Mokoro Rescue Team of the Year
In January 2025 SARZA was called out for a river search in the Chartwell area where two people had fallen off a pipe bridge while trying to cross the flooded Jukskei River and subsequently went missing. During the search operation, SARZA setup upstream spotters and while monitoring water levels this Mokoro boat was found floating down the river. The Mokoro was initially used as an upstream water level marker and was in a poor polluted and spoiled state. After the rescue, the Mokoro was recovered from the river and revitalised into something that represents SARZA and its African roots and heritage.
This award is presented to a RESCUE TEAM in SARZA that has made a noteworthy impact during the year and speaks to SARZA’s values and objectives.
Past Recipients:
2025 – SAPS Hennops River Search
Team: T57 (FTL), R11, Q24, C77, D34, G69, W07, T09, L65, N86, O24, W96, W21
Clive Carr Memorial Trophy
V16 Clive joined SARZA in September 2001, bringing with him a wealth of radio and rescue knowledge.
It was Clive who migrated the unit from 29Mhz CB radios to VHF with our own licensed frequencies and later a repeater.
It was in July 2004 while on a multi-agency training exercise in the Blouberg Mountains in Limpopo and during helicopter operations that Clive was climbing into a SAAF Oryx busy doing one-wheel landings on the mountain peak that a gust of wind blew and the aircraft dislodged off the peak and Clive fell between the mountain edge and the helicopter. He dropped some 40 metres and was killed on impact.
While all safety protocols were in place there is no accounting for nature and the wind.
Clive drove a dark green Land Rover Defender 90 and hence the trophy with a green Landy mounted on a plinth came into being.
This trophy is awarded annually to a senior GP member who has excelled within that year. Once awarded the trophy should not get re-awarded to a member. The award of this trophy is decided by the GP chair.
Past Recipients:
| 2025 – T57 Mark Schute 2024 – R48 Robert Izzett 2023 – Q24 Annelien Oberholzer 2022 – R87 Iain Sherwood 2021 – L65 Leon Fouché 2020 – W07 Hugo du Rand 2019 – G10 Grant Tyson 2018 – N72 Kyle Nesbitt 2017 – Q27 Avril Els 2016 – P30 Pierre Slabbert 2015 – R27 Ricardo Faria | 2014 – M95 Chris Barnard 2013 – V58 Russel Makin 2012 – T09 Ivor Rimmer 2011 – VT2 Allen Hobson 2010 – M95 Chris Barnard 2009 – T46 Ian McCabe 2008 – T68 Simon McDonnell 2007 – T50 Alan Reid 2006 – V32 Bruce Hepburn 2005 – T09 Ivor Rimmer |
Navelan Padayachee Trophy
R79 Nav joined SARZA in June 2011 and quickly became a key member in the team. Both him and his twin brother Kailen, attended all the training and always volunteered for rescue missions. Never seen without a broad smile on his face and always ready to support another member or just be your friend.
It was on the early morning of 09 May 2016, during a call out into the Magaliesberg mountains with a long and difficult rescue that had taken all night to get to a fallen climber, lower him to safety and then a technical carry-out, to an area suitable for a HEMS helicopter to land, where the patient was handed over and flown off to hospital where he later recovered.
On the hike back out to the vehicles, Nav collapsed and in spite of the team, including paramedics and all the right equipment, Nav succumbed on the trail. It was later established that he had a pre-existing and latent heart condition that chose that fateful night to take him from us.
Nav, and his twin Kailen, had just completed their Masters degrees in environmental studies and both were avid bush and animal lovers.
Kailen later started the KaiNav Conservation Trust focussing on removing snares from the bush. He funded this trust from using the snare wire for artists to create wire artefacts which they sell overseas.
Nav was known for his Yellow Defender 90 and so it was decided to create a trophy from snare wire in the shape and rendition of his yellow Land Rover.
This trophy is presented annually to the best junior member of the year. The award of this trophy is decided by the GP Committee.
Past Recipients:
2025 – B19 Brendan Oberholzer
2024 – D34 Deon Fawell
2023 – W96 Wayne Kruger
2022 – C77 Cat Allan
2021 – A56 Andy Stuart
2020 – I15 Ian van Schalkwyk
2019 – D94 Darren Ternent
2018 – O24 Riaan Oberholzer
2017 – Q86 Carina & H86 Harold Kotze
2016 – B18 Brenwin Traill
The Spanner Trophy
The GP committee decided to initiate a trophy to be presented to the member who in that year, had given the most in the way of supporting other members.
When one looks at the list of recipients we will note the true nature of the award, epitomized by the deserving members who were awarded the trophy.
While some may say this is a lesser award than the first two, to add your name to this trophy really shows the passion and dedication of a true member.
This award is decided by the GP committee.
Past Recipients:
2025 – M85 Matthew Wyche
2024 – C77 Cat Allan
2023 – L24 Leyla & A24 Adriaan Oberholzer
2022 – T57 Mark Shute
2021 – R48 Robert Izzett
2020 – T32 Dominic Pais
2019 – H23 Harald Behr
2018 – T81 Ian Hoy