Nothing slows down septuagenarian
At 76, senior citizen Jurie Beyers continues to conquer the impossible, and his home has sparked great interest among locals and those from far away.
General Albertspark senior Jurie Beyers has an unwavering strength that propelled him to break every challenging chapter of his life and perceive it as an opportunity.
In his much younger years, the adventurous and innovative local braved harsh weather and cycled with a friend from Joburg to Cape Town – a daring venture.
He later cycled to other parts of the country on his quest for exciting adventures, and just recently, he inspired his family team to swim the 2024 aQuellé Midmar Mile.
Over the years, he played club rugby, ran the Comrades Marathon at least three times, and undertook a three-day Vaal River canoe trip with his son.
Beyers’ adventures are too many to mention; he has also participated in various triathlons, cycle races and underwater rugby. He has micro-lighted, sky-dived, bungee-jumped and scuba-dived.
His adage is, “It is all in your mind. You can do more than you think is possible with the right mindset”.
There is never a dull moment with Beyers, and one trait that sets him apart is his constant good cheer.
“When my children asked me what I wanted for my 60th birthday, I told them I had forever wanted to own a unicycle. I have even taken a BMX bicycle and modified it with gears on its horns, and if you turn it left, it goes right. I have taken the bike to various functions in the community, and people are fascinated by its uniqueness,” Beyers said.
Genuine sense of fun
Beyers, who has been an Alberton resident for more than 44 years, regularly entertains the community with his antics.
He is prominently known as the annual Santa Claus in General Alberts Park and a pavement vegetable gardener.
Those visiting his house are greeted with a sign that reads, “Drinks on the house, bring your own ladder”, accompanied by a table and chairs humorously perched on the roof.
“After putting up the chairs, table and empty bottles on the roof as a form of humour and satire, I entered a competition and won by far, winning a trip to KwaZulu-Natal. It all started as a joke, and people from in and outside the Alberton community have stopped to take photos,” he explained.
His adventures and wealth of experience in various sporting codes have brought much enjoyment, but he has had to conquer some major setbacks as well.
Beyers has survived a heart attack, had a hip replacement, and an operation on his ankle.
Humorously, he said, “My wife, Merle, needs a medal to have stuck with me for over 50 years. She says if she murdered me years ago, she would be out on parole by now.”
He reiterated that people should strive to live life to the fullest and that nothing is impossible if we set our minds to it.
