The Bus Stops Here!
Turning a Community Challenge into a Creative Fundraiser
For months now, homeowners have been raising the same concern: Njanje Road has no proper walkway, and there’s nowhere for our bus passengers to sit or shelter while they wait. Rain, sun, dust – our community workers deserve better, and the good news is that we’re doing something about it.
Why It’s Not as Simple as “Just Build a Bench”
Our Technical Committee is quietly working overtime on this, but as with most estate improvements, the devil is in the detail:
- Permissions are required from two separate authorities – Provincial Roads (for the Pine Land Drive section) and Mbombela Roads (for the Drakensberg Road section, opposite Coolmore).
- There’s no room in the current budget for bus shelters.
- Our Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) doesn’t allow HOA funds to be spent outside the Estate boundary.
There’s a real need, but there’s also real red tape.
So instead of waiting around for bureaucracy to catch up, we’re getting creative.
Our Solution: Upcycled, Unstealable, and Built in Phases
The plan is to install permanent upcycled wood benches – solid, theft-resistant, and positioned so that shelter (from both rain and sun) can be added later without needing to move anything.
- Phase 1: Seating – practical, comfortable, and ready for our commuters right away.
- Phase 2: Shelter – a roof over their heads, once funding and permissions allow.
It’s a sensible, staged approach that gets something useful on the ground now, while leaving room to build on it.
Now Here’s Where You Come In: A Visual Journal Workshop with a Purpose 🎨
To raise funds for Phase 1, we’re doing something a little different – and a lot of fun.
I’ll be hosting a Visual Journal Workshop and Presentation, drawing on years of keeping my own travel journals, and I’d love for you (and your friends!) to join in. This isn’t a stuffy art class – it’s relaxed, hands-on, and open to complete beginners. From traditional visual journalling to funky junk journals – everything for you, whether you’re an artist or you THINK (quite wrongly) that you have no creative skills!
Two sessions are planned, with space for 10 participants each:
- 📅 Saturday, 15 August OR Wednesday, 19 August
- 🕑 14:00 – 16:30
- 📍 Hanya House (with huge thanks to Ryan and Dr Rav for generously sponsoring the venue!)
Once you sign up, you’ll get a short, easy list of what to bring – nothing complicated, promise. I’ll also supply some fun extra materials for everyone to experiment with on the day.
Cost: R250 per participant – every cent goes straight toward the bus stop seating.
Let’s Fill Those Seats – Both the Workshop’s and the Bus Stop’s!
This is a lovely, low-pressure way to spend an afternoon, meet fellow homeowners, try something new, and directly help solve a real problem in our community. Bring a friend, bring your curiosity, and let’s get those benches built.
To book your spot, contact: 📞 Barbara Moore – 082 454-3233 📧 join@bushtales.org
Spaces are limited to 10 per session, so don’t wait too long to claim yours!