Gregory Werner was named the 2016 Heidedaller of the Year for his outstanding work in highlighting some of the community's biggest challenges and creating conversation around these issues.

Werner's 'Heidedal Enough is Enough' campaign has challenged the government on a local and national level to look into ensuring that the community's constitutional rights to live in a safe and healthy environment are met.

Werner, who's been living in Johannesburg for 18 years, says: "You don't have to be in the community to be a part of the community."

Heidedaller of the Year Organising Committee member, Brenda Buys, says the event has become a significant part of the community calendar.

Buys says enquiries have come in from neighbouring communities to host similar awards.

Werner says social media has made the world a smaller place.

He uses it as a tool to highlight things such as the abandoned quarry which has become a dangerous place because kids are always lingering around the unfenced space there. Other issues are sewage waste and poverty, for instance.

Two other categories presented on the night are the Institution of the Year, which went to the Angel Foundation, as well as the Heidedal Friend of the Year, which was won by former Bloemfontein Celtic footballer, Gary Goldstone.

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