gsport’s four Leading Ladies of the Year have shared their thoughts on the advancement of women as South Africa celebrated National Women’s Day on Tuesday, 9 August 2011.
The Leading Ladies were crowned at the 6th Annual gsport Awards, held recently at the prestigious Wanderers Club, to laud the valuable contributions of individuals dedicated to the promotion of women’s sport in South Africa.
World leader in Visual Performance, Dr. Sherylle Calder, who won the 2011 gsport Woman of the Year award, said: “To me, Women’s Month means, putting woman on the forefront and recognizing their contribution in the world.”
Calder beat off stiff competition from Sport and Recreation South Africa’s acting Director General Sumayya Khan and South African Football Association (SAFA) Head of Women’s Football, Nomsa Mahlangu, to walk away with the coveted Woman of the Year award.
FHM Sexiest Woman, Shashi Naidoo, who won the 2011 gsport Style Star of the Year award, said: “Women’s empowerment has come a long way but there are many countries across the globe where some women do not have the freedom to make informed decisions about what is good for them, the ability to negotiate better living conditions and the right to stand up and be counted.
“Women’s month for me is a time to reflect on the inspiring contribution women have made to society and realize the obligation we have to those women still suffering in silence.”
Naidoo overcame Expresso presenter, Liezel van der Westhuizen and 5FM radio personality, Poppy Ntshongwana, to win the 2011 gsport Style Star award.
Sharing what Women’s Month means to her, Deputy editor of Kick-Off Magazine, Melissa Reddy, explained what it meant to her to win the 2011 gsport Woman in Media award:
“It means, that for 31 days, people are paying a little more attention to what woman are doing, so we need to use this ‘platform’ to get our messages out – loud and proud.
“I wish that we lived in a world where you didn’t need a month to recognise the wonders of woman, but we’ve got to make it count. I am looking forward to helping the South Peninsula FA with their female awareness campaign this August.”
Reddy pipped fellow nominees Proteas men’s cricket team media officer Lerato Malekutu, and Cricinfo journalist, Firdose Moonda, to the title of gsport Woman in Media.
The world’s leading goal scorer in women’s hockey, Pietie Coetzee, who won the 2011 gStar of the Year award, said: “Women’s Month is a month of paying tribute to women who make an incredible difference in our lives; the unsung heroes of all our lives.”
Coetzee beat athletics star, Caster Semenya, and Banyana Banyana star, Noko Matlou, to the title of gStar of the Year.
The gsport … for Girls! Honours Roll:
2011 Winners:
Dorothy Tsotsobe (2011 gsport Hall of Fame Inductee) Dr Sherylle Calder (2011 gsport Woman of the Year) Melissa Reddy (2011 gsport Woman in Media) Shashi Naidoo (2011 gsport Style Star) Pietie Coetzee (2011 gStar Award) Surfing South Africa (2011 Sports Federation of the Year) SPAR (2011 Sponsor of the Year) Masalang Mshayisa (2011 gsport Volunteer of the Year)
2010 Winners:
Motlatsi Keikabile (2010 gsport Hall of Fame Inductee) Sandy Flanagan (2010 gsport Woman of the Year) Natalie le Clue (2010 gsport Woman in Media) Bonang Matheba (2010 gsport Style Star) Rosy Hodge (2010 gStar Award) Fabienne Lanz (2010 Personal Account Writer of the Year) 1GOAL.com (2010 gsport Volunteer of the Year)
2009 Winners:
Desiree Ellis (2009 gsport Hall of Fame Inductee) Mbali Zantsi (2009 gsport Woman of the Year) Beverley Maphangwa (2009 gsport Woman in Media) Uyanda Mbuli (2009 gsport Style Star) Noni Tenge (2009 gStar Award) Clare Vale (2009 Personal Account Writer of the Year) Lunga Ntuli (2009 gsport Volunteer of the Year)
2008 Winners:
Elana Meyer (2008 gsport Hall of Fame inductee) Beaulah Schoeman (2008 gsport Woman of the Year) Renelle Naidoo (2008 gsport Woman in Media) Tanya van Graan (2008 gsport Style Star) Tarryn Chudleigh (2008 gStar Award) Mpho Makhoba (2008 Personal Account Writer of the Year) Bronwyn Chudleigh (2008 gsport Volunteer of the Year)
2007 Winners:
Hazel Gumede (2007 gsport Hall of Fame inductee) Lesley Copeman (2007 gsport Woman of the Year) Melinda Lombard (2007 gsport Woman in Media) Vanya Mangaliso (2007 gsport Style Star) Portia Modise (2007 gStar Award) Ilse Langhout (2007 gsport Volunteer of the Year)
2006:
Penny Heyns (inaugural gsport Hall of Fame inductee)
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