Paarl Gimnasium
History
Rev. van der Lingen founded the school in the centre of town in 1858. The school has produced some of South Africa's top rugby players, including Schalk Burger, Jean De Villiers, Marius Joubert, Handré Pollard and De Wet Barry. Other alumni include the theologian Stephanus Jacobus du Toit and politician Liezl van der Merwe.
The primary school section of Gimnasium was founded in 1858 as a Dutch Christian school for boys, with the high school being founded much later. In the mid-1930s the school's language of education shifted to Afrikaans. After the high school section was completed the school enrolled its first female student.
Paarl Gimnasium High School has a large sporting program and takes part in the interschools tournament against Paarl Boys' High School, an event which attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year.
Notable alumni
Springbok Rugby
| Name | Test debut | Springbok number |
| Japie le Roux | 10/10/1906 | 94 |
| Boy de Villiers | 17/11/1906 | 95 |
| Pietie le Roux | 24/11/1906 | 103 |
| Steve Joubert | 24/11/1906 | 110 |
| Gerald Thompson | 23/11/1912 | 142 |
| Attie van Heerden | 13/08/1921 | 152 |
| Pierre de Villiers | 30/06/1928 | 195 |
| Xander van der Westhuizen | 21/07/1928 | 203 |
| Manus de Jongh | 18/08/1928 | 205 |
| PK Morkel | 01/09/1928 | 211 |
| Jan Pickard | 19/09/1953 | 301 |
| Hugo van Zyl | 26/07/1958 | 340 |
| Wynand Mans | 10/04/1965 | 398 |
| Schalk Burger (snr) | 02/06/1984 | 535 |
| Kobus Burger | 26/08/1989 | 552 |
| Kobus Wiese | 26/06/1993 | 585 |
| Balie Swart | 31/07/1993 | 595 |
| Mornay Visser | 13/04/1995 | 625 |
| Pieter Rossouw | 28/06/1997 | 652 |
| De Wet Barry | 10/06/2000 | 690 |
| Louis Koen | 08/07/2000 | 693 |
| Chris Rossouw | no tests | 699 |
| Marius Joubert | 21/07/2001 | 711 |
| Jean de Villiers | 09/11/2002 | 735 |
| Schalk Burger (jnr) | 24/10/2003 | 754 |
| Ashley Johnson | 23/07/2011 | 810 |
| Lourens Adriaanse | 23/11/2013 | 853 |
| Handré Pollard | 28/06/2014 | 857 |
| Louis Schreuder | 02/12/2017 | 891 |
Other
- Marciel Hopkins, model and Boer Soek 'n Vrou presenter
- Marguerite Wheatley, actress
- Perlé van Schalkwyk, businesswoman and owner of the Lollipop Lounge
- Liezl van der Merwe, Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
- Mandy Rossouw, journalist
- Martelize Brink, author and radio presenter
- Kiewiet, 2002 Alumnus & Draadspanner
References
- ^ Giliomee, Hermann (2003). "The" Afrikaners: Biography of a People. London: C Hurst & Co. p. 215. ISBN 1-85065-714-9.
- ^ "Miss South Africa finalist". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2022-08-03.
- ^ Nel, Ronel. "Marguerite Wheatley: Terug Weskus toe! (sommer kaalvoet)". Sarie (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2022-08-03.
- ^ Beyers, Lise. "GiGi: From Perlé of Paarl to top stripper". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2022-08-03.
- ^ "Liezl Linda van der Merwe". People's Assembly. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
- ^ "Statement on the passing of Mandy Rossouw". News24. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
- ^ Hudson, Mari (2022-05-30). "Ontmoet onverskrokke Martelize Brink". RSGplus (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2022-08-03.
- ^ Hudson, Mari (2022-05-30). "Ontmoet onverskrokke Martelize Brink". RSGplus (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2022-08-03.
External links
- Official website (in Afrikaans)