Farewell Annie Bursik

20/12/1942 - 30/4/2023

IT is with great sadness that we at Angler Publications pay homage to Anne Bursik who recently lost her tenacious fight against the vile and cursed cancer that dulled her vibrant personality during the final months of her life.

Annie,Dave Rorke and Doug Steele banded together in early 1985 to establish SKI-BOAT magazine.It was a mighty step into an adventurous scenario that many thought would end in disaster.More than 38 years later, SKI-BOAT magazine is stll flying high,even though the original partners have now all left us.Their legacy is a continual reminder that their dearest goal has been achieved.

Annie left her cozy position in the corporate world and,used her administrative expertise as well as her accumulated funds to kickstart Angler Publications.For the next 30 years she undertook the administrative function of the closed corporation until her retirement in 2017.

Annie was much loved by both Dave and Doug,and the other staff who joined Angler Publications over the years,but most of all by her husband,Erwin, who joined SKI-BOAT in 1987.

The greatest feather in her administrative cap was the Captain Morgan Grand Challenge which she virtually ran.The annual event initially took place in Mauritius before moving to Hemingways at Watamu,Kenya,and groups varied in size from 46 to 82 competitors.

Tannie Annie,as many called her,captivated them all with her beautiful smile.Even though she was not an ardent angler herself,she managed to marshall the troops into participating in numerous fun-loving adventures with minimal problems.

Annie only went to sea on the odd occasion and landed a couple of sailfish,tuna and other gamefish over the years,but in general she preferred to supervise and offer support from the beach.

Erwin and Annie had incredible opportunities to travel in the name of offshore angling and visited numerous destinations associated with sportfishing.These were primarily along the African coastline from Angola in the west around to the North Kenyan coast at Lamu,as well as numerous Indian Ocean Islands.

At the end of each adventure she would use her hobby of scrapbooking to create wonderful memory-provoking accounts which she,Erwin and their family loved looking though will treasure for many years to come.

Annie will be remembered by many offshore anglers here in South Africa as the incredibly beautiful woman with a sunny personality who stood by her husband’s side during his involvement in offshore angling and sports administration for close on 40 years, and who won the friendship of so many in our angling community.

Annie was a rock for Erwin,their four daughters and their extended family; indeed,the very core of their family.She will be remembered not only for her looks and personality,but also her exceptional culinary skills which she loved to put to good use entertaining family, friends and business acquaintances at her home in Durban North.

We bid Annie farewell and eternal rest; she will not be forgotten.