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November 2021 | FREE

PlayfordNews. A firefighter ’s fulfilment. Festive Playford. Centre of tomorrow.

Mayor Glenn Docherty at the launch of the Building up HOPE project at Davoren Park Shopping Centre.

From the Mayor. I am lucky enough to live in, work with and represent one of the best communities in South Australia. Our greatest voices are our people who help shape the city’s future, our community makes me so proud to live in Playford. This edition of Playford News magazine shines a light on just that – the people in our community who make a difference, quietly contributing and enriching the lives of others. From Holly who serves her neighbourhood as a volunteer firefighter with the CFS at One Tree Hill, Max and Ruth who have called Elizabeth home since the 1960s and the Haider family, originally from Oman, who are some of Playford’s newest Australian citizens. We also take a step back in time and look at the history of the Elizabeth Town Centre. It was planned in the 1950s as a place where people could come together, socialise and connect. Council is breathing new life in to this nostalgic vision and focussing on enhancing Elizabeth as the region’s CBD – turn to page 6 to read more. As 2021 draws to a close, on behalf of the Council, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope to see you in January at our largest annual gathering, Australia Day, where we will once again celebrate the inspiring and resilient people who make Playford the place we all call home. Mayor Glenn Docherty

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Contents. A firefighter’s fulfilment.

Pg. 5

CBD Future.

Pg. 6

Diamond year.

Pg. 9

Meet your new neighbours.

Pg. 10

Lighting up Playford.

Pg. 11

Elected Member chat.

Pg. 12

Wheels in motion.

Pg. 14

Kindness in action.

Pg. 15

Green thumb troops.

Pg. 16

Connected gardens.

Pg. 17

Turning lemons into melting moments.

Pg. 18

Sustainable seasons greetings.

Pg. 19

Pools, sports, and parks update.

Pg. 20

What’s on your mind.

Pg. 21

Out and about.

Pg. 22

What’s on.

Pg. 23

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Kaurna people, the traditional custodians whose ancestral lands we gather on. We acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of the Kaurna people to country and we respect and value their past, present and ongoing connections to the land and cultural beliefs. EDITOR Katrina Nitschke PHOTOGRAPHY Darren Clements Kate Hayward CONTRIBUTORS Kate Hayward Katrina Nitschke Joanne Edwards Shannon Siegele Do you have a story idea? Let us know at playfordnews@playford.sa.gov.au Information and events in this publication are current at the time of printing. Subsequent changes may occur.

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VOLUNTEER CFS volunteer, Holly Dragon, dedicates her time to protecting the community.

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A firefighter’s fulfilment. The first thing that strikes you about Holly Dragon (beyond having the coolest name in the fire business) is how level-headed and mature she is. She’s 20 years old and already immersed in one of the most serious and sobering volunteer gigs going – at the One Tree Hill Country Fire Service. Holly signed up to the CFS Cadet Program in 2017, accompanying a friend who was interested in becoming a volunteer. Holly instantly connected with the course, which led her to become a fully-qualified responding firefighter three years later. Most of her volunteer hours are spent in weekly training, which Holly described as extremely important. Holly said the training not only prepared her with the skills in the event of a fire or emergency, it also built relationships with her fellow volunteers. She described her crew as family and “you know in any crisis, they have your back”. During the fire danger season, the One Tree Hill CFS can receive several call-outs each week. The types of emergencies vary from bush and grass fires, to clearing storm damage, assisting during flooding, or supporting at vehicle accidents, and chemical spills. “Once we were called out to rescue a possum stuck up a tree,” Holly said while she laughed and questioned why it would even need their help. Call outs to significant fires sound frightening, but Holly was philosophical about it. “When you get a call out, everything you’re worrying about in your day-to-day life goes out of your head,” she said. “Your training kicks in and you’re just laser focussed on chasing the fire and putting it out.” And what does Holly do after the fire is out? “I just get on with my life,” Holly said, as unassuming and modest as everyday heroes often are. The CFS firefighter said her role as a community volunteer was rewarding and encouraged others to consider becoming an active member. “It’s really good being able to help the community – and the more volunteers we have, the quicker we can get out to a job, the quicker we can put a fire out,” Holly said. “It’s just really important, and makes you feel pretty good about helping out your neighbours.”

Holly’s top tips for fire safety. It’s never too late to prepare your home. • •

Clear gutters and any trees overhanging your home Remove any firewood piles that may lean on the side of the house

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Clear weeds and debris around your property

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Make sure to have a fire safety plan – visit the CFS at cfs.sa.gov.au

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PN. ELIZABETH CBD

A big step for our city’s heart. A big step has been taken to breathe new life in to the heart of Playford, as Council progresses plans to reshape the Elizabeth CBD into a thriving retail, business and entertainment precinct. Council’s renewed focus on the CBD kicked off in mid-2021, when it went to market for development partners. After a thorough process, market interest has provided Council with promising opportunities to consider for the development of the CBD, located adjacent to Playford Boulevard, Elizabeth. It also includes consideration of how the windbreaks along Main North Road could be enhanced to create a more active and green entrance way into the city. With a population that is expected to reach 132,000 by 2036, a revitalised CBD is needed to meet the demands of the city’s rapidly growing community. It also responds to growth in areas beyond Playford, such as Gawler, Light and the Barossa, with the CBD acting as a centre that services regional communities to the north. Importantly, developing a vibrant CBD fulfils a key community aspiration from the Playford Community Vision 2043, with the community expressing their desire for a vibrant and cosmopolitan city centre, with services and offerings all in the one place. Infrastructure investment in the CBD began in 2017, including the redevelopment of Prince George Plaza, construction of a multi-deck car park and more recently, the opening of the Grenville Hub and upgrades to Fremont Park. PAGE 6 | playford.sa.gov.au

Council will now expand on this progress, but rather than developing the CBD itself, will work with private developers that align to the community’s vision for the area. Stringent guidelines are in place to ensure the right mix of quality urban design is delivered, which may include retail, business, professional and education offerings. These plans echo the original sentiment for the centre of Elizabeth, which was spruiked as the “focal point for trading, professional and civic activity” when it was designed in the 1950s. Turn over to read more about the history of the Elizabeth town centre. We want you involved It’s your CBD and we want to keep you up to date and involved as the project progresses. Head to playford.sa.gov.au/CBD to find out more and sign up to our CBD newsletter which will keep you regularly updated on developments.

Building a CBD - What’s next in the process? Council will decide which developer/s will be invited to submit a detailed proposal, explaining how they will achieve a thriving mixed-use destination while addressing built form, the environment and other considerations. The proposals selected by Council to progress development of the CBD will also inform Council’s final decisions around the revocation of community land on the windbreaks. In early 2022, Council will select the successful developer to continue to work with and importantly, undertake community engagement on the plans, especially public realm design. As the final decision maker - and when it is confident the plans deliver on the vision and community expectation Council will enter into a contract with the developer to deliver the next stage of the Elizabeth CBD.

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PN. ELIZABETH CBD

Residents in the Town Centre in the 1960s.

Spirit of yesterday, centre of today. It’s a sepia photo from the 1950s capturing dusty paddocks, make-shift dirt roads and a scattering of trees in the distance. While the grainy snapshot doesn’t inspire notions of cosmopolitan living, the plan for the site was visionary; this was the geographical heart of a new suburb called Elizabeth and it would grow to become the centre of life for a busy, thriving community. South Australia’s first satellite city, Elizabeth promised a full family life in a modern city. It attracted largely British migrants, providing a ready workforce for local industry, namely the Weapons Research Establishment and GM Holden factory. Promotional material of the day spruiked the Elizabeth town centre as the “focal point for trading, professional and civic activity, offering unique professional and business opportunities.” It lived up to its promise with incredible growth in the years that followed. From the deserted paddocks, a hotel, shopping centre, civic and commercial buildings, court house, youth centre, picture theatre and manicured green spaces quickly sprouted. The Elizabeth town centre was the place to visit your doctor or dentist, do the grocery shop and deposit your weekly pay cheque at the bank. It was where community came together; there were picture shows at the Shandon Drive Inn, Saturday night dates at the Elizabeth Roller Skating Rink and long summer days spent at the outdoor Bethbury Swimming Pool (now the Aquadome). It truly became the heart of city and served the residents of the surrounding district as much as those living in Elizabeth itself. In the decades that have passed, we might have had last drinks at the Elizabeth Hotel, said good bye to the Octagon, and picked our last outfits from the racks at Johnny’s, but the vision of Elizabeth as the centre of life in the north is being brought back to life, with new plans now underway to transform the city. While new buildings might be a bit bigger and the architecture look a little different than its original 1960s heyday, what will remain is the sentiment of Elizabeth as the beating heart of Playford. PAGE 8 | playford.sa.gov.au

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Diamond year. It’s been a life full of laughter for this cheeky pair who first laid eyes on each other in the late 1950s. The “City Slicker” and “Country Bumpkin” were introduced through work at the Weapons Research Establishment. Max Symons was an apprentice pattern-maker while Ruth Rowe worked in the planning office. “We were introduced by someone, we went out and that’s how it happened,” Max said. And the rest is history. The Symons celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in May with family. Not long after marrying, Max and Ruth moved to Elizabeth where they went on to raise their two children Kerryn and Michael. “The atmosphere was good because it was like a little country town,” Max said. “There were only six shops in Elizabeth when we came and traffic was minimal.” Ruth added: “Everything was close and everyone knew one another, everybody looked out for everybody else.” The pair are dedicated members and volunteers of the Playford community. The family were members of the new Central District Football Club shortly after it was formed in the mid-1960s, played social tennis and were involved in many other local activities. Max has been a member of the Elizabeth, now Playford Bowling Club, for 28 years, is on the Probus Club of Elizabeth committee and was a member of the local Neighbourhood Watch group for 26 years. Ruth still enjoys ten pin bowling and has been committee member of the Central District Ladies Auxiliary for 25 years. The pair both still enjoy their gardening and are also members of the Elizabeth Garden Club. Both Max and Ruth like their life in Elizabeth and agreed it was ideal for their family with everything they needed nearby. “Playford Bowling Club is just around the corner, Central District is next door, Ruth’s bowling is just over the bridge, our shops are there and doctors around the corner,” Max said.“We never have to go to Adelaide to do anything, everything we need is here,” Ruth added.

The couple is truly one to admire, and we couldn’t miss the opportunity to ask them their advice on what makes a successful marriage. They both laughed and agreed it was “compromise with a bit of give and take”. | PAGE 9

PN. THIS IS PLAYFORD

Meet your new neighbours. This is the Haider family… Dad – Nouman, Mum – Martina and their four children, Amna, Inaya, Mohammed and Amal. In 2021, they became some of Playford’s newest Australian citizens. “We were about to cry actually, we were so happy” Nouman reflected. “Very few people in the world see this kind of occasion in their life, having a citizenship of a first world country.” They began the process to become Australian citizens in April 2017 when they arrived in Australia from Oman. “We chose to move to Playford in 2019 because of the facilities and affordability,” Nouman said. “We have everything here – schools, hospitals, shopping centres. From every perspective it’s perfect for us, we’re happy to be here.” After arriving in Playford, Martina was directed to the John McVeity Centre (JMC) from the children’s school and felt that helped their family to become better connected with the community. “There was an event at the JMC, so I met some of the Playford community and they gave me lots of information about activities the children could participate in,” Martina said. They have since joined after-school sports, drama classes and school holiday programs. The family recognised Playford’s culturally diverse community through their connections with neighbours. They loved to socialise with their new friends, while the children played together in the street and they shared food between homes. “It’s actually our tradition when you cook something, we cook a bit extra and we send to our neighbours,” Nouman said. “It’s part of our culture, you take care of your neighbours.”

Our new neighbours. More than 450 new citizens have been conferred by the City of Playford this year. Top five birth countries of our new citizens:

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Syria

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Afghanistan

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Philippines

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India

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United Kingdom

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To visit Ron and Marlene’s Christmas display, make your way to the corner of Cyprus Street and Scarlet Avenue, Munno Para, between 12 November to 6 January.

Lighting up Playford. Local Playford resident, Ron Jones and his wife Marlene, have decorated their home in Munno Para with Christmas lights for the past nine years. The couple moved into their home in mid-2012, with their first lights installed during the festive season that same year. Ron has now adorned their home with hundreds of lights. “When we first put them up, people said ‘it’s good to see someone bringing the Christmas spirit’ and we’ve just kept it, because it’s for the community,” Ron said. Ron believed it was important to create something that demonstrated the Christmas spirit for his neighbours to enjoy. “I believe the Christmas spirit is the time of giving, the time of forgiveness and a time of goodwill,” he said. Ron’s lights helped to build a sense of community connection, and for Ron, that’s what truly makes a neighbourhood special. The community continue to visit the display year after year, with the pair watching families grow right in front of them. “People say that they’ll see us next year or that they’ll bring their grandkids back,” Ron said. Ron and Marlene regularly talked to visitors as they explored their display with a couch set up on the porch for that very purpose. “It makes us feel warm and gives us some satisfaction for the work and the time we’ve put into it,” Ron said. Visitors often left Christmas cards in their letterbox, congratulating them on their display and thanking them for their hard work. Ron’s sense of festive spirit has inspired others in his neighbourhood to create their own displays. “There are about four in our street now and down the side street there are several,” Ron said. “Right around the Greenfields and Playford Alive area, you’ll see them.” Ron laughed and said: “Every now and again we go for a drive just to have a sticky beak, get ideas, well... pinch ideas.” | PAGE 11

PN. YOUR MAYOR & COUNCILLORS

Elected Member chat. Q: What is a fond memory of your neighbourhood in Playford?

Ward One.

Ward one covers the suburbs of Angle Vale, Buckland Park, Virginia, Eyre, Penfield, Penfield Gardens, MacDonald Park, Andrews Farm and Smithfield Plains; and part of the suburbs of Edinburgh North and Waterloo Corner.

Supporting your neighbours is extremely valuable, especially for those who are vulnerable. I had an elderly neighbour who I always checked on, took him groceries and supported by doing housework. By doing simple actions to support one another builds a loving community. Cr Cathy-Jo Tame | 0478 283 875 crcjtame@playford.sa.gov.au

Ward Two.

I have many great memories growing up in Elizabeth East. There were many young families on our street, the kids would ride and race their bikes up and down. We would also play together and climb the trees in the reserve at the end of our street. Mayor Glenn Docherty 0413 219 868 mayordocherty@playford.sa.gov.au

I remember being involved with the Virginia Expo as a student in the 90s. The event showcased SA’s best fruit and vegetable produce over a weekend filled with carnival rides, food and a myriad of stalls. The event put both Virginia and Playford in the spotlight. Cr Peter Rentoulis (Deputy Mayor) 0417 016 146 crarentoulis@playford.sa.gov.au

A fond memory of growing up in Playford as a kid was the time spent outdoors with my friends from the local community. Playing in our local parks, riding to our local shops and playing cricket on the road. Social interaction amongst our neighbourhoods is vital. Cr Clint Marsh | 0478 283 874 crcmarsh@playford.sa.gov.au

Ward two covers the suburbs of Munno Para Downs, Munno Para West, Munno Para, Smithfield and Blakeview; and part of the suburb of Hillier.

When my son was little, we frequented the Elizabeth Dauntsey Reserve many times during late afternoons because it was close to where we lived at that time. He ran around happily playing with other children. A simple pleasure but it created memories for him and I. Cr Jane Onuzans | 0432 251 207 creonuzans@playford.sa.gov.au PAGE 12 | playford.sa.gov.au

I remember neighbours watching out for other neighbours when there’s been someone in need or simply gone away for a few days. Cr Stephen Coppins | 0478 283 876 crscoppins@playford.sa.gov.au

I lived in Elizabeth West from 1964 to 1976. Everybody knew each other in the street and we cared and watched out for each other. We often had cups of tea and the children played together. I have many fond memories and have kept in touch with many over the years. Cr Gay Smallwood-Smith 0417 016 163 crgsmallwoodsmith@playford.sa.gov.au

Ward Three.

Ward three covers the suburbs of Hillbank, Gould Creek, One Tree Hill, Sampson Flat, Humbug Scrub, Uleybury, Yattalunga and Bibaringa; and part of the suburbs of Craigmore and Evanston Park.

Councillor Craig is available to Ward Three residents, his contact details can be found below. Cr Andrew Craig | 0417 016 160 cracraig@playford.sa.gov.au

Ward Four.

The One Tree Hill Pony Club, which was next to the Mc Gilp Recreation Park, has many fond and engaging memories for me growing up along with the cross country course. I’m still very appreciative and thankful for the fantastic community and club support. Cr David Kerrison | 0478 283 879 crdkerrison@playford.sa.gov.au

Ward four covers the suburbs of Davoren Park, Elizabeth North, Elizabeth, Elizabeth South and Elizabeth Vale; and part of the suburb of Edinburgh North.

My earliest recollections were arriving in a new city knowing no one. It was a special time and we soon began building new sporting clubs, service organisations and churches. We learned from each other and created many friends which have lasted until today. Cr Marilyn Baker | 0418 836 685 crmbaker@playford.sa.gov.au

Ward Five.

I have fond memories of using the outdoor swimming pools at Elizabeth. Now my new grandson is commencing swimming at the Aquadome, some 45 years later. Both pools were a great place to catch up with friends from school and stay in the water until our skin wrinkled. Cr Veronica Gossink | 0478 283 878 crvgossink@playford.sa.gov.au

I remember when I was young in Elizabeth going to the Clifton Gardens playground. I would spend time with other children in the neighbourhood in the morning until it was time to go out for the day. This brings back memories as the playground has since been redeveloped. Cr Katrina Stroet | 0466 941 362 crkstroet@playford.sa.gov.au

Councillor Ryan is available to Ward Four residents, his contact details can be found below. Cr Dennis Ryan | 0417 016 167 crdryan@playford.sa.gov.au

Ward five covers the suburbs of Elizabeth Downs, Elizabeth Park, Elizabeth East and Elizabeth Grove; and part of the suburb of Craigmore.

My fondest memories are playing cricket on the road, riding our bikes, exploring the local creeks and dirt tracks until dawn with the other children in my street. Just exploring what the local neighbourhood had to offer. Simple, childhood fun. Cr Misty Norris | 0478 283 882 crmnorris@playford.sa.gov.au

I remember sitting on our roof watching the Edinburgh Air Show and on hot summer nights bringing the TV out to the front lawn. Often our friends would come over with their blankets and we would watch TV until the station either closed or we fell asleep. Cr Shirley Halls | 0419 866 872 crshalls@playford.sa.gov.au

Kicking the footy and playing cricket on our street with my neighbours after school are memories I will always cherish. Not just because of the fun and the laughs, but more so because of the friendships I have made. Cr Akram Arifi | 0431 609 531 craarifi@playford.sa.gov.au

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PN. THIS IS PLAYFORD

Wheels in Motion. You’ve heard of the musical quartet geniuses that are The Beatles, the group of four eccentric scientists who investigate the supernatural in Ghostbusters, and our newest ‘Awesome Foursome’ swimming sensations – the Australian Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay team. But have you heard of the most famous tetrad of the driving world? Meet George, Michael, Robert and Steve, between them they have volunteered more than 5,000 hours and 20 years of experience as driver-mentors for the Wheels in Motion program in Playford. These men help learner drivers clock up the hours needed to obtain their probationary license or ‘Ps’. George Shaw, a driver mentor of seven years, said program participants were always very appreciative. “Some students say ‘if my family could see me now, they would not believe I am doing this’ – you just think how much we take that for granted,” George reminisced. Each year up to 30 students participate in the program with a 95 percent success rate of those who go on to pass their Ps. “At one stage we were averaging one student passing every two weeks – 28 students per year,” George said. And much like George, the other volunteers have kept coming back for the fulfilment of seeing others from diverse backgrounds succeed. “I get as much of a kick out of teaching as they do learning how to drive,” mentor driver Steve Wilson said. “It’s really interesting to meet people from all parts of the world and learn about their aspirations.” Robert Grimm added: “You’ve been with them for so long, they have to do 70 odd hours driving, and to see the participants get their license and they are all smiling and happy – it’s great.” But not only do these new drivers end up getting their license, they often learn important life skills that help these community members thrive in all aspects of their life. “They learn how to drive, at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about, but they also get life skills,” volunteer Michael Doherty said. “I think we teach them life skills along the way – the driving parts easy, it’s how to navigate the road, which is the hard part.” Steve added: “You know they are off and they can do what they want, they have their independence.”

Volunteers Michael Doherty, George Shaw, Steve Wilson, Robert Grimm. To find out if you are eligible to participate in the Wheels in Motion program please contact us on 8256 0333.

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Kindness in Action. What better way to show our four-legged companions that we care than special handmade gifts to keep them warm, fed and stylish. Students from Elizabeth Grove and Elizabeth Vale primary schools have made hundreds of gifts for pets currently in temporary foster care as part of Council’s Playford 10 Kindness in Action project. It was student Sienna’s first time volunteering and she found the experience “very exciting”.“It makes me feel really happy and generous,” Sienna said. “It’s important to help dogs in foster care because it makes them feel equal and they deserve a lot of love,” she said. Student Nargis agreed and said it was important as animals deserved treats too. “We have been making them things so they are warm, have something to use while they are eating, and some things for them to wear,” Nargis said. The students made blankets and bandanas, as well as designed placemats and food bowls. Wise beyond her years, student Hopeness said it was important to help others because “you never know what’s going to happen in life”. “Maybe one day you’ll become the manager of a company helping animals in shelters,” Hopeness said. And that’s exactly what founder of Safe Pets Safe Families, Jennifer Howard, has done. Jennifer has established a not-for-profit charity, providing support to pet owners in South Australia facing disadvantage or crisis. She said it meant a lot for the families who couldn’t temporarily care for their pets due to personal circumstances. “I think the dogs will love those blankets, they look so cosy and comfy, and they will have a good sniff at the placements, as well as look very smart wearing the bandanas,” Jennifer said. “It will bring families so much joy to have gifts when animals return home. “It will show them that there is a whole community that cares.” The Kindness in Action program has been running for four years with an aim to engage children in volunteering opportunities while developing skills in creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, confidence and social skills.

STORY DOGS Elizabeth Vale student, Nargis, reads to Trixie as part of the program.

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PN. THIS IS PLAYFORD

Green thumb troops. An army of volunteers have turned The Precinct’s community garden into a luscious space filled with leafy greens and pockets of colourful flowers. At the beginning of 2021 the garden was simply an idea, but now thanks to these green thumb troops who have dedicated up to 800 hours building, growing and tending to the area – this is now what you see. Dani Poulden of Blakeview, an avid young gardener, hasn’t looked back since she came across an invitation to help develop the garden. “To be gardening with other people who enjoy gardening makes it just that much more fun,” Dani said. “It’s nice to have a similar interest to those around you and you’ll be constantly learning from them.” Dani has spent two to four hours each week helping grow and adding new features to the community space in Smithfield Plains. “They are always offering workshops, so there is always opportunities to learn more,” she said. “That was what I was looking for, to learn firsthand how to look after and grow my own garden.” Each Monday and Friday gardening community catch ups are offered at The Precinct. The community meetings include workshops from learning how to grow seedlings to skills in pruning, soil management and creating your own compost. These projects help to develop the garden and keep on top of its maintenance.

GARDENER Dani Poulden in The Precinct’s new community garden at Smithfield Plains.

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Dani encouraged those interested in gardening to “come join a community garden” with like-minded people. “It’s the quickest and most efficient way to learn the things you want to learn,” Dani said. “If you ask someone, you are going to get five different answers back and they are all going to tell you different ways you can do it on different budgets.” If you are interested in joining our green thumb troops at the community garden in Smithfield Plains call on 8256 0372 or keep up-to-date on the latest workshops on offer by searching for The Precinct on Facebook.

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Connected gardens. The sun glistening off the lily pond, the whistling of the kettle, the taste of homemade strawberry jam and a cheeky honey eater playing in the water of an upturned shed gutter. Joe’s Connected Garden is truly a magical and welcoming food forest with hidden treats found around each corner and under every leaf. From five connected neighbourhood gardens more than a decade ago to now 14 across multiple suburbs, this community network of gardening enthusiasts all have one thing in common. “We all have different backgrounds, different cultures, different beliefs – when we get together we have one interest which is ‘let’s put the coffee on’, ‘let’s see what you are doing in the garden’, let’s pick something’, ‘want a hand with something’ – it’s like that,” Joe said. Joe Kielnerowski has lived at his Elizabeth Grove home for 25 years and since the day he moved in the sense of community was strong. The connected gardens concept was developed when his neighbour, Rosanne Parker, watered his trees through a hole in the back fence. “It was suggested that we put gates in so people did not have to climb through holes in fences and that’s how it started,” he said. “We learnt that community is not necessarily in your face. “Sometimes I don’t see my neighbours for six months, but you just continue on the conversation the next time you do because they might be picking fruit in your garden. It’s almost like a neighbourhood watch on steroids.” All of the connected gardens bring something different to the kitchen table. Collectively there are more than 750 different varieties of fruit alone across the five gardens open to the public. The connected garden network is all about sharing their knowledge and encouraging others to establish their own nursery of delicious foods. “People give up gardening because they can’t get things to grow and we show them how they can do things successfully based on our experience,” he said. “We grow to give away. “We don’t have much left over, people use it, and we have school groups that visit. “It gets given away or shared or eaten on the spot – and the black birds also take a peck out of everything.”

Learn more. Joe’s Connected Garden hosts seasonal workshops that are open for community to attend. The Connected Garden will host its tenth Open Garden on 5 and 6 February 2022. For further information visit the Joe’s Connected Garden Facebook page. | PAGE 17

PN. WE ARE HERE

Turning lemons into melting moments. Maxine Mackay of Smithfield is one of the newest volunteers at The Precinct’s Healthy Food Co. After finding herself at home more often, Maxine needed an outlet to socialise and put her baking skills to good use. From bundt cake to melting moment biscuits, this baker has a sweet tooth for desserts. “Anything with lemon, lemon cakes or biscuits or whatever is needed for the café that week we will make,” Maxine said. “They can try my bundt cake, lemon melting moment biscuits and also other cakes like carrot cake and cheesecakes – lots of things.” But Maxine isn’t always found in the kitchen, volunteering up to 15 hours each week doing various tasks across the Healthy Food Co store and The Precinct’s café. “I work in the kitchen, do some baking and cooking in the café and serve in the shop area,” she said. “We all do a bit of everything, you are just multi-tasking all the time.” Maxine learned about the Healthy Food Co after attending a craft workshop at the Elizabeth Rise Community Centre and hasn’t looked back since. “This is my happy place,” she said. “Everyone is just so friendly, they back each other up and they are very supportive.” The volunteers are busy in preparation for Christmas, putting together pre-ordered and pre-purchased hampers for local families over the festive period. They are packing all the foods and treats from chicken to mince pies needed for a feast and to keep the pantry stocked. Christmas goodies are available throughout November and December at both of the Healthy Food Co in Smithfield Plains and Elizabeth Downs. For more information on the stores visit playford.sa.gov.au/healthyfoodco PAGE 18 | playford.sa.gov.au

Maxine is also one local who has placed her order, helping to eliminate the stress of food shopping at Christmas. “I am actually going to do mine for my daughter as a Christmas present,” she said. “I think it helps families out with a bit of extra food for Christmas. “It’s a brilliant idea.”

WE ARE HERE

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Sustainable seasons greetings. We’ve gathered together some recycling tips for the season for a more sustainable festive break. Fighting Food Waste ‘Tis the season to be… eating! With a little prep, you can avoid festive season food waste. •

Be realistic about the amount of food you’re buying – it’s easy to over-estimate in the festive season.

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Plan out your meals, and don’t forget to factor in leftovers – they’re summer meal staples!

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Make it easy to catch food scraps in a caddy on the bench. Any container will do – and make sure ALL food scraps are emptied to your green bin.

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It’s not just food scraps that go into your green bin. Anything organic such as used tissues, newspaper, and even pizza boxes with crusts still in them!

Recycling right Home made gifts are IN – and when you prepare something with time and love, it’s so well received. •

Wrap gifts in fabric such as a tea-towel or cloth bag. It’s an extra ‘gift’ and there’s no wastage – use a fabric ribbon to secure and make festive.

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If you do use paper gift wrapping, make sure the paper and any cardboard gift boxes hit the yellow bin.

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Re-gift! You may not want that soap pack you have in the cupboard, but Aunty Mary might.

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Bake some biscuits or cakes and arrange on a second hand vintage plate (or tin) to leave behind as a gift when you visit friends.

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Make it yourself – perhaps terracotta pots, soil and herb seedlings that you can make up to gift fresh basil to the rellies.

Holiday clear-out Summer is often the perfect time to do a clear-out at home to be ‘visitor ready’. Make sure you take advantage of the two free hard waste services per financial year offered by NAWMA to all Playford residents. You’ll need to book it in, but it’s worth the wait to get a hassle and cost-free pick up! More info and tips here: playford.sa.gov.au/sustainableseason | PAGE 19

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Pools, sports, and parks update. Aquadome Splish splash! Works on the upgrade of the aquatic facilities at the Aquadome are continuing. The works includes the retiling of the 50m pool and the complete replacement of the plant filtration and heating systems. This will enable each pool to be controlled independently for the first time with the state-of-the-art technology filtration and heating controlled by solar lowering carbon emissions and improving the operating performance of the Aquadome. We are super excited to see the reopening of the program pool at the Aquadome which has enabled the swim school programs to recommence. Due to some unforeseen challenges with the main pool the reopening is due to be completed mid to late December.

Angle Vale Community Sports Centre Anticipated completion in early 2022! The community can expect to see a new soccer senior and junior pitch, a shared football/cricket oval, enhanced sports lighting, car-parking, landscaping and a continuous footpath network throughout the facility. This facility should service the Angle Vale’s growing community for many years to come. Stage 5 construction of the sports centre is partially funded through the State Government’s Grassroots Football, Cricket and Netball Facility Program.

Four Parks We’re excited to announce that our Four Parks upgrades are moving ahead! A huge thank you to everyone who had their say about these projects in the Four Parks Community Consultation, we value your support and feedback. The Four Parks projects are fully funded by Australian Government as part of its Infrastructure Investment Program Stimulus, and we won’t have to wait much longer to road test the finished products. Willison-Goodman Reserve (Elizabeth South), Mandeville Reserve (Davoren Park), Burdell Reserve (Elizabeth Downs) and California Reserve (Craigmore) are due to be completed by March 2022. 3D image of proposed project

California Reserve in Craigmore set to be upgraded by early 2022. Before

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What’s on your mind? Here are some of the most reported and searched items, and frequently asked questions from our community in the past couple of months.

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