The Common Vein

Living  in Joburg

Married to Raymond Druker  (King David ?68)

2 Daughters Jessica (27)  & Daniela (23)

Industrial Psychologist

rdembo@3i.co.za

I have so enjoyed reading everyone?s stories.

I was reminded of the first day of high school which was my first day at King David.  David Goss had positioned himself opposite Emdins , as the so called ?welcoming? committee.  As I got off the municipal bus on Louis Botha heading toward the waiting King David bus to take me to my new school (which carried with it a fair bit of apprehension, I might add) this voice bellowed out, in full volume, ?Button up you blazer!  Where do you think you?re going!??    That was more than just a casual question to me.  Crossing Louis Botha that day was not only a physical act;   I was entering a new world.

I had come from Observatory East Primary, and lived on the other side of the tracks, part of a very underprivileged family.  My cheder teacher had unilaterally applied for a bursary to King David on my behalf, and once granted, despite strong parental discouragement, I started the high school.  Doing so was probably the most transformative thing that happened to me, and I loved everything about school. ..  the stimulation, friends, friends?  homes and parents,  the social scene, sports,  and school activities when I could get to them.   No doubt these are idealised memories, but they are the ones I am left with.

Whilst writing our Matric exam the Boss called me to his office.  He wanted to know what I was going to do once school was over.  I had registered to do teaching as the state paid for university if one contracted to teach.  He asked me what I really wanted to do, which was social work, and within a few days he organised a bursary for me.  I was able to do Social Work, which I did at Wits.   I don?t diminish the experiences recounted by so many people about ?the boss?.   I had the benefit of another side of Norman Sandler for which I will always be appreciative.

After graduating I left South Africa for Canada, worked as a social worker mostly in mental health, travelled with Raymond through South America, Europe and SA, went to graduate school where I did a masters in counselling and generally had a ball.  After 11 years, and the birth of our daughter Jess, Raymond   and I returned to SA just as PW Botha made his infamous Rubicon speech.  What timing! Ironically it was a fascinating time to be here as there was such pressure for social change. It was like a cauldron boiling over, unstoppable.   I was the executive director of Wits Mental Health, in our own way shaping change through changing the model of mental health delivery.

During this time I went to Wits Business School, did a Masters in Management and crossed the floor, leaving the NGO (Non Government Office) world to work at Transnet , SA?s transport company. (SAA, the railways, the ports, and the pipelines all form part of it).   It was fascinating;  a lot of social change played out in the workplace, and Transnet had become a laboratory for forced change. During this time the ANC had come into power, removed all the former white Afrikaans bosses and replaced them with some of their  (surprisingly, really good),  political appointees. Suffice it to say, Transnet remains a political football with screaming headlines of political machinations as I write today.  I spent eight years there.

I spent the next 8 years at Investec  Bank as an Organisation Development consultant.  A year ago I qualified as an industrial psychologist and set up my own consulting practice last year. I currently work with listed companies, corporate and start- up businesses, a professional body,   NGO?s and a school board, and focus on strategy, leadership, organisation culture and change.    I am also involved in some interesting projects on a pro bono basis; one as a tutor with a UK based organisation teach business skills to young black entrepreneurs,  and the other  doing  family  mediation.

Raymond and I have two wonderful daughters, Jess (27) and Dani (23), both of whom went to King David.  They are very different, each one taking after Raymond with one of his rather diverse talents.  Jess did her Masters in creative writing at the University of Toronto, (Raymond was nominated for an award for a play he wrote), and she now works in advertising and corporate communication. Dani did law (Raymond is a lawyer) and finance at Wits, and she works in the same investment bank as I did. Neither inherited his talent for speaking backwards.

Both our daughters are in SA, and we enjoy our family enormously.  We love travelling in SA and abroad, love the bush, and ski when we can.  Raymond and I still have our ritual Sunday morning run (not quite as graceful as it was 25years ago), have no golf handicap, and I haven?t progressed in my knowledge of bridge beyond an opening 2 club bid.  I silver smith and do art, showing not much talent at either, but then again, for me it?s always been more about the journey, than the destination.

I?ve enjoyed reconnecting through stories and e-mails , look forward to meeting if not at the reunion,  in cyberspace,  or any other place the opportunity presents.