MONTHLY NEWSLETTER YEAR END 2010 ISSUE 51 MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD On behalf of the Board of Directors & the HOA team we wish you all the very best, with Good Health, Happiness, success and prosperity for the Festive Season. Travel safely and may you all enjoy the Festive Season in Peace and Harmony. NOTICES: UPCOMING EVENTS DECEMBER You are cordially invited to an exhibition of important paintings, drawings, watercolours and graphics by South African and European masters of the 18 th, 19 th and 20 th centuries. Venue: Winelands Golf Lodges, De Zalze Estate Dates: Thursday 2 nd December 2010 : 6pm opening Friday 3rd Sun 5th December 2010 : 9am 7pm The pictures on exhibition are from a privately owned collection, carefully put together over many years. This is the first time that they have been offered for sale. Some of the artists, whose works are on this exhibition, are: Jean Welz, Maud Sumner, Florence Zerffi, Pieter van der Westhuizen, Georges Rouault, Fernand Leger, Karel Appel, Henry Moore, John Piper, Jean Jansem, Frederick John Widgery, William Etty, James Whaite, Marie Antoinette Marcotte, Sarah Louise Kilpack The entire collection was examined and authenticated by Sir Charles Blomefield of London, and all the graphics are fully catalogued. For more information call: 083 311 1303 The next Quarterly HOA meeting is scheduled for Monday 6 December, at 18h00 to be held at the Golf Clubhouse. There are two external parties presenting, being : Jacques de Villers of Euroheat will explain the benefits of GeyserSure being an Energy Management and Geyser Protection Tool that can lead to huge savings on the estate through a process of changing habits. Gerhard Loots will present new product which utilizes GPS tracking to locate the position of kids internationally. The product is called lok8u and is manufactured by a UK based company. The device allows for tracking via SMS, e -Mail and iphone Application. The device recently won the Best innovation award at the Kids Indaba in Sandton. Page 1
YEAR END 2010 ISSUE 51 UPCOMING EVENTS CONTINUE The Annual Family Christmas Celebration is to be held on Tuesday 7th December from 6pm to 8pm at the terrace above the 10th fairway, on the western side of the club house. Come and enjoy background music and pancakes whilst the kids awaits Santa s arrival. He brings good news and a gift for each child. Residents are welcome to bring a picnic basket and blankets where they can enjoy the sunset, with a glass of wine in hand. Please enquire at MSEP as to details on kids presents, by phoning Carlo or Corne at 021 880 2131. Welcome the New Year with good food, good wine and your friends at the Kleine Zalze Lodge who is hosting a New Year s Dinner & Dance in the Winelands. The Spanish themed evening will start with a welcome drink on the terrace, then chef Nic van Wyk will spoil you with a 5-course Spanish meal, where after you can dance the night away to the sounds of the DJ. Details are: 31 December from 19.30 to 01.00am // Smart casual dress code // for bookings: +27 21 8800740 or email accommodation@kleinezalze.co.za // Cost is R450 per person which includes 2 bottles of wine per table, and a 5-course meal, followed by teas and coffees. Oude Libertas Amphiteatre Your season under the stars Something very special again this year is the Oude Libertas presentation of Your season under the stars entertainment program. The full programme can be found on the De Zalze Events calendar on the website, or by calling the Booking office: 021 809 7380 or Computicket E-mail: theatre@oudelibertas.co.za Website: www.oudelibertas.co.za THE HOA DOORS REMAIN OPEN OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON The HOA will remain open during the holiday season (apart for public holidays), where you can continue to contact us during business hours at 021 880 2708 or by way of email on pa@dezalzeestate.com Please note that the HOA team will be taking a couple of hours off a couple of hours for their annual year-end function, and our doors will be closed from 12.30pm on Friday the 10th of December, as well as on Tuesday 14th December from 8am until later that afternoon. The reception desk will be manned over this time to address any of your concerns. Please be advised that the builders holiday starts on the 15th of December to 7th January 2011. Page 2
YEAR END 2010 ISSUE 51 BRIDGE CLUB SUPPORT PLEASE FOR SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT Many of you may have seen the happy group of people sitting comfortably every Monday afternoon Golf the Lodges Ladies TeaMunicipality room. Fromwho simple beginnings theirfestival for 27 November 2010 in ward Last month we told by youthe about Stellenbosch is planning a flower numbers have grown from 2 (Margaret de Kinderen & Dana Dean) to 16 members. 17, the Jamestown area. Mosthope of the members were beginners or our hadhome playedowners many years We that by sharing thiseither feature with you, wouldback. consider further support as a special hand-over opporeveryone is so enthusiastic that many have taken lessons with an tunity for all the clothing and goods donated by the Home Ownersaccredited has been created as part of the De Zalze Winter Appeal. teacher. The aim is to get the community involved when the Municipality receive the donations from us. Our first large red box is overflowing with your donations, but imagine a couple of those red boxes filled with your unwanted items or donations! Councillor They meet the on award Monday afternoon at 2pm WinelandsMunicipality Golf Lodges personally and M Linders, Councillor of Ward 17,atofthe Stellenbosch invites De Zalze to partake in the day s welacwelcome beginners to experienced players. Please contact Dana Dean for furtivities. ther information at owendana@iafrica.com THANK YOU LADIES The HOA would like to thank Linda Marais and her army of ladies who prepared and spent so much time and energy on the gifts they handed over to ACVV and the security and maintenance teams working here over the festive period. A total of 66 gifts were collected so far and this seems to continue. It s times like these that makes working for De Zalze Estate an extra pleasure. Just look at the happy faces of our staff members when they received their gifts yesterday! Please note that these special ladies meet at 10am, every first Tuesday of the month at the Golf Clubhouse and welcome new residents to join. SNAP UP A PRIZE THE WINNER OF 2010 The HOA is pleased to announce that the overall winner of the 2010 photo competition, is... Congratulations to a very talented Richard Brandt for scraping away this prize from some stiff member competition! Richard walks away with a voucher for R400 to dine at the Volkskombuis. Entries for the 2011 competition are now open. Please send your photos (and a title) to pa@dezalzeestate.com Page 3
YEAR END 2010 ISSUE 51 POST BOXES UPDATE The post boxes opening date has been moved back slightly in order for the rush at the Contractors Gate to subside. Small alterations such as a security camera, installation of lights, a ramp and a wall should all be completed by mid December 2010. Please be aware we have a room full of mail which is sorted daily, and we urge everyone to come to the HOA over the next couple of weeks to collect their mail between the hours of 4-5pm every week day. Thanks to all of you for your patience, in particular to those residents now collecting their mail from the HOA offices. MINI BUS TRANSPORT SYSTEM AT DE ZALZE In the interests of improving security on the Estate, similar to many other Security Estates across South Africa, domestics, private gardeners and other associated home workers are transported to and from the contractors gate or other gates to a bus stop within each village, through the use of mini-buses. This would imply that the only members and tenants would be pedestrians, hence easier to identify and therefore reducing the consequential risk potential. We are inviting comment from Home Owners as to whether they would agree to the provision of such a service. The proposed service would operate from 06h00 to 18h00, seven days a week. Each bus stop would have a rain shelter and be placed in an area, where noise pollution would not be an issue. The cost of such a service would be free for the home workers, with the actual cost to be divided by the number of home owners and subsequently passed on through the levy. Apart from the commercial establishments on the Estate, we believe that buy in would be needed from all members, in order to administratively make this work. There are a number of questions that arises from this proposal, suffice to say that our approach, is to firstly see the members response, publish these and then proceed to the next step. Please assist us and provide us with your concerns or comments, by e-mailing Dianne on pa@dezalzeestate.com. WINELANDS GOLF LODGES LAUNCHING SIMPLY SPA Simply Spa @ Winelands invites all residents to join them for the opening of the new spa on the Estate. The launch is on 8 December where sunset cocktails will be served, whilst you can experiencing being nibbled by fish. The cocktails starts from 18h30 for 19h00 and as mentioned, our residents and homeowners are warmly invited. Please RSVP by 6 December, by contacting 021 883 9444 or emailing info@simplyspa.co.za to confirm your attendance. RATES & TAXES Please be advised that the HOA Association, is with- holding certain monies due to the Municipality for rates and taxes, in order to provide some leverage in bringing about a new rate structure, which would support the services that the Estate actually receives. We would like our homeowners to be aware that despite this Association initiative, the HOA takes no responsibility for the consequences as to how and in what manner other members wish to pursue any withholding or deferment methods of payment to the Municipality. Page 4
YEAR END 2010 ISSUE 51 CAI SOUTH AFRICA Patrick Holden, our Estate Manager, attended a training session at Serengeti in Johannesburg with 34 other Residential Estate Managers, where in an initiative undertaken by both ARC and SETA, South Africa is now aligned with CAI USA, to confer qualifications on Association Managers, that are quality assured and certified by the National Board of Certification in the USA. The entire project is primarily funded by the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SSETA), the body responsible for training and development, assessment and certification across 37 sub sectors in SA. Dr Ivor Blumenthal, CEO of the Services SETA is of the belief that SA should work with best practice institutions in developing global standards for all of the industries in the sector. He is equally proud that South Africa is now the first country globally to establish a local chapter of this sub sector of the property sector and is of the firm belief that this sector has a major role to play in environmental management, resource management and community development linking to government s priority of building cohesive caring communities. This means that, through ARC every Estate manager at any Home owners Association or Body Corporate is able to register and learn towards achieving this qualification. Furthermore estate managers can then progress to achieving a Specialist Estate Manager qualification and ultimately achieve the Professional Residential Estate Manager Award. (We all wrote the CMCA Exam Certified Manager of Community Associations, with results expected in the second week in December). Clearly, the vision of ARC to standardize best practice across the Industry and to professionalize the Residential Estate manager occupation has met the first milestone. This is a first for the South African residential community industry and South Africa is the first international chapter of the CAI USA said Jeff Gilmour, president of ARC. From the thirty four other estates, six nominee directors were chosen to assist in championing this role, in which Patrick Holden was nominated to assist in driving this initiative. THE LIGHTER SIDE... Page 5
YEAR END 2010 ISSUE 51 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOCUS PEACOCK AKA PEAFOWL The HOA received the wonderful news from one of the home owners, that a peahen has chosen their garden as a safe-haven for nesting, and has subsequently laid five eggs, well hidden from sight. The owner spotted the hen checking out their garden for a few days, coming to the garden every day at the same time. It was absolutely fascinating to watch how she went about 'selecting' the property over a period of many days. When they saw her lying down for two or three days they nearly called for help but low and behold, last week Thursday they came cross the five eggs! Peahens can lay up to 7 eggs over a few days and remain on their eggs for around 27-30 days before they start hatching. Did you know...that the male s (peacock) iridescent bluegreen or green coloured plumage or so-called tail (also termed the train), is not the tail quill feathers but highly elongated upper tail coverts. The train feathers have a series of eyes that are best seen when the tail is fanned. The female (peahen) has a mixture of dull green, brown, and grey in her plumage. She lacks the long upper tail coverts of the male but has a crest atop the head. The female can also display her plumage to ward off female competition or danger to her young. So it seems that De Zalze will soon become the home of a few new arri- HUIS MOLESTE... Some stories are best kept unchanged, straight from the story teller s mouth... In this case Leon Atterbury will have you in stitches! Dis goed die motorfietsvriende het 2 Sondae gelede by ons kom kuier - en nie gister nie. Want toe het ons 'n ongenooide gas - 'n Kaapse Kobra, ook bekend as 'n bruin kapel, koper kapel, of geelslang. Baie giftig... Marié sien hom naby die wit kas by die kaggel, en hy seil onder die wit kas in. Daar hou ons dop en Laura en die baba worshond word na die boonste vloer verban. Ek bel sekuriteit en die man aan diens gaan haal sy slangstok. Ons trek die kas weg en probeer slang se kind daar uitkry met 'n kierie, besem en die slangstok. Die graaf is byderhand vir ingeval die storie handuitruk. Die slangvanger is versigtig - ek ook maar. Hy het nog net een keer 'n slang gevang. Hy is nie eintlik 'n slangvanger nie - dis net nog iets wat hy moet doen as dit tydens sy skof nodig is. Op 'n keer kom die slang mooi uit onder die kas en seil langs die muur, maar ons kry hom nie gevang nie. Dan verdwyn hy weer onder die kas in. Later vererg die slang hom vir ons gekarring aan hom. Hy blaas soos 'n kat wat kwaad is, en maak skreeugeluide amper soos 'n muis. Moet sê die blaasgeluid is nogal vreesaanjaend. As hy lostrek met so 'n blaas, dan gee almal so 'n tree terug. As ek nou daaroor skryf, gaan daar weer 'n koue rilling teen my rug af. Ek bel my buurman, Francois Malan, wat boer op die plaas. Daar tussen die wingerde kry hulle soms 4 per dag van hierdie soort. Ons trek die kas nog verder weg, en buurman kry die slang goed beet (met die slangstok darem) agter sy kop. Buite op die gras sit ons die slang in 'n swart sak en die sekuriteitsman gaan laat hom vry ver weg van ons huis. Die hele episode duur ongeveer 2 ure. Dit was nou vir jou 'n ding! Groete Leon Die boer is die een met die top boots, sekuriteit sit handjie by met n torch Page 6
YEAR END 2010 ISSUE 51 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOCUS A FIRST As part of our 2010 landscaping upgrade, it was decided that the area between the 4th and 5th hole would receive our Estate s first Fynbos revamp. By removing the old lavenders, the new fynbos was planted with each area chipped to act as mulching for the new plant. Fynbos plants are endemic to South Africa and they all belong to the Proteaceae family. It was decided to plant several species of Leucadendrons, Leucospermums and Protea. Leucadendron: a Genus of over 80 different species in the family of the Proteaceae. A variety of species such as the Argentum (Silwer Tree), Harvest Girl, Safari Sunset, Cameleon, Inca Gold and Jublee Crown was planted. The Silver Tree is the biggest of all and can reach heights up to 7 meters. The foliage is popular in flower arrangements and the leaves are used to make ornaments. Leucospermum: Common names such as Common- Rocket- and Nodding Pincushions are widely spread in South-Western Cape. They are also used in private gardens as feature points and can tolerate a variety of soil types. They are attractive green bushes with masses of flowers. Thanks to it s dense shrubbery it is excellent for supporting bird life. Spiders, Succession and Soleil were planted Protea: Our national Flower, the King of the proteaceae family is widely grown for its magnificent flowers for the export cutflower trade. The Cynaroides or better known as the King Protea and Pink Ice was also planted. Unfortunately we can t share pictures of these flowering as the protea only flowers at an age of 4-5 years. (so watch this space!) The golden rule of gardening with these type of plants is to stay away with a fork or digging close to their root system, and not to use any artificial fertilizers or manure. Rather use pine needles or bark as a mulch. Page 7
YEAR END 2010 ISSUE 51 KIDS CORNER SUNSET HIKE ON NEW YEARS EVE Still scratching your head about things to do on New Years Eve for the whole family? Well look no further! Imagine a perfect sunset over Table Mountain, with stunning views of the Winelands on top of Klapmutskoppie and toast the New Year on top of the world on the last day of 2010 Bring the family on this adventurous night as you walk the marked hiking trail through the Renosterveld Conservancy to get to your very different, very private natural penthouse views. DATE: 31 December 2010, Friday VENUE: Dirtopia Trail Centre, Delvera Farm, R44 between Stellenbosch & Klapmuts DISTANCE: 9,75km total, 5km option with farm vehicle assistance to half-way mark. COST: R100 per person incl permit, glass of bubbly, shuttle and map. R40 for kids under 10 START TIME: Arrival at Trail Centre by 18h00, 18h45 latest - the earlier the better! Sunset is at 20h00 CONTACT: Booking essential at 0218844752 or info@dirtopia.co.za or visit their website: www.dirtopia.co.za BRING: Torch, warm clothing, hiking shoes. Picnics: To be ordered in advance, the menu is on website. Snacks & drinks are also available at Trail Centre, but you are welcome to bring your own. SO YOU THINK YOU RE A LOCAL. Page 8