Page 9 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 10 2025

THE BIG PICTURE
HOME FRONT

BROADACRES DRIVE ASSOCIATION Across the city, more than 6 000 trees —
many of them hardy White Stinkwoods —
are being planted this season to improve
air quality, stabilise ecosystems and cool
urban heat islands. But here in Fourways,
the message carried an extra layer of
pride.
“RAIN OR SHINE, WE SHOW UP
FOR FOURWAYS”
Among the first to arrive that morning was
Stuart Martin and his team from Best
Deck Composites, one of the event’s key
sponsors.
“Rain or shine, we show up for Fourways,”
Stuart said with a grin, brushing the mud
from his shoes. “The downpour didn’t slow
us down — it made the moment real. We
came together, businesses and residents
side by side, to make something beautiful
grow.”
“PEOPLE CARE — THAT’S WHAT
TRANSFORMS A SPACE”
Ward 94 Councillor David Foley, who
joined the volunteers, spoke with evident
pride:
“You can see it here — people care. When
you have estates, homeowners and local
associations volunteering their time like
B Y NIC OLA KILL OPS this, it transforms not only the landscape
but the mindset. This is what community
leadership looks like.”
A GREENER, CLEANER CORRIDOR
FOR ALL
Mikhaela Donaldson from the Fourways
Improvement District helped coordinate
the effort and praised the partnerships COMMUNITY FOCUS: STUART MARTIN’S
that made the morning possible. QUIET COMMITMENT TO GREEN LIVING
“From residents to security teams, from
city departments to local sponsors — For Stuart Martin, director of Best
everyone played a role. It’s about showing Deck Composite Wood, community
up, again and again, for the spaces we involvement isn’t something to
share.” advertise. It’s simply a way of life. Stuart
and his wife Pernille moved to Dainfern
And they did. Teams from Dainfern Golf Estate in 1998, a time when the
Ridge (Turfnet), Dainfern Valley estate was still taking shape.
(Servest), Helderfontein (Springtime
Environmental Services) and Fourways “We were one of the first families in
Gardens (Life Landscapes) joined forces Highgate West,” he recalls. “Back then
with local residents who arrived with there were hardly any trees. We planted
gloves, gumboots and that unmistakable our own just to keep the golf balls out of
Fourways energy.Within an hour, the the pool.” recent, successful effort to plant 3 000
stretch that once looked dusty and trees along Winnie Mandela Drive. Best
neglected had been transformed into a Those early saplings have since Deck is a proud supporter and sponsor
corridor of promise — 3 000 young trees flourished into a small forest, now alive of the Better Fourways community
now lining the gateway to one of with shade and birdsong. “Nature has initiative, which brings residents,
Johannesburg’s busiest northern done most of the work,” he says. “Birds businesses and civic partners together
nodes.
spread the seeds and the trees just to clean and uplift the area, ensuring a
found their way.” better community for all.
ROOTS, RAIN AND RENEWAL
Moments like this don’t always make
headlines — but they should. Each sapling That same respect for the natural For Stuart, it’s never been about
planted that morning represents a small environment forms the foundation publicity or recognition. “This suburb
act of defiance against indifference of his company’s ethos. Best Deck’s has given us a home and a sense of
and a quiet investment in the kind of composite wood products are made belonging,” he explains. “Doing our bit
neighbourhood we all want to live in. from recycled materials. Stuart and to keep it green just feels right.”
As one resident was overheard saying, his team are regularly involved in
half-laughing as she wiped the rain from community clean-ups and tree-planting After nearly three decades in Dainfern,
her face: initiatives across Fourways. it’s his quiet consistency, a genuine love
of place and a willingness to care for it
“We came for the trees, but we stayed for The team was intimately involved in the that defines Stuart’s personal journey.
each other.”

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