Thornhill Estate 002

T H OERstNatHeI L L

JANUARY 2019 [email protected] Guard House 011 608 4361
ISSUE 002 [email protected] Front Office 011 608 0835
thoa.co.za

Contents

Merry & Bright 4
Christmas lights in Thornhill Estate

Modderfontein Bird & Sculpture Park 6
Nevada Group

Meet the Guards 8
Tango 1 - George Qulu
Tango 2 – David Manana

Batty for Bats 10
Sharron Reynolds aka Bat Mom

A Tribute to Etna 12
Jeanette Uys

Heritage Watch 13

Our Newest Residents 14
Breeding Hornbills

School Holidays in the Modderfontein area 16
Kids entertainment

In & Around Thornhill 19

CLASSIFIEDS 20

Calendar 2019, Q1

Valentines Day February 15th, 2019
Easter March, 2019

Reminders

• Please re-register all contractors in January.
All new domestic workers and gardeners must be registered for access.
Proof of identification required to register.

Modderfontein Golf Course consistently rates in the top 60 South African golf courses!

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Merry & Bright
in Thornhill Estate

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Thornhill’s buzzing atmosphere amped up Spectacular laser displays in both Fir
as Christmas came to town. Our quaint and The Villas, delighted and mesmerized
streets were transformed into a visitors.
wonderland filled with bright lights,
enchanting decorations, and magical The effort our residents made last year
scenes. was unprecedented. Almost every block
had a house full of spirit and cheer.
Some decorations adorned roofs, fences
and pavements while others twinkled Thank you to all those who made the
from inside windows. Festive Season that much more magical!!

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Modderfontein Junction
Bird & Sculpture Park

NEVADA GROUP

The Modderfontein Bird & Sculpture Park There is secure access and dedicated
is now open to the public 7 days a week. parking available off Valley Road.
The park is managed by Flamingo Shopping
Centre as a non-profit venture. Both the Public Sculptures will be added during 2019.
land and waterways have been significantly
cleaned up and will be maintained. TARIFFS
Adults - R10
This lovely piece of nature, right on our Children under 12 - FREE
doorstep is now clean, managed and safe
for us to enjoy. Family picnics, dog walks, OPENING HOURS
yoga camps; running; reading a book under SUMMER: 7am - 7pm
the Willows and school trips. WINTER: 9am - 6pm

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The consumption of alcohol is allowed, All animal owners are asked to keep their
however the right of admission is fully pets on a leash for the safety and
reserved by Nevada Group to anyone comfort of all other visitors.
entering or inside the park already. No
disorderly conduct will be permitted. Pets owners and dog walkers are expected
to clean up after their animals.
Visitors are asked to help keep the park
clean by using the dustbins provided. “IF THEY POOP, YOU MUST SCOOP.”
Nevada are committed to ensuring the
health and comfort of all wildlife in the There is a pet shop in the shopping centre
area and the cleanliness of the park is key. adjacent to the park, to facilitate this
expectation. No excuses.
Smoking is allowed, but is monitored
by security and maintenance teams for theflamingo.co.za
correct disposal of cigarette buts etc.

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Tango 1
George Qulu

MEET OUR GUARDS

George started as a patrolling guard in As Tango 1, George oversees/manages all
Thornhill Estate during 2003. In 2004 he the patrolling guards and gate guards and
became a gate guard at the main entrance, he patrols the estate in the security vehicle.
working shifts at the gate he got to know
most of the residents. Residents and George loves working in Thornhill. He will
regular visitors grew very fond of him as he assist any resident in an emergency and
has an outgoing and friendly personality. help whenever he can.
George knows most of the residents by
name and he loves interacting with them. George is married and has 3 boys aged
22, 8 and nearly 2 years old. We are very
He worked at the main gate for 4 years. fortunate to have George as a security
He was then appointed as a Reaction officer on our estate.
Officer, Tango 1 in 2008 and has been
working in this position for the past 10
years.

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Tango 2
David Manana

MEET OUR GUARDS

David is our most recently appointed Tango David looks after his 3 brothers and
2. David was posted to Thornhill Estate as Mother. He says he feels blessed and
a relief patrolling guard when one of the grateful for the opportunity to be able to
regular guards was on leave. David was an work in Thornhill Estate. He loves being a
excellent guard and he did day and night security guard.
patrols. In January 2018, when one of the
other Tango 2 Officers were on leave, David There are three Tango 1’s and three Tango
took over the position of Tango 2 and he 2 Reaction Officers working rotating shifts.
was permanently appointed as a Tango 2 A Tango 1 and Tango 2 pair work 3-day
Reaction Officer when a position became shifts, 3-night shifts and then have 3 days
available. As a Tango 2 Officer, David off. The other Tango Officers and Security
patrols the Estate in a security vehicle and Officers will be introduced to the residents
checks on contractors working on sites in coming issues of the Newsletter.
where building are being done.

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We’re batty for bats

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A PUP

On walks around our Estate, you are bound Call SHARRON REYNOLDS aka Bat Mom
to pass a narrow wooden box, perched on 082 553 5258. Sharron is Jo’burg’s No.1
on top of a gumpole every now and then. bat rescuer and rehabilitator. She will
These are our purpose built bat boxes. advise you on what to do and will collect
the baby as soon as possible.
For unknown reasons, this summer
has seen a marked increase in the bat
population across Gauteng. We see
mainly the Cape Seretine Bat here in
Johannesburg.

These bats eat beetles, lacewings, moths,
mosquitoes, plant-sucking bugs and
whatever other flying insects are available.

A single bat can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes Her aim is always to reunite the pup with
in one hour! Sundown is the best time to it’s mother as quickly as possible as the
feast, if you look out for them in the early mother’s milk will dry up within 72hrs if she
evenings, you may see large groups of bats does not find her pup. In the wild, pup’s
soaring and swooping in the dying light, and mothers are often parted, but nature
enjoying the cooler, evening weather. is so amazing that they will always find
eachother again, even amoungst thousands
Females give birth only once a year to of other bats in a colony via unique echo
singles, twins, triplets or even quadruplets location.
any time between October and November
in the warm summer months. Place the pup in a shallow box with a soft
tea towel lid. Secure the towl around the
Often the weaker of the two will get left box with an elastic band - bats are master
behind when it’s fatigued, unable to keep escape artists!! The pup will be very thirsty
up with mom and siblings. Depending on but is also easily drowned. The best way to
circumstances Mom might come back to feed the pup, is to soak the end of a clean
fetch her baby immediately or later. facecloth in water and allow the baby to
suckle and take as much water as it needs.
Should you find a baby bat (pup) left alone, Under no circumstances feed a pup cows
please carefully and gently take it inside milk. They are lactose intolerant.
your home to protect it from cats.

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Bat pup found in Thornhill Estate,
during December.

Sharron successfully reunited a pup and
mom in our estate during December, using
a special echo location machine and her
vast and expert knowledge to track down
the mother.

A surreal moment, when the Mother bat
swooped onto the box, allowed baby to
climb onto her and flew home again. Kind
of like picking your kids up after a movie at
Greenstone!

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A Tribute to Etna

JEANETTE UYS

Some dogs are dearly loved pets; most of the people we know in Thornhill
some dogs are more than a pet, they and we became part of the community.
are companions, and a few dogs are soul Etna became seriously ill during November
mates. Etna, my black Labrador, was 2018. Unfortunately she lost the fight
one of the few. against her illness and passed away
on 2 December 2018. Our thanks and
In the bleakest time of my life, she guided gratitude to the personnel at St Francis
me away from the abyss of depression. Veterinary Hospital who treated her
When I did not have the energy or with love and care, especially Dr. Marlene
inclination to get out of bed, she nudged Norton. We will miss you Etna.
me out of bed to feed her and to walk
her. She cuddled up to me when I needed PS. If Etna ever chased your cat, I promise
consolation. She was always over joyed she never intended to harm your feline
to see me and loved me on good and friend, it was all about the chase…….
bad days.

Etna came into our lives as part of the
Guide Dog’s puppy raising program.
She was ear marked to be trained as
a service dog. A few months into her
training program the trainers noticed her
qualities and attributes. She was elected to
become part of their breeding stock. Etna
returned to us and stayed with us during
her breeding season. She had four litters
and produced 25 puppies. Most of her pups
were successfully trained and graduated as
Guide Dog working dogs. Her last pup was
also selected to be part of the breeding
stock. Her legacy lives on.

On completion of the breeding program
Etna became officially my dog. The last
five years of her life we stayed at Thornhill
Estate. Taking Etna for a walk in the veld
at Thornhill was heaven for her. She loved
to roam free and sniff to her content. She
played catch with her friends and enjoy the
doggy company. Thanks to Etna we met

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Heritage Watch
An ode to the past

GRANITE ROCKS WATER POINT

These granite rocks were blasted from This water point was initially installed in
the original quarry using the first Blom Street and was relocated here due
dynamite produced in the AECI factory, in to Gautrain construction in 2009.
November 1896. The quarry was located
at the Blasting Explosive entrance of the Water was provided to this and other
factory. The rocks provided material for points for domestic purposes when the
the foundations of various buildings. The villages of AECI’s Modderfontein Complex
foundation of this house at 8 Brussels were developed in 1896. The water was
Avenue, part of the original Hamburg pumped from artesian wells in the Klondyk
Village, has preserved an example of this valley in the NE corner of the factory.
type of construction.
The water points became redundant
when the residents recieved reticulated
water from Rand water Board in 1926.

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Our Newest Residents
Breeding Hornbills

TOCKUS NASUTUS

Our newest residents are a family of These are re-grown by the time she
breeding African Grey Hornbills that find emerges from the nest. This nest is
themselves rearing their chicks in the trunk blocked off during incubation with a
of a large, old tree in our lush estate this cement made of mud, droppings and
summer. fruit pulp.

They have come to us from the surrounding There is only one narrow aperture, just big
acacia thornveld and are usually found enough for the male to transfer food to the
in the mopaneveld, dry broadleaved mother and the chicks. Her mate will bring
and riverine woodlands, from northern her and the chicks food as often as 10-20
Kwazulu-Natal through Mpumalanga, times a day. Nesting African grey hornbills
Limpopo, Gauteng and North West are monogamous.
Province to the Northern Cape.
When the chicks are about half-grown, it
At 45 centimeters in length, this is a large gets a little cramped inside the nest, the
bird, although it is one of the smaller female will break out and rebuild the wall.
hornbills. It has mainly grey plumage with and both parents will then feed the chicks.
a white line down each side of the head The young grey hornbills break their way
and one on the back which is visible only in out of the nest only when they are ready
flight. The male has a black bill, whereas to fledge.
the female has red on the mandibles.
The African Grey Hornbill is omnivorous,
In spite of it’s top heavy appearance the taking a wide variety of food in their diet,
beak of the grey hornbill is made up of namely: insects, beetles, spiders, frogs,
a light skin of keratin overlying a bony chameleons, small rodents, chicks and eggs
support. The beak has lots tiny holes that and some fruits, searching for food mainly
are air chambers, resulting in the beak in the branches of trees.
being incredibly light. The large bill may be
the reason why hornbills have the first two This conspicuous bird advertises its
neck vertebrae fused together. presence with a piping pee-o pee-o
pee-o call.
When nesting, natural cavities are used.
The female lays two to four white eggs, Listen out when you’re on your next
and undergoes a molt of all her flight and walk through the estate this summer.
tail feathers at the time of egg laying.

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School Holidays in the
Modderfontein Area

KIDS ENTERTAINMENT

GO APE SHERPA
KIDS
MODDERFONTEIN
R140: 4-8yrs, 21 Obstacles, 1-2m high LINBRO PARK
R160: 4-8yrs, 22 Obstacles, 2-5m high Fun and engaging holiday care
R170: 12yrs+, 22 Obstacles, 3-9m high programmes available in December
R190: 14yrs+, 29 Obstacles, 3-9m high 2018 and January 2019!
DISCOUNTS: We are open at 7am and close at 6pm.
10 people+ (5%) 15 people+(15%) Cereal, lunch and 2 snacks provided.

Wednesday - Sunday 8am - 5pm +27 11 792 4679
0725440415 / 0827888900 sherpakids.co.za
[email protected]
goape-sa.co.za

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BUMPER MINI GOLF
CARS
STONERIDGE CENTRE
GREENSTONE MALL The course is an exciting maze of intricately
Are you ready for the ride of your life? laid out putting greens, with flowing
The Spin Zone is not just a ride; it’s a waterways, shaded log overhangs, rose
thrilling experience for all ages! Traditional gardens and exotic plants interlaced with
bumper cars have always been a firm the greens, keeping you captivated and
favorite, but this ride has added features supplying loads of fun throughout the game.
such as LED lights, more comfortable As the evening lights come on the course
seats, seat belts, and easier controls for takes on the look and feel of a theme park.
small children to operate. There is also a pizzeria with fooseball table
to keep the kiddos busy.
R38 for 5 min session
(011) 452-3502 Monday - Sunday: 9am - 10pm
082 789 1400 / 082 467 2003
[email protected]

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THORNHILL ESTATE SOCIAL COMMITTEE

Valentine’s Wine Tasting

SAVE THE DATE
FEBRUARY 15th, 2019

details to follow

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In & Around
Thornhill Estate

RESIDENT CONTRIBUTIONS

Another beautiful day in Modderfontein

Storm brewing over Estate New lamposts - Queens Street

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Live for
the mswomeeetnts

011 794 6341

www.dolcevitaicecream.co.za

Dolce Vita 500ml - R20 Non Dairy, Sugar Free & Sorbet available.
Dolce Vita 2LT - R40 We deliver direct to Thornhill residents.
Dolce Vita 5LT - R80 Contact Linda Urmson on 082 903 0102
Dolce Vita Deluxe Range - R170

BRUCE MURRAY // +27 82 441 8582

Modderfontein based automotive workshop
Offerings range from services to repairs
ALL MAKES AND MODELS

FREE collection & delivery for Thornhill residents.

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THORNHILL ESTATE

OAKTREE VILLAGE R 2 990 000.00
➢ Recently renovated & modernized 3 bed, 2 ½ bath cluster unit.

(Main bedroom with full en-suite).
➢ Aircons in all the bedrooms.
➢ Split level spacious lounge with French doors opening to a covered patio.
➢ Open plan double-volume dining area and elegant kitchen (granite tops). Pantry.
➢ Covered entrance with feature koi pond.
➢ Auto-irrigation. Fully landscaped garden.
➢ Guest toilet.
➢ Stylish tailor-made curtains and/or blinds throughout included.
➢
➢ Double Garage. Outside storage. EXCELLENT VALUE FOR MONEY
Options to extend & renovate.
➢ Estate offers: Community Centre (available for hire by residents with kitchen);

bathrooms; adult pool, kiddies pool, soccer pitch; cricket pitch; excellent security.
➢ Under Roof: 221 sqm Stand size: 473 sqm

CALL US TO VIEW Carl Deirdre
THIS Knight Knight
082 749 1747 082 774 1407
HOME TODAY..

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RESIDENTIAL RATES - ONCE OFF RESIDENTIAL RATES - BULK
1/4 page: R90 6 MONTHS
1/2 page: R175 1/4 page - 5% discount: R498
Full page: R350 1/2 page - 10% discount: R945
Full page - 15% discount: R1785
RESIDENTIAL RATES - BULK
3 MONTHS RESIDENTIAL RATES - BULK
1/4 page - 5% discount: R256 12 MONTHS
1/2 page - 10% discount: R486 1/4 page - 5% discount: R997
Full page - 15% discount: R918 1/2 page - 10% discount: R1890
Full page - 15% discount: R3570
PAYMENT DETAILS
ABSA Bank PLEASE NOTE
Acc #: 015 922 117 Proof of payment and artwork
Code: 632005 must be submitted by 20th of the
Reference: ADVERTyourname month in order to appear in the
following month’s issue.

IF YOU PRINT THIS
NEWSLETTER PLEASE
RECYCLE IT WHEN YOU
HAVE FINISHED READING.

RECYCLING IS PICKED UP EVERY WEDNESDAY IN THORNHILL ESTATE. ALL YOU NEED TO
DO IS PUT YOUR RECYCLABLE PRODUCTS INTO A CLEAR PLASTIC REFUSE BAG ON YOUR
PAVEMENT ON TUESDAY NIGHT. AND THE ECO FAIRIES WILL WHISK IT AWAY DURING
THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY :) THANK YOU.

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EMERGENCY INFORMATION

MODDERFONTEIN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

This is for YOU if your home is within a 7 KM RADIUS of the Modderfontein Industrial Complex

(PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH EVERYONE AT HOME)

?+ |

WHAT TO DO ALARM TESTS A MAJOR EMERGENCY? END OF EMERGENCY

This information is here to help you Our emergency Undulating Continuous siren
when there is a major emergency at alarm is tested siren sounding for the first 10 sounding for
the Modderfontein Industrial Complex. every Friday 12h00. 10 minutes.
minutes of the emergency.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HEAR THE UNDULATING SIREN?

1 2 3

MOVE PEOPLE and ANIMALS CLOSE all WINDOWS SWITCH OFF all air conditioners
INDOORS as quickly as possible. and DOORS. and ventilator fans.

4 5

Remain INDOORS until you are EMERGENCY SERVICES may be THE SMELL OF GAS & THERE IS NO SIREN
advised by media that the situation called in to assist in which This means that gas may have leaked, but
is safe, or until you hear the case their INSTRUCTIONS
continuous siren. should be FOLLOWED. its intensity is insufficient to create a
hazardous condition - you can smell most
irritant gases at levels which do not pose a

risk to your health.

EMERGENCY NUMBER: 011 606 2703 or 011 606 2250

Issued by the Moddefontein Community Awareness and Emergency Response Committee

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Useful
Numbers

MODDERFONTEIN & SURROUNDS

Any Emergency from a mobile Number 112
Netcare 911 082911
Flying Squad
Busamed Private Hospital (24hrs) 10111
Linksfield Netcare Hospital 011 458 2000
Dischem Flamingo Centre 011 640 3661
Fire Station 086 0347 243 / 0860 347 243
Sebenza Police Station
Edenvale Police Station 011 375 5911
Emer-G-Med 011 400 6000
Modderfontein Nature Reserve 011 553 8600
Modderfontein Golf Course
Automobile Association (roadside assistance) 086 100 7911
Metropolitan Police 079 519 1589
National Tourism Information Centre (24 hours) 011 608 2034
OR Tambo International Airport 011 799 1000
OR Tambo (Arrivals and Departures) 011 999 2093/4
Directory Inquiries Local numbers 083 123 2345
Ekurhuleni Edenvale Customer Care 011 921 6262
Ekurhuleni Power Failures 086 727 7888
Ekurhuleni Vehicle Licencing
1023
011 999 3111
011 999 3912
011 999 3830

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