African Wildlife and Environment Issue 64

ECO-HERO

ECO-HERO

HONOURING TIM WRIGHT

deal through this process and it assisted us to develop a more meaningful educational approach to our work. In some ways it helped us go beyond the common call for ‘awareness’ and grounded our work in ‘action taking’. In keeping with his desire to share his experiences with the world in 1988 Timwrote a paper on PEP-UP that was published in the Journal of the Environmental Education Association of Southern Africa. Tim believed in the value of self-reflection and so embraced the ‘solitaire’ concept whereby children were encouraged to spend short periods of time alone (often at night) – recording their thoughts. So sure was he of the value of solitaire that he wrote an article on it which was published in the same Journal. Tim’s otherwritings all reflect his passion for encouraging self-reflection and creativity. A quiet time; Creative encounters: A collection of hands-on activities; and Remnants (written with John Roff) were all published by WESSA Share. TEA-time opportunities TEA-times at Umgeni Valley, or even while on trail with Tim, were a special time. They were a time to pause and take stock, to reflect and to build bridges, and were not to be rushed. Taking Environmental Action (TEA) was a further concept developed by Tim to provide young people, and even enthusiastic older people, with a focused action that they could take to protect and conserve the environment. Activities ranged from building erosion gabions in the Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve to eradicating invasive alien plants. Tim also developed the three T’s framework for learning. He encouraged children to T – Touch, T – Talk about and T – Think about the environment they were studying. After leaving WESSA, Tim taught at Cowan House. He enjoyed being at Cowan House enormously and did a great deal to strengthen the environmental orientation of Cowan House. He certainly contributed to the enthusiastic and caring spirit of the school. In 2008, at the Grade seven farewell supper, one of the girls said of Tim, “And if it is true what they say – that a good teacher is like a candle, consuming itself to light the way for others – then all I can say is this: ‘The road we have travelled with you, Mr Wright, is lit up brighter that the brightest stars’.” Confronting issues in the political environment Tim’s life spanned the transition from apartheid to South Africa’s emerging democracy. There were troubled times and Tim went the extra mile in good neighbourliness. During the famous ‘six-day-war’ in Pietermaritzburg, when violence was common, especially in the Sweetwaters area near Edendale, Tim and a number of his friends assisted people who were caught up in the violence. Victims of the violence were sheltered, fed and supported through some of the darkest days our region has experienced. Tim was also a friend of displaced people and victims of violence in the Howick region where disputes were common-place. Tim was always there for those in need and his response was open-hearted and sincere; a true patriot for the

forthcoming South African democracy. Commitment to family life

One feature of Tim’s life surpassed all others. Whether he was travelling great distances for work, teaching in a classroom, reading in the library or walking in Umgeni Valley, his love for Flick and Emma surpassed everything. It was this love for Flick and the family foundation, that enabled Tim to be the person he was, and to live in such a way that he could give confidence and support to others. Tim often spoke of this and set all of us the kind of example that more families need, especially in these turbulent times, where marriages appear so vulnerable. Writings In April 2009, after Tim’s death, John Roff (environmental educator and poet) a long-time friend and professional colleague, honoured him with a poem: One of Tim’s delights was a good poem, thoughtfully chiselled from a quarry of words, taking form under his pen, a living serving of crisp English, loud and clear. He chiselled me too, from a quarry of confusion, shaped me, saw my calling, loud and clear. Now we are many, growing, living poems; Through us, although his pen is still, he keeps on writing, loud and clear. As with John Roff, in addition to his contributions to EE practice, Timwas also a poet and his collections of poems have been published in various publications. ‘Creative Encounters’, ‘Remnants’ and ‘A Quiet Time’ – are still in popular print through Share-Net at WESSA. These booklets, produced in an inexpensive format, providedmany young people with inspiration as they sat through a solitaire experience, in the Umgeni Valley, reflecting on who they were and how they related to the world and its precious life support systems. Weep not for me though I am gone; into that gentle night. Grieve if you will but not for long, upon my soul’s sweet flight. Remember not my fight for breath; remember not the strife. Please do not dwell upon my death, Further reading Wright, T. (1988) Pep-up: A review of the Umgeni Valley Project evaluation process. Southern African Journal of Environmental Education 7, 15-18. Wright, T. (1989) Solitaire: The Umgeni Valley approach. Environmental Education Bulletin 1, 10-12. Southern African Journal of Environmental Education. but celebrate my life. - Constance Jenkins

“Tim looked after us and allowed us to grow and develop within each of our particular directions. He had a knack for knowing just what to offer and never too much that it may diminish our own effort. One always had the feeling that he could say so much and yet never overspoke. Thoughtful and insightful, Tim was a master at recognising potential in people. He looked for the good, and we all loved him for it”. (Wayne Peddie, WESSA Community, Howick)

Jim Taylor, edited by Lynn Hurry & Flick Wright

Todaymanypeople remember the courses they attended at Umgeni Valley and attest to the ‘life changing’ quality of those nature experiences. Tim always had a vision of a better world. He was an active participant at the founding of EEASA at Treverton College (Mooi River) in 1982, and a year later he was also a participant at the first EEASA conference in Swaziland. Inspirational teaching – and a life time passion for the eco-environment A keen naturalist from his earliest years, Tim inspired a generation of environmental educators through his role as Principal Education Officer. He was approachable, helpful and firm, yet always with a twinkle in his eye and a challenge to try something new. He gave many hopeful educators room to try, space to fail, foundations to build on and a wealth of wisdom and ideas that continue to be the backbone of much of WESSA’s EE (Environmental Education) fieldwork today. He could not abide bureaucratic and theoretical ideas that got in the way of good solid experiences with children and nature, yet his interactions with children were based on sound educational principles, which his staff learnt because they were lived out in a person who was admired and respected. Tim’s ways of doing and thinking about practical fieldwork have spread widely through the EE community in South Africa and beyond, largely through the medium of the Environmental Educator’s Courses – professional development opportunities for Environmental Educators that Tim helped to develop and implement from the early 1990s. Tim’s ability to see what a young and inexperienced staff member had within them was one of his greatest gifts – and through this he gave many an opportunity to have a career and future they might not have thought of – a true mentor. Tim was a keen participant in Umgeni Valley research projects. As an important example in the late 1980s he helped to develop the PEP-UP (Participatory Evaluation Programme at the Umgeni Valley Project). This evaluation led to the publication of a handbook of evaluation techniques that is used, in one form or other, to the present day. Many of us learnt a great

Tim Wright and daughter Emma on the verandah of their home in Hilton, January 2009

Early days After an impressive career at Merchiston Prep School many were surprised when Tim Wright decided to join the Wildlife Society (Now WESSA, the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) at its Howick based head-office, to coordinate the Wildlife Clubs scheme. Building on the strengths of the clubs concept in Kenya, he organised and developed a widespread network of wildlife clubs across South Africa. One of the most well-known interventions were the clubs leadership seminars that Tim organized from Cape Town to Kimberly and as far afield as the Lowveld. Young people were encouraged to join and take action for a more sustainable environment, and with Tim’s enthusiastic guidance and leadership many did so. Many current environmental professionals developed their confidence and skills through Tim’s unstinting support. Tim continued supporting wildlife clubs for the rest of his life. He was the sort of person who did not need to be paid to do the work. At the same time Tim also took on the task of leading the education programme at Umgeni Valley. He became Principal Education Officer in 1986 and under his guidance as many as 15 000 pupils and teachers, per year, attended day and overnight courses in the nature reserve.

The Eco-Hero series is edited by Cape Town based Dr Lynn Hurry. Suggestions regarding names for this series will be welcomed. Please contact him at: lynn@ecology.co.za

48 | African Wildlife & Environment | 64 (2017)

49 | African Wildlife & Environment | 64 (2017)