Estate Manager Article, August 2024
Dear Residents, July brought us Mandela Day, Springbok rugby matches (with plenty more this year still), the launch of the 2024 Olympics and the conclusion of the first stage of the river project at the Phase 2 Karob Park (soccer park).
Another milestone passed in July was the HOA’s Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday, 31 July 2024, and we thank the residents for their participation and contribution to a productive assembly as the estate’s course for the next 12 months of our multi-year plan was decided. At the AGM, we also outlined numerous achievements, and it would be remiss of me not to convey our gratitude to the 2023/2024 Board of Directors for the countless hours and exceptional hard work they have devoted to the betterment of Fourways Gardens Residential Estate.
The devotion and commitment of our Board of Directors is evident in the many improvements that have already been noticeable – more recently, street signage to meet JRA regulations, waterway desilting, and construction of a new pedestrian bridge in the Phase 2 soccer park.
August is, of course, synonymous with Women’s Day. We celebrate this day on August 9, and not with International Women’s Day in March, because on this date in 1956, 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings to protest curtailed human rights in our country. As the proverb goes, “When sleeping women wake, mountains move”.
As a society, we all reap the benefits of these brave women’s actions, and we must continue to strive for a more equitable society with opportunities for all, especially marginalised girls and women. Our 2023/2024 Board of Directors had two formidable women, Lisa Hovgaard (Chairperson, June 2023 to January 2024 and Communications and Events Portfolio Director) and Cheryl Whitaker (Human Resources Portfolio Director).
Lisa and Cheryl have been instrumental in guiding processes to further the estate’s goals and best practices; I have been very fortunate to have worked with them this past year. The HOA likewise has no shortage of strong and dynamic women, with Hazel, Margaret, Elmine and Katlego always going the extra mile and keeping Rudy, Francois and Ricardo on their toes!
Arbor Day will be marked on the last Saturday of August with a special EcoKids event to plant trees. City Parks’ Dr Joseph Ndou has made another astounding commitment to our urban forest, and to hear more, you’ll have to make sure your children are in attendance!
We expect another fully attended EcoKids, so book as soon as the posters and communications go out for this not-to[1]be-missed event. In September, we will see a cultural cook-off for Heritage Day and (spoiler alert!) in October we will host our very first cycle championship, with Coach Smish on board to ensure that it is a standout demonstration of our facilities and our residents’ cycle skills!
The Gardens Bistro’s new menu, released at the end of June, has had mouths watering, and we’re sure that you’ve found some go-to favourites and tempting dishes to try! The second Murder Mystery Dinner was held in July, along with the popular Kid’s Movie screening in the hall over the school holidays (the perfect antidote to the winter chill and early sunsets of July).
Big screen rugby kept us on the edge of our seats, and as the weather warms, the braver among us will be found on the patio and lawns enjoying remarkable sunsets again! The HOA and The Gardens Bistro social calendars are ramping up to our high season, so keep your eyes on the newsletter, posters and social media for news and details of upcoming exciting events.
I look forward to sharing more details of projects and achievements in upcoming magazines. Resident feedback received on the survey released in July has confirmed that the HOA and Board of Directors are putting their energies in the right direction, and we are working on plans to address concerns and annoyances highlighted in the survey, which are not already in place.
The engagement of the Fourways Gardens Community in the survey, AGM, Mandela Day Collection Drive and social events results in an estate that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Sincerely,
Charlene Marlin
69 Camdeboo Rd Fourways Sandton 2055
info@fwg.co.za
011 465 7731