Buderim’s “Mr Happiness” has been greeted with a wave of gratitude after he experienced a recent medical emergency.
For more than a decade, Peter Van Beek has stood outside his home on the roundabout at the corner of Ballinger and Stringybark roads and waved “good morning” to hundreds of passers-by.
Few of those schoolchildren and their parents, motorists, runners or cyclists know his real name but they appreciate his simple gesture that makes their day.
When The Crystal Diva Sunshine Coast’s Angela Britz told the Buderim Community Page, Qld on Facebook that Peter’s absence was due to a stroke over Easter, the post was swamped with comments.
The Facebook post hit a nerve, reaching 58,745 people, with the original post garnering 2100 likes, 664 comments and 254 shares as of May 3.
Local residents, passers-by and strangers all wanted to wish him a speedy recovery, help in any way and thank him for being the sunshine in their day.
Debbie Myers commented: “I’ve travelled that route daily for over a decade. Peter is the only reason I know that my car horn works! Sending lots of healing thoughts to him.”
Vicki Brown: “My son graduated from Flinders last year after being there since prep. Peter has always been a constant. We used to give him Easter eggs and gifts of chocolate at Christmas time. Send him our love and best wishes for a full recovery.”
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Karen Hayes tagged Sunshine Coast Division 7 councillor Ted Hungerford about the possibility of building a bench seat: “Put it where he stood so he can still be a part of the community: Pete’s seat.”
Yvette Elliot thought the roundabout should be named after him, complete with sign, or a statue commissioned of him waving “after all the happiness he has brought so many through the years”.
Angela’s post also asked children to make “get well” cards to brighten Peter’s spirits.
Cards can be dropped before Friday, May 6, to the Unit 178 letterbox at the Atrium building, 8 Starling Street, Buderim.
“I’ve received over 60 cards in my letterbox,” Angela said.
“Many messages are from people wanting to offer any assistance in the form of transport or food drop-offs.
“Due to the long weekend, I’m expecting more to be delivered before Friday.”
Eldest son Rene, of Landsborough, said Peter and his wife Margerethe, their three sons, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren appreciated all the positive support, especially as the Van Beeks celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary today (May 4).
News of Peter’s stroke had “spread like wildfire”.
“We’re overwhelmed by the response from the public,” Rene said after taking his mother to visit Peter in Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
“We’ve been mainly inundated by the friends of the Matthew Flinders School and obviously a few residents as well.
“It’s been wonderful. The cards are making him stronger for sure.”
At a recent Matthew Flinders Anglican College Junior Primary School assembly, Head of Primary Trudi Edwards told students “Waving Pete” was ill.
Mrs Edwards said Flinders Pen Pal Club had joined college chaplain Reverend Kathrin Koning in organising cards.
“He is a special member of our school community and a familiar face that many Buderim residents know well,” she said.
“For more than 10 years, Pete has been greeting us with a smile each morning and a friendly wave each afternoon from the Ballinger Road roundabout.
“Our students greatly value Pete’s kindness and have embraced him as part of their daily routine and have missed his smile and friendly greeting each day.”
Rene said the stroke had mainly affected Peter’s memory and speech but hadn’t changed the wide smile of the proud Dutch-born Aussie who still sports a thick accent.
“He had a bleed on the brain and they can’t fix it because he’s 88 so they’re not operating.
“He definitely has improved in the three weeks since it happened. But he’s in rehabilitation at the moment and has been for about a week.
“He’s doing quite well. They’re making him work really hard with exercises.
“He can walk, but they’ve got someone beside him all the time. He’s still a bit shaky when he takes a corner.
“We’re grateful for all the care from staff at SCUH.”
Peter, who was born in The Hague, and Margerethe, from Hilversum, northwest of Amsterdam, and their three sons Rene, then 12, Edward, 8, and Fred, 4, arrived from The Netherlands to start a new life in Australia in 1970.
“We came to Wacol (near Brisbane) in the hostel for immigrants but we were only there for a couple of days,” Rene remembered.
“Dad and I went up to Buderim and we found some work and moved to Buderim.
“Both mum and dad worked at the Buderim Ginger Factory (where the Buderim Woolworths supermarket now stands) for a long time.
“Dad worked in the dried ginger section and maintenance and mum worked in the cutting section and the jam section.
“As soon as they had some money for a deposit, they bought the 5 acre (2ha) property about 1970-71.”
Rene said his father had “always been friendly” and knew smiles connected people and brightened their day.
When Peter had a heart attack, the family thought it best that he surrender his driver’s licence.
That was the catalyst for three to four hours a day of newfound happiness.
“He went ‘Well, if I can’t drive anywhere, I can spend more time waving’,” Rene said.
“So he’s been pretty permanent (on the roundabout) every day and night since he was 78 – 10 years.
“He stands out there until he gets tired. He’s out there at 5 in the morning some mornings.
“Whenever he’s got the energy, he gets out there, because otherwise he’s only at home doing nothing.
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“He comes in for a couple of tea and something to eat and goes back out there.”
Rene said Peter’s notoriety around Buderim was legendary.
“He’s pretty popular, there’s no doubt about that. He just loves the kids and the kids always wave back.
“My dad is just a very happy guy that likes to put a bit of cheer into the world.
“The little bit that he can do is to grow flowers and plants, which he loves doing, and waving to people.”
