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asked her on a date, which was quite<br />
a surprise, as she knew Gerrit was<br />
practising medicine in Ireland. He told<br />
her that he was returning to enrol his<br />
daughter at the university, adding<br />
that he had waited 29 years for the<br />
opportunity to take her on a date.<br />
The date went well, and the rest is<br />
history. For a certain period, Gerrit<br />
only saw her when he returned to<br />
South Africa during holidays, but in<br />
2011 he told her that he was moving<br />
back to Mbombela and opening a<br />
practice. Their relationship blossomed<br />
and a few years ago they were<br />
married.<br />
“Gerrit had to work hard to build<br />
his own practice in Mbombela, but<br />
people soon started to respect him.<br />
When he started his research for his<br />
book, Forgotten Tracks and Trails of the<br />
Escarpment and the <strong>Lowveld</strong>, I loved<br />
to go with him on all his searches. I<br />
would pack a picnic basket, take a<br />
bottle of wine and we drove for<br />
many kilometres along the escarpment<br />
to find the old transport<br />
routes of more than 100 years ago.<br />
It was quite an adventure and we<br />
were delighted when the book was<br />
published in 2018.<br />
“When I moved to Mbombela, I<br />
decided to continue teaching and<br />
was quite excited by the wonderful<br />
talent that I found here. I started<br />
off with classes in the afternoon at<br />
Laerskool Laeveld, and ever since I<br />
have had a waiting list of pupils who<br />
would like to come for piano and<br />
harp classes. I enjoy every minute of<br />
my work,” she says.<br />
The moment that Theresa enters<br />
a room, it is as if the whole place<br />
comes alive. She is always dressed<br />
beautifully and confesses that she<br />
loves the beautiful things in life. The<br />
children at Curro Nelspruit, where<br />
she teaches music as an outdoor<br />
activity, think she is quite funky. She<br />
also loves to perform and often<br />
gets a chance with events like the<br />
Wakkerstroom Musical Festival, our<br />
local Innibos National Arts Festival<br />
or even small home concerts.<br />
After chatting to Theresa, it is clear<br />
why she lights up the darkest<br />
day: she loves what she does, and<br />
even a career as a concert pianist<br />
wouldn’t have been as rewarding.<br />
“The other day I read something<br />
that the conductor Benjamin<br />
Zander said,” Theresa says. ”‘I have<br />
a definition of success. For me, it’s<br />
very simple. It’s not about wealth<br />
and fame and power. It’s about how<br />
many shining eyes I have around<br />
me.’ When I read these words,<br />
I immediately realised that it is<br />
exactly how I feel.<br />
“When a student of mine is sitting<br />
behind the piano or playing the<br />
harp, and I see how his or her eyes<br />
light up after I have made a positive<br />
remark; it gives me tremendous<br />
joy! It is wonderful to know that by<br />
doing something, like playing the<br />
piano or harp, or painting a picture,<br />
I manage to brighten someone’s<br />
day. That is a wonderful gift that I<br />
will always treasure.”<br />
RM-VA027749NC<br />
Theresa Prinsloo<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember <strong>2019</strong> Get It <strong>Lowveld</strong> 21
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