Something interesting has been developing over the past few months.
I have seen something happening in the digital world that is bringing Benonians, home and abroad, closer together.
Something unique and powerful that is reuniting old friends, family and nostalgic memories of days gone by.
Seven years ago I created my Facebook profile and would never have fathomed that in 2014 Benonians young and old (mostly old) would be embracing their history and culture in such a way that an entire page would be dedicated to share tales of the past often complete with photographs, postcards or old Benoni City Times newspaper clippings.
I always knew that this little East Rand town was a gem and I have always been a staunch advocate of my hometown and of the people who continually put it on the map.
Credit must go to Glynis Cox Millett-Clay, an avid collector whose brain is like a gold mine of historical knowledge, for creating the Facebook “Benoni – Now and Then” page that grows day by day and brings together people with a common interest and love.
Benoni has changed drastically over the decades but the stories and memories created in its history can never be erased especially if it is digitally entrenched in cyber world.
The BCT’s new title website, www.benonicitytimes.co.za is aiming to work alongside passionate individuals and groups like “Benoni – Now and Then” to reignite the memories some of the so-called “lost history” with the Flashback Friday initiative where we upload interesting newspaper articles and advertisements from the BCT archives every Friday.
There is so much that we can learn from the past, both good and bad.
We cannot allow our history to be washed up by the waves of time.
By celebrating Benoni and the people who make it special we can create a community spirit and bond that has been somewhat non-existent in recent times.
I am a firm believer in this, are you?
If you have something interesting to share about Benoni post it on one of the abovementioned platforms.
If you would like to contribute to Flashback Friday drop me an email at lgreen@caxton.co.za or give me a buzz at 011 425 0164.
Let us as Benonians continue to appreciate and enjoy our past while moving forward and making new history at the same time.
LG
