Local shares a mine of information
In celebration of International Museum Day on May 18, Charles Millett-Clay held a presentation at the Benoni Museum for youngsters from various local organisations.
Lucia Mabotja, who is the acting museum curator, said this was the first time the museum had celebrated International Museum Day.
The 2017 theme is “Museums and contested histories: Saying the unspeakable in museums”.
Millett-Clay, who is the director of Kwikmark Mining Supplies, explained to the young visitors from Boston City Campus, MSC Business College and Kids Haven how gold was discovered in Benoni – this journey stretched 130 years, from the primitive phases of mining to how mining is done today.
READ: Kwik change to the rock face
Millett-Clay also showed them some projectors he invented as an underground marking system.
“I give thanks to God for giving these dreams to me about the projectors,” said the Farrarmere resident.
“In the olden days, miners took hours to mark where they would drill.
“Today, using the projector and a metal disk, we can mark inside tunnels within 10 minutes.”
Millett-Clay explained in detail about how Benoni’s name was established, and that mines in the late 1890s were clustered around what is today known as the Chimes Hotel.
Museum launches exhibition
The Benoni Museum also launched new exhibitions on May 18 – The Bushman and Khoi San History, and the African Way of Life exhibitions.
The Bushman and Khoi San History information will be returned to the National Cultural History Museum, in Pretoria, at the end of May.
However, the African Way of Life exhibition will be on display for longer.
“The exhibition is showcased for educational purposes,” said research/collections officer at the museum Mpume Gamede.
“Since our exhibition of the Khoisan, we decided to display the way African people used to live.”
This decision follows the celebration of International Africa Day, which took place on May 25.
The museum, which is based in Elston Avenue, is open from Monday to Friday (9am to 4.30pm) and entrance is free.
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