Meet September’s Heroes of the Month
The couple, who have been married for 45 years, have impacted so many lives in different ways.
Pensioners Loekie (68) and Beatrice Pieterse (65), of Parkdene, have been chosen as the fifth Advertiser/West Pack Lifestyle Hero of the Month winners.
Compared to other months where we’ve only received nominations of individuals, in September we received a heartfelt nomination for the couple who for years have been making a difference in the lives of others.
For their good deeds, they have won an R1 000 West Pack voucher to spend as they wish.
The couple, who have been married for 45 years, have impacted so many lives in different ways.
Some of the many charitable work they have done was assist in paying the medical bills of a single father after he contracted Covid-19.
Also Read: Nominate your Hero of the Month
When he returned from the hospital they made sure he and his son have cooked meals and are well taken care of.
The couple, who were happy they were nominated but felt it was unnecessary because giving is part of their lives, said they don’t do what they do to be recognised.
“I appreciate it when people say thank you because that shows good manners but not to be highly praised because everything we do, we do out of the goodness of our heart. We don’t expect anything in return. I want people to remember me for what I’ve done and nothing more,” said Beatrice.
Loekie said they live by this philosophy: “Did we make a difference, did we stand on someone or did we pick someone up?”
He shared that making a difference doesn’t necessarily have to be towards someone but it can be an animal or anything.
The couple, who has been blessed with two children and five grandchildren, said having grown up in poor families they each developed giving hearts because they know how it feels to be in need.
Beatrice worked as a bookkeeper before opening her own curtaining business. She recently handed the ropes to her daughter.
Though the business was operated at home, it serviced companies, interior decorators and resorts from as far Cape Town and Richards Bay with curtains, cushion covers and bedding sheets. Loekie, who retired four years ago, worked at Eskom’s National Command Centre.
He is a keen grower of vegetables in his backyard and he and his wife love travelling.
Their message: “If you haven’t given of yourself you haven’t given at all. It doesn’t take much to make someone’s day. As a person, you cannot change the world, but you can change the world for one person.”
Also Read: Meet our July Hero of the Month
