Noetzie Stories

“The overall goal of Integrated Coastal Management is to improve the quality of life of human communities who d

epend on coastal resources while maintaining the biological diversity and productivity of coastal ecosystems. . . . It is a process that unites government and the community, science and management, sectoral and public interests in preparing and implementing an integrated plan for the protection and development of coastal ecosystems and resources.” (Report on fundamental goals of coastal management via deliberations of the Group of Experts of Marine Protection 1996)

E x e c u t i v e  S u m m a r y

The national vision sets out the desired future for South Africa’s coast and the people using this valuable resource as follows:

“We, the people of South Africa, celebrate the diversity, beauty and richness of our coast and seek an equitable balance of opportunities and benefits throughout it. We strive for sustainable coastal development involving a balance between material prosperity, social development, cultural values, spiritual fulfilment and ecological integrity, in the interests of all South Africans. We strive for a time when all South Africans recognise that the coast is ours to enjoy in a spirit of community. We look forward to a time when all South Africans assume shared responsibility for maintaining the health, diversity and productivity of coastal ecosystems in a spirit of stewardship and caring.

We seek to guide the management of our coast in a way that benefits current and future generations, and honours our obligations and undertakings from local to global levels”.

How will this affect a small coastal community like Noetzie? The new legislation will protect public access routes to the beach and entrenches the rights of all South Africans to enjoy the coastline for recreation and other purposes and also protects the environment. If you would like to read more and to study the legislation, please click on this link: National Coastal Management Programme.

The turn off to Noetzie is just a few Kilometers from Knysna, on the eastern side, opposite the turn off to Uniondale. Follow the dirt road towards the sea, until you get to the public parking area at the end of the road. The road can be quite bumpy in places, depending on how recently it was graded, or if it has recently had heavy rainfall erode it.  So drive slowly and carefully. After parking, be sure to lock your car, and do not leave any valuables in sight. There is usually a self-employed car guard on duty.

Please do not drive down the old wagon road, because there is no parking available for the public and very little turning space- especially since the river mouth has washed away permit holders 4×4 access via road which ends abruptly in the air.

Follow signs to steps to the beach, or you can walk down the Old Wagon Road which is on the far left of parking area.  There are public toilets at bottom of the Old Wagon Road- water supplying the toilets is from the lagoon and is not potable, so bring your own refreshments- but take all your litter home with you, please- or dispose of responsibly in primate proof rubbish bins.

There are no facilities for camping at Noetzie.

Looking through the old family album collections, my husband and I discovered that both our grandfathers had once been in love with the same girl. The details are sketchy but when the same graceful beauty appeared,  so often, in both  our grandfathers’ bachelor albums,  we started to look for, and find more clues.

What we have found out is that her name was Una le F…., maybe le Fleur,  her sister, or friend, was Peggy.  These photos were taken in 1926, a weekend party to the coast from Oudtshoorn, via  Kruisfontein, Prince Albert. Apparently there was a le Fleur family  living in Knysna?

She never married either of them but the wives they eventually married (our grandmothers) may have ripped photos out of their  husband’s  bachelor albums at some point – it really looks like photos have been removed deliberately.

Una was chaperoned at all times by her parents, the man who we now assume is her father,  we once were convinced was George Bernard Shaw (he did visit Noetzie- but a few years later). You can see Una’s parents and siblings (?) in the watermelon feast pictures, as well as others. I don’t think the chaperones went on the picnics upriver though, that might have been too adventurous.

So, that is all we have really- there are a few more I might add but I am still relying on too much imagination when I look at these lovely faded photographs. I wish they could tell us a bit more! Bruce and I did not know that our grandfathers knew each other that well but it certainly seems that they did. Maybe Herbie was in love with the sister Peggy and Una is behind the lens?  Who knows? 5 years later, Herbie called his new baby daughter Peggy. Is that a small clue? Ah, no  that is my imagination at it again:)

Below, Herbie on right with his arm on Una’s knee.  John is to the left in dark pants looking very glum. Mysterious GBS look-alike next to him – probably the father keeping an eye on his daughters?

 Can you provide any info. I’d love to fill in the gaps!