Thank you and goodbye

Life really is like a soap opera. The only difference is that the characters in this story aren’t given a script to learn.

Soapie characters like to suddenly appear on television screens, and eventually, as you get to know them you either fall in love with their characters or it is one you simply cannot tolerate.

Then suddenly, sometimes without warning, the character just disappears from the story.

To be involved in Krugersdorp and to have been able to make a difference in the past three years that I have worked as a journalist at the News was really a great pleasure – and luckily (or maybe sadly) I can inform my faithful readers that my time on the ‘screen’ in Krugersdorp ends this week.

When I started making my mark in the Dorp in 2012, I soon discovered that I would have to fill large gaps; there was and still remains so much untold stories that not only touched me or the people that I have written about, but somehow it got the dorpsmense talking and involved too.

At first I watched the soap opera unfolds: all the established characters were already there. Others, such as myself, only came by later and this is where stories of sadness, suffering, love and happiness played off right before my eyes.

My message back then when I started as a journalist fresh from varsity was that I want to serve my community and I hope that I succeeded.

To those whose stories I never had the opportunity to tell, I humbly apologise. The News’ newsroom is always filled with news and I tried my utmost best to make a difference in everyone’s life – and I am sure enemies too in the process.

There are so many stories that stand out for me and it will be difficult to single out any one of them.

All I can do is to thank everyone who had a role in my growth as a journalist and I hope to continue hearing from you.

My pen, however, will not stop flowing as from next week I will be part of the Alberton Record as a news editor and I firmly believe my story there will soon find new life and meaning.

To my editor Janine Viljoen who trusted in my capabilities even when I nervously sat in her office when I was given the opportunity to ‘sell’ myself when I applied for the job as a journalist; today I cannot thank you enough for the confidence you had in me.

Also to all my colleagues Chémelle Barnard, Marizka Coetzer and Amoryn Golden with whom I worked, they have taught me so much and helped in shaping me to not just be a better journalist but also a better person.

And our receptionist Ida Erasmus, I can’t thank you enough for your friendliness and ever-smiling face as this has surely pulled me through in difficult times when I myself felt a bit down.

I believe my shoes will be filled very quickly and that next journalist will creep into your hearts, as I did hopefully.

All the best.