On Friday, April 26, 2024, Mayor Ard van der Tuuk presented nine royal awards. All nine residents become members of the Order of Orange-Nassau. The awards took place at five different locations.
Around 11 a.m., Tosja Schaeffer-van Seters and Henriët Lases were surprised with a ribbon in the St. Joseph’s Church in Zuidhorn. After an extensive praise by Ard van der Tuuk about the merits of both women, they were given the floor themselves.
Both Tosja and Henriët indicated that they find it quite normal to volunteer for various organizations, but also that they especially enjoy doing it! An example for many.
Before the group had coffee and cake, the Wilhelmus was sung at the top of their lungs.
Catharina Liduina (Tosja) Schaeffer-van Seters, Briltil (born September 20, 1940) Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Merits:
Lay pastor, lecturer, advisor, teacher, informal caregiver, supervisor, guide, writer at the RC Jozef parish (from 2017 Hildegard parish) Chairman of the Catholic Women’s Guild (KVG)
Co-founder and organizer of activities at the Friends of the Church of Den Horn Foundation
Guide at Aduard Monastery Museum
Editor and writer of the club magazine Tuinclub Zuidhorn
Henriëtte Sophia Maria (Henriët) Lases, Noordhorn (born July 17, 1946) Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Merits:
Lecturer, liturgy organization, schedule maker, sexton, choir member, chairman, board member,
major organizer at the RK Jozef parish (from 2017 Hildegard parish)
Member of the advisory board of Vastenactie Nederland
Secretary Catholic Women’s Guild
Secretary Leerhuis Stad en Ommelanden
Other decorated people in the Westerkwartier
Aaffiena Reina (Afie) Koning-Wieringa, Grootegast (b. 28 January 1949) Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Merits:
Elder, member of the Training and Equipment Committee, secretary of the Evangelization Committee, member of the Book Table Committee, leader of girls’ club at the Protestant Community of Grootegast-Sebaldeburen
Chairman of the board and discussion group at Housewives Association Grootegast
Palliative care volunteer at the Humanitas Association, Westerkwartier department
President of the women’s discussion group at the Protestant Community of Grootegast-Sebaldeburen
Aaltje (Aly) de Groot, Grootegast (b. September 12, 1944) Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Merits:
Deacon at Reformed Church Synodal Grootegast-Sebaldeburen
Processing messages from and for Groningen church messenger at Reformed Church Synodal Grootegast-Sebaldeburen
Administrative employee at Protestant Municipality of Grootegast-Sebaldeburen
Volunteer at Zonnehuisgroep Noord Zuidhorn
Contact person for volunteer sexton group/cleaner at Protestant Municipality of Grootegast-Sebaldeburen
Abel Kuiper, Aduard, (born April 19, 1959) Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Merits:
Deacon and assistant sexton at the Dutch Reformed Church Aduard
Founder at the Get2Give Foundation
Volunteer at the Get2Give Foundation
Akke (Akkie) Jellema-Riedstra, Grootegast (born October 2, 1946) Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Merits:
Coordinator and collector at Queen Wilhelmina Fund (KWF)
Chairman of various committees, editor-in-chief of the church magazine, secretary at the Protestant Community of Grootegast-Sebaldeburen (before September 10, 2009 Reformed Church syn.)
Evert Klaas (Evert) Dolfijn, Marum (born April 1, 1944) Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Merits:
Chairman of the harness horse competition in Marum
Chairman of the Groningen regional board of the national Royal Warmblood Horse Studbook of the Netherlands
Chairman of the Foal Auction North Netherlands Foundation
Chairman of De Onderlinge Paardenverzekering Marum
Hendrik Jan (Henk) Koning, Grootegast (b. August 21, 1946) Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Merits:
Elder, youth elder, member of moderamen, leader of boys’ club, member of SOW (project) group, secretary of the Management Committee at Protestant Community Grootegast-Sebaldeburen
Member of the board at Christian primary school Jan Kuipers Grootegast
Organist at Protestant Community Grootegast-Sebaldeburen
Organist singing hour at the Het Hooge Heem residential care center
Secretary at the Protestant Christian Association for the Elderly, Grootegast-Oldekerk department
Johannes Jacobus (Jan) Meijering, Tolbert (born February 18, 1949) Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Merits:
Chairman and treasurer at Bowling league Leek Tolbert
Chairman and initiator of G-bowling
General board member at Groninger Bomenwacht
