One of SA’s most popular broadcasters dies in Durban. (Report by Caroline Smart)
One of South African’s most popular broadcasters, Monica Fairall, died yesterday (June 21) at 13h30 in Parklands Hospital with her husband Rob Morrell at her side. She died of myeloma – a cancer of the blood – and had been undergoing treatment for some time. She was 60.
The news of her death is very sad – particularly from the point of view that Monica was one of South Africa’s major promoters of healthy living.
I’ve known her for over 30 years from the time when I first started working in radio drama. When she started her radio programme Durban After Dark, she offered me a slot to cover the arts events in Durban. The corridors of the SABC – let alone the airwaves – aren’t the same without her.
She was one of radio’s finest exponents – meticulous in her work and presentation, yet making it all sound so effortless. And her writings bore the same efficient and comprehensive outlook.
Not many people know that she was also a very good singer and we managed to haul her onto the stage again some years back to appear with old band colleagues in Patrick Collyer’s very successful Those Were the Days.
“I am really sorry to hear this,” says former colleague radio presenter actor and director Alan Swerdlow.” Monica was a lovely, vital and intensely intelligent soul.”
Another close friend and former broadcasting colleague, now the DA’s shadow of Minister of Police, Diane Kohler-Barnard said “The world has lost one of the truly serene people it has ever known. She was my mentor in broadcasting and one of our golden girls from our Golden Girls journalists group who met regularly. The world is such a poorer place for her passing”.
A former Miss South Africa, Monica will be remembered for her graciousness, her serenity, her clear intellect, her compassion – and her delightful sense of humour.
Her last email to me said that, while she was spending a lot of time in bed, she wasn’t being idle and had even unearthed some unfinished embroidery from years back.
I am truly grateful for her sake that her suffering is over … but we’ll miss her terribly. – Caroline Smart
NB: A memorial service will be held on Saturday June 27 at 14h45 at the St Olaf’s Norwegian Hall in St Thomas Road, Durban..
Donations in memory of Monica and in lieu of flowers to: Highway Hospice, Durban, Bank: Nedbank, Branch: Pavilion (138226), Account: 2382005432 (Savings). Or to the Donkey Sanctuary, McGregor (near Cape Town – where Monica and Robert “adopted” one of the donkeys being cared for): Bank: Standard Bank, Branch: Robertson (050413), Account: 288244419
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