Pik 'n Wyn Story -raise money for the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary

Pik ‘n Wyn Story

March 31, 2016 by dyertrust

The Pik ‘n Wyn event held at the Great White House was well attended by guests all decked out in the required black and white. The event was attended by like-minded good friends of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust who this year turns ten. A report entitled “A Decade of Achievement” detailing the Trust’s research and conservation efforts was available to all guests. The Trust’s corporate sponsor, Volkswagen SA, brought a large press group including the film team from 50│50 who spent an extra two days filming with the Trust.

The evening combined the talents of Chef Shane Sauvage of La Pentola and Creation Wines. The fusion food was an absolute hit with guests raving about the taste sensations. Chef Shane started with a springbok carpaccio followed by a main of a perfectly cooked fillet steak with a mushroom/monkfish pastry and a sublime shellfish and saffron cream sauce. Dessert was a sweet chocolate terrine. Creation Wines complimented the food with the African Penguin Reserve wine and a Pinot Noir. Their delicious Rosé was a wonderful welcome drink. Janet Marshall of Whale Coast FM was the Master of Ceremonies and entertained with some jazzy tunes. Other entertainment included the Gansbaai Academia marimba band that played on arrival as well as a string trip from the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Artist Pete Woo from Woo Studios did caricatures of guests. The evening was made warmer by the singing of the Great White House Rainbow Choir bringing tears to some. Sales and Marketing Director of Volkswagen SA, Stefan Mecha was visiting for the first time so Matt Gennrich, Group Communications Manager did the speech saying, “In all my years of being involved in sponsorships, I have never seen one work as well as this.” Volkswagen has been supporting the work of the Trust since 2011.

The fundraiser was to raise money for the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, now just over a year old, and which has successfully released over 120 seabirds in the first year of operation. Popular was the opening item of a private dinner for six to be hosted by Chef Shane at the bidder’s home. A very happy Reinhard Kern of Crayfish Lodge successfully bid on this dinner and Shane added in a hardcover copy of his 3^rd cookbook, Cape Fusion. The book is now in its second print run having already sold 5000 copies. There were three photographs on canvas (African penguin by Peter Chadwick; Humpback whale by Hennie Otto; Albatross trio by Wilfred Chivell) and a painting of two African penguins by Alouise Lynch up for auction. Volkswagen added a prize of three months loan of the new Passat, European car of the year, which was auctioned twice after the first bidder donated it back. Auctioneer Michael Lutzeyer of Grootbos Private Nature Reserve ultimately took this great prize on its second round. In total R71 000 was raised on the auction items. Wilfred Chivell said of the evening, “It was really wonderful to see the friends we have in the community who were able to support the event. The penguins do not belong to the trust or to the penguin sanctuary but to all of us and together we can better look after them. Thank you for the support.”

What a great evening