Meet The Team: Petronella “Nana” Malgas
Spier is home to a diverse bunch of passionate people, doing what they love, and committed to making a difference every day. Petronella Malgas – lovingly known as “Nana” by her colleagues – is Spier Hotel’s laundry manager and has worked here for the past 15 years in many different parts of the hotel.
What do you love most about your job?
I love everything about my job. Everything. No matter where you put me – whether it’s the linen room or in the rooms.
What’s the best thing about Spier?
Spier offers a lot of opportunities to staff. These helps you to grow – you don’t just stay where you are. For example, the Individual Learning Spend, and free staff training. I spent my ILS to get new glasses. This year, I’ll be using it to pay the school fees of my 16-year-old girl.
What is your greatest strength?
I’m very good at listening – especially to the staff when they’ve got problems. They’ll come to me first, before they go to the head of department. I give them advice on how to approach the problem.
How do you make a positive difference to the environment?
I come up with lots of ways to re-use old linen. From old covers, we’ve made laundry bags and cot protectors.
How do you make a positive difference to your community?
In my street people come to me advice when they’ve got problem with the children. I also coach small girls in netball.
What’s the most valuable advice you’ve ever received?
Denise, my head of department, always tells me to never give up on my hopes, and says I mustn’t stop being myself no matter the circumstances.
What do you get up to when you’re not at work?
I like to window shop on my off-days – it doesn’t matter if I don’t have money.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would that be?
I try to change children’s lives. The work I do in my community is helping them, because they can’t even wait for me to come home from work so that I can train them. It doesn’t matter how tired I am – they will say, “Let’s practice!” They inspire me – I forget about the tiredness.
Where is your favourite part of the farm, and why is it your favourite?
If I’m really upset I take a walk and go sit under the big tree by the bridge. It’s a very calming place – your mind becomes at ease.
Who or what makes you laugh?
My colleagues – they’ve always got a drama every morning.
What’s the key to being happy in life?
Cooking for my children and spending the day with them makes me happy.
What are you proudest of having achieved?
I like to give people advice; I like to help them. I’m proud of having helped them.