VN May 2021

Vetnews | May 2021 49 This month has been one of reflection for the Lowry family; 50 years since I started out as a second-year veterinary student and as a husband. It is hard to know even where to start when one thinks of all the water that has passed under the bridge and fortunately most has been good, clear water with the odd little bit of turbulence. The floods have of course been part of it, but in most cases, they were flash floods that were easily manageable. But looking back the first 25 years were during one of the darker periods of South Africa’s political existence. The second 25 have been a political rollercoaster. Those first 25 years were positive in so far as stability and security were concerned. Everything was functional and relatively easy, but change was inevitable, and we all needed to prepare for it. I recall thinking about what I personally needed for my family to survive the changes that were on the cards. My family were effectively Transkeian and understood the African people was well as anyone having survived in that environment for more than 100 years. I felt that change could be embraced and would lead to an improved country for all. What was needed were the following; a stable political situation, a good justice system, a good education system, good medical support and then good communications. The rest could be managed somehow. The Mandela-years were very encouraging and one felt that there was a rosy future for all. And then the wheel that had turned for so many years began to change for all of us and the rate at which it slowed down was exponential. Roads deteriorated as did the electricity supply, then the postal services. The private schools continued to offer excellent education but that came at a huge after-tax fee – something that was not available to all. The hospital services deteriorated but there were and are still excellent private medical facilities, again at an unaffordable cost to many. At about this stage I believed that the writing was on the wall and looked for greener pastures and so followed an interlude in foreign lands. In all about four years were spent practicing overseas. Yes, it was a great experience and it was marvellous to see just how other people lived but there was surely no excitement like Africa offers on a daily basis. The electricity, water supply, and traffic lights all worked on the same day as did the postal, police services and toilets. The first newspaper we got had headlines indicating that a fourteen-year-old had been brought before the magistrate. His crime was spitting at a policeman. Here, if a fourteen-year-old had killed a policeman he may have got mention on the fourth or fifth page of the local rag. We could not wait to get home to those African sunrises and sunsets and coming through customs my wife said to the lady at the check-out that she was so happy to be home and this sizable lady dressed in a customs uniform said “Welcome home”. Judy burst into tears and gave her a huge hug. There is no doubt that our living conditions have deteriorated and those things that I believed we needed for a good life have been stretched to the extreme but does that leave us with no options if we are to stay in South Africa. I believe not; the wind has changed significantly but we need to set our sails accordingly so that we can reach our destinations albeit by a different course. There is no way that a country such as this beautiful land with all its jewels and kaleidoscope of people will not ultimately come out on top; patience and endurance are now what are required. It is a personal decision as to how ones sees the future but it will take a lot more upheaval to get me to move as I have surely not endured half the hardship of my forefathers who helped settle this land. v Life plus 21 without parole Mike Lowry Mike Lowry has been in veterinary practice for "life plus 21" years. In this column, he shares his experiences and opinions . Regulars I Life plus 21