WILLOWMORE NEWS - Willowmore is the Eastern Cape finalist in the 2023 Kwêla Dorp van die Jaar competition and will now compete against the finalists from eight other participating regions for this prestigious title.
The finalists hail from the nine South African provinces - Gauteng and North West compete as one region - and the ninth region is our neighbouring country, Namibia.
Resident Veronica du Plessis has been a driving force getting votes for Willowmore and she is of the opinion that their strategy has played a big role in securing a place in the finals. "We do have a strategy in place but at this point we prefer not to share it," she says.
"We have also been speaking to people in Kareedouw, the winning town of the Kwêla Dorp van die Jaar title in 2020, and they have been giving us a lot of advice." She explains that it was an absolute achievement for such a small town as Kareedouw to win the Kwêla Dorp van die Jaar title. Willowmore is now hoping to bring it back to the Eastern Cape. The town's residents have been working very hard to get to the finals and now they need the entire Eastern Cape's support. "This year Willowmore needs support and in the years to come we will be supporting other Eastern Cape towns that decide to enter," says Du Plessis.
She strongly believes that the heart of the town makes it deserving of the title. That is what motivated her to get involved when Homebrew, the media production company responsible for the filming of the competition, encouraged Willowmore to enter when they experienced the town while filming at Christina's House of Hope.
"My husband and I are 'inkommers' in Willowmore and the first thing that struck us was the town's huge heart. The community, the people and the friendships make this town so special," she says. "Everybody knows everybody, you walk to the shop and end up speaking to about ten people, you speak to your neighbour over the fence, you watch out for one another's safety. This is something you never experience in the cities where most people hardly know their neighbours." She says the way people pulled together to prepare the town for the competition is inspiring.
The exceptional Karoo environment is another thing that makes Willowmore special. Willowmore has hiking trails that take you on breathtaking experiences and it is the entrance to the Baviaanskloof. She says it is an absolute privilege to live in such a beautiful town surrounded by natural beauty. "In addition, the town also has many unique and interesting shops and historical attractions."
To date the following regional finalists have been announced: Bonnievale - Western Cape, Nieuwoudtville - Northern Cape, Delmas - Mpumalanga, Hartebeespoort - Gauteng / North West and Rooiberg - Limpopo.
The Free State, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Namibian finalists are yet to be announced. Voting will open at 20:00 on 16 July and close at midnight on 21 July.
The town with the most votes will be announced as Kwêla Dorp van die Jaar on 6 August.
Willowmore really has a lot going for it and if you want to see the title coming back to the Eastern Cape, please vote for them - details will be provided when voting opens.
"In addition, the town also has many unique and interesting shops and historical attractions."
Photos: Rian Fourie
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