Fifteen questions to Liza Ambraal

This is the New Roots column, where we find out more about our peers in the deciduous fruit industry. What makes them tick? Next up is Liza Ambraal, shareholder and packhouse manager at Dwarsberg in Witzenberg near Ceres. Liza Ambraal (née Verwey) was born and raised in Kimberley, where she matriculated in 1989. After she got married, she moved to Ceres with her husband, Moos. Liza’s love for farming began on the farm Loxtonia in the Warm Bokkeveld, where she has been working for the past 26 years. She started out sorting fruit, but used the opportunities the farm offered to climb the ladder. Liza completed several courses at the Koue Bokkeveld Training Centre, including supervision, packaging and quality management, first aid, and health and safety. This, combined with her sheer determination and dreams, empowered her to progress from a fruit sorter to a managerial level.

In November 2018, she was one of a distinguished group of 10 farmers from Loxtonia Farm to become the shareholders of Dwarsberg Farming (Pty) Ltd, a wholly owned black empowerment farm.

What is your best day of the week and why? Definitely, Monday. Because it’s a new week, a new beginning. A chance to right the wrongs.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Learn not only to listen, but to hear; to understand.

What is the best advice you’ve ever given? Learn to do what you do well, and make the best of the opportunities you have.

What is the best thing that ever happened to you? Becoming a shareholder of Dwarsberg.

What motivates you? My faith. God has helped me in so many ways in times I didn’t know what to do.

What makes you cross or angry? When people abuse their position of power for selfish reasons.

If you can ask yourself a question, what would it be, and what would the answer be? Am I happy? I don’t know, but I do know I’m content with what I have.

How do you spoil yourself? With a great storybook and a bowl of my favourite ice cream!

Do you have a hero? If so, who and why? Yes, my mother. Through all her circumstances and problems, she never lost faith and always had a positive outlook on life.

What would you have wanted to be different in your life? Perhaps there are a few things, but then again, if I had had those, I wouldn’t be where I am or the person I am now.

What was your favourite toy as a child? There never really was a favourite. We were six children and had to share everything.

What is the best food in the world for you? Although I live in the Western Cape, it’s mieliepap! With meat and gravy.

What characteristic do you admire most in other people and why? Boldness, courage and decisiveness. Because I am an overthinker.

What is your favourite colour? Blue.

Why? Because it inspires calmness and tranquillity.

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