Centurion carpenter celebrates 90th birthday
Rall was also involved in the construction of the NG church and hall in Lyttelton East .
A decades-long Centurion resident celebrated his 90th birthday with family and friends last Friday 19 July.
Gerhardus Frederik Rall, who has lived in Kruger Avenue for 64 years, was born in the Free State in 1929 and attended primary school in Elandslaagte and Ladysmith.
He fondly remembers riding donkeys to school and looking for them when they escaped.
In 1949, after high school in Ladysmith, Rall moved to Pietermaritzburg where he started his career as a carpenter at the then SA Railways and Harbours, today known as Transnet.
He also played rugby for the under 19s and 20s.
In 1953 he was transferred to the Pretoria office where he would work until his retirement.
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In 1955, Rall and his wife Anna Johanna (née Nortjie) would move to Lyttelton, later known as Verwoerdburg and then Centurion.
The couple raised four children, all of whom attended Fleur Primary school.
Rall was also involved in the construction of the NG church in Lyttelton East and later the church hall.
He remembers the construction of the bridge in River Street as well as the development around Centurion lake.
Rall served on the council of the Lyttelton North church for 15 years and, even after moving to Rusoord Centurion with his wife in 2002, he remained an active carpenter.
To this day residents of Centurion can attest to Oupa Gert’s quality of his wooden furniture restoration work.
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He attributes his 90 years to eating well, avoiding fast food, as well as never smoking or drinking.
“The most important thing to remember is that grace comes from above,” says Rall.
Rall celebrated his birthday with his four children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
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