Vetnuus | September 2024 33 Richard Kelsey (Dick) Loveday – 1962 to 1972 Dick Loveday was the housefather from 1962 to 1972. Notably, he is the only housefather who appears in one of the graduation photographs, namely that of the Class of 1972. He was born in Durban on 13 May 1919. He matriculated from the Durban Boys High School and qualified as a veterinarian from Onderstepoort in 1941. On qualifying, Loveday joined the South African Veterinary Corps and married Vera Sydney Hoole on 20 October 1943. They had three children. After the war, Loveday was in private practice in Pinetown for a short spell before joining the Municipal Services of the City of Johannesburg in 1948. He was responsible for milk and meat hygiene. However, in 1952, Loveday returned to private practice, this time in Cape Town. Another career change occurred in 1956 when Loveday joined the Division of Veterinary Field Services of the Department of Agriculture as a state veterinarian. He worked at the pig abattoir in Estcourt and also in Ladysmith before he was transferred to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute in 1958. He held the post of Pig Research Officer and was sent to the University of Cambridge in England in 1960 where he studied swine diseases. In 1962, he was appointed as a lecturer in Pig Diseases in the Department of Medicine of the Onderstepoort Faculty and stayed at the Faculty until 1989, except for a time as manager of the Kanhym Piggery near Witbank from 1982 to 1985. At this point, 1,500 students had learnt about pig health and production from Professor Loveday. He was considered a master of his art who played an indelible role in pig herd health in South Africa. He died on 29 November 1995 and in his obituary, he is described as a true gentleman, with the gentlest of natures, who sought to offend no one. In a letter dated 14 October 1969 and addressed to the then Dean, Prof CFB Hofmeyr, the Staff Sports Liaison Officer, Rhoderick I Coubrough (BVSc 1961), deals with the maintenance of the sports and recreation facilities at Onderstepoort. He states that the diversity of sports maintains a very necessary balance between the academic and recreational programs of the student body. Coubrough proposes that an Onderstepoort Hostel Sports Foundation is formed with himself as Staff Sports Liaison Officer, Dick Loveday as Hostel Warden, the House Chairman (Ian A Herbst, at the time BVSc 1970) and the Dean acting as administrators. Loveday was thus referred to as House Warden (by some at least) and he also, must have encouraged sport. He sits proudly in the centre of the photograph of the First Rugby Team of 1972. Thomas Frederik (Tom) Adelaar – c.1950 to 1961 Tom Adelaar preceded Dick Loveday as housefather (or house warden), but it is not known when he took up the post. Adelaar was born in Pretoria on 26 March 1909. He matriculated in Pretoria at the Oost Eind Hoërskool in 1926. Adelaar married Cornelia Groeneveld on 17 November 1934 when he was a state veterinarian in Potgieterust, where he worked from 1932 to 1938. He was then stationed at Armoedsvlakte near Vryburg until 1942 before he was transferred to the Virology Section of the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute. Adelaar became the Head of Toxicology at the Institute and a Senior Lecturer in Toxicology at the Onderstepoort Faculty in 1947 when Prof DG Steyn retired. He stayed in both these posts until 1973 when the Institute and the Faculty became two separate institutions. Adelaar opted to stay in his research post and to relinquish his teaching responsibilities. He retired a year later in 1974. He died on 4 December 1980. Of Tom Adelaar it was said that he was an impressive, tall man with an outgoing personality and was a popular teacher with a wealth of practical experience. He was probably the best diagnostician the institute had in those early days, and anecdotes of his many correct field diagnoses, when everyone else was stumped, are legion (Bigalke, 2007). Tom Adelaar’s wife, Cornelia, was the matron during his tenure as house warden. This has been confirmed by Prof Neels Roos (BVSc 1958) and Dr Ingrid Wolleschak (BVSc 1958) who stated in Old Res from 1955 to 1958. See VetNews of August 2024 for their story. Mrs Adelaar probably worked much harder to organise three meals a day for the 40 inhabitants of Old Res and all the other responsibilities of a matron. A rare picture of the student life at Onderstepoort during Adelaar’s time, is provided by the Chairman of the House Committee in the Journal of the South African Veterinary (Medical) Association of 1960. In his Chairman’s Report, the achievements on the sports fields are mentioned (as ever). Onderstepoort also received the prize for the most humorous float during Rag and is officially affiliated with the Occupational Therapy Faculty. Onderstepoort also took part in a “Studentevaria”. Interestingly, the Chairman mentions the spirit at Onderstepoort, where Afrikaans and English-speaking students study together, unique among faculties of South African Universities. The Chairman ends his report with special thanks to Dr. Adelaar, our Warden, for his guidance and help in all matters during the past year, as well as to Prof. de Boom. >>> 34 Onderstepoort: the Ladies of Old Res <<<32 Report by House Chairman, Onderstepoort, 1960 It is a spirit, created among men of many creeds, a spirit of co-operation, and above all understanding. For every problem, for every point of view, for every action, there are, and must always be two sides; it is in creating an atmosphere for a better and deeper understanding of these sides, that we will be able to progress. By this means I am sure we will be able to alleviate the antagonistic feelings which appear to exist sometimes at galas and sing-songs. I only wish to point out, that too often a place and an institution are judged by the conduct of only a very small percentage of its members. But on the other hand, let us be constructive in our criticism, and let us not be buried by our so often single-minded thoughts. Above all, let us not envy, or deny; the accomplishments of others. In an unselfish spirit, competition has never harmed anyone. In fact, it has made good many an error in the co-existence of a community.
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