“Huis DuVêr” IS DIE MOEITE WERD

Amari Marè

@amari.mare

English translation follows

 

Huis DuVêr volg die treffende slagspreuk: “Soms is ver ry die moeite werd”. Hierdie dameskoshuis is geleë in Potchefstroom op die gronde van Ferdinand Postma Hoërskool. Huis DuVêr was voorheen bekend as ‘Lady Diane’ en was deel van die Noord-Wes Universiteit (NWU) se privaatkoshuise. Hierdie koshuis is bedryf deur koshuisvader Louis Janse van Rensburg en sy vrou, Lillian, as koshuismoeder.

 

Alhoewel die koshuis ryk in geskiedenis is, bied dit ook taamlike geriewe aan, naamlik ‘n swembad, braai area, ‘n volledige kombuis, asook wasgeriewe wat dit nóg meer na ‘n tuiste laat voel. Huidiglik is daar 33 inwoners, alhoewel die koshuis in 2026 net 25 dames sal kan tuiste bied weens aanpassings wat uitgevoer gaan word. Dié verandering bring nuwe uitdagings vir die koshuis, maar dit sal nie die gees van die dames afbreek nie.

 

Huis DuVêr het 4 huis komitee (HK) lede, wat ‘n Primaria en Onder- Primaria insluit, alhoewel die veranderinge wat 2026 bring moontlik kan veroorsaak dat net 2 huiskomitee-lede mag voortbestaan. Hierdie koshuis het, soos enige ander, leierskomitees. Elke dame mag kies aan watter komitee hulle wil deelmaak van. Die komitees bestaan uit fondswerwing, waar die Primaria van 2024/2025, Douwleen Conradie, in beheer is. Sy beplan geleenthede waar die koshuis kan geld insamel om die koshuis te verbeter en terug te gee aan die dames. Conradie is óók in beheer van alle reëlings wat die eerstejaars betrek, sowel as klerasie.

 

Runé Du Plessis, die Onder-Primaria, is in beheer van gemeenskapsdiens, waaroor sy baie passievol is. Die gemeenskapsdiens portefielje het drie groot projekte; die insameling van ou klere wat aan minder bevoorregtes geskenk of verkoop word, die geld wat gebruik word om dierekos te koop, asook om vir PAWS te skenk. Laastens samel die dames speelgoed in om aan die kinderhuis te skenk. Ander kleiner projekte kan insluit om bankies te renoveer, sowel as om bejaardes te bederf met pannekoek. In samewerking met fondswerwing word daar ook geld ingesamel deur by die Snowflake Mark kinderaktiwiteite aan te bied. Du Plessis is wel ook in beheer van sosiale media en bemarking.

 

Joné Wildeboer is ‘n huiskomitee-lid wat in beheer is van sosiale aksies. Die sluit in gang-week, waar die gange teen mekaar deelneem in verskeie aktiwiteite, algemene kennis aande, bord speletjies, en pizza aand. Die aksies bring die dames nader aan mekaar en bied ook ‘n blaaskans van akademiese spanning en blus die verlange na die dames se familie. Sy is ook in beheer van die puntestelsel. Te danke daaraan dat die koshuis kleiner word, is dit van uiterste belange om deelnamepunte by mekaar te maak om vir huiskomitee te kan aansoek doen. Wildeboer werk saam met Du Plessis met die bemarking van die koshuis, wat ook hand-aan-hand gaan met sosiale media vertoning.

 

Laaste, maar nie die minste nie, Elmé du Plessis is in beheer van finansies en die instandhouding van die koshuis. Haar werk behels die herstel en verbetering van die koshuis. Du Plessis is gretig om haar kennis van naaldwerk, tot plantekuns, oor te dra aan haar span. Sy werk ook saam met Wildeboer en Runé Du Plessis aan die bemarking van hul koshuis.

 

Huis DuVêr het tonne tradisies, naamlik familie-naweek, waar families van regoor Suid-Afrika bymekaar kom en tyd spandeer met mekaar. Hul mees onlangse familie-naweek het afgeskop met ‘n heerlike braai aand wat gevolg het tot gin en brandewyn proe-aand. Mejuffrou Huis DuVêr, nóg ‘n geliefde tradisie, is gewoonlik tydens hierdie tydperk. Die naweek het afgesluit met ‘n smaaklike ontbyt by Oukraal. Die koshuis doen soveel moeite vir die mense wat reis van ver af.

 

Die koshuis is waarlik ‘n huis weg van die huis, waar die dames omgee vir mekaar en ondersteuning bied gedurende hulle moeilikste oomblikke. Dit is werklik ‘n plek waar ver ry die moeite werd is.

 

Kontak Louis Janse van Rensburg by 060 503 8247 of Douwleen Conradie by 063 772 5072 vir meer inliging.

 

 

Teksversorging deur Simoné de Witt en Liezel Immink

 

English translation:

 

Huis DuVêr follows the striking slogan, “Sometimes traveling far is worth it.” This ladies’ residence is located in Potchefstroom on the grounds of Ferdinand Postma High School. Huis DuVêr was previously known as ‘Lady Diane‘, and was part of the North-West University (NWU) private residences. This residence is operated by House Father Louis Janse van Rensburg and his wife, Lillian, as House Mother.

 

Although the residence is rich in history, it also offers quite a few amenities, namely a swimming pool, braai area, a full kitchen, as well as laundry facilities that make it feel even more like a home. Currently, there are 33 residents, although the residence will only be able to accommodate 25 ladies in 2026 due to adjustments that will be made. This change brings new challenges for the residence, but it will not break the spirit of the ladies.

 

Huis DuVêr has 4 house committee (HC) members, which includes a Primaria and Vice-Primaria, although the changes that 2026 will bring may possibly result in only 2 house committee members. This residence has, like any other, leadership committees. Each lady may choose which committee they want to be part of. The committees consist of fundraising, where the Primaria of 2024/2025, Douwleen Conradie, is in charge. She plans events where the residence can raise funds to improve the residence and give back to the ladies. Conradie is also in charge of all arrangements involving the first years, as well as clothing.

 

Runé Du Plessis, the Vice-Primaria, is in charge of community service, of which she is very passionate. The community service portfolio has three major projects; the collection of old clothes that are given or sold to the less fortunate, the money used to buy pet food, as well as donations to PAWS. Lastly, the ladies collect toys to donate to the children’s home. Other smaller projects may include renovating benches, as well as treating the elderly to pancakes. In collaboration with fundraising, money is also raised by offering children’s activities at the Snowflake Market. Du Plessis is also in charge of social media and marketing.

 

Joné Wildeboer is the house committee member in charge of social activities. This includes corridor week, where the corridors compete against each other in various activities, general knowledge evenings, board games, and pizza nights. The activities bring the ladies closer together and also provide a break from academic stress and satisfy the longing for the ladies’ families. She is also in charge of the points system. Due to the fact that the residence is becoming smaller, it is extremely important to accumulate participation points in order to apply for the house committee. Wildeboer works with Du Plessis on the marketing of the residence, which also goes hand in hand with social media promotion.

 

Last but not least, Elmé du Plessis is in charge of finances and the maintenance of the residence. Her work involves the restoration and improvement of the residence. Du Plessis is eager to pass on her knowledge of sewing and gardening to her team. She also collaborates with Wildeboer and Runé Du Plessis on the marketing of their residence.

 

Huis DuVêr has tons of traditions, namely family weekend, where families from all over South Africa come together and spend time with each other. Their most recent family weekend kicked off with a delicious braai night followed by a gin and brandy tasting night. Miss Huis DuVêr, another beloved tradition, usually takes place during this period. The weekend concluded with a tasty breakfast at Oukraal. The residence goes to great lengths for the people who travel from afar.

 

Huis DuVêr is truly a home away from home, where the ladies care for each other and provide support during their toughest moments. It is really a place where traveling far is worth it.

 

Contact Louis Janse van Rensburg at 060 503 8247 or Douwleen Conradie at 063 772 5072 for more information.

 

 

Translation by Simoné de Witt