THE CHAMPS FORUM NEWS
IN THIS EDITION
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 AUGUST 2013
Who’s who in the Zoo? Need to know who the Making the Champs Chatter work for you People and Conserva- tion Officers are? Go to page 3 to find out. The Champs Chatter is finally set as our top priority. can the Champs Chatter be the here ! A newsletter for Champi- communication tool between Find out what ADORE Internal communication be- has been up to on the ons of the environment, by sites and partners that it was tween Forum members are dunes. Page 4. Champions of the environment. meant to be. . being improved - this newsletter See what events are For all involved in the Forum, it being the first step. Contact your site representative has been a busy year indeed. coming up. Page 3. We would like to encourage all or the editor to have your story Terms of Reference have been submitted. We cant wait to hear Environmental calendar. Champions to make use of the developed, approved and imple- from you! Page 6. newsletter. Post notices, update mented, us on your projects, make sug-
gestions - this newsletter is We are well on our way to apply- Contact the Champs Chatter on: yours to use. ing for funds as a team, training T: 021 514 4188/9 interventions for the Champions Only with your contributions E: [email protected] News from the North
Tribute to “Mamre Nature Garden looks al forms with positive feedback. more of this kind of work pro- very good at the moment due The MCPA can’t wait for the gress’. Mrs Britz 2 to the invasive alien clearing final results from the community done by the task team at to go ahead with this mandate. Now that we in partnership with Mamre. The Suikerbos are in full Simultaneously we are looking the Dassenberg Coastal Catch- bloom and all can see it clearly at getting into an agreement of ment Corridor we are excited Newbies in the all the way from the road”, stewardship with Nature Con- about the arising opportunities forum 2 these are the words of our servation for the protection and which will definitely enrich our enthusiastic nature loving cham- nature management of our communities for the better”.
pion, unique biodiversity. Below: New staff member Karin Hilda Adams. In addition, the Mamre “Going Herman that is based at the What makes Green” project has reached Mamre Visitor Centre. Karin Community “The people of Mamre are living started at the Centre in July this in hope that soon proper man- greener pastures indeed with Connec ons ? 3 year. agement of biodiversity can Green Pop planting 30 olive happen because sadly thousands trees and 20 water -berry shade trees at the Mamre Primary Mandela Day of Suikerbos are illegally picked. Luckily some were confiscated School during Oct 2012. charity event 4 thanks to the management and Another 25 lemon trees and 25 staff at Witzands Aquifer Na- shade trees were planted in ture Reserve (WANR). February this year making it a Acknowledge‐ The process of declaring Mamre total of 100 trees which we are highly proud of. We hope that ments 5 as a Nature Reserve is well on its way, we have received sever- it doesn’t stop here but that PAGE 2 We bid farewell to Mrs. Britz
On the cold weekend of 5 Her favorite flowers were throughout these years. We will July, Julian Britz , Champion known to be the Bottelborsel/ never forget her,” says a and friend, sadly passed away. Pyjama plant - Echiostachys community member. incanus and Veldklokkies - The news came as a shock to Hermannia cuneifolia. She was This amazing Champion leaves all who knew her - this was a a great bird lover and en- behind 6 children, 19 grandchil- woman filled with love and “We honor her for joyed needle work in her dren and even great grandchil- joy. Those who knew Julian leisure time. dren. She will be sorely missed. all the extraordinary and worked with her have Below: Julian (far right) lost a pillar of strength and “Aunty Julian had enormous work she did wisdom. love and care for her fellow- man and whomever knew and throughout these Julian worked with Harmony came across her witnessed Flats Nature Reserve for 8 that aspect. years” years and within that period, she ran a soup kitchen and On behalf of Harmony Flats was part of the concerned we honor her for all the group for the community. extraordinary work she did
MEETING THE NEWBIES
Sometimes we lose people so experience, camaraderie and Picture: From left to right : Monica
that we can gain others, and cheer that comes together with Nteyi, Thulani Mthombeni and that is the case for the Forum working with the Champions. NOW YOU CAN !!!!! Pholela Mcata. this year. We sadly lost Julian We welcome Assistant People Drop off all your Britz but have gained a few and Conservation Officers separated waste at wonderful, inspired and driv- Monica Nteyi (Wolfgat Nature en young interns which are free drop off sites Reserve) and Thulani Mthom- keen and excited to learn and beni (Witzands Aquifer Nature near you and you build from what has been Reserve) as well as Pholela will be reducing established in the past. Mcata, Assistant Communica- landfill waste, help‐ We celebrate and welcome tions Officer Biodiversity Man- ing with job crea‐ all these newbies and we agement, on and boos ng hope that you will enjoy the economy.
Ask for a copy of the Smart Living Handbook to find out where ! These Champions and Biodiversity Management Staff members have birthdays coming up. Be sure to wish them a happy happy... Guess what ?????
Selwyn Kondowe 20 August Jerome September—20 October Recycling one glass
Pholela Mcata—25 August Lewine Walters—01 November bottle saves enough
Charline McKie—01 September Nicky de Bryn—22 November electricity to light a Monica Nteyi—23 Sept Thulani Mthombeni—22 December 100watt bulb for 4 hours. Mbuyiselo KatiKati—16 Oct
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3
Picture: We didn't add Elzanne Burger into the Who’s Who In the Zoo ? “newbie” sec on of this newsle er as she is a golden oldie and a newbie at the same me. We thought it appropriate for Nature Reserve Tel: 021 392 5134/5 Although Elzanne has worked with the Champi‐ the first newsletter to ensure Elzanne Burger - Harmony Flats that all Champions are aware of Nature Reserve - there is no tel ons Forum be‐ who's who when it comes to the number at present, please email fore, she has Champions Forum. [email protected] recently been Other than the Champions Rep- Thulani Mthombeni - Witzands Aq- appointed as resentatives (contact details on uifer Nature Reserve - Tel: 021 444 the People and next page) these people are your 7687 first line, People and Conserva- Conserva on tion Officers that will send you Stacy Anne Michaels - Edith Ste- Officer at Har‐ phens Nature Reserve - Tel: 021 your invitation and are responsi- mony Flats ble for all community work in 691 8070. Stacy will be on maternity Nature Re‐ and around the nature reserves. leave until the end of the year. serve. Here they are: Jerome September - Wolfgat WELCOME BACK !
Connecting the community with the environment
Community Connections is a reg- age, organise, and sustain develop- That they can contribute to develop- istered non-profit organization ment processes in organisations ment in a sustainable way. based in Philippi, Cape Town. and communities. Our programmes include training, mentoring, coach- They offer various developmental It promotes community-led devel- ing and technical support,” says courses. If interested in these or opment by strengthening the ca- Andile Sanayi, Champion repre- collaborating with Community Con- pacity of Community Based Or- sentative and owner of Community nections, contact Andile Sanayi : on ganisations (CBOs) and Communi- Connections. Tel: 021 371 2986 . ty Workers (CWs). “We assist them to conscientise, organise and The organisation also links CBO’S DID YOU KNOW? with other key role players, en- agitate for transformation, offering Every year we throw away enough waste to fill a row of trucks an integrated capacity develop- couraging increased collaboration from Cape Town to Gauteng - about 1400km. ment programme that assists com- and the leveraging of resources munity workers to initiate, man- among stakeholders. They believe A toothbrush requires 1,5kg of resources (coal, oil and water) in its production.
UPCOMING EVENTS AUGUST to DECEMBER2013
Macassar Dunes and Wolfgat Nature Reserve 2 - 30 September - Harmony Flats spring walks 7 August - Fire Campaign Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve 19 - 23 August - Energy and Climate Change programmes for kids 28 - 29 August - Smart Living Training 16 - 23 October - Heritage Week programme 20 - 22 September - Mamre flower Show 14 - 18 October Marine Week programme 16 - 20 September - Heritage Week programme 29 November - 1 December - Mitchells Plain Festival 8 - 24 October - Marine Month programme 13 December - Holiday Programme Weekend camps in October are also planned, dates to be Harmony Flats Nature Reserve confirmed. August,/ September - Fire Awareness Programme Edith Stephens Nature Reserve Information not available at time of print. VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 4 Doing the Dunes with ADORE
Atlantis Dunes Off-Road Executive The charity day was be held at the (ADORE) in cooperation with the Atlantis Dunes, which ADORE, as City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity a body that incorporates repre- Management Branch commemo- sentatives from various 4x4 organ- rated Nelson Mandela’s life long isations around the Western fight for human rights by hosting a Cape, uses as a recreational area. Mandela Day 4X4 charity event on It is situated in the area of the 19 July 2013. Witzands Aquifer Nature Re- Twenty grade four learners from serve. Pella Moravian Primary School Biodiversity Management would attended this fun and educational like to thank ADORE without day. The event focused on the whom the event would not have area’s unique and irreplaceable been possible. biodiversity as well as gave the learner’s a first time experience in 4x4 rides and sand boarding activi- Above: 4 x 4’s brave the sandy dunes ties. Right top: One of the learners gets to ADORE, the sponsor of the event experience a 4 x 4 for the first time has also committed to make signif- Right bottom: Biodiversity Manage- icant contribution towards the ment staff at the event funding of a library, Pella Moravian (Photographs by Bruce Sutherland) Primary School, in future. CHAMPS FORUM REPS Notices One representative was selected for each site Notices at the first Champions Forum of 2013. Here * From the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Management Branch are their details: - Nature Reserve books available for champions forum members. If * Dale Isaacs (Edith Stephens Nature Reserve) interested please motivate how they will be used and how many Tel: 021 691 8070 you need. Email: [email protected] * Andile Sanayi (Wolfgat and Macassar Dunes -Smart living books available for special projects; they cover topics Nature Reserves) like energy, waste, water and biodiversity.
Tel: 021 371 2986 -Environmental Education and Communications training available Email :[email protected] at no cost to all champs. Please motivate. * Hilda Adams (Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve) Please contact Natanya Dreyer on 021 514 4188 or email her at Tel: 072 268 3895 [email protected] for further information.
Email: [email protected] * Hilda Adams and Mzwandile Fulani are collecting bread pack
clippers, for every 10 000 clippers = one wheelchair. Everyone’s Your site representative can be contacted for contribution is welcome. Lets reuse ! coordination within their region Contact Mzwandile : 021 852 8831 or Hilda on 072 268 3895 The Champs Chatter, a newsletter created for Champions by Champions
The Champ’s Forum would like to extend a big thank
you to all the people that have contributed to the first edi on of this newsle er. All the effort and me in‐ vested by Champions into this project has paid off. A special thank you to Marilyn Mar n from the Table Mountain Fund for a endance and for ge ng the Champions one step closer to accessing the Table Mountain Small Grants Fund.
To every Champion who works towards a be er envi‐ ronmental future—thank you !
Keep it up guys!
Above: Two of the representatives Andile Sanayi (left) and Hilda Adams (right) after their fruitful Champs Forum pre-plan meeting at Biodiversity Management.
ENVIRONMENTAL CALENDER 2013
NB: Please note that this template was taken from Wessa’s Year of special days document and therefore the page references come from that relevant document.
M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
JAN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
FEB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
MARCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
APRIL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
MAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
JUNE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
JULY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
AUG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
SEPT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
OCT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
NOV 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
DEC
There are two International Years being celebrated in 2013 * International Year of Water Co-operation * In- ternational Year of Quinoa
Don’t forget to submit your stories, no ces and updates for the next Champs Cha er to
[email protected] by 15 September 2013