Sy Wat Wil Dien

After matriculating in 1971, Cathrina Elizabeth (Arina) Strydom applied for and was selected for the first military course for women in the South African Army at the newly established Civil Defence College, later known as SALVKOL. The experiment proved so successful that she also became one of the first women to join the Permanent Force.  
Another milestone followed when she was selected for officer training, after which she became part of the first group of women to receive commissioned appointments as fully fledged officers. She was also a talented sportswoman and played hockey for four provinces.  
Her career in the Permanent Force was short-lived when she married Johan Jooste, a professional officer in the infantry corps, during the era of the so-called Bush War, with all the challenges that entailed. As a young woman, she made a deliberate decision: if she wanted to support Johan’s career and be the “glue” of the family, she could not continue with her own military career, which at that stage showed great promise.  
She devoted herself fully to the role of soldier’s wife and rendered distinguished service in support of soldiers, especially thousands of conscripts and military families. She turned her de facto chairmanship of the Army Ladies’ Association into a dynamic platform from which she continued her service over a period of seventeen years as the wife of a commanding officer in eight different units across South Africa and Namibia. In each of these communities, she held leadership positions and served proudly in various organisations, while consistently promoting the image of the military. 

Later, as the wife of a general in various appointments, she also stood faithfully beside Johan during the challenging years of transformation, offering grace, counsel and practical support. With their appointment to Pretoria, she had the opportunity to take up her first full-time position and, for eighteen years, managed a non-profit organisation, namely TOIBO — once again with her characteristic dedication and spirit of service. She became an example of resilience and adaptability.  
Life took another turn when Johan, already in their sixties, was appointed Chief Ranger of the Kruger National Park. For a decade, they served the cause of nature conservation together. She became known as Mama Ranger when she became actively involved in projects supporting rangers during the devastating rhino poaching crisis.  
After half a century, she led the team that commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of SALVKOL in a fitting and memorable way. This milestone sparked the creation of Project Flamingo and the establishment of a women veterans’, cultural and support home for SALVKOL alumni. The project is currently flourishing under her chairmanship.  
At the age of seventy-one, Johan and Arina retired and settled in the Kokanje Retirement Village in Modimolle, where she continues to be actively involved in community service, especially in cultural and military veterans’ spheres.  
She wanted — and still wants — to serve.