KOUGA never ceases to amaze its inhabitants. This was proved again when local writer, Rosemary Dugmore’s books recently caught the public eye.
Action, transition, motion raised to the second power, and whatever additional hyperbolic synonyms might be harnessed to depict a busy life – most of them are inadequate to describe the almost hurly burly existence of Rosemary Dugmore.
To fully grasp the price she paid for authoring books, one has to consider her fast paced, hustling life which saw her engrossed in action that is beyond the grasp of ordinary citizens.
Her personal story is highly impressive, with dozens of action-filled chapters and head-spinning action, proving the old adage “truth is stranger than fiction.”
She boasts a commendable CV, starting with her grandfather, the Right Hon. Sir John Gordon Sprigg, doctor of laws (Oxon and Edin.), Commander of the Legion of Honour and four time premier of the Cape Colony.
From a small beginning on a farm on the Bushman’s River, she moved through 11 years of hostel life, becoming swimming champion and obtaining a first class pass at Victoria Girls’ High in Grahamstown.
After initial secretarial training and working as legal secretary, she did further training in North Dakota, USA, (obtaining Dean’s List for straight A’s in 1977-78), and helping her husband through Chiropractic College. Afterwards she trained as a spinologist in Pennsylvania, USA, and subsequently practised for 27 years in Port Elizabeth. (Spinology is a non-medical philosophy and practice which seeks to help the body function at its best possible level.
It does this by helping to keep the spinal bones (vertebrae) in a proper relationship with each other, according to Carlow Pain Clinic).
Writing career
Her writing career was sparked when her stories were read out in the classroom.
Later, somehow finding time while being married, raising three kids, studying and practising her career, keeping herself in form, and taking part in myriads of other activities, she wrote The Q-factor in Health, followed by a second book on reducing stress (translated into Afrikaans and Xhoza), six non-fiction books, and a heritage book for her family. Kima Global published Predators, which featured as Who’s in Charge? At the Frankfurt World Book Fair.
Leopard Rose and Moonbabbler were followed by Sail Surgery (dealing with preparing oneself for knee replacement). Leopard Rose highlights land-grab and Moonblabber is a crime drama emphasizing child trauma.
At 78 Rosemary Dugmore is still writing, painting, birding, playing lawn bowls and is a member of St Francis Bird Cub.
The majority of her books are available online. Download the free Kindle App and search for the book by title or the full name of the author.
To top everything, she owner-built two houses. Always being one for body fitness, she had three pools installed at three different residences. Now that she is a pensioner, and to keep up her strength, she does her own home maintenance.
Says this amazing woman, “After a wildly eventful life I try to live calmly and have become something of a hermit.”
But her being her own critical judge, Kouga has probabaly not seen or heard the last of Rosemary Dugmore. This space remains open.
