This past August, I attended the Suzuki Women’s Day event held at De Wildt 4×4 Nature Park and Resort in Harties. As a Jimny owner myself, I was particularly excited about the “4×4 course” aspect of the day since I haven’t done much off-road driving in my lifetime.
It was a beautiful sunny day as I drove up the gravel road. We were welcomed by a display of funky wrapped Jimny’s. There is just something unique about every Jimny you come across, and these were no exception. I, of course, had to get a photo of Jimunji parked amongst its younger siblings.
Suzuki Auto South Africa always goes out of their way to spoil us ladies in the industry, and they certainly did it again this year. Walking into the hall, it was a stark contrast to the dusty, brown environment outside; instead, with a cappuccino in hand, you walked onto a pink carpet surrounded by beautifully decorated table settings and delicate flower arrangements. It felt as though I was supposed to be dressed in a floral frock instead of my jeans and takkies… No matter how tough a girl you are, it’s always nice to experience a bit of feminism.
We spent the morning with some amazing guest speakers, including Vanessa Goosen, a former Miss SA semi-finalist. She was wrongfully prosecuted for drug trafficking and sentenced to death, but ended up serving 16 years in a Thai prison. She had to overcome endless struggles, including giving birth, raising her daughter and then being taken away at age 3, learning a new language and living in unimaginable conditions. Through it all, she showed great courage and resilience, and today she is a motivational speaker who encourages women to never give up, that nothing lasts forever, and with God, you can find peace in the midst of the storm. The next speaker was Dr Katlego Selikane, and she took us through the importance of women’s health and how we can take charge and take care of our bodies.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Suzuki event if there weren’t some form of safety involved. We had Drive Smart join us and give us a run-through of road safety before we headed out to a parked Suzuki Swift ready for the morning’s demonstration. I love how Suzuki tailors each woman’s day event to us ladies to ensure that we walk away knowing more than we did before attending. The lesson for the day was how to change a tyre… Let’s be honest, how many ladies have to get a man to change a tyre for them? Well, no more. Each woman got to see exactly how to do it, and some were brave enough to volunteer. So next time one of them gets stuck in this situation, they can proudly do it themselves.
It was finally time for the Jimny Drive guys to take us out on the 4×4 trail, and even though I didn’t get to take Jimunji out, I still got to experience it in the new 5-door Jimny. We had a great time as we traversed the dirt trails winding through the bushveld. They certainly left us wanting more, and I’m excited to take Jimunji on the full 4×4 course where they teach you in-depth 4×4 driving skills.
After a thrilling drive, we headed back and enjoyed a delicious lunch before ending the day. Before leaving, each lady was handed a beautiful leather bag with our names embossed on the front, as if the amazing day we had wasn’t enough of a spoil!
As always, it’s such a pleasure to attend these events, and the ladies behind them are true gems. They are so intentional with their choice of guest speakers, activities and gifts; ensuring that every attendee’s heart is touched, and mind is fed. Thank you for highlighting the women in the industry and for enriching our lives. How you’ll top this one, I’m not sure, but I’m looking forward to it!
