DR ROBYN SPRING
Q: Occupation?
A: Obstetrician and gynaecologist; owner of Salut Deli.
Q: What motivates you to achieve more in life?
A: A lot of my drive is altruistic – I believe that the women of the Eastern Cape deserve more.
As a young doctor working in the rural parts of the Transkei, I was touched by the lives of my patients, especially the women, who remain the caretakers of their families and are responsible for so much under difficult circumstances.
I decided to specialise as an obstetrician and gynaecologist (OBGYN), so I could make a difference in the lives of the women of the Eastern Cape.
I love the community I live in and I remain invested here, because I believe we live in an undiscovered paradise!
I now have a beautiful daughter, Thandi, who will be six years-old this year, and I want her to see that anything to which she applies her mind, is achievable – be it to run a marathon, open a shop, become a professional – and that the sky really is her only limit.
I was really blessed to have had this same lesson taught to me by my parents – Errol and Dawn Spring – and by the Clarendon schools as I grew up.
Q: What keeps you grounded?
A: I am humbled by my interactions with patients from whom I learn something about myself virtually every day. I am also blessed with being able to interact on a daily basis with wonderful colleagues and staff.
My family are very important to me – there is nothing like two big brothers to keep reminding you of your position as the baby sister! My husband, Charles Bosman, is my shoulder and my rock. Without him, a lot of the balls I juggle would fall out of the sky!
Q: What is your motto in life?
A: In the end, everything will be okay and if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.
And then one attributed to Winston Churchill: “If you are going through hell, keep going!”
Q: What are you currently reading and why?
A: A delightful novel by Hannah Rothschild, titled The Improbability of Love. I read novels for an escape from reality. I also have a medical journal, a cooking magazine and the latest edition of Runner’s World on my bedside table – covering all my interests.
Q: What do you value most?
A: Honesty, kindness and loyalty.
Q: What would you like to see change in our country?
A: I would love to see a return to family values, where we are taught to respect ourselves and thus respect others. A little bit of self-discipline and integrity would also go a long way in seeing our society start to improve.
Q: What is your favourite family destination in East London?
A: Nahoon Beach – we are so spoilt with the beaches we have in East London. I often get to run on the beach, and we spend some time every weekend on the beach with our daughter.
Q: Where is your favourite place to eat in East London?
A: Sanook Eatery and Cafe are my favourites – after my own kitchen.