The annual loyalty awards celebrate members whose contribution to and association with the Cape Town Section stretches back five or more decades.
This year’s celebration was held in our Clubhouse on the 1st August, 2025, with friends and family present to witness long-standing members of the Cape Town Section receiving their certificates for the milestones of 50-, 60- and 70-year memberships of the Club.
Our Treasurer, Lester Coelen, together with Chairperson, Anthea van Weiringen, hosted the evening, which included tales of various mountaineering exploits, achievements, mishaps and comical incidents, as the recipients reflected on what mountains, and the Club, have meant to them over the years.
Two Honorary Life Membership awards were also given to two members “in recognition of outstanding service to the Section”. These were to:
Suzanne Smith, in recognition of the huge contribution she has made through leading hundreds of hikes for the MCSA-CT Section over the decades. In earlier years this was with the Mountain Community Programme (previously Outreach), and more recently this is through arranging consistent and interesting meets for Club members. Suzanne’s knowledge of plants and the natural environment, and her enthusiasm of sharing this knowledge, is greatly appreciated. The time and energy that Suzanne has dedicated to taking members out to explored and unexplored regions over the years is a legacy to be proud of.
Mike van Wieringen, in recognition of his far-reaching and diverse legacy in the Club. Mike has led memorable meets to remote places, forged access to new areas through careful and respectful negotiation with landowners, mentored future leaders, and has been involved in countless projects in the Section, always stepping in when things needed to get done. Mike has a near unparalleled knowledge of the Cape mountains and kloofs, and is generous in sharing his knowledge with new generations, inspiring many younger mountaineers to get out and explore these places. Mike’s leadership style is deeply respected: unassuming, capable, and full of heart. The access that Mike has secured over the decades has opened up landscapes for future generations of Club Members, and this work has built up trust between those who love the mountains and those who protect them.
The award recipients were:
Honorary Life Membership:
- Suzanne Smith
- Mike van Wieringen
70 Years:
- Atties Malan
- Merran Silberbauer
- Neil van der Spuy
60 Years:
- Peter Berrisford
- Mary Berrisford
- Gillan Bowie
- Olwen Gibson
- Edward Malinaric
- Ellinor Wilson
50 Years:
- Ursula Athiros
- Raymond Barlow
- Mary Bateman
- Richard Benford
- Peter Berman
- Tony Chinery
- Peggy De Kock
- Paul Gray
- Alan Hutton
- Richard Ledger
- Aleck McKirdy
- Andy Moore
- Clare Power
- Samuel Smith
- David Sykes
- Dion Tromp
- Kevin Tromp
- Merle Van Der Spuy
Although not all recipients were able to attend, the evening was nevertheless a warm and happy one. Thank you to Hanlie Gouws for the photos.
