Garden Route residents in South Africa talk about active life after 60 — Daily Maverick
In South Africa’s Garden Route region, three residents over the age of 60 continue to work, volunteer, play sports and take part in community initiatives. Daily Maverick reports on their experiences.
Volunteering and event support
Events organizer Alewyn Dippenaar has been the director of the Outeniqua Chair Challenge, a sports event for athletes with disabilities and wheelchair users, for eight years. Since 2022, he has also co-organized the George Old Car Show and, for the third consecutive year, the Santos Beach Auto Extremo automotive festival in Mossel Bay. For 15 years, Dippenaar has helped with the logistics of the Grootbrak Grabadoo cycling ride and walk or run.
He is also involved with DeafSA, DeafBlind SA, the local non-profit organization Ithemba Lobomi and the Ambassadors of the George Museum initiative. Every year, Dippenaar conducts around 30 training sessions on overcoming fear, anxiety, depression and stress, as well as on conflict resolution. In addition, he grows 500 spekboom plants for distribution, mentors around ten tourism students and provides 20 go-karts for charity initiatives.
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Work, books and new projects
Estate agent Ling Dobson, who has worked in real estate for 25 years, did not end her career after turning 60. In 2009, she bought a Pam Golding Properties franchise, and in 2013 decided to add Plettenberg Bay to the franchise. After a heart attack in 2018, Dobson began looking for a contingency plan. In 2019, Gordon Schutte acquired the franchise, and Dobson returned to work as a sales agent.
Dobson also founded the Knysna Literary Festival. According to her, annual trips into nature, reading, Pilates and spending time with friends help her recharge.
Medicine and travel
Dr Peter Berning has worked in medicine since 1975. After working in Kleinzee, serving in Angola and practising in Australia and Wales, he and his wife Joan moved to Plettenberg Bay in 1981. Berning is passionate about aviation, took part in the 2005 polar race from Resolute Bay to the Magnetic North Pole and in the 2012 The Last Degree expedition in Antarctica. He also said that he had taken up a position at Hospice Plett.
