Fri April 26, 2024, 12:00 noon
DAMWALD – This year, 4 people from the Dantumadiel municipality will receive a Royal Decoration. They are appointed Member of the Order of Orange Nassau.
Three of them received the award from Mayor Klaas Agricola on Friday, April 26 in Damwâld. This happens during a festive meeting in the town hall. The award of one of the decorated persons will be presented by Mayor Johannes Kramer of the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân at the town hall in Dokkum.
Minne van der Wal (83) De Westeren
Mr Van der Wal has been committed to sports and healthcare in De Westereen for over 50 years. He was co-founder of Tennis Club Zwaagwesteinde in 1973. He was also a general board member and treasurer of Voetbalvereniging Zwaagwesteinde for many years. He was co-organizer of the Friesch Dagblad Tournament.
Minne van der Wal was also a volunteer at the Reformed Church Zwaagwesteinde for a quarter of a century. He was a member and chairman of the church council, member of various committees and leader of the Sunday school. In 1992 he co-founded the Aid Transport Romania Foundation in Zwaagwesteinde. The foundation provided an annual humanitarian aid transport.
Until 2003, Mr. Van der Wal was chairman of a committee and contact person at the hospital in Leeuwarden for the collection of nursing aids. He carried out various practical activities and managed volunteers. From 2004 to 2023, Mr. Van der Wal organized activities and concerts for the Christian Men’s Choir Westerlauwers.
He was also treasurer of De Zonnebloem, De Westereen department. From 2010 to 2022, Mr van der Wal was a volunteer at the KwadrantGroep Foundation in De Westereen. He was secretary of the client council of the Brugchelencamp location and chairman of the residents’ committee. He did various activities such as serving coffee and thinking about the participation structure of the organization.
Geert Vellema (84) Damwâld
Mr. Vellema has been a volunteer at the Reformed Bible Foundation for 57 years. He recruits and maintains contacts with (new) members. Since 1999, Geert Vellema has also been a church council member/chairman of the Christian Reformed Church Damwoude. Here he provides pastoral care and attends and organizes local and national church meetings.
Mr Vellema was also a deacon. From 2006 to 2015, Mr Vellema was chairman/board member of the Christian National School. During that period, many parents withdrew their children from school and a large part of the board resigned. Mr Vellema took office during this turbulent period and has therefore been of great importance to the school.
Tjeerd Jorna (76) Damwâld
Mr Jorna has been co-initiator and chairman of the Friendship Committee Dokkum, Fulda (Germany) and Credition (United Kingdom) since 2002. This concerns an organization that, due to its connection with Boniface, aims to maintain contacts between residents of these cities in the areas of culture, education and politics.
Mr Jorna carries out various activities and is the driving force in maintaining these ties. He is a contact person and co-initiator of various activities and initiatives.
Sary Dijk-Elzinga (73) Feanwâlden
Since 2000, Mrs. Dijk has been a hostess at the Feanwâlden department of the Women of Now association. Mrs. Dijk provides coffee and tea at the members’ meetings and organizes a contact group meeting once a year.
From 2003 to 2023, Sary Dijk was a volunteer at the wreath laying ceremony at the monument in Feanwâlden. Every year, Mrs. Made the wreath that was laid at the monument by the children of the schools. Since 2003, Mrs. Dijk has been chairman of and volunteer at the diaconate of the Protestant community Feanwâlden/Feanwâldsterwâl.
Mrs. Dijk visits the sick and those in need of help. She is also part of the flower committee and provides self-painted memorial stones and candles for special services. Sary Dijk is also involved in the Holy Communion in two nursing homes. Since 2013, Mrs. Dijk has been co-organizer of the annual collection of the Princess Beatrix Muscle Fund in Feanwâlden.
