HASA Awards

Gold Medals were awarded to Vincent Carruthers and Professor Franco Frescura. The Gold Medal is a prestigious award in heritage and recognizes a lifetime of contributions and work in heritage by men and women who have given unstintingly of their time and expertise to conserve South Africa’s heritage resources and who, in the words of the preamble to the National Heritage Resources Act, have by their example “encouraged communities to nurture and conserve their legacy so that they may be bequeathed to future generations”. Awards are made annually and are the highest honour in the heritage community.

Gold Medal for Vincent Carruthers

The Gold Medal awards have been in place since 1969 and, over a period of 39 years, a total of 74 gold medals have been awarded, initially by the Simon van der Stel Foundation and, since 2011, by the renamed Heritage Association of South Africa. In addition, Gold Certificate awards were introduced in 2015 to recognize organizations making contributions to heritage (3 have been awarded) and since 2017 Certificates of Merit also acknowledge the contributions of individuals (a total of 6 of these have been awarded).

Dr Judy Maguire introduced Vincent Carruthers:

After this morning’s fascinating lecture, Vincent Carruthers scarcely needs further introduction. If I were introducing him to a stranger for the first time...

[Published in 2013] Heritage SA, the oldest and largest heritage organisation in the country, recently held its annual symposium. One of the highlights was the gala dinner and awards ceremony where individuals from around the country were honoured for their contribution to heritage. The Heritage SA Gold Medal, the most prestigious award recognising achievement on a national level, was bestowed on Dr Roger Fisher. Below is the citation that accompanied the Medal.

Roger Charles Fisher was born in Rondebosch in the Cape Province where he commenced his education. He moved with his family to Pretoria in 1964 where he completed his schooling. After a varied early career he registered at the Department of Architecture where in 1982 he obtained his degree of Bachelor of Architecture. After a brief spell in private practice, he joined the academic staff at the University of Pretoria in 1986. There he read for his doctorate. On his retirement he was made an Emeritus Professor.

In 1997–1998 Dr Fisher was tasked with the major challenge of developing an integrated curriculum for the Professional Courses in Architectural Design and the Departments of Landscape and of Interior Design. This had to be aligned with the requirements and validation of National and International Bodies.

His interest in architecture “as a phenomenon of culture within the ecosystem, and in the innovative and resourceful use of materials and technologies so that the needs of the broad community are aesthetically satisfied,” incorporates his love of heritage and history within the built and cultural...

[Originally published March 2012] Every year Heritage SA (renamed the Heritage Association of South Africa) runs a powerful symposium for its members and affiliates. Last year the Drakenstein Heritage Foundation played host and selected the following theme: 'The role of inidgenous peoples, settlers and slaves in creating 18th century opulence at the Cape.' Below is a report that appeared on the Heritage SA website via Courant Vant Vlekaancaap.

The Symposium theme revolved around the development of the 18th century Cape Manor House, the economy of the Cape, and the factors that contributed to the wealth of the settlers at the Cape. It was an extremely successful and well-attended symposium and it was very satisfying to see a number of our own branch members at the various lectures and outings.

Over 90 people attended the lectures on Friday. Thursday was devoted to matters relating to Heritage SA at the Annual General Meeting. The same evening there was the unveiling of plaques to mark historical sites associated with forced removals in Paarl with members of the community recalling these traumatic events.

Friday provided very interesting lectures starting with the early geology of the Paarl Valley going back millions of years to Gondwanaland. The lectures highlighted the life of the early inhabitants of the area, their first contact with the new settlers as well as the impact colonialism had on the indigenous people. One lecture gave a fascinating glimpse of the material wealth (or not) of the inhabitants by studying MOOC (Inventories of the Orphan Chamber) documents...