Vetnuus | July 2024 33 Eddie on occasion was invited to give lectures in Mozambique where he learnt to speak Portuguese for the visits – the sixth language for this multitalented man. Houseparents in the good old days Eddie was also appointed as the housefather of Huis Onderstepoort. In January 1976, Rainhardt started Grade 1 and Christoph started Standard 1 at the Deutsche Schule in Die Wilgers, Pretoria. The boys travelled with the other German-speaking children of Onderstepoort and Pretoria North on a school bus to Die Wilgers where the school is situated to this day. The Genis family stayed at Onderstepoort for ten enjoyable years. The Onderstepoort hostel was mostly run by the matron, Ms van Rooyen, with Eddie supporting her where needed. Students, mostly men, who needed help or who overstepped the mark, were supported or disciplined by Eddie as the case required. The Genis family were encouraged to dine with the students. The house committee and members of the OPCC/OPKK sometimes joined the family for a braai in the garden of the houseparents. As housefather, Eddie reported to the dean, Prof Hofmeyr until 1981 and then to Prof JMW le Roux, the new dean. The management of the Onderstepoort hostel followed a hands-off approach before TuksRes at the main campus took charge. When the students left for the holidays, Christa took over the care of the students’ cats – almost 25 cats kept against the rules, of course, but they trusted her enough to leave their ‘illegal’ pets with her. The Genis family had their own pet, a dog called Wollie, a Toy Pom. In a letter in the Experto crede of October 1976, Dr Eddie Genis encouraged the students to “be good examples and proud diplomats of the good old OP spirit.” He warned the students, as would all houseparents during the past century no doubt, that: Christa’s main occupation was as the chauffeur for the two boys who excelled in sport, culture and schoolwork. She also kept a very neat garden with a grapevine and a large fig tree but had to compete with the garden birds for the ripe fruit. Believe it or not, they also kept goats and horses. Later they moved to a family farm near Roedtan, where Christa became an expert at cheese making and farming. When Eddie went on a study tour to Canada and the USA, Christa went with him and the two boys stayed at the hostel of the Deutsche Schule. Onderstepoort Cutural Club/ Kulturele Klub Eddie and Christa started the Onderstepoort Cultural Club / Kulturele Klub in 1976, “to clear out the ancient culturally stagnant atmosphere of OP”. The members of the OPCC/OPKK organised the attendance of plays, ballets and operas, as well as visits to art exhibitions and museums, symposia on topics such as abortion and also wine tasting events arranged by the Veterinary Wives. Performing artists like Cut Glass and Laurinda Hofmeyr were invited to perform in the auditorium of the Faculty. Eddie also encouraged the students to perform at Zillertal, a German restaurant in Pretoria. Bi-weekly film nights at 20c entrance fee were organised in the large auditorium on the OP campus, within walking distance from the residence. The Genis children also attended the film nights and Christa still remembers the first spectacular movie, Ben Hur, with Charlton Heston, that shaped and moulded the children’s future love for movies. A new tradition was established, namely an annual variety concert held at the Aula on the main campus where OP students displayed their cultural talents. This included items such as plays, piano recitals, bouzouki playing and singing by Eddie Genis and the OP choral and folk groups. Patrick Mynhardt delivered a guest performance at the second annual concert in 1977. The chair of the OPCC/OPKK was Prof Jan le Roux. At this point, the annual event in the Aula became known as the Dean’s Cultural Evening – a highlight on the OP calendar. Eddie organised a cultural tour to Europe during Christmas in 1978, for a group of ten students. Were you a member of the OPCC/OPKK? Did you join the cultural tour to Europe? Please share your stories with us at OldRes100years@gmail.com I was born under a wandering star Eddie continued to sing when he came to Onderstepoort. He was a valued member of the choir at the State Theatre and always invited musicians from abroad to braai at Onderstepoort. The most cherished song in his repertoire was Wand’rin Star. The students always requested Eddie to sing the song in his deep, low voice at the start of performances. It did not take them long to return the favour: the students spontaneously started to sing I was born under a wandering star when the Genis family entered the dining hall in the evenings, to great laughter and hand clapping from all. • Wand’rin Star was originally written by Alan J Lerner (lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music) for the stage musical Paint your wagon in 1951 – reaching Nr. 1 in the 1970’s with Lee Marvin as a vocalist. End of a decade at Onderstepoort The Genis family left Onderstepoort in 1984. Eddie was a diabetic and had to slow down. When the boys were older, Christa worked at the CNA bookstore in Menlyn. Mr Raubenheimer, the CEO of Van Schaik convinced her to join the bookstore in Hatfield where she worked for 18 years until retirement in 2006. However, Christa was not ready to leave her beloved books yet. Dr Nicol Stassen asked her to join Protea Boekhuis (now Aristata) in Hatfield and this is where Christa is still working at 83 years of age. Eddie passed away in 2012. Their two sons and their families now live in Austria. • experto crede means “trust the expert”. To read the full copies of the OP student magazine of the 1970s, see: https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/85 Any information or photographs on the houseparents before 1976, would be greatly valued. >>> 34 The O.P. spirit must be balanced and does not mean pride of a destructive nature, against property and establishment, or the sole object to abuse the good human intentions of old Bacchus. To study at O.P. always was and is particularly now a tremendous stress. This should be balanced by participating in something constructive, like sport or cultural events. Just to go wild also means to be unbalanced, but a good party at its time can provide balance. An intelligent person with intelligent wit is much more appreciated at a good party than a vandal who tries to draw attention by means of various barbaric acts. The fundamental principle for living together peacefully is perhaps the genuine respect for views, way of life, religion, politics and origin. Rules and regulations (in the case of O.P., determined by U.P.) have the sole objective of facilitating sound living together of a "multiple-orientated population" as we have at O.P. In this regard, we were also successful this year. Another record can be noted: the lowest account in years from the U.P. technical department for repairs!
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