1.                  Communication

Members will know that good communication is a major ingredient to a successful organisation.  The CRA is no exception.  We need your help.

We’re on a roll at the moment but we require more email addresses from residents whether they’re members or not so that we can blanket the two suburbs efficiently with information that they require.  Would each of you take it upon yourselves to get two email addresses (plus the name, address and telephone number) on your street and email them to jweldon@mweb.co.za who is the head of our membership portfolio.  We have quite a lot to say and we believe it’s of value to all residents so please help us to help you. 

New look CRA website

We're really pleased to announce that the CRA website has been revitalised, thanks to the (donated) expertise of local company Tas Online*. Owner Harry Rosen, being a Craighall Park resident, says that this is his contribution to the area - our thanks to him for this. Thanks also to resident Dani Malan of Inhaus Design who assisted the CRA in the initial stages. 

The new address is www.cra.org.za (although the old adress will remain valid for a time).

An exciting addition to the site will be a 'Residents Open Forum'. A password will be needed to access it - this will be sent to you shortly. The Forum is designed to allow residents for example, to exchange information, advertise eg items for sale, garden cottages to rent or community happenings.

2.                  Security

·        The CRA police vehicle has been handed over to Superintendent Loubser and the Parkview Police, as you may have seen in the Rosebank Gazette of 24 Feb. The technical number for our vehicle is “PV18” and it is staffed on a 3 shift basis. It will be on the road as soon as it has its identifying name on it. (A naming competition has been organised through Craighall Primary School - the winning name will be announced shortly.) You will be able to easily identify it as it is a white Toyota 2000 Bakkie without a canopy.  Say hello to it when you see it go by. 

·        Crime incidents in our two suburbs are stable at the moment with violent crimes reducing on average but housebreaking (non violent) increasing which the police are concentrating on at this moment through a special project. 

·        You will be interested to know that at this time last year there were 50 police officers at the Parkview Police Station. This has now been increased to 140 officers and should increase to 175 this year. The training of the new recruits is going well and this is one of the reasons why our vehicle can be staffed on a 3 shift basis. From these figures it is obvious that last year Parkview was badly understaffed.  In the run up to April 14^th the police, apart from their normal responsibilities, will have to contend with the elections and ten year celebrations. 

·        We have a new full-time North Sector Manager who is Constable Laura Darley (082 924 1331).  Constable Cas Teulings will be helping the CRA and is attending our monthly executive meetings.

·        Patrol vans in the North Sector have been instructed by the Parkview Police to remove posters where they have overstayed their welcome or are in fact illegal. 

·        Would residents take the registration number of any flat bed truck they see loading any car.  We are specifically looking for a white truck PPT 876 GP. 

·        The Craighall Park Domestic Watch meeting on Thursday 19 Feb was a great success with 60 to 70 people attending – some of the discussions was on AIDS awareness, and on what to do if someone breaks into your property.

3.                  Environment - pavement garden competition

·        The CRA congratulates winner Lucy Heritage of 43 Lancaster Avenue. As organiser Caroline Doekes commented, Lucy's garden "met all our citeria. Most of her plants are indigenous, such as apnia, daisy bushes (osteospermum), bulbine (katstert), the Cape marigold (Arctotheca calendula), gazanias and agapanthus. They are all hardy and require a minimum of water. Her garden is also ‘pedestrian friendly’."

    Runner up was Mary Kew of 30A Talbrager Avenue. Prizes were donated by Colourful Splendour Nursery and The Nest Egg Tea Garden situated in the Nursery.