She’s flown in a two person plane over the sea, went down a Breë River rapid eyes closed and occasionally she catches a tuna. One of these days a hot air balloon ride, jumping out of a plane and riding on an elephant’s back, will be added to that list. To imply Nita de Lange loves a challenge and likes to keep busy would be somewhat of an understatement.

When her feet are planted firmly on the ground, she’s responsible for project coordination, administration and financing of KKW requests and NIMs (repairing and fixing network points, etc.) During these processes she works closely with Facilities Management, external contractors and the network infrastructure team at IT.

“Project management is already part of my personal life, that’s why I try and do so many things. It’s also my passion to help other people, tackle projects and be able to make a success of it.” She also completed USB’s Project management course in October.

Thirteen years of experience in banking comes in handy when managing two properties in Gordon’s Bay. This, and the financial experience she gained during the two years she worked for a Home owners Association, led to her position as chairman of their Body Corporate. Even renting and managing property has its challenges, but for Nita this means exposure to a whole different area and she sees it as a positive experience.

“Do something for someone who can’t do anything for you.”

Last year Nita became involved with Die Ark in Faure, a charity organisation looking after approximately 1000 needy people, the homeless, the jobless, drug addicts and prostitutes. Even though it’s existed for 20 years, it’s always in need of help.

Initially she helped collecting Christmas presents for the 200 children living here. However, she soon realised she’d like to become involved on a more long term basis. she also realised it would be more than she can handle on her own and got 6 other people, Cheryl Cornelissen, Gareth Cornelissen, Terence Pietersen, At van Hout, Marijhan Hendriks,  Elma Titus, Michelle Pietersen and Petro Uys involved. Together they would like to try and improve Ark residents’ conditions and future and make a difference in the community. The project is a registered Matie Community Service Project and Nita’s also currently doing a course in Community Interaction  – something which inspires her even more.

During a 4 year stay in New Zealand she learnt to stay humble. Whether you sweep streets or have your own business, over there, everyone’s the same and your treat each other with respect. “Never think you’re better than anyone else.”

During this time in Auckland, also known as the City of Sails, she gained valuable experience in banking, but also learnt a lot about herself and how to be independent. But she also developed a love for the ocean. It was here, in a city with beautiful beaches and a culture of sailing and fishing, where she got hooked.

“You don’t mess with the ocean.”

The ocean teaches you a lot and you have to respect it. She’s been in many dangerous situations, among others, one where they struggled to find their way back to land due to a GPS that hasn’t been programmed yet. But she’s also been at sea for 13 hours straight. It’s a good thing she doesn’t get seasick.

Tuna and galjoen are quite common, but nowadays fish is becoming scarcer and a Fish Finder is necessary so you don’t aimlessly float around on the ocean. Turtles, sharks and even dolphins sometime accompany the boats – an experience far from her upbringing in Alberton. .

“I love living close to nature.”

And since South Africa has so many beautiful places, camping is the ideal hobby. “By traveling and seeing other places and cultures, one can learn so much about people and their habits.” The Breë River white-water rafting was a different and scarier learning experience – probably because she can’t swim.

At the safer end of the hobby spectrum, you’ll find dancing, tropical fish, bonsais and herbs. Bruno, a strong and clever border-collie and husky cross is a full time training project. One can safely say, she has more than enough to keep her busy.

If you’d like to know more about DIE ARK project, contact Nita at nita@sun.ac.za. More information will also be available soon on IT’s Community Interaction website.

Sy’t al in `n tweeman-vliegtuig oor die see gevlieg, is toe oë met die Breërivier af in `n rubberboot en vang af en toe `n tuna. Een van die dae sal `n warmlugballon-rit, spring uit `n vliegtuig en ry op `n olifant tot die lysie gevoeg word. Om te sê Nita de Lange geniet `n uitdaging en hou van besigbly, is dalk ietwat eufemisties.

Wanneer haar voete op vaste grond is, is sy verantwoordelik vir projekkoordineering, administrasie en finansies van KKW-versoeke en NIMs  (die onderhoud en regstel van netwerkpunte, ens. ) by IT. Gedurende hierdie prosesse werk sy ook nou saam met Fasiliteitsbestuur, buitekontrakteurs en die netwerkinfrastruktuur-span by IT.

“Ek pak soveel goed aan, want projekbestuur is reeds deel van my persoonlike lewe en dis my passie om ander te help, projekte aan te pak en ‘n sukses daarvan te kan maak.” Sy het ook in Oktober die Projekbestuurkursus by USB voltooi.

Haar 13 jaar ondervinding in die bankwese kom handig te pas met die bestuur van twee eiendomme in Gordonsbaai. Hierdie, en haar finansiële ondervinding in die twee jaar waartydens sy vir `n Huiseienaarsvereniging gewerk het, het haar die verantwoordelikheid as voorsitter ook losgeslaan. Ook met verhuring en bestuur van eiendom is daar uitdagings, maar vir Nita is die blootstelling aan `n heel ander gebied en sy sien dit as `n positiewe ondervinding.

“Doen vir ander iets wat niks vir jou kan doen nie.”

Nita het verlede jaar betrokke geraak by Die Ark in Faure, `n welsynsorganisasie wat omsien na ongeveer `n 1000 behoeftige mense, onder meer haweloses, werkloses, prostitute en dwelmverslaafdes. Dit bestaan reeds vir 20 jaar, maar het toenemend meer hulp nodig.

Aanvanklik het sy gehelp met die insamel van Kersgeskenke vir die 200 kinders wat daar woon, maar het gou besef dat sy hulle op die langtermyn wil bystaan. Sy het besef die projek is te groot om alleen aan te pak, en het 6 ander mense, Cheryl Cornelissen, Gareth Cornelissen, Terence Pietersen, At van Hout, Marijhan Hendriks,  Elma Titus, Michelle Pietersen en Petro Uys, gekry om uit te help. Saam wil hulle probeer omDie Ark se inwoners se omstandighede en toekoms te verbeter en `n verskil te maak in die samelewing. Omdat dit ook `n Matie Gemeenskapsdiensprojek is, doen sy tans `n kursus in Community Interaction en sy is vol lof vir die inspirasie wat dit bied.

Tydens `n 4-jaar verblyf in Nieu-Zeeland het sy geleer om altyd nederig te bly. Of jy nou strate vee of jou eie besigheid het in Nieu-Zeeland, jy is maar dieselfde en almal behandel mekaar met respek.”Moet nooit dink jy is beter as iemand anders nie.”

Gedurende die tydperk in Auckland, of te wel, die City of Sails, het sy goeie ondervinding in die bankwese opgedoen, baie van haarself geleer – ook hoe om onafhanklik te kan wees. Maar sy het ook `n liefde vir die see ontwikkel. Dit was hier, in `n stad met heerlike strande en `n kultuur van seil en visvang, waar die gogga haar ook gebyt het.

“`n Mens speel nie met die see nie.”

Die see leer jou baie en jy moet respek daarvoor hê. Sy was self al in gevaarlike situasies waar hulle byna nie die hawe kon opspoor nie, omdat die GPS nog nie ingestel was op daardie stadium nie. Maar sy was ook al vir 13 ure aaneen op die see. Gelukkig is seesiek nie `n probleem vir haar nie.

Tuna en galjoen word gereeld gevang, maar deesdae word die vis minder en `n Fish Finder is nodig as jy nie vir ure doelloos op die water wil ronddobber nie.  Selfs skilpaaie, haaie en dolfyne vergesel soms die bote –  `n ondervinding ver verwyderd van haar grootword in Alberton.

“Ek geniet dit om na aan die natuur te lewe.”

Aangesien ons land soveel mooi plekke het, is kamp die ideale tydverdryf vir haar. “Deur te reis, ander plekke en ander kulture te leer ken, kan `n mens soveel leer van mense en hul dinge.” Die “whitewater rafting”-ondervinding was `n ander les en meer skrikwekkend – waarskynlik omdat sy nie kan swem nie.

Aan die meer veilige spektrum van tydverdrywe is daar darem dans, perdry, haar tropiese visse, bonsai-boompies en kruie. Bruno, `n slim en sterk  border-collie en husky kruis is ook `n deurlopende opleidingsprojek. Maar vir nou is dit eers genoeg hooi op haar vurk.

Indien enige iemand meer inligting wil bekom oor DIE ARK projek, kontak haar by nita@sun.ac.za. Meer inligting sal ook binnekort verkrygbaar wees op IT se Gemeenskapsinteraksie webwerf.

In July, at the beginning of the new semester, we started featuring profiles on our IT staff. The reason for this was to introduce you to the people behind the e-mails and at the end of the phone line and that we’re really actually quite approachable, even if we’re considered IT geeks!

Over the past few months I’ve realised that we have some pretty interesting and cool people working at IT. (Even though most of them completely deny this of course) I’ve learned about which type of fish you can catch from a boat and what a “beeswagtertjie” is. I’ve been given traveling tips, found hidden talents and I’ve only covered about a tenth of IT’s staff.

But let’s face it, we’re like Telkom… or any service orientated company really, we’re always in trouble and people at the other end of the phone are hardly ever happy to talk to us. (Yes, we do feel a little sorry for ourselves, but that’s our problem.) In spite of this obstacle we still want to help and fix problems when we get the chance can. We hope, as you get to know us, you’ll pick up the phone or send an e-mail – even when you don’t have a problem!

You can still read all our previous profiles by clicking on the links below:

Wendy Robyn
Marinka Naudé
Jacky November, Anthea Davids and Jenny Watson
Pietie Traut
Quinton Luiters
Mandy Wanza
Petro UysIn Julie, aan die begin van die tweede semester het ons begin met `n reeks profiele van ons IT-personeel. Die rede hiervoor was om julle bekend te stel aan die mense aan die ander kant van die e-posse en telefoonlyne en te wys dat ons eintlik onskadelik is, al is ons IT-bleeksiele.

Oor die afgelope paar maande het ek ook besef dat ons `n hele paar interessante en oulike mense het wat by IT werk. (Selfs al ontken die meeste van hulle dit hewiglik.) Ek het in die tyd al geleer watter tipe vis van `n boot af gevang word, wat `n “beeswagtertjie” is. Ek is reiswenke gegee en het versteekte talente ontdek. En ek het nog nie eers met `n tiende gesels nie!

Want, kom ons wees nou eerlik, IT is soos Telkom … of enige ander diens-georienteerde maatskappy. Ons is meeste van die tyd in die moeilikheid en jy’s gewoonlik nie gelukkig teen die tyd dat jy ons moet bel nie. (Ja, ons kry onsself miskien so `n bietjie jammer.) Ten spyte hiervan wil ons altyd bitter graag help en tegnologiese tameletjies oplos waar ons kan. Ons hoop, soos julle ons leer ken, julle ook makliker die foon op te tel of `n e-pos te stuur. Selfs al het jy nie `n probleem nie.

Vorige techies:

Wendy Robyn
Marinka Naudé
Jacky November, Anthea Davids and Jenny Watson
Pietie Traut
Quinton Luiters
Mandy Wanza
Petro Uys

Against Marinka Naudé’s office wall sits a black frame with the following quote:

“Service excellence can be attained
if we constantly strive to perfection
and care enough to do our very best in everyday”

Those who know her, also knows she’s constantly either on the move, in a meeting or surrounded by heaps of documents, busy sorting out admin. There’s no doubt she tries to fit as much as possible in an eight to five day. On paper she’s Head: IT Finances and Administration and oversees the correct application of financial policies, co-ordinating, planning, budgeting, management and administration of Personnel, Operational and Capital funds. But her job stretches much wider than the description.

A failed attempt, caused by confusion about the deadline, to enrol for Food Service Management at the Cape Tech, inadvertently, on the recommendation of a student advisor, rather led to a newly launched course, Company Administration. Standard 6 Accounting was quickly dusted off and her career kicked off. In spite of this, one of her favorite activities still remain browsing through recipe books and of course cooking.

Over the years she gained valuable experience working at a chartered accountant in the southern suburbs, an auditing firm in Worcester where calculators took flight during heated moments, and later at an estate agency in the city. In 1998 she accepted a job at IT under the Director of Administrative Information Systems, JJJ du Plessis.

Three years later he resigns and, in spite of being thrown in the deep end, Marinka takes over his financial duties.

“Everything is transaction driven and involves a cost.”

For this reason she is involved in many aspects of IT – from HR systems, staff plans and evaluations to managing the phone system and everything else with a financial slant. This variety of functions and the overview and understanding it gives one of an entire company, is the most fulfilling part of her work.

In 2008 she completes her BTech degree in Business Administration at CPUT part-time and in March of 2013 also an MBA at the SU Business school. Her thesis is based upon the university’s human resources system and titled “An Evaluation of the Oracle HRMS System at the University of Stellenbosch from a User’s Perspective”.

Considering Marinka was raised on a farm, it’s no coincidence she’s good at multi-tasking and works well under pressure. She fondly recalls all the farm activities on their farm outside Worcester – tractor rides during harvest time, early morning trips to the market and how used to floods the farm community in the area was.

“It’s a completely different life – something today’s children don’t know.”

Initially she attended a farm school with only 12 children – from Sub A to Standard 5 – with only one teacher. “We were so few, inevitably we all played together during breaks.” Later during high school she had to get up at 6:15 to catch the first of three buses to get to school in town.

She tries to avoid shopping centres and crowds and would much rather go camping, white water rafting of take to the air with a microlite. Even shark diving’s on her to-do list.

She clearly thrives on adrenalin – probably since childhood, if you listen to her stories about temperamental bullocks. They were brought up in groups of ten and had to be fed a powdered milk solution by hand twice a day.

But as they grew up, they also grew mischievous! Time and again they had to be chased out of the garden after they slipped out of their enclosure. Once Willie, Marinka’s brother, who was in the air force at the time, was particularly hesitant to take part in chasing and rather stood at a distance shouting “shoo, shoo!” Needless to say, it didn’t have much effect. Keeping a distance wasn’t such a bad idea, Marinka would confirm. She herself has been chased through a stream by one.

These days she prefers smaller and more docile animals like her two cats, Asjas and Trensie.

As a child she had to learn North-Sotho at school while they lived in Elsburg, but nowadays she’s also adding Xhosa to her list of languages.

“I just completed my first Xhosa course at the Language Center and will be starting the second one next week.” Otherwise she’s completed three Argus events, many walking events like the Big Walk and enjoy squash.

One things you can be sure of, if you need something done fast and effectively, you can just wander down the passage of IT’s second floor and Marinka will be there to help you. “Service excellence” indeed.

Teen Marinka Naudé se kantoormuur hang `n swartraam foto met die volgende aanhaling:

“Service excellence can be attained
if we constantly strive to perfection
and care enough to do our very best in every day”

Diegene wat haar ken, sal weet dat sy voortdurend aan die rondhardloop is, in `n vergadering of omring deur `n hoop dokumente. Daar is geen twyfel dat sy soveel moontlik probeer uitrig in een dag nie. Op papier is sy die Hoof: IT Finansies en Administrasie en verantwoordelik vir die bestuur, toepassing van finansiële beleid, koördinering, beplanning, begrotings, bestuur en administrasie van personeel-, bedryf- en kapitaalfondse. Maar op die ou end strek dit veel wyer.

`n Gefaalde poging weens verwarring oor die sperdatum, om by die Kaapse Technikon in te skryf vir Voedseldiensbestuur, het, op aanbeveling van `n studente-adviseur,  gelei tot`n splinternuwe kursus, Maatskappyadministrasie. Standerd 6 Rekeningkunde moes vinnig afgestof word en haar loopbaan het onwillekeurig begin. Een van haar gunsteling tydverdrywe is steeds om deur resepteboeke te blaai en natuurlik ook kosmaak – al het syfers destyds die oorhand gekry.

Oor die jare het sy waardevolle ondervinding by `n geoktrooieerde rekenmeester in die suidelike voorstede, `n ouditeursfirma in Worcester waar sakrekenaars soms vlerke gekry het in hete oomblikke en later by `n eiendomsagentskap in die stad, opgedoen. Na hierdie omswerwinge, het sy in 1998 `n pos onder die toe Direkteur Administratiewe Inligtingstelsels, JJJ du Plessis, aanvaar.

Na drie jaar bedank hy en Marinka, ten spyte van noodgedwonge swem in die diepkant, neem die leisels oor van die finansiële deel van sy portefeulje.

“Alles is transaksiegedrewe en `n koste by betrokke.”

Om hierdie rede word sy betrek by feitlik alles wat binne IT aangaan – van die HR-stelsel, personeelplanne en evaluerings tot die bestuur van die telefoonstelsels en alles wat `n finansiele strekking het. Hierdie verskeidenheid van funksies is vir haar die mees vervullende deel van haar werk, omdat dit `n geheelbeeld van die afdeling bied en sy werking daarvan perfek verstaan.

Deeltyds voltooi sy in 2008 haar BTech graad in Besigheidsadministrasie by CPUT en in Maart 2013 ook `n MBA by die US Bestuurskool. Sy baseer haar tesis op die universiteit se menslike hulpbronne-stelsel, met die titel  “An Evaluation of the Oracle HRMS System at the University of Stellenbosch from a User’s Perspective”.

Siende dat Marinka grootgeword het op die plaas, is dit nie verbasend dat sy soveel gelyktydig en  soms onder druk, kan hanteer nie. Sy onthou al die verskeie bedrywighede op die plaas duskant Worcester  – trekkerry tydens parstye, vroegoggend uitstappies mark toe om kortgewasse soos blaarslaai te gaan verkoop en hoe algemeen vloede in die omgewing was vir plaasgemeenskappe.

“Dis `n ander lewe – iets wat vandag se kinders nie ken nie.”

Aanvanklik was sy in `n plaasskool met net 12 kinders – van Sub A tot Standerd 5, met net een onderwyseres. “Ons het almal pouses saamgespeel, want ons was so min.” Later op hoërskool moes sy 6:15 soggens opstaan en na drie verskillende busritte het jy eers by die skool op die dorp uitgekom.

Winkelsentrums en skares is nie haar gunsteling tydverdryf nie. Sy sal veel eerder erens gaan kamp, “white water rafting” doen of met `n mikrovliegtuig die lug in. Selfs duik saam met die haaie is op haar agenda.

Duidelik hou sy van adrenalien – en ook van kleins af as jy na die stories oor temperamentele bulkalfies luister. Op die plaas is hulle stuk-stuk in sessies van tien grootgemaak en moes twee maal `n dag handgevoer word met poeiermelk.

Maar hoe groter, hoe stouter! Keer op keer moes hulle in die middel van die nag uit die tuin gejaag word nadat daar uit die kamp gebreek is. Marinka se broer, Willie, wat destyds in die lugmag was, was `n bietjie meer versigtig vir een oproerige bulkalfie en het eerder maar op `n afstand gestaan en “shoo, shoo!” sonder veel effek. Dalk maar beter so, want Marinka self is al dwarsdeur `n riviertjie gejaag.

Deesdae het sy die bulkalfies verruil vir twee meer rustige en beheerbare katte, Asjas en Trensie.

As kind moes sy op skool Noord-Sotho leer toe hulle in Elsburg vir `n tyd gebly het, maar deesdae is sy voeg sy ook Xhosa by haar lys van tale.

“Ek het so pas my eerste Xhosa kursus klaargemaak by die Taalsentrum) en begin volgende week met die 2de kursus.” Sy het ook al drie Argus wedrenne voltooi, vele massa-stappe soos die Big Walk en hou van muurbal speel.

Een ding is seker, as jy iets vinnig en effektief gedoen wil hê, kan jy maar net tot onder in die gang van IT se tweede vloer drentel, en jy sal gou regkom. “Service excellence” inderdaad.

Jacky November, Anthea Davids and Jenny Watson is the formidable trio the Information Technology Purchasing department consists of.

These three chirpy ladies sacrificed 30 minutes of their Friday afternoon last week so I could chat to them. And although they were convinced that their lives were too uneventful to have something to say, the results of our conversation proved the contrary.

Between the three of them, they’ve accumulated 25 years of work at IT and for this reason alone, you should be convinced you’re in good hands if you need to know anything from laptops to network cables.

The main function of the Purchasing department is to handle telephonic or e-mail inquiries regarding hardware and orders and to request quotes from dealers for various components, printers, printer cartridges and desktop computers. All computers in need of repair are also received at this department.

The wide range of personalities they have to deal with, and sometimes strange inquiries, provide more than enough material for lighter moments. Unfortunately they couldn’t divulge all the details as they might get into trouble. But, according to Jenny, the saying “Never a dull moment”, describes their work environment best. She also believes the 25 years she spent in the furniture industry, has taught her valuable lessons in client service.

Jacky also dealt with her quota of difficult clients while working at an insurance company’s call centre. In spite of this experience, she still loves working with people and helping out. To such an extent that she’s currently busy with extra training as technician twice a week. Both she and Anthea have completed the N+ and A+ courses, as well as financial diplomas.

The fact that Jacky likes stand-up comedy, especially Trevor Noah’s, says a lot about her own sense of humour and possibly also her ability to take things with a pinch of salt when necessary.

“I like jokes and laughing.”

Humour and joking around is a common theme in this office. And when it comes to dressing the part, Anthea is usually the one with the best outfit – her colleagues can attest to this when Casual Day comes around each year. And she does it with enthusiasm. Anything involving fun and exercise, she’ll try.

“I’m game for anything”. Within limits of course, she adds quickly.

“At Ratanga Junction I’m the one who screams the loudest.”

In fact, she gets so excited, they pick her from the queue so she can go on rides first.

According to Jacky this excitement also becomes apparent when she animatedly starts talking to her computer’s screen – almost as entertaining as when she’s watching rugby on television.

She’s even up for the odd “foefie-slide”, but with paintball she draws the line. “It’s too painful!”

But don’t think Anthea’s the only adventurous one. During a recent holiday Jenny took to the treetops at Storms river. She did however have to buy the video as evidence to convince her children she did it. Quite impressive for someone who gets motion sickness on a swing!

Apart from this action packed part of the holiday, she made a proper historical trip over a large part of the country on her way to the Kruger National Park. The interest in history was instilled at an early age.

“If I was born in a different time, I would’ve liked to be an archaeologist.”

Places of historical interest and museums in Matjiesfontein and Graaff- Reinet were visited, as well as the Union Buildings and Voortrekkermonument. Even the “Vallei van Verlatenheid”.

Anthea will also be heading towards the Eastern Cape as representative for her church’s VGK brigade. And if you thought “brigade” had something to do with marching, you would be correct. But it’s also more than that. Her role as officer provides the opportunity to work closely with children of all ages and meet new people when traveling for competition – something she derives pleasure from.

While Anthea converses with her screen, Jacky apparently entertains her two colleagues by singing, something she used to do in her church’s gospel band. In the meantime. The phone buzzes with inquiries, but it’s swiftly dealt with between notes and laughs. Never a dull moment indeed.

For more information on hardware contact them at quotes@sun.ac.za.

Jacky November, Anthea Davids en Jenny Watson is die formidabele trio wat Informasietegnologie se Aankoop-afdeling uitmaak.

Dié drie vrolik vinkies het verlede Vrydagmiddag `n halfuur opsy gesit sodat ek met hulle kan gesels. En alhoewel hulle vas oortuig was dat hulle lewens hopeloos te vervelig is om oor te praat, het die resultate van ons gesprek die teendeel bewys.

In totaal werk die drie reeds 25 jaar by IT. Jy kan daarom verseker wees jy is in goeie hande as jy `n navraag het oor enigiets van skootrekenaars tot netwerkkabels.

Die hooffunksie van die Aankope-afdeling is om telefoniese en e-pos navrae oor hardeware, en bestellings te beantwoord en kwotasies vir verskeie komponente, skootrekenaars, drukkers, drukkercartridges en tafelrekenaars by verskaffers te kry. Rekenaars wat herstel moet word, word ook deur dié afdeling ontvang.

Die verskeidenheid mense waarmee hulle te doen kry en soms eienaardige navrae verskaf oorgenoeg materiaal vir ligter oomblikke. Ongelukkig kan hulle nie te veel uitbrei nie, anders beland hulle dalk net in die kookwater. Maar volgens Jenny beskryf die sêding ,”Never a dull moment”, hul werksomgewing die beste. Sy glo ook die 25 jaar wat sy in die meubelbedryf spandeer het, het haar baie geleer oor kliëntediens.

Jacky het haar kwota van moeilike kliënte hanteer toe sy voorheen by `n versekeringsmaatskappy se dienssentrum gewerk het. Tog hou sy daarvan om met mense te werk en te help met navrae of probleme. In so `n mate dat sy tans besig is met ekstra opleiding as tegnikus twee keer per week. Beide sy en Anthea het die N+ en A+ kwalfikasies agter hulle naam, sowel as finansiële diplomas.

Die feit dat Jacky lief is vir “stand-up” komedie, veral die van Trevor Noah, sê dalk ook iets van haar eie sin vir humor en vermoeë om dinge met `n knippie sout te vat indien nodig.

“Ek hou van grappies en om te lag.”

Humor en grappies maak is `n deurlopende eienskap in hierdie kantoor. En as daar `n verskoning is vir snaaks aantrek, is Anthea heel eerste met `n goeie uitrusting – hiervan kan haar kollegas op Loslitdag elke jaar getuig. En sy doen dit met entoesiasme. Enigiets wat pret en oefening insluit, sal sy probeer.
“Ek is game vir alles”. Binne perke natuurlik, las sy vinnig by.

“By Ratanga Junction is ek die een wat die hardste skree”.

So hard, dat hulle haar uit die ry trek eerste op te klim omdat sy so opgewonde raak. Blykbaar gesels sy soms net so entoesiasties met haar rekenaarskerm – amper net so erg soos wanneer sy rugby kyk.

Sy sien selfs kans om “foefie-slide” te ry, maar vir “paintball” sien sy nie kans nie. “Dis te seer!”

Maar moenie dink Anthea is die enigste avontuurlustige nie. Jenny het self met `n onlangse vakansie by Stormsrivier tussen die bome rondgeswaai. Sy moes wel die video koop om haar kinders te oortuig dat sy dit wel gedoen het. Heel indrukwekkend vir iemand wat nie eers op `n swaai kan ry sonder om duidelig te raak nie.

Buiten vir dié meer aksiebelaaide deel van die vakansie, het sy `n behoorlike geskiedkundige toer dwarsoor die land onderneem oppad Kruger Wildtuin toe. Haar belangstelling in geskiedenis kom van kleins af.

“As ek in `n ander tyd gebore was, sou ek graag `n argeoloog wou gewees het.”

Besienswaardighede en museums op Matjiesfontein en Graaff-Reinet, die Uniegebou en die Voortrekkermonument is stuk-stuk deurgewerk en selfs die Vallei van Verlatenheid is besoek.

Ook Anthea gaan binnekort die langpad vat na Barkley-Oos as deel van haar kerk se VGK-brigade. En as jy dink “brigade” het iets met marsjeer te doen, is jy heeltemal reg. Maar dis meer as net dit. Anthea se rol as offisier beteken dat sy nou saamwerk met kinders van alle ouderdomme en baie nuwe mense ontmoet wanneer daar gereis word vir kompetisies.

Terwyl Anthea met haar skerm praat, vermaak Jacky blykbaar haar twee kollegas deur te sing – iets wat sy voorheen in haar kerk se gospel-groep gedoen het. Die telefoon weerklank elke paar minute, maar die navrae word soomloos korte mette van gemaak tussen `n giggel en noot deur. “Never a dull moment” inderdaad.

Vir meer inligting, kontak hulle by quotes@sun.ac.za.