%

If you would like to advertise on our site, please contact Adrian for info.

BBRA header image

(For English version, scroll down.)

'n Nuwe diens is in werking gestel vir mense in die Jock se Baai-gebied. Dit beloof om vir baie mense vinnige oplossings te bied vir lastige probleme.

Dit is 'n raadvra-diens, 'n navraagdiens, 'n hulpverleningsdiens en 'n kontakdiens, alles ineen gerol en dit is gratis.

Vroeër was ons lewenstyl elders miskien meer onafhanklik van ander mense. Hier in Bettysbaai lewe ons meer afgesonderd en privaat (soos ons verkies), maar ons vind tóg soms dat ons ander mense nodig het om met spesifieke probleme te help of om sekere geleenthede te benut.

Daar is soveel maniere waarop ons mekaar kan help. Dikwels soek ons iemand wat weet hoe om 'n spesifieke probleem aan te pak, of weet waar om sekere inligting te kry. Dikwels soek ons iets op die naaste dorp of ‘om die berg’- iets wat op sigself so onbenullig is dat dit nie 'n rit regverdig nie. As ons net kon weet wie sou in elk geval daarheen gery het! Miskien soek ek maar net iemand met wie ek kan gesels oor dinge waarin ek belangstel.

Daar is talle ander behoeftes waarvoor daar oplossings is – as ons maar net geweet het wáár om te soek. Die oplossing sou wees as daar iemand bestaan wat 'n stelsel bedryf om die mense met behoeftes en diegene met oplossings by mekaar te bring.

Dis net hier waar HELPNET inkom!

Jaap van Deventer (083 226 8471) onderneem om as skakelman 'n rekord te skep en te onderhou van almal wat in sy buurt woon (of baie dikwels hier is) en deel van die stelsel wil wees. Hy het sy buurt gekies van die Dawidskraalrivier ooswaarts tot by die deurgrawing anderkant Kopjeweg.

Hy weet waar elke HELPNET-lid woon en het elkeen se epos adres en telefoonnommer. Hy kan dus met elke lid in die gebied kommunikeer.

Een keer per dag, na behoefte, stuur hy 'n epos aan al sy buurtlede om te sê watter hulp of inligting gesoek word. Almal wat kan help of oplossings het, het dan die geleentheid om te reageer deur hom te kontak. Geen name word genoem nie, net 'n verwysingsnommer.

Iemand wat aan ‘n versoek kan voldoen of kan help, hoef bloot met die skakelman te skakel (epos of foon), wat op sy beurt vir die lid wat die diens/inligting verlang die besonderhede sal gee van die persoon wat hulp of 'n oplossing aanbied. Al wat hy dus doen is om die persoon met die oplossing in kontak met die persoon met die behoefte te bring. Dit werk min of meer soos ‘n gebieds-kennisgewingbord – oor die internet.

Hier is 'n aantal voorbeelde van hoe die stelsel kan werk.

  1. Gerrit het dringend 'n spaarwiel vir sy boot se sleepwa nodig. Hy kontak die skakelman en vra: “Ek soek 'n kleinerige sleepwawiel met 4 boute”. Die versoek kom op die volgende HELPNET sirkel-epos. Gerrit se naam verskyn nie, net sy verwysingsnommer. Jan epos en sê hy het so 'n wiel. Gerrit word ingelig en hy kontak self vir Jan.

  2. Sannie wil calamari gaarmaak, maar is bang dit is taai. Sy epos en vra: “Hoe maak mens calamari sag?” Haar versoek verskyn op die volgende HELPNET epos. Christine het die antwoord en reageer. Die skakelman kontak Sannie om met Christine te praat en die probleem word so opgelos.

  3. Helena moet 'n spesifieke pakkie van Dischem, Clicks of miskien Kleinmond af kry en sy het nie nou vervoer nie. HELPNET epos haar versoek en iemand wat in elk geval moet ry, bied aan om dit te bring.

  4. Hendrik neem sy gesin Wildtuin toe en soek iemand om in sy huis te slaap en na sy honde te kyk. Dit word ge-HELPNET. Hendrik kry om sekuriteitsredes net 'n verwysingsnommer. 'n Universiteitstudent met vakansie bied aan om te help. Die skakelman volg Hendrik se verwysingsnommer op, kontak hom en hy tree self met die student in verbinding.

  5. Iemand soek 'n stapmaat. HELPNET vind die stapmaat.

  6. Mense soek kontaknommers vir betroubare loodgieters, verwers, elektrisiëns, ensovoorts. Kry kontaknommers deur HELPNET.

  7. Waarskuwings oor bobbejane, brande en ander gevaarlike toestande kan ook deur die HELPNET netwerk versprei word.

  8. HELPNET kan u ook help om 'n geleentheid iewers heen te vind.

Daar is geen beperking op die aantal HELPNET-sirkels wat in Bettysbaai kan bestaan nie. Solank daar net iemand is wat bereid is om die skakelwerk in die betrokke gebied te doen, kan dit gebeur.

Jaap and Annaline van Deventer
083 226 8471

English version

Just about everybody living in Betty’s Bay have made a conscious choice to live here. The atmosphere and beautiful nature around us were most probably the main reasons. We have elected to live in peaceful tranquillity.

Most probably our previous lifestyle tended to be rather independent of others. It is as if we had set up barriers to prevent the intrusion of the multitudes. We built walls and fences for safety. Now we live a more private life (the one we actually prefer), but it surely does happen that occasionally we do need other people to help us deal with problems or to help us to exploit specific opportunities.

There are so many ways in which we can be of mutual assistance. Often we try to locate someone who knows how to deal with a particular problem, or who knows where some information can be gained. Of we need something from the town close by or from ‘around the mountain’, the item in itself might be of so little importance or value that that it does not really warrant doing the trip just for that. If only we had known of somebody who would have done the trip in any case! It might also be that we need a person with similar interests just for a friendly chat.

There are so many needs with ready solutions and answers – if only we knew where to search. The final answer would be if someone could create and maintain a system that could establish a link between those with needs and those with solutions.

This is the point where we would like to introduce HELPNET!

The HELPNET system

I shall compile and maintain a record of all the people living in our neighbourhood who wish to be part of the system. Let us assume that we refer to the area east of the Dawidskraal River up to where Cliff Road and Hi-Level Road connect with Clarence Drive.

I know where you live and your email address and contact numbers will be on my database so that I can easily communicate with everyone in the area.

If I then, say, once a day at 6 pm, send an email to the entire mailing list in which I state what information or particular kind of assistance is requested, it allows anyone with a solution to react by contacting me. No names will be distributed, only a reference number.

All I do then is to establish contact between the person with the solution and the one with the need. In principle it operates like an area notice board using the internet.

Here follows a number of examples of the kind of encounters we might have to deal with:

Examples:

  1. Alvin urgently requires a spare wheel for his trailer for one trip. He contacts me and gives some technical particulars. At 6 pm it goes on the HELPNET email. I do not mention his name, only his reference number. John sends me an email: He can help. I phone Alvin and let him contact John. Problem possibly solved!

  2. Sally has some calamari but she is afraid it might be too tough for her guests. She asks in her email: “How do I get it sufficiently tender?” I get a response through HELPNET and I refer Raylize to Sally. Raylize has been using tenderiser on calamari for years.

  3. Helena must get some medical preparation from Dischem, Clicks or from Kleinmond. Her car is in for a service. HELPNET carries her request and someone who has to go in any case offers to pick up her parcel.

  4. Elise has a little dog that refuses to walk on a lead. HELPNET brings her a dog owner who knows exactly how to do it. A year later the two dogs both walk side by side on their leads.

  5. Eric needs somebody to look after his dogs and his home while he and his family is off to the Kruger Game Park. His need is explained on HELPNET under the usual reference number so nobody knows which home will be vacant for a fortnight. A university student on holiday offers help. Eric contacts him and they meet to discuss the solution.

  6. Very often someone requires a person as a regular hiking partner. HELPNET is ideal for that purpose.

  7. Have you ever required the name of a plumber or an electrician? It is difficult when you are new to the area. HELPNET can solve your problem.

  8. It is even possible to send out an area alert through HELPNET if we are the victims of a new baboon tribe, or the presence of people who act suspiciously, or if we wish to warn the locals against a fire or other threat.

  9. HELPNET can even help you to get a lift somewhere.

There are so many people, each with their unique needs, who might find HELPNET to be a source of solutions.

 At what cost?

HELPNET is not free. Your contribution will consist of your ability and willingness to assist people who need your services or knowhow. Serving the needs of your fellow human being is after all the only way you can really justify your existence on this planet. HELPNET might help you to perform!

How do you become a HELPNET participant?

Contact me or my wife, Annaline, on (028) 2729 371 or 083 226 8471. We shall then arrange that you are entered on the HEPNET data record.

The next step would be when you require some assistance or advice. Contact us by email or otherwise and we shall enter your request on the next HELPLINE email (under a reference number). Should someone offer help, we shall contact you to link you to the person who has responded.

Welcome!

Jaap and Annaline van Deventer
083 226 8471

 

 

 

Details
Category: Community
Hits: 1850

A letter and a response.

Thank you very much for the work that is being done regarding the dunes and the sand invasion and I am sure that this will have significant long term benefits.

However I was at Betty’s this past weekend and was amazed to find:

  1. The parking area has been reduced by about 30 to 40% by sand dumped.
  2. On all the roads near the beach no parking signs have been erected.
  3. The trench through which water previously flowed has been fully covered.
  4. The natural approach to the beach from the car park is no longer clearly defined as a result of which people are walking over all the dunes.
  5. Previous access to the beach from the road immediately behind the beach seems to have been closed off.
  6. A new house has been built on the beach.

I am afraid there will be absolute chaos over the season with so little parking available and that access to the beach has been impeded rather than improved.

As far as I can see the only people who will benefit from what has been done so far will be the municipality, who will raise a lot of money through ticketing cars parked in the newly designated no parking areas.

I would like to know what arrangements have been made for alternative parking with beach access – none was visible this weekend.

As the owner of a holiday house I consider beach access to be important, especially for the elderly and those with young children. One of the major attractions of Betty’s is the beautiful beach, which was highlighted in your e-mail of 18 June. From what I have observed the 4 points noted ie access to beach, safety of road network, preservation of fresh water ecology and aesthetic improvement of beach area have been impeded rather than improved.

This is indeed disappointing.

I really hope that I am wrong and that something will be done to improve matters before the holiday crowd descends upon Betty’s in the next 10 days.

Sincerely
Terry Simon

 The response

Hi All

I refer to a mail from a Betty’s Bay property owner regarding limited access to the Main Beach parking area due to the excessive amounts of sand dumped there.  I became aware of the situation at the parking area two weeks ago and last week I discussed this with the nature conservation people at the OM making exactly the statements made in this mail.  It is unacceptable that the only public access to Main Beach is effectively blocked by sand – placed there by the OM.

The OM has a real problem in that, in terms of the temporary Maintenance Management Plan approved by the Western Provence Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP) last year, the Main Beach parking area is the only location where sand removed by the OM from Nerine Crescent and Morea Road may be legally placed.  This has resulted in the situation that we have now. 

The new Betty’s Bay Dune Management Plan, which has been developed by a specialist consultant commissioned by The Betty’s Bay Dune Interest Group and the Betty’s Bay Rate Payers Association, has completed its public participation process and has now been submitted to the DEADP for approval in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act and Regulations.  This plan, when approved by DEADP, will allow for the proper management of the Main Beach dunes including the parking area.  Unfortunately it is unlikely that this approval process will be completed before Christmas.

During our discussion with the OM nature conservation they suggested that the sand could be move temporarily off the parking area for the festive season and returned after the season, where it will stay until the Plan has been approved.  The OM has now requested permission from DEADP to implement this temporary measure and is currently awaiting a reply.

The best case scenario is this will happen tomorrow and that the sand will be moved before the end of the week. However there is also the possibility that the request will not be approved or that the resources to move the sand cannot be found in time.............Let’s hope for the best.

Regards
Gottlieb

Details
Parent Category: Infrastructure
Category: Dunes
Hits: 1817

As anticipated, the spring flowers have been glorious. Most spectacular have been the watsonias the ubiquitous pink ones that the porcupines decimate in Betty’s Bay gardens and a veritable host of beautiful orange ones that I have never seen before.

What a treat!

 A riot of colour along the length of the fire break below Bass Road.
regen1
regen2
Details
Parent Category: Buzz
Category: 2015 - December
Hits: 1749

Discover the beautiful town of Pringle Bay.

Take part in a FUN RUN OR WALK on Saturday, 19 December at 8 a.m.
[6 or 12 km in aid of Pringle House Eco School]
FEE: R40 [R20 pensioners]
Dogs must be on leashes.
CONTACT SONJA FOR DETAILS:
TEL: 084 8500681 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A ROFJOL at the legendary Hangklip Hotel

A MINI FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
starring more than ten fabulous acts
on 26 December 2015 in the Plankies Bar, starting at 2 p.m.
Free entry.

A PHOTO SHOOT WITH FATHER CHRISTMAS

At the Harold Porter Botanical Garden
16 December: 10—12 a.m. and 2—4 p.m.
17 December: 2—4 p.m.
18 December: 10—12 a.m.
19 December: 10—12 a.m.
R40 per A4 photograph!

Details
Category: Events
Hits: 1611

Dear Helen,

Here is the piece I mentioned that I’d written on the Violet Snail Shell for “The Buzz”:

While my son and family were holidaying at Betty’s Bay this year, his elder daughter Amelia, aged ten, decided to do a project on “floating shells”. To her delight, she found numbers of pretty Violet Snail Shells (Janthina janthina) on the beach, together with their prey, the bluebottle, or Portuguese-man-of-war. These snails are in turn preyed upon by birds, fish, sea turtles and other molluscs.

Janthinas have light, fragile shells, growing to between 3-4 cm in size, depending on water temperature. Their bodies are dark purple to black in colour and have a rubbery, slug-like texture. With their “feet” or mantles, they agitate the sea water to create tiny bubbles which they join together with mucus to form rafts, from which they suspend themselves, allowing them to float on the ocean surface. Other common names for this sea snail are Bubble Raft Shell and Purple Storm Snail.

These fascinating creatures spend almost their entire lives at sea, unless washed up onto the shore after unique storms or when an onshore wind has been blowing for a few days. They are all born male and later develop into females. The males release their sperm into a case which drifts to the female, allowing fertilization to take place. The eggs develop internally and the tiny snails are born live and able to build their floating rafts immediately. In the Indian Ocean, there are huge concentrations of these Violet Snail Shells, bluebottles and jellyfish being swept along by the Agulhas current.

With best wishes, Hilary Mauve.

P.S. Recently, Amelia put on a display of her Violet Snail shells at the British Shell Society and was awarded the cup for the Best Educational exhibit on show. This is possibly the first time a child has won a cup that is in a class open to adults as well.

snail1
With mucous intact
snail2
Dry—as collected from the beach
Details
Parent Category: Buzz
Category: 2015 - December
Hits: 1848
  1. BETTY'S BAY RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION
  2. CHRISTMAS CONCERTS AT THE GARDENS
  3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS: THE BOTANICAL SOCIETY [KOGELBERG]
  4. Chairman's Report/Voorsitter Se Verslag
  5. The latest Buzz — December 2015
  6. Preparation for the AGM December 19th, 2015
  7. The Draft Coastal Management Program for the ODM PLUS SUBSIDARY PLANS will be available
  8. Millenium Management — Operational Reconnaissance
  • You are here:  
  • Home