MOSSEL BAY NEWS - "You may not have changed the world, but you certainly have changed Mossel Bay - and you leave it a much better place."
With these words, municipal finance director Marius Botha summed up the sentiment at the farewell function held for the outgoing Mossel Bay municipal manager, Dr Michele Gratz, at the Diaz Hotel on Wednesday evening, 1 June.
Although the atmosphere was jovial, an underlying tone of sadness was tangible in the room, where friends and colleagues gathered to bid Dr Gratz farewell.
Grown men found it hard to swallow the frog in their throats when talking about the years they had served with "a real little powerhouse on high heels".
At the various tables where people who had called Dr Gratz "boss", sat, the stories shared spoke of a woman of compassion who always had time for the people with whom she worked, irrespective of rank or stature.
One woman spoke of how Dr Gratz would always have a smile ready for Wilson and Priscilla, the two employees she would, almost without fail, greet the first of all the staff every morning.
"Michele René Gratz looked after the sheep in her flock; she would stand by you and support you all the way if she believed in you," Mr Botha added.
Dr Gratz, however, said she was looking forward to quality time with her family and especially with her little girl, Claire. She thanked her mom for having been a stand-in mother for Claire and promised to take over the homework duties and other chores.
"Please just leave Mommy out of choir duties?" she begged, however.
Although she mentioned some individuals by name, Dr Gratz thanked all the staff for the committed manner in which they serve the town.
She mentioned the various challenges she had had to deal with over seven years in the hot seat, but added that the team at her disposal made it possible to take on whatever came her way and make a success of it.
Perhaps the head of legal services summed up Dr Gratz's tour of duty best when he said: "Ten minste was dit nooit vervelig nie." (At least it was never boring.)
Dr Gratz thanked the Finance Department in particular for the excellent work they do. Here she is with Annemarie Taylor and Retha Lombard of that department.
Click here for previous articles:
- Chaos tydens spesiale raadsvergadering
- Gratz: Burgemeester verduidelik optrede
- Twee sterk vroue
- 'n Gewraakte e-pos
- Gratz skryf 'n gewraakte e-pos
- Acting Municipal Manager
- Klaring oor Gratz se uitdienstreding Maandag
- Gratz met verlof tot diensbeeïndiging
- Munisipale bestuurder toegang tot e-posse geweier
- Update: Municipal manager asked to leave
- Municipal Manager asked to vacate office
- Municipal manager resigns
- Shock over resignation
ARTICLE: NICKEY LE ROUX, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER
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