Fish Hoek High pupils shine at awards ceremony
Fish Hoek High School recognised the outstanding achievements of its pupils at the annual Service and Culture Awards, on Tuesday October 15, and at the Sports Awards, the following day.
The events celebrated the dedication and excellence of pupils who had made remarkable contributions in various areas over the past year, said Fish Hoek High School principal Steven Joubert.
The awards, he said, not only recognised individual excellence but also reflected the spirit of the school community.
Comedian Alan Committie was the master of ceremonies at the Service and Culture Awards and had parents, guardians, teachers, and pupils in stitches. On a more serious note, he emphasised the importance of arts and culture.
“It can change you spiritually, energetically, and even physically,” he said.
Mr Committie presented more than 250 awards to pupils who excelled in languages, culture, and service. Categories included best speaker, English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, visual art and design, service and hospitality, dance, music and choir, and drama.
Many other pupils were acknowledged for their service contributions, which included participation in first aid, blood drives, and committees such as the Catering Club, promotions, and impact committees.
Grade 9 pupil Braedon Powell received the Mayor’s Civic Pride Award for his lifesaving efforts and service to the community.
Braedon recently qualified as a junior lifeguard and has completed more than 100 hours volunteering as one.
His first rescue, in August 2020, was that of two men in the surf on an inflatable mattress about 200m offshore on Fish Hoek Beach. He grabbed a small red board from the beach and paddled out to them, warning them of the danger.
He then discovered that the mattress was almost deflated and they couldn’t swim. He used his board to paddle them back 300m to shore against the wind, and eventually swam them to shallower water where he could push them to safety.
His latest rescue, in March this year, was done while facing two-storey-high waves crashing onto submerged rocks in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, after he saw a wave drag a man into the ocean.
With an NSRI pink torpedo buoy, he swam through the violent waves to reach the man whom he brought to shore with the help of bystanders and arriving lifeguards.
Braedon and his family had been in Durban for the Life Saving Championships. However, the ocean part of the competition was cancelled for the nippers due to extraordinarily large surf caused by a cyclone
Councillor Izabel Sherry presented the award.
On Wednesday October 16, the Sports Awards celebrated the exceptional achievements of Fish Hoek High School athletes in provincial and national representation as well as major and special sports trophies for winter and summer sports.
Alan Michell, a golfing legend and Fish Hoek High School alumnus, was the guest speaker and spoke about the importance of dedication in sports.
The Sweeting Cup for most outstanding achievement in a non-school sport was awarded to Georgia Singe.
The junior sportswoman of the year title went to Teagan Hudson, while the junior sportsman of the year was awarded to Shane Lindsay.
The coveted Geoff Forsyth Cup for sportswoman of the year was awarded jointly to Chelsea Scott and Chloe Galvin, while the Norah Forsyth Cup for sportsman of the year was presented to David Pikus.
