Urban photographer, Tim Ritchie, takes to his bicycle every morning scouting out Sydney’s hidden delights @timritchie
city glimpses
The Hopetoun Hotel in Sydney's Surry hills was an institution for live music for a couple of decades, launching many careers and featuring famous guest artists. With gentrification came noise complaints and then an unsustainable financial model. The pub has sat locked up for too many years.
FROM THE VAULT
SUMMER 1992-93
The Sydney Foodbank On page 11, we reported on the Addi Road food relief program, set up to help those suffering financial stress during the ongoing pandemic. In the summer of 1992-93, ISV reported on Sydney’s first foodbank since Depression times. The Foodbank operates from a 370-square metre warehouse in Lewisham but is presently renting a further two warehouses to store all the food. A list of available stock is sent to social service agencies. The recipients must have an established feeding program, serve free meals, and maintain approved storage, preparation and distribution procedures. More than 40 agencies are currently receiving food, including St Vincent de Paul, Lifeline and Barnardos — virtually any charity providing food. Orders are taken and the food is free. At the moment, the Foodbank is growing in size and looking for newer, bigger premises. It is currently developing a database on each agency in order to cater better to their needs. In the first six months of operation, the Foodbank has distributed 138,302 kilos of food, which roughly equates to 600,000 meals. A quick chat to five charity meal providers in the local area showed an all-round sharp increase in the number of people using their services. A volunteer at Edward Eager Lodge in Darlinghurst said: “Since this time last year, the number of people at lunch has doubled.” Meanwhile, the Foster Street Hostel in Surry Hills is serving 50 percent more free meals than last year.
innersydneyvoice.org.au | Spring 2021 | Inner Sydney Voice | 35
