VN May 2022

Vetnuus | May 2022 26 Anne (de Vos) Fraser (1954 – 2022) Remember to keep the main thing, the main thing As I and many others knew her, Tannie Anne was so interwoven with the veterinary community in South Africa that it is difficult to appropriately summarise her life and contributions in a way that can do her justice. Most of us knew her or have heard of her. Still, all of us have been affected positively by her selfless contributions to the vets and paravets, mainly via her years of service on the South African Veterinary Council and running a rural practice in Ladybrand. A large group of people can also testify of her influence and care on a personal level, not limited to the veterinary professionals but also her Ladybrand community members and, most importantly, her family. She was a wife, a practice owner, a farmer, a mom, a grandmother, and a friend to many, she served on the SAVC, was a mentor to younger vets, and still, she had the capacity to reach out to strangers going through difficult times, despite her own struggles. Many of my generation and younger knew her as Tannie Anne, which says a lot. When I think of Tannie Anne, I think of horses, I think of Lesotho outreaches, I think of a green Jetta that was not afraid of the road between Ladybrand and Pretoria. I think of her mischievous smile coupled with very wise yet loving eyes. I think of road trips to George and back and getting stuck in the Western Cape province because the roads were closed due to snowfall. I think of good coffees and chats. I think of a determined person who was always up for any challenge. I also think of selflessness and genuine empathy. I think of her sheer willpower to conquer any and every of life’s obstacles that came her way. She has been through so much in the last few years of her life, particularly with the diagnosis and treatment of myelodysplasia. She remained a positive person to the end. She was always looking for the silver lining in every situation or a lesson to be learnt. Her focus was on her Creator and how to glorify Him in everything that crossed her path. She was humble and not scared to ask for help/ alternative opinions, and she wanted the smaller voices to be heard. Jesus was her first Love, and her faith resounded throughout everything she did. At her funeral, they said that she wanted us to >>> 27