Welridge Residents Association unveils bench dedicated to group’s founders

Honoring the memory of those who took the first steps of custodianship, Welridge Residents Association (WRA) unveiled a marker of quiet reflection.

WRA Chairperson Audrey Vrachionidis cut the ribbon as they presented the community with a bench in the Rooihout Avenue Park dedicated to two of their founding members. Volker and Pauline Hoffmeister served the Welridge residents from 1997 to 2013 and their names will now adorn the solemn sitting area. The incumbent WRA committee was honored by the presence of original committee members, Dick and Liz Williams, as well as a close friend of the honourees, Sigrid Luz.

The greenbelt that the bench now gazes over is a source of pride for the residents and the committee who help maintain it. WRA has worked tirelessly to cultivate not only the park, but solid relationships with the responsible municipal entities. With the continued support of their neighbours and members, the committee is able to preserve and safeguard the park with added safety features that go hand in hand with their security partnerships.

The value of a shared outdoor space that is clean, safe, and serene is invaluable for the family-orientated community. The Rooihout Avenue Park runs through the heart of the WRA area which serves the streets within the four main surrounding access points: Jim Fouche Road, John Vorster Road, Dale Lace Avenue, and, JG Strydom Road. When one next sits on the bench and takes in the picturesque surroundings, the plaque will be there as a reminder of those who made the beauty and tranquility of their suburb possible.