72 Years of Learning, Resilience, and Remarkable Chapters
When asked to share my life story, I wasn’t quite prepared for the journey it would ignite. A cascade of memories, like sticky notes long tucked away, began surfacing—each colored by the people and places that shaped my path across seven decades.
Roots That Run Deep.
The earliest influences came from stories passed down. My great-grandfather, a skilled carpenter, came alive through my grandfather’s recollections and the cherished tools he displayed. That same grandfather once soared above fields in a Tiger Moth during World War I, while my grandmother from Wepener carried herself with pride, believing royal lineage flowed through her veins.
Born to an Afrikaans mother and an English father, I grew up navigating cultural tensions still palpable from the Boer War. Yet it was through my parents that I inherited my sense of values and an enduring love for reading—Dad’s comic book stacks and our weekly library visits nurtured that joy.
Movement, Mentors, and Mischief
At five, I began gymnastics. By Grade 7, Mr. Haasbroek had us flipping over cars. That same year marked my first public speech as Deputy Head boy—a memory I rediscovered in my mother’s belongings.
High school brought more than academics. Mr. Elmar Steyn, our English teacher and novelist, ignited my dream to someday live in Cape Town. Meanwhile, Mr. Schutte, our strict German teacher, wielded his cane as motivation—a punishment I cheekily tried to soften with a piece of car tubing in my pants. He caught on, eventually.
Adventures on Water
Living near the Vaal River opened the door to water-skiing. I advanced to slalom skiing and trained daily on a 30-kilometre roundtrip stretch between Loch Vaal and home—culminating in winning the South African Endurance Water Skiing Championship.
Detours and Discipline
A B-matric derailed university plans, so I enrolled at Potchefstroom Teacher’s Training College after military service in the Air Force—where I trained as a Dog Handler. The Air Force instilled discipline, transforming me into a dedicated student.
Teachers like Mrs. Meyer kindled my love for poetry, while Mr. Lombaard (once crowned Mr. Universe) encouraged my gymnastics journey, leading me to become a certified judge—a role that took me across South Africa.
Career Highs and Personal Lessons
I began teaching in Vereeniging but soon shifted into pharmaceutical sales, where I flourished, trained extensively, and fulfilled my Cape Town dream by becoming Regional Manager for the Western and Eastern Cape.
Later, at 23, I was accepted into university, earning my BA through UNISA and Potchefstroom’s night classes. Sixteen years in the private sector taught hard lessons—among them, the price of prioritizing career over family. Though I experienced divorce, I’m blessed with three extraordinary daughters and four grandchildren.
Coming Home to Education
Eventually, I returned to teaching—a decision that restored purpose. Ten years in, I became a principal at 58, officially retiring at 65 but continuing for another three years before accepting my final role at the Salesian Institute’s Learn to Live School of Skills. I retired last year, closing that chapter with fulfilment and gratitude.
Throughout my journey—across classrooms, boardrooms, and rivers—I’ve met extraordinary people, lived many lives, and learned that meaning isn’t found in titles or accolades, but in growth, connection, and joy along the way.
“A full life is not defined by its length, but by the impact of its stories.”
