Tireless efforts over 23 years bring comfort to sufferers

secretary with a salary of R25 a month, the hardworking Clifford Painter tackled this task with determination and built it up to the largest citrus empire in the famous Kat Valley at that time.

They bought additional land and by the time he retired after 45 years, Clifford, who is now a sprightly 92-year-old, had increased the enterprise to 1 000ha with 160 000 trees of various types. They also had their own packhouse on the farm, from where they exported extensively to overseas markets.

Clifford was already a well-known and respected citrus farmer, but he became famous when he became the first man in South Africa to develop easy peeler fruit. He was also the first to plant lemons in the Kat Valley.

Things were going well, but then in 1980 disaster struck when Pam was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery. A deeply religious woman with tremendous faith, she was visited by a minister in hospital who prayed for her. Fortunately, the cancer had been caught early and she did not require ongoing treatment.

“After an amazing experience, I knew God had healed me. I also realised that the work I needed to do was to help people who had cancer,” she said. She devoted the next 23 years of her life to achieving this.

After recovering from her setback, Painter formed a cancer association in Fort Beaufort and was the driving force behind this for many years. The members attended courses in East London, where they were taught how to handle patients with this dreaded disease. From small beginnings, the work of this association spread to the surrounding townships and Painter and her helpers soon had their hands full.

She explained: “We used to visit patients in their homes and help them cope with the illness. We ensured that they took their medication and that they did not run out. We also arranged for ambulances to take them to East London for treatment when necessary. Often I would take them in my own car if an ambulance was not available. We often cooked them food, as well.”

This group became well known in the community and people would approach them with other problems. Painter also looked after four deaf children who attended the St Thomas School for the Deaf near Stutterheim. They all went on to make a success of their lives.

Painter’s tremendous efforts in this field did not go unnoticed, both nationally and internationally. She was first recognised by the action committee of the Fort Beaufort municipality when she was presented with a certificate for outstanding services to the community in 1987. This was followed in 1990 when the National Cancer Association of South Africa presented her with another certificate for her work.

Six years later, Painter and her husband were flown to Cape Town to attend a gala event where she was presented with the Meriette Loots Winner Merit Shield for her work with fellow cancer sufferers and Cansa.

In 2012, the Lions International Foundation presented Painter with the Melvin Jones Fellow award for “dedicated humanitarian services.”

“I am a Christian serving the Lord. I have found this work so enriching, gaining all these peoples’ trust and love. It has been very humbling,” Painter said.