You will have noticed that I added two new photo albums to the website, namely:

• Family crests - Vermaak Family
• Family crests - Winckler Family

It is important to note that these family crests (or coats of arms) are here merely for interest sake. As far as I know we can not lay any legal claim to these coats of arms, but I found these interesting and thought you might too.

Please read the attached article for more information about Coats of Arms, their origins, and the legal sistuation regarding these.

Dear Family and Friends,

This is my first attempt at writing a newsletter for the site. I thought that I should inform you of a few developments, projects I am busy with, progress I am making, and areas where I am having difficulty.

Johan Winckler has recently given me access to the "Winckler Archives". This has been a tremendous help and I have managed to upload a lot of information from that.

This 'archive' is a treasure trove of family history and I am still getting my head around everything.

My sincere thanks to Johan

I have started with a fairly substantial project, namely scanning and annotating as many of the family photographs as I can. This is obviously time consuming, but the result is very rewarding.

• In the last day or two I have created the 'Family Graduations' and 'Family Weddings' albums. I am looking forward to submissions for these albums!

• There is an album called "Important places, cars, etc". I have included, thus far, some of the places where I have lived and which are important to me. I would like to do the same for each member of this site. This is a way in which we can get to know one another again.

• Another album is called "Virtual Cemetery". I realise that this sounds very sombre, but for the genealogist gravestones, memorials, death certificates/notices are very important. This also gives us an opportunity to visit the graves of the loved ones who have gone before us and whose final resting places we may not be able to visit. Please contribute to this album

If you have suggestions for other photo albums then please let me know and I will gladly oblige.

I have made quite substantial progress in certain lines of the family, namely Winckler, Vermaak, Kruger, Kölbing, Viljoen and others. In the process I have made some interesting discoveries.

One of these is the fact that Christian Gregor (1723-1801) ,who is a direct ancester of the Wincklers, was a well-known composer of church music.Christian Gregor was the son of a farmer. However, his father died before his birth on 01 January 1723 and his mother died when he was just a little lad. He was recognised as a very talented boy and was raised with the children of Count von Pfeil. Christian Gregor was encouraged to focus on being a teacher and organist. He accompanied the Count's family on a visit to the Moravian Brethren, and was so moved by the community that he wanted to join them. After a further 2 years of teaching he was, in1743, permitted to join the Brethren. In 1753 he became the accountant to the Directorate in Herrnhut. In 1764 he was chosen as a member of the "Synod Unitätsdirektion". He was instructed to visit the Brethren communities in America and the Volga.

Christian Gregor composed a great number of hymns, corales and arias and is known as the father of Moravian Church music. His hymns are still sung in churches all over the world today.

4. Problem areas

I am struggling to find information about the Wentzel and Pieters lines of the Kruger family. Any information would be welcome.

5. Contact Details

I would appreciate it if you could let me know of any family members who may be interested in joining the site. You may either send them my email address or send their email addresses to me. I will then invite them to join the site.

6. Why?

Some of you may have asked "Why is she doing this?" You may well ask.

The Vermaak-line of Marthinus Petrus Hendrik Vermaak (Tienie) will die with my sister Sonia and me as neither of us have had living children. My father was the only son of Christian Esias Vermaak. Yet, I felt that I wanted to leave something tangible for the grandchildren and great-granchildren, etc, etc of Chris Vermaak. And this is where the Winckler link comes in. Walter Winckler married a granddaughter of Chris Vermaak, namely Suzette Bouwer (whose mother was Nellie Vermaak,my father's sister), and later Walter married me (Adri), another of Chris Vermaak's granddaughters. And that, dear family, is where it all started.

Please remember that I update the family tree on an almost daily basis and I often upload new photos . So, be sure to visit the site regularly - you may be suprised by what you find there.

If any of you are having difficulty in navigating the site please let me know and I will try to assist.

I hope to be able to write a newsletter from time to time . If you have any news then please post a News Article on the site.

Until next time

Adri

Theo and Mari will be arriving in Cape Town on 02 August 2008 - in time for Walter (pappa's) birthday.

We wish them a lovely holiday and look forward to seeing them again

Adri Winckler in car crash

I was travelling to work at 05:50 on Monday morning (07 July 2008). Three kilometres outside Kuilsriver another car skipped a red traffic light and I collided with him.

Our little Nissan Micra is seriously damaged and we are waiting to hear about the extend of the damage. I was injured in various places: my right hand has torn ligaments, both knees are injured, left leg under the knee is severely bruised as is my sternum (from the steering wheel) and my lower back is very painful.

I have been at home all week but will be going back to work on Monday, 14 July 2008, this time in a rental car

We are very grateful though as matters could have been a lot worse.