GEORGE NUUS - Presies 30 jaar gelede, in Februarie 1988, het 'n matriekleerder van Hoërskool George gegloei van trots toe haar wenbrief oor Valentynsdag in die George Herald verskyn.
Sheron van der Berg (vandag Sheron Meas) het geskryf die sogenaamde dag van liefde het sy waarde verloor en in 'n malle gejaag ontaard.
Sy het met haar brief oor die kommersiële uitbuiting van verliefdes, die eerste plek in haar skool se skryfkompetisie behaal - nogal in Engels.
En die beloning? Publikasie in die George Herald!
Haar Engelse onderwyseres, Mrs Saptoe, en die destydse George Herald-redakteur, Jannie Meyer, het hulle woord gestand gedoen en op 26 Februarie 1988 het Sheron se wenbrief op bladsy 22 van die George Herald verskyn.
Sheron was geroepe na die koerantwese, want twee jaar na matriek in 1990, het sy by die George Herald begin werk.
Vandag, 28 jaar later, is sy steeds by die koerant en dit is haar verantwoordelikheid om te verseker dat die magdom 'Classifieds' elke week die blaaie haal.
"Om te dink hier sit ek steeds 30 jaar na ek matriek klaargemaak het. Is dit nou nie oulik nie? Die brief bring baie herinneringe. Dit is 'n leeftyd gelede," sê Sheron.
En voel sy steeds dieselfde oor Valentynsdag? "Nee, glad nie! As my liefie my met sjokolade en blomme wil bederf, sal ek nie nee sê nie!" lag Sheron.
Die ouderdom bring wysheid...
Sheron Meas se wenbrief soos dit 30 jaar gelede in die George Herald verskyn het.
Hier is haar wenbrief:
The Editor
George Herald
George
6530
Sir
VALENTINE'S DAY IS USED TO PROMOTE COMMERCIAL SALES
With Valentine's Day drawing near and watching the advertisements in shops and on television I am amazed at what has become of this "Special"
day - the day supposedly for people in love. Previously Valentine's Day was celebrated in a completely different matter.
Manufacturers and shoppers have turned this day into a money-making affair. More than ever Valentine's Day is being sued to sell products rather than to promote the meaning of the day.
Consumers and especially those in love, have to pay through their noses for their tokens of love for those they admire. Many a time nothing comes of the courtship and people feel cheated after paying so much for gifts.
I honestly think that Valentine's Day should be celebrated as it was originally intended and that manufacturers should stop promoting their goods.
Yours faithfully
Valentine's Day anti-consumer
Sheron van der Berg
86 Woltemade Street
Rosemoor
George
4 February 1988
'Ons bring jou die nuutste George, Tuinroete nuus'
