1. SETTLERS Award:
Awarded by Andrew Kearney
Sponsored by: Andrew Kearney from Shamwari
Awarded to: An acting guide that scored the highest in one round of an Advanced Weapon Handling (ARH) Assessment over the previous years – August 2019- August 2022.
Method: Guides that pass all exercises on their first attempt. The scoring is based on the standard FGASA ARH score sheet.
Panel: Andrew Kearney, Pieter Dunn, Schalk Pretorius, Richard Pearse.
Honorable mention: Jan Dykema (100% following the simulated charge being achieved on the 2nd attempt) – Shamwari Game Reserve & Leon Strauss (98.75 % passing all exercises first time) – Shamwari Game Reserve
Winner: Byron Sullivan (99.04% passing all exercises first time) – Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
2. ALBANY Award:
Awarded by Pieter Dunn
Sponsored by: FGASA-EC:
Awarded to: An acting guide who performed best in the Eastern Cape Regional birding specialisation Assessment & Exam and/or the guide who has gone beyond what is expected to promote birding in the Eastern Cape and the rest of Southern Africa
Method: Score and references
Panel: Pieter Dunn & Schalk Pretorius
Honorable mention:
(New Categories) Highest Core Slide & Sound Result: Tied between Christiaan Viljoen
(Riverbend Country Lodge) and Liezel van der Bergh (Lalibela Game Reserve).
(New Categories) Highest Region Slide & Sound Result: Awarded to Liezel van der Bergh – Lalibela Game Reserve.
Overall Winner (Core Slide & Sound, Regional Slide & Sound and Drive if applicable):
Awarded to Liezel van der Bergh – Lalibela Game Reserve
3. ADDO Award:
Awarded by Michelle Du Plessis & Richard Pearse
Sponsored by: FGASA-EC:
Awarded to: The individual/s that demonstrated the greatest level of improvement in their level of guiding in the region. In addition to this individuals who have contributed significantly in the development of Guides in the Region and nationally in upholding FGASA’s Standards and Protocols.
Method: Highest register score difference & recommendation from head guides. On a National level, FGASA Head Office.
Panel: FGASA – Head Office
Overall Award:
1. Andrew Kearney – Receiver of the Addo Elephant Award & Medal (Track & Sign Specialist and Evaluator, progressing towards assessing SKS Dangerous Animals, and representing the EC on the Executive Committee. Also recently be elected onto the SKS DG Committee and the Ethics Committee).
Regional & National Representation
Richard and Schalk Richard and Pieter
2. Schalk Pretorius – Medal (Representing the EC on the Executive Board of FGASA, continuing with the upskilling of our guides within the region and as far as East Africa and many years of commitment to the guiding industry).
3. Pieter Dunn – Medal (Representing the EC as a Standards Ambassador for Southern Africa, developing and helping with the Trails Guide Mentoring Programme and upskilling of Field Guides, in addition to working alongside Schalk at Ulovane and running our regions Birding Programme).
4. Richard Pearse – Medal (Representing the EC as Standards Ambassador of Southern Africa, developing and helping Reserves and Lodges of the region to achieve goals of identifying and developing Trails Mentors and Assessors and assisting reserves with advice on Guiding Development and furthering individuals qualifications. Running the Regions Satellite Office and Administration).
Field Guides in the Assessors Mentorship Programme who have progressed positively in the past 2 years:
1. Patrick Phumzile Kepe – Medal (Shamwari Game Reserve)
Under the mentorship of Andrew Kearney, Patrick has grown significantly as a Field Guide. Patrick is an NQF4 2nd Rifle (Old system) working towards his Lead Trails (1st Rifle) and will soon be writing his Advanced Astronomy in October. He also possess a Tracker level 2.
2. Christiaan Swanepoel – Medal (Samara Game Reserve)
Under the mentorship of Richard Pearse, Christiaan has grown significantly from a Tracker to an NQF2 Apprentice Field Guide. Having graduated from the Tracker Academy, he successfully achieved his Tracker 3. Christiaan has successfully completed his FGASA ARH and is in the Trails Mentorship programme. He’s also currently working towards his NQF4 Field Guide.
4. FRONTIER Award:
Awarded by Michelle Du Plessis to the Gorah Elephant Camp team
Sponsored by: FGASA-EC
Awarded to: The institution that demonstrated the greatest level of improvement in their level of guiding in the region and/or delivered an exceptional contribution in region. The score is determined on the average difference per guide levelling the fields between small and large institutions.
Method: Highest average score per guide + other significant contributions from institutions.
Panel: FGASA-EC and Organising Committee
Honorable mention: We had a very well supported submission of guiding registers from around the Eastern Cape this year for 2022. It had been decided by the Organising Committee that we honor the successes of those guides who continued to grow during the Covid pandemic, considering the hardships faced by many an establishment and reserve. With this in mind though, only reserves that submitted in 2019 had been factored in, in this year’s nominations for the Frontier Award. These reserves are Kariega, Kwandwe, Lalibela, Gorah and Shamwari (5/9 submissions for 2022). Amakhala, Kuzuko, Samara and Pumba submitted this year so they can compete again next year.
Winner: Gorah Elephant Camp is the overall winner of this year’s 2022 Frontier Award.
Runner up: Kwandwe Private Game Reserve who trailed behind Gorah by only 78 points. Special Mention: Shamwari Game Reserve (3rd 298 points), Lalibela (4th 57 points).
5. KAROHA Award:
Awarded by Andrew Kearney
Sponsored by: FGASA-EC and Shani Preller
Awarded to: The active guide who has achieved the highest individual score for a Track & Sign and Trailing Evaluation and/or an active guide who has shown the greatest individual improvement and/or an active guide who has achieved a Specialist qualification either for Track & Sign Identification or in the field of Trailing.
Method: Highest score achieved, senior guide nominations and Cyber Tracker Evaluators, as well as guides attaining Tracker Qualifications through the Tracker Academy
Panel: FGASA representatives
Honorable mention: Ulovane – Leon Weinfurtner 99% and Simone Ruf 96% T&S
Overall Winner: (Highest Tracker Qualification):
Jean Taute achieving his full Tracker Level 3
(New Categories)
Highest Track & Sign Result: Jan Dykema achieving the highest result for Level 3
Highest Trailing Result: Frans Kgomontsho achieving the highest result for Level 3
6. Honoris Aloe Awards:
Awarded by Richard Pearse & Michelle Du Plessis
Sponsored by: FGASA HEAD OFFICE / FGASA-EC:
Method: Nominated on basis of three criteria by FGASA-EC, Second by FGASA MD & The FGASA-EC Executive Committee
-
- Dedication
- Qualification score
- Contribution
Dedication: Minimum of 5 years as a guide with 1000 days active guiding in the Eastern
Qualification score: Minimum register score of 5000 points
Contribution :Represented their company on the FGASA EC, promote and participate their company’s participation in FGASA-EC efforts to ensure a higher level of nature guiding in the Eastern Cape. Ensure FGASA’s standards, practices, ethics and level of professionalism within their company.
Or any other significant contribution
Honorable Mentions (2022 Awards):
Shamwari : Leon Strauss, Simone Smith, Raymond Simmons, Joshua Venter, Jacques Crosby
Kwandwe : Jason Gipson, Chris Van Zyl, Ryan Hiller, Byron Sullivane
Pumba : Neale Howarth, Phillip Gouza, Cleo Mdlethe
Kariega : Zolani Mofu
Bronze medals:
Shamwari : Jan Dykema, Jason Smith, Morne Hamlyn, Jessica Tyrer
Samara : Marnus Osche, Ewert Hauptfleisch
Kwandwe : David Parker, Matthew Derry
Gorah : Riaan Rall , Reinhardt Visser
Amakhala : Seamus Kay
Lalibela : Craig Wale
Kariega: Wayne Howarth
Silver medals:
Dedication: Minimum of 8 years in the industry with a minimum of 1000 days active guiding in the Eastern Cape.
Qualification score: Minimum register score of 10 000 points
Contribution: Qualify in terms of the requirements as set out in the category for bronze, make a significant contribution to the status of guiding in the Eastern
Amakhala : Riaan Brandt
Shamwari: Minolan Munien
Gold medals:
Dedication: Minimum of 10 years in the industry with a minimum of 1000 days active guiding in the Eastern Cape.
Qualification score: Minimum register score of 12 500 points
Contribution: Qualify in terms of the requirements as set out in the category for bronze & make an extraordinary, ongoing contribution to FGASA and to the status of guiding in the Eastern Cape.
Shamwari : Andrew Kearney
Ulovane: Pieter Dunn
FGASA Eastern Cape: Richard Pearse
Kariega: Chris Reynecke
7. FGASA Recognized Trails Guide Mentors:
Awarded by Richard Pearse in collaboration with Bernice Kelly and the FGASA-EC Reserves Profile
Requirements: Professional Field guide and Professional Trails guide categories achieved, Tracker Level 2 or higher, Wilderness First Aid, current FGASA ARH.
Awarded to: Minolan Munien & Riaan Brandt (January 2022)
8. Mentor development
Guides who have been earmarked for Trails Guide Mentors:
The below members have been identified through the regional profiling undertaken by Richard Pearse. Some members still have to complete their Professional Field Guide (PFG) qualifications (Theory and/or Practical) and been awarded their Professional Trails Guide (PTG) qualification with Tracker 2.
| Kwandwe Game Reserve | David Parke, Matthew |
| Samara Game Reserve | Ewert Hauptfleisch |
| Lalibela Game Reserve | Craig Wale, Ashley Meintjes |
| Shamwari Game Reserve | Jan Dykema, Jean Taute, Jason Smith |
| Kariega Game Reserve | Wayne Howarth, Chris Reynecke |
| Pumba Game Reserve | Philip Gouza |
Guides working towards:
The Specialist Knowledge and Skills in Dangerous Game:
Jan Dykema, Jean Taute, Minolan Munien, Pieter Dunn, Richard Pearse (Old SKS DA)
Riaan Brandt, Schalk Pretorius
Guides working towards their FGASA Assessors who are registered with the ETDP-SETA:
Ewert Hauptfleisch – Samara Game Reserve, Chris Reynecke – Kariega Game Reserve,
Minolan Munien – Shamwari Game Reserve
The FGASA Eastern Cape guides (below)
