Y O U R ELITE COM M UNITY P UBLICATION
ISSU E 2 | 2 0 1 7
Save the date
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AGM 14 August 2017
A P UB LI CATI ON OF T H E H OM E OW N E R S A SSOC IATION
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r e h c s i F Narina 082 456 6051
narina@allestates.co.za Specialising in Woodhill and Surrounding Estates
21 years
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of Realtor Experience
19 years with
Jowic
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16 WOODHILL CONTENTS ISSUE 2 | 2017 Letter from the Editor Chairperson’s Report Woodhill Company Organogram Woodhill Security upgrade Why birds matter! Woodhill hosts international guests Beeld Reader’s Choice Award Woodhill College Floriculture Green Care Winter Recipes 67 Minutes for Madiba Day Cuppa for CANSA Wespoort Clothing Drive
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Thinking naturally Out and about Tennis @ Woodhill New Course Superintendent Wanna be a Champion The Blended Family Trends 2017 Woodhill’s Corporate Members It’s easy, brew! Adopting a pet? Exercise: the prescription for the future Accredited Estate Agents
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WH | GENERAL
IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS Switchboard 012 998 0011
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General Manager Patrick Holden gm@woodhill.co.za Financial Manager Riekert Roos sfm@woodhill.co.za
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Facilities Manager Pote van den Bergh facilities@woodhill.co.za
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Pro Shop Bookings 012 998 0021
Golf Co-ordinator Stephan Dreyer golf@woodhill.co.za Course Superintendent Hugo van den Berg cs@woodhill.co.za HOA Reception Onica Ramasodi reception@woodhill.co.za Security Control Room & After Hours 012 993 1236 - 24 hour service 071 112 6547 - Emergency
TLG Publishing (Pty) Ltd for Woodhill Residential Estate.
ADVERTISING SALES
Conference/Functions Shinea Swartz shinea@summitonsite.com
Golf Director Brendon van Niewenhuizen brendon@woodhill.co.za
PUBLISHER
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Tracey Garde 082 460 6007 | ads1@woodhillmag.co.za
EDITOR Tracey Garde 082 460 6007 | editor@woodhillmag.co.za
DESIGN & LAYOUT
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Patzwi Design House (Pty) Ltd 082 456 2190 | design@woodhillmag.co.za
All work published in Woodhill Magazine is protected by copyright. Only with written permission from the publisher may any part of this magazine be reproduced or adapted in any form. We welcome contributions to Woodhill Magazine, but the publisher of this magazine retains unrestricted rights to edit submitted material. The publisher will place editorial contributions at its own discretion, space allowing. We do not accept responsibility for material submitted and cannot guarantee the return of any original material. The publisher’s opinion is not necessarily that publishing in Woodhill Magazine and the publisher does not accept any liability of any nature that may arise from the contents of the magazine.
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WH | EDITOR
SAVE THE DATE - 14 August 2017!
Photo credit: Mark Dentry from Mark Dentry Photography
Another quarter of the year done and dusted! It seems like just yesterday that we were delivering the first issue of Woodhill Magazine for 2017 and here we are, reading Issue 2! Of course, as with each year around this time, the upcoming AGM is foremost on everyone’s mind. While the Board of Directors and WHOA staff work endless hours behind the scenes ensuring that all is in order, we urge all home owners to save the date. Attendance is key to ensuring future plans, proposals and general business of Woodhill is understood and supported by all. In addition, the Board of Directors welcome
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any nominations from experts in their various fields who are able to assist in any way. The task of decision making with regards to diverse aspects that make up the complexity of running the Estate, is not taken lightly and all expert input would be greatly appreciated. Read through the comprehensive Chairperson’s Report in this issue for a general overview of what to expect. As always, we love to brag in our lovely magazine and this issue is no different. Woodhill recently hosted Time Square Sun International and took great pride in ensuring that these international clients were well catered for. Coupled with the achievement of yet another award, the Beeld Reader’s Choice Awards, a big thumbs up goes to our Woodhill staff. Known for our giving nature, Woodhill is embarking on two charity drives over the next
few months. The first is the 67 Minutes for Madiba Day and the second is the Wespoort Clothing Drive. Please support these initiatives as they are noteworthy causes and we pride ourselves in helping where we can. With general reading involving birds, gardening, exercise, health and lifestyle to name but a few, we hope that you once again, enjoy every page of this issue. The winter solstice is behind us (thank goodness as winter is not my most favourite time of year!), so we can look forward to slightly longer days, a few more late morning cuddles and the countdown to spring! Keep warm!
Tracey
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WH | HOA
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT Dear residents, The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Woodhill Homeowners Association (WHOA) is planned for 14 August 2017. The required notice will be sent out by MidCity in due course. As an interim step I would like to highlight a few important issues that have kept the WHOA Board of Directors busy during the past year. Please note that I will be be addressing these issues in greater detail in my Chairperson’s report for the AGM. The challenges managing a Residential Estate and Country Club within the current socioeconomic and financial environment in South Africa together with the decline in the golfing industry worldwide has become very complex. This brings new pressures to bear on the Board, its Directors and on the staff employed by the Estate. New skills and a fresh approach to governance is required. I would like to make an appeal to residents with the necessary skills to make themselves available to serve on the WHOA Board.
The following are matters I believe are important to the Woodhill residents: Difficult economy and trading conditions Within an economy that has suffered rating agency downgrades and where ruling factions are at loggerheads with one another, the single most important thing that we need to keep in mind in the years that lie ahead is how best to cut costs and drive efficiencies, ensuring that our business is sustainable in a difficult, low-growth environment.
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Woodhill has seen the effects of this, particularly in terms of the growing informal settlements at both Plastic View and the Graveyard areas, an increase in rentals within the Estate (where 22% of all properties are now leased out), a far more discerning spend from golf members and smaller golf days from the corporates to name but a few.
Plastic View/Graveyard areas The Plastic View land was put up for auction in early 2016 but the City of Tshwane was prevented from selling it due to a last-minute High Court interdict. Human Rights Attorneys successfully obtained the order to stop the auction on behalf of residents from the informal settlement. The Plastic View land was the most expensive and biggest of the properties the city intended to sell at its inaugural auction in March. Subsequent to the Municipal elections taking place in 2016, the Plastic View matter has fallen quiet with sporadic reports of fires in the area and more recently, copper cable thefts. To achieve a workable solution regarding this matter the Woodhill HOA in conjunction with Meadow Glen HOA, Woodlands HOA and Hillside HOA, have an application in process where an independent overseer in the form of appointing a Judge or other suitable person is to be nominated by the Judge President. This appointee will be invested with certain powers and responsibilities to bring resolve on this long outstanding matter.
Electrical outages related to the copper cable theft With the spate of electrical outages, the fire at the Mooikloof substation last month and a
lot of finger pointing surrounding the copper cable theft, Mooilkloof, the Wilds and Woodhill have met with our Ward Councilors in an effort to seek a final and lasting solution to this problem. The Metro Police do police the area but on all accounts, the area is expansive, running from the Mooikloof substation over various properties to the Woodhill boundary, and the Metro Police are understaffed. In continuing initiatives to get to the root of the problem, further meetings are being scheduled in which the Ward Councilors have promised feedback.
FTTH update It is important to note that Telkom is the owner of the copper cable network that has been in use in Woodhill for the past eighteen (18) years and they have taken a city-wide decision to replace this aging network with a modern fibre network. This afforded Telkom the opportunity to offer Woodhill added services such as fibre-to-the-fence, which was discussed and approved by the Woodhill HOA. Telkom is in the final stages of installing the cameras on the fence line and we expect that the cameras will be operational soon. The cameras to the west and east of the St Bernard gate are undergoing a slow roll out, mainly due to the permissions required and issues surrounding the placement of the cameras on the areas that cover the Sectional Title properties. I know many of you have had poor experiences with Telkom and their associated contractors. When speaking to a number of home owners, the comments vary from very positive to the opposite. This has been a complex roll out and an educational process as we move into new communication
WH | HOA
methodologies. I can only ask that you remain patient. As it stands now more than 600 properties have been connected to date.
Safety and security Despite an increase of criminal activities around Woodhill during the past year we have been very fortunate to not have any major security incidents reported on the Estate. This can only be due to the vigilance of Xone, our security service provider, and Ben Kleynhans, our Security Director’s, tireless efforts throughout the year.
New business model As previously noted, the challenges facing Woodhill, and all golf estates worldwide, is the dwindling numbers of golfers and the shrinking size of corporate golf days. Coupled to this is the rising costs of maintaining an estate of this size and quality. This requires a new business approach to managing the Estate and bleeding the assets to generate more income. During the last few years Woodhill has built up a clientele of companies and home owners that utilise the clubhouse for conferences, seminars, functions, parties and special occasions. The arrival of Summit on Site, our new in-house caterers will strengthen this approach. This has brought much needed income to the Estate.
Development of Driving Range and workshop areas This will be discussed in more detail at the AGM, suffice to say that when the matter was first discussed a time frame of three or more years was mentioned and practice has
shown us that this was indeed an accurate estimate of the time it would take. This issue will be discussed at the AGM together with the Capital Infrastructure priority list as well as the need to build up a capital reserve to address these priorities in the near future.
Summit on Site Our new caterers started at Woodhill on 1 March 2017, headed up by Lionel Swartz and his expert team that occupy the offices next to the squash courts. Despite setbacks with a poor functioning kitchen and issues around some of the staff that he took over from O Sole Mio, positive progress has been made. We are excited about some plans to effect certain changes in the Clubhouse and we hope to share those with you soon.
Rules and Regulations It is not the Board or management that approves the rules, but rather the members themselves. It is the responsibility of the Board and management to implement and enforce the rules as well as the penalties for breaches of the rules. Management rules, rules for the security and safety of the community, aesthetics rules and guidelines, rules pertaining to the use of facilities and common areas, environmental rules and of course, conduct rules are all important to all members of a residential community. If these rules are communicated, properly stated and lawful, there is no reason why most, if not all members of the HOA will buy into these as an integral component of community living. With a recent event in mind, some residents have raised concern as to the HOA’s ability to
enforce some of these said rules. I can report back that the rules are being reviewed, either because they are ambiguous or because there needs to be a new rule put in place. Some of the rules that are being focused on include: • Use of the common property areas of Woodhill by residents; • Encroachment onto the Golf Course; • Domicilium of home owners related to serving of legal notices; • Flying drones on the Estate; and • Ability to terminate contractors on-site related to building activities, if levies are not up to date. The proposed rule changes will be tabled at the AGM.
Closing remarks In closing, we look forward to your company at the AGM scheduled to take place on 14 August 2017. If you are unable to attent the AGM please ensure that you sign a proxy form beforehand. I, again, make an appeal to home owners with the required abilities to manage the oversight of Woodhill, to make themselves available for election on the Board of the WHOA in order to maintain Woodhill as the ‘Estate of Choice’.
Jack van der Merwe Chairperson: WHOA
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WH | HOA
Woodhill Residential Estate and Country Club - Company
ORGANOGRAM WOODHILL STAFF ORGANIGRAM - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Responsible for managing the company’s strategy, performance, risk and oversight • Jack van der Merwe (Chairman) • Chris Beukman (Financial Director) • Ben Kleynhans (Security Director) • Alan Hargroves (Woodhill CC Director) • Grant Fraser (Woodhill Country Club Director and Catering Director) • Willie van Zyl (Legal Director) • Stephan Grabouw (Property Development Director)
GENERAL MANAGER Patrick Holden
Overall responsibility for the operational management of the Residential Estate and Country Club. Reports to the Board of Directors.
FACILITIES MANAGER
Pote van den Bergh
Manages the outsourced partners related to security (Xone) and landscaping (Floriculture). Manages the Operations Manager responsible for Building Control, COT Liaison, fines and penalties.
LANDSCAPING
FINANCIAL MANAGER
Riekert Roos
Manages the financial health of the organisation by providing financial reports and interpreting financial information for the managerial staff and Board, whilst recommending further courses of action.
COMMERCIAL/ MARKETING MANAGER Lizette van der Merwe (Acting)
Manages the outsourced catering partners (Summit on Site) and the outsourced Media arm of the operation (AGO) including the magazine publication.
MARKETING / COMMUNICATIONS
SECURITY
MAGAZINE / NEWSLETTER
BUILDING OPERATIONS
ALL SQUARE MEDIA / AGO
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COURSE SUPERVISOR Hugo van den Bergh
Maintenance and upkeep of the golf course through preventative maintenance plans, including all turf equipment, ensuring the highest of standards are achieved.
CATERING
GOLF DIRECTOR
Brendon van Nieuwenhuizen
Responsible for maximising golf income, ensuring costs are kept in line, to deliver an exceptional golf experience to Members, Corporates and visitors. Responsibilities extend to accountability of the Pro Shop, Wanna be a Champion, Golf cart fleet. Liaises closely with the Course Supervisor.
PRO SHOP
DRIVING RANGE
WOODHILL RESIDENTIAL ESTATE AND COUNTRY CLUB
AGM
Save the date
MONDAY, 14 AUGUST 2017 AT 19:00 Please look out for further details which will be communicated closer to the time.
We look forward to welcoming all our home owners to our AGM. Together we can make positive decisions towards the future. 7 | WH | ISSUE 2 | 2017
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WH | SECURITY
Woodhill Security
UPGRADE Woodhill security has faced some difficult challenges over the past few years. As crime increases in the greater Garsfontein area, it has become more important than ever to ensure that we have an effective and stringent security system.
also upskilled to become a second-tier response unit.
We therefore made the decision to embark on a security upgrade process a while back and are in the process of implementing our changes.
The school gate will also become a fully controlled gate once the biometric access control system is installed.
We know that the first line of defence for the Estate is the perimeter. To improve and ensure an effective perimeter, we determined that we needed to install cameras around the fence and I am pleased to say that these cameras will all be operational within the next few months. Certain sections of the fence have also been rebuilt to ensure that the perimeter is effectively secured.
Within the next month, more cameras will become ‘live’ in the Control Room which in turn will increase the perimeter protection.
Although internal security has been increased by means of the camera systems, upskilling of security personnel, installation of network telephones in the residences and the
upgrade of the electrical perimeter fence, the continuous theft of electrical cables on the outside of the Estate, as well as other crimes committed around us, remains a concern for the HOA. We are currently working with other estates within our immediate vicinity, security companies, City Council and the local SAPS to address the issues at hand.
Pote van den Bergh Facilities Manager
But, these upgrades don’t serve any purpose to securing the fence without the necessary monitoring and response. The Control Room has therefore also been upgraded from a basic Control Room to a state-of-the-art Control Room. To the right is the original Control Room before any upgrades were done. Note that Control Room operators were split and each individual was responsible for their own gate monitoring. No fence camera monitoring was done, as there were no cameras on the fence. The Control Room has now been designed to ensure that all operators can monitor all cameras and handle any attempt to breach the fence. A live map of the electric fence has been included in the Control Room and personnel can immediately see where a fence activation has taken place. Once the complete fence line is covered with cameras, the personnel will immediately be able to determine the reason for the fence activation and dispatch the Tactical Team, should it be necessary. Tactical Teams will not be dispatched for trivial activations, thus managing our resources effectively. Further to this we have upskilled the Control Room personnel and employed Call Centre Operators. The Shift Superintendents were
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WH | BIRDING
WHY BIRDS MATTER! For most people living in the city, one of first things they notice when they venture away on holidays to quieter places is that they can hear the birds! The hustle and bustle of suburban living often drowns out nature’s most beautiful songs – those being the many different bird calls we don’t even notice around us. Bringing a little bit of ‘wildlife’ into our back gardens, birds not only have an important role in our ecosystem, but they also are a daily reminder of season changes and just how beautiful nature is. We mostly hear the birds in the summer months, when the sun rises earlier and we are still in bed, the sweet tunes of the early morning birds are a welcome reminder that the weather is warmer and the days are longer. With some birds migrating in the winter months, we often don’t hear them as much because by the time the sun has risen, most of us are already busy with our daily lives. Apart from their obvious functions in nature such as pollination and controlling insects, to many birds are a symbol of possibility, freedom to soar without boundaries and a closer link to nature. Research recently done by the academics at the University of Exeter, the British Trust for Ornithology and the University of Queensland, indicates that people who live in neighbourhoods with more birds, shrubs and trees are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and stress. With so much emphasis on why birds matter to us, as humans, it’s just as important for
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us to ensure that we preserve our birdlife as we best we can. One way of doing so is to create a habitat for our local bird population that encourages them to perform their natural tasks. Let’s be honest – our birds are in trouble. Urbanisation, droughts, fewer trees – these are just a few of the factors having a detrimental effect on our birdlife and if it goes unnoticed our great grandchild won’t be able to appreciate the vast variety of birdlife that we get to appreciate every day. Our own back gardens have become more important than ever as we try to reintroduce, revive and replenish vegetation in our suburbs. Apart from trees and shrubbery, there is a vast amount of planning that needs to go into ensuring your garden is a haven for our local birds. For example, smaller birds appreciate dense undergrowth whilst bigger species appreciate the trees. The best is to take note of our local birdlife, research their ideal habitats and try to build your garden around that. We need to work together with nature to ensure that our urbanisation doesn’t completely destroy their ability to perform their important tasks. Pretty to look at and lovely to hear, birds are a fundamental part of our lives.
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WH | GOLF
Woodhill hosts
INTERNATIONAL GUESTS Woodhill was proud to recently host the prestigious Time Square Sun International Challenge! In true Woodhill style, our international guests were catered for with the 1Mark Golf Scoring app being translated into Mandarin. Our very own Catherine Lau was on hand to help out with translating too. Well done to the winners for the day, Mr MC Tam's four-ball who shot 93 points! We look forward to seeing the Sun Time Square team on our fairways again…
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WH | AWARDS
Woodhill receives
BEELD READER’S CHOICE AWARD Beeld newspaper recently published the results of their Reader’s Choice Awards and Woodhill Country Club is the proud recipient of Best Golf Club.
The newspaper invited readers over a period of two weeks to complete and return their forms to take part in voting for their choice. They then received an electronic link containing around 70 categories for which they were asked to vote for their favourite in each one. There were no choices given upfront, each voter had to type in the name of the organisation they were voting for. Well done to Woodhill Country Club, the staff and management for yet another great achievement.
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WH | GARDENING
Woodhill welcomes
FLORICULTURE GREEN CARE As most of you know the aesthetic appeal of our Estate communal gardens is of paramount importance to not only the residents of the Estate but also to our many visitors. Landscaped, well manicured, beautiful gardens set the tone for a pleasing environment and they also assist in ensuring the good reputation, appeal and property values of the Estate, remain within our ethos of being The Estate of Choice.
to draw the eye through the landscape. For nature lovers, they have the added benefit of attracting a diverse range of birds and other wildlife to the Estate.
On 1 May 2017, Woodhill welcomed Floriculture Green Care as our on-site landscaping maintenance contractor. You may have noticed their staff with their well-dressed blue uniform with bright yellow reflection jackets as they are positioned at various areas of the Estate, from Monday to Friday.
Soil recommendations
As agreed with the Woodhill HOA, Floriculture Green Care’s main objective is to transform the Estate into a paradise for nature, focusing on indigenous and water wise plants such as cactus and succulents. Striking water wise plants add a welcome splash of colour to any garden and as such, Floriculture Green Care have some aloe landscaping tips for our green fingered residents…
Landscaping with aloes Aloes offer striking flowers, architectural form and inspiring stature as well as the ability to withstand tough conditions. The diversity of species and the hybrids released each year ensures that there’s something for everyone’s gardening taste. Many are planted in pots in homes with a sunny balcony or planted in masse in stark sunny areas and most can be used as accents
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As with most other plants, aloe’s benefit from a full growing season - be it in open ground or a pot or container. This means that as we are now in the winter season, it is an excellent time to plant the aloes of your choice.
Below is a mixture you can make to give your soil the desert feel that aloes prefer: Half compost, half sand. Perhaps the easiest and cheapest solution to make your aloe soil is to simply mix your regular compost with the same amount of sand. You will want to use river sand. Remember that these plants are water wise and don’t need a lot of water and especially during the winter months. A list of the most popular aloe varieties one can use in the modern garden: 1. Aloe vanbalenii - This is one of the most beautiful and distinctive aloes, with its long, twisted and recurved leaves resembling an octopus. In time, the almost stemless Aloe vanbalenii forms short, robust creeping stems, developing into dense groups of numerous rosettes, 300 600mm tall. 2. Aloe arborescens - This is a valuable garden asset, with large beautiful flowers, attractive foliage, decorative form and it is easy to grow. It develops into a multiheaded shrub 2 - 3m high with striking grey green leaves arranged in attractive rosettes. The large colourful
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flower spikes are borne in profusion with deep orange being the most common colour, but there are also pure yellow forms, and an unusual bi-coloured form of deep orange (almost red) and yellow. Aloe vera - This is a stemless or very short-stemmed plant growing to 60 100cm tall. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on their upper and lower stem surfaces. The flowers are produced on a spike up to 90cm tall, each flower being pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla. Aloe andongensis - A small to medium species with rose-colored flowers. The rosettes are stemless and grow up to 50cm in height. Aloe cooperii - This aloe grows singly or in small groups from offshoots at ground level. The leaves are often yellowish green and the flowers vary in colour from greenish-cream to apricot and salmon pink. Aloe marlothii - With a striking, robust, large, single-stem this aloe offers a majestic presence. Usually 2 - 4m tall, its flowers are held on racemes on a branched candelabra-shaped inflorescence, having up to 30 racemes (single spikes covered with individual flowers). Flower colour varies from the typical orange-red to yellow or bright red.
Happy gardening,
Jaco Mare Member of SANA
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WH | RECIPIES
WINTER RECIPES to keep you warm
NICOLE PARFITT | DIRECTOR & CULINARY ARCHITECT
M 082 377 7903 | F 086 582 4429 | E nicole@gingerapple.co.za A 769 Rubenstein Street, Moreleta Park, Pretoria | www.gingerapple.co.za facebook.com/GingerAppleConsulting | instagram.com/gingerapple_foodie/
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WH | RECIPIES
Loaded Vegetable and Lentil Soup
Pork Loin in a Herb and Wine Sauce
Ingredients • 2 tbsp. olive oil • 2 c. julienned carrots • 1 c. diced celery • ¾ c. diced onion • 8 cloves minced garlic • 10 c. low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable stock • 1 tbsp. mixed herbs • 1½ tsp. kosher sea salt • ¼ tsp. ground black pepper • ¼ tsp. paprika • 1 sprig rosemary • 2 tsp. white vinegar or red wine vinegar • ½ c. yellow split peas • ½ c. green split peas • 1 c. green lentils • 2 c. cubed butternut squash • 1 c. cubed potatoes • 1 c. cubed celery root • ¼ c. olive oil • 2 c. chopped kale • ¼ c. chopped fresh parsley • ¼ c. parmesan cheese, grated or shaved (optional)
Ingredients • 1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil • 5 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise • 2 Tbsp fresh rosemary leaves, chopped • 1/4 cup fresh sage leaves, roughly chopped • 1 kg center cut boneless pork loin (or two 500 g pork tenderloins) • 1 1/4 cups dry white wine (plus a bit more to deglaze pan) • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper • 1/2 cup chicken broth or stock • 1/2 cup heavy cream (or a lighter cream mixed with 2 tsp. cornstarch)
Directions 1. In a large stock pot or Dutch-oven set over medium heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the celery, onion and carrots, sauté until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. 2. Pour in the chicken broth, turn heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Add the herbs, salt, pepper, paprika, rosemary, vinegar, split peas, and lentils. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. 3. Add the butternut squash, potatoes and celery root, simmer for an additional 30 minutes or until the veggies and the peas/ lentils are tender. 4. Place 4 cups of soup in a blender with ¼ cup of olive oil. Pulse until smooth and creamy. Pour back into the pot and stir to combine. Add chopped kale, parsley and parmesan, simmer for an additional 5-8 minutes. 5. Remove from the heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Directions 1. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Saute the garlic, rosemary and sage, stirring, for about one minute. Add the pork loin to the pan, carefully placing it on top of the herbs. Saute the pork for about 5 minutes on each side, then remove it to a plate. Add the wine to the pan and use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan. Cook until the smell of the alcohol has disappeared, about 1 to 2 minutes. 2. Lower the heat under the pan to lowmedium heat. Return the pork to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Partially cover with a lid and cook for about 1 1/2 hours (probably less if you're using pork tenderloins), flipping the pork and scraping the bottom of the pan every 20 minutes or so. Keep an eye on it, making sure there continues to be some liquid in the pan. Add 1/4 cup of warm water if necessary. 3. When the pork is cooked through (if you want to test with a thermometer, it should be about 150° internal temperaturremove pork to a plate to rest. Meanwhile, increase the heat under the liquid in the pan to medium. If your pan has little liquid, deglaze with a splash of white wine. Stir well to loosen the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Allow to cook until the alcohol smell disappears (about 1-2 minutes). Add the chicken stock. Remove pot from heat and
allow to cool in the pot for 20 minutes. 4. When the sauce has cooled, add the cream and put the pan back on the stove. Heat gently over medium-low heat, stirring the sauce constantly until it thickens a bit and warms. Avoid boiling. (*If your sauce doesn't thicken up, mix 2 Tbsp. cornstarch with 2 Tbsp. water and add a bit at a time to your sauce until it thickens to your liking.) Taste sauce and add salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste. 5. Place the resting pork on a cutting board (you can add any accumulated meat juices back to the sauce if you like!). Slice the pork very thinly and place on to a serving platte 6. Pour the warm gravy over top.
Creamy Bacon, Mushroom and Thyme Baked Chicken Ingredients • 4 bone in chicken thighs, can also use boneless chicken thighs or breasts • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 2 teaspoons italian seasoning • salt and pepper • Creamy Bacon Mushroom Thyme Sauce: • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 8 225 g white mushrooms, sliced • 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled • 1 cup heavy cream • ½ teaspoon salt • ¼ teaspoon pepper • 1 teaspoon garlic powder • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, stems removed Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degree. Heat a large skillet to medium high heat. Add the chicken thighs and season with italian seasoning and salt and pepper. Pan Sear each side of the chicken for 1-2 minutes until brown and place skillet in oven. Bake for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked throughout. Set chicken aside on a plate. 2. Add olive oil to the skillet and saute the mushrooms until soft. Add the bacon, heavy cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder and thyme. Bring to a simmer until the sauce starts to thicken. Add the chicken back to the skillet and heat for another minute. Serve immediately
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Examples of the food parcels put together by volunteers and distributed each week. People in the program are taught to do crafts as a means of generating income.
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67 MINUTES for Madiba Day - 17 July 2017
Madiba Day is a day of giving and Woodhill would like to invite residents to do just that. Residents, domestic workers and gardeners are invited to join us at
Woodhill Country Club on Monday, 17 July 2017 10h00 to 11h07.
Stephen Claassens, founder of Awakening Ministries South Africa, will be our guest speaker for the morning. Not only does Stephen love getting involved in community projects but he thrives on seeing hearts touched one-by-one. Since our theme is ‘giving’, we invite residents to donate to the less fortunate. Stephen challenges all residents to put together a small toiletry gift pack (unisex) and bring it along to Clubhouse for our Madiba Day celebration as your way of giving back. We will be handing
out these gifts to all the domestic and other workers who have become part of most of our families here on the Estate. This Christmas in July feel good morning will bring our community together and make the spirit of Madiba come alive! For those of you who would prefer to donate your knitted blankets as we did last year, please feel free to bring those along too. All blankets and knitted goods will be donated to the Wespoort Feeding and Outreach Program.
If you would like to book for your domestic or gardener please contact Onica at wccreception@woodhill.co.za – 012 998 0011
Donations can be dropped off at Woodhill Country Club Reception
Awakening Ministries invites residents and friends of Woodhill Estate to their Awakening events - become part of the amazing that God is doing in the lives of many! Join us on Facebook or go to events. awakening.co.za and see when our next exiting event is happening in our area. Please note that the events are presented in Afrikaans and English. • • • • • • •
Business Breakfasts Breakthrough services Awakening weekend seminars Marriage seminars Revival meetings Woman's day and more…
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WH | CHARITY
WHO DOESN’T LOVE A GOOD CUPPA? The Cuppa For CANSA season is officially open, and runs until 31 October 2017. This year the #CuppaForCANSA campaign will be raising funds for CANSA’s Care Centres and the care and support they offer to all those affected by cancer. “Cuppa For CANSA is a fun way to raise money for the work CANSA does in local communities. The concept can be adapted to countless situations and allows the hostess total ‘artistic control’. A Cuppa can be big or small; with family, friends or colleagues; and be held at any venue. This year we are encouraging Cuppa hosts to have a ‘healthy options’ event, where healthy foods and recipes can be shared and enjoyed,” says CANSA Head of Sustainability, Maria Scholtz. “We’re grateful to have our main partners, Shoprite and Checkers on-board once again for this Cuppa season. As with previous years, they will be having in-store Cuppas, where the public can get involved and support this campaign (#ActForChange). For the second year, Glen Rooibos is also joining the Cuppa initiative, and along with Shoprite and Checkers, helped us raise over R4 million last year alone. It’s because of partners like these, that we are able to continue our care and support programmes in local communities,” continues Scholtz. For the 2017 Cuppa season, CANSA will be running a ‘Healthy Choices’ Recipe Competition. Cuppa hosts can enter this
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competition by submitting their healthy alternative cake, cupcake, tart, etc. recipe. “Prizes will be up for grabs for the most delicious, yet healthy food recipe. CANSA is all about living a balanced lifestyle and making smart and healthy food choices. This year, we really want our Cuppa participants to stand with us in health, by making healthy alternatives for their Cuppa event,” continues Scholtz. The focus for this year’s Cuppa, is to raise funds and awareness for the CANSA Care Centres. There are more than 30 Care Centres across South Africa, servicing more than 300 communities, and reaching over 92 000 cancer patients and their families (stats from 1 April 2016 – 30 March 2017). The Care Centres offer a host of care and support services, including cancer screening, counselling and support groups, cancer education through health material, health talks and exhibitions, CANSA Care Homes and TLC Lodges, etc. Anyone can become a Cuppa host, by simply contacting their local CANSA Care Centre or using the handy tips available on the Cuppa website. For more info contact your local CANSA Care Centre, visit www.cuppa.org.za, phone CANSA toll-free 0800 22 66 22, or email CANSA at info@cansa.org.za.
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We would love to feature any Woodhill residents who host a Cuppa For CANSA. Don’t forget to send us your contact details as well as a couple of pics for publication in our next issue. You can email editor@woodhillmag.co.za.
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WH | PARENTING
RAISING READERS Learning to read is one of the most exciting times in your child’s life – and yours too. But teaching your child to read is a long, laborious road that needs to be paved with patience, dedication and a love for literature on your part. You are, after all, your child’s first role model, so take the task seriously and ensure that you promote a passion for books in your children at an early age. We may live in an age of technology, but I’m sure you are all fully aware of the importance of literary skills throughout life. At two years of age, your toddler will begin to differentiate between words and pictures. This is an important milestone and you will need to explain that words carry a message. When children start showing an interest in the ‘black patterns’ on the page, explain to them that these are words and that they tell you what to say when you are reading the story. Toddlers love ‘join in’ activities and reading with you should be no exception – they will love imitating your story-telling skills. Try to point at the words as you read them so that they can follow the story with you, even though they probably won’t understand the letters at this stage. By doing this you teach your child from a young age to read from left to right and from top to bottom of the page. And as your child grows, so too will their knowledge and recognition of the world around them. There are many ways to start early reading through recognition of the symbols that are constantly available in the world around us today. Signage, billboards, TV programme logos and brand names of all types of products and services can be used to promote reading through symbol recognition at a very early age. For example, my daughters already understand the difference between a Woolies and a Pick
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‘n Pay store, and they have already decided on their treat before I even enter the store based on what they know is available there. McDonalds, KFC, Coco Pops, Jungle Oats, Oros, Smarties, Disney... the list to associating brand names with words is endless.
One of the most important objectives of your children growing up with a love of reading, is for them to realise that most stories they read as children carry a message whether it be in the form of life-lessons or general knowledge. When your children are still young and unable to read for themselves, it’s a good idea to discuss the narrative once the story has been read. This will help your children to make sense of the story being told and it will encourage them to think about what they are reading when they do ultimately learn to read themselves. As the saying goes, a picture really is worth a thousand words and pictures are what will first entice your child to reading. When it’s reading time, try looking at the cover of the book with your child beforehand and encourage them to perhaps give you some ideas of what they think the book will be about. As you read through the book, stop to look at and talk about the pictures illustrating the story. If your child asks questions or interrupts you to point out words they know, go along with this until they are ready to return to the story. Boosting and building your children’s imaginations is the ultimate goal. And when you are finished reading the story, let your children have a turn to ‘read’ to you. Children love to re-tell stories in their own words, using the illustrations in the book as a guide. This is a wonderful exercise to help develop their memory and sequencing skills. Don’t worry should they not recall the story accurately in detail – the emphasis should be on having fun while learning to read.
Checklist of pre-reading skills When you read stories and rhymes with or to your child, you can talk about what you are reading in ways that will encourage the development of the following skills: • Memory: remembering and recounting what happened in a story; remembering nursery rhymes, songs and simple rhyming stories. • Sequencing: understanding the order in which events occurred and being able to place pictures in the correct order to tell a story. Being able to answer questions such as: ‘What happened first?’ or ‘What will happen in the end?’ • Prediction: this is when children can pre-empt what will happen next in a story. • Picture reading: telling a story from pictures. • Sorting and matching: understanding differences and similarities in shapes and pictures, as well as being able to group things together that are the same. • Awareness of sound: being aware of and identifying different sounds, as well as recognising that certain words sound the same. • Early phonic knowledge: beginning to recognise letter names and letter sounds. • Recognising words: being able to recognise a few words including their own name in print.
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WESPOORT CLOTHING DRIVE The WHOA has embarked on a clothing drive in an effort to support the Wespoort Feeding and Outreach Program. One of our very own residents, Dollie Verhage, has been extremely involved in the running of this program for the past 18 years.
Examples of the food parcels put together by volunteers and distributed each week.
Wespoort Feeding and Outreach Program supports over 60 families in the Danville community who are living in abject poverty. These families are almost all without work or receive a monthly stipend from the State of R1 120. They have to pay for accommodation, food and clothes from this money, which is not do-able! The project endeavours to provide each family with a food parcel every week, so that at least some of their needs are alleviated. There is no subsidy from the State and all the money needed to provide food has to be raised by the project. In addition to this, the program also has a pre-school playgroup for 36 underprivileged toddlers as part of the Feeding project. The parents of these toddlers all need financial help and the children are provided with a cooked meal, as well as clothes. They are also stimulated here to prepare them for school.
People in the program are taught to do crafts as a means of generating income.
Woodhill would like to invite residents to leave their second hand clothing and shoes in the bins provided for at the gates. Clothing and shoes of all shapes and sizes would be much appreciated. All donations will be handed over to the Wespoort Feeding and Outreach Program who will then ensure that it is distributed to those in need.
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WH | HEALTH
THINKING NATURALLY By Dr Catherine Knight When I find myself explaining the various physiological (how things work in the body) and pathological (how they go wrong) processes to my patients, followed by the explanation of the different phases of healing (how the body recovers and regains its balance), it occurs to me that ‘thinking naturally’ is but a mindset and as such, one that I would like to encourage everyone out there to embrace. Most of us realise that narrow-minded thinking in any area of life is going to get us nowhere. One needs to broaden one’s views and incorporate ’thinking naturally’ – by this I mean that we should consider returning to a way of thinking about things the way nature intended ; I believe that if we can understand the basic laws of nature we should find the answers to most of life's questions and this includes how nature works in physical health, how this balance may be upset and then restored through natural remedy. For me, thinking naturally is simple. Nature provides us with the answers: modern day man has gone against the grain, competed against nature and has, in a ridiculously short
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space of time, made this planet a precarious place to live. We live in exciting times on a technological level, but at what cost? Man needs to make a change and not soon... now! If we don't want to be shaken off the planet we need to make a change in how we think about things. When the tipping point is reached, Mother Nature will just shake us off and start again, as she did in Pakistan, Indonesia, Haiti and in other 100-odd places that have been victim to her wrath in 2010 todate. Indonesia was dealt a double-wammy after a sea-bed earthquake caused a tsunami on one side of the island and a volcano erupted on the other side, all within a few hours of each other! Nature knows how to bounce back too though: there's no-one directing her and left to her own devices she restores the balance and recreates order. There may be some turbulence along the way, but in the end balance is restored. A mere 24 years after the Chernobyl disaster, the irradiated city that was entirely abandoned by mankind has bounced back to a thriving ecosystem, with wonderful flora and fauna: the first few years after people evacuated the zone, rats and house mice flourished and packs of feral dogs roamed the area despite efforts to exterminate them. The native fauna has begun to take over with wild boar 10 to 15 times as prevalent within the Chernobyl exclusion zone as outside it and big predators are making a spectacular comeback. For many of us it's clearly a case of ‘we need the Earth, she really doesn't need us’. I believe that it's time for us to stand up and be counted, to realise our own significance in the greater scheme of things and not
believe that individual effort is insignificant as we are so often taught, but that our individual actions do have an impact on the Earth. We need to stop being selfish and begin to respect Mother Earth and the wisdom of creation. We need to stop chasing the ‘quick fixes’ which are chemical/ technological and often toxic answers that only leave devastation in their wake... it's time to leave the ‘Age of Convenience’ behind, apologise to Mother Earth and return to an understanding, a symbiotic relationship with our world, our creator and ultimately each other. Everything works in cycles: time and calendar; planetary and astronomical cycles; climate, geology, agriculture, biology, medical (brain waves, menstrual cycles, heart rhythms); physics – waves, frequencies and amplitudes, the electromagnetic spectrum; sound waves – music and rhythm; in religion, social and cultural cycles; in economy and business and even in military and war. The sooner one realises that there is an ebb and flow in life, one may relax in the knowledge that ‘this too shall pass’, that nothing is forever or permanent and that the only constant in life is change! This is what it means to be alive. Change is a process, a movement of smaller changes/oscillations towards an extreme and then a movement back towards a midpoint. When something blocks or alters the natural flow of things in any area of life, but with particular reference to one’s health for purposes of this article, then it must be stopped or removed so that the balance can be restored. The process of removing blockages throws the normal cycle off course and may often include an
unpleasant process in order to remove it; however generally this is short-lived and balance/order is restored. These processes happen in all of life’s cycles; I think people are now beginning to see that financial markets go through ups and downs too. What the recession taught us was to prioritise, get back to basics and to take note of the important things in life first, to stop being materialistic and question whether something really is important enough to spend money on. The same thinking must follow with your health, because we are natural beings, created by the same Creator as the rest of nature and we are meant to live in harmony with the Earth. If you understand that all things are cyclical and that there are natural processes for how things work and respond then you are more likely to embrace the fact that there are also natural and normal processes for the removal of blockages from the system (healing) that make perfect sense and are not pathological (diseased). If you understand all this, then it is simply illogical (and in my personal opinion, silly) to interfere and prevent the body from doing what it is quite able to do – heal itself! Natural medicines help to unblock natural processes and to restore balance without interfering with the healing process and they can be used very effectively in many and most conditions. Obviously professional help is always needed when things are serious, but start with at least choosing some natural over the counter meds next time your body is fighting something. Start thinking naturally – you won’t be sorry!
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WH | FAMILY
Out and
ABOUT The great thing about living in South Africa is the wide variety of things to do in just about every corner of our beautiful country. Even better, we can take advantage of the wonderful weather and head outdoors for some fun! Where to go, what to do? Here are some family-friendly ideas…
Fun in the sun at Gold Reef City in Crown Mines Don’t miss experiencing the Shongololo Kiddies Coaster – the first-ever roller coaster ride for kids, who are able to enjoy it accompanied by their parents. There are loads more activities on offer for the little ones, including furry and feathered friends in the farmyard, fun and games in the indoor play city, as well as the selection of child-friendly rides at the theme park. Gold Reef City’s offering of 4D shows include
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the use of hydraulic seats, vapours, and a range of scents suited to the illusions on the screen that add an extra dimension to your viewing experience. Gold Reef City Theme Park is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09h30 to 17h00 and every day during the Gauteng school holidays. Go to www.goldreefcity.co.za for more information on activities and ticket prices.
Take a walk on the wild side at the Rhino & Lion Park in Kromdraai This is an awesome wild experience right around the corner! Spend the whole day viewing wild animals including lions and wild dogs feeding, snakes slithering, cheetahs
chasing and don’t pass up the opportunity to cuddle the cute cubs. Stay for lunch at the restaurant, pack a picnic or bring and braai. Take a dip in the pool or let your kids play in the playground – trampolines, jumping castles, swings and slides – your kids will be thrilled. So many activities in one place and fun for the whole family! Visit their website www.rhinolion.co.za or call (011) 957 0349 for more information on animal feeding times.
Don’t miss the perfectly prancing South African Lipizzaners The South African Lipizzaners perform every Sunday morning at 10h30 in their majestic
WH | FAMILY
indoor hall in Kyalami. The performance lasts about an hour and refreshments and memorabilia are available before and after the performance. Tickets can be booked through Computicket or bought at the door.. For further information on the SA Lipizzaners, please visit their website, www.lipizzaners.co.za.
Take a drive out to Ludwig’s Roses, North of Pretoria If you’re looking for a day out in nature, then the drive is worth it! This farm is the ideal site for a beautiful family outing with a restaurant, butterfly garden and loads of roses to amber through. Enquire about their children’s pixi pot planting, and butterfly garden tour and talk program during the kids’ holidays! Bring your
blanket and they will have tables, benches and some umbrellas set up between the roses and play ground!
fish species, 388 specimens of 4 invertebrate species, 309 specimens of 93 reptile species, and 44 specimens of 7 amphibian species.
The Butterfly Garden is open 7 days a week from 08h30 to 17h00 including Public Holidays.
It’s the largest zoo in the country and the only one with national status. The total length of the walkways in the Zoo in Pretoria is approximately 6km.
For more information visit www.ludwigsroses.co.za.
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa Better known as the Pretoria Zoo, the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa is a proud facility of the National Research Foundation (NRF).
An Aquarium and Reptile Park also form part of the Zoo facility and the Aquarium is the largest inland marine aquarium in the country. The third largest collection of exotic trees can be found at the Zoo. For more information regarding holiday activities, entrance fees, etc, visit www.nzg.ac.za.
This 85-hectare Zoo houses 3 117 specimens of 209 mammal species, 1358 specimens of 202 bird species, 3871 specimens of 190
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HILLBILLIES VS
Vleipaddas
Save the date: 9 August 2017 This traditional Home Owners Better-Ball Golf Competition is back on Women’s Day as it is every year. The normal public holiday tee sheet is used so participants can choose their preferred tee off times BUT you are paired with a two-ball pairing from the opposition – every four ball has a Hillbilly and Vleipadda pairing.
Team Hil bil ies
All the Home Owners residing on the hill portion of the Estate under the captaincy of Louis Bekker for the day.
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WHO WILL WIN THE TROPHY THIS YEAR?
A dinner and prize giving will be held to end off the day. The winners are determined by adding the top 10 better-ball scores of each team as there aren’t always and equal number of team members.
Team Vleipaddas
All the Home Owners residing on the clubhouse side of the Estate under the captaincy of Richard Rippon for the day.
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WH | TENNIS
TENNIS at Woodhill
As you may have noticed Woodhill recently embarked on a project to upgrade the surfaces of our tennis courts of which, at the time of writing, are now completed and ready for play starting on Monday, 26 June 2017.
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WH | TENNIS
As part of the tennis experience, the HOA has held discussions about an online tennis and squash booking system with a company called SportyHQ. We have created our club on their online system and encourage players to visit the site, www. sportyhq.com, where you can register.
Once you have registered, please have a look at the functionality which the system provides. We will be changing over to the new online booking system in the near future which will make it much easier for our players to book their preferred playing times, without the hassle of coming to the Clubhouse to complete a form.
To the left is a screenshot of the booking page where you, as a registered member, can book a specific court.
As this system is used worldwide, you will also be able to view tournament information regarding global events. SportyHQ is offering their online booking system as a free service to clubs which will improve our communication to the players.
Once we have finalised the administration system, we will communicate some of the formal requirements needed to get this project of the ground.
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WH | GOLF
Hugo van den Berg - Woodhill’s new
COURSE SUPERINTENDENT Born and raised in Pretoria, Hugo matriculated from Afrikaans Hoér Seunskool in 1999. In 2001 he enrolled for a B -Tech Turfgrass Management Degree at TUT. Whilst studying he was employed as Assistant Greenskeeper at Monument (Waterkloof) Golf Club where he spent four years whilst finishing his studies. After graduating, Hugo was employed as the groundskeeper for Affies for two years. The opportunity then arose to work abroad and Hugo grasped it. He then spent the next three years in the UK and Mauritius. In England he worked as one of six Greenskeepers at the Richmond Golf Club maintaining their 18 hole facility. Whilst working in England, Hugo was approached by a company to assist with the development of the course in Anahita, the Ernie Els designed golf course in
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Mauritius. After successfully completing this project in Anahita he returned to South Africa and relocated to Mookghopong, Limpopo, the Anika Sorenstam designed golf course in Euphoria, where he stayed on as their Course Manager. Hugo was then approached by a good friend who asked if he would be interested in taking a position at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club. He made the decision to move back to Gauteng and was employed as the Greenskeeper by Royal on the East Course for six years. Hugo then decided to take a break from the golfing industry and started his own company. As a registered Pest Control Officer, he saw an opportunity to apply his trade within the new solar power plants industry. This was short lived and with the constant longing to return to the golf industry he jumped at the Woodhill opportunity. Having been employed by Woodhill Country Club for almost two years now, Hugo commented, “I am truly thankful for the opportunity that has been given to me. With my team, I am confident that we can take the Woodhill Golf Course from strength-to-strength.”
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WELCOME to our new coach
We would like to extend a warm welcome to the new Head Teaching Professional coach at Woodhill Golf Academy driven by Wanna Be A Champion - Nardus Broodryk.
Friday freeze • 30 minute lesson for R250 per person • Available from 7am to 5:30pm • Bookings essential
Nardus worked for Wanna Be A Champion Golf Academy for 5 years while he completed his PGA diploma. He was mentored under Doug Wood (PGA Professional), so he has a good understanding of the Wanna Be A Champion’s holistic method of learning the game of golf.
To book please contact Nardus on 072 404 0190 or email nardus@wannabeachampion.com.
“The reason I coach is that I have a big passion and love for the game. I want to give other golfers out there a chance to get to their full potential and achieve their golfing goals. I see a lot of golfers struggling because they don’t get the coaching or the right help they need. I want to grow the game of golf not only for men, but for juniors, ladies and unprivileged players too.”
Constantia Park Primary In our efforts to grow junior golf, Woodhill Golf Academy driven by Wanna Be A Champion recently hosted an ‘Introduction to Golf’ session for Contantia Park Primary. We have now hosted two introductory events and are hoping to get the children to join our junior golf program on a more permanent basis.
Winter special at Woodhill Golf Academy driven by Wanna Be A Champion. Running until 31 July 2017. Lesson special • 4 x 1 hour lessons • 1 x 9 holes course lesson • R3 500 per person
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WH | ADVERTORIAL
TORGA OPTICAL opens a state-of-art store in Woodlands Boulevard TORGA OPTICAL - A BRAND THAT TRULY ORIGINATED IN SOUTH AFRICA Torga Optical is proud to open its most modern branch in Woodlands Boulevard on 26 May 2017. The branch is owned and operated by Anli de Beer a resident of Pretoria East for many years. From humble beginnings in 1984 when Torga Buchanan opened her first Optometric practice in Heilbron in the Freestate, Torga Optical has expanded to 115 stores throughout South Africa as well as internationally to include stores in Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland as well as Australia. Torga offers not only caring professional services but a unique vertically integrated business model - the only one of its kind in South Africa with a “no middle man” policy. This efficient model enables Torga Optical to offer unique products, industry best guarantees and value for money. Torga designs and manufactures all of its fashion frames with a “fast fashion” approach similar to leading retail fashion brands such as H&M and Zara. Attention is given to utilizing the latest European materials and colour trends with an emphasis upon enabling the client to bring out her / his own individuality throughout their Visual Day. This philosophy has become the foundation for the “It’s Torga” eyewear. “The European fashion markets set the trends in the eyewear industry and the materials used in the manufacturing process of frames” explains Ms de Beer. “Our design team spend considerable time abroad assessing fashion trends and the latest materials. We really want to make women look and feel their best in their eyewear. These days women and men need more than just one pair of glasses - to compliment and enhance their style and image and particularly to have comfortable vision with so much time being spent looking at computer screens and digital devices. Optical frames and lenses are as important these days as other lifestyle products such as shoes, where these days most people have speciality shoes for every activity from work to leisure activities such as jogging, going to the gym, hiking and so on. Torga makes it easy to get the eyewear busy, active people really need.”
Ms de Beer points out that Torga is the only optical chain in South African that operates its own optical lens manufacturing facility equipped with state of the art German Precision technology. What this means is that the very latest precision optical prescription lenses can be manufactured in only a few days and don’t have to be sourced from overseas at higher prices. The Torga Lens Manufacturing team manufactures state of the art multifocal lenses, special lenses for the computer user, for night driving, for sport such as golf and cycling. It is easy for our clients to get the eyewear they really need for their Visual Day - eyewear that ensures maximum comfort throughout their Visual Day. WHAT ARE THE NEW OFFERINGS? Anli further says the other benefits for Torga Optical customers are: • We have service agreements with most of the South African Medical Aids to give our customers the Torga ‘WOW’ factor. • Our lenses comes standard with scratch resistant coatings to give our customers the very best the market has to offer. • We offer industry best guarantees not only our frames but also our lenses and have a no hassle customer service approach. Our lenses come standard with state of the art scratch resistant protection to ensure their maximum longevity. • We understand the need for multiple pairs of spectacles to suit the lifestyle of our customers and have unique offerings especially for the person who suddenly discover that their arms are too short and they are not yet 45 years old. • We specialize in providing preventative care to protect your eyes from Blue light reflected from Tablets, Smart phones and Computer screens. Often people do not understand why their sleep patterns are disturbed due to these devices and it is all about getting the right coatings on your lenses when it comes to reading at night. • Our Polarised lenses for prescription sunglasses are made for single, bifocal and multifocal spectacles and can be fitted in our frames designed for sunglasses or bring your own frame for an upgrade. Polarised lenses are the only lenses that reduces the problem of squinting in bright light by reducing glare.
The professional service delivery by our team of Optometrists does not just offer an eye test but we use the latest technology and equipment to ensure quality prescriptions and sound eye health care advice as well as advice on general health. We are focused on friendly customer care and are experienced to give our customers only the best advice and products for their lifestyle needs. WHAT ARE THE OPENING BENEFITS FOR THE WOODHILL RESIDENTS? We have attached our opening specials in this Newsletter and we strongly advise you to book now for an appointment or come and visit us to secure this opportunity for you and your family. We are looking forward to welcome you at our new shop where you could come and express your individuality by selecting the right frame for YOU!
TORGA OPTICAL www.torgaoptical.co.za
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WH | FAMILY
By Liane Lurie, Clinical Psychologist There is no perfect formula when it comes to what constitutes a family. The definition of the nuclear family unit has itself evolved. It may no longer only be perceived in classical terms as a mother, father and a few kids. Single-parent families, as well as ‘blended’ families, have become much more common in society today. In a blended or stepfamily, one or both partners have been previously married. One or both partners may have lost a spouse through divorce or death, and may have children from previous marriages. Regardless of the way in which a family is
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constituted, families do have certain things in common: they all have implicit and explicit rules according to which they function with specific roles ascribed to each member. The coming together of two separate units to form a ‘blended’ family therefore requires renegotiation of these rules and roles. It is as if a new balance has to be created. Children very often become accustomed to the routine created within their families of origin. It is likely that they might meet the new family arrangement with some degree of resistance. Patience and encouragement, support and love, and open and honest communication are all important elements in allowing the blended family to find a new harmony.
¹Children of different ages will adjust differently to the blended family set-up based on their age-related developmental needs: • Children under the age of ten thrive more within a cohesive family unit. They require a greater sense of constancy. They may therefore be more accepting of a new parent, or at times be competitive for their parent’s attention. • Adolescents, up until the age of about fifteen, are varied in their responsiveness to the new blended family. They may take time to warm to the presence of a new parent. They may be overt or closed in terms of an expression of a need for support and attention. • From sixteen onwards adolescents begin
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THE BLENDED FAMILY - A Recipe for Adjustment
to create their own identity. While still needing a stable base to which they can return, they may focus their attention on activities outside of the family structure. It is crucial that children feel that they have a forum to voice their concerns. A child may often worry that he may no longer have a place in the family, that his access to the parent may become more limited or challenged, that it may be difficult to form a relationship with stepbrothers or sisters or even a stepmother or father, and that they may not be considered in decision making. A divorce or loss was after all not of their choosing. It is ultimately a time of transition, which may bring a sense of insecurity with it. It is incumbent on the new parental unit to provide safety and stability
as far as is possible; to handle any conflict with as little tension as is possible. As heads of the blended family, parents need to have some form of agreement on limits and boundaries. The same rules need to apply to all children, while taking into account age appropriateness. Nevertheless, issues of discipline need to be handled by each child’s biological parent, so as to avoid unnecessary resentment on the part of the child. It is by no means an easy task for either stepparent or stepchild to begin forming a new relationship. The child may relate to the parent as an authority figure or as the one who took the place of their biological parent. They may also experience guilt if they feel positive
emotions towards the stepparent, as if they are abandoning their own mother or father. For the stepparent, it may feel like a difficult task to balance both their new marriage and establishing a trusting relationship with a stepchild. While the child themselves may experience some adjustment difficulties, they still need the comfort of a stable parental couple. They are also likely to model respect and open communication if this forms the core of your new relationship. It is also important to acknowledge that a new marriage may bring about unresolved issues for the child. A child may still be grieving the loss of a parent, at the time of the union. It is also possible that the child of divorced parents may still have harboured hopes of their parents one day reuniting. Feelings that are still being processed may manifest themselves behaviourally. Anger outbursts, temper tantrums or general rebellious behaviour are all indicators. While this may create tension within the home, it is imperative that a supportive structure is created. This does not imply that anything goes in terms of making behavioural allowances. However a child needs to feel both listened to and heard. Their feelings of anger, mistrust, fear and sadness need to be normalised. They may also need to be encouraged to direct the source of their frustration to the appropriate individual, without fear of punishment. Parents may look forward to the continuation of their lives, especially after a spouse’s passing or separation through divorce. However the transition from single-parent family to blended family, for the child’s sake, cannot happen overnight. Children need to be emotionally prepared. Important conversations may centre on what it will be like to have new siblings; how will they relate to their step-parent; will they still have alone time with mommy or daddy; what it may feel like to live in someone else’s house; and perhaps reassurance that your love and support is unconditional. Individual and family therapy is very often useful in helping to mediate the transition. A family intrinsically has the knowledge of how things need to be. Sometimes however, they need a conductor to help them ‘arrange the notes’ of their new arrangement in a melodious fashion. ¹http://www.helpguide.org/mental/blended_ families_stepfamilies. Liane Lurie is a Clinical Psychologist in Private Practice - she can be contacted on lianelurie@gmail.com.
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WH | HOME
TRENDS 2017 By Michelle Fortune Gilded Organic
Op-Art Illusion
A juxtaposition of styles where luxuriant textures are paired with basic lines. Printed velvets in rich soothing shades of teal and green teamed with pink to highlight the colour scheme. This trend goes best with copper accents, simple furniture and clean lines. Linear, optical illusion, juxtapose, plush, elegant, precious.
Calming yet uplifting, black and white gets a modern spin with playful oversized prints. Theme the combination with wood, metal and simple furniture. Whatever way you choose to go with this trend, the graphic impact of black and white will never lose its appeal. Geometric, angles, clean, graphic, structural, movement, two tone.
Spice Route
The Sweet Life
This deep-toned trend is summed up by spicy tone with touches of turquoise and pink. Geometric prints are softly introduced as an indication to this trend’s rich tribal heritage. Pair this calming palette with materials like wood, leather and matte copper for a look that is both warm and fresh.Tribal prints, spices, warmth, tonal, rich, wanderlust, vivid.
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Neither neon nor candy floss, the pink prominent in this trend is of the softer, more mature variety. Theme it with grey, black and bronze copper items to cut the sweetness and add a masculine appeal. Sherbet, feminine, playful, powder puff, marshmallow, dusty, charming.
Naked Ambition
Pared Back Industria This trend may celebrate humble materials but there is nothing humble about it! A beautiful combination of muted black, grey and white tones define the look while tactile texture in the form of leather, wood and black matte steel add visual interest. Monotone moody, cool, streamlined, raw, loft living, mixed metals, textural, modern, contemporary.
Navy is a non-negotiable when it comes to mature style and nowhere is this more pertinent than when its combined with nude tones and copper accents. Pared with barely-there gold elements and textured tan leathers. This trend is more for a polished penthouse than beach side home. Sheer, sophisticated, nude, barely there, the new navy, leather, classic, polished.
Rich Rococo
Foraged Beauty Fun, fresh and fabulous - dashing greenness for the home is here to stay. Pair greenery prints and patterns with tropical tones of red, coral, orange and yellow for a look that is fresh, whilst shades of beige, khaki and mocha trend the look and keep it more chic. Lush, fresh, warmth, rich, eclectic, exotic, crisp, vivid. Please come visit our showroom at 71 Jean Avenue, Doringkloof for advice. Keep decorating‌
This unapologetically over-the-top trend pays attention to luxuriant times where rich velvets and gilded accents were aplenty. The colour palette here is dark, gothic and seasonal. Plums, berry reds and black are the main colour schemes, highlighted by ornate gold accents and peacock plume worthy tones. Victoriana, seductive, plush, jewel box, dramatic, theatrical, peacock punk, decadent.
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WH | HOA
Woodhill’s Corporate
MEMBERS
Woodhill is always proud to host our Corporate Members for their golf days. We thank these loyal clients and look forward to many rounds of golf with them in years to come…
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WH | HOA
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WH | EVENTS
Monthly
LUCKY DRAW If you haven’t already attended one of our month end Lucky Draw evenings, then you are really missing out! Our clubhouse is buzzing with excitement as home owners, residents and golf members gather for the much anticipated draw which has accumulated to R18 500 at times. Apart from sponsored lucky draw prizes to be won on the evening, the two main draws are the ones that everyone enjoys. The catch is that you have to be present in order to claim your prize should you be the lucky winner. The main draw prize is done as follows: firstly, there is a draw to determine if the winner will be from the home owners stand numbers or from the club members’ number. Once that’s determined, there is then a series of numbers drawn to determine the lucky stand/member’s number and only if that person is present, will they be able to go home with the cheque. If the said lucky home owner/member is not present, the prize money carries over to the next month, hence it sometimes accumulates to a much larger amount. On to the second draw prize of R2 000. This one never carries over as the home owners, residents and members who attend register on arrival for this draw, guaranteeing that the lucky winner will be in the crowd. There is always kids entertainment too, so don’t feel like you can’t come and enjoy the evening because the kids will be bored. We can assure you that they will have loads of fun too. We look forward to seeing you on the last Friday evening of every month for our much anticipated and exciting Monthly Lucky Draw..
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WH | GENERAL
IT’S EASY,
brew!
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WH | GENERAL A hobby, in fact almost considered a craft, home beer brewing has become very popular of late. So much so that Pretoria now has its very own beer brewing store – BrewCraft. Making beer isn’t has high tech as you might think. The brief guide below is proof of it…
A step-by-step guide
Getting started
•
Many people brew their own beer because it is so much cheaper than buying it from a liquor store or pub. However, increasingly, more and more people are getting into home beer brewing because it is easy to make a beer that will taste better than most commercial brews on offer, and the art of beer making is a relaxing and rewarding pastime. Depending on the method of beer brewing, you can spend an enjoyable hour or so a day making a batch of beer. There's nothing quite like deciding on what sort of style you're going to make, then buying your ingredients in an easy to make kit, and returning home to make a great brew. With a bit of practice, you shouldn't have any trouble giving some imported and boutique beers a real run for their money, not only in regards to taste, but how terrific it will look as well.
What you need Essentially you only need barley, hops, yeast and water. Who would have thought that just four ingredients could combine to produce such a fantastic beverage as beer. Sugar is extracted from the barley, hops are added for bitterness, then yeast goes to work and converts much of the sugars into alcohol. While these are the building blocks, many breweries and home brewers often add extras to make subtle, or sometimes not-so-subtle, changes to their beers. Malted barley is essential to make beer and is the main ingredient in almost every brew. Without malted barley, you don't get beer. However, the barley has to be malted before it can be used to make beer, because its starch is insoluble. Home brewing kits available at homebrew shops and supermarkets are liquid malt to which hops has been added. They are effectively a beer ready to happen, that has gone through the preparation process and then been condensed at the stage when yeast would usually be added. Different grains can be added to your beer to give it different characteristics. Some will add body, others color and some both. They are usually added in small quantities to make subtle differences to beers. The variety of barley and even where it is grown can affect its flavour.
1. Preparation •
• • •
Clean and sterilise your equipment before using it - read the Instructions first. Put the yeast aside as you will need it for the next stage, not this one. Dissolve the contents of the Beer Kits recipe can you have purchased, into 2 to 4 litres of very hot water in a sterilised bucket. Use less hot water in hot weather and more when it is cold. Add 1kg of glucose or dextrose and stir to dissolve. DO NOT USE SUGAR because it won't work. Add about 10 litres of cold water to your fermenter. Transfer the hot mixture from the bucket to your fermenter and mix through very thoroughly. Top up if necessary with cold water so that the water level is at the 22.5 litre mark.
2. Fermentation • • • •
Now get the yeast and sprinkle it on to the surface. Then seal the fermenter, fit the airlock and half-fill it with cool water that has been boiled beforehand. Allow the brew to ferment, and typically this takes about a week. Try to keep the temperature in the fermenter constant from around 20 to 23ºC and try to avoid it falling below about 18ºC. Fermentation is finished when the airlock stops bubbling and the brew itself begins to clear. Then you need to allow a further 48 hours for it to clear thoroughly.
NB! Add finings approximatley 48 hours prior to bottling. 3. Bottling Sterilise the bottles and rinse with cool boiled water – or use steriliser and rinser machines. Use your priming scoop to put a measured amount of sugar into each bottle. Fill each bottle to within 5 cm from the top. Close each bottle with a crown cap and seal it firmly with a capping tool. Shake thoroughly then stand the bottles in a warm spot that is around 20 to 23ºC for about a week. Store your bottles for at least another two weeks before sampling your new beer. 4. Maturing Homebrew improves greatly with bottle ageing and will not go off in the bottle at all, unless kept for quite a few years. A six month old beer will be very much better than a one month old beer. So, try to age your beers, you will enjoy them much more. In fact, you will be amazed at how much your aged beers have improved. Don't forget to label and date each batch. Keep samples to try at 3, 6 and 12 months old. Take notes about how they taste then you will see for yourself how this amazing improvement works. There are a few basics needed to home brew and many more devices that will make the brewing process quicker or easier. The BrewCraft team recommend that beginners get a starter pack with a fermenter (usually with stick-on thermometer), bottle brush, caps and hand capper, along with a hydrometer, steriliser, funnel and spoon. A boiler is also needed. All of these are marketed by 'Copper Tun' and available at most good home brewing supply stockists.
BrewCraft, Pretoria. Unit 4, 2 Magda Road, Highveld Techno Park, Centurion Find us on Facebook.
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WH | PETS
5 Things to consider before
ADOPTING A PET
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WH | PETS Adopting a pet is not just about walking into a shelter and throwing some money at them after you have found your furry soulmate. One needs to take various factors into consideration:
1. Do not buy a pet online or from an unethical breeder, it’s frowned upon. Here’s why: •
•
•
•
• •
People love well-bred animals, but the good breeders are very hard to distinguish from the bad ones, which is why all breeders will struggle to escape this stigma. But how do you find out which one is which? You will never really know if these breeding animals have a loving life or are they just used for ‘Factory Farming’ more dogs in their back yard? Go to the breeding facility (generally at the breeders home) to see what is going on for yourself. Photo's are not good enough 'evidence' of good living and ethical breeding conditions. There are tons of animal shelters and Breed Specific Rescues out there that have pure bred dogs and cats stuck in their cages, due to desperate breeders selling animals for the sake of selling them and not making the effort to educating the new owners on the breed and its character or health. The animals might not have suited their needs as they grew older and they became neglected or just handed over. Is the dog a lap dog, or is it hyper and needs lots of space and even more exercise? Getting the wrong pet (like for instance a dachshund, to become your running partner) will become a costly mistake. Don’t get me wrong, they love running and need to release their bountiful energy, but this is not your long-distance kind of partner. A dachshund will therefore be more suitable as a family dog that is less active. Do you understand the complex characteristics of the various breeds of cats? Online is as dodgy as you can get. A big no-no. Rest assured that everything you buy or see online is not always as true as in the pretty picture that is posted. Don't for one moment believe that you are buying from a legitimate source. These pets come from horrific situations, and even though you might be saving them from that hell hole, you are actually encouraging the breeder to continue their unscrupulous means of income. Sadly, the exotic pet trade is booming online too, and people are buying animals online like candy, with little to no clue of how to care for them.
The list goes on... in fairness to breeders (as for many rescues and shelters too), they cannot predict how the new owner will be treating their 'pure bred dog or cat', but the bottom line is that they should be helping towards keeping the numbers of the excess animals down and yet they are not showing that effort at all. In fact, it would be in their favour if they did focus their 'well earned income' more on animal sterilisation.
2. It will cost you money to ‘rescue a pet’ from a shelter. If you have any idea what rescues and shelters go through to save animals, you will be glad to pay the standard fee. The fee will generally be for the sterilisation, vaccinations, microchip and handling, which could be up to R850 or sometimes more. Imagine being handed an emaciated animal covered in fleas and mange, and then the person just walks away? Not only does this animal desperately need food, but a healing process begins that could take months before they could say this pet is ready for a forever home. Not many people want to take on the ownership of an emaciated dog or cat. These rescues take these poor babies in and make them adoptable. Be prepared to pay that fee when you go to a rescue to adopt a dog or cat.
3. You also need to be approved before you can just get a rescue dog or cat and this process could take some time. Be prepared to fill in a few forms and have someone come to do a home check. They will look to see if your home is pet friendly and secure. They will probably ask you many questions to understand your lifestyle and try to ensure that the dog or cat which you want will meet your lifestyle and needs. They will not expect the best of luxury for your new member of the family – even though that would be a bonus, but a secure garden, adequate shelter and will you be able to take care of the animal financially, is what will be the important factors to get you approved as a new pet parent.
4. Prepare yourself for the cat or dogs not-so-good side! Will the dog be a barker, chewer or a digger? Or maybe a jumper, or a licker or an underyour-feet-all-the-time type dog?
Be prepared, because your new rescue will be doing one or more of the former actions. Are you ready to take the dog to training, and are you prepared to not (want to) ‘beat the dog up’ because they chewed your expensive sunglasses, shoes and or underwear, or dug up your newly planted rose bush? These events are very likely to happen and your dog will need time and attention to help them. Does your busy schedule allow for this? Cats love to claw into the couch or a curtain. They might want to mark their territory and this is very smelly indeed. They are far less maintenance than a dog, but they also need love and attention. Are you prepared to be patient – for a long time – as in a few years, to help your new dog or cat with his new home environment? Are you prepared to keep your things packed away, and secure plants from being destroyed?
5. Expenses Keeping your new pet healthy is important and good quality food is never the cheapest on the shelf. Do adequate research to ensure that your dog or cat gets the best nutrition that your budget can afford. Going away on business or holiday without your pet, will involve expenses for a pet sitter or a kenneling facility. How many times a year do you plan to go away? Pet animals get sick and injured. Some pets have hereditary health problems that might not be visible right now, but they will come your way. Are you financially prepared for a vet bill that will cost you nothing less than about R600? That’s just for a visit and an injection or two. It is guaranteed to skyrocket if it involves surgery or more intense treatments. Consider getting a good Pet Insurance when you adopt a dog. The sooner your dog or cat is covered, the better it will be, because pre-diagnosed conditions will not be included in the cover. Owning a dog or cat is a precious gift that can only be described by those who know and understand such a beautiful relationship. Coming home to a talking kitty, or a wagging tail and cuddling on the couch with your fluffy partner are of the few I can mention indescribable feelings of joy and happiness. The price you have to pay is nothing compared to the happiness and love they give you during their (short) lifetime on earth, but consider adopting and saving a life. If you are a pure-breed type of person, mention this to your local animal shelter or try find a Breed Specific Rescue - they are sure to help you find the perfect pet for you. Editorial sourced from pethealthcare.co.za.
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Congratulations
Sonja James recently did us proud by winning a Bronze at the SA Transplant Games. Well done Sonja!
• • • •
Neck and Jaw Tightening Eyelid Lifting Acne Treatments Stages 1-4 Body Correction: - Diabetes Tummy, - Cortisol Tummy, - Pregnancy Tummy, - Arm: Skin Tightening, Fat Burning
Leandi: 082 761 9224 | www.mediskinlaserclinic.co.za Tel: 012 003 4229 | 457 Winifred Yell str, Garsfontein, 0042
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WH | PARENTING
Cyber age - are your kids
CONNECTED? There’s no doubt about it – we live in a cyber age and no matter how much we try to avoid becoming all too consumed with what modern technology has to offer, there is just no two ways about it. Computers, the Internet and mobile technology have become an important part of our lives, so important in fact that our kids are starting to learn about them in pre-school already! Skype, Instagram, Facebook, etc have opened a whole new world to social networking and although most would argue that your kids should not be actively involved in such means of communication unless they are over the age of 18 years old, who really is the watch dog here? Cyber ‘cops’ don’t really exist so where does that leave us ‘technologically disadvantaged’ parents whose seven year olds are questioning when they will get their first cell phone or laptop.
Yes, as much as the cyber age has enriched our lives, I shudder to think of the damage it can do. Having a husband in the IT industry, our household is pretty much made up of computers in different formats (PC’s, laptops and netbooks) and up until Caitlyn started school she was adamant that she wanted her own computer. Luckily, her once-aweek computer centre visits are satisfying her curiosity at the moment but the time will certainly come where we will need to provide her with the tool which, at this rate, she’ll be using to complete her matric exams on! And along with giving her access to a computer comes the dreaded access to the Internet which as much as it is an endless world of amazing knowledge, it’s also a dangerous playground for vulnerable young users who innocently go about ‘surfing’ in their spare time.
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I went in search of some advice on raising our kids to be cyber smart – whilst I don’t want to limit my kids as I do believe there is loads of knowledge and fun to be had in cyber space, I certainly don’t want to ‘throw them to the wolves’ and hope that nothing bad ever happens. Paranoid, I think not. Realistic is more like it. On my cyber travels (yes, I actually used the Internet to get advice on how to teach my kids to use the Internet!) I came across a very useful site, www.cybersmart.gov.au. This site provides activities, resources and practical advice to kids and parents alike on how to enjoy the online world. One of their best pieces of advice is to teach your kids to THINK when going online.
T:
Tell your mom or dad if you see something online that upsets you, or if someone makes you feel unhappy. You can also talk to a trusted adult like a teacher: they can help.
H: Hide your password. Only ever share it
with your parents – never with your friends. Someone else could go online pretending to be you and do something that could get you into trouble.
I: Interesting websites can be fun. Check
with mom or dad if a site is okay to use before you visit. Sometimes they can set up a good list of sites just for you.
N: Be Nice to people you talk to on the
Internet or phone. Name calling or being mean is not cool. Look out for yourself and for others.
K: Keep your special personal information
safe. Never give your real name, address or phone number to anyone you don’t know in the real world. Use a nickname in chat rooms or when you play games on the computer. In the parents section on this site there are
WH | PARENTING many areas of good advice on keeping your kids cyber safe – take some time to browse through the information and apply what you can to your situation. Of course, traditional ‘parenting instinct’ is a great sixth sense that the majority of us use to determine when things are not quite right or safe for our kids and sometimes we just need to translate that sixth sense into ‘cyber mode’. We are forever telling our kids not to talk to strangers, no matter how nice they may appear to be but how do we get this message across to them when it comes to cyber strangers who are potentially the most dangerous of all. Once your kids start actively using the Internet to chat to their friends it’s important to make them understand that anyone can masquerade as anyone else online. Teach them to only chat to friends they feel comfortable with and if, at any stage, they feel uncomfortable or uneasy, they can come to you straight away for advice and help. Kids hanging around the playground after school are known to get up to trouble and most of us ensure that our kids either come home straight after school or are in after care to avoid this. We should apply the same care when it comes to our kids aimlessly ‘wondering around’ on the Internet. Always make sure that there is a reason why your child is online and wherever possible, sit with them to explore different websites and learn new things. If they insist on just surfing randomly on their own then set a time limit and still keep an eye from a distance. Get to know your child’s online friends just as you would their friends in everyday life. Talk to your child about who they chat to online and what their interests are. You may be surprised at how well your child responds to you taking an interest in their social lives – especially before they hit the dreaded teenage years! There are tech tools out there that can assist you with controlling what your kids are doing online. Blocking, filtering and monitoring tools are readily available and these will ensure that your child is only visiting websites that you allow them to as well as gives you an indication of what they are up to online. It’s also a good idea to keep the computer in an open family area where you will be able to constantly see what is being accessed and what is being done online. Whilst cyber space opens up a whole new world of danger, as with most areas of raising kids is concerned, take an active interest in what your kids are up to. Be alert, aware and most importantly, be available.
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WH | HEALTH
EXERCISE: The prescription of the future
Pulse. Body temperature. Breathing rate. Blood pressure. These four vital signs are key indicators of global health. But, there’s a new vital sign that’s already changing the face of global healthcare. When last did your healthcare practitioner ask you this explosive question before prescribing you medication: How much you do you exercise? “Patients are accustomed to leaving a doctor’s rooms with prescriptions for drugs, tests and more,” says Dr Craig Nossel, Head of Vitality Wellness. “But, this approach to illness is fastevolving to include a powerful new vital sign that gives a doctor a multi-dimensional view of a patient’s health and longevity at the deepest level: a patient’s fitness levels.” Patients need to leave consultations with a fundamentally different sort of prescription that instructs them to, for example, take “moderately intense aerobic exercise for 30 minutes, five times a week”, or “vigorously intense aerobic exercise for 20 minutes, three times a week.” “We need to exercise daily,” said Prof. Martin Schwellnus, Director of the Institute for Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Research at the University of Pretoria. “We are genetically programmed to be physically active every day. If we don’t, we quickly feel the detrimental effects on our overall health and physiology. The benefits in the scientific and medical literature are at this point absolutely undisputed as a vital component of health.”
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WH | HEALTH
Exercise:
a surprisingly simple antidote to the global tsunami of lifestyle-related illnesses “We have stopped eating and moving correctly,” explains Clinical Endocrinologist at the Life Fourways Hospital and Spokesperson for the Healthy Living Alliance, Dr Sundeep Ruder. “Yet, where there is motion there is life. A river moving actively offers up clear drinking water and pulses with life and energy. When water stagnates it becomes putrid. So too do humans who do not move. What we are now discovering is the science behind how genes and how cells react to movement and how most NCDs are preventable. Exercise improves weight, energy, cognitive function wellbeing scores, and these are all linked to preventing NCDs.” The benefits of exercise are increasingly impressive. The American Heart Association captures the power of exercise in a
recent description of the growing body of epidemiological and clinical evidence that proves exercise, or cardio-respiratory fitness level, is potentially a stronger predictor of mortality than established risk factors (such as smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, and type two diabetes mellitus etc). And the addition of cardiorespiratory fitness to these risk factors significantly improves their outcomes. Dr Elijah Nkosi, a general practitioner in Soweto, Johannesburg is also a 10-times Comrades Marathon (98km) and 12-times Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (56km) finisher. His marathon medals and certificates adorn his office walls. Walking the talk, he is passionate about prescribing exercise to his patients. “I have seen such positive outcomes from prescribing exercise to my patients and tailoring it to their needs. They get very involved in walking and running events and some are even able to come off their medications.” Dr David Jankelow, Cardiologist and President of the Johannesburg Branch of the SA Heart Foundation says movement is key to healing. “Years ago cardiac patients or heart attack patients were kept immobile for an extended period,” explains Jankelow. “Today we know that getting these patients active is probably the most important thing we can do. We need to show them that they need not fear exercise simply because they have experienced an adverse health event. The same goes for ICU patients.” “The message I pass on to patients is that getting your sleep, eating and exercise right is critical for health,” explains Dr Nkosi. “If you don’t use your muscles you lose them. So, do at least four days a week of regular exercise from walking for at least 30 minutes to more.” Dr Jankelow added that the prescription for exercise for the general population is 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of high intensity exercise a week. “Recent studies have shown that even people who exercise only on weekends reap the health benefits,” added Dr Jankelow.
Rewarding people at the right moment for healthy behaviour can be the catalyst for ongoing behaviour change “Our evidence shows that incentivising physical activity leads to habit-formation, where the behaviour continues even when the incentive is removed,” explained Nossel. “We know that personalised and tailored interventions are more effective at changing behaviour than impersonal generic ones.” Over 1.7 million people are signed up to Discovery’s Vitality programme, an incentivebased wellness programme that has, for over two decades, helped members to increase their levels of physical activity. In Spring of 2015, Vitality got personal, with the introduction of Vitality Active Rewards. This innovative programme makes it easy to choose healthy behaviour. First, it is easily accessed through the Discovery smartphone app for Apple or Android phones. Then, members who download the app and sign up are given personalised fitness points goals based on their age, prior levels of physical activity and underlying health. The goals are reset weekly for a ‘fresh-start’ effect. The weekly goal can be reached by engaging in physical activity at partner gyms or through parkrun and Team Vitality events. Or, members can engage in self-chosen activities which are recorded with a variety of wearable activity tracking devices (and particularly through Active Rewards with Apple Watch) that measure heart rate, duration of activity or steps. Points allocated depend on the intensity and duration of the workout. Finally, members who reach their weekly targets either alone or with their team of up to four friends, access their rewards on the app and qualify for a free Kauai smoothie or vide e caffè coffee. Reaching monthly targets brings even greater rewards from discounted gym membership to lower air fares for flights. Discovery Vitality’s data shows an increase of 78.5% in activity levels one year after members joined the Vitality Active Rewards programme. And, this trend is particularly apparent among members with chronic diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes. These members increased their physical activity levels by a substantial 78% after joining Vitality Active Rewards, substantially impacting their health for the better. www.discovery.co.za
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TEAR A D E E TH OF THE YE
SAVR BIGGEST EVENT U
FOR O
ENTS
ESID UAL R
N
ILL AN
s e i kidd tree s a ristm
H WOOD
ch
FRI,
7 1 0 2 V 24 NO FROM
5PM
Wonderful kiddies entertainment, treats and a
visit from Father Christmas CRAFT MARKET IN THE CLUBHOUSE 23 AND 24 NOV 2017 ÏF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BOOK A TABLE PLEASE CONTACT ONICA AT WCCRECEPTION@WOODHILL.CO.ZA -012 998 0011
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LOOK OUT FOR MORE DETAILS CLOSER TO THE TIME
WH | ACCREDITED ESTATE AGENTS
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The for the harmony of country ambience and state of the art living in a secure environment
Your Woodhill Resident Agent
082 703 1380
marinda.remax@outlook.com
Your Woodhill Resident Agent
082 703 1380
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marinda.remax@outlook.com
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