My accolades derive from my passion for the written arts. I started writing from a very young age, armored with a vivid imagination and vocabulary to match. I formally started writing poetry at the age of 15 (1995). Words offered me solace and a positive reflection of adverse situations. Unbeknownst to my family and I, I suffered from Bipolar Mood Disorder. Writing incessantly, up to 8-9 hours a day I mulled and tried to make sense of the world. 2003 sparked a new possibility when one of my poems ‘In die skylte van die Jirre’ got published in ‘Liewe Ma, liewe vriendin’. In 2009 I was a semi-finalist in the Lentswe Poetry Project. I met “Oom” Don Mattera there and to date, he played a pivotal role in my success, because of my lack of self-confidence in my writing ability. I compiled Red in Awe – Life in Poetry in 2014 from all the poems I had written since 1995 and published it at own expense on Kindle/Amazon and in paperback format. In 2014 I had entered a collaborative project with ‘Dream Design Productions’ and made some of my poems in video format. http://www.******.*** Two of my poems are in the Garrison Hall of the 1 Special Services Battallion and “Spring in Dellville Wood” was immortalised in granite. http://www.******.*** During the Pandemic Spieëlbuis was penned (it is a collection of memoirs and poetry which capture my endeavours with Bipolar Mood Disorder and serves as a mental health awareness drive.) Eldoradopark (theme is gender-based violence) was filmed in 2018 and showcased at the “Silwerskerm Film Festival”. http://www.******.*** Duiwelsbene (Shebeen Queen) shows the life of a Tik-addicted mother. http://www.******.*** Spieëlbuis is a Bipolar awareness drive, serving as a voice for those suffering from the condition. It is a collection of poetry and memoirs. Cover art done by Dr Nicholas de Jager from Akademia. 'Melk en Lemoensap' is a requiem dedicated to my late mother. I made my stage debut with Spieëlbuis at the Adam Small Word Festival at Pniël in 2022. Willem Fransman Jr. penned a play “Kaaps is ek gebek” - a collection of performance poetry from Willem Fransman Jr., Christa Kleynhans and Shireen Nordien et al. Fransman Jr., Nordien and I performed at the McGregor Festival in November 2022. Four-legged lessons – the legacy of Koos Opperman of the Free State, is my 4th publication. It is a YA book, written on an advanced grade 4 level. Koos Opperman debuted at the Heartlands Sanctuary Book Festival in May 2023. In April 2023, I spearheaded a project to give an opportunity for the less-fortunate writer to be published. I conferred with Stanley Jacobs, Shaun Warner and Julie Daniels and we operate under the Cape Flats Stories umbrella in creating workshops for the less-fortunate writers. NS Skrywershuis is sponsoring us with the publishing initiative. Kaapse Forum and Siyazana YDF are also sponsors. From the 4th -6th of December 2023, the Ford Foundation invited me to attend their Art Festival in Johannesburg. ‘Eldorado Park’ was the opening event and was presented on the main stage. I am an eager provincial athlete. In 2012 to 2014 I served on the executive committee of the Central Gauteng Masters Athletics Association. In 2017 I obtained my provincial colours in Discus for Gauteng North. My main focus is on my written work at the moment. I studied a PGCE in English (Secondary and FET phase) via distance learning through UNISA. I also studied towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management in the UK in 2005, but I later learned that the college held no accreditation. Prior to that, I studied Food Service Management and obtained a National Diploma in Food Service Management in 2002. I have been in education since 2010 predominantly teaching Afrikaans and English in mainstream/remedial schools /Learning Support Teacher. I have international work experience. I act as PR for “die Boekeman”, Nico Schamrel (NS Skrywershuis); a publishing house. In March 2024 I commenced writing articles for Naskrif – NS Skrywershuis magazine. I founded Visnet (NPO) in 2023 and I go the extra mile to make a difference in people’s lives. Email: ****@*****.*** Mobile: (***)-***-****