Oom Theunsie Heunis se rubrieke was uitstaande
Sy optekening van Mosselbaai se geskiedenis in die Mossel Bay Advertiser het nie ongesiens verby gegaan nie. Hierdie begaafde omgee mens vir sy gemeenskap en deeltydse rubriek skrywer van lank gelede, verdien ook ’n regmatige plek in sy dorp se geskiedenis.
Oom Theunsie Heunis, soos hy bekend gestaan het, was van die eerste rubriekskrywers onder die plaaslike bruin-gemeenskap, by die Mossel Bay Advertiser. Sy weergawe van Mosselbaai se geskiedenis het onlangs weer in die kollig gekom, toe ‘n plaaslike geskiedskrywer van sy historiese vertellings geboekstaaf het.
Dis juis hy, oom Theunsie, wat die legendariese Dora Sinkfontein, beter bekend as The Oyster Queen of Mossel Bay se storie in sy rubriek met die Advertiser gedeel het in die middel 1960’s.
'n Greep uit een van sy baie stories is: "At Old Sunnyside lived two European families among the Coloured people. They were Mr Niklaas van Rensburg, his wife Jaatjie their daughter Sarah. Mr Van Rensburg was a big strong man with large hands and in his younger days, his friends called him Ou Tier on account of his exceptional strength. He however took the greatest
exception to that nickname.
Mr Van Rensburg and his family also earned their living by gathering oysters. Usually in the afternoon, when the tide was in, he would take his fishing rod and sugar bag and go to a certain ledge at Danger Point and fish for steentjies and blacktails (swartsterte). He often made a good catch. The ledge is still known as Tier se Bank and is a favourite spot for anglers.
Dora Sinkfontein the well-known coloured lady by that time could always be found in company when on her job with Mr Van Rensburg, his wife and some of his children. They had their regular customers for oysters. Mrs Mackay of the Standard Hotel (which became later the Marine Hotel) relieved them of their oysters. She was the first person they went to in trying to dispose of their loads.
Dora Sinkfontein enjoyed excellent health and marvellous eyesight. She could always be seen in a black skirt, white blouse and a scarf for a head covering. One never saw her with spectacles. When she became too old to carry on with her job she applied for an old age pension and was always thankful for it.
One grievance she had against the Town Council was when she and others at Old Sunnyside, were forced during the 1930’s to demolish their cottages. The prospect of starting all over again to build another home for herself did not appeal to her. She died at the age of 100 years!"
Dis hierdie soort onvertelde stories eie aan Mosselbaai en nog meer wat Oom Theunsie neergepen het.
Oom Theunsie is in 1981 op 76 jarige ouderdom oorlede.