Best moments of 2014

Sapphire Coast Toti Tourism chairman, Jacques van Schalkwyk

What was your highlight of 2014?

Witnessing the call for community involvement in sustainable tourism come to fruition. Community member, Aart Verrips and his business contributed by carrying out his vision to put up a 15-metre Christmas tree for the public. This generous contribution has most certainly set the scene for a festive Christmas and has stirred up a sense of giving in our area. ET Security initiating the camera surveillance system on our main beach in partnership with tourism – we trust this will translate into successfully securing beach visitors during the summer season. Dafco contributing to donating paint for our blue ‘welcome bridges’, making an aesthetic difference to the area. The Parkrun initiative that has increased local activity on the promenade every week.

What do you look forward to in 2015?

Creating sustainable and responsible tourism, focused on creating a positive contribution and impact in our area. Increased involvement from local businesses and community members. We look forward to extending the camera surveillance on more of our beaches, in partnership with local security firms willing to get involved. Tourism is also investigating the use of surveillance cameras to feed footage through to tourism’s website where locals can view the current surfing and weather conditions at various beaches.

Ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge

What was your highlight of 2014?

The public and private partnership that culminated in rendering our river cleaner. Amanzimtoti Rugby Club finishing top of the premier division in our national sport and in doing so, effectively putting the town on the map. The start of long overdue renovations to the Kingsburgh Clinic. Seeing the lights go on for the first time on the 15-metre Christmas tree is enough to bring out the child in everyone – it re-kindles childhood visions of mythical figures who found it more rewarding to give to others than to themselves. Pirates being defeated by Chiefs was not a highlight.

What are you looking forward to in 2015?

Less talk and more action from the community. Continuing in our venture to cultivate public and private partnerships to resolve issues instead of relying on government to find solutions. Realising there are 20 hours of light and only four hours of darkness, 360 days of tranquility and only five days of noise, reminding people that it goes further than me, myself and I, putting aside personal agendas and working together in the better interest of our larger community, and a 30-metre high Christmas tree.

Isipingo PR councillor, Jaco Pienaar

What was your highlight of 2014?

I have been working in Isipingo for the past two years as a councillor. There was a lot of work that needed to be done. I can proudly say that all promises made to the people of Isipingo by the municipality have materialised. My highlights were the refurbishment of the council flats that have not been attended to for the past 20 years, the R38-million that is going to be spent in the Isipingo town centre, electrification of Pelgrim informal settlement where 700 families now have electricity, the building of the creche at Dakota informal settlement and the removal of 64 people from the transit camp into low cost houses. I thank all the people from Isipingo for accepting me in ward 90 and for all the people who worked tirelessly to make Isipingo a better place to live.

What are you looking forward to in 2015?

I am looking forward to working either in Isipingo or back in Amanzimtoti, where we can make a difference in people’s lives and the area they are staying in. Have a blessed Christmas and a prosperous new year. I look forward to working for you in 2015.

Toti Conservancy chairman, Laura Taylor

What was your highlight of 2014?

Toti Conservancy had an incredibly busy and fruitful year. On the whole, we are very pleased with what we have managed to achieve. The highlight would be the clean-up of Toti River. This was a community effort with several different organisations participating, but it demonstrated that there are a large number of people in Toti who care about our river and the environment. Kudos to the Army Saints in particular who tirelessly gave up their Sundays until the river was clean. We are also pleased with the relationship we have developed with the authorities, which is not always an easy one, especially with regards to sewage issues and pollution of the rivers and streams in the Toti area. This has led to the formation of a Toti Environmental Liaison Committee, comprising many branches of the municipality, the Department of Water and Sanitation and various environmentally-related groups in Toti. This co-operation is an excellent development for the future of our area. We have had a year-long battle with pollution issues in the Bird Sanctuary. We have made significant progress in stopping the pollution, but much more still needs to be done in this regard.

What are you looking forward to in 2015?

Next year will see a focus on estuarine management of our various estuaries in conjunction with the authorities. We also hope to make some progress on the huge waste problems that beset our community. We will continue to keep the community informed of our plans and progress and will run a series of public interest meetings during the course of 2015. From Toti Conservancy, we wish everyone a blessed Christmas and new year and hope they come back refreshed and ready to face the new challenges of the new year. We also would like to thank the Sun and its staff for all the support and co-operation we enjoyed during the year.

Kingsburgh Lions president, Pat Wilson

What was your highlight of 2014?

To single out only one highlight during the year 2014 is nigh impossible, but I would say that it is the privilege of making a difference in the lives of others. To see the smiles and sparkling eyes of children, the relief and gratitude on the faces of the elderly and others who need a helping hand in one form or another, is in itself a continual highlight for members of Kingsburgh Lions. A highlight for me personally was taking the leadership role in a team of truly committed, hardworking, enthusiastic, supportive and caring members.

What are you looking forward to in 2015?

I look forward to 2015, as I envisage it being a year of growth in our club numbers and a year in which we are successful in our planned fundraising activities – the more helping hands we have and the more funds we have at our disposal, the more we can reach out, uplift the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves and endeavour to meet the ever-increasing needs within our community. We will continue to live up to our motto ‘we serve’, enjoy the camaraderie which exists between Lions and take pride in belonging to an international organisation which supports all we do and which continually inspires and uplifts us. We thank members of the community who have, in however small a way, assisted and supported us during the course of the year and wish all a blessed Christmas and a peaceful, happy and successful new year.

President of Toti Lions Club, Shayne Tocher

What was your highlight of 2014?

Sight: We handed out 30 pairs of glasses and arranged for nine cataract operations. Five operations cataract operations are scheduled at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital in 2015. Hearing: Six pairs of hearing aids were handed out in conjunction with Kind2Hearing at Seadoone Mall. Jona Vaughn Home: We carried out maintenance and donated R5,000 towards their Christmas party. Wheelchairs: We donated two wheelchairs with Cycling for Mobility.

What are you looking forward to in 2015?

I’m currently planning for the biggest fundraiser, Highland Gathering at the beginning of May. I’m also working on a library and media centre for a rural school.

eThekwini South Lions Club president, Margaret Haus

What was your highlight of 2014?

At the start of my year as president, our club decided to channel our efforts to the more needy in our community where we could really make a difference in people’s lives. We identified a need for a creche at the Dakota Beach informal settlement in Isipingo. Through the support of businesses and individuals, this project has taken shape and at present there are two 12-metre containers equipped with tables and chairs, educational toys and various other toys for the children to play with and a kitchen where meals can be prepared. Our club spent about 300 man hours in the last six months working on weekends, painting the containers, renovating and painting various items of furniture that were donated, laying new flooring and installing a kitchen area in preparation for the handover to the community in January. The club thanks all businesses and individuals that contributed to making this project a success. We have also been involved with numerous other projects during this time such as:

• Distributing donated clothing to the needy;

• Sponsoring the Lions Peace Poster competition, which helps make children aware of the need to work together and live in peace and harmony;

• Purchasing and distributing Christmas sweet packs to children;

• Assisting a young woman who couldn’t go to her school dance due to lack of funds to purchase a dress and shoes;

• Supporting the Cansa Relay for Life through sponsoring a team for the event.

What are you looking forward to in 2015?

The next six months will be very busy with assisting the creche to become self-sufficient. Organising and running fundraising events for much-needed funds to assist in achieving living up to our motto ‘we serve’. I would also like to thank the Sun for their support and wish everybody a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.