The Village NEWS 22 July - 29 July 2020

Page 13

22 July 2020

13

www.thevillagenews.co.za

Farewell to Gansbaai Academia Principal Writer & Photographer Hardus Botha

E

xtender Alas Vestri - Spread your wings is the motto of Gansbaai Academia, where the beloved Tommy Wilson has served as school principal for ten years. He has seen many wonders and achievements accomplished under his watch but has decided that it is time to bow out. "I have always said that Gansbaai Academia is a journey to me, but my journey has now come to an end," says Tommy from his wheelchair in his office. "Gansbaai Academia was and will always remain a beacon of hope in Gansbaai." Tommy has achieved his dream by creating the platform to success for the school over the past decade. His last school day will be 31 July. "I am confident that the school will be in great hands when my vastly competent deputy principals, Carien Fortuin and Wilton Phillips take over." He says he hasn’t made any permanent plans for the future and will probably remain in Franskraal until the end of the year. “I do not want to be lost to education. I would like to apply my knowledge, skills, and experience to schools in the future, especially in the field of managing schools." Tommy’s love of the law prompted him a few years ago to enrol for a LLB degree with UNISA and he has already reached the half-way mark. "After my retirement, I would also like to dedicate some time to my studies again." During July 2013, the Gansbaai community

was shocked when Tommy suffered a minor heart attack. Luckily for him (and for us), he made a full recovery. In September last year, tragedy struck again when Tommy and his wife, Julia, also a beloved teacher at Gansbaai Academia, were involved in a serious car accident on the R43 between Villiersdorp and Worcester. The school’s teachers, learners and parents were horrified by the news that Julia had been killed on impact and that Tommy was hospitalised in critical condition. Shortly after the accident, he suffered a stroke that caused paralysis in his left leg and arm. In spite of all these setbacks, and the heartache of losing his wife, Tommy has retained his sense of humour. He recalls that another consequence of the accident was the loss of his moustache, which had to be shaven off in hospital. "It was only the second time in 60 years that I was without a moustache," he says jokingly. Julia's sister, Caroline, and her husband, Fanie

Jansen took care of Tommy during his recovery at his home in Franskraal. He resumed his post as principal at the beginning of the 2020 school year, albeit in a wheelchair. "Since lockdown started, I’ve had to make use of a home carer and received the excellent care of the highly skilled Samantha Booi," he says. Gansbaai Academia was officially opened by Helen Zille, former Premier of the Western Cape, on 22 February 2010. On 1 July 2010, Tommy took over from the acting principal, Wessel Havenga, as the school’s first permanent principal.

attorney, I started my LLB before him, therefore he followed in my footsteps, and not the other way around!" quips Tommy. Needless to say, Tommy was met with many challenges during his tenure as Head of Gansbaai Academia, a newly formed, multicultural school with many of its students coming from an economically disadvantaged community. Despite these challenges, the school flourished under his expert leadership, prompting Prof Jonathan Jansen, former Vice-chancellor and Rector of the University of the Orange Free State, who visited the school in 2015, to remark: "This is what a school in South Africa should look like!" Now the time has come for Tommy to say his last thank yous and goodbyes. "Firstly, I would like to thank the unsurpassable personnel and students at Gansbaai Academia and, secondly, the unique community and businesses that carried me (sometimes literally) during the past ten years," Tommy says with a tear in the eye.

For the first six years of his tenure, he lived with me and my wife Anita in a flat adjoining our house in De Kelders. During this time, a strong and true friendship was formed between us. When Julia joined Tommy from Worcester, the couple moved to Franskraal.

CIRCLE: Tommy Wilson at his desk in the office where he performed “miracles” for ten years as the beloved principal of Gansbaai Academia.

Their son, Woodrow, who shares his father's interests and decided on a career in law, completed his LLB degree and works as an attorney. "Despite my son already being a fully-fledged

BELOW: Tommy and his wife Julia, also a teacher at Gansbaai Academia, in happier days before Julia was tragically killed in a car accident last year.

PHOTO: Johan Pieterse Photography

LEFT: History was made with Gansbaai Academia’s 2012 matric class of 55 students, the fist in the history of Gansbaai. Front middle: Tommy Wilson, proud principal, and next to him the head boy, Edrich Schmidt and head girl, Michelle le Roux.


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