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Unveiling of the Jock of the Bushveld
sculpture
Johannesburg, 28 December 2007
There will be an unveiling function of the Jock of the Bushveld
in the Johannesburg Zoo on the 25TH January 2008. In 1992 the
Parktown and Westcliffe Heritage Trust commissioned Laurence
Chait to make a sculpture of Jock of the Bushveld as part of
commemorations of the centenary of Parktown. Although there was
not much Bushveld left in Parktown Jock somehow belonged there
because it was at his home Hohenheim, where Percy Fitzpatrick
first told local children the exciting tales of the adventures
of this brave Staffordshire terrier cross, his companion as a
transport rider.
The sculpture was erected in the garden amongst the rocks at the
front of the Johannesburg Hospital, the site of Hohenheim.
Pauline Morgans contributed generously to having the sculpture
cast in bronze and this was undertaken by the Renzo Vignalli
Foundry in Pretoria. The Sculpture was duly unveiled on the site
on the 11th November 1992 by the actor Jonathan Rands who played
Percy Fitzpatrick in the movie about Jock.
A few years ago an attempt to steal Jock was foiled when a guard
noticed that the two hind legs had been sawn through. He was
repaired by the Hospital’s maintenance staff and moved inside
the entrance to the hospital where he remained looking forlornly
out of place. Since he could no longer stand amongst the grasses
it was decided that a more suitable place for this sculpture
would be in the Johannesburg Zoo.
Sir Percy Fitzpatrick was responsible for the first animals in
the collection which he would bring home from hunting trips and
then sends down to be accommodated in the Forest below.
Permission was obtained to move the sculpture from Mr Sagie
Pillay, the CEO of the hospital. The piece was returned to the
Foundry for repairs and will be erected in the new barnyard
development in the Johannesburg Zoo. Guests will include
(amongst others) Head of Joburg General Hospital, Flow Bird-The
Heritage Society, Prof Chait-Joburg General Hospital.
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