An adventure at Avontuur

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Author Dalene Matthee set her book Fiela se Kind at Wolvekraal at Avontuur, between Uniondale and Plettenberg Bay.

This was one of the snippets of information Jimmy Zondagh revealed at the Van Plettenberg Historical Society gathering at Formosa Garden Village in Plettenberg Bay on Thursday 19 October.

Jimmy, the ninth generation of Zondaghs at Avontuur, which is now an established apple and pear farm at the start of the Langkloof, spoke about the Boer War monument and an Anglo Boer War fort that still exists on the farm.

Jimmy and his daughter, Michelle, presented the history of the farm since the first Zondagh settled there in April 1765.

Michelle read excerpts from her great-grandmother's diary. Matt Zondagh chronicled the period of the Boer War and at one stage reflected that a Boer commando had almost fired at family members.

One Boer soldier said, "Oompie, you're lucky… you almost received a blaauw boontjie." (blue bean – reference to the point of a bullet).

Kommandant Scheepers and his commando occupied Uniondale and were active at Avontuur.

Scheepers, then only 24, was captured by the British and taken to Graaff-Reinet, where he was put on trial, found guilty and executed by firing squad while sitting on a chair.

Avontuur was also included in the postal route in the Eastern Cape. Post was carried by foot and horse from one village to the next.

"The original postal bugle is still at Belle-Vue [where Jimmy's museum is situated]," said Jimmy, who demonstrated the bugle to the guests.

The Zondagh clan and their other Plett relations gathered for the talk and Jimmy regaled the gathering with tales of the family enjoying their summer holidays while camping in Plettenberg Bay.

Jimmy Zondagh gives a rendition of the call of the original postal bugle used at Avontuur in the early 1900s.