“It ’s a wonderful world”
February 2024 NEWSLETTER
SECURITY REPORT
ALL HAD A BALL AT THE FAMILY FUN DAY
CAT FLU: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
GUARD OF THE MONTH
This magazine is designed & published in partnership by :
CONTENT From the Manager’s Desk Important Numbers Important Dates Security Report Thank you Guard of the Month Family Fun Day Cat Flu Delicious Garlic Bread Recipe From Blue Gill ro Global Thrill Back to Basics
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Disclaimer: This digimag is produced especially for residents of Blue Gill Estate to provide updates and useful information. It is produced by GLOVent Media & Fab Creative, on behalf of the Blue Gill Estate. Although every effort is taken to ensure accuracy of content, Blue Gill Estate HOA and/or the Publisher, cannot be held liable for any inaccurate information, and may not agree with all opinions expressed in this publication.
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journey of a thousand miles starts somewhere, and each step is a story to unfold. Some will be exceptional, and others will be challenging. The first month of 2024 has passed, and we wish you all the best for the year ahead! We trust you enjoyed a safe festive season and are well-rested and ready for 2024.
Congratulations to the matric class of 2023. We know you all passed with flying colours. Your hard work paid off, and we wish you all the best with your future endeavours. Make a huge success of your bright future and stay true to yourselves! We experienced some rainfall throughout
December 2023, leading to the growth of the plants on the boundary walls. Residents living on the boundary of the Estate are requested to maintain the plant growth on their premises so that it does not interfere with the electrical fences. Should you have palm trees, please keep them neat 4 and remove dead
FROM THE ESTATE MANAGER’S DESK CONTINUED
branches and seeds regularly so they look aesthetically pleasing.
please remember to renew your fishing licence at the office for 2024.
We have temporarily established the outlet area of the bottom dam area on the Blue Gill side of the lower dam. This area will properly be attended to in the winter months to come. Children and their visitors were playing on the first island in the top dam during the holiday period. Please inform your children to refrain from doing this as they disturb ducks breeding. The water in the dam could also still be contaminated, which will make them ill. Anglers,
The Family Fun Day was held at the Clubhouse on Saturday, 2 December 2023. Residents enjoyed the fun-filled event, and the children enjoyed themselves with sweetie crackers, ice cream and jumping castles. Everybody who attended loved the live music and festivities at the main Clubhouse garden areas. Now to gardening and other maintenance! We repaved two garden paths at the main garden area
and behind the recycle bin. New water-wise succulents have also been planted in the newly landscaped area behind the recycling bin. Various other regions of the main gardens have also been identified, which will receive an upgrade soon. A section of the wooden pole fence at the dam has been replaced with recycled poles, and a new recycled swing set for our children was also installed in the dam area. The rest of the big jungle gym will be replaced when the budget allows for it to be done.
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FROM THE ESTATE MANAGER’S DESK CONTINUED
Sadly, one of the dogs in our Estate died of cat flu in December 2023. It is very important to vaccinate your animals for this very contagious virus. Read more about this on page 14. We encourage residents to share their stories with us to ensure our newsletter is community-based, not just for reporting factual information. Please contact Elda Weideman at the office or email her your story at bluegillmgr@bluegillestate.co.za.
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IMPORTANT NUMBERS Estate Manager:
Elda Weideman
072 137 0277
Senior Guard:
Josia Dimo
079 889 7423
Blue Gill Gate: Blue Gill Gate 2:
011 391 6338 071 059 2515
Waterfront Gate: Waterfront Gare 2:
011 391 6156 071 058 7774
Office:
011 391 4756
Office 2:
011 391 7684 7
Refuse collection is every Monday, including public holidays, except for Christmas Day.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all on 14 February 2024. Enjoy the day with all your loved ones! Estate Manager Elda Weideman will be on leave from 8 to 25 March 2024. Christine Cooley will be available from Monday to Friday between 07:00 and 13:00 to address any administrative enquiries. The guards can be contacted for security emergencies at the provided telephone numbers above. Josia Dimo can be contacted for any after-hour emergencies at 079 889 7423.
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e are happy to report no serious incidents occurred over the festive season. All the guards and Fidelity Armed Services, Illumico and Target Security Services were on duty over this period. They all ensured that we were incident-free by doing regular patrols and reporting potential threats that were observed - in this case, cows grazing too close to the electrical fence at the back of the Estate. We also wish to thank all the residents who stayed at home for assisting with the reporting of possible security risks, mischievous children and other suspicious activities in the Estate.
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Thank you
for Your Kindness
W
e want to thank all residents who contributed generously to the Guards and Gardeners Christmas Fund. All of your contributions were highly appreciated and ensured that the guards and gardeners enjoyed a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
EDMAN SIWEYA Guard of the Month December 2023
E
dman Siweya, a Blue Gill employee since October 2011, is the latest Guard of the Month. Edman is the Shift Supervisor of B-Shift. He is married with two children and loves to play soccer with his kids in his free time. Edman, thank you for your loyal service to the Blue Gill community!
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ALL HAD
A BALL
at the Family Fun Day
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ALL HAD A BALL AT THE FAMILY FUN DAY CONTINUED
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e had a very hot day on 2 December 2023. Despite the heat, residents visited the Clubhouse throughout the day to support the various stalls, sit in the shade, listen to live music, and chat with friends, neighbours and family. The children could not get enough of the jumping castles, sweetie crackers, ice cream and hours of fun throughout the day. Fun was had by all who attended!
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CAT FLU:
What You Need to Know CAN DOGS GET THE FLU FROM HUMANS OR CATS? No, dogs cannot catch the human flu virus strains. While there’s some debate surrounding the subject, there’s no evidence that dogs can contract any strain of human flu virus. Dogs may catch the canine flu in the form of H3N2 from cats, however, the incidence of dogs and cats passing this illness back and forth is rare. You should still isolate sick pets
from healthy ones. The cat flu, which can be a common name for canine parvovirus enteritis, is a highly contagious disease and can be passed between cats and dogs, although it is not a traditional “flu” and has different symptoms. Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their faeces. The virus attacks rapidly dividing cells such as those in the lymph
nodes, intestinal lining and bone marrow. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CAT FLU IN DOGS? The signs may include lethargy, vomiting, fever and diarrhoea (usually bloody). Generally, the first sign of canine parvovirus is lethargy. Secondary signs are loss of weight and appetite or diarrhoea followed by vomiting. Diarrhoea and vomiting result in dehydration and other factors that can lead to shock and death.
CAT FLU: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW CONTINUED
Likewise, cats cannot catch human flu. Dogs also cannot catch cat flu. Cat flu is highly contagious among our feline friends though. If you have more than one cat, it’s really important to keep them all vaccinated. If one of your cats gets cat flu, make sure you wash the bedding and bowls they use thoroughly. In general, upper respiratory infections in cats usually last approximately seven to 10 days. Healthy and vaccinated adult cats will generally have a good
prognosis. However, some older cats, young kittens and unvaccinated cats and kittens can experience prolonged or more severe illness and may need extra supportive care. PREVENTATIVE ACTION Please pick up your dog’s excrement, especially in public areas, as the virus will spread if your dog sniffs an infected dog’s excrement. Protect your animals, and all other animals in the Estate, by having them vaccinated as soon as possible if you have not done so already!
Delicious Garlic Bread Recipe
TRY THIS RECIPE FOR YOUR NEXT BRAAI OR WHENEVER YOU’RE IN THE MOOD FOR COMFORT FOOD!
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RECIPE CONTINUED
INGREDIENTS • 135ml water • 12g white sugar • 3g active dry yeast • 1 egg • 300g all-purpose or bread flour • 15ml olive oil • 50g softened salted butter • 4 cloves of garlic • 10g parsley • 80g mozzarella cheese METHOD 1. In a bowl, dissolve the sugar, dry yeast and water. 2. In another small bowl, break the egg and beat it with a fork. 3. Add ¾ of the egg mixture to the water and sugar solution. Keep ¼ of the mixture for later to brush over the top of the bread before baking it.
4. Add the flour and salt to the wet ingredients 10. Spread the garlic butter mixture over the squaresized dough. Add the mozzarella cheese over and mix well until it becomes a ball of dough. the square dough and roll it up. At the end, pinch 5. Pour the olive oil over the dough and sides the dough all along the length of the roll. of the bowl to avoid the dough sticking while 11. Cut the roll of dough every two to three kneading it. centimetres across and place it in the greased 6. Put the bowl over the dough and leave it until bread pan. it has risen. 12. Brush the rest of the egg over the top of the 7. Purée the garlic gloves. Mix it well with the bread and bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 180°C. softened butter and finely chopped parsley. Set aside for later. 8. Sprinkle your working surface with flour and flatten the risen dough with your hands. Knee the dough thoroughly, fold the ends towards each other at various times, and form it into another ball. Leave the dough to rise for a second time. 9. Sprinkle your working service with a little flour again and roll the dough out so it is the width and length of your bread pan. The thickness of the dough should be about two centimetres when you are finished. 17
FROM BLUE GILL TO GLOBAL THRILL: Ruan to Hit It Out of the Park in International Cricket Arena
I
n the August 2020 newsletter, we told you more about our then-resident Ruan and all his cricket achievements. Ruan de Swardt left his mother, Rita de Swardt, in Blue Gill and moved to Umhlanga in Durban on 27 May 2020 to start a career with the Hollywoodbets Dolphins. Ruan is now playing for the North West Dragons.
His career in professional cricket has paid off, and four years later, he will be representing South Africa against New Zealand in two test matches in February 2024 at Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. What a remarkable achievement! We are proud of you, Ruan! Go make South Africa proud as the allrounder cricketer we know you to be!
We offer a wide range of products and services, including pressure systems designed for energy efficiency, borehole pumps and equipment, controllers, filters, sterilisers, as well as rainwater and greywater harvesting. Visit our store for an obligation free consultation and a quote.
Shop 16 Goodies Lifestyle Centre 4 Vlei Street, Glen Marais Kempton Park 010 065 1721
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We have noticed various dogs roaming the Estate and request residents to keep their animals secure in their premises. Please remember that your animal is your responsibility, dogs and cats alike! We thank you in advance for your co-operation in this matter.
• Adhere to the speed limit, a maximum of 40 kilometres per hour. • Stop at stop streets! We are watching and taking random videos. • Secure your animals on your property. • Walk your dog on a leash. Pick up excrement as per Estate rules. Use the bags on the lamp posts. • Please attend to your dog’s constant barking. • The use of lawnmowers or machinery on a Sunday must only be between 09:00 and 13:00 and between 16:00 and 18:00. No exceptions!
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