Posted by Swellengram
This year as Creating Carol, Digital Marketing Solutions, I decided to Celebrate National Women’s Day and this month by shining the spotlight on a few of my heroines for six days.
Our photoshoot and interviews were held in the Mayville Rose Garden, here in Swellendam, a significant choice as it is dedicated to another very influential lady of Swellendam; Nita Steyn. It was the perfect setting, in amongst the Swellendam roses, the golden autumn sunlight and historic garden. We loved listening to their stories and hope that you will too.
These women are an inspiration to me and countless others, they make a significant difference with their achievements, courage, contributions and selfless, silent acts of kindness in and around our community.
Let’s celebrate the heroines in our lives; mothers, sisters, daughters, friends and colleagues, who inspire us to be stronger, kinder, more loving and courageous!
“Be the woman who fixes another woman’s crown without telling the world it was crooked.” – Amy Morin.
Dee Hazell has called Swellendam home for the past 18 years. A qualified veterinary nurse, she became inspector at the SPCA Swellendam seven years ago.
Dee is well deserving of all the praise for her consistent commitment to the welfare of animals, all animals! Together, her and her team are often the only source of hope for many voiceless animals. There are hard days, difficult decisions and rare surprises, but she leads the Swellendam SPCA team with compassion, dedication, integrity and perseverance; and with our total admiration!
Through her work, she not only offers care and shelter for animals but also promotes animal rights, increasing public awareness and igniting constructive change in the neighbourhood. She symbolises love and empathy, profoundly improving the lives of both people and animals.
To relax and recharge, Dee enjoys horse riding in the beautiful Swellendam mountains with her dogs in tow. At night, with a little fire lit, she reads, preferring to do so with a glass of wine rather than a cup of hot chocolate.
Here’s to Dee, a true heroine for the furry friends of Swellendam! This world needs more of you! We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your beautiful heart.
“He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” — Emmanuel Kan
Through her innovative strategies and passion for showcasing the unique offerings of this area, the picturesque Hermitage Valley in particular, she has brought attention to the cultural and natural “berried” treasures of Swellendam.
Her marketing efforts through the years, has led to not only promoting her various products produced, the tasting room and accommodation on the farm, but Swellendam, as a must-visit destination!
From visiting nationwide tradeshows to clever branding and collaborations, as well as online marketing, Natalie has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in promoting Swellendam directly and indirectly in more ways than one. She truly deserves recognition for her outstanding contributions to Swellendam’s tourism and hospitality industry.
When time allows for a few stolen moments, she adores gardening, particularly flowers, from sunflowers to sweet peas! She loves traveling abroad and touring within South Africa, with the Drakensberg being one of her favourite destinations.
Cheers to you Natalie and congratulations on your remarkable achievements, may your journey continue to be filled with countless moments of triumph and fulfilment.
It is with immense gratitude and admiration that we celebrate Cynthia Tobias, a beacon of hope and kindness in our Swellendam community. Since 1995, she has been an integral part of the ACVV, an esteemed institution established in 1917 dedicated to social welfare. Her leadership as chairman since 2004, has been marked by an unwavering commitment to helping the underprivileged with tireless dedication.
Her passion for our community shines through in her extraordinary efforts. The ACVV, primarily funded by generous donations from community members and local businesses, has minimal government support. Currently they operate eight soup kitchens in Railton, providing vital nourishment to many in need. This remarkable feat is a testament to Cynthia’s relentless drive and the strong support of our community.
In her personal life, Cynthia’s compassion extends even further. She and her late husband moved to Swellendam in 1991, building their home in Cooper Street. One Sunday, many years ago, a young child from the neighbourhood came to their door asking for food. Cynthia responded with immediate kindness, offering a meal. This simple act of generosity blossomed into a lifelong mission to feed and care for children in need. Today, she cares for 22 children and loves them as her own. The NG Church has joined her in her mission, providing Sunday school classes for the children at her home, further enriching their lives.
After seeing a pamphlet about Cynthia and her Cooper Street Children, put out by the late Minkie from Sulina’s Fairy Sanctuary, overseas visitors enquired how they can assist this mission. This resulted in ongoing annual donations of gifts, clothing and food. This support highlights the far-reaching impact of Cynthia’s work.
She embodies the spirit of generosity and community that makes Swellendam a wonderful place to live. Thank you, Cynthia, for your heart and your dedication. We are profoundly grateful for everything you do.
We greatly value Gerda Uren’s enormous love for Swellendam and it’s people. As the Director of Gforce Security Swellendam, she serves and protects this community with passion, dedication and absolute loyalty!
She not only represents an exceptional level of professionalism and competence in her work, but she also goes above and beyond in showing her love and care to the community. What makes her unwavering commitment even more impressive, is that she achieves all this as a single mom! She is truly a force to be reckoned with.
Gerda is a vital contributor to the safety and security that everyone around her enjoys, because of her effort and steadfast determination. She loves what she does, caring for others, and always does everything to the best of her abilities, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.
Gerda, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your never-ending commitment and exceptional contributions to the benefit of our community. You are an invaluable asset and you have been noticed. You’re doing an amazing job and we LOVE seeing the green -G- signs going up and up and up!!!
Within the very heart of Swellendam, she’s a beacon of dedication, resilience and community spirit; she is as giving as they come, and today, we embrace this opportunity to honour and celebrate Elna Lambrecht and her many selfless deeds for our community.
Elna was the first ever lady President elected for three consecutive years to the Swellendam Agricultural Show Committee and served on the committee for a total of twenty years.
She is a cornerstone of our community, embodying the spirit of generosity and service. Whether it’s making sandwiches late at night for stranded travellers during a storm, spending all day, in the sun at local events handing out goody bags, or meeting and greeting special visitors to our town, she is always ready to lend a helping hand.
Her unwavering commitment to others is matched only by her success as a businesswoman and mother, demonstrating that true fulfilment comes from balancing personal and professional achievements with community service.
And, she’s having the time of her life doing it all! She finds joy in making a difference in people’s lives, driven by a sincere desire to help wherever she is needed. Elna is known for her reliability and integrity, never making promises she can’t keep, but always promising to try her best. Her dedication and kindness have made her an indispensable member of our community, inspiring others with her selflessness and passion for making the world a better place.
Thank you Elna for your unwavering service, being a total superstar and for inspiring us all!
There are few people in Swellendam who don’t know the delightful, flamboyant and vivacious Moira-Ann Seal Odendaal. Her passion for people, the arts, drama, music and history shines through in everything she does.
.She is known to many as Miss Ruby Presents, where from a small theatre in her home artists have come to perform through the years. She is involved with the Swellendam Shack Theatre where aspiring performers have the chance to show their talents. She was a key figure in the Swellendam Agricultural Show for many years and has dedicated her life to promoting Swellendam’s rich history and culture.
.One of her main focuses; a bit of a love story actually, has been the Drostdy Museum, so much so that she researched, tracked down and drove across South Africa to find and collect some of the original Heritage Rose varieties specifically for the re-opening of the Mayville Rose Garden in 2022, the garden, dedicated to Nina Steyn, sister of Nita Steyn.
.We wish to thank you, Moira, for your invaluable contributions to Swellendam and for ensuring that our heritage will remain vibrant and cherished for generations to come. Your enthusiasm is contagious, sparking curiosity and appreciation for the past.
Your work is truly remarkable, it makes a difference in many of our lives and you deserve all the praise and recognition for it.
Happy National Women’s Day & Month! Happy August!
A special thanks to Vera Gildenhuys for your support, these wonderful photographs and your commitment to this project!
.
Developed by Evolution Media House