Verna Vels
Encyclopedia
Verna Vels is the creator of the beloved South African book, film and radio character Liewe Heksie
.
South Africa
. She completed her schooling, and in 1952 graduated the University of Pretoria
. In 1954 obtained her BA degree with three majors , viz. Afrikaans / Dutch , English and Art History.
In December 1954 she ended up at the South African Broadcasting Corporation
(SABC) and started broadcasting at the Durban studios where she soon learned she had an interest in children's programmes and started writing.
In 1963, she transferred to Johannesburg where she for several years loved the women- , children- and artistic- programmes. In 1968 she worked for a year at Radio Netherlands in Hilversum Wereldomproep. In 1973 she moved to Durban as organizer of the Afrikaans Programmes in Natal and became the first woman appointed as the organizer in a region.
In 1974 Verna returned to Johannesburg where she was appointed by Television as organizer of Afrikaans magazine that includes children programmes. Programs such as Kraaines and Wielie Wielie Walie were created under her guidance and for all the years of its existence , she voiced Wielie Walie's Bennie bookworm.
In the two years before television officially aired (on January 5, 1976), Verna was actively involved in the production and planning of programs and ultimately to the purchase of programs in foreign countries. She started writing for the radio early in her career, and most of this work was finally published.
The first Liewe Heksie
(Dear little witch) - stories were broadcast on radio in 1961 , but it was only by a further series in 1963 that the famous early character was obtained. With the pass of time , there were several Liewe Heksie
-Series aired.
The first Liewe Heksie
-books were published in 1965 by the publishers Human & Rousseau. Over the years, a total of 10 books , eight plates, numerous CD's, video's, and DVD's have seen the light. The latest books was "Liewe Heksie en die rekenaarle (Dear little witch and the computer) which appeared in 1999 (illustrated by Piet Grobler.)
Liewe Heksie
make her debut on television in 1978, in a series of 26 programs. A second series followed in 1981. For a total of 52 television programs, Verna edited old-stories and wrote new stories. The series also gives rise to a number of books with illustrations from television.
Liewe Heksie
wasn't confined to the broadcast-medium and the printed word. She also appeared in plays for children , which Verna wrote. It has appeared in huge stages and acted in porches of the "big houses " as the Nico Malan-theatre in Cape Town, the Sand du Plessis-theatre in Bloemfontein and the State Theatre in Pretoria. Verna also wrote Liewe Heksie
-dramas written for The Little Karroo Arts and the Drama Department of the University of Pretoria to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary.
A youth novel Alet that Verna wrote in 1965 for the radio, to 1977 four broadcasts live and the book was also published in 1978 by Perskor-Publishers.
Verna has arranged several radio dramas, and did original writing for the radio programs. Some of the best known and most popular arrangements for the former radioteaters was "Nou Reisiger" (an adaptation of the novel Now Voyager). Back to Warsaw and In the shadow of Vermeer.
Original plays like for the former Little-Theatre was Helen of Troy Clemens and Uncle Bob go together and conclusion tale. It experienced two broadcastings.
In February 1983 was appointed as Programme Director for: TV1 (Afrikaans) the highest position a woman held in those years.
After some restructuring within the SABC, she holded several other positions and retired in 1993 after a career of nearly 39 years in radio and television.
She received several awards from Kultuurinstansies including, in 1985, The Federation of Rapportryerskorpse for the publications of the Liewe Heksie -Family, in 1993, a Medal of Honour for cultural advancement of women. In 1996 of FAK in promoting the Performing Arts, particularly in the electronic medium, and in 1993 A Artes of the SABC for her contribution to broadcasting. In June 2002, she Tienie Holloway Children's literature medal of the Academy of Arts and Science, in November 2000, her Alma Mater, the University of Pretoria 'n Laureata allocation of Tuks Alumni and in 2002 the CP Hoogenhout Award for Children of UNISA
. The award is sponsored by the Protea Boekehuis.
After her retirement, Verna continued to write, apart from the new book "Liewe Heksie en die rekenaar", she also appeared on other children' mediums - She lend her storytelling skills for a set of three CDs that she and Gert van Tonder (of Group Two and Wielie - Walie fame) recorded. Verna narrated and Gert sang the songs.
What "other interests" are concerned, Verna loves travelling and is particularly passionate for France. She has a great love for and interest in music, theater, art and movies. When the opportunity arises she cook with great enthusiasm , albeit sometimes with less luck! She is also a great animal-lover with two dogs that rule the house.
She currently also works on the well known South African Soapie 7de Laan, as Director.
Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie is a fictional character created in 1961 by Afrikaans children’s books author Verna Vels. The Liewe Heksie series consisted of a number of books...
.
Biography
Verna Barbara Robertson was born in 1933 in Reitz of the Orange Free StateOrange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. She completed her schooling, and in 1952 graduated the University of Pretoria
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
. In 1954 obtained her BA degree with three majors , viz. Afrikaans / Dutch , English and Art History.
In December 1954 she ended up at the South African Broadcasting Corporation
South African Broadcasting Corporation
The South African Broadcasting Corporation is the state-owned broadcaster in South Africa and provides 18 radio stations as well as 3 television broadcasts to the general public.-Early years:Radio broadcasting began in South Africa in 1923...
(SABC) and started broadcasting at the Durban studios where she soon learned she had an interest in children's programmes and started writing.
In 1963, she transferred to Johannesburg where she for several years loved the women- , children- and artistic- programmes. In 1968 she worked for a year at Radio Netherlands in Hilversum Wereldomproep. In 1973 she moved to Durban as organizer of the Afrikaans Programmes in Natal and became the first woman appointed as the organizer in a region.
In 1974 Verna returned to Johannesburg where she was appointed by Television as organizer of Afrikaans magazine that includes children programmes. Programs such as Kraaines and Wielie Wielie Walie were created under her guidance and for all the years of its existence , she voiced Wielie Walie's Bennie bookworm.
In the two years before television officially aired (on January 5, 1976), Verna was actively involved in the production and planning of programs and ultimately to the purchase of programs in foreign countries. She started writing for the radio early in her career, and most of this work was finally published.
The first Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie is a fictional character created in 1961 by Afrikaans children’s books author Verna Vels. The Liewe Heksie series consisted of a number of books...
(Dear little witch) - stories were broadcast on radio in 1961 , but it was only by a further series in 1963 that the famous early character was obtained. With the pass of time , there were several Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie is a fictional character created in 1961 by Afrikaans children’s books author Verna Vels. The Liewe Heksie series consisted of a number of books...
-Series aired.
The first Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie is a fictional character created in 1961 by Afrikaans children’s books author Verna Vels. The Liewe Heksie series consisted of a number of books...
-books were published in 1965 by the publishers Human & Rousseau. Over the years, a total of 10 books , eight plates, numerous CD's, video's, and DVD's have seen the light. The latest books was "Liewe Heksie en die rekenaarle (Dear little witch and the computer) which appeared in 1999 (illustrated by Piet Grobler.)
Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie is a fictional character created in 1961 by Afrikaans children’s books author Verna Vels. The Liewe Heksie series consisted of a number of books...
make her debut on television in 1978, in a series of 26 programs. A second series followed in 1981. For a total of 52 television programs, Verna edited old-stories and wrote new stories. The series also gives rise to a number of books with illustrations from television.
Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie is a fictional character created in 1961 by Afrikaans children’s books author Verna Vels. The Liewe Heksie series consisted of a number of books...
wasn't confined to the broadcast-medium and the printed word. She also appeared in plays for children , which Verna wrote. It has appeared in huge stages and acted in porches of the "big houses " as the Nico Malan-theatre in Cape Town, the Sand du Plessis-theatre in Bloemfontein and the State Theatre in Pretoria. Verna also wrote Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie
Liewe Heksie is a fictional character created in 1961 by Afrikaans children’s books author Verna Vels. The Liewe Heksie series consisted of a number of books...
-dramas written for The Little Karroo Arts and the Drama Department of the University of Pretoria to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary.
A youth novel Alet that Verna wrote in 1965 for the radio, to 1977 four broadcasts live and the book was also published in 1978 by Perskor-Publishers.
Verna has arranged several radio dramas, and did original writing for the radio programs. Some of the best known and most popular arrangements for the former radioteaters was "Nou Reisiger" (an adaptation of the novel Now Voyager). Back to Warsaw and In the shadow of Vermeer.
Original plays like for the former Little-Theatre was Helen of Troy Clemens and Uncle Bob go together and conclusion tale. It experienced two broadcastings.
In February 1983 was appointed as Programme Director for: TV1 (Afrikaans) the highest position a woman held in those years.
After some restructuring within the SABC, she holded several other positions and retired in 1993 after a career of nearly 39 years in radio and television.
She received several awards from Kultuurinstansies including, in 1985, The Federation of Rapportryerskorpse for the publications of the Liewe Heksie -Family, in 1993, a Medal of Honour for cultural advancement of women. In 1996 of FAK in promoting the Performing Arts, particularly in the electronic medium, and in 1993 A Artes of the SABC for her contribution to broadcasting. In June 2002, she Tienie Holloway Children's literature medal of the Academy of Arts and Science, in November 2000, her Alma Mater, the University of Pretoria 'n Laureata allocation of Tuks Alumni and in 2002 the CP Hoogenhout Award for Children of UNISA
University of South Africa
The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 300 000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.-History:...
. The award is sponsored by the Protea Boekehuis.
After her retirement, Verna continued to write, apart from the new book "Liewe Heksie en die rekenaar", she also appeared on other children' mediums - She lend her storytelling skills for a set of three CDs that she and Gert van Tonder (of Group Two and Wielie - Walie fame) recorded. Verna narrated and Gert sang the songs.
What "other interests" are concerned, Verna loves travelling and is particularly passionate for France. She has a great love for and interest in music, theater, art and movies. When the opportunity arises she cook with great enthusiasm , albeit sometimes with less luck! She is also a great animal-lover with two dogs that rule the house.
She currently also works on the well known South African Soapie 7de Laan, as Director.
Books
- Die Groot Liewe Heksie-Storieboek (1970's) illustrated by Dorothy Hill
- Lekker Liewe Heksie Stories (1970's) illustrated by Dorothy Hill
- Liewe Heksie en die rugbywedstryd (1988) illustrated by Nikki Jones
- Liewe Heksie en die rekenaar (1999) illustrated by Piet Grobler
- Die Liewe Heksie Omnibus (2002) illustrated by Piet Grobler
Voices for TV
- Wielie Walie: Supplied Bennie Boekwurm's voice
- Liewe Heksie: Supplied Liewe Heksie, Blommie and Matewis's voices
- Haas Das hou konsert: Supplied Klein Stinkie Muishond's voice