Hennops river activist wins environmental prize

Local Hennops river environmental activist Tarryn Johnston recently scooped bronze in the Eco Angel category of the Enviropaedia Eco-Logic awards in Cape Town.

“It is such a wonderful acknowledgement for us at Hennops Revival to be selected to receive such prestigious environmental awards,” said Johnston.

“It is such an honour to be recognised as game changers in the environmental crisis. These awards validate the necessity of the work that we do within the community and for the planet and our water.

“While we don’t do any of this work for awards, it is wonderful that awards like this exist and help to increase the awareness of the significance of actions by ordinary citizens for the sake of the earth, our home.”

The Hennops Revival also won silver in the Eco Community category.

The pair were nominated for these prestigious awards earlier this month. Johnston told Rekord that her nomination was made extra special because this year’s awards were going to be attended in person as opposed to the previous ones.

“It’s extra exciting this year because all the previous ones have been online and for it being an in-person event makes a huge difference.

“Myself and Hennops Revival have been selected as finalists in two categories,” she said.

Johnston further said she felt the need to stand up and start making a difference in her community by trying to clean up the Hennops River.

She also thanked members of the community for the support they have given her, adding that all of the work they have done wouldn’t have been possible without them.

Johnston also thanked her sponsors for making it easier and possible for her to attend the award ceremony, from her plane tickets to accommodation.

The environmentalist also won best-dressed Eco Angel in her Rekord newspaper dress designed by Liezl Nortje. Johnston’s dress was made up of all the articles about her work at the Hennops river.

Earlier this year, a photo of Johnston standing in the polluted river won the French NPO Champ d’actions international photo competition.

Hennops Revival is a non-profit company with a focus on restoring the Hennops River in collaboration with the government and other organisations. It was formed in 2019.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram