Twenty-six volunteers met on a clear, cool morning in Salmon Street, Sunny Seas braving a 50km/h + easterly wind. This was a continuation of the August hack on the municipal land zoned for community facilities, bordered by Pearl Drive and Albertyn Drive. The target was to remove the remaining Australian tea bushes (red) and a particularly bad area (yellow) riddled with New Zealand christmas trees (NZXT), Bottle brush (BB) and more tea bushes
Richard Portmannwas welcomed to his first Betty’s Bay hack after having attended the Hardcore Hackers (HHH) Hack in the Harold Porter National Botanical Garden on 19 August. We hope he enjoyed the experience and will become a regular. Dave Mourant was notable by his absence following a bad fall down the stairs at home. Despite this, he and Anne provided all the blue and all that was needed for our tea and coffee break. It is because of commitment and dedication such as this that the Battle for Betty’s Bay has reached its 750th milestone after sixty-three and a half years. It is with disbelief and sadness that we heard of Ken Meiring’s cancer diagnosis earlier in the week. We wish he and Zelda strength and positivity for the road ahead. Dave and Ken will be sorely missed during their recovery at both the weekly and monthly hacks.
Armed with loppers, poppers, hand- and chainsaws and blue, the tea bushes near Albertyn Drive were quickly despatched. The infestation further in was a much tougher proposition, compounded by all the dead branches left by others. It took an age to expose the new growth embedded amongst all the dead material before they could be dealt with. Despite this, far more was accomplished than anticipated. It highlights how important it is to remove the cut material. Apart from reducing the fuel load for fires it makes access so much easier when doing follow up work. Compliments to the tireless draggers and stackers who make this happen. It is to everyone’s credit how people identify what needs to be done, find their role and contribute to a seamless and productive hack. Amazing to be a part of this wonderful group!
The mid morning break was taken back at Salmon Street. Thanks to Mary Whitelaw and Lee Boyd for making their customary egg mayo and grated cheese with cucumber sarmies to recharge the hackers for the final hour.
Jan Joubert and Paul Whitelaw continued to cut down the rooikrans trees growing on the verge of Albertyn Drive at the Salmon Street intersection whilst others returned to the open space.
The aftermath was clearly enjoyed by all as people chatted for close to an hour whilst sharing cold ones before eventually departing.
Many thanks to our neighbours for their ongoing, invaluable support: Christine Coupar from Kleinmond; Anne Woods, Tommy Mills and Chris Geldenhuys from Pringle Bay; Megs Tweedie, Mike Christelis and Andreas Claassens from Rooi Els.
Adhoc hack – Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 08:30 – 10:45, Viv von der Heyden, Paul Whitelaw, Rob Boyd
This hack involved removing predominantly NZXT as well as myrtle and rooikrans from the OM Community Facilities property on the western side of Waterfall Road. Paul cut down rooikrans along High Level Road on his way home. Many thanks to Viv and Harry for the coffee and toast at their home afterwards.
As ever, on behalf of the Betty’s Bay Fynbos, thank you all for your efforts.
Rob Boyd
Convener Betty’s Bay Hack Group