Official Publication of The Hills Estate_June

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Do You Care Enough To Slow Down?

JUNE 2016 Your Unique LifestyleMagazine From The Estate Manager

> Get To Know Our Snakes!

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Important Contact Details From The Estate Manager Traffic Regulations

CONTENTS

Do You Care Enough ?

Know The Estate Rules Write To Us Landscaping Security Century Fun Walk Fun Day At Redford House The Estate Clubhouse New Apartments In The Hills Wild Animals In Our Estate Get To Know Our Snakes

Disclaimer: This Newsletter is produced especially for residents/owners of The Hills to provide updates and useful information.

It is produced by KS Studio on behalf of Trafalgar Property Management (Pty) Ltd. Although every effort is taken to ensure accuracy of content, Trafalgar Property Management (Pty) Ltd and/or the Publisher, cannot be held liable for any inaccurate information, and may not agree with all opinions expressed in this publication.

Estate Manager Wynand de Sousa 071 674 3095 wynandd@trafalgar.co.za Environmental Officer Hannes De Wet 082 551 6015 HannesD@trafalgar.co.za Security Manager Jaco van Wyk 072 258 2239 jacovw@proteacoin.co.za Main Gate 079 079 4711 Levy Enquiries Bianca van Niekerk 011 214 5200 biancav@trafalgar.co.za Netcare Pretoria East Hospital 012 422 2300 (Antivenom)

IMPORTANT

Contact Details

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From The

Estate Manager Dear Residents Welcome to our newsletter which is packed with tips and ideas as well as information regarding the activities in the estate.

I am wishing everyone all the best for the last part of 2016. We (HOA Management) are ready to work as a team with the community towards those common objectives we all share, namely a safe, secure and healthy environment.

Feel free to write your comments or share your news with our new community by e-mailing: WynandD@trafalgar.co.za

Wynand de Sousa

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Traffic Regulations The Estate Maximum speed limit is 30Km/h There are 46 stop signs in the estate, please ensure that you stop at all of them. There are children walking and riding their bikes to school please ensure that you keep to the speed limit and stop at the stop signs.

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DO YOU CARE ENOUGH TO Many of us are very busy and hurry from one thing to another during the day. We may not give too much thought to why we are asked to travel at a certain speed or may just feel that it’s an encumbrance. The speed regulation has been carefully decided based on what is safest for community living in an Estate such as The Hills. We love the fact that our children can run around freely and play and that we have the blessing of wildlife so near to us. This privilege calls for something in return: that you care about the rules that make our Estate as special as it is.

Did you know that speeding not only increases the severity of an accident but also the likelihood of one?

It takes the average driver 1.5 seconds to react to a hazardous situation.

If you are travelling at the correct speed, it is enough time to stop. If you are speeding, you will not have time to react fast enough, and in addition your vehicle will be going too fast to stop it in time. The faster your vehicle is travelling at the moment of impact the higher the risk of serious injury.

The speed limit is not meant to irritate residents and guests but rather to ensure that we keep our Estate safe. With the intention of keeping to the rules, it may be a good idea to always

build in that extra time when planning your daily schedule.

Allow for the extra time that a slow drive out of the Estate will take, and rather leave 10 minutes earlier than you would have usually. This will reduce your stress around timing and remove the need to drive faster.

Think of how you would feel if you seriously injured or even killed one of our precious children and keep that in mind next time you take to our streets.

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Know The Estate Rules

• Hunting and trapping of birds (and animals) and the setting of snares are specifically prohibited.

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No refuse may be dumped on the street unless on those days scheduled for removal by the service provider. All refuse must be stored in a closed bin to avoid the proliferation of flies.

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No garments, household lines or washing of any nature may be hung out or placed anywhere to dry except in a drying yard or such other area designated for such purpose. Washing line, twirly drys and the like, must be below the level of the yard walls.

• Boats , trailers , caravans and horseboxes must be concealed inside garages or screened from the street and neighbours.

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The use of firearms for recreational purposes other than self-defence or emergencies will be met with criminal charges. In addition thereto, the perpetrator will be fined a minimum of R10 000, 00 (the quantum of which may be increased by the directors from time to time).

Non-payment may result in legal action to obtain eviction orders.

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Send us

your Stories We would love to hear from you, write us your comments, feedback or share your news and photographs with our new community by e-mailing: WynandD@trafalgar.co.za

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There is nothing quite like a South African garden.

Planted up with indigenous perennials, shrubs, trees and grasses, they blend beautifully with the natural landscape, creating a sense-of-place and a unique identity. Gardened sustainably, they offer the crucial habitats for local birds, butterflies and bees that are in such short supply in today’s cities.

The advantages of indigenous plants are that they: • Can eventually maintain themselves in the poor soils • Require less or little water • Evergreen • Attract birds and wildlife • Source of medicinal plants • Important habitats for natural fauna

However one of the most important advantages of planting indigenous is water saving – save yourself money and contribute towards overcoming South Africa’s critical shortage of water. There are many benefits to using indigenous plants for gardening because these plants have developed especially to cope with the dry local conditions and are hardier.

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SECURITY A Security Satisfaction Survey was recently sent out to all our members, asking for feedback and trying to establish the overall satisfaction with the appointed security company.

Firstly, we would like to thank each and every member who took the time to complete the survey. The information gathered from the survey provided us with a very valuable insight into the perception and experience of our members. We are constantly monitoring the effectiveness and service of the appointed company but need your input.

You will therefore be receiving invitations to take part in these surveys more frequently.

A number of comments and suggestions were received from members and we would like to assure you that we have taken note and studied every single one. We brought these suggestions to the attention of the security company and they are committed to giving us their full support in delivering a better and more effective service to all.

We are however pleased to

announce that over 70% of the members rated their overall satisfaction with the appointed security company as above average and only 6% of the members rated their satisfaction below average. We were obviously hoping for a higher satisfaction rating but have the full commitment from Bidvest that they will do everything in their means to improve on the overall satisfaction.

Thank you again for your time and for your valuable input.

SECURITY MANAGER: TEL 072 258 2239

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The Hills FUN WALK

If you would like a guided walk through the Estate please join Century on one of their Fun Walks 9 July, 13 August, 10 September, from 9h00.

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If you are choosing Aluminium for your windows and doors you are making a good decision!

Want to know why?

The strength of this metal means less is required to support glass. Frames are therefore slimmer, and designs more elegant. Larger glass surfaces are possible.

Our harsh African sun has no effect on Aluminium which is unaffected by UV rays.

It will save on maintenance costs as your frames will not tarnish, rot, rust or bend.

Aluminium assists in keeping your home energy-efficient as the perfect joins mean no heat will escape.

Aside from all the benefits of building with Aluminium it’s great to know that this amazing metal is 99% recyclable.

The re-smelting process only uses about 5 % of the energy required to produce the primary aluminium, making it a very viable product to use in construction. Remember to select powder coating as anodised coating is a process that is harmful to the environment.

Interesting fact! 75 percent of all aluminium ever produced is still in use, with no loss in quality.

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Fun Day at Redford House 4 June 2016 Redford House had a successful fun day and there were around 2,500 people that attended the event.

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The Estate clubhouse underway 11 June 2016 Century held the Clubhouse roof wetting where members could get a small sample of exactly what the facilities will bring to the Estate upon completion

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New apartments in The Hills 11 June 2016 Construction progress is going well and the first phase is planned to be completed by the end of the year.

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Wild Animals in our Estate

Porcupine

Physical Description Large rodent covered in long black and white quills angling back from head.

The top of the head is covered in long brown-white hairs swept back.

• Weight – 10-24kg • Size 75-100cm length • Lifespan 12-15 years

27 Behaviours Mostly solitary, but also seen in pairs or family groups. It is nocturnal and lies up in cover during the day in caves, rocks, burrows, or thick vegetation. Burrows are often identified by the accumulation of gnawed bones littering the entrance. Foraging for food is often a solitary activity. When threatened, they turn their backs towards the danger and rattle their quills. They may also run backwards or sideways to impale a predator, but contrary to belief, they are incapable of ‘shooting’ their quills at an attacker.

Habitat Wide habitat tolerance for all but open dunes; prefers broken, rocky country.

Food Vegetarian; tree bark, seed pods, tsamas melons, but has also been recorded eating from carcasses and readily gnaws bones for calcium.

Predators Lions, leopards, and humans.

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Get to know our

Snakes

Residents should be aware that there are venomous and non-venomous snakes in The Hills.

If you see a snake, walk around it giving it a very wide berth, snakes can move fast when striking. Most snakes will avoid you if given the chance. Do not attempt to harass or poke a snake with a stick and definitely do not try to pick up any snake.

The key to surviving a venomous snake bite is to stay calm and seek medical attention immediately. When you call for help, describe the snake to the emergency responders.

This may help them to prepare the right anti-venom and have it ready for you.

Try your best to stay calm, still and quiet while traveling to the hospital or waiting for an ambulance. The faster your heart beats the more you increase the blood flow to the bitten area, increasing the spread of venom.

NON

VENOMOUS

Red Lip

Rock Python

Mole Snake

Brown House snake

Puff Adder

Rinkhals

Netcare Pretoria East Hospital: 012 422 2300 (Anti-venom)

VENOMOUS SNAKES

Night Adder

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WHAT NOT TO DO IF YOU ARE BITTEN by a snake:

There are so many myths about treating snake bites. Research has shown many to be ineffective and even dangerous. Here are a few things you should not do: • Do not try to suck the venom out using your mouth.

Transferring the venom to your mouth is dangerous because you could absorb the venom through the membranes of your mouth. And, in the process you will transfer bacteria from your mouth into the wound, increasing the chances of infection.

31 • Do not take any medications or painkillers unless directed to do so by a doctor.

• Do not apply cold compresses or ice packs. This will reduce circulation, concentrate the venom in your tissues and may make tissue damage more likely.

• Leave the wound intact. Do not cut across the wound. This is often done prior to applying suction, but it increases your chances of infection. Because snake fangs are curved, the venom is unlikely to have been injected where you expect.

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Skip the tourniquet. Reducing the circulation will concentrate the venom in that limb, making tissue damage due to the venom more likely and cutting off the circulation entirely could permanently damage the limb.

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Struggling

to Sleep?

Try this technique: Get comfortable in your bed. Breathe through your nose for 4 seconds, hold it for 7 seconds and then breathe out through your mouth for 8 seconds. It will slow your heart rate and calm your body.

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July

9 Things to do in FOR THE KIDS Ends July 3 Disney On Ice: Worlds of Enchantment Ticketpro Dome Ends July 17 Shrek the Musical Gold Reef City Starts July 26 Slava’s Snowshow Montecasino

FOR THE MUSIC LOVERS 3 July Pretoria Symphony Orchestra Leriba Hotel and Spa 10 July Francois van coke Atterbury Theatre

15-16 July Johnny Clegg In Concert Montecasino

FOR SPORTS FANS 8 July Emirates Lions Vs Southern Kings – Rugby Emirates Airline Park 15 July Mynhardt vs Mazany - Boxing Carnival City TRY SKY DINING! Dine under the sky or stars while enjoying the most spectacular view.

Enjoy a breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner while dining around a 22 seater table which is suspended 50m in the sky from a crane. The extraordinary experience. Val Bonne Country Estate, Jhb.

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