Closest to Eileen’s heart

POLOKWANE – Eileen Schofield is a well-known name in the city, having been mayor at one time, owning a guesthouse and being extremely active within the community.

This animal-loving grandmother is a candid, friendly and talkative woman who is interested in others’ welfare.

Schofield was the last female mayor the city had. She recalls the day she became mayor. “I received two surprises that day. First being elected was quite a shock and then, shortly afterwards, I was announced as mayor; an English-speaking woman in an Afrikaans, male-dominated industry – the mayor!

“It seems this was a shock to many other people as a debate ensued as to what I would be called and it was only after one man called me ‘your majesty’ that it was decided that I would be addressed as madam mayor,” she recalls.

Born and raised in Polokwane, her loyalty still lies with the city that she remembers as a child’s cycling paradise.

The streets were quiet in those days and refuse removal was done by means of a horse and cart.

Schofield has been married to Jack for 42 years and has two sons, Dale who is a quantity surveyor, and Marc, a photographer.

She is the proud grandmother of five grandchildren with whom she spends as much time as possible.

“I always tell everyone that I have the prettiest, smartest, best and most special children and grandchildren in the world and I am not prepared to take any arguments about it,” she says.

She says parenting is simple: communicate and you will be able to deal with a problem while it is still small if it should arise.

During her years in politics she applied her ethics and values to both her personal and political life.

“I must be able to look myself in the eye every morning and I must be able to look other people in the eye without feeling ashamed. This is what I taught my sons. It is important not to lie to the public, not to lie to yourself, and to be a person that you can live with,” she says.

The idea of building her guesthouse, Victoria Place, came in 1995 when there was a drought in the city and her garden was left in shambles.

She says Jack said he would build her something that would cover the fact that her garden had all but died and Victoria Place came into being.

She says besides spending time with her grandchildren, her involvement in the community is her life’s most precious work. She also enjoys reading and, of course, gardening.

“The community is still important to me and if there is any way in which I can help, I get involved because I think that is what we are supposed to do in life; and be there for other people.”

“People should care more about each other and see the humour in every situation no matter what happens.

“In my life it is important to me to make people laugh. Laughter makes everything seem better and gives the darkest day a silver lining.”