Civil Engineering January/February 2021 | Vol 29 No 1

Civil Engineering January/February 2021 45 decided to study civil engineering at Stellenbosch University. Theo recalled that when his father visited South Africa from Belgium in 1951 to investigate possible immigration, he brought back some pamphlets and literature about the country. In one of these, it said that water would be the ultimate constraint for its development. This had a major influence on Theo’s decision to study civil engineering, which he completed in 1956. EARLY ENGINEERING YEARS IN WATER AFFAIRS Theo joined DWA in January 1957 on contract as he still had immigrant status. Water Affairs had, at that time, a very well- structured training programme for engineers and he was first exposed to survey work, then called reconnaissance. In 1958 he was transferred to the Ebenezer Dam near Tzaneen as the as- sistant resident engineer. The names of many well-known DWA colleagues are mentioned in Theo’s memoir, Memories of a career in water engineering and management , which highlights his people-skills. During this period Theo married his first wife and welcomed two daughters, Hilde and Ria. When the works were completed in the beginning of 1960, he was transferred to the construction site of the Stompdrift Dam, which is situated on the Olifants River near Oudtshoorn in the Southern Cape. The purpose of the dam, which consists of three concrete arches or domes, was to stabilise the flow of the river for the benefit of downstream irrigation. The van Robbroeck’s third daughter, Lize, was born during this con- struction time. All the setting out was initially done by Theo, including the calculations. Setting out the most complicated shape of the domes and their intersections with the buttresses was a major problem because of the severe overhang of the arches. These complex calculations were hand-calculated with an electric cal- culator as no electronic computer was available at that time. The detailed work shows Theo’s drive to find innovative solutions as well as his engineering expertise. Later, in 1964, Theo was the official to arrange for DWA’s first computer – an IBM 1130. In 1965 Theo was selected to attend a post-graduate training course in France, as his knowledge of French was an added benefit. The course was presented by several great French engi- neers, giving Theo his first exposure to the international dam community. Sadly, the lengthy stay in France induced stresses Irma and Theo van Robbroeck Ebenezer Dam with its morning glory spillway Portion of Stompdrift Dam Some excerpts from Theo’s handwritten calculation notes