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Principal reflects on four decades of dedication
Gardenia Primary School's retiring principal, John Olivier, reminisces about his career with mixed emotions.
AFTER 11 years at the helm, principal of Gardenia Primary School in Wentworth will step into retirement on Friday, 30 April.
Following almost four decades in the profession, John Olivier is proud of the service he has given the community.
Officially opening in 1969, he was among the first learners to attend the school which was known as Merebank Primary School.
“It is with mixed emotions that I exit the profession after 39 years of dedicated service to my community. It would be remiss of me if I didn’t pay tribute to my two predecessors, namely Eric Fynn and Edith Jacobs.”
“Fynn, a true visionary, started the then Merebank Primary School on the trajectory into the technological age, well before any other school in the community. We have honoured that legacy by continuing on that path,” he said.
Olivier grew up in Gardenia Road, directly across the road from the school. He matriculated at Fairvale Secondary School and then studied teaching at Bechet College of Education.
Once qualified, he returned to teach at Fairvale Secondary School for six years before transferring as a level 1 educator at Gardenia Primary School in 1989.
Ever so determined, he continued his studies and graduated from the University of Pretoria. Over the years, he rose through the ranks to become the head of department, deputy principal and finally principal of Gardenia Primary in 2010.
“I’ve always been passionate about youth development, especially youth sport. I was involved in school sports throughout my teaching career mainly with baseball.”
“I held various portfolios in school sports such as coach, administrator, convener of KZN School Baseball as well as the national convenor of school baseball for more than a decade.”
“I also held various portfolios in club baseball structures such as chairperson of KZN Baseball and Softball Union for more than a decade. When sports in the country were unified, I was joint president of KZN Baseball,” he said.
He also served as an executive member of South African Baseball for more than 15 years and eventually became the president of the SA Baseball Association.
In addition to his involvement with sports and education, he also facilitated learner exchange programmes with other countries during his career.
“Edith Jacobs provided the guidance and membership that allowed me to develop into the administer I have become.”
“As president of the South African Principals’ Association (SAPA), she was often out of the country on official business, allowing me space and freedom to use my management and administrative skills she had taught me. She was also responsible for renaming the school Gardenia Primary.”
Olivier is extremely proud of the strides and growth the school has made under his guidance.
With no outside assistance, just pure hard work, dedication and tremendous support from parents, a 1 200-seater hall was built.
Donor funds further enabled the building of a dedicated Grade R centre, a state-of-the-art multi-media centre and the completion of other smaller projects around the school.
“Thank you to the many dedicated educators, parents and community members I had the pleasure of working with throughout my rewarding career.”
“May you all remain blessed and continue your much-needed service and support to our amazing community. Never allow yourself to be defined by where you find yourself. Amazing and truly successful people have come out of our community of Wentworth,” he said.
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