DUNDEE KZN: Bubbly Margie’s life is a ‘page-turner’

Margie Pretorius is not sure where she gets her energy from, but admits it could be that she is ‘a bit crazy’. The 75-year-old has notched up 40 years of service to the community of Glencoe after recently completing a 10-year stint as the librarian at Sarel Cilliers High School.

She says she could have ‘kept on going at Sarel Cilliers, but the school asked me to leave, so I had to’. Prior to that, Margie was the much-loved librarian at Glencoe Public Library – a job she took so seriously that she moulded the lives of many young people who visited the library to do research for school projects and to take out books. “I have had it on more than one occasion that a student, upon receiving his or her degree, contacted me to say ‘I am sharing this degree with you’.

It is so special. If you really love what you do, you will never work a day in your life and you will change the lives of others.” Born in Johannesburg, Margie and her family later moved to Pietermaritzburg, where she met and married the love of her life, Johnny. Johnny was a keen boxer and earned his Natal colours. The couple moved to Glencoe shortly after Johnny joined the railways in 1974.

He left the railways when the Glencoe depot closed in 1993, going on to work for Standard Bank for seven years, which he said were ‘very happy days’. Always active, Johnny loves golf and was known as the barman at the Glencoe Correctional Services Golf Club for many years.

Once her two sons were old enough, Margie joined the Glencoe Library early in the 1980’s as a volunteer . “I had already been volunteering by assisting with the children’s programme, which was very popular. The story hour, during which I read to children at the library, was an absolute highlight.

The kids loved it and so did I. “Later, when the post of librarian was available, I immediately applied and got the job! It was the most exciting time of my life,” she enthused. Margie admits that she was ‘besotted’ with her library. Her displays – anything from Heritage Day to World Cup Rugby, nature and just about everything else – were legendary and created a library that was not just a dull place with rows and rows of books, but a colourful and vibrant venue of learning and fun.

“I attended every library workshop I could in Pietermaritzburg, and the municipality was very supportive. It was important for me to know every aspect of running a library. So many children from all communities came to the library for projects, help and career guidance, and it was a pleasure to help all of them.”

After 30 years of service, she retired. But then in 2011, the librarian’s post at Sarel Cilliers High School was offered to her. “Of course, I was there immediately and what a pleasure to get among books again – sorting them out and putting all I had learnt through the many workshops I had attended into practice.” Margie says a library must stimulate a child’s mind by encouraging reading and learning. “Enthusiasm is infectious, so it must come from the librarian and spread to all those who walk in.”

Asked what her favourite reads are, Margie says ‘anything’, but she has a preference for crime, with Tess Gerretson and James Patterson among her favourite authors.

Besides libraries, Margie is also a very nimble crochet ‘artist’. “I have been crocheting forever and I remember some years ago, I was asked to teach kids at Uelzen, which I did of course, as I love children.” She has a group of ladies, many of whom she has taught from scratch how to crochet, and has founded the Crazy Blanket project, where the ladies in the group, about 15, each crochet a square which Margie crochets together to form a blanket.

“We donate these blankets to anyone in need – perhaps someone who is sick and needs a comforting blanket – just a gesture to brighten up someone’s day.”

Margie is modest when chatting about what she does for the needy, but she is known to support feeding drives and even donating beanies to the Newcastle Mediclinic to be given to premature babies. For someone as widely read as Margie, her general knowledge is imperious and she is the ideal teammate in a game of Trivial Pursuit. “I

enjoy people and I enjoy a good laugh. Johnny and I are blessed to be part of this wonderful community.” SAY: Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram or email us at dundee.courier@caxton.co.za. Add us on WhatsApp 071 277 1394.