REGIONAL NEWS - The Garden Route National Park was well represented at SANParks' 17th annual Kudu Awards held on 30 November at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. Various Garden Route staff and stakeholders were awarded on the evening, including the late Oom Popo Scott who was posthumously given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Though Oom Popo is no longer with us, the award is a well-deserved acknowledgment of his unrivalled work ethic and tireless efforts that contributed to the management of the Tsitsikamma Section of Garden Route National Park.

He played a big role in the establishment of the famous Otter Trail and the production of a host of tourism products over the course of his 45 years of unbroken loyal service to South African National Parks.

Oom Popo retired from SANParks in 2007, and passed away peacefully in July 2021.

Vuyiswa Radebe, regional general manager for the Garden Route National Park, expressed gratitude to the late Popo Scott, stating, "Oom Popo Scott's lifetime of dedication to conservation exemplifies the spirit of the Kudu Awards. 

"His commitment to the environment has not only contributed to the success of SANParks but has also inspired a new generation of conservationists."

But the awards for the Garden Route didn't stop with the legendary Oom Popo Scott. Otter African Trail Run won the best Associate Partner of the Year Award and Joslin Bauer won the Woman of the Year Award.

Joslin Bauer (centre) receives her award.

Nature's Valley Trust and Nature's Valley Ratepayers Association walked away with the Community Contribution to Conservation Award.

Hendri Coetzee (centre) receives the award bestowed on Nature's Valley Trust and the ratepayers association.

The evening also included the Chief Executive Awards. Phumla Nyathikazi, socio-economic transformation (SET) officer for the Wilderness Section of the Garden Route National Park, won the Best Constituency Builder of the Year Award.Phumla Nyathikazi (centre) receives her award.

Nerina Kruger, science liaison and GIS for the Garden Route Scientific Services Unit, walked away with the Excellent Performance in the Workplace Award and the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park won the Best Ranger Post of the Year Award for the second time in a row.

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