Gans-Berg Nuus / News - 20 October 2026
Catch up on the latest local news from Gansbaai and the surrounding areas!
Wally, die Walvis in De Kelders trek ‘n nuwe baadjie aan
“Jy sal nie glo wat ek nou vir jou gaan sê nie,” het ‘n opgewonde Raadsdame Riana de Coning aan Gans-Berg Nuus se joernalis gesê. “Ons walvis in De Kelders gaan splinternuut oorgedoen word!” Riana se opgewondenheid hieroor het byna tasbaar in die lug gehang.
Die inisiatief is deur Elmarie Wepener en JP O’Connell van die Dormehl Phalane Property Group aan die dag gelê. Hulle het die Overstrand Munisipaliteit Gansbaai genader oor die moontlikheid om die walvis op te knap. ‘n Komitee is saamgestel, bestaande uit mnr Kat Myburgh (Overstrand Munisipaliteit Gansbaai), Raadsdame Riana de Coning, Glenda Kitley (Gansbaai Toerisme) en Eric de Villiers (De Kelders Belastingbetalers Vereniging), Elmarie Wepener en JP O’Connell van die Dormehl Phalane Property Group.
Die algemene gevoel was dat Wally, soos De Kelders se walvis bekendstaan, erg verwaarloos is waar hy in sy kampie in die parkie langs Guthriestraat lê. “Hy lyk sommer hartseer omdat hy so vervalle en verwaarloos is,” het Riana gesê. “Hy is gaande daaroor dat toeriste foto’s van hom neem, selfs ‘selfies’, maar voel deesdae baie skaam oor sy voorkoms wat van verwaarlosing spreek, terwyl hy heelwat stories oor homself en die mariene-lewe het om aan toeriste te vertel!”
Nou kan daar ‘n einde kom aan Wally se ‘skaam wees’. Planne is reeds in plek om hom behoorlik en netjies op te knap - a Face Lift, sou mens byna kon sê. Verskeie opknappingswerk word in die vooruitsig gestel: ‘n Deel van die omheining sal vervang / geverf word, Wally sal in geheel herstel en oorgedoen word en die inligtingsborde sal vervang word - dit alles sal hom weer ‘n’ trotse’ walvis vir toeriste maak.
Die kunstenaar, Tertius van Dyk, wat Hermanus se walvis opgradeer het (sien foto), gaan nou die taak aanpak om dieselfde met De Kelders se walvis te doen. Sommige besighede het reeds aangedui dat hulle graag by die opgraderingsprojek betrokke wil raak. Addisionele fondse sal benodig word om Wally so op te knap dat hy weer ‘n toeriste-aantreklikheid sal wees, wat tot voordeel van Groter Gansbaai sal wees.
You are invited to form part of this “Wally the Whale” project. An arrangement has been made with Guthrie and Theron Lawyers for the donations to be paid into a Trust account which they will then administer and make payments as needed. If you would like to make a donation the account details are as follows: Guthrie & Theron; Absa bank; Account Nr 40 50 42 999 5; Branch Code 632 005; Ref Wally the Whale and your name. Then very importantly to conform to FICA regulations - you need to send a copy of your ID, proof of address and proof of payment to gansbaaitransfers@gtlaw.co.za.
Enquiries:
Contact Elmarie Wepener at 083 661 8465 or send an email to her at elmariewepener@dpgprop.co.za.
The Artist, Tertius van Dyk
Tertius is a surrealist artist who was born in Overberg, being an avid lover of trees, rocks, rust and everything earthy. His trademarks are his take on trees and the moon, often in a desert-like setting. He also draws from the ocean depicting whales from his home town Hermanus, sharks and shipwrecks.
Tertius’s love of art has been lifelong, but he came to professional art only later in life. Tertius uses the mixed medium in his art but works mostly in acrylic on large canvas format. He says of his art, “I love wide open spaces, full of emptiness and peaceful solitude and I strive to bring this forward in my art”.
