Our Story
HOW DID THE NATURE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF KLEINMOND COME ABOUT?
On 7 October 1975 a public meeting convened by the Rapportryers van Kleinmond was held in the Municipal Hall to promote nature conservation.
Dr Douglas Hey, the Provincial Director of Nature Conservation in the Cape was the guest speaker. About 100 persons from the local community attended the meeting. The idea of forming a nature conservation society in Kleinmond found common appeal and the meeting, led by J. N. F. O’Kennedy, unanimously decided that such a nature conservation society be formed, and that ten persons be nominated to promote the foundation.
Following this, the founding meeting of the Nature Conservation and Museum Association was held in the Municipal Hall on 22 October 1975. At this meeting the following committee was elected:
Maj. J. F. C. Prince – chairman, Prof. dr. F. V. Lategan – vice-chairman, Mr. J. J. du Plessis (town clerk) – acting secretary. Additional members: Rev. D. P. Hammann, Messrs. G. Bailey, W. J. J. de Beer, W. Ebersohn, I. Loader, Mevre. E. Vlok, E. Schmidt, and Dr. Marie Vogts in ad- vising capacity.
During the discussions, reference is made to the unique native vegetation found in the Kleinmond area, and that it is extremely important to preserve this vegetation. Among other things, it is also noted that the Municipality is in the process of having a portion of the coastal area declared a nature reserve.