Dundee last week mourned the loss of another well-known and well-respected resident with the passing of Errol Trusler who was 83-years-old.
Born in Empangeni, Errol and Freda came to Dundee in April 1961 where Errol started working for Dumain garage on the corner of Gladstone and McKenzie Streets for Jimmy Simpson and Hugh Cameron. This young man from Zululand threatened to resign after one week because of the cold in Dundee.
He stayed on in Dundee until his passing away on Thursday, March 30, in Johannesburg after brain surgery.
Errol was a businessman of integrity. He soon started his own motor repair workshops. First as Trusler Motors and later, Principal Motors. His many clients invariably became his lifelong friends. He also played an important part in the community of Dundee. He was a founder member of Dundee Round Table. He organised their first Soap Box Derby down the hill on Willson Street.
As a father of a three-month-old son, Graham, he went on to win the Father’s race. Of course in a soap-box he built himself!! After he turned 41, he joined the Dundee Rotary Club and started the club’s first annual outing for seniors to the dam.

 He was always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need.

First, in conjunction with Newcastle Rotary clubs to Chelmsford Dam. Later, the Dundee club went it alone to Tom Worthington Dam.
Errol and his friend, the late Reg Francois, undertook many trips to Johannesburg in Errol’s white Toyota bakkie to collect restored wheelchairs for Rotary to distribute to the local community. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need.
On retiring in 1994, Errol was often confronted with the question “Where are you locating to?”
His reply was always: “Why move from Dundee? All our dear friends whom we have grown old with are here and we are staying.”
Errol was a staunch member of the Dundee Methodist Church since 1961. Many of the ministers who came and went remained his lifelong friends.
Errol loved fishing, guinea fowl shooting, golf and especially the snooker game afterwards and pottering in his little garden at the Mews. He will be missed by his family and all his many friends. A memorial service will be held for Errol in the Dundee Methodist Church on Saturday, April 8, from noon at the Methodist Church.