VN November 2022

Vetnuus | November 2022 8 The SANVM, which is situated on the Onderstepoort Research property, held its first OpenDay for visitors since its inception in 2008, on Friday 28th of October 2022. This coincided with the presentation of a prestigious Blue Plaque by the Magaliesberg Associateion for Culture and History (MACH). The hard work and dedication of the Veterinary History Society’s Vice Chair Dr Livio Heath and Museum Curator, Dr Antionette van Schalkwyk, came to fruition. The VHS Chair Prof Gareth Bath introduced the speakers and the guests of honour on this significant occasion. The guests included Dr Misheck Mulumba from the OVI, Mr Vincent Carruthers and Mr Mike Benn fromMACH and Dr Paul van der Merwe, the President of SAVA, and Dr Rudolph Bigalke as the guest speaker. Mr Carruthers took the floor and outlined the background of the work that MACH does, and the significance of the Blue Plaque presented to the SANVM. The Blue Plaque, to bemounted later, has a QR code to enable visitors to access more information about the Museum. This is the 15th Blue Plaque installed in the Magaliesberg Biosphere. The guest speaker Dr Rudolph Bigalke is well-known as an illustrious researcher at Onderstepoort and now also as an historian – he co- edited the book Onderstepoort 1908 - 2008. The history of Veterinary Science and the profession in South Africa was fluently summarized with seemingly effortless recollections of key contributors and events. He could name all the pioneers who were groundbreakers for Veterinary research in a country known for some unique and challenging animal diseases. v SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL VETERINARY MUSEUM – OPEN DAY AND BLUE PLAQUE EVENT