ABOUT US
We are excited to introduce you to Local Life Whale Coast – a publication dedicated to positive community stories and events in the Overstrand.
About Local Life Whale Coast
There is something truly special about the Whale Coast and the people who call it home. We firmly believe that it is a collective effort and a strong sense of community that make the Overstrand an amazing place to live, work, and thrive. Through Local Life we are excited to be a part of that collective effort, by telling peoples’ stories, covering local events, and sharing positive news.
Local Life follows the Press Code of South Africa, committing itself to the highest ethical standards, ensuring true and fair reporting. Responsible journalism is not only a professional obligation but a moral imperative.
The publication will cover a variety of different topics including:
Tourism: Overstrand offers a variety of tourism types including wellness, sport, culinary, wine, adventure, business and ecotourism.
Nature & Conservation: Walker Bay and the surrounding mountains boast many species of fauna and flora, with many dedicated, hardworking conservation groups.
Food & Wine: Named the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2019, Hermanus has many dining options to explore alongside award-winning wines from the region.
School & Sport: Whale Coast is home to very talented academics and sportspeople, and there is almost weekly news of remarkable achievements.
Wellbeing: Wellness tourism is growing in the Overstrand, with visitors coming here for retreats, spa weekends or other wellness-related workshops.
Arts: Another area which boasts a lot of talent is the arts which include drama, music, dance, visual art, and design. Hermanus has quickly become an art destination as more and more artists are choosing to settle here.
Charities: There are countless local charities doing fantastic work in the Overstrand community, with many positive stories to tell.
Local Businesses & People: Businesses and people in the Overstrand have a big love for their community, and are often involved in some way or another. There are many interesting stories to be shared.
We look forward to sharing these stories with the Whale Coast community.
Meet the team
Taylum Meyer
Taylum is a photojournalist and the Editor of Local Life Whale Coast. She has been working in the news industry for 6 years. Taylum has a love for all things community and is involved with various initiatives when her schedule allows it. Taylum is known for her photography and is entirely self-taught. Over the years she has received numerous accolades –
One of her photos taken at the 'Zuma Protests' was exhibited at the Design Museum in Kensington London and several of Taylum's photos were featured in Sarie Woon magazine.
Taylum's photography has been recognised by the Forum of Community Journalists each year since she first entered in 2019:
2019 General Photography: 2nd
2020 General Photography: Top 10
2021 General Photography: 3rd
2022 General Photography: 1st
2023 General Photography: 2nd
Taylum is also an experienced graphic and layout designer.
Barbara Hayn
Barbara works as a photojournalist for Local Life and writes articles and takes photos for every edition. She has a special interest in uplifting community stories. The feeling of being able to make a positive difference, no matter how small, is what inspires her.
Barbara has worked as a photojournalist for a little over a year and has covered various topics including human interest stories such as the Overstrand Whale Boxing Club and the Hermanus Country Market. She loves photographing sport and people.
Previously Barbara worked for a publication as a layout designer, social media manager, and as a freelance photojournalist. She also does website design.
Contributors
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
HISTORY
GENERAL HEALTH