Community bids farewell to stalwart Dave Beattie
Beattie’s cremation service is being held today at St John’s Uniting Presbyterian Church.
This week is a sad one for members of the Rotary Club of Boksburg as they have lost one of their own.
Dave Beattie died on November 23 from to cancer.
The 79-year-old, who has been a resident of Boksburg since 1973, died at his home in Bartletts.
Beattie was married to Louise and was blessed with two sons, Graig and Warren, who died in 1979 as a result of a car accident.
Dave and Louise have been well known and beloved by the community of Boksburg.
Louise is regularly seen with their golden retrieve Oscar who carries her purse in his mouth when they go shopping.
Oscar usually accompanied Dave on his visits to Gauteng East Tennis Office and to meetings.
Dave has been a member of the Rotary Club Boksburg for 27 years and has contributed so much to the club with his keen abilities and kind nature.
Dave received regular accolades and awards from Rotary Club Boksburg, being chosen as the Rotarian of the Year more than once, recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Foundation of Rotary International and acknowledged for his unstinting service above self.
In Rotary District 9300, Beattie was a District Governor’s Representative for well-remembered District Governor Allan Barrable.
As a result of his excellence of service in the varied and wide fields of Rotary, Beattie was recently chosen as the recipient of a Rotary International Five Avenues of Service Award when he was already in hospital.
Rotary Club of Boksburg president Derek Fox said: “The club feels his loss keenly, as well as the Rotary Youth Exchange students and organisations with whom the club co-operates on a regular basis.
“Rotary’s motto is service above self. Dave Beattie embodied this and kept up a record of 100 per cent attendance right to the end.
“This is a testimony to the man. The last enormous task Dave finalised before he took seriously ill was the celebration of Rotary Club Boksburg’s 80th charter anniversary on September 1. In his personal and professional life, Dave was also known for being a gentleman of top rank.
“With the support of Louise and close friend Rotary former president Noel Wauchope, Beattie was known to be reliable and straight as a dye.”
Wauchope said it was an honour to be a close friend of Dave Beattie.
“Boksburg has lost a caring and humble servant of society,” said Wauchope.
- Career
Dave started his banking career with Barclays Bank on March 17, 1958, going through the various ranks in the bank as clerk to being an accountant.
He was then seconded to Merchant, changed to Barname, on October 12, 1971, and remained there as senior general manager of finances until he retired in October 1994.
He was an avid tennis player and was chairperson of the Atlasville Tennis Club for 11 years.
He was very keen on bookkeeping and did various books for three residential complexes, Rotary Club Boksburg and Gauteng East Tennis Association until he took ill.
President-Elect of Rotary Club Boksburg Lebo Makathini expressed her heartfelt message to Beattie.
“Rotarian Dave’s legacy of excellence which he executed so well will live on in our hearts. Sithi Lala ngo kuthula (we say rest in peace).”
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