12/09/2025
40 years of service is more than a career – it’s a legacy. Today we honour Elizabeth February for a journey filled with passion, dedication, and countless contributions. 💐
"Looking back at 40 years at Winelands Radiology, takes me way back to 1985, when I was offered a Radiography post by Dr G Wagener. I was married for 1 month, only 22 years old, when my journey started at the practice of Dr Aling in Victoria Street, Somerset West.
The beginning years were fairly challenging, but also rewarding as the practice expanded in service and different modalities. We even moved premises to the then newly built Medicity Hospital where we started out with general radiography, fluoroscopy and mammography. A CT scanner was added and a few years later a MR scanner was installed.
I was blessed to be able to be part of all of that and also running these new departments. We were very privileged and proud to work on top class equipment. We had the first dual source CT in South Africa, which was unfortunately destroyed during the flood in 2013 . We also worked on a 3T MR at the time, where we were exposed to very specialized techniques.
In the beginning when the practice was relatively small, we worked very closely with the Radiologists. Several of them played big roles in teaching, moulding and encouraging us to become the best we can be in our profession.
We weren't allowed to just push buttons, we had to learn and grow all the time to keep up with them. Dr Richard de Villiers introduced us to MSK imaging and before each learning session he would quiz us on our anatomy knowledge.
I am so thankful today for all the knowledge that was shared with me and others to be not just good, but exceptional Radiographers. My walk at Winelands played a big part in moulding me into the person I have become, always striving to be the best radiographer I could be. I was even excited to go out and do my job when called out after hours.
I have always enjoyed teaching and one of my best memories will always be training new Radiographers at the MR/CT department. Even amidst trials and tribulations, we supported one another. Sharing our life experiences and listening to advice from the more mature, transformed us into a family. We worked not just as colleagues, but caring friends. We developed important and deep relationships that are still special and everlasting.
Even now, with the practice bursting at the seams, with different departments and branches, we all have an important role to play. We need to value each other and make Winelands a place where we support one another and bring out the best in each other. The road may not always have been easy, but it was definitely worth the ride.
I would like say a very special thank you to everybody, doctors, colleagues as well as patients who have touched my life in a very special way.
Maya Angelou said "Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it"
Thank you for inspiring us all – here’s to many more!
