Meet Forest Farm’s oldest volunteer, Val White

Forest Farm’s eldest volunteer took a little time out on February 14 to share highlights from her long and prosperous life of living and exploring in South Africa.

Val White, born in 1934, turned 90-years-old in January.

“I don’t feel 90,” White said laughingly. “Well, I do, sometimes when I’m walking. My driving is better than my walking. I’m still driving my car, which makes me independent, which is lovely.”

White and her family moved to Johannesburg North 56 years ago after her first two children had been born.

“We came from Cape Town originally,” said White. “Our neighbours, when we bought a house near Athol, came the very next day and [invited us] to tea or lunch – so, we got into the swing of Johannesburg straight away.

“Once the children left home, we didn’t need the big house anymore,” White reminisced. “We moved to a townhouse in Bryanston, and we were there for nine years. Then we thought to have a change, and we heard about this complex in Hyde Park that was looking for a handyman to look after the property, which was good for him – kept him busy, because I had lots of interests, as I said, book club, and sightseers.”

White credits having interests in life as her secret to having enjoyed such a long life.

“It’s very important to have interests. I think I’ve still, at my age, got an enquiring mind – I’m still ready to learn,” said White. “I go to U3A, University of the Third Age. It sounds as if it’s a lot of old people, but you’d be surprised at question time what people come up with and ask questions of the lecturer. I learn a lot from that, but I also look forward to it; and coffee with friends afterward.”

White shared her hobbies, which included hiking, playing tennis, and holidaying with her family in the Eastern Cape. She concluded with a reflection on what living to see the future feels like.

“It’s the technology that bugs me, really,” White concluded. “I am very frightened by AI. People of my age are all saying we’re too old to learn all of these new things. It’s increasing all the time and getting more and more complicated.”

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