After working at an accounting firm and a large bottle store group to gain business experience, I joined my dad and brothers in the family liquor business in 1971.
My brother and I bought the business from our eldest brother and our father. It was a golden time to be in the booze business: it grew and we flourished.
Ek het met ’n Afrikaanse meisie, Elize Conradie, getrou toe ek 34 was. Sy is die wonderlikste mens en ons is onsettend gelukkig.
We were blessed with twin boys who are now 31 and both about to become parents; and a daughter who is 27.
We sold the liquor business and I bought the Canon Office Equipment business.
I loved flying, water skiing, boating and snow skiing. My flying rewarded me with the great honour to represent South Africa at the World Flying Championships 1993. It was a very proud day when I handed my Springbok colours to Vollies (headmaster) and Tommie Cronje (vice-head) in the Re-Union Hall in front of the whole school.
We immigrated to Sydney in 1994. We bought a cookie business, which we ran for 12 years before selling. Some fortunate investments enabled me to retire at the age of 55. We travel a lot and get to SA regularly to visit Elize’s family, but I have sadly had some serious health issues lately, which have prevented me from attending the reunion.
Dennis passed away on 22 February 2019 after a tiring battle with cancer. Despite what he said in his CV above, he did attend the 50-year reunion, critically ill as he was. He was a true gentleman and a Grey boitjie through and through — Tom Ferreira