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gregbertish

@gregbertish

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-Optimist
-Ocean Rider
-Survivor
-Humanitarian
-Father, husband, friend

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𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩

“Yesterday, at the International Bar Association conference in Cape Town, Greg Bertish gave us an incredibly powerful speech about how his own serious illness led him to meet children worse off than himself, like his hero Terrance. This was when he discovered his calling to help sick and needy children dream big. Applying blue mind theory, Little Optimist Trust came to be. A standing ovation was the least we could do to show our admiration. Greg, thank you for your dedication to a cause worthy like few others.”
Niels Jorn Friborg
International Bar Association taken in Cape Town, South Africa by @gregbertish

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7 months ago

I loved it!
💙
Reading to the kids at the @2oceansaquarium today was so awesome and so unique.
🐢
The Little Optimist and the Sea Monster - was on sale and on show below the magical I&J aquarium tank … with turtles and fish and ocean wonders highlighting the story.
🐟
My NEW @littleoptimist book is beautifully illustrated by @chipsnad and is an epic adventure, with awesome learnings around plastic pollution, ocean health and doing good.
🐠
DM me to order your copy today.
For each book sold, we donate another one FREE to a marginalised or sick child in hospital.
#thelittleoptimist #thelittleoptimisttrust #sailing #oceanhealth #sailingtherapy @twooceansmarine @aquariumfoundation @ullmansails_southafrica @ullman_sails @italtilesa #bluemind #bluehealing #fineisfantastic taken in Two Oceans Aquarium by @gregbertish

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2 years ago

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Only a Surfer knows the Feeling
@ryder.bertish
#dawnpatrol
#jbay
#surfing
#sachamps2026
#boystrip taken in The Point JBay by @gregbertish

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7 days ago

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Where’s Ronnie?
#route62
#ronniessexshop
#roadtrip
#hilux
#surfing taken in Ronnies Sex Shop, Route 62 by @gregbertish

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7 days ago

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Thank you for being my mom
💔
You were our guide, our teacher, our catalyst, our glue , you were our beautiful mum.
Francis Joan Bertish - you made this life possible and you gave us everything and asked for nothing in return.
🌈
I am selfishly so sad and I wish you had given me more time, so I could give you more time. But you went the way you wanted. Quickly and quietly and with no fuss. And for that I am so so grateful.
✨
I will carry this pain and regret of your sudden passing for a long long time. But in this sadness, there is gratitude and so much love. I will carry your lessons, your selflessness, your love and your wisdom with me always. I will be a better husband, dad, brother, friend (human) because of you.
RIP mum 13/04/41 - 13/09/26
📸 i will remember you like this.
Our last coffee 10/09/2026 - favorite place, favourite @goodriddancecoffee, cheeky smile ❤️
#franfokkintasties #grannyfranny
Please feel free to share your memories of her. taken in Kommetjie, Western Cape, South Africa by @gregbertish

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a month ago

Meet the Speaker: @gregbertish 👋

Big-wave surfer, national lifesaving champion, and founder of The Little Optimist Trust @littleoptimist

Greg’s spent his life turning near-loss into purpose. After nearly 200 days in hospital fighting a life-threatening heart infection, he leaned on his passion for life and the ocean to pull through.

At Surf Expo Africa, Greg will unpack the Blue Mind, the science and story behind why water heals us, and how he now uses that same ocean to inspire and empower marginalised youth. by @gregbertish

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2 months ago

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Be like the FROG!
🐸
Inspiration day storytime with @gregbertish at @kronendalprimaryschool
✅ #jungleoats
✅ #neverevergiveup
✅ #littlepeoplecandohugethings
✅ #sailingtherapy
#houtbay inspirationday taken in Hout Bay, Western Cape, South Africa by @gregbertish

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2 months ago

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The Little Optimist Book Readings
❤️
School Talks & book readings for kids.
✅FUN
✅ INSPIRATION
✅LEARNING
✅DREAM CHASING
✅LITTLE PEOPLE = HUGE THINGS
Next week we are at @kronendalprimaryschool and @valleypreprimary
❤️
Book your school talk or reading with us.
For each book we sell , we donate one to a marginalised child through #thelittleoptimisttrust
ALL BOOK SALE PROCEEDS TO CHARITY!
#bookreading #schooltalks #inspiration #mentalhealth taken in Hout Bay, Western Cape, South Africa by @gregbertish

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2 months ago

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Shifting perspectives!
Sometimes life doesn’t ask for permission before it changes everything.

Your plans change. Your body changes. Your dreams shift. The life you knew is suddenly different. Your world is shaken, and the familiar disappears.

None of us gets to choose every challenge that comes our way.

But we do get to choose our perspective.

Today I sat quietly in the kelp, watching my boys surf past. Just months ago I would have been chasing every wave with them. Today I found myself simply watching, smiling, appreciating.

And strangely… it was enough.

Not because I had settled for less, but because I’d discovered something different.

Sometimes the greatest gift hidden inside our hardest moments is a new perspective. One that teaches gratitude instead of frustration. Presence instead of pressure. Appreciation instead of expectation.

When your perspective changes, your world changes.

You begin to see opportunities where you once saw obstacles. You understand other people’s journeys a little better. You notice beauty that was always there but hidden by your own expectations.

Life may move your cheese.

But it can also open doors you never knew existed.

Keep your eyes open. Stay curious. Choose optimism. Sometimes the view from a different place is every bit as beautiful as the one you thought you’d lost.
🎥 @gregbertish
🏄‍♂️ @ryderflashbertish
#Perspective #fineisfantastic #transformation #Gratitude #LifeLessons TheLittleOptimist SurfLife AllHeart taken in The Kom, Kommetjie by @gregbertish

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3 months ago

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89 days since the biggest fight of my life!
🍀
This Recovery has been a rollercoaster and far more humbling than I could ever have prepared for. I have learned that Healing isn’t a straight line. Some days I feel like I’m flying, and others I’m reminded that my body, mind, and heart are still finding their way back.
🌈
I am one of the lucky ones !
I’m back in the water. I’m getting back to family life. I’m returning to the work I love. But the truth is, I’m not 100% there yet and realise I will not be for awhile —physically, emotionally and mentally the trauma of the 11 hr surgery has taken its toll. And that’s okay. Recovery isn’t about rushing back to who you were. It’s about accepting the journey, celebrating the smallest victories, transforming oneself and trusting that each day is another step forward.
💙
Looking back through these 3 months of memories reminds me just how far I’ve come. It also reminds me that none of this would have been possible alone.
🙏
To my incredible surgeons, doctors, nurses, therapists, family, friends, and everyone who stood beside me, encouraged me, prayed for me, and believed in me when I couldn’t always believe in myself—thank you. You didn’t just help me recover. You helped save my life.
❤️
This was my 3rd open-heart surgery since my Aorta was infected by a killer tropical bacteria back in 2001. This is literally my 4th life, And I don’t intend to waste a single day of it.
I have a renewed appreciation for simple moments, for love, for family, for purpose, for the ocean, and for the privilege of simply watching the sunsets. Life is precious beyond words and The journey continues, one optimistic step at a time. I know there are still challenges ahead, but I also know there is so much opportunity, transformation, adventure, and beauty around the corner.
☀️
Here’s to living with gratitude, loving deeply, giving generously, and making this next life, the most meaningful one yet.
❤️
Always remember that being just FINE, is actually FANTASTIC!
#fineisfantastic
#Gratitude #Recovery #HeartWarrior #OneDayAtATime ChooseHope LifeIsAGift taken in Kommetjie, Western Cape, South Africa by @gregbertish

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3 months ago

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It’s SO GOOD to be back
⛵️
I popped down to the @littleoptimist Sailing therapy Academy at the @vandawaterfront for the first time since my surgery two months ago, and was met with the sounds of laughter and joy echoing across the water.
💙
It was a beautiful winters day in the mother city and something special was happening on the water (again).
#thelittleoptimist team were in full swing with a day of inspiration, learning and FUN for a group of kids who had been invited to come and experience sailing and #sailingtherapy for the first time in their lives.
✨
Smiles ,camaraderie, confidence, excitement - all while learning new skills and being introduced to opportunities in a world they did not even know existed.
It was MAGIC to witness the MAGIC again!
🪄
Thanks @surfsailavanti for the clip
#sailing #mentalhealth #learntosail taken in Battery Park, V&A Waterfront by @gregbertish

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4 months ago

Spend the day with us as we meet @gregbertish and learn more about his organization @littleoptimist!

If you’d like to learn more about it and support the amazing things that they do, head over to the page/website to find out more🫶

Thank you guys for the awesome day!

#sailing #littleoptimist #sailboat #upliftment taken in Cape Town, Western Cape by @gregbertish

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4 months ago