Last year, PDBY and University of Pretoria Archives led students and staff on an interactive journey through the UP Archives Finders Winners Competition. Between 14 August and 2 October 2023, three sets of five questions were published in PDBY. The answers could be found by taking a stroll down memory lane, either by visiting the university’s “A Day in the Life” exhibition or uncovering clues left in PDBY. The most resourceful detectives stood a chance to win coffee and printing vouchers, a UP Shop voucher or cash prizes.
“Women at UP” kicked off the competition at the beginning of National Women’s Month. This set of questions honoured UP women who had contributed to the history and culture of the university. The second set zoomed in on the architectural awe of the Hatfield campus. Competitors were taken on a tour through the magical significance of ancient cornerstones. Lastly, the focus rested on the symbols and traditions of UP. In the span of 5 questions, competitors were led through 115 years of the institution’s heritage.
Competitors waited eagerly for the results to be announced. Finally, on 14 March, UP Archives held an intimate prize giving at the Old Arts Building. This was hosted by Prof. Karen Harris, the director of University Archives. Prof. Harris took guests on a thrilling adventure through the reasoning behind holding the competition, with a brief history on a previous national competition called “Finders Keepers”. She continued by thanking the sponsors and announcing the much-anticipated results of the competition. As added magic, a wasp or perdeby was zooming around prizewinners as their photographs were taken. This was significant, as PDBY was originally called Die Perdeby.
The winners of the competition were as follows: Domonique Bennetts, Justine Binedell and Duncan Lotter, Gemma Ferguson, and Bets Wentzel. They received cash prizes, Minolta printing vouchers and a UP shop voucher. Further finalists were Estelle Schoeman, Tamryn O’Conner, Fortune Ngabu, Suzanne le Roux, Luka Kruger, and Nina du Preez, who received cash prizes and Aroma coffee vouchers.
Final recognition must go to the sponsors for their support. Without the UP Registrar, PDBY, Konica Minolta, the UP Shop, Aroma Coffee, the HPC, and Coffee Buzz, the competition would not have been possible. UP history and culture have been given a new breath of life through each reader, competitor and sponsor.