Pinetown Tidy Town cleans up Cowies Hill landmark

THE top of Cowies Hill is a well-known landmark in the Highway area for many reasons. It provides a scenic view over Pinetown and surrounding areas – and a gathering spot for many locals because of its water point. It’s also the peak of the first and last of the ‘Big Five’ hills, depending on the direction of the Comrades Marathon.

The Lions Club of Cowies Hill, together with the Road Racing Fraternity, built a water point at this site in 1980. This spot became the site of the Comrades table which Cowies Hill Lions and helpers manned for 36 years.

“Many Comrades runners regarded it as one of their favourite refreshment tables in the gruelling race,” said Lions president Bronwyn Paijmans.

She says the water point was refurbished in 2005 by the Lions and several local businesses.

“The tap and water point is well utilised by many people and, as a result, requires constant cleaning and maintenance. This was done for many years by some of the Lions who, unfortunately, have resigned from the Club, moved away from the area or passed away, and as a result, the water point had become a bit neglected.”

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This has now changed thanks to Pinetown Tidy Town, the group of environmentally minded people who are trying to make a difference and clean up areas in Pinetown.

They routinely clear litter along Josiah Gumede Road around the water point and have now included the actual structure in their regular clean-up schedules.

Recently, Paijmans joined Pinetown Tidy Town while they scrubbed and thoroughly cleaned the water point and brought it back to its original condition.

“We are very grateful to Pinetown Tidy Town for including this well-known place in their clean-up routines,” she said.

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