It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of an incredible man, Louis Willemse. Louis was a long-standing member of FGASA, one of our most valued Mentors and Assessors, a true champion for the guiding profession. Based in the Western Cape, Louis’ career touched and uplifted countless guides providing career support, guidance, encouragement and opportunity. The impact Louis has had on both guides, and the guiding industry has been vast and remarkable.
Here are a few words from us at FGASA and just a handful of his students, who’s lives he changed for ever:
Louis Willemse training and teaching students. Image credits: Overberg Renosterveld Trust
“Over the years of chatting with Louis (or Oom Louis as most people referred to him), he never ceased to amaze me.
He was not one to lie back and let the world conquer him. More the other way round. He went out and conquered. He was not afraid of embracing anything new and was always on top of new developments. Sometimes he’d mention something to me, and I’d pretend to know what he was talking about and right after the conversation I’d go and Google it quickly!!!
Every time I’d put the phone down after a conversation, I’d almost feel inspired to go out and conquer the world myself. He had that effect. A very positive, vibrant person. Also, a no-nonsense person, which is what I think commanded such respect from his mentees and enabled him to mentor and produce such well-rounded guides, ready for the industry.
He was so passionate about the guiding industry. He was also passionate about his “kids” as he called all the learners in his programmes over the years. Even if they were much older, he’d fondly speak about “these kids”, many of which were youngsters who he had chosen to help uplift and try and get onto a healthy pathway through life.
Louis had a wealth of experience and had seen and done so many things in his life. I loved hearing his stories and I could have listened to them for hours. I always told him he should write a book, which he promised me he would do. It would have been an amazing book with all his adventures. One of his favourite books, which I’ve still to read, is the Silk Road.
I will really miss the phone calls from him with the snippets of wisdom which went with them.
Rest in peace Louis, and don’t go causing too much trouble in the afterlife” – Bernice Kelly, FGASA Standards Director.
“I’m Vincenzo, I’m 24 years old and grew up in Mitchell’s Plain and had no direction, vision or any aspiration for my life.
I was unemployed when I applied for the FGASA nature guide training and met Oom Louis Willemse. He was more than a teacher to me and mentored me to be the guide that I am today, teaching me skills and how to respect myself and others, always believing that “there are no problems but challengers”.
Oom Louie became my role model, and I will forever be grateful to him and the other teachers I met on the course for all their passion and hard work they put into my life.” – Vincenzo Neethling, FGASA Field Guide.
“Oom Louis, the person that had the most impact on my life after school, I was 19 when we crossed paths, he always told me, “If you want advice and life lessons, make sure you live every day.” That’s when I realised that I need to bump my head in order to learn lessons in life.
He was a great mentor and father figure, he taught me to always give my best and find a passion in what I want to do in life, he saved me from this world before it managed to get its hands on me, and made sure I’m tough enough to go through all of the challenges that life throws at me.
He was truly an inspiration, and this world needs more people like ‘Oom Louis’” – Eduan Oktober, FGASA Field Guide.
“Oom Louis a true legend
I was privileged to have known such a great man and teacher, he has taught me lots about the natural world, the tourism industry and how to navigate challenges, but most importantly taught me to be the best man I can be, and will forever be grateful for that.
Louis will surely be missed but definitely not forgotten as his legacy lives on in every person he has touched” – Dillon Vissagie.
“Dear Oom Louis,
Thank you.
We did not know each for very long but for the short time we spent together you have impacted my life greatly. You were different, brilliantly different Oom Louis. What you left behind was not just lessons but a legacy. A legacy that is carried by every soul you have touched.
Thank You Oom Louie. May you rest in peace.” – Nazeer January, FGASA Field Guide.
“I have heard numerous wonderful things about Louis. Although I didn’t have an opportunity to spend much time with him, his legacy and impact are truly boundless. I wish I could embody his memory; he will never be forgotten.” – Priest
“A Letter to Louis
Where do I start? I first saw Louis when I was grade 10, he came to my school to help students get into the tourism industry. A that time Louis was already seen as a ‘major player.’ Our teacher told us that day, there is somebody important coming to speak to you. That was my first encounter.
Two years later, I had just matriculated and gone to work at the petrol pump station. Not long after the company let me go, because of the recession at the time. I was approached by a woman saying “There will be a course held by Louis Willemse, the first of its type, a Marine guide course” I said yes as I had just lost my job. She said, “but you need to go to his house on the hill and tell him why you want to join.”
Well, I took my grandmother, the old lady and I walked the long road to his house on the hill.
When I got there an old man opened the door and asked, “Can I help you?” I said to Louis I want to join the course and I want to change my life and take a friend with me. He then invited me into his house.
We started this unique course; I did not have a cooking clue what I was doing! I was local boy from a coloured community and did not know anything about flowers or birds or bees. But my journey had started. While on the course I guess I was the fortunate one. He always asked me to come half an hour earlier to pack his red jeep and clean it. The same one he brought back from India. So, every time we travelled to De Hoop Nature Reserve over the next 6 months, I was early at Louis’ house. Nobody wanted to drive with him, they were scared!
I was the lucky one. What people don’t understand, is that while we were driving Louis always asked me things that I had no clue about, up until that point, I was blind to life. He would ask, “What bird is that? What farm is that? Why are those trees planted on this farm? What type of farming is happening there? What business are they doing in the Overberg?”
All of the above and more.
That was the start. I carried on going to his house and he helped me to become a FGASA Professional Field Guide (formerly level 3). It took me 6 years to do that.It was an amazing journey. He taught me about history, not just of the area, but the whole of South Africa. He taught me to be disciplined and to be on time.
In this journey with Louis, I failed one or two times and shed a few tears along the way. But I kept on going to him for mentorship and I kept on persisting. By the end, we had covered two biomes, two provinces and whole lot of things in between.
I guess the biggest gift Louis gave me is his friendship, which nobody understood as he was a grey, old man. But what I learned from my friend is that he taught me everything I know to today.
What inspired me most was his stories. Louis was in IBM computers, a I pilot and flight instructor, Louis was a teacher, a navy man and at the age of 60+ went to university to complete a course in tourism. A truly remarkable man.
I found it a joy to learn from such a man, with all his life experience. The crazy part is I only met Louis when he was 70 years old! In this time he taught me everything. Louis was my mentor, and I can say out of all of the guides he trained and courses he did, I spent the most time with him.
Lucky me, he has been a blessing to my life.” – Dalfrenzo Laing, FGASA Assessor and Professional Field Guide.
Dalfrenzo Laing sits with Louis Willemse.