Our Team
NEIL EVENS & ROBYN CONROY
DIRECTORS
Neil has been farming all his life after completing his agricultural education and military service in 1986. Neil is an excellent stock farmer with strong powers of observation. His keen sense of understanding of the inter–connectedness of nature and how society needs to operate within this, has always stood out. Neil assisted with the education in the Savory Center’s week long Holistic Courses for a number of years when the courses were held on the farms and his passion for assisting people in all aspects of life is very real. Neil carries the heart of a father. Neil currently leads the Hogsback Vineyard Fellowship in Hogsback and has done so since inception around 2009. He is currently studying further to enhance his ministry.
Neil married Robyn in 1991 and together they have grown the agricultural side of the operation significantly. Robyn manages the cattle operation and is passionate about all things cattle ever since stopping her horse stud, and Neil manages the sheep operation. Robyn also home-educated their 3 children until such time as they started readying themselves for matric under the Cambridge syllabus. Robyn has a passion for both farming and education and in her other life, long ago, used to help children with speech impediments.
Meet the Team
Peta Conroy Evens
CONCEPT CREATOR | CONTENT | MARKETING
Peta, the eldest of Neil and Robyn’s three children, was home-educated before completing her Cambridge schooling in Johannesburg. She earned a BA in Visual Communications at the Stellenbosch Academy, majoring in Photography and Graphic Design. Afterward, she spent three years at Bethel Church Ministry School in Redding, California, and has just returned to South Africa. Peta manages social media for Rising Ground Family Farm as well as our Gap year.
Lesley Conroy
ADMIN & FINANCE
Lesley, Robyn Conroy’s sister joins our team in helping the running of the vital, backend functions of Rising Ground Journey. Having run a very successful Book supply business, Books Etc, for many years and has since retired. As well as being an avid lover of gardening and her dogs, Pepples, Raffi, Holly and Sam, Les also has a great knack at all things admin.
Joel & Janique van der Merwe
Meet Joel and Janique van der Merwe. They come from Johannesburg but moved to Hogsback in Feb 2024.
Janique knew from early on she wanted to work in ministry and so studied to that end. She has worked in churches and schools and with young people since getting her degree and has such a passion for journeying with young people as they discover who they are. Janique also loved teaching at a school where she was involved in the Social and Emotional Learning program.
Joel has been in retail all his working career, between restaurants and warehouse management until He found the Lord and since then has followed different paths in community serving and building.
They love the outdoors, they love animals, and they love growing and nurturing young people to see them reach their full potential.
They have both enjoyed working on different leadership camps and mission trips with young adults and children alike.
They look forward to meeting and JOURNEYING with your young men.
Martin Smit
Martin came to Hogsback 8 years ago as the maintenance manager of The Edge, one of the biggest lodges on the mountain. His career as a welder and panel beater began as an apprentice in the army, fresh out of school. He went on to be an army mechanic, which also took him to the border, for 4 years, followed by a long career in the military. During his army days, he had also been qualified as a refrigeration specialist and worked in that field for nearly 30 years. After he took his severance package from the military, he worked as a building contractor for a decade and a half. Martin has also spent a number of years doing missionary work and applied his skills in the service of the Church. He has been with Vineyard Congregration for six years now and some of favourite hobbies are walking and hunting. He hiked the famous Amathole trail 2 years ago, carrying a starggering 20kgs on his back. He spends much of his free time helping people fix things and has become a very respected member of the Hogsback community.