November 18, 2018
In its third year, the Marine Month competition run by the Dyer Island Conservation Trust with eco-tourism partners Marine Dynamics & Dyer Island Cruises, and with the support of conservation partners, the Overstrand Municipality and Birdlife Overberg, reached 16 schools in the Overberg area. This campaign, held every October, aims to raise awareness of the importance of our oceans.
The competition is aimed at all ages with various categories:
Category 1-COLOURING (Grades 1-3)
Category 2-POETRY (Grades 4-7)
Category 3-ESSAY (Grades 8 – 11)
The three main topics across the categories were:
1. African Black Oystercatcher Conservation
2. Catchment to Coast
3. Beat Plastic Pollution
Judges deliberated over the 160 entries received and are pleased to announce the winners, all of whom will enjoy a Marine Big 5 trip on Dyer Island Cruises.
Category 1
Curro Hermanus – Arran Muller
Okkie Smuts Primary – Ayakha Pekula, Iva Thobela, Katelyn van Rooy, Samkelo Maqolo
Laerskool Gansbaai – Adriaan Basson, Jancke Otto, Lien Fourie, Marissa De Villiers
Hawston Primary – Ronan Sampson
Mount Pleasant Primary – Maxine-Aroncé Meyers, Evandra April, Fazline Jacobs
Gansbaai Primer – Bronlee Richter
Die Bron Primary – Tiffany Steneveldt, Ethan Matthysen,
Bosko Christian School – Luniko Hesewu
Category 2
Hawston Primary – A J Moos , Grace Poole
Okkie Smuts Primary – Likho Poni
Lukhanyo Primary – Siyolise Makrune, Anganathi Mtsegwala, Siphokazi Jonazi
Laerskool Gansbaai – Lara Strydom, Yara Du Plessis
Category 3
Gansbaai Academia – Zainabo Anzuruni, Siyamthanda Ngaleka, Owethu Ntanjana
The winners of the Marine Month competition enjoyed a Marine Big 5 trip on Dyer Island Cruises. Chester Arendse and Arthur Carelse from the Overstrand Municipality Environmental Management joined the beaming scholars – for some it was their first whale sighting and many were awed at their size. The Trust’s educator, Pinkey Ngewu, explained more about the Dyer Island ecosystem and after the trip handed each winner a backpack from the Overstrand Municipality and recycled pencil sets donated from DEA (Department of Environmental Affairs) & DP Oceans & Coast department.
