43 members of Rand Aid awarded for their long services
"We want to walk their journey with them and acknowledge their contribution throughout their time at the organisation."
Forty-three Rand Aid staff members received awards at the NPO’s recent long service awards ceremony.
Held on August 22, the number of years of service provided by those awarded totalled 455 years.
Words used to describe the staff for their service included loyalty, dedication and commitment.
According to Ayanda Matthews, Rand Aid’s general manager of compliance and its social react division.
Rand Aid’s life-right retirement villages, frail care centres and substance use treatment centre would not be what they are today if it were not for its selfless employees.
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“The long service awards have become a tradition at Rand Aid.
“We do not want to only honour our employees’ journeys on their last day or when they retire, we want to walk their journey with them and acknowledge their contribution throughout their time at the organisation,” she said.
Elphin Lodge Retirement Village’s manager Helen Petrie was honoured for 30 years of service.
Helen joined Rand Aid in 1993 as an administration clerk at Elphin Lodge. “I loved the job and held that position for 11 years,” said Helen.
She became deputy manager in 2004 with sales and Ron Smith Care Centre accommodation being her key responsibilities.
In 2007 she was promoted to Elphin Lodge Retirement Village’s manager.
“I have had a wonderful working life at Elphin Lodge. I’m blessed with a wonderful professional team who help create a warm and friendly village,” she said.
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Adél Grobbelaar, the manager of SANCA Wedge Gardens, and Shelly Joy, the admin clerk at Tarentaal Retirement Village, were congratulated for both achieving 25 years of service.
Adél’s journey with Rand Aid started in 1979 as an intern at Wedge Gardens.
She qualified as a social worker in 1981, and worked as a therapist until 1987, before leaving Rand Aid.
In 1998, Adél rejoined the organisation as a therapist and was promoted to the position of manager of SANCA Wedge Gardens in 2005.
During her time at Wedge Gardens, Adél has seen many changes and spearheaded the research and implementation of its full circle recovery programme.
She represents Wedge Gardens at SANCA and has been a board member of AA South Africa.
Shelly joined Rand Aid at the end of 1998 as a craft and recreation assistant at Elphin Lodge, before moving to Tarentaal as an admin clerk.
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She then moved to SANCA Wedge Gardens, where she worked as a ‘crafts lady’.
Due to changes within the organisation, Shelly then moved to Thembalami Care Centre, where she was the house mother, before moving into an admin role. She later moved back to Tarentaal as an admin clerk.
Special mention was also made of Tarentaal’s manager Tammy Neilson, who achieved 20 years of service.
Tammy joined Rand Aid as an intern in 1992, before moving to Elphin Lodge.
In 1996, she left Rand Aid to travel the world and took on various roles at other companies.
She rejoined the NPO in 2003 as a special projects assistant conducting market surveys on potential admissions.
Tammy then joined the accounts department as an accounts clerk and was promoted to deputy manager of Tarentaal in 2005.
In 2008, she furthered her studies in business management at UNISA and was promoted to the post of Tarentaal manager.
“Numerous other staff members were congratulated on 15, 10 and five years of service.”
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For 15 years of service awards were presented to: Pauline Ncube, Simon Moagi James Machebele, Willem Pieterse, Anita Erasmus, Jonas Mbungele, Pertunia Tshabalala, Peter Ralefeta and Riaan Joubert,
For 10 years of service awards were presented to: Eric Mlambo, Erica Woodward, Frans Sekhaolelo, Elliot Masina, Johannes Mojela, Rebecca Moilakgomo, Lara Hurwitz, Nelson Mkansi and Eslina Mqulo.
For five years of service awards were presented to: Ntombizodwa Mthombeni, Marlene Sirchia, Nonhlanhla Mabuza, Peter Letsoalo, Hermans Nchoe, Thanyani Nevari, Timothy Mapheto, Forget Khoza, Grace Ratisani, Masegata Mamabola, Mosima Mojela, Nombuso Ndlela, Rirhandzu Pebane, Siphokazi Mzana, Jane Mokoena, Khomisani Machebela, Poppy Maile, Estelle Raath, Merrios Maluleke and Sduduzo Shandu,
