New president has SA roots
2011-07-07
Johan Nel
LAST week, an American became the new president of Rotary in Wellington. Reg Cowie, who runs a well-known guest house in Wellington with his wife Nancy, also works with NGOs in the Drakenstein townships to build bridges cross-culturally. Although a born American, Reg has discovered that he also has deep roots in South Africa. “I was born in the USA, but always knew that my father came from South Africa. “As a South African he studied in America, met my mother there, then moved back to South Africa. I was born in America shortly after my father was transferred back to the United States.” Reg and Nancy visited South Africa in 2001 and decided to move to this country permanently. In 2005 they started to work in the Paarl Valley with the Monte Christo/Miqlat Ministries and later became owners of a guest house. In 2008 Reg discovered a book written by his aunt on the history of his family. His great-great-grandmother was Susanna Maria Bosman, who was married to Johan Preller, the first mayor of Pretoria in the days of Paul Kruger. Reg, who inducted a new Rotary member during the presidential induction dinner, says hopefully this is a sure sign that the membership of the Wellington club will steadily grow in the months ahead.
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