Meet the Team

. . . a group who have done something amazing in this little village

Billy Kennedy

Billy Kennedy is a very special person. He has lived in McGregor for over 20 years, after a very successful career with SABC Opera. His dream, Temenos, has become central to this village. He took a run-down property and turned it into an incredible space. To experience Temenos is to experience a core spirit. Billy refers to himself as the gardener at Temenos. His typical humility masks his contribution. He is also the one who conceived of the Poetry Festival. Thank you for the inspiration you are to us all.

Jane De Sousa

Jane De Sousa is a poet who has supported and performed at Poetry in McGregor since it started nine years ago. Professionally Jane is an organisational development consultant and trainer specialising in assisting Non-Profit Organisations in the social development sector to develop the understanding, plans and systems they require to effectively achieve their purpose. She is the appointed Information Officer info@poetryinmcgregor.co.za

Patricia Schonstein

Patricia Schonstein was born and grew up in the former Rhodesia. She is a critically acclaimed novelist, poet and author of children’s books. Her novels have been translated into six languages and her work endorsed by Nobel Laureates JM Coetzee and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. She curates the distinguished Africa! Anthologies and co-edited, with Douglas Reid Skinner, Issues one-to Twenty of the poetry quarterly, Stanzas.

www.afsun.co.za

Michael McKenzie

Michael McKenzie is the owner of Wahnfried, a venue for the arts in McGregor. This beautiful space has done much to enrich the lives of McGregor residents, with superlative films and music the order of the day. We also utilise Wahnfried for the Poetry in McGregor. Michael is from the Scottish Highlands but has lived in South Africa for some time. After studying the economics of the performing arts, and working in the music department of The Readers’ Digest, Michael followed a career in the hotel industry. He was the owner of two hotels, and was an inspector of hotels worldwide. We are blessed to have him on the team. He is one of those people who never complains, and just gets on with the job.

Lené Kruger

Lené Kruger is a freelance publicist. She works mainly in the entertainment industry, focusing on publicity for musicians, artists, events and festivals. She has worked with Mango Groove, Chris Chameleon, Karen Zoid Just Jinjer and many more remarkable musicians. She also works with international record company Red Bull Records (US) and has coordinated media scheduled for well known international bands playing at Ramfest (2010 – 2014) including Biffy Clyro, Foals and Rise Against. She is also the publicist for the annual Up the Creek Music Festival, River Republic Festival and the upcoming Unplugged62 Festival in Barrydale. Lené studied B Drama at the University of Stellenbosch (1986 – 1989) and her love of the theatre and poetry, has led her to join the Poetry in McGregor team. More info at www.lkmediabook.co.za twitter: @Liny_Kruger

liny@mweb.co.za

Gwendolyn Meyer

Gwendolyn Meyer has been involved in school art programming for youth since 2004. She worked for 9 years as an Artist in Schools In California, an initiative funded by the State of Californian that brings professional artists, musicians and crafts people to under-resourced schools. Gwendolyn has developed photography programs for young adults in Ethiopia and South Africa and art and photography programs for development projects in South Africa. She began working with the Poetry in McGregor Festival in 2019.

Angela Van Lienden

Angela Van Lienden