Bedfordview’s Quondam Village celebrates 15th anniversary
Towards the end of 2008 when it opened its gates, longstanding staff members Gift Dube and Liz Figueirinha started welcoming new residents to the village.
The last quarter of 2023 marked the 15th anniversary of Bedfordview-based Quondam Village.
The village’s original residents can remember that when it was first established, vegetation and brush were sparse and trees, planted on pavements, were few and far between.
Today the village has grown, not just in population but its flora too.
Gardens are now lush and colourful.
The village has already hosted two open garden shows and it looks ahead to holding another one later this year.
Towards the end of 2008 when it opened its gates, longstanding staff members Gift Dube and Liz Figueirinha started welcoming new residents to the village.
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In recent years the village’s trust started presenting residents, who have lived in the village for 15 years, with certificates to mark the special milestone.
Barry Ireland, of the trust, presented certificates to residents Thelma Bothomley and Pat Stanley.
Looking back on the village’s development, village resident Jackie Welch said that in its early years, the village did not have a community centre.
Resident get-togethers were held in the Bowls Pavilion or one of the rooms of the Jeppe Quondam Club.
She said the current community centre boasts a well-stocked library and residents can participate in activities such as arts and crafts mornings, darts evenings, exercise classes, monthly birthday teas, and pedicure and reflex sessions.
It also now has a built-in braai area that allows the residents’ committee to plan and hold braais on special occasions.
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Welch said over the past 15 years there have been many changes and improvements
The village office is now powered by solar. The village and Jeppe Quondam Club have access to fully treated borehole water when the taps run dry.
Quondam Village is situated on its ground, adjacent to Jeppe Quondam Club.
The residents are club members and have access to all the facilities offered by the club – both social and sporting activities.
