In Focus your community magazine – Dainfern Nature Association December 2024
As we approach the end of 2024, it is an opportune time to reflect on and celebrate the achievements and progress we’ve made together over the past year.
This year, the DHA has been fortunate to maintain strong operational cash reserves and a healthy capital reserve fund. These have enabled us to complete several important projects and make substantial improvements to the Estate.
One major milestone has been the completion of the solar project. The clubhouse and both gates are now generating electricity, reducing our reliance on the grid and assisting in cost savings. The final step, filling and tarring the car park, commenced on 18 November.
On the environmental front, significant erosion areas along the river and Trent stream have been secured with gabion installations. This work was particularly critical near Trent stream, where erosion posed a risk to nearby homes. We will continue fortifying areas near bridges in the 2026 financial year to further protect vulnerable areas.
The golf course is thriving and looking great, thanks to the start of the summer rains and the commissioning of new satellite boxes, which greatly improved irrigation during the winter months. The bunker levy balance now stands at R500,000, and plans for the bunker project are being finalised, with work set to begin in January.
We have commenced with the planting of trees across the estate and golf course to prepare for the eventual loss of older trees nearing the end of their lifecycle. This will be an ongoing initiative.
This year also saw improvements to our facilities, including the repairs and resurfacing of the clubhouse pool which now includes a small section for younger swimmers and ongoing work at the pavilion pool. The clubhouse playground received new flooring, and quotes are being procured for additional shading to enhance the area.
Additionally, we’re thrilled to introduce a multi-purpose court at the pavilion, which will accommodate basketball, five-a-side soccer, and pickleball—a great new lifestyle offering.
On the social front, the inaugural Dîner en Blanc on the 1st fairway was a resounding success, bringing our community together for a truly magical evening. We hope this event will become an annual highlight that showcases the beauty of Dainfern.The landscape and golf maintenance contracts were put out to tender this year, resulting in the reappointment of Golf Data and Turfnet. The security contract is currently under review, with the tender award set to be announced in the new year. As several of our contracts are approaching renewal, we are systematically addressing each to ensure continuity and optimal service delivery.
This year also brought changes to our team. We welcomed several new staff members: Marinette van der Walt (Lifestyle), Dwayne Gibson (Golf Director), Lorenzo Agostinetto (Operations Manager), and Elanie Grobler (Estate Administrator). A special congratulations goes to Thabo Monene, who has worked his way up to Maintenance Manager. His dedication and growth within the DHA are a testament to his hard work and commitment.
We also bid farewell to two long-serving members of our team. Jill Terreblanche, who has been with Dainfern for 19 years, leaves behind a legacy of meticulous attention to detail and unparalleled knowledge of the estate. Her contributions to ensuring compliance and maintaining high standards have been invaluable. Similarly, we acknowledge John Galeboe, who will be retiring at the end of the year. We thank him for his years of service and wish him a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement.
Finally, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude. The past year has been a period of change and, at times, uncertainty. I sincerely thank the staff and the Board for their unwavering support. Together, we continue to work toward making Dainfern the premier estate it is destined to be.
Here’s to a prosperous 2025 and the exciting opportunities it will bring!
By Geraldine Harris – CEO. Read more below:
Residents Classifieds
PLEASE NOTE: All information for the Residents Classifieds must be in by the 20th of each month (strictly). Glen Publishers offer a service to residents and they in no way endorse any of the products or services offered.
In Focus your community magazine – Dainfern Nature Association November 2024
New operations manager
This month we welcome a new staff member to the DHA family – Lorenzo Agostinetto. Lorenzo is our new operations manager, who joins us from another golf estate. We wish him all the best in his new position.
Successfully tied into solar
Power outages and generators are now officially a thing of the past as the DHA is happy to announce that the recent tie-in to the solar panels in the car park was a success. Both gatehouses are now completely solar-powered and the official handover of the solar power at the DHA will happen within the next few weeks. Once the parking lot is re-tarred, this project will be officially completed.
Painting of gatehouses completed
Visitors and residents will now be welcomed by refreshed gatehouses after the completion of the gatehouse painting of both Broadacres and Cedar gates.
Clubhouse swimming pool
The renovation of the clubhouse swimming pool, which started in September, is right on track. In a matter of weeks, residents will be able to cool down in the deep end of the pool, while the little ones can safely splash in the newly installed baby pool.
New multipurpose court
Construction of the new multipurpose court is well underway. The new court will soon be home to five-a-side soccer, pickleball and basketball. The DHA will issue updates on this construction as they become available.
Gabions in Trent Stream
The installation of gabions in Trent Stream is nearing completion, these Gabions remediated the areas that were at risk of collapse posing danger to our cart path on the 1st and homes along Trent stream.
By Geraldine Harris – CEO. Read more below:
Residents Classifieds
PLEASE NOTE: All information for the Residents Classifieds must be in by the 20th of each month (strictly). Glen Publishers offer a service to residents and they in no way endorse any of the products or services offered.
In Focus your community magazine – Dainfern Nature Association October 2024
Exciting news Diner en Blanc
On Saturday 14 September Dainfern hosted its first inaugural Dîner en Blanc on our stunning 1st Fairway. This iconic event was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors Windhoek, Inverroche, Century 21 Fourways, BMW Fourways, Fidelity and Safe Waste.
Originating in Paris in 1988, Dîner en Blanc began as a gathering of friends, characterised by its elegance and the unique tradition of wearing white to create a sense of unity and visibility in a public space. Dainfern’s beautiful 1st Fairway served as the perfect backdrop, while the excellent cuisine and thoughtfully arranged tables fostered a sense of community and connection among our neighbours.
The evening was truly unforgettable, with many expressing hopes that it will become an annual highlight. Special recognition to our Lifestyle Director, Brandon, for his vision in bringing a signature Dainfern event to life, DHA maintenance who assisted with the setup and to Marinette van der Walt who navigated the challenges of organising an event of this scale with grace and skill.
Maintenance and Projects
The solar at both gatehouses has been commissioned, and our maintenance team has begun with the repainting of the gatehouses. Broadacres Gate is completed, and the refresh has made a visible difference. Our two major projects – the solar and gabions on the Jukskei – are nearing completion.
The next major projects on the horizon include the installation of the multi-purpose court at the Pavilion, gabions on Trent Stream and the swimming pools at the clubhouse and Pavilion. The clubhouse upgrade and bunker project will commence in early 2025.
By Geraldine Harris – CEO. Read more below:
In Focus your community magazine – Dainfern Nature Association September 2024
Exciting news Diner en Blanc
The Lifestyle committee have put together a first of its kind for Dainfern. Join us on the 14th September for Dainfern Golf Estate’s grandest event yet – Diner en Blanc – an outdoor dining and entertainment experience on the 1st fairway. Residents and guests will welcome Spring dressed in white and indulge in a night of elegance, gourmet cuisine, and unforgettable ambiance under the stars. Book your tickets to avoid missing out on a night to remember.
Tickets are available at Quicket: https://qkt.io/MTVnui
This event is proudly sponsored by BMW Fourways, Century 21 Fourways and Windhoek.
Projects and events
The Gabion project is nearing completion on the 9th hole, to be followed by a smaller section on the 18th. Solar has been commissioned at both gates and the carport installations are well underway.
A welcome addition to the pavilion area will be the installation of the multi-purpose court. Construction will commence towards the end of September (the courts will cater for 5-a-side
soccer, pickleball and basketball.)
The Women’s Day high tea was sold out and ladies enjoyed a brunch with complimentary mimosas from Six33, hand massages by Justine, prizes sponsored by Century 21 and Vanilla Payroll, and a talk by Mix FM presenter Lauri-Leah Momberg.
Welcome
We are pleased to welcome Dwayne Gibson the new golf director; Dwayne can be contacted at [email protected]
By Geraldine Harris – CEO. Read more below:
In Focus your community magazine – Dainfern Nature Association August 2024
#DainfernCares
The golf clubhouse transformed into a disco straight out of 1986 on Saturday, July 13th, as the #DainfernCares hosted its ’80s Party in aid of its Mandela Day project.
Around 100 partygoers donned spandex, shoulder pads, neon gloves, and side- ponies as they danced their 67 minutes in honour of Tata Madiba. All proceeds from the event were donated towards purchasing and distributing sanitary items to schoolgirls in disadvantaged communities. So far, over R10,000 has been collected for the cause.
In South Africa, at least 7 million girls stay home for a week every month because they cannot afford sanitary items. The DHA understands the impact this statistic has on the future of women in South Africa. The DHA would like to thank each person who donated their time, money, and dance moves to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of schoolgirls.
We also appreciate and recognise the many residents in Dainfern who support Mandela Day through their own projects.
The #DainfernCares morning coffees will continue until the end of July, with Century21 sponsoring Tuesday coffee. This together with Best Deck’s sponsorship, means coffee is now available throughout the week. Our thanks also go to the Fidelity staff who assist with the early morning setup.
Ongoing Projects
Ongoing projects include the installation of gabions, clubhouse solar carports, Gateside paving remediation, and repairs to identified roads, which will commence shortly. We are also happy to report that the flooring at the SIX33 playground has been completed, the installation included additional shock pads at high-risk areas such as the jumping castle in compliance with recommended standards. The installation of the fence at the parking lot area also provides an additional level of assurance to parents, acting as a barrier between the play area and the parking lot.
Please Welcome
We are pleased to welcome Marinette van der Walt to the Dainfern team as our new Lifestyle, Events, and Communications Coordinator. Please join us in welcoming her. Marinette can be reached at [email protected].
Bidding Farewell
Unfortunately, we must also bid farewell to Dean Kupferman, Deidré Proxenos and Peet Trollip. We thank them for their commitment to Dainfern and wish them all the best in their new endeavours.
By Geraldine Harris – CEO. Read more below:
In Focus your community magazine – Dainfern Nature Association July 2024
CEO Report
The estate has been bustling with activity, with many projects underway. The solar installation has begun, alongside several other projects that need to be completed during the winter months.
Morning coffee initiative
Our Dainfern Cares early morning coffee initiative has been well received, especially during the recent cold spell. The DHA will continue running this initiative throughout July on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Stuart Martin of Best Deck has kindly sponsored Thursday coffees, and we would welcome sponsorship for Tuesdays as well. This initiative would not be possible without the invaluable assistance of our Fidelity team, who help with the early morning setup.
Orienteering Event
We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback on our Father’s Day weekend events. Both events were firsts for Dainfern and, based on the success, will likely be held again. I participated in the orienteering event with my family; it was a fun adventure with 20 waypoints on the 6 km course. We managed to complete 10 in an hour, while the winners impressively completed 17. Thank you to SIX33 for the hot chocolate and cookies at the end, and to Jonny’s, SIX33, Gifts by You, Col’ Cacchio, and Dainfern Golf for the prizes.
Dad Fest Car Show
The Dad Fest Car Show on Father’s Day morning was a standout event. Residents of all ages enjoyed the display of cars, boats, bikes, and quads. The DJ kept the atmosphere lively, and the coffee truck provided much-needed caffeine for early morning attendees. A huge thank you to the Lifestyle team, our residents who showcased their vehicles and to our exhibitors (Carshop Rivonia, Sports & GT Classics, Biker’s Warehouse, and Chasing Cars).
With the winter solstice behind us, we can look forward to spring and longer days. In the meantime, stay warm and enjoy the estate’s beauty, even in the middle of winter.
By Geraldine Harris – CEO. Read more below:
In Focus your community magazine – Dainfern Nature Association June 2024
CEO Report
Thank you to all for your support and encouragement as I embark on this new role, I look forward to the challenges and opportunities lying ahead. A huge thanks to Peet who has taken the helm twice in as many years and given so much of his time to the DHA and kept us steered in the right direction, your support and dedication is appreciated by all.
While most of April was spent finalising projects relating to the previous financial year. This month we have focused on the planning of the roll-out of our Capex and Projects for the 2025 financial year.
Mother’s Day
The Mother’s Day weekend started off with a gifting pop-up market at the Clubhouse and a few moms were spotted buying “to Mom, from Mom” gifts. On Sunday families celebrated the day at SIX33 with a special Mother’s Day menu, and children were kept busy with fun activities.
Ladies Club Champs
Thank you to Rowena Majiedt and the ladies golf committee for inviting me to their Club Champs prizegiving. The members’ bar was beautifully decorated with high spirit and comradery amongst the ladies. Any ladies contemplating taking up golf are encouraged to join this friendly and warm group of lady golfers – all levels are welcome.
Results from the day:
- A Division 1st place: Amy Wei Liu (170 gross over 2 days)
- B Division 1st place: Gail Newland (197 gross after 2 days)
- C Division 1st place: Ji Sook Lee (70 points)
- Senior Competition: Janet Currin (41 points)
Maintenance
We have implemented the FixIt email address ([email protected]) to improve the logging and tracking of maintenance issues in the Estate.
For urgent maintenance-related issues, please contact the Control Room at (011) 875-0601/2.
By Geraldine Harris – CEO. Read more below:
