Sharing life with others
2005-03-31
Engela Duvenage
IT’S not easy to end a relationship of 22 years - just ask Gloria Searle, who recently retired as head nurse of the Silwerkruin Old Age Home in Wellington.
When the Paarl Post visited her on a lazy Tuesday morning to find out just how it feels like to be retired at 56, sounds of laughter rang out into the street even before the door was opened.
Inside, Gloria had a host of visitors - all with Silwerkruin ties.
Visiting were three current residents, including her mother Natalie, as well as an ex-colleague.
Clearly, the ties and friendships she has built up over the years are not that easily forgotten.
After all, Gloria is a people’s person. Her genuine, easy-going warmth and empathy for people around her make her well loved.
She worked as a relief nurse at Silwerkruin for more than seventeen year, before being appointed as head five years ago.
Here she has made time in her work schedule to have a chat with each resident, and to hear about all the events in their lives.
“People need to feel valued, and to know that others take an interest in them,” this Natalian believes.
The relief work, which meant that she took over nursing shifts when other sisters were on leave or sick, was ideal, as it gave her the time to raise her two sons, Allan and Harley.
“Mommy was always available to take them to swimming or rugby,” she recalls.
She had always wanted to be a nurse, and studied at the old Johannesburg General Hospital, specialising in midwifery - quite a far cry from caring for elderly people.
The work at Silwerkruin wasn’t always easy. Sometimes she had to be strict, to keep a home with 130 residents running smoothly requires certain rules and a team effort.
She has found events like the death of loved patients, and the emotions surrounding the families, to be draining.
“If I didn’t have the loving husband I have, I would never have made it,” she explains. “He just listens and listens, and makes me a cup of tea.”
The couple met on a camping holiday in the Drakensberg when they were both still in school.
Gloria’s life isn’t just about Silwerkruin. Shortly after moving from Johannesburg in 1984, Francis joined the Wellington Lions Club.
Gloria, too, became a Lion in her own right in 1991, and has also served as president for one term.
Through the Lions they have done lots of community work - from distributing jerseys to collecting second-hand books.
All funds raised through various initiatives like the annual cycle race and golf day are ploughed back into the community.
Currently, the Wellington Lions, as well as the clubs from Franschhoek and Paarl, are working towards raising funds for an argon lazer machine for the Paarl East Hospital that can be invaluable for the treatment of eye problems often suffered by diabetic patients.
The best part of being a Lion, she says, is seeing people happy.
“Take last Saturday, for instance, when we had our annual braai for everyone in Wellington over 65 years of age.”
More than 260 people attended the event.
“People just chatted with each other and met up with old friends. They are so gracious and enjoy what is being done for them,” she says.
Now, however, new prospects are on the horizon. The couple decided to retire at a relatively young age to be able to enjoy travelling and caravanning while still in good health.
“We don’t know where yet, but we will be led to where we have to be.”
Even if their new hometown doesn’t have a Lions Club to belong to, there will always be community work to do.
So far they have their sights set on somewhere in the Eastern Cape, because the first granddaughter has just arrived and lives in Grahamstown.
Some boxes have been packed, and some things have been thrown out already, but they do not seem to be in too much of a hurry to leave old friends behind.
In between blitzing to the Victoria Falls for a visit, taking time out to marshal at the Giro del Capo cycle race, working on embroidery and camping in Kommetjie for a weekend, Gloria is having a ball being retired.
“If our house gets sold before we’ve made other plans, at least we can stay in our caravan,” Gloria laughs infectiously.
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