On Tuesday, 11 August, community members braved a fierce gale to take part in the Porter Drive Clean-up between 16:00 and 18:00. Despite the challenging weather, around fifteen volunteers turned out, and approximately twenty‑five bags of litter were collected. Much of it consisted of plastic cups, tins, and general waste likely discarded from passing vehicles. Several pieces of plastic sheeting and signage were also retrieved, possibly remnants from the severe storm of 12 May.
A few residents sensibly waited for the wind to ease before heading out the following day, and although we didn’t manage to capture photos of them, their contribution is sincerely appreciated.
One thing about us Betty’s Bay locals is that we love walking in our scenic neighbourhood. Rain or shine, the walkers are out, and it’s really cool to see how many of them routinely pick up bits of litter along the way. Craig Foster’s reminder to “do one small act for biodiversity every day” resonates strongly here; collecting rubbish on a walk is one of the simplest ways to live that out. The same applies to our beaches, where hooks, sinkers, condoms and fishing gut often wash up among the kelp. While we hope to see less of this in the future, our community’s willingness to clean up makes a meaningful difference.
Wayne Jackson shared a message on the Stony Point Watch group thanking everyone involved, and we include it here to encourage future clean-ups:
I would like to sincerely thank the members of our community who dedicated their time this afternoon to assist with cleaning a section of Porter Drive. Your commitment exemplifies a strong sense of community responsibility and pride in maintaining our neighbourhood’s appearance. Your efforts contribute to making Betty’s Bay a cleaner and more welcoming place for everyone. Once again, thank you for your initiative, and I hope your actions inspire others to take similar steps in caring for our streets and surrounding areas.
Thank you to Barbara Jenman for supplying the waste bags and bibs, to all community members who assisted on the day, and to those who actively clean up daily. We also extend our appreciation to the Overstrand Municipality and their staff for their ongoing support in waste collection. Your friendly service and willingness to go the extra mile do not go unnoticed.
Patrick Bolttler