GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Tributes are pouring in following the sudden passing of well-known Graaff-Reinet resident, Bruce Athol Maree, on Saturday 31 December 2022.

Union High School paid homage to this local education stalwart saying: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of Mr Bruce Maree. Mr Maree was a pillar of our school community. As a mentor, friend, and colleague to many, he left an indelible mark on al who crossed his path and will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by everyone at Union.”

Maree was appointed as teacher at Union in 1970. After serving at the school for 10 years he was promoted to Head of Department where he assumed responsibility for the Primary Department until his retirement in 2011. "During his 41-year tenure at Union, Mr Maree had a great influence on the general development of the school,” says Union’s spokesperson. 

His contributions included a host of activities – educational, cultural, and sporting. “As a teacher at Union Mr Maree taught Senior Mathematics, Accounting, and other commercial subjects. As Head of Department, he ensured that thousands of learners were carefully sifted and moulded in his Mathematics class. He coached cricket, rugby, and swimming. 

He was responsible for the running of the Tony Burrell Union for 25 years and served as the secretary of the Old Unionite Association for 15 years. For 20 years, he also produced and edited the Focus magazine which reflected life at the school,” she says. His relentless energy and deep dedication to the school, has certainly made a lasting impact.” 

Gerald Buisman who previously served as a teacher with Maree describes him as ‘a memorable and eccentric teacher who played a pivotal role in the academics of the school and made an indelible impression on his pupils’. After retiring from the teaching profession in 2011, Maree continued to be a regular presence at Union, and could be seen supporting the teams from the side-lines on a regular basis. 

In 2014, during Interschools, his service to the school was commemorated with the official unveiling of the ‘Bruce Maree Gates’. “It couldn’t be more fitting that these gates now serve to welcome all those entering the Union campus,” says Union’s spokesperson.

In addition to serving Graaff-Reinet as an educator, Maree left quite a legacy as a Scoutmaster. Buisman remembers that Maree became involved with the Graaff-Reinet Scout Troop while he was still at the Graaff-Reinet Teacher’s Training College. 

This was a continuation of his scouting experience in East London while at Cambridge High. There he obtained South Africa’s highest Scouting Award – the Springbok Badge. In 1967 he took over the reins as Scoutmaster from Mr Geard and for the 55 years that followed, he made it his mission to create an opportunity for every Scout joining the Troop to obtain the Springbok Badge. 

As Scoutmaster in Graaff Reinet, he achieved a record of mentoring 72 Springbok Scouts. He accompanied Scouts to jamborees in countries as far apart as Chile and South Korea. Post retirement from teaching, his house was first port of call for his former Scouts. Maree resigned as Scoutmaster in 2022.

“Maree played an important role as a member of the local Lions Club. Over the years he assumed roles as secretary, local club president, and zone president, and attended several international Lions’ conventions in the United States,” says Buisman. “He was also a member of St James’ Anglican Church Council of which he was treasurer.” Buisman mentions that Maree restricted his travels to South Africa after his retirement and that he and his friends annually visited national parks. “His favourite park seemed to be the Kgalagadi Park which he visited on his own in 2022.”

Buisman concludes that few people over the past half century have contributed so much to educational, social, and charitable outreach as Maree did. 

“He will be remembered with admiration by many – friends, colleagues, ex-pupils, Scouts, and Lions Club members.” Union’s spokesperson mentions that ‘it would be very interesting to calculate how many lives had been touched by Mr Maree’s kindness, how many kilometres he had covered as he walked the corridors of the school, and just how many people he had served during his 41-year tenure at Union’. “It is safe to say that there is not one who surpasses his tally, and this would certainly make him smile,” she says. “Simply put, Mr Maree will always be remembered as a Union legend and we are going to miss his warmth, kindness and welcoming nature, as well as the tales of yesteryear he would always take great pleasure in telling,” she concludes.

Bruce Maree had spent Christmas with friends outside Somerset East when he fell and broke his right leg below the knee. He was operated on in Gqeberha and appeared to be recovering well. After returning to his friends in Somerset East, it was decided that he should be transferred to the Parsonage Street Home in Graaff-Reinet where he would be able to rehabilitate faster. Maree’s friends from Somerset West transported him to Pearston where they met up with two friends from Graaff-Reinet who were to take hom to the Home. Sadly, it was then discovered that Maree had passed away quietly en route to Pearson.

Details about funeral arrangements will be posted in due course.

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