Sip ‘n Crochet, line dancing and a nursing career: the history of Heather
The busy bee has been involved in many projects and groups her entire life, many of them for charity.
Heather Bendeman (75) from Brenthurst is saved in some people’s contact list as “Heather crochet,” and in others as “Heather line dancing,” but known among all as beloved auntie Heather.
She was born in Ladysmith but moved to Springs with her family at three. She met her school sweetheart at age 14, marrying him at 18, and since then Heather and Anthonie Bendeman have been married for 57 years.
From this happy marriage came three daughters, one granddaughter and three grandsons. While in Springs she attended Selcourt Methodist Church.
Heather worked part-time for a pediatrician for 14 years at St Mary’s Maternity Hospital and was heavily involved in her children’s lives. She was part of school parent-teacher associations, mother’s clubs, Mom’s Taxi, ladies’ Bible study, tennis, badminton and squash.
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A favourite family pastime was camping with a caravan throughout her children’s lives, from infancy to teens. When they grew up and left home, Heather and Anthonie toured the country on a Goldwing motorcycle. In 2004, Heather opened a line dancing school, which many ladies joined and had tons of fun.
The ladies also competed in line dancing events. Many of the ladies from the group also went on to open their own schools across the country. Heather has since handed over the reins to one of the teachers, and they still dance to this day at the Presbyterian Church hall in Springs.
Nowadays, she’s known mostly for her monthly Sip ‘n Crochet (Sip’nCro) get-togethers, where ladies get together to work on crocheted blankets meant for charity.
Heather has distributed dozens of blankets across Brakpan, and some even in Springs, made at these monthly meetings.
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Sip’nCro started in October of 2022, at the Brakpan Garden and Pet Centre, before moving to the Zonskyn Tea Garden and Venue in Springs. Since Zonskyn closed its doors earlier this year, however, the group has been “shopping around” for a new spot.
On March 8, they met at the Village Garden Nursery’s coffee shop in Withok to learn a new pattern and submit completed blankets.
She also opened a seniors exercise class in Springs, which still operates at the Springs Senior Citizens Club. Additionally, she started the Cro-Knitters group in Springs that meets weekly to also crochet and knit blankets for charity. She has since handed over the reins to a friend.
While she is still very involved in the community of Springs, Heather and Anthonie moved from Springs in 2010 but combined the two lived there for 118 years.
