By becoming a CRA member, you will be a part of this.
CONTENTS
NEWS
- Membership
- May Member Special – Gerakaris
- Updates
- Community Garden & Library
- Potholes
- Security
- A Single Public Space Security Provider?
- CAP Easter Special Extended
FEATURES
- Cairns Homeless Project
- Domestic Watch in Craigpark
- Area Maintenance – our green spaces
EVENTS
- CRA Spruit Clean-up
- Giles Mother’s Day Lunch
- Wesleyan Church Market
Thank you to everyone who has become a CRA member or renewed their membership this year! A special welcome to the 68 new members who have signed up this year, please encourage your friends and neighbours to follow your lead.
While we have gotten off to a good start in increasing membership numbers, we have a long way to go – paid up membership is still below 10%. We are aiming for an annual contribution of R1 million over time, so that, together with your help and assistance, we can get things done for the benefit of us all.
For now we’re targeting 30-35% membership in our suburbs, to raise these funds. While that is a lot more than the CRA has received in the past, we believe that by reaching this, over time and with your help we can realise some great results that will make Craigpark the best it can possibly be.
Annual membership runs for a year from the date of sign up and fees are the following
- Free standing property R800
- Complex unit R400
- Pensioner R400
- Business R1 200
To become a member please go to our website www.cra.org.za
For assistance or further information contact admin@cra.org.za
May Member Special
Gerakaris Family Wines, located in the REEA complex 20 Marlborough Ave, is a CRA business member and is offering paid up CRA members (registered as at the end of April) a discount for the month of May.
If you need to stock up on wine for the long winter nights ahead support our local businesses and contact Gerakaris.
- 072 638 7636
- info@gerakaris.co.za
- www.gerakaris.co.za
Please note
- 15% off – all purchases over R1,000 andof 6 bottles or more.
- Wine tasting – one CRA member is required for every 2 people. (e.g. if a tasting group of 6 people, 3 must be members)
- Bookings essential – info@gerakaris.co.za
- “CRA Member” – as at 30th April 2021.
Committee changes
Caron Askew, who has been on the committee since 2019, has graciously agreed to head up our Environment Portfolio and Fran Swart has once again taken the reigns of Street Rep Coordinator, from Caron. Thanks to both of you.
Updates
Community Garden and Library
We reported in our February newsletter about 2 community projects that we were getting off the ground – Abercorn’s Secret Garden and the Community Library
The community garden initiative, which is being led by Bruce and Paulette, is coming along nicely. The clearing of the garden area has progressed well – we have filled 4 skips and there is still grass and branches to be removed! The vegetable beds have been laid out, weeded and 4 cubes of compost offloaded. Everything is set for the planting of winter vegetables.
The community support and interest has been wonderful.
We are grateful for all the support we have received.
- In clearing, taking the garden refuse to the dump and having skips sponsored.
- Sue Gilbert, and Fidelis (who is well known for the sale of plants on Kruger Drive) have agreed to assist with the planning and layout of the flower beds.
- Fidelis is also going to assist with the clearing of tree branches and residual weeds to refuse dumps.
- Ranger Stables will supply compost and potting soil.
- AJ’s have been very supportive of the initiative. They have generously provided the following:
- 3 to 4 gardeners once a week to assist with the clearing, digging and maintenance of the gardens.
- Water supply for the gardens
- Loan of brush-cutters and mowers to clear and mow the area
- They will supply necessary electric power for the gardening activities.
When considering the long-term possibilities for the garden we realised that incorporating the library would work well and add to both. So, we are looking at setting up the library in a ZoZo hut within the garden. If anyone has info on moving ZoZo style huts, please WhatsApp Paulette on 082 452 9322. We can then get the little library going. Already our appeal for the donation of a bookshelf was not only fulfilled but far exceeded as a local resident has offered to install the bookshelves we need – a very generous offer, thank you!
Thank you to all those who have assisted in getting the projects off the ground and came along to have a look – it’s just on the right as you drive into AJ’s
Potholes
Thank you to all those who reported potholes in our area to JRA and sent us the details.
A consolidated list was sent through and there have been some repairs in the area, most notably the large pothole in Richmond Avenue has been fixed. Thank you to John Kempe, Martin Williams and the JRA. Let’s keep going on this effort and support them wherever we can.
Please continue to report any potholes and send us the information. You can find details here
Security
CAP Easter Special Extended
Please Note
The special below has been extended to the end of May
FEATURES
Cairns Homeless Project 
The project started in April 2021 after Sarah and Lee Cairns, Craighall Park residents and CRA members, approached the CRA to assist in their self-funded homeless feeding scheme. As stated by Sarah: “COVID has wreaked financial havoc and as a result we are seeing more and more destitute individuals living in our suburb, trying to survive”. This spurred the Cairns to start a feeding scheme from their home for these affected individuals. They are currently feeding about 20 homeless men once a week. They wanted to do more for these individuals and provide them with a long-term solution, so they reached out to the CRA for financial assistance to employ some of these men to help clean and improve our neighbourhood. Sarah has started working with two of them, Sizwe and Pule once a week. Currently they are weeding the islands along Jan Smuts.
Read more… The Project was also featured in the Rosebank Killarney Gazette.
Domestic Watch in Craigpark
IT’S BACK!
Penny Steyn’s MAD (Making A Difference) Domestic Watch programme aims to inform and uplift those in the domestic environment through increasing knowledge and awareness of crime prevention as well as building trust relationships with police (Domestic = HOME and relates to all in any home!).
The CRA have stepped in to provide financial support to Penny so that she can get the programme back up and running again. As a result of this Penny has also been able to reduce the cost from R70 to R50 for the next six months.
Sessions are approximately an hour on the last Friday of the month starting 28th of May… Read more for further information.
Please support this initiative!
Area Maintenance – our green spaces
For the last few years Lance Drake has been ably supervising Simon Maphonga and Isaac Mahlangu, the CRA’s 2 maintenance workers. These men travel very far to work tirelessly in the heat and cold to keep our suburb clean and beautiful. Their work contributes significantly to security, property prices and enables our residents to use the parks daily for a multitude of activities.
The most recent project undertaken has been the Westminster/Cambridge intersection in Craighall Park.
EVENTS
Whether you reside, own property or run a business in our area, YOU are an important part of our community.
Working together we can build a safe, successful and supportive community.
Ultimately you, the members of our community, are the CRA.
If you have any questions or would like more information please email us at admin@cra.org.za or WhatsApp 0647437375.
To help support and build our local community by becoming a CRA Member please click here.
If you would like more information on membership go to https://cra.org.za/cra-online-registration-payment/
For more information or to join the CRA / CAP Public Spaces Security (PSS) Initiative &/ to become an Armed Response client please email info@capgroup.org.za
Please note that the CRA/CAP PSS initiative is voluntary and does not equate to CRA membership. CRA subs are annual whereas PSS is a monthly debit order.
CRA Newsletter 2021 04 – PDF