Tertius Meyer - Gamtoos Irrigation Board
“I am very proud to farm here and love the history of the farm,” he says. He talks with pride about how his grandfathers’ name still appears on the floating trophy in Katcos’ trophy room in Cathcart for the best export fruit for 1928. One of the naartjie orchards was 90 years old last year and Tertius made special labels to celebrate this special harvest. He also has plans to convert the original pack house on the farm into a farm museum.
If you can’t find him on his beloved farm, he will probably be on his motorbike somewhere on an adventure trail or skiing on the Krom river. His wife, Carina, a music teacher, started with training for farm workers about 15 years ago. At first it was just Bible study, where she saw the need for developing life skills. She presented courses for men and women in conjunction with the “Kaapse Vroue Forum”. Today they do all kinds of farm related training from management to technical and chemical training.
Tertius is positive about farming and predicts that Warren will also farm one day. “Agriculture is worldwide in a very good place because food supply is low. People also eat better and it creates a bigger demand for fresh products,” he says.
He is very impressed with the GIB’s good management. “Much is being spent to limit water losses and we can see results. Water is being managed much better and farmers do much more with less water. I am very pleased with the farmers’ cooperation.”
But he is concerned about the future of water in the country. “There must be more dams built but it does not happen. Water must be stored, like a life policy for food security.”
Tertius has a passion for his work and says he learnt it from his father. “The best thing about farming is to see how your farm develops, to make something out of nothing. If you have a passion for your work, it does not feel like work.” His father who is now 78 years old and retired in Jeffreys Bay, regularly works in the pack house when he visits.
“Ek is baie trots om hier te boer en geniet die geskiedenis van die plaas,”sê Tertius. Hy vertel met trots van hoe sy oupagrootjie se naam nog op ‘n wisseltrofee in Katco se trofeekamer in Cathcart staan vir die beste uitvoervrugte vir 1928. Een van die naartjieboorde was verlede jaar 90 jaar oud en Tertius het spesiale verpakking vir die oes gemaak om dit te vier. Hy het ook planne om die oorspronklike pakhuis in ‘n plaasmuseum te omskep.
Sy vrou Carina, eintlik ‘n musiekonderwyseres, het sowat 15 jaar gelede met opleiding vir werkers begin. Eers met Bybelstudie, waar sy die behoefte raakgesien het om lewensvaardighede aan te bied. “Volheid Vrou” en “Volwasse Man” is van die kursusse wat sy in samewerking met die Kaapse Vroue Forum begin het, en vandag bied sy enige plaasrelevante opleiding aan wat strek van bestuur tot tegniese en chemiese opleiding.
Tertius is positief oor die boerdery en voorsien dat Warren ook eendag sal boer. “Landbou is wêreldwyd in ‘n baie goeie posisie omdat kosvoorraad laag is. Mense eet ook beter en dit skep groter aanvraag na vars produkte,”sê hy.
Hy is baie tevrede met die GBR se fyn bestuur. “Baie geld word spandeer om verliese te beperk en ons sien resultate. Water word al hoe beter bestuur en boere doen meer met minder water. Ek is baie tevrede met die boere se samewerking,” se Tertius.
Maar hy is bekommerd oor die toekoms van water in die land. “Daar moet nog damme gebou word en daar word nie damme gebou nie. Water moet meer gestoor word, soos ‘n lewenspolis vir voedselsekerheid.”
Hy het ‘n passie vir sy werk en sê hy het dit by sy pa geleer. “Die lekkerste van boerdery is om ontwikkeling te sien, om iets uit niks te maak. As jy ‘n passie het vir jou werk, voel dit nie soos werk nie.” Sy pa wat nou 78 jaar oud is en op Jeffreysbaai afgetree is, kom steeds gereeld werk in die pakhuis as hy kom kuier.
Marthinus ColeskyCarol van Rooyen