Eco warriors win awards

Karen Watkins|Published 2 years ago

Neville Van Rooy took gold in the Eco-Warrior category. With him is scientist and teacher Liz McDaid who are both with the Claremont-based Green Connection.

Activists were recognised for their work at the “glamorously green” themed 2022 Eco-Champions Ecologic Awards.

The 11th annual event was hosted by the Enviropaedia at the Two Oceans Aquarium on Thursday September 22.

It identifies individuals, organisations and communities that positively contribute towards a sustainable world.

Neville van Rooy of the Claremont-based Green Connection took gold in the Eco-Warrior category. Since childhood he has had a bond with the sea after his mother worked as a domestic worker with a family in Sea Point. He also spent time in Gansbaai where he came to understand the fishing communities’ livelihood challenges.

As the Green Connection’s community outreach coordinator he also works for the Support Centre for Land Change (SCLC), on an environmental justice programme that resists fracking and promotes renewable energy in the Karoo. He also conducts workshops, picket movements, beach clean-ups environmental education activities and protests, including the recent ones against karpowerships and seismic surveys.

Fashion designer and illustrator Lara Klawikowski of Woodstock took silver in the Eco-Fashion and Lifestyle category.

Her love for unusual detail, texture and innovative use of fabric has led to constant experimentation with recycled, upcycled and re-fabricated materials.

The Friends of the Liesbeek took bronze in the Eco-Community Award category. The public-benefit organisation employs 13 staff and six interns, who work three days a week along 9km of river frontage controlling invasive and alien species and conducting clean-ups reducing refuse by 41 tonnes each year.

Lesley Foster, left, and Pippa Orpen, both with the Woodstock based Wildlife ACT, a non-profit trust on a mission to save the planets' endangered wildlife and wild places from extinction.

Dressing for the glamorously green theme category Eco Angel is Joy Leaner of Panorama with former Friends of the Liesbeek chairman Phil McLean who wrote the Berg River Improvement Plan case study.

Dressing for the glamorously green category Eco Angel is eco innovation judge, Georgina Smit of Newlands.

Eco warrior Neville Van Rooy, left, of the Green Connection took gold from Polyco chief financial officer, Austin Nenguke.

Eco warrior, Neville Van Rooy conducts workshops, picket movements, beach clean-ups, environmental education activities and protests, including the recent ones against karpowerships and seismic surveys.