Northwood’s Unity Arch set to bridge the gap

NORTHWOOD School, on Friday, unveiled the Unity Arch, a monument sponsored by the class of 1989 who came together from all corners of the globe to make a lasting mark at the school. The arch symbolises the merge between Beachwood High School and Northlands Boys’ High School in 1990 to form Northwood and old boys from both schools contributed. Artist and old boy, Brendon Edwards, took on the task of creating the arch.

Warren Brosnihan, former Springbok who was the headboy of Northwood in 1989, said the estimated cost of the arch is between R200 000 and R250 000.
“A lot of our class members are scattered around the world, so we put together a crowd funding site and collected the money in British pounds,” he said.

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On one side, the arch features a list of the Beachwood and Northlands class members of 1989 and a plaque with the school’s insignia and motto: Acquit ye like men, quisque sibi verus (to thine own self be true). On the other side are the words of Psalm 133.

“It’s our 30 year reunion this year and last year, a group of us decided we wanted to leave a mark of significance. This is the main entrance to the school and we have paved the area and created the Unity Arch. The Matrics of 2000 donated a bell to the school and we plan to place the bell under the arch. Grade 8 learners will ring the bell as they enter the school as squires and again on their last day in Matric when they depart as knights,” said Brosnihan.

The arch will be left to oxidise and corrode in the elements until it has rusted to the desired shade before it is sealed.
“Our Northlands blazers were brown, so the rust colour will add to the symbolism of the arch,” said Brosnihan.

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Northwood headmaster, Paul Viljoen said the message behind the arch reached beyond the school.
“It symbolises what our country needs – unity. The old boys of 1989 came together from all over the world to contribute and we can learn from this – when you are united you can achieve anything,” he said.

Deputy headmaster, Reggie Govender said the arch would add value to the school.
“Especially when we host our speech day in October this year,” he added.

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