SKÅLLEAGUE - DAVE VERMAAK
Dave Vermaak, who recently retired after 62 years in the airline / travel industry was born at Roberts Heights, Pretoria in 1932.
He joined the South African Railways Tourist and Travel Department in Pretoria in 1949 and was transferred to Bulawayo,Southern Rhodesia where he subsequently joined Central African Airways in 1952. In 1955 he was appointed as Sales Superintendent in Blantyre, Nyasaland for CAA, where he spent 5 years.
>He was transferred to Johannesburg in that capacity in May 1960 and subsequently to Cape Town to open an office there for CAA. In 1962 he was transferred back to Johannesburg as Manger South Africa for the Airline and in 1970 to Salisbury.
The changing political pattern in Central Africa resulted in him serving with CAA, Air Rhodesia, Air Zimbabwe - Rhodesia and Air Zimbabwe from Sales Manager to Deputy Commercial Manager till his return to Cape Town in 1984 when he joined Air Cape.
The volatile nature of the aviation industry in South Africa too,whilst providing continues employment in the industry, variety of service, Air Cape, Safair Lines, Flitestar,Sun Air and Airlink for the final 12 years!
Dave was Chairman of the Agency Administration Board in Rhodesia when IATA suspended its responsibility there during the sanctions years and a member of The Agency Board in South Africa during its brief existence.
Of greater interest to the readers is the fact that Dave was a founder member of the Skal Club of Blantyre that was established there in 1956!
The occasion was marked with a Gala Dinner at Ryalls Hotel at which the Guest of Honour was none other than the Founding President of the Skal Movement ,Florimond Volckaert!
Whilst the Blantyre Club is regrettably no more, he has been a member of Skal International ever since and has been on Skal Club Committees over the years in all the cities he has worked in.
He is emphatic about his enjoyment of being part of the fraternity and the amicale of Skal and trusts it will endure!
SKÅLLEAGUE - MARIUS BARNARD
I matriculated in 1987 with high colors achieving three distinctions being History, Science and in Economics.
EDUCATION
Higher Education Qualifications
• Diploma: Business Management, Pretoria Technicon 1994
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Short Courses
• Chef’s Training 1988 Compulsory Military Service
• Sales Management Certificate – Damelin College 1995
• Industrial Relations Certificate – University of Pretoria 1997
• Computer programming – Q. Data 1999
• Tourism Management – Drumbeat Academy - 2000
Awards Recieved
• Thabo Mbeki Award of Appreciation for work done at the World Congress on Sustainable Development 2002. Earth Summit
• Golden Award from the Mayor of The City of Tshwane Pretoria at the SAITEX show at Gallagher Estate in 2004
• Best Tour Operator Award for the City of Tshwane 2006 from Gauteng Tourism Authority and Tshwane Tourism Authority
• I was nominated for a International Star Award for Quality in Geneva Sept ‘2010
Something that I am extremely proud of was that I had the opportunity to develop a first for South African Tourism a publication called "Access Gauteng" and "Access City of Tshwane"
These publications I did in partnership with Gauteng Tourism Authority and with Tshwane Tourism Authority. The publications showcased all the products available for people with mobile disabilities when travelling or in need of accessible accommodation, restaurants, thing to do.
Bophelo Tours and Safaris also had the privilege to be responsible for the Marketing and Branding of the City of Tshwane stand at The Indaba Tourism Trade Show in 2005 and in 2006.
My first Skal lunch attended was in 2004. I immediately felt at home. I become member only years later and was given assistant treasurer responsibilities. I was elected as Vise President in 2009 and as President in 2011.
Under my Presidency of Skal International Pretoria together as a committee achieved 40% growth in membership; we developed a dynamic news letter with assistance from Skal International Cape Town and our fb page is up and running.
At various lunches we play the Skal International marketing DVD for our guests and members to learn more about Skal International.
My goal as President is to educate our members and guests on all the possibilities that Skal has on offer and most importantly to network amongst each other. By achieving this goal our membership will automatically increase. My other mission is also to have fun while succeeding in my goal.
I am going to learn more about Skal International and make it my priority to honor their mission
Bophelo is an African North Sotho word meaning "LIFE".
The company specializes in inbound tourism and also focuses on local tourism markets.
We offer to our clients the following services:
• Day tours and overland tours in and around South Africa.
• Conferences from start to finish.
• Accommodation arrangements.
• Transfers and Vehicle rental.
• Flight ticket arrangements.
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