GV Reddy will be missed

THE community is mourning the death of Gopal Krishna Venketas ‘GV’ Reddy (64), who died last Thursday after a lengthy illness.

He was born in Sezela, Esperanza in April 1950. After matriculating, he qualified at Fordsburg Teachers’ Training College in Johannesburg.

In 1973, he started teaching at Trinity High in Lenasia, Johannesburg.

Later, he was transferred to Port Shepstone where he taught at Jai Hind Primary, Port Shepstone Primary, Louisiana Primary, Marburg Secondary and finally at Marburg Primary in 1990.

He retired in 2012 due to ill health.

Friend and colleague, Gary Moodley, deputy principal at Marburg Primary, said Mr Reddy taught with diligence.

“He was very passionate about teaching and was a disciplinarian and task master. He came from a breed of teachers who saw their jobs as a calling. He did his work with dedication and certainly did things his way. He always said that you cannot effectively teach if your class is not disciplined,” said Mr Moodley.

Mr Reddy taught science and maths with great passion and many who passed through his hands have very successful careers today.

He was among the first teachers at Marburg Primary when the school opened in 1990.

He loved nature and was the one who planted about 80 percent of the trees at the school.

He started the science expo at Marburg Primary and helped established it in the Ugu district as a member of the district committee.

Mr Reddy contributed to sport in school, started the fun walk and a service group with pupils to sing bhajans.

A few years ago he started the Ugu Epilepsy Association.