| September 2009 Woman in Media: Carina Grobler |
| Written by the gsport Features Desk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Friday, 18 September 2009 10:10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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She’s a self-described rugby-loving born-and-bred “boertjie”, whose main ambition in life is being a good mother and wife. Oh, yes, and she’s a specialist producer at the SABC, which she still believes is able to put out a quality sports broadcast. Particularly if she’s there to make sure about that. While she’s achieved sporting recognition, among other with Springbok colours in Judo, at 46 Carina Grobler has also been around the world a couple of times, and will go around the world many times more for husband Marinus and kids Anja and Marinus Jr. But a special interest turned her world around in 2001, when she unexpectedly had to produce a cycling report at the Frances Forweg School, and was introduced to the participants: children and people with cerebral palsy, and she counts starting the country’s only televised disabled-sport programme as one of her life achievements. In her response it’s easy to see the fun-loving side to Carina, but this lady doesn’t put her head down until the job is do, as evidenced in her message to South Africa is: “Believe in yourself… never, ever give up!!” Please welcome the September 2009 Woman in Media: Carina Grobler!
TANK!!! (My granddad game me the nickname … I am still so proud of it …!!). Where do you live? Florida, Johannesburg. What makes you most proud to count yourself as a South African? That we succeeded to becoming a democracy without violence!! We are free to live life and dreams to the fullest!! When did you get started in sports broadcasting? Wow, I was teaching for two years, and just had an urge in me to do “Something Bigger”. I saw an ad in the Rapport, for a production secretary and applied!
I got the job as a PA in 1987…. (geeeeee I AM OLD!). I loved the job since the day I started, at last I felt that I belong. It was a tough journey being a woman in a totally dominated man’s world, and I had to walk the extra mile, worked long a-social hours … Fortunately it paid off. The changes came with Edward Griffiths as general manager. He promoted me to executive producer of “Sportsnite”. This is when I started producing a special programme for people with disabilities once a month, after which it grew to one programme per week. What is your current role at SABC Sport and how are you enjoying it? I am a specialist producer, and my main specialty is sport for the disabled. Actually, I am the only producer doing Amakrokokroko. I am also in charge of all the cycling: A weekly magazine programme, as well as live cycling events (like the Cape Argus Pick & Pay, and the Amashova). I produce rugby whenever we are allowed to broadcast it: the SABC covers all local tests and finals.
It all started in 2001 … I had to do cycling at the Frances Forweg School, when I was first introduced to children and people with cerebral palsy participating, no matter what!! I felt this immense passion to try and mean something for these people … I did some research, got hold of the SASAPD, and tried ever since to record each and every event, and to showcase every disability. At first I burst into tears. But getting to know these extraordinary people just made me stronger and more passionate about them. If I can only make them look good and show their wonderful triumphs, I am alive!!! What makes you passionate about sport? Sport is the only thing in life that unites humankind! I love the camaraderie, the passion. What has been your biggest career highlight? The two biggest highlights are that we broadcast the very first Oceana wheelchair rugby game live in the world, and being overall producers on World Cup Rugby and Paralympic Games.
Wow! Firstly, to be overall producer of the World Cup Rugby: I was sent to the final in France for an extended broadcast, and we had a French OB (outside-broadcast) crew working with us. Of course, being a male-dominant world, they said that they do not mind me telling them what to do, “But do you really know what we are about to broadcast? This is after all the World Cup, and it is live … We prefer a male producer!!!” And of course being overall producer of a live eight-hour broadcast. (Cape Argus Pick & Pay) … I loved it! It was also challenging at the Paralympic Games, when the top executive producers were in doubt. But once they saw I knew what I was doing, they relaxed! Who are the sports broadcasters you admire and why? I still believe the SABC is capable of excellent productions. Being part of the HBC group, BBC or CBC must be the ultimate. Every member of the crew specializes in one skill, so professionally! They only have one route they follow: The one that is 100% perfect! You either do it, or you leave it. In South Africa, I admire Scott Seward, he must rate amongst the top producers in world broadcasting! What are your favourite spectator sports? I am a born-and-bred “boertjie”…I LOVE RUGBY! Who are your favourite sports stars? What a privilege to have met Lance Armstrong. His courage and strong mind to overcome anything, is just amazing. THE WHOLE PARALYMPIC TEAM! I have the utmost respect for John Smit. How do you keep fit? Do we have to talk about this…….??? Who would you like to acknowledge for having had faith in you, and having supported your career choices? Definitely Edward Griffiths … It never mattered to him whether you pink or had dots: As long as you could the job!
The International wheelchair basketball African qualifier is coming up, won’t it be fantastic to get airtime to broadcast it live???? It happens in October, and I still have planning to do … What sports do you, or have you, participated in? Are you still an active sportswoman? I loved any sport! I participated in athletics, netball, played rugby with the boys, and my passion was judo. No… I don’t participate in sport actively at the moment, but at least I had my first golf lesson! Trying to walk every day … I try to spend as much as possible time with my family. gsport strives to celebrate femininity. How would you define femininity, and what role does it play in your life? It is wonderful being a woman: I know how to love, share, be a wife and mother … But I am also a career woman. WE CAN MULTI-TASK … What a privilege! I expect to be treated equal in any situation, I hate gender discrimination, because if you want a job to be done: Give it to a woman! What is your advice to women who would like to break into sports broadcasting? Value your sanity … Only joking!! You must like the job, no … You have to be passionate about the job. Start early in life, build you career as far as possible, then get married! What is your biggest wish for 2010? That the whole of South Africa unite once again during 2010 World Cup, and that love and prosperity awaits our country far beyond 2010! Who are your role models? The late Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and Natalie du Toit.
Being passionate about anything you do … You can’t go wrong! What is your greatest ambition? To be the best mom and woman sport producer there’s ever been!!!! *** Got something positive to contribute? ***
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Leading Ladies September 2009 Woman of the Month: Moekie Grobelaar
September 2009 Woman in Media: Carina Grobler
September 2009 Style Star: Angelique Gerber
September 2009 gSTAR: Kgothatso Montjane
Feature Articles Entries open for Annual Wheelchair Race
Fabienne Eyes International Success
New LPGA Talent Find in Kelli
Chance to Join Elite Surfing Group
Former Protea on a Netball Mission
Stars Encourage Kids to Get Moving
SARU launches Fun Rugby Initiative
Tags: gsport September 2009 Leading Ladies Woman in Media Carina Grobler Marinus Grobler Edward Griffiths Sportsnite Amakrokokroko SABC Frances Forweg School cerebral palsy SASAPD Scott Seward Lance Armstrong John Smit Eunice Kennedy Shriver Natalie du Toit
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Do you have a nickname that your friends call you? 
What brought you to the SABC and how would you describe your rise in the organisation?
What is the biggest challenge you have faced being a woman in a male dominated field?
The biggest chunk of 2009 has already gone by so fast, what is your most important must-do activity remaining for the year?
What inspires you?
u will make it
Rhandzu
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