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Gam News Newsletter 64 NOVEMBER 2017

N e w s p a p e r a n d R e c o r d e r o f G a m t o o s M o u t h R e s o r t

Recently there have been a two

burglaries / attacks in Gamtoos.

Surrounding Kingsway Resort and

Florence Nature Reserve also

reported incidents. Probably the

most vicious was the attack on

Wilna van Rooyen, who stays on

the nature reserve / river side of

the resort.

Wilna is quite secluded from the

community, as her house has no

neighbours close by, and not

many of the local population vis-

its regularly.

Many may still remember the photo that was circulated on

the Whatsapp chat groups; Facebook; and the Beeld and Her-

ald Newspapers. We are very pleased however to report that

Wilna is recovering well. The one physical thing that still both-

ers her is the finger that was hurt. It is recovering, but ham-

pers daily living, as she has a great love for the outdoors. She

chooses not to think of the attack itself anymore, and that has

really helped her to recover well emotionally. Even so, she

reports that the whole incident still feels unreal.

There is the remaining unease that the attackers may return.

She therefore no longer goes outside alone. Her security has

been upgraded, and a gate was erected by Oom Frikkie, who is

her closest neighbour. Wilna will not be able to positively

identify her attackers, despite the fact that some of them had

come very close to her. Due to the trauma she cannot remem-

ber much of the attack itself, only that she was outside hang-

ing washing when it happened, they tied her up, and took all

the keys and firearms.

Wilna believes it would be beneficial for all staying at Gamtoos

to get to know their neighbours and some other locals better,

so the community can support and safeguard each other, by

regularly communicating with, and checking up on each other.

Furthermore, when anyone sees a suspicious person or event,

to report it first to the Thornhill Police . Also to Smhart Securi-

ty, who are now very well represented in Gamtoos, with a few

of the response officers residing in the Gamtoos area, and

many response vehicles patrolling the greater Thornhill, Loe-

rie, Gamtoos area.

Regarding safety and security, Wilna feels that access to our

area should be controlled by a gate or boom and an accompa-

nying security firm. Thus no-one will be able to enter without

being recorded. This might be a step in the right direction, as

many people climb the gate to the reserve in order to gain

unauthorised access, and there are many unknown people

who arrive with all kinds of transport, some with the aim of

doing harm, others with the aim of fishing or enjoying the

beach.

Wilna grew up in Gamtoos and inherited the ground she stays

on now. Wilna is a person who prefers to spend time around

her own home, preferably outdoors, and would love to wel-

come some of the community to visit her there. It really gets

on her nerves to be cooped up inside all day. She used to feel

safe here, so much so that they would live with open doors

and windows. Sadly, that is no longer the case. Nowadays we

have to lock ourselves in a fortress and pay a security compa-

ny to come from outside and check up on us. Wilna would like

to thank Smhart and each individual reaction officer for filling

that role so efficiently.

Wilna has a spacious 1 bedroom garden flat with a bathroom

and large living area to let.

Wilna’s side of the story.

2 GAM NEWS NOVEMBER 2017 2

Voluntary Fire Drills

Earlier this year during the devastating fires that raged in Kouga, we realised again why it is necessary to have a voluntary fire

team in Gamtoos. Although small in number, the existing team is

very efficient and lead by Fire Chief Riaan Senekal.

Riaan is a well versed and dedicated leader who is passionate about

assisting people in need, and training others in the same skills.

Therefore it is no wonder that the fire drill in August was so suc-

cessful! It had the highest attendance number since its inception.

Thank you to all who attended and helped make it such a success.

Anyone interested in joining the volunteer fire fighter team can

contact Riaan Senekal for more information.

The next fire drill will be held on Wednesday, 22 November 2017,

09:00 at the boathouses in Phase 1.

SOME USEFUL INFORMATION

SASSA CARDS - These need not be renewed until further notice,. Furthermore, Gamtoos residents receiving SASSA, should now

make use of the SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) office at the Thornhill Town Hall.

PROOF OF RESIDENCE - This service is now rendered at the office next to the Thornhill Town Hall.

Information provided to Millicent van Deventer on 2017/11/13 by the respective officials.

3 GAM NEWS NOVEMBER 2017 3

Advertising Rates

To offset production costs of the Gam News, we now

offer advertising space in these pages at very attrac-

tive rates.

Our rates are as follows: Full page R400, Half page

R200, Quarter page R100, and smalls up to 50

words R10. For advertising information, email

gamtooshoa@linmere.co.za.

All proceeds go to GAMHOA

Homeowners on holiday

from up country The Kouga Region is one of the most rewarding tourist destina-

tions, as there is a vast array of activities which will satisfy every

tourist’s desires.

Places to see / visit:

African Dawn Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary and Rehabilitation

Centre

Addo Elephant Park

Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area

Jeffreys Bay Dolphin Beach with Blue Flag Status

Die Bergvenster

Heritage Eco Centre

Huisklip & Klasies River Caves

Humansdorp Museum, Churches and old buildings

Jeffreys Bay Shell Museum

Largest Sundial in the Southern Hemisphere

Lookout Point, St Francis Drive

Narrow Gauge Bridge

NSRI Stations: 21 – St Francis Bay

36 – Oyster Bay

37 – Jeffreys Bay

Phillip’s Tunnel and Gamtoos Irrigation Scheme

Port St Francis

Queen Victoria’s Profile

Romazini Valley (Near St Francis Bay)

Saartjie Baartman Grave

SANCCOB Sea Bird Rehabilitation Centre in Cape St Francis

St Francis Canals

St Francis Community Garden

Surfer’s Village and Surf Museum

Van Staden’s Bridge (old and New)

Activities:

4x4 Routes (in our surrounding areas)

Bird watching (see our list of birds on

www.gamtooshomeowners.co.za)

Canoeing

Fishing

Golf (in our surrounding areas)

Hiking the Gamtoos Trails and Beach Walks (1-day and multi

-day)

Horse riding

Lighthouse visits

Mountain Biking

Shipwreck Diving

Surfing

Sandboarding

Kitesurfing

Nearby Eateries

The Barn, Thornhill (081 834 4136)

Crossways Country Kitchen (071 068 6629)

The Ferry Hotel (042 287 0758)

Spekboom Lapa (082 555 5328)

The Thornhill Hotel (041 450 0330)

This is just a taste of what is on offer! For more information

please visit the following websites:

www.gamtooshomeowners.co.za www.kougatourism.com

http://www.openafrica.org/experiences/route/59-kouga

http://www.jeffreysbaytourism.org

http://www.visiteasterncape.co.za/destination/routes/kouga-route/

www.traveljeffreysbay.co.za

www.baviaans.net

www.citrusfestival.co.za

The Thornhill Hotel Friday special: 300gram Rump Steak with Chips or

Baked Potato or Salad and Cheese or Pepper Sauce +

a free SAB dumpy for only R90

Sunday special: Mouth-watering Pizza’s from R60 + a

free Flying Fish

For other specials and more information please

phone us on: 041 450 0030 also visit our facebook

page

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From the Board Room Table…

1. Save the date: The AGM of the Gamtoos Homeowners

Association will take place on Saturday the 2nd of December

2017 at the Thornhill Hotel at 14h00.

2. Security. Each should take responsibility for their own

safety and security. Residents should not be lulled into a false

sense of security living in a gated community. Be aware not to

forget basic safety principles. If you suspect movement of

strangers or you feel threatened phone the SAPS immediate-

ly. Be sensitive not to ask your neighbours to look after your

property as they may put their own lives in danger to protect

your property. Rather install your own security system. The

SAPS website has some very good advice on security

measures:

www.saps.gov.za/alert.safety_awareness.

3. Water conservation: With the prevailing drought and very

low dam levels, it is imperative that everyone conserves wa-

ter. Yes, you do pay (dearly) for your usage. But it is still drink-

ing water that is used for washing vehicles, watering gardens,

etc. In order to survive, we all have to limit our water usage to

60 litre per person per day, as per emergency water re-

strictions imposed by the municipalities. To assist in this,

please see the article on water wise gardening elsewhere in

this issue.

4. Kouga camping ground: There is lots of research to be

done in this regard. Future planning will consider homeowners

input. Therefore regular updates will be posted as new infor-

mation becomes available.

5. The Truewan High Site for Local Area Connection: This will

hopefully be up and running by the beginning of Decem-

ber. Weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting.

GAM NEWS NOVEMBER 2017 4

FIRST AID AND EMERGENCIES – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Anyone with a valid first aid certificate can contact Riaan Senekal (Fire Team Leader), or Dorette Pienaar

(NSRI First Responder). We hope to expand the team of First Aid volunteers.

In the event of an emergency, residents will then have a list of contacts who are qualified to assist, as need-

ed. GAMHOA is willing (as in the past) to send volunteers on First Aid training, therefore anyone interested

in becoming part of the team can merely inform us, and we will then request training from GAMHOA

WATER WISE GARDENING The following tips are taken from Water-wise

gardening (Department of Water Affairs and

Forestry and National Botanical Institute, 1998).

Grow water-wise plants – generally the best

suited plants are those indigenous to the area,

as they seldom need additional watering.

Group plants according to their water needs –

this avoids wasting water on plants that don’t

need it.

Consider the quality and type of your lawn.

Lawns guzzle water, so consider reducing your

lawn area. At least use tougher, low-water lawn

types such as Buffalo / LM (coastal areas) rather

than Kikuyu.

Maintain your garden – remove unwanted

plants, plant more perennials than summer an-

nuals, as they have deeper root systems and so

need less watering.

Improve the soil and mulch. Soil water-holding

capacity is improved by higher organic matter

content. Mulching (covering the soil with a thick

layer of bark, compost, straw etc) keeps the

soil much more moist.

Plant in the right season – For winter rainfall

areas this is in autumn and early winter so the

plants have a chance to develope their root sys-

tems before the dry season. In summer rainfall

areas it is spring and early summer for the same

reason.

Water correctly – avoid watering during the

heat of the day or in windy conditions. Water

restrictions prevail.

Source: Biophile Magazine (By DWAF & NBI)

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Sea breaches the dunes

LATE in August storm seas broke through the

dunefield and water streamed into the Gamtoos

Lagoon, raising hopes once more that perhaps the

river might someday re-cut its path to the sea and

flow once again along the old mouth course, past

the bottom of our resort.

But that has not happened. Some of the recent

channels remained open for a while, but have once

again closed up, seemingly ensuring that the lagoon

remains closed to the sea and committed to the

slow shrinkage that has taken place in recent dec-

ades. Fortunately there is still good flow of water

into the lagoon from upriver.

Prior to 1971, the Gamtoos flowed parallel to the

coast where the lagoon is currently situated, and

continued past the camping grounds before veering

off , to spill its contents into the sea. Those were the

days before the resort development began, and no

fisherman ever returned home without a good

catch.

Interestingly, when the river mouth first established

its new exit point into the sea about four kilometres

to the west , during the massive 1971 floods, it did

so with a two pronged entry, while the lagoon itself,

remained open to the ocean for a considerable

time, also at two points. This is clearly shown in

aerial photographs taken after the floods. By 1980, a

Natal University survey showed that the lagoon had

become isolated from the sea and still extended

beyond the camping grounds.

Historically the region has been plagued by droughts

and floods and apparently the Gamtoos has gone

blind three times in recorded history. The worst

floods occurred in 1847, 1867, 1905, 1916, 1932,

1944, 1961, and the worst of all in 1971, when, the

raging water flooded the Ferry Hotel up to the roof,

and the water rose to a mere 45 centimetres be-

neath the steel bridge. The Kouga Dam has subse-

quently helped to control the flow.

A study, headed “Estuaries of the Cape” , based on

aerial photographs taken of the mouth region in

1961, 1971 and 1980, reveals the presence of a

number of old river courses to the west of the pre-

sent river.

These may be clearly seen from the heights above

Mondplaas. The old courses are often awash with

trapped water after heavy rain.

The name Gamtoos comes from a tribe of Hottentot

people who inhabited the valley when the first

Dutch people came to the region. -- CSS

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FESTIVE MOUTHWATERING RECIPES

REFRESHING LEMON SYRUP – Millicent van Deventer

Ingredients:

24 Lemons

5kg Sugar

100 gram Tartaric Acid

200 gram Citric Acid

50 gram Epsom Salt

Rind of 8 Lemons – grated finely

5 litres Water

Method:

Mix all together and let it stand for 24 hours.

Strain into a bottle.

Keeps for up to 6 months.

Summer is here, and this is lovely with ice water!

DELICIOUS SCONES – Millicent van Deventer

Ingredients:

3 cups Flour

3 teaspoons Baking Powder

3 tablespoons Sugar

3 Eggs

125 gram Margarine

Pinch of Salt

+ ¾ cup Milk

Method:

Sieve dry ingredients.

Rub in margarine until fine.

Beat eggs and milk together

Add to flour mix.

Turn out onto floured surface and cut scones.

Handle dough as little as possible.

Bake at 375°F / 195°C until done.

GAM NEWS NOVEMBER 2017 6

LEG OF MUTTON: BENGAL STYLE – Annamarie Heugh

Ingredients:

2kg Leg of Mutton

3 teaspoons Salt

8 tablespoons Apricot Jam

1 teaspoon Mixed Herbs

1 Onion

¼ teaspoon Ground Ginger

1 cup Brown Vinegar

¼ cup Sugar

1 Chili

Method:

Chop chili and onion fine-

ly.

Mix ingredients (except

salt and leg of mutton) in

a saucepan and simmer

until onion is soft.

Rub salt into leg of

mutton.

Pour mixture over.

Roast in the usual way.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PUDDING – Annamarie Heugh

Ingredients:

100g Chocolate

500g packet Marshmallows

150ml Milk

250ml Cream whisked stiff

Method:

Melt chocolate, marshmallows and milk over low heat.

Let it cool off.

Fold in cream.

Pour into ramekins.

Refrigerate.

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Gamtoos Emergency, Fire Fighting and Office Telephone Numbers

This issue of the Gam News is written, and edited by order of, and produced by GAMHOA.

Letters to the editor are welcome: gamtooshoa@linmere.co.za

Office details Gamtoos Mouth Homeowners Association Tel – 042 286 0819 Cell – 081 065 6469 Open weekdays 08:00 – 12:00 Postal address: PO BOX 213, Thornhill, 6375 Email: gamtooshoa@truewan.co.za Website: www.gamtooshomeowners.co.za

Bellbuoy Managing Agent: Tel: 041 374 4444 Email: bellbuoy@bellbuoy.co.za PO BOX 776, Newton Park, 6055 William Pinnock: william@bellbuoy.co.za -Portfolio Manager & General Cor-respondence Cheryl Du Sart cdusart@bellbuoy.co.za - Bookkeeper: Levy Accounts

Ambulance: National 10177

Private Care 083 587 7556

Private (Med Aid) 042 291 0749

Provincial 042 291 0020

Medic: Dorette Pienaar 076 984 2272

Poison Centre

Email: caw@sun.ac.za

Website: www.sun.ac.za/poisoncentre (Poison & snake charts)

086 155 5777

Hospital: J’Bay Med (Old Poly Clinic) 042 293 2000

Police 10111

SAPS Thornhill 042 286 6200 / 3

Smhart Security 073 326 7869

NSRI—SEA RESCUE

079 916 0390

GAMTOOS

YOUR LOCAL EXCO MEMBERS

Andre Van Staden lindavst@lantic.net

Tris Wooldridge jenny@wooldridge.co.za

Charlene Green mayadieby@gmail.com

Riaan Senekal riaansenekal@hotmail.com

Fire Brigade J’BAY 042 291 0283

Voluntary Fire Fighters: ((more joining regularly)

Team Leader Riaan Senekal 083 384 7676

Control / Liaison Jenny Todd 082 556 0517

Fire Fighters: M Unsworth 083 584 5990 A van Staden 074 143 9758

C Seton Smith 084 765 4050 Jan & Susan Opperman 082 772 7741

A van Staden 074 143 9758 R Gravett 083 307 6919

G Goodwin 073 456 2857 R Pennachinni 083 588 2563

M Todd 072 373 2427 Staff and Weekend Duty Managers

Operations Manager & Arch Com Secretary 083 789 7079

Assistant & Duty Manager: S Gerber 076 072 4751

FIRE

WATER EMERGENCY RESCUE

SAFETY

MEDICAL EMERGENCY