Arnold Theiler, the founder of the OVI and the driving force behind the establishment of the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Pretoria.
The official unveiling of the blue plaque was performed by the Senior Manager: Animal Health and Protection of the ARC-OVI, Dr Misheck Mulumba.
During the unveiling, a brief introduction was given on the importance of the blue plaque as an internationally recognised symbol of historical, cultural or natural importance.
The ceremony was chaired by the current chairman of the VHS, Emeritus Professor Gareth Bath, and Dr Rudolph Bigalke, the chairman of the SAVA history committee at the time of the 2008 centenary celebration.
Bigalke was instrumental in the design and establishment of the national veterinary museum as well as the co-author of the world-renowned book on the first 100 years of Onderstepoort.
He was one of the speakers at the open day, providing insightful background information on not only the history of veterinary science but the history of the museum.
The blue plaque will be mounted on side of the museum that is open to the public by appointment only since the ARC-OVI has been recognised as a national key point.
Tours through the museum take about an hour to 90 minutes and appointments can be made by contacting Dr Antoinette van Schalkwyk
vanschalkwyka1@arc.agric.za or via the ARC public relations office.
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