Andre Koetser

Fellow Fortiers

Bev Koetser ( Andre's Wife) Has kindly agreed to us publishing the email that was sent to the school. We will be thinking of her and her family's tragic loss as we gather next weekend.

Regards Ian (George)

It is with a deep sense of sadness that I wish to inform you of the passing of one of your fellow Old Graemians - i.e. Andre Koetser passed away 10 May 2011.

Andre was a Hostel Prefect and matriculated from Graeme College at the end of 1972. He attended the then PE Teacher's College for three years. Thereafter he taught Physed, English and Maths  to Grade 7's at the Charlo Primary School in Charlo Port Elizabeth for 5 years. During that time he was also an EP Athletics Coach and President of the Eastern Province Lifesaving Committee.

During 1981 he decided to leave the teaching profession and joined South African Breweries in Newlands Cape Town as a Training Officer. He was soon promoted to the post of Training Manager and after completing further studies, to the post of Industrial Relations Manager. During his 5 years at Newlands Brewery he continued with coaching Life Saving and was also the Chairman of the Western Province Life Saving Committee. During 1986 Andre accepted a transfer to the Southern Associated Maltings in Caledon, which was a subsidiary of South African Breweries, as Human Resources and Industrial Relations Consultant. It was during his 5th year in Caledon that Andre was asked to take a touring group around the Maltings plant. On one of these tours he suffered a major asthma attack by breathing in the barley dust while it was being immersed in water. He was rushed to the hospital but suffered 3 cardiac arrests and with the 3rd one came a form of brain damage due to lack of oxygen to the brain.

Andre was left a quadriplegic with mild brain damage, he also had a form of blindness due to the incident where he could no longer read or write or watch any tv. He also had a speech impediment. He lay like this for 21 years and 3 months suffering much. His family tried to do what was humanly possible to assist him but he never returned to being like his old self. Eventually he developed pneumonia during April 2011 and sadly passed away on 10 May 2011.

During his time of illness and despite his quality of life being very poor, Andre was extremely brave and never lost his keen sense of humour - always being ready to either tell or listen to a joke. He remained a shining example to his children and indeed to all those who knew him.

Andre leaves behind his wife Beverley, three sons - Robert, Gary and Dale who are all married, his parents and six grandchildren.

He was a wonderful husband, a brilliant father and always so very proud of the school he had attended - Graeme College!

 

Thank you

Sincerely

Bev Koetser