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12 July 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Tania Allen
Tanya von Berg
Tanya von Berg has represented the UFS netball team with distinction over seven years, winning three Varsity Netball titles and one USSA crown.

Although she did not quite reach her final goal in a Kovsie netball dress, being honoured one last time brought much peace to Tanya von Berg.

She was named in the Dream Team at the conclusion of the University Sport South Africa (USSA) tournament in Johannesburg and was thus recognised as the best centre at the competition.

According to the stalwart who played in her seventh year for the University of the Free State, her goal was to make this team and lift the trophy. The team didn’t succeed in the latter, losing to the North-West University in the semi-final.

Heading abroad
“Knowing that it would be the last time I would be playing for the team, I set myself these two goals. Although we were not able to claim the title, at least making the Dream Team helped to make me feel that I finished on a high, giving my all one last time,” she said.

Von Berg, who is doing her honours in Education this year, received a teaching post in Qatar, where she will start in August.

Remarkably this versatile player, who could play any one of four positions, only missed two matches in the two student competitions since making her debut as a first-year student in 2013. This was due to national commitments in 2016 (playing for South Africa A) and her honeymoon last year.

Standout moments
“Being named for the Protea training squad in 2016 and being selected for the national Fast5 team later that year, was the two outstanding moments of my career.”
“What I remember about my first year, was how huge it was to play with the seniors. The one player who served as my biggest inspiration, was Isélma Parkin. She didn’t receive the recognition she deserved. I learned from her to continue to work hard and to never give up.”


News Archive

Official opening of Faculty of Health Sciences Rural Community Initiative
2017-01-01

Description: Karla Mostert Tags: Mail & Guardian, 200 Young South Africans, Candice Thikeson, Karla Mostert, Lerato Machetela, Mandela Rhodes Scholar, Thapelo Mokoatsi

Ribbon cutting, Prof van Zyl and Ms du Plessis
Venter (community member)

The Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of the Free State (UFS) has, as part of its commitment to student and community development, established a student residence in the town of Trompsburg in the Kopanong Local municipality, Xhariep District municipality in the Southern Free State. The Faculty officially opened the Faculty of Health Sciences Rural Community Initiative on 14 and 15 June 2017. The memorial plaque was unveiled by Prof Gert van Zyl (Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences) and Prof Francis Petersen (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State)

The importance of the residence

The goal of the ‘Kopanang le fodise – Unite to heal’ programme is to develop a community-centered collaborative framework for sustainable, holistic healthcare and social development incorporated in the curricula of the Faculty.

Background of the project

During 2016 a total of 324 fourth-year students of the Faculty have each spend at least a week in interprofessional groups in primary healthcare facilities in the Kopanong municipality on a Community Based Education, Interprofessional Education (CBE-IPE) platform in Trompsburg and Springfontein.

To facilitate student rural placement the former Midway guesthouse currently includes seven (7) facilitator units with on suite bathrooms, two (2) fully equipped lecture facilities, a recreation room and a library with computers and internet access. The newly developed student residence has 10 apartments that can each accommodate six (6) individuals. A housemaster resides on the premises and acts as manager of the facility. All areas of the residence are Wifi covered and 24h security service is in place.

The ceremony was attend by the following partners

University of the Free State (UFS)

Rector and Vice Chancellor of the University of the Free State, Prof Francis Petersen.
Members of the UFS council, Dr Vinger and Dr Swart
Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof van Zyl.
The Head of the School of Allied Health Professions, Dr van Vuuren.
The Head of the School of Medicine, Prof Kruger.
Faculty from the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Members from UFS institutional support department: ICT, Finance, Facilities management

Kopanong local municipality

Councilor Basholo, representing the Kopanong local municipality.
Kopanong local community members
Free State Department of Education (DoE)
Free State Department of Health (DoH)

Private sector partners

Mr Burgess, CEO of MDG Heath Solutions
The Mother And Child Academic Hospital (MACAH) represented by Prof Venter, head of department of Paediatrics, donated two (2) state of the art baby scales to the rural health programme.

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