Looking back on South Coast history: October 14 to 16
Over the years, the South Coast continued to reinvent itself.
IN times when people had to make their own entertainment, some advance planning was needed.
October 14
1938
“PORT Shepstone is to have a festive Christmas this year, if plans now actively in preparation are successful; and a willing band of workers is determined to make them so.”
A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition provided a diversion. “A historic collection of photographs is on view at Camera House, Escombe Street. The photographs show the developments at the river mouth in the early years of the century as well as views of the town as it then was.”
pic: Herald archives 1960
SOME diversions were rather noisy. “The roar of fast-moving cars, the dust on the corners and the thrills of passing at high speed were brought to our coast on Monday when the PS Kart Club staged its first official meeting.”
1988
SOME issues just keep coming up. “Positive steps have been taken to improve the image of Margate’s central business district.”
AND Margate was not the only town with big plans. “Construction has started on a R7-million shopping complex in the heart of Port Shepstone – the White House Mall.
October 15
1965
“A TELEPHONE call from Johannesburg on Wednesday announced to the proprietors of the South Coast Herald that their newspaper had won the coveted Hultzer Trophy which is awarded annually to the one country newspaper in South Africa which has shown the greatest improvement. It is believed that it is the only newspaper so far to have won this trophy twice.”
1971
DOCTOR M Gabriel, President of the Port Shepstone Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association, looked ahead – a long way ahead. “The Indian community of Port Shepstone sincerely believes that the solutions to South Africa’s problems must be in an orderly progress towards a non-racial society.”
1976
“A COMPLETE new business area has been planned by government for the new Indian town of Marburg. This could pose a serious threat to the commercial activities of Port Shepstone.”
October 16
1970
“THE Herald makes history with this ‘Special Flood Edition’ – it is the first ‘special’ published by the newspaper in its 25-year history.”
1970
WALLY Archer joined the Herald as its full-time commercial artist and cartoonist.
1987
“THE cost of flood damage to the Lower South Coast is already well over the R15-million mark yet the effects are expected to be felt for many months to come.”
1987
“A RECORD crowd of nearly 13 500 people visited the Port Shepstone Agricultural Show. Herding sheep was not as easy as the sheepdogs made it look, as John Tack, director of the South Coast Publicity Association, discovered when he and some of the Port Shepstone Lions tried their hand at the job.”
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