PATRIA JULY: ROCKING A DECADE

Christinet Zaal

@christinetzaal

The annual Patria July took place yesterday, 13 July, at Snowflake. Gates opened at 12:00, and attendees could expect top-class entertainment from various acts, and the Miss July pageant.

The day kicked off with the horse races. First year “horses” raced with “jockeys” on their backs, around a track created from hay bales. The competitive spirit between the corridors was clear, and Opphichius eventually
emerged victorious.

The MC of the day, Waney, the Afrikaans media personality known for skits with his partner, Janey, ensured a smooth flow of the programme. Various artists were set to perform at the event: Dodo, Herman Kleinhans, Zaan
Sonnekus, Robbie Wessels and Bok van Blerk.

To him, the best part is seeing how everything comes together. “Patria July is such a testament to what we as residence stand for. It’s a representation of our values and traditions. It shows that through standing strong and
working together, we can make a success.”

“Patria July is a unique event that gives a different feel to the usual student festivals. It’s a way for students to come
together and just enjoy the day. The scale and interest in Patria July has just grown exponentially, and it is amazing
to see. It might be organised by Patria, but it is essentially a gathering of all students, everyone is welcome here,” remarked Pieter Booysen, Patria HC member for the term 2021/2022.

Various Patria alumni attended the event, including the creators of Patria July and previous Miss July winners. To
Andreas, it was an “honour” having them at the event and “a privilege to see how these individuals have grown and
developed, and to see what they have achieved.” Vogel, this year’s organiser, was also excited as almost all of the
Patria July founders were able to attend.

To Breedt, the best part of the night was Potch’s gees. She explained that the crowd was always lively, helping her to
feel confident on stage. “The men from Patria also made sure we were comfortable and led us through the night. I am looking forward to being an ambassador for Patria, and to portraying their values through my acts. This is more
than just a title to me, it is the biggest privilege.”

Breedt’s advice to ladies who would like to participate in Patria July next year was: “Just be yourself. Everything
goes by so quickly. Build up your fellow contestants, at the end of the day you are each others’ biggest support
system.”

The night ended with a performance from Bok van Blerk. The last song gave residence members a final chance to
look back at what they had achieved and experience a feeling of unity.

‘Ons vir jou, O, Patria!’