In ’n afskeidsboodskap namens die leerders wat in die termyn van die Jannie van der Westhuizen hoofseuns was, vertel DYLAN DE NYSSCHEN, hoofseun van 2013, dat die uittredende rektor dikwels as persoonlike mentor en vertroueling vir hulle opgetree het. Dit kos iemand met selfversekerdheid en wysheid om so ’n rol te speel en dit is hoekom mnr Van der Westhuizen die hoogste agting van die leerders in sy termyn geniet het. Hy verlaat nou die skool, maar sal nooit vergeet word nie.
Good morning to all the staff, the Old Boys, Paul Roosers, and of course Mr. van der Westhuizen and Mrs. van der Westhuizen.
I’ve been given both the privilege and very big task this morning of speaking on behalf of the previous 10 years’ Head Boys about a very special man. You might notice not everyone could be here this morning but rest assured, each and every one would have loved to be here, and I believe are here in spirit. From 2007 to 2017, I’d like to quickly introduce by name and year these men: in absentia, Jurgen van der Vyver (2007), Charl de Villiers (2008), Garth Arenz (2009), Renier Marais (2010), Herman Wolff (2011), Constant Claassen (2012), Calvin Nell (2014), Justin de Nysschen (2015), Ben-Jason Dixon (2016), and you of course know this year’s Head Boy George Huysamer.
Now apart from being Old Boys of Paul Roos, we all have something else very special in common – we had the opportunity of leading under the leadership of Mr. van der Westhuizen as Rector. And the leadership he showed us was both in capacity as captain of the ship and commander in chief, but also as personal mentor and confidant. No matter in what arena you find yourself, support, guidance, or leadership to follow is important. If you can have any of these things you are fortunate – with Mr. van der Westhuizen I’m sure I speak for us all when I say we had all of these things.
If I may, I’d like to share one or two things on behalf of the men I’ve just mentioned. The position we served in during our final year in Paul Roos offers a host of challenges, and whether we personally found them daunting or exciting, one thing is for sure is that more often than not Mr. van der Westhuizen would be just here on your shoulder like a 6 or 7 flank to support you through something, or in front of you as a sound board to bounce ideas, discuss or reflect on things to help you make informed decisions.
It takes a self-assured, and wise man to be able to sit and listen to people, take their points and respond in a way which delivers the best outcome for a group of people much larger than the two of them sitting in the room. That in this case would be the school. That is something Mr. van der Westhuizen has always been brilliant at. He has the humility to hear your point, but the wisdom to know when to interject, the objectivity and E.Q. to fairly assess more than one point of view and an excellently developed way of thinking, which I always considered out of the box – which underlined both empathy for people and experience one cannot buy.
You might have noticed whilst I said some of these names, that a few full Paul Roos cycles took place over the span of these years. By this I mean, some of the men sitting here were Head Boys to other guys sitting here. In some cases even more than a full cycle – Garth was my HB, I was George’s. Charl was Constant’s, Renier was Calvin’s and so on and so on. What I want to show with this is that:
A Paul Rooser’s journey is a 5 year one, apart from the Old Boy factor of course. During those years you grow so much as an individual, you are exposed to so many opportunities and you become part of this place like nothing else. At the end of those 5 years, you look back and become nostalgic and emotional about the things you did and didn’t do, for times you had and for the fact that you must say goodbye.
As we all now know – Mr. van der Westhuizen’s journey here is coming to a close at the ten year milestone. Having doubled the span of a journey in this school we’ll all agree is an absolute privilege.
I can say with confidence to everyone here that Mr. van der Westhuizen has made the most of these years. He has always been there. You name the event, I’ll show you a photo of our Rector.
Cricket over scorching summer weekends, hockey on rainy Friday nights, rugby on cold, wet Saturday mornings, and then of course also a bunch of other functions and events most of us are not even aware of where he represents our school, and always with the highest decorum and respect for the badge and our motto. Mr. van der Westhuizen, at face value you are a man to respect, always neat, always humble, always willing, but even more so a real man deeper than the surface – one with pride, respect and gentlemanship – a true Paul Rooser, a true legend.
I want to say thank you to you Sir, for the late night fuel burnt in the office after everyone had gone home, for the utmost dedication to this school, the boys in it and your constant effort to make men of them, the respect you treat people with and respect you’ve always personally shown me and then very importantly for your being, which I believe is best described by this one word: integrity. When no one is looking, when no one knows, you take the hits, the big ones and not a word is ever uttered about it. This school, and the ones before it, have been very lucky to have you.
A time to bid farewell has come, and a new phase for both the school and for you personally. Sir, for all that this next phase holds, we wish you strength to face the challenges, we wish you health. May your fire and desire to fight and continue excelling burn bright. May the Lord’s face shine upon you and may He keep you and your family.
Mr. van der Westhuizen, from myself and the extended Paul Roos family, you might be going, but you won’t be forgotten. You are a true Paul Rooser, and will therefore forever have a family in Paul Roos.
Onwards and Upwards
Semper Splendidior
Fotograaf: E J Langenegger
