Doug proves: ‘We can turn this town around’

TO Doug Grewar, the Paddadam Rehabilitation Project has been an anchor to a conviction, that it is still possible for spirited residents to turn Vryheid into a model town, in a sea of disillusionment created by self-serving politicians and lackadaisical public servants.

He held onto the hope that, “If we could turn the rubbish dump, that Paddadam Park had become, into a recreational facility that the town could be proud of, it would prove what Vryheiders could do if they stood together. It would prove that we can turn this town around, and I wanted to prove that it CAN be done.”

And so… Doug’s hopes fuelled his passion for the Paddadam Project. He realised that his passion had become an obsession when he even started to dream at night about what needed to be done at Paddadam. Three years and half a million rands in donations later, his obsession has finally turned his hope into a reality.

As Doug stood at the end of the jetty looking over Paddadam on Thursday morning, he felt, “over the moon!”

“There is an Afrikaans saying that goes, ‘Iets doen is beter dan niks doen.’ I set out to do something and now that I have accomplished what I have set out to do I am feeling really happy. I am surprised, gratified and highly impressed with the response and the spirit of the people of Vryheid who have really joined hands to make this project a success,” said Doug.

“The Paddadam Rehabilitation Project was not my idea initially,” Doug adds, explaining how it all began. “It began with Pastor Ferdinand van Niekerk from the Klipkerk, who brought his congregation to the park to do a clean-up as part of the church’s community service. Thereafter, former ward councillor, Bennie Hancke, encouraged the AbaQulusi Ratepayers’ Association (ARA) to also become involved.

“As a member of the ARA at the time, I was feeling very frustrated. I could see so many things wrong at the municipality and there was very little I could do about it. I wanted to show the council what could be done.”

Since then community support and the backing of local businesses has enabled Doug to clean up the weeds and debris from the bottom of the dam, construct a jetty and an island, repair the dilapidated playground equipment, plant more trees, create a natural filtration system for the water flowing into the dam, and level the recreational area to make maintenance and grass-cutting a little easier.

Last week, Doug received a call from the municipality, asking if he needed any machines to finish off the work at Paddadam.

“After months of failing to get any response from the municipality, the phone-call came as pleasant surprise. They agreed to let me have the use of a TLB, 10 ton tipper truck and a grader. This was an excellent move because it finally makes this project a combined operation between the community and the municipality, bringing on board all stakeholders.”

Mr Grewar and the Paddadam Project Management Team, which now also includes Simangaliso Zwane, the son of Vryheid’s Deputy Mayor, wished to thank everyone involved for their support.

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