20 / 52
18
Feb 2016
O
h Nikki, my dear
friend, if only you were
here to read what is
being written about
you! Comments from
members of the Grabouw community
of which you were an integral, active
and valuable member describe you
as a wonderful soul who inspired a
lot of people, with a passion for life,
art, gardening, nature, and animals.
“Nikki was a kind, gentle, intelligent,
loving and wonderful soul who
touched and enriched all of our lives
in so many ways”.
“Beautiful, she had such a beautiful
passion for life, nature and animals.
Beautiful person, many ways”.
She was also an enthusiastic
photographer, who recorded much
of what went on in her surroundings,
and illustrated many organisations’
Facebook pages with her photos.
Nicolene was an active member of
the Western Cape SAVA branch.
She was also active in the Animal
Welfare Committee of the SAVA. She
regularly rustled up the local vets
to drive to meetings and lectures in
Cape Town together. Although she no
longer practised as a vet, she kept up
her CPD and encouraged others to do
the same.
Nicolene initially obtained a degree
in visual arts, before completing a
BVSc at Onderstepoort in 1991. She
lectured at the faculty in the nineties
and has been a regular external
examiner for ethology since. She was
acting as an external examiner for
the honours in behavioural medicine
at the time of her death. Many of her
early art works are still on display at
the Faculty.
After her time as an ethology lecturer,
she completed an MTech Fine Art
at the University of Johannesburg
in 2008. Her research project was
entitled “Representations of Cattle
as Cultural Markers towards South
African Identities”. She then settled
in Grabouw and worked productively
at her art, predominantly ceramics,
holding many well-received
exhibitions and winning several
national and international awards for
her work. Nicolene’s art was inspired
by the human-animal bond and
she explored human relationships
and attitudes towards animals in
her art. She also explored gender-
stereotyped discrimination in her art.
She wrote regular informative articles
on animal behaviour and care for
“Marktoe!” – a publication distributed
at Cape Agri stores in the Western
Cape and also available online.
Although I spent many pleasant hours
in Nikki’s company, I am sure I did not
mention nearly all that she achieved
and did. My one consolation at her
untimely passing is that she packed a
lot more living into 53 years than the
majority of people into much longer
lives! She will be sorely missed by
so many. Her many friends had the
pleasure of regularly sharing a braai
and a beautiful sunset with the always
hospitable and sociable Nikki on the
lovely koppie behind her home.
Nikki is survived by a brother,
Francois F. Swanepoel, a
photographer, who lives in Tulbagh,
and a sister, Annemarie, a retired
medical practitioner, who lives in
Barrydale. Nikki was the youngest
.
v
Joan Kleynhans, colleague and
friend
Obituary:
Dr Nicolene C. Swanepoel
(Born 31 March 1962 - died 9 January 2016)
Nikki passed away unexpectedly of a stroke on the morning of Sunday,
9 January 2015. She was visiting her brother in Tulbagh at the time. Her
passing left the Grabouw community in shock and sadness. She was
very valuable to the community, being active in amongst other things a
hiking group, the gardening club, the local art scene, animal welfare,
puppy training classes, neighbourhood security and Siphila Sonke (a local
community charity).
Obituary
I Huldeblyk