Every second year on co-founder Louis van der Watt’s birthday, 14 June, Atterbury celebrates the dedication of our team members with a long-service awards ceremony. That makes Atterbury 24 years old in 2018 and this year 22 people were recognised for between five and 15 years of service. We got the low-down from Zahn Hulme, and asked this year’s longest-serving team members to share some memories.
When did this tradition start, and what form does the celebration take?
It is a fairly new tradition, the first long-service awards ceremony was held in 2016, when Louis turned 49 years old. We value our Atterbury family and love to commemorate special occasions and this was just perfect timing. We dug deep in the Atterbury archives and compiled an Atterbury presentation starting right at the beginning in those early years in 1994, featuring our significant achievements, buildings completed and fun times at Mannejag and Ladies’ Breakaway and Bosberaad events over the past 24 years. It serves to introduce newer Atterbury team members to the company’s history, and illustrates where Atterbury started and that hard work and dedication over many years brought us to where the company is today.
True to Atterbury’s DNA, we hear that a charity tradition forms part of the event? Tell us more?
When Louis turned 50 last year, we had the “Laatdieharewaai” event, where the shaving of numerous heads were broadcast on national television and the money collected went to the Bethesda House of Hope shelter for Pretoria’s homeless people in Vos Street, Sunnyside.
In 2018, we had new plans…. in the spirit of making the world a better place by doing something you love, Anlia du Plessis (who loves crocheting) suggested that we all learn to knit scarves and then distribute these to the people who need it most.
You’ve heard of a “bring ’n braai”, right? Once a month we celebrate Atterbury staff birthdays at the Atterbury Friday Braai Day. Our social committee suggested that we change May’s Friday Braai Day to “Braai Brei Day”! In true Atterbury style the team seized the opportunity – boots and all! As an extra incentive, the entry to Louis’s birthday celebration was a hand-knitted scarf, to be distributed to some of the pre-primary schools in Pretoria that the Atterbury Trust supports. There were fun prizes for the “Bittereinder” (won by Louise Bronkhorst) “Breier met die meeste finesse” (won by Cobus van Heerden) “Aggressiefste breier” (won by Arno du Plessis) and the “Wild Card” that went to Emma Lethole.
And what then happened with the scarves?
We collected 90 beautiful hand-knitted scarves and even a bunch of hand-knitted beanies and jerseys donated by friends and family of the Atterbury Trust, and then we paid a visit to Pikanini crèche in Wolmer and the pre-primary school at Westerlig Primary School to share some woollen winter warmth with the kiddies on the shortest day of the year! It was very rewarding to see the kiddies get all comfy on a chilly morning in their brightly coloured scarves – ready for the winter school holidays.
Three members of the bigger Atterbury team have been with the company for 15 whole years. Anlia, Martie and Karin, can you remember your first impressions of Atterbury? And can you recall a highlight from your first years at the company?
Anlia: Coming from a QS firm and still being a student, my first impression was the familiarity between the employees in the office. It didn’t matter who you were or what your job description was, you were part of the team and equal to all.
Martie: My overall impression of Atterbury was that it was a pillar of strength and stability for its people, the industry and the community. The people all seemed like entrepreneurs in their own field, with the company giving new employees the opportunity to be entrepreneurs too.
The Atterbury team has always delivered innovative ideas; and these ideas are often born around informal discussions. The idea to brand Mini Coopers was definitely a highlight for me; and the day those Minis were launched counts as one of my highlights! Right then I knew I was part of a great company with the greatest ideas!
Karin: The best part of Atterbury is its people. I work with such a talented group, who share such amazing passion and energy, and that has been contagious from the first day. There is a great atmosphere; it’s nothing like the “corporate world” – we’re like family. A highlight for me was our first charity golf day. Arranging a golf day when you know very little about the game was quite a challenge, but everyone was so appreciative, and it allowed me to get to know the great professional team who works with Atterbury, all people with heart. It really is like the motto says: “It’s a matter of association”.
Looking back over 15 years of service, what stands out for you in terms of how Atterbury as a company and you yourself have grown?
Anlia: Although Atterbury has grown into a company with an international standing, the heart and soul of the company is still grounded in its home city and original culture – that is what makes it so special to me.
Martie: This is a company that always makes a tremendous effort to include the “ordinary” people on the team so that everyone understands the business, the structure and the direction the company is going in. It allows every single team member to feel like they are part of something bigger than their single effort. This has never changed as Atterbury has grown, and this transparency and inclusivity gives everyone confidence to tackle much bigger tasks than they even considered possible.
Karin: I’ve grown up with Atterbury and I believe in the business. What I love most about working here are the company values, for me personally integrity, loyalty, balance and care are the four values that stand out. I enjoy people and the diversity of it all; I feel appreciated and love that I am allowed to take initiative to get things accomplished. I feel trusted.
2018 LONG-SERVICE AWARDS IN NUMBERS
Atterbury Property team:
Two awards for 15 years’ service
Six awards for 10 years’ service
Ten awards for five years’ service
Atterbury Trust team:
One award for 15 years’ service
Two awards for 10 years’ service
Fatti team:
One award for five years’ service.
