Like the river that she has given so much to, Liz Wheeler is known for finding a way around just about any obstacle life throws in her path.
In recognition of her ability “to get things done”, the founding member of Friends of the Liesbeek (FoL) was recently presented with the Douglas Metcalfe River Warden Award for her profound impact on the Liesbeek and its community.
The award was set up five years ago following Douglas Metcalfe’s passing. Metcalfe, who had a particular passion for the retention ponds linked to the Liesbeek in Mowbray as well as the Rosebank greenbelt, was known for the selfless giving of his time to protect and rehabilitate these landmarks.
Every year, in honour of Metcalfe’s memory, FoL gives this award to a community member who embodies these same values.
Presenting the award at the community organisation’s AGM held at The Vineyards, Newlands, on Tuesday 16 August, FoL member Prof Kevin Winter described the role that Liz and her late husband, Dave, together with other founding members, played in establishing the Friends group 31 years ago.
“It was a particular moment in South Africa’s history because, in 1991, South Africa was excluded from participating in the Earth Summit.
“We had observer status and that may have had a very powerful impact because the slogan was ‘Think global, act local’. And it was that kind of initiative which spurred a number of Friends groups who started at that time,” said Winter.
He described Liz and her late husband as incredible organisers. He said Dave, especially, was known for his detailed minute-taking while Liz was the historian of the group.
He said, after Dave’s passing, Liz continued to do exactly the same: quietly working in the background, organising, archiving, keeping the minutes going and keeping the committee on their toes.
“Champions like her are people who we want to acknowledge tonight. Liz was always there when there was a job to be done. She stepped in and took it on and made sure she followed it through,” said Winter.
He shared that Liz was also one of the main drivers behind the establishment of the Liesbeek Maintenance Project (LMP) 18 years ago.
At present, the team includes eight members and six interns with their work focused on cleaning the riparian edge (the land on the banks of the river), and managing and controlling alien invasive species while replanting with indigenous vegetation.
Thanks to this model, FoL has been able to do constructive, impactful work on the river, while creating jobs.
“It began in 2004 when Liz and I really looked like we were sharpshooters and the youngsters of the day. We went cap in hand to corporates and asked if we could try and start a maintenance project,” said Winter.
Thanks to a donation of R40 000, FoL was able to launch the then pilot project with three people forming part of the very first LMP team.
“Liz spent at least the next four years supervising that team. And I have plenty of photographs of Liz with clippers, with shears; getting people organised and training people,” Winter said.
Reflecting on her contribution to the Friends group, Winter said three things stood out for him about Liz.
“One is of loyalty, one of being consistent, and one of being patient, because when you are working in an organisation like this, there is no such thing as a silver bullet.
“It is only slow-and-consistent and loyalty that see a job done. And more and more, we need to engender that kind of value system in our projects going forward,” he said.
