Gamtoos mouth resort homeowners association newsletter 27
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| In this process Gamhoa managed to secure a better bulk price from NMBM, saving five cents per kwh/h, bringing the bulk cost down to 116 cents per kwh/h.
To bring us in line with accepted practice, Gamhoa will no longer be in a position to replace electricity dispensing units free of charge. The first EDU is paid for by the developer. Replacements at about R650 per unit will be paid for by homeowners. Gamhoa will also not be in a position to carry out free connections. As is the case with other municipalities, residents will now pay for first time connections, and any subsequent reconnection. This is expected to be costed at R1 750 per connection. Levy increase limited to R20 per month Levies for next year will rise from R235 per month to R255 per month, an increase of about 8.5 per cent. This was approved by the board after the Exco had reviewed the initial proposed budget, and tweaked and trimmed it in an effort to bring it closer to the inflation rate. AT ATHE AGM Pictured at the AGM held at the Thornhill Hotel on November 10 were, from left, Zane Hayes and his wife Liz, Lorraine Garner from the Walmer office, and Chantal Van Heerden from Bellbuoy. Zane resigned from the board after 13 years. AGM rings the changes DESPITE rumours that the Annual General Meeting of he Gamtoos Mouth Homeowners’ Association would be cancelled due to a late challenge to its legality in terms of the New Companies Act, the meeting was held in a good and constructive spirit. Several key outcomes are worth recording. Gam News covers the electricity tariffs on the front page. The new levies, also on page one, were approved by the board earlier this month, after Exco called for a mandate at the AGM, to be given time to reduce the budget. Many it seems welcomed a decision of the Exco to discontinue the annual Grunter’s Green New Year’s Eve bonfire, as this decision was widely supported when residents were asked to indicate approval or disapproval for the decision. The annual street party/braai to see in the New Year will go ahead. Chaired by Colin Rushmere, the meeting broke with tradition when vice chairman, Graeme Rushmere proposed that all three nominated for directorship, Cal Seton Smith, Hannes Visagie, and Dries Gouws, should be appointed. This was accepted and no election was held. Zane Hayes, who served as a director for 13 years, was not available. With conservation representative, Tris Wooldridge a co-opted member, residents now have four representatives on the board. The meeting was attended by a crowd of about 45, most of whom were Phase Two residents. Apparently some in Phase One doubted the meeting would proceed as it was being challenged in terms of the New Companies Act. If this is indeed true, they missed a good meeting for no good reason. Two days before the AGM the Board received a letter suggesting that Gamhoa and the Board, may not be compliant with the New Companies Act, and that an AGM under the auspices of Gamhoa would be illegal. This was surprising, considering that Gamhoa had undertaken a full legal probe into its status at a cost of nearly R17 000, after being challenged earlier in the year. At the time trivial changes were recommended by lawyers, which were carried out. A hasty meeting was convened two hours prior to the AGM. The concerns were presented by ratepayer’s chairman, Kobus Raath, supported by Tinus Jamison, prime mover in pushing for Gamhoa to conduct a compliance probe earlier in the year. Graeme Rushmere, a qualified attorney, requested Raath to specify references to the Act which might support the challenge and cause him to cancel the meeting. This was seen to be less than convincing and the meeting went ahead as scheduled. Rushmere suggested that any further challenges, should there be any, would not be considered unless they were motivated by a qualified legal opinion. Chairman hails Exco ‘success’ Board chairman, Colin Rushmere hailed the Exco administrative system a “huge success” and congratulated outgoing chairman Cal Seton Smith and his team for their achievements over the course of the past year. Rushmere said that establishing the local office had brought residents closer to the decision making process and to having a say in the running of their own affairs. He listed some of the projects undertaken by the Exco, including a slipway registration programme. Road maintenance was undertaken and all the resort’s roads were crack sealed, and kerbing installed in places. He referred to the repairs and maintenance of the boathouses and the slipway, as well as the construction of a jetty at the slipway and enlargement of the trailer park. Projects included the manufacture of bush fire trailer, and ongoing training for the volunteer fire fighting team, the upgrade of Grunter’s Green, the opening of the “Goodwin Gulley” floodwater spillway, the flattening of the old tip site, and the cleanup of Barnes Cottage grounds.
Getroud met Charmain en het een seun en twee dogters. Seun is in polisie, een dogter ‘n onderwyseres en die ander een betrokke met instandhouding beheer. Stokperdjies, Houtwerk,fietsry, motors, motorfietse en liggaamsbou Loopbaan: Begin werk by SAS&H in 1976, kwalifiseer as motorwertuigkundige na Diensplig. Voltooi studies in Ingenieurswese in Pretoria. Voltooi besigheids studies by RAU en Projekbestuur by Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Tans werksaam as Hoofingenieur by Transnet Port Terminals vir OosKaap wat die hawens van PE, Ngqura en OosLonden Persoonlike Doelwitte en beginsels: Doen alles wat jy aanpak na beste van vermoë. Om so ver moontlik dieselfde op te tree ongeag die situasie. Streef daarna of altyd logies en binne ‘n spesifieke beginsel raamwerk op te tree.
Here are some brief profiles on Hannes, and the two newcomers to Exco’s ranks: HANNES VISAGIE Elected Board Director and Chairperson of the Exco for 2013. Hannes was born in Johannesburg where he met and married his lifelong companion Marie. They have two children, a son who has his own Computer Programming Company and a daughter who is a lecturer at the University of Johannesburg and Monash University. Hannes worked at the Department of Health in Gauteng as Deputy Director and was retrenched with the introduction of affirmative action in of Helen Joseph Hospital with 2 000 employees and with a budget of R200 million. Thereafter he moved to Life Healthcare where he soon proved his skills before retiring in 2008 as the Quality System Specialist in the Management of Healthcare Risk Waste for the entire Life Group nationally. But not for long. Wasteman appointed Hannes as Health Care Risk Manager to manage the national contract of HCRW for the entire Life Healthcare and Netcare hospitals, including all the Medicross Clinics. In October 2009 the Visages moved to Gamtoos and Hannes finally retired in 2011. He served as Exco Member in 2012 where he contributed to the effective management of Gamhoa. At the AGM in November he was elected to serve as Director and was also appointed as Exco chairman for 2013. His motto in life is “do unto others as you would like them to do unto you”. ANDRE VAN STADEN Andre en Linda van Staden is woonagtig te perseel 341 fase 2. Hy was die afgelope 35 jaar werksaam by die Nelson Mandela munisipaliteit na samesmelting van Kwanobuhle, Despatch en Uitenhage munisipaliteite . Sy posvlak het gewissel vanaf senior bestuur tot middelvlak bestuur en sy vakveld gebied was vanaf publieke administrasie, finansiele begrotings en ingenierswese . Die laaste 5 jaar voor aftrede het hy die pos beklee as senior superindent “operations” by gesondheids dienste. Hy het gedien op verskeie kommitees waaronder hy voorsitter ook gewees het. Sy belangstelling aan sporte wat hy aan deel geneem het in sy later jare was krieket, en rolbal. Hy het homself beskikbaar gestel om op die kommitee te dien omrede hy dink hy kan insae lewer tot die daaglikse bedryf in hierdie organisasie. HESTER OOSTHUIZEN Gesin/Persoonlik: Gebore in Krugersdorp en het grootgeword op die plaas Tweerivier in die Brits distrik. Haar pa was ‘n beesboer daar. Laerskool gedoen by Beestekraal en haar hoërskool loopbaan voltooi by Brits Hoërskool. Sy is lief vir sport en het korfbal en sagtebal gespeel, werpskyf gedoen en geswem. Getroud met Gerhard en het vier seuns en ses kleinkinders. Loopbaan: Begin werk by ouditeure en verskeie diplomas verwerf in rekeningkunde en rekenaar geleterdheid. Haar voorliefde is syfer werk en sy geniet ‘n uitdaging. Hannes Visagie, right, who takes over as Exco chairman in January, enjoys a snack and a chat with Hendrik Bezuidenhout at the AGM. Het u geweet? Ons woon in n besondere streek. Die area tussen Kabeljousrivier en Van Stadens Rivier is die enigste plek ter werweld waar vier biome bymekaar kom—Valleibos, Duineveld, Doringveld Oop Grasveld en Fynbos. Is ons nie bevoorreg om in so ‘n streek te woon nie? Bewaar dit asseblief! Rene Van Vuuren IT’S never good news for the Gam when stalwarts like Alf and Ruth Evans leave, but the octogenarian pioneer of the resort and his wife believe that the time has arrived for them to move to an old age development in Jeffreys Bay. The couple have put their name down for the move and are waiting for a place to open up for them. But, says Alf, their son Neil is taking over the home and he and Ruth will be back over weekends and for the occasional holiday. Alf has been a Gam regular since he was a young boy, and his knowledge of the river dates back to the thirties. Get him started on the old days, and you’d better sit back and lend an ear, because the stories are rich and endless. Alf and Ruth married 51 years ago, after meeting in a church choir in John St, Uitenhage. He started his working life as a butcher, did a spell as a grocer, was an auctioneer for Vignes, and further down the line he moved into industry, working as a buyer for Goodyear before retiring. He recalls stories about the big flood of 1932, a year before he was born. It caused havoc, washing away low lying houses, cars and boats and swamped the Ferry hotel. That year it cut its course past the current wetlands to the old mouth, beside which he and his pals grew up. The big flood of 1968, which once again saw the Ferry Hotel under water, re-cut the mouth to its present position, and left behind the lagoon, which Alf says is receding at a rate of about 50 metres a year. He says the Ferry Hotel has flooded at least three times down the decades. On one occasion the river rose to within inches of the road across the steel bridge. Alf believes the mouth is slowly working its way back to its old course, having already moved about 200 metres down the beach since 1968. He believes the dramatic change in the dune fields since the early days, is significant. The dunes were so high one could not see the sea over them. After the big flood of 1932 his dad, Alf senior, who for many years held the record on the river with a 120 lb kob, built a holiday place on the hill. He recalls lazy days when there were no TV sets, computers, fridges, freezers or electricity. The only mod con was a windup gramophone, which provided the music for street parties outside the Hayes home. The hotel, where the shop now is, was called the Gamtoos River Sea Hotel, and used to rent out boats to a steady stream of visitors. In those days there were only about 30 wooden boats on the river. Only a few had engines, and those of only a few horsepower each. Names from the early days like Slatem, Foster, Dicks, Beckley, and Wasp, roll of Alf’s tongue in the context of interesting tales. An outstanding angler back in the day was a man with the unlikely name of Shirley Wadsworth. Ruth’s eyes light up as the tale is told of her catching two decent sized grunter in one cast. Alf chuckles as he recalls when, as a boy, he and two girls got lost in the hills near where the reservoir now is. After finding there way to a remote farmhouse in a thunderstorm, a messenger was sent to their distraught parents, who came to fetch them. It has been a lifetime alongside a marvellous river, and 13 years of blissful retirement in their present home. They are memories that will never fade. Pioneers Alf and Ruth prepare to move on ORIGINALS . . . Alf and Ruth Evans in the doorway of their charming cottage (one of the originals) in Kingfisher Crescent.
IT might have been a spark from a braai that was lit during near gale force winds, or it could have been an electrical fault. No one is quite sure, but the fire which raged through St Francis Bay on November 11, destroyed more than 70 luxury homes, many of them on the marina. Sprays of sparks leapt from one home to the next, fanned by the wind and generated by enormous heat from the flames raging through the thatched roofs. As the inferno spread through the normally tranquil seaside village, the orange glow could be seen from as far as 40 kilometres away. About 20 years ago St Francis was ravaged by another blaze, but on that occasion only eight or nine homes went up in flames. Here at the Gam we have to ask ourselves, could this have been us? Exco did, a few weeks before the St Francis disaster, and at the October monthly meeting the decision was taken to call an end to a 40 year tradition, and to cancel the annual New Year’s Eve bonfire. The decision was not popular with everyone, but a show of hands at the AGM showed that there was overwhelming support for the decision. The questions needed to be asked whether the risk of rampant fire was worth it, could we manage an outbreak, and would insurance pay out if we had sanctioned a fire which ended up causing wholesale destruction, such at the St Francis blaze. Insurance companies are claiming losses could run up to R600 million, although this seems to be an inflated estimate, and they say it could take up to five years before St Francis Bay is back to normal. Whatever else, a catastrophe of this scale is bound to push insurance premiums through the roof, so we will all be paying for this. Here at the Gam we have a well set out water reticulation system with evenly spaced fire hydrants throughout the resort. During the course of the year one of our residents, Mervin Unsworth, undertook the manufacture of a high speed first response fire trailer at the Shed, at no cost except for the materials supplied by Gamhoa. In addition we have two well equipped fire trailers ready to hook up and go. The problem is we have no more than about six regular volunteer firemen who have been attending monthly fire drills throughout the year. These drills have been conducted by highly qualified resident fireman, Riaan Senekal. Mark Willemse, who is also highly qualified, but was Boarded, has assisted from time to time. But by and large the response from our residents has been lukewarm. Some useful Safety hints 1) Ensure that you have at least one functioning fire extinguisher in the house and a decent length of hose connected to your garden tap. 2) Be alert in the home. The prime cause of fire is carelessness—irons, heaters, stoves. 3) Never allow any fire to be unattended. 4) Ensure that you properly extinguish any fire which you have lit. Footnote: Be wise over the festive season. Be cautious with your braai fires, do not let off crackers, and do not throw your cigarette butts out of the car window. See fire fighting details on back page. Cut them out and stick them to the fridge door. Flames envelop a St Francis Bay home in the recent disaster in which more that 70 homes, mainly on the marina, were destroyed. Only a fortnight before the St Francis disaster , Gamhoa Exco banned the Grunter’s Green bonfire Ratepayers AGM Diarise December 22. The annual general meeting of the Gamtoos Mouth Ratepayers Association will be held at Barnes cottage at 2 pm. If you want a say in what happens at the resort, be there to raise your points and elect office bearers. Payment of rates is a hot topic and may evoke animated discussion. Beach cleanup The final beach cleanup of the year takes place on December 22, starting at the Sales Office in Phase One at 8 am. Join us in doing our bit for the environment, and then join us for a free egg and bacon roll and cup of coffee afterwards. It’s a worthwhile exercise. Help make us proud. Advertising Rates To offset production costs of Gam News, we now offer advertising space in these pages at very attractive rates. See, for instance, the Truewan ad on Page 8. This ad, of approximately half a page, cost the advertiser R200. Our rates are as follows: Full page R400, half page R200, quarter page R100, and smalls up to 50 words, R10. For advertising information, email setonsmithc@gmail.com, or contact the Gamhoa office on 0422860819. Post boxes Many homes in the resort still do not have post boxes. If you do not have one you may miss out on important notices which are frequently circulated by Gamhoa and individuals. NEWS IN BRIEF: Riaan brings home gold THE Gam’s burly fireman, Riaan Senekal brought home a bag full of gold, silver and bronze, from the World Fire fighting Games held in Sydney Australia in November. Riaan, a 41yearold professional, who is a two pip Shift Commander at the KwaNobuhle fire station, is also our volunteer fire chief, and training officer. The gentle giant is a product of Brandwag High in Uitenhage. He is a sports fanatic, having excelled in athletics as well as rugby. The 115kg front rower, who represented Crusaders in the first league, intends running out for the occasional game for Despatch next season. The recent World Games, an event which is supported by the world’s major developed countries, was contested by nearly 10 000 firemen from across the globe. Riaan took gold in both the hammer throw and tug-o-war, while claiming silver in the extra heavyweight category of the tug-o-war, and the Dragon Boat event. His bronze came from the 4x400 relay race. His brother Alton, also a top level fireman, took gold in squash singles, and the mixed doubles with his wife Carien. He also took silver in two of the tug-o-war events, so the Senekal brothers did more than their share in helping South Africa bag 101 medals at the event, which put us in sixth place overall, out of the 44 participating countries Two years ago, competing at the World Games in South Korea, Riaan also bagged a clutch of medals Speaking about the games, he explained: “Firemen around the world are a tightly knit brotherhood, so the spirit at the games is fantastic. Around the world we share one code, and single common prayer for protection, courage and the ability to carry out our duties with dedication, no matter what the danger. “Fire fighting is in my blood. I entered this way of life after completing my military call up, and I have never regretted it. I cannot imagine being in a job which tied me to a desk. The action and the adrenalin rush of taking on a big blaze, and serving the community, these things are the lifeblood of a fireman.” Keeping fit is a way of life for Riaan. So he will be fully ready to do it all again at the next Games, which will be held in Los Angeles in 2014. The Gam’s ace fireman, Riaan Senekal, gave the opposition the chop at the World Fire Fighting Games in Sydney last month. Kouga says no to rates discount Wednesday, December 12, a Gamhoa delegation met with Kouga financial director, Carlien Burger, to push for a 50 per cent rates discount for home owners. The delegation included Board Chairman, Colin Rushmere, Exco chairman Cal Seton Smith, Exco member Hannes Visagie. Ms Burger was told that Gamhoa was not satisfied with the current 20 per cent rates reduction, as this did not nearly cover the services which are provided in the resort. The meeting was cordial, but the delegation was told that Gamhoa residents were charged a basic rate and if Kouga provided services, such services would have to be paid for over and above the basic rate., Legally, Kouga is under no obligation to take over provision of services, as Gamhoa and other small towns in the Kouga ambit are all legally bound to adhere to their original obligations, as set out prior to being absorbed by Kouga when municipal boundaries were redefined. All gated communities and small towns received a 20 per cent rates discount and no exceptions will be made. Much as we feel hard done by, Kouga is acting legally. The council has the power to increase or reduce the current discount, but is not considering any change to the 20 per cent concession. The bottom line is that we are in the same category as a body corporate, and remain committed to our founding obligations. We believe there is little chance of a legal challenge succeeding. No holiday building projects: Resort and building manager George Gerber warns that all building activities at the resort will cease on December 14, when the building industry closes down. From that date any building activities and the use of noisy equipment such as power sanders, routers and angle grinders will be disallowed. This decision has the full backing of the Exco. Painting, touch ups and minor maintenance will be permitted, but the home owner who believes that the close down holiday period is a time for projects, will find stern resistance, says Gerber. Office on skeleton staff: From 3pm on Christmas eve, to 2nd January, the Gamhoa office at the Shed will be operating without admin staff, Our assistant manager, Stephans Gerber will be the man in charge. Over this period our labour team will be in on a daily basis, except or public holidays, and will provide essential services. Throughout the peak holiday period there will be twice weekly refuse collections, on Mondays and on Fridays. If a public holiday falls on one of these days, then collections will take place the preceding day. Slipway discs: No permanent slipway discs will be issued over this period. Temporary discs will be issued. Those who qualify for permanent discs will be able to exchange temporary discs for permanent discs in the new year, at no additional costs. No vehicle may enter the slipway area without a disc. Launching protocol: The new jetty at the slipway is for the convenience of those launching and removing boats from the water. It is not a picnic facility or a convenience spot for riverside anglers. Boaters are to take note of the no wake zone within 30 metres of the slipway. No boats may be moored to the jetty. Holiday homes: Those who have holiday homes which will be rented out are requested contact the office before the closedown to alert us. All landlords must ensure that holiday tenants have a copy of the house rules. Landlords will be held accountable for the conduct of tenants at all times. Cell phone gate access: GAMHOA has taken over total management of the cell phone gate access system from our service provider, Securitech. What this means is that those who previously subscribed to Securitech, must sign up for the new year with Gamhoa. The annual cost per cell phone will be R120 and the cut-off deadline will be end of January.
The National Estuaries Fishing Championships which was to have been held on the Gamtoos River in November, was cancelled after the River came down in flood for the third time this year. Up to 140 mm were measured during one week in October. Check out the new Gamhoa web site in January, at www.gamtooshomeowners.co.za MORE NEWS SNIPPETS: Miracle Mike works his magic AS Mike Deyzel lay in a coma for five weeks after a horrific car accident, doctors predicted that if he re covered he would be a paraplegic for life. The future looked grim for the young man who had just qualified as an electrician, and was returning with a colleague to the Daimler Chrysler base in East London where he worked. The driver of the car escaped virtually unscathed, but as the car swerved and collided with a tree, the young Gamtoos man’s legs were smashed, and he sustained serious right arm and chest injuries. Yüklə 406,64 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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