Manager of Somerset Place retirement home Ben Bezuidenhout was honoured with an award in the 2013 Senior Citizen of the Year awards, hosted by the Port Elizabeth Golden Oldies Fundraising club.
Manager of Somerset Place retirement home Ben Bezuidenhout was honoured with an award in the 2013 Senior Citizen of the Year awards, hosted by the Port Elizabeth Golden Oldies Fundraising club.
He was one of a handful of senior citizens in the province to receive one of these awards in a ceremony held at the Protea Marine hotel on 1 October.
Bezuidenhout says it is still a mystery who nominated him though.
"I was surprised to get a call from Golden Oldies inviting me to the dinner in Port Elizabeth," Bezuidenhout said, "and when I got there I was awarded Senior Citizen of the Year from 70 to 79 age group," he said.
"I don't know who recommended me but whoever it is, I am deeply moved."
Chairperson of the awards Juanita Krauspe said the Grahamstonian stood out for the remarkable fundraising work he does for Somerset Place.
He has raised R140 000 in three years.
"I was named the best in the Community category with other categories being Sports, Entertainment and Business," Bezuidenhout said.
So how does he keep contributing to his community in such an uplifting manner?
The important thing to remember, Bezuidenhout says, is that if even you're over 70, you're not dropping down dead. "Some people, when they get over 70 they stop doing everything. And yet there are people who are starting to live life after 70," he said.
Krauspe said this is the second year that they have hosted the awards on 1 October to coincide with the International Day for Older Persons.
"The are so many older people who think that after retirement there's nothing they can do, they just quit and sit down," Krauspe said. "We wanted to show them that a lot can be done after retirement. We also wanted to get younger people to know that life can continue after retirement."
Krauspe hopes to expand the Senior Citizen of the Year awards to become a national event.
