CLUBHOUSE MANAGER’S
NEWSLETTER
PROUD SPONSOR
BEACH CAFE
WILDLIFE
From the Estate Manager
What’s Happening @ Dunkirk
Dear Residents,
The year seems to be rolling along at a rapid pace and we are already past the halfway mark to Christmas. The weather is warming up and after some lovely early spring rains everything is greening and pushing shoots and flowers. It’s certainly getting easier to enjoy getting out and about a little bit more and a little bit earlier in the day.
The new speed-cameras are very topical now which would seem to indicate that they are proving effective.
There was much call for them at both last year’s AGM and the previous years, as well as multiple
emails and complaints from residents to the HOA through the year. The speedbumps in the estate are having limited efficacy and are already numerous.
All the pleas and communications from the HOA asking for awareness and slower driving from drivers in the estate have had little to no response. After some wildlife deaths and a few near misses of children and pedestrians reported, it was decided to put in the speed-cameras. These cameras are very expensive, so the ones that we chose to get are moveable units that can be repositioned around the Estate as necessary. The service provider, Ambrosys, calibrates the cameras when they are moved, and monitors and issues the penalties on our behalf. The cameras
take an eight second video of the vehicles, and then a photo is sent on to the resident. There were several messages sent out from the HOA leading up to the installation of these cameras, but there still seem to be some questions regarding who is liable.
Homeowners/the person who issues the code to the driver is the one that will be liable to pay the speeding penalty. The same as they would be responsible for the behaviour of any visitor that they have invited or permitted to enter the estate. Failure to stick to the speed limit in the estate is a breach of the rules. This is covered in the introduction to our rules which states as follows:
“Any contravention of the rules by any person who gains access to the Estate under the authorisation
of an owner or lessee (or any person authorised by either of the aforesaid persons) shall be deemed to be a contravention by that owner or lessee as the case may be.
The board has the right to impose penalties for rule transgressions on any owner or lessee and, without prejudice to any other rights afforded to the DHOA in respect of rules transgressions, any such penalties shall be deemed to be a part of the levy due by the relevant owner.” I hope that this helps to clear up
any confusion. The guards do have a sign to present to guests and contractors coming into the estate making them aware of the cameras, and there will be more signs going up near the entrances shortly. Most of the penalties in the beginning were residents and not visitors, although there have been a lot more visitors of late.
I don’t have much else to report back in this issue so I just thought I would take the opportunity this time around to say “Thank You!”
Thank you for your contributions. We have made a lot of calls on you
to assist or come forward for many different things; from folks and Ray’s staff who lost their homes and belongings in the tornado and storms, staff who lost their entire salary to fraud, Nelson Mandela Day supplies to schools, fund-raising events and talks; and every single time there is a need or a call the response is immediate and overwhelming. So, thank you for your time and your giving hearts, it has been appreciated by many and made such a difference to folks both close to home and further afield. Thank you for your kind words. Thank you to those residents who take the time to come forward, stop in, or stop me or the staff
members or security to thank them for a job well done or to offer encouragement, drop off a doughnut or a coke. Thank you to those who let us know when we’re getting it right. It’s what makes this community so special.
And thank you for smiles, waves and friendship: small things that go further than you know.
That’s all from me other than to say that there are a few fun events coming up in the next few months so keep an eye on your app and look out for them.
Enjoy the read!
Estate Manager
#turningordinaryintoextraordinary
Clubhouse Manager’s Newsletter
Greetings from the Beach Club…
With the annual humpback whale migration upon us, I thought I might share this article which I found while doing some research, and shed some light on the battle fought by these majestic creatures, as well as share some local history which you
may not be aware of.
“Whaling has occurred along South African shores and beyond, since time immemorial.
Whales are rather predictable in their migratory routes and patterns, with certain species such as humpbacks, moving relatively close to the coastline, making
them easy prey. In fact, by the early 1900s, it became common knowledge that more whales passed close to Durban’s shoreline than any other coastal city in the world.
Bones, blubber (oil), organs and baleen (whalebone) were harvested from the whales, with these magnificent creatures taken to whaling stations to be processed once caught. One such establishment was the Union Whaling Station,
located at the Bluff, alongside Durban Harbour. Commencing operations in 1909, the business was to experience a never-ending rollercoaster ride of alternating success and misfortune as operations moved between profit and loss over the years.
Various factors fuelled this ride, including a demand for whale oil to extract glycerol, which was used in the manufacture of dynamite during World War I, to increasing international pressure on the government during the 1970s to ban whaling along our coast. The 1930s would see an increase in pelagic whaling (the practise of catching and processing whales at sea on large factory ships), believed by scientists to be a major driver in the decimation of many whale populations, including humpbacks.
The Union Whaling Station was closed in 1976, and a planned sale of the factory to the South African Navy fell through. Today, the old buildings stand in a somewhat sombre state of disrepair, the
vegetation claiming back the various structures that once housed the Southern Hemisphere’s largest whaling station.
The successful banning of whaling locally and an increase in pressure internationally to restrict it in the Antarctic have given these magnificent mammals the opportunity to recover their population numbers naturally. And while counting and estimating whale numbers is difficult, the humpback population was put at fewer than 600 in the late 1970s. But time has been kind to the humpback, and a 2018 study undertaken at Cape Vidal now puts the population at between 30,000 and 60,000.”
Who doesn’t love a happy conservation story? Many of you have most likely had the privilege of sipping on a coffee at the Beach Club when suddenly the ocean erupts with a huge splash or the flick of tail… It never gets old and will always capture an audience, so bring your binoculars down and come
enjoy a cuppa or cooldrink with us.
That’s it from me… “CARPE DIEM.”
Dear Dunkirk Community,
As we cosy up during these colder months (not so cold here in Durban), we wanted to take a moment to share some exciting updates and reflections from our first eight months of serving you.
Welcoming a New Face
menu, Nolwazi brings a warm, friendly energy that we know you’ll love as much as we do.
Winter Slowdown and Looking
Ahead
Eight-Month Update
BEACH Cafe
We’re thrilled to introduce you to our newest team member, Nolwazi. She joined us in June and has already become a wonderful part of our coffee shop family. Whether she is crafting your favourite latte or helping you discover something new on the
As the temperature has dropped slightly, we’ve noticed a slight slowdown in foot traffic, which is natural for this time of year. But don’t worry—things are expected to pick up as we head into spring.
We’ve been using this quieter time to fine-tune our offerings and ensure that we’re ready to welcome more of you back as the weather gets warmer.
Thank You for Your Support
We wouldn’t be here without the incredible support of our community. Whether you’ve been with us since day one or just discovered us recently, we’re grateful for each and every one of you. Your smiles, your stories, and your love for great coffee make everything we do worthwhile. Here’s to brighter days ahead and many more cups of coffee shared together!
Warmly,
Going Back To Basics.
Back to the Great Outdoors
While our adventurer Luke Allen is away, I have volunteered to write the wildlife article for this quarter’s newsletter. It’s been so nice to get back behind the lens to take some images for this article…
disturb or approach these eagles should they take up residence with us as the habituation of wild animals (especially their young) reduces their chances of survival in the wild.
There has been much excitement about the potential nesting of a pair of Crowned Eagles and after a wonderful talk by Richard McKibbin, we realise how lucky we are to have them in and around our Estate. May we ask residents, in advance, not to
A few more prickly residents have been spotted by our night cameras over the past few months. These happy campers are none other than two porcupines which relish in a little night-time action. Additionally, in the weeks before the Weavers Dam fully dried, we had the pleasure of seeing larger groups and varieties of
birds come to a frenzy on the fish. On one morning, there were 10 Spoonbills wading through the water enjoying communal breakfast.
As the cold of winter seems to come and go, we remain privileged to be surrounded by such beauty. Over the last two weeks, I’ve dusted off my camera and done some amazing walks within Dunkirk, both day and night and have seen such incredible wildlife. I have included cropped images of some of the
animals I saw and thought it would be fun for the readers to guess which animal the image relates to. Please note that I unfortunately do not have a macro lens so quality may not be the best but give it a go—the answers are included at the end of this publication. In addition, we will post some of the original images on the Dunkirk Estate Instagram account for anyone interested.
Although I am wildlife’s number one fan, it’s been a long time since I’ve had
the chance to slow things down and really appreciate the beauty around me as work commitments got in the way. The family joined me for the night walk and they relished in the adventure armed with winter woolies and a torch each. The chorus of frogs
at Forest Lane Dam is amazing to listen to and notice how they keep quiet as you approach but if you sit silently in the dark and wait a few moments one will start off and get the rest going. I encourage you to make special moments happen, those that are spontaneous and don’t require a lot of money or time, and get outdoors. The best part is we have it all in the palm of our hands.
P.S. - a reminder that we have a wonderful wildlife Whatsapp group, as a resident you may join, and on this group we share images (and a little chat) about interesting nature related things that happen in Dunkirk.
With love, Gen
If you would like to join this group, please contact the office and they will give you further info.
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From Ray’s Kitchen
TONGAAT RELIEF EFFORT
On Monday, the 3rd of June this year, a devastating tornado hit areas of our community, destroying homes and infrastructure in its path.
Parts of Tongaat were badly damaged. As the hometown of many of Ray's staff, the Dunkirk community showed an enormous outpouring of support, and we provided much-needed assistance in the form of supplies and financial aid to rebuild damaged property. An account was opened with BBS Mica in Ballito, which managed financial donations and negotiated with suppliers to ensure the best value for materials. We replaced windows and roofs, replaced damaged appliances, and added much-needed waterproofing for
three of Ray's staff whose homes had been all but destroyed.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank this community for their generosity. Anyone who ventured into these areas would know just how desperate the situation was, and every rand given was used to provide warmth and shelter to displaced families. Our thanks also go to the BBS Mica team for helping
us coordinate the effort and to Bianca Robinson, who stepped in and took charge of the project, a tornado in her own right. We would also like to thank Natasha and several other people in the community who rallied support and spread the call for help— you know who you are.
From everyone at Ray's, thank you!
We can all be proud to call Dunkirk home.
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New Guards
Sibekezelo Jele, 37-years-old, is originally from Jozini and currently lives in Stanger for work purposes. He is a father of two children and is an orphan, having lost both of his parents in the civil war.
Passionate about contributing to the safety and security of South Africa, he decided to pursue a career in the security industry.
a career in the security field due to his passion for protecting and securing environments. As the primary provider for his five siblings, he takes on the role of breadwinner. During his leisure time, Nduduzo enjoys participating in singing activities with the Isicathamiya group. He also serves as a group choirmaster named Aba Abavangeli at his local church.
In his free time, he enjoys watching soccer and cherishes moments spent with his children.Sibekezelo holds a permanent position at the beach club, replacing Lwaziwa, who has chosen to pursue a new career in a different field. Nduduzo Mahlaba, a 29-year-old resident of Pietermaritzburg, has chosen
Although he is single, Nduduzo is a proud father of two daughters. His recent employment at Dunkirk Estate has brought him immense satisfaction; he expresses gratitude for the warm welcome and the respectful treatment he has received from his colleagues, making him feel appreciated and valued.
Nelson Mandela Day—67
Minutes
We had the honour of visiting Happy Kids Day Care in Umhlali, Ballito, to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day—which is held every year on the 18 of July. During this day, we aim to make a difference in our communities. We asked the Dunkirk residents to donate groceries for the children, and it was a success. We want to thank all the residents who have supported this cause, you all certainly made a huge difference in the kids' lives, and they were so happy and delighted. Remember, everyone has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better! Mandela Day is an occasion for all to inspire change.
There was a double celebration at Happy Kids.
One of the kids, Aku, celebrated her birthday on that day, so we treated her with a cake and some goodies. It was an amazing day for Aku and the rest of the kids. Dunkirk also donated some of the jungle gym that came out of the old playground at the Main Clubhouse. “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.” - Nelson Mandela
Kids Spring Market Day
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
