Zoempie shares her jam-packed adventure

WHILE Zoempie Schwikkard may be the only surviving founder member of Flame Lily Park, it is because of her delectable home-made jam that she is more widely known.

The 84-year-old mother of four sits on the edge of her seat in her cozy lounge as she recounts her life story, one filled with love, heartbreak, adventure and starting over.

Zoempie and her husband, Quinton, a dedicated member of the MOTHs, were intrinsically involved in helping create the shell of what the retirement village is today.

“Vernon (Corbishley) was looking to create a place for ex Rhodesians and MOTHs who could not afford accommodation. Not many people know that this used to be a children’s orphanage. We had many supporters come forward and donate money and, with this, we were able to secure the property as well as renovate the building and add on new blocks,” she said.

With funds trickling in, contractors could not be afforded and volunteers, including Zoempie, would spend hours cleaning, laying tiles and painting. “Whether you could or you couldn’t, you did,” she said proudly.

The local couple owned a garage in Sarnia. It was in 1980, when Quinton suffered from a stroke, the small family’s lives changed.

One of her children was still in school and the pressure began to mount, “I didn’t feel that I could cope with it all; from running a business, looking after my husband as well as my children,” she said.

Even with that lick of doubt, Zoempie persevered and pushed through for four more years. They sold the business and, with their youngest child out of school, they purchased an autovilla and, in the mid 80s, toured the country for a year.

“When a man has a stroke he has ideas of his own and he was adamant to tour the country. You know, men are ‘harde gat’,” she laughed.

During their extensive travels, it was the eastern Transvaal, the game reserves and the Blyde River Canyon that have truly stuck in her memory. Their cat, Pooch, that was about 12 years old, toured with them.

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“The only place where she couldn’t join us was at the Kruger National Park,” said Zoempie, giving an annoyed side eye at the thought.

With their travels coming to an end, they chose to settle in George, where Zoempie opened a florist, a business that only blossomed and bloomed over the 10 years.

“I love to work with my hands and, using the skills I learnt from the women’s institute, I opened the business. I was a natural at it,” beamed Zoempie.

It was in the early 90s that the couple made their way back to Durban and settled in at Flame Lily. “I started working as a caretaker and a gardener. I am not one to shy away from physical labour and jumped into my work,” she said.

From there, she moved into the operations manager position and oversaw renovations, repairs and the caretakers at the retirement home. With her cooking skills, it was no surprise when she took over the kitchen and cooked three meals a day for about 110 people each day.

Zoempie only officially retired a year ago due to the need for a hip operation. “Thankfully I was released from hospital the day before the country went into hard lockdown last year,” she said.

She is now famously known in the village, and abroad, for her delicious marmalade jam, a recipe of her own creation Outside of creating the flavourful jams, she spends her time in the garden, knitting and sewing. Popeye, her doting African Grey, that was gifted to her by her daughter when her Quinton passed away, has free reign of the house.

“I thought she way a boy, hence the name, until one day she laid an egg,” chuckled Zoempie. “If there is one thing that I am grateful for, it’s my children. They are so good to me!”

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting