Sixty of Hout Bay’s “unsung heroes” attended a special lunch at Riverside Estates Guesthouse on Mandela Day.
The event was organised by staff at the tranquil guesthouse off Valley Road to celebrate those residents and organisations who were making a difference in Hout Bay.
They were treated to a delicious three-course meal of butternut soup, lamb shank with truffle oil mash and meringue with berries, and given the opportunity to mingle and get to know one another better.
Riverside Estates’ Sara Wise had called for nominations on Facebook, and there had been an overwhelming response from the public on the social network.
“There have been so many tragic events in Hout Bay, but the support the community has shown has been amazing. We have everyday heroes in Hout Bay, but very often they are people working behind the scenes who are giving of themselves entirely in order to make one Hout Bay,” she said.
She referenced a quote by Nelson Mandela which reads: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
This, she said, was a philosophy that was being espoused by the people of Hout Bay.
“We received 108 nominations in a very short period, and eventually we settled on 60 people for the lunch. Our hope is that
they came through our doors as strangers but would leave as friends.”