Mission Statement
“After discussing various problems with a number of fellow palaeontologists I have come to the conclusion that we are in dire need of a Palaeontological Society in Southern Africa. Such a Society will undoubtedly form a powerful and effective mouthpiece when authorities have to be approached eg. for the preservation of fossil localities which are in danger of disappearing such as at Harrismith, Thaba ’Nchu and Aliwal North”.
Dr Jacques van Heerden
3 August 1976
3 August 1976
He went on to say why he thought an association was desirable, and to outline his concept for a Newsletter that the association might wish to publish. The response from the addressees was positive, and in this rather unspectacular way our Society was born.
Quite which date should be regarded as the real date of our foundation as a Society is not easy to determine; at least two compete: the date of the original circular letter from Dr Jacques van Heerden (3 Aug 1976), and the date of a follow-up circular advising the outcome of the initial questionnaire and including the first voting form for the first office bearers (24 Nov 1976). The four months between the two make little difference; as I pointed out in the editorial to volume 4 part 4 of PAL News/PAL Nuns (June 1986), we are now officially ten years old, and about to enter our societal “teens”. As with all teenagers, we have seen crises and problems, but out presence here today shows that we have weathered the storms and gained valuable insights and experience to help us tackle those other problems that lie in wait for us down the road ahead!
Mike Raath PalNews5.1
Quite which date should be regarded as the real date of our foundation as a Society is not easy to determine; at least two compete: the date of the original circular letter from Dr Jacques van Heerden (3 Aug 1976), and the date of a follow-up circular advising the outcome of the initial questionnaire and including the first voting form for the first office bearers (24 Nov 1976). The four months between the two make little difference; as I pointed out in the editorial to volume 4 part 4 of PAL News/PAL Nuns (June 1986), we are now officially ten years old, and about to enter our societal “teens”. As with all teenagers, we have seen crises and problems, but out presence here today shows that we have weathered the storms and gained valuable insights and experience to help us tackle those other problems that lie in wait for us down the road ahead!
Mike Raath PalNews5.1
The Logo represents a face of the mammal-like reptile Lystrosaurus which is commonly found in the Triassic beds of the Karoo in South Africa and other regions of Gondwana (designed by Drs Juri van den Heever and Fred Grine; artwork by Cedric Hunter and approved by the late Prof C. Pama, heraldic expert).