Mr Magic celebrates double milestone
ADVERTORIAL
John Bowie, otherwise known as Mr Magic within his work circles, is celebrating two enormous milestones within a week of each other this month – his 70th birthday on 3 August while 10 August marks a monumental 50-year service with HDRS Attorneys Incorporated, Plettenberg Bay. Born on 3 August 1950, John spent his formative years in Piesang River, Plettenberg Bay before making a move to New Horizons following a displacement by the then government in his early 20s. John finished his schooling years in 1968. He began working at the Old Plettenberg Bay Post Office as a postman, delivering post by hand. It was through this that the seeds were sown for the career that would shape his life for 50 years to come. One fortuitous day, John was delivering post to the then law firm, Kraut, Wagner, Hutchinson & Mostert across the road from the post office and was spotted by the then director and founder of the firm, Alan Hutchinson. Noting John’s diligence and passion for work, Alan Hutchinson offered him a position as the firm's messenger. Exactly a week after he turned 20, John began his 50-year career with the attorneys' firm on Monday 10 August 1970.
A man who has seen it all in terms of technological advances within postal and banking services, looking back there is not a day that John wished to do any other work, anywhere else. "People have asked me how I can stay at one company for so long, I offer them one simple answer – there is work, and then there is loving the work that you do," said John, looking back on a career that saw him consistently work from 07:30 to 16:30 year in and year out. John is not only a passionate professional, but a passionate sports and family man too. "In my younger years I used to play soccer and captain my local club on weekends. On Wednesday afternoons I either caddied on the golf course or I would go and enjoy some fishing," he reflected. With 4 children and 8 grandchildren, he has been married for 49 years, marrying his wife Muriel in June 1971, two months before he turned 21. "My mother still had to sign permission for me to get married. They wanted me to wait two months until I was 21 so she didn't have to sign, but I couldn't wait, as I wanted to marry my wife." Fifty years on from his first day, John continues to power on. "He is such an example to everyone at the firm, with his passion, work ethic and gentle demeanour.
“He works wonders here, and he is our Mr Magic. It has been an absolute privilege and honour to work with John," said current co-director Francois du Plessis, who has worked with John for the past 28 years.
Mediclinic Plettenberg Bay welcomes another specialist to the Garden Route with physician Dr Arend Isaacs who joins the hospital after relocating from Sydney, Australia.
As the only clinical haematologist in the Garden Route and one of only two physicians in the town, Dr Isaacs sees this as a real opportunity for him to add value to the available medical services and help build capacity in the region.
Dr Isaacs was born in Stellenbosch and completed his medical degree at Stellenbosch University in 1993. He completed his training as a physician, clinical haematologist and haematopathologist in Sydney, followed by a fellowship in thrombosis and haemostasis (blood clotting and bleeding disorders), and laboratory research in platelet (which he describes as the little sticky bits that aid in blood clotting) disorders, at St George Hospital in Sydney.
Between 2009 and 2013, he worked as a consultant haematologist in the Bay of Plenty region in New Zealand, and returned to Australia in 2013, working in hospitals in Western Australia and the Australian East Coast.
During the past seven years his practice changed to incorporate more work in General Internal Medicine, particularly acute care medicine, in addition to haematology. His areas of interest include all areas of internal medicine and both
Dr Arend Isaacs
malignant and non-malignant haematology. "In 2011, I started planning to return to South Africa, however this was hampered by the long and very convoluted registration pathway of the Health Professions Council of South Africa. My registration as a specialist with the HPCSA was eventually finalised in 2019," says Dr Isaacs. "Returning to South Africa was not an easy decision, as I enjoyed the freedom of living in one of the best countries in the world and working in arguably the best health care system. Therefore choosing a place to settle was equally difficult. Years of research meant that I was well aware of the potential challenges posed by living and working in South Africa, however the call to return home became a compelling need. I settled on Plettenberg Bay because I wanted to be in the best province, and also for the scenic beauty, excellent climate and relaxed lifestyle of the Garden Route."
Dr Isaacs is married to Dr Quynh Nguyen, also a medical doctor, who will join him later this year. Asked about his hobbies and interests, Dr Isaacs says he keeps a nose in the medical books, and plays the classical guitar. "My ambition is to play most of the Bach Suites to the satisfaction of my greatest critic - the wife!"
Contact details:
Mediclinic Plettenberg Bay
Room 7, Medico Baia Formosa
Muller Street
Tel: 044 501 5100