Centenarian Theresa still plays bowls

THERESA Alethea Myburgh was born on June 10, 1914 on the farm Uitkyk situated in Kaapschehoop in Mpumalanga, and spent most of her childhood between Kaapschehoop and Johannesburg.

After leaving school, she trained and worked as a tailor in the town of Barberton, where she met her late husband Selborne MacPherson at the age of 21. After they married in 1938 and settled in Barberton, they were blessed with two sons and a daughter. The family then moved to Nelspruit, where Theresa and Selborne managed the local bakery, and where Theresa started playing bowls at the Lowveld Country Club.

Selborne was the president of the Middelburg Bowling Club and in 1962, Theresa was a triple champion after winning the women’s singles championship, the women’s pairs, as well as the mixed trips.

After retiring and moving to Germiston, and with the untimely death of her husband, Theresa became a member of the Germiston Bowling Club, playing bowls socially with fellow pensioners.

Theresa then moved to the South Coast with her daughter and joined the Munster Bowling Club, where she continues to enjoy her bowls and the company of fellow bowlers. Even though Theresa turns 100 on June 10, she stills bowls an excellent game with her original bowls that are like cannon balls.

Theresa opens the Munster green at the beginning of every season, and has won many accolades throughout her membership at the club. During the bowling season, her daughter brings Theresa to play tabs, dependent on the weather because it can get too hot for her. When Theresa does arrive in the hot weather, she puts on her sunglasses and peak cap, and off she goes to play her beloved game. Theresa is an inspiration and a good example to all.