Being recognised for your integrity and performance by your peers is one of the ultimate honours. Receiving a vocational award for outstanding service in your community by the Dundee Rotary Club probably exceeds ‘ultimate’.
Four such awards were presented by Club President, Bev Garner, in recognition of those who go the extra mile to make life easier for all.
Celia Gold:
She is an Admin Clerk at Dundee High School – she is the Principal’s secretary and also sees to the Gardens at the school. She also administers the functions when using the hall and the Lantern. She is so efficient and reliable and anything that needs to be organised, especially for Rotary, she personally sees to it – especially the hire of the Lantern and assistance to our Exchange students.
She goes beyond the call of duty, gets to school very early and leaves late in the afternoon. Her integrity and honesty has always been of the highest standard.
Cheryl van Heerden:
Cheryl worked as secretary of the Dundee Farmers’ Association for 12 years – from 1999 to 2011.
For the past 16 years she has been Secretary / Treasurer of the Dundee & District Farmers’ Union working closely with the three auctioneering organisations in the area as well as the secretaries of the seven associations comprising the Farmers’ Union. She has been employed by the KwaZulu- Natal Red Meat Producers Organisation since 2010 and last year became the manager of this organisation.
Working long hours ensuring all the work is done to the best of her ability and goes beyond the call of duty regarding this vocation. Cheryl also voluntarily plays the piano or organ and is always willing to help out when needed sometimes at different churches mainly for funerals and regularly at Eventide. Her cheerful and indeed infectious nature has had a positive effect on all those who have come in contact with her.
Stok Systems:
Peter, Mano, Malcolm, Celeste and the rest of their family, and employees at Stok Systems have, over the years, all served Dundee and District in their many endeavours in the computer, copying, design, and printing industry for the benefit of all who have passed through their doors.
No job has been too big. Their expertise is given in many cases without charge, and they can, and will, meet deadlines for their many clients. Over the years, their customer service has become legendary.
Decima Jones:
Decima was a pioneer in the information office when it started in Dundee 22 years ago. She was placed in this position because of her local knowledge of people and places, as she came from a well-established Dundee family, had been born here, and also went to school here.
Her first office was a small room in the back of the present Municipal offices with a typewriter, a desk, a chair and a filing cabinet.
When Hennie Jacobs applied on behalf of the Dundee Municipality for a grant from the Province for a new Information Office to be built, the grant was successful, and the present Info Office was built, and then opened by Jacob Zuma the then KZN minister of Tourism, and she moved into it as the Senior Information Officer. She saw, over the years, many Chairmen and women take the Chair of the Dundee Tourism Committee, as well as assistants in the office up until her retirement earlier this year.
All-in-all Decima became Mrs Tourism in Dundee.
Her integrity and honesty have always been of the highest standard, and we see fit to honour her with this award on behalf of not only the Rotary Club of Dundee but also the townsfolk for carrying out her job so well.