It rained sixes and fours on one end while wickets tumbled on the other as community members turned out in numbers for the Homestead Helpers for Benoni B20 Bowls fundraiser at Lake Club Benoni Bowls on May 17.

Both greens buzzed with activity as more than 80 players participated in the fun-filled event aimed at raising funds for the organisation’s ongoing clean-up efforts around Homestead Dam and key intersections across Benoni, including the corner of North Rand Road and Lakefield Drive.

Homestead Helpers’ Nina Visser hailed the fundraiser a major success, saying the day was about far more than just bowls.

“We are very happy. Homestead Dam is our pilot project and our main aim is to keep the park neat and tidy in conjunction with Mannys Hardware and CMS, who help us keep everything lovely down there,” said Visser.

One of the organisation’s biggest recent achievements has been the removal of invasive hyacinth from the dam, although Visser admitted it remains an ongoing battle.

“For those who don’t know, there are seed banks of hyacinth that can stay productive for 25 years, so it’s not something that will ever completely go away,” she explained.

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Visser said the organisation has a dedicated team constantly working to keep the hyacinth under control, with team leader Willem Potgieter spending time on the water ensuring the dam remains clean and accessible.

A major challenge has been disposing of the large volumes of biomass removed from the water. However, the Helpers recently partnered with Springs-based company Thekga Eco Briquettes and Charcoal, which collects the hyacinth and repurposes it into eco-friendly products.

“They manufacture eco logs for fireplaces, eco briquettes for braais and even weave beautiful baskets from the hyacinth,” said Visser.

Some of those products formed part of the day’s raffle prizes, alongside a palm tree donated by Heckers Nursery, another organisation assisting the Helpers through horticultural advice, compost and tree donations.

Visser also praised the bowls club for its continued support, including donations of compost for the group’s gardening projects around the dam precinct.

Beyond fundraising, she said the initiative aims to encourage residents to reclaim and enjoy public spaces.

“Our aim is to provide places for people to go outdoors, enjoy nature, walk around and spend time with others,” she said.

“We want more community members involved and to show that no matter who you are or what skills you have, everybody in Benoni has something amazing to offer to make the community a better place.”

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