Page 3 - VHSA - Onderstepoort 100 Years - Part 2

ONDERSTEPOORT 100
(Principle Veterinary Officer) and Prof A.I. Perold, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture in Stellenbosch.
After considering proposals by the TUC, the University Colleges of Johannesburg, Stellenbosch and the Grey Uni- versity College, the committee submitted
a lengthy report in August 1919 with a
all the activities at Onderstepoort must be under one head
and that no other veterinary faculty should be established, he
was offered the combined position of Director of Veterinary 63 Education and Research, which he accepted, and was asked
Students’ Hostel, 1924
majority recommendation that a faculty should be established at the TUC but that the first 2 years of academic training could take place at any university college with the necessary infrastructure. The last 3 years of a 5-year course would be presented at Onderstepoort only, utilizing the existing facilities and research staff financed and administered by the Department of Agri- culture. This unique solution to a complex problem clearly reflected Theiler’s insistence on the unity of research and training.
“Theiler challenged
the government to be generous in its efforts as ‘Onderstepoort is already one of the show places
of Pretoria and the new buildings should be in keeping with the ideal which the new institute has before it.’”
to draw up a plan for the implementation of the report (for more details see Part 1). At a board meeting on 18 December 1919 the Principal of the TUC announced ‘the institution of a Faculty of Veterinary Science’.
Theiler’s recommendations on new buildings and facilities needed for tuition purposes at Onderstepoort were also accepted. These included extensions to the building for pathological anatomy, a second post mortem building, new laboratories for biochemistry, an animal hospital for clinical training, new homes for personnel, and a students’ hostel. Theiler challenged the government to be generous in its efforts
The recommendations were accepted
by government who then joined various
other organizations in exerting pressure on Theiler to accept the position of first Dean of the new Faculty. This included an interview with the new Prime Minister, Gen. J.C. Smuts, who also played a major role in converting the TUC to the University of Pretoria (UP). Meeting Theiler’s conditions that
as ‘Onderstepoort is already one of the “show places” of Pretoria and the new buildings should be in keeping with the ideal which the new institute has before it.’ The original budget was 100,000 pounds sterling, but eventually the cost was £175,000.
Birth of the Faculty (1920-1930)
1908-2008
Years