AYAMA Worker of the month is a monthly competition at Ayama, where each worker is evaluated according to certain criteria and different working activities on the farm. There is a winner from the men’s team, and a winner from the women’s team, each receiving a nice bonus and certificate at the end of the month.
We have decided to give credit where its due, and in doing so, will be conducting interviews with the winners each month.
For the month of September, our deserving winners were John Martin, and Charnene Kock.
Johnny is our go-to guy on the farm for all our irrigation and has been on the farm since the previous owners. We have little faith that if Johnny can’t fix a pipe, then nobody can fix a pipe…Having his youthful days well behind him, Johnny is no spring chicken, but still manages to keep the younger folk in line, tactfully schooling them in irrigation, vineyard work and even how to ride his trusty red moto-bike, often seeing clouds of dust trailing behind him.
Charnene has been employed at the farm since March 2016, and is always willing to help, no matter how big or small the favour is. A wife and mother of two, Charnene is actively involved in the housekeeping of the AYAMA Rockhouse, and during the week, often surprising those in the office with a cup of coffee, a smile and a joke or two.
The interviews consists of 4 different questions, here is what they had to say:
JOHNNY MARTIN
Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING AT AYAMA?
JOHNNY: “ Ek kan nie redig se nie, al bitter lank, van die New’s se dae af.”
“I can’t really say, extremely long, since the days that the News’s owned the farm.”
Q: WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING AT THE FARM?
JOHNNY: “Wingered en besproeiing, omdat Louis’ se oupa, Daniel, my geleer het”
“Vineyard work and irrigation, because Louis’ grandfather, Daniel taught me”
Q: WHAT IS YOUR BEST MEMORY SINCE WORKING AT THE FARM?
JOHNNY: “Daar is so baie goed… (Johnny fondly says, his entire face lighting up as he recalls the past), funksies, toe ons op uitstappies was, toneel gespeel het, ek was n kameraman” (Johnny proudly says, breaking out into a bit of a giggle).
“There are such a lot of things… (Johnny fondly says, his entire face lighting up as he recalls the past), functions we held, when we went on outings, took part in plays, I was a camera man” (Johnny proudly says, breaking out into a bit of a giggle).
Q: AYAMA IS isiXhosa FOR “SOMEONE TO LEAN ON”, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
JOHNNY: “Jy moet mekaar help en bystaan soos familie”
“You need to help each other, and stand together like family”
CHARNENE KOCK
Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING AT AYAMA?
CHARNENE: “I started working at Ayama on the 22nd March 2016.
Q: WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT WORKING AT THE FARM?
CHARENENE: “I enjoy working with the guests at the Rockhouse. I enjoy meeting the different people, because it’s not always the same type of people. I enjoy speaking to them, I enjoy doing good for other people.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR BEST MEMORY SINCE WORKING AT THE FARM?
CHARNENE: “The day I won woman of the month” (Charnene proudly says, covering her face to hide the blush that creeps into her cheeks). I felt very proud of myself, because I surprised myself, because I thought I’d never win.”
Q: AYAMA IS isiXhosa FOR “SOMEONE TO LEAN ON”, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
CHARNENE: “I haven’t really given it much thought, but if I’m stuck with a problem that I can’t handle myself, I know that there will be somebody at Ayama that could help me and give me advice”
This concludes the first round of interviews. We always feel happy to see how proud the workers are of their jobs, what they do around the farm, and at the same time appreciating the different experiences they have. We are looking forward to introducing the next round of winners- the men and women who help make Ayama Wines a place for all.
