Social Day
On this day for three hours you could not reach any of the Gamtoos Water staff…because it was Social Day.
All 83 workers, from admin and management to water control and cleaners, got together on 18 October at the picnic area at the Kouga Dam near Patensie for a festive fun day to get to know each other better.
There were three-legged racing, sprints and very exciting 3-minute-a-side-rugby. Everyone was divided into 8 teams, each with their teams colored t-shirts and special name. The “Go Getters”, “Super Stars”, “Troublemakers”, “Dream Warriors” and “The Untouchables” were some of the heavy competitive teams that were serious about winning. The less sporty ones were cheering on their teams from the side.
“It is very important to get all the workers together. Their work spreads over 70km, from the dam to the estuary. The idea is to get to know each other on a social level, give recognition and of course team building,” says Rienette Colesky, Gamtoos Water CEO.
It was the second year Gamtoos Water held the social day and they are planning big things for the next event. “We will especially have to look at the rules and point system for the rugby,” Rienette says with a twinkle in her eye.
She says sport is very special at Gamtoos Water and they support the Patensie Barbarians and Hankey Villagers rugby teams where some of their workers are involved. “In this way the workers can feel that the employer is interested in their social circumstances,” she says. “The staff is much valued and they do very important work in the valley.”
The day ended with delicious potjiekos and a prize giving for the fastest and winning teams.
Carol van Rooyen, stock control officer and co-organizer of the social day, says it was a festive day with a lot of memories and laughter. “It was a great success and we are looking forward to next years’ fun.”
Social Day
Op die dag kon jy vir 3 ure nie een van die werknemers van Gamtoos Water in die hande kry nie…want dit was “Social Day”.
Al 83 werknemers, van bestuur en admin tot waterbeheer en skoonmakers, het almal op 18 Oktober by die piekniekarea by die Kougadam buite Patensie bymekaargekom vir ‘n heerlike ontspan en meng-met-mekaar geleentheid.
Daar was driebeenresies, naelope en 3-minute-aan-‘n-kant-rugby. Almal was in 8 spanne opgedeel, geklee in hul onderskeie kleurhemde en elke span moes ook hul eie naam kies. Die “Go Getters”, “Super Stars”, “Troublemakers”, “Dream Warriors”, en “Untouchables” was onder andere van die super kompeterende spanne wat ernstig was oor wen. Die wat nie te sportief was nie, het hul spanne baie goed van die kant af aangemoedig.
“Om die werkers almal bymekaar te kry is baie belangrik. Die mense se werk is uitgesprei oor 70km, van die dam tot by die riviermond. Die idee is om mekaar op sosiale vlak te leer ken, erkenning te gee en natuurlik spanbou,” sê Rienette Colesky, Hoof Uitvoerende Bestuurder van Gamtoos Water.
Dit is die tweede jaar wat Gamtoos Water die “Social Day” aanbied en hulle beplan groot dinge vir die toekomste byeenkomste. “Ons sal veral moet kyk na die tellinghouery en reëls met die rugby,” skerts Rienette.
Sy sê sport lê baie na aan hulle hart en Gamtoos Water ondersteun onder andere die Patensie Barbarians en Hankey Villlagers rugbyspanne waar van hul werknemers ook betrokke is. “So moet die werknemers voel die werkgewer stel belang in hul sosiale omstandigheid,” sê sy. “Die personeel is baie belangrik en hulle doen belangrike werk in die vallei.”
Daar was heerlike potjiekos en koeldrank om die dag af te sluit en pryse is uitgedeel vir die vinnigstes en wenspanne.
Carol van Rooyen, voorraadbeampte en mede organiseerder, sê dit was ‘n feestelike dag vol lag en lekker herinneringe. “Dit was ‘n groot sukses en ons sien uit na volgende jaar se pret.”
