Agri-Expo | Onbesonge wynwerkers met gesogte 1659-erepenning vereer/Unsung wine workers honoured with prestigious 1659 medal of honour
Onbesonge wynwerkers met gesogte 1659-erepenning vereer/Unsung wine workers honoured with prestigious 1659 medal of honour
Dr Ernest Messina (Chairperson, Groot Constantia Board), Katazile Mtshikwana (Oom Tsotsi) (retired wine worker, Koopmanskloof), Awie Adolf (Cellar Master and shareholder, Fairview), Johan Ehlers (Chief Executive Officer, Agri-Expo), Nellie Cloete (retired wine worker, Groot Constantia), Hermanus Bienas (2017 winner of the Western Cape Prestige Agri Awards and Assistant Manager, Kys Nursery, Vredendal.
Onbesonge wynwerkers met gesogte 1659-erepenning vereer
Die onbesonge bydraers tot die wynbedryf is op Donderdag 1 Februarie 2018 met die ikoniese 1659-erepenning vereer by die jaarlikse Wynoesherdenkingsgeleentheid op die geskiedkundige Groot Constantia-landgoed.
Hierdie erepenning word reeds sedert 1974 aan persone toegeken wat diep spore in die wynbedryf getrap het. Groot Constantia se direksie het besluit om vanjaar simbolies erkenning te gee aan die stemlose en dikwels gesiglose wynwerkers oor die eeue heen deur hulle kollektief met die erepenning te vereer, omdat die wynbedryf sonder húlle bydraes nooit sou kon floreer nie.
Dr Ernest Messina, Voorsitter van Groot Constantia, sê vanjaar se toekenning staan in die teken van ‘n klemverskuiwing van wat tot nou toe die praktyk was: “Ons doel hiermee is om ‘n stem aan alle bydraers te gee, historiese feite in ‘n nuwe lig te stel en sodoende groter waardering en respek vir almal se bydraes te bevestig.”
Dr Messina het die hoop uitgespreek dat dit ‘n keerpunt sal wees vir die bedryf – veral om ingesteldhede te verander, erkenning te gee en eenheid te bewerkstellig. Hy het beklemtoon dat álmal se stories vertel moet word om ‘n meer verteenwoordigende prentjie van die rolspelers te skep.
“In wyntaal beskryf – die versnit is meer volledig en dus beter. Sodoende laat ons reg geskied. Die bedryf behoort aan almal as medeskeppers daarvan – in die verlede sowel as vandag. Ons moet aanhou om in harmonie voort te bou op die soliede grondslag wat deur Simon van der Stel en soveel ander – wat ongelukkig naamloos sal bly – gelê is.”
Uniek aan die geleentheid is ‘n DVD wat vervaardig is om minder bekende feite, soos Simon van der Stel as afstammeling van ‘n vryslaaf, aan die lig te bring; die slawe en inheemse groepe soos die KhoiKhoi se bydraes tot die stigting en instandhouding van die bedryf te erken; en aan onbekende stemme die geleentheid te bied om hul stories met trots en waardigheid te vertel.
Verteenwoordigers uit die bedryf het die 1659-erepenning namens die wynwerkers in ontvangs geneem. Die erepenning sal vanjaar na verskillende punte in die wynbedryf roteer, waarna dit by Groot Constantia gehuisves sal word. Die Wynoesherdenkingsgeleentheid word moontlik gemaak deur die finansiële ondersteuning en vennootskappe van Groot Constantia-landgoed, Die Burger, Standard Bank, Vinpro, AVBOB en Agri-Expo.
The unsung contributors to the wine industry were honoured with the iconic 1659 medal of honour on Thursday 1 February 2018 at the annual Wine Harvest Commemorative Event at the historic Groot Constantia Estate.
This medal has been awarded to significant role-players in the industry since 1974. This year, the Groot Constantia board decided to symbolically honour the voiceless and often faceless wine workers over the centuries by making them the collective recipient of the 1659 medal, as without them the wine industry could never have flourished.
Dr Ernest Messina, Chairperson of Groot Constantia, says this year’s award heralds a shift in emphasis of what was the practice until now: “Our purpose is to give a voice to all contributors, to bring to light new perceptions of historical facts and to confirm greater appreciation and respect for everyone’s contributions.
Dr Messina says he trusts this will usher in a tipping point for the industry – especially in changing attitudes, giving recognition and achieving unity. He emphasised that everyone’s stories must be told to create a more representative picture of the role-players.
“Described in wine language – the blend is more complete and thus better. In this way we achieve justice. This industry is owned by all of us as we are co-creators of the industry historically and presently. We must continue to build in harmony on the solid foundation laid by Simon van der Stel and so many others who will sadly remain anonymous.”
Unique to this event is the production of a DVD to bring to light lesser known facts, such as Simon van der Stel being a descendant of a free slave; to recognise the contribution of the slaves and indigenous groups such as the KhoiKhoi to the foundation and the preservation of the industry; and to give the opportunity to unknown voices to tell their stories with pride and dignity.
Representatives from the industry received the 1659 medal of honour on behalf of the wine workers. The award will rotate between different venues in the wine industry and will ultimately reside at Groot Constantia. The Wine Harvest Commemorative Event is made possible with the financial support and partnership of Groot Constantia Estate, Die Burger, Standard Bank, Vinpro, AVBOB and Agri-Expo.