Joan Orsmond: Be at peace our champion

TRIBUTE

No one but Joan Orsmond could pound the tarmac for 89 kilometres and still look glamorous.

No one but Joan could persuade prominent businessmen and women to don tutus and wigs and prance around a stage.

No one but Joan could take a piece of fabric and turn it into an outfit good enough to grace the pages of Vogue Magazine.

And no one could make better chocolate eclairs than Joan.

One of three daughters, Joan was born in Johannesburg on April 1, 1947. Her parents Realm and Olwyn Rose, sisters Val and June moved to Margate in 1949 as her dad had been appointed Standard Bank manager.

She attended Margate Primary until grade 7 when the family relocated to northern KZN where Joan completed her schooling at Empangeni High. Like her father she chose a career in the banking world and her first job was at a Durban bank.

When Realm was transferred to Port Shepstone he managed to secure a position for Joan as well, she had always wanted to return to the South Coast.

The family settled in a house in town (in later years it housed Lucky’s Sports Store) and on her daily walk to work she passed Alwat Motors.

That’s where a young motor mechanic, Ken Orsmond, would try and attract her attention with loud wolf whistles. They worked – Joan and Kenny were married in November 1968.

In 1971 the couple was blessed with a daughter Tracey, who sadly only lived for 12 days. The following year they welcomed a son, Greg, a second boy, Lance was born in 1975 and completing the Orsmond family, Shannon arrived in 1979.

Joan relished her homemaker and being a mom roles. Her children were the best dressed in Sheppie and everyone wanted to be their friend to crack an invite as they all knew aunty Joan was a great cook.

She once told a friend she taught herself to sew as her sporty mom believed everyone looked okay in boxer shorts and a tee-shirt.

In between homemaking Joan modelled, her sense of style and grace made her a standout on the catwalk. She also loved the theatre and produced amazing shows worthy of the standing ovations they received under her direction.

She raised thousands of rands for local service clubs, charity organisations and schools by getting locals to perform – most of whom did know they could sing or dance until enticed by Joan’s charm.

Many Miss South Africa entrants were first choreographed by Joan when they took part in local beauty pageants.

At the age of 40 she decided to run the Comrades Ultra Marathon. She completed 13. She once cut her medal in half to share with a fellow South Coast Strider who failed to finish the run. And thanks to Joan the Striders were more visible as she changed their dark green running colours to lime green and pink. Another great ambition – to take part in the London Marathon – was also achieved.

Then the cycling bug bit. As with everything she did, she excelled on the bike and boasted eight Argus Cycle Race medals.

Her next starring role was being a mother-in-law to Kirsty, Vanessa and Niko and then grandmother to Chayse, Breece, Demi, Matthew, Slade and Jade Orsmond and Amber and Clay Potgieter.

Many will remember Joan for being the epitome of elegance, an outstanding fundraiser, a brilliant athlete, an enterprising entrepreneur (every woman on the South Coast wanted to own a pair of Joan’s bejewelled takkies) but most of all they will never forget how adored and cared for she was by her beloved Kenny.

Be at peace our champion.

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