Dunkirk Estate Newsletter - Mar/April 2025 by FabMags

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From the Estate Manager

What’s Happening @Dunkirk

Dear Residents,

We are already well into 2025, and we hope that everyone has settled back into the rhythm of work, school and more regular activities.

holidays, as well as our usual influx of holiday homeowners and visitors, it was a very busy holiday season. Fortunately, the December rain stayed mostly at bay, and everyone could enjoy some brilliant beach weather and hot summer days.

With Mozambique a no-go zone and lots of residents staying home for the

A big welcome to Clinton Andrews who has joined us as our new

Clubhouse Manager, a great addition to our team at Dunkirk, and you can learn more about him further on in the magazine. Please say “Hi” when you see him at the Clubhouses.

We also welcome our new board members, who are getting into the swing of things. As we get into the middle of our budget year, there are a few projects and improvements still to be done before mid-year.

more info out on this before it gets started. We will be installing facial readers at the beach club and removing the palm scanners which are struggling in the corrosive beach environment. It will take some time to onboard everyone but will make access and egress to the beach much easier than trying to use wet sandy hands, or while carrying boards and skis.

You may notice some bush clearing that has been started between Weaver Dam and Sameja Drive. This is in readiness for the marking out of our new cricket net which is planned for that area, something for our eager young ball players to look forward to, but with plenty of green space still for the wandering wildlife. But, we will be sending

The existing palm scanner will be put onto a new pedestrian gate that has already been installed in the fence opposite Forest Apartments.

This will allow access down the main road, on the outside of the fence to the corner of Hugh Dent which will be much safer than using the very busy intersection at the main gate. It will be put on a timer for daylight use only. With the Easter Holidays

nearly upon us, look out for our Easter Egg Hunt again this year, always popular with the little people.

So, from one holiday to the next, we wish you all more special family times on our wonderful estate.

Estate Manager

Clubhouse Manager’s Newsletter

New Club House ManagerClinton Andrews

A brief introduction about myself:

to contribute to the Dunkirk team.

As a resident of Ballito Central for the past six years, I’ve grown to love the North Coast community.

I’m thrilled to be part of the Dunkirk community. Whether it’s tackling new challenges, collaborating with others or learning something new, I’m always up for an adventure and I’m eager

I’m a proud family-oriented person who values spending quality time with my loved ones. Family is at the heart of everything I do, and they’re a constant source of support and inspiration in my life.

The North Coast is an incredible place to be! From the welcoming people to all the events and activities, it’s truly a special place to live and work. In my free time, I enjoy off-road motorbiking with my son, exploring the beautiful valleys of Glendale or riding through the scenic sugar cane fields surrounding the North Coast.

#turningordinaryintoextraordinary

I’ve also recently taken up bodyboarding, which is a great way to unwind and stay balanced.

To start my day, I love taking a brisk walk along the promenade, reflecting

on the previous day’s activities, and mentally planning for the day ahead.

As I join the Dunkirk Estate team, I’m excited to contribute to delivering exceptional service and upholding the highest standards of professionalism. I’m looking forward to building relationships with the estate’s homeowners and providing them with outstanding support and assistance.

Clinton Andrews

Club House Manager

Beach Cafe

What a fantastic season it has been!

We’re so grateful for everyone who stopped by, shared a coffee, and made memories with us. As we move into the cooler months, we welcome the change in season and the cosy vibes that come with it.

No matter the weather, we’re here serving up great food and even better coffee. Whether you’re after a warm latte to start your morning or a hearty meal to enjoy with friends, we’ve got you covered.

Don’t be shy to say “hi” to the lovely ladies behind the counter, Everlight and Portia.

See you soon at Dunkirk Beach Cafe!

Warm wishes,

Hadley, Charles &Noa

Wildlife Talk

Project Rhino’s Mission with Grant Fowlds

On February 26th, Dunkirk hosted another successful wildlife talk at Ray’s Kitchen. This time, Grant Fowlds, a dedicated director and ambassador of Project Rhino, came to share his experience in protecting rhinos across South Africa.

NATURE

Grant is no stranger to conservation in South Africa. Coming from a family who successfully rewilded farmland in the Eastern Cape, he devoted nearly his entire life to safeguarding wild animals and preserving natural habitats. During his talk, he highlighted some truths: just 22 years ago, rhino poaching was virtually non-existent and there was no demand for rhino horn.

Yet, over the past 15 years, more than 10,000 rhinos have been killed. According to the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), 499 rhinos were poached in 2023 alone. Wildlife trafficking has become a global crisis, and the relentless expansion of human activity continues to threaten species and their habitat. But amidst these facts, Grant’s message did carry hope and importantly a call to action.

Project Rhino is a collaborative conservation initiative dedicated to protecting South Africa’s iconic wildlife through anti-poaching efforts and community education and involvement. By fostering cooperation between reserves, law enforcement, and importantly local communities, the project has created a united front against poaching.

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Grant closed his talk with a reminder that every individual has a role to play in conservation:

• Admit: We must acknowledge the crisis and that we have a role to play.

• Tread gently on the Earth, leaving space for all living beings.

• Respect creatures big and small.

• That Africa’s problems cannot be ignoredthey affect us all.

• Multi-national companies must step up and take responsibility.

• And that a few passionate people truly can save the world.

Grant brought copies of his two books at the event: Saving the Last Rhinos and Rewilding Africa as I mentioned at the talk that evening.

My husband and I have read both and can highly recommend them as insightful, behindthe-scenes accounts of the challenges and 17

triumphs of conservation in Africa. These books are available in stores and online.

For anyone who would like to learn more about Project Rhino you can find them at www.projectrhinokzn.org and if readers would like to contribute to this cause the quick and easy Zapper code and bank details are attached for ease.

Banking Details

Account Name: Project Rhino Alliance NPC

Bank: First National Bank (FNB)

Branch: Kloof Branch Code: 250 655

Account No: 629 203 46 229

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THE SECRET LIFE OF CUCKOOS!

It has been an exceptionally warm and wet summer so far, with high numbers of insects and therefore the summer migrant birds have been in no short supply.

Since the first summer rains in November, our

beautiful tracts of the coastal forest in Dunkirk have transformed into a mosaic of emerald green. One such migrant bird family are the cuckoos. Cuckoos are a fascinating family of birds. They are parasitic, which means they take advantage of another species

by laying their eggs in the host’s nest and leaving the host to raise its young. The young cuckoo grows quicker and generally gets larger than its nest mates, often leading to the host’s chick starving or being kicked out of the nest. This may seem cruel, however, this adaptation has ultimately led to the success of this bird family for thousands of years.

In Dunkirk, we regularly encounter three species of cuckoo that are most prolific during the peak of summer, as they hustle about to find a host’s nest.

The most common and conspicuous is the stunning Diederik Cuckoo. They have the highest number of recorded hosts, mostly seedeaters. Likely owing to its abundance!

The Klaas’s Cuckoo is another regular candidate around Dunkirk. It is a brood parasite of over 18 species, including batises, apalises and crombecs. They are incredibly opportunistic and there was recently a first record of a Klaas’s utilising a Blackthroated Wattle-eye nest in Simbithi!

The third Cuckoo is the Redchested. They are a lot more scarce but we do see them from time to time. Redchested Cuckoo is more of a specialist brood parasite and specialises in Robinchats, so much so that it has even evolved its egg to be chocolate-coloured to match the egg of the Cape Robin-chat.

A truly remarkable adaptation that just puts us in awe of the complexity of the natural world!

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Spritz Aperol Ingredients

• equal parts Aperol and orange juice

• soda water

• ice

• orange slice for garnishing

Method

Fill a wine glass with ice. Add Aperol and orange juice, and top with soda water. Gently swirl to combine. Garnish with an orange slice and serve.

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