Al ooit gewonder wát die storie agter die ‘monument’ is wat in die see tussen Stilbaai se westelike strand (Wes-strand) en die hawe opgerig is?
Hester Barnard (sy bly steeds in Stilbaai) vertel dat dit opgerig is nadat haar niggie (Garetha, die enigste dogter van Babs en Piet Cillie, ‘n onderwyser van Swellendam) jare gelede daar verdrink het.
Garetha en ‘n maatjie het tydens laagwater daar geswem toe Garetha in die moeilikheid geraak en verdrink het – die maatjie het oorleef.
Dit het regoor die strandhuis gebeur wat haar (Hester Barnard) oupa aan moederskant gebou het en waar hulle vakansies deurgebring het. Die hartseer was egter só erg dat die huis later verkoop is.
Stilbaai het ‘n hele paar ‘monumente’ met ‘n interessante geskiedenis – soos die Wafra-tok wat by die NSRI-gebou staan en die twee monumente wat langs die R305 tussen die N2 en Stilbaai opgerig is asook die monumentjie regoor ‘Julie se Baai’.
STILBAAI’S MONUMENT IN THE SEA
Ever wondered what the story behind this ‘monument’ in the sea between Stilbaai’s western beach and the harbour is?
Hester Barnard (she still lives in Stilbaai) says that it was built after her niece (Garetha, the only daughter of Babs and Piet Cillie, a Swellendam teacher) drowned there.
Garetha and a friend was swimming there during low tide when she got in trouble and drowned – her young friend survived.
The monument was built opposite the beach house where it happened. The beach house was built by her (Herster Barnard’s) grandfather on her mother’s side and they spent their holidays there. It was later sold as the memories was too sad.
Stilbaai has various memorials and monuments – like the Wafra fishing boat at the NSRI building and the two monuments next to the R305 between the N2 and Stilbaai as well as the little monument opposite ‘Julie se Baai’.
End
(Blog and photo: www.mystilbaai.co.za)
