To celebrate Women’s Month we’re bringing you the successful women behind the men of BUCO Nelspruit. Despite whatever challenges they may have faced, these ladies have all achieved success in their own right. For these six inspiring females, no obstacle has been too great to overcome and while multitasking and balancing life with family, they have become beautiful pillars of our society.
Antoinette
From the moment she was legally allowed to work, Antoinette has been able to turn chaos into a symphony of organised filing. She’s currently an admin controller at a national transport broker, which she’s been doing for more than 10 years. This 58-year-old mom of three describes her greatest passion in life as her family.
Antoinette has been married to a valued employee of BUCO Nelspruit for 38 years. He has been at BUCO for over 18 years, working in the department that accountants describe as the “big spenders”. They met at a car dealership in 1981. She says her husband’s greatest professional quality is that he is extremely hard-working and knows what he wants in life, he doesn’t let anything stand in his way. Antoinette’s three children are all successful in their own right. Quintin (37) is one of a kind, Esmaralda (35) is her best friend and Ewald (27) is the family comedian. Nothing gives her greater joy than to cook a delicious lamb curry for them and to enjoy hearing their laughter. When asked if there is any other job she would rather be doing, she answers that she would love to be a housewife. With the kids out of the house that might be a dream job right now, giving her time to practise her ultimate hobby – reading. When she and hubby aren’t at their respective day jobs, they can be found exploring the beautiful Lowveld. They relax by being outdoors and just taking in the beautiful landscape of our area.
Antoinette is a peacemaker who hates discord. Her colleagues describe her as friendly and helpful, but for hubby, her most admirable quality is her honesty and how she pours heart and soul into everything. She’s proven herself more than worthy in the workplace and at home. And if the world were filled with more people like her, we’d have whole lot of smiling going on.
Suzelle
This young heart burns for children.At 20 years old, Suzelle is a student teacher at Laerskool Bergland in Mbombela. Her driving force in her career is to help children in such a way that it really makes a difference. Although she doesn’t yet have any of her own, kids are her ultimate passion.
She’s been dating a BUCO employee for three years and everyone is waiting with bated breath for the wedding bells to start ringing. The handsome lad by her side has been with the company for more than two years. His day job is to keep the clients smiling while bringing home the bacon. He says he admires Suzelle for her dedication, she will stop at nothing to make her dreams come true, but also those of her young learners.
She says what she finds most admirable in her better half is his relentless drive for success. Whether it’s his day job or his woodworking hobby, he does everything to perfection. He is guided by his strong sense of integrity and manages to keep his cool under pressure.
When asked what she finds most challenging about being in a relationship where both partners work full-time, Suzelle makes it clear that there is no time to fixate on challenges. They choose to rather count their blessings as so many people are finding themselves without an income. This feisty and goal-oriented lady doesn’t limit her talents to guiding the young, she also makes hair accessories in her free time. The couple both have a great love of the outdoors. Healthy minds live in healthy bodies, so they also work hard at keeping fit.
She’s described as a driven, hard-working and wise young lady by those who share her career. Her family tell of her commitment to always do the right thing. When the lights go out at night, before she falls asleep, she contemplates the day: her aim is to start each day as a better version of herself than the one before.
Debbie
It takes a world of courage and more than just a bit of discipline to take on a bachelor’s degree when you are already working full-time and married with a family. Debbie, after finding her passion for clinical pathology, decided to register at university for a diploma in biomedical technology. Seven years and many sacrifices later, she registered as a medical laboratory technologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa with a full bachelor’s degree in the field. It was seven years well spent as she gets to do her dream job every day, and at 42 she’s still not done learning.
Debbie’s husband of more than 20 years is in awe of his wife. He says she has a burning passion for learning. But perhaps more endearing is the heartfelt care she feels for the patients she will never get to meet. Always by her side and her biggest supporter, hubby himself knows a thing or two about having your dream job. He’s been an employee at BUCO for eight years and runs one of the larger departments at the outlet. Not for the faint of heart, this department helps consumers to let go of the past.
With both parents working full-time, and with Debbie being in the medical field, they find it challenging to schedule their lives in such a way that they are both free at the same time. The couple’s greatest pleasure is to spend time around the family table with a hearty meal. And like most Lowvelders, they enjoy the Kruger Park and Kaapsehoop for outings. When they’re not hiking, fishing, or exploring the area, Debbie enjoys needlecrafts while hubby does DIY around the house. With a lot of focus on their children, who are at an age where they need to make career choices, the couple is not looking at any major five-year plans for the future.
Debbie is a shining example of what a woman can achieve while raising a family. In a time where the world is relying so heavily on the medical industry to put a stop to a deadly pandemic, we should all take a moment to tip our hats to the Debbies of the world who stop at nothing to help thousands of nameless patients. Here’s to you!
Rebecca
When the late Albert Schweitzer refused to shoot birds with his slingshot at the tender age of 8 and under the peer pressure of his friend, he felt it was the voice of God. That was the moment he knew that he was called to serve others. In much the same way, 39-year-old Rebecca has found her calling in the humble setting of a fast-food outlet. At Galito’s in Brown Street in Mbombela, hers is the friendly face you will see as you enter, with the warmest welcome imaginable.
She’s been at it for more than four years now and although it’s not her ultimate dream job, she executes every task with love and passion. Rebecca wanted to be a project manager when she was younger but nowadays, she dreams of being a world-renowned chef in a fine dining restaurant. Her fiancé of four years supports this dream wholeheartedly. Said fiancé has been a dedicated employee of BUCO for more than 19 years! His daily task involves reaching targets while making sure that the company remains the first choice for every client. He is described as a loyal and dedicated staff member who treats customers with the highest respect.
Rebecca has two children, 21 and 13. As a family they enjoy spending time in one another’s company, they have a love of the arts and can often be found painting together. Otherwise, like true South Africans, they enjoy having a traditional braai. Rebecca’s job entails facing different people with different attitudes and different opinions every day. That, and making sure they all have time off together, is her greatest challenge when it comes to her career. But much the same as her fiancé, she respects her job and customers.
His greatest reward is when Rebecca cooks for him which is, in turn, her biggest passion – to love and protect her family. She is as humble about her own abilities as she is grateful. Her every day is spent making sure that everyone around her is served with friendliness, kindness and a plate full of delicious food. What more could there possibly be to ask for?
Karen
A worker bee by nature, 48-year-old Karen lives to help others. She’s worked for the Department of Health for 23 years during which time she’s built up a reputation as loyal, hard-working and honest. She is also extremely humble about everything that others say about her and it took some coaxing to get the information from her first-hand.
With much the same work ethic, her husband of six years has been with BUCO Nelspruit for two years. His job involves signing delivery notes, so many delivery notes! To this day he will comment on how beautiful she looks regardless of what she’s wearing, a proud husband with good reason! She’s as pretty on the outside as she is on the inside. Her three adult children describe her as one with no limits when it comes to helping people, no matter the cost.
As a family they enjoy the Mozambican coast as a favourite holiday spot, but if they’re forced to stay home, Karen gets stuck into anything arty and creative. Her husband is an avid golfer, so she enjoys joining him on the course where she also gets to hit a few balls. Her work life brings her much joy, but if granted the wish to become anything else, she would choose to be an air hostess. This seems quite appropriate as it’s clear that serving others is what she thrives at.
Her biggest driving force in life is to help everyone she can and her greatest pleasure is to serve the Lord. When asked about her five-year plan she’s ready with an answer – to be living near the beach and playing with grandchildren. And very spoilt grandkids they will most definitely be.
To balance family and work is already challenging, but when you’re also prone to wanting to carry everyone’s burden, it becomes even more intense. But this is how Karen chooses to live and she’s doing it perfectly. There’s a light that shines wherever she goes and anyone who gives her just half a chance will be caught in its beautiful glow.
Carine
Carine (44) has been married to the man in charge of BUCO Nelspruit for 22 years. She herself has been in the hot seat as one of the managers of Life-Form Taxidermy in White River for the past 13 years. She is a feisty girl with a heart of gold who stands firm through what has been an extremely difficult time in their industry.
She started her career at a First National Bank soon after finishing matric. Her service to her banking clients was so outstanding that one of them offered her a job at his own company and that is where Carine still leads by example to this day. Her colleagues describe her as strict, but fair and someone who moves swiftly along after having to wrap someone over the knuckles. Her two children, 17 and 19, describe her much the same. When trouble’s afoot, she wants to talk it through to understand all sides of the story.
Carine grew up on a farm with a large family. She was the eldest of five cousins who all grew up together and naturally, as the oldest of the grandkids, (in her opinion) was always perceived to be the “favourite”. She values her family greatly and always appreciates the get-togethers and holidays all spent together.
A self-proclaimed introvert, Carine won’t be the one in the crowd introducing herself to strangers and she’s not one for making small talk. But she’s the most loyal of friends and once you are in her corner, you can bet on her to be there for you, any hour of the day.
Carine is content with life. Still living on a farm, she spends her free time with her “pets” and her beloved family. When asked about where she sees herself in five years, she says she hopes to still be with her Life-Form family. As the kids will be out of the house by then, she hopes they will face the world using the example they were set at home. They say happiness is choice, and Carine seems to have made her decision clear: to work, live and love unapologetically.
