Jemimah wins Bruce Taylor Award in Hout Bay

A strong commitment to the environment and the Hout Bay community earned Jemimah Birch this year’s Bruce Taylor Award, presented at the Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch (HBNW) annual general meeting on Thursday, 12 June.

Ms Birch, who has worked tirelessly towards making Hout Bay better for all, is the chairperson of the Scott Estate and Baviaanskloof CID, and part of the Friends of the Rivers of Hout Bay.

"I feel grateful that Neighbourhood Watch considered me for this award. thank you. There are so many people who work quietly behind the scenes to make achievements possible in Hout Bay - teachers, volunteers in all sorts of fields, firefighters, law enforcement personnel, those who care for animals and the environment, and the list goes on and on," Ms Birch said.

"All just quietly and unassumingly getting on with making our community a better place."

Chairperson for HBNW, Andrew Martin, said: " She works behind the scenes in a multitude of roles to keep invasives out of the rivers and mountainside. She is also committed to fire safety, and in her role as chair of Scotts Estate and Baviaanskloof CID  and she continually ensures that our area is safer from both fires as well as crime."

The Bruce Taylor Award recognises volunteers who generously give of their time and resources because they want to make a difference in their community.

Each year, the HBNW puts out a call for nominations and creates the opportunity for them to express their gratitude to those who work tirelessly to keep Hout Bay safe.

"Whether they’re patrolling the streets or working behind the scenes, this award goes out to those who go above and beyond for their communities," Mr Martin said.

The award is named after Bruce Taylor, an Overkloof Neighbourhood Watch member who was killed in a motorbike accident many years ago. 

Past winners include former Scotts Estate and Baviaanskloof CID chairperson Helen Snell (2023), volunteer accountant Anzette van Staden (2022) and former HBNW chairperson Liezl Schulte (2021).

For the 2024 Bruce Taylor Award, the following nominations were received: Anthony Chemaly, Carrel de Ridder, Jemimah Birch, Toby Adams, Marilyn Leadsom, John O’Callaghan, Jacqui Whales, Gordon Bradley, Doreen Malan, Helen Snell, and JJ de Villiers.

And last year's winners of this award went to JJ de Villiers and Toby Adams, who shared the award.

Mr Martin also pointed out that the HBNW celebrated 20 years since starting their first patrols in the area, marking another special occasion on the night.

"There are many neighbourhood watch volunteers who generously give of their time and resources because they want to make a difference in their community, so it makes it extra special to award somebody on this night," Mr Martin said.