Today's Local News

Teacher given first-hand lesson

02/05/01

By SHAWN MENZIES
Staff Writer

WEST DEPTFORD TWP. -- For close to two years, phone calls and E-mail served as the only means of communication between West Deptford High School teacher Venise Grossmann and South African animal preservationist Gareth Patterson, known in his country as the Father of Lions, because of his efforts in protecting the massive beasts.

Grossmann, who resides in Blackwood, said she was partly through a book Patterson wrote when she decided then and there she needed to speak with this modern day hero.

''I remember in 1998 when we had a guest speaker in my class at the high school who lectured about African literature and after the slide show I became enthralled with the wildlife,'' Grossmann said. ''Later, I traveled to South Africa for a six-week trip that quickly turned into seven weeks. It was then that I met with Patterson.''

Three trips later, she tells of her love for a country and a man who continues to put his life on the line for lions and other animals that are in danger of becoming extinct.

''He (Patterson) is an admirable man because of the adversity he faces,'' Grossmann said. ''I was so impressed when I met him. He draws people to him and people from many countries around the world have reached out to help him.''

Grossmann, who works part time as a waitress at a local restaurant to help cover the expense of traveling to Africa, said she only knew of South Africa from visions she saw in the media, film and books, but it was a completely different story after she arrived there in 1998.

''It is such a beautiful place,'' Grossmann said. ''Yes, there are problems and issues the people there face, like economic decline, disease and devastation of the bush and wildlife, but there are so many great things about Africa that make it such a wonderful place.''

Grossmann, who manages several web sites and schedules bookings for Peterson to speak, said she tries to make her students understand that they too can make a difference.

''If I can say one thing about Patterson is that he shows that you can do anything you want to in life if you work hard enough and believe in what you do,'' Grossmann said. ''I want my students to learn about South Africa and what it has to offer. I am also encouraging my students to write and have (stories) published in print and on the web.... this has all been a great experience.''

Grossmann, who has taught at the high school for the past 13 years, said she now is taking courses in photography, which she discovered a passion for while in South Africa and has plans to return to there later this year.

For more information about the man behind the myth, Gareth Patterson, log onto www.garethpatterson.com. To learn more about Grossmann's trip go to www.garethpatterson.com/Grossmann/Venise/home.htm.