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Date Posted: 10:20:02 12/26/10 Sun
Author: DKH
Subject: The passing of Lucas van der Merwe

Greetings all,

It was with sadness I read of the passing of Mr. Lucas van der Merwe, Kennel Master of Mizpah Boerboel, Game Rancher, and Hunting Safari operator from the region North of Kroonstad Suid Afrika. In the early 1980's Lucas was one of five founding members who met in a high school hostel with one common purpose...the survival of the Boerboel, the “inseperable companion of our foerfathers” as they called the breed.

The five have been listed as, Mr. Lucas van der Merwe of Kroonstad, Dr. Andre du Toit from Paarl, Johan de Jager from Utrecht in Natal, Johan du Preez of Senekal, and Mrs. Owen Read from Warden. Lucas told me on many occasions that his goal was to find and breed the same kind and type of dog that he remembered from his Grandfathers farm as a young boy...from the Mizpah informational literature; “It was only in the 1980's that a serious search started again for the original farm dog, a search covering thousands of kilometers followed. Selective breeding started, many disappointments followed, but also immense joys! At last the dog of our forefathers was ready to be registered as a pure breed.” In August 1990 the first country wide selection tour was undertaken by Jannie Bouwer and Lucas van der Merwe, Lucas’ wife Anneke went along as secretary...of 250 dogs inpected, 72 were selected to be registered.

Mr. Lucas van der Merwe, owner of Mizpah Boerboel, founding member of the S. A. Boerboel Breeders Association, as well as the Historical Boerboel Association of South Africa, served as the Executive President of the HBSA as well as Life Honorary President of the SABT.

I spent many enjoyable hours visiting with this kind old gentleman, he sold me dogs, once he even gave me pup because as he explained...they should be farm-dogs and he liked my programs goals. Another thing I will always be grateful for; Lucas sent me an extensive collection of photographs from the early days...photos depicting not the massive headed and heavy bodied, flew-faced, weak- legged dog so often now featured on SABT breeders sites, but the kind of dog I like...athletic, strong limbs, clean-headed, proper angulation, good ribs, working structure...in other words...a farm-dog.

It warms my heart to know that in another place, in another time, a dog-man and his close group of like-minded friends was able to understand the need, was ambitious enough to do something positive to get it started, and stubborn enough to stick to their goals regardless of the headwind of opposition. I know they will succeed, because there are still some of us working with the compass they left us.

I am writing this out of respect for a gentleman who not only did so much for this breed...he STARTED this breed, as a dog-man, and a Boerboel enthusiast, he has my thanks and my highest regard.

Lucas always ended his conversations with, “God be with you till we meet again!”

I am looking forward to it,
David Harris

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